Monday, 7 January 2013

Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA)

Africa Movie Academy Awards

Since its inception in 2005, AMAA (Africa Movie Academy Awards) has established itself as the most prestigious and glamorous awards celebrating film making on the continent. The gala event, which is televised live around the world, attracts Hollywood celebrities alongside their African counterparts, as well as African politicians and media.

Today, African films serve as a link for Africans in the Diaspora with Africans at home. These films have the potential to serve as a shared collective experience, a reminder that Africa is a vibrant continent filled with colour, energy and possibility.

“There is this great awareness of the possibilities in Africa. This has been an exciting year for African cinema as many big budget productions have been produced on the continent and distribution is becoming more accessible to African films,” says AMAA Founder and CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe.

AMAA 2013 call for entries


The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) is calling for feature length films, shorts and documentary entries for its 2013 edition which will be held in April in Nigeria.

Only films produced, premiered and or released between December 2011 and November 2012 are eligible. Features may not exceed 120 minutes and shorts should not be longer than 40 minutes.



Thursday, 3 January 2013

Psychic Predictions for 2013

Insights span such diverse categories as politics, fashion and health



Can Blair Robertson see into the future? His successful forecasts of coming events seem to prove he can.

His past predictions include the Japanese 8.9 earthquake and tsunami, Whitney Houston’s death, sinking of the Costa Concordia, the train fire in India, William and Kate’s pregnancy, accurately predicting the Oscars, and more.

“I call it ‘time projected empathy,’ where I imagine myself reading the headlines in the future,” says Robertson. “I remember the future.”

2013 is looking to be an eventful year, according to Robertson, who has put together his annual predictions.



Blair Robertson Predictions 2013
  • I predict a boxer will be killed in the ring (or die shortly thereafter) within the year.
  • I predict a famous boxing legend will pass this year.
  • I predict that Rihanna and Chris Brown will get engaged.
  • I predict it will be revealed Vice President Joe Biden has been under medical care for senile dementia. I predicted his ailment back in 2012.
  • 2013 will see the passing of a number of former world heads of state as well as their spouses.
  • Japan and China tensions will greatly escalate in the spring.
  • Watch for news of a propane tank explosion on the east coast of the US that destroys a “complex.”
  • I predict another very large earthquake for Japan and subsequent tsunami within 60 days. I pray I am wrong.
  • I predict fewer tornadoes for the USA, but those that do hit will be much more devastating in their power. A possible large one for western Ontario in late April.
  • I predict generally bad weather for the southeast and a hurricane that makes landfall in Florida this fall.
  • I predict unusual levels of volcanic activity around the Pacific Rim, particularly mid 2013.
  • Watch for news of mine disaster in China within 3 months. Many deaths.
  • Fashion tragedy: I predict the return of mesh shirts for men.
  • Worldwide, I predict we will see more mysterious mass bird deaths and tens of thousands of fish washing up on shore throughout the year. Conspiracy theories will abound.
  • I predict a breast cancer breakthrough.
  • I predict there will be an unusual amount of people reporting that their diabetes has disappeared. I don’t know if this is a “breakthrough,” but it will puzzle the medical profession.
  • I’m seeing an animal removed from the endangered species list this year. I hope it is for a positive reason.
  • I’m seeing a massive space collision or accident affecting satellites and communications.
  • I predict the next doomsday “fad” will be Solar Flares.
  • I predict that the world will not end in 2013. I stake my professional reputation on that. If wrong, I will stop issuing predictions.


Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Pantone Reveals Colour of the Year for 2013: PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald

Radiant, jewel-toned Emerald promotes balance and harmony


Pantone LLC, an X-Rite company and the global authority on colour and provider of professional colour standards for the design industries, announced PANTONE® 17-5641 Emerald, a lively, radiant, lush green, as the Colour of the Year for 2013.
Photo:  Business Wire

The 2012 Colour of the Year, PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango, a spirited, reddish orange, provided the energy boost we needed to recharge and move forward. Emerald, a vivid, verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony.
Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the colour of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. It’s also the colour of growth, renewal and prosperity - no other colour conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.
“Green is the most abundant hue in nature - the human eye sees more green than any other colour in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute®. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”
Emerald for Fashion
The prevalence of green has been steadily rising for several seasons, especially in the fashion and couture markets, and even on the red carpet. Appropriate for every occasion, Emerald’s classic elegance makes for striking and irresistible women’s formal and everyday wear as well as accessories. Emerald also makes a strong statement in men’s sportswear, knitwear and ties. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Colour Report Spring 2013, including Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Barbara Tfank, NAHM and Marimekko, are incorporating Emerald into their spring collections. Balanced yet sophisticated, Emerald enlivens all colours in the spectrum and will continue to make a statement beyond spring and summer into fall and winter.
Emerald for Beauty
Equally harmonious on the cosmetic colour wheel, Emerald dramatises all eye colours as it beautifully enhances green eyes, is compatible to blue eyes, emphasizes the green undertone in hazel eyes and intensifies brown eyes to make them appear deeper. Emerald is also a perfect complement to peaches, pinks, roses, ruby reds and aubergines - offering a variety of lipstick and blush options. For those who want to sparkle and stand out, Emerald is the perfect punctuation point in nail colour because of its complementary nature.
Sephora and Pantone proudly announce the SEPHORA + PANTONE UNIVERSE™ 2013 Colour of the Year beauty collection featuring PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, which will be available exclusively at Sephora in March 2013. Sharing a strong passion for how colour can transform a face, mood or even an attitude, Sephora and Pantone continue to change how consumers wear, feel and think about colour through the second annual radiant and modern Colour of the Year beauty collection.
“At Sephora, we pride ourselves on giving our clients first access to what’s on trend – whether that’s a colour, a formula or an ingredient story. With the 2013 Colour of the Year collection, we achieve all of the above and we couldn’t have a better partner than Pantone,” said Margarita Arriagada, senior vice president of merchandising for Sephora.
The limited edition 2013 Colour of the Year beauty collection features a variety of products in Emerald, including eye shadow, nail polish and accessories, and will be available at Sephora stores across the US, Sephora inside JCP and Sephora.com.
Photo: Business Wire

