We're still a long way from the Africa we want to be

I have listened and watched with great amusement in recent months as African leaders foamed at the mouth about Nato's military operation in Libya

The Libyan conflict, over whose spilt milk so many tears are being cried, is a classic case in point.

When the Libyan uprising began, Gaddafi did not hesitate to unleash his security forces on the population. When the uprising turned into a full-blown armed rebellion, he became even more brutal.

Just exactly what African solution would have prevented Gaddafi from butchering his people is a great mystery.

The fact is that the only way the mad man of the Maghreb could have been stopped was through force. The African Union's road map was a noble attempt to deal with the crisis but it was too late, and unrealistic. It assumed the person being dealt with was a normal guy who could be reasoned with and who would accept the outcome of a negotiation that would most likely have seen him cede power and accept democracy in his country.

For 42 years Gaddafi had run Libya like the lunatic asylum to which he should long since have been committed. Instead of being shunned by the continent, he was applauded and hailed as a hero in many countries. This was because he mouthed empty and angry rhetoric at the West and - more crucially - lined the pockets of Africa's political leaders and royalty.

Those who did not take him seriously simply laughed at him behind his back but gave him the necessary head-of-state dues when in front of him. No matter how much the opponents of the Nato action shout and scream, we will never get away from the fact that the action was necessary to rid Libya of an evil lunatic.

There will be another Libya some time in the not-too-distant future. The Western powers will march into a country or aid the citizens in removing a despotic government. African leaders and intellectuals will again complain about imperialism. And this will happen until Africa learns to take herself seriously.

Good governance is not enough

We live in the best of times, but great challenges lie ahead. Service delivery protests are but one indication of how far we still have to go. At the core of these and other protests, is a demand by citizens for corruption to be eliminated; for leaders to behave fairly, and; that organizations and policies are set up on ethical foundations.

There is an obvious discrepancy between what has been achieved in terms of deliverance by public institutions, and what is expected by the public. Society is not satisfied with the current performance outcomes. Nowadays, the media’s reach has grown exponentially with the rise of social networks. Thus public awareness of government’s positive and negative achievements is greater than ever. With greater awareness, the communities’ expectations rise. These expectations must be met. No-one is willing to compromise.

If expectations are to be met, leaders must be exemplars of good governance. Good governance is more than just the existence of an efficient public sector. It calls for fair and responsible institutions that respect human being and their civil liberties. Although necessary, good governance is not sufficient. Leaders must behave in an ethical manner. Government structures must be fully accountable to their populace. The public must have the opportunity to participate in decision making that affects their lives. At the very least, decision making processes should be transparent. Leaders must also report back to their constituents. The reasoning underlying decisions taken on behalf of and for the benefit of the people should be communicated. Leaders should prove they are servants to the people. They should lead by example.

People have spoken and they continue to speak. People are calling for a government that will be accountable to its citizens. Are we listening? What is our response to their demand for corruption to be eradicated? A corruption free government will be better able to communicate and answer to the need of the poorest member of the society. Human security and poverty reduction will be achieved. 

However, this is not a role only to be played out by government. Every single one of us has the potential to be effective individuals if we conduct ourselves in an ethical manner. We all need to start leading ourselves. We need to be leaders who are brave, visible and communicate at all times. Good Governance is a process which cannot be shaped by legislature alone. It requires a transformation of culture. We need leaders who are dedicated to building an environment where ethics and appropriate regulation will be encouraged.

Corruption in 3rd world Countries

Corruption in Africa can be overcome. Period.  But how? Simple! By having outstanding leaders in the community. This can only be achieved if we start at the grassroots level. In other words, with our children. The right upbringing for a child brings wonders to the child themselves, family, community, country and Africa at large.

Today Africa is covered with corrupt leaders. Not a day goes by during which you don’t read something about how corrupt the continent of Africa and its leaders are, from the “little” leader at school to the “big” leader of a country. The citizens of the continent of Africa are forced to pay bribes left, right and centre in order to get by. So, with money, however little it might be, and as long as you are willing to part with it, there is very little that you can’t achieve.  If you can afford it, you can go a long way. To the poor who can’t, their fate is forever sealed. Unfortunately, the latter are the majority. With this happening each and every day of their lives, how does one expect the poor to ever develop?

Corruption in Africa has been going on for centuries, even during the slave trade when the traditional rulers would sell their own people for their own interest.  Since then nothing has really changed. It is just that, due to Western infiltration, Africans are becoming more educated and thus aware of this foul play. Most African leaders are power hungry and greedy. 

When they come into a leadership role they put themselves and their immediate family first rather than the interests of the country. They forget that they are there to serve us – the people who put them in that position in the first place and the same people who can bring them down too. I don’t have to name any names because you already know who they are.

Can it also be argued that most African leaders are bound to be corrupt because of the poor background they come from? Many steal as much wealth and plunder as many assets as they can before they are deposed from power. Whatever the case, it does not give them the right to oppress the poor by making themselves richer at the expense of everyone else.  What happened to throwing someone a little bone, or you scratch my back and I will scratch yours? (I am not encouraging this.) What about sharing? After all, that land that you are stealing from is my land too!

