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Congratulations to Khanyi & Chinezi on their recent nuptials! People are still talking about their recent spectacular wedding. They cover the March issue of the popular Destiny Magazine where they talk about their dream wedding and their match made in heaven union….aaawwww! Heart Khanyi! Her career is a blueprint for most African dolls who are trying to establish themselves professionally!

Make sure you pick your March copy of the Destiny Magazine!

I think it is safe to say that Mo’Nique will definitely take home an Oscar come March 7th! She won a BAFTA award, which is the British equivalent of the Oscars last night. Yayee Mo! Go girl for sweeping ‘em! Mo was not present in London to accept her BAFTA award, but Lee Daniels, Producer & Director of the movie “Precious” was. Peep his interview with Mo’Nique’s BAFTA award after accepting it:

Jay Z was also in London for the Brits Awards & while he was there, he went onto the Jonathan Ross show and had this to say…

Jay Z Part One

On his friendship with U.S. President Obama…

“Um, I don’t want to overstate it…I know who he is.”

On keeping himself relevant as a rap artist/entertainer at 40 years…

“We have to stretch the audience, it can’t be a young man’s game. It’s a genre…”

On his 40th birthday celebrations…

“Oh, fantastic, I had a huge party in the Dominican Republic. We had this huge mansion with synchronized swimmers, the Olympic team. There was a casino outside, 2 dancefloors, fireworks at midnight, champagne everywhere.”

On Beyonce…

Jay Z dished about how he enjoyed his wife stage performances and that they both learn from each other as artists/entertainers. He also joked that he was the source and inspiration of Beyonce’s “Uh Oh” dance, as well as the “Single Ladies” dance….Uh ha, ok Jay Z! *smile*

Jay Z Part Two

Khanyi and Chinezi. Jay Z and Beyonce. Absolutely heart my power couples! What say you? Please leave your comments below!

Muah & muchas gracias!

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Happy birthday to Justin Combs, Rihanna &  President Robert Mugabe!

Zimbabwe’s Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency, President Robert Mugabe celebrated his 86th birthday today! He is reported to have celebrated quietly with his family today. Amidst a protracted economic meltdown, political fallout with the newly formed unity government and strikes, I am not sure how the formal celebrations will be funded or even go down but will keeping our ears to the ground for that!

Rihanna celebrated her 22nd birthday & Los Angeles Dodger, Matt Kemp (her boyfriend maybe?) reportedly threw her a birthday bash for her in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday!  “Private & intimate” was the theme for Rihanna’s birthday celebrations….Read More

And of course, Puff Daddy’s first born son, Justin Combs held a very lavish “Sweet 16″ birthday bash at M2 in New York City last month! The party, whose theme was “The Prince of New York” had an elaborate video introduction of the birthday boy, celebrity appearances and performances (Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Jada Kiss, Trey Songz, Heavy D), a $10,000 check that Justin so “generously” donated to Yele Haiti, a bowtied Maybach with a driver and of course, the hottest chic in the game for a date….Nicki Minaj! How do you top that?

MTV aired his “Sweet 16″ birthday party earlier today, check the video below…

Celebrity photographer, Derek Blanks just tweeted these pictures of actress, Vivica A Fox’s recent alter ego photo-shoot in Atlanta, Georgia. I am a huge FAN of Derek’s work! He goes hard. Remember his alter ego photo shoot with Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams…

Well peep the video for the behind-scenes for the photo-shoot with Vivica…

Here are the pictures! Check ‘em out…

Make-up: Saisha Beecham; Nails: Terrance Terry; Hair: Lawerance Davis; Wardrobe: Adrene Ashford; Designer: Maria Harper

Team Blanks is BANANAS!

Love her as an angel [kinda has a Beyonce feel to it, the Dangerously In Love era]! But not fond of the other…just sayin’! What do YOU think? Leave your comments below…

Ciao!

Photo: Derek Blanks

Hola guys @ dolls,

Jennifer Oguzie, Chineze Anyaene & Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Over in LA last weekend, Nigerian movie director, Chineze Anyaene had an exclusive screening of her new movie, IJE at the the Warner Bros. Studio in Hollywood. Starring in the movie are Nollywood’s blockbuster actresses Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Genevieve Nnaji!

I love that African girls are making things happen! Fab chic, Jennifer was one of the producers on this movie. I got a chance to hang out with them on the movie set in L.A. and these girls are the business! They are definitely people to watch!

Omotola looked amazing on the red carpet for the screening. The movie is coming out March 2010 (I made it to one of the scenes – how exciting!)

I digress, kudos Chineze & everybody!

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde & lead actor, Ulrich Que

Over in the East coast, lots of events took place this past Thursday night!

