Where are these guys?

Only one question. Where are these guys people? Haven't heard from them in years...

Johnny Gill

Ralph Tresvant

Arrested Development

Adina Howard

Keith Sweat

Tevin Campbell

Az Yet

Patra

Diana King

Bryan Adams

Shabba Ranks

Karyn White

Maxi Priest

Anyone know where they are, what they are doing?

Holiday Spots in Africa

I was inspired to do this when a friend (The one who got the 3mil engagement ring) told me she was having her honey moon somewhere in Africa. She's been to Europe severally and wanted to explore Africa...for her honeymoon.

Before I marry any man, I'll ask him, "Where are we going for our honeymoon?" If he says Africa, I'm...

Well moving on...here are some beautiful places you can travel to in Africa..

Kenya
Kenya has some of Africa's most spectacular scenery with volcanoes, lakes, immense grassy plains and a beautiful coastline. If you go between July and September you can see the world's greatest wildlife migration in the Masai Mara. It is somewhere you can meet local Maasai and other tribes if you wish. You can choose the traditional vehicle-based route or the more remote and adventurous fly-in route.


Zambia
The Nyika Plateau which rises to over 8,000ft can provide breathtaking walking and horseback safaris, while Lake Malawi itself has several high quality beach hotels , some set off little islands, where you can enjoy snorkelling, diving, sailing and waterskiing, providing a pleasant few days break after a safari in Zambia perhaps.
At the southern tip of Lake Malawi are the Liwonde wetlands, in some ways resembling the Okavango Delta and from Mvuu Safari Camp you can enjoy boating, walks and game drives by open vehicle, seeing elephant, rhinoceros and antelope, and over 350 species of beautiful birds.
The best time to visit Malawi is from April to the end of October.



Botswana
Phinda is a superb choice as it has so many different types of habitat and a correspondingly wide range of animals with elephant, lion, rhinoceros, antelope, buffalo and leopard all present in good numbers. You can enjoy safaris there by open vehicle, during the day and at night, on foot and by boat, and can even take a light aircraft down to their great deserted beach. The accommodation is sumptuous and you can choose to be on a mountain top or in the heart of the forest.



Indian Ocean

A wonderful luxury Indian Ocean hideaway - to the Seychelles, Zanzibar or a little island off the coast of Mozambique where you can enjoy world class diving, snorkelling, sailing and other watersports.You may like to link your safari with a few days self indulgent relaxation on some idyllic Indian Ocean island.

Namibia

Visit Namibia if you want amazingly varied and fascinating wilderness and desert scenery. Some people self-drive but you see and understand so much more if you have an expert guide. Namibia combines easily with Botswana if you want more animals and a watery contrast, and with Cape Town if you are looking for more conventional comfort. Holiday here will take you to the towering apricot coloured sand dunes at Sossussvlei, the unique Etosha saltpan with its abundant wildlife, the mountainous deserts of Damaraland with their desert adapted elephant and rhinoceros, and the hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast.

South Africa

Cape Town, the winelands and the Garden Route have all the ingredients for the perfect holiday.
Some of the favourites are The Cellars, Lanzerac in the winelands and The Cape Grace in Cape Town. Head along the Garden Route absorbing the fantastic scenic coastline, nature reserves and forests before arriving at the marvellous city of Cape Town where you can enjoy Table Mountain, Robben Island, local markets and the wonderful harbour before heading out to the winelands.
The Cape region has some unforgettable scenic places to visit and spectacular dining.

Kenya

The spectacular pink shimmer of flamingos on the horizon can be found on the the Rift Valley lakes in Kenya.
During certain months of the year the migration of over a million wildebeest, zebra and Thompson's gazelle is found in the Masai Mara. . You might also enjoy a visit to a Masai village or perhaps like to be hosted by Masai at your lodge.

Tanzania
Enjoy a private mobile safari and have your camp set up for you under the baobab trees or near a river, and be looked after by your own cook and safari guides. After exploring the Serengeti you might like to visit the Ngorongoro crater and spend a few nights at a luxury lodge situated on it's rim, or head further south to the Selous and Ruaha National Parks, or west to the Mahale and Katavi mountain regions.

Zambia

For some of the most remote locations in Africa. Zambia is ideal for an adventurous, yet comfortable holiday safari where you can enjoy walking, open vehicle safaris and boating and canoeing on the Zambezi. While safaris in Zambia give you a chance to enjoy a little more walking they are not strenuous. Zambia has some of Africa's best guides and some of the best privately owned small safari camps and lodges.

Botswana

For the ultimate safari combination of big game, stunning scenery, luxury and privacy. A safari in Botswana has so much variety in wildlife and contrasting scenery we recommend a few nights in each area.
The Okavango Delta is the heart of a Botswana safari. Be poled along in your mokoro on the sparkling waterways that create a vast oasis of palm islands and grassland.