Corruption in Third World countries will be very difficult to eradicate if the mentality and the perception of the people and leaders does not change. A solution to this problem, I think, should be to allow every leader a maximum of two terms in office because the longer they stay in power, the more they instill fear and oppress their people.

So to reiterate, corruption in Africa can be overcome by having outstanding leaders in the community, starting with our children. Without a more rapid change, it will take Africa another century to eradicate corruption that has become so embedded within our society.

Still in seventh heaven – sorry Arsenal, the eighth!

With apologies to Manchester United AND Arsenal fans, I cannot make any further comments. That 8-2 thumping of the Gooners at the Theatre of Dreams had simply left me in seventh– SORRY, 8th heaven! The incredible events at Old Trafford on Sunday August 28, 2011 will never, EVER be forgotten in the annals of English football. 

It must be said however that manager Arsene Wenger has to stay at the Emirates because there’s nobody better to replace him. But hang on, I just remembered that Rafa Benitez is available AND desperate for a Premier League job. Now that’s an interesting thought for the many despondent Arsenal fans!

It makes you wonder how major club managers can possibly juggle the commitments of their admittedly large squads. Just look at what Sir Alex Ferguson is up against for the rest of this year following Sundays home clash with Arsenal.

It’s enough to give anyone nightmares as key players travel across the world for international duties on no less than three occasions. That’s on top of a heavy domestic and Champion League schedule but Sir Alex is of course not the only one facing this dilemma

The best of you

Thank God it’s Monday! What is possible for you? Do you have latent talents that you haven’t tapped into yet?

President Kennedy confidently declared, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills. 

Because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

Declare an impossible vision for yourself, and then watch who you have to become to make it possible. What is possible for you?

Have a great Monday!

Are men roles changing in the 21st Century?

The traditional roles of men and women were established to ensure the power of the head of household. Historically speaking, that head of household was always male. But the rapidly developing world has brought about many changes into the traditional roles of both men and women. We have been socialized to expect men to be brave, industrious and domineering, whereas women have been expected to be submissive, timid and nurturing. Nowadays, however, women do not have to rely on their husbands anymore to provide a financial support for the home and in many cases they become breadwinners and head of the home themselves. Thus, these changes have resulted in male losing his image and ego as the dominant gender in society.

First of all, it is not possible to talk about the changing role of men without mentioning the transformation that the female role has come through. The contemporary social situation was caused in large degree by women anticipation and making them more “equal” to men. Females are not forced to stay at home nursing children and making diners, they are free to go to work and pursue a successful career. And even if a woman chances to bear a child, now she is encouraged to return to work as early as possible and in fact reproved if she does not. 

Therefore, in many cases men are expected to take over the duties of a housewife. Before long, it is men who do the everyday laundry, prepare children for school and pick them up afterwards and cook especially if a woman’s career happens to be more successful and profitable. Hence, the purpose of men as the 'alpha male', provider and protector within the family unit and the community as a whole, has become obscured and belittled. The vision between roles of men and women has become blurred, leaving modern men in a state of bewilderment.

It is also key to look at the way in which the role of man as strong and masculine has become cliché. Brutal, strong and ruthless men were long ago vigorously condemned. However, the new type of a man – gentle, sensitive, caring, grooming himself, not being afraid of giving vent to his feelings, a man who, when in need, will put on his shoulders the burden of taking care of house and children – still evokes mixed feelings due to making the impression of being too feminine. There are however opinions that men simply live up to the women’s expectations. According to the recently survey carried out,  men were asked what it meant  to be a man in the 21st century, and “more than half think that society try to feminize them, turning them into waxed and coiffed metro sexuals.  52 per cent of men say they  have to live according to women's rules.

In consequence, when seeking some ideal to conform to, boys tend to choose the person that guides them throughout most of their lives, and who unsurprisingly often happens to be the mother. Accordingly, men are desperately needed in all aspects of society to provide the male perspective. Modern society has seen women taking up jobs which were in the past years reserved only for men. Men also go for jobs earmarked for women, such as dancers, hairdressers, even beauticians, and very often happen to be very successful. This does not mean that they are gay or effeminate. This is just another aspect of the evolution of society and meeting the needs of professional tolerance.

All in all, the male role has not changed drastically in contemporary society. Looking from the angle of functionality, it is men in who we rest our hopes for holding power and solving everyday life issues. For this reason the majority of population still considers men the only breadwinners even though the reality evolved to the extent that is not necessarily true. Men's behavior has changed, as well as their lifestyles and their roles might also have gone some major transformations.

Greetings!

