Channel O Music Awards Nominees
It’s awesome that Africa is Representin’ with nominations from 12 different countries at this year’s Channel O Music Video Awards, check out the nominations below. We’ve found some of our favourites artists from the nominations on YouTube – click and watch and tell us what you think! Remember, it’s not the song we’re after, it’s the video! HHP – Thlabane to Maftown D’Banj – Why Me E.A.B.C – Kube Dama Do Bling for Danca Do Remexe Lira – Feel Good Channel O is proud to announce the nominees for the 2007 Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards. This year’s nominee list has produced 46 artists from 12 different countries. SA’s HHP leads the pack with five nominations under his belt. Hot on his heels with four nominations each are Nigeria’s D’Banj for Why Me, Mozambique’s Dama Do Bling for Danca Do Remexe and Uganda’s E.A.B.C for Kube. Now in their fourth year, the Channel O Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards are unique in that videos are voted for by viewers, giving fans complete control over who receives an award. Criteria used for short-listing were technical quality, frequency of requests for a video on the different Channel O shows and overall creativity. The videos need to have been released between June 2006 and June 2007 and should have received airplay on Channel O. Channel O General Manager Yolisa Phahle is sure that the nominations reflect the diverse and growing music industry in the continent. “We are seeing videos of increasingly high quality and this is a direct reflection of the industry’s growth”, she says. “At Channel O we look to strike a balance between promoting the up and coming big names of tomorrow alongside established artists. This year some of the newer names are also producing outstanding music and high quality videos”. Viewers and fans will be able to vote for their favourite artists by smsing or voting online. Voting starts on Monday 20 August until Thursday, 04 October. Viewers can vote in each category by logging on to http://www.channelo.co.za/ to vote, or SMS to 34622. All sms’s are charged at international call rates. The complete list of nominees is: 1. BEST MALE VIDEO Artist Song Title Country Batman Samini African Lady Ghana D’Banj Why Me Nigeria Don Kikas Miss U Angola HHP Tlhabane to Maftown SA Nameless Sinzia Kenya Tay grin Stand Up Malawi 2. BEST FEMALE VIDEO Artist Song Title Country Chomee Jiver Sexy SA Dama Do Bling Danca Do Remexe Mozambique Ida Make It Hot Kenya Lira Feel Good SA Neyma Mbilo Yanga Mozambique Weird MC Ready to Party Nigeria 3. BEST NEWCOMER VIDEO Artist Song...
Represent Review: Omar Pene
How we wish we could have been there to get down with The Matrix as he swung his hips to Senegalese rhythms transfixed by the backing singers agility. Despite his opening sentence, we’re sure he had no problem doing the kwasa-kwasa at Kippies: Change is good they say, but I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous when it comes to dealing with cultural adjustments and their resulting (pre-requisite) behaviour. Well, to sift through the chuff – I plunged head first into unbeknown territory when I marched into Newtown’s legendary Jazz club – Kippies International – to attend the live music show from Senegal’s jazz star: Omar Pene. The atmosphere on 66 Quinn Str (Cnr Carr) was made lively by the opening act: Nathi and the Band performing a remix of the famous “Mangwane Mpulele” with all of us automatically joining in! The mood became emotional as we all listened as one to the poignant title track: Soze- a dedication to his late sister who passed away from an AIDS related illness. Nathi has dedicated the track to all live with HIV/AIDS. (Nathi/Soze, the album is out on sale now!) Apart from the annoying bankcard machines being offline, the ambience was groovy, welcoming and conducive to a good night in Jozi`s cultural heartland – Newtown. Then came the cultural twist as Omar Pene took us on a hip-swinging journey of authentic Senegalese dance floor tunes, even the Matrix lost all control and hit the dance floor Big Time. Kippies had a true multicultural audience on Friday; all paying homage to the singing sensation that is Omar Pene; there were us Darkies (dressed to shame the devil as usual), Whities in their droves (well prinked up too admittedly!) and enthusiasts of all sorts! Omar had us eating out his hands as we got down to the elaborate “Kwasa-Kwasa” dance of North West African origins, shaking it till the end. At one point I found myself multitasking as I gasped, stared and pondered on how horrified the Teasers girls would be if they could witness the things which Mr. Pene`s lead backup singer and beloved daughter could do with (just) her hips (Ka Mmago!!!). Omar Pene came to South Africa to perform at the Durban Film Festival, but owing to the dedication of Africa Synergy and the support of Kaya FM to the continuous development of a cultured Jozi inner City, Kippies international became the proud host of this ingenious and indigenous Senegalese artist. Nothing could have been more befitting and so rewarding! How grateful we are to have such culturally inclined international music supporters such as Africa Synergy, Kippies International and Kaya FM. For loads...
