Standing in front of a red mud house, the popular Nollwood actress was photographed wearing a traditional Bini Outfit. Rita was wearing a red strapless dress that was accessorised with red traditional Bini beads. Her hair was decorated with the red beads in the form of a scarf – while she wore extra beads on her neck and wrist.
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Atiti Sosimi launched the exclusive accessories label Eyato in January 2013 after years of designing and creating shoes, handbags and coats for herself and close friends. Eyato means “Distinct from any other, Different, or to stand out” in Yoruba (a South-Western Nigerian language) and Eyato certainly succeeds in doing this with its range of sophisticated and unique pieces. All pieces are handmade and made to measure for all clients.
Atiti’s passion for style and fashion is translated in her exclusive designs which are aimed at women aged 40 and beyond. Eyato is proud to be sponsoring the “Fashion Designer of The Year” Award, encouraging fashion designers of African Descent to become major influencers in the international fashion arena.
The ‘Women4africa’ Awards was birthed from a 20-year desire and passion for seeing African women honoured and appreciated in a celebratory way. Beyond advocating on their behalf and empowering them to fight for social justice and gender equality it is equally important to highlight that African women are also ‘key agents of positive change’ in their communities and it is for this reason that Eyato is proud to be a sponsor of this prestigious event which takes place on May 10th at the Kensington Town Hall.
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“The SAPE is an ode to joy, the joy of living. The SAPE is an art form, the pure wit born from poverty in our streets almost a hundred years ago.”
DJ Carlos La Menace in Al Jazeera documentary Sunday In Brazzaville
In 2002, Brazzaville was considered the worst city in the world to live. Now, thanks to the Society of Atmosphere Setters and Elegant People (SAPEURS), the Congolese capital is rather becoming known as the best-dressed, especially after the SAPEURS went viral earlier this year in an advert and short film for Guinness Europe.
Premiering on Al Jazeera on Sunday, 23 March 2014, Sunday In Brazzaville is a vibrant glimpse into your average Congo weekend of pink suits, hip-hop and wrestling.
The 25-minute documentary focuses on four characters. Yves Francois Ngatsong, alias Yves Saint Laurent, is the president and founder of a SAPEURS association; Carlos La Menace is a DJ on local station Radio Liberté; rapper Cheriff Bakala is recording his first album despite living in a country with hardly any music producers; and champion wrestler Palmas Ya Ya relies on fetish voodoo and faith to help him defeat younger and stronger opponents.
“In the 1940’s, when Hitler occupied Paris, Brazzaville was Free France’s capital,” says La Menace. “Charles de Gaulle lived here. Then they called it ‘Brazzaville the Green.’ Today we call it ‘Brazzaville the Garbage.’ On your left plastic bags, on your right a stinking town… But the Congolese know how to dress. For that matter there’s no problem…”
Ngatsong says that as a government employee, “With my salary I can’t even travel to Kinshasa, because with our salary we barely pay for food and rent.” Despite this, he has 80 complete suits, including one sent to him as a present by his idol Yves Saint Laurent.
“Many of you might think that the SAPE is an eccentricity or a stupid way of dressing,” La Menace says on radio. “Maybe you see a sapeur at the street and say, ‘Look at that fool, he wants to dress like the whites. A madman that spends all his money in suits. A bad example for the youth.’ You may think like that. That’s up to you. But I think you’re wrong. The SAPE is an ode to joy, the joy of living. The SAPE is an art form, the pure wit born from poverty in our streets almost a hundred years ago. Today, thanks to people like Yves Saint Laurent, this art is more alive than ever.”
Sunday In Brazzaville premieres at 22:30 GMT on Sunday, 23 March 2014 on Witness, Al Jazeera’s premiere documentary strand. It repeats at 09h30 GMT on 24 March 2014; at 03:30 GMT on 25 March 2014; and at 16:30 GMT on 26 March 2014.
At 43, super model, Naomi Campbell has an amazing body most women half her age would wish for. The black and iconic supermodel showcase her age-defying bodynwhile gracing the cover of Shape magazine’s April issue.
Dressed in a sexy black Moschino swimsuit, this marks the first time that Naomi has worked with the health and fitness focused publication.
“I’ve been on almost every magazine in existence, but this is my first time posing for Shape, and I’m thrilled. Of course,” she told the glossy. “I wish I had done it when I was younger, but it’s an honor to be here at any age.”
Speaking about how quitting smoking has been harder than she thought, the black British and world-famous supermodel who has been modelling for nearly 30 years said,
“People told me that cigarettes are harder to quit than alcohol. I didn’t believe it, but you know what? It is harder. I’m not someone who wants to light up inside people’s homes, including my own, and I don’t want to stand outside on street corners anymore. It’s still a struggle. In fact, just talking about it makes me crave one, so let’s stop, please! But I am really trying.”
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Special Forces Group (SFG) denied any knowledge about claims that its commander, Brigadier Muhoozi Kainerugaba has a hand in numerous kidnaps, disappearances, killings and quick illegal extraditions of United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) satisfied Rwandan Refugees from several parts of Uganda.