Well I guess it had to happen at some point…  Tying myself down to actually setting up a blog terminal as opposed to behaving like a cuckoo bird on various sites.  Here I am, years after flirting with various sites and forums, making friends as well as enemies in the social web world and I’ve made more friends! Such is the pace and life we now lead

Anyway, reason why I’m now tapping away on here is because a friend of mine encouraged me to become a resident blogger on this site. Many thanks to the radio Queen Janice Njiru who hosts the morning breakfast @984capitalinthemorning

I’m honoured to have my blog where I can share my thoughts about general things and many many more! I needed to have a website…where blogger.com came into play.  I've heard about it a while back but I’m usually operating at a snail pace when it comes to getting things done.  Beside, it’s much more easier to just gatecrash other people’s sites and leave snide comments that you don’t have an obligation to return back to or even cultivate. hahahaha!

Since I’m stealing time from my lunch break to write this, I’m going to keep this on pause for now… in the hope that (serious hope) that I return to finish off what I intended to say in my greetings to you. Until later on… I have a conference up some place in the City that I’m supposed to be organizing and it's peaking with the delegates beginning to fly in from all over!

The Development Set by Ross Coggins

Its interesting how a poem written in 1976 can make so much sense of the world we live in today!

The Development Set  by Ross Coggins

“Adult Education and Development” September 1976

Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet
I’m off to join the Development Set;
My bags are packed, and I’ve had all my shots
I have traveller’s checks and pills for the trots!

The Development Set is bright and noble
Our thoughts are deep and our vision global;
Although we move with the better classes
Our thoughts are always with the masses.

In Sheraton Hotels in scattered nations
We damn multi-national corporations;
injustice seems easy to protest
In such seething hotbeds of social rest.

We discuss malnutrition over steaks
And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.
Whether Asian floods or African drought,
We face each issue with open mouth.

We bring in consultants whose circumlocution
Raises difficulties for every solution –
Thus guaranteeing continued good eating
By showing the need for another meeting.

The language of the Development Set
Stretches the English alphabet;
We use swell words like “epigenetic”
“Micro”, “macro”, and “logarithmetic”

It pleasures us to be esoteric –
It’s so intellectually atmospheric!
And although establishments may be unmoved,
Our vocabularies are much improved.

When the talk gets deep and you’re feeling numb,
You can keep your shame to a minimum:
To show that you, too, are intelligent
Smugly ask, “Is it really development?”

Or say, “That’s fine in practice, but don’t you see:
It doesn’t work out in theory!”
A few may find this incomprehensible,
But most will admire you as deep and sensible.

Development set homes are extremely chic,
Full of carvings, curios, and draped with batik.
Eye-level photographs subtly assure
That your host is at home with the great and the poor.
Enough of these verses – on with the mission!
Our task is as broad as the human condition!
Just pray God the biblical promise is true:
The poor ye shall always have with you

“Adult Education and Development” September 1976

AFROTAINMENT MUSEKE ONLINE MUSIC AWARDS 2011

The cream of the African music industry will gather at an Afro-glam red carpet event at the Afrotainment Studio in New York to recognize African talent as award winners are announced and celebrated. The Afrotainment Museke Online Africa Music Awards will be multi-casted Live on the Afrotainment family of channels nationwide in the US and will also be viewable online at awards.afrotainment.us

The Afrotainment Museke Online African Music Awards (Moamas) is currently in its second year and features more than 30 categories covering Africa and the Diaspora. The awards, which will be announced via an event at Afrotainment's New York studios on Sept. 24, joins the two other major pan-African music awards on the continent -- the three-year-old MTV Africa Music Awards (Mamas) and the Channel O Music Video Awards which are based out of Johannesburg.

The Afrotainment Museke Online African Music Awards are built on the belief in bringing together Africans through music exchange, and as such, the African Collaboration category is aimed at recognising efforts made by artists to collaborate with other artists outside of their own country borders. Now more than ever, African artists are making more and more efforts to collaborate cross-borders and cross-genres, with amazing and increasingly popular results, and Afrotainment Museke Online African Music Awards strongly believe in being proactive about acknowledging and rewarding such efforts.

Voting Process and Awards Show
Fans of African music are invited to take part in the Afrotainment Museke Online African Music Awards by voting for their favourite and artists they feel are most deserving of honours in the various categories from 10 August 2011 until 18 September 2011, when voting will close. Voting will take place on the awards’ website, www.moamas.com. The awards’ show will be hosted and broadcast from Afrotainment’s New York studios on September 24 2011, where African music fans will gather and get down to the beats of some of the most popular African artists as they provide the soundtrack to the celebration of the finest talent that the African continent has to offer.

wondering who am voting for? Stefan Ludik a good friend of mine and a former representative in Big Brother Africa season one. LUDIK has taken the South African music industry by storm with his latest album Burn This town (Sony Music). His latest song Black Girl, White Boy has been nominated for the MOAMAs Awards, in the General group, Alternative song category. His rapid rise in fame has ensured him to become a music festival favorite! 

Like his facebook fan page Stefan Ludik and get to know more about his Music!

