The Derby Telegraph’s Wedding Spectacular takes place on Sunday March 30, offering a feast of ideas to people planning to tie the knot.

Organiser Stephanie Brown said: “This weekend’s wedding show is destined to be one of the best ones ever. We have an amazing variety of exhibitors, showcasing everything from fabulous venues, flowers, bridal and menswear to wedding cars, music and magic.

“We even have a talented young Derby-based bridalwear designer with us who can make unique made-to-measure gowns.”

Designer Chipo Sibotshiwe, 27, will be at the event with her business.

Chipo, 27, who originates from Zimbabwe, but has lived in Derby for 11 years, aired her first bridal collection, Dressed For Love, at The Enterprise Centre, Bridge Street, Derby, on Thursday.

The designer, whose parents moved with her to the UK to aid her fashion career, has seen her business blossom in the last five years.

She said: “I was commissioned to design an evening dress worn at the Miss World 2009 pageant by the contestant from Zimbabwe at the finals held in South Africa.

“The following year my collection opened the first ever Zimbabwe Fashion Week and then I debuted at African Fashion Week London in 2011.

“Since November 2012, I have been working with the Princes Trust to progress my business. They have been fantastic.”

Chipo, who studied for a BA (Hons) degree in design at New College, Nottingham, offers made-to-measure style for the ultimate fit.

Bridal fashion has always been at the heart of her plans, hence her debut bridal collection launched this week.

Chipo said: “The concept of Thursday’s event (was) to create a diverse environment to introduce the new collection.

“There (was) a fusion of bridal fashion and African percussion from the amazing Arimba Arts band. It represented the diverse nature of our brand. Expect something completely different.

“I’m looking forward to Sunday’s wedding fair too and hope to see lots of people there.”

Chipo will be on hand to chat to brides to be about bespoke wedding dresses. “People often struggle to get the fit they want which is where I can help,” she said.

Chipo Bespoke provides a dress design service with prices from £150. It can also arrange for a unique print to be designed to make your dress even more special. Derbytelegraph.co.uk

The minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Engineer Walter Mzembi has been unanimously re-elected by African countries as the Chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Regional Commission for Africa (CAF). Mzembi’s re-election was endorsed in the 57th meeting of the CAF which was presided over by the UNWTO Secretary General Dr Taleb Rifai.

The 57th Commission for Africa meeting was part of the agenda of the on-going 21st session of the UNWTO General Assembly being held in Medellin, Colombia.

Addressing the meeting on his CAF report, Mzembi, who has been given a fresh mandate to lead the continent for the next two years, challenged African countries to continue working together and collaborate effectively for the elimination of all ills that continue to negatively affect the brand equity of the continent. To this end, the CAF Chairman made a clarion call to source markets to remove travel advisories that discourage travel to Africa saying this reduces potential revenue to the concerned countries.

“It is safe to visit African countries, including those that were affected by diseases like ebola. I wish to call upon those source markets that issued negative travel advisories to remove them to allow smooth growth of tourism and economic recovery of the concerned countries”, he said.

The latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer for the first half of the 2015 shows that Africa’s international tourist numbers in this half declined by an estimated 6% as a consequence of the decrease in arrivals to North Africa (-7%) as well as sub-Saharan Africa (-5%) amid security concerns and the ebola contagion effect. Some of the tragic incidents on the continent includes unrest and terror attacks in Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia and South Africa where there were xenophobia attacks.

Minister Mzembi also bemoaned the intolerable carnage of wildlife mainly through poaching. He said this was being amplified by trade in wildlife products across Africa that has become a menace to the growth of tourism and sustainable management of natural resources in Africa.

“We need to take measures that enhance sustainable management of our natural resources for posterity. The most pressing issues we are grappling with today are high levels of wildlife poaching, environmental degradation and illegal trade in wildlife products. I fully support efforts to mobilize the entire global tourism industry and lead the international anti-poaching coalition to deal with the problem. We need to harness the work of conservation organizations and create synergies that enhance sustainable management, conservation, preservation and ultimately leverage on our natural assets to improve economic value accruing from our biodiversity to improve the lives of our communities in Africa,” said Minister Mzembi.

