In case you missed it, last night, President Obama delivered the 2012 State of the Union Address to Congress and the nation….

Some of the highlights:

The state of our Union is getting stronger.  And we’ve come too far to turn back now.  As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum.  But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place.

Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last -– an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.

I’m a Democrat.  But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed:  That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more.

I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now.  But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country.  Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship.  I will sign it right away.

Full transcript HERE

Watch President Obama’s State of the Union address:

Great job!

So President Barack Obama has been named the nation’s most-admired man in the annual USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.

 Check out his approval ratings too…..

President Obama Job Approval

Polling Data

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Not bad at all Barry….not bad!

Hi guys & dolls!

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From our Guest Blogger, Wadzanai Mhute, Associate Producer, ABC News

Vice President Joice Mujuru with her husband retired General Solomon Mujuru (picture by John Cassim)

(HARARE, Zimbabwe) — Zimbabwe’s political landscape fell further into turmoil after the death of influential retired army general Solomon Mujuru earlier in the week.

Retired General Mujuru died in a fire at his farm on the outskirts of the capital city of Harare on Tuesday. Mujuru was the husband of Vice-President Joice Mujuru, and a part of the country’s main party’s leadership committee, the Politburo.

Mujuru and his wife were a part of a faction within the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party that was jostling to succeed the 87-year-old President Robert Mugabe. The other faction is led by Defense Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Officials say the 67-year-old Mujuru was “burned beyond recognition” on the commercial farm in Beatrice which he seized from white farmer Guy Watson-Smith in 2001 during Zimbabwe’s infamous land grabs. Mujuru was wealthy and is said to have owned several commercial farms as well as many business ventures.

Reports say the married general’s body was discovered near a door, showing that he apparently tried to escape the inferno but was overcome and died together with his girlfriend. He was separated from his wife who was at their home in Chisipite at the time of the fire. Suspicions have been raised about Mujuru’s death in a country poised for contentious elections in the coming months. Mrs. Mujuru has called for an inquiry into her husband’s death after raising questions on why he did not escape through the bedroom windows. She was speaking to the national women soccer team.

Mujuru’s nom de guerre was Rex Nhongo when he fought in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle in the 1970′s. He lead guerilla forces and was dubbed “the Kingmaker” after convincing his troops to accept  Mugabe as their leader when the future president crossed over into Mozambique after 10 years behind bars in then Rhodesia. Mujuru served as General of the Army after independence in 1980 until retiring in 1995. Mujuru, however, was said to have recently lost favor with the President.

Tensions have escalated between the two factions within ZANU-PF, which signed a power sharing deal with opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), in 2008. Mujuru’s faction was considered more moderate and likely to work with MDC.

Forensic experts are investigating the fire which initial reports say was caused by a faulty electrical system. The former general was declared a national hero and was buried at the National Heroes’ Acre in Harare over the weekend.

Follow Wadzanai on Twitter: @wadza_m

Photo: Nehanda Radio

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Hello August!!!

Let’s recap on a couple of things that went down this past weekend! (where do I start???)

Sports:

Kaizer Chiefs lost to rivals Orlando Pirates AGAIN (what’s new *yawn*). This time in the first ever Carling Black Label Cup at the FNB stadium on Saturday. The game was quite boring for both sides which explains why it went all the way to penalties! Amakhosi and Bafana’s #1 goal keeper Itumeleng Khune missed a penalty (clearly shooting isn’t one of his strong points, hence I did not blame him for missing and then again come to think of it there’s only a few goal keepers that can actually take penalties and score…what were Chiefs thinking).

Twitterville:

AnyWho…  after Chiefs suffered another loss at the feet of “the happy people”, some guy took to Twitter (don’t they all???) to post a very disrespctful tweet to Khune’s girl Minenhle “Minnie” Dlamini…

Minnie’s Live co-host Bonang came to her rescue and put that guy back in his corner…

YOH!!!

He apologised…

He deleted his original tweet but I remeber that it had something to do with>>> ”khune finding it hard to find the right hole with Minnie”…(#JawDrops…madness I tell you!!!)

Reality TV:

Yes, Karen and Wendall won BBA 2011, poor Luclay…read more about this HERE!!!