Alternative song 

Black Girl White Boy - Ludik - Namibia
Mikono kwenye hewa - Muthoni - Kenya
Something about you - Liquideep - South Africa
Zambezi - Tinashe - Zimbabwe
Ha- He (Makmende) - Just A Band - Kenya
Jezebel - Professor - South Africa
Let’s fall in love again - DJ Kent - South Africa

Artiste of the year -
2Face Idibia -Nigeria
Fally Ipupa - DRC
Asa - Nigeria
Maurice Kirya - Uganda
Viviane Ndour - Senegal
Kidumu - Burundi
Professor - South Africa

Male artiste of the year -
2Face Idibia -Nigeria
Fally Ipupa - DRC
Maurice Kirya - Uganda
D’Banj - Nigeria
Professor - South Africa
DJ Arafat - Cote d’Ivoire
Kidumu - Burundi

Female artiste of the year -
Nneka - Nigeria
Asa - Nigeria
Viviane Ndour - Senegal
Juliana Kanyomozi - Uganda
Patience Dabany - Gabon
Angelique Kidjo - Benin
Neyma - Mozambique

Group of the year
Liquideep - South Africa
Freshlyground - South Africa
P-Square - Nigeria
Goodlyfe - Uganda
TearGas - South Africa
Toofan - Togo
P-Unit - Kenya

New Artiste
Cabo Snoop - Angola
Diamond - Tanzania
Ice Prince - Nigeria
Jay Ghartey - Ghana
Mo’Cheddah - Nigeria
L-Tido - South Africa
Wizkid - Nigeria

Best album -
Fabrics of the heart - Liquideep - South Africa
Beautiful Imperfection - Asa - Nigeria
Radio Africa - Freshlyground - South Africa
Progress - VIP - Ghana
African Revolution - Tiken Jah Fakoly - Cote d’Ivoire
MI2 - MI - Nigeria
Presidents d’Afrique - Didier Awadi - Senegal

Most popular song -
Jukpa remix - J Martins/Fally Ipupa - Nigeria
Oleku - Ice Prince - Nigeria
Sexy Dance - Fally Ipupa - DRC
E no easy - P-Square - Nigeria
African Girls - Castro/Asamoah Gyan - Ghana
Ce magik - Toofan - Togo
Windeck - Cabo Snoop - Angola

Best music video
Bang it all - Paul G - Angola
Moza girl - Dama do Bling - Mozambique
Sama champion - Viviane Ndour - Senegal
Only Me - 2Face - Nigeria
Chicken to Change - Freshlyground - South Africa
My lady - Jay Ghartey - Ghana
Stars fall Down - Parlotones - South Africa

Best African Collabo
Jukpa remix - J Martins/Fally Ipupa - Nigeria/DRC
Toi et ta vie - Yvonne/Dama Do Bling - Kenya/Mozambique
12500 Volts - Dibi Dobo/DJ Arafat/Kamnouze - Benin/Cote d’Ivoire
Bang it all - Paul G/Akon - Angola/Senegal
Kiss your hand remix - R2Bees/Wande Coal - Ghana/Nigeria
Songa mbele - Alpha/AY - Rwanda/Tanzania
Nwa Baby remix - Flavour Nabania/Asem/Stone - Nigeria/Ghana

Record of the year -
Only Me - 2Face - Nigeria
One day - Eldee - Nigeria
Ayamaah - Morale - South Africa
Dans mon rêve - Didier Awadi - Senegal

I will sing - Maurice Kirya - Uganda
7 wonders - Bkay & Kazz - Zimbabwe
Bayi yoon - Daara J Family - Senegal

Voter’s choice
Ma preferee - Omar B - Togo
Landale beat - Kibistone - DRC
So Pwaa - CPWaa - Tanzania
Dancehall Attitude - Lord Kemy - Guinea
Feel me - Rachel K - Uganda
In my head - Jon Germain - Ghana
So in Love - Moh Dediouf - Senegal

Audio producer -
Don Jazzy - Nigeria
Bebe Philip - Cote d’Ivoire
Hermy B - Tanzania
Ulopa - Kenya
RKay - Kenya
37mph - South Africa
Killbeatz - Ghana

Video director -
Clarence Peters - Nigeria
Adam Juma - Tanzania
Ogopa Video - Kenya
Gorilla Films - South Africa
Gelongal - Senegal
DJ Marcel - Mozambique
Jeff Attiogbe - Togo

DJ of the year -
DJ Edu - Nigeria
DJ Black - Ghana
DJ MixmasterBrown - Nigeria
DJ Fully Focus - Kenya
DJ Waxxy - Nigeria
Eric Soul - Rwanda
DJ Fresh - South Africa

West Africa song
Oleku - Ice Prince - Nigeria
Ce Magik - Toofan - Togo
Kiss your hand - R2Bees - Ghana
E no easy - P-Square - Nigeria
Fima tollu - Viviane Ndour - Senegal
Jukpa remix - J Martins - Nigeria
African girls - Castro - Ghana

North Africa
Ya Ana ya ya Mefish - Tamer Hosny - Egypt
Nzour Nabra - Jalal El Hamdaoui - Algeria
Jokko - Ahmed Soultan - Morocco
Be winner - Fnaire ft Samira Said - Morocco
Whowa - Oum - Morocco
Laayoune Ayniya - Douzi - Morocco
Sahbi - Cheb Bilal - Algeria

