History in Africa channel to air Idris Elba's documentary "Mandela, My Dad & Me"

A+E Networks  announced today that it has acquired the exclusive TV rights to Idris Elba: Mandela, My Dad & Me,  a one-hour docu by actor Idris Elba.

The film follows the story behind the creation of Mi Mandela, an album of South African music recorded by Elba in tribute to Mandela and to his own late father. Recorded in Johannesburg  the album highlights both British and South African artists including James Black and Mumford and Sons. Hmmm who else would you like Idris to work with in South Africa? There are so many talented acts!!

The Golden Globe winner was inspired to record the album after having spent months working on Mandela biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.   


The documentary will air on History in Africa in 2015.

Angolan bride spends $200,000 on bridal attire while filming TLC's wedding show "Say Yes to The Dress"

"I want my wedding to bigger and better than the other weddings I have seen"

Angolan native Naulila Diogo appeared on an American TV show this past week called "Say Yes to the Dress" and she was not mincing her words when she said she wanted BIGGER and BETTER for her special day.

Noted as the daughter of an Angolan cabinet member, the blushing bride flew to New York City at some point last year to shop exclusively with luxury bridal designer Pnina Torna for TLC's hit show "Say Yes to the Dress."

Naulila's first dress alone was $30,000. According to the designer the first dress was created especially for the wedding license ceremony "where only the family attends."

So how much did she spend in total?

Naulila walked away with a total nine original Pnina Tornai dresses (including her dresses, the mother of the bride's dress, bridesmaid dresses and a slew of accessories)

Naulila spent over $200,000 just on her bridal attire breaking the record for the most amount of money spent at Kleinfield - the store where the show is taped.  That is a LOT of money!! So much question is how much did the wedding cost? I can't even imagine how lavish it was!

Her wedding looked beautiful based on the snippets captured on the show, I mean with 800 people you have to go big or go home.

Congrats to the happy couple - the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Pedro Garca!

Look of the day - Zendaya

Zendaya's pantsuit looks like it came straight from Kenya. It's giving me serious Maasai shuka vibes. It's so stylish!

Zendaya was spotted in LA at Vivienne Westwood Penthouse Opening at The London Hotel in West Hollywood. 

Ciara Is the Face of Roberto Cavalli's Latest Ad Campaign

Singer Ciara is the new face of fashion brand Roberto Cavalli for  its fall/winter 2015 ad campaign

Cici is absolutely slaying in the campaign, check out the pics below!

Look of the day- Solange Knowles

Solange Knowles shared a photos of her trip to France yesterday and she looked amazing. She was in town for  Martell Cognac's 300th anniversary event at the iconic Palace of Versailles.

Solo is wearing a black strapless top and white trousers from Stephane Rolland’s Spring 2015 couture collection

Amazing! 

Tanzanian model Millen Magese nabs 1st ever "BET Global Good" award

Millen Magese

Tanzanian model Millen Magese is set to receive  the 1st ever "BET Global Good Award" at the BET Awards.  Deets below...

Millen has been extremely outspoken about her battle with the disease and infertility about 4 weeks ago she shared photos of the surgery she had to retrieve six eggs. 

Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus (endometrial implant). Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, bowel or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region.Endometriosis can cause pain — sometimes severe — especially during your period. Fertility problems also may develop. Fortunately, effective treatments are available.


BET is honoring Milen for her many humanitarian efforts including her recent work in Africa for Endometrosis awareness. 

Global Good is a BET International initiative highlighting the humanitarian efforts of global personalities and celebrities in communities around the world. 

Congrats Millen!!

Look of the Day- Mindy Kaling

I really adore  actress and comedian MindyKaling. This one of my fave pics from her In Style spread, she is the cover girl for the fashion magazine this month. This two piece she's wearing gives me serious ankara vibes, gotta find the designer!

Love this whole look!

The ONE campaign changes direction, check out this anti-poverty track featuring nine artists from the continent

Just yesterday I happened to catch one of my favorite actresses Danai Gurira on the US talk show "The View." She was there to dish on her highly rated TV show "The Walking Dead" and her work with the ONE Campaign. 

I absolutely adore Danai cause not only is she fabulous, smart, talented and drop dead gorgeous she is also from Sub-saharan Africa, which of course is very near and dear to me since I am Zimbabwean as well . I love that she identifies as "Zimerican," a mix between Zimbabwean and American.