Commenting on Zimbabwe’s re-election the deputy chairperson of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority board Mr James Muzangaza said it’s a clear brand endorsement for a country that was recently awarded with an African rising destination award. “We are pleased with this development as it makes the job of the ZTA much easier. Zimbabwe brand in Africa is becoming more popular and it’s a stepping stone for both the person of the Minister and the destination Zimbabwe to achieve more at international level,” said Muzangaza.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are the current co- President of the UNWTO General Assembly since the time Victoria Falls and Livingstone hosted the event in 2013. The two countries are set to hand over the Presidency to Colombia at the end this General Assembly.

Two Zimbabwean journalists are among the finalists for this year’s 20th CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.
Publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe Liz Dziva said, “The inclusion Zimbabwean journalists was a landmark occasion and excitement would mount closer to the date of the awards ceremony in the hope of one of them winning the overall trophy as the continent’s top journalist for 2015.”
Ruth Butaumocho of The Herald and Boldwill Hungwe of the Zimbabwe Independent will be invited to attend the awards ceremony in Kenya in October.
This year the competition received entries from 39 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africans.
Below is the list of the finalists and their respective nationalities;

Ruth Butaumocho, The Herald, Zimbabwe
Boldwill Hungwe, Zimbabwe Independent, Zimbabwe
Fiifi Essilfie Anaman, Freelance for zonalsports.com, Ghana
Benedicta Asiimwe, Freelance for Daily Monitor, Uganda
Femi Asu, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
Domingos Bento, redeangola.info, Angola
Thomas Naadi Bitlegma, Viasat1, Ghana
Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Freelance for West Africa Democracy Radio, Senegal

Ibrahima Diallo, Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS), Senegal
Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, tribuneonlineng.com, Nigeria
Chahinaz Samir Gheith, Freelance for Al-Ahram Hebdo, Egypt
Carla Gonçalves, A Nação, Cape Verde

Ibanga Isine, Premium Times Newspaper, Nigeria
Paul Kelemba, Freelance for The Standard on Saturday, Kenya
Deo Gratias Tchédé Kindoho, Radio Bénin, Benin
Julie Laurenz & Jacqueline Jayamaha, Freelance for e.tv, South Africa
Petride Mudoola, Freelance for Sunday Vision, Uganda
Abubakari Akida Mussa, Mtanzania Newspaper, Tanzania
Pedro Paxi Pereira Ndoma, TV Zimbo, Angola
George Oduor Otieno, Baraka FM, Kenya
Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou, L’Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso
Enock Sikolia & Charles Kariuki, NTV, Kenya
Arison Tamfu, Cameroon Journal, Cameroon
Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, Blogger at ktravula.com, Nigeria
Arukaino Umukoro, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique
Herman Verwey, Beeld, South Africa
Kiundu Waweru, The Standard on Saturday, Kenya
Sarah Wild, Mail & Guardian, South Africa

The independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa, includes Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria; Nima Elbagir, Senior International Correspondent, CNN; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions ; Fernando Gonçalves, Editor, Savana, Mozambique; Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism, University of the Witwatersrand; Joel Kibazo, Director of Communications and External Relations, African Development Bank Group; Amadou Mahtar Ba, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, AllAfrica Global Media; Wanja Njuguna, Senior Lecturer, Polytechnic of Namibia & CNN Journalist of the year 2000; José Sebastião Paulo, Professor of Journalism, University Agostinho Neto, Angola; and, David Ohito, Digital Editor, The Standard Media Group, Kenya.
The competition is supported by A24 Media, African Development Bank, Dow, Ecobank, GE, IPP Media and MSD.
The finalists will enjoy an all-expenses-paid four-day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Nairobi, culminating in a Gala Awards Ceremony and winners from previous years will join this year’s finalists for a special evening to celebrate 20 years of the awards.

Ms Dziva said: “Feedback from the judging panel was that the quality and depth of entries was testimony to the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards position as the most prestigious accolades in journalism in Africa.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe has been delighted to once again be associated with these prestigious awards that give respect to the work done by journalists across the African continent. We are joining all MultiChoice management and staff across the continent in congratulating all the finalists on their achievements and look forward to celebrating with the winners in Nairobi in October.”

Gathering more than 900 delegates from 120 countries, including over 70 Ministers and Secretaries of State for Tourism, the 21st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly opened in Medellín Colombia on 14 September 2015 in the presence of President Juan Manuel Santos.