Hollywood actor, Matt Damon attended the premiere for his History Channel documentary The People Speak on Thursday in New York City. The People Speak screening was held at the  Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Matt Damon on the red carpet for The People Speak premiere in NYC

The Victoria Secret Fashion was also held this past Thursday at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City…

Supermodel, Chanel Iman

Five new “Angels” were inducted at the fashion show…Emanuela de Paula, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lindsay Ellingson and Candice Swanepoel, and the lovely, Chanel Iman…yayee for Chanel Iman! I always run into her at NYC Fashion Week and she is a doll!

Mr. Dele Momodu, Founder & CEO of Ovation International

Chief Dele Momodu, the publisher of Africa’s leading magazine, Ovation International invited African celebs and entertainment folks to a media listening party at Planet One, in Maryland, Nigeria this past Tuesday. I met Mr. Momodu earlier this year, in Las Vegas at the 13th Annual Nigerian Reunion. He is an amazing trail-blazer and pioneer!

According to one of the leading Nigerian blogs, Bella Naija, in celebration of their annual ‘Red Carol’s event, Ovation International recruited a cross section of Nigerian celebrities including musicians Olu Maintain, Niyola, Omawunmi, Essence, Dekunle Fuji, Kenny St. Brow, actress – Foluke Daramola, actor – Segun Arinze, comedians – Jedi and Gbenga Adeyinka to record a song and video for the song “Christmas in Lagos“.

This Ovation Celebrity Christmas Carol 2009 was sponsored by the United Bank of Africa Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading banks. The video was directed by DJ Tee.

This is all leading up to the annual charity ball, Red Carol charity ball. The Ovation International’s Red Carol is BANANAS! One of those ultra exclusive, invite-only events! A spectacular charity fund-raiser, proceeds from the ‘Red Carol’ event go to various charities.

Hip Hop Mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs turned 40 & celebrated with family & friends this past Thursday at the Plaza Hotel!

P. Diddy took to the stage during his birthday celebration in The Grand Ballroom at the Plaza Hotel

Oprah’s BFF & media personality Gail King and son Will Bumpus attended the birthday party!

As did uber fab chic, Ms. Keri “baby” Hilson!

Bye lovelies!

Photo / Source: Bella Naija, Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Bad Boy Entertainment

Yebo guys & dolls,

World Cup 2010 fever is at an all time high and all roads lead to South Africa June 2010…

This photo is blazin’! Taken by photography genius based in South Africa, Rushay Booysen

I am by NO means a soccer aficionado but I do know that only 32 countries can compete for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. As the host country, South Africa automatically qualifies to compete. For the African region, the following countries have qualified…

1. Algeria

2. Cameroon

3. Côte d’Ivoire

4. Ghana

5. Nigeria

One word for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa…BANANAS!!

And in casting news, Jennifer Hudson has been cast to play the role of Winnie Mandela in a dramatic feature called “Winnie”.

Andre Pieterse, Darrell J. Roodt and Paul L. Johnson wrote the script based on the Anne Marie du Preez Bezdrob’s biography entitled “Winnie Mandela: A Life”. This must-read book is an intimate biography of the enigmatic former wife of South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela.

According to Variety, production on the movie commences, May 30th, 2010 in the South African locations of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Transkei [where my "ouma" is from] and Robben Island, where the future president spent 18 of his 27 years in prison.

“Winnie” will be directed by Darrell J. Roodt, the veteran South African filmmaker whose 2006 film “Yesterday” was Africa’s Best Foreign Film nominee, and who also directed “Cry, The Beloved Country,” and “Sarafina!”

The movie is being made with South African and Canadian money,with Andre Pieterse producing it with Michael Mosca of Canada’s Equinoxe Films.

*sighing…I heart Jay Hud! But surely they could have found an actress in South Africa to play the role of Winnie. I do understand the economics behind casting decisions, but it is a let down to know that we cannot play in movies that depict our stories! Seriously…

Anyway, Janet Jackson recently sat down with Robin Roberts for an interview on ABC’s In The Spotlight. Here is the full interview which aired on Wednesday…

This was Janet’s first television interview since the death of her brother, Michael. She dishes about her break-up from Jermaine Dupree, why she addresses her dad by his first name, Joseph, Michael’s use of drugs, her failed marriages to James DeBarge & Rene Elizondo…

Her new music video, “Make Me” aired on ABC last night. Janet Jackson will also perform for the 2009 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California on November, 22nd.

Say it ain’t so!

I think CNN broke the news. One of my BFF’s called me from Chicago to tell me about Oprah Winfrey’s big, big news…[she also wanted to see if I could get tickets to the show, since you know]… Now this is coming from a chic who has been to the Oprah show more times that I can count! I on the other hand, have only been on Ms. Winfrey’s show one time…ONE beautiful & memorable time!

I digress…point of this is that I am in disbelief that Oprah’s show will be coming to an end, September 2011.

According to CNN, Oprah Winfrey will announce on Friday’s [TODAY]“The Oprah Winfrey Show” that she will end her talk show, said a spokesman for Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. The show will end on September 9, 2011, as its 25th season draws to a close, according to a letter from Harpo Inc. that President Tim Bennett addressed to partners and obtained by CNN affiliate WLS-TV…

No disrespect CNN, but I gotta hear this from the Queen of daytime talk herself!

