Rapper Future, the ex husband to Ciara the ‘Queen of Crank’ is coming to perform in Africa thanks to MTV Africa.
The award-winning Hip Hop superstar, visionary mixtape supremo, MAMA 2016 nominee (Best International Act) and mesmerising live performer Future is set to perform at MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22 October.
Following his performance at the MAMA awards show, as a bonus for fans, Future will stage an extra live performance, reprising fan favourites throughout his recording career from ‘Turn on the Lights’, ‘Same Damn Time’ and ‘Stick Talk’.
Born Navyvadius Cash, in Atlanta, Georgia, Future is known for his signature melodic flow and authentic ‘street’ sound. The rapper first gained fame thanks to a series of classic mixtapes that gave light to his first single ‘Tony Montana’, before notching up three number one album debuts on the Billboard 200 chart in just 7 months, thanks to DS2 (2015), ‘What a Time to be Alive’ (his 2015 collaboration with Drake), and EVOL (2016).
An amazing 2016 has seen Future’s star rise higher than ever before thanks to the release of his critically acclaimed mixtape ‘Purple Reign’, swiftly followed by the launch of his fourth solo album EVOL.
In March 2016, he completed his first, 22-date nationwide tour, then went on to win ‘Best Group’ with Drake at the BET Awards 2016 for their collaboration ‘Jumpman’, before scoring 10 nominations at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2016, and performing a riveting live rendition of “Commas’ at the MTV VMAs in New York. He is currently nominated in the “Best Hip Hop” category at the 2016 MTV EMAs, which will take place on 6 November.
Future joins previously announced African performers Diamond, Emtee, Kwesta, Patoranking Alikiba, Babes Wodumo, Cassper Nyovest, Nasty C, Ycee and Yemi Alade. The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 is brought to you by Joburg Tourism in partnership with Absolut Vodka and Google and in association with MTN and DStv.
Highlighting the ‘gold standard’ in contemporary music, creativity and achievement, The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 promises to be the biggest and best ever, with more than 15,000 music lovers expected to party up a storm at the Ticketpro Dome for this spectacular showcase.
The definitive annual celebration of African and international talent and achievement, MAMA 2016 recognises and rewards musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African music and youth culture over the previous year. The ceremony will feature stunning performances from African and international artists along with the show’s signature cross-genre and cross-border collaborations.
WINNING PHOTO: Kenyan photographer Stephen Simiyu's winning photo of a man using a laptop while on Lake Victoria in Uganda. Photos/APO
Kenyan photographer Stephen Simiyu has won the grand prize of US$2000, with his winning photo of a fisherman using a laptop while on Lake Victoria in Uganda.
Simiyu is one of the three photographers announced today by Agility, a leading global logistics provider, as winners of its Africa 2016 Photo Competition, a series of photographs that show how quickly Africa is modernizing, growing and even leading the way in new technology.
The annual contest, now in its second year, is a pan-Africa photography competition focusing on Africa’s rapid modernization. This year’s competition drew more than 2,500 photographs from professional and amateur photographers in 30 countries.
Other winning images that also attracted a prize of US$2,000 for each category depicted a solar farm in Rwanda powering 15,000 homes and the skyline of Harare, Zimbabwe, by Esdore Hakizimana, a machine operator from Kigali, Rwanda (Industry) and Henry Oliver Hakulandaba, an environmental consultant and photographer from Harare (Cities), respectively.
The winning photographs and the runners-ups were featured at a session at the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this month and will be shown at the Thomson Reuters Africa Summit 2016 in Cape Town in October. They will also be showcased in Forbes Africa, on CNBC Africa, and in Agility’s corporate magazine, Tradelanes.
“I know Africa is developing, and to show this, I needed an image that could tell that story in one picture. The competition really made me think about Africa – there’s nowhere like it,” Simiyu, the Grand Prize winner, said.
CITIES: Olivier Hakulandaba’s photo that won a prize in the Cities category.