In his opening speech, President Santos emphasized Colombia’s vast tourism offer and the country’s commitment to share it with the world in a sustainable manner: “We give tremendous importance to tourism in our development plans and in our economy. The participants gathered here today know more than anyone how tourism can boost countries and be an agent of social transformation. In Colombia, so much so, that tourism now is our second largest source of foreign exchange, surpassed only by oil. Indeed, with falling prices on oil and coal, we are looking to replace the income from these smokestack industries with more environmentally friendly ones, such as tourism”.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who greeted the participants in a video message, welcomed the Assembly theme – ‘fostering inclusive development and social transformation’ – and stressed that “As one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the world economy, tourism makes vital contributions to employment generation, poverty reduction, women empowerment, environmental preservation and peace building. He added that looking ahead he will count on the sector’s full involvement in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals which include, for the first time ever, targets related to sustainable tourism.

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, praised Colombia’s commitment to tourism as well as the country’s remarkable transformation into one of the America´s fastest growing tourism destinations, Mr. Rifai underscored how tourism, alongside its economic weight, also has the power to generate significant social benefits: “Only those that understand the connection between tourism and peace can appreciate the real value of travel and tourism”, said Mr. Rifai.

Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) highlighted the close relationship between tourism and air transport: “In 2014, some 53% of tourists travel by air to reach their international destinations. We must recognize the important fact that divergent policies for air transport and tourism ultimately hinder economic development”.

Walter Mzembi, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality of Zimbabwe and co-chair of the 20th UNWTO General Assembly, called upon the Assembly to “emerge from Medellín with a greater resolve on how to protect our sector from all forms of threats and confirm it as a diplomatic bridge that connects people to people”.

The recently formed Models against Hunger organisation members paid a visit to Epworth on Sunday where they visited several households donating clothing and groceries to the needy.
Led by Rose Chigwida and Mercy Mushaninga and the models left their comfort zones to go and witness a totally different lifestyle from theirs to begin the fight against hunger in poor communities.
“A week before this day we drove around the area identifying needy orphans who are home-based, we decided to focus on them since the children in orphanages are catered for while these ones are unknown to the world,” said Mercy.
Their first stop was at a 60 year old widow who lives with her ten year old grandson who was abandoned when he was a toddler.
The boy Simba who was knitting a scarf with dirty wool using lollipop sticks as knitting needles told the models about how they could not afford to pay his $23 school fees.
The two live in a shack which is made from metal, fabric, cardboard boxes and plastics and they sleep on the floor.
Simba’s face gloomed when he was handed some sweets and even the widow who sounded hopeless was left a happy woman for she confessed that she did not where she was going to get her next meal.
The models also managed to visit five minor kids who were abandoned by their parents while the eldest is working at a nearby farm where he earns $30.
A 13 year old girl and her uncle were left with tears of joy as well as a blind widow and her orphaned grandchild.
The models portrayed what they love discussing about during beauty pageants, on this mission male models outnumbered the ladies but were happy that their mission was accomplished and promised that it will be a regular act.

Momo King of Brazil were selected as the bes tInternational performers at the Harare International Carnival 2015. Below is the list of then rest of the winners.
1.Cultural Groups Category
Winner – Zhandukunyandu
Winner – Intombi Zomqangala
Ist Runner Up- Dzikwa Trust Senior

2. Contemporary Category
Winner- Zimbabwe College of Music
1st Runner Up- Diamond People MAS & Kweseka Makishi
2nd Runner Up – Orators

3.International Category
Winner – Brazil
1st Runner Up- South Africa
2nd Runner Up- Egypt

4. Drum Majorettes
Winner- Zengeza High 1
1st runner Up- High Fields High
2nd Runner Up- Girls High

5. Junior Category
Winner – Dzikwa Trust
1st Runner Up- Avondale Primary School
2nd Runner Up- Girls High

6. Best Overall
Dzikwa Trust

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa has announced that the Nigerian music legend D’Banj and South African entertainment superstar Pearl Thusi will host Lip Sync Battle Africa the first localised format of the multi-platform, pop-culture phenomenon to air on the continent.

Pearl Thusi will serve as all around host and “master of ceremonies”, while “Koko Master” and “Oliver Twist” star D’Banj will step up as the “colour commentator”, adding his lively observations to the proceedings.

