UNRAVELING DIKEMBE MUTOMBO

Dikembe Mutombo is a retired Congolese Americanprofessional basketballplayer who last played for the Houston Rockets of theNBA. He had visited Kenya’s Daadab camp a while back together with K’Naan. 

We threw the one-liner interview at him. Here goes…

 I’m good at
Playing basketball and socializing.

I’m very bad at
Remembering names. I can always remember names but notfaces.

The last book l enjoyed was
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. It is one of myfavourites. 

The most surprising thing that happened to me
Finding out that most people knew me thanks to my favouritesport.

A common misconception of me is
That I’m snobbish. Just because I’m famous.

One of my worst childhood fears was
Snakes. They still frighten me.

My ideal night out is
Staying indoors with my friends.

In another life l’d have been
An accountant. I loved mathematics

If I were a politician, I would
Make sure that my citizens were well catered for and alsoensure equitable distribution of resources.

The best age to be is
Any age as long as I’m happy.

The best part of my job is
Enjoying the pitch and now that I’m retired enjoying thefruits of my labour.

BEVERLEY KNIGHT SIGNED UP FOR MALAWI’S LAKE OF STARS

Festival goers from around the world will be descending on the palm fringed shores of Lake Malawi for the Lake of Stars Festival, Malawi’s award winning annual international arts festival. And with the excitement building, the festival organisers have announced the final acts completing the line-up, including a huge headliner in the form of UK soul legend Beverley Knight!
The festival will feature over 80 acts including the Kenya’s Dan ‘Chizi’ Aceda as well the best in Malawian music from Black Missionaries and Lucius Banda, African legends Freshlyground, and the award winning UK act Foals. With artists from a record breaking 12 countries, this year’s event reinforces Lake of Stars’ reputation as a truly global, naturally Malawian event.



Speaking from the festival site on Lake Malawi, festival founder Will Jameson said: “There’s a massive buzz around the festival this year. We had two great pre parties in Malawi last weekend which gave everyone a taste of what’s in store. Tickets are flying out of the door here in Malawi - and across the world - and epic roadtrips are being organised from as far as Kenya and South Africa by fans desperate to see their favourite bands play in the Warm Heart of Africa!”
Announcing the latest headline act, Jameson said: “I’m so excited that Beverley Knight, UK soul legend and Christian Aid ambassador, will be playing at Lake of Stars while she is in Malawi visiting Christian Aid HIV projects. Part of what makes Lake of Stars so special is the opportunity provided for unique artist collaborations, and seeing Beverley sing with musicians from Malawian band Mafilika is going to be truly spectacular!”


Mista Jam

“This really is shaping up to be our best and most diverse line-up to date with everything from chart topping international bands to Malawian DJs to Japanese drummers to Rwandan inanga players and absolutely everything in between. “
The festival site is looking busy as local carpenters construct the three stages, and equipment and volunteers begin to arrive. And with the weather forecast predicting it will be a sunny 30 degrees Celsius, the stage is almost set for the world’s most stunningly located festival.
Jameson added: “The festival was borne from a desire to raise money for a developing economy, promote Malawi as a top travel destination and expose Malawian artists to international crowds, as well as putting on an amazing event that now forms part of the global festival circuit.
“Last year the festival generated $1,000,000 of local spend with around a third being in foreign currency, over 100 local people were employed and more than 1000 hotel beds were slept in providing a major boost to local families and businesses.”

