Just when we thought Toyin Lawani could not surprise us anymore, she pulled another huge one today at the Africa Fashion Week London by unveiling her huge baby bump.
It was a pleasant surprise as the designer and celebrity stylist was seen strutting the runway with her baby bump after showcasing her Freedom collection on day 3 of Africa Fashion Week London 2013.
The CEO of Tiannahstyling, pulled a Beyonce at the end of the long runway and revealed her baby bump to the press and audience wearing a red dress with white polka dots and trademark trainers.
This is the first time the Ms. Lawani is showcasing her designs at Africa Fashion Week London. In the past, she worked at the event as one of the lead stylists.
Ramsey Nouah was recently interviewed by Emma Emmrson on Golden Icons and when asked if she had ever had an affair with Genevieve Nnaji, Ramsey said, Genny, (laughs) she’s a very cool girl. In so many ways, she’s like really, really very cool. And she’s also the hottest chick in the block when it comes to Nollywood.”
He went further to say that they have never had a sexual relationship and that what they have is a brotherly-sisterly attached relationship. He also talked about a time he was stalked by a crazy fan, how there was no one to look up to when he started his career and so many other stuff.
This Friday on Al Jazeera’s global talk show South 2 North, Redi Tlhabi speaks to three film directors in the aftermath of South Africa’s Film and Publication Board banning Of Good Report, the opening night movie at Durban International Film Festival.
Of Good Report director Jahmil Qubeka joins Cameroon’s Jean-Pierre Bekolo (Le President) and Angola’s João Viana (The Battle of Tabata) in South 2 North’s Johannesburg studio.
Of Good Report was banned for allegedly showing ‘child pornography.’ Jahmil describes the psychological thriller as “your classical tale of lust, shameful lust…,” saying that it’s about a teacher who becomes obsessed with his student “to a point where he cannot see that he’s obsessed with a child.”
While agreeing that child pornography should be banned, Jahmil says Of Good Report is rather “making an indictment… For teenagers this a horror film. I want kids, particularly girls, to watch this and I want to scare them.”
Jahmil managed to get the banning over-turned and is also proceeding with a defamation case against the Film and Publication Board of South Africa.
Reflecting on the effects of the ban, he says, “I’m not sad for me. This has turned me into a superstar. My life has changed in a week. I’ve been in Varietymagazine… three times. What I am sad for is my nation because my nation was refused the right to see the film.”
Calling his role as a filmmaker “a privilege” and describing film as “the definitive art-form of the 21st century,” he says, “Self reflection is the only way you can develop. We are the mirrors of our society… If we are living in an age where our government is putting down draconian policies that don’t allow self-reflection, instead we showcase a world that is actually not real, so how will we get to a place of seeing where we are?”
Jean-Pierre-Bekolo
Le President was sidelined in Cameroon earlier this year because Jean-Pierre’s film discussed the end of 80-year-old President Paul Biya’s reign – a topic that is taboo in the country.
“He was minister in 1962; Barack Obama was one year old,” Jean-Pierre says. “He’s been there forever… You don’t have to be a genius to think that an 80-year-old man can go one day.”
Pointing out that “everyone will give me money to make a film once the president is gone to say how bad he was,” he says he rather made the film now “to anticipate and start a conversation about what will happen when he leaves or if he leaves… When you see the Congo, the Cote D’Ivoire, these are presidents who stay in power (very long) and then you have 20 years of war afterwards. Films always come when everything is over. Why? Why can’t cinema be there even before the problems, to reflect what is happening, so we can fix it?”
He says cinema has always played a political and social function. “I really think right now we have forgotten the very nature of cinema in the first place. Cinema is not neutral.”
Later, he adds,“ A lot of African filmmakers I know have political films, but all of them have given up. Today Africa is not in peace. We’re not really developed. We even have foreign troops on our continent. But our films are now very, very nice. We’re not talking about anything anymore.”
