Belle Niba: <\/strong>I hope you all stop by her website at https:\/\/www.sharonrosemusic.com and show her some L.O.V.E<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"African](\"https:\/\/africanvibes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/dsc00637.jpg\")
<\/a> Pan African Film Festival African Vibes Magazine's #Amabel Niba<\/a> and PAAF's #Ayuko Babu\u00a0 [Photo credit: Belle Niba<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]It was raining and pouring but Los Angeles filmmakers, celebrities, city officials, and media came out among others to show their strong support for the #Pan African Film Festival<\/a> (#PAFF<\/a>) on Thursday night. Guests graced the Director's Guild of America where the opening event was hosted, with their beautiful and colorful outfits. Among the guests was African Vibes Magazine Editorial Director, Amabel Niba.\n\nThe evening was kicked off by Ayuko Babu, PAFF's founder, and hosted by the charismatic and ever so charming #Blair Underwood<\/a>.\u00a0 Marla Gibbs<\/strong> was given the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award with a fun acceptance speech asking Babu to rename the award because she was not done yet. Also honored was Actor #Omar Benson Miller<\/a> (\u201cMiracle at St. Anna\u201d) for PAFF's Canada Lee Award. The funny actor left the podium saying \"I do not want to be one of those actors who are disillusioned by Hollywood. Instead of letting Hollywood work me, I will work Hollywood\".\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1106\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<\/a> Actor Blaire Underwood and African Vibes Magazine's Amabel Niba [Photo credit: Belle Niba<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]California Assembly Speaker #Karen Bass<\/a> flew in from Sacramento where she and her colleagues were working hard to get a very late state budget together, so she could be at this event. She was recognized for her commitment to supporting the exhibition of film, art and creative expression with the Community Service Award. Also awarded for her support and commitment to the festival was South Africa Consulate General\u00a0 Honorable #Jeanette Ndhlovu<\/a> who made guests laugh when she told everyone that Blaire Underwood had made a commitment to go Shark diving in South Africa. A scary prospect for such a favorite among women but a good-faith gesture all the same.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1107\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" class=\"expresscurate_contentTags\"]<\/a> #Dearra poses with African Vibes Magazine's Amabel Niba [Photo credit: Belle Niba<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]After the awards was a screening of the movie \"Jerusalema\". When asked about her impression of the festival and opening movie, African Vibes Editorial Director said \"This festival is so necessary. You can tell from the fliers and filmmakers who are here tonight and promoting their films, that they have worked really hard. We need to come out and show our support for them by watching their movies. We all owe our gratitude to Babu and his team for making it possible for black filmmakers from all over to expose their work, in effect sharing our stories with the community.\n\n\"As far as Jerusalema is concerned, I think Ralph Zinman made me proud. The story was engaging even though it was a little longer than I expected.\u00a0 Rapulana Seiphemo played his character, Lucky Kunene<\/em>, quite convincingly. South Africa is definitely taking the lead in film-making with films that can truly compete with the West; a reminder that the world has gotten smaller. I am sure there are many African filmmakers who are hot on the heels of Hollywood, working with less but making the most out of the tools and finance they have to produce some compelling films.\"\n\nNiba's statement rings true indeed and can be seen in the diverse storytelling of the filmmakers who made submissions this year. After the screening, filmmakers wasted no time in promoting their movies and encouraging guests and media representatives to screen them. The evening progressed with buffet-style dinner, cocktails, and a live music presentation from George Clinton's band. Overall the night was a success and a reminder that the success of those telling our stories needs the support of the community; our support.\n\nPAFF SCREENING DATES\n Ovie Mughelli - Image Credit: African Vibes Inspiration<\/em>[\/caption]\n\n28-year-old Ovie Mughelli is single, handsome, the highest-paid #fullback<\/a> in the NFL, and one of its hardest working athletes. In an interview with #African<\/a> Vibes Magazine's #Amabel Niba<\/a> for the Jan\/Feb 2009 Issue, Mughelli talks about his experience growing up in the US with #Nigerian<\/a> parents, their cultural differences and some of the challenges he had to overcome to become one of the best fullbacks in the NFL.