ALFRE WOODARD: CONNECTING WITH HER KENYAN ROOTS

Hollywood actress Alfre Ette Woodard was in the country for a one-week workshop with African filmmakers and actors that ended July 16.
Woodward was part of the visiting delegation from The Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Sciences (presenters of the ‘OSCARS’) who have participated in the ‘One Fine Day Film Workshop’ workshop, as part of their East African Outreach program.
The Academy's International Outreach program brings delegations of visiting film artists to countries with developing film industries, as well as creating opportunities for creative conversations between emerging and established filmmakers from many nations.
The Academy delegation included producer Stephanie Allain, cinematographer John Bailey, sound mixer Willie Burton, editor Carol Littleton; writer-director Phil Robinson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and Ellen Harrington, the Academy’s director of exhibitions and special events.
Besides the educational and cultural exchange with African filmmakers in Kenya Woodward who is a twelve-time Emmy nominee and a five time winner has Kenyan roots.
Her in-laws are the Douglas Hamiltons who are based in Naivasha. Dr. Iain Douglas and Oria have two daughters Saba and Mara Moon, known as Dudu.
Woodward said, “I have tried to come to Kenya for the last 30 years. I have in-laws here in Kenya, Douglas Hamilton, Oria, Dudu and Saba. I have big families all over and it seems so far but I have been to South Africa for an event and spent a lot of time and I always want to get here.”
Adding, “I hope to come back in Christmas and now that I’m here I’m so grateful and excited.”


Marvis, Iain Douglas Hamilton and Alfre

The actress who is famed for role in Desperate Housewife was thrown by the beauty and hospitality in the country.
“When I got here, standing under the Kenyan sky and looking at the soil, this colour is so organic and rich, the people have beautiful skin, and I’m humbled.
The sheer beauty is amazing; any cinematographer would love it here. Kenya has a magic hour, which lasts for five hours something that is rare in America.”
Though the True Blood series has not yet aired on Kenyan TV stations, many urban series enthusiasts have watched the vampire series. Something Woodward hadn’t done before her nieces and nephews egged her on to be part of the show.
“I never watched it. I meet Nelsan Ellis who plays Lafayette in the series at a Hollywood party where my daughter Mavis (Spencer) who was chosen Miss Golden Globe (for The 67th annual Golden Globe Awards) was in attendance. This guy walked up to me wearing a fedora and said, ‘I would love to work with you on True Blood. I would love you to be my mama.’ You know, all actors tell each other that, I did not know if he really meant it.
I told him ‘Yes I would love to.’ He then replied, ‘You would have to play the mother of a gay son who is a demented, racist bigot.’ And I said to him, I could play that. And we laughed about it.


On the set of True Blood

“A week later my manager calls me and tells me, ‘No disrespect but there is a small role on True Blood and Nielsan insist that it is you he wants for the role’ he was very polite he thought I would be insulted but was very surprised when I said I would do it.
“Even the producer Allan Ball said he would write some more. All I asked was the role good? And they said it was. So I said I will do it. There is nothing like too small a role as long as it’s good.”
And that is how she joined the cast of True Blood as Ruby, Lafayette’s mother in the third season. She also shared the secrets to longevity and success in her illustrious career on TV.
“When I came into the industry, I came with an idea of having longevity. With any discipline you have to turn your talent to skill and keep your motives pure. It is similar to investments you could make buckets of money in the short-term investments or you could invest in stocks.”



She made her film debut in Alan Rudolph’s Remember My Name (1978) and went on to appear in Robert Altman’s Health (1980) and Martin Ritt’s Cross Creek (1983), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Other films include Morgan Freeman’s South African drama Bopha! (1993), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Maya Angelou’s Down In The Delta (1998) and Love & Basketball (2000). Woodard’s work on television has garnered her five Emmy Awards.



“We are descendants of griots, we are still story tellers. We stood up in told stories entertaining the rest who sat around in the campfire. For me it is a service to pay rent to be in service of man. It lets me serve and give a voice to the to the people I play.”
Woodward’s participation in the outreach programme saw her partnered with Chun Mei Tan who is a film-acting connoisseur in the Film/Acting master classes.
The acting workshop saw 12 actors work with the two in basic acting, character creation and various relaxation exercises to help them “surrender to the creative principle, to be able o take on anther personality to help tell the story.”

