Bonang secures a deal with Revlon

Much respect goes out to the incredible, Bonang Matheba. She is by far the biggest celebrity in South Africa. She’s done it all, radio, TV, web, print. Brands continue to use her to grow their respective brands and in turn, the Bonang brand continues to grow bigger, better and brighter. It’s incredible to watch such a young, talented woman score all these major deals and accolades and the latest one she can add to her name is with beauty house Revlon. Matheba was named as the South African ambassador yesterday, joining the likes of Halle Berry, Emma Stone and Olivia Wilde.

Big up to Matheba! See the full press release below:

Big Brother Mzansi coming in 2014

Are you a fan of the reality show, Big Brother? Have you always wanted to be apart of it? Well if you’re in SA, you’ll be stoked to know that you will have a shot next year. Mzansi Magic will produce another local version of the hit show next year. It’s called Big Brother Mzansi and it’s set to get going in January 2014. Details below:

Google+ Hangout with BBA’s Koketso and LK4

Big Brother The Chase housemates, Koketso and LK4 were booted out of the reality contest last night. The two housemates appeared to have a blossoming romance in Africa’s most watched house, but now that the Big Brother contest is over, what’s in store for them both? I got to Hangout with them earlier to find out more. Check out this Google Hangout with Koketso:

What will Uganda’s LK4 be getting up to now? Watch this to find out:

Related articles

• BBA The Chase Update: Goodbye Uganda! LK4 Evicted Alongside Koketso (vgbbouizteam.wordpress.com)
• #BBATheChase Evictions: Lovers, Koketso and LK4 kicked out! (msmediacreationsite.wordpress.com)
• Big Brother Africa update: Koketso and LK4 sent home (diarraeg.wordpress.com)

Hanging Out with BBA’s Huddah and Denzel

Yesterday I tested out Google’s Hangout On Air. I, together with my colleagues, got to chat to the Big Brother The Chase housemates, who were evicted on Sunday evening. Check out our interview with Huddah and Denzel below:

 

 

Big Brother Africa – The Chase housemate profiles

The new season of Big Brother Africa is here. This season has been dubbed The Chase, so expect drama, romance and lots of courting. I got to meet all 28 last night, minutes before they went into the house and let’s be honest there are a couple of good looking housemates in this group. The dudes are quite athletic, fit and shit and the girls are hot city! So it should be a good season. Want to know more about this year’s housemates? Check out their profile’s below:

ANGOLA

Biguesas

Age: 29

 

Bank worker and student Biguesas from Luanda, is single, and doesn’t have any children. He describes himself as “handsome, intelligent, extroverted, always playing and talkative”. He values sincerity in others and says that those close to him at home are very excited to see him on the show.

 

If he wins the grand prize, he’ll share some of the money with his family, donate some, pay for university and buy a house. He’s also excited by the prospect of fame, as he’s always wanted to be a TV presenter.

 

He says his favourite actors are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and his favourite films are 8 Mile and Salt. He likes watching Mixed Martial Arts and World Wrestling Entertainment on TV and his favourite foods are ‘pap’, hamburgers and fries. Biguesas says the best thing about Africa is the fauna & flora and that his favourite place outside of Angola is Pretoria in South Africa, where he spent 3 years at high school.

 

Biguesas says he is proud to be finishing University soon, a first within his family of 9 siblings.

 

Neyll

Age: 32

 

Neyll is currently studying at university, is single and works as an IT Productivity coach. He has a daughter and is from Luanda. He describes himself as “fun, entertaining, unforgettable, intense and unique”.

 

His favourite food is prawn cocktail, he loves watching Big Brother and The Voice and enjoys the music of Craig David and Michael Jackson. His favourite actor is Tom Cruise, because he identifies with him. No surprise then, that one of his favourite movies is Mission Impossible!

 

His favourite place in Angola is Mussulo Island because it’s a nice place to have fun and be with family and friends. Neyll says the best thing about Africa is its strong culture that can’t be compared to any other. His role model is his father because he was the person who inspired him and taught him to be a man.