Hakulandaba, winner in the Cities category, said non-Africans are continually surprised by the pace of change in Africa.
“Whenever I exhibit images of Harare or any other African city, there is always someone who says they never thought Africa has such development,” Hakulandaba said adding: “This competition is a platform to reach a wider audience about African development. It will help change perspectives of the continent’s potential.”
Geoffrey White, CEO of Agility Africa said the winning images speak eloquently about the historic change underway in Africa and the opportunities for Africans, African businesses and the world.
“As a company investing in the logistics infrastructure of the continent, we are proud to show the world powerful images that capture a more positive view of Africa and demonstrate the progress that has already been made, hopefully changing the perceptions of Africa in 2016,” he added.
The competition was judged by an independent panel that consisted of Sneha Shah, Managing Director, Thomson Reuters Africa; Bronwyn Nielsen, Editor-in-Chief, CNBC Africa; and Salim Amin, Chairman of CameraPix and co-founder of Africa24 Media.
As promised last month, Luga Flow rapper Emmanuel Matovu Mungi aka Mun G has finally completed his mansion located in Namugongo.
Initial reports had suggested the rapper had put up his house for sale at a price of Shs100 million to fund his then upcoming concert, a claim he denied, vowing to instead finish the house, which was yet to be roofed by mid this month. And, as promised, the house was completed last week thanks to his ‘Sala Pulesa’ deal with Pepsi.
The side view of Mun G’s house. In the foreground is his Mercedes Benz ML
“Thank you my fans all worldwide, with your love and support now am living in my own home sweet home. Mwebalenyo Bambi. Land-load (sic) Nsudeyo Bwe Chwiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!” he revealed the good news to his fans through social media.
To Mun G, achieving such a milestone has been because of his wife, Clara, with whom he has a child.
“My fellow men, do not place your priority on good looks: no woman is ugly: she only needs ‘rebranding’,” he adds in praise of his wife.
CONTROVERSIAL INNOVATOR: samuel Mugarura aka Falcao, the innovator of 'Sugar Spray'.
A Makerere University student, one Samuel Mugarura aka Falcao, last week unleashed onto the Ugandan scene an ‘explosive’ concoction hitherto known as ‘sugar spray’ that he says is made from ‘domestic ingredients’ that include sugar, salt and food colour.
Mugarura even went ahead and displayed how his spray, probably inappropriately called ‘IED’, works, and also said he is planning to make a ‘smoke bomb’ and further, even make Uganda a ‘nuclear country’!
“My dream is to make Uganda a nuclear country just like other countries e.g. South Korea, Russia, among others. So, its high time government took a lead in Africa as a nuclear country by supporting my nuclear project,” Mugarura was quoted as saying by the media.
WHICH WAY SCIENCE INNOVATION? Police Spokesperson AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi.
However, since he went public about his innovations, Mugarura, a 23-year old third year Bachelor of Sciences student majoring in Chemistry has been threatened with arrest by the police, with spokesperson Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Felix Kaweesi seeming to suggest that the student’s innovations attract criminal sanction.
Unfortunately, despite admitting that making ‘tear gas’ is simple, Mugarura’s lecturers and other resource persons at the university have also denied any relationship with the youthful innovator’s ideas, with Prof Muhammad Ntale, a former head of the Chemistry Department at Makerere University quoted by the media as saying that ‘Mugarura could be out for cheap popularity’ or ‘doing such things on his own’.
Of course, it is not uncommon for ‘heroes to be denied their rightful positions in their own societies’ and the Bible ably links us to the circumstances which Ugandans can make reference to in order to understand the stance taken by our police force and the academia in respect to Mugarura’s innovations, which have since become a source of controversy. ‘A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house’, the Holy Book quotes Jesus saying in Mark 6:4.
