This Is It makes $20m in one day

The Michael Jackson concert documentary This Is It earned $20.1m (£12.1m) at worldwide box offices in its first day, the studio that made the film has said.

The movie, which is based on rehearsal footage for the star's ill-fated comeback shows, was premiered around the world on Tuesday.

Steve Elzer from Sony Pictures said the movie is a "reaffirmation of the global appeal of Michael Jackson".

The film made $7.4m (£4,4m) in the US and $2m (£1.2m) in the UK.


Oscar nomination

"The studio believes that the worldwide launch, with very strong performance across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia, represents an amazing beginning for the film," Mr Elzer said in a statement.

He has also revealed that the studio will submit the movie to the Academy Awards for consideration this year in the best picture category.

To be a contender for Oscar shortlisting, the film must complete a seven-day run in Los Angeles County and film-makers would need to "submit the proper paperwork," Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger said.

Director Kenny Ortega said the late star "deserves" to win an Oscar.
Jermaine Jackson attended the LA premiere




Jackson's brothers attended the film's screening in LA on Tuesday and simultaneous premieres were held in 18 other cities around the world.

The movie was then released to cinemas on Wednesday for a two-week run only.

However, Sony has said the movie will be extended beyond its planned stint if ticket demand is high.

The movie, which runs to nearly two hours, features Jackson singing and dancing to his biggest hits, including Beat It, Black or White and Man in the Mirror.

Jackson, who died on 25 June aged 50, had spent the previous four months rehearsing in LA for the record 50 concerts which were to be held in London.

More than 800,000 tickets had been sold for the concerts, with organisers promising one of the "most expensive and technically advanced" live shows ever.

He was just two weeks away from the opening night at the time of his death.

By the weekend, it will be shown in 110 countries.

Madonna to launch construction of Malawi girls school

BLANTYRE — Pop queen Madonna will lead a groundbreaking ceremony next week for a girls academy she is building in Malawi, where she has adopted two children, officials from her charity said Friday.

Madonna is expected to arrive in Malawi on Sunday and the ceremony for the construction of the school, which will be named Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, will take place on Monday, they said.

"The academy seeks to provide a model of relevant and effective education in Malawi while advancing gender equality and women's empowerment," said an official who requested anonymity.

The school on the outskirts of the administrative capital Lilongwe will prepare girls from poor backgrounds for careers in medicine, education or law, the official said.

The school is modelled on a similar academy built by US television talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Madonna's trip was confirmed by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo, a local academic who has been hired by the American star to head the academy.

"Madonna believes that given opportunities, these girls will become scientists, lawyers and doctors. She believes in them. Having someone believe in you is important to a girl," Oponyo said.

In 2006, the chart-topping musician adopted a baby boy, David Banda, who is now three-years-old. She returned to Malawi this year to adopt a girl, Mercy James.

Madonna is also funding several charities in the small southern African country, including homes for children with AIDS.

Kanye West gets 50 hours community service for scuffle with paparazzi

Kanye West and his road manager were ordered to complete 50 hours of community service for a scuffle with photographers last year, a judge has ruled.
Criminal charges against the two men were dropped yesterday after the judge said they were too harsh and it was revealed that he musician voluntarily received anger management counselling after the incident last year.

The 32-year-old rapper and his manager, Don Crawley, had a scuffle with two photographers at Los Angeles International Airport on 11 September 2008.
The struggle was recorded and broadcast by celebrity website TMZ.
During the court hearing, it was revealed that t, and had completed 12 one-hour sessions.
Ms Berk said that a civil settlement had been reached with the photographers last month, who wrote letters to the court saying they were satisfied with payment they received.

West pleaded not guilty on May 18 to misdemeanor vandalism, battery and grand theft.
His road manager, Don Crawley, 33, who was charged with two counts of the same crimes, also had pleaded not guilty.


