South African Music Awards spread the yellow carpet

World On Press


Ian Jindela

Picture by Speakers Corner

The date is set for this year’s music awards ceremony to be held at the prestigious Sun City Super bowl. The 16th MTN South African Music Awards will be on the 17th of April is sure to break the record with the new category stepping into the international arena. The recording industry South Africa (RISA) has decided to include International Achievement Award as the new category to honour home brewed talent that is making waves in the international arena. This category promises and will recognise the hard wok that South African artist’s has made in the performance, album sales and related rewards such as awards and recognition on the global stage.


On the nominees list the Nubian princess Camagwini has been nominated twice alongside the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai, Lira, Busi Mhlongo and Louise Carver. Her new offering Emandulo (ancient days) is also nominated as best Adult Contemporary Album African and has been released in Europe last year. She is the voice of the ancestors and with her calling as the singer and the messenger, Camagwini is sure to deliver at all times. She believes being nominated is just a confirmation of spreading the message and healing the troubled soul with her unique voice and stage presence. Busi Mhlongo has made a comeback with her new album titled Amakholwa “the Believers” being nominated three times in the major categories at this year’s SAMAS.
The music industry has taken another level this year as South Africa is counting down to the World Cup. Music lovers will once again have a time to mother of all parties at this year’s SAMAS. It is going to be a lifetime experience of live music and entertainment promises to break record of the previous SAMAS.

South African music will once again be celebrated and icons will be honoured with lifetime achievement awards like in the past will take place. It is always great to see such icons and divas honoured as they have contributed in local and in the international arena for past 20 year’s. In the past the likes of Caiphus Semenya, Anton Goosen, Hugh Masekela, Abdulllah Ibrahim, Mahlathini & the Mahotela Queens, Thandi Klaasen, Brenda Fassie an Johnny Clegg / Sipho Mchunu (Juluka ) has received the lifetime achievement awards.

South African Film and Television industry honours John Kani.

World On Press

Ian Jindela





South African actor, director and playwright Dr. John Kani receives lifetime achievement award at this year’s SAFTAS (South African film and Television Awards) hosted by NFVF. The Glittering award ceremony that took place at the State Theatre in Pretoria honours talent and celebrate creativity and quality of South African Film and Television talent within the industry.


The icon was honoured to have received a lifetime achievement award for his endless work and contribution in the film industry at this year’s fourth SAFTAS.


Bonisile John Kani was born in 1943 at New Brighton Township, Port Elizabeth. In the early 70’s he wrote Sizwe Banzi is Dead and The Island with Athol Furgard and Winston Ntshona which won a Tony Award in 1975 at New York Edison Theatre and played for 52 nights. His contribution to theatre in the USA saw him winning another special Obie Award on the play called Nothing but the Truth in 2002 as a sole author, a play about post apartheid regime in South Africa. The play focuses on the blacks who fought and remain in South Africa during apartheid and blacks who only return from exile during post apartheid. It was first staged in Johannesburg. In the Month of February 2010 alone Kani received six awards including Avanti Hall of Fame Award, M-Net Plum Award and Clio Award in New York. His television appearances includes the White Lion currently showing at cinemas in South Africa, Sarafina, Soweto Green, He has just finished lead role on a stage play Lion and the Lamb. With his narrative attributes the great Kani brings the audience to another level.


Hosted by award-winning comedian, John Vlismas, one of South Africa’s most creative international comics, the show featured performances by MXO, Just Ginger and electrifying Jamali. 7de Laan won the best overall soapie by public vote whilst Superhero by Hanneke Schutte won three awards including the best short film and is currently screening in London and Ireland. White Lion also won two awards and is currently showing at Ster kinekor cinemas in South Africa.

Haiti: Hope through football: FIFA meets Haiti (EN and FR)

World On Press

Haiti: Hope through football
Ian Jindela


It proved an emotional occasion as Joseph S. Blatter met with Yves Jean-Bart, President of the Haiti Football Association (FHF), for the first time since the country was hit by a major earthquake on 12 January. “We’d got some second-hand accounts but we weren’t able to speak to Mr Jean-Bart directly just after the earthquake,” said the FIFA President. “After a few days, I managed to speak to him on the telephone and I can tell you that was a huge relief.”

Jean-Bart still carries the scars of the event, with several fingers on his right hand wrapped in bandages after being crushed. He also suffered an injury to his elbow, which has recently undergone an operation. “I was running to escape our headquarters when a block of stone fell on my back and shoulder,” he recalled.

