MTVbase Nights goes BLK and GOLD

It's happening again !!! Latinova in Rosebank will be hosting the MTV Africa Music Awards nominees party on 2 October in anticipation of the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards to be held in Kenya on 10 October.

Join us at our MTV base night on 2 October at Latinova in Rosebank as we celebrate the upcoming MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain. The MTV base night’s have become one of the most anticipated monthly events on the social calendar. Hosted on the first Friday of every month, MTV base nights is the place to be. Throw on your freshest threads and make sure you’re at the MAMAS MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain base night.

There’ll be a killah performance from Shugasmakx or Smakx, as he is affectionately known, one of the founding members of Skwatta Kamp. Kwela Tebza and Slikour will be performing their hit single ‘Umsindo’. To add to the party vibe, ex YoTV presenter, Psyfo, will be performing a couple of his chart topping hits from his newly released album “The After Party”. Catch his new single “Double Cross”, as it hits the MTV base play list from Wednesday, 23 September.

Mixing it up till sunrise on the decks is DJ’s Dimplez, C-Live, Milkshake and resident DJ Biz. Your host with the most for the night is MTV base VJ Sizwe. Tickets available at the door. Dress code – award winning threads!

Follow the base nights page on FB, and on http://mtvstreetteam.blogspot.com for competitions, reviews and more.

Check out YEAHBO.DOT.NET for the complete list of MAMA nominees and get voting.

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.

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.

Jozi walk away with an MTV African Music gong for Best Live act

Abuja in Nigeria was the place to be this past weekend as the inaugural MTV African Music Awards with Zain went down. The assortment of winners and performers for the night also proved that the African spirit and unity were alive and well. This resulted in the ceremony enjoying a thunderous success.

It seems Les' cries were head (well, not precisely so) as Jozi walked away with the award for Best Live act. Many may remember when the one third of the energetic hip hop outfit made headlines criticising South Africans for not voting in awards that require the public votes. I'm extremely excited and feel they more than deserve the accollade as they are absolutely the best in their live performances. Other South Africans that put the country on the map were the rockers Seether who took the golden mic for Best Alternative ensemble. Also, it's said that the most poignant moment of the night was when MTV paid homage to two of Africa's most treasured legends, including Mama Africa Miriam Makeba, who passed away just a few weeks before the awards ceremony.

The biggest winner of the night at the first ever MTV African Music Awards with Zain was Nigerian music extraordinaire D'Banj. He scooped the statuettes for Best Male, Artist Of the Year and Viewer's Choice categories. Other winners included Kenya's Wahu as Best Female for the night; Alicia Keys crowned for Best R&B (award accepted by my wife in my head :-), Kelly Rowland on Alicia's behalf), as well another of the most coveted categories Best Group, which was awarded to Nigerian twin-duo P Square.

The performances wing of the awards is said to have been sizzling hot too, with an electrifying collaboration between Kelly Rowland and D'Banj; an intense dance-off between P Square and Jozi; a soulful delivery by Paris-based Nigeria's Asa; as well as a thrilling showcase by FloRida and The Game. Apparently, other noteworthy highlights included sterling perfromances from HHP, 9ice, Cassette, Jua Cali, Naeto C, Ikechukwu and Fela Kuti's (who was honoured with MAMA Legend award) son Sean Kuti accompanied by his father's band Egypt 80.

It sounds like it was a memorable night and a great beginning for the MTV African Music Awards with Zain. We can only hope that it grows bigger and better. Alex Okosi did mention at a press conference in Jozi during the Road to MAMA's tour that the awards ceremony will be taken around the continent, so I'm waiting with excitement for Mzansi's turn in the next few years.

If you missed out on all the festivities, please tune into MTVbase in the next few days as I'm sure Sizwe and Fikile will bring you snippets behind the velvet rope of the MAMA's.

Jozi and The Game rock at The Road to MAMA's

We are just a few days away from the very first ever MTV African Music Awards with Zain, taking place in Abuja, Nigeria on the 22nd of November 2008. Leading to the big event, MTV has been staging shows dubbed Road To MAMA's continentally since last Tuesday. On Thursday was our turn to experience the thrill after their stop in the DRC. On the Mzansi lineup was controversial U.S. rapper The Game, accompanied by our own sizzling hip hop outfit, Jozi; part South African and part American soul singer Goapele; local rockers The Parlotones and Cassette; as well as another local hip hop giant HHP.

Earlier in the day I attended the press conference paneled by, amongst others, MTV Networks Africa Senior Vice President and Managing Director Alex Okosi, who is always such a pleasure to talk with because of his humility and friendly nature; Zain's Marketing Director, Gill (sorry, can't remember her surname); and the artists Goapele, Les and Bongani from Jozi (with Ishmael making a late appearance), Khan from The Parlotones and Zambian volcalist, Danny. The headliner, The Game, was there too, only towards the end of the conference as he was dismally late. The press conference was started without him, 1 and a half hour after the scheduled time. What's even more sad is that once he stormed in, with an entourage of more than 10 people, everybody else on the panel seemed to have been forgotten by the media that posed questions.