She is in a new TV series Memphis Beat. Here is the promo

SEX AND THE CITY’S KRISTIN DAVIS WAS IN TZ FOR CHARITY

Sex and the City’ actress Kristin Davis was recently in Tanzania where she teamed up with actor Steven Kanumba.
The duo took part in honouring Tanzanian women food producers with the launch of a nationwide competition at the Makumbusho Village run by Oxfam.



The Food Heroine of the year award dubbed Mama Shujaa wa Chakula is a new annual competition to recognise outstanding women food producers, where members of the public will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite candidate. The project it designed to empower, inspire and support women farmers and pastoralists by recognising their contributions and increasing their visibility.



Kristin told Tanzanian press Citizen Daily, “I have been to Morogoro for two days and I had a chance to meet inspiring women farmers, I was impressed with their hard work and dedication that’s why I am so thrilled Oxfam is launching the food heroine initiative to encourage and give recognition to women who grow so much of the food we eat here in the country and even in America, where I come from, with so much determination despite the challenges they face.”



Commenting, the Oxfam Ambassador for the GROW Campaign which promotes a future where everyone has enough to eat, actor Steve Kanumba said women have been farmers in difficult circumstances for such a long time and they have never complained, much less received encouragement in what they do.



Maselina Kibena, who represented MVIWATA, a small farmers’ association from Morogoro, said he was happy that Oxfam and its partner organisation had recognised women’s contribution in feeding the society at large and took the initiative to support their efforts.

UNVEILING SOUTHERN SUDAN’S GREY BULL

David Thon Garang a.k.a Grey Bull is a South Sudanese rapper /singer residing in Melbourne Australia. He was born in South Sudan during the civil war that drove many people away from the country in the early 80’s. Like many other Sudanese kids, Grey Bull is not sure or advised on his date of birth. He ended up in Ethiopia at Dimma refugee camp in about 1989 with his family. Grey Bull lost his father to unknown illness and was left in the care of his mother.
He enrolled at a kindergarten and proceeded to primary school few months later. He was trained as a child soldier just like the rest of the students attending Dimma primary school. At that time, the training was the institution’s requirement.
The war broke out in Ethiopia in the 90’s and they were evacuated back to South Sudan. He survived through many attacks and hunger as the war reached its climax. He grew up between the boarders trying to get some little education with the support from his mother.



He started his musical career when he was a teenager at Boma town in South Sudan. His mother tried to discourage him. To her, music was for beggars and school dropouts. Grey Bull kept his spirit up but made his mom didn’t find out he was still playing guitars or drums at the parties. She also turned down a request from one of the local singers who wanted Grey Bull to join his band as a local guitarist.



Grey Bull recorded his first professional song at Scratch Digital Records in Nairobi’s California Estate in Eastleigh in the year 2005 before his migration to Australia in March 2006. He did some short courses and gathered more crucial music ideas to become one of the well-known performers in Sudanese and African communities in and outside Australia.



He also work alongside well experienced artists and DJ’s and featured on some of the local and international radio air shows around Australia, Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. He performs alongside well renowned rappers and singers and participates in public events and festivals. He formed S.S.B music crew in 2008 and hosted S.S.B talent show in 2010 in Melbourne and Sydney. Great courage, hard work and perseverance are what have kept Grey Bull going.
His main aim is to become successful in his musical career, promote peace and be able to help the disadvantaged individuals like him to set and achieve their dreams, goals and ambitions.

DBANJ AND 2FACE BAG BET AWARD

Nigerian musicians D Banj and 2 Face Idibia won the BET Award for the Best International Act: Africa in Sunday’s ceremony held at the Shrine Auditorium.