Although the rapper was not in court yesterday, Ms Berk successfully convinced the judge that criminal charges were too harsh.
She said the case was 'wildly overcharged' and that it should be dismissed in the interests of justice, fairness and common sense.
She indicated that the musician would instead perform volunteer hours with the American Red Cross.

The pair were arrested while attempting to catch a flight to Honolulu. Video of the incident showed both men wrestling a camera away from a photographer and smashing parts of it into the ground.

Crawley also allegedly smashed a second photographer's camera.

One of the photographers was allegedly hurt in the incident.


Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Mark Zuckman ordered both men to perform 50 hours of community service.
He said he was taking into account the steps West and Crawley had already taken, their agreement with the photographers, and that there were no lasting injuries to the men. He also noted that neither man had a criminal history.
The altercation was another example of West's notoriously testy temper, but also the first time his actions had turned physical rather than verbal.


He verbally assailed President George W. Bush over the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, and lashed out at awards shows when he didn't win.
Since the airport scuffle, West has been publicly derided for seizing the stage from Taylor Swift during this year's MTV Video Music Awards after she became the first country star to win for best female music video.
He has repeatedly apologized for the incident and told talk show host Jay Leno that he was taking time off from music to reflect on his behavior.

Rapper 50 Cent runs up bar tab of £75,000 at London club

Even with the fabled excesses of the movie business, it's unheard of for a co-star of a film to spend any money at its after-party.

After all, such a bash is the last chance for the cast and crew to milk the film's budget for free food and booze.
But not every actor has the disposable income of American hip hop star 50 Cent, who took bar tabs to a whole new level last night after dropping £75,000 over the bar at the after-party of Dead Man Running at Alto club in London's Soho.

The 33-year-old rapper hired the entire VIP area for his entourage, friends and film colleagues.
And he's not even the star - being officially billed behind Tamer Hassan, Danny Dyer... and Brenda Blethyn.
A guest at the party said: 'When he arrived at the club it was mayhem. The area was cleared for him and security ushered him straight through. On his table were bottles of champagne but he wanted a magnum bottle of Ace Of Spades champagne.
'You could tell that he was loving all the attention as people were trying to take pictures on their phones and were shouting his name.'

50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson but also known as 'Fiddy' - plays a gangster and loan shark called Mr Thigo in the film, a character not a long way away from his real-life past.
Earlier that evening, 50 had been wearing a smarter grey suit as he posed alongside singer Jamelia at the Leicester Square screening as part of the London Film Festival.

Moments after he arrived, security was left in a state of panic when a horde of girls tried to break into the VIP area in a desperate bid to meet the American star.
Out of the hundreds that were pushing against the ropes, 15 girls managed to get past security and he allowed them to sit at his table for the remainder of the night.

The guest added: '50 has never been one to turn a lady away, so when he saw that a few ladies had made it into his VIP area he allowed them to sit with him.
'They were drinking his champagne from the bottle and they were obviously in their element. 50 was chatting away to them and the girls were giggling and dancing around his table.'
He left the club alone just after 3am.

Since arriving in the capital earlier this week, the rapper has been travelling around town in a white Rolls Royce.

He made sure he was noticed on red carpet last night when he was driven up the entrance of the Odeon West End in the lavish vehicle.

Footballer Rio Ferdinand, who part-financed the film, said 50 Cent had done him a huge favour by agreeing to star in the movie.
Rio said: 'He's done us a great favour, he's done stuff for my online magazine Number 5 as well. So there's a work in progress there and if ever needs me for anything, which I'm not sure he does yet, I'm there.'

Helen Prest Ajayi hosts a grand soiree as she celebrates her 50th birthday

By Bella

On Saturday 17th October 2009, Former Miss Nigeria – Helen Prest-Ajayi celebrated her 50th birthday by hosting a grand party at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos. Wife, mother, lawyer, author, entrepreneur and beauty queen – those are some of the titles associated with Helen so it was no surprise that the event was graced by a diverse range of guests. From corporate titans like Aliko Dangote to fellow beauty queen Nike Osinowo-Soleye to Nollywood star Rita Dominic. It was a festive and glam night! We have to say you look fab at 50! Helen was surrounded by lots of friends on her special day but we all know that family comes first. Her husband, Dr Ajayi as well as her children, mother and siblings were there to celebrate her big day. Photos below.

