Mandoza joins Engen to create an African Welcome

Mandoza fans are in for a treat. Early 2010 will see the launch of an exclusive open arms African Welcome project jointly created by Mandoza and Engen. The soccer influenced project is based on making all Engen customers feel like Champions with Engen’s brand promise “With us you are number 1”.

According to the press release, last month Engen approached Mandoza to join them on the project by recording an in-house song with production maestro Gabi Le Roux which has already been distributed to 40 000 Engen staff. Mandoza and Gabi are a known powerful combination for creating smash hits like “GODOBA”, “TORNADO”, “INDODA” to name but a few and not forgetting the mammoth hit song “NKALAKATA” which was the gigantic crossover song enjoyed by all nations in South Africa, Africa and countries around the world. A high quality music video has also been produced which will be played at all Engen stations country wide.

An exclusive magazine has been personally signed with a message written by Mandoza saying “My People, You Are My Champions! Be Number One!” Mandoza and Engen are proud and honored to be part of a South African dream come true!

It seems Mandoza keeps on making movies. From his breakout in Asia to his collaboration to create a sandal with the French sports clothing label Le Coq Sportif, his inclusion in the Umoja cast (debatable failure), and now this venture with Engen. Can't blame a guy for hustling.

District 9 does it again, for the second week in a row!

Last week we reported on YEAHBO.DOT.NET that the new local blockbuster DISTRICT 9 trashed local records as it topped the box office in it's opening weekend. It's done it again this past weekend by retaining its position atop the box office list.

DISTRICT 9 continues to hold the #1 position at the South African box office in its 2nd weekend on circuit (it released locally on the 28th of August) and has earned just over R4,600,000 to date and still going strong.

DISTRICT 9’s performance in its 2nd weekend is 28% better than the second weekend results for TERMINATOR SALVATION and well over double those of other local comparative releases, WHITE WEDDING and TSOTSI.

DISTRICT 9 features Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Kenneth Nkosi, Vanessa Hayward, Mandla Gaduka, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, David James, Louis Minnaar, Sylvaine Strike and many other recogniseable South-African actors.

The film was first showcased at Comic-Con in July 2009 in the United States and has been conquering the box-office and garnering rave reviews everywhere it’s released to date. It continues its extraordinary run at the US box-office, where it is on track to join the $100 million “blockbuster” list for 2009.

David James (in the role of Koobus) commented on the success so far on the film: “I am overwhelmed. Wherever I go people are talking about this movie, and the fact that I had the opportunity to be part of this great film is a real humbling experience.”

DISTRICT 9 is distributed by Ster-Kinekor Distribution in South-Africa.

Let's do it for the third time this coming weekend, go out there and catch DISTRICT 9 at Ster Kinekor cinemas nationwide this coming weekend and beyond.

Chill with MTVbase's VJ Sizwe on the Tropika Island of Treasure in Zanzibar!!!

Girls, and some boys, do you and a friend want to spend three sun-filled days with MTVbase’s VJ, Sizwe on the Tropika Island of Treasure in Zanzibar.

MTVbase is offering you the chance to win a trip to the ‘Tropikal’ island of Zanzibar, to spend three sun-filled days with MTVbase VJ, Sizwe Dhlomo. Sizwe is one of the celebrities who’ll be taking on the challenge in the Tropika Island of Treasure reality show, along with the who’s who of celebrities including Lira, Loyiso Bala, Kelly Khumalo, Hendrik Cronje, Trevor Noah, Bianca Le Grange, Tasha Baxter, Speedy and Sashi Naidoo. As the celebs and fans battle it out with various challenges in the hopes of becoming the winning team, you and your BFF could be sipping on cocktails, cheering Sizwe and the gang on.

Sound good? Entering is as easy as lazing on a deck chair – sms “TROPIKA” to 33393 and tell us in 20 words or less why you and a friend deserve to spend three sizzling days in Zanzibar. Sms cost R1.50. You can also enter online - just go to http://www.mtvbase.com/.

Enter now and stand a chance to win a once in a lifetime getaway with Sizwe in Zanzibar. Entries close 30 September 2009. Don’t snooze (unless it’s under a palm tree). If you live in South Africa, are 18 years or older, have a valid passport and can travel from 17 October to 20 October. It could be you!

Also check out the nominees for the MTV Africa Music Awards taking place in a few weeks at YEAHBO.DOT.NET and get voting for your favourite to walk away with the statuettes.