SUPPORTING SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION: President Museveni expresses his satisfaction to Kiira Motors CEO Paul Isaac Musasizi and former Higher Education and Science Minister Prof Tickodri
Now, if my memory serves me well, President Yoweri Museveni has been at the forefront of advocating for scientific innovation in Uganda. And some of his efforts in that direction have seen billions being splashed on innovations by students working in conjunction with their lecturers, including the ‘innovation of the Kiira EV car and the ‘Kayoola 1’ bus. Indeed, against such a background President Museveni’s enthusiasm for scientific innovation as a pedestal for development and the attainment of a middle-income status in Uganda by 2021 should not be lost on the security forces.
And, lest I forget, since campaigns for presidency begun in earnest last year, the Uganda Police Force used loads of tear gas to disperse opposition supporters attending rallies, mostly those addressed by Dr Kizza Besigye across the country. Obviously, that tear gas was not manufactured in Uganda, something that presupposes that millions of dollars were spent on getting it into the country. And this is where Mugarura’s innovation of ‘sugar spray’ should be recognized as a handy tool that can, as an alternative, constructively help police shift from using imported tear gas that is laced with pepper, a concoction which when used, inadvertently affects both the protestors and those caught up going about their business!
That said, while it is a generally accepted principle that the use of explosives is a preserve of the security forces in many countries, it does not follow that the thought process that leads to their manufacture is the preserve of the security forces. Indeed, other people with the requisite competences can pioneer and the security forces can then step in to offer guidance including the handling and patent processing and possibly, even take on the innovators as resource persons.
‘I am doing this project for my country and my institution Makerere University which I still think is the best in region. Makerere made me who I am, made me much more bigger and mature …I picked this explosive project because that’s what my heart has always told me to do…i thank God that the results are positive and I believe the government will give us a hand and Uganda will never be the same again as we BUILD FOR THE FUTURE ….for God and my country,” Mugarura posted on his Facebook page, urging the powers that be to refrain from misconstruing his intentions. Clearly, this post seems to suggest that Mugarura is not a purveyor of dubious enterprise.
EUREKA! I FOUND IT! Domenico Fetti Archimedes, an image of the man who coined the famous phrase. Photo credit/wikipedia.com
Anyhow, for purposes of innovations in science, since time immemorial most innovators arrive at their ‘intended innovations’ after lengthy periods of research that include several ‘trial and error voyages’. Thus we today have the word ‘Eureka’ (I found it!), coined by ancient Greek scholar and mathematician Domenico Fetti Archimedes, after he established that ‘the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged’. Archimedes arrived at this discovery after a cumbersome effort.
And, though laced with mythical intonation, it is also noteworthy to know that Archimedes’ discovery was to help solve the mystery equation of the purity of the Golden Crown that had dogged the mind of the 1st Century aristocrat Hiero II of Syracuse, for long.
But back to our local scene, as the forces mull over Mugarura’s ‘bizarre’ innovations, it is also important for them to reflect on the possible gains that Uganda as a country can recognize from the young man’s ingenious mind in the field of science.
INNOVATION: The Kiira EV, a product of innovative minds at Makerere University.
Indeed, the young man should, just like the innovators of the Kiira EV and Kayoola 1, also be given chance to benefit from his years of schooling and thinking, otherwise we might as well be providing the US or any other power that recognizes innovative ingeniousness to offer an opportunity for Mugarura to exploit his potential to the fullest, with the attendant monetary benefits that will then accord him the opportunity to send ‘crumbs’ to Uganda as dollar remittances to help his relatives cope with life in a third world economy that will have denied one of its own to make his modest contribution to both national and global development.
General John Numbi blacklisted for violence by US.
The US Treasury placed two top allies of Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila on its sanctions blacklist Wednesday, tying both to rising political violence and human rights violations.
The Treasury said both were involved in violently putting down opposition to Kabila and undermining democratic forces in the country.
The Treasury said Major General Gabriel Amisi Kumba, a commander of the DR Congo armed forces, led units that have violently repressed political demonstrations in several provinces including Kinshasha.