To go to any of this places, visit Africa Exclusive Ltd.

Tel: + 44 (0)1604 628 979

Email: enquiries@safari.co.uk.

There is also Obudu Cattle Ranch in Nigeria. That's by far the best place for a holiday in Nigeria Africa...

Been to any great place in Africa that you can recommend to others? Do share please.

Relationship Question!

If your partner threatens to kill you if you ever left them, what would you do?

Share your thoughts.

Top ten causes of death

Top 10 Causes of Death

Someone I know lost her dad two days ago. He had been ill for a long time and his family could not afford the amount he needed to get the operation that would have made him well again. He needed over half a million and after going to friends and other family members for help and realising less than a hundred grand in over 3 months, they gave up on their dad and just waited for the disease to kill him, which it did two days ago.

This got me thinking about how much poverty is killing people in some parts of Africa. Giving up on your father because of N500, 000 sounds painful, but it's some people's reality.

I decided to find out what the top ten causes of death are in the Western world and compare it to the top ten causes of death in Africa.

Here's what I discovered...

Top ten causes of death for high-income countries:
1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lung cancer
4. Lower respiratory infections
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
6. Colon and rectum cancers
7. Alzheimer's disease
8. Type 2 diabetes
9. Breast cancer
10. Stomach cancer


Here is the list for low- and middle-income countries:
1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lower respiratory infections
4. HIV/AIDS
5. Fetus/newborn (perinatal) conditions
6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
7. Diarrhea
8. Tuberculosis
9. Malaria
10. Road traffic accidents

First and foremost I do not know anyone who has died of aids, so I can't talk about that.

Road traffic accidents should have come in the top five (At least for Nigeria). Most people I know who are dead died in one car accident or another. The bad roads, recklessness of drivers and the bad conditions of vehicles are to blame for this.

Top 3 should have included POVERTY.

People get sick and can't afford medical bills...they die
They drink bad water, because they have no access to clean water, they have cholera...they die.
Poor people can't afford mosquito nets, insecticides...they get malaria...they die
They can't afford real expensive hospitals where they'll get the best medical attention, so they go to cheap clinics with unqualified doctors who use them as experiment...they die.

Ignorance also is another cause of death. Ignorance when it comes to health is not synonymous with rich people. Poor people get bitten by an animal, insect, or have an open wound, they ignore it till it kills them or leads to something that kills them eventually.

What other cause of death should be in the top five of causes of death in Africa?

Please share your thoughts.

Naija Gists.

NAFDAC closes Dangote Kano Mills

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, last week shocked a lot of individuals by closing down Kano Flour Mill belonging to the Dangote group. The reason NAFDAC gave for the closure was because Dangote did not fortify it's product Semolina (Danvita) products with Vitamin A. NAFDAC discovered this on Wednesday May 16 during a routine visit to the company.

According to NAFDAC DG Dora Akunyili "Dangote Industries has fraudulently and deceptively claimed to have included Vitamin A in their Danvita Semolina flour through the use eye logo and Vitamin A inscription. NAFDAC views this as a deception and serious sabotage to public health because of the serious health problems associated with Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)

Dangote Industries reaction was..."There has never been any written or verbal request or directive to our Kano plant to commence the fortification of Danvita. Our production staff had used the bags with the 'eye logo' which was supplied in anticipation of the product fortification. The officials were informed that our equipment for the fortification had just been acquired for the Kano plant and would soon be installed. They were also informed that Danvita is not a regular product in our line, but a by-product of about 1percent of our production"

Dora Akunyili replied "Their claim that Danvita is not a regular product and constitute 1percent of their products is an insult on the intelligence of Nigerians. This assertion is also immaterial to the mothers who buy this meal believing that their children are getting Vitamin A for healthier life. Dangote Kano factory simply fraudulently labelled this product to contain Vitamin A when it does not so as to deceive consumers"

The fight continues...God bless NAFDAC for keeping our children safe...

Obiwon Speaks

On winning Nigerian Music award voice of the decade (Still don't agree)

Obiwon: "I never expected to win. I feel like locking my voice in a box"

Konga's Music/Video unbanned.

New music sensation Konga who had his very popular song and video banned some months ago due to it's raw lyrics, got good news some days ago as the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation has unbanned his song and video. NBC says it can go back on air on the condition that he removes certain scenes from the video. Good for him.

Is P Diddy coming to Naija?

That's the question on most people's lips. There's talk that entertainment guru, Osaro Onaiwu, is talking with the agents of P. Diddy to bring him for a concert in Naija. If they reach an agreement, then Nigerians should expect the bad boy king in Naija before the end of the year.

That's one concert I'm definitely not going.