Here are the rest of the BET winners
Video of the Year: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
Video Director of the Year: Chris Robinson
Best Female R&B Artist: Jennifer Hudson
Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kanye West
Best Collaboration: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
Best New Artist: Wiz Khalifa
Best Group: Diddy- Dirty Money
Viewers' Choice: Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes - "Look at Me Now"
Best Gospel Artist: Mary Mary
YoungStars Award: Willow Smith and Jaden Smith (tie)
Centric Award: Marsha Ambrosius
Best Actress: Taraji P. Henson
Best Actor: Idris Elba
Best Movie: "For Colored Girls"
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams
Sportsman of the Year: Michael Vick



Best International Act: Africa: 2face Idibia (Nigeria) and D'banj (Nigeria)
Best International Act: United Kingdom: Tinie Tempah
FANdemonium Award: Chris Brown
Lifetime Achievement Award: Patti LaBelle
Humanitarian Award: Steve Harvey

MUSEKE ONLINE AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS 2011 SUBMISSIONS

Submissions for the second annual Museke Online Africa Music Awards (MOAMAs) set to culminate in September 2011, are on going. Artists, record labels, producers and their respective representatives are invited to submit entries for the various categories in order to be eligible. Music that was released and received airplay beginning anytime from January 1 2010 to 1 January 2011 is eligible for consideration and entry. Once again, the voter’s academy will comprise of influential and respected industry figureheads, including DJs. All MOAMAs categories are open to African artists based on the continent as well as those in the diaspora. Artists may be nominated through the “nominate” link. “The Museke Online Africa Music Awards is a chance for the African artist to shine beyond borders, a chance to win more fans. This initiative acknowledges both the fans’ and the artists’ roles in ensuring the continued evolution of the African music industry”, says Tumi Diseko, Museke’s Chief Marketing Officer.
As the Museke.com brand continues to grow and gain popularity, new opportunities sprout: Museke.com is currently in talks for a long-term exciting and dynamic partnership with another entity, to be announced at a later date.
In the end, the winners of the awards are judged from votes – the fans are the true judges in the Museke Online Africa Music Awards. To further empower the African music fan, Museke has decided to introduce the Voter’s Choice Award, a category which is dedicated to acknowledging the work of lesser known artists that are discovered during the MOAMAs nomination and subsequent voting period. Diseko goes on to say, “Museke.com was started by and continues to be run by fans of African music who are dedicated to discovering new and emerging genres as well as rediscovering older genres. We are proud that the work we do at Museke has inspired so many fans to look beyond their own borders and traditional tastes, and the introduction of the Voter’s Choice Award is an acknowledgement of the African music fan.”

SINGER JERRILYN TO OPEN 3-N-1 FITNESS CENTRE, FLOATS NGO

Fast-rising music star Jerrilyn Mulbah announced this week, that she’s floating a 3-in-1 fitness centre. The debutant says the fitness centre would comprise of a Gym, Spa and Healthy eating restaurant. According to her “people are getting extra conscious of their health with regards to their weight, but the problem is they don’t know exactly what healthy meals to eat especially after exercising in order to watch their weight.
“For this reason, I have decided to open a fitness centre that would cater for this need for healthy eating along with the Gym and Spa. It will not be the regular eatery where you find snacks and other fatty meals. We are going to make available fruits and natural juice of all kinds. Also, meals that contain proper nutrient with the proper vegetables that provide the appropriate vitamins our body needs would also be included in the menu”.



The centre is also going to render bespoke services by professionals in local herbs preparation that helps in eliminating excess cholesterol in the body. “These days, people buy all sorts of medication just to reduce sugar in their system and burn unwanted fat in different areas in their body. Some of these medications are harmful to one’s health so, we are bringing natural herbs clinically tested and approved that would solve this problem” Jerrilyn says.
Health is wealth and it is not only about what you eat we are interested in but, how you take care of yourself in general. This includes knowing the kind of cream you should use, what you should look out for before attempting to but your cream and even perfumes. We all have different skin types and they don’t have equal capacity to absorb certain chemicals used in making cream so, this and more would be learned in the centre.



“I am very excited about this development because, aside my music, I am very conscious of my skin, weight and what I eat and I know that I am not alone. So I have decided to do this. It should also be noted that, we would have in the centre from time to time speakers coming in to educate people on the importance of healthy living”.
Jerrilyn’s new single Molejo and Mr DJ have hit the airwave across Nigerian Radio stations and are gaining grounds already in the music industry. She plans to release her debut album this year. However, she is presently working on other songs that would make up the album. Jerrilyn was among the top 5 finalist in the 2007 West African Idols held in Nigeria. The Liberian-born singer now lives in Nigeria with her daughter.

