Canadian Black Women-led Media Group bags 2 Screen Awards.

TORONTO, ON – OYA Media Group's Mr. Jane and Finch documentary, which was directed, co-produced and co-written by Ngardy Conteh George and co-produced and co-written by Alison Duke, won two 2020 Canadian Screen Awards: the 'Donald Brittain Award for Best Social/Political Documentary and Best Writing in a Documentary. The Canadian Screen Awards are a celebration of Canadian visual storytelling and the people who bring these stories to life. The CSAs recognize and champion the authentic voices and universal themes that resonate in Canada and beyond.

Mr. Jane and Finch explores the life of long-standing community activist and amateur Documentarian, Winston LaRose who has dedicated the last 25 years to support the troubled community of Jane and Finch.  With gentrification high up on the political agenda, the man affectionately named Mr. Jane and Finch decided to challenge the traditional powers for the city councillor seat of ward 7. His run for public office, reveals how the deeply racial politics have plagued the area. Over-policing without accountability and a perennial lack of social services in the area has further marginalized Black and people of colour in the community. 

“When I was capturing Winston's story I had the opportunity to see what is happening in the lives of so many that live in the Jane and Finch community. Not everything made it into the film, it's not surprising that right now this film and the issues discussed are so timely. It was released last year, but when you watch it now it's impactful on a very visceral level.  Seeing people in the community working to make a positive change with very, very few resources and support was quite sad. They should be acknowledged for leading the change in their community and given the proper resources to make those changes. I am proud to have captured that moment in time of Canadian history and have the affirmation from peers in the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television,” Ngardy Conteh George. 

Mr. Jane and Finch has had much success on the festival circuit both in Canada and the United States, from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Toronto Black Film Festival, the BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, and BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta. Educational institutions such as HBC (Historically Black College) Morehouse College in Atlanta and Humber College in Toronto have also screened the documentary.  Earlier this month Mr. Jane and Finch opened the Timehri Film Festival which showcases the best cinema created with protagonists from Guyana throughout the diaspora. Canada's leading educational distributor McIntyre Media has acquired the Canadian distribution rights for Mr. Jane and Finch to be made available for high school, university and college educators as well as libraries to use for their online learning regarding topics such as social justice, civil engagement, racism, gentrification and Pan-Africanism amongst other timely social issues. Mr. Jane and Finch also continues to stream on CBC Gem.

The Media Group, is a Black woman-led production company founded by Alison Duke and Ngardy Conteh George. Together they have over 40 years of experience producing documentaries. They formed their company after collaborating on several film projects and found a creative synergy in working together. Part of the OYA work involves a program to support Black youth. The program supports Black graduates of film and television degree and certificate programs by increasing their access to networking, mentorship and essential skills training. Many of the participants in the program were hired as production team in the creation on Mr. Jane and Finch and received their first television production credit.

Donald Brittain Awards are presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to honour the year's best television documentary on a social or political topic. Formerly presented as part of the Gemini Awards, since 2013 it has been presented as part of the Canadian Screen Awards. The award is named in honour of Donald Brittain, a pioneering Canadian documentary filmmaker.

Amapiano, "Shasha", first BET Awards nomination for Zimbabwe.

Amapiano, "Shasha", first BET Awards nomination for Zimbabwe.

Popularly known as the Amapiano Queen ShaSha, real name Charmaine Mapimbiro has broken new ground by becoming the first artist from Zimbabwe to be nominated for the prestigious BET Awards.

Shasha got her first nod not only as an artist, but for the country which has never received any award or nomination from the highly ranked Awards.

Born and bred in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Shasha, made her inroads from South Africa where she is now based and currently signed to DJ Maphorisa.

She gained momentum with her voice in a hit song Akulalekai by Samthing Soweto, Ngi Thanda Wena by Mlindo The Vocalist, and Scorpion King's song We Mama.

This year's BET is where Nigeria’s famous Burna Boy is up for Best International Act after losing the Grammys last year.

The 25 -year-old Amapiano singer is up for Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act together with Rema (Nigeria), Celeste (UK), Young T & Bugsey (UK), Hatik (France) and Stacy (France).

Sha Sha was nominated in the Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act together with Rema (Nigeria), Celeste (U.K.), Young T & Bugsey (U.K.), Hatik (France) and Stacy (France).

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, BET announced on May 20 that it would move forward with airing the BET Awards on June 28.

In their official statement the company stated in part that, “Using an array of innovative techniques and artist-generated content, the show will continue, allowing the audience to join in a celebration of black love, joy, pride and power with an all-star lineup.”

-Abel Mavura-

Africa's youngest Minister, Namibian, 23 year old Emma Theofilus

Meet the 23 year old Namibia Deputy Minister for Information and technology. She’s  #Emma Theofilus , a fresh Law graduate, and currently the youngest minister in Africa.

The 23 year old Minister  holds an LLB Degree from the University of Namibia and a Diploma in African feminism and gender studies from the University of South Africa.