Nicole Richie

Nigeria’s TV darling is BACK! Funmi Iyanda screens ‘Talk With Funmi’

Funmi Iyanda is back!
The much loved Nigerian talk show host held a screening of her new show ‘Talk With Funmi‘ at the Silverbird Cinema in Victoria Island Lagos on Friday 16th of October 2009.
TWF is a multi-segment variety show set in multiple locations across Nigeria. It brings truly inspiring real life stories, fresh perspectives of our diverse cultures, tangible information and inspirational experiences of real people from various parts of the country into the homes of Nigerians in a fun filled engaging and entertaining manner.
Anchoring this unique program is the talented and outstanding broadcaster, Funmi Iyanda, who is well known with ‘New Dawn with Funmi’, a programme which ran on national TV for eight years. She is also a multi-award winning journalist, blogger and writer as well as a fellow of both the Desmond Tutu African Leadership Institute and the Aspen Institute’s African Leadership Initiative.
TWF takes Funmi and her crew round the entire 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, to bring the Nigerian story alive. Four states have been visited so far and the first 13 episodes of the show have been shot and fully edited. The show will be premiered on DSTV’s Africa Magic & Magic World(Primetime), NTA/AIT and other selected stations around Nigeria, with an international cut scheduled for a major UK network.
See photos from the screening below. We’ll have more photos from the screening as well as the full scoop on TWF on Bella Naija soon…

OCTOMOM & JON GOSSELIN SITTING IN A TREE.

Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar and their almost 19 kids had better watch out.

The Octomom has eyes for the octodad...and, together, they'd have a whopping 22 offspring to raise.

Nadya Suleman admitted to Radar Online that she's crushing on that total babe, Jon Gosselin, and, really, who can blame her?

"I kind of have a crush on Jon Gosselin," she said. "I think he's hot!"

Of course, she also admits she feels badly for Kate Gosselin and wishes the media would leave the troubled twosome alone (and focus more on her, perhaps?). And, despite her own visions of reality television stardom, she agrees with Jon that the TLC show has been exploitative of the kids and should be put on the backburner.

Still, Hailey Glassman had better hold on tight—Jon has been known to stray, and this saucy minx has "fate" written all over her.

New Music: 9ice – Gbamu Gbamu

Music lovers everywhere have been eagerly anticipating the release of 9ice’s new album all year! Now, we finally get a chance to listen to the first single from the new album ‘Tradition‘. The song is entitled ‘Gbamu Gbamu‘.
Read more details from the press release below and have a listen to the song!

____________________________________________________________
Multiple award winning Alapomeji recording artist 9ice has officially dropped the first single off his upcoming album “TRADITION”. The single titled “GBAMU GBAMU” is one of the many hit songs recorded by 9ice. The album which has been tagged “the most anticipated album of 2009″ features hit track after hit track, no instrumentals and no skits.

A fusion of proverbial lyrics in his mother tongue (Yoruba), a danceable tune, and a unique style that is known to belong to 9ice, Gbamu Gbamu gives a brief insight of what to expect from TRADITION. In Gbamu Gbamu, 9ice sings about how happy and content he is with his life, career, music and achievements. To start off the first verse it is clear he wants to audience to get up and dance as he tells them to put on their dancing shoes, and move their waistline while getting their groove on. He gives us a brief background history by stating matter of factly that if you want to know his “trick”, go back and ask for “omo Iya Agba ni oke aro” telling us in essence that, he may be 9ice but he has not forgotten his roots.

The track which was produced by ID Cabasa, is clearly a 9ice track and just the tip of the iceberg on what to expect on Tradition. Not leaving out his usual style of teaching and inspiring the listener through his music, 9ice makes statements such as “Ti oju Ba farabale a ri imu” ( a lesson in patience), and “Ifa Fani Lapo Ya, ore ma ma mu yo” ( a lesson about greed).