Central Africa -
Sexy dance - Fally Ipupa - DRC
Ça La - Lady Ponce - Cameroun
Six millions y’a ba souci - Papa Wemba - DRC
Zazou - Ferre Gola - DRC
On vous connais - Patience Dabany - Gabon
Sango - Idylle Mamba - Central African Republic
Nakozanga - Lokua Kanza - DRC

East Africa
Nitafanya - Kidumu - Burundi
Kare - P-Unit - Kenya
Songa mbele - Alpha - Rwanda
Mbagala - Diamond - Tanzania
Gaarsiiya - Ikraan Caraale - Somalia
Haturudi nyuma - Juliana K - Uganda
Kasepiki - Bebe Cool - Uganda

Southern Africa -
Windeck - Cabo Snoop - Angola
Kapiiripiiri - JK - Zambia
Fire is low - Freshlyground - South Africa
Mhlomo Wami - TearGas - South Africa
Jezebel - Professor - South Africa
Ilusao - Neyma - Mozambique
Happy song - Fisherman - South Africa

Diaspora song
Zambezi - Tinashe - Zimbabwe
Voce me da - Clarisse Albrecht - Cameroun
Rebound Chick - Nelson Freitas - Cape Verde
Bien plus fort que mes mots - Kaysha - DRC
Kilimanjaro - Shingai Shoniwa (Noisettes) - Zimbabwe
My love - Tolumide - Nigeria
Zamounda - La Selesao - DRC

Hip hop song -
Oleku - Ice Prince - Nigeria
Show dem - Jr - South Africa
Ten over ten - Naeto C  - Nigeria
Get on the dancefloor - D-Black
Karaboss - GPro - Mozambique
Dans mon rêve - Didier Awadi - Senegal
We rollin - L-Tido - South Africa

R&B/Soul -
Holla at ya boy - Wizkid - Nigeria
Kele Kele Love - Tiwa Savage - Nigeria
Haturudi Nyuma - Juliana K - Uganda
Mbagala - Diamond - Tanzania
Wrong for you - Loyiso - South Africa
Remember - Bracket - Nigeria
Je la veux - Singuila - Central African Republic

Zouk/Kizomba song -
Bien plus fort que mes mots - Kaysha - DRC
Ilusao - Neyma ft Grace Evora - Mozambique
Rebound Chick - Nelson Freitas - Cape Verde
Vai dar bum - Ary - Angola
Proibido - Djodje - Cape Verde
Injusta - Yola Semedo - Angola
Amour a 2, amour a vie - Sergeo Polo - Cameroun

Religious/Gospel song -
Kupe De Kalle - Daddy Owen - Kenya
Baba - Sonnie Badu - Ghana
Papa God Ooh - MOG - Kenya
A e phetehe thato ya hao - Kabelo Eric - Botswana
Kiatu Kivue - Rose Muhando/Anastasia Mukabwa  - Tanzania
Covenant song - Rebecca & Uche - Nigeria
Uyahalalela - Benjamin Dube - South Africa

Dancehall song -
Heart attack (Vuvuzela) - Goodlyfe - Uganda
Plantain boy - Timaya - Nigeria
Kasepiki - Bebe Cool - Uganda
Musarova Bigman - Winky D - Zimbabwe
Data - Proff - Kenya
Potential remix - General Ozzy - Zambia
Sweet mistake - Samini - Ghana

Reggae song -
African reggae fever - Rocky Dawuni - Ghana
Marley - Youssou Ndour - Senegal
Je dis non - Tiken Jah Fakoly - Ivory Coast
Jokko - Ahmed Soultan - Morocco
Clueless - Jah Seed - Zimbabwe
Sex message - Jay Arr - Sierra Leone
Viva Africa - Nneka - Nigeria

Afro-pop -
Songa mbele - Alpha - Rwanda
E no easy - P-Square - Nigeria
African girls - Castro - Ghana
Mr. Endowed - D’Banj - Nigeria
Implication - 2Face Idibia - Nigeria
Shoga - Shaa - Tanzania
Chokoza - Avril & Marya - Kenya

Afro hip-hop song -
Kare - P-Unit - Kenya
Aha ye de - Nana Boroo - Ghana
Mhlobo Wami - TearGas - South Africa
Independence Cha cha - Baloji - DRC
Kama si sisi - Juliani - Kenya
Mkono mmoja - Chege & Temba - Tanzania
Away - VIP - Ghana

Acoustic song -
Mnine da rua ma mim - Cordas do Sol - Cape Verde
Boda boda - Maurice Kirya - Uganda
Samahani - Dobet Gnahore - Cote d’Ivoire
Prayer to the Saint of the Broken Hearted - Somi - Rwanda
Nhi Ngugu Haladza - Tania Tome - Mozambique
Deeqa - Aar Maanta - Somalia
Nakozanga - Lokua Kanza - DRC

