Idris Elba and Thandie Newton in RocknRolla

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | June 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Idris Elba and Thandie Newton will be in the new movie about a Russian mobster who orchestrates a crooked land deal, putting millions of dollars up for grabs and attracting all of London’s criminal underworld. A dangerous crime lord, a sexy accountant, a corrupt politician and a band of petty thieves are among those who work really hard to double-cross one another.

The movies features a star studded cast including Gerard Butler, Jeremy Piven, Ludacris (yes, Ludacris!), and Jamie Campbell Bower give their all to the movie. Thandie is the sexy accountant (in case you weren’t sure). Overall it will be interesting to see what the viewers think of the movie–A Guy Ritchie production in the vein of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels“. The movie is slated to premiere sometime in September or October of 2008. » Read more…

Tags: , Gerard Butler, Idris Elba, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jeremy Piven, Lock, Ludacris, RocknRolla, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Thandie Newton

Benu Mabhena’s Long Road To Stardom

Written by Grace Yama | June 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment

She makes her screen debut in the Hollywood action drama Blood Diamond, as Djimon Hounsou’s wife. Living in exile with her father, Benu fled for her life from her native country Zimbabwe and came to the states.

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Tags: , Benu Mabhena, blood diamond, Djimon Hounsou, leonardo di caprio

This is My Africa

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | June 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment

What do Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colin Firth (he lived in Nigeria as a little boy), Yinka Shonibare, and Paul Boateng, have in common? They are all part of a movie that focuses on African culture and what it means to them. Zina Saro-Wiwa (daughter of Ken Saro-Wiwa), a presenter for BBC and Radio 4 also serves as adviser to both British Council’s Music Unit, and The Africa Center in London, explores the perceptions of 20 people, black and white, the African continent (interestingly, she also performs under the pseudonym, Copperqueen). » Read more…

Tags: , Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colin Firth, Krukid, L'l John, Malika Zarra, Paul Boateng, Rwakus Records, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Yinka Shonibare

On the Rumba River

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | June 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment

On the Rhumba River is the story of an orphan, Antoine Kolosy, who found his calling in upbeat songs he made up on his battered old guitar. The church began to persecute him and the Belgian colonialists banned his songs. He started boxing but his heart was in the music. He released his first album in 1948 and was launched into stardom. His style was a sort of congolese rhumba that quickly caught on. » Read more…

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Michael Obiora - Oh So Wicked in “Hotel Babylon”

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | June 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Michael Obiora is Ben in the critically acclaimed BBC Drama “Hotel Babylon”. This talented young man plays a gay receptionist who tries to find his place in a world filled with mixed ideals and morals. » Read more…

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African actors repping hard in The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency

Written by Laura Adibe | May 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

According to AOL Black Voices, the TV series, along with the two-hour pilot, will air on HBO. The series, which is adapted from the book series by author Alexander McCall Smith, follows the adventures of Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), the owner of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Along with Jill Scott, the cast includes Lucian Msamati, David Oyelowo (’The Last King of Scotland’; HBO’s ‘Five Days’ and ‘As You Like It’), and the ever-so handsome Idris Elba (’28 Weeks Later,’ HBO’s ‘The Wire’). » Read more…

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Carmen Ejogo

Written by Laura Adibe | May 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The Nigerian-Scottish actress is keeping busy with upcoming roles in the Spike Lee directed TV series pilot M.O.N.Y., and the films Pride and Glory and Farlanders. Ejogo is best known for such roles as Sally Hemings in the made-for-TV movie, Sally Hemings: An American Scandal and for her role as Alean, the unfit mother, in the HBO film Lackawanna Blues, starring S. Epatha Merkerson and Terrence Howard. » Read more…

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Jaye Davidson - The Crying Game

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | May 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Jaye Davidson, born Alfred Amey, is an American Oscar-nominated former actor who was born to a Ghanian father and an English mother. Although he was born in the U.S., he was raised in England. » Read more…

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Stacey Dash - The Cape Verde Vixen

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | May 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Stacey Lauretta Dash started her career as a child actress on Sesame Street and went on to act on The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, TV 101 (with Matt LeBlanc and Sam Robards). On the big screen, she has been seen in Moving, Mo’ Money, Renaissance Man, Illegal in Blue, I Could Never be Your Woman, Nora’s Hair Salon II, Fashion Victim, Ghost Image and American Primitiveand Clueless (with Alicia Silverstone). » Read more…

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Peter Mensah - Accomplished Actor

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | May 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Peter Mensah is a Ghanian actor who has appeared in several films including 300, Hidalgo, Tears of the Sun, Jason X, Harvard Man, Bless the Child and has made television appearances in Star Trek: Enterprise, Tracker, Witchblade, Blue Murder, Relic Hunter, Earth: Final Conflict, Highlander: The Raven and La Femme Nikita. » Read more…

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10 Days In Africa

Written by Laura Adibe | May 9, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Filmmaker Regi Allen journeys to Ghana, Senegal and Cote d’ Ivoire on a 10-day journey to explore his roots and the myths about black identity and culture. » Read more…

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