Every year, the Durban July horse race attracts thousands to the eastern city’s Greyville Racecourse – although the horses are somewhat overshadowed by the extravagant outfits.
A favourite with celebrities and politicians alike, the challenge this year was to create a timeless fashion piece, and use the elements of a watch face to inspire outfits, to fit in with the theme “It Is Time”.
It is the highlight of the South African social calendar.
Nominations are currently underway for the Zimbabwean Social Media awards and will close midnight on 8 of July 2018.
The Zimbabwean Social Media awards are intended to recognise and reward the most influential Zimbabwean social media personalities.
These awards are being held by the Tribe of Influencers who also pioneered the Zimbabwean Blog Awards earlier this year.
“The Zimbabwean Social Media Awards are primarily meant to highlight the marketing value of referrals, word of mouth and third-party endorsements.
“We want the brands to know that influencers exist in Zimbabwe and that they can prove their influence by mobilising their followers to vote for them.
“The awards are also an effective way of promoting best practices in social media marketing,” said Kudzanai Thondhlana, Business Development Manager at Tribe of Influencers.
The Zimbabwean Blog Awards garnered over 60 000 votes earlier this year. Showing that Zimbabwean personalities and platforms are creating genuine connections and followings with audiences within their various niches of focus.
“Social media has changed the way we interact with one another, share information, sell products and enjoy entertainment.
“It cuts across all sectors and is pivotal because it gives the consumer a voice. Referrals greatly influence purchasing decisions and social personalities have the power to influence buyers,” outlined Thondhlana.
Nominations and awards are an indicator of a personality’s influence. Being nominated will not only give these individuals public recognition but also the showcase their value addition to brands through the audiences they are connected to.
“We’re doing things differently this time. The panelist judges will shortlist the 5 final nominees that will be vying for the respective award in that category.
“From there the people will vote and decide the winner solely from the number of votes. It’s a simple popularity contest,” stated Thondhlana.
Tribe of Influencers recently introduced the #ZimFluential WhatsApp Masterclasses whereby every Wednesday a thought leader is invited to teach about a topic that they are highly knowledgeable in.
The Masterclass has attracted experts and members from across Africa. Through storytelling, direct teaching and communication on several social media platforms, the Tribe is equipping content creators with the knowledge that they need to improve their craft.
“We hope to build a sustainable, dynamic and viable creative industry. Through our various programmes such as the blog academy and upcoming new media conference, we hope to continue elevating content creators and sharing ideas that make for great content creation,” concluded Thondhlana.
Nominations for the Zimbabwean Social Media awards can be made here: http://www.tribeofinfluencers.com/nominations2/
Aside from watching the biggest football showpiece, the World Cup games on TV screens, DSTV has been offering fans a real-time experience with former players, celebrities, coaches and the like in a WhatsApp group chat.
All active DStv subscribers are eligible to take part in the experience by sending their name and smart card number to www.ultimatefangroup.com
Participants are then randomly selected from the entries and one Zimbabwean fan Melissa had the time of her life in a WhatsApp group chat that included Liverpool legend, John Barnes.
“I was interacting with John Barnes because YNWA. I’m a massive Liverpool fan and it was fun chatting with him about soccer,” she enthused.
Melissa who lives in Harare said she fell in love with soccer from as early as 3 years old when every Saturday and Sunday afternoon they would watch the EPL and the Serie A with her dad.
“Wanting to be like Dad I got sucked into it,” she recalls her first love with soccer.
She said the WhatsApp group was an amazing experience for her during the ongoing Russia World Cup.
“The group was awesome, very fun, it doesn’t get heated up in a nasty way but there is a lot of teasing and jokes.
“Carol Tshabalala and Neil Andrews and Usher Kumogisha and John Barnes were very vocal. You can tell they love their jobs and they always have great insight as well as questions,” she said.
Melissa who is a writer was one of the first lucky entrants into the Dstv fanalysis chat group
“Topics that ruled were the game at hand, African teams(obviously), the game from the night before and of course what we expected for future games,” she added.
Consumers of the colcom pies have been up in arms with the manufacturer from as late as last year.
The complaints were and still are that Colcom pies now have smaller meat than before.
A social media storm has been brewing and refusing to disappear as consumers demand a better product for their hard earned money.
The company, however, had been turning a deaf ear until recently when the complaints went into overdrive.