Afro-fusion -
Be my man - Asa - Nigeria
Move on up - Angelique Kidjo - Benin
Fire is low - Freshlyground - South Africa
Voce me da - Clarisse Albrecht - Cameroun
Ma Jolie - Abd Al Malik - DRC
Did I? - Lagbaja - Nigeria
Saka Manje - Audius - Zimbabwe

Afro-rhyhtms song -
Ta sair male - Puto Portugues - Angola
Sexy Dance - Fally Ipupa - DRC
Six Million ya ba souci - Papa Wemba - DRC
Ça La - Lady Ponce -  Cameroon
Fima Tollu - Viviane Ndour - Senegal
Magnaraha zah - Tence Mena - Madagascar
Xitchuketa Marrabenta - Stewart Sukuma - Mozambique

Tribal House song -
Windeck - Cabo Snoop - Angola
Ce Magik - Toofan - Togo
Djéssimidjéka - DJ Arafat - Ivory Coast
Zamounda - La Selesao - DRC
Kupe De Kalle - Daddy Owen - Kenya
Happy song - DJ Fisherman - South Africa
Zekete Zekete - Anges d’Afrik - DRC

Voting takes place via the award's website until Sept. 18, 2011

Channel O Music Video Awards

He who knows the enemy and himself will never in a hundred battles be at risk

Its exactly 3 weeks and 3 days since the biggest reality show ever in the African continent Big brother Africa came to a close. Thanks to Mnet who still have a couple of interesting line up that keeps some of  us glued on Telly. the ongoing Naija Sings as well as the upcoming Museke Awards which will happen in September, New york. Will share more about the Afrotainment Museke Online Africa Music Awards (MOAMAs) News before I take a rest from blogging today! 

Channel O Music Video Awards, also known as Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards are Pan-African music awards organised by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards were first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video Awards. Since 2005 the awards have been held annually. The winners are voted by Channel O's viewers across the continent

This year the expertise of some of Africa’s finest DJs were turned to, to separate the wheat from the tare, as it were, and decide on whom the nominees for this year’s Channel O Music Awards are. Here’s a quick look at the judges:

DJ Black: Founder of Blaqbone Media, he was also a judge for the Metro FM Awards (SA). DJ Black is also a guest DJ at YFM (SA) and a guest DJ for Big Brother Amplified.

G Money: In 2009 he established the Homeboyz Radio School. He is also one of the pioneers who established Africa’s first radio station solely dedicated to dancehall music.

Toolz: Tolu Oniru hosts the ‘The Midday Show with Tools’ on Nigeria’s The Beat 99.9FM. She has won the Radio Presenter of the Year award at the Nigerian Broadcasters Awards as well as the Radio Personality of the Year at the Dynamix All Youth Awards.

Reuben Obare Ndege: Reuben hosts and produces SO SO FRESH on Clouds FM. He has also hosted the Tanzania music awards.

Bryan McKenzie: He is a presenter and music director at Ugandan radio station Hot 100FM. He is the vice president of Platinum Entertainment. Brian has also won the Best Radio Presenter at the Buzz Teeniez Awards.

DJ Caise: He is a resident DJ at The Beat 99.9FM in Lagos. He is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most illustrious DJs.

See who has cracked the list for this year’s Channel O Music Video Awards.

MOST GIFTED MALE VIDEO
1. D’Banj ft. Snoop Dogg- Mr Endowed (Remix)

2. Professor ft. Speedy – Lento

3. Navio – Keep Moving

4. Cabo Snoop – Windeck

5. Zakes Bantwini – Wasting My Time

MOST GIFTED FEMALE VIDEO
1. Waje ft. Muna – So Inspired

2. Lizha James – Gotta Move On

3. STL – Lookie Lookie

4. Lira – Phakade

5. Tiwa Savage – Kele Kele Love

MOST GIFTED NEWCOMER VIDEO
1. Wizkid – Holla At Your Boy

2. Keiko – How We Do

3. AKA – Victory Lap

4. Ice Prince/Brymo – Oleku

5. Zone Fam – Shaka Zulu On Em

6. Kwesta – Take That

MOST GIFTED DUO, GROUP OR FEATURING VIDEO
1. HHP, Teargas & Liquideep – Born For This

2. Samklef ft. Wizkid, D’Prince & Ice Prince – Molowo Noni

3. Slikour ft. Various Artists – Dubala (Remix)

4. Ay ft. Ms Triniti – Good Look

5. Jozi – Electric Avenue

6. Paul G ft. Akon – Bang It

MOST GIFTED DANCE VIDEO
1. Oskido presents Black Motion/ Jah Rich – Banane Mavoko