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_293797\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"] Getting to know Millionaire Fullback Ovie Mughelli - Image Credit: NRDC pix<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/em>[\/caption]\n\nThe Interview Preview:<\/strong><\/span>\n\nAmabel Niba:<\/strong> Did you feel any different from the African American kids?\n\nOvie Mughelli:<\/strong> I always knew I was different from the African American kids. My mother would usually say \"you are not like everyone else. You are an African child\". Some of the things that the other kids could do, I wasn't allowed to do.\n\nAmabel Niba:<\/strong> You took a tough journey and are now the highest-paid Fullback in the NFL. Did you ever doubt yourself?\n\nOvie Mughelli:<\/strong> I doubted myself in college. Wake Forest was a very distinguished school. I was the only football player there who tried to go Premed. Also, I was taking all the hard classes such as Organic Chemistry, Biology... I even took Anatomy. The students in the class were not athletes so they had twice as much time to study; to prepare and be involved in the class.\n\nBeing a student-athlete, I didn't have as much time. I was flying to Texas, New York ... all over the place to play games and then I had to practice. It was difficult for me. I would go to class sometimes, tired and sleepy drinking coffee trying to stay awake. I would sit in the class for an hour and have no idea what the teacher was saying yet the test was tomorrow.\n\nThere are times when I would say \"Am I even good enough to try to be a doctor like my Dad? Am I even good enough to be a pre-med student? The stuff is so hard. I can't even understand it.\" Whenever I got into situations like that, I would go back to what my parents taught me as a child.\n\nHowever, I would look at everyone in the class and say \"If these people can do it, I can do it too. I just have to work hard. There is no reason I can't do it. I just need to calm down, work harder, get more help and properly schedule my time.\" Time management is what my parents preach. That's how they got to where they are today. I had to cut out the partying, cut out hanging out with girls so I could spend more time on my major which was Sports Medicine. If I wanted to be good, I had to work at it.\n
Sharon Rose: I definitely have been through those moments and it is mostly when I see someone who I think is better than me at singing or performing but then I realize that there is NO ONE in this world that can do what I can do so I quickly snap back and do my thing!!!!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Belle Niba: <\/strong>I hope you all stop by her website at https:\/\/www.sharonrosemusic.com and show her some L.O.V.E<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a> Pan African Film Festival African Vibes Magazine's #Amabel Niba<\/a> and PAAF's #Ayuko Babu\u00a0 [Photo credit: Belle Niba<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]It was raining and pouring but Los Angeles filmmakers, celebrities, city officials, and media came out among others to show their strong support for the #Pan African Film Festival<\/a> (#PAFF<\/a>) on Thursday night. Guests graced the Director's Guild of America where the opening event was hosted, with their beautiful and colorful outfits. Among the guests was African Vibes Magazine Editorial Director, Amabel Niba.\n\nThe evening was kicked off by Ayuko Babu, PAFF's founder, and hosted by the charismatic and ever so charming #Blair Underwood<\/a>.\u00a0 Marla Gibbs<\/strong> was given the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award with a fun acceptance speech asking Babu to rename the award because she was not done yet. Also honored was Actor #Omar Benson Miller<\/a> (\u201cMiracle at St. Anna\u201d) for PAFF's Canada Lee Award. The funny actor left the podium saying \"I do not want to be one of those actors who are disillusioned by Hollywood. Instead of letting Hollywood work me, I will work Hollywood\".\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1106\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<\/a> Actor Blaire Underwood and African Vibes Magazine's Amabel Niba [Photo credit: Belle Niba<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]California Assembly Speaker #Karen Bass<\/a> flew in from Sacramento where she and her colleagues were working hard to get a very late state budget together, so she could be at this event. She was recognized for her commitment to supporting the exhibition of film, art and creative expression with the Community Service Award. Also awarded for her support and commitment to the festival was South Africa Consulate General\u00a0 Honorable #Jeanette Ndhlovu<\/a> who made guests laugh when she told everyone that Blaire Underwood had made a commitment to go Shark diving in South Africa. A scary prospect for such a favorite among women but a good-faith gesture all the same.