Politics:

ANC Youth League President Julius Malema says “he is not afraid of jail”…all this surrounding his reported secret fund etc, etc, etc… one word for all of this DRAMA!!! Not really into politics and all but being ignorant is also not an option, so I have to keep up with this investigation and see how it will end. So far “Juju” says he has nothing to hide and his ANC comrades are backing him all the way!!!

On the small sceen:

As reported by the Sunday World…Actress now recently turned busineswoman Sonia Sedibe has resigned from popular soap Generations due to low payment. Apparently she feels lie she is not taken seriously as an actress and all that, hence her exit. Generations must really make up for all this, first “Karabo” “Dumisani” now “Ntombi” hai #Can’tDeal. So are they going to “kill” her character or replace her, because I don’t see “Sibusiso Dhlomo” single and no he can’t get with “Dineo” or “Khethiwe”…*sigh* (Whatever that is happening behind closed doors must be sorted out and fast!). Maybe the Isidingo script-writers must offer a helping hand nje! #JustSaying

Music: Beyonce vs Kelly Rowland

I still don’t understand why people are comparing these two artists and quite frankly I think it’s insane to start off with…we all know KingB is in a league of her own and I respect Kelly for pursuing her solo career. However, I was quite upset at the fact that people actually think that Beyonce is obliged to her former Destiny Child’s group memeber in promoting her music. At every interview, people wait for her to wish Kelly all the best and comment on her recent album “I am here” and if she says nothing she is labelled “jealous”, “threatened” or “mean”. WHY? FOR WHAT? FOR WHO? I mean really,isn’t that what her management should be doing? No hate on Kelly but really, I don’t see how she will be herself if she still relies on Beyonce to put her out there as if she needs some sort of confirmation! Kelly do you and let King B run the world! #that’sall >>>(word is Kelly will be on tour with Breezy…nice)

New music:

The ever so cute Diggy Simmons released the video to his “copy paste” track…quite catchy I think. Somehow he reminds me of a young Drake with Breezy looks! His music should do really well, apart from him being a Simmons…he did put a lot of work in his music venture and it looks like it’ll ay off!

Lastly…some local eye-candy:

YONDA THOMAS…as tweeps would say “can we discuss the hotness that is this Yonda character???” Don’t recognize the name??? Think “Damon” from Muvhango or “Mvelo” from Fallen…pure hotness I tell you. He was also one of the contestants that made it to the top 10 of the 2010 Class Act. Didn’t win but he’s still on his hustle and grinde. Catch Fallen on SABC 1 at 20:30pm and see for yourself.

What else did I miss???

From your girl Allegro Dinkwanyane- “I’m just saying”, so have your say…

WHAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE THIS PAST WEEKEND?

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Michelle Obama, who’s visit to South Africa has been anticipated by many, landed in Pretoria, South Africa last night. She didn’t come alone though, she brought along her two daughters, niece, nephew and mother.

Her visit is said to be aimed at women empowerment, which will include holding talks with women in Johannesburg and Cape Town before heading out to Botswana.

[The Obama ladies were ] “welcomed at Waterkloof Air Force Base this evening by South African officials and their children.  And the First Daughters receieved South African blankets with colors of the nation’s flag by young children of the protocol officer as a welcome.” (it’s Winter overhere, I hope the ladies packed warm clothes).

“On the trip Mrs. Obama and her fam are meeting with several women leaders, including South African President Jacob Zuma’s wife and
Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma, Graca Machel, the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela.  She’s also set to met with nobel peace prize winner Desmond Tutu.”

“This is the first lady’s fourth trip to the continent of Africa and her first
to South Africa. This is her second solo official visit. Next stops:
Johannesburg and Cape Town and continuing to Botswana…..”

Source: theybf.com

From your girl Allegro Dinkwanyane- “I’m just saying”, so have your say…

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Two days from now South Africa will be celebrating Youth Day on June 16th,  and in commemoration of the day I asked a few SA “celebs” how they would be celebrating the day and what their thoughts are on the Youth Day celebrations that take place today. (Note that I put the word celebs in inverted commas because most of them say they don’t like beeing called celebs but I look at it this way… all of them are respected and celebrated in their respective fields, hence the word stays!). A lot of people seem to agree that the actual reasons we celebrate Youth Day have been forgotten and all that it remains is another public holiday on the South African calendar.