2. STL – Lookie Lookie

3. DJ Cleo – Bhampa Side To Side

4. Darey – Ba Ni Ki Di

5. Black Coffee ft. Hugh Masekela – We Are One

6. Lizha James – Gotta Move On

MOST GIFTED RAGGA DANCEHALL VIDEO
1. Samini – Dadiekye

2. Wyre/ Cecile – She Say Dat

3. Black Dillinger – Volcano Erupt

4. Nazizi – Take The People Away

MOST GIFTED AFRO POP
1. Theo – Ukhona

2. J-Martins ft. Fally Ipupa – Jukpa (Remix)

3. Shaa – Crazy

4. Jaziel Brothers – Woza

5. Flavour – Nwa Baby (Remix)

MOST GIFTED KWAITO VIDEO
1. Brickz ft. Various Artists – Uzo’Gcwala

2. The Dogg – This Is My Time

3. Howza – Hustler

4. Professor ft. Speedy – Lento

MOST GIFTED R&B VIDEO
1. Jamali- Incurable

2. G2 ft. Trez Agah – Anti Chula

3. Loyiso ft. Khuli Chana – World Of Mine

4. Banky W. ft. M.I. – Feeling It

5. Leanne – Deal With It

MOST GIFTED HIP HOP VIDEO
1. Jesse Jagz ft. M.I. & Ice Prince – Nobody Test Me

2. ProVerb ft. Lungelo – The Beginning

3. Navio – Keep Moving

4. Collo – Chini Ya Maji

5. AKA – Victory Lap

MOST GIFTED AFRICAN SOUTHERN VIDEO
1. Liquideep – Settle For Less

2. Cabo Snoop – Windeck

3. Khuli Chana – No More Hunger

4. C.R.I.S.I.S – The Fire Inside

5. L-Tido ft. K.O – We Rolling

MOST GIFTED AFRICAN WEST VIDEO
1. Naeto C – 10 Over 10

2. Flavour – Nwa Baby (Remix)

3. D-Black ft. Dr. Cryme – Get On The Dance Floor

4. Asa – Why Can’t We

5. 2Face – Only Me

MOST GIFTED AFRICAN EAST VIDEO
1. P- Unit/ Mimmo – Kare (Acoustic version)

2. Jaguar – Kigeugeu

3. Ay ft. Ms Triniti – Good Luck

4. Radio and Weseal, Keko – How We Do It (Remix)

5. Cpwaa ft. Various Artists – Action

MOST GIFTED VIDEO OF THE YEAR
1. Khuli Chana- No More Hunger

2. Samklef ft. Wizkid, D’Prince & Ice Prince – Molowo Noni

3. Zakes Bantwini- Wasting My Time

4. STL – Lookie Lookie

5. D’Banj ft. Snoop Dogg – Mr. Endowed (Remix)

6. AKA – Victory Lap

7. 2Face – Only You

8. Liquideep – Settle For Less

9. Navio – Keep Moving

10. Lira – Phakade

Legitimate votes can be cast on the Channel O website, or sms and MXit. The voting window closes on Thursday 27 October, So who are you voting for? No excuses, vote to your hearts content. Get your tools ready and start voting now!

Wonder who the past winners of Bigbrother Africa reality TV show are?

 

On July 31, another exciting season of Mnet’s reality TV show Big Brother Africa (BBA) came to a sizzling end with two winners walking away with $200,000 (about Kshs.18m) each!
Nigeria’s Karen Igho and Zimbabwe’s Wendall Parson were the winners. But who are the former winners, how will Africa remember them and what did they do with the cash?

BBA1 Winner – Cherise Makubale

The first season of Big Brother Africa, featuring 12 housemates from 12 different African countries, premiered to audiences in 42 African countries on Sunday May 25, 2003, and ended on September 7 of the same year, lasting 106 days. It was the first time in the world that the internationally famous program was created using participants of different nationalities from one continent. Mark Pilgrim was the host. When Cherise won, she kicked off a whole new trend for subsequent contestants on the show – especially the women. Winning in the inaugural show, no one knew what Africa was looking for in a winner.

Cherise came into the house, cooked, cleaned and stayed away from the ‘bad’ boys. Africa rewarded her with the $100,000 prize money with most viewers agreeing she represented the true African woman. But that is Africa for you; subsequent housemates like Nigeria’s Offuneka in season 2 and Zambia’s Paloma in season 4 tried to cook, clean and be motherly like Cherise, but Africa rewarded them with a big yawn.
Moving on, Cherise is reportedly living a large and comfortable life in the UK after getting married in October 2008. She is also still involved in charitable ventures in Zambia, although she is hardly seen in her hometown Kitwe.

BBA2 Winner – Richard Bezuidenhout

The second season of Big Brother Africa, featuring 12 housemates from 12 different African countries, premiered August 5, 2007, and ended on November 11 of the same year, lasting 98 days. The show returned from its four year hiatus, with a brand new host, Kabelo "KB" Ngakane. Richard's win is still the most surprising of all that changed everything on the reality TV show. In his case, that was sheer luck. For once, African women chose to empathise with ‘the other woman’. See, Richard came into the house as the only married housemate. Newlywed, by any standards.
But in a matter of weeks, he was cheating on his wife Ricki, with the Angolan model Tatiana Durao. His emotional rollercoaster – tearfully admitting on several occasions that he was falling in love with Tatiana, but also still loved his wife dearly – got Africa talking and prolonging his soap opera.
Because of this – and quite accidentally, I believe – Richard ended up being the last man standing. Richard is reportedly still married to Ricki and they now have a son, Joshua. He has also established his film company in Tanzania, which is doing really well.

