A WEEKEND OF AFRICAN FESTIVE NETWORKING CELEBRATIONS

ON FRIDAY THE 19TH OF DECEMBER, TrueAfrican Heritage AND THE AFRICAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE NETWORK ORGANISED THE AFRICAN NETWORKING PARTY HOSTED BY YOUR ONE AND ONLY Rukayat Aderewa Basaru AKA ADEBEAUTY LOVE

KEY SPEAKERS AT THE EVENT WERE MR Dark Zac – THE FOUNDER OFZIMLINK SUPPORTED BY Nasilele PRwriter Ailola AND Simba Chioto(ZIMLINK SENIOR MANAGERS) , QUALIFIED LAWYER AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR Arit Henry-Essien ,
PERFORMANCES ON THE NIGHT WERE BY Real O’Rael,, Jen Titi-Lola Da Sweetnezz AND Deoba Authentic WHO SENT EVERYONE ON THEIR FEET WITH SOME BREATHTAKING PERFORMANCES- WATCH OUT FOR THESE THREE AMAZING ARTISTS
THE AMAZING Abdulkareem Idris WAS ALSO PRESENT TO PROVIDE SOME LOVELY PHOTO FOOTAGE
THE EVENING WAS SENSATIONAL – THUMBS UP TO Rukayat Aderewa Basaru, WHO HAS A NATURAL PASSION AND DRIVE FOR NETWORKING, COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.

Recently awarded three (3) Lifetime Achievement awards by IAA, UKAA and HUHO, Pauline Long is a Kenyan born UK based entrepreneur, philanthropist, fashion designer, mentor, motivational/Public speaker, writer, Music video director/producer, writer and TV and radio presenter.

She has been appointed Universal Peace Federation Ambassador for peace globally.

Pauline Long’s positive role modelling has also earned her the highest African Recognition Honour and Heroic Award, alongside Her Excellency The President of Malawi, Joyce Banda.

A firm believer in the power of passing on the torch and wisdom, she is the founder of “Pauline Long Empowerment and Mentorship Club” where she pairs mentors with mentees. Pauline Long has personally mentored many young people in the UK, something very close to her heart.

Through her dedicated service professionally, she has been recognised as one of eleven inspirational women in Europe listed on Black Women in Europe Power list and African Woman of the year in UK.

Pauline Long is also the founder of Europe’s biggest award ceremony for black and ethnic personalities in entertainment, film, fashion, television and arts (BEFFTA) which celebrates and promotes the achievements of a very talented and hard-working community often over looked in entertainment, film, fashion, television and arts in USA, Africa, Canada and the Caribbean.

Some high profile personalities honoured at BEFFTA Awards include veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, US producer and director Tyler Perry, Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and many more.

A wonderful mother and wife, Pauline Long’s huge passion for giving back to children and the youth has led her to found the “Mr. and Miss East Africa UK” to encourage entrepreneurship through pageants among East Africans in the UK, while working closely with their counterpart (East African) children’s charities.

The unquenchable passion for giving back to humanity has again led Pauline, to establish a “FEED THE STREET” children programme through The Shout Campaign solely funded by her. She has mobilised a dedicated team of personnel embarking on regular monthly exercises to feed street children in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania through this initiative with the main goal of eventually taking these children off the streets.

Pauline Long also serves as a Patron and Ambassador of Melqosh Mission, a charity supporting amputees in Sierra Leone.
She is also a firm believer in uniting communities as a result she was appointed ambassador of Africa Nations Cup UK uniting all 53 countries represented in the UK.

Her prime focus among others in running their family business “East End Studios” (one of London’s biggest independently owned film and TV studios next door to Olympics village and home to UK’s and US biggest mainstream stars like Professor Green, Chipmunk, Wretch 32, Wiley, Starboy Nathan,Kelis, Azealia Banks etc.), has been to open doors especially for unsigned talented artists whom she personally support and mentor.

She is also a fashion designer with a label Pauline Long collection with a column on Europe’s biggest African-Caribbean newspaper “The Afro News”.

Pauline Long’s award-winning daytime global TV talk show “THE PAULINE LONG SHOW” (on SKY CHANNEL182 in UK also streaming live online at www.bentelevision.com) is being used by her as a platform to promote community projects, good causes and highlight on people empowerment.

Amazingly, with over 35 community awards for her service to the community Pauline Long continues to support several international and UK African/Caribbean projects and charities including, Ambassador for African International Achievers Awards, Ambassador for the SHAI FOUNDATION Christian charity that educates orphans in Haiti, Ambassador of Betty Makoni’s (Face of CNN Heroine) Global Charity “Girl Child Network Worldwide; a charity that campaigns and supports girls who have been raped and abused women. She serves as an executive member of board of advisor of Women of African Origin Music Industry (WAOMM). She is the patron of Dublin African Film Festival. She is also ambassador for African Youth Achievers Awards, ambassador for UK Kenyan Achievers Awards. She is matron for VOICE OF HOPE WOMEN FOUNDATION. Global Ambassador for The Global Visionary Women Network. She is also Universal Peace Federation(UPF) ambassador for peace. She is patron for Migrant Disability Network. She is the patron for the charity AOS which advocated for abused women and children in Malawi, Africa.

