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South African actor and producer dies aged 47

The creative industry in South Africa thrown into mourning after Arthur Aron’s untimely death. [Image: Courtesy]
South Africa—Aron Arthur Ferguson, Botswana-born South African actor, executive producer, and co-founder of executive films has died aged 47.

Ferguson was married to Connie Ferguson and is well known for his roles in Generations, The Queen, and recent most roles in The Kings of Joburg on Netflix.

Gatherings have indicated that he had undergone heart surgery at the Milpark hospital in Johannesburg a week ago after complaining of chest pains.

While addressing the media his brother said: “We have lost a great soul as a family and a country. We really don’t know who will fill his gap. His support was extended not to his domestic family alone but to us too. It was our hope that maybe after the surgery he would be back into his feet but the untimely death crippled in. So sad.

“Plans and arrangements for the funeral are not in place as none still believes this but family members will soon sit and do some agreement.”

He was echoed by Jasen Jasen who played a key character in The Queen film saying; “Ferguson passing on is a blow to and a big loss to the film industry. We have lost one very zealous creative. His support has been real especially in The Kings of Jorbug so many young talented creatives have been featured.

“We hope that his legacy will be passed on and here we shall try to combine efforts so that his legacy is kept alive and well in generations yet to be born. He was unmatchable we shall dearly miss him.”

Conard Mwanza a representative from the Ferguson Foundation, told the press that he died from Covid 19 related complications.

Born in Botswana in 1974, Ferguson started a production company in 2010 and with his wife Connie, starred in the Company’s first TV production, Rockville, in 2013. TV channel Mzansi Magic renewed the show for season five this year.

Nigeria’s author Chimamanda asks women to support their own gender

Chimamanda asks men to consider reading women’s stories, to salvage generations to come. [Image: courtesy]
Nigeria—Celebrated Nigerian author and scholar Chimamanda Ngozi has advised men to read women’s stories so that to curb the rates of violence against women.

While making a case for the power of storytelling to change the world, Her lecture, entitled “The idolatry of Theory: A Defense of Storytelling,” started with a story from her own life. She said a woman had once told her and a few others that she often found that women were their own enemies.

Ngozi Adiche said that she and her women immediately lambasted the speaker despite the experiences she had shared about having had a difficult relationship with other women.

“The rest of us immediately said, you cannot say that. We did not engage with what she said. We silenced her. My voice was one of the loudest in that silencing. But even as I was silencing her I asked myself why her words made me uncomfortable.

“After moments of silence and as the speaker continued, I moved closer to my allies and asked them why we had to do that to a fellow woman. More important to one who was simply passing a message of hope and discipline to fellow women. We were ashamed of our actions.

“After that, it was clear that if we continued rubbishing our own gender then it’s quite obvious we shall never stand. Even when the male gender chooses to support us it will be waste of time.

“It’s upon us to support ourselves, read our stories, write our stories, publish our stories in whatever channel, give our stories the flavor we wish, then gents here will also choose to read the stories and support us.” Spoke Chimamanda.

Ngozi Adichie’s lecture was, according to Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamkgethi Phakeng, being watched by more than 5000 people across the continent and the world.

Natangwe taking over Namibia’s  music production industry

Natangwe the producer lives and breathes music. [Image: courtesy]
Namibia—One of the biggest and celebrated music producers in the northern region of Namibia is Natangwe Mexico Linus. He has produced unmatchable singles and albums for many in the creative industry.

Natangwe at a tender age failed to attain sufficient points in grade 12, he tried Namcol to boost his subjects to a better result but equally failed. With failure after another in class, he chose a different path of music and entertainment.

He engaged in little selling of fresh farm produce from his home after which he started a small music studio where he is currently doing his music production. He started his music career when still in school at Okalongo SSS in 2008, where he had a group called (Lil Mex and King Dalla).

“While doing Namcol, I moved to Ongwediva, where I started my studio, YKMP (Young King Music Production). Ongwediva had so many studios so I decided to move my studio to Odangwa because I felt like there is no music competition at Odangwa when it comes to music production.” He said

Adding that “I have been doing music even when young and I had the needed flavor and test at my phalanges, with that in mind I also knew the artists would support me by choosing my production studio. And fortunately, that’s how it turned out to be.”

