Music is one of a country’s uniquely distinctive features and nowhere in South Africa is the jazz industry’s vivacious cultural and lifestyle influence and ethnic energy more evident than in the Newtown Precinct. The Newtown Precinct in recent years has therefore become a cultural hub in South Africa and a tourist hotspot.

That explains why soon and pretty soon… it is going to be that time of the year when Johannesburg jives, bops and boogies to the smooth sounds of live jazz. Like it is expected again this year, last August, the Joy of Jazz Festival took the centre stage from its headquarters in the Newtown Precinct.

Last year, it was four days of sexy creativity, excitement, self expression and warmth which drew thousands of jazz lovers both from Johannesburg and from further afield. Not a few people flocked to the Joy of Jazz Festival from all over South Africa and other neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique and even from African countries further away like Nigeria, Kenya and Angola. They all came to Jo’burg to celebrate Jazz.

And for music buffs, especially jazz connoisseurs who made the pilgrimage once, it’s almost certain they will return this year, with Joy of Jazz already spinning into a somewhat annual ritual.

Beat this, since the debut of the first edition about eight years ago, Jazz lovers from all over the world, as a matter of routine, now come to worship at the feet of jazz legends… or legends in the making and one such legend was Tu Nokwe who featured brilliantly last year. Tu Nokwe has the DNA of one of South Africa’s greatest musical families. She released her debut album, Inyakanyaka in 1996. Her distinctive style combines New Age African, spiritual, and Afro-jazz funk. Tu is a well-travelled performer and has delighted audiences around the world with her fabulous live shows one of which LEADERSHIP SUNDAY watched live in Jo’burg last year.

While she is well-travelled, Tu still has two favourite places in the city of gold; the Newtown Precinct and the Greenside coffee society in this charming village in the north of Johannesburg.

Major attractions include the Museum Africa and the Market Theater. However, Jazz lovers can stop by Horror Cafe (music and street poetry), Songwriter’s Club, Carfax and the Bassline. “My favourite spot is Sophiatown in Newtown, especially on Saturday nights to mingle with different kinds of people, watch and listen to local quality music by young bands,” says Tu.

Greenside is one of Jo’burg’s favourite weekend destinations, with streets lined with some of the city’s best eateries.? The area is renowned for its lifestyle and décor shopping and is one of the best places to spend an early-spring Johannesburg afternoon. The streets are best explored on foot and over a few hours; exploring every store and stopping for pavement-side refreshments and snacks along the way.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY asked Tu what inspires her music about Jo’burg, she responded, “The way jazz is loosely interpreted allows freedom of musical expression, simplicity, confidence and creative license to experiment with the blend of different genres.”

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY gathered that many of South Africa’s great Jazz musicians have performed and found fame in Newtown. The Joy of Jazz 2011 for instance brought South Africa’s great musicians back to Newtown and they performed in seven venues last year -? Conga Stage which is the brand new main stage featuring upbeat jazz and world music, Dinaledi stage, Mbira Stage, Bassline, Sophiatown, Shikisha and Nikki’s Oasis.

Another Jazz legend who was the cynosure of all eyes was Simphiwe Dana, an award?winning singer whose albums have triumphed on both the local and international music charts. Her music has continued to captivate and capture the hearts of her admirers and fans. Her third album, released in 2010; Kulture Noir ? has been receiving praise from all over the world.

Simphiwe’s favourite spot in Johannesburg is Emmarentia and in particular, the Botanic Gardens. The beautiful vast green surroundings are popular with picnickers, cyclists and runners. On weekends, the sloped grass embankments are filled with those taking part in picnics or braais. Emmarentia Dam (adjacent to the Botanic Gardens) is another great spot to enjoy canoeing, sailing and wind surfing.

Simphiwe told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY at the event that she was deeply inspired by the people of Johannesburg. “This is a very cosmopolitan city. Parts of Johannesburg are deeply, and deliciously, African. And parts of it are very European. The mix of cultures, styles, languages, forms of expression is a pressure cooker for creativity. I love this city.”