 

Neyll entered Big Brother to be on TV. He loves the Live Show and says he knows how to play the game. He also thinks it’ll be a great opportunity to meet new people and share ideas and cultures. He says viewers can expect surprises from him and get the chance to see the real Neyll. If he wins the big prize, he’ll give some money to charity and help his family.

President Obama heading to SA

American President, Barack Obama and the First Lady will be heading out to the African continent next month. They will be traveling to South Africa, Tanzania and Senegal from the 26th of June to the 3rd of July.  Read the full statement of the trip below:

“President Obama and the First Lady look forward to traveling to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania from June 26 – July 3.  The President will reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders.

The President will meet with a wide array of leaders from government, business, and civil society, including youth, to discuss our strategic partnerships on bilateral and global issues.  The trip will underscore the President’s commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity.”

I got to see Michelle Obama back in 2011, while she was out here for some work. She was graceful and lovely, everything we expected. I’m sure he’ll be as charming when he heads here too. Looking forward to it.

For more info you can check out the White House website.

You can also follow all the latest tweets from the US Embassy Pretoria: @USEmbPretoria.

It’s Snoop Lion weekend in SA

You’ll know by now that Snoop Lion is jetting into Durban in the next day or so. This is ahead of Saturday’s MTV Africa All Stars concert, which is taking place at the People’s Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium. I’m heading down on Saturday to hopefully catch Snoop on camera, as well as some of the other acts. Side note, I’m happy the Durbanites are getting a concert for once.. I know y’all often feel left out, so here’s to making you happy*

And with that, I can let those of you in Cape Town and in Jozi know that Snoop will be in your hood too. He’ll be out at the Ellis Park Arena on Sunday evening, followed by a concern at the Grand Area GrandWest on the 21^st. AKA and Jack Parow will be the support acts for ‘the Lion’.

Tickets Available at: www.computicket.com:

Johannesburg 19 May –Ellis Park Arena:

·         Golden Circle R650

·         Regular seated and standing R350

Loving Snoop Lion’s new album

Firstly, welcome to May 2013. Man oh man, this year is flying. I’ve got a lot of things I need to do before we wrap up the first half of the year… I’m sure you do too, so get it going.

Right, back to the post. I’ve been listening to Snoop Lion‘s new material, Reincarnated. It’s not a typical Snoop album, you know the hip-hop vibe. Instead Snoop has taken it to Jamaica, explored his spiritual Rastafarian side and his reggae side. Let me tell you, it’s good. I’m downloaded a few of the tracks from the album off iTunes and I’m getting ready to complete the album. Check out the interview above. It’s great and will give you a better understanding about where Snoop is in his life and what’s next for Snoop.

Snoop is heading out to SA later this month to take back in the MTV Base Africa All Stars. He’ll be headlining the show, but there are a whole host of other massive names sharing the stage with Snoop including Fally Ipupa, Professor, 2Face, Zakes Bantwini and many many more. They’ll be in KwaZulu-Natal, so be sure to get your tickets from computicket.com

Hanging with Nicole Fox in Lagos, Nigeria

HANNES DANZFUSS, hair & make-up: LYN KENNEDY

When I hear the name or read about Nicole Fox (or Mansour now) I think about the larger than life radio and TV personality. She rocked the early mornings on national station, 5FM for a number of years before cracking the big time in the evenings. She became a household name in the country and everyone loved her.

On a personal note she (next to only three others) is the reason why I do what I do. She studied at Rhodes University; she worked on the station I’ve always longed to work for and she became a well-known and respected entertainer in the local industry. So you must imagine how bummed I was to hear that she was moving on a few years ago, but like much in life change is a guarantee and it’s often for the best – and for Nicole it was exactly that. After getting married, the star and her hubby packed their bags and headed up to Lagos, Nigeria to begin their new chapter. Fast track almost five years later (already) and the star is still rocking it up in one of Africa’s busiest cities.