9ice, who is one of Nigeria’s hottest megastars and one of the youngest connoisseurs of our traditions, proves without a doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. And as he said in Gbamu Gbamu, “as you pose, na so you go show”, you just cant fake real talent.

From Across the Continent, the Music Plays On as Stars go Home with MAMA: 2009 Winners and Photos

The 2nd annual MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) held yesterday 10th October 2009 at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The exciting event was hosted by Wyclef Jean and co-headlined by Senegalese/American star Akon.
Nameless (Kenya) and M.I. (Nigeria) were the big winners of the evening at the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain. The two artists took home two trophies each at the pan-African music celebration, held at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani, Kenya.

Nameless won the coveted Best Male artist category at the Awards, which honours and celebrates Africa’s contemporary music stars, as well as the Listener’s Choice category which recognizes the biggest radio hits of the year. M.I. clinched an impressive duo, scoring for Best New Act and Best Hip Hop.

Best Female went to Kenyan star Amani, making it two in a row for Kenyan female performers after Wahu’s win in Abuja in 2008.

Ghanaian star Samini put dancehall firmly on the map with a win for Best Performer, a fitting tribute to his trademark high energy live performances. Artist of the Year went to D’Banj – showing the Nigerian star remains at the top of his game after a triple win in 2008 and his MTV Europe Music Awards win in 2007.

African artists scored three awards: MAMA Legend (Lucky Dube), HHP (Best Video) and Zebra & Giraffe (Best Alternative).

Host Wyclef Jean set the uplifting tone for the evening with an electrifying live set including monster hits ‘Sweetest Girl’, ‘No Woman No Cry‘ and ‘Ready or Not’.

Hip hop phenomenon Akon, making a long anticipated trip to Kenya, rose to the challenge, rousing the crowd with a show-stopping version of his track, Beautiful.

Dr Saad Al Barrak, CEO of Zain, the co-sponsor of the MAMAs, said the evening confirmed the huge talent that Africa possesses and the influence it had upon the world of music. “Much of the music we listen to today has its roots in this great continent. I cannot emphasize strongly enough what a privilege it is for Zain to lend its name to such an event. In doing so, we are both keeping alive the flame of Africa’s cultural consciousness and delivering on our promise to bring you “A wonderful world.”

In keeping with the show’s purpose of bringing Africa together, the MAMA awards featured multiple collaborations between artists from different countries and music genres – mixing up hip hop with R&B, alternative, soul and dancehall, among others. Among the collaborations thrilling the 4,000 strong crowd was a three way tie-up featuring HHP, Brickz and 2FACE, and a stunning collaboration between Kenyan divas Amani and Wahu and Tanzania’s A.Y. and a dramatic hip-hop/rock mash-up between Zebra & Giraffe and Da LES.

The evening closed with a moving performance of Michael Jackson’s crowd pleaser ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’ with Akon and all the other performers.

The My Video Award was won by Patricke-Stevie Moungondo from Congo Brazzaville, who beat thousands of amateur singers to win the coveted MAMA trophy, in the form of a ‘retro/futuristic’ microphone balanced on top of a globe of the world with Africa poised symbolically at the top.

Among the many show highlights were Wyclef’s opening number and a touching tribute to MAMA Legend Award winner Lucky Dube by Wyclef, Nameless and Samini, in honour of the iconic South African reggae star tragically killed in 2007. The ‘One Time’ star also called attention to the plight of the 17 million people in East Africa affected by drought and famine.

Performers at MAMA 2009 included Akon, Wahu, M.I., Samini, HHP, Da L.E.S, Zebra & Giraffe, Lizha James, STL, Amani, Nameless, A.Y., Lira, 2Face and Blu*3.

Guest presenters included Zamajobe, Kel, Redsan, Churchill, the cast of the MTV Staying Alive Ignite TV series, Shuga.

