Friday, July 31, 2015

#AfricanWomenRock - Lupita Nyong'o to star in play written by Danai Gurira

This is so exciting!

Our African superstars - Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira are working together on a new play that will open this fall at the city's Public Theater.

This will mark the New York City debut of both Lupita and the play, which was previously performed in 2009 in Washington, D.C. and New Haven, Connecticut.


Eclipsed is set during the Second Liberian Civil War (between 1999 and 2003) and focuses on a group of women who are the wives - and prisoners - of a rebel officer.

Their already chaotic world is disturbed even more when a new woman arrives

“Danai Gurira has written a brilliant play, ripped from the headlines, that looks at the terrible conflicts in post-colonial Africa with an eye that is both incisive and deeply compassionate,” Artistic Director Oskar Eustis said in a statement. “A feminist reading of the Liberian Civil War, a war that was ended by women, Eclipsed is both heart-breaking and profoundly life-affirming. We are delighted to welcome the extraordinary Lupita Nyong’o to The Public in this vitally important play.”

The show is set to begin on September 29 and run through November 8
The show is set to begi September 29 and run through November 8.ovember 8.
I am absolutely going to check this play out. Can't wait!
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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Look of the Day - Oprah Winfrey

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From Sierra Leone to Hollywood - 10 Things to Know About Ballerina Michaela DePrince's Inspiring Story

1. Michaela DePrince is one of the few black classical ballerinas in the world.


2.  She was born Mabinty Bangura in 1995, during the civil war that killed 50,000 people. At just three years old, her father was shot by rebels and she and her mother moved into the home of an uncle. That same uncle gave them so little food that her mother died of starvation.

3.  After her parents passed on, her uncle then deposited the child in an orphanage, where she became known as Number 27. At the she was totally mistreated and  frequently malnourished and derided as a "devil's child" because of vitiligo, skin condition causing depigmentation, she fled to a refugee camp after her orphanage was bombed.


4. Horrific violence was the norm each day, according to Michaela, who painfully remembers witnessing the brutal killing of the one teacher at the orphanage who cared for her. "She was pregnant, and the rebels, whom we called 'debils,' grabbed her as she left the school grounds. I squeezed through the rails of the gate and tried to go to her rescue, but I was very small and no help at all," she recalls. "The debils bet on whether her baby was a boy or girl. Then one of them slit her open, pulled out the baby and threw it away, and then cut off my teacher's arms and left her to die. For years afterward, I feared being chased by debils."

5. She and her best friend were adopted by an American couple when they were four. Her new mother Elaine saw that her daughter had an interest in dance and she enrolled five-year-old Michaela in the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia, making the 45-minute drive from New Jersey every day.


6.At five feet four and a half inches, Michaela is shorter and more muscular than the "typical" ballerina, and a teacher once told her she didn't have the body to be a professional dancer—a common bias against black ballerinas. "Many people believe that black women shouldn't be ballet dancers, because they think we don't have classic ballet bodies," Michaela says

7. She rose to fame after starring in the documentary First Position in 2011, following her and other young ballet dancers as they prepared to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix.

8.   MGM has acquired the rights to DePrince’s memoir, “Taking Flight,” for a feature film.. "When I look back at all the things I've been through and everything I've accomplished," she says, "I realize, Wow, I am very blessed."

9. The 20 year old is now a ballerina in Amsterdam’s Dutch National Ballet - and she is the only dancer of African origin

10. "I’ve always wanted to be a role model, especially to young black girls," says DePrince, who has taught at schools in Brooklyn and South Africa. "I think I can inspire them to … just push and believe in yourself and become whatever you want. I’ve been through so much, but I was able to go forward to what I’ve always believed in."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/jordan-levin/article27496714.html#storylink=cpy
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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

After "30 Days of No Alcohol" NeNe Leakes Shows Off Svelte Figure

NeNe Leakes is looking all sorts of wonderful these days thanks to her new diet plan and super svelte figure.

Last month the reality star appeared on Live! With Kelly and Micheal and dished to Micheal Strahan on how she's achieved her fab and fit body.

"I'm cleansing my body. I'm not a real workout girl so what I decided to do, I'm trying to get a little healthy and I've already lost a few pounds, so right now I am on a cleanse that is really making me nervous. 30 days of no alcohol. That's hard, girl, that's hard!"