Emerald for Interiors
Enhance your sense of well-being at home by rejuvenating the interior with Emerald paint, accents and accessories. This jewel-like hue will create a luxurious feel in an entryway, powder room, dining room or study, and bring life to a living room as an accent wall. Add a splash of colour to the kitchen and dining room areas with Emerald dinnerware, stemware and appliances.
About the PANTONE Colour of the Year
The Colour of the Year selection is a very thoughtful process. To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for colour influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, travelling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact colour, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.
For more than a decade, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. Past colours include:
  • PANTONE 17-1463 Tangerine Tango (2012)
  • PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle (2011)
  • PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise (2010)
  • PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa (2009)
  • PANTONE 18-3943 Blue Iris (2008)
  • PANTONE 19-1557 Chili Pepper (2007)
  • PANTONE 13-1106 Sand Dollar (2006)
  • PANTONE 15-5217 Blue Turquoise (2005)
  • PANTONE 17-1456 Tigerlily (2004)
  • PANTONE 14-4811 Aqua Sky (2003)
  • PANTONE 19-1664 True Red (2002)
  • PANTONE 17-2031 Fuchsia Rose (2001)
  • PANTONE 15-4020 Cerulean (2000)

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Young Environmental Journalist Award Africa


In 2013, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) will be launching the 3rd edition of the Young Environmental Journalist Award (YEJA).This is a contest for African journalists from 21 to 35 years and aims to recognise accurate, innovative and inspiring reporting on the environment. 

United Nations Environment Programme

The award is sponsored by the US State Department, and the winner receives a two- to three-week study tour in the US as part of his/her prize. Entries are limited to young African journalists who are based in Africa and working for local, regional or international media organisations. Freelance journalists are also welcome to apply. Print, online, radio and television journalists from any African country may apply. 

Open call for entries begin in February 2013. To learn more, go to www.unep.org/yeja. For more detailed information, please email yeja.africa@unep.org.

Sunday, 25 November 2012

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign




The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute co-ordinated by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates 25 November - International Day Against Violence Against Women - and 10 December - International Human Rights Day - in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. 

For the 13th year, South Africa is taking part in the global 16 Days of Activism Campaign. South Africa is still home to high levels of violence against its women and children, despite a world-renowned Constitution and a legislative overhaul that safeguards women's and children's rights. 

16 Days of Activism Campaign - Afrikaans
16 Days of Activism Campaign - Xhosa

The government, business, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and the media are all participating in the drive to increase awareness of the negative impact of violence and abuse on women and children.

The 2012 16 Days Campaign will continue with the global theme: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women! 

Friday, 23 November 2012

Lifetime Achievement Prize for Media Development in Africa

The Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) announced this week that it will bestow a Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize (LAAP) for Media Development in Africa to the Executive Chairman of MultiChoice South Africa Group Holdings, Nolo Letele. Nolo has steered the group through a number of important achievements, notably interactive television, the dual view decoder and the personal video recorder. The prize will be awarded to him during a ceremony to be held at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya on 15 December 2012.

Nolo Letele, Executive Chairman, MultiChoice South Africa Holdings

The Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize is awarded to individuals who have selflessly devoted themselves to bring about change in the lives of Africans within the last decade. Change that impacts communities and that significantly enhances the lives of the people for a better future.

Other 2012 LAAP recipients are the late President of Ghana, Profession John Mills for Peace, Democratic Governance and Development; Mohammed El Baradei of Egypt for Scientific Research in Africa; Dr Mohammed Ibrahim from Sudan for Action for Africa and the President of Uganda, HE Yoweri Museveni for National Building and African Leadership.

Past recipients of the Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize include Desmond Tutu and Cyril Ramaphosa from South Africa; Dr Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations; James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank in the USA and Wole Soyinka (Nobel Laureate) for Literature.

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Mr World 2012 - Mr South Africa


Who will claim the title as the world’s most desirable man? Mr World 2012 will be held on Saturday, 24 November 2012 in Kent, England.

Mr World - South Africa, Andrew Govender (Pic: Kevin Mark Pass)

Mr World - South Africa, Andrew Govender, resides in Johannesburg, SA, and is a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand. He uses his degree in Actuarial Science as an Actuarial Analyst, but is also pursuing a career in modelling and acting.

Modelling since the age of 16, Andrew sees a future in television presenting and acting. He is a sports enthusiast that enjoys cricket, soccer, hiking & SCUBA diving, and he has a pet parrot!

Other Mister World African contestants:
Mr World - Equatorial Guinea, Ntutumu Clemente
Mr World - Ethiopia, Munir Ali
Mr World - Nigeria, Chuks Obichukwu