FINALLY CHIDINMA READY FOR DEBUT ALBUM

Chidinma, the petite singer with the strong voice who captivated the hearts of millions and became the first female winner of MTN Project Fame in the Season 3 edition of the highly popular music talent show is set to drop her highly anticipated debut album.
Already the talented and widely- loved singer has released her first single Jankolikoko featuring veteran pop star Sound Sultan. Within a short space of its release the song is already getting rave reviews from music critics all over the country and has been getting steadily increasing airplay from radio stations nationwide. The song has that instant replay factor which will make you keep playing it over and over again.
“I am happy about the positive response towards my new single. Project Fame really taught me on how to be a total artiste and it was what I have learnt that I am putting back in my song. Jankolikoko is just the tip of the iceberg. I am improving my craft everyday” says Chidinma.
Chidinma broke into limelight and entered the history books after she won perhaps the toughest edition of MTN Project Fame having to battle her way to the top prize amongst stiff competitors such as the Ghanaian wonder kid Kesse Frimpong who many had tipped to win; Eyo, Ochuko and others. For all her hard work and growth as a singer and performer Chidinma took home a brand new Toyota RAV4, 2.5 million naira and a record deal.



Since her groundbreaking win, she has been hard at work burning the mid night candle at the studio and working with some of Nigeria’s most talented songwriters and producers. She has already worked with the likes of super-producer Cobhams Asuquo who gave the world Asa, Naeto C’s hit producer Tee-Y Mix and the godfather of contemporary highlife J. Martins. The petite singer also has plans to work with brilliant producers and songwriters such as Suspect, eLDee the Don and Omolara Ayodele.
“Right now I am in the studio with really talented artistes, songwriters and producers. I am putting a whole lot of energy into my first album because the expectations are high. I not scared but challenged to produce an album that will reflect who I am artistically as well as make an impact in the Nigerian music industry” says Chidinma about recording her first album.
The video of Jankolikoko will be directed by none other than Nigeria’s number one music video director Clarence Peters. If the success of past winners of Project Fame is anything to go by then Chidinma should be the next big pop star we should look out far. The first winner of Project Fame, Iyanya has gone on to become a household name since 2008 while the winner of Project Fame Season 2 is steadily climbing the charts and is set to drop his own debut album.
Chidinma’s yet-to-be-titled album will be available in all major outlets and stores nationwide as well as on the internet.

ZIM’S CINDY MUNYAVI FOR BIGGIE’S EVICTION ON SUNDAY

Zimbabwean singer Cindy Munyavi will be performing at the Big Brother Amplified Live Eviction Show this Sunday. Cindy said, “I'm excited about it. I am going to make my country proud. The Big Brother stint will surely put me on the international spotlight.”
The singer who has shared the stage with Beenie Man added that she will be performing will be her first single from her new project, a “surprise for here fans”.

OD HITS TV SCREENS WITH ‘GINJAH ME UP’

Rapper OD is back on your TV screens with a brand new video titled “Ginjah Me Up”. The video which was directed by Clarence Peters and is primarily driven by special and visual effects is the fourth single OD is releasing from his sophomore album, H.O.D (Hustle or Die) which is a rare feat for most Nigerian rappers.
The video which lasts for 2 minutes 40 seconds is an innovative piece of art seeing that OD had never done a track quite like this and had never been in this kind of video. Throughout the song the rapper uses the controversial auto-tune to great effect while the video is a mixture of stunning visual effects and graphics.



OD’s second album, H.O.D has helped push him from the underground to the mainstream realm where he is now regarded as one of Nigeria’s most talented rappers. This album has spawned three hit tracks namely; If I Catch You, Alujo and Drinks in a Glass. With Ginjah Me Up already moving up the charts, OD is set to have four rap hits just from one album.