I would like to believe that (even after 35 years) there are still young South African’s out there who still value the happenings of 16 June 1976 and admire the courage as well as the bravery of the youth back then. Yes, we may all think of parties and just hanging out during Youth Day but that does not necessarily imply that todays Youth has forgotten. Personally, I am reminded on a regular basis of that historic day when I think about the freedom I have today and the opportunities I have to be who I want to be and again on every other day that I walk into my philosophy lecture and we are made to watch a video about our South African history. Almost everything around us is a constant reminder of what young people can do. While I will be celebrating the day with friends and young achievers, I also choose to remember the day without being depressed but motivated to do more in my youth beacuse I AM YOUNG, GIFTED and BLACK!!!

Uyanda Mbuli (fashion designer and owner of DFC)

“It will be a nice day to rest for me after the YFM Youth Day event (happening tomorrow night), where I will be showing a sexy collection reflecting the 90s. I will also join the ANC Youth League festivities”.

Phelo Bala (Singer/songwriter & the youngest member of The Bala brothers who is also launching a solo career with his debut album launch tomorrow night)

“I’ll probably be taking the day off to rest for my trip to PE on Friday.  In terms of how relevant the Youth Day celebrations are for the young people of today, I must say it must have meant a lot more back then but I think we need to revive that spirit that the youth of 1976 had”.

J Something (Mi casa vocalist)

Mi Casa (J Something centered)

“Myself and the rest of Mi Casa will be going to an orphanage in the morning, then speaking and playing a couple of songs to some kids at a church in Alex [Alexadra township] and then playing at a gig later that eveing”.

Lerato Kganyago (Soweto TV presenter)

“The happenings of the day and the phenomenon that it is should be separated from the day and how it is celebrated. It was a momentous day, but how it is remembered and celebrated today has lost its meaning. Today people have braais and go shopping which contributes to its irrelevance to many of the youth today. Having said that, it’s part of our history and like many political holidays needs to be re-invigorated”.

Mika Stefano (Celebrity blogger & Internet radio DJ)

“Well I have a small flu (tltltltlt #deathby small flu), but my plans are to wake up early and take part in the MetroFM walk for freedom. I am also relaunching a new radio station called TransAfrica Radio (you read about it first here!!!). We are  doing live weekend shows for now, the new youth sound over the weekends…so I will be working on that. Slikour is the voice of the station and will actaully be recording the promo’s in the evening”. Mika also mentioned that his #NoHomoHomo Co-host Saz will be joining him for the relaunch after treating his mom at the spa during the day.

Miza (recording artist/businessman)

“I will be going to the YFM Youth Day party celebration tomorrow night to celebrate Youth Day”.

Mina Shembe (Celebrity make-up artist)

“I say todays youth needs something different! We are not in the apartheid era anymore, we shouldn’t be crying and being sad anymore. We should be happy and celebrate what our brothers and sisters did for us in 1976. I will be going to Somizi’s party in Soweto because that is what people my age do…WE PARTY!!! Let’s celebrate what Mam’ Makeba did for us, Let’s have big concerts where artists like Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai and more will entertain us. Let’s celebrate being young, we are not in the apartheid era anymore so why why keep reminding ourselves of the past?! This day should not be mourned but celebrated”.

Sandi Mabasa (Fashion designer and founder of FabroSanz Creations)

“I will be hosting some of my clients to showcase our winter collection proceeded by a braai and networking session, all were requested to wear school uniform and will also have a speaker to talk about the importance of not forgetting about June 16.
 
Todays youth do observe June 16 however I would like to encourage them to find out what it meant then and what contribution it has done for the country and I think more of our youth should be involved in the celebrations and commemoration that are held every year.  More campaigns should be developed to further educate todays youth about the essence of youth day”.

Lulo Cafe (DJ and businessman)

While everyone else is either partying, resting or shopping…popular DJ Lulo says it will be all “work, work, work” for him. (I guess for others Youth Day is just another day).

With all this been said, what does Youth Day mean to you in 2011 and how will you be celebrating this day?

From your girl Allegro Dinkwanyane- “I’m just saying”, so have your say…

Happy Friday guys & dolls!