“The allegations that Brig. Muhoozi Kaineruga masterminds the kidnaps and extraditions of Rwandan refugees are just fabrications,” said, SFG Spokesman, Maj. Chris Magezi, adding: “Any attempt to link Brig. Kainerugaba, is completely baseless and has no grounds. There are no linkages whatsoever.”
SFG denial follows allegations by Uganda-based Rwandan refugees who have gone under ground that Brig. Muhoozi has a hand in unexplained and unaccounted for kidnaps; disappearances; killings and illegal extradition of Rwandan refugees from Uganda back to the country where they face persecution.
The refugees, who abandoned their known residences, also hold responsible the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for doing little to pressuring the Uganda government to do more and provide enough protection. Refugees claim that top Ugandan officials connive to “facilitate” and “protect” Rwanda security agents whilst terrorizing, kidnapping or killing the refugees in some extreme circumstances. Charles Ingabire, in December 2011, was shot and killed by unknown assailants; he was an editor of an online magazine.
Another Rwandan refugee, Sergeant Dominic Sabagasani, was killed in Kampala, both murder remain unresolved.
But Maj. Chris Magezi, reiterated that: “SFG Commander, Brig. Muhoozi provides no assistance to the kidnaps and illegal deportations of Rwandan refuges.”
However, Maj. Magezi, the SFG spokesman, acknowledged that: “There might have been issues of kidnappings of the Rwandan refugees and so on… but any attempt to link Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is completely unfounded and adds no grounds or basis at all.”
In a Thursday, March 13, exclusive telephone interview with this newspaper, Maj. Magezi, a UPF officer attached to the SFG who is also the group’s spokesman said: “Brigadier Muhoozi, is a senior serving officer in the UPDF. He can therefore, not be held responsible for the activities and work of another force. In this case, the Uganda Police Forces.”
“There is no linkage whatsoever, between the work the police does and Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba,” said Maj. Magezi, adding that: “The police forces have their methods of work, Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba is a military officer, so the two are not linked at all.”
“If there are questions to be answered in the manner, the Rwandan refugees have been extradited or their disappearances and so on; really is an area and responsibility of the Uganda Police Forces,” said, the SFG spokesman. He added: “And if there’re any questions to answer; the Uganda Police Forces should attend to them.”
“We [SFG] cannot answer the actions for the police. These are questions for the police to answer. Not UPDF or Brig. Muhoozi Kaineruga in this instance,” said the UPDF major. “Completely, there is no iota of truth in those allegations,” he added.
Commenting on the disappearance of a Uganda Radio Network (URN), journalist, Tom Malaba, who uncovered the kidnap of Lt Joel Mutabazi, a former member of President Paul Kagame’s elite Protection Unit Force; Maj. Magezi, said; “I think the police is handling the issue, they [police] are better to attend to that issue.”
The SFG Commander, Brig. Kainerugaba is the First Son of Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni. The group [SFG] is an elite force within the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), and it’s responsible for the protection of the president; VIPs and all major installations in the country, including the oil fields and other strategic places.
Numerous allegations from different sources claim that Rwanda’s Ambassador to Uganda, Maj. Gen. Frank Mugambage, coordinates a “Hit Squad”, which carries out the kidnaps; abductions and the quick illegal deportation of the Rwandan refugees, whilst being facilitated by high-ranking officers in Uganda Police who are protected by SFG Commander Brig. Muhoozi Keinarugaba, a son to Ugandan leader Museveni. The allegations that Rwandan security agents; aided by the SFG Commander, Brig. Muhoozi and carryout the kidnaps without any fear.
News of kidnapping of Rwandan refugees first came into public domain during the Lt. Mutabazi’s Entebbe incident. It was the intervention of the government and UNHCR that Lt. Mutabazi was rescued, although, he was later successfully kidnapped and extradited to Rwanda, where he remains in prison.
The investigations into the Lt. Mutabazi -Entebbe incident never got to the conclusion. Journalists who have tried to write follow-up stories are intimidated to back off; blackmailed or disappeared. According to the January 28, 2014; Human Rights Watch report, in Uganda and Rwanda, journalists reporting about attacks on Rwandan refugees, are intimidated or blackmailed.
There are fears that a Ugandan journalist, who has extensively covered and exposed several kidnaps of Rwandan refugees from different parts of Kampala, himself, reported missing. Fears gripped the family and friends of Tom Malaba when he failed to return home on Saturday, March 8.
The URN journalist, Malaba, who exposed the October 25, 2013, Entebbe International Airport incident in which Lt Mutabazi, a former member of President Kagame’s protection Unit force, was abducted by agents of the government of Uganda and handed over to the Government of Rwanda. Mutabazi had fled Rwanda into exile to Uganda in 2011. Embarrassingly, the Uganda police then claimed they had received an Interpol warrant of arrest. Though, the UNHCR in Kampala issued a strong protest to the government of Uganda about issues regarding the kidnappings and the attempted assassination of Rwandan refugees and asylum seekers in the country, Lt. Mutabazi was again kidnapped anyway and no action has ever been taken.
According to the January 28, 2014; Human Rights Watch report, many Rwandese initially flee to Uganda because of its proximity. However, UNHCR officials believe that Uganda has become one of the least safe countries for Rwandans facing political persecution because of the close links between the police and intelligence services of the two countries.
