Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa kisses the Claret Jug after winning the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 18, 2010.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen won his first major golf title yesterday with a seven-stroke victory in the British Open at St. Andrews.

The 27-year-old clinched his maiden major title with a composed display of front-running after taking the lead on Friday.

Oosthuizen began the final day four strokes clear of Paul Casey and carded a 71 to finish 16 under around the Old Course.

Westwood picked up two shots in a round of 70 to edge into second on nine under, with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (68), Sweden’s Henrik Stenson (71) and England’s Casey (75) in a tie for third on eight under.

World number one Tiger Woods, who was aiming to win a third successive St Andrews Open, was unable to make up any ground and ended well adrift on three under after a level-par 72 that included double bogeys on the fourth and seventh. [READ MORE ...]

Ghana’s Black Stars beat the United States Yanks after scoring a second goal in overtime to qualify for the Quarter finals. Ghana is the only other African country to ever reach the Quarter finals. Ghana will be meeting with Uruguay on July 2nd 2010.

Ghana is currently the only African team still in the World Cup. They finished second in their group with four points after one win, one draw and one loss. Due to the remarkable win by the Germans over Australia, the Black Stars made it into the 2nd round with goal difference on their side.

The 2010 Hip Hop World Awards (HHWA) took place at the New Expo hall at EKo Hotels and Suites on May 29th 2010. Man of the night was Artist Wande Coal who received the Artist of the Year and Hip Hop Revelation of the Year Awards. He also received the Album of the Year and Best RnB/Pop Album for his Mushin to Mo’Hits Album. His song ‘U Bad’ received best Pop single at the event making the Artist the most recognized Artist at the event. For more information on the event, visit http://www.hiphopworldawards.com

HHWA 2010  FULL LIST OF WINNERS

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (in every realms: songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (sales, popularity)

MUSHIN 2 MO’HITS
Artiste: WANDE COAL
Producer(s): Don Jazzy
Record Label: Mo’Hits Records

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review Overall most successful artiste for the year under review
WANDE COAL
Real Name(s): OJOSHIPE WANDE JNR.
Album Title: Mushin 2 Mo’Hits
Record Label: Mo’Hits Records

SONG OF THE YEAR
Most popular song from an album in year under review. Decided by voting

“YORI YORI”
Artiste: BRACKET
Album: Least Expected
Producer: Dekumzy
Record Label Ape Planet

RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Best single recording (on-air only or released) by artiste or group in year under review. Originality and production very essential

“HEAVEN PLEASE”
Album – TIMI (Unreleased)
Artiste – Timi Dakolo
Producer – Cobhams Asuquo
Record Label – (Unreleased

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
The individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed songs/album in the year under review. His CV for the year includes top notch tracks and production credits no one can fault.

DON JAZZY
Album/Song Title – “Banana”, “U Bad”
Artiste(s) – Wande Coal

BEST MUSIC VIDEO (AWARD GOES TO DIRECTOR)
Best conceptualised, best edited, best picture, best directed and most exciting video in year under review as voted by fans and decided by the jury.

CLARENCE PETERS
Music Video Title – “Finest”
Artiste – Knight House Ft. Sauce Kid & Teeto

BEST R ‘N’ B SINGLE
Best R&B single in year under review (by single individual or group)

“STRONG TING”
Artiste(s) – Banky W
Producer – Cobhams Asuquo

BEST POP SINGLE
Best pop single in year under review (by single individual
U BAD”
Artiste(s) – Wande Coal
Producer – Don Jazzy

BEST R ‘N’ B/ POP ALBUM
Best R&B or pop album in year under review (by single individual or group)

MUSHIN 2 MO’HITS
Artiste- Wande Coal
Producer(s) – Don Jazzy
Record Label- Mo Hits Records

BEST RAP SINGLE
Best single released on-air recording of a rap song

“SAMPLE Remix”
Artiste(s) – Terry Tha Rapman Ft. Stereo Man & Pherowshuz
Producer – Pherowshuz

BEST RAP ALBUM
Best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review

CEO
Artiste – Dagrin
Producer(s) – Sossick, T-Frizzle, Dokta Frabz, Sarz
Record Label – Missofunyin Entertainment

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL
Rap Artiste with best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album