OD which is short for Overdose broke into the music industry as a member of the all star rap collective known as SWAT ROOT which had Terry Tha Rapman and Mode 9 as some of the members. The group later split and OD went on with his solo career. Before even dropping his debut album, OD won the highly coveted Next Rated category at Hip Hop World Awards 2007. That same year he dropped his album Don’t Hate. Even though the album received rave reviews from industry tastemakers it was not properly marketed which led to poor sales.




In 2009 he signed on to the fledging record label, X3M music and since then OD has gone to establish himself as a bankable rapper judged by how fast his album was sold out after only three weeks of release. His rise continues as Ginjah Me Up is on heavy rotation on all music programmes, TV stations, local and terrestrial.
“This is just the beginning, there’s more where this came from” Steve Babaeko founder of X3M says
You can purchase H.O.D from any music vendor or music store nationwide. You can also purchase the album on iTunes, Not Just Ok and other selected music websites.

NICKELODEON & STV INVITE KIDS TO GET CREATIVE FOR CHILDREN’S DAY

In celebration of Children’s Day 2011, Nickelodeon and STV are joining forces to ask Nigerian kids the all-important question: “Why the World Needs Kids”. Tell us why you think the world needs kids and you could soon be showcasing your ideas on Nickelodeon, and also winning a fabulous hamper of Nickelodeon goodies!
Starting 16 May 2011, Nickelodeon and STV are challenging kids between 2 and 15 to explore their creativity by submitting imaginative ideas in the form of an original drawing, story or poem.
Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, “Nickelodeon knows that kids see the world differently to adults and often come up with intriguing, creative and refreshing solutions to challenges. We are confident that we will receive a thought-provoking and fun response to this competition.”
Guy Murray-Bruce, Group Vice President, Silverbird Group, “Silverbird Television is committed to provide quality family and children entertainment programmes that are wholesome and educational as well giving children the opportunity to enter the competition.”
The winning entries and the winners themselves will appear in specially created commercials on 20 July in the Nickelodeon block on STV. Short clips of the winners and their ideas will also be uploaded onto the Nickelodeon website at www.nickelodeonafrica.com.
The competition is divided into 4 age groups: 2-6 yrs old, 7-9 yrs old, 10-12 yrs old, 13-15 yrs old. There will be two winners in each age group. Entries can be submitted at www.nickelodeonafrica.com
Entry is free and all entries works will be judged for creativity and originality by Nickelodeon. The deadline for receiving entries is 15 June 2011.

GHANA'S MINISTRY OF TOURISM APPOINTS ROCKY DAWUNI AS "GHANA'S TOURISM AMBASSADOR"

The Ministry of Tourism has appointed Ghanaian music star and NAACP Image Award Nominee Rocky Dawuni, as Ghana's Tourism Ambassador. In a letter of appointment to Dawuni, Ghana's Minister of Tourism, Akua Sena Densua praised the Ghanaian artist for his excellent achievements in music both home and abroad and his continuing positive projection of Ghana in his concerts. The ceremonial appointment which comes with no financial entitlement took effect on 11th April, 2011.
In accepting this new role Dawuni stated: "The arts, especially music can not only bring tourists to Ghana, but create an appreciation for the rich Ghanaian culture outside of Ghana. I am prepared to do my utmost to broadly portray Ghana and its rich heritage through my music, concerts, humanitarian work and appearances worldwide."
Dawuni's critically acclaimed current album Hymns For the Rebel Soul was nominated for a prestigious NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding World Music album" as well as in the "Best Album" and "Best African Artist" categories at the forthcoming International Reggae & World Music Awards to be held in Trinidad on May 28.



Dawuni's collaboration with Bono on Bob Marley's War, No More Trouble as well as with and Blues legend Keb Mo on Peter Gabriel's Biko were both featured on Playing For Change - Songs Around the World, a Billboard Top 20 Album of 2009.
The Ghanaian star is scheduled to perform alongside the legendary Stevie Wonder with special guest Jaenelle Monae, backed by Ricky Minor at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on July 24, 2011.