Discussing her work with the ONE campaign she noted that the focus is on women and girls who are disadvantaged in the continent. She told the View  talk show co-hosts "the beauty of what they (the One campaign) are doing is that they are really galvanizing behind women activists from the continent. Even Bono himself has said " I am letting the African woman and girl be the face of this campaign."

This is an obvious change in all the anti-poverty music campaign that has been heavily criticized for ignoring African singers and misrepresenting the continent. 

In an effort to allow these voices to come through, nine African artists joined forces to record a song called "Strong Girl."
.

The track features Victoria Kimani, from Kenya, Vanessa Mdee, from Tanzania, Arielle T, from Gabon, Gabriela, from Mozambique, Judith Sephuma, from South Africa, Waje, from Nigeria, Selmor Mtukudzi, from Zimbabwe, Yemi Alade, from Nigeria and 14-year-old South African rapper called Blessing. This song is a call to action for people to put pressure on their leaders to empower girls and women in the poorest countries, so that they can lift their own communities out of poverty.

Check it out below and let me know what you thin k:

All hail the fashion queen! Minnie Dlamini looked hotter than ever at the PSL Awards!

Outshining the boys in the tuxedo look

Minnie Dlamini brought the precise amount of fashion drama the to the PSL Awards. The TV personality sent the twitterverse into a frenzy by working her curves into a bevy of colorful gowns from designer Gert-Johan Coetzee

Minnie smoldered at The PSL awards this past weekend, from her hair to her makeup she knocked this style game out of the park. The show was held to honor South African football players, coaches and officials. 

Let's take a look at her radiant looks...

This royal blue is absolutely gorgeous!

Love the racy embellishments on this dress

Minnie wowed in this mellow yellow number

I am green with envy just looking at that gown,. Minnie's body is perfect for this type of dress

This was my favorite look of the night. I love the full A-line skirt and the delicate accessories on the dress..,so perfect! 

Gorgeous! Do you have a a favorite look?

WizKid, The Soil & AKA are all nominated at the BET Awards. See who else made the cut!

The BET Awards are celebrating 15 years of the biggest night in black entertainment so we know it’s about to be quite to go down.  Let's take a look at all the nominations!

BET Awards Nominations 2015

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
BEYONCÉ
CIARA
JANELLE MONÁE
JHENÉ AIKO
K. MICHELLE
RIHANNA

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST
AUGUST ALSINA
CHRIS BROWN
JOHN LEGEND
THE WEEKND
TREY SONGZ
USHER

BEST GROUP
A$AP MOB
JODECI
MIGOS
RAE SREMMURD
RICH GANG
YOUNG MONEY

BEST COLLABORATION
AUGUST ALSINA F/ NICKI MINAJ – NO LOVE (REMIX)
BIG SEAN F/ E-40 – IDFWU
CHRIS BROWN F/ LIL WAYNE & TYGA – LOYAL
CHRIS BROWN F/ USHER & RICK ROSS – NEW FLAME
COMMON & JOHN LEGEND – GLORY (FROM THE MOTION PICTURE “SELMA”)
MARK RONSON F/ BRUNO MARS – UPTOWN FUNK

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
BIG SEAN
COMMON
DRAKE
J. COLE
KENDRICK LAMAR
WALE

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
AZEALIA BANKS
DEJ LOAF
IGGY AZALEA
NICKI MINAJ
TINK
TRINA

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BEYONCÉ – 7/11
BIG SEAN F/ E-40 – IDFWU
CHRIS BROWN F/ LIL WAYNE & TYGA – LOYAL
CHRIS BROWN F/ USHER & RICK ROSS – NEW FLAME
COMMON & JOHN LEGEND – GLORY (FROM THE MOTION PICTURE “SELMA”)
NICKI MINAJ – ANACONDA

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
BENNY BOOM
BEYONCÉ, ED BURKE & TODD TOURSO
CHRIS ROBINSON
FATIMA ROBINSON
HYPE WILLIAMS