Yinka Davies releases new album

NMA female voice of the decade, Yinka Davies, is set to drop an Album titled 'Black Chiffon'. All you Yinka fans, get ready. I hear the album will be off da chain...I got that right abi? lol

On winning best female voice of the decade

Yinka " I believe this award will put me on the spot and also make me better. I also believe this award will bring another one for me"

P Square's new album

P-Square is about to release another mind blowing album. Those in the know say the album will hit stores towards the end of the year. The new album is said to be made up of 11 tracks. The title of the album is 2000 and US.

When asked why the album is titled 2000 and us, their response was that, since year 2000 when they started releasing albums, it has always been about the P-Square, that is why this album has that title...ok!

A Night with Christopher Bolarinwa

Its about time you are one-on-one with Christopher Bolarinwa Marquis. He shall be in the country and would be meeting with you all at 7pm, on Saturday June 9, 2007, at the FASHION CAFE; 39, Ademola Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Its a FAN's NIGHT and most especially with over 10,000 songs from the 80s! Plus so much more you can take home and what else you would want to remember...

We enjoin you to come with all that can remind us all of the 1980s (clothings, memorabilias, hairdo/wigs, record sleeves, shoes, hats, pictures, etc) as vox-pop would be conducted/filmed for some of you to be on TV with him on his next episodes of unleashthe80s.

The Pass to this event is N3000, but trust us, huge discount awaits you the faithfuls once you produce this e-mail at the gate. It promises to be a Saturday Night Fever!

Kindly call Yinka on 08039202873 for your reservations.Fans outside Lagos, please bear with us. We shall be in your neighbourhood, shortly.So. Ladies and Gentlemen. We look forward to receiving you on the night.

~ See you there ~

Introducing female singing group ~ Ice Four

The latest female singing group in town is called ICE FOUR. Comprising of Sandra, Oyinda, Vera and Sola. Ice Four was discovered and are being managed by Media Solutions and their single which is making waves is called 'Bounce'. Talent and beauty =...? More grease to their elbows lol

Charly Boy apologises to Dele Abiodun

Charly boy and Dele Abiodun

The fight/quarrel between ex-PMAN President Charly Boy and his then deputy, Dele Abiodun is about to become history as the 'wierd one' is making moves to reconcile with his estranged friend. The feud started a few months to the expiration of their tenure over who will succeed Charly as PMAN President, between Dele and Bolaji Rosiji, the latter won. The fight got so bad that they went even went to court..Now Charly is initiating peace talks with Dele...hope they settle.

Why I fought in the plane

Ragga sensation, Marvelous Benjy fought on the plane...read his interview about the fight

Why did you fight in the airline?

MB "It was the fault of the airline. They kept everybody in confusion, some people were fainting. I am an African man. Somebody tore my shirt because I was trying to stop him from making trouble with aircraft officials. I am an African man and I don't think I have the power to control anger. For tearing my clothes, I had to hit him back at least to correct him that next time you don't tear people's clothes"

Didn't you think of your status before fighting?

MB "Sometimes it becomes so hard to control your emotions"

Will you say you regret your action ?

MB "Of course. It gives a different impression about you. People don't want to know what happened, all they want to know is that you fought to resolve an issue, which is not professional"

Please share your thoughts, especially on the NAFDAC/Dangote issue.

Remembering Brenda Fassie

This month marks the 3rd anniversary of African Music legend, Brenda Fassie's death. I am a big fan of her music and thought to remember her on the same month she died three years ago.


Brenda was born on Nov 3 1964 in Langa, Cape Town, South Africa, as the youngest of 9 children. She was named after Brenda Lee, an American country singer. Her father died when she was 2, and with the help of her mother, a pianist, she started earning money by singing for tourists.

In 1981, at the age of 16, she left Cape Town for Soweto, Johannesburg to seek her fortune as a singer. Brenda first joined the group Joy and later became the lead singer for the township pop group Brenda And The Big Dudes. She had a son, Bongani, in 1985 by a fellow Big Dudes musician.

Brenda married ex-convict Nhlanhla Mbambo in 1989 but later in 1991 got divorced. It was around this time that she became addicted to cocaine and her career suffered.

Since 1996 she released several solo albums like "Now Is The Time", "Memeza" and "Nomakanjani?".

Most of her albums became multi-platinum sellers in South Africa.



On the morning of 26 April 2004, Brenda collapsed at her home in Buccleuch and was admitted into the Sunninghill hospital in Johannesburg.

The post-mortem report revealed that she had taken an overdose of cocaine in the night of her collapse, and this was the cause of her coma.

She stopped breathing and suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen.

Brenda died at age 39 on 9 May 2004 in hospital without returning to consciousness after her life support machines were turned off.

She was survived by a son, Bongani

She was voted 17th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.