MODENINE
Song Title – Bad Man
Album Title – Da Vinci Mode (Not released in year under review)
Record Label – Red Eye Music

BEST COLLABO
Best R&B, Pop or hip hop collaborative track (including cameos) in year under review

“KOKOROKO”
Artistes – Kefee Ft. Timaya
Producer – K Solo

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)
Single male artiste with most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album

DAREY ART ALADE
Song Title – “NO STARS”
Producer- Cobhams

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)
Single female act with most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album
LARA GEORGE
Song Title – “KEEPER OF MY DREAMS”
Producer – Wole Oni

BEST STREET HOP
The most popular street-hop single in year under review

“FREE MADNESS Pt. 2”
Artiste(s) – Terry G

NEXT RATED
Most promising upcoming officially unreleased act in the year under review
SKUKI
Song Title – “BANGER”

HIPHOP WORLD REVELATION OF THE YEAR
Best New artiste in the year under review

WANDE COAL
Real Name(s): OJOSHIPE WANDE JNR.
Album Title: Mushin 2 Mo’Hits
Record Label: Mo’Hits Record

Sade (Nigeria), Kojo Antwi (Ghana), K’Naan (Somalia), P-Square (Nigeria) and Hip Hop Pantsula (South Africa) get nominated for the 10th annual BET Awards.  The network revealed that Queen Latifah will host the momentous event.

See below for a full list of nominees.

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Alicia Keys
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
Maxwell
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Gospel
The Anointed Pace Sisters
Kirk Franklin Presents Artists United For Haiti
Tamela Mann
Marvin Sapp
Vickie Winans

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Ester Dean
Lil Kim
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Trina

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
B.o.B.
Drake
Fabolous
Jay-Z
Ludacris

Best Group
Black Eyed Peas
Clipse
Diddy-Dirty Money
New Boyz
Young Money

Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Melanie Fiona
Nicki Minaj
Wale
Young Money

Best Collaboration
Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – Video Phone
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Drake & Trey Songz – Successful
Drake f/ Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem – Forever
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – Say Aah

Video of the Year
Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – Video Phone
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Melanie Fiona – It Kills Me
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West – Run This Town

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Anthony Mandler
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Best Actress
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Mo’Nique
Zoe Saldana
Gabourey Sidibe

Best Actor
Quinton Aaron
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx
Denzel Washington

YoungStars Award
Selena Gomez
Lil JJ
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith
Tyler James Williams

Best Movie
Avatar
Law Abiding Citizen
Michael Jackson’s This Is It
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
The Blindside

Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Tamika Catchings
Vanessa James
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Usain Bolt
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tiger Woods

Viewers Choice Nominees
Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Monica – Everything To Me
Rihanna f/ Young Jeezy – Hard
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – Say Aah
Young Money (Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Jae Millz, Drake, Tyga) f/ Lloyd – Bedrock

Centric Award
Melanie Fiona
Maxwell
Chrisette Michele
Monica
Sade
Best International Act
Kojo Antwi (Ghana)
Chipmunk (UK)
Dizzee Rascal (UK)
Estelle (UK)
Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) (South Africa)
K’NAAN (Somalia)
M.I. (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Corinne Bailey Rae (UK)
Sade (UK)

The United Nations has mobilized some of the foremost artists of Africa and the airwaves of the world in launching a song and music video to drum up support for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of combating hunger and poverty across the continent.

With a catchy tune and rhythm, the song is sung by eight artists reflecting the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the targets for reducing extreme poverty, hunger and disease, while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability – that world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015.

Between the verses a chorus declaims the iconic cry for freedom from the wars of liberation against Portuguese colonialism in Africa: a luta continua, the struggle goes on – only this time against each of the evils that deprive Africans of their human rights to a decent life.

The song, entitled “8 Goals for Africa,” has also been recorded as a video to be screened across all fan parks and public viewing areas at soccer’s World Cup in South Africa next month, an event expected to be watched by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It will be disseminated free of charge locally and internationally.

“There can be no spectators in the fight against poverty,” UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said at the song’s launch ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.

UN Information Centres (UNICs) around the world are already calling on media in their regions to report on and air the song and video now.

“This is a great opportunity to raise popular awareness of the MDGs, with the potential to reach millions of people,” UNIC South Africa said. “The organizers are hoping that when the song is played during the World Cup matches, audiences will already recognize the song and be able to sing along with key phrases.”

