MTV Base to host President Jacob Zuma, Helen Zille and Julias Malema in an election telecast
MTV Base choose or lose 2014 encourages South African youth to exercise their right to vote and motivate youth engagement with democratic process. As election fever grips the nation, South Africa’s leading politicians are to come face-to-face with some of their youngest constituents in a special programme from MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130), aimed at motivating young people to engage in the electoral process. “MTV Base Choose or Lose 2014” will air simultaneously on MTV and MTV Base ahead of the upcoming elections on Sunday 4 May 2014 at 18:00 CAT (repeat: 22:00 CAT, 4 May). President Jacob Zuma (ANC), DA leader Helen Zille and EFF president Julius Malema will appear in an historic one-hour TV special where they will be quizzed on why South African youth should vote for them for the coming term of office. Eight young South African “born frees” (ie born after the first South Africa democratic elections in 1994) will be on hand to put the leaders on the spot and pose questions about a range of issues including education, service delivery, HIV/AIDS, gender issues and other burning issues affecting the youth of today. Facilitated by MTV Base VJ Sizwe Dhlomo, “MTV Base Choose or Lose 2014” is based on MTV’s global “Choose or Lose” campaign, created in 1982 to inform and empower young voters on the political issues that matter to them most, and to provide a platform for airing their views. The campaign has been credited with fuelling several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including the 2004 elections, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote. The campaign has subsequently engaged youth voters in many other countries around the world including Mexico’s 2006 Presidential election. In Africa, “Choose or Lose” has also spawned initiatives such as “MTV Base Meets” – a platform where young people are given the opportunity to interact directly with inspirational leaders and opinion formers. The Choose or Lose election drive will also include on air promos and additional short editorial pieces on MTV and MTV Base, encouraging young people to get out there and vote, during the build up to the election. “For South Africa to fulfil its full potential it is critical that young people, who make up the majority of the continent’s population, actively engage in choosing leaders who will address the issues they face. We are excited to leverage our Choose or Lose campaign to encourage young South Africans to go out and vote in the upcoming elections with a better understanding of the leading candidates and their agendas” says Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa. Tim Horwood, Channel Director, MTV Base further added “The Choose or Lose campaign plays an important role in helping to bridge the divide that can exist between a country’s leaders and...
Redefining branding with Ruramai Musekiwa.
Creatives, stand up and fight for your artistry to be recognised far beyond the forte’s of your stoep. Represent sat down with Ruramai “Rudo” Musekiwa, the creative director and brains behind BSN – the soon to be launched digital magazine. Here’s what she had to say. Who is Ruramai? Give us a short background of who you are and what you do for/at BSN? I’m a creative with a passion for the extraordinary. My background is graphic and web design, DTP , copywriting and fine art. I was born in Zim and spent a portion of my childhood in Australia before coming back to a vibrant and diverse SA, so my world view has been shaped by a colourful myriad of experiences. I am the Creative Director of BSN & Studio Rrr Design. I conceptualize and create everything related to BSN at the moment. How did BSN Magazine come about? Take us through the last 6 months of preparation? Brand Spankin’ N(YOU) has been a labour of love for the past 7 years. The idea to create a unique and inspiring publication was born in my internship days and it was quite a blurry concept back then. I would create random magazine cover designs and layouts conceptualizing a publication that changed shape and form over the years. I went through dozens of concepts, even had a Mxit interview with Zuko(our cover feature) in 2009 (laughs!), but I needed to fine-tune it further. I quit formal employment in July 2011 and my passion for brand architecture and the branding process grew. I think it was important to refine this concept from a cool artsy zine to what it is today; a fully matured magazine that is ready for take-off. The last six months have been interesting. A lot of late nights building the marketing strategy, designing teasers and promotional material, research, writing, reworking layout ideas, meetings, Sit-down and Skype interviews… It’s been a busy time and I think we all get to points where our passion and belief in what we’re doing is tested. I’m thankful for resilience and everything that reinforced my convictions and belief in this idea. Describe what is BSN? Brand Spankin’ N(YOU) is a movement driven by a passion for creative branding and telling inspirational stories about passion brands. Essentially BSN has two compartments; the publication (BSN magazine) and BSN Brand Architecture which encompasses brand coaching, branding workshops, creative solutions (graphic design, web design, illustration etc.) Who/ what inspired you for this project and what message do you wish to convey? It’s hard to pin-point one reference point of inspiration… I was and continue to be...