Like it had been since the beginning, the South African Tourism once again supported the Jo’burg Joy of Jazz last year, with a determined bid to promote the country as a lifestyle destination to its overseas and in particular African markets.

“We at South African Tourism are excited to support the 2011 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz and it will serve as a platform for South Africa to showcase Johannesburg as a music capital and South Africans as warm and welcoming people. Music is such an integral part of our culture and who we are and we are pleased to share our diversity, creativity and heritage with the rest of the world,” Sugen Pillay, Global Manager: Events at South African Tourism told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY.

Pillay further explained that the Joy of Jazz also presented an opportunity for South Africa to showcase its Arts and Culture and Africa’s greatest and most cosmopolitan city.
The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Jo’burg Festival took place from August 24 to 27 and it paraded musicians like the legendary American jazz great, Wynton Marsails as well as Dee Dee Bridgewater and McCoy Tyner. There were also South African greats, Hugh Masekela and Sibongile Khumalo and other African music acts like Nigeria’s Olufemi, Angola’s Bonga and Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi.

And as the days keep rolling by for 2012 Edition of Joy of Jazz Festival, the question already being asked by the teeming millions of Jazz buffs the world over, especially from the African continent is, what do we expect from S.A Tourism this year?

Despite the very real “problems” behind the separation from his wife of almost seven years, Heidi Klum, Seal still doesn’t rule out chances they’ll get back together.

“It may happen, I can’t speak for her,” Seal, 48, says on Piers Morgan Tonight. “Is it irreparable? You can never say never. The thing I love most about us is that we are a team … that won’t change, whether we get back together or not.”

For now, though, the British musician, who is still wearing his wedding ring, sticks by the couple’s mutual decision to part ways.

“I don’t know at this point, to be honest [if I want to reconcile]. If it were that easy – if there weren’t problems, we’d still be together. That is the reality.”

One thing is certain; he still has feelings for Klum.
“My love for her has not waned one iota,” he says. “I love her with all my heart. How can you not love somebody [who] you’ve spent eight years with?”

Defending “malicious” rumors that he’s “just wearing his wedding ring for show,” Seal explains – while pointing out his brown nail polish-adorned finger – “I’m still wearing my wedding ring because I’m still married to this incredible woman.

“What this means to me and what it stands for [is] respect,” he continues. “It stands for loyalty, it stands for incredible memories, and it stands for these four little miracles – and Heidi, making five – that have come into my life.”

People call him ‘The Youth Ambassador’ while his fans identify him as Areafada. Mr. Charles Oputa is one man in Nigeria that has used his fame and fortune to touch lives across his fatherland. He has been in the vanguard of every fight for the rights of the common man including the just ended fuel price hike protest . In this interview with LEADERSHIP WEEKEND Editor, AMINA ALHASSAN AHMAN and ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, he talks about his position on the recent industrial strike, his life style and the way forward for the nation. Excerpts

You are seen by many Nigerians as one of the heroes who led the protests during the week-long nationwide industrial strike. How do you feel about that?
Anyway, we thank God. It was a battle we all had to fight for our country. It was quite a terrible moment for most of us who were part of the protest as we didn’t pray to be on the streets in protest by that time, only that circumstances warranted it. It is sad that, when most countries in the world celebrate their leaders, we are protesting against our leaders.? However, it was a necessary evil just to save our country from being hijacked by some oppressors.? I also feel terribly sad since I still can’t see the way forward even after the strike has been called off.

Truly, it is not the best times for most of us Nigerians. Already times are hard for most of us and to be compelled by circumstances to bear with extra demands on our very lean resources is just crazy. Look around and show me one part of our lives that we can turn to for succour. ASUU is on strike, and our kids are at home, even the schools are not what they used to be in our time. The tariff on electricity has gone up, yet how many times do we have electricity? For the private business people, how do they run their business? Corruption has become a legal tender in the country.

This is a country where people cannot hold their leaders accountable in the management of public funds. Naturally, people started to express their dissatisfaction with the way things are run, and the fact is that, as the days roll by, their lot gets worse. Meanwhile, government didn’t help matters by introducing the 140 price hike in PMS.