The Namibian President Hage Geingob says “ For once, l felt that there was need to do away with old features, just like anyone would wish  to do away with me in an electoral process.
l felt it was now time to  bring youthful creative energy into the decision making table, to think and reason with these young people.
And surprisingly the results are fantabulous. l see creativity and innovation.l see diligence and much more artistry. With these great results, l am now convinced that there are a million reasons to believe in this generation.
l am happy to have tried something new”.

We celebrate you Emma Theofilus

Meet the 26 game changer Nathasia Mudiwa Muwanigwa.

Nathasia Mudiwa Muwanigwa, is a 26 years old Zimbabwean born Academia, Neurobiology PhD Researcher, Advocate for Africans in STEM, Science Communicator and a Global Citizen.
She is a Co-Founder and Director of Visibility STEM Africa, an initiative changing the narrative surrounding African contributions to STEM. As a result of her advocacy, she was profiled in Forbes Science.

Nathasia holds a Bachelors in Human Biology, summa cum laude, from the University of Nicosia (Cyprus), a Research Master’s in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease from Radboud University (Netherlands) and she is currently pursuing a PhD in neurobiology at the University of Luxembourg. Her research focuses on stem cell based modeling of Parkinson’s disease at the Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine.

Adding to that she is an early career panelist for Neuro Central and serve on a board of directors at the Biotech Institute (Zimbabwe).

#success #NathasiaMudiwa

Five key STEPS Zimbabwe CSO's should be doing to curb COVID-19

Spearheading mass radio communications campaign to combat COVID-19 stigma and misinformation in communities across the nation.

Partnering with the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe gather correct information and statistics on COVID-19.

Leading efforts to coordinate COVID-19 preparation and procurement with district health officers nationwide in Zimbabwe.

Initiate a nationwide deployment of community health workers on behalf of the Zimbabwean National Task Force on COVID-19 

Ramping up COVID-19 testing and diagnostic capabilities. 

76 types of breakfast a Day Post #COVID19 lockdown

According to reports a woman ordered 76 different types of breakfasts on the first day of post-lockdown Wuhan as a make up for what she had missed during the quarantine.

The British newspaper, Daily Mail, reports that the Man ordered a menu of breakfast for each day of the quarantine during the 76-day draconian quarantine.

Social media footage shows a delivery worker ordering the items at a breakfast restaurant before carrying bags of food on his shoulders.

According to Chinese media reports, the delivery guy in the restaurant named, Fu, requested the order at 6:33 a.m. on the first day of ‘unlocked’ Wuhan.'

It took Fu an hour to complete the order as most restaurants still remained closed after Wuhan had lifted travel restrictions just hours ago.

I haven’t had 'Guo Zao' in more than two months, the customer told the press. I’m so happy today that Wuhan lifted the lockdown, she said.

Guo Zao, according to the article, is a local phrase commonly used to describe ‘eating breakfast’ as Wuhan is known for its vibrant food culture.

After this meal, our life will be better and better! The resident then shared the food with her family and neighbors, the report said.

After more than two months indoors, millions of Wuhan residents are now enjoying a renewed sense of freedom after the Chinese city's 76-day coronavirus lockdown was lifted Wednesday.

TAKU'S AWAKENING EXCERPT (1)

#Excerpt from the New Book 

#Taku's Awakening

Blessed is the woman whose womb is set apart to carry a world’s blessing for nine whole months. Through her persistence, we have a handful of wise and commendable characters roaming under the sun. The same is for the woman who bore a boy and named him Taku. Taku is the short form of Takudzwa which is a Shona name which means we have been enlarged.

After a long season of tears and seemingly relentless prayers came a renewed phase of joy for Mr. And Mrs. Andrews. They had gone for years after their marriage without conceiving, which broke their hearts and killed them slowly. Multiple doctor visits yielded no definite results; all they could say was to wait for the right time. Nothing was wrong with them, just that nature was taking its time. Maybe God’s time was not yet. Family members even started doubting their possibilities of ever bearing a child and likened them to the father Abraham and Sarah. What else could they do except hope in God for a miracle?

Eight years down the line then congratulations were in order. Mrs. Adams gave birth to Taku who was the cover to their shame. He was an answer to prayers on the mountains and in the wilderness. A family had been enlarged and completed.

Like every parent, they had dreams for their child as he grew up. But there is a question as to how do parents dream on behalf of their kids? Is it good or bad to dream and impose your dreams on your child?

Well, it is not bad to dream on behalf of your child. Whilst at the same time is absolutely contagious to ignore that there is something called passion in every living being. As such was the story of Taku growing up into a man under the impression that he was working hard to make his parents happy. In his days it was super cool to be in a certain academic class and the rest were despised. Taku fought through thick and thin to be in this certain class although he was not competent enough to keep up with the orders of the day. Alas, all he wanted was to prove that he is an excellent child.

He went through his primary school and all went well. Then he progressed to high school where all the drama began and he lost his actual plot. In primary school, all classes were all the same and everything was equally distributed. However, the high school setup was completely different. People were graded according to the perceived so-called level of excellence.

~Abel Mavura~