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I woke up to a message from our South African Senior Editor, Allegro, informing me that Mam Albertina Sisulu had passed away in her home in Linden, Johannesburg, South Africa. She was 92 and according to reports, she was was watching television at the time of her passing. One of her grandsons, Shaka Sisulu tweeted:

Mrs. Albertina Sisulu, affectionately known as Mam Sisulu was a former president of the South African political party, the African National Congress, (ANC) Women’s League. She was a stalwart champion for the women in South Africa:

“Women are the people who are going to relieve us from all this oppression and depression. The rent boycott that is happening in Soweto now is alive because of the women. It is the women who are on the street committees educating the people to stand up and protect each other”

Mam Albertina Sisulu was married to Tata Walter Sisulu, South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the ANC who was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 12, 1964. With other senior ANC figures, Tata Sisulu served the majority of his sentence on Robben Island.

I remember meeting Tata Sisulu in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1995 or 1996. I was in South Africa working on my senior thesis and had to meet some ANC officials regarding my work at Luthuli House, ANC headquarters. I had made it through the security, when suddenly there was a commotion and guests were being asked to step aside. I noticed a light-skinned gentleman with the most engaging smile on his face. I know my African heros and heroines when I see them! Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu. I totally broke protocol and went past his security and gave him a hug! It was a moment in history for me & this was my way of expressing my gratitude. He had given his life for my freedom, our freedom.

This post is my way of expressing my gratitude to Mam Albertina Sisulu for being a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, my rights, our rights….

Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo uzo kufa. You touch women, you touch a rock. You will die

Thank you Mam! We salute you! Rest well…

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Just a couple of hours from now South African’s (those registered to vote) will be casting their votes for the 2011 Municipal Elections.

On a lighter note, I found this pic making the rounds on BBM and don’t we all relate.

LOL!!!

Personally, the bickering between the ANC and the DA has become a bit too much for more liking and I hope that they will stop with the sms’s (still wondering where they got my number)…anyway. It’s a public holiday, so let’s all go out there and make the right choice…

From your girl Allegro Dinkwanyane- “I’m just saying”, so have your say…

Are you a registered voter?

Hi guys & dolls!

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“In any mansion…it’s the maids and the whores…who know the most.” – Kola Boof

Who knew?! Who really knew that Osama Bin Laden had an African woman for a mistress?! Yes, I know African girls are as much fun as, it not more fun than Blonde girls. But if this aint the case of “W.T.F” then I don’t know what is.

I know we were all *shocked* when news reports came out saying that on May 2nd, the day US Navy Seals stormed and killed the world’s No. 1 terrorist. We were doubly shocked to learn that the Seals had found & confiscated Viagra & a fairly extensive collection of pornographic material in Osama’s compound. It just seemed that everything about the secret life of  public enemy # 1 was at odds with his public persona.

Enter Kola Boof, Osama Bin Laden‘s African mistress. I was floored!

Normally, I would weigh in on this new revelation (to me because according to Kola Boof, her affair with Osama has been known but down played or dismissed by media) and give my commentary before I share the story with y’all but I am sipping some Rooibos tea & riding with y’all on this one. So let’s set the stage here.

Kola Boof

Kola Boof writes this about herself on her FaceBook page, Egyptian-Sudanese-American Bestselling novelist, poet and Television Writer. Novelist/Poet/Television Writer Kola Boof was born in Omdurman, Sudan and adopted in 1979 by African Americans at age 8-10. She was raised on Good Hope Road in the S.E. Anacostia Park Section of WASHINGTON D.C.

You ready?

Check it (Kola Boof in her own words in The Daily Voice):

I just saw myself on the cover of the National Enquirer. It says “Exclusive Interview with Bin Laden’s Mistress”–but I’ve never given an interview to the National Enquirer; I have never in my life spoken to anyone at that magazine. In fact, up to this point, I have not given anyone anywhere an interview regarding my feelings on Osama Bin Laden’s death.

A week ago, my favorite television news anchor Rachel Maddow (MSNBC) stated that I was Somi’s “ex-wife” (because members of the Sudanese government authored a book claiming this). In Los Angeles, one of the top Black stations reported that because I tweeted about Osama’s demise two days before he died; I must be working for the CIA and was aware he was about to be killed. The cover of the National Enquirer claims that I was kept chained in Osama’s compound. None of this is true.

