Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

News on Barack, Chasity & Estelle

To my FG2BH readers, I hope you all enjoyed the long Thanksgiving weekend. Can you believe it's already December?! For those in the NYC area, have you check out the window displays on 5th Avenue yet? Beautiful, huh?! Anyhow onto the post...
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President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle share the dual covers of Essence magazine. The Obama are featured separately on the January 2009 edition. Anyone else going to D.C. this January?



Read the full blog post here to see The New Yorker Obama satire cover.


Chasity Nwagbara, Nigerian composer and vocalist recorded a track with Busta Rhymes called "World Go Round." Remember her vocals and songwriting contributions on Jennifer Lopez's last album, "Brave"??! Well Chasity simply goes by her first time now. (Thanks for the tip, Uloma!)


That's not Chasity in the photo with Busta but actress Gabrielle Union. It's a screen shot taken from Busta's "I Love My Chick" music video.

Read the full blog post here to find out what other artists Chasity collaborated with.



Estelle (in Sonia Rykiel) performed at Indigo 2 with a new longer hairstyle but do you love her outfit and 'do?


Read the full blog post here to see Estelle's ever-changing hairstyles.


I'll leave you all with this hot South African song called "Tiki Tiki" by Phinda Mtya.



c/o FG2BH at Wordpress!

Friday, November 28, 2008

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!
MTV Africa Music Awards 2008
Read the full blog post here.



THISDAY presents "ARISE" magazine with Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell & Alek Wek on the cover.
Liya Kebede Naomi Campbell and Alek Wek for Arise Magazine The Africa Issue 2008
Read the full blog post here.


Alek Wek vs Liya Kebede in Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi: Who got IT better?
Alek Wek vs Liya Kebede in Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi
Read the full blog post here.


MAMA Africa Laid To Rest in South Africa.
MAMA Africa Laid To Rest
Read the full blog post here.


Thanks Alicia Keys! Click the photo to see why.

Thanks Alicia Keys


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

Oluchi and Ugo in Vogue December 2008
Read the full blog post here.

Monday, November 10, 2008

R.I.P. Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba ("Mama Africa"/"Empress of African Song") passed away from a heart attack after a concert in southern Italy late Sunday. She was only 76 according to Yahoo's OMG Blog. Miriam helped bring African music to a global audience ever since the 1960's.



Just last month I did a blog post on Miriam's breakthrough hit, "Pata Pata." Oh so sad news indeed!

Miriam was also known as anti-apartheid activist and she died after her concert which was against organized crime. Below is a clip of Miriam and Alicia Keys performing at the World AIDS Day back in the day.



"Pata Pata"


Miriam Makeba will be missed - R.I.P!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

MIRIAM MAKEBA - "PATA PATA" VIDEO FLASHBACK


I caught this clip of South African singer Miriam Makeba's "Pata Pata" on The Africa Channel. (Can you tell I'm hooked on The Africa Channel yet?) "Pata Pata" was a HUGE hit back in South Africa in 1956 before creating US buzz in 1967. I know a few friends that play this song like it came out yesterday. The catchy beat and melody just hooks you in. Did you know that 2000 verison has a cameo from Miriam's granddaughter? Check it out...


Check out another performance of "Pata Pata" at VARA TV-studios in Holland, 1979. The little girl that joined Miriam on stage is her granddaughter Zenzi whose mother Bongi Makeba is the backgrouund singer in the blue dress.


I couldn't find the 2000 video on YouTube but I did find this 2007 performance. Rumor has it that Miriam's grandson is playing the drums in the following clip...



All About Miriam Makeba:

Thursday, June 26, 2008

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:


Friday, March 07, 2008

THAT CATWALK SWAGGER

DJIMON AND KIMORA


One of our favorite couples (Djimon and Kimora) made their love official with a little bit of public display of affection. I sincerely believe these two balance each other out. After all Kimora famously remarked in a Harper's Bazaar interview that Djimon "... a reality check for me, and I'm a fabulosity check for him." To keep in mind that Djimon said in the same interview that Kimora's "... "least high-maintenance lady I've ever dated".





Boris Kodjoe made his Broadway debut showed up for the Broadway premiere of "Cat on A Tin Roof"...and I somehow have to go catch this play in between his run which starts from April 15 through May 22! Apparently Boris' gorgeous wife, Nicole Ari Parker, let him have the shine on opening night. The twosome celebrated his new gig via dinner at the Waverly Inn restaurant with actor Terrence Howard who Boris will replace.



Charlize Theron, who by the way was born in South Africa, went to the "Sleepwalking" premiere. Charlize and her boyfriend Stuart Townsend attended the the 1st Hollywood Domino Tournament hosted by De Grisogono at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
So I've been on a Toni Braxton-video watching craze. So imagine my surprise when I caught this video of Toni and Seal singing to one another:

Nice isn't it?

Photos: Urban-Hoopla/Concrete Loop/Splash News/WENN/Wireimage