News Source: Zain


Best Female
Kel (Nigeria)
Amani (Kenya) – Winner
Lira (South Africa)
Zamajobe (South Africa)
Lizha James (Mozambique)


Best R&B
2 Face (Nigeria) – Winner
Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
Loyiso (South Africa)
Beyoncé (USA)
Akon (USA)


Best Video
2Face – Enter The Place (Nigeria)
XOD – I Want You Back (Uganda)
HHP – Mpitse (South Africa) – Winner
Da L.E.S. – We on Fire (South Africa)
Wahu ft Bobi Wine – Little Things You Do (Kenya)


Best New Act
M.I. (Nigeria) – Winner
Shaa (Tanzania)
STL (Kenya)
Bigiano (Nigeria)
Rhythmic Elements (South Africa)

Best Hip Hop
M.I. (Nigeria) – Winner
A.Y. (Tanzania)
Zulu Boy (South Africa)
Jay-Z (USA)
Kanye West (USA)


Artist of The Year
2 Face (Nigeria)
D’banj (Nigeria) – Winner
Lira (South Africa)
HHP (South Africa)
Nameless (Kenya)


Best Alternative
Green Day (USA)
Coldplay (UK)
Cassette (South Africa)
Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa) – Winner
Aking (South Africa)


MAMA Listeners’ Choice
Nameless – Winner
Best Male
2 Face (Nigeria)
HHP (South Africa)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Nameless (Kenya) – Winner
Da L.E.S. (South Africa)


Best Performer
P-Square (Nigeria)
D’Banj (Nigeria)
Samini (Ghana) – Winner
Nameless (Kenya)
Blu*3 (Uganda)


MAMA Legend Award
Lucky Dube – Winner

Best Group
P-Square (Nigeria) – Winner
Blu*3 (Uganda)
Gang of Instrumentals (South Africa)
Mo Hits Allstars (Nigeria)
Gal Level (Namibia)




Winner List: NotJustOK
Photo Credit: Getty Images & Zimbio

Ramsey, Rita, Omoni, Funlola, Genevieve, Kunle: Nollywood supports The Figurine as the movie premieres in Lagos

The Lagos premiere for ‘The Figurine‘ took place at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema (The Palms, Lagos). The premiere was graced by movie’s cast – Kunle Afolayan, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Ramsey Nouah, Tosin Sido, Omoni Oboli as well as other Nollywood stars including Rita Dominic, Fred Amata, Kate Henshaw-Nuttall, Joke Silva and Genevieve Nnaji. TV, Music and Movie heavyweights including Toyin Subair, Dayo Adeleye, Mildred Okwo and Amaechi Okobi Check out photos below.
The film will also be premiering at the Silverbird cinema in Abuja on October 8, Port Harcourt on October 9 and at the Odeon Cinema in London, on October 17. More premiere dates will be announced soon.

She beat out the boys – Nneka wins MOBO 2009 Best African Act award

Nigerian musician Nneka won the Best African Act award at the Music Of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards in Glasgow last night. Other shortlisted nominees for the Best African Act award were Eldee, Mujava, Oumou Sangare and Salif Kelta. Irish/Nigerian crooner Laura Izibor was also one of the MOBO nominees, she was up for the Best UK Newcomer award which went to JLS. Congrats to all the nominees and winners including JLS, one of their members Ortise Williams is Nigerian!

Princess Diana exhibition opens

A traveling museum exhibit about the life of Princess Diana will open in Philadelphia today

The exhibit Diana: A Celebration is at the National Constitution Center through December 31. It explores her childhood, her engagement to Prince Charles, their 1981 wedding and her life and work as a humanitarian.

Diana's marriage to Prince Charles ended in divorce in 1996. She died in a 1997 car crash in Paris.

The National Constitution Center is a private museum dedicated to developing a greater understanding of the U.S. Constitution and providing a forum for civic events. Its temporary exhibits have explored other subjects, including baseball and the life of Napoleon Bonaparte.