The eight artists are: Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa), Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Oliver Mutukudzi (Zimbabwe), Mingas (Mozambique), Eric Wainaina (Kenya), HHP (South Africa), Baba Maal (Senegal), and the Soweto Gospel Choir (South Africa).

Hugh Masekela and Jimmy Dludlu (both South Africans) are two of the instrumentalists and the song was produced by world-renowned music producer, Arthur Baker. The music was composed by Mr. Dludlu, with lyrics by Mr. Wainaina.

For the June issue of Vanity Fair, Annie Leibovitz set out to capture some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, and Brazil’s Kaká. Leibovitz’s portraits are, well, revealing. And underwear has never looked so patriotic. In America, these men might not enjoy the same name recognition as the stars of the N.F.L.—that game that we call football—but for most of the planet, they are more than just showstoppers. They are gods. [Read More]

In 2010 Africa will be hosting the World Cup for the first time. Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa have qualified to compete in this historic event. Will Africa set a new record by winning the cup for the first time in history? And if that were possible, which team will most likely bring about soccer victory to the continent?

 Loading ...

After 12 rounds, 33-year-old Joshua Clottey who has a record of 35-3 with 20 KOs lost to Manny Pacquiao by unamimous decision at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas.

Read round by round commentary on Foxsports.

Zimbabwe enjoyed its first taste of Oscar glory on Sunday night when the film ‘Music by Prudence’ won the Best Short Documentary gong at the 2010 Academy Awards.

“Music by Prudence” documents Prudence Mabhena’s life. She’s a 21-year-old from Bulawayo who has arthrogryposis, a congenital disorder that crippled her arms and legs.

Few Oscar films have packed in more profundity per minute than the tale of Prudence and seven other disabled young musicians transcending bigotry and isolation through art and fellowship.

“This is amazing. Two years ago when I flew to Zimbabwe, I never imagined I would wind up here,” said the film’s American producer-director, Roger Williams as he accepted the award. “This is for Prudence.”

In the audience, Prudence beamed from her wheelchair after making the trip to the Awards having earlier expressed doubts because of problems with her visa.

The only blemish on Prudence’s incredible night was producer Elinor Burkett borrowing a move from Kanye West’s playbook when she stormed the stage and interrupted Williams’ acceptance. The two collaborated on the movie.

Burkett explained in a post-speech interview with Salon that the pair had a disagreement over the “direction of the film” and that she was late to the podium because Williams’ mother used a cane to keep her from the stage. She went on to say that Williams hadn’t even heard of Zimbabwe until she told him about the country.

Read both sides of the story here

Despite that small hiccup, it was a great achievement and a beautiful story.

The 6^th African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominees were announced at the Mensvic Grand Hotel in East Legon, Accra Ghana. The actual event shall be held in Yenagoa, the capital of the oil-rich Bayelsa State, Nigeria, on April 10, 2010.

In 2009 Kenya took the lead but this year, they have been surpassed by Ghana and Nigeria who will be going neck to neck in many different categories. It did not help that Wanuri Kahiu opted not to enter her futuristic Scifi short, Pumzi for the AMAA 2010.

Nominees as reported on Art Matters are:

Best Documentary

• Mwamba Ngoma, Tanzania
• Peace Wanted Alive, Kenya
• Bariga Boys, Nigeria
• En quette d’identite, Burkina Faso
• Innovating for Africa, Nigeria

Best Short Film

• Mahala, Mozambique
• The Abbys Boys, South Africa
• The Painter, Uganda
• Suara La, Nigeria
• The Camera, Nigeria

Best Animation

• Honyan’s Shoe, Egypt
• Adventure of Alayo, Nigeria
• Zoodo, Burkina Faso
• Lyrics, Algeria
• One Step of Love, Algeria

Best Film by An African in the Diaspora

• Soul Diaspora
• Okra Principle
• China Wahala
• Crunch

Best Film in an African Language

• Omo Iya Kan, Nigeria
• Aldewolem, Ethiopia
• Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
• Imani, Uganda
• Game of my Life, South Africa

Heart of Africa Award for Best Film from Nigeria

• The Child
• High Blood Pressure
• Nnenda
• Lillies of the Ghetto
• The Figurine

