Topshop is coming!

It's October! Which can only mean two things: I'm experiencing a sudden and uncontrollable urge for candy corn and Topshop is coming! The it-Brit chain that has inspired a cult following for its stylish and affordable wares is opening its American flagship this month at 478 Broadway in Soho. The store will boast three levels of UK style including Topshop's new high fashion range, Unique; the men's collection, Topman; the much sought after denim collection as well as original designs by London's brightest designers. Looking for the Kate Moss collection? Miss Moss will have her own boutique on the first floor.

What's more, Soho Topshoppers will have access to a VIP suite for high-profile clients, tunes spun by a DJ (the DJ booth hangs from the ceiling) and a candy store. Fashion and candy corn together is my idea of a perfect October.

Check out some looks from Topshop's Fall '08 collection...soon to be seen on New York City streets!
















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South Africa's Nyasha Zimucha For Miss Africa USA 2008

The line up for this year's Miss Africa USA Competition is obviously becoming engaging and the characters quite interesting. 23-year-old Nyasha Zimucha who grew up during the Apartheid era in South Africa knows what it is and as a living witness she learned to forgive and renconcile as did the Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by the Nelson Mandela administration when the curtains of Apartheid fell.

Nyasha, now an activist due to the recent racial attacks in her native land is promoting peace and oneness so xenophobic attacks could be stopped once and for all, and peace could be given a chance. And as Miss South Africa USA 2008, she is definitely using her position to effect that.

Adding to her resume, she is a dancer, a singer, a model and public speaker. She is currently filming a show titled "Little Miss Perfect" about a "celebrity judge on a Pageant show" which airs on WETV in late Fall.

On November 1, at the Clayton County Performance Arts Centre in Jonesboro, Georgia, Nyasha will be joining Esosa Edosomwan (Nigeria), Victoria Njau (Kenya), Daniele Ntahonkiriye (Burundi), Daniele Fochive (Cameroon), Andrea Mvemba (DR Congo), Kristle Simpson (Ghana), Imat Akelo-Opio (Uganda), Tanta Badjan (Gambia), Belloh Julius (Liberia), Mariamma Brown (Senegal), Philippa Lahai Swaray (Sierra Leone), Nathali Zambakari (Sudan) Bita Dioa (Guinea), Aziza Elteib (Ethiopia), Mutinta Suuya(Zambia) and Busi Mlambo (Zimbabwe) in the race for the crown.

Goodluck and I am looking forward to this event.

Go Africa Go!

Photo courtesy of Miss Africa USA

CARTOON: A Government's Oath Of Secrecy

SOURCE: DAILY SUN

News Desk 09-30-08

Nigeria's Community Outreach Improves Polio Immunization Rates

A grassroots mobilization initiative, the Community Participation for Action in the Social Sector, known as COMPASS, a United States Agency for International Development-funded project, is promoting oral polio vaccines and changing long-held suspicions in polio-endemic northern Nigeria. MORE>>>

Nigeria to set up three training centres for shrimp farming

APA - Lagos (Nigeria) The Director of Nigeria’s Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), Mr Shola Armire, Tuesday said that the Nigerian government had concluded arrangements to set up three shrimp centres in Oyo, Ekiti and Adamawa states for training in shrimp farming. MORE>>>

Foreign funds cut Nigeria exposure, impact limited - analysts

LAGOS, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Nigeria's buoyant real economy and strong domestic liquidity will limit the damage caused by hedge funds and portfolio investors pulling money out of the country as the global financial crisis bites, analysts say. MORE>>>

Heels are so last year

Posh Becks once again served it up for the haters at her Macy's perfume launch over the weekend. I can't with her. Some women can't even walk in heels, and this bish is doing point in 5 1/2 inch heel-less latex boots. I have no words. Fierce doesn't do her justice. She even managed to outshine David Beckham, which is no easy task, people.


The oh-so-demure Antonio Berardi originals are custom-made thigh-high PVC boots that retail for £3,300. But Berardi is an old friend of the Beckhams (he made their wedding reception outfits nine years ago) so I'm quite sure Posh got the low low.

You have to admit, the boots are feroshe* but did anyone actually see her walking in them? I have a feeling her handlers pushed her in a wheelchair from location to location and propped her up for the cameras.

Sooo, the question remains: would you throw caution to the wind, damn the haters, and wear these boots?

