The Run Through

Not Such a Quickie Divorce for Thierry




"Thierry Henry’s ex wife Claire is reportedly demanding a £10million settlement. The pair split last year after 4-years of marriage and the model was granted a quickie divorce in September when she cited her husband’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’.


But Thierry, 30, has now hired top lawyers Mishcon de Reya to argue that he was a success before he met his wife and that she wasn't involved in his professional decisions.‘Thierry has made an offer to Claire, which she has turned down flat,’ a source tells The Sun. ‘His legal team have really come on strong — warning her to shape up for a messy and bloody battle.'



Claire, 27, who has hired Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, is also said to be demanding a cut their £5.9million marital home in Hampstead, north London - which he bought before they wed in July 2003." -- more at Now Magazine



Starbucks Beaned Out?




Starbucks posted its first quarterly loss as a public company for the first time in more than 15 years as restructuring costs wiped out its profits for the quarter - a closure of over 600 of their underperforming stores in the U.S. led to this -- who begged them?

It has been struggling in the US as consumers have cut back their spending on expensive coffee. Rising dairy prices have also raised costs and an increased competition with the likes of Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's introducing their own lines of gourmet coffee.

Starbucks said that there had also been a fall-off in customers in the UK, while sales growth had slowed in Canada.



What's On in Lagos? - Things Fall Apart




50 years on, Theatre@Terra presents live on stage, Chinua Achebe’s classic work-Things Fall Apart
Every Sunday in August
Written by Chinua AchebeAdapted for the stage by Biyi Bandele
Directed by Wole OguntokunAssistant Directors-Kenneth Uphopho, Sunkanmi Adebayo (Plus a pre-show bonus of drama sketches written by Wole Soyinka)
Venue - Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage St, Victoria Island
Time- 3pm and 6pm
Tickets – N2000
Produced By Wole Oguntokun
A Terra Kulture- Jasonvision Ltd -Hyve Ltd Production
For Tickets and Enquiries, please call 0702 836 7228, 0808 123 9477 or e-mail laspapi@yahoo.com




London - WLFF




An interesting Not for Profit Organisation known as "With Love From Friends" is hosting a launch event/fundraising ball this Saturday!




WLFF is an initiative started by six bright young ladies organisation dedicated to the advancement of quality education in Nigeria. It aims to work with charities and other school projects in Nigeria to raise funds, to provide BASIC resources for underfunded schools.


Their belief and saying is that..........................Education Rocks!!! (It does, doesn't it?)


So let's put our philanthropic hats on together and encourage these ladies. Go on, attend the event being held at Parker McMillan (venue details below). Visit their website and blog


Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 8:00pm - 2.00am

Parker McMillan, 47 Chiswell Street, EC1Y 4SB




Fashion Rocks Too!!



P&R's Rouse Collection is Here!







Lola Abiodun of Peridot and Ruby says:

--"I haven’t always been a fan of interviews, Period! While I understand that it is a way of getting people to know my work, my inspirations and goals, I also know that it’s a way to misinterpret one’s words. I have always wondered what my response would be if I was asked what inspires me. I would love to tell this elaborate story of how travelling, culture and all the good stuff inspire me but I can’t. So when I started working on this collection, I decided to pick at my thoughts and discover my inspirations. To me, this was an avenue to tell my story just as it is. Peridot and Ruby was as a result of having an idea of what the average woman is all about. She could be the lady next door, the mother, daughter, wife, celebrity, career woman. She could be anybody with the underlining factor, a sense of individuality. She is one who likes her style to reflect personality. No matter how glam and elaborate a woman may try to be, there is this idea of simplicity although relative, in each woman, because when I looked around to understand what simplicity means, I realised everyone interpreted it differently.For this collection, I tapped into lives of friends, family, acquaintances that inspired me to put the collection together. These women are representative of all women Peridot and Ruby caters to. In each designs, I worked delicately and consciously with each customer in mind, understanding style in its simplest form without losing the sense of individuality." --


Check out the rest of her collection here.....




Michelle Obama and Kanye West on Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed List




Speaking of fashion, Michelle Obama tops at number 2 just and Kanye pushes in at number 18! Hmmm that's wassup. More here....




Vogue Italia's Black Issue Sells Out!





40,000 printed issues (and counting...) later, this issue is hot! Can't wait to get my fingers on it!





As part of the Black BUT Invisible campaign to promote and get more models of colour into mainstream fashion I am supporting the push to make this the biggest selling issue ever by getting everyone to buy this copy of the Italian Vogue. The issue costs approximately £7.



To read more about modelling and the changes over the years in terms of discrimination against black models, click here

Run Down!!!


Info from the Past week or two:

9ice gets married to Toni Payne (they were actually on the cover and the main story of City People last week).




D'Banj Album Launch @ The Expo Centre, Oceanview - Friday 25th and Saturday 26th. Our governor and ex-governor attended the launch. Meanwhile, D'banj is such a good entertainer! It's Don Jazzy Again! Check out info on The Koko Foundation here.











Sound of Heaven

DStv and ONE Gospel recently hosted Nu Sound's Sound of Heaven Gospel event at the Muson Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The incredibly successful event marked the first of many promotional partnerships between the Channel and the massive Nigerian Gospel industry.










Also speaking of the MUSON Centre, Opera-singing soprano, Chinwe Enu performed their last month. Read more about her here or visit her blog








J Factor Auditions




The 1st round of auditions were held this past weekend and the weekend before.The final round of auditions for entry is this coming Saturday, August2nd 2008. To find out more about J-Factor and to see last year's J-Factor competition check out the website and the video. Michelle Mckinney-Hammond is one of the judges btw.