I must say I was very impressed with the way he handled the questions though, speaking very eloquently. He touched on a few topics, amongst them mentioning his experience in the DRC, addressing why he brought such a large entourage, as well as his views on how people have lost the definition or meaning of rap beefs. The Game emphasised how important it is to surround yourself with friends and family, resulting in bringing his friends to share his African experience. He also made mention of his rivalry with Dr. Dre, uttering that he hasn't spoken or seen his "mentor" in over a year. He added, "Dre abondoned me. And if he were to ask me to appear on Detox, I would decline".

The array of subjects that The Game touched on also included his views on President Elect Barack Obama, congratulating and comparing his election triumph to that of Mandela's in 1994. Raising eyebrows in the room, he gleefully quipped, "I have killed and fought to survive", when he was asked about some of the challenges he has gone through in his life. He emphasised, however, that he is not proud of those experiences of his life.

Jozi also talked about their journey since bursting into the music scene about 3 years ago. Bongani seemed very emotional and lost for words whenever he spoke about his mother Brenda Fassie. With the recent passing of the legendary Miriam Makeba, many spoke about her achievements and how they are willing to honour her legacy. Alex Okosi excitedly announced, "We are planning on acknowledging Mama Africa during the awards show. It's a pity that this happened at this stage of the preparations because we would have loved to do more. But, there are more ceremonies to come in the future."

Later than evening, we were treated to just a taste of what's in store for the actual awards ceremony this coming Saturday. Danny opened the bill, followed by HHP, who always mesmerizes me with his live sets. Although all their performances were quite short, due to time constraints, my highlight for the night has to be Jozi, who have shown a great deal of growth since their introduction into the music scene. Their performances are always so energetic, thrilling and sincerely entertaining. They brought out a Nigerian group of dancers when their set began, exciting the audiences with their bold and interesting moves. It wasn't just their moves that left the crowds gasping for more, but their engaging interaction with their audience.

I need to utter my disappointment in the crowd's reaction to Goapele's performance. They seemed bored and detached from what was going on. However, I must also point out that it was mostly a hip hop crowd present and probably couldn't relate to the type of music she does. It was only at the end when she did her smash hit Closer, that the crowd seemed to warm up and sing along, but it was too late since that was her closing tune. The Parlotones and Cassette also gave it their all, sampling all their greatest hits we have come to love from both the groups. The Game, the headline act, also did the same. He rapped on songs that have made him popular, from his G-Unit days to the present. Although at times a bit cynical (like taking unwarranted stabs at his former G-Unit frontman 50 Cent), he held it down and gave a great performance. Apparently, me and a friend missed out on a great treat from a 7-year old Soweto boy who stole the show at the end of The Game's set, because we ran out just before the end to avoid the traffic out of the venue.

It was a great evening, filled with loads of entertanimnet. I didn't even chill at the VIP suites because all the fun was down there in front of the stage. The Road To Mama's continues in Zambia and Nigeria this week, before the spectacular finale planned for Nigeria on Saturday. Those that are lucky will get to experience what we did last Thursday and even more at the MTV African Music Awards with Zain on the 22nd of November 2008 in Nigeria. If you can't be there, don't worry, MTV has you covered as they will broadcast the show on MTVbase.

Photos by Xolani Matshikwe

The Game gives Mzansi a taste of the MAMA's

We are only about 10 days away from the first ever MTV African Music Awards with Zain (MAMA's) scheduled to take place in Abuja, in Nigeria on the 22nd of November 2008. On the road to the MAMA's, MTV is staging a spectacular concert featuring some of the biggest artists that will also be giving their all at the MAMA's next weekend. Taking place this coming Thursday, 13 November 2008, at Standard Bank Arena, from 18:00, it's set to be just a taste of what to expect at the actual awards in Nigeria.

On the bill for Thursday is U.S. rapper The Game; local hip hop masterminds, HHP and Jozi; and Mzansi's rock extraordinaires, Cassette and The Parlotones. These nominees will also perform at the MAMA's, joined by other world superstars including charismatic R&B princess Kelly Rowland, and Paris-based Nigerian soulstar Asa. MTV VJ's Fix and Sizwe will be compeering for the night.

The tickets to Thursday's show, only going for R150, are available now at Computicket outlets, at Shoprite retail shops, and will also be available at the door at the Standard Bank Arena on the night of the show. Don't miss this opportunity for a taste of what to expect at the MTV African Music Awards with Zain on the 22nd of November 2008. Otherwise, you can catch the awards live on MTVbase.

And, don't forget to vote for your favourite band in the Listener's Choice Award category. You can vote at the MAMA's official website at mama.mtvbase.com, where voting is open until the 18th of November 2008. Nigeria is going to be rocking. Expect some sizzling and spectacular entertainment at the first ever annual MTV African Music awards with Zain.