Many senior Rwandan officials, particularly those who grew up in Uganda served in the Ugandan security forces or intelligence services. Rwandese who formally served in NRA/UPDF they still hold close links in the country. Rwandan agents can therefore operate in Uganda with considerable ease.
Indeed Rwandan leader, Maj. Gen. Paul Kagame, served in the Uganda’s army as a military Intelligence Chief.
Gen. Kagame who is credited for stopping the genocide, his country’s human rights records slowly shrinking because of numerous assassinations; kidnaps of his opponents; journalists including his former allies.
Though; under Geneva conventions to which both Uganda and Rwanda are signatories; which entitle refugees to get protection from hosting states; Rwanda refugees seem not catered for as they are being summarily abducted from many parts of Uganda and extradited with the help of some official in Uganda without giving them access to full and fair asylum procedures.
Mr. Malaba who has covered the Rwandan kidnap issues since about 1996 shortly after the country’s genocide, might have been a victim of this woven web of sophisticated secret agents.
In addition the Lt. Mutabazi’s incident, Mr. Malaba had questioned Maj. Gen. Mugambage about the asylum seeker who had been attacked after they refused to enroll onto the M23 ranks.
In its January 28, 2014; report, UN Human Rights Watch reported: “The situation in Uganda is less clear, mainly because there has been a lack of transparency in the Ugandan authorities’ efforts to investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of attacks on Rwandans in Uganda.
Human Rights Watch is not aware of evidence that Ugandan government authorities have been officially or directly involved in particular incidents, though in at least one case, a high-ranking Ugandan police officer facilitated the forcible return of a Rwandan refugee from Uganda to Rwanda.
The UN Human Rights Watch report, however, says the longstanding personal relationships between some Ugandan and Rwandan officials may obstruct access to information about possible collusion to facilitate the commission of these crimes.”
Indeed the investigations into the murder of Charles Ingabire, who was shot and killed in Kampala, hit a dead end. Nobody has ever been charged or prosecuted for the murder and it remains a mystery.
“We have engaged the office of the Prime Minister. We have been discussing with the government of Uganda on all these issues,” said Ms Atsumi Sakura, UNHCR country representative, adding: “And we’ve been reminding how responsible for providing the international standard protection to any refugee with the government.”
Ms Sakura further said: “We’ve been reminding the Ugandan authority, especially the office of the Prime Minister, the refugees’ department to take all these allegations extremely serious.”
“We recently sent them [Ugandan authority] a reminder about the responsibilities to providing protection of all the refugees,” said Ms Sakura.
Commenting on the disappearance of Tom Malaba, Ms Sakura, said: “ I know Tom Malaba, but am not aware of his disappearance, I have to look around.”
“Tom is a Ugandan journalist, if am not mistaken. We don’t deal or follow Ugandan people, it is UN Human Rights Watch, “ said Ms Sakura.
Mr Malaba has been followed and according records provided by a police source indicates; there was a shoot-out in Tom’s compound in an attempt to his life, the incident was recorded as SD: Ref: 13/01/07/2013, at Nalumunye police station, Nsangi sub-county in Wakiso district 4 miles from the capital Kampala.
This newspaper has since established that; the January 2014, Human Rights Watch report was referring to the Commandant
Kampala Metropolitan Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, as the high-ranking Ugandan police officer that facilitated the forcible return of a Rwandan refugee from Uganda to Rwanda. Mr Kaweesi is believed to working under the directives of SFC Chief, Brig. Muhoozi a son to Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni. Kaweesi works directly under the office of Inspector General of Police, Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura.
According to Rwandan refugees in hiding, Joel Aguma together with Kaweesi work under Kayihura office, but they report direct to Brig. Muhoozi.
The refugees allege that Joel Aguma, a deputy director of crime intelligence, he arrested Mutabazi. Mr Aguma carried out the handing over the kidnapped refuges to Rwanda agents.
Rendering more credence; a police officer from Mr Kaweesi’s office who requested for concealment of his name due to the sensitivity of the material, he collaborated the Brig. Muhoozi-Andrew Kaweesi involvement in the. The officer also pointed the February 12, 2014, case involving one Martin Tumusiime, recorded at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) as Ref. SD/72/12/2/14, a police source, confirmed a phone call, which he described as “order from above” instructing Mr. Kaweesi to handle the file. A police source claims that; though, the suspect [Martin Tumusiime] had gone for a more dangerous mission, police records were changed and recorded as “Threatening Violence,” on the Order from Above” according to a source. A police source further explained that: “Everybody here knows that Mr. Malaba, was under 24 hours surveillance by Rwanda security agents in Kampala, and had only managed to play cat-mouse game for a limited time.”
Initial efforts to speak to Mr Kaweesi had proved futile, as he could not answer his phones, until we sent him a text message to comment about allegations against him, that he [Kaweesi] ‘facilitate’ the kidnaps and disappearance of UNHCR satisfied Rwandan refugees.