The people now started to feel that government has turned into a big bully with no sensitivity towards the people it governs. So the NLC national protest opened a lot of things which were hidden before; the people got angry and took to the streets in protest. Rightly or wrongly, Nigerians believe that low petroleum product prices are a given right in the absence of any social cushions and have protested vigorously through labour strikes each time these prices were increased. All of these disruptions have wide spread political implications. At the beginning of the rally, even the police joined in some states.

After all, is it not the same market we all go to and the same fuel we buy? Every country subsidizes something. Take away fuel subsidy, what is the government going to subsidize? Are we made to pay for government’s recklessness in squandering our money?

You were at the Abuja rally with your power bikers throughout the duration of the strike, how did it make you feel when it was called off by the NLC and what is to be learnt from the strike. Did it make any difference?
The government has made its point; we the people have made our point, the journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. I have never seen so much information and misinformation move with so much amazing speed, and in the face of all of that, we even got smart in differentiating good information and the ones planted to distract and confuse us. Lies fly around with the speed of lighting, but the truth crawls and it is so slow. The truth started coming out like wild fire concerning the game, the deceit, the deals by the almighty cabalistic characters.

More people have come out with their own version of the real reason why Nigeria needs to stop a subsidy that should not have existed in the first instance, as they watch the romance between the government and the cabal stray, because you can’t have capitalism without capital. The once happiest nation in the world, the suffering and smiling Nigerians have finally discovered that the government is nothing but a ‘Big Fat Lie’, that its insatiable appetite for waste , and its financial recklessness has become a new art form, I’m impressed with the role of the Nigerian youth in the whole scheme of things, I got the feeling that for once they have resolved to take their future in their hands, because this country will only be saved by its exceptional youths.

I believe that NLC did the right thing to call it off when it did, in the first place people had to regroup and the security agents were starting to get nasty, so we had to retreat to advance once again our popular sentiment about this government, I know in some quarters people thought they sold out, I don’t think so, but I must say right here and now that this struggle is now beyond NLC we are all involved.

Some armed military personnel invaded Lagos to harass protesters after the strike had been called off. Was that the only way to the resolution of the crisis?
That obviously shows the inability of our government to manage crisis in a democratic setup. The deployment of the federal troop to Lagos was uncalled for. It was undemocratic for the government to have ordered well-armed soldiers after some innocent and unarmed free citizens of the country who have the fundamental human right to freely express themselves, unless if they want to tell us that there was war in Lagos, or our government has become autocratic. It is uncivil and dictatorial; this is one the mistakes that the government keeps making that have always boomeranged. However, I commend the maturity and civility with which the situation was managed by the Lagos state government.??

What do you think of the new pump price of petrol?
There is no new pump price of Petrol as it stands now. What we have is simply an imposition of petrol pump price on Nigerians. How many people were consulted before this imposition? You see, you call it new pump price of petrol and I wonder if in reality, it’s the new pump price. All I know is that we are yet to have a new pump price because the government cannot take a unilateral decision on behalf of its citizens when they have already stated their obvious pain. Even with Labour compromising, you still need to ask yourself; have 30 percent of the Nigerian masses you saw on the streets during the protest compromised? I don’t think so.

We don’t fight and just stop half way. The question we should be asking ourselves at the moment is whether the essence of the entire struggle was to see fuel price shifted down slightly and temporarily? No, that wasn’t the aim of the protest. Our protest was designed to achieve a purposeful result. It was to force the government to revert to 65 naira per litre before any further discussions. That the Nigerian Labor Congress decided to tactfully back down does not make the 97 naira pump price binding on us.?

Nigerians saw that their leaders were truly their problems. Nigerians saw the need to unite against corrupt leaders and bad policy.? I just didn’t like the fact that the sit at home protest was also called off, pending when our demands are met…

What should Nigerians be expecting from you and other civil right groups?
We will assure Nigerians that we are not going to rest until the change that we all yearn for is realized. On the issue of fuel subsidy, we will not give up, no matter the NLC position.? We will continue to push on until the Federal Government finds a better platform to convince Nigerians on the removal of fuel Subsidy. We will not accept the imposition of 97 naira per litre. We want to understand all the indices of subsidy and its removal before we can consent to FG and Labour’s position, if not, on 65 naira we stand!!

