The Workshop is an opportunity for all photographers professional or amateur to hone their photography skills by learning from some of the best in the business.

The one week intensive program will take participants through the tricks of the trade and provide in-depth, practical  and hands on photography instruction that can be used to dramatically improve day to day creative skills as well as practical insight for those hoping to enter into the business of photography .

With the guidance of our professionals, learn how to shoot and edit photographs for Portraiture, Beauty , Fashion and Weddings, get involved in interactive knowledge exchange sessions with instructors and other participants and most importantly , have  lot of fun.

Size of class

For this season of The Workshop, registration will be available for only 20 Participants. Participants will be signed up strictly on a first come first serve basis.

Outline of class

Introduction to Photography (Basics and Demystifying the Technicalities) (B&D) Learn Beauty Photography Lighting and Retouching with Beauty and Celebrity Photographer Aham Ibeleme (B Aham-1)

Learn Portraiture Lighting and Retouching with Portrait and Celebrity Photographer August Udoh (P August-2)

Learn Fashion / High Fashion Lighting and Retouching with Fashion and Celebrity Photographer Emmanuel Oyeleke (F Emmanuel-3)

Learn High End Wedding Photography with Stunning Wedding and Portrait Photographer Gaz Madu (W Gaz-4)

and Finally Sharpen your Photography Business Skills with Macaulay Ayobami (B Macaulay-5)

Outline

Monday 21st   TO  Friday 25th July 2014

Classes from Monday – Friday will include

10am – 11:30 am (Lecture) | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm (Break )  | 12:00pm – 2pm Practicals

B Aham-1 :  (B&D) Monday 21st of July 2014

P August-2: Tuesday 22nd of July 2014

F Emmanuel-3 : Wednesday 23rd of July 2014

W Gazie-4:  Thursday 24th of July 2014

B Macaulay-5:  Friday 25th of July 2014 (1hr talk from 12pm to 1pm with question and answer session)

Venue

Suite 5 Amethyst Block, All Seasons Plaza , Lateef Jakande Rd,Agidingbi, Ikeja , Lagos.

Fees

N50’000

Please Pay To

GTbank A/C

Orbit Imagery Ltd

0051287774

please hold on to your teller.

payment confirmation will be sent to your email

www.theworkshopng.com

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Dan Jay who is signed under Seduction Records and KayGold Media who brought us 'The Way She Dance' which featured top notch producer 'GospelOnTheBeatz' is back again with his second official single 'Habunnani' a reggae dance hall tune.
Dan Jay gets inspiration from artiste like 2face, Vybes Kartel, Bob Marley, Usher Raymond and Rasky Mono. He's also presently working on the remix of Habunnani with an A-list artiste and is to be released as a shocker to his fans with the video in a few weeks.

Dan Jay is presently in the studio working endlessly with top artistes in Nigeria and America at Large and will be dropping a compilation of good music by December.
'Habunnani', Listen and Enjoy.

LISTEN TO 'HABUNNANI'
http://old.hulkshare.com/kaygoldmedia/habunnani-danjay

Direct Download
http://old.hulkshare.com/dl/h301sd220ao0/Habunnani-danjay%20(produced%20by%20formidable)?d=1

CONNECT WITH 'DAN JAY'
Twitter: @Danjayseduction

The post New Music: Dan Jay-’Habunnani’ appeared first on Aphroden.

Royal Records present IFE OTITO (True Love), the brand new debut single by beautiful singer/model, KingsQueen.
Celebrating the beauty & strength of Love, the song was beautifully composed in English & Yoruba (a popular Nigerian dialect) and produced by Kayode Omotade.

Shot on a beach location on the outskirts of Lagos, the video was directed by Frizzle & Bizzle Films and includes cameo appearances by top Nigerian singer, Nikki Laoye &  Temisan Ikomi (popular Dance Choreographer).

ABOUT KINGSQUEEN

KINGSQUEEN aka Ifeoluwatomiwa Faith Solaru is a singer/songwriter/rapper/Dancer/Poet and Model.
Born on June 29th 1981, She hails from Iperu Remo Ogun state and is a graduate of History and International Studies from the Lagos state University.
Kingsqueen's love for music began at the tender age of 6 and she grew up singing with various church and school Choirs. Presently, she sings with her current Church Choir - House on The Rock, Lagos.
She also was a member of a girl group called the RARE GEMS in the University of Lagos, in the early years of the 20th century with a demo debut titled A KING which enjoyed airplay across Nigeria.
After graduation, she left the group to pursue a solo career in Music.

Her Motivation and inspiration is primarily GOD, the giver of all talents as she intends to inspire, motivate and stir human kind with particular emphasis on young people towards achieving their Goals and utilizing their God given Potentials, contributing to their environment by the creation and production of Good, inspirational music (songs, Spoken word, poetry & rap).

With her style of music ranging from positive alternative sound, afro centric, HipHop, spoken word, dance and R&B, Kingsqueen is multifaceted and multi dimensional  as she does not impose any restriction ön herself.
Her musical motto is "IF YOU FEEL IT, THEN EXPRESS IT, there are no rules as long as it sounds good to the ear and it's inspiring"

She is one to look out for as she brings a breath of fresh air to the Nigerian Music scene.
WATCH VIDEO - "IFE OTITO (True Love): http://youtu.be/Oo73MhZIw0k

LISTEN + DOWNLOAD IFE OTITO (True Love) - http://hu.lk/29fwvl7c2zmo

DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK: http://hu.lk/dl/29fwvl7c2zmo

Follow on Twitter/Instagram: @DRealKingsQueen

The post Singer/Model, Kingsqueen Releases Debut Single, Ife Otito (True Love) appeared first on Aphroden.

Do you weigh the same that you did a year ago? 10 years ago? Even if the rest of you is getting better with age, there's one part of ourselves that definitely isn't — our metabolisms. The result: an average of a gain of a pound a year after age 20. While a pound a year doesn't sound like much, it can lead to being overweight later in life and increasing your risk of diseases like breast cancer and stroke. Here's what you can do to stop the weight creep.

Move more: A recent study found that lack of exercise, not calorie intake, may be the culprit when it comes to gradual weight gain. Researchers analyzed data from the last 20 years and found that lack of physical activity correlated with higher body mass index (BMI), while caloric intake didn't. So if you want to prevent gradual weight gain, make sure that you're getting the minimum amount of exercise per week: 150 minutes to stay healthy, or 300 minutes a week to maintain your weight.

Grab weights: One reason why our metabolism slows as we age is because we lose more muscle mass. To make sure that yours stays revved up, make sure that you're incorporating a strength-training routine into your week at least twice a week. You don't even need weights — here are the best body-weight exercises you can do anywhere.

Stop with the extras: There's no need to cut out all the "bad" foods in your diet, but if you're noticing that your weight seems to gradually creep up over the years, being smart about those extra tastes and empty calories can add up to major calorie savings throughout the year.

The post 3 Habits that prevents you from gaining weight appeared first on Aphroden.

Cutting grass is an art, as any well-groomed ballpark shows. We tell you how to turn your lawn into a field of dreams.

1. Plan Your Attack
Your dad says the only way to mow a lawn is to trim the edges first, which puts the clippings back into the grass to be mulched by the mower. He's not wrong, but you can also mow first and then trim, which takes advantage of the mower's large cutting area to reduce time spent trimming. Pick one approach to avoid constantly swapping tools.

2. Cut a Wide Collar
We're not talking dress shirts here. The collar is the border that you mow first around the lawn's perimeter. Cut it wide enough to turn the mower around without driving into a flower bed.

3. No Buzz Cut, Please
Scalping is the gruesome term for cutting too short. It can leave ugly brown patches in areas of uneven ground and strain root systems. "This leads to weeds breaking through the turf," says Pat Callahan, director of grounds, landscaping, and turf at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Cool-season grasses are cut to 2½ to 3½ inches; warm-season grass is cut to 1 to 3 inches.

4. Watch Your Speed
Haste can make a waste of your lawn. This is particularly true with tall or wet grass, which resists a swift cut. But even in dry conditions, a rushed job leads to uneven shearing and leaves behind clumps of poorly mulched clippings.

5. Don't Look Down
Fact: You'll mow straighter if you focus about 10 feet ahead of the mower rather than directly at the wheels.

6. Bag the Bagging
Picking up clippings prevents them from getting tracked into the house, but mulching as you mow puts the grass particles back into the turf, providing nutrients such as nitrogen to the soil. You'll end up with healthier turf.

7. Alternate the Pattern
Grass leans in the direction in which you mow it. Switching up your pattern from week to week encourages grass to grow straighter and healthier.

8. Trim Ambidextrously
A typical straight-shaft string-trimmer head spins counterclockwise and is operated right to left. This means that, if you're in the right-handed majority, you'll waste time walking sideways or backward. Grasp the trimmer handle with your left hand so you can simply walk forward and make a cleaner job of it. You'll find it's faster, safer, and less tiring to trim this way.

9. Edge and Trim at Once
Hold the string-trimmer head vertically to cut a clean edge (along a curb, for instance), and turn it horizontal to trim around bushes or landscape features. Don't trim and edge in separate trips. "Look at your property and find a continuous path you can follow to trim and edge in one pass," says Steve Byrne, president of Edgit, which makes trimmer accessories. "This gets the job done quickly without having to backtrack."

The post 9 Mowing Tips to Cut the Lawn of Your Dreams appeared first on Aphroden.

Media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo has officially wrapped up the international tour for his new book, ‘Are We The Turning Point Generation?’, published by Farafina. He wrapped it up with a visit to the BBC Studios in London, the United Kingdom yesterday, 15 July 2014.

Jideonwo’s global book tour kicked off on 1 June after the spectacular launch of the book at a media and VIP event in Lagos. The event held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, chaired by Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili and with guests including Governor Babatunde Fashola, Prof Pat Utomi, Abike Dabiri, chief executive of Forte Oil Akin Akinfemiwa, Mo Abudu, Femi Falana, amongst others. He had previously held a book reading at the University of Witwatersand, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“It’s been an incredible six weeks joining passionate Nigerian and African leaders and compatriots from across the world,” Jideonwo says. “Sometimes the energy in the room was so high, so upbeat – you had no choice but to renew faith that the country is truly on the verge of a turnaround. I was also very delighted by the excitement for this book of long essays. I am truly thankful to be allowed to share this message for a generation that can – and should - be the turning point.”