She has come and gone, but her legacy will always remain with us. Adieu Brenda...we will always love you!

Nigeria's new President and Vice-President + Miss Universe

President - Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was born in Katsina 1951. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria between May 29, 1999 and May 28, 2007 .

Yar'Adua was born into an aristocratic Fulani family in Katsina, his father, a former minister for Lagos during the First Republic, was also the Mutawallen (custodian of the treasury) of the Katsina Emirate.

He started his education at Rafukka Primary School in 1958, and moved to Dutsinma Boarding Primary School in 1962.

He attended Government College, Keffi, from 1965 until 1969, and received a Higher School Certificate from Barewa College in 1971.

Yar'Adua attended Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from 1972 to 1975, attaining a BSc in Education and Chemistry, and then returned in 1978 to achieve M.Sc Degree in Analytical Chemistry.

His first employment was at Holy Child College in Lagos (1975-1976). He later served as a lecturer at the Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria between 1976 and 1979. In 1979 he began working as a lecturer at Katsina Polytechnic, remaining in this position until 1983, when he began working in the corporate sector

During the Second Republic (1979-1983), he was a member of the leftist People's Redemption Party, while his father was briefly the National Vice chairman of the National Party of Nigeria.

He contested the governorship election of Katsina state under the banner of the Social Democratic Party, but lost to Saidu Barda, an ally of President Ibrahim Babangida.

In 1999, he ran for the same position and won.

In 2000, during his administration as governor, Katsina became the fifth northern Nigerian state to adopt sharia, or Islamic law.

He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian general election of 2007, held on April 21, was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Vice-President - Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was born in 1957. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours in Zoology with a Second class (HONS) Upper division, an M.Sc. in Hydrobiology/Fisheries biology and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Zoology from University of Port Harcourt respectively

He was governor of Bayelsa State between 9 December 2005 and 28 May 2007 .

Jonathan replaced Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was impeached by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom.

In December 2006, Jonathan was selected as vice presidential running mate to Umaru Yar'Adua for the ruling PDP presidential ticket in the April 2007 elections.

He was sworn in as the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007 .

He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Miss Universe 2007 Pageant

Miss Universe held yesterday May 28th and surprising an Asian woman won...a Beautiful Asian woman...Miss Japan

Miss Japan, Riyo Mori, as MISS UNIVERSE 2007

The judging panel for the 2007 Miss Universe Pageant included....

NBC's "Heroes" James Kyson Lee

NBC's "Deal or No Deal" briefcase model Lindsay Clubine

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo

Rocker Dave Navarro

World and Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan

Fashion designer Marc Bouwer

Novela Star Mauricio Islas

"Project Runway" judge and Elle magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, and

Former Miss Universes Dayanara Torres (1993) and Christiane Martel (1953).

Throughout the two-hour event, contestants from 77 countries around the world competed in three categories: swimsuit; evening gown; and personality interview.

Miss Photogenic - Ana Theresa Licaros - Philippines

Miss Congeniality - Ningning Zhang - China

Top 5

Honey LeeKorea
Ly JonaitisVenezuela
Natalie GuimaresBrazil
Rachel Smith US
Riyo MoriJapan

Prize for the winner
The new MISS UNIVERSE will be crowned with a custom diamond and pearl crown designed by MIKIMOTO, valued at $250,000.
A year-long salary as MISS UNIVERSE.
Personal appearance wardrobe.
A New York City apartment for the year of her reign including living expenses.
Official MISS UNIVERSE pearl tiara, valued at $20,000 from Mikimoto.
A swimsuit wardrobe from BSC Swimwear Thailand.
A year's worth of hair care products and tools from Farouk Systems.
A custom designed wardroe by Tadashi.
A two-year scholarship from The NY Film Academy in New York City valued at up to $100,000.
Ritmo Mundo Jumbo Jet Mystery Dial time piece valued at $30,000.
A shoe wardrobe from Nina.
A national and international multi-media advertising campaign and a complete denim wardrobe from YMI Jeanswear.
A trophy from Rogaska Crystal.
Personal services including a year-long membership to Gravity Fitness and year-long pampering at New York City's John Barrett Salon.
Modeling portfolio by leading New York City fashion photographer Fadil Berisha.
Casting opportunities and professional representation by the Miss Universe Organization.
Extensive travel opportunities with a personal travel manager representing sponsors and charitable partners.
Access to various New York City events including movie premiers and screenings, Broadway shows and launch parties.
Consultation with stylist Billie Causieestko and access to an event wardrobe from leading fashion designers.
Professional public relations media training.
Professional media/public relations representation by Rubenstein Public Relations and Planet PR in New York City.
Year-long dermatology and skin services provided by Dr. Cheryl Thellman-Karcher.

Send me your comments...