PROJECT FAME ALUMNI REUNITE IN GHANA

What many thought will be a ceremonious outing for all three MTN Project Fame West Africa
winners turned out to be a reunion of some sort.
“It was so much fun seeing Kesse and Christian again, it felt like we were back at the studio,
I was really excited” Chidinma Project Fame 2010 winner disclosed after she returned from
Ghana with fellow champions Iyanya and Mike on Sunday April 10, 2011.
Chidinma Ekile, Iyanya Mbuk and Mike Anyasodo stormed Ghana in the company of their managers, publicists and MTN officials for the Ghana Music Awards, and did not only receive warm welcomes on the yellow carpet, but were also invited to Y FM.
“The highest point of the trip for me was visiting 107.9 Y FM; we met with a lot of radio
presenters. And I didn’t know we had loads of fans in Ghana, it was so much fun”



Iyanya on the other hand says, “I really had fun, we all hooked up with Damilola, this is someone I met during the competition in 2008, and I haven’t seen her since then. It’s also good to see that the music industry is booming in West Africa” They also met with Kesse, and Christian at MJ Grand Hotel where they posed for pictures and played catch up.




Other notable faces from Nigeria present at the Ghana Music awards include 2face, Sam
Onyemelukwe, Emem Ema, Ice Prince, Keke, D1 and Sunday Aare.
Up next? Sources say the trio of Iyanya, Chidinma and Mike are warming up to attending MTN South Africa Music Awards holding in a matter of weeks... Mmh, some photos from the week that was...

NIGERIAN ENTERTAINMENT TODAY (NET) TO HOST DAGRIN MEMORIAL LECTURE

As the first anniversary of the passing of Nigerian rapper Dagrin approaches, NET Newspapers LTD, publishers of Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) have announced that they’re instituting a memorial lecture in honor of the rapper who died on April 22, 2010.
A statement signed by the paper’s Publisher Ayeni Adekunle, says the reason for the memorial Lecture, is ‘obvious to us all’.
‘Dagrin died in very tragic circumstances. A young man who was full of life; who was very hardworking and very promising had his life cut short in such horrible manner. Could his death, just like that of CD John, Chidinma Mbalaso and many others have been prevented?’ Ayeni asks.
The Memorial Lecture, scheduled to hold at Protea Hotels, in Ikeja GRA, at a yet-to-be-announced date, will feature speakers from all relevant industries: security and safety; media, health and medicine, governance, entertainment, communication, management and others.
‘We’re working on getting relevant people from the FRSC, Police Force, Nigerian Medical Association, as other bodies; including representatives from the musician’s union as well as the labels, to come educate us all on what we need to know on pertinent health, safety, living, investment and other issues, using the tragic case of Dagrin as case study.
‘It is our desire that our artistes and their minders will find important lessons from this lecture; as well as all those who work within the entertainment industry. How many of us still sit behind our steering and drive even when we’ve been drinking? How many have all the relevant insurance? What can we do about the hospital policy that makes it impossible for you to get even emergency treatment unless you pay a deposit? Who benefits when you’re dead? What’s the role of the FRSC, state governments, Federal Government, Nigeria Police, PMAN, Record labels, and other institutions in all of these?’
Speakers and facilitators for the inaugural Dagrin Memorial Lecture will be announced in a few weeks.



Founded on November 23, 2009, Nigerian Entertainment Today is Nigeria’s fastest-growing entertainment, youth lifestyle and urbane culture journal.
With an aim to provide accurate, up-to-the-minute information and entertainment to audiences wherever they are, the journal started off with a website (www.thenetng.com) . The print version kicked off on April 26, 2010- four days after Dagrin’s tragic passing.
Founded by respected entertainment writer and critic Ayeni Adekunle, Nigerian Entertainment Today combines reporting from an in-house team of well-trained writer-reporters, as well as contributions from some of the finest names in Nigerian media and entertainment.
With an aim to objectively and responsibly cover the Nigerian entertainment industry, Nigerian Entertainment Today also celebrates the best of Nigerian talents with a view to enlighten, educate, entertain and inform numerous readers in Nigeria and the world as a whole.