It was alleged that some celebrities including the AGN President SegunArinze and others collected N200, 000.00 each to support the removal of subsidy….
It is quite unspeakable for anyone or someone whom the society sees as a role model to indulge in such criminal act of selling their ward for money, no matter how small or big the amount.? Well, what do you expect from people in such a rotting environment? What do you expect to get from people when poverty rules the land?? What do you expect from people when corruption has been legalized? I’m not surprised anyway. But my philosophy has always been that there is always honesty in a dishonest society, however, it takes a heart of a lion to be steadfast while imbibing the culture of integrity.

It will be unfair for some celebrities who should have come out openly to challenge an obnoxious and untimely policy such as that, to have ended up shortchanging the masses. Maybe, some of them believe that the meagre sum of N200, 000.00 will create a different economic environment for them. Really, that is not the case, because we will still buy from the same market, ply the same road, and use the same fuel. How can you sell the future of your people for money? It’s unfair. If the allegation is true, then it’s unfortunate.

As a voice for the teeming unemployed youths, how will you ensure that the Federal government lives up to its promises of creating more jobs and palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal?
It is one thing for the government to understand that Nigerian youths need some assurance, and there is another thing for them to know and ignore such assurance and promises during the subsidy regime. The only way out for the government and for the youth is to find a better forum to communicate its intention and promises to the youth and also devise the most effective strategy for this assurance. Without this, I will authoritatively tell the Nigerian youth that we cannot rear our fish in a porous pond and that is why I’m here for them.

At sixty, you are still looking thirty and you haven’t changed in the past 15 years. It is amazing that when your peers and your con temporaries are getting older, you are getting younger, how come?
It’s you guys who are trying to make me old by force. Sometimes I think some people wish they could say I’m seventy or more. I never told anyone that I was sixty, but sixty has become my press age.

So how old are you?
How would I know when my mother has gotten the date all mixed up? I have heard crazy stories about this brand called Charlyboy. Stories? about plastic surgeries, stories about being a vampire, because I sleep in a coffin sometimes,? even stories about being occultic; some crazy stuff, some too unreal? to put in words. However, that has always been as it was intended. I feel twenty four, because I have surrounded myself with everything playful and youthful. I love the youth, they are my constituent. I learn from them and also share my personal experiences with them. As Mr. Charles Oputa, the playful and youthful expressions of the Charlyboy brand have rubbed off on me seriously.

How have you maintained your youthful look?
I’m a health freak and very sensitive about what I eat. I follow my regular morning routine of jogging and gym as religiously as possible. I like staying healthy, eating well and generally giving my body a treat. I don’t try to indulge in negative activities that put a drain on me; I have learnt how not to stress myself. I sleep a lot, I don’t drink and I don’t womanize, even though as Charlyboy, women try to pick me up regularly. I’ m not making out that I’m all that, but I do try to live a clean life. I only have one bad habit I’m trying to stop, smoking; it’s not been an easy one, but I’m trying. Longevity runs in my family. My grandfather lived till a hundred and twenty years and my father is almost 98 and still doesn’t use a walking stick. It is really a gene thing and I’m proud I come from good stock.? I thank God that till date, I don’t even have a single grey hair on my head.

You’ve been able to keep your marriage to wife number five, Lady Diana intact. What’s the secret??
First, I thank God for his mercies. It has not been easy one bit, but this much should be said. If two people, with mutual respect, friendship and love are determined to make a union work, it will work. Do not also forget that I have picked up experience after having gone through almost four marriages in less than eight years. So I think these are some of the factors that helped me in this one. Women are all the same no matter where they are from. You must study their manual if you are to live in peace with them; they are basically the same. If you make a woman feel like a queen, make her understand that she comes first in your life, and treat her with dignity and respect; half of the problem is already solved.