Namibia’s music industry has not been hitting airwaves, claims pointed to the language barrier, as only a small population could understand and write English. The majority embraced Arabic, a notion that Linus has been trying to dilute.

“With the entry of Linus here in Odangwa, apparently his presence has been felt. Musicians would prefer him over other producers because of his ability and matrix to change Arabic to English beats and vice versa. He equally understands the languages so artists have a thing for his studio.” Spoke Al hufgah, a Namibian artist.

Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega bags first athletics gold medal in Tokyo Olympics

Ethiopi’a’s Selemon Barega wins a 10,000m race in Tokyo Olympics. [Image: courtesy]
Ethiopia—Selemon Barega an Ethiopian athlete has won the first athletics gold of the Tokyo Olympics. A quick finish from Barega saw him clock ahead of Uganda’s world record holder Joshua Cheptagei who bagged Silver.

Earlier in the athletics Marie Josee Ta Lou equaling the African 1000m record as she qualified for Saturday’s semi-finals.

The first gold of the Tokyo Olympics was won by Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega as he won the men’s 10,000m.

The 21-year-old’s fast finish was too first for the world record holder and champion from Uganda Joshua Cheptegei who had to claim silver ahead of the compatriot Jacob Kiplimo in third.

In the heats of the women 5000m Kenya’s Hellen Obiri who won Silver, and in  Rio Games in 2016, finished second in her heat behind the fastest in the world this year. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, she also qualified for Monday’s final.

Three other Africans qualified for the Semifinals, are the Nigerian duo of Blessing Okagbare and Gra Nwokocha as well as the Gambia’s Gina Bass, who set a new national record of 11.2s in her heat.

“I am just in shock, I know I was ready but I was not planning to run as fast in the first heat I just ran relaxed, I pushed for 50m and then I was gone, that track must be fast, so we will see tomorrow,” Ta Lou said after the race.

“My training since 2019 has not been that easy because I have made many injuries even this year, I didn’t know how first I was going to be but God knows best.”

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase Ethiopia’s Lamech Girma qualified fastest for Monday’s final and will be joined in that race by compatriot Getnet Wale.

Also through are Kenyans Benjamin Kigen and Abraham Kibiwott, Eritrean Yemane Haileselassie as well as Moroccan duo Soufiane El Bakkali and Mohamed Tindouft.

Tanzania: Al Ahly salivates for Simba SC midfielder Luis Miquisonne

Luis Miquissonne celebrates a win against Al Ahly at Benjamin Mukapa Stadium in Tanzania. [Image: courtesy]
Tanzania—Simba Sports Club midfielder, Luis Miquisonne, has disclosed his transfer talks linking him with a move to Egypt’s Al Ahly who are equally this season’s CAF Champions League winners.

The Mozambican midfielder was among the key players for Simba SC as the club tremendously performed in the CAF Champions League.

Simba SC made it to the last eight’s stager of the premier continental football competition at club level before they were eliminated by South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs (Amakhosi), on a 4-3 aggregate defeat.

Luis was particularly impressive when Simba SC came up against the Egyptian giants, scoring an exceptional goal during their first meeting at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Group A saw Simba humble Al Ahly a 1-0.

Miquissone said that what he is facing now is common during the transfer period though those teams that have been salivating for him should first come to Simba SC leadership as he is still having a live contract with the club.

“You know everything about my registration with Simba SC, I still have a contract with them so if there are other teams that need me, they should first start there and then I will be informed by my officials,” SpokeLuis.

His goal against Al Ahly could be considered the best goal of the tournament this season. The Mozambican revealed. “What I know is that there are many teams, not only here in Africa but also in Europe. I have many agents, I have directed them to my club leadership.”

Luis currently has one and half year contract with Simba SC. Earlier Simba’s leadership, through the club’s director vice-chairman, Salim Abdallah, said they are ready to let Miquissone go if the clubs that want him will raise the amount of cash needed.

“That is our position…if there is any team out there that needs Luis, they will agree to give us the amount we are asking for, then we will release him.” Abdallah said.