BEST NEW ARTIST
BOBBY SHMURDA
DEJ LOAF
FETTY WAP
RAE SREMMURD
SAM SMITH
TINASHE

BEST GOSPEL ARTIST
DEITRICK HADDON
ERICA CAMPBELL
FRED HAMMOND
LECRAE
MALI MUSIC
MICHELLE WILLIAMS

BEST ACTRESS
GABRIELLE UNION
KERRY WASHINGTON
TARAJI P. HENSON
TRACEE ELLIS ROSS
VIOLA DAVIS

BEST ACTOR
ANTHONY ANDERSON
IDRIS ELBA
JUSSIE SMOLLETT
KEVIN HART
TERRENCE HOWARD

YOUNGSTARS AWARD
JACOB LATIMORE
JADEN SMITH
MO’NE DAVIS
QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS
ZENDAYA

BEST MOVIE
ANNIE
BEYOND THE LIGHTS
SELMA
THINK LIKE A MAN TOO
TOP FIVE

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
BRITTNEY GRINER
CANDACE PARKER
SERENA WILLIAMS
SKYLAR DIGGINS
VENUS WILLIAMS

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
CHRIS PAUL
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR.
LEBRON JAMES
MARSHAWN LYNCH
STEPHEN CURRY

COCA-COLA VIEWERS’ CHOICE AWARD
BEYONCÉ – 7/11
DEJ LOAF – TRY ME
KENDRICK LAMAR – i
NICKI MINAJ F/ DRAKE, LIL WAYNE & CHRIS BROWN – ONLY
RAE SREMMURD F/ NICKI MINAJ & YOUNG THUG – THROW SUM MO
THE WEEKND – EARNED IT (FROM THE “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” SOUNDTRACK)

CENTRIC AWARD
AVERY SUNSHINE – CALL MY NAME
JAZMINE SULLIVAN F/ MEEK MILL – DUMB
MARK RONSON F/ BRUNO MARS – UPTOWN FUNK
SAM SMITH F/ MARY J. BLIGE – STAY WITH ME
THE WEEKND – EARNED IT (FROM THE “FIFTY SHADES OF GREY” SOUNDTRACK)

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT: UK
FKA TWIGS
FUSE ODG
LETHAL BIZZLE
LITTLE SIMZ
MNEK
STORMZY

I saved the best for last! The Best International Act Africa Act: Africa is a tricky one this year. Let's take a look at the artists...

THE SOIL (SOUTH AFRICA)

AKA (SOUTH AFRICA)

SARKODIE (GHANA)

SAUTI SOL (KENYA)

STONEBWOY (GHANA)

WIZKID (NIGERIA)

YEMI ALADE (NIGERIA)

FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO)

This is a tough category! Oh my Gosh, all the nominees are amazing. Good luck to all of them!

Need new tasty recipe ideas for this week? This cookbook might be your new BFF!

Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Aarum Kisha Anita Hurse aka LesBintheKitchen, has spent her entire life around food. Like most African American households the kitchen is a meeting place. Aarum watched and was taught by the best - her Great-Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother and Aunts. Fast forward a few years and 40+ recipes later and you have Culinary Cool – Everyday Food - this book is designed to help you to find your own personal flavor profile. It’s about taking the simple foods we eat everyday and thinking outside of the box. If you can't find one of the ingredients used in the book, simply adjust it to your own flavor profile! It's all about the journey not the destination.  Cooking should be quick and fun!  Full disclosure: Aarum is my friend and I am OBSESSED with her recipes, you have to follow her on Instagram, she's soooo amazing. Here's a quick interview  for you to get to know the soon to be household name  even better! Remember her name :)

Out of all the meals you've ever made, what's your favorite? 

This is a hard one for me I’ve cooked so many meals over the last two years. I guess I would have to say the Nacho Cheese Doritos Fried Chicken because I was surprised how good it was. I only made them because I saw them on Instagram and thought no way this can be good so I crushed them up and instead of using flour I coated the chicken wings with the Doritos, they came out so “Hoodtastic” so good.

You currently live in Seattle, what would you say is the best restaurant in that area? 

Seattle is such a great foodie town it’s hard to say. I haven’t had a bad meal yet. The hideout I like to go to every weekend is a place 3 blocks from my house it’s a café called Morsel and Bean. Man the things the chef is doing with biscuits is amazing. Things like “The Goat” with herbed goat cheese, roasted tomato jam and cucumber on a cheddar chive biscuit, I’ve gained a good 7lbs hanging out in this place.

Cooking can be such a chore, how do you keep it exciting?

Lately this has been difficult with working on the cookbook and always having to give me page content daily. Because in this day and age the name of the game is keep up when building a brand. But for me food is fun! The way I cook is really just, I get hungry and ideas jump in my head. It’s a freestyle every time I never plan anything I’m going to cook, it’s all about the moment and a glass of whiskey or wine with some music playing that fits my mood of the day.