Sounding furious and roaring like a wounded lion; Kaweesi rung back to attack this reporter and threatened in a typical ‘mafias’ language. “As an officer of Uganda Police force; I cannot be asked those bully questions,” said Mr Kaweesi, adding that: “I can’t answer such stupid questions.”
On condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter; another officer from the UNHCR office, who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity the matter blamed Uganda government for failing to protect the refugees; particularly those from Rwanda. “It appears; there is a superpower in government who sanctions these kidnaps of the Refugees from Rwanda.”
“If there were no such things in all these kidnap issues, he/she who abets the kidnaps and engineers the quick extraditions of the genuine refugees to Rwanda, that individual would have been apprehended and made to account for the kidnaps,” said the UNHCR officer; adding that: “In the case of Joel Mutabazi we involved the government to intervened and rescued him at the airport, but he was again re-kidnapped despite our petition to the government. No one has even been made to account for the Entebbe Airport incident; though the officers who had aided the kidnap were named.”
The January 2014; report further says: “Ugandan journalists who have investigated or reported on security threats against Rwandans in Uganda have also raised concerns for their own security, particularly in 2013.”
Undeniably; the URN journalist, Malaba’s whereabouts remains a mystery to his family since there are numerous attempts on his life by Rwanda secret police operating in east Africa.
A source on the search mission to establish what happened to the URN, journalist, Malaba, who previously exposed several operations by Rwanda and Uganda security agents to either kill or kidnap the UNHCR satisfied refugees from Uganda, could himself be a victim of these unrestrained kidnaps.
According to the October 18, 2013, letter retrieved from the police files, which was stamped an acknowledgement of receipt 2 days later; Mr Malaba wrote to Commandant Kampala Metropolitan Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, outlining his trouble. In a letter also copied to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Malaba had explained that his trouble started following the questions he raised to Rwanda’s Ambassador to Uganda Maj. Gen. Frank Mugambage to clear the air over the 16 Rwandan students who escaped from Rwanda to avoid being recruited in the M23 ranks and had taken refuge at Old Kampala. Gen. Mugambage who had called a press conference on June 19, 2013, was uncomfortable with Mr Malaba’s question to which the general labelled him [Malaba] a disrespectful journalist asking the whole ambassador about the numerous assassinations and kidnaps of Rwandan refugees in Uganda.
At the June last year’s press conference, the URN journalist had asked, the Rwandan Ambassador, Gen. Gen. Mugambage to react to allegations that he was running a “Hit Squad” in Kampala that was kidnapping and killing Rwandan Asylum seekers.
According to a source who attended the June 2013 press conference; instead of reacting to Mr. Malaba’s questions; Gen. Mugambage took a standing position and said Malaba was disrespecting him, yet the general was protected by his Diplomatic Immunity, though he had told all the journalists ask anything about Rwanda.
It is alleged that Gen. Mugambage avoided the question and still went on furiously to talk more about his Diplomatic Immunity. Information obtained by this newspaper; confirmed at that; the general instructed his staff to find out where Mr Malaba contacts and his employers at the URN were given a warning.
Malaba’s friends; now wonder whether his disappearance was the same Rwanda’s “Hit Squad”; which allegedly responsible for the assassination of Charles Ingabire the Rwandan Editor of Inyenyeri News an on- line and newspaper or just Kampala common criminals are responsible?
The June 30, 2013, incident recorded as SD: Ref: 13/01/07/2013 Mr. Malaba survived the shoot-out that happened in his compound during the late hours of the night.
In recent years; Rwanda operates an alleged million-dollar project to put out of action or completely eliminate the opponents of Kigali regime around the world.
Kigali secret agents go beyond their jurisdictions when it comes to hunting down of Rwanda refugees considered to be state enemies. In 2011, the UK’s Scotland Yard and MI5 both stepped up and warned some members of opposition Rwanda group living in the country about imminent attacks on them by agents of the Rwanda government. Whilst the MI5 explicitly delivered a message to Rwanda’s High Commissioner to the UK, Ernest Rwamucyo to stop alleged campaigns of harassment against President Kagame’s critics living in the UK.
Elsewhere, since July 2010; former Chief of Staff and Rwanda’s ambassador to India; Gen. Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa has survived three assassination attempt in South Africa but sustained gun shot wounds. Gen. Kanyumba’s colleague; and a former Rwanda spymaster Patrick Karegeya, was assassinated on the New Year’s Day in Johannesburg-South Africa.
A source said; they have no doubt Mugambage deployed sections of the Rwandan “Hit Squad” hunt Malaba down and kill him; because he previously reported the Rwandan Asylum seekers who have been kidnapped include, Innocent Kaliisa [former Kagame bodyguard], Mutabazi [also former Kagame bodyguard], Andrew Muhanguzi and Maj. Habib Mudahigwa all kidnapped from Uganda.
Contacted to comment about Mr. Malaba’s disappearance and allegations of running a Kampala-based ‘Hit Squad’, Gen. Mugambage neither denied the allegations nor did he give a comprehensive answer, he said: “I have been busy and I’m still busy. I’m in a retreat somewhere, I can’t get involved in such issues at this time.” Pressed when he can be available to comment about allegations levelled against him that he runs a “Hit Squad” that targets Rwandan refugees in Uganda, Gen. Mugambage said: “Maybe sometimes of Friday.” The ambassador has since not answered any phone call or responded to a couple of text messages.