Tumi’s call to artists, brands, people, Africans
It’s about time us Africans did something to stand up for our continent and people rather than waiting on others to do it for us. Not that we are unappreciative, we just believe that in addition to the global efforts for Africa, it would mean so much more if we were initiating action ourselves. One of Represent’s favourite musicians and MC’s Tumi Molekane has decided to do just that. In an open letter, Tumi is asking for aknowledgement, support, cooperation and help to put together an event highlighting the Darfur region’s horrific strife and ongoing humanitarian disaster. Some may mutter that charity starts at home, but if you know anything about the situation you’ll know that they need all the help they can get before it’s too late. If you believe that we have the power to make a difference to our continent, read his letter below and share it with everyone you know, particularly those who can get involved and make a difference. We’re behind you Tumi. As always. Let us know how we can help. You can see satellite images from Amnesty International and catch eyewitness reports here. An open letter from Tumi For Space, for Dignity, for Recognition, for Survival, for Darfur Peace folks, Since 2003 the Darfur region in Sudan has been plunged into a bloody and disturbing conflict that has seen 200,000 people killed and 2 million displaced according to U.N figures. The conflict has many interwoven causes; from the structural inequality between the centre of the country around the Nile and the peripheral areas such as Darfur, to environmental calamity, political opportunism and also absurd Arab-African regional politics. The cause of the conflict is not the purpose of this letter. It is the devastating effects of the conflict that drive me to this point. In scenes frightfully resembling Rwanda, villages have been depopulated, looted, burnt to the ground, non-combatants have suffered dismemberment and brutal killings at the hand of militias. Rape has also been employed as a weapon in this conflict, women are raped in the open to humiliate them as they are ostracized and culturally considered unclean. “ITS HAPPENING AGAIN, ARE WE GOING TO JUST MAKE MOVIES ABOUT IT ONCE THE MURDERERS HAVE THEIR FILL” For the longest time I thought, these things get sorted out by governments and leaders with the profile of Kofi Annan and that all i could do about it is pray that my government was somehow involved in trying to secure a lasting peace agreement that could be honored by the warring parties. For others the apathy is a worsening illness that sees many desensitized to a chilling numbness by...
