Music Minute - P Square (No Easy)

Just because it's that kind of night....party responsibly folks!!

*The great message in the song is outweighed by the flashy video - enjoy it nonetheless!

Your Daily Dose Of Eye Candy

Featured Actor: Van Vicker (Liberian-Ghanaian)

Van Vicker is an actor in the Ghana Film Industry who is usually cast as the male romantic lead in films, often alongside actresses Jackie Aygemang and Nadia Buari. He is of Liberian-Ghanaian descent.

  
I had tried to fight the force that is the "Nollywood" movement (Nigerian movies to the rest of the world) but I lost the fight and found myself enjoying the movies tremendously! I just love how melodramatic the characters become, the snickering, sneers etc etc but I do dislike the fact that some  long drawn out scenes! I mean, do we really have to watch every bit of detail leading up to a great scene? Some scenes can be left on the cutting room floor! *I digress* These movies are a guilty pleasure for me.


Here are some more pictures of Africa's own sensational actor, Van Vicker.

This may be a self-serving purpose because my bestie and I had the pleasure of meeting the actor recently and I must say he was very pleasant and gracious!!  Eat your hearts out ladies!

Van Vicker and yours truly!!

African Pride: Essence Magazine 40th Anniversary Cover

Essence magazine just turned 40!  40 years of a great body of work!!  For their 40th anniversary issue, they got supermodels Iman, Liya Kabede & Naomi Campbell to grace the cover.
It's great to see two African supermodels on the iconic cover.  This is one not to miss!!  Pick-up the mag from the newstands ladies!!

Iman: Supermodel, Founder & CEO of Iman Cosmetics

Liya Kabede: Ethiopian Supermodel & Face of Estee Lauder Cosmetics

Iman is uber fab at 55!!!  Goes to show you that good black don't crack!!

Honorary mention:  The fab Michelle Obama who's also featured in the mag.

It's Five O'clock Somewhere...

TGIF!!!!

For a variety of reasons, I am super excited that my work week is coming to a close in a few hours!  No one is happier than me that it's Friday.  All work and no play is turning me dull but that's about to change!!

Have a merry little cocktail! Cheers!

Quotable Quotes

Don't be afraid to go after what you want to do, and what you want to be. But don't be afraid to be willing to pay the price.

-- Lane Frost
 

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Laughter is the best medicine...until the joke's on you!

I just got back home from a comedy show.   A good one!  My funny bone was thoroughly tickled! I was fortunate enough to get front row seats - I know somebody that knows somebody:) While I can appreciate great seats, I dislike being readily available to a comedian should he/she decide to make me a part of their act for the sake of a laugh!  Trust me, it has happened to me before so my paranoia is somewhat justified.  A little while ago, a comedian who shall remain nameless, decided to engage me in some banter due to my close proximity to the stage.  It all went downhill {for me} as soon as he detected an accent!  While I cringed at his jokes about the "motherland" the rest of the audience were in stitches! 
I have since acquired thick skin learned to laugh along with everyone should a joke about my background/origin come up.  
Take it away Jamie Foxx!

Your Daily Dose Of Eye Candy

Featured Model: Warebi Martha Ebigbabor {Nigeria}

Warebi started modeling at age 20 and in 2009 worked at the Johannesburg fashion week, ARISE fashion week, New York fashion week, GT Bank commercial and Edgars commercial. She is signed on to Lion Agency New York and Ice Models South Africa.
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Busted!!

In Kenya miraa (khat) trade is safe and sound.  British Home Secretary Charles Clarke said he would not ban miraa, or khat, in the UK, the main market for Kenya and hub for Europe.
The announcement followed a decision of the Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse, to whom Mr Clarke had forwarded a report which said 49 percent of the local Somalis wanted the drug banned.

Now here in Atlanta and the United States at large, this a completely different story.  Officials in Bartow County said one person was arrested after they seized $250,000 worth of a rare drug during a traffic stop on Interstate 75.  Officers said they found a large quantity of the rare drug, khat, during a search of the vehicle.  Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force Commander Capt. Mark Mayton said K-9 deputies initiated a traffic stop on I-75 northbound near the Cass-White exit just before midnight on Aug. 11 for failure to maintain lane.  Mayton said that in his nearly 20-year career he has never seen khat. *trying to picture his reaction!*

This is almost laughable to me.   Whether Khat (miraa) is a drug remains highly debatable to many.  Khat growing and trading is legal in East Africa and is a source of income for many. 

