DARE ART-ALADE TO HOST SMVA+250 YEARS OF GUINESS+2009 CNN JOURNALIST AWARDS

Quintessential Entertainer Darey Art Alade has been selected as the host for the Second edition of the 2009 Sound City Music Video awards. Soundcity is Nigeria’s music TV’s top honors and their awards are usually traditionally hosted by A-list musicians including recent comperes Dbanj and Ashionye.

Darey is a consummate host of major industry events and awards and a proven talent who always makes it looks easy. Also known for his good dress sense, bright smile and witty banters, Darey sure appeals to a broad audience. Fresh from an amazing performance at this year’s Hiphopworld awards which was rated as world class, Darey’s hit single ‘Not the Girl’ from his Un.DAREY.ted album has spent more than six months on various charts across the country.

‘He can hold the screen and can hold a stage. It doesn’t hurt that he looks amazing in anything he wears’ a member of his team at Soul Muzik says. In addition to the news that Darey will be hosting the Soundcity Music Video Award in August, the R&B pathfinder leads the packs of Nigerians nominated at this year’s Channel O Awards with two nominations for ‘Best R&B Video’ and ‘Best male video’. The award ceremony holds on October 29 at the Carnival City, Gauteng.

Darey was in January 2009 named anchor at The Future Awards shortly after he hosted Project Fame West Africa in 2008. ‘The ton of awards and ceremonies Darey has hosted is uncountable, and he’d sure make his fans and the organizers proud at SMVA’ his manager said in Lagos this week. The Sound city Music Video awards, an elaborate showbiz ceremony holds in Lagos on July 31 and August 1, 2009

GUINESS 250 YEARS ANNIVESSARY

250 launch held on Saturday the 18th could be described in one word ….Awesome,

I remember i told you guys about the event and how i was not able to attend all thanks to a stubborn flu accompanied with on the second vomiting few minutes to me leaving the house for the event; well though yours truly could not be there in the physical, i still have all the gist first hand:
it was indeed an outing that was well put together and I dare say that every one who turned out for the black carpet was looking extra great, and I mean everyone,
Something quite noticeable was the fact that almost everyone present complied to the dress-code of the evening and what an evening it turned out to be

The Black carpet was invaded by a host of paparazzi from top media channels and while their camera’s greeted the invitees and celebrities alike, some were invited for interviews while others enjoyed the company of friend and Guinness cocktail, before proceeding upstairs for the event proper.

few pictures from the event...

Enjoy...

Dare performing. He stole the show. Incredible performer...

Frank Edoho, Isio Wanogho, Ego Ogbaro and Segun Arinze

Omawunmi Megbele doing her thing. What a voice!

The MD of Guinness, Okocha and Guinness brand Guinness, Ohimai

More pictures coming...

2009 CNN JOURNALIST AWARDS EMERGE

John-Allan Namu, from Kenya, was awarded the top prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Awards Ceremony at The International Convention Centre, Durban on Saturday 18th July.

John-Allan, reporter for Kenya Television Network, won for his stories ‘In the shadow of the Mungiki’ and ‘Inside Story: Scars and Sufurias’, which were chosen from among 1665 entries from 38 nations across the African continent.

John-Allan was one of 25 finalists at the Awards ceremony on Saturday evening and was a winner in two categories, the Television News Award and Television Features Award.

Tony Maddox, Managing Director, CNN International and Nolo Letele, CEO, MultiChoice South Africa, presented John-Allan with the Award. John-Allan Namu said: “I feel immensely honored. I never thought this would happen. This goes to show anyone from any walk of life can stand among giants.”

The evening also recognized Nicaise Kibel‘bel Oka of Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, as this year’s recipient of the Free Press Africa Award, who represents the journalists in the Eastern DRC, and accepts the Award on their behalf, including three who have lost their lives in recent years, Pascal Kabungulu, Serge Maheshe and Didace Namujimbo.

The overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 wins a cash prize, a visit to CNN Centre in Atlanta, to attend the three-week CNN Journalism Fellowship, along with the prize awarded to all category winners, which consists of a laptop computer, printer and a cash prize.

Winners in the individual competition categories are:

Arts & Culture Award
Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria

Economics & Business Award
Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today, Egypt

Environment Award
Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya

Francophone General News Award: Print
Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius

Francophone General News Award: TV / Radio
Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso

Free Press Africa Award
Nicaise Kibel‘bel Oka, Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo

HIV/AIDS Reporting In Africa Award
Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for 3rd Degree broadcast on Etv, South Africa

MSD Health & Medical Award
Paul McNally, Men’s Health Magazine, South Africa

Mohamed Amin Photographic Award
Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa

Portuguese Language General News Award
Ernesto Bartolomeu, Televisao Publica de Angola

Print General News Award
Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa

Radio General News Award
Sammy Muraya, Radio Metro FM, Kenya

Sport Award
Ayodeji Adeyemi, Tell Magazine, Nigeria

Television - General News – Feature/Current Affairs Award
John-Allan Namu and James Moturi Mogaka, Kenya Television Network

Television - General News – News Bulletin Award
John Benson Mwangi and John-Allan Namu, Kenya Television Network

Tourism Award
Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa

Again this year the Judges highlighted some excellent work and awarded Commendations in six categories. These journalists participated in the finalists’ program in Durban and received a cash prize and certificates of commendation.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide, Ghana

Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, ORTB, - Parakou, Benin

Nicola De Chaud and Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa

Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC South Africa

Boniface Mwangi, Expression Today, Kenya

Elshadai Negash, Freelance for Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopia

Luís Nhachote, Zambeze, Mozambique

Alain Zongo, L’Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso