Nokia Face Of Africa 2006

Nokia Face of Africa is the continent's own version of Next Supermodel. It started as a way to bring African beauty and fashion to the international stage. The finals are to be held next week. The top ten finalists will progress to the Nokia Face of Africa 2006 final, which will be broadcast live on M-Net (South Africa's entertainment channel) on Sunday, August 13. The finalists are Kea Basima from Botswana, Sandra Bigirimana from Burundi, Mirash Davis from Ghana, Catherine Hemans Yankey from Ghana as well, Andenyi Anjalo from Kenya, Venantia Otto from Namibia, Ishioma Onyebo from Nigeria, Melody Zulu from SA, Mulenga Mubanga from Zambia and Munira Namakula from Uganda.
Check out the official site for details on the young women who will be competing.

Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2006

Yes you guessed it!! Caribana week end is upon us. I was supposed to fly back to Toronto for the festivities but I couldn't. Oh darn. Well, there's still next year.
As you all know Caribana began as Toronto Afro-Caribbean community's salute to the country centennial year, exactly 39 years ago. It's been going on ever since. Attracting more than a million participants from around the Globe, it has become one of North America's biggest celebrations. You could experience any musical styles from Jamaican reggae, African djembe rhythms, Brazilian Samba, Haitian zouk or urban sounds, mixed in with calypso and soca vibes.
Check out the official site for details at caribana.ca . The event coincides with Toronto Black Pride . An eventful week end indeed since they both happen side to side. Happy Pride for those who'll attend.

Bill Gates donates almost a million dollars for AIDS facilities.

During a recent quick trip to the Great Lakes region of Africa, the wealthiest man on earth funded a Center for Training and Operation Research to serve five nations: Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The center to be built and operated in Kigali, Rwanda, which he visited allegedly along side Oprah ( the latter could not be confirmed), will be an ultra-modern facility run by experts under the coordination of Rwanda's AIDS Treatment and Research Center, said Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, executive secretary of Rwanda's National Aids Commission. Rod 2.0 has an excellent article on the philanthropist couple.