Did you study to become a chef? Or is it something that you picked up naturally?

In college my major was TV Production and after school I moved to Los Angeles and worked in Reality TV for eight years. The food side for me started two years ago when my career in TV started to dry up and my passion for it started to fall off as well. So I would cook more and more after work just to relax and I started to post the food on my Instagram page and my friends said you have to do something with this food and that’s when @LesBInTheKitchen was made and now my first cookbook is out and the page is up to almost 9k in followers.

LesBInTheKitchen is an interesting play on words. What inspired that name? 

Well LesBInTheKitchen was born because of my best friend and business partner Devon Augustine, when we created the page we needed a name and after a few rounds, she said I got it ; “LesBInTheKitchen” it’s a play on words “Let’s” all be in the kitchen together is the vibe I’m going for and also I’m a Lesbian.

With book's release and positive feedback you've received, what's next for you?

 I thought I would take a second and relax and just market the first book because I’m pretty much a one woman team. I self-published the cookbook myself including doing the page layout and photographing all the food photos and now I am moving into being my own marketing team. But some things are falling into place that will have me pretty busy this summer with cooking for the second book; “Bacon, Bitches & Breakups”, I know..... and yes that’s the name of the book and please ladies don’t come for me anyone who knows me knows I adore women it just fits the title and sometimes my dating life. And also I’m gearing up to shoot a cooking show pilot, if all the ducks line up in a row. So yeah that’s my summer and fall excited for the next book and whatever is to come with this cooking thing…it’s just funJ

Make sure to follow Aarum on her all social media pages: Instagram @LesBInTheKitchen Twitter @LBITK and the ebook and hard copies can be found on my page http://store.blurb.com/ebooks/528239-culinary-cool-everyday-food

Kerry Washington & her Nigerian hubby turn the Met Gala into date night. So cute!

Kerry Washington and her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, stepped out in public at the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC on Monday.

The pair got married in 2013 and it's no secret that they are fiercely protective of their private life. We hardly ever seen out in public together.

In a 2013 interview with the New York Times Kerry revealed her reason for being tight lipped about her personal life:

KW: Let me say it like this. There have to be some boundaries to maintain your artistry. If you don’t have a strong sense of who you are, it’s hard to build a character. So I’ve learned to hold on to a sense of myself and keep it private

True that Kerry! Glad to see their still going strong.

Beyonce SLAYS at the Met Gala!

Today is probably one of the biggest days in red carpet fashion. It's Anna Wintour’s annual black tie party formally known as the Met Gala. Celebrities such as Rihanna, Beyonce, Lupita Nyong'o and many more will be there.

This year's theme is a nod to the museum’s spring 2015 exhibit, which opens later this week, “China: Through the Looking Glass,”

My favorite look thus far is Beyonce. Blue Ivy's Mama killed it. Check out the pics:

Rapper Rick Ross to perform in Durban South Africa this weekend

Ricky Rozay must really love SA. I believe this is his second or third time touring the country....either that or the money must be really good.

Look at how skinny Rick Ross is!?!

Via SA Breaking News

American hip- hop artist Rick Ross has officially been booked as the main event at the 2nd annual Youth Hip Hop Festival in Durban this year. The rapper is expected to attract a larger crowd than last year’s 6000 people at the Moses Mabhida stadium on 2 May.

This will be his first time performing in Durban after having previously performed in Cape Town and Nelspruit in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

In addition Rick Ross there a slew of other top notch acts performing as well. They are:

HHP, Khuli Chana, Cassper Nyovest, CashTime Fam (MaE, KO and Maggz), Riky Rick, OkMalumKoolKat, C-Live, Reason, Kwesta, Dj Feel, Dreamteam, Dj Tira, Duncan, Zakwe, Aewon Wolf, WTF, YBK, Junior De Rocka, Junior B, Dj Lab, Breeze, Teabag, Nag, Meech, Wobly, Abbu, Sonic and Vumar (Gagasi FM).

The Youth Hip Hop Festival is a collaboration between Richie R Concepts in association with the KZN Provincial Government and the City of Durban. The event’s slogan “Youth Fighting Social Ills by Doing Right”  is in line with the City’s hope to educate young people but also empower them to always make the right decision, as mentioned in the official press release by Durban Mayor, James Nxumalo.

My Durban friends are you planning on attending?