We talk a lot, so at every point, each of us can almost tell what the other person is thinking.? We have a great friendship, she has seized to be just a wife long time ago; she is my girlfriend, my bitch, my whore, my sister, my mother, my confidant and so many things rolled in one.? As Mr. Oputa, we don’t allow Charlyboy into our house because he doesn’t belong there, and as Mr. Oputa, I take family matters as my number one priority; that includes my parents, wife, children and grandchildren since my family is my heritage.?

Family to me is my talisman, my juju if you may wish to call it so. As long as they are there, I’m untouchable. As Mr. Oputa, I don’t have a social life; it’s all about my work and my family, so I have very few distractions. That’s the reason why we don’t bring Charly into the house. I guess he will find it very boring.? But above and beyond all of that, my wife is God sent, my angle sent to keep me on the straight and narrow path and after a few failed marriages, God has rewarded me with this one.

What does the future hold for Nigeria?
With what I saw during the protest, I think we have a great future ahead of us. I said this to say that if Nigerians can agree with one another and come out in mass to speak against an obnoxious policy such as this, then I foresee a great future for the country.

But one thing we must do is to completely disassociate ourselves from bad leaders who have put us in this mess today, and we can always realize the tomorrow that we dream of.
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The song by Terry Da Rapman? ‘Boys Are Not Smiling’ has come to bear since the announcement by the organised labour on Monday to suspend the week long nationwide strike which came to many Nigerians as a shock.

It was no surprise that Nigerians came out en masse to support the call to mass protest by labour and other civil society groups in the country, which lasted for five days, bringing? the Nation’s economy to a standstill.

Mo Hits chief and Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music label producer, Michael Collins Elebeli, aka Don Jazzy, said on his tweeter page “the God that we serve sees all what happens behind closed doors. One day, breeze go blow and fowl * go open. Dem say strike is over. Hmm”

Reacting to questions on tweeter from his fans he said:
‘if you tweet, it stays online. I tweet and it ends up in a newspaper in Aso Rock. And I did the best I could. You want me to now over do?”

eLDeeTheDon also tweeted , ‘How can a minister be the one 2 supervise an EFCC investigation of allegations in which she could be a possible suspect? Where is this done?

Hip hop icon and the streets voice social crusader Eedris Abdulkareem tweeted: ‘WE ARE WORRIORS, REVOLUTIONERS (sic) and FREEDOM FIGHTERS… If? you hate me for that then it’s on you.’

Idibia is expecting baby No.6 with?mother?of two of his children, US-based Pero Adeniyi.

Pero is due to give birth to the couple's third child together in March. LEADERSHIP gathered that it's going to be another boy.

The reason Pero's third pregnancy for the hit maker was not known until now is because she's been in the US for a while, so no one in Nigeria saw the protruding tummy.?

It was also gathered that Tuface was trying to keep it quiet today.

His PR manager Bayo Omisore has confirmed the pregnancy. Big congrats to Tuface and Pero.

Additional report from Linda Ikeji's blog

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He calls himself King Samuel Oluwafemi aka Opalemo.? A Nigerian gospel artiste from Ilaro, in Ogun State. The artiste who is also into the business of clearing and forwarding spoke to AJIBADE ALABI in Lagos, on his life as gospel artiste.

You introduced yourself as a king, these days we have a lot of kings in Nigerianmusic. So who made you a king?
I know there are lots of kings in music, but I, Oluwafemi Opalemo did not crown myself a king. I was crowned King of Gospel Music in Nigeria during the 2011 Festival of Gospel Artistes of Nigeria, by NAPAM; the records are there to be seen. I was also given the Peace Ambassador of Gospel Music. So it’s not a mater of me crowning myself, I was crowned by people who believed I deserved it.

When did you start singing gospel music?
It is difficult to tell, because I started when I was very small. I can say I was brought up in music family. My father was and still an Apostle in one of the old generation churches, he was also into music. In fact the founder of Celestial Church of Christ, the late Samuel Bilewu Oshofa gave him a title of Amoko of Celestial in 1976.? So since that time, I have been a member of the chorus group of Christ Apostolic Church Ilaro, Ogun State, and as I grew older, I became professional in it, thus ending up as a gospel artiste.