[author ]Norman S. Miwambo[/author]
These are some of the pieces from Chipo Bespoke Dressed For Love bridal collection. The Derby-based designer said she started working on these designs since November 2012. Chipo Sibotshiwe, who is from Zimbabwe and have now lived in the UK for about 11 years is 27-year-old. She’ll be showcasing her collection at Sunday’s Derby Telegraph wedding fair. The Dressed For Love collection is the fist bridal pieces the African designer has put together.
Chipo, whose parents moved with her to the UK to aid her fashion career, has seen her business blossom in the last five years. She has a Bachelors degree in design from New College, Nottingham. She offers made-to-measure style for the ultimate fit.
Speaking about how her fashion designing business has been growing since she moved with her parent to Britain, Chipo said, “I was commissioned to design an evening dress worn at the Miss World 2009 pageant by the contestant from Zimbabwe at the finals held in South Africa. The following year my collection opened the first ever Zimbabwe Fashion Week and then I debuted at African Fashion Week London in 2011. Since November 2012, I have been working with the Princes Trust to progress my business. They have been fantastic.”
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[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ccording to a recent article that was published by the UK Daily Mail, Nigerian international music artist and ‘Top of the World’ singer, D’banj is a ‘legendary womaniser’. In the article, the also said Koko is a ‘Nigerian slang for someone who has a harem of women’.
See an excerpt of the Daily Mail’s article below;
The former Miss USA has been bombarded by claims from co-stars that her story that she’s been swept off her feet by an ‘African Prince’ – who has never been seen – is fake.
MailOnline has learned that the closest anyone has got to guessing the identity of Kenya’s mystery man is that he is Nigerian pop star D’Banj – real name Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo.
Kenya has been accused of drawing up an agreement to pay him up to $40,000 to pose as her boyfriend and provide her with an interesting storyline for the upcoming reunion show.
D’Banj, who splits his time between Nigeria, the UK and Lagos, is known for his playboy lifestyle as well as his music. He calls girls who are good in bed ‘kokos’.
While he may not be quite that rich, D’Banj is a huge star in his home country, where is renowned as a legendary womanizer.
His nickname is the Koko master, which is Nigerian slang for someone who has a harem of women and he has even brought out his own range of condoms. There was talk he would make an appearance in the upcoming RHOA reunion show, but sources at Bravo have revealed this is highly unlikely.
Read the full article at the publisher’s website.
Rachel Dilley, a 48-year-old British mum of three says she had no idea she was at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS as she has never known a white person suffering from the disease. Dilley embarked on a new relationship without using protection as she says she was ‘too old’ to be at risk of pregnancy and did not imagine she would contract HIV, which according to her, was a disease suffered by Africans.
Speaking with hosts – Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning to discuss her diagnosis, Dilly said she had no idea ‘white people had ever had it’ at the time she contracted it.
“I just didn’t know anything about it – I just thought you got it in Africa. I didn’t know a white person had ever got it,” she said.
Dilly got the shock of her life a few months after she ended the relationship with a man she met online. She suffered symptoms similar to a ‘severe bout of flu’ and was eventually advised to have an HIV test – which came back positive.
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Below is what Charles Novia has to say about the recently concluded Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. The Nigerian movie director, producer, screenwriter, actor, a social commentator who is from Edo state wrote about the prestigious entertainment awards and looked into the red carpet fashion, the presentation, performances by Nigerian musicians, as well as those who received awards at the annual event. Below is a review Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards according to Charles Novia. Read it and le us know your thoughts about his views on this event.
It had been months of hype and media activities for the 2ndAfrica Magic Viewers Choice Awards.
Expectations were high for this year’s edition and many practically grovelled for the invitation cards! Who would miss an evening of this magnitude in Africa’s entertainment calendar?
Did this year’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards have the Crunch Factor, that ‘ooomph’ punch which leaves the guests and viewers speechless and mesmerised?
Wait a minute! I am jumping the gun here! Let’s start from the beginning as I witnessed it.
I arrived a few minutes to the scheduled live broadcast of the show and as I walked past the Red Carpet section straight to the hall, I couldn’t help noticing how glamourous ( and perhaps amorous too!) many of the ladies and gentlemen looked.
One thing to thank the AMVCAs for; the fashion and make-up industry would have rolled in some moolahs these past few days. I am not an experienced fashion buff, I would leave that to Nigeria’s amorphous Fashion Police to determine who was the Best Dressed or Worst Dressed for the evening ( er…Emmy Collins? That’s your plate!)But I did see enough to appreciate that many people actually took time to look quite good for the night.
And there were some few ‘Ukwu’s’ pushing out for cursory recognition and appreciation inside the dresses too! (Apologies to Timaya) One can safely say that it was a night of evening dresses, half-hidden cleavages and unpadded ‘Ukwus’ on the Red Carpet but let’s leave that aspect to the fashion bloggers.
