Personality of The Week: TuFace Innocent Idibia

Nigerian musician Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2face Idibia was born in Jos Nigeria on the 18th of September 1975. He is from the Idoma ethnic group of Benue state. 2face attended Mount Saint Gabriel's Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State. He schooled briefly in the Institute of Management & Technology, IMT Enugu, where he did his preliminary National Diploma course in Business Administration. 2face did not complete his diploma program but he got his major breakthrough during his school days composing and singing the jingles for the radio show GB Fan Club in Enugu State Broadcasting Services (ESBS) in 1996. After a while he moved to Lagos to join his ex-schoolmate and friend Augustine Ahemdu a.k.a Blackface to form the defunct group "plantashun boyz". In 2004 the band made up of 2face, blackface and faze (Chibuzor Oji) split up. On May 15th 2004, his 1st solo album was released , including international hit African queen, and club bangers like “Nfana Ibaga” and ‘keep on rocking".In 2006 the hit track African queen was used as a sound track in the Hollywood movie phatgirlz which he was paid hugely for. The Plantashun Boyz came together briefly in 2007 to record an album which they titled 'Plan B'. He also released a promotion album in 2008 which has spawned a hit, "Enter the Place", which was written by Churks though one of his least successful hits ever, did well in some charts. Problems with album distribution in 2007 caused as shift of the release date of the album from 2008 to 2009. 2face released two singles from the international version of his Unstoppable album and is the first Nigerian artist to have an appropriately pricedinternational album. Upon leaving the music label Kennismusic he set up his own record label known as Hypertek entertainment. He was also known for his narrow escapes from death, he had close shave with death three times, at different locations and times, including gun shots. e is part of the Sony All African One8 Project alongside seven other musicians across Africa recording a single with R. Kelly and Prince Lee titled "Hands Across the World". 2face proposed to his long time (13yrs) girlfriend on febuary15 2013(and mother of one of his kids "Isabella Idibia") Annie Macaulay. On May 2, 2012, 2Face Idibia and Annie Macaulay, a Nollywood actress, got married in Lagos, in a private ceremony. 2face announced his marriage via his Twitter page. He has a child with Annie Macaulay, and six children from previous relations. Annie Macaulay and 2Face had their traditional wedding on the 8 march 2013 in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State Nigeria. The couple also had a white wedding in Dubai, on the 23 March 2013 on an island. He’s speculated to worth over N550m with endorsement deals with Guinness, Airtel which earns him N20m and N22m respectively. He charges between N4 million and N5 million for shows. The artiste has invested heavily in real estate and stocks which is fetching him huge money. Some of his distinguished awards include: Song of the year for "African Queen" 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York. Best Album of the year 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York. Best Hip Hop and R&B Artiste 2004 Nigeria Entertainment Awards New York. Musician of the Year 2004 City People Awards for Excellence. Best Male Video 2005 Channel O Music Video Awards. Best African Video of the year 2005 Channel O Music Video Awards. Best African Act 2005 Channel O Music Video Awards. Best African Act 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards. Best African Act 2005 Kora Awards. Best R&B MTV Africa Music Awards 2009. Artist of the Year MTV Africa Music Awards 2010. Best Male MTV Africa Music Awards 2010. Most Gifted West African Video 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards. Best International Act: Africa BET Awards of 201. Album of the year 2011 Hip-Hop World Awards – "The Headies". Artist of the year 2011 Hip-Hop World Awards – "The Headies". Best R'n'B / Pop album 2011 Hip-Hop World Awards – "The Headies".

GLOBACOM ANNOUNCED AS THE OFFICIAL AFRICA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPONSOR AFWL 2013 AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON 2013

London biggest Africa Inspired fashion event of the year.