The author was hosted by GenVoices United Kingdom at an event on 6 June, where Jideonwo read from the book and fielded questions from the audience. He moved from there to Paris, where he was hosted on 8 June as part of Nollywood Week.

The tour moved to New York, where the author was hosted to two events. Applause Africa had Jideonwo interact with young Africans living across the United States on 18 June. He also shared with a small selected group of influential young African leaders that weekend.

In New York, as part of his media appearances, he was hosted at the Associated Press office in a conversation about the book, and the state of the Nigerian nation. He also visited the group headquarters for SaharaReporters Group

The author wrapped up the tour with three book events in London. The first a reading and a panel discussion that included TV icon, Funmi Iyanda, producer Ikenna Azuike and BBC Foreign Correspondent, Humphrey Hawksley. The conversation was hosted by Eloho Omame, Vice President at General Atlantic’s London Office and co-president of the Africa Club at the London Business School.

He was also hosted by Africa Writes, Britain’s largest festival for African literature as part of a two-man panel including Chuma Nwokolo, author of ‘100 Years of the Mugu’ – both authors driving linkages between their books. Both events held on 12 July.

The final event for the tour was a small intimate dinner hosted by critically acclaimed young designer and style editor, Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture, who hosted Jideonwo at a small dinner for younger Nigerians at London’s The Shard on Sunday, 13 July.

“This has been a thoroughly enriching experience,” Jideonwo says. “The goodwill, the feedback, the fact that the book sold out many times across the trips, the absolute passion to understand how exactly people can effectively be part of solutions and of the efforts to rebuild the continent, it gave me such hope. It has been a very important gift to see so much goodwill from across the world.”

Jideonwo continues the tour in Nigeria, with scheduled events in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Asaba and other states, as well as readings at venues including Terra Kulture, the Co-Creation Hub, selected schools and churches.

For more information, email info@arewetheturningpointgeneration.com or visit www.arewetheturningpointgeneration.com. The book is now available at bookstores across Nigeria and online on Konga.com and Amazon.

The post Chude Jideonwo ends international book tour… visits London, Paris, New York appeared first on Aphroden.

Brazil 2014 is the first FIFA World Cup in which the refs had a little technological assistance to help them know whether the ball crossed the goal line.

This year, for the first time, technology made the tough calls at the World Cup in Brazil. And with replay tech, it is actually several types of technology working together.

In the weeks leading up to last year's Confederations Cup, also hosted in Brazil, FIFA granted the German company GoalControl access to install 14 high-speed cameras in each of the stadiums, with seven cameras monitoring each goal line from various points along the upper levels of the stadiums or the roof. The cameras can capture up to 500 frames per second and transmit those images to an image-processing computer via fiber-optic cables.

The computer tracks the 3D coordinates of the ball at all times, and is able to separate the ball from images of players and referees, whether it is on the ground or sailing through the air. The margin of error is plus/minus 1.5 centimeters (about 0.6 inches).

When the ball crosses the line (the entire ball must cross), the computer sends a signal to a wristwatch the referees wear. The watches vibrate and flash the word "goal" within a second of the ball crossing the plane of the goal line. This allows the referees to use the system without stopping the flow of the game—there is no need to go back and watch a replay, as NFL refs and MLB umpires have to do. The systems cost about $250,000 per stadium.

Other sports have been using this kind of tech for years. Following a botched call in the 2010 World Cup, FIFA started testing four different systems. One option was HawkEye, the system used in professional tennis since 2005 and the U.K.'s Premier League 2013–2014 season. Two other systems, Cairos GLT and GoalRef, use magnetism to track the position of the ball. Cairos GLT embeds a sensor in the ball and thin wires underneath the ground in the penalty box, which track the movement of the ball. GoalRef places the sensor in the edge of the goal line. But FIFA went with GoalControl for the world's biggest tournament.

The technology made its World Cup debut 3 minutes into the second half of Sunday's match between France and Honduras, but not without causing confusion. As a French shot ricocheted off the Honduras goalpost, Honduras goalie Noel Valladares fumbled it and pushed it out of bounds. The stadium jumbotrons flashed the replay and the words "no goal," but the wristwatch on referee Sandro Ricci's wrist told a different story. The watch vibrated, signaling that the ball had crossed the line.

Ricci blew his whistle and raised his hand, signaling that it was a goal. Viewers at home and in the stands, as well as the teams, remained confused, as the screens continued to say "no goal." But the confusion subsided, at least for the fans and referees, when it was determined that the system was showing the replay of the shot hitting the post—not that of Valladares fumbling the rebound off the post. These were separate events. The system had accurately ruled that the second event—the ball crossing the line as Valladares attempted to control it—was indeed a goal. France took the 2–0 lead in a game it eventually won 3–0.

The post How It Works: World Cup Goal Line Technology appeared first on Aphroden.

Society has long fantasized about robotic home helpers, but making one that is smart, helpful, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing is no easy feat. That’s what makes the new Jibo robot so impressive. This 6-pound, 11-inch-tall mechanical cyborg was unveiled on Indiegogo“The World’s First Family Robot,” aimed at being both a home helper and a friend. The crowdfunding campaign already hit its goal of $100,000 and is still climbing.

Jibo was created by Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, director of the Personal Robots Group at MIT Media Lab and an expert in how humans interact with robots. Her goal? To humanize technology. “What if technology actually treated you like a human being?” Breazeal asks. “What if technology helped you feel closer to the ones you loved? What if technology helped you like a partner, rather than simply being a tool? That’s what Jibo’s about.” She wants Jibo to be a household companion, like a pet, or perhaps even another family member. And except for a heartbeat, it has all the hallmarks of a buddy.

IT KNOWS WHO YOU ARE.

Jibo's two hi-res cameras recognize and track your face, letting the bot call you by name and respond to your commands.

IT KNOWS WHAT YOU LIKE.

Over time, the bot will adapt to your preferences and learn your tastes. The Indiegogo demo video shows Jibo knowing—and then ordering—its owner’s favorite take-out meal.
IT DOES NICE THINGS FOR YOU.

Jibo will send reminders and relay messages from your mobile devices. It will help you take the perfect photo by detecting when everyone in the frame is smiling before snapping the shot. The demo video also hints at a time when Jibo will be able to connect to other smart things in your house, switching on lights when you get home or turning down the temperature when you’re gone. The demo video even shows Jibo telling bedtime stories to youngsters.

JIBO CAN PROJECT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL CUES.

The bot's LCD screen serves as a de facto face with a digital eye that can squint with happiness or swell with curiosity. It responds to human touch, and its fluid body motions make him appear truly alive and relatable. “It’s really important for technology to be humanized,” Dr. Breazeal told the New York Times. “The next stage in computing, the next wave, is emotion.”

But what about security? The idea of having an all-seeing intelligent robot lurking in the corner of the living room might make more than a few people uneasy. The company says users' privacy is a top priority. It has “designed policies and controls to safeguard the collection, use, and disclosure of your information.”

At $499, this robot is cheaper than many top-of-the-line laptops. If you want to get your hands on Jibo, its creators say they hope to make him available to consumers by the end of 2015.

Images courtesy of JIBO on Indiegogo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N1Q8oFpX1Y

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One of the best ways to set yourself up for a great Monday is to give yourself weekends that rejuvenate and restore you. With some organizing and planning, you can greet Monday with open arms, and increase your productivity in the workplace. Here are seven tips for you:

1. Save energy for your weekends. A lot of people work themselves into the ground over the week, leaving themselves nothing more than a two-day couch potato on the weekend. Do whatever you can to avoid this—you want to spend Saturday and Sunday with enough energy to actually do fun things and have a functioning mind that can think creatively about work and your life. A couple habits to cozy up to:

2. Use Friday afternoon to prepare for Monday. It’s amazing how much you can forget in those 60-plus hours between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. To hit the ground running on Monday morning, a few suggestions.Write a more detailed note about what you were working on—what was going well, what you were excited about accomplishing or capturing, what you want to go back and redo, or an idea you wanted to pursue.

3. Plan the right mix of weekend activities and events. As a rule, you’ll have the most satisfying weekend if you mix in a combination of: physical activity, family and friend time, scheduled activities and open time. You know better than anyone what works for you and your family—and how that might vary by season, weather and life circumstances. Crafting a restorative and fun weekend takes planning.

4. Use the weekend to get ahead. Super ambitious professionals use their weekends to advance their careers and businesses. With less structured (and uninterrupted) days, there’s time for creative thinking, brainstorming and problem solving. Also, not to step on your work-life balance commitment (we’re all for it), but if you left work on Friday with a tsunami of work breathing down your neck, tucking in a few hours of work on an uninterrupted Saturday afternoon might be just what you need to feel good about starting your work week.

5. Don’t waste your Sundays. Isn’t it crazy that we can spend so much time on Sunday dreading Monday? Here are two very different ways to spend your Sunday evenings.

The post 5 Tips to Get Monday off to a Great Start appeared first on Aphroden.

Always wanted to be a faster runner, but dread the thought of incorporating speed drills and track workouts into your routine? Then these are tips for you in other to improve on the way you run during your track workouts.

  Try to land flat: How your foot strikes the ground can make a difference in your overall speed, so concentrate on landing midfoot. "Striking with a flat foot is always better than striking with your heel or toe because you are less likely to injure your joints and muscles," she says. "For people who suffer from shin splints, often those are caused by the way their foot is striking the ground."
Keep strides short: Your stride can also affect your running efficiency, so focus on keeping them regular and short. "Taking long strides might make you feel like you're going faster, but they actually slow you down," Jennifer says.
Seek out hills: You may dread them, but hills are an excellent way to strengthen your lower body muscles and joints. Find a hill that you can run up and down a few times during your run. "Hill repeats force the muscles in your hips, legs, ankles, and feet to work while supporting your body weight. Plus, while gravity may not feel like your friend, it's providing resistance for your muscles to work against as you attack that incline," Jennifer explains. "That extra resistance, combined with your body weight, helps your muscles develop power. Power leads to speed, especially when you're back running on the flats."

While you shouldn't cut out conventional speed training if you are trying to shave minutes off your mile, small changes that make running more efficient can help you with your speed relatively quickly. Take it from Jennifer, who explains the connection between running efficiency and speed this way: "When I am running more efficiently, running feels easier. When running feels easier, I have more fun. When I have fun running, I run more often. When I run more often, I get in great shape. When I am in my best shape, I run my fastest." Sounds like "lazy" might be a misnomer!

The post 3 Secrets That Make Running Feel Easier appeared first on Aphroden.

Welcome Allison Teng, 26, of Curvy Girl Chic, who is going to give us great tips this week, on how to make a trend your own.

I love the look of wrap dresses, but it drives me nuts when people say they look amazing on everyone. They’re supposed to be universally flattering because they emphasize a small waist and an hourglass figure, but I don’t have either of those! The silhouette usually clings to my stomach and narrow hips and makes me look like an inverted triangle.

When I found this a kimono, I knew I could achieve the same style but in a way that works better for my shape. To do this, I added a belt , which created the wrapped look and showed off my waist. The kimono has a bit more volume to it than a normal wrap dress would, so even though it’s similar to a classic wrap, it helps balance out my narrow hips. I love that you can adjust the neckline, too — a deep V-neck is always so elongating!

The length of the kimono was a little short, so in another “make it work” moment, I decided to wear it over a fitted Forever 21+ LBD for added length. I actually think outfits look better when there are multiple layers. They add visual interest and, when the layers are all in the same color family, they can create a nice streamlined look without adding much bulk.

Let’s talk about my shoes for a second: I love them. They have this little V on top that helps elongate my legs, and the thick heels and mesh detailing add a cool, edgy touch. I chose a Coach clutch (sold out; shop the look) that matched my belt to keep things simple.

Get creative with your closet! If you love a certain silhouette but it’s not working on you in the traditional sense, try creating a similar style with other pieces that make you look and feel great.

The post How to Make a Trend Work For You – Instead of the Other Way Around appeared first on Aphroden.

Who influences your style most: Bloggers? Celebrities? Randos you follow on Instagram? We all take our fashion cues from many different places, but Business Insider posits that there are 23 “American trendsetters” out there who make more waves than the average person in terms of U.S. style. There are a few you’d expect — Diane Von Furstenberg, the CEO of Zara, the head of retail for Apple — and a handful of celebs that earned a place on the list as well. But in what way are they influencing us? We investigate.

Kim Kardashian: “This year, Vogue called the Wests the most talked-about couple in the world,” Business Insider says of the star and her new husband. “Both stars are revered for their style. Fashion designers have said that Kim Kardashian is more of a sales driver than Kate Middleton.” While we’re fascinated by that last statement (Kardashian tends to wear extremely high-end designer clothes just to go to the drugstore, while Middleton tends to mix high and low brands that the average person might want to wear), we think Kardashian’s influence is even more visible when it comes to hair and makeup trends. Many makeup artists have told us that they’ve seen a resurgence in heavy contouring, which is jarring for daytime and often not done well — and they credit it to Kardashian’s camera-ready makeup at all times. It’s a very “done” (and sometimes overdone) look that definitely can be traced to the reality star.

Miranda Kerr: The magazine notes that Kerr is “the modern supermodel,” with major endorsements under her belt and more than 4 million Instagram followers. She’s also turned the sidewalk into a catwalk, hitting the streets in one picture-perfect outfit after another, proving that her brand extends far beyond the limits of her paid contract. She could singlehandedly keep Pinterest going for years — and clothing companies know it, sending her tons of free things to model on her daily paparazzi walks.

Karlie Kloss: Another supermodel who has leveraged her Victoria’s Secret stardom into high-fashion, clothing design, celebrity BFFs and social media fame, Kloss also gets Business Insider props for having a widely-copied bob. And we think she’s influential in a totally different way: By bucking the standard Angel bombshell waves and opting for something short and sassy, Kloss showed that you don’t have to be cookie cutter to be hugely stylish and successful.

The post Kim Kardashian, Miranda Kerr, Karlie Kloss and More Make ‘Top American Influencers’ appeared first on Aphroden.

It’s the list the continent has been waiting for!

After a full year receiving nominations from across Africa, the Central Working Committee (CWC) of The Future Africa Awards & Summit (TFAAS) has today released the Nominees List for 2014.

The list – of five nominees each – is released for the 10 categories of the awards. “After last year’s process, where only the Young Person of the Year was Africa-wide, for the first time in the 9-year history of The Future Africa Awards, this is the first time that the entire awards have been drawn from across the continent,” said Mohamed Diaby, from Abidjan, who is a member of the CWC. “Their profiles are available on www.thefutureafrica.com/awards and then judging process begins immediately with the jury, including the Board of Judges and the Independent Audit Committee.”

The jury has distinguished Africans including Katja Schiller Nwator (Leadership Development and CSR Manager, The Tony Elumelu Foundation), Mahamadou Sy (Founder and Executive Director of the Institut Supérieur de Développement Local (ISDL), Senegal), Wendy Luhabe (Founder, Women's Private Equity Fund), Tonye Cole (Executive Director, Sahara Group), Ndidi Nwuneli (Founder LEAP Africa), Mo Abudu (CEO, Ebony Life TV), and Jennah Scott (Director, Liberia Philanthropy Secretariat, Office of the President).

Known as Africa’s biggest youth event, TFAAS evolved from The Future Awards to The Future Africa Awards & Summit this year.

The Consul-General of the United States in Lagos, Nigeria will host the nominees to an invitation-only reception on Thursday, July 31.

THE TFAAS CLASS OF 2014

(Nominees are arranged in order of name, age, organisation and country of origin)

The Future Africa Awards Prize in Advocacy & Activism

1. Kennedy Odede, 29

Shining Hope for Communities, Kenya

2. Ola Ojewumi, 23

Sacred Hearts children's transplant foundation and Project ASCEND, Nigeria

3. Boniface Mwangi, 29

Pawa 254 initiative, Kenya

4. Abdikadir Aden Hassan, 26

Founding member of Garissa Youth Environment Movement, Kenya

5. David Akpan, 28

UCARE Foundation Nigeria

The Future Africa Awards Prize in Technology

1. Lorna Rutto, 28

EcoPost, Kenya

2. Jamilia Abass, Linda Kwamboka, Susan Oguya, - 30, 26, 26

M-Farm, Kenya

3. Anne Amuzu, 29

Nandimobile Company, Ghana

4. Mark Essien, 31

Hotels.ng, Nigeria

5. Joshua Okello, 23

WinSenga, Kenya

The Future Africa Awards Prize in Entertainment

1. Panshak Zamani, 27

Musical Artiste, Nigeria

2. Michael Kwesi Owusu (Sarkodie), 28

Musical Artiste, Ghana

3. Nasibu Abdul Juma (Diamond), 24

Musical Act, Tanzania

4. Ivie okujaye, 28

Actress and producer, Nigeria

5. Yaya Toure, 31

Footballer, Ivory Coast

The Future Awards Prize for African Young Person of the Year

1. Kayode Disu, 31

ISEC, Nigeria

2. Joel Mwale, 20

Sky Drop Enterprises and Gigavia.com, Kenya

3. Sangu Delle, 27

Cleanacwa, Ghana

4. Alengot Oromait, 22

Member of Parliament, Uganda

5. David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido), 21

Musician, Nigeria

Profiles of all nominees are now available on thefutureafrica.com/awards.

TFAAS 2014 is supported by Microsoft, the US Consulate and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Official Media Partners are EbonyLife TV, AfricaMagic, Ventures Africa, and Y! Africa. Official Online Partners are MemeBurn, BellaNaija, Premium Times and 360nobs.

The official bloggers for 2014 are Linda Ikeji, Omojuwa, LadunLiadi, Olorisupergal, Ameyaw and NigeriaNewsDesk. Country partners are The Cable, Ladun Liadi Blog, The Trent, Information Nigeria, GidiTraffic, News Wire Nigeria and Pulse.ng.

Cool FM is the host radio station. Channels Television is the host TV station.

For more information, visit @TFAAfrica on Twitter or the website www.thefutureafrica.com/awards. The official hashtags for 2014 are #ThisIsAfrica and #TFAAS2014.

The post Meet the class of 2014! Nominees for The Future Africa Awards 2014 unveiled – To be Hosted by US Consul-General appeared first on Aphroden.

Africa’s leading beauty brand, House of Tara has launched a new campaign tagged ‘ColourBurst’ just in time for the summer. ‘ColourBurst’ puts on display the wonders colour can do for the African woman, and the rand has teamed up with R&B star, Banky W, deploying his hit song, ‘Jasi’ to create a fun and colourful video.

ColourBurst by TARA is a visual campaign that celebrates the variety and versatility of the Tara product line. Made up of four stunning looks, each one represents a different personality and style of makeup.  Using vibrant hues and modern techniques, ColourBurst demonstrates that every shade makes a statement.

“I am very excited!” said Temi Akingbe, who is brand manager for House of Tara. “The ColourBurst campaign has been a few months in the making and was really a combined effort of everyone at House of Tara but most especially the talented Makeup Artists. We are extremely proud of the campaign and it shows how far the Makeup Industry in Nigeria has come because this clearly rivals any international standard. Most importantly, we wanted to capture the vibrancy of our product line and for everyone to have fun with it!”

Looks from the campaign are available at Casabella, Jumia, Konga and all House of Tara stores nationwide.

Click here to watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Bf5ko_yzOfM

The post House of Tara launches stunning visual campaign ‘ColourBurst’ with Banky W’s ‘Jasi’ as theme song appeared first on Aphroden.

On July 19^th 2014 the biggest Charity Fashion and Musical event was organised in Nigeria at the famous Eko Hotel and Suites titled “Rip the Runway Nigeria”. The event featured fashion designers from all spheres of the country, which comprised of upcoming to already established fashion designers.

One of the upcoming fashion designers who graced the occasion with her lovely designs was Ekejiuba Chinenyenwa. She is a student of Bells University studying Biomedical Engineering. Her exquisite designs are inspired by the Nigerian Culture and her point of concentration is on the traditional George materials. She transforms the traditional George material which is peculiar to her home town into modern gorgeous outfits.