Naeto-C Album signing at The Palms, Lekki on the 13th of July - a few other new rappers on the scene performed, not bad.








Nollywood: Games Men Play Reloaded and Where Oceans Touch Double Premier at The Civic Centre, July 13th

In the words of Emem Isong and Vivian Ejike, both top moviemakers and producers of the blockbusters entitled "When the heart lies" and "Games Men Play-Reloaded", the historic premiere took place in Lagos at The Civic Centre on Saturday the 13th of July with tickets at N10,000 each.




Imagine,two movies, sixteen super stars, one venue and one screen. This movie which stars Desmond Elliot, Ramsey Nuoah Jnr, Van Vicker, Monalisa Chinda, Ini Edo and a host of other stars was jointly produced by Emem Isong and Desmond Elliot. When the Heart Lies stars Desmond Elliot and Omotola Ekehinde who acts as a singing sensation. More here!



Review

Thisday Fashion & Music 'Africa Rising' Festival Coverage

Interesting theme.....what they mean here is Africa is no longer becoming a place of aid but a place of investment :o)






It all happened in Abuja and Lagos last weekend (11th and 13th July respectively). The Nigeria line-up of stars included: Tyson Beckford, Jay-Z, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Fat Joe, Chris Aire, Naomi Campbell, Oluchi, Alek Wek, Ozwald Boateng, Deola Sagoe, 9ice, Basketmouth, Shank, Ikechukwu, D'banj, Wande Coal, 2Face, Don Jazzy, Jay Jay Okocha.


In pictures....



(a) The man himself, Thisday's CEO Nduka Obaigbena with Fat Joe in Lagos




(b) Naomi planting a tree in Abuja



(c) Mary J. Blige in Lagos - Polo club (dont know about that outfit gurll) (d) Usher performing in Abuja (we thought he was not returning to Lagos??)


(e) Tyson Beckford visiting an orphanage in Lagos

(f) Jay-Z and Rihanna performing in Abuja



We are guessing Beyonce couldn't make it because of her BUMP?!




Nduka, Naomi and Ozwald Boateng promoting the festival in the states


In words...

The star-studded lineup of performing artists and stars, this world-class festival is designed to communicate positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa's music, fashion and the arts. The continent's culture will be on full display as patrons will live the true African experience.


Venues:

July 11 - THISDAY Dome - Abuja, Nigeria
July 13 - THISDAY Center - Lagos, Nigeria
Oct. 14 - Royal Albert Hall - London, England

CONFIRMED DC HEADLINERS: Seal, Tyson Beckford, Naomi Campbell



In video...


Abuja





Naomi launches the festival tour





In reference - Thisday news, Facebook and Bella Naija




Stephie in Hollywood!



Stephanie Okereke now helps raise awareness about vesico vaginal fistula – an increasingly prevalent and traumatic medical condition among females on the African continent, particularly in places like The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia. She is also face of L'Maj cosmetics Hollywood/Beverly Hills based L'Maj!



Nigerian football conmen exposed (watch video)



Jobs n Stuff.....

Group Company SecretaryCompany Secretary/ Legal AdviserManager, Legal ServicesAssistant Manager, Legal Services. The person must have at least 7years Post Bar Experience (Manufacturing Background, is an added advantage). If you know anyone who is interested in a career move and fits the description above, kindly forward your CV to Ms. Obembe at OObembe@antal.com




Broadcasting Professionals



Aimed at senior broadcasters from developing countries working in both the public and private sectors, the scheme will bring a select group of broadcast professionals to the UK for 2 weeks from 20th - 31st October 2008. This will be the 13th such group we have brought to the UK since 1996. During this time a highly intensive and varied programme is set up, tailored to meet the interests of those selected to participate. It is a unique opportunity for the fellows to share ideas and experiences with each other and their UK counterparts, and to develop new goals. This is also a rare occasion for senior people in the UK media to learn about broadcasting issues and experiences from around the world.
More information at:
http://www.owbt.org/pages/Fellowships/apply.html

The deadline for receipt of applications in London is Friday 22nd August 2008 at noon (GMT).

07.07.08


Monday was the 3rd year anniversary of the 7/7 London bombing.

See the story here.


Also, in relation to the unfortunate event, a project titled The Forgiveness Project has come about. Click here to read the stories including that of Marie Fatayi-Williams, mother of Anthony Fatayi-Williams who was killed in the bombings - R.I.P


Nigeria for Obama??



As cute as this sounds, I just find it all very amusing. Nigerians put together a 4000 strong fundraising campaign to support Barack Obama last weekend at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja

Their notion is that the funds raised will be sent to the OBAMA campaign office as their own way of showing support for OBAMA since they are not eligible to vote as they are Nigerians based in Nigeria and not in America. - Is that right....

.....is that right? I dont think we have finished campaigning for each other but hey, who knows what Obama's plans for Nigeria will be if he is elected president :)


The Buzz

New music videos, click to watch.

Olu Maintain's Karmakazee -



Mo Hits Records' Pere -



Mo Hits Records' Close to you -


Etcetera's Life for you -



Pheel's God dey -



Naeto-C Press Release - see below


Blogville Idol 2008



Blogville Idols 2008 is here! Itt started yesterday and will go on till the 23rd of July. Check it out here


Two Nigerian Websites to check out:


- Luxury on Water


NAYO on the cover of July's True Love!



NAYO (N-áá-y-Ò) of Nigerian descent (culled from Odunayo) is really doing things....her album African Girl has also been included in Virgin Atlantic's inflight music programmes and magazine.


You can buy her album here and a copy of true love here.