Big Brother starts in May
M-Net Africa has
announced that the sixth season of its reality show, ‘Big Brother
Africa’, would commence on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Tagged ‘Big Brother
Amplified’, the show will run for 91 days and attracts a grand prize of
$200, 000.
M-Net’s Director,
Biola Alabi, attempted an explanation of the theme this way on its
website. ‘‘By definition, amplified means to increase the volume, to
make louder, to make more powerful. And that’s exactly what we want to
do with season six. To take the elements that audiences find so
fantastic and present them in a refreshing new way while adding big
surprises and entertaining twists. Amplified is such a well-known pop
culture term and Big Brother has definitely become a pop culture
success. So the name fits perfectly.” Alabi added that, “We received an
unprecedented amount of entries this year. It’s been truly phenomenal,
with almost 7000 written entries received from across the continent and
countless more people attending the ‘last chance’ open auditions. We’ve
had people from all walks of life from very different backgrounds with
completely different aspirations …all take this one opportunity to
enter Big Brother. It’s really heartening to see that if anything, the
show is going from strength to strength.” Created and produced for
M-Net by Endemol South Africa, the series will be hosted by Nigerian
presenter, IK Osakioduwa.
Blink releases new single
Upcoming rapper,
Blink has released a new single titled ‘Jet To Lagos’ off his ‘World Is
Small’ debut album. The song which premiered online features ‘Change ur
Parade’ crooner, Lynxxx. The artist raps on his trip back to Lagos from
Atlanta in ‘Jet To Lagos’.
Born Nelson Agose,
Blink will release the full album later this month. ‘World Is Small’ is
a 15 tracker that cuts through hip-hop, Afro-beat, and RnB. It tells of
his experiences with music, culture, race, religion, education, sex,
and nationality which he says helped him grow.
Shakira helps rebuild quake-hit Haiti girls school
Colombian pop star,
Shakira, pledged $400,000 on Thursday to help rebuild a school for
girls in Haiti that was severely damaged during the country’s
devastating earthquake last year.
The Grammy award
winner and songwriter announced the contribution during a visit to the
Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, where she danced and sang with
students of the Elie Dubois public school. “I’m convinced the key to
achieve a dignified future for the Haitian people is through
education,” Shakira said. The students sang her World Cup hit “Waka
Waka” The star was accompanied by the head of the Inter-American
Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno. The Washington-based
multilateral lender plans to match Shakira’s contribution in the school
rebuilding effort. The school, housed in a nearly 100-year-old
building, suffered significant damage during Haiti’s January 12, 2010
earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people in one of the world’s
poorest states.
More than a year
later, its walls and ceilings show huge cracks that have forced more
than 200 students to study in a nearby building.
Local officials said they hope classes can resume at the school in October.
“I’d like to say to
the girls that this is an enormous opportunity that life is offering
you — education,” Shakira said. “So make the most of it because I’m
sure you can achieve any of your dreams.”
Aniston, Moore to direct short films on breast cancer
Actresses Jennifer
Aniston ,Demi Moore and singer Alicia Keys will each direct a short
film about breast cancer and its impact on people’s lives for cable
television network, Lifetime.
‘Friends’
co-creator, Marta Kauffman, is overseeing the collection of five short
films called ‘Project Five’, the TV network said on Tuesday. This is
the first time she and Aniston have worked together since the sitcom
‘Friends’ ended in 2004. Aniston, Keys and Moore will each direct a
short movie, as will filmmaker Patty Jenkins, who made the 2003 crime
drama ‘Monster’. A fifth director will be chosen later.
Kauffman supervised
a team of writers that came up with five stories that use humour and
drama to show the effects of breast cancer on women’s relationships and
how they perceive themselves, said Lifetime Networks.
The collection of five short films, slated to air sometime this year, will be produced by Sony Pictures Television.