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The show opened with a nice performance by a dance troupe, supposedly the KAKADU musical ensemble. I was just taking my seat when their performance ended to appreciative applause from the audience.
Kudos to the organisers for getting the stage ensemble on the show. It speaks volumes of an ancillary support of sorts for the thespian arts by that gesture. Being a theatre arts product myself, any support given to that sector by any means is most welcome.
The Presenting Threesome ( no pun intended) of IK Osakioduwa, Vimbai and Osas Ighodaro came on the podium to kick off the show proper. IK and Vimbai were quite at ease all through the night when they had theirslots but Osas seemed to be trying to catch up with the other two. Throughout the night she put up a spirited performance but there were a few stumbles over some words as she followed the teleprompter and she seemed overtly mechanical most times.
Perhaps, as she goes on over the years, she would find her rhythm. However, the Three Presenters had some impressive Costume Changes in the course of the night which looked good to me. Vimbai was spot on as a co-hostess and put up a confident performance. We all know the artistic prowess of IK and he didn’t fail in flipping his Bic and writing his own lines when it mattered. Osas was just the last end of the Salami who could have done with a bit more greasing.
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The Hall gradually filled up as the show progressed. There was an improvement on last year’s event when the commercial breaks came up during the show. The Organisers had a live orchestra playing some recitals most times for the live audience.
Though what the orchestra played sounded like a drone most times but at least the audience was engaged and concentrated on the flow of the show. There was a Floor Manager who came up intermittently on stage to reel out names of the next set of scheduled Presenters of the awards and implored them to go backstage. I didn’t know what to make of that but it was better than some other local award shows one has attended where the Floor Managers would either point a finger at the Presenters of the next awards or tap them on the arm in a disconcerting manner.
It seemed like Kenya and East Africa had a good outing as “Nairobi Half Life” won some of the early categories.
However, when Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Herty Nwusu from Ghana came up on stage to receive the award for ‘Best Writer’, it seemed like there was a little friction between both ladies on the podium over who should pick the plaque and make a speech. It was subtle but noticeable.
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Bez performed on stage with a live band. The audience loved it, though there seemed to be a little self-restraint on his part to really let himself loose but maybe that’s his ‘mellow cool brother’ image he has given us over the years. Something tells me his next album would show us his metamorphosis for the better.
Flavour was on the bill too and started his performance with ‘Ada’ which got me thinking that for aesthetic purposes, perhaps an ‘Ada’ might have done well to be on stage with him to enhance his stagecraft. But Flavour held his own and took the crowd to another level with other hit songs, ‘Kirikata’ and ‘Asewo’.
However, despite a simultaneous synch by his live band and the programmed tracks, Flavour lost his flavour a couple of times in his performance by subtly missing the cue of his songs. A few ad libs made up for the technical sidestep. Flavour is a good cultural ambassador of the neo-Nigerian Highlife Music. He stands out on his own in his genre and really knows how to work a crowd.
The sound in the hall was really a minus. For most of the live performances, the sound output was below average and I’m told there were microphone glitches too which those who watched the live broadcast tweeted about. The sound output was bad during Davido’s performance. He came on stage and started with his hit song ‘Skelewu’ backed by a live band. To us in the hall, or perhaps to the trained ear for live sound, it sounded like a pride of lions devouring some killed game and one could barely differentiate the music from the din. His next track, despite the technical shortcomings, got most people in the crowd dancing though. ‘Aye’ seems to be another hit song from the OBO exponent.
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The biggest blooper of the night happened when John Okafor and Monalisa Chinda were up to present the award for ‘Best Actress in a Yoruba movie’ as announced by Okafor. Somehow, what flashed onscreen were the names of the nominees in the Hausa category, which got the audience mumbling in confusion.
Maybe someone in the control booth misheard or ‘mufu’-ed that segment? The Presenters announced the winner as Mercy Aigbe perhaps without noticing the mistake or not knowing what to do after a typical Naija live ‘awkward moment’. John Okafor professionally switched to his ‘Mr Ibu’ alter-ego by saying ‘Na Yoruba dem give us’ which cracked up a lot of people.
The correct visual was replayed and Mercy Aigbe, the announced winner came up to the stage for her prize. ‘Oh my God! Oh my God!’ She shrieked out in what sounded like an explicit moan which got many in the audience looking at one another. However, Mercy won the crowd over with her acceptance speech in which she acknowledged her husband and family.
Osita Iheme won the ‘Best Actor in a comedy’ award and graciously acknowledged his other contestants. That was one of the best parts of the night. He gave a moving but stumbled speech on African unity and the Arts. Thereafter, Osita and his screen sidekick Chinedu Ikedieze presented the ‘Best Actress in a comedy’ award to Funke Akindele who seemed to be the obvious winner during the nomination reel having being nominated for two movies in the same category.
As Funke left the stage for backstage, we all could hear her happy screams of ‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ backstage during the commercial break as she gave out bellows of excitement. Congratulations, Funke.
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Bikiye Graham-Douglas won the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ award for her role in ‘Flower Girl’. I did say earlier that I’m not much of a fashion buff but I couldn’t help wondering what on earth she wore to the event while she was on stage!