“It’s painful but I’m still alive. Jean-Yves Labaze, the coach of the U-17s, was just behind me and was less fortunate. The earthquake happened around 5pm. A lot of our players were training then, which maybe saved their lives. On the other hand, all of them or nearly all of them suffered losses within their families.”

Exact figures for the human toll remain hard to gauge, but the statistics provided by the United Nations speak for themselves: between 100,000 and 150,000 deaths, 1.1 million people homeless, 700,000 in need of first aid, 200,000 lacking food and 500,000 having fled Port-au-Prince for the countryside.

The FHF itself was not spared by the tragedy and Jean-Bart lists the victims among FHF employees with a profound sadness: “The national team’s masseuse, the cameraman, the executive director and so many more. It’s impossible to give a precise figure at the moment.”

The FHF needs help on all fronts, having lost its headquarters as well. “We don’t even have the money to pay for the heavy machinery to clear away the rubble. We estimate that there are at least 33 bodies buried underneath, and we’ve also lost all our assets, plus the whole of our administrative system.”

It’s incredible, but amid all the ruins young people wanted to play. Football is an integral part of our society and that’s why it’s important that we get our football activities up and running – to bring a little serenity and joy.
Yves Jean-Bart, President of the Haiti Football Association.

Thousands of homeless Haitians have gathered in the national stadium, on the artificial pitch laid down for the match between Haiti and Brazil in 2004. As for the FHF’s technical centre, built thanks to FIFA’s Goal programme, it remains intact save for the surrounding wall and has been made available to footballers and their families. On 4 February, FIFA elected to release special funds to aid the country.

“The Finance Committee decided to allocate an extra USD 3m,” explained President Blatter. “We had already granted an emergency aid of USD 250,000 after the catastrophe.” The additional sum has been set up as a Special Projects Fund which will be managed directly by FIFA from Zurich to finance projects submitted by the FHF.

Amid the chaos, President Jean-Bart attempted to form a list of priorities. “The first thing is to help the athletes so that they can go back to leading normal lives,” he said.

“After that, we want to take back the grounds that are still being used for relief operations. Lastly, we want to get our competitions back under way as soon as possible. The clubs Racing CH and Tempete have already asked to be entered into the CONCACAF Champions League.”

The very idea may seem strange just a few weeks after such an overwhelming tragedy, but hope is vital at times like these. “We handed out the FIFA balls we still had to people in the camps,” explained Jean-Bart.

“It’s incredible, but amid all the ruins young people wanted to play. Football is an integral part of our society and that’s why it’s important that we get our football activities up and running – to bring a little serenity and joy.”

“In life, there are miracles,” added President Blatter. “Football persists and brings hope and emotions, but money is also necessary to rebuild and carry on again.” The task now is to begin planning for the future. “The pitch in Petit Goave was finished off by an aftershock and the stadium in Leogane, at the epicentre of the quake, was totally destroyed,” said Jean-Bart.

“There are numerous building sites, but football wasn’t just restricted to Port-au-Prince and that’s a good thing, because the provinces were relatively spared, which should allow us to get started again on the right foot.”

There is an immense amount of work to be done, of course, but Haiti can count on the solidarity of the entire football family. “Aside from FIFA, who made an unprecedented contribution with the $3m USD fund, lots of clubs, federations and football organisations have helped out and benefit matches have been, or are going to be, held,” concluded the FHF President. “The idea of a ‘football family’ really comes into focus at moments like these.”







Haïti : reprendre espoir avec le football

La rencontre est forte. Ce mardi 9 février, Joseph S. Blatter revoit pour la première fois Yves Jean-Bart, Président de la Fédération haïtienne, depuis le terrifiant tremblement de terre du 12 janvier dernier. "On avait des nouvelles indirectes mais nous n’arrivions pas à joindre M. Jean-Bart juste après le tremblement de terre. Après quelques jours j’ai réussi à l’avoir au téléphone et je peux vous garantir que ça a été un grand soulagement", explique le Président de la FIFA.
Jean-Bart est encore marqué physiquement par le drame. Plusieurs doigts de sa main droite, écrasés, sont toujours bandés, il montre son coude qui vient juste d’être opéré. "Je m’enfuyais en courant du siège quand un bloc de pierre m’est tombé sur le dos et l’épaule. C’est douloureux, mais je suis en vie. Jean-Yves Labaze, l'entraîneur des U-17, qui se trouvait derrière moi n’a pas eu la même chance", détaille le Président haïtien. "Le tremblement de terre a eu lieu vers 17h00. A cette heure beaucoup de nos joueurs s’entraînaient, ce qui leur a peut-être sauvé la vie. En revanche, tous ou presque ont subi des pertes dans leur famille", ajoute-t-il.
A ce jour, les bilans dans le pays sont très approximatifs mais quelques chiffres fournis par les Nations Unies parlent d’eux-mêmes : entre 100 000 et 150 000 disparus, 1 100 000 sans-abris, 700 000 personnes ont besoin de premier soins, 200 000 personnes sont en manque de nourriture, 500 000 personnes ont fui Port-au-Prince pour la campagne.


