President Festus Mogae is Africa’s 2008 exemplary Leader

Botswana’ former President Festus Mogae, was yesterday named this year’s winner of the $5 million Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership; the second time in a row for the continental good-governance award to be taken by a country in southern Africa. Last year it was Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano who received the largest individual award in the world, comprising of:

• US$5 million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter

• Up to US$200,000 a year for 10 years towards the winner’s public interest activities and good causes

Mr Kofi Annan, the former UN secretary-general and chairman of the Prize Committee, said the panel selected Mr Mogae as the 2008 Ibrahim Laureate because of his “outstanding leadership (that) has ensured Botswana’s continued stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/Aids pandemic which threatened the future of his country and people.”

President Mogae was featured in the African Vibes Magazine “Raising the bar” column for his exemplary leadership. The article can be read at http://publishing.yudu.com/Ak00n/AVMAGSPE/resources/20.htm

Nigeria’s Uti Nwachukwu gets the boot

Nigeria’s 25-year-old, Uti Nwachukwu has become the third evictee in the reality TV series, Big Brother Africa III. He plans to trigger waves in Nollywood. “Being nominated twice meant I was a strong contender in that house,” a confident Uti told Big Brother show host Kabelo. “I’m going to use the exposure Big Brother has given me to go into acting,” said the jovial Nigerian. Considering the stir he created in the house, there is no doubt he would stand a good chance in creating a name for himself in Nollywood.

Fall Look by Designer Amanda Laird Cherry. Is it a Do or a Don’t?

Share your thoughts on this look off of South Africa’s Runway by Designer Amanda Laird Cherry. Is it something you would wear or is it not? Share your comments on this look.
(4 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
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Magic System Concert Gallery

African Vibes Magazine’s Magic System Live Concert was a hit!

Magic System Live in Concert Photo Gallery

Soccer Mom Palin looses debate to Biden

Don’t get me wrong, Palin put up a decent fight especially with my expectations below ground zero. She came with style (loved her suit), energy and very well memorized lines. Did she earn some points? You bet she did. I was pleasantly surprised when she held her own except that she did not answer any question she was asked. She didn’t even address any of my concerns as a middle class American. All she did was stick to her script. I wonder what will happen if God forbid she is VP of this great nation and has to stand in as President on the fly. God forbid that happens because I get the chills for just thinking it.

While Palin is the freshest looking of all 4 people on the ticket, I just think at some point she needs to be fair to the American people and just come up with a great excuse and step down.

John Legend is inspired by Mama Mwadawa Ruziga

A thumbs up to John Legend as he journeys to Africa for a great cause. The singer selected Mama Mwadawa Ruziga, a Tanzanian entrepreneur as his hero on CNN after visiting the village of Mbola in Tanzania last year. He also wrote the song “Show Me” charting a conversation with God about the state of the world and the individual’s place in it. He launched a campain called “Show Me” as a platform to contribute to the betterment of the world. The mission of the Show Me Campaign is to fight economic and spiritual poverty through fostering sustainable development (personal, social, educational, economic) at the individual, family, and small community levels. The Show Me Campaign is a grassroots movement that engages all of its participants as agents of transformative change from the bottom up.

“I don’t want people to only see Africa as a bunch of victims,” Legend says. “The people that I’ve come across in these extremely impoverished villages, they want to work. They want to participate in their own development.”

The artist partnered with economist Jeffrey Sachs’ Millennium Promise organization to adopt Mbola, a remote village in Tanzania that has little access to drinking water and improved farming techniques, according to Millennium Promise.

Obama for change is officially a fashion statement

As politics gets heated, fashionistas are not forgotten. This voting season, designers are showing us that fashion can go beyond the superficial. Bumper stickers are old school with politically minded top designers creating chic for their favorite candidate who happens to be Barrack Obama. Now, democratic fashionistas who support change can also support their high end style and that includes celebrities too.

More than twenty-five designers created Limited Edition pieces, for the project titled “Runway to Change.” The collection launched in September, just in time for NYC Fashion Week can be seen in the upcoming issue of Vogue.

Runway to Change is a union of more than 25 designers including South Africa’s Albertus Swanepoel, who have created special pieces of clothing or accessories featuring Obama’s campaign logo or message. From T-shirts to tote bags, the limited-edition designer items are available on the candidate’s website: http://store.barackobama.com/Runway_To_Change_s/1034.htm