*ferocious, darling

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News Desk Monday, September 29, 2008

48 Anniversary: Cardinal Arinze urges Nigerians to appreciate God
Cardinal Arinze spoke in an interview with newsmen against the backdrop of the nation’s 48th independence anniversary taking place Wenesday, shortly after arriving the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohanmmed Airport, Lagos, aboard the executive jet owned by the Rivers State government. MORE>>

'Our lady of freedom' leaves church after two years

The first thing Felicia (Ola) Abimbola Akinwalere did with her new-found freedom was to pick up her daughter from school. MORE>>>

At 79, Anderson remains Nigeria’s 'iron lady'

Everything here is for sale. Every price is negotiable. And Joyce Anderson negotiates with the best of them. Whether it’s cabbages or cell phone cards, she knows a fair price and rarely pays a naira (Nigeria’s currency) more than she has to. MORE>>>

OIL FUTURES: Nymex Crude Down As Bailout Vote Defeated

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Losses in crude oil futures deepened Monday as a historic financial bailout was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives. MORE>>><

Cynthia Omorodion Wins Nigeria's Next Top Model

20-year-old Cynthia Omorodion from Edo State, Nigeria, last weekend, was crowned Nigeria's Next Top Model held at the NNSM Dome within the Nigeria Air Officer's Mess, Victoria Island-Lagos. Miss Omorodion takes home along with the crown a brand new Kia Salon car. The contest is in its second year and already pulling weight.

From MyNaija News report by Femi Olubosi:

Five other winners emerged during the contest. Of these, 20-year old Macia Okahi, also from Edo State emerged first. She will represent the country at the Best Model of the World Contest in Turkey next year. Funmilayo Arambambi emerged second, Mojisola Akinsanya came third while Chidinma Blessing and Tolulope Howell camde fourth and fifth respectively. Fourteen-year old Seyi Bamgbose, the youngest contestant, will go for the Miss Teen of the World contest next year.

Photo courtesy of My Naija News

Esosa Edosomwan to represent Nigeria in Miss Africa USA 2008

After working her way through Cornell University College of Human Ecology and majoring in textiles and apparel design, and announced the winner of 2005 Heermans-McCalmon one-set playing contest for her manuscript Vivian X, at Cornell, multi-talented 24-year-old Esosa Edosomwan took her talent to another level. The actress/writer/director with a post-graduate degree in business from Columbia University is not taking any chances and has entered her bid for the Miss Africa USA 2008 contest scheduled to be held on November 1, 2008 at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, Georgia.

So far, the delegates have been made known and hopefully the casting crew and organizers in this year's glamorous Miss Africa USA would be able to go places and collect series of endorsements from high profile designers and top-notch fashion magazines.

It would be indeed welcoming to see African models display their physique on the runways of notable fashion designers, and what that means is that, the organizers of the show should start moving beyond community service and outreach programs in order to lift the models to newer heights for universal coverage.

For Esosa, she has all it takes to be crowned Miss Africa USA. With her academic credentials, dedication, physique and hardwork, she is worthy. On October 10, 2008, she will be joining 'Words of Choice', a non profit theatre group in a performance at Fort Hays State University, KS, 'as a benefit in remembrance of Jana Mackey, a young activist who was murdered earlier this year.' Her resume speaks for itself.

Go Africa Go!

Loss of a Legend: Paul Newman

Sadness. Legendary actor, humanitarian and cat daddy, Paul Newman, lost his battle with cancer over the weekend at age 83. I'm devastated. Somewhere between "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Newman's Own salad dressings and lemonade, and his devotion to liberal politics, I fell madly, deeply in love with Mr. Newman.

Let's take a walk down memory lane...

Rest in peace, darling! The world is a lot less hot without you.


Pictures lovingly swaggerjacked from across the internets

Round one goes to NBC

Soooo, remember how Weinstein Company, the producers of Project Runway, unexpectedly yanked their hit show from NBC-owned Bravo's clutches and up and sold the show to Lifetime? Scandalous!

Well, NBC promised not to go down without a fight, arguing that Weinstein Co. failed to abide by their contractual obligation to give Bravo the right of refusal before shopping the show to other networks. Now, NBC has been granted a preliminary injunction that prevents Weinstein Co. from taking the show to Lifetime.

"NBC Universal is pleased that the court granted our motion for a preliminary injunction against the Weinstein Company," they said in a statement.

Weinstein and nem are, of course, appealing, and in the meantime, Project Runway fans will be getting the shaft. Until the matter is resolved, the show will not air on either network.

Lifetime had already begun production on the sixth cycle of PR, to begin airing in January with Lindsay Lohan as the first guest judge. Now all anyone can do is wait patiently for a judge to sort it out.

Meanwhile, this season's finale airs October 15, perhaps for the last time on Bravo.

