THIS DAY TAKES OVER ABUJA!

Remember when I posted up photos of Naomi Campbell, Ozwald Boateng and This Day founder Nduka Obaigbena at a recent photo call in London? Well, the 3rd annual This Day Africa Rising festival officially took over Abuja, Nigeria with celebrity guests like Oluchi, Tyson Beckford, Rihanna, and Jay-Z.

Check out the phots via Chanel's fashion blog, Hip Candy and Natasha's YBF:

Oluchi flaunted her post-baby figure in a red Herve Leger dress while Usher showed he still got his abs in shape during his performance set. Not too long ago Nigeria named a street after Jay-Z.

Naomi, Nduka, and Ozwald held a tree planting ceremony in Abuja yesterday. The ceremony launched "The planting one million trees" in capital city to raise environmental awareness.

Photos: HIP CANDY WIREIMAGE, REUTERS, FYB

Afro/Naija Music
YouTube sensation The Naija Boyz produced another classic Nigerian remix to Lil' Wayne's "Lollipop." Try not to laugh at these talented twosome incorporating fried platians into the lyrics. This is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S to the tenth power!

The Naija boys are behind "Crank That and "Kiss, Kiss. I had to make these guys FG2BH's Naijas of the Moment! I couldn't resist...


Black Celebrity Kids scooped up this hot photo of the Obama's with Access Hollywood reporter Maria Menounos. Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha sat down with Maria to talk about their family.

That photo collage was just my excuse of posting up photos of Barack with his family! Anyhow, check out the interview here.

Afro/Naija News:

• Barack is Ebony ma's cool brother! [Genuine-Imitation]
  
• Check out this trend Jennifer Beals passed along to Tia Mowry. [Mrs. Grapevine]
  
• Somalian beauty Yasmin Warsame walks for Elie Saab Couture show. [Black Style Central]
  
• Runway photos of African models from Honorine Uwera to Maria Fuema. [NSC Fashion Network]
  
• Africa's own web radio [Unity 1960]
  
• This is what Rihanna wore at THISDAY event. [Sxy Fashion Queen]
  
• OMG, Jim Iyke! [YouTube]
  
• Omotola vs Ini Edo! [Nigerian Movies]

NELSON MANDELA'S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

TONS of Afro/Naija events went down since I last updated. So what happened??! Well I suggest that you continue reading to find out. Former South African president Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration had the who's who in Hollywood in attendance. Naomi Campbell partnerned up with Ozwald Boateng and Nduka Obaigbena for this year's ThisDay music/fashion festival in Nigeria.

Photos: WIREIMAGE

Celebrity guests at Mandela's birthday included Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Naomi Campbell, Leona Lewis, Forest Whitaker, Keisha Whitaker, Lewis Hamilton, Nicole Scherzinger, and Bill Clinton.

Best dressed couple has to be Will & Jada in Monique Lhuiller. (Denzel's wife wore a Prada skirt .) Lady O look divine and regal...but when does she not?!?

Of course Nelson's wife was right by his side during the photo sessions at London's Hype Park.

Aww...
Photos: WIREIMAGE

Nduka Obaigbena alongside Naomi Campbell (in a YSL jacket and Chloe shades) and fashion designer Ozwald Boateng had a photocall at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Nduka happens to be the media guru behind the highly successful ThisDay music festival in Nigeria. Our great friend Bella Naija has a fabulous must-see video from the photocall session. The event supported Nelson Mandela's 46664 charity organization/annual concert event.

Ozwald is best known for dressing up Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, and many others to name a few. I love that green suit of his.

Photos: WIREIMAGE

Speaking of Naomi, Stereohyped reported that there's unsettling conflict between her and Nelson. In the past, Naomi has gone on record to call Nelson her "honorary godfather". After all she has been a firm supporter of Nelson.

Thanks Black Gives Black for photos!

Nelson Mandela might be turning 90, but he still keeps up with the news. That’s why he has personally banned his (ex?) friend Naomi Campbell from making an appearance at his birthday bash. He didn’t much like how she threw a temper tantrum at the airport, and he really didn’t like that she was wearing a 46664 cap, representing Mandela’s prison number and charity, when she did it. [read more]

Hopefully if this report is true Nelson and Naomi can be put aside their differences. Maybe this ban tough love is something Naomi needs at the moment. (-shrugs shoulders-)

Barack Obama can be seen on the current cover edition of "Rolling Stone" magazine and Will Smith wants to portray him in a biopic.

(Thanks Concrete Loop!)

Will as Barack is believable right down to the ears. Don't you agree?

Check out Genevieve Nnaji and Ramsey Noah in Naija film, "Honey" over at this hot YouTube fan-made page. American black films has Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut and we have Nnaji and Noah!

Snag loads of photos of Nnaji and Noah over at ARIYA ENTERTAINMENT! (You can check me out on that site!)

Sophie Okonedo pose for Want to See More of Me portrait.

