MICHAEL JACKSON LAID TO REST

It was a gathering of family, Friends, and the most fanatical of fans yesterday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as in millions, they came in their numbers to pay their last respect to the man who no doubt has left a mark, a man who no doubt has affected the lives of many and in our hearts left the special vacuum that we will for a long time to come seek means to fill.;
the King of Pop, as Rev Al Sharpton aptly described...The greatest Entertainer that ever lived.

Billion of people around the world tuned in to watch teh final passage of the King of Pop.

Here are pictures from the memorial...

The Jacksons

Carrying his casket

Usher singing Gone too soon


His children

Janet and Paris Jackson

Jennifer Hudson

Rev Al Sharpton

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Usher Raymond

Corey Feldman

Chris Brown

John Mayer

Queen Latifah

"Britain's Got Talent" star Shaheen Jafargholi

Stevie Wonder

Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz

Brooke Shields and Magic Johnson

The Kardashian sisters


Mike Tyson

Larry King and wife

Wesley Snipes

IEMMYS comes to Africa for the first time
Ghana hosted the first-ever African panel of judges for the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The semi-final judging was hosted by one of the academy’s international ambassadors, Mr Talal Fattal, at the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel in Accra, from July 3-4 2009.
The panel, made up of Nigerian and Ghanaian actors and film-makers such as David Dontoh, Emeka Ike, Stella Damascus, Shirley Frimpong Manso, and others, were tasked with the semi-final judging for the categories of Best Telenovela and Drama for the Asian, Middle East and African region. The International EMMYS (IEMMYS) is celebrating its 30th year and this moves to have a wider selection pool of creativity in television from all over the world.

Pan-African Festival 2009 kicks off in Algeria

Algeria is currently abuzz with music and fashion from several African countries that are celebrating the culture that makes them so unique. The festival seeks to highlight the side of Africa that is rarely showcased around the world. In a bid to show that Africa goes beyond the illness, poverty and violence, African countries have come together to celebrate the best of the continent.

Several countries are participating, including Zimbabwe who was absent during last year’s festivities. Brazil and the United States are the guests this year. More than 8000 artists (including Youssou N’dour, Selif Keita, Mory Kanté, Ait Menguellet, Cheb Khaled, Amazigh Kateb, Karim Ziad, Zehouania, ) are scheduled to perform in this 15 day celebration that kicked off on July 4, 2009. It will feature cinema, music, theater, art, choreography, literature, and heritage.

For more information on the festival, visit their website.

Ghana Fashions Weekend: Ziami lost in transit

The much anticipated showcasing of Boris Kodjoe’s Ziami clothing line at the Ghana Fashion Week 2009 could not materialize because he was unable to get his clothing line transported to Ghana before the close of the 4-day event. His presence throughout the event days, however, was met with complete admiration by the Ghanaian people, many of whom tried disparately to get a photo moment with the model/actor and designer.

(boris kodjoe and nicole ari parker)

The Accra International Conference Centre, venue for the Ghana Fashion Weekend dazzled with celebrities, and the glitz and glamour of high fashion from July 1-4, as dozens of designers from around the globe showcased chic, elegant, and some eccentric creations. The fashion event brought together established and upcoming designers from all over Africa including the likes of Modela (Nigeria), Alphadi (Niger), Boris Kodjoe (U.S.A), (Burkina Faso), Bazem Se (Burkina Faso), Morenikeji Agoro (Nigeria), Ousmane Doumbia (Cote Divoire), Amadou Diop (Senegal), Behen Parfait (Cameroon), Patrick Asso (Cote Divoire), and Dady De Maximo (Rwanda).

Joining them were Ghanaian designers such as Kofi Ansah, Patrick Poku Asante, Michael Allan David, Ann-Marie Addoley Addo ( Jil), Titi Ademola, Bee Arthur, and Gregory A. Kankoh. The event also highlighted the works of some upcoming Ghanaian designers namely; Elimens Kollektion, Salimi Akill, Doreen Lartey, Dzidzienyo Klekleli, Rowena Adjivon, Kwame Gyamfi Wiafe, Bern Mensah. The top four upcoming designers were selected for a special competition sponsored by the French Embassy in Ghana to choose the best designer from the lot for a 2-week training program in Paris.

Ghana Fashion Weekend 2009 is an annual event created by the CEO of Exopa of Exopa International Modelling Agency, Sima Ibrahim, to explore, boost interest, and showcase talent within the Ghanaian fashion industry and the world over.