At this moment, I am embroiled in a serious matter that includes confrontations with Osama’s lead wife Najwa over possible monies that were left to me. I will get to that in a moment, but first to make it clear how I feel about Osama’s death and to make it clear why I haven’t felt like talking about it yet, here’s the Official Statement I gave the night Osama died:

“I rarely ever talk about Somi, but for the last two days on Twitter, something
came over me and I did nothing but Tweet about him.

Now I know why.

At last….I forgive Somi for everything he did to me and for all that I witnessed. I set him free and I dream for him to be healed.

My greatest sympathy is with his mother, Hamida, the only person in that family who is willing to hear from me. One mother to another, I close my eyes and embrace her with so much compassion.

I feel that no one has more accurately and fairly characterized her son than I have. I knew him to be a monster, a genius, a poet, a racist woman-basher and a very passionate, deeply sensitive confused being.

Like all of us, he was somebody’s child.

I am not God, so I leave him to whatever comes next. I still have his poems and each year they have a different meaning. But now the papers are cool to the touch. I feel many things…things that people would not understand…I look at the gray hair I have…and all I can tell you is this….

Usama, Usama, Usama–Peace.”

I think this statement spoken in my own voice reveals a lot for those who have intellect and can understand that the “Monster” Bin Laden was a real multi-dimensional person for those who knew him; not a media contrived cartoon. I have been greatly demeaned and disrespected by the U.S. press regarding my affiliation with him and I would like to say one thing straight out–Ninety percept of the media’s problem with me is that I’m a Black Woman who looks Black and not mixed. It has been said to my face. Connie Chung and her producers at CNN asked me point blank, “Why would a man of Bin Laden’s wealth and stature have a black mistress?”

Exotic deceitful monikers like ‘sex slave’ and ‘chained woman’ are applied to my image but were never applied to Patti Hearst–who was held against her will for more than a year and had sex trains with the nine Black men holding her–yet was not given a single exotic title. And unlike the garden variety White public mistress (Monica Lewinsky, Camilla Parker Bowles, etc.), my word alone nor my stature as a strong African novelist, activist and poet is enough to accrue common respectful treatment towards my person or my image. Extraordinarily literate facts and information I wrote about Osama years ago, things that could have helped them find Osama, are ignored as they focus on tabloid-like single sentences from my memoir (Osama lusted for Whitney Houston!; he was a Pot head). It was me, after all, who said ten years ago that Osama’s guards used cell phones (I was crucified by Peter Bergen for that; though they discovered last week that it’s true). It was me who reported ten years ago about Osama inventing the “kidney dialysis myth”–me who reported on his marijuana gardens and his obsession with Western culture. It was me who first wrote about his hatred for Sadaam Hussein.

Male journalists like Morgan Spurlock (who says he laughed about my rape) and supposed Bin Laden expert Peter Bergen (whose published facts have now been proven to be less accurate than mine) discuss me as though I’m a deceased taxi dancer or a maid who stole coins from their nightstand. Sadly, because Black Americans can’t decipher anything until White people confirm and approve it for them–I have been just as unfairly treated by Black journalists and so called Black academics and intellectuals. Which makes me shudder to think what would have happened to Thomas Jefferson’s slave Sally Hemmings had she dared write in her own words about her affair with the President of the United States. How would her claims of child rape turned to a forced long term relationship to eventual love been received by her own people?

Sally Hemmings was twelve years old when she gave birth to President Thomas Jefferson’s son, Thomas Jefferson Jr. He was in his fifties (I’ve since learned that the majority of Black American slave women got their first rapes between the ages of nine and thirteen and were freely raped by both White masters and fellow Black male slaves). As I well know, and share with Sally Hemmings–just because someone rapes you doesn’t mean you don’t go on to have a deep relationship with that person.

Osama raped me the first night we met. But out of my fear and determination to survive we became comrades; lovers; we wrote poetry together, I did his hair, I cooked for him, he gave me jewels and money; sent me to Milan on shopping sprees; buried one of his guards that I killed and made it so I only did one night in jail. Living at La Maison Arabe was hardly the life of a slave–I wasn’t in chains, honey. I supervised Osama’s men despite not being allowed to leave Osama. And let’s not forget that half the wives of Arab rich men live that exact same way–many are married against their will, fathers give away daughters, women are snatched off the streets. Women had no rights in the Arab Muslim world when I was there modeling, acting and “hostessing.”