 

ZAMBIA: Chipolopolo recalls Chambeshi after Micho’s exit

Beston Chambeshi reappointed Interim boss at Chipolopolo [Image: Courtesy]
Zambia—Beston Chambeshi a former Zimbabwean under 20 national coach, has been appointed interim Chipolopolo coach by the Football Association of Zambia.

Chambeshi returns for the third time as a stand-in Chipolopolo coach. He will be leaving Nkana FC as he replaces Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic who left the team by mutual agreement on July 17 after Chipolopolo failed to defend their COSAFA Cup title when they made their first-round exit at the tournament held at Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa from July 6-18.

His assistant coach will be the current Zesco United coach Mumamba Numba.

“In addition, the executive committee appointed Croatian Aljosa Asanovic as Technical Advisor as part of the technical bench. The reconstituted bench will be in charge for three months,” FAZ spokesperson Sydney Mungala said.

Asanovic comes with support from the Croatia Football Federation through as part of the technical agreement they have with FAZ.

Chambeshi was in charge of Chipopolo in the 2018 COSAFA cup though they lost 4-2 in the finals to record six-time champions Zimbabwe.

He then returned in 2019 for three away June friendlies against Cameroon that they lost 2-1 in Madrid, Morocco whom they beat 3-2 in Casablanca, and Cote d’Ivoire who beat Zambia 4-1 in Diha.

Chambeshi was earlier coaching Zambia under 20 national team, and managed to win the 2016 COSAFA U20 Cup and later lifted the 2017 AFCON under 20 title as hosts before they reached the 2017 FIFA World Cup Quarter Finals in South Korea.

His assistant coach Numba has been a recurring member of the Chipolopolo bench over the past four years and led the Zambia Under-17 national team to their debut COSAFA U17 Cup triumph in 2017.

Numba is fresh off guiding Zesco United to their ninth league title in his first season at the helm

KENYA: ANC’s Mudavadi retaliates his 2022 presidential ambition is unstoppable

Mudavadi meets Kenyans at grassroots level in Central. [Image: courtey]
Kenya—Political drumbeats are getting even louder in Kenya. And the Amani National Congress boss Musalia Mudavadi has held firmly his stance of not playing second fiddle in next year’s presidential election, ambitions of his counterparts notwithstanding.

He is currently a key player in the One Kenya Alliance which has not yet settled on their flag bearer. Other partners in the coalition are; Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Gideon Moi (Kanu) who equally are eying the country’s top seat. Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula is also a member of OKA.

Musalia Mudavadi will be taking a second try in the voyage to state house after trying in 2013 without success. Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka has also been endorsed by his party for the top seat and says OKA should consider seniority in the selection of the flag bearer.

Kalonzo is 67 years old, Mudavadi 60, Wetangula 64 while Gideon Moi is 57. Mudavadi’s affirmation that he must reach the ballot is not a recent talk as he started the conversation in 2017.

“I just want to reassure you my people that I’m in the field. We shall fight with my competitors up to the year 2022. I will be there, God willing. I’ll be in the field in 2022 and there are no two ways about it,” Mudavadi told Kakamega residents in October 2019.

When reached for comment he boldly repeated that he will be present on the ballot, ready to represent Kenyans.

“I am selling my agenda to all Kenyans and that is why you are seeing me visiting various counties to get to understand their respective areas of concern so that we look for solutions together,” he said.

“This time, I am going all the way to the ballot. Watch me,” he added.

His party members and allies have also ruled out the possibility of him playing second fiddle.

 

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari accused of selective justice

President Muhammadu Buhari faces a series of accusations ranging from subverting the law to contempt of court orders. [Image: courtesy]
Nigeria—A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and ex-presidential hopeful Kingsley Moghalu, yesterday asked President Buhari to pursue the needed process in the case of deputy commissioner of police Abba  Kyari who is currently under the custody of the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

According to the FBI Kyari should be pulled out of his country for grilling and probing following allegations against him in the US by suspected internet fraudster Ramon Olorunwa Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi.

Moghalu said on his Facebook page yesterday that the FBI request for the extradition of Kyari would put Buhari and Nigeria in the global limelight.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has frequently opted for subjective loyalties over real political will on national security and fighting corruption,” he said.