Pauline Long is also the face and ambassador for the UK National billboard campaign for PROJECT EMBRACE – I AM ENOUGH. It is a campaign encouraging the lack youth to embrace their natural beauty and ambassador for International Women Of Power organisation

They Created an Imagery,

And Called it the Land of Hope,

They told us that the world might be filled with many orchids,

But there was only one Big Apple,

And that even if the earth was divided into several seas,

There was only one Sailor

For decades we watched,

As they imposed their songs upon the regions of our shores,

As if we were all dressed in the routine of …

One Voice

One Language

One Music

And who made you King over kings?

What makes you think that all soups taste the same?

And when you look closely,

The Emperor walks around all day,

With his trousers unzipped

Eager to teach the world how to dance,

But with No idea of the music that governs nations

But here we are today

In a world were polluted bullets,

invade the substance of new ideas

And crush the chosen minds

Meet Multi-Award Winning African Entrepreneur: Melody Okwuazu (M Fidel).

Melody as he is widely known has today not only become an inspiration to his fellow African youths but also to adults. The multi-talented Okwuazu aka M Fidel is a performing artist, entrepreneur, movie producer and CEO Miss Exclusive International with its franchise globally, among others.

M Fidel, hails from Abbi, Ndokwa West local government area of Delta State, and has impacted positively on many youths, he is the founder and chief executive of “The Incredible Production (TIP)”, an entertainment and media business specializing in harnessing youth talent and energy in music, dance, performing arts and entertainment generally. The company is also involved in media and event marketing, product branding, artistes’ promotion and the positive projection of Nigeria culture nationally and internationally.

Though the company is relatively young in business, he has built a respectable reputation and a credible clientele base. He has engaged and still engaging in a number of projects that are defining his position in the entertainment business in Nigeria. The company which he founded in 2010 when he was just 19 is essentially involved in media and events marketing, product branding, and artiste promotion.

Little wonder, his company arms “We All Got Talent” was founded in 2012. It is a talent search that goes outside tradition urban centres to discover talent in rural areas focused on ages 5 – 22. The company provides training and support to discovered talent and creates brands for some of them, which it then promotes to the mainstream market. Still burning with passion to help the youths, in 2012 established “Swag According To Gospel” which is an event that combines music, dance, comedy, and symposium to capture young people on the streets, campuses, and the Christian community and transfer purpose driven life skills to them.

Moreover, he created “Cinematianment 3 (Lagos Edition)” (2012), another project that featured acts in film, music, dance, and fashion at the Metro Park, Lagos showcasing such outstanding young talents such as Morachi, Yemi Alade, Flowssickk, Cartiar, Pheroshuz, D’tunes, Olele Beats, and Doray.The company directed, and hosted “Show Your Swag” (2012) in collaboration with a up-and-coming entertainers, DJs, radio, and television stations. The event was billed as ‘the biggest club concert ever in Benin City’.

Since its launch in October 2012 his company’s media brand, TIP-TV has been engaged in more than 20 events nationally and internationally. The Incredible Production also owns the “Miss Exclusive Nigeria Pageant” which is designed to encourage young women in pursuit of excellence in education, scientific research, business and entrepreneurship, practical skills acquisition and personal development generally.

Filled with consummate enthusiasm to succeed, Okwuazu is not only involved in corporate company projects but also in other personal ones. For instance, he is the Producer/Director/Anchor of the K Boy Album Listening Party. During 2010 World Cup, MTN Nigeria commissioned him as the MC of its MTN Viewing Center. He was a Dance Instructor and Dancer in Andrea Haenggi’s (USA) first ever Nigeria Dance video alongside celebrity dancers such as Ijodee, Chukwuma Onye, Ice Nweke, etc.
As an entrepreneur, he believes that the principles of successful entrepreneurship are the same but are basically ‘commonsensical’.

AWARDS:
The Future Award Africa 2013” finalist: The Future Award Prize in Business.

Nigeria Youth Merit Award 2013: Most Outstanding Youth in Idea and Innovation.

Top35-Under35CEO Awards 2013: Under35CEO Most Promising Young Entrepreneur. http://goo.gl/qkP9QT

Tush Awards 2012: Most Outstanding Youth Entertainment Promoter.
Obafemi Awolowo University 2012: BlackNBold Recognition Award as Outstanding Entertainment Promoter.

Nigeria Youth Merit Awards 2011” reciept: Most Outstanding Youth in Business & Entrepreneurship.
Etc.

HIS CURRENT PROJECTS:
Taste The Money Business Grant/Prize Give-Away – July through August.
Miss Exclusive Nigeria 2014 – September 2014.
Miss Exclusive Ghana 2014
Miss Exclusive Sierraleone 2014, among others.