Joao Viana
The Battle Of Tabato is the story of a town in Guinea-Bissau filled with musicians. While Joao’s film hasn’t been banned, he says, “I think my cinema is banned too because I don’t have cinemas to show the film in Guinea-Bissau… It’s a kind of economic censorship.”
He stresses the need to retell Africa’s history without the influence of colonialism. “It’s very important because its always the perspective of colonialism… What I learned in school, and even later, is completely wrong. I learned in school that man came from Africa, this is obvious, but that modern culture was born in Europe. It’s wrong. Even the Egyptians, they tell us that the Egyptians are white people. Why?”
The three directors also discuss funding in Africa; whether or not governments should provide money for films; and when films should be banned, if ever.
For more information, visit, where all episodes are available to watch online.
With only hours left till the biggest African fashion event outside of the African continent, Africa Fashion Week London take place at the Old Truman Brewery 1-3 August, the organisers are putting the final touches to bring London fashionistas and those flying in from all over the world the best show ever yet. Goody bags are being put together, the runway prepared in time for the first show on Thursday and guest lists finalised. And of course the dresses are fitted.
Check out the first set of images from day 1 of #AFWL2013 fittings which took place on Tuesday 30 July at The Grange City Hotel with Mr. Mahogany and his team, AFWL models and the rest of the team including CEO and founder Ronke Ademiluyi.
iRoko TV boss, Jason Njoku and his Nollywood actress wife, Mary Remmy Njoku welcomed their child (a baby boy) this morning, June 30. The baby boy was delivered in a London Hospital. Mother and son are doing well and the child has been named Jason Obinna Njoku.
The proud father took to Twitter and tweeted the, ” The Njoku empire started today. Couldn’t be happier and well done to my incredible wife for bringing our beautiful son into the world.”
Jason and his Nollwood actress, Mary Remmy became husband and wife on Saturday August 18, 2012 in Lagos.
You’ve seen the first official trailer for the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie‘sbest-selling novel, “Half of a Yellow Sun” and many people have been wondering why Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji was nowhere to be found. Especially as there was a lot of buzz at the time it was announced that the top Nigerian actress will be featured in the film.
While the first trailer is almost the same as this new one, there is a slight difference. In the second trailer, Nollywood superstar Genevieve Nnaji is featured playing her role as Miss Adebayo.
Earlier this year, a rumour broke out that the Nollywood Superstar will no longer be featured in the movie and that her role had been removed from the story. According to the rumours, her role was cut off from the film because of her “poor acting.” And with the first trailer, a lot of people believed the rumour was true.
With this second trailer, however, it is clear that the screen goddess is a part of the film. Half of a Yellow Sun, the movie, directed by Biyi Bandele, features stars such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose as well as Nollywood stars such as Gloria Young, Zach Orji, Onyeka Onwenu, Tina Mba and Genevieve Nnaji.
Also, Half of a Yellow Sun has been selected as the Opening Night Gala Film of the 2013 edition of the trinidad+tobago film Festival.
The trinidad+tobago film festival (TTFF) is an annual celebration of films from and about Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and its diaspora. The Festival also screens films curated from contemporary world cinema. In addition, the TTFF seeks to facilitate the growth of the Caribbean film industry by hosting workshops, panel discussions, seminars, conferences and networking opportunities.
Check out Genevieve in the second trailer Half of a Yellow Sun.
It is now official. Starting from November 2013, Nigerian and Kenyan visitors to the UK including four other countries from Asia ( India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh), will be required to pay a £3000,00 tourist visa bond before they will be allowed into the country.
The countries whose citizens are required to pay this sum has been categorised as a “high risk” to the UK . According to official data, these six countries accounted for over half a million visa applications to the UK in 2012.
There has been an outcry about the since it was announced in June that citizens of Six Common Wealth (Nigeria, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh) will be made to pay a £3000 deposit for a UK tourist visa. It was tagged a “discriminatory policy.”
According to a report by the Financial Times “Britain is pressing ahead with its trial of a scheme to make visitors from six countries pay a £3000 bond, despite an international backlash and complaints from businesses. The government said it would begin a trial of the scheme in November to impose visa restrictions on six Commonwealth nations, including India and Nigeria, even though David Cameron poured cold water on the scheme in June after it provoked uproar in Delhi.”