"Want to see more of me?" is a striking new series of portraits of talented and successful black British film actors by photographer Donald MacLellan, funded by the UK Film Council. [MIMI]

Read up about Sophie's portrait gig over at "MIMI" magazine.

Thandie Newton has a new film role in Guy Ritchie's "RockNRoll" and you can check out the trailer below:

Idris Elba also appears in the film according to IMDB.COM. Read up on Thandie's latest film project over at THANDIE BLOG.

Wale my new Afro male crush has a new video out for "The Artistic Integrity":

Did you know that Wale is Gbenga Akinnagbe's cousin? Gbenga is best known for his role on the HBO series, "The Wire."(Read up on Wale over at EW.COM)

UPDATE: I forgot to add these interesting photos of Idris Elba smooching Beyonce on the L.A film set of "Obsessed".

Thanks BEYONCEWORLD!

If you're keeping track, Idris has been the leading man alongside Gabrielle Union and now Beyonce Knowles. Impressive, huh?

Photos: IMDB/BEYONCEWORLD

In celebration of June being Black Music Month, check out this throwback video of Erykah Badu's hit, "Next Lifetime". I chose this video because of the location and clothing depicted by Erykah - very Afrocentric. I also enjoy the love message Erykah is singing about. Read on on the video treatment over at SOULBOUNCE.

Rants/thoughts:
So how do you like these new graphics I created in this blog post? I had to make this long update somewhat interesting to look at.
I have to say congrats to my good blogger friend Ladybrille on showcasing the many talents presented at the 2008 Nigerian Entertainment Awards.
Nigerian Bloggers I say to you keep up the great job! I see you Boutique Mix Fashion!

Afro/Naija News:

• Get suck into the undeniable fashion, glitz and glamour at the 2008 Nigerian Entertainment Awards. [LadyBrille]
  
  
• Boutique Mix Fashion takes over Côté Minou's Fashion Extravaganza. [Boutique Mix Fashion]
  
  
• Drool over African male eye candy, Poet [Cose We African Woman Are Doin & Doing It Well]
  
  
• See how you can bring back bohemian in your style selection. [I Like Her Style]
  
  
• Read up on the adventures of a good Naija girl. [Adventures of A Good Girl]
  
  
• Get ready for Blogville Idol 08[BlogVille Idol 08]
  
  
• Learn about the definition of a Nigerian. [...ishe Oluwa o le baje]
  
  
• Juliet Jones becomes Queen Nigeria [Abuja Walkabout]
  
  
• Discussion: Would you divorce your African Wife if she can't cook? [yankeenaijachick]
  
  
• Enter the mind of Ngo [19 Years of Ngo's Thoughts]
  
  
• Find out why this site is my latest guilty pleasure! [Ariztos Magazine]

Nduka Obaigbena at Kimora Lee Simmons's After Party for the Joint Baby Phat Fashions Show, “From Russia With Love.”

Nduka Obaigbena and Lil Kim posing for the cameras in NYC last night.

Ola Joshua, Nduka Obaigbena and Janice Combs

Coco, Ice T and Nduka Obaigbena

Quick Facts about Nduka:
He is THISDAY founding Editor-in-Chief and Chairman.

Attended prestigious Edo College, Benin City, Nigeria.

He had a brief stint with Newsweek Magazine in 1984 as a Special Section Representative.

In 1994, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Conference, which drafted the current Nigerian Constitution.

[credit:THISDAYonline.com]

WHY NDUKA IS FAMOUS....

THISDAY Online is the 'famous' Nigerian publication that printed hateful things about the nation of Islam in regards to the Miss World Pagent. (It's one thing to have an opinion and it's another to use your opinion to say hateful things.)
Mike Chinedu Anekwe of Nigeriaworld described the historical event as follows:
'Again, on Saturday, November 16, 2002, the newspaper published a story on the Miss World Beauty Pageant. It was titled “The World at their Feet”. Some Muslims considered some part of the article “offensive and blasphemous” and denigrating to the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW). Miss Isioma Daniel, the article’s author, had written : “The Muslims thought it was immoral to bring ninety-two women to Nigeria and ask them to revel in vanity. What would Muhammad think? In all honesty, he would probably have chosen a wife from among them”.

Hence, on Wednesday, November 20, 2002, riots broke out in Kaduna and the Thisday office in Kaduna was set on fire by some Muslim youths. The day’s paper was also burnt at its Circulation Annex office. The Muslim youths, chanting anti-Miss World slogan went round the city, brandishing dangerous weapons and shouting Allah Akbar (God is Greatest). The protest continued even on Thursday and Friday, even spreading to the Federal Capital Territory. Not only that, a Fatwa (Death Sentence) was said to have been passed on the publisher, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena and Editor, Eniola Bello (Eni-B), courtesy of the protesters. More than a hundred lives is said to have been lost in the incident, with the burning of houses, churches and mosques.
[credit: nigerianworld.com]

For more information on Nduka, visit This Day Online here.