Lip Sync Battle Africa will premiere in April 2016 on MTV (DStv channel 130), MTV Base (DStv channel 322,)
The critically acclaimed and award-nominated Lip Sync Battle, originally created for Spike, features celebrities going head-to-head, lip-syncing the song of their choice, battling for the coolest bragging rights on the planet.

Pearl Thusi commented, “Lip Sync Battle is such an incredible social, cultural and media sensation, I am so excited to be a part of bringing it to African audiences.”

Added D’Banj, “It’s an honour and a privilege to be hosting Lip Sync Battle Africa. I’m excited, willing and ready to entertain the continent on such a great platform. I am looking forward to seeing how well my fellow celebrities battle each other and entertain the world.”

Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, VIMN Africa, commented, “We are thrilled to translate this global hit franchise to Africa for the first time. With huge personalities such as D’Banj and Pearl Thusi at the helm, Lip Sync Battle Africa cannot fail to emulate the success of the franchise in the United States, and spin-offs in other territories such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Chile.”

Dillon Khan, Head of MTV & VH1, Africa, said, “With great chemistry between our hosts and a fantastic line-up of contestants from across the cultural spectrum, Lip Sync Battle Africa is guaranteed to capture the attention and affection of our audience in Africa. Whether you are 15 or 55 years old, you’ll be “lip syncing” in the car, with your friends, or in the shower. We hope and expect that people will take to social media and tag each other to start battling each other with #LSBChallenge.”

Keshni Rajoo, Head of Local Productions at e.tv, said: “Pearl Thusi and D’Banj are the perfect combination of hosts for Lip Sync Battle Africa. The high-energy format of the show will be complimented by the two hosts who are massive stars of the entertainment industry on the African continent. Our home-grown talent will be given the opportunity to show off their lip sync skills alongside some of the biggest names in Africa. e.tv is proud to be a partner of Lip Sync Battle Africa and we cannot wait to see Pearl Thusi and D’Banj on e.tv screens.”

In 2015 the popular students’ Eutelsat poster and essay award was scooped by a Zimbabwean student and for the second time around Mallon Marume of Mutare Boys High School is on his way to Paris after beating kids from around the continent.
Miss Liz Dziva of Multichoice Zimbabwe in her comment was proud to mention that the prize came back to Zimbabwe thanks to the initiators Liz Dziva Communications for promoting science and technology in African students.
Mallon was presented his prize at a ceremony which was attended by the regional director of education Edward Shumba.
The awards did not only end with Mallon, but were also presented at national level.
The winner of the poster category at country level was Mallon Marume, while the runner-up at this level was Steve Matondo of Hartzell High School Mutare.
Winner of the essay category at country level, Tanaka Khondowe of Hellenic Academy in Harare, while the runner-up at this level was Beverley Saungweme of Hartzell High School also in Mutare.
Mutare Boys High School received a satellite dish, television, DStv decoder and a smart card enabling viewing of the DStv education bouquet, as a result of Mallon Marume’s achievement.
In his remarks Mr Shumba said, “The concept and execution of the is worthy of commendation and emulation and I extend my personal encouragement to everyone involved for its continued roll-out and to seeing more Zimbabweans taking a central position on the winners’ podium.”

Diff’rent Strokes’ was one of the most successful and popular sitcoms in the late 70s and 80s on television featuring famous late star Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges and Dana Plato.
The three child stars’ fame and fortune is revealed in Behind the camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff’rent Strokes which airs on DStv Channel 138.
The story is neither cute, pretty nor funny as both Coleman and Bridges reveal in the film, giving their sides of the story.
“Show business”, said Coleman, “didn’t ground me up, but I am well chewed.”
Coleman sued his parents and manager for blowing his multimillion dollar trust fund and later filed for bankruptcy after the end of the series.
As for Bridges he jumped into drugs leading to repeated arrests and charges of different other crimes.
Dana Plato who does not appear in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff’rent Strokes also had a share of an unhappy ever after ending.
In 1991 she was arrested for robbing a store with a toy gun and also served time in jail for forging Valium prescriptions in 1992, she died of a drug overdose in 1999.
Coleman died of an epidural hermatoma at the age of 42 after the making of Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff’rent Strokes.
Coleman will always be remembered for his famous line, ‘What you talkin’ about, Willis?’
Diff’rent Strokes’ focused on two black kids from Harlem, Arnold Jackson and older brother Willis, who are welcomed into the family of wealthy New York businessman Philip Drummond and his daughter when their mother, his housekeeper, passes away.
Catch Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Diff’rent Strokes on True Movies Channel 138 on Tuesday March 29 at 2045 hrs.