Toodles!

Photo: Jennifer Hudson, FIFA World Cup, Rushay Booysen

So funny girl & talk show host, Ellen dishes on how she landed on the cover of the December issues of O, The Oprah Magazine.

So our Jamaican sprinter extraordinaire, Usain “lightning” Bolt was in Nairobi last week to launch the Zeitz Foundation, which will play an important role in environmental conservation in Kenya.

The world and olympic sprint champion came face to face with a cheetah for the first time, when he adopted a baby cheetah for just over 1 million Shillings (US$13,700). At first Usain was reluctant to cradle the orphaned cheetah [aptly named Lightning Bolt] but  he soon got over the fear and even fed the 3-month old cub some milk.

According to our peeps Laura at Capital Lifestyle, Usain said he had no plans to race the cheetah, which is the fastest animal on earth, but he will instead be paying about 225,000 Shillings (US$3,000) for its annual upkeep.

“This is my first time in Africa, and of course in Kenya. I’ve had a lot of experiences, and a lot of animals have scared the crap out of me, but I am ok now,” he said.

Usain also jumped slightly when Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who accompanied him to the Nairobi Animal Orphanage, cuddled two lion cubs that he had just adopted – “Sifa” and “Agwambo” (one for his daughter).

The adoption of the cub, which had been abandoned by its mother, was the culmination of Usain’s trip to Kenya, and he said he would most definitely be back! Who wouldn’t? Kenya is the business!

“I love the hospitality in Kenya,” uttered the 23-year-old, when he was given a certificate for his new ‘baby’. While the Prime Minister thanked Bolt and encouraged Kenyan athletes to follow suit, the Kenya Wildlife Service boss Julius Kipngetich said some of the adoption money would be used to protect the country’s endangered species.

Nice going Usain!

Photo / Source: Capital Lifestlye

The fab Tyra has lost weight and is looking stunning!

Check out the clip….

According to the folks at People magazine she reveals her longtime struggle with chronic stomachaches on her show that is set to air this Wednesday.  “I would get major attacks,” says Banks. “I would be in bed for days, it was so painful.”

Tyra began keeping a food diary and has gained control of her eating habits. “I switched up my unhealthy eating habits for healthier eating habits, and I haven’t had a tummy attack since December ‘08,” she says.

Kudos to you Tyra!

U.S First Lady, Mrs. Obama graces Glamour magazine’s annual Women of the Year issue. Glamour is honoring the fab First Lady with a Special Recognition award for her commitment to mentoring young women.

So according to Glamour, this is the first time in the magazine’s 70-year history when First Lady does the cover! And cover she did and she looks fab in the holiday color. First Lady Michelle donned a red frock with a modified ball-skirt and a bow-inspired chunky necklace, all from her ward-robe.

Here are some snippets of her Glamour interview…

Mentoring matters, especially for young women: “I think that mentoring is such a critical part of the role I can play in this position. I see how little bits of exposure and big bits of exposure really change my girls significantly, and I want that for more girls around the country and the world.”

When it comes to looks and style, set your own standards: “People are always going to have opinions, and people have a right to their opinions, particularly when you’re the First Lady; you’re representing the nation. So I can’t be surprised that people are interested. But I’ve tried to be at peace with the choices that I make first, and then be open to everyone else’s reflection.”

Absolutely heart her…

Source: Glamour magazine

So the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust is getting a little help from U.S actor Edward Norton…

Ed Norton & his NYC Marathon running mates in Kenya

Ed lending his celebrity to the organization’s mission of supporting “the preservation of biodiversity within the Maasai tribal lands of East Africa by promoting conservation, education and health services within the Maasai community”.

Ed & Martin in Kenya

Also joining in the “fight” with Ed Norton, are Samson Parashina, President of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, Martin Sunte and Parashi Ntanin, both Safari Guide’s at Campi ya Kanzi in Kuku Group Ranch, Kenya.

Samson Parashina, Martin Sunte, Parashi Ntanin in NYC shopping for running shoes!

I am a little unsettled about seeing the Maasai runners in their traditional gear! [They might be running the marathon tomorrow in their traditional outfits] Seriously? Ok I digress…

Ed Norton stretching with Parashi & Samson in Kenya

Ed Norton & the Maasai fellas out bowling…from Ed’s twitter page!

Samson, Martin, Parashi & Ed Norton

Says Ed “it is semi-miraculous that in a world where terrestrial bio-diversity has been wiped out in many places, including in the United States. That, that particular eco-system of those incredible creatures actually still exists is somewhat miraculous.”

The cause is a noble one…

“…it’s because people like the Maasai actually in resisting the draw for modern life, left their landscape largely intact for these animals to live in”

Love it! Best guys!

For more on this as well as on how you can lend a hand by donating, check out the Maasai Marathon!

Ciao!