Represent BigUps: KayaKweru in Ponto D’Ouro
BigUps to Clive and his team at KayaKweru in the village of Ponta D’Ouro in southern Mozambique for their wonderful hospitality. Some of you will remember the competition we held earlier this year – the prize was a 5 days of bliss holiday at the Kaya Kweru resort for two Represent subscribers. According to our winners, it was a great break from Jozi and a must-do for some peace of mind (remember to subscribe to Represent to enter future fabulara competitions). Unfortunately Editorista could not make it, but her chommies Ips and Eug accompanied the winners and took great care of them. Sharpile dudes for your love and support! Click here to see all the photo’s of Ponta, KayaKweru and our winners having a blast. How about your next holiday at KayaKweru http://www.kaya-kweru.com/ in Mozi? Here’s the story from Ips that may just convince you: Bongani has won a competition on http://represent.johannvisagie.com/ and his prize is a trip to Ponta D’Ouro, Mozambique with a partner. We, Eugene and I (Ipuseng), are the lucky buggers that get to take them there. We had concerns when we were told the names of our co-travellers. Bongani was taking Jabu with him, so naturally the image that comes to mind is two Jozi chaps, with hormones in tow, a free trip to Moz and the scary notion of showing this place a thing or two. This, in our minds, would entail stalking the local female species, overindulgence in alcohol, and the inevitable lateness for every activity lined up. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Bongani was taking his girlfriend Jabulile. They turn out to be a really cool young couple that care about little else but each other…phew, relief! Most are accustomed to getting to Moz via the Komatipoort border. We were going to the Southern most part and to get there you essentially follow the N2 and N17, passing towns like Trichard, Ermelo, Piet Retief, Pongola. I mean who do you know that has been to these places? Perhaps one’s eyes as the weather report flashes past after the news. It’s a beautiful drive though, nature showing off at every opportunity. The toll gates you pass through are two in total and the damage is a laughable ten rand. A pleasant change when you imagine the R200 you pay in toll money to get to and from Durban. You must be warned though that those snoozy towns also breed a particular kind of over-eager driver every so often. We were bullied by a Baba Sibanibani, in his ‘been to hell and back on these wheels and I’m not tired yet’ nineteen ancient white Cressida. He overtakes when...
BENG BENG BENG – Femi Kuti here on Fri!
*UPDATE: BengBengBeng – don’t miss Femi Kuti guys – it’s this Friday start planning now. We are finding out the concert schedules/times for you and will let you know shortly. * Time for some good news! We have been waiting a long time to see one of Africa’s most incredible performers in SA. Get ready for an energetic, sexy, move your bones performance from the inimitable Nigerian SupaFunkArtist Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti right here on Southern African soil. There’s no excuse not to be there ‘coz it’s a FREE concert in one of Jozi’s coolest places, Mary Fitgerald Square in Newtown, all in celebration of AFRICA day – damn it feels good to be African today. Lets ALL go downtown. Support the city, the country and the continent! If you don’t know Femi, buy his music now. So put Friday night the 25 May in your diaries now and REPRESENT with more brilliant music from Ringo, the mysterious SAMA winner Lesego, Louis Mhlanga and others on the night… It just gets better on Saturday the 26th May with another free concert in Jukskei Park in Alex featuring Kwaito’s flavour of the moment (We heart LVD) L’VoVo Derango, the soulful Siphokazi and the ever popular Flabba then if you still ain’t partied out, head on over to Mofolo Park SOWETO on Sunday the 27th May for more Femi and our best girl Lira and our main man HHP, hopefully with his full band. SHO! It’s seriously jam-packed. Here are the details: The weekend-long Africa Day celebrations are about to commence, and preparations are at an advanced stage for the various events that will take place on the weekend of May 25th. This years Africa Day activities, hosted by the City of Joburg, the French Institute, Arts Alive, the Lotto and SABC will take place as three free events throughout different areas of Joburg, namely Newtown, Alexandra and Soweto. The festivities kick off on May 25th, with a concert at the Mary Fitzgerald Square, featuring Nigerian afro-beat star Femi Kuti, South Africa’s Ringo, Lesego, Corlea and Louis Mhlanga, Zambian vocalist Lindiwe, Ugandan Kinobe as well as the Vuvuzela Orchestra. The concert, which is free to members of the public will be televised on SABC2 and SABC Africa from 22h00 – 00h00 on Friday, 25th May. The next day, May 26th, the move is in Alexandra’s Jukskei Park, where a fashion show with a difference will take place along the banks of the Jukskei River, followed by performances by Flabba, L’vovo Derango and Siphokazi, all open to the public at no charge. The final part of the Afro-centric celebrations takes place at Soweto’s Mofolo Park, where Femi...
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