Zee World, channel 166 on DSTv and channel 25 on GOTv will be introducing a new reality show titled ‘Love… look what you made me do!’from Sunday May 15 2016 at 1900 hrs.
Love…look what you made me do!, deals with love and just how crazy things can get when a relationship doesn’t work out.
It promises the viewers from snapping out of the fantasy world that romantic movies take them to witness what happens in real life and the beauty of it.

The audience were taken by surprise when a brand new unpopular Masa took the microphone and out came a strong melodious voice.
She was the last act at the Beat Goes on concert which featured Eve Kawadza, Emilia Patrick and Masa.
The floor had already been heated up by non stop music by Eve and Emilia, everyone in the Alliance Francaise auditorium was in a jovial mood.
But at the same time they did not know what to expect from this Masa and some where contemplating on leaving, this did not discourage her from dishing out what she had prepared for the night.
She did six songs and kept her audience on their feet, one lady commented that her voice was world class material not to be hidden.
For some she sounded like Zahara, she was then joined by Eve and Emilia for their combined last act and made sure everyone left happy.
The showbiz world should lookout for this new songbird called Masa.

The Trumpet Africa Gospel Music Awards (TAGMA), which is aimed at honouring Gospel music artists in Africa and the diaspora will be held at the Pretoria State Theatre on 29 May.
The popular gospel TV show Morning Praise which is hosted by the vibrant youth, Tim Hogo on ZBC is up for the best tv program category.
Rev Chivaviro was nominated in two categories competing with Bonnie Deuschle on the best collaboration category.
The Get Lifted program on ZiFM is also among the best radio program nominees.
“As we approach the 29th, we are ready to receive ambassadors of Gospel music from all African countries and to celebrate not only the musical achievements but Africa month too,” said TAGMA founder Zanele Mbokazi.
Rev Chivaviro, Tshwane Gospel Choir (RSA), Benjamin (RSA), James Okon (Nigeria), Mabongi Mabaso (RSA), Mahalia (RSA), Joe Mettle (Ghana), Enkay (Nigeria), Daddy Owen (Kenya),Uche (Nigeria),Shongwe & Khuphuka ( Swaziland) have already confirmed their attendance.

BEST GOSPEL TV PROGRAMME
CROSS OVER 101 (KENYA)
JUST GOSPEL (BOTSWANA)
THE TRAIN URBAN GOSPEL (NAMIBIA)
MORNING PRAISE (ZIMBABWE)

BEST GOSPEL RADIO PROGRAMME
GET LIFTED – ZI FM (ZIMBABWE)
GOSPEL SUNDAY – MILELE FM (KENYA)
VUKA MPHEFUMULO WAMI -VOC (SWAZILAND)

BEST GOSPEL COLLABORATION
WUMI and VICTIZZLE (DANCE FOR YOU) NIGERIA,
BONNIE DEUSCHLE AND THE (CELEBRATION CHOIR) ZIMBABWE,
BENACHI FT. KABERERE(MWANAK) KENYA
TOGGY CHIVAVIRO AND FRIENDS, (EBENEZER) ZIMBABWE

TRUMPET AFRICA GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS – NOMINEES LIST
TRUMPET AFRICA BEST GOSPEL SONG
WAHAMBA NATHI – SOLLY (SOUTH AFRICA)
MY GOD IS GOODO – UCHE (NIGERIA)
NOBODY CAN SAY NO – SAMMY OKPOSO (NIGERIA)

TRUMPET AFRICA BEST GOSPEL ARTIST
SONNIE BADU (GHANA)
YVAN SAMUEL MAURO (BENIN)
REBECCA MALOPE (SOUTH AFRICA)
UCHE (NIGERIA)

ONLINE GOSPEL RADIO
PRAISEWORLD – NIGERIA
HOPE 93.3 – KENYA, Ghana Christian Radio – Ghana
Radio Christian Voice 105.3 FM (Zambia)