CONTACT:
Tweet @fidelworld

THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FOR THE TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION 2015 IS NOW OPEN FOR POETS AND WRITERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

THE COMPETITION IS SPONSORED BY Tony Tokunbo Fernandez, TO ENCOURAGE THE ART OF WRITING AMONG VARIOUS NEW AND UPCOMING POETS AND WRITERS ACROSS TO GLOBE AND TO PROMOTE THEIR WORK ON LITERARY INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, ONLINE MAGAZINES, , BLOGS AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

HOW TO ENTER COMPETITION

Sheep

Are you of a gregarious nature?

Do you love to be with the herd?

Or are you a free thinker?

Unafraid to stand out from the crowd…

Don’t move silently with the pack,

An opinion of your own you will lack.

Must you have a leader, and be told what to do?

Don’t you fear in doing so, you’ll lose the essence of you?

We’re all innately fearful of the unknown…

It’s easy to let the panic set in,

Everything your leader tells you, you start to believe in.

Making you anxious to express your own opinion.

Unless you stand up and be counted,

You’ll never amount to much.

Don’t let the mob drowned your self-defence,

Find your voice, and shout it loud from the roof tops!

Say these words, out loud,

I will not be a sheep and led down the wide path.

I will take the narrow route and here is where I’ll start…

To know myself, what I believe and paint the streets with my ART!

No longer will I lurk…

In the shadows of my group,

Only speaking when or what they speak,

Despite KNOWING the TRUTH.

I’ve let go of my gullible ways,

I’ll follow you no longer.

You only want to force me down,

A path of desperation and hunger.

From now on I’ll be my own boss.

I don’t need you all to hold my hand,

And lead me in the direction of…

The unpromised land.

Ill now forever depend on me and those whom I can trust,

I’m me, I rock, and I am no longer LOST.

WRITTEN BY JEN TITI-LOLA DA SWEETNEZZ

She was born 7:13, or has the clock read 1913
The doctor said she wasn’t the easiest birth
But she was born to be free, huh the irony
With a name as beautiful as a single rose in the park
That spark of hope in the dark
This is the story of Rosa parks

First December, Montgomery
A date and a place to remember
But she said “I never done this for you to remember me”
Well sorry Rosa your act of bravery will always be in our memories
An AA, no alcoholic, she was drunk of the essence off time
She felt laws preventing desegregation was a crime
So Jim crow be aware
Numbered is your time

After a long day of sewing, she weren’t prepared to cloak her feelings
So this seamstress seemed stress
The real shame was, the fact she was on a bus was seen as a progress
Cause she remembers when she was young, and had to walk to school
While the white kids had the bus driver as a personal chauffeur
And she kept walking (and kept walking) x3
Even doe Plessy fought Jackson in 1896
Which made us (separate but equal) x2
Hmm didn’t know segregation had its loopholes
But hay what do I know
Yet, loophole or no loophole, it was still a step forward
And just goes to show how we can all move forward, literally in this
case,
If just one person takes action
No one progresses as a coward

She wasn’t the first of her kind
A suffering African American
Nah, but she wasn’t the first of those too
I’m talking bout a revolutionist
Caused a revolutionary
It was fate that decided
That it will be her name that will be put down in history
But lets no forget the others
No caped crusaders
But their names and efforts seem to be covered in a shroud of mystery
1944 Jackie Robinson
Sarah Keys and Irene Morgan
Not to say their efforts where not important
But you need to understand that Rosa’s involvements in the fight for
black rights
Before this event was not dormant
And active member for the advancement of coloured people
Its weird, how colour can make some see others as feeble
Colour made some see others as lesser people
But on this day, this lady proved colour meant nothing
When it came to being equal

Now let me take you back 1955
Same year, just a couple months back
15-year-old Claudette Colvin also fought back
She also believed black was not just a throw back
So she stood up for her rights by also refusing to stand up for a white
But she was still a baby
But this foetus grew
Ate of the hate that was gave
Drank the piss take that the whites told them to behave
If you ask me it was a late birth
So don’t watch black time
You never complained when our freedom was delayed
But still
Time was ticking and the clocks where spinning
Like the veins on a windmill
Tick, tock, tick, then suddenly
The ice cracked and water broke
And labour was induced by the death of Emmett Till
It took some time but finally
Yes, December 1st 1955 a baby was born
Rosa parks, a mother, a mother of freedom
The mother of the freedom movement
As if she was married to the cause
She was the First lady of civil rights
As if a spokesman for the monarchy she gave the king a say
And he gave us he’s dream
And this gave us hope
Gave us strength
And in turn, gave us freedom
And there, my friends, black or white
I give you, the story of Rosa parks
A quiet protest that screamed freedom

Written by Mr Dauda Ladejobi

Poet of the Year 2014 – Tony Tokunbo Fernandez National Poetry Competition for UK Residents