NeNe Leakes in July 2015

The Southern belle added:
"It's hard for me to walk into my favorite restaurants and not have a cocktail. So I walk in shaking and everything. I'm like 'Lord get me my favorite dish, you know I'm not having a cocktail. 'I work all day so I kind of forget to eat so I'm kind of a late eater. I'll eat at about 3 or 4 p.m.
NeNe Leakes in Feb 2015
'I'm a small-portion eater. I don't like to feel full. A lot of people when I meet them, they say, "I thought you were this big woman." I'm, like, "I'm curvy, honey, but I am not real big."'

Hats off to NeNe! At age 47 she looks better than ever!



A photo posted by NeNe Leakes (@neneleakes) on


A photo posted by NeNe Leakes (@neneleakes) on

A photo posted by NeNe Leakes (@neneleakes) on
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Team Africa vs. Team World - Chris Paul & Luol Deng arrive in South Africa for NBA Africa game

A photo posted by Chris Paul (@cp3) on
Let the games begin!

Chris Paul and Luol Deng


The much anticipated sold-out game is happening this Saturday August 1st at Ellis Park Arena. For my peeps in the United States the game will air at 6 a.m. PT on ESPN and in Africa on SuperSport at 3:00 pm CAT
Chris Paul will serve as captain of Team World, which also includes Bradley Beal, Kenneth Faried, Marc and Pau Gasol, Jeff Green, Marcus Smart, Evan Turner and Nikola Vucevic. Luol Deng will serve as captain of Team Africa, which also includes Al-Farouq Aminu, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, Boris Diaw, Gorgui Dieng, Luc Mbah a Moute, Festus Ezeli and Bismack Biyombo. Team Africa is comprised entirely of players born in Africa and second-generation African players.

The game supports the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

I will def be tuning in, supporting Team Africa all the way! Who are you rooting for?
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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

President Obama's Photographer Shares His Kenya & Ethiopia Photo Album

Do you follow Pete Souza on Instagram? 


If not, you totally should. He is the current White House photographer for President Barack Obama and this past week he was in Kenya and Ethiopia with the Commander in Chief. This was the first trip for Mr. Obama to Kenya as President and he also made double history as the first sitting U.S president to visit Ethiopia.

Pete's Instagram account is full beautiful moments of their trip—the people, the red carpet treatment —and their shared adventure. Check out some of the pics below:


A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on


A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
All this love for POTUS, must be an amazing feeling
A video posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on



A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on

A photo posted by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on
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Pearl Thusi covers Elle Magazine South Africa


Elle Magazine South Africa  just dropped their August issue this past Monday and it is a thing of beauty.  The issue celebrates the creativity of the continent in the very first #AfricaIssue and it's only fitting that they have the gorgeous model/presenter Pearl Thusi on the cover.

Check out a few behind the scenes photos below:








In a touching post on her tumblr account Pearl wrote:

My 1st @ellemagazinesa cover.
Dreams do come true. God is real. And He’s so faithful and full of surprises!! πŸ™πŸΎπŸ™πŸΎπŸ™πŸΎ
Thank you to my family and friends for all the support throughout the years of my journey into and through this industry. I couldn’t have gotten so far without you carrying me and lifting my spirit in dark and bleak times.
To my daughter, where would I be without you? I’d probably have more money, lol, but my life is so enriched by your presence, your moans and giggles. Just hearing you speak is testament to what love is to me. How true, real and unconditional it is. Thank you for choosing me πŸ‘ΆπŸ½πŸ’πŸ‘‘
To my mother. It’s never been the same without you. But it’s still to thank you for being here for me even today. I miss you terribly and I live to make you proud. To not repeat your mistakes and to emulate all your amazing strengths. The bravest and most hard working woman I ever knew. I can just imagine what you’d do if you saw this. I will always love you. Always. To think this very month marks 11 years since you passed on. And these great gifts are sprinkled in this very time to remind me that you’re still here. I feel you. 😒❤️πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘πŸ‘‘
And to my amazing team @capacityrelations . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I don’t know where to begin. For believing in me and cheering me on. For scolding and loving me. I appreciate you immensely! To more success and happiness!! πŸ™ŒπŸΎ✊πŸΎπŸ‘―πŸ˜˜πŸ’«
To my man. 😘😘😘😘
To my fans, My CUBZ… I LOVE YOU!!!! Thank you for caring and reminding me what I am capable of!!! It means so much! I hope I’m making you proud and showing you what YOU are also capable of!!! To many more years of success for us !!!! πŸ™πŸΎπŸ’πŸ™πŸΎπŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜πŸ˜˜
To @ellemagazinesa , thank you for your bravery and belief in me. I’m still not sure why but I am honored to be on your cover that celebrates my favorite thing- Africa. Thank you for believing in local stars. South Africa STAND UP !!! ❤️❤️❤️



Gorgeous! I can't wait to grab a copy of the magazine!
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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Boity Thulo lands new gig as the face of LEGIT sport range

#Winning

This is such great news for Boity!