London, 15 July 2013 The organisers of Africa Fashion Week London are delighted to announce Globacom Limited as the official African telecommunications sponsor for the third edition of Africa Fashion Week London scheduled for 1-3 August 2013 at Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. Also the official sponsors for African Arts and Fashion Banquet fundraiser gala presented by AFWL at The Dorchester in support of emerging African designers, Globacom, as Nigeria’s national telecom operator, has consistently brought innovation, quality service delivery and unequalled benefits to its subscribers. Since its inception in 2003, the company has grown to become a major player in the African telecom industry. Currently, Glo remains a giant in the telecoms sector with over 35 million subscribers in Africa, including multinational corporations, decision makers in the public and private sectors, students, artisans and rural dwellers who are connected to our network who enjoy access to high quality products and affordable telecom services. Globacom is also a leading brand in the promotion of African arts and culture through its outstanding support and sponsorship of the creative, literary and the performing arts with support for leading Nollywood actors and actresses, music stars and comedians across the continent as well as its commitment to the discovery and nurturing of young talents through sponsorship of reality shows such as the ongoing Glo X-Factor which offers a top prize of $150,000 USD and a recording contract to the winner of the show. “In line with our commitment to the promotion and sustenance of African arts and culture as well as our tradition, we have now teamed up with The African Fashion Week towards celebrating our unique and diverse African cultural heritage through fashion,” said Globacom chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga JR (GCON). MORE AFTER THE BREAK. PLS CLICK ON READ MORE BELOW He also added, “African fashion is gradually taking the centre stage of world fashion with African designers participating actively in major fashion shows and African models increasingly making the continent proud on the runway,” he continues, “Africa boasts a rich cultural heritage which, I dare say, is the best in the world. I, therefore, commend the organisers of this forum as their efforts have helped elevate the status of African fashion and works of art worldwide. The business and overall growth potentials offered to the continent by AFWL are enormous.” “We are absolutely delighted to have the support of another proudly African brand which lends its support to the platform created with the aim of showcasing, celebrating and supporting young African talents in fashion,” said Africa Fashion Week London founder and CEO, Ronke Ademiluyi. “Globacom’s support also validates the hard work we have put in since our inception in 2011 and is proof that we have created an invaluable platform organisations and individuals believe have the power to make a difference not only to the African fashion scene but to the lives of up and coming design talents of African descent, and for this, we are proud,” Ademiluyi added. With Mrs. Fifi Ejindu, the Nigeria-based architect and businesswoman and Yinka Shonibare MBE, the London-based globally celebrated Nigerian fine artist as patrons, this year's event once again promises to be a huge success which will see over 100 African designers and exhibitors showcasing their designs at the event, taking place in the impressive Truman Brewery space, just off Brick Lane. This years’ AFWL is set to be bigger and better than ever, expected over 20,000 people to attend the event over the course of the three days. Due to popular demand for the shows, the AFWL team have also announced the availability of a limited number of first come first served free standing tickets which will also allow the holder free entry to the exhibition hall. AFWL celebrates the work of African and African inspired designers in the UK. The annual event debuted in 2011 and welcomed 4,700 visitors followed by its sophomore edition in 2012 at London Spitalfields which attracted over 20,000 visitors. Created by Ronke Ademiluyi CEO, AFWL aims to be the single, biggest African event in the UK. For more information about Africa Fashion Week London please visit www.africafashionweeklondonweek.com To participate in AFWL 2013 as a designer or support the event as a sponsor, please email info@africafashionweeklondonuk.com To order a free standing ticket, visit www.africafashionweeklondon.com/africafashionweek/standing-ticket For media enquiries, please contact S Two PR at pr@stwopr.com @stwopr.com Follow AFWL on Website: www.africafashionweeklondon.com Twitter: @africafwl Facebook: /africafwl Instagram: africafwl Globacom Limited is Africa's fastest growing telecommunications company. Owned by the Mike Adenuga Group, Globacom is the market leading mobile service provider in Nigeria. Globacom operates in the Republic of Benin and Ghana. Globacom also acquired licenses to operate in the Ivory Coast. It has a reputation as one of the fastest growing mobile service providers in the world. Globacom Limited aims to be recognized as the biggest and best mobile network in Africa. Website: www.gloworld.com THE AFRICAN ARTS &FASHION BANQUET 2013

An Evening of Celebration in Support of Africa-Inspired Emerging Artists & Designers.

Personality of The Week: Agbani Darego

Ex Miss World and MBGN,Agbani Darego. Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite Darego known as Agbani Darego, born in Abonnema, Rivers State, Nigeria on the 22nd of December 1982 is a Nigerian Model. She was born into a family of eight and when Agbani was 10 years old she was sent to a boarding school to shield her from her mother who was suffering from breast cancer, but two years later her mother died. As a teenager she longed to become a model despite her father’s wishes, so Agbani, auditioned for the M.NET Face of Africa modeling competition but unfortunately she was not picked as a finalist. After High School she attended the University of Port Harcourt where she studied Computer Science and Mathematics, but had to drop out due to her work schedule. When When Agbani moved to New York, She enrolled at the New York University where she studied psychology and graduated in 2012. Before winning Silverbird’s MBGN, Darego was featured in print commercials for boutique chain Collectables. Then in 2001 she was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria which is a competition held by Silverbird every year. A few months later she was a contestant at Miss Universe and became the first Nigerian to place among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh overall. She was also the only black semi-finalist that year and the only one to wear the maillot instead of the more popular bikini during the swimsuit competition. After her stint at Miss Universe, she was invited by Naomi Campbell to take part in Frock n Roll a charity fashion show in Barcelona then she negotiated a modeling deal with Donald Trump’s management to establish links with modeling agencies in America. Also in November of that year she became the first native Sub-Saharan African to win the Miss World title. Agbani then spent her one year tenure going on goodwill trips and making scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant. Shortly after her reign as Miss World she was represented by the London and Paris branches of Next Model Management and landed a three year contract with L’Oreal. She became the second black model to accomplish this aside from Vanessa Williams and was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue. Other brands she has modeled for are Avon, Christian Dior, Sephora, Target and Macy’s. Darego has appeared in Magazine’s such as Elle, Marie Claire, Allure, Trace, Stitch, Cosmopolitan and Essence. She has also worked with designers like Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Marc Bouwer, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Gianfranco Ferre. In Nigeria she has appeared in advertising campaigns for the hair care brand Gentle touch with supermodel Oluchi. She is currently the face of Afrik Air and has graced the covers of Complete Fashion, Mania, ThisDayStyle, Genevieve, True Love and TW magazine. Darego has judged many pageants, fashion and modeling competitions such as Miss England 2002, Mr. Scotland and Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012. She also launched a style and fashion reality show Stylogenic on Nigerian television in 2010. In 2012 it was reported that Darego was engaged to marry Timi Alaibe, a prominent politician however this was later denied on twitter. Darego released the promotional campaign for her denim line AD, AD by Agbani Darego will be available in stores and online in June 2013 and you can follow AD on Twitter: @AD_Jeans | https://twitter.com/AD_Jeans.