The US Treasury said Major General Gabriel Amisi Kumba, a commander of the DR Congo armed forces, led units that have violently repressed political demonstrations in several provinces including Kinshasha.
“Increasing violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly have been reported in the western provinces, particularly in Kinshasa,” the Treasury said.
DRC soldiers “have used excessive force and lethal weapons during demonstrations and political rallies, particularly during demonstrations organized by opposition leaders and civil society actors in January 2015.”
Also hit with sanctions was General John Numbi, a former national inspector in the DRC police and a close advisor of President Joseph Kabila, whom opponents fear is seeking to remain in power after his second term runs out despite a constitutional ban on a third one.
“During the March 2016 gubernatorial elections in the DRC’s four ex-Katangan provinces, Numbi used violent intimidation to secure victories for candidates affiliated with President Kabila’s MP coalition,” the Treasury said.
“Numbi threatened to kill opposition candidates who did not voluntarily withdraw from the race, and on the same day these exchanges purportedly took place, three candidates withdrew.”
The sanctions, which ban US individuals and businesses from dealings with the two men, came days after dozens of demonstrators were killed in anti-government protests in Kinshasha.
“In several areas of the country, defense and security forces have violently repressed demonstrations organized to oppose a new draft electoral law that many fear would allow President Kabila to run for a third term,” the Treasury said.
Kabila has been president since 2001 when he took the position after his father, President Laurent Kabila, was assassinated.
Under a new constitutional regime in 2006, he was elected to the position with a two-term limit, which should expire in December.
However, the government has not yet scheduled new elections, giving rise to fears that Kabila will not step down.
In a statement, Ida Sawyer of Human Rights Watch said the US action “sends a powerful message that there are real consequences for the government’s violent repression of political demonstrations and other serious human rights violations.”
“Taking strong action now could put further pressure on President Joseph Kabila to abide by the constitutional requirement to step down at the end of his term, and help prevent a broader crisis,” she said.
RESIGNING: Seychelles President James Michel. He is set to step down mid next month.
Seychelles President James Michel, who came to power in 2004, has announced he will hand over power to his Vice President Danny Faure in October, after serving for 12 years as Head of State.
In a statement issued by the State House, no reason was given as 72-year old Michel made the announcement, but political analysts point to a constitutional amendment by the country’s 33-man parliament that has put the presidential mandate at a two five-year term limit.
Found in the Indian ocean Seychelles is a 115-island former French colony that is home to over 90,000 people.
ASSISTANCE: President John Pombe Magufuli receives Mr Museveni's cash donation of US$200.000 from Tanazania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli has sacked two senior officials for opening a fake account to siphon money from fund set up to help September quake victims.
According to media sources, Regional Administrative Secretary Amantius Msole and the Bukoba City Municipal Council Director Steven Makonda opened up an account with the same names as the one opened by the government of Tanzania, ostensibly to siphon money from the quake fund.
The fund has since collected billions of Tanzania shillings, money to be used in the reconstruction efforts in the ravaged areas.
Early this month a 5.7 Richter scale earthquake ravaged the Kagera region, killing 19 people and destroying thousands of homes in northern Tanzania.
As a result several countries, organisations and individuals made material and cash contributions including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who contributed US$200, 000.
Since he came to power about a year ago, Magafuli has distinguished himself as a hands-on president, making surprise visits to institutions that have a history of non-service delivery. In the process several top public servants have lost their jobs.
TRAINING: Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers undergo training to ready themselves for the African Union peace keeping mission in Somalia. Photo credit/ (AP Photo/ Stephen Wandera)
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces is to carry out a national recruitment drive next month.
According to a release, the general recruitment of regular soldiers and professionals will be carried out in 116 districts from October 17-19, with the regular soldiers required to be single males or females aged between 18 and 25, without children. All intending recruits are also supposed to be Ugandan citizens, and must carry an original National Identity Card.