But how far have you used your music to preach the gospel of the world to people who listen to your music?
I can tell you that through my music a lot of people have changed. I don’t need to tell you this, but within me I know I have won a lot of souls for Christ.

But a lot of people are saying, gospel artistes are not preaching the salvation anymore, that they now entertain in social gathering instead?
Well, there is no crime in a gospel musician playing in a social gathering, in as much as he or she can get his or her message to the crowd. Like me for instance, I can play in a hotel and still get my message across to the people at the hotel. So I don’t blame any gospel musician who plays in social circle. Now let’s look at it this way: if we should restrict ourselves to church service alone, how do you expect us to make ends meet? So individually we know how to blend both together.

You were once labeled as a womaniser, how do you react to this?
I am not a womanizer. I don’t know where that story emanated from. I am a responsible married man.

So how do you handle your female admirers?
I handle them as I do handle every of my fans whether a male or female. But one thing is sure, I don’t keep too close with my female fans. But at the same time women are very important in whatever we do so, I know how I balance them together without any conflicts.

But you have not been in the news of late. Why?
That is me for you. I don’t make noise about myself. I let my achievement speak for me

Your studio at Abule-Egba , Lagos got burnt last year so what really happened?
I don’t want to go back to that again, it has come and gone. Though it was a very bitter experience, but to God be the glory, I have bounced back, and doing very well now.

So what is the new thing you are working on now?
I am working on a new album. The title is “New Era”, it is a 6- track album. It will be out very soon,

Will you say that will be your best ever?
I can’t say that will be my best ever. I am improving everyday. When I came out with my hit track “Iri Orun” people said it was my best, but the consequent ones proved them wrong. So I have not really got to my best.

It is rumoured that there is no cordial relationship among gospel musicians in the country. How would you react to this?
I don’t know where they got that story from, there is nothing like that, we are all one family.

Superstar couple Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z have welcomed their first child – a baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter.

The 30-year-old singer's daughter arrived via scheduled caesarean section at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City last night.

The couple's close friend Gwyneth Paltrow confirmed the baby's name on Twitter, writing: “Welcome to the world Blue! We love you already.”

Beyoncé's 42-year-old rapper husband Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, was by her side during the birth.

A source told Beyoncé's hometown newspaper Houston Chronicle that 'mother and baby are doing fine'.

The baby's middle name, Ivy may be in reference to Beyoncé and Jay-Z's love of the number 4. They married on April 4, 2008, Beyoncé's latest album is called 4 and the couple has matching tattoos of the roman numeral for 4 – IV – on their wedding fingers.

Beyoncé and Jay-Z were also born on September 4 and December 4 respectively.

Regarding Blue, Jay-Z has a trilogy of albums with the word in the title. The Blueprint was released in 2001 around the time he got together with Beyoncé, The Blueprint2: The Gift & The Curse came out in 2002 and The Blueprint 3 in 2009.

The singer's younger sister Solange tweeted: “The most beautiful girl in the world.”

Celebrities have already started tweeting their congratulations to the couple, including hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Rihanna.

Russell posted: “Congrats to my good friends Beyoncé and Jay-Z.”

Rihanna posted: “Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih.”

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Beyoncé checked into the Upper East Side hospital under the name Ingrid Jackson.

Beyoncé, who was spotted out with her mother on Thursday night, is said to have booked out the entire fourth floor spending $1.3million it has been claimed.

On Saturday night, deliveries of takeaway food and bottles of red wine were being delivered to the hospital's private wing.

An eyewitness saw Beyoncé's sister Solange and parents Tina and Mathew Knowles at the hospital holding 'flowers with pink balloons and silver and black ribbons.'

Jay-Z was also seen walking through the hospital halls looking 'happy' an observer said.

While a spokesperson for the power couple – who are said to be worth $750million – was not available for comment, security is said to have been tightened at the hospital.