AMAA Achievement in Sound

• The Tenant, Nigeria
• Season of a Life, Malawi
• The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• I sing of a well, Ghana
• Soul Diaspora, Diaspora

AMAA Achievement in Editing

• Season of a Life, Malawi
• The Child, Nigeria
• The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• Heart of Men, Ghana
• Lilies of the Ghetto, Nigeria

AMAA Achievement in Art Direction

• I sing of a well, Ghana
• Fulani, Nigeria
• The Child, Nigeria
• The Figurine, Nigeria
• Imani, Uganda

AMAA Achievement in Make Up

• Heart of Men, Ghana
• The Child, Nigeria
• The King is Mine, Ghana
• I sing of a well, Ghana
• Fulani, Nigeria

AMAA Achievement in Costume

• The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• Prince’s Bride, Ghana
• The Child, Nigeria
• I sing of a Well, Ghana
• Lilies of the Ghetto, Nigeria

AMAA Achievement in Visual Effect

• The Child, Nigeria
• The Figurine, Nigeria
• A sting in a Tale, Ghana
• Fulani, Nigeria
• Heart of Men, Ghana

Best Original Soundtrack

• Seasons of a Life, Malawi
• Imani, Uganda
• A sting in a Tale, Ghana
• The Child, Nigeria
• The Figurine, Nigeria

Best Performance by a Child Actor

• Teddy Onyango and Bill Oloo—Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
• Tobi Oboli—The Figurine, Nigeria
• Feyisola Ewulomi—Champions of our Time, Nigeria
• Treasure Obasi—Champions of our Time, Nigeria
• Mfanafuthi Magudulela—Game of my Life

Most Promising Actress

• Martha Kisaka—Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
• Chelsea Eze—Silent Scandal,
• Martha Ankomah—Sins of the Soul, Ghana
• Ashionye Michelle Ugboh—Jungle Ride, Nigeria
• Rahema Nanfuka—Imani, Uganda

Most Promising Actor

• Wilson Maina—Togetherness Supreme, Kenya
• Wale Ojo—The Child, Nigeria
• John Dumelo—Heart of Men, Ghana
• Pethro Tumba Mbole—Game of My Life
• Sunny Chikezie—Lilies of the Ghetto, Nigeria

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

• Godwin Kotey—I sing of a well, Ghana
• Francis Duru—Nnenda, Nigeria
• Yemi Blaq—High Blood Pressure, Nigeria
• Adjatey Anang—The Perfect Picture, Ghana

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

• Doris Sakitey—A sting in a Tale, Ghana
• Funlola Aoifeyebi-Raimi—The Figurine, Nigeria
• Tapiwa Gwaza—Seasons of a Life, Malawi
• Yvonne Nelson—Heart of Men, Ghana

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

• Bimbo Akintola—Freedom in Chains, Nigeria
• Jackie Appiah, Lydia Farson, Naa Ashoku Mensa-Doku—The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• Stephanie Okereke—Nnenda, Nigeria
• Flora Suya—Season of a Life, Malawi
• Akofa Edjeani Asiedu—I sing of a Well, Ghana

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

• Lucky Ejim—The Tenant, Nigeria
• Majid Michel—Sin of a Soul, Ghana
• Ramsey Nouah—The Figurine, Nigeria
• Sadiq Abu—Soul Diaspora, Diaspora
• John Osie Tutu Agyeman—I Sing of a well, Ghana

Best Screenplay

• Seasons of a Life, Malawi
• The Tenant, Nigeria
• Freedom In chains,
• Guilty Pleasure, Ghana
• I sing of a well, Ghana

AMAA Achievement in Cinematography

• The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• The Figurine, Nigeria
• I sing of a Well, Ghana
• The Child, Nigeria
• The Tenant, Nigeria

Best Picture

• Seasons of a Life, Malawi
• The Tenant, Canada/Nigeria
• The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• The Figurine, Nigeria
• I sing of a well, Ghana

Best Director

• Charles Shemu Joyah—Seasons of a Life, Malawi
• Shirley Frimpong-Manso—The Perfect Picture, Ghana
• Kunle Afolayan—The Figurine, Nigeria
• Leila Jewel Djansi—I sing of a well, Ghana
• Jude Idada and Lucky Ejim—The Tenant, Nigeria