FIDDY'S TRAILER ON NEW MOVIE THINGS FALL APART

Last year, 50 Cent lost a good 25KGs when he was filming Things Fall Apart in which he plays a University of Michigan football player.

In an interview last year with Rap-Up Magazine, 50 Cent talked about what the film means to him.
He said, “My motivation for the project was my best friend, Charles Pringle. He lived across the street from me; he actually died of cancer”.

NATE DOGG RESTS IN PEACE

Singer Nate Dogg has passed away at the age of 41. According to family members, the singer passed on Late Tuesday night (March 15). While the cause of his death remains unclear the infamous hook singer had been recovering from two massive strokes he suffered over the past years.



Meanwhile, other celebrities are sending in their condolences
Luda tweeted: "There is a certain void in hip hop's heart that can never be filled.Glad we got to make history together."

Snoop also: "We lost a true legend n hip hop n rnb. One of my best friends n a brother to me since 1986 when I was a sophomore at poly high where we met. I love u buddy luv. U will always b wit me 4ever n a day u put the g n g funk u put the 1 n 213 n u put yo stamp on evrybdy u ever didit wit. all doggs go to heaven yo homie n baby brotha bigg snoopdogg!! I miss u cuzz I am so sad but so happy I got to grow up wit u and I will c u again n heaven cuz u know d slogan."



Game wrote: "I lost a friend. Been here before. Tears. Memories. One day someone will lose "US" as well. LIVING until that day comes is our only option. R.I.P. Nate Dogg. Why does it take Death to remind us about the importance of life ??? Cherish every moment cuz tomorrow he mite call your #."



Xbit: "We love you Nate Dogg, it's never going to be the same"

Erykah Badu: Nate Dogg... freshness period. rest in beats" singer tweeted.

TOMMY HILFIGER IS IN UGANDA

Fashion guru Tommy Hilfiger is in Uganda for charity. According to New Vision, The Irish-American fashion designer is coming at the invitation of UNDP’s Millennium Villages Project to inspect a project he is funding in Insingiro District in western Uganda.
Tommy amejitolea yake yote, he has donated a cool Sh160m towards community development interventions in Uganda.
The money has also helped health units with medical supplies and drugs as well as farmers in areas of Ruhiira, Kabuyanda in Isingiro Districts.
Tomorrow, he will be in Isingiro to check out the construction of a classroom block.

IT'S NAIJA AND US COLLABO SEASON: DAREY AND CHAMILIONAIRE AND DBANJ AND KANYE

It seems like the west is looking to the west for musical inspiration. Weeks after the release of the musical collabaration between Snoop Dogg and Dbanj, a twitter exchange could be pointing towards another collabo.
Kanye West Mr I cannot be responsible for loosing my temper when I feel like it! twitted, asking Dbanj to get his Endowed assets to New York for "some work".
Kanyewest wrote:"Yo @iamdbanj and @donjazzymohits get back to NY asap there is still work to be done”.
Don Jazzy replied: "@kanyewest yes boss. See u soon”.
D’Banj replied: “iamdbanj@kanyewest oooossssheee no worries boss”.



Okay, so then, Nigerian RnB singer Darey Art Alade is preparing for his double disc album and word on the street is the album features a collaborative effort with American rapper Chamillionaire.
The two have recorded a remix to one of his singles. Sources claim the Grammy award-winning rapper Chamillionaire spiced up one of the songs sung in native Yoruba dialect. Apparently, it was Chamillionaire who contacted Darey for the remix.



Thirty one-year-old Chamillionaire - real name Hakeem Seriki - is known for his monster hit Ridin featuring Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs n Harmony.