At the Runway, she exhibited several of her designs which were very captivating. The gallery cheered and  applauded hes daring adventure in the transformation of the George material.

See below video of her models on the runway for you to appreciate her concept of design and perhaps learn some few tips of styles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-wntu8FUBSM

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It's understandable if you're nervous about sharing files in this era of widespread surveillance. Can you really trust that a document is safe once it's out of your hands? Digifymight just ease your mind now that it has launched Android and iOS apps for sharing self-destructing files. Rather than give people a direct download, the software only allows a peek at a given file for a set amount of time; once the Mission Impossible-style countdown hits zero, the content is gone for good. There are also safeguards against cleverer attempts to steal files. Anything you share is converted to a special format on Digify's servers, for one thing. Recipients can't take screenshots without alerting you (and losing access), and you can revoke access at will if you ever make a mistake.

The service is free to use, and can pluck files from your Dropbox account. If there's a big catch at this stage, it's that desktop support is limited to a Windows beta -- unless you're willing to deal with bugs, you'll have to use your phone. Even so, the service might be vital if you insist on keeping a tight leash on your files.

The post Digify helps you protect your data by sending self-destructing files appeared first on Aphroden.

Married life is pretty damn sweet—you've got a teammate for life and someone to spend holidays with. But while being married rocks, some of the outside commentary that comes with it can get really...well, annoying. Raise your hand if you're hitched and have heard these more than a few times. (We thought so.)

"So, when are you going to have kids?"
Everyone from your mom to your office manager starts asking this about a millisecond after you say "I do." Been married a while and already have a kid? They'll ask when the next one is coming. Note to self: People won't be satisfied until you morph into Michelle Duggar.

"What's it like?"
Are you looking for an existential answer? It’s like floating on a narwhal through an ocean of rainbows set to the music of the adult contemporary band, Chicago. Or, it’s the exact same as dating, only with joint checking.

"You're different now."
Oh, right, because getting a rock on my finger finally gave me the opportunity to reveal my true self. (Mwa-ha-ha!) Seriously, what are you getting at here?

"When are you changing your name?"
The answer is always the same: "I'll think about it when my husband seriously considers changing his." (Just don't say that to Nana—she'll have a heart attack.)

"Are you going to buy a house?"
Are you going to give me the money for the down payment? Then, absolutely!

"What do you think of your in-laws?"
Unless this question is asked by your parents, siblings, or BFF, you just paint a rosy picture. Can't do it with a straight face? "They're great!" works every time. You can always cover your muffled laughter with a cough.

"Do you ever get sick of each other?"
The public answer is "no." The private answer is, "well, yeah." You've heard him "sing" in the car, right?

"I could never get married."
Hey, to each her own! But...why are we talking about this? Guaranteed it would not go over well if I said, "I could never be single."

"You wouldn't understand: You're married."
You're right—because I've never been single or dated in my life. Clearly. This guy over here? He just randomly showed up on my doorstep one day and then—boom—married!

"Is he your best friend?"
You know it!

The post 10 Things Married Women Are SO Sick of Hearing appeared first on Aphroden.

The Innovation Apartment Africa (An Initiative of Creative Five World) with added notes from the GSM Association to the Global Multistakeholder Forum; contributes the following points for consideration in the discussion in Istanbul on a framework for the evolution of the Internet governance model: Internet governance models, in their various aspects, must remain multistakeholder and inclusive of all those who wish to participate. Issues should be resolved with due process in a clear and transparent way. The role of mobile network operators must be meaningfully taken into account in any discussions affecting the infrastructure of the Internet, given the crucial role of connectivity functions in the Internet ecosystem.  Legitimacy and trust in the governance model must be reinforced through an improved inclusiveness and wider geographical representation, particularly vis‐à‐vis developing country stakeholders.

An analysis of the work of existing multistakeholder mechanisms should be carried out, noting the similar activity being undertaken under the auspices of the CSTD Working.

Group on enhanced co-operation (CSTD-WG on EC), with a view to streamlining  processes and eliminating duplication and to determine whether there is a need to  change or even create new processes or institutions. Nevertheless, the current multistakeholder fora such as the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), the IETF and ICANN should be strengthened in order to reflect the changing nature and scope of Internet governance. This framework should be capable of addressing relevant issues for which mechanisms have not yet been identified and/or developed.

No governance body should be seen as competing with another or duplicating processes. All processes have value in contributing to the global Internet governance debate. The long-term ambition should be to implement a framework that clarifies which governance body has the authority to act on which subject matter. The framework should clarify whether and how the interrelated activities of different governance bodies should be coordinated with one another.

The IGF has played a very important role in bringing together stakeholders. Its policy outcomes should be integrated into other, existing governance mechanisms. The IGF should be better funded and its role and influence expanded. Interactions between the global IGF and the regional and national IGFs should also be strengthened.

Internet access should remain market-driven and responsive to the needs of the users of the Internet. This will continue to enable the economic growth, prosperity and well-being that we see today.