It hurts to have so much valuable information; so much intelligence and to be so truthful and articulate–yet have “white powerful news controllers” decide that you’re not the right image for what they’d like to promote. Therefore, part of history is always missing.

Osama’s wife, Najwa Bin Laden, who wrote so snidely about me in her memoir a few years ago is now forced, at last, to recognize me. I’m sure she’d rather have me killed than see me collect money from her husband. According to her I was Somi’s “abeed lan sharmuta” (nigger slave whore). But that’s alright. I’m the one he kept for pleasure and not mere Islamic duty–as she well knows and sleeps alone with–and always slept alone with. Pitiful head covered door mat jockey.

The rank ignorant pettiness (well Kola’s not pretty enough!) and the treatment my story and my personhood have received shows you exactly why the Americans couldn’t find Osama for more than a decade. It shows you why Peter Bergen in all his almighty “million dollar advance” rhetoric could never locate Osama but had to degrade and slander me to protect the credibility of his own toilet-read tomes. And it shows most of all–that you can’t keep a good woman down. I was not the one who revealed that I’d been with Somi. The London Guardian newspaper started it all; I originally denied the story out of embarrassment and then the U.S. Homeland Security (more like “Gangland Security”) forced me to admit to it. From then on, I was trapped in a maze of defending my reputation and my personhood. And so the tragedy of my life is that I have told nothing but truth…yet the truth did not set me free.

My one revenge is that I’m not going anywhere. I think the Americans have noticed that by now. And I leave you with this bit of common sense and mother wit–”In any mansion…it’s the maids and the whores…who know the most.” You can’t stop what’s real.
Kola Boof is an award winning novelist, poet and television writer. Her latest book The Sexy Part of the Bible will be released by Akashic Books in July 2011.

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Your Thoughts?!?

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“MTV Networks Africa and MTN have joined forces in a groundbreaking pan-African multimedia campaign designed to inspire African youth by connecting them with some of the world’s most influential personalities.
Young people the world over are gradually taking interest in national and global affairs, and are increasingly becoming vocal on issues that affect them and the world they live in.
The pan-African broadcaster and Africa’s leading mobile operator are partnering to produce MTV Base Meets…with MTN, an 8-part youth empowerment initiative and TV series that creates a dialogue between young people and the political, business and cultural leaders who shape the world today.

The intimate documentary series will allow Africa’s young minds to put probing questions to influential, inspirational and sometimes controversial individuals. Among the eminent people who will feature in the series are: Liberian President Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Africa’s first and only elected female head of state), Mr Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and South African politician Mr Julius Malema (President of the ANC Youth League) and many African leaders or influencers who exercise a significant impact on the continent.
The gripping series will keep television viewers – young and old – on the edge of their seats.  A diverse panel of young people representing different youth interests will be assembled from across the African continent, with participants coming from Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda, among others.

Young, but well-informed, the panelists are articulate, engaging, provocative and opinionated on a range of complex subjects – be it HIV/AIDS, global warming, education, poverty, corruption or entrepreneurship.  They are fearless and have attitude. Their no-holds-barred approach will make for exciting television viewing as they fire BIG questions to the influential people whose actions and opinions have a direct impact on their lives.

African youth will be encouraged to nominate influencers and submit their proposed questions for the programme via a dedicated MTV base Meets…with MTN website or via their mobile handset. To register go to www.mtvmeets.com or http://mtvmeets.mobi from 10 May 2011 or follow the campaign on Twitter at #MTVMeets@MTVbaseAfrica.

MTV Base Meets…with MTN is an African localized version of the established MTV Meets… franchise and has previously interviewed influential individuals including Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, Morgan Tsvangarai and Wyclef Jean. The series will air across African from 18 July on MTV base (DStv Channel 322), and on terrestrial, DTT and CATV channels including STV (Nigeria), HiTV (Nigeria), WBS (Uganda), NTV (Kenya), Canal2 (Cameroon), Muvi TV (Zambia), Zuku (Kenya), ZAP (Angola), Smart TV (Kenya) and Star Times (Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Burundi).”

At this point you my have the following questions in mind:

What is MTV Base Meets…With MTN?
MTV Base Meets…With MTN is a groundbreaking multimedia young empowerment campaign and television series devised by pan-African entertainment platform, MTV Base, and Africa’s leading mobile operator, MTN.  The initiative creates a unique platform for African youth to ask important questions directly to important influencers and world leaders in a candid and intimate forum.
 