For the professionals, whose recruitment will be carried out at Kololo Airstrip, they must possess a minimum formal education of O-Level ‘or its equivalent’ or A-Level, with a bias in sciences.
Other requirements include recommendation letters from the LC1, LC III and the respective Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) and also carry the original National Identity Card.
‘Any presentation of forged documents is unethical, criminal and culprits will be liable to prosecution,’ the release states in part.
WHOA! Chris Brown with Wizkid, the two superstars set to perform in Kenya
Nigerian superstar, WizKid is expected to perform in Uganda later this year. But before his show here, he is scheduled to join hip hop and RnB sensation Chris Brown in Mombasa, where they are set to perform for those with ‘deep pockets’ next month.
The glamorous event, dubbed the Mombasa Rocks Music Festival, will be a twelve hour outdoor music festival, with Moet Hennessy the main sponsors of the show which will be a no-go for pretenders of the Arabian Princes like Uganda’s South African-based ‘Rich Gang’ quartet.
The show is aimed at attracting the crème de la crème of the industry although it has not yet been revealed who will be the curtain raisers for the two big artistes.
However, the show is costing them their kidneys and livers! The entrance fee to the show in Ugandan currency is Shs350, 000 for regular, Shs700, 000 for VIP and Shs1.75m for VVIP.
This will be first visit to Kenya by the American singer whose real name is Christopher Maurice.
The singer, songwriter, dancer and actor was involved in his church choir and several local talent shows from a young age; Chris Brown signed with Jive Records in 2004, and released his self-titled debut studio album the following year.
It peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling an overall three million copies worldwide.
With his first single Run It! peaking atop the US Billboard 100, Brown became the first male artiste as a lead since Diddy in 1997 to have his debut single top the chart.
His second album Exclusive (2007) spawned his second Hot 100 number one Kiss Kiss, in addition to With You and Forever.
Somalia's Foreign Minister Abdusalam H Omer at the UN yesterday. Photo credit/Reuters
The United Nations has expressed disappointment over a new delay in Somalia’s presidential and legislative elections, and expressed hope that the balloting will be ‘transparent and credible’.
The UN special representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, said on Tuesday that UN officials are worried about the postponement – the latest in a series of election delays in the troubled Horn of Africa country.
“The renewed delay raises a number of fears. Let me name just two: that the process is being politically manipulated, and that this delay may only be one of yet further ‘rolling delays’,” Keating told the UN Security Council.
“The urgency and the momentum must be maintained and the additional time used to ensure that the process is as transparent and credible as possible,” he said.
On Monday, election officials in the capital Mogadishu announced they were pushing back elections from October to November due to security issues and administrative problems.
Omar Mohamed Abdulle, the chairman of the electoral commission, said the delayed presidential election would now take place on November 30, while parliamentary elections would be held from October 23 to November 10.
The presidential vote was originally scheduled to take place in August.
Somalia, which was supposed to hold national elections this year, has instead scheduled a limited franchise election in which ordinary citizens do not participate.
Speaking before the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdusalam H Omer reassured diplomats of ‘the unwavering commitment of the federal government to holding a credible and inclusive electoral process in 2016’.
Omer blamed the delays on issues such as the need for presidents of Somali states to name candidates for the upper house, agreements with tribal elders in certain regions, and security concerns in parts of the country where the armed group al-Shabaab remains a threat.
Al-Shabaab has increased attacks on military bases across parts of south and central Somalia in recent months and regularly stages assaults in the capital.
“We are fully engaged in working to ensure that more Somalis than ever before can have a say in the future governance of their country,” he said.
Somalia has been at war since 1991. The government said threats from al-Shabaab prevented it from organising a one-person, one-vote election.
Instead, about 14,000 people representing federal states across the nation will choose the new lawmakers.
The outgoing parliament, elected in 2012, was picked by only 135 elders.
Al-Shabaab, which wants to impose strict Islamic law, has called on its followers to kill clan elders, officials and lawmakers taking part in the parliamentary election and to attack polling venues