When Waje performed, I became totally convinced that she is the Best Female Vocalist presently in Nigeria. That lady sure can sing! Wow! And with the very talented Cobhams Asuquo backing her up on the keyboard, it was one of the best moments of the night for me and a memorable one too. Waje might be wishing she ‘didn’t have a heart’ as her song goes but I bet there were many guys there wishing for her heart that night!
Joseph Benjamin and Mercy Johnson presented the award for ‘Best Comedy’. Mercy Johnson seemed nervous or perhaps shy on stage and intermittently clutched her frock, raising it off the floor nervously. But she did regain her composure a bit when presenting the award with a jibe at Elvis Chucks, the winner.
I found it curious though that when Mercy came on stage, a lot of ladies in the audience were having hushed conversations about her dress or perhaps her tactless lifting of the dress onstage? Whatever it was with that, no one could fault the impression her ‘Ukwu’ made on the audience when she turned to leave the stage!
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Ramsey Nouah and Bimbo Akintola presented the award for ‘Best Movie Drama’. Ramsey looked good in his kaftan and I would vote him as one of the best dressed for the night.
Frank Rajah Arase’s movie , ‘The Price’ won in that category and amid his acceptance speech he curiously said ‘Yvonne Nelson, I give you all the glory!’.
Huh? Some of us looked at ourselves, askance.
Was Frank Rajah telling us that Yvonne Nelson is his ‘saviour’ or was that a nervous flow in his stream of speech? Frank, you get case to answer o! Hmmmm. You nor fear, you carry Jesus Glory go give woman! For this season of Lent! Issorait! Lol.
Olu Jacobs and Joke Silva presented ‘The Industry Merit Award’ to veteran actor, Pete Edochie. There’s something always cool as cucumber about Pete Edochie. His taped acceptance speech was played in which he ensured the whole world recognised that he’s a titled Igbo Chief with the way he was dressed and the calm and collected manner he spoke. He ended his speech with an advice for aspiring actors; ‘Don’t run after the press, they will run after you when you are successful’.
His award came with a brand new Hyundai SUV which was collected on his behalf by his representative.
The award for ‘ Best Actress in a drama’ was won by Nse Ikpe-Etim. Deservedly so for a very intense actress! Congrats, Nse. Her award was received on her behalf by Ashionye Raccah.
OC Ukeje and Genevieve Nnaji presented ‘Best Actor in drama’ won by Tope Tedela. Many people expected Majid Machel to win but I guess Tope must have held his own somehow in the voting process. Besides, it is good to know that a new generation of actors are taking the reins in Africa.
The show ended at about 21.33 CAT and the impressive KAKADU ensemble closed the show with a good performance as the guests left the hall.
One must mention that one appreciates that a lot of time and energy goes into planning events such as this. Theorganisers must be commended for investing their resources in Africa’s film industry by institutionalising an annual reward system for the burgeoning film sector. However, this year’s AMVCA had a few flaws, though it is an improvement from last year’s.
While the entertainment value of the event this year was quite good, one couldn’t help leaving the event with a nagging analogy that the much-hyped ‘night of Africa Magic’ had something akin to a magician who had an outstretched hat to perform a trick but the audience just didn’t see the rabbit this time.
This review was posted by Charles Novia on his website with the tile “AMVCA 2014: NO RABBIT IN THE HAT?”
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The 2014 edition of Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards took place on Saturday 8th March 2014 at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. The event was well attended by Nigerian celebrities, Ghanaian Celebrities and other Celebrities across Africa. The event, which was hosted by IK Osakioduwa, Osas Ighodaro and Vimbai Mutinhiri honoured several people in the African movie industry for their contribution.
Below is the full list of the nominees and winners of the award. The bolded are the winners of each of the categories listed.