The current global nature of the Internet has brought social and economic benefit to users all around the world, and the rapid growth of the Internet has facilitated a wide variety of technological innovation in networks and infrastructure. The governance of the Internet should be underpinned by a coherent set of common principles shared by all stakeholders from different sectors in order to ensure the continuation of a global and seamless Internet that brings benefit to all.

We support a collaborative, diverse and inclusive model for Internet governance that is  open, transparent and multistakeholder. Within the multistakeholder model we believe that all relevant stakeholders – including industry, governments, the technical community, civil society and academia – have an important part to play regarding the Internet’s development. We recognise that there are some Internet-related issues, such as privacy and security, where governments have an especially important role to play. In others, however, such as standards development, technical and private sector relationships are paramount.

This dynamic among stakeholders allows for a better match between governance issues and governance institutions. Any evolution of the current governance model should include the principles of flexibility and agility and they should be applied so that all relevant stakeholders are represented appropriately.

We support the ongoing internationalization of the Internet, and of Internet governance mechanisms, including ICANN and IANA. We urge all parties to continue carefully on the path towards a multistakeholder accountability framework to ensure that changes will enhance the security, stability, resilience and interoperability of the Internet. Any evolution of Internet activities, including naming and numbering, must be resilient, secure, stable and inclusive. The current system relies on these characteristics and they must be maintained and protected.

In Conclusion, the pragmatic approach of using entertainment as a tool of engagement in internet governance as recorded immense feedback mostly in Health and Agriculture; MalariaNoMore and Do More Agric Campaign Respectively.

The post DBANJ AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR DO MORE AGRIC IS ANOTHER TOOL FOR CELEBRITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN INTERNET GOVERNANCE appeared first on Aphroden.

2014 has certainly kicked off to a great year of awards and nominations for the pretty Urban Contemporary artiste, Nikki Laoye.
Bagging numerous nominations since the release of her two chart hits, "Only You"and "123", the singer finally carted away The 2013 Headies award for the highly competitive category "Best Vocal Performance (Female)", which included other top females - Waje, Niyola & Seyi Shay, a category she was last nominated for in 2009.
Nikki Laoye also received the "Song of theYear"  and "Best Praise Song" award for her dance hit, "123" at the 2013 Nigeria Gospel Music Awards and COPGA Awards respectively.

Now in 2014, The award train continues since the release of the widely celebrated dance video, "123" and Nikki has been nominated in 7 categories from different award bodies across the globe - Nigeria, USA & UK, including Crystal Awards (Nigeria), AFRIMMA - African Muzik Magazine Awards (USA), NEA - Nigerian Entertainment Awards (USA) and AGMA (Africa Gospel Music Awards (UK) in the following catgories:

Crystal Awards (Nigeria)
*Best Worship Song*
*Best Female Vocalist*
*Artiste of the Year*
(Nikki won the *Best Worship Song* category)

AFRIMMA - African Muzik Magazine Awards (USA)
*Best Gospel Artiste*

NEA - Nigerian Entertainment Awards (USA)
*Gospel Artiste of the Year*

AGMA (Africa Gospel Music Awards (UK)
*Artiste of the Year (West Africa)*
*Female Artiste of the Year*

Nikki won the "Best Worship Song" Category for her hit ballad "Only You"at the just concluded 2014 Crystal Awards and we see her grabbing some more before the year runs out.

7 Nominations in the 7th month of the year and still counting...a worthy milestone to be acknowledged indeed for the hardworking singer and humanitarian It's definitely been a great comeback for Nikki Laoye.

TO VOTE FOR NIKKI LAOYE , CLICK HERE
NEA (USA) - *Gospel Artiste of the Year*
http://www.neaawards.com/gospel-artist-of-the-year/

AGMA (Africa Gospel Music Awards (UK)
*Artiste of the Year (West Africa)*
*Female Artiste of the Year
http://agma2014.polldaddy.com/s/vote-agma-2014

For more of Nikki Laoye's music and videos
click here: www.reverbnation.com/NikkiLaoye
Follow on twitter: @NikkiLaoye

The post The Year Of Award For Soul Singer, Nikki Laoye: Seven Nominations In 2014 and Counting appeared first on Aphroden.

Hiphop Sensation Farouk .A. Sark  AKA Royalty is a Rapper, Songwriter originally from Kebbi/Sokoto and is under G4-Fly Entertainment Lebel he has Started music way back 2007, performing in some Local shows before becoming popular in the area kebbi/sokoto and this dynamic rapper has won young Artist award and College Best Rapper at W.U.F.P and has also Handle the Kebbi/Sokoto Young Artist Award event.

His new single Jeka-Jaiye (feat. Emmycool) came to reality when he was looking for an international promoter thats was when he came across Emmycool so the Jake Jaiye song was born,he has also featured in different Crews Groups and worked with Artists in his locality like T-L Crew, Blessed Niggis, The Ultimate, BB-Unit and also his Own Crew G4-Fly Record And some Atist Like Realcool, Emmycool, Uncle Wolfy, OGLAW, Out-Cry e.t.c.

Hulkshare Download - http://old.hulkshare.com/dl/ziazwz6emqkg/Royalty_Ft__Emmycool_-Jeka_jaiye.mp3?d=1

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