Call to Action – Swaziland Bushfire Festival
Siyanemukela (welcome in siSwati) to the third Swaziland Bushfire Festival due to take place on the 31st July and 1st and 2nd of August this year in the beautiful mountainous kingdom of Swaziland. If you love a truly African rooted vibe, in a sublime setting (don’t forget we’ve been going on about House on Fire for years now – best venue in Africa) with the biggest party animals on earth (you know who you are) then make sure to pack up the kids and friends and get to the gentle Malkerns Valley. We believe they’re also looking for artists so get in touch and rock the valley of heaven. It’s only 3.5 hours drive from Jozi… GO GO GO. Join the Facebook group for more info, and watch the promo video below for a taste of last year’s super relaxed Afro vibes. (The funny thing is, Swaziland is like this...
First Ever AFRICAN fashion week
Wow, amidst all the mishmash of the myriad of fashion weeks and not knowing which city or country we’re in or which season, who would have thought that the creme de la creme of an entire continent’s fashionistas could come together on one stage. Only in South Africa, land of big dreams and even bigger doers. Nice one. Represent Africa! Great timing, HINT: If you didn’t know already, big chunky and colourful Afro-inspired necklaces are the MUST HAVE accesory this Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. We look forward to more info. Inaugural Africa Fashion Week to draw world attention African designers will be scoring the winning goal during the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup in June, when the inaugural Africa Fashion Week takes place in Johannesburg. African Fashion International (AFI) has announced that the first Africa Fashion Week will be an eight-day showcase of the continent’s leading designers from 12 to 19 June 2009 at the Sandton Convention Centre, replacing Joburg Fashion Week on this years spring/summer calendar. Africa Fashion Week – which will feature designers from up to 15 countries including top South African designers – is set to become an annual event that will also be held during the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Visit www.africanfashioninternational.com for more details. Image: David Tlale’s...
Lerato Mogoathle – Our African Pride
She’s one superbrave continental jet-setter, Lerato Mogoathle is currently uprooting fertile earth all over West Africa as she digs into the highs and lows of our mixed up continent. Get inspired by her moving African travel stories in the City Press (do yourselves a favour) and pack your own backpack for a true African discovery… We’re blessed to be in constant touch with her and to receive page-turning updates on the marvellous world of Miss L Boogie, today she shares her Salif Keita adventure with us. Represent Sisi! Sharpile for your words! : Picture this, if you will. You are a music journalist jaded with the mainstream pop culture, hungry for more African music and currently travelling around West Africa, the region whose music, cultures and literature fuelled your obsession for experiencing Africa. You arrive in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and love what you see when it is a poster announcing Salif Keita’s concert in two weeks. The first time I saw Salif Keita on stage was in 2004 when he was being awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Kora All African Music Awards. Dressed in white, he literally descended on stage, glowing under the lights. This is the image, and admiration for his music and increasing obsession with Malian music that leads me to Yamasoukrrou, the capital of Ivory Coast. The newspapers said the show starts at 6pm. I arrived there in the nick of time, only to wait and wait for what felt like eternity to start. The ball starts rolling three hours later, with sound checks and opening acts that, as entertaining as they were, only made me my waiting that unbearable. The Malian great Keita gets on the stage. The hall falls silent. We know we are about to experience a moment in time, not any other live show. He starts the show by kneeling before us; thanking us for being with him that night. He opens with two acoustic songs. The first feels like a worship session; calming, serene and with that haunting voice, a channeling of Allah’s presence and manifestation in the moment. The second song is a duet with Ivorian superstar Aisha. They are a class act, delivering a performance that seems like they are always practicing how to deliver the song. We watch in silence. Then Salif raises his hand. The 11 piece band, whose sound check lasts as long as they need to make sure everything comes out PERFECT, joins him. It was the second best live show I have ever been to. The other also belongs to Salif, a day later in the town of Bouake. We rise and...
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