“It’s one thing to go to great lengths in seeking to extradite Sunday Igboho from the Benin Republic and the apparent extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nmadi Kanu from God knows where.

“It’s another to respect International law in black and white it comes to certain Nigerians.

“Nigeria and the United States have an extradition treaty and it has been used in a number of cases, but it’s quite unfortunate that the justice is so selective, something that President Buhari is aware but not ready to take the challenge and rectify, for him, so long as the pendulum is shifted to his favor or his kinsmen favor then nobody should question that.

“Is this a bone in the throat? Is it something to waste funds and time debating about? How many such instances have we had before? It would be an honor to give the devil his due, we’re in for that as Nigerians and as keen observers of the law.

“What leadership calls for is obvious. President Buhari should respect laws and follow due process. We are watching.”

South Africa’s crime figures used as propaganda to scare away investors

Minister of Police Bheki Cele at a Media briefing in Durban. [Image: courtesy]
South Africa—Statistics in South Africa’s recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces are being used as propaganda to scare away tourists, according to police minister Bheki Cele.

Cele, along with national police commissioner General Khela Sitole and other top cops were grilled by parliament’s police portfolio committee on Thursday on issues ranging from the gutting of the SAPS budget to the command structure of the military.

While replying to questions by ANC MP Asnath Molekwa about potential investors being scared away from South Africa because of the country’s high crime figures, Cele said statistics have been used globally as an economic barrier to making tourists chose a certain country at the expense of another.

“It is used as propaganda especially when it comes to tourism and investment,” he spoke.
Cele used Rio de Janeiro as a city whose attractions hid another reality.

“They talk about beautiful women, beautiful beaches, all kind of stuff,” he said.
Tourists were informed by officials, not to take cameras into Rio’s notorious favelas shanties because of an agreement they have with drug lords not to film video or capture pictures, he alleged.

“You don’t have a situation where you’ll have an agreement between the SA Police Service and the drug lords, “he said. “There you can’t go into favelas as a member of the police force because you need permission from the drug lords. You can never hear about these things.” He added.

Molekwa noted in her questions that SA was ranked as the third-most dangerous country in the world, according to the Number 2021 crime index.

As Pretoria is said to be the second most dangerous city in the globe after Carcas, Venezuela, while Durban and Johannesburg took fourth and fifth respectively, according to Numbeo data.

“If the crime rate is out of control in the country no one will take the risk of investing in South Africa.” Said Molekwa

Nigerian Track and Field Athletes disqualified in Tokyo, Japan

Nigerian athletes stage protests in Tokyo Japan over disqualification. [Image: courtesy]
Nigeria—Nigerian athletes have staged  demonstrations and protests in Tokyo Japan Olympic games after ten of them were disqualified from taking part in the track and field events in the on-going Olympic competitions.

With gathering revealing that twenty athletes, including ten from Nigeria were expelled from taking part in track and field at the Olympic because they did not meet the anti-doping test requirements in the lead-up to the games.

According to the body running the anti-doping program for the sport, Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), athletes from countries categorized as high risk, because of deficiencies in their testing program are required to be given three no-notice out of competition tests in the 10 months leading to a major event.

Following the untimely disqualification, the athletes took to the street’s to make their feelings known. The athletes carried placards with inscriptions like: Why should we suffer for someone else’s negligence,” “All we wanted to do was to compete” and “we are not just alternates but potential medalists.”

Grace Obina could not hide her sentiments as she said, “We have invested much in this competition, blood and water and here we are suffering a blow that we should not.  The Athletics Integrity Unit is wrong in its move, and they are aware. Nigeria is not a high risk country and if anything the pandemic emanated from the west not any African country.

“We understand our capacity and they should come out in black and white to tell us what’s the essence of this.”

Backing her sentiments Tom Bulefu said, “We have done all the required tests and it’s clear non is positive of the malady, then why this segregation in the name of a three months’ notice? I mean that’s sad and totally uncalled for.”

Meanwhile, on Friday the duo of Blessing Okagbare and Grace Nwokocha qualified for the 100 meters semi finals of their different heats

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