By Helen Herimbi
If you weren’t watching the kick-off concert of the 2010 World Cup on television that night then you really missed out. There was Lindane Buthelezi, frontman of one of South Africa’s most sought after rock bands, BLK JKS, in his signature blasé stance.
Then a very pregnant Alicia Keys – wearing a snug bejewelled poncho and leggings – joined them. That night, BLK JKS and Keys paid tribute to MaBrrr by singing ‘Too Late For Mama’. But you probably saw the tail end of that on the small screen.
Born Alicia Cook, the US R&B singer has always been a lover of Africa. It shows in her holiday preferences, in her first-born son’s name (Egypt) and in her choice to perform a Brenda Fassie song with a South African band. It probably shows the most though, in her philanthropic efforts.
In 2003, the pretty pianist co-founded Keep A Child Alive, an organisation that provides aid and support to children infected with and affected by HIV/Aids in Africa and in India. This helping hand has been lent to over 250 000 families and child-headed households.
When she’s not belting out love ballads and scooping awards for it, the woman who is now married to producer Swizz Beats is empowering women both in her immediate sphere of America and abroad. She is after all, the same independent woman who brought us the chest-beating anthem ‘Superwoman’ as well as a network of the same title that encourages women to continue being super.
It’s because of this and a whole lot more that MTV decided she was a perfect fit for the final ‘MTV Meets…With MTN’ episode.
For a couple of months now, this show has provided African youth with direct insight into the minds, and often hearts, of some of the biggest stars of the political, business and entertainment worlds. This wasn’t some cheesy Q&A about whether someone really sang in the choir or if they are really wearing their own hair. These were honest questions that are on most young people’s minds and honest answers from the horse’s mouth.
We saw Juju himself talk about his stance on many matters. Julius Malema even went as far as to talk about how important it is to be aware of the dangers of unsafe sex. Other distinguished guests included the first female president on the African continent, Liberia’s Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, as well as Rwandan President Paul Kagame, jazz great Hugh Masekela and even Sir Richard Branson.
A hat tip goes to MTV VJ, Sizwe Dhlomo, who conducted the round table discussion with ease and poise. It was really refreshing to see that a different set of young people (all influential in their respective countries) from all over Africa were chosen to have an up close and personal chat, which really felt like a tête-a-tête between the audience and the public figure.
For the last episode, which airs today, Alicia Keys is the individual who is sits down with a panel of younguns.
Among them was Zambian entrepreneur Alton Ford, Rwandan singer-songwriter Iyadede, South African stylist Gugulethu Banda, Zimbabwean model and blogger Makho Ndlovu and South African dancer Yoliswa Cele Luthuli. The main points that were discussed include HIV/Aids, education, female empowerment and, of course, a little about her music. Don’t miss this.
‘MTV Meets… With MTN’ airs on MTV base (DStv Channel 322) at 4pm today.