Yesterday they issued a statement on their official Facebook page which basically blamed new machinery for producing the smaller pies.
“We are naturally very concerned by the complaints and criticisms that Colcom’s pies are “not what they used to be”. Whilst this is true, we would like to clarify the changes that have been made, and the reasons therefore,” read the statement.
It continued “In August 2015 Colcom commissioned a new, largely automated plant to replace its previous aged and inefficient plant to increase production capacity required to meet the increase in demand.
While it was anticipated that the new plant would be able to produce similar pies, in practice this was found not to be the case.
“At the same time, we were increasingly conscious that a large proportion of our customers were asking for a more affordable pie.
“In order to achieve this, the plant was designed to produce a 100-gram pie, which at that time retailed at 39 cents to replace the previous 120-gram pie which retailed at 60 cents. (The current retail price for Colcom’s 100-gram pies, three years later, is 50 cents).
The company also said that it has trebled production to meet the substantial and growing demand for the pies owing to the upgraded pie manufacturing facility.
Said the rest of the statement:
We have listened to our customers and are well aware that there is a segment of our pie customers who would like to see the return of the “original” Colcom pies.
Whilst maintaining the original Colcom pie has been the objective since the commissioning of the new pie plant, and we have committed significant resources to achieve this result including seeking the assistance of international technical experts, it has until now not been possible to replicate all aspects of that product.
Japan’s World Cup dream was cruelly ended on Monday night when Belgium bagged a stoppage-time winner in Rostov.
An upset was on the cards as Akira Nishino’s men stormed into a 2-0 lead, but the Belgians hit back to level before Nacer Chadli popped up at the death to send them into the quarter-finals.
The Japanese players looked understandably dejected at the final whistle.
However, the team and fans put their disappointment behind them as they cleaned up the stands and even the away dressing room despite the 3-2 reverse.
“This is the Japanese dressing room after losing to Belgium in the 94′ minute,” wrote a FIFA employee alongside a picture of a pristine-looking changing area.
“Thanked their fans in the stadium, cleaned up everything (bench and dressing room) and spoke to media. Even left a note with ‘thank you’ in Russian.
“What an example for all teams!! Privilege to work with!”
Japan boss Akira Nishino was crushed after having a famous win ripped from his grasp.
He said: “I am devastated. Yes we took the lead but we couldn’t win. I don’t want to admit it. I do feel that it was a tragedy but I have to accept the defeat as a fact.
“Maybe it was my decisions as a coach or my tactics, and we couldn’t keep up with Belgium.”
Canadian-based Zimbabwean songstress Rain Akai is billed to perform at AfroFest 2018 scheduled for July 7-8 at Woodbine Park in Toronto.
Born Melissa Natasha Nyamushanya, Rain Akai will make her debut appearance at the 30th anniversary of AfroFest and what a big deal it is for the 24-year-old singer.
“It’s a two-day festival but my set is 15 minutes on July 7 starting at 5.45pm-6pm. I will be performing yet to be released songs.
“But I will have a jam packed show. So I am excited to represent my beautiful country Zimbabwe and put us on the map,” Rain Akai said.
As much as it is about national pride, Rain Akai says she will be representing for the ladies as well and women empowerment.
“They need to know that Zimbabwe has got talent. So it’s a big deal to be a part of that history,” she said.
Rain Akai is still put an album out but is sure to give fans (Raindrops as she calls them) a foretaste of the songs including the hit Netflix and Chills currently doing the rounds on the airwaves.
For those not in the know, Rain Akai is a university graduate from Brock University after finishing her studies in 2016.
She is a holder of an Honors Bachelor degree in Sociology with a major in criminology.
AfroFest is the largest free African Music Festival in North America. In a city in need of for positive and hopeful narratives, AFROFEST draws over 125,000 visitors to Woodbine Park each year to celebrate African culture.
Each year is larger than the previous and over half those present have been to at least five previous versions of the event.
AfroFestis a rare opportunity to speak to the African diaspora in a space that celebrates African culture.
Music Africa, the organizer for AfroFest, is also growing, with year-long programming bringing positive stories and experiences of African culture into schools, parks, and communities.
Due to demand, organisers of Loud Africa have extended the Harare auditions for the inaugural season to Sunday.