Fresh from announcing her new steamy relationship with South African rapper Cassper Nyovest, the TV personality has another reason to celebrate, She was just selected as the new face of Legit - a stylish brand for the fashion forward young woman. This partnership makes a lot of sense to me, Boity has a BANGING body and she is always sharing tips and tricks on social media on how she maintains her tone and definition.




The LEGIT sports and gym wear range will launch in September 2015, my friends in South Africa will you be buying a few pieces?

The 25 year old posted a video announcing her new gig on Instagram, check it out below!



Congrats Boity!
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Tuesday, July 21, 2015

13 Times Kenyan blogger "This is Ess" ROCKED Instagram

Sharon Mundia is a Kenyan fashion blogger behind This is Ess.



 Just last year the 25 year old beauty was named the Fashion Blogger of the Year by the Bloggers Association of Kenya. In addition to being at the top of her game, Huffington Post called her a style icon and I have to agree....her Instagram feed shows the rest of us not only how to dress but what a life worth posting looks like. Ahhhhmazing!

 Let's take a look at some of her best moments on the 'gram.


1. Just a few days ago, she presented two awards at the MTV Africa Music Awards - Best Male and Best Female category, which was won by Nigerian artists Davido and Yemi Alade.


2. Earlier this year,  Sharon was named the face of the Samsung A series.  #Winning



3. I love the photos she posts of Nairobi. So beautiful!


4. Gotta love a great quote!


5. Look at her bagging magazine covers! WERQ!



6. How great is her smile? Such a beauty!



7. Looking pretty and so on point



8. Sharon got engaged earlier this year and I can't wait to see what she's cooking up for her wedding!!
 

9. So flawless


10. Friendship goals af!



11. Talk about a banging body!






12. I would be FREAKING out, look at how calm she is! LOL!



13. Yaaaaaaas! I LOVE this dress



Make sure to follow her on Instagram to keep up with all her fashionable posts!
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Trevor Noah regrets his controversial African American jokes:"I may not be American, but I am black"

Trevor Noah is a comedic genius. 

Thanks to his quick wit and on point social commentary the world will finally get to see Trevor in action as the new host of the Daily Show when the show debuts on September 28 on Comedy Central. 

In a new interview with GQ titled "Is Trevor Noah ready for the Daily Show?" the comedian finally discusses his controversial tweets that were found buried in his Twitter feed. Check out of some the tweets in question






Ouch!

Trevor told GQ:
“You show me half my jokes from even two years ago, three years ago—I hate them. Because you see, like, a young version of yourself. You’re like, “Why would you say that? You idiot! That makes no sense.” Or, “That’s just stupid.” Or, “Ahh, I can’t believe I said that about a woman.” You should not like what you did back then, because that shows that you’ve grown. If you’re still doing it, that’s a scarier place to be.”

Trevor seemed to be pouring his heart out in the interview and spilling the tea on a number of other regrets. Namely the joke towards African Americans on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno back in 2012.

He says "I look back on it and I go, ‘Had I known, I would've done it differently.' Because when you come from a different place, you don't realize the minefield you're walking into"

"I do know this: I continued doing the Leno bit after I'd done it on Leno. But the way I did it slash would do it today is completely different. I've now learned how to be emotionally aware of how people may use your joke in a negative way. And that's something that you're always trying to navigate in comedy. You know, Dave Chappelle talked about it as well—if you're not careful, someone can use your words to hurt somebody else."

He says he particularly regrets one joke in that routine that was addressed specifically to African-Americans. "I said: ‘You're not African, but we play along.' " The problem was, "I had given some people ammunition to oppress those who had already been oppressed." Now he feels that he'd taken the wrong side. "I hadn't fully understood the African-American experience. I hadn't read the books; I hadn't met the people; I hadn't traveled the country."

When the reporter asked Trevor if he felt like he had to learn how to talk about race relations in America better, he answered "I may not be American, but I am black. It's not like I had to learn how to be black." 
What do you think of Trevor's comments? Was he out of line?

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© Makho Ndlovu

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