Afro/Naija News Catch-Up

Without further deplay, here's what I've been up to on my new blog, FG2BH.

The first ever (MAMA) kicked off in Abuja, Nigeria last week!

Read the full blog post here.

THISDAY presents "ARISE" magazine with Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell & Alek Wek on the cover.

Read the full blog post here.

Alek Wek vs Liya Kebede in Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi: Who got IT better?

Read the full blog post here.

MAMA Africa Laid To Rest in South Africa.

Read the full blog post here.

Thanks Alicia Keys! Click the photo to see why.

Oluchi Onweagba introduces her son Ugo Orlandi to "Vogue" fashion.

Read the full blog post here.

Updates on Oluchi & Barack

Barack & Michelle Obama's "60 Minutes" Interview - did you catch it?

Read the full blog post here.

Herve Leger Fashion Face-Off: Oluchi, Star or Cassie?

Read the full blog post here.

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]

OLUCHI ONWEAGABA'S POST-BABY LOOK

Oluchi Onweagaba pose for the 2008 swimsuit edition of "Sports Illustrated". This photospread comes fresh off the news of her baby arrival. Oluchi and her designer husband Luca Orlandi welcomed a baby boy named Ugo last year.

If you compare last year's photosoot to this year, Oluchi does NOT look like she pop a baby!

Shot on the sandy beaches of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Oluchi pose for SI photographer Randall Grant. (And she pose happily with her wedding ring, I might add.)

[Photo credit: SI.COM]

That modeling swagger is undeniable, isn't?! The fabulous folks over at Naija Gal has a behind-the-scenes clip of Oluchi on the beach set. In the meanwhile, check Oluchi in a yummy yellow dress at Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Launch in NYC:

[Photos: WIREIMAGE via Bella Naija]

Related links on Oluchi Onweagaba's SI 2008 look:

• 2007 Sports Ilustrated Swimsuit Gallery - SI.COM
  
• Oluchi SI 2007 in Elvis Presley's hometown, Mempshis
  
• 2008 Sports Ilustrated Swimsuit Gallery featuring Mrs. Oluchi Onweagaba-Orlandi - SI.COM
  
• 2008 Sports Ilustrated Swimsuit Behind-The-
• Scenes Footage featuring Mrs. Oluchi Onweagaba-Orlandi - SI.COM
  
• OLUCHI.COM

And so from one fabulous fashion-forward diva to the next...

Thandie Newton has clearly proven that a girl cannot wear one too many black ensembles...

[photo credit: wireimage]

Whether Thandie's outfit has black or lace, she has consistently wore it on her past four catwalk gigs. Maybe Thandie's experiencing the same style runt that Estelle also has going on??!

[photo credit: wireimage]

Songs I'm Loving at the moment:
Janet Jackson - Discipline
Once you get past the lyrical content of Janet's slow ballad, the melody is so addictive.
Brandy - Necessary
Brandy grooves over this Cee-Lo produced track which happens to be one of my faves off Brandy's last record, "Afrodisac".
I rotate these two songs back and forth on my iPOD.

Events that went down on April 7th:

• 1927 - Babatunde Olatunji, Nigerian drummer (d. 2003)

Jin-go-lo-ba (Olantunji's song - Santana famously covered it) at Palookaville in Santa Cruz, California. [YOUTUBE.COM]

Afro/Naija news:

• TINA jots down her real-life experiences.
  
• LAGOS LIVE is another weblog that puts together the work of Naija blogspots in one spot.
  
• NAIJA GAL made a "Who's The Hottest First Lady in Africa" list.
  
• NAIJA BLOG takes you on a trip around Nigeria.

I don't say this often but thanks for all the positive feedback you provided FG2BH with since its Oct. '06 launch. All the e-mails and comments are very much appreciated.

KODAK MOMENTS OF NAIJAS AND AFRICANS

As 2007 is winding down to a end, here's a handful of Africans and Nigerians making it in the entertainment world.


Fashion designer Ozwald Boateng with his wife Guynel Boateng at The Gulf Co-operation Council Trophy.


Victoria's Secret Model Oluchi hanging out backstage at THISDAY concert with Fergie.


Actress Freema Agyeman looking pretty at 2007 Monte Carlo Television Festival.


Academy Award-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou with his girlfriend Kimora Lee Simmons at Opening Of Mediterranean Village At Sandals Antigua Resort.


Comedian Godfrey and actress Naja Hill at The VH1 Vibe Awards Special Nominee Party hosted by Bombay Sapphire at Element night club.


Dancer Celestina (far right) with Claudia Jordan and Tatyana Ali BET Awards 2007


Video vixen Angel Lola Luv (in D&G) at "The Perfect Holiday" Party at Marquee Nightclub.


Runway and M.A.C model Alek Wek at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.


Iman and David Bowie at The 4th Annual "Black Ball"Concert for "Keep A Child Alive".


Liya Kebede and Naomi Campbell at "Blacks in Fashion: A Panel Discussion on the Lack of Black Images in Today's Fashion Output".


Thandie Newton with her husband Ol Parker at Tiffany tree lighting at Somerset House.


Boris Kodjoe with his wife Nicole Ari Parker (who met on the set of "Soul Food") at Puma Urban Mobility Party.


Barack Obama gets support from Oprah Winfrey while his wife Michelle Obama looks on during a rally held at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.


Nelson Mandela is surrounded by Naomi Campbell and Graca Machel at the Press Conference for the 46664 World AIDS Day Concert at Gallagher Estate.

Photos: wireimage

[feels good 2 b home]