Shakespeare on stage for 2 nights only this October

Both theatre and big-screen fans get a two-in-one package deal. Cinema Nouveau has confirmed that Shakespeare’s popular romantic tragicomedy-fantasy ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL will be the next title for their series of live theatre-screenings at Cinema Nouveau. The play will be filmed live on stage at the National Theatre in London (as part of their NT Live-season, broadcasting theatre live to cinemas around the world), and screened exclusively in High Definition-quality at Cinema Nouveau Theatres on 22 and 28 October at 20:00.

The National Theatre London’s production of ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is directed by Marianne Elliott, and stars Michelle Terry and George Rainsford, with set designs by Rae Smith and lighting by Peter Mumford. “Marianne Elliott's wondrous revival... a fairytale for grown ups,” says The Guardian; while The Sunday Times UK proclaims it to be “a masterpiece!”

“The performances are uniformly excellent...Marianne Elliott's direction has a clarity not short of visionary,” states The Evening Standard. The Observer’s reviewer said that he would “…love to see it all over again!”

Set against a background of sexism, snobbery and a battle between the generations, Shakespeare's ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL turns fairytale logic on its head. A wondrous, bittersweet story following the feisty but lowly Helena (Michelle Terry), who falls in love with Bertram (George Rainsford), a haughty count. To gain his hand, she is set a string of impossible tasks. Even if accomplished, they can hardly guarantee his love. He refuses to bed her and yet says he'll only be hers if she bears his child; and he lusts after another. Nevertheless, our heroine, whether wisely or no, refuses to give him up.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is one of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic plays. It is part of that trio of early seventeenth-century works – the others are Troilus and Cressida and Measure for Measure – which are traditionally referred to as the ‘problem plays’ or the ‘dark comedies’. Nowadays we might call them ‘Shakespeare noir’.


Shakespeare’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL will be screened for two nights only, on 22 & 28 October at 20:00, at all 7 Cinema Nouveau-theatres nationwide; ticket price is R200 per person, which includes a full red-carpet theatre experience & refreshments:

Cinema Nouveau Rosebank (Jhb)

Cinema Nouveau Cedar Square (Fourways, Jhb)

Cinema Nouveau Bedford Centre (Bedfordview, Jhb)

Cinema Nouveau Brooklyn Mall (Pta)

Cinema Nouveau V&A Waterfront (CT)

Cinema Nouveau Cavendish Square (CT)

Cinema Nouveau Gateway (Umhlanga Rocks, Dbn)

Cinema Nouveau has acquired all the NT Live-titles for live theatre at Cinema Nouveau via international distributor BY Experience. This is the company that’s also behind the hugely successful Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – which is having its 3rd season-premiere at Nouveau later this year. The screening of NT Live’s ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL follows on the success of PHEDRE, which successfully launched live theatre at Cinema Nouveau to sold-out shows a few months ago.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is released by Ster-Kinekor Select in South Africa.

Cinema Nouveau offers customers multiple booking and information gathering options, including online bookings either on your WAP-enabled cell phone or PC via www.sterkinekor.com ; or by calling TicketLine 082 16789 (value added service rates apply), or book in cinema at the self service terminals (SSTs) or Box Offices. Ster-Kinekor Theatres – Always Better on our Big Screen.

MTVbase Nights rock Latinova in Jozi

MTVbase launched a series of themed night events a few months ago in different venues around the country where local talent is showcased, in support of the network's objectives. These parties/shows take place every first Friday of the month.

This past Friday MTVbase did it large as we ushered in the new season, Spring. The MTVbase Nights last Friday only featured 2 artists that were nominated in this year's MAMA's as MTV Africa's Road To The MAMA's. When the awards were launched last month, I asked MTV Africa's Communications Director if this project would happen this year in the build up to the actual event. She confirmed it will, but in a small scale with smaller events in clubs; and this past Friday just paid testimony to her response.

It was a great night filled with great music in the form of performances from MAMA nominees HHP and Gang Of Instrumentals (who featured super hip hop producer Omen in their first song), as well as hip hop deejays C-Live, Dimplez, Master M and Jay Music. Siya a.k.a. Slikour was the MC for the night and he did a great job getting the crowds hyped up. There was also a snippet where Proverb coached a young lady who wanted to face her MC'eeing fears as part of the Airwick Challenges that Airwick and MTVbase are doing.

Great music, great conversations with great individuals like HHP, Slikour, Melanie Ramjee and Sizwe Dhlomo, what else can a party-goer ask for. Oh, there were also some NBA players in the house.

Keep it locked here for next part of the MTVbase Nights taking place next month.