Afriqan Times July Issue 19

Australia’s Premier Monthly African Magazine BRISBANE • PERTH • MELBOURNE • SYDNEY • ADELAIDE

July • Issue 19

INSIDE

Jason Njoku: Afican & Distinguished Described as the “Netflix of Africa,” Njoku’s company has today grown to have more than 500,000 registered users.

Helen Zillie: Phenomenal Woman Tough and charismatic, South African opposition leader Helen Zille is one the country’s most powerful women

Cover: Miss Africa Perth 2012 Contestant

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IN THIS ISSUE 04

To Our readers

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Moments:

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Events Afriqan Times could not pass by in June

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Yes, I Am Afro-Aussie

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Afriqan & Distinguished: Jason Njoku

His company is described as the ‘Netflix of Africa’

Afriqan Times Editor

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My Africa: Angola

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Phenomenal Woman: Helen Zille

How often do you go on a journey back in time tracking something down? Look around. Can you remember where all those things in your house came from? Check your mobile phone. When and where did you meet all those people under “K”?

Let’s move to the next level. Try to remember names of each of your classmates in year one.

Take your time… Not easy, right? It’s amazing how easily we forget events, facts and even people?

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Remarkable African women who are making the most significant impact in business, politics, technology, entrepreneurship and leadership on the continent and elsewhere around the world

Miss Africa Perth 2012: An Audience with Kumba Tamba

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Movies:

Top movies from Nollywood we recommend you watch this month and major Australian premiers

30

Obsessions:

Top 6 gadgets you should put on your your wish list… and mail it to your wealthy friends and relatives.

Or one of our Afrillionnaires.

Lena Kozak-Fretwell

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Back To The Roots

A few years back I saw a show on TV about a Japanese guy who left his country in his twenties and never had a chance to go back or communicate with his relatives. After about 40 years he couldn’t remember how to speak or read his mother language. Back then I thought it must have been just a trick used by the producers of the show to boost the ratings, it can’t be true.

Living in Australia today, I realise it was very possible. The secret is to find that healthy balance between your past and your future, treasure your background while investing in your future. It is our responsibility.

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So, grab a photograph from a family album, open a history book, research a subject, go back to your roots and be surprised by what you may find.

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Founders Circa 2009 • Emmanuel K Solomon, Gabriel Gomado

The Afriqan Times welcomes comments and suggestions, as well as information about errors that call for corrections. We are committed to presenting information fairly and accurately.

The Afriqan Times Level 28, AMP Tower 140 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 P. O . Box 445, South Perth 6951, Tel: 1300 A TIMES (1300 2 84637) Fax: +61 8 9463 6232 Feedback: info@afriqantimes.com - News inquiries: editor@afriqantimes.com Advertising inquiries: len.fretwell@afriqantimes.com • Mobile: 0417 001 080 Editor : Lena Kozak-Fretwell - Writers: Rumbidzai Chekeche, Tendai Kambikambi Guest Writers: Ireen Pedro, Terri Smith Special Features by: Emmanuel K Solomon Creative Consultant: Tamu Mnangwa Graphics: Elvin Wong Photography: Emily Dimozantos, Andrea Klarin, Ben Scott, Priscilla Appiah Subscription: www.afriqantimes.com/temp/subscribe Publishing Information: The Afriqan Times is Australian owned and operated.

Afriqan Times Pty Ltd ABN: 521 386 161 09 / ACN: 138 616 109.

COVER: Miss Africa Perth 2012 Contestant Photographer: Elle J Hobson, www.ellejhobson.com

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Products may not be available in all stores or through Woolworths online and are not available at CALTEX WOOLWORTHS co-branded fuel outlets. Visit woolworths.com.au for store availability. To locate your nearest Woolworths store call 1300 767 969 or SMS the suburb/postcode or state on 0439 767 969.

WP250612N

Moments

AABC Sydney

Moments:

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MAP 2012

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Yes, I am Afro Aussie

Yes, I Am Afro Aussie Your Name: Lucia Mutete Meaning of Name: Light Country origin: Zimbabwe Ethnicity: Shona Country of residence: Australia Profession: Student/Model 3 words to describe Australia: Hardworking, Independent, Adventorous 3 words to describe Africa: My home, Naturalistic, Promising

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Photo by Elle J Fashion Photographer

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African & Distinguished

iROKO Partners ‘NETFLIX of Africa’ When Jason Njoku graduated from his UK-based university in 2005, he was filled with high hopes of entrepreneurial success.

But after his business endeavors failed to take off for years, Njoku had no option but to move back to his mother’s house in London.

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African & Distinguished

African & Distinguished

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eturning home as a penniless 29-year-old was “a harrowing experience” but provided Njoku, a chemist by training, with his Eureka moment -- he realized there’s a growing appetite for Nollywood