The British Home office now claims that the scheme will be highly selective and target only suspicious applicants. First-time visitors and those seeking a six-month visitors visa from the affected countries will be required to deposit a cash bond of £3,000 for a British visa.
The financial Times also reported that the UK business communities is unpleased with this new policy as they feel it will affect their businesses, especially luxury goods retailers who are patronised by wealthy tourist from countries such as Nigeria and India. At the moment, Nigerians are the 6th biggest spender on luxury goods in Britain.
The first trailer of Biyi Bandele’s Half Of A Yellow Sun is out. The film, which is an adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Orange Prize-winning novel, has been shooting since March in locations in the UK and Nigeria.
The film, which has been adapted by celebrated Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele will make its World Premiere at the 2013 edition of Toronto International Film Festival.
The film, Half Of A Yellow Sun, will feature stars such as Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave, Children of Men), Thandie Newton (Crash, The Pursuit of Happyness), Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle , Onyeka Onwenu, Zack Orji and Gloria Anozie Young.
The organisers of Africa Fashion Week London are pleased to announce the media partnership with SPICE TV, Africa’s first and foremost 24/7 international fashion and lifestyle channel, in the run up to the third edition of AFWL scheduled for 1-3 August 2013 at Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch a success.
With a keen focus on the exploration of the local African fashion industry and presenting African achievement in fashion, beauty and lifestyle, SPICE provide a positive portrayal of the continent and its contribution to contemporary society across the globe.
“We are excited to be a part of AFWL as media partners this year, we anticipate a successful showcase of cross-cultural African fashion and style. SPICE recognises that the African continent and the diaspora have much to offer in terms of extraordinary talent in fashion design. We are delighted to be associated with the nurturing of new designers from across the continent and the diaspora as well as continuing to provide a platform for the established. As a channel dedicated to developing and presenting African fashion locally and internationally, we believe this partnership will redefine African fashion and its coming of age, especially in providing a visible platform for all across Africa,” said Tajudeen Adepetu, CEO, Consolidated Media Associates Group.
“We are looking forward to having Africa’s leading fashion and lifestyle channel SPICE on board as one of our major media partners and hope to forge a strong relationship working together. We also hope with quality coverage of Africa Fashion Week London will bring our event to screens across Africa, introducing AFWL to a broader audience around the continent,” said Ronke Ademiluyi, the founder and CEO of AFWL.
National Telecommunication operator, Globacom has disclosed that it was inspired to throw its weight behind the African Fashion show holding in London from 1st to 4th August because of lofty aim of the organisers to promote talented African budding designers and artists. In a press statement in Lagos on Monday, the telecoms company stated that it identifies with the objectives of the organisers to “celebrate our unique and diverse African cultural heritage”.
Globacom added that the Fashion week is a laudable platform for promoting the work of African and African – inspired designers and fine artists globally.
The telecoms company also promised to continue to be associated with the development of Africa’s rich culture, its works of art and its priceless body of literature.
Part of the activities lined up for the four-day show is the African Arts and Fashion Banquet which comes up on 4th August at Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London.
Glo stated that it was impressed with decision of the organisers to set up an endowment fund for talented student designers/artists and emerging designers/artists. It added that Globacom, being an indigenous African company is committed to youth empowerment.
The platform is expected to create opportunities to foster partnerships with business communities globally, thereby creating jobs, generating wealth and eradicating poverty in Africa.
Meanwhile, the company has put in place a promo that will see subscribers on Glo Infinitiser package winning an all-expense paid trip to African Fashion week London.
Globacom said that in addition to the subscribers who are already on the Glo Infinitizer platform, other postpaid subscribers who use N3000 and above also stand a chance to win the golden tickets if they migrate to Glo Infinitizer.
Glo Infinitizer is an amazing postpaid product launched recently which allows subscribers on the platform to call any of the 26 million lines on the Glo network free.