BBA3 Winner – Ricardo Venâncio (Ricco)

The third season of Big Brother Africa, featured 12 housemates from 12 different African countries, premiered August 24, 2008, and ended on November 23 of the same year, lasting 91 days. Kabelo "KB" Ngakane returned as host. Ricco, Ricco, Ricco. Someone remind me again; why did he win? I like to think it had something to do with his looks and the fact that he came from Angola, land of Tatiana Durao, the girl who pulled at a few heartstrings the season before Ricco’s when she fell for the wrong man and got burnt for it, while her partner in crime was rewarded in typical African style.
Ricco reportedly relocated to Brazil for studies and he’s also dating.

BBA Revolution winner – Kevin Chuwang Pam

The concluded fourth season of Big Brother Africa, featured 25 housemates from 14 different African countries. The season premiered September 6, 2009, and ended on December 6 of the same year, lasting 91 days. This year, Ikponmwosa "I.K." Osakioduwa took over as the new host. Kevin was the first to walk away with the doubled prize money of $200,000. The pint-sized Nigerian initially showed tendencies of getting on the last nerves of the Pan African viewers with his constant dancing before the mirrors and rapping.
But his fortunes turned around when he started showing interest in Tanzania’s representative in the house, the beautiful Elizabeth Gupta. 

As the saga of Kevin trying to get this girl continued, his ratings outside the house soared. At one time, he broke down and sobbed in front of millions of enchanted viewers after yet another rejection from Elizabeth.
Come September 2009 and Kevin was the last man standing, winning the dollars for Nigeria. With the money, he has kick-started a singing career and even released an album. But more importantly, he got himself a wife in no other than the Tanzanian lass Elizabeth, who made an about turn and started loving short, black men with a few dollars to their name!

BBA All Stars winner – Uti Nwachukwu

Big Brother Africa 5 started on July 18, 2010, and ran for 91 days until October 17, 2010. This was an all-star series which featured 14 former Big Brother Africa contestants. For the second time IK was the host.
A year after Kevin won on the reality show, no one expected another Nigerian to win it so soon. But Uti breezed into the house in 2010 and turned out to be the most popular of housemates picked from various seasons of BBA. He had previously featured on season 3, where he was voted out because of his infamous temper tantrums that once saw him trash Big Brother’s house. When he returned for the All Stars season, he was a reformed man. Like his compatriot Kevin, the emotions card played well for Uti.
First, weeks into the game, he got devastating news from home that his father had died. He chose to stay in the game despite that, after reassurances from home that the funeral would be postponed until after his return. In a way, his winning was by many Africans’ way of sending him condolences.
But he also started a cat and mouse romance with Kenya’s beauty Sheila Kwamboka, a development that had Africa keep him longer in the house to see what would happen next.
Before anybody knew it, another Nigerian had won. With the $200,000, Uti has ventured into music, even releasing an album. He has also used his win to make inroads into Nollywood and for his modelling career. As for what happened to Shuti (as the Sheila/Uti romance was codenamed by viewers), it is not clear if the two are still seeing each other.

Big Brother Africa season 6

The sixth season of Big Brother Africa: Amplified ran for 91 days from May 1st, 2011 to 31 July the same year. Bringing together 26 housemates from 14 different African countries, Mnet co-partnered with Cocacola for the series. IK returned as host. This season is the first ever series of Big Brother in the world to have 2 winners.

Big Brother Africa season 7

With the continued success of Big Brother Africa, it is assumed that the 7th series will air sometime in 2012. My fellow BBA Fanatics, are you ready for the next season?

How to avoid farting in public!!!

For some people, farting in public is not a big deal, but if you are like me, you will definitely find it an embarrassing ordeal. Embarrassing is actually an understatement if you consider releasing an organic stink bomb in the bus or family car which leaves everyone in the car gasping for fresh air and becomes a driving hazard due to steamy windows. What then is the best way to avoid continuous biological malfunctions of the butt hole?

Simply, just don’t stuff yourself with food,especially  heavy, starchy food. Should you become hungry, stick to light snacks and fruit until you arrive at a destination where you will be able to stop and “blow your horn” to your backside’s content. Do not bank on being able to hold it until you reach the next petrol station or your destination. Your gas chambers can only hold so much gas for so long. When that threshold is surpassed, make no mistake, the gas will explode no matter how hard you have tried to hold it.

Obviously its not just during the actual trip that you need to control your eating habits, you actually need to stop stuffing your face hours before you leave and have a thorough pooping session before you even enter the vehicle.

Final quick tips:

• Limit eating to light snacks (preferably fruit) before and during the drive
• Visit the lavatory to empty all tanks before leave
• Do not bank on holding it until the next stop, you never know when the big bang will occur
• Do not bank on the air-con or open window to whisk a fart away before anyone notices the smell. fart molecules are incredibly stubborn!