Hospital workers are being asked to turn in their mobile phones and security cameras have been covered with packing tape, according to the news site.

At one point, a doctor was heard complaining the heavy security meant he couldn't check up on his patients properly.

TMZ reports that security for Beyonce's stay at the hospital involved an elaborate plan to ensure safety of mother and child.

Hospital execs and a large security force worked together and a meeting was held leading up to the delivery to discuss the best course of action.

The meeting was apparently held on Friday afternoon to prepare for the singer's late night delivery on Saturday night.

So far the plan has worked with no pictures of Beyonce, Jay-Z or their relatives released of them leaving or entering the building.

courtesy: Mail Online

The winner of Season 3 of the popular reality TV music show, Glo Naija Sings, Christian Doherty aka Christian has signed a contract with Africa’s mobile telecommunication giant, Glo, as its new Glo ambassador. This is in fulfillment of the promises made by the giant telecom company that the winner of the show will go home with aprize money of 100,000 USD, a Toyota RAV 4, Glo ambassadorship and a recording contract.

Christian was also presented with his prize car, a brand new Toyota RAV 4 by Globacom’s management at a brief ceremony held recently at the Victoria Island headquarters of the company.

Speaking at the occasion, Globacom’s Head of Corporate Sales, Kamal Shonibare, said that Globacom was delighted that a lot of talented youths took part in the show which saw Christian as the eventual winner. He said Glo will continue to give abundant opportunities to youths to showcase their talents through the Glo Naija Sings platform and urged Christian to make good use of the opportunities ahead of him to further develop his talent and music career.

Christian on his part expressed gratitude to Glo and MNET Africa for giving him and other contestants the opportunity to showcase their talents. He said the experience and exposure he had from the show has not only made his dream come true but had put him on the path to succeed as a professional.

“I am most grateful to Globacom for giving me this unique opportunity, not only to achieve my dreams but to ensure that I am on the path to huge professional success. I intend to be a worthy ambassador of the Glo brand, not only in Nigeria but across the world,” he said.

Christian also urged Nigerians to watch out for his debut single ‘Diz Kind Love’ which would soon be released.

Azadus, known for playing a fusion of reggae, hip hop, R and B and soul, is a zealous and determined musician who has been out of the music scene for a while, but his new singles may just be the reason for his absence. The master toaster and stage craft extraordinaire has been working in the studios tirelessly. ‘Don’t You Cry’ is a mid tempo song featuring The Don while ‘Don’t You Cry’ is a lovely song to listen to. ‘Kerere’ is a party jam produced by Jay Sleek.

Before going solo in his musical career, he was a member of the group ‘Def ‘O Clan’, which performed at ‘Jimmy Jatt’s Road Block’, ‘Benson and Hedges’ and ‘Sun Splash shows in the 90’s.

Azadus released the albums ‘Azadus’ in 2000 ‘Distinguished’ in 2005 and collaborated on the album of Tony Tetuila’s album ‘Morning Time’ in 2006.

Her name is Nina Orji, from Abiriba in Ohafia LGA in Abia State.? Born and bred in Jos, Plateau State, the charming model from a family of seven, is a graduate of Public Administration, Abia State University. She told ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM why she is so keen on becoming a super model. Excerpts:

Why do you want to go into modeling?

?Well, friends, admirers, and everybody who sees me believe I look? like a model,? and any time we are together, the next thing they say is, ‘why don’t you go into modelling?’ There is a saying that the voice of people is the voice of God, so thinking about it, I decided to make this look useful to the world – like companies, agencies, people that want or need good looks to showcase, advertise or make known their products or whatever they are selling to the public.

Secondly, I have always admired models from childhood and have longed to become one. Modelling is a good job but not everyone knows that.

You said your calling is modeling, what have you been doing before now?

?After school, I worked for seven years with an Engineering Company in Port Harcourt (Rockson Engineering Co. Ltd), then after that, I went into business which I do intermittently with event moderation and management.

As someone who has passion for modelling, who do you admire most in the modelling world?