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1107\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" class=\"expresscurate_contentTags\"]<\/a> #Dearra poses with African Vibes Magazine's Amabel Niba [Photo credit: Belle Niba<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]After the awards was a screening of the movie \"Jerusalema\". When asked about her impression of the festival and opening movie, African Vibes Editorial Director said \"This festival is so necessary. You can tell from the fliers and filmmakers who are here tonight and promoting their films, that they have worked really hard. We need to come out and show our support for them by watching their movies. We all owe our gratitude to Babu and his team for making it possible for black filmmakers from all over to expose their work, in effect sharing our stories with the community.\n\n\"As far as Jerusalema is concerned, I think Ralph Zinman made me proud. The story was engaging even though it was a little longer than I expected.\u00a0 Rapulana Seiphemo played his character, Lucky Kunene<\/em>, quite convincingly. South Africa is definitely taking the lead in film-making with films that can truly compete with the West; a reminder that the world has gotten smaller. I am sure there are many African filmmakers who are hot on the heels of Hollywood, working with less but making the most out of the tools and finance they have to produce some compelling films.\"\n\nNiba's statement rings true indeed and can be seen in the diverse storytelling of the filmmakers who made submissions this year. After the screening, filmmakers wasted no time in promoting their movies and encouraging guests and media representatives to screen them. The evening progressed with buffet-style dinner, cocktails, and a live music presentation from George Clinton's band. Overall the night was a success and a reminder that the success of those telling our stories needs the support of the community; our support.\n\nPAFF SCREENING DATES\n Ovie Mughelli - Image Credit: African Vibes Inspiration<\/em>[\/caption]\n\n28-year-old Ovie Mughelli is single, handsome, the highest-paid #fullback<\/a> in the NFL, and one of its hardest working athletes. In an interview with #African<\/a> Vibes Magazine's #Amabel Niba<\/a> for the Jan\/Feb 2009 Issue, Mughelli talks about his experience growing up in the US with #Nigerian<\/a> parents, their cultural differences and some of the challenges he had to overcome to become one of the best fullbacks in the NFL.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_293797\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"800\"] Getting to know Millionaire Fullback Ovie Mughelli - Image Credit: NRDC pix<\/a> from Flickr<\/a><\/em>[\/caption]\n\nThe Interview Preview:<\/strong><\/span>\n\nAmabel Niba:<\/strong> Did you feel any different from the African American kids?\n\nOvie Mughelli:<\/strong> I always knew I was different from the African American kids. My mother would usually say \"you are not like everyone else. You are an African child\". Some of the things that the other kids could do, I wasn't allowed to do.\n\nAmabel Niba:<\/strong> You took a tough journey and are now the highest-paid Fullback in the NFL. Did you ever doubt yourself?\n\nOvie Mughelli:<\/strong> I doubted myself in college. Wake Forest was a very distinguished school. I was the only football player there who tried to go Premed. Also, I was taking all the hard classes such as Organic Chemistry, Biology... I even took Anatomy. The students in the class were not athletes so they had twice as much time to study; to prepare and be involved in the class.\n\nBeing a student-athlete, I didn't have as much time. I was flying to Texas, New York ... all over the place to play games and then I had to practice. It was difficult for me. I would go to class sometimes, tired and sleepy drinking coffee trying to stay awake. I would sit in the class for an hour and have no idea what the teacher was saying yet the test was tomorrow.\n\nThere are times when I would say \"Am I even good enough to try to be a doctor like my Dad? Am I even good enough to be a pre-med student? The stuff is so hard. I can't even understand it.\" Whenever I got into situations like that, I would go back to what my parents taught me as a child.\n\nHowever, I would look at everyone in the class and say \"If these people can do it, I can do it too. I just have to work hard. There is no reason I can't do it. I just need to calm down, work harder, get more help and properly schedule my time.\" Time management is what my parents preach. That's how they got to where they are today. I had to cut out the partying, cut out hanging out with girls so I could spend more time on my major which was Sports Medicine. If I wanted to be good, I had to work at it.\n