The victim culprit, Hussein Dahir Sheikaden, 31, of Stone Mountain, Geogia, got arrested. He was charged with trafficking a schedule 1 narcotic and failure to maintain lane.  He is in jail pending bond hearing.

I do not condone breaking the law but knowing what he was carrying, shouldn't this fool have paid more attention to his driving and avoid drawing attention to himself from law enforcement? Stay in your lane!! *unless of course he was 'under the influence' from his own stash*   Most drug busts on the road result from a basic traffic law violation! 

**Khat is a plant that contains the alkaloid called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite and euphoria.

Quotable Quotes

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody"  Bill Cosby

Embrace social media, don't fight it!

We all have to admit the internet/social media have completely taken over our lives - at least they have mine!  I know I couldn't go a day an hour without the internet or my cellphone! How did I get by without e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Wi-Fi, daily blog surfing, online banking/billpay, YouTube, Skype etc etc?  Those days sound like the dark ages!!

Maybe I was lot more pleasant & engaging then, paid attention to those around me instead of staying glued to the cell phone screen and was a lot more interactive. The details of my habits from that past are blurry.   Don't be offended if in mid conversation, i get an alert from Twitter and completely blow you off....  *you have been warned*

Do I think that's rude?  Absolutely!  I am not proud of myself:(

 

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Why the fuss?

Jennifer Hudson was cast to play Winnie Mandela in her biopic "Winnie" while Terrence Howard was cast to play her ex-husband Nelson Mandela.  The film is currently in production in South Africa.

The casting choice created a lot of controversy.   Winnie Mandela threatened to sue the filmmakers because she had not been asked to consult on the film and because an American is playing her.  While I do agree that Winnie should have been consulted - in all fairness the woman is still alive, I still feel that casting Jennifer to play her is not such a bad thing after all. 

Granted,  Jennifer does not have the range nor the acting chops of a Meryl Streep for instance, she still stands a chance at being a great fit.  If memory serves me well, there have been American actors who have played African characters very convincingly;  Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda and Forest Whittaker in The Last King Of Scotland.   I couldn't imagine anyone else playing a better Idi Amin than Whittaker! He owned that role that led him to win an Academy Award for Best Actor.  Cheadle also earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role.

I'm rooting for you Jennifer! Prove the naysayers wrong!  If anything, there should be more concern on whether Terrence Howard can play a convincing Mandela!  Only time will tell.

Your Daily Dose of Eye Candy

For the ladies.... Fellas, check back later for your fix:)


Featured Actor/Model:  Djimon Hounsou  {born in Cotonou, Benin}

These pictures were taken a few years back after Djimon was announced as the new body face of Calvin Klein underwear!  He has since been replaced by some younger models but looking at his perfect physique and amazing skin never gets old!!
Get your drool bucket!!!

...when was the last time you saw him in a movie? I know he's currently embracing the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood but we miss you on the big screen Djimon!!  Plus you could use the check with a wifey like Kimora Lee and her opulent lifestyle!!

Poor Little Rich Girl...

Trouble seems to be her middle name!! If she's not being charged for her ridiculous anger outbursts and subsequent actions it's another thing coming.  Naomi Campbell took the witness stand last Friday in the trial against Liberia's former President Charles Taylor for blood diamonds she allegedly received as a gift 13 years ago. Last we saw her on the Oprah Winfrey show, girlfriend totally evaded the topic on the diamonds.  Good luck lying evading that while under oath!!  One thing we can be certain of is that she will be dressed to impress for court in the latest designer duds. Paparazzi better be on alert for my benefit.

Read the rest here...
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/08/11/santora.taylor.diamonds.naomi/index.html

(My Love & Pride) The Africa They Never Show You.

Enjoy the view!!

The Maiden Voyage...

..into blogoshphere that is.  A little/a lot *depends on who you ask* late in the game but better late than never.  My posts are strictly for entertainment with an added focus on the lovely continent that is Africa.  Let's take a ride!