While I was up in Lagos, I got to sit down with Fox to find out more about her exciting adventure up in West Africa.

JVB: Nicole welcome to JVB Online. Let’s get straight to it, tell me about the last five years and this crazy adventure of yours:

Nicole Fox: First of all I can’t believe it’s nearly five years in May. It’s been such an adventure. It’s been totally exciting. It’s been a complete diversion in my life. I never would’ve guessed that this would’ve happened to me, but then again I did make the choice and it has been absolutely the right thing for me. It has been crazy, it’s been frustrating. I’ve so many challenges of the stupidest things. I have learned a lot and I’ve grown as a person. I’ve had a great time.

JVB: How best would you describe Lagos?

Nicole Fox: Lagos is a bustling, heaving, throbbing, crazy city. Its none stop and someone kind of described it well. It’s like an assault on your senses. It’s noisy, it’s smelly, it’s bright it’s hot it’s humid. The elements are pretty harsh, but for that reason alone it’s crazy. Totally chaos but yet it operates on its own system and once you figure that system out, man you move and you shake.

JVB:I’ve just used the term “just now”. When last did you hear that?

Nicole Fox:  (Laughs) You’re not going to believe this but I actually caught my husband saying now-now recently. “Ja, I’ll come and do it now now” and I was like what? I thought to myself I have totally converted you man.  It only took four or five years (laughs). He’s an honorary South African now.

HANNES DANZFUSS, hair & make-up: LYN KENNEDY

JVB: Tell me a little more about your current projects…

Nicole Fox: Well basically my current project first and foremost is my family. So that is what this chapter in my life is all about. I was quite clear that that is what I wanted, that was my priority to create a family. So my number one priority is my son Deen, who is now thirteen months old. He’s the light of my life, he’s just amazing and my husband and I have such a blast with him. He’s so cool, so much fun and we’re absolutely loving it.

Hear more from Fox and what she has to say about being a mom and also what she’s working on.

JVB: You head home as often as you can but there must be a few things you really miss about SA?

Nicole Fox: What do I miss most about South Africa? First and foremost it would have to be family and friends. It such a cliché answer but when you’re away from them you really miss them. Number two would have to be oh my gosh, it’s so beautiful. I miss the trees, the beautiful weather, the blue skies, the Gauteng sunset and the thundershowers. Oh I miss it so much. And then of course I have to say I miss Woolworths (laughs).

JVB: What do you miss specifically?

Nicole Fox: Everything. I miss being able to walk into a store and have quality products available like that. I really miss rusks. I cannot buy buttermilk here. A friend of mine recently decided to conduct an experiment and posted a Tupperware of homemade rusks from Cape Town. He took my address and we thought that’s it. It would never reach. Twenty days later it arrived at my door. Can you believe it?  Needless to say I scoffed all of them in its entirety in two days. Deen loves rusks (laughs).

JVB: It’s only five hours to Lagos from Johannesburg. If anyone is heading up to the city, what three could they do when they come to Lagos?

Nicole Fox: Coming to Lagos I would say that the number one thing you should do is to arrange on a Sunday a day out to the beach.  A day out at the beach is just amazing. There are untouched beaches, palm trees everywhere. It’s beautiful and an absolute must-do. So chat to your hotel, your guest services about doing that. The other for tourists to do would be a visit to Leki Market, which is a wonderfully huge market with lots of West African crafts, trinkets, beautiful textiles, beads – and it’s all negotiable. The one thing you have to learn in Lagos is to negotiate.

Click here to hear more

The other thing about Lagos is it functions very much by word of mouth. You really need to speak to people, ask them where to go because there are gems but you have to find them.  So don’t take it

Can’t get enough of Nicole Fox? Keep up to date with her by following her on Twitter: @OnlyNicoleFox.

We hope she’ll be back in the country soon, doing what she does best . We want that voice on radio again

Watch: Blayze ft Fruity – Freeze & Pose

Cool video out of South Africa. This one is by singer/ rapper Blaze and it features someone by the name of Fruity. Funky track, nicely done.