?Noami Campbell has always been someone I admire most in the modeling world and, lately Eva Longoria who is a model and also a movie star and Kimora. There are others, but these two give me inspiration whenever I come in contact with them. I believe I can touch lives with modeling.

What inspired you into modeling and music?

Personally I love music a lot, there is this excitement and drive that comes with music and so, whenever I am alone, the inspiration to sing just comes, songs just come and I sing them depending on my mood at that moment. So? on this particular day, I braced up to be selfless and start singing for the listening pleasure of others and not just me alone, knowing that other people can also benefit from my? music because of the intended message I have to pass across either by way of counseling, inspiration, comfort, motivation or just pleasure. It is a good feeling, and just like I said, modelling has been my passion, in short, I am in love with entertainment.

What genre of music are you into?

I am into R&B and Gospel Music because they are just the kind of music that comes for now. Maybe I wanted to sing something that was emotional and as they say, you are the product of your thought, and these songs come from the depth of my heart; sometimes they are about God or experiences that come every now and then. It can be yours or other people’s personal experiences in life. When they inform me about it, I try to make a song from it.

Tell us the title of? your yet to be released album?

‘Beauty is In the Heart’ and ‘Jesus is the Medicine’ will be out soon. We are putting finishing touches to the albums. We are still working on some of the tracks in the studio and I believe when they are out, you will be the first person to know when the album launch will be coming up.? Meanwhile, it’s already in progress. Just keep your fingers crossed.

What will you say to those who have the same aspiration as you?

Be good, gentle and humble. Life is a step, only when you take your time to climb, will you get to the top.

She lost 85lbs last year and now Aretha Franklin is gaining a husband. The Grammy-winning singer is engaged to long-time companion William 'Willie' Wilkerson.

She said in a statement Tuesday, that she and Wilkerson are considering a summer wedding, perhaps in Miami Beach, Florida.

The Queen of Soul wants to follow the ceremony with a reception on a private yacht.

Franklin and Wilkerson became engaged over the holidays. She is considering Vera Wang, Valentino and Donna Karan to design her dress.

It will be the third wedding for Franklin, who has four children.

She was married to her then manager, Ted White, during the '60s and split from her second husband actor Glynn Turman in 1984 after five years together.

Franklin recently said she is feeling 'fabulous' again after suffering from a serious health issue in 2010.

The Chain of Fools singer was reported to have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – claims Ms Franklin denied.

However, she did undergo an unidentified surgery in December that year and she had cancelled concerts and personal appearances up until May.

Her more transformed physique has now promoted rumours she underwent gastric bypass surgery.

But Ms Franklin said in a recent interview that she 'would never' go under the surgeon's knife for weight loss surgery.

Asked if she had had a gastric bypass, Ms Franklin replied: “Definitely not – and would not. I heard that rumour. I said, ‘That is crazy.’ It definitely was not the bariatric or, what is it, gastric… Yeah, I can't even tell you the correct name of it.

“It's really not necessary to talk about one's personal medical health.”

Ms Franklin also addressed the rumours about reports she had pancreatic cancer and said: “There was just so many wild things out there and just so many things being said that weren’t true…I just felt I needed to address it a little.”

“I don’t know where pancreatic cancer came from, she states. 'I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that.”

She clarified: “No one in my family ever said that to anybody.”

Although she did not state what the nature of her health concerns were, the Baby I Love You hit-maker said that her doctors believe the surgery she had 'is going to add 15 to 20 more years' to her life.

culled from mail online

R. Kelly needs funding — And Quick; because the singer says he’s ready to film Thirty-Two new chapters of his legendary hip-hopera “Trapped in the Closet,”? but he needs financial backing first.

When we last saw “Trapped” … the year was 2007 and Kelly had released 22 chapters, involving a little person who crapped his pants, a neighbour with the spatula and a pimp with the stuttering problem.

Now, Kelly who was leaving an L.A. gym yesterday says he wants to continue the saga, “But it costs a lot of money to do … so we’re actually looking for investors.”

In the meantime, check out the end of Chapter 7, it’s the only time we’ve ever heard anyone sing the word “spatula” … and it’s beautiful