News Desk Sunday, September 28, 2008

As Nigerians Look Beyond 48th Independence Anniversary... ‘Our Expectations From Yar’Adua Govt’

Barely three days to the nation’s 48th Indepe-ndence Anniversary on Wednesday, October 1, Nigerians yesterday called for implementation of robust policies capable of making life better for the Nigerian people... MORE>>>

'OIL WAR': How Fresh hostilities in N-Delta were aborted

Clark had got the militants under the aegis of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, which embarked on the 'oil war' because its positions were attacked in the region, to declare the ceasefire last weekend. MORE>>>

JTF Attacks: 'Please, Save Our Souls'

This is the picture the Tombia communities in Rivers State have presented in a petition to the Presidency and the National Assembly on alleged military expedition aimed at flushing out militants in the area. MORE>>>

N/Delta: Real reasons behind militants’ ceasefire

After a week of destructive activities, trailed by a host of dead oil facilities, dead and wounded militants and about 150,000 barrels per day shut-in in the nation's daily crude output, the face of militancy in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared a "unilateral ceasefire" MORE>>>

Buhari’s coup, northern agenda against Ndigbo — Uwechue

Former Presidential Adviser on Conflict Resolutions in Africa, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, has said that General Muhammadu Buhari’s coup of 1983 that toppled the Shagari administration was actually a plot by some northern elements to stop former Vice President Alex Ekwueme MORE>>>

PHOTO OP: Nnenna Agba, Chemist and Model

Yes, we saw this face on national TV a couple of years ago when the Houston born Nnenna Agba who was judged to be the favorite in the sixth edition of America's Next Top Model in 2006 made headlines all around the globe. Still a model, a chemist and proud to have shown motherland Africa that Black is Beautiful. I like your courage!

News Update

Russia warship heads to Africa after pirate attack

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian warship on Friday rushed to intercept a Ukrainian vessel carrying 33 battle tanks and a hoard of ammunition that was seized by pirates off the Horn of Africa — MORE>>>

The start of US fall from world power: Part Two

Last week, the world awoke to a financial crisis that started in the United States and had been unseen in more than 70 years. The question is what is the cause of this crisis? The United States is, after all, the world’s largest economy as well as one of the wealthiest in per capital income terms (above $43,000). MORE>>>

Ericsson to launch mobile Innovation Center in Africa

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) today announced it will establish an Innovation Center in sub-Saharan Africa to develop mobile applications that will benefit society as a whole, but with a special focus on meeting the needs of poor and rural populations. MORE>>>

Anti-malaria funds availed

World Bank President Robert Zoellick said in a statement that the extra money would help "sharply reduce the numbers of malaria-related deaths and illness" in the next three years. MORE>>>

Kenya Moore's "Haitian Nights"

Born in Detroit, Michigan and crowned Miss USA in 1993, Kenya Moore has come a long way doing her thing and excelling in all of her projects. She has a movie coming out sometime next year which is about newlyweds in Haiti being hunted by a voodoo priest to please his daughter. She directed part of the movie and played a significant role in its call sheet with all the excitements at the shooting locale in Haiti. Right now, Moore's hands are just full with TV projects, movie contracts and many other shows.

Editorials Thursday, September 25, 2008

Goje’s HIV status

THE recent declaration of his HIV status by the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Mohammad Goje, is exemplary and a boost to the campaign on a disease that has decimated the population of Nigeria and other countries of the world. [DAILY CHAMPION]

THE ROT IN THE OIL INDUSTRY

IT is common knowledge that the Nigerian oil industry is being wilfully mismanaged.This explains why it is bedevilled by an assortment of problems. The painful aspect of the situation is that the ordinary people are being made to bear the brunt. [NIGERIAN TRIBUNE]

Bad news for our education

The nation’s dwindling fortunes in education has come into sharper focus with the damning report that 51 percent of candidates who sat for this year’s national common entrance examination into the Federal Unity Schools could not meet the cut-off points for their various states [DAILY SUN]

CARTOON: Dele Giwa's Past Plays On

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS

Spike Lee's War Movie

When I first watched Eddie Murphy's 'Berverly Hills Cop' back in the day, and Hollywood film critics and reviews describing it as the biggest non summer release, I had thought nothing could surpass that when it comes to a regular black guy making a movie or becoming a big score in Hollywood.

Lee is a big score without a doubt.

Starting tomorrow 'Miracle at St. Anna,' based on the novel of the same name by James McBride and a dozen other war movies and documentaries later on will be playing at theaters near you. Lee's 'Miracle at St. Anna' is about four American infantry men from the 92 Division of US Army who had arrived a small Italian village where massacre was the order in a total of four battles in its quest against fascism and got caught behind enemy lines during World War II.

Like 'Miracle at St. Anna' and other war movies made in Hollywood over the years with more and more popping up, I had requested in many of my moves in persuading my good friend and filmmaker Pascal Atuma to talk Nigeria's Nollywood into making movies of human events and tragic moments of our time as we will be seeing a whole lot of these movies through the Fall and into Winter.

'Miracle at St. Anna' stars Italian actress Valentina Cervi and Derek Luke and rated R.