FEMALE GOSPEL ARTIST
REBECCA MALOPE (SOUTH AFRICA)
PATRICIA KING (NIGERIA)
GLORIA (KENYA)
ISABELLA (UK)

MALE GOSPEL ARTIST
SAMMY OKPONSO (NIGERIA)
JOE METTLE (GHANA)
SONNIE BADU (GHANA)
YVAN SAMUEL MAURO (BENIN)

BEST GOSPEL GROUP
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR, (SOUTH AFRICA),
AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST (RWANDA),
NEWLIFE AMBASSADORS (KENYA),
AFRICA GOSPEL SINGERS (BURUNDI)

BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
BENJAMIN DUBE, SANCTIFIED IN HIS PRESENCE (SOUTH AFRICA)
UCHE THE GLORY EXPERIENCE/ LIVE IN HOUTSON, (NIGERIA)
SAUN P CHANNEL OF BLESSINGS (SOUTH AFRICA)
ONOS BRISIBI JEHOVA EBENEZER (NIGERIA)

BEST GOSPEL EVENT
EXPERIENCE (NIGERIA)
GROOVE (KENYA)
CROSSOVER SERVICE (UGANDA)
UNITY OIL THANKSGIVING (KOMASI-GHANA)
SALT

MOMENT OF DELIVERANCE – RADIO CHRISTIAN VOICE (ZAMBIA)
ONLINE GOSPEL PLATFORM
LOYISO –OPEN BOOK (CLIFFCENTRAL)
GATEWAY ONLINE NEWS (SOUTH AFRICA)
JOHN SHABANI.BLOGSPOT.COM (TANZANIA)
GOSPEL HOT SPOT (NIGERIA)

GOSPEL RAP/HIPHOP
MAWAT (SOUTH AFRICA)
BAHATI (KENYA)
RIZEN RIZON (ZAMBIA)
DADDY OWEN (KENYA)
BEST PRAISE SONG
NANCY – MULWELE (ZAMBIA)
TUMAINI CHOIR –ARUSHA AKUNA MUNGU HAMA WEWE (TANZANIA)
SCHEKINA – ADORONS JESUS (IVORY COAST COURTE DE VOIR)
GAE’L – MEDLEY (CONGO – KINSHASA)
BEST WORSHIP
SAMMIE OKPOSO NIGERIA
MAHALIA – HOLY IS OUR GOD (SOUTH AFRICA)
SIFANISO – YOU ARE WORTHY (SOUTH AFRICA)
SINACH – THE NAME OF JESUS (NIGERIA)

It was a hyped up, fun-filled day at the DSTV Multi Choice head office in South Africa, as fox brought one of the most anticipated and loved shows in the world, ‘Empire’, to Africa . The Empire South African Tour 2016 saw the coming of Taraji P Henson better known as Cookie from the show, and Terrance Howard, who plays Lucius Lyon.
Addressing hundreds of people in Randburg South Africa, Taraji (Cookie) expressed how delighted and excited she was coming through to Africa for the first time. Terrence (Lucius) also expressed how thrilled he was with the overwhelming love, shown by their fans in South Africa.
The two powerful leads from Empire exposed their deep feelings for the show, their characters and the great chemistry between the both of them on and off set.
“I have grown to respect every black African woman through “Cookie”, she’s been through a lot and she still stands out and fights for her family. I see her as a role model to all the black African woman and the African girl child” said Taraji .
Terrance shared some of Lucius’ memorable moments with his family and also took time to tell the crowd how he enjoys playing the most hated man–Lucius.
“Lucius is one focused, principled, ambitious man who strives to reach his goal despite people’s might judgment of him…and that’s the true African spirit. I played Muhammad Ali in a movie and I remember having a chit chat with the late Great Legend, and he said ‘as humans we were created in God’s image hence let’s not be afraid of anything, dream big then anticipate to reach your goal’ and that I will never forget because it’s so true ” added Terrance.
It was an emotional moment for the two stars and their fans. Aka rocked with a stage performance. The multi award winning SA Hip Hop artist performed his hit singles ‘All Eyes on Me’ and ‘Baddest’ from his album ‘Levels’.
The ‘Empire’ promised fireworks in season 3 and also hinted that they will be new faces.