Le tremblement de terre a eu lieu vers 17h00. A cette heure beaucoup de nos joueurs s’entraînaient, ce qui leur a peut-être sauvé la vie.

Yves Jean-Bart, Président de la Fédération haïtienne



Les employés de la Fédération n’ont pas été épargnés et Jean-Bart égrène les victimes comme on égrène un chapelet. "La masseuse de l’équipe nationale, le caméraman, le directeur exécutif, et tant d’autres... C’est impossible de faire un bilan précis pour le moment", annonce-t-il. La Fédération a besoin de tout. Les bâtiments du siège se sont effondrés. "Nous n’avons même pas l’argent pour payer les engins lourds qui permettraient de déblayer les décombres. Nous estimons qu’il y a au moins 33 corps ensevelis. Et puis nous avons perdu tout notre patrimoine, tout notre système administratif", déplore Jean-Bart.
Des milliers de sans-abris se sont regroupés dans l’enceinte du stade national, sur le terrain artificiel qui avait été construit pour le match de la paix Haiti - Brésil de 2004. Quant au centre technique de la Fédération Haïtienne de Football, bâti grâce au Programme Goal de la FIFA et intact hormis le mur d’enceinte, il est mis à la disposition des footballeurs et de leur famille. Le 4 février, la FIFA a décidé de débloquer une aide financière exceptionnelle : "la Commission des Finances a décidé d’octroyer une aide supplémentaire de trois millions de dollars. Nous avions déjà offert une aide d’urgence de 250 000 dollars après la catastrophe", détaille le Président Blatter. Ces trois millions de dollars constituent un fonds d'assistance qui sera géré directement par la FIFA depuis Zurich, en fonction des projets qui seront soumis par la FHF.
Reprendre les activités
Au milieu de cet immense chaos, le Président Jean-Bart tente de lister les priorités. "La première chose est d’assister les athlètes pour qu’ils retournent à une vie normale. Nous voulons ensuite récupérer les terrains qui servent encore pour les secours. Enfin nous voulons reprendre les activités de compétition au plus vite. Déjà les clubs du Racing CH et de Tempête demandent à être réintégrés à la Ligue de champions de la CONCACAF".
L’idée semble saugrenue quelques semaines seulement après le drame. Mais l’espoir est vital dans ces moments. "Nous avons distribué ce qui nous restait de ballons de la FIFA dans les camps. C’est incroyable, au milieu des ruines, les jeunes veulent jouer. Le football fait partie intégrante de notre société. C’est pourquoi il est important que les activités de football reprennent, pour ramener un peu de sérénité et de joie", analyse Jean-Bart.


C’est incroyable, au milieu des ruines, les jeunes veulent jouer. Le football fait partie intégrante de notre société. C’est pourquoi il est important que les activités de football reprennent

Le Président de la fédération explique le rôle du football

"Dans la vie, il y a des miracles. Le football continue et apporte de l’espoir et des émotions. Mais il faut aussi de l’argent pour rebâtir et repartir. C’est pourquoi la FIFA a créé ce fonds", ajoute le Président Blatter. Il faut maintenant planifier. "Le terrain de Petit Goave, touché lors du séisme, a fini d’être achevé par une réplique ; le stade de Léogâne, épicentre du séisme, a été totalement détruit… Il y a de nombreux chantiers. Mais le football n’était pas concentré à Port-au-Prince et c’est une bonne chose, car la province a été relativement épargnée ce qui devrait nous permettre de repartir du bon pied", estime le Président de la Fédération haïtienne.
Le travail est immense mais Haïti peut compter sur la solidarité de la famille du football. "Hormis la FIFA qui fait un effort sans précédent avec ce fonds de 3 millions, de nombreux clubs, fédérations et organisations du football se sont mobilisés, des matches de solidarité ont eu lieu et auront lieu. La notion de 'famille du football' prend tout son sens dans ces moments", conclut Jean-Bart.