With over $30 000 worth of prizes to be won, the audition which saw a massive turn out during the past exit weekend will now run until July 1.
“We have decided to extend the auditions past the 28th of June to Sunday the 1st of July at 430pm,” said Loud Africa project manager Sandra Mlambo.
“This is because of the overwhelming late response we have had from the public asking for last minute auditions, we then decided that it would be good to give everyone an opportunity to showcase their talents.”
Harare auditions are being held at Pablo’Z located at Sam Levy’s Village from 0900am.
After the Harare audition, the call will then move to Gweru Pablo’Z from 2 to 12 July 2018.
The Making of LoudAfricaZW – Behind The Scenes
The Making of LoudAfricaZW – Behind The Scenes#AfricanFireAF #PablozProductions #ZBC #ZBCTV #PowerfmZimbabwe #LoudAfrica #LoudAfricaZW #BehindTheScenes #BTSYoutube: https://youtu.be/FuHqIBK62Ro
Posted by AfricanFire AF Media on Friday, June 22, 2018
Diego Maradona was taken from his seat and helped into his private box just moments after Argentina dramatically beat Nigeria 2-1 at the World Cup.
The former Barcelona and Napoli star was captured on camera holding on to one person while another attempted to guide him through the door.
The footballing legend looked agitated throughout. His mood was seen ranging from celebrating wildly to falling asleep, to giving a disgraceful two-fingered salute after Marcos Rojo’s late winner.
The World Cup-winning legend was then treated by two paramedics in a nearby room at the end of the game.
Reports in Argentina claim Maradona was then taken to hospital but sources at the ground say he was treated at the stadium’s medical centre.
Anxious medical staff at St Petersburg’s 64,000-seat Zenit Arena were seen checking his pulse and attempting to calm him soon after.
Maradona, who has battled cocaine addiction and wild mood swings, was caught on TV lunging forwards from his executive box seat and giving opposing fans below “the finger” with both hands.
The Mirror’s Darren Lewis, who was at the match, said: “Maradona has not gone to hospital. He was treated here at the Zenit Arena in the medical centre for a ‘blood pressure-related issue’
A preliminary diagnosis later confirmed he had high blood pressure and a heart murmur, according to reports.
Sources later suggested he recovered and boarded a private jet to fly to Moscow last night.
Fans had videoed him leaning against a barrier appearing unsteady on his feet at the match.
Hundreds of young hopefuls gathered at the Pablo’Z club in Harare during the weekend for a chance to audition on the new music talent search show, Loud Africa.
Excited and confident about their chances of success the artists queued outside the audition house as early as 8 am.
The Harare auditions which kicked off last week are in their final stages and are set to end on 28 June 2018.
Thereafter they move over to Pablo’Z Gweru from 2 to 12 July 2018.
The auditions, which ran for hours on Saturday, attracted interest from passing shoppers at the Sam Levi Village who expressed their enthusiasm about the upcoming latent search.
One Mrs Sterling said the country needed such properly funded talent shows so as to unearth the abundant talent we have.
“The last time we had something of this magnitude was during the CBZ A Academy days, and that’s a while back,” she said.
“From what I have been told here Loud Africa is going to be the biggest thing not only on TV but even on everyday conversations.”
Pablo’Z head of marketing, Lyndon Kapuya urged Harare artists to come and audition as the show auditions are now nearing the closing date.
“We do not want anyone with talent to be left out, young and old, both should come and register for a chance to win Loud Africa,” he said.
“So far we have had scores of talented artists from as far as Mutare, Norton, Marondera and other areas surrounding Harare.
He also said that schools which wanted to audition as a group are most welcome and they will pay the normal $15 registration fee.
The winner of Loud Africa will receive $30 000 worth of prizes among many things which include a full recording contract.
The show which will be hosted by radio presenter Rebbeca “Miss Becky” Muchenje will begin to air on ZBCtv end of July with the final expected before December.
Pablo’Z Productions in partnership with AfricanFire Media have invested heavily into the project and have purchased top of the range equipment
On its judges’ panel is radio and TV personality Zandile ‘The Zazalicious One’ Ndlovu, Power FM’s Hazvinei ‘DJ Chilli’ Sakarombe, singer Prayersoul, AfricanFire Media co-founder Martin Boka and singer-songwriter Victor Stot.
Check out some of the exciting stuff happening Loud Africa
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