BETTER MAN Brian Temba takes on the R&B world with his secret weapon – South African soul The MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) launch this year at the Velodorome in Abuja, Nigeria on November 22nd. Sitting somewhat awkwardly amongst the more straight-forward categories like best male or best female or best Hip-hop even, is the one for Best R&B. P-Square, Akon, Loyiso, Rihanna and Alicia Keys are the contenders. Akon [...]
Zina Saro-Wiwa is a Nigerian-born, London-based filmmaker, writer and TV and radio presenter; “a typical African polymath,” she says. Zina, 32, describes her latest film This Is My Africa as a “50-minute crash course in African culture.” The film asks 20 people, black and white including actors Chiewetel Ejiofor and Colin Firth (who spent part of his childhood in Nigeria), what they love about the continent. This is my Africa [...]
Kenyan filmmaker Sagwa Chabeda, 35, studied film and photography at Temple University in Philadelphia before returning back home to Kenya in 2002. Since his return he has produced films and music videos for artists in East Africa. In 2006, he produced a Formula X, a film about what would happen if the AIDS virus…well, lets not spoil the plot, check it out for yourself. Look out for Formula X in [...]
Blending hip hop with a little African soul, South African-born, Tanzania-based singer Khethukubonga “Khethi” Ntshangase “afrosouljazz” sound brings to mind the soul stylings of Jill Scott, were she from the continent. Bringing her social activist toolbox along for the ride, Khethi sings songs of upliftment and awareness. We thought you oughta know… Age: 28 Where are you from? Originally from a “Sleepy Hollow” town called Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal, South [...]