What are the key components of the campaign?
The campaign includes an 8-part TV series premiering from 18 July 2011 on pan-African TV channel MTV Base and terrestrial TV partners across Africa.  There will also be an advertising campaign on TV and other media to promote the series and youth participation in the initiative.  Interaction is a key component of the campaign so there will be lots of content on our dedicated web and mobisites as well as activity on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.  To encourage young people to engage with the campaign we will be running consumer competitions in key markets offering prize hampers and one major money-can’t-buy prize (a trip for two to see Manchester United play at Old Trafford in the UK).
 
Why is MTV Base Meets…With MTN a good thing for African youth?
MTV Base Meets…With MTN brings African youth into direct contact with world leaders and influencers who shape their world,  giving them undreamed-of access  and the chance to communicate their interests and concerns to the people influencing their lives and futures.  No intermediaries, no filters – just real young people in a room talking with a head of state, or a business leader, or similar.  We think that it is important to give African youth this kind of platform to raise the issues that matter to them and then broadcast the answers in a TV programme that is palatable to the youth audience.
 
Who are the influencers featuring in the programme?
We will be interviewing 8 influencers in all for this series.  So far, we have announced Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, Mr Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Julius Malema, President of the ANC Youth League.  Five further ‘influencers’ will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
How were the influencers chosen?
In a few cases (those episodes taped already), MTV Base has chosen the influencers – based on our knowledge of the continent and the subjects that we know our viewers are interested in.  For future episodes we are opening this up to African youth and asking them what influencers they would like to see and what questions they would like to ask them.

Are all your influencers from the African continent?
All three influences that we have announced so far are from Africa.  However we are very conscious that there are many influencers from outside of Africa whose roles and decisions impact the lives of young Africans too.  When we announce our final 5 influencers later in the campaign, I wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one non-African name among them.
 
How were the youth panelists chosen?
Most of the panelists will be chosen by MTV Base based on submissions made by young people to our campaign website or mobisite (launching 10 May 2011).   For a few early episodes – taped before the campaign formally launched – we handpicked young people representing a wide cross section of interests, nationalities and topics, using our own contacts from around the Continent.
 
What countries did the youth panelists come from?
So far we have worked with panelists from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Uganda and we expect to engage individuals from many more countries as the campaign progresses.
 
How many youth panelists feature in each programme?
As a rule we have 5 panelists actually in the room with the influencer but sometimes we may have questions posed by young people offsite (by video or email).
 
Why has MTN got behind this initiative?
MTN has a long tradition of youth empowerment and MTV Base Meets…With MTN is a powerful way of extending its support for youth empowerment.  Through this series, MTN hopes to give this growing segment of Africa’s population a bridge to connect with decision-makers through dialogue, relinquishing to the past the days when young people were relegated to the periphery of important debates in business and politics
 
Where and when were the interviews taped?
MTV base Meets Julius Malema with MTN interview was taped in South Africa in April 2011.  The interview with Madame Johnson-Sirleaf was filmed in Monrovia, Liberia in May 2011, and Paul Kagame will be filmed in Rwanda later this month.
 
 
 
What kind of questions do you expect youth be asking in the series?
So far, the question topics have covered a wide range of subjects from child soldiers and drugs to peace, leadership, education, economic inequality, nationalisation and democracy, among others.  There have also been lots of questions about the personal beliefs and careers of the influencers themselves.
 
Why do you think that senior politicians and heads of state are interested in featuring in this initiative?
With half of Africa’s population of 1 billion being under 35 we feel that politicians, heads of state and other influencers are well aware that they need to engage with and understand the youth audience better.  For heads of state such as Madame Johnson-Sirleaf and Mr Kagame to take this time sends an important message to young people that their thoughts and aspirations are being taken into consideration when decisions about their futures are being made.
 
Who is the presenter of MTV Base Meets…With MTN?
MTV Base Meets…With MTN will be presented by a number of different MTV VJs (TV presenters) including Cynthia Okpala (Nigeria) who will be interviewing President Johnson-Sirleaf, and Sizwe Dhlomo (South Africa) who has interviewed Julius Malema.

From your girl Allegro Dinkwanyane- “I’m just saying”, so have your say…

As young people will you be watching this series?