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Best Movie 2013
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract
Michelle Bello – Flower Girl
James Omokwe – Awakening
Best Movie Drama
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Edwin Maina Kariuki – Nairobi Half Life
Udoka Oyeka & Orode Ryan – Living Funeral
Frank Rajah Arase – The Groom’s Bride
Jumafor Ajogwu & Chris Eneaji – Murder at Prime Suites
Best Movie Comedy
Uche Jombo – Lies Men Tell
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract
Elvis Chucks – A Wish
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Fighter
Martins Onyebuchi Onyemaobi – The Hero
Best Movie Director
Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Tosh Gitonga – Nairobi Half Life
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract
Udoka Oyeka – Living Funeral
Frank Rajah Arase – Price
Amil Shivji – Shoeshine
Best Actress in a Drama
Stephanie Wilson – Living Funeral
Veronica Waceke – Higher Learning
Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey to Self
Nkiru Sylvanus – Kiss And The Brides
Ivie Okujaiye – The Volunteers
Best Actor in a Drama
Juma Rajab Rashid – Siri Ya Mtungi
Majid Michel – Somewhere in Africa
Hlomla Dandala – Contract
Majid Michel – House of Gold
Tope Tedela – A Mile From Home
Best Supporting Actress
Valerie Kimani – Higher Learning
Jazymn Batchan – Still Standing
Liz Ameye – Living Funeral
Lance Handabile – Love Games
Tamara Eteimo – Desperate House Girls
Bikiya Graham-Douglas – Flower Girl
Best Supporting Actor
David Mulwa – Higher Learning
Ian Mbugua – House of Lungula
Desmond Elliot – Finding Mercy
Bimbo Manuel – Torn
Chris Attoh – Flower Girl
Best Actress in a Comedy
Funke Akndele – The Fighter
Funke Akndele – The Hero
Funke Akndele – Return of Sheri Koko
Mary Ogbonna – Clinic Matters
Jackie Appiah – Cheaters
Yvonne Okoro – Contract
Best Actor in a Comedy
Hlomla Dandala – Contract
John Okafor – Return of Sheri Koko
Osita Iheme – The Hero
Osita Iheme – The Fighter
Chinedu Ikedieze – The Hero
Best Television Series Comedy/Drama
Grace Kahaki Munthali – Prem Episode 2
Fred Phiri – Love Games Episode 6
John Riber – Siri Ya Mtungi
Paul Igwe – The Benjamins
Benson Akindeju – Nowhere to be Found
Best Short Film
Vincent Moloi – Berea
Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue
Amil Shivji – Shoeshine
Walter “Waltbanger” Taylaur – The Wages
Enuma Chigbo – The Deadwood
Best Documentary
Dr Gilbert Chigbo (Narrator) – The Deadwood
Sonia Maingi – Tumanka Goes to School
Peter Murimi – Matatu: My Life, My Art
Peter Murimi- Guardians of the Wild
David Campbell – Shamba Shape Up
Best Indigenous Language Movie/Series (Swahili)
Edwin Maina Kariuki – Nairobi Half Life
Jordan Riber – Siri Ya Mtungi
Ann Hamberger – Nina
Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka
Musa Venerable Mziba, Vagabond
Best Indigenous Language Movie/Series (Yoruba)
Afeez Eniola – Arinnakore
Mercy Aigbe – Komfo
Abdulrasaq Abdullahi – Edidi
Olatunji Akeem Balogun – Aye Kooto
Olatunji Akeem Balogun – Mufu Olosa Oloko
Best Indigenous Language Movie/Series (Hausa)
Yasin Auwal, Umar K, Mazugal – Wana Gari 1& 2
Hafizu Bello – Bakin Kishi
Abba Muko Yakassai – Habib
Nasir Sa’ad Gwangwazo – Runan Jakara
Mikail I. Bin Hassan – Kurman Gari
Best Online Video
Stacy McDermott & Neville Ossai – Jungle Jewel: The Short Film
Mary Kaiyare – Deceit
Stanlee Ohikhuare – Kpian’s Premonition
Dorothy Ghettuba, Oyunga Pala – Next Big Host
Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue
Best Writer (Drama)
Shirley Frimpong-Manso & Hertey Owusu – Contract
Patrick Yaadar & Andy Boyo – Off The Hook
Akpor Kagho – Living Funeral
Fatima Jabbe – Battered
Pascal Amanfo – Single & Married
Best Writer (Comedy)
Jigi Bello – Flower Girl
Jahmal Holland – Still Standing
Ohis Udofia – Kuti’s Career Palace
Patrick Onyeka – The Place
Seun Arowojolu – Squatterz
Best Cinematographer
James Michael Costello – Last Flight to Abuja
Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life
Idhebor Kagho – Living Funeral
Imoh Umoren – Have a Nice Day
Themba Masondo – Taxi Ride
Best Art Director
Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life
Ken Attoh & Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Apples Miniseries Part 1&2
Kyle Quint – Siri Ya Mtungi
Frank Rajah Arase – The Piece
Best Sound Editor
Sola Awoponle – Ilari
Obi Emelonye & Luke Corradine – Last Flight to Abuja
Jordan Riber – Siri Ya Mtungi
Carl Raccah – Journey to Self
Maurice Kings – Murder at Prime Suites
Paul Apel – Blue Flames
Best Video Editor
Ben Nugent & Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja
Austin Faani Ikechukwu – Battle for Wealth
Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract
Chucks Madu Success – Oga On Top
Jack Esterhuizen – Love Games Episode 25
Best Lightning Designer
Don Izuchukwu – Brother’s Keeper
Godwin Daniel – Living Funeral
Ifeoluwa Balogun – The Benjamins
Mohammed Zain – Nairobi Half Life
Eric Aghimien – A Mile from Home
Best Costume Designer
Adeola Ramonu – Adebola Omo Oba
Doreen Estazia Noni – Siri Ya Mtungi
Catherine Kibugi – Sumu La Penzi Episode 5
Ruth Ndulu Maingi – Lies That Bind Episode 2 Season 2
Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom
Best Make-up Artist
Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life
Olabimpe Cole – Lekki Wives
Alex Gakumo – Sumu La Penzi Episode 1 Season 1
Michael Wawuyo – The Felistas Fable
Rehema Samo – Siri Ya Mtungi
Israel Moses – A Wish
Rosemary Obika, Redemption
New Era Award Movie – Rita Dominic – The Meeting
Trailblazer Award – Michelle Bello
Industry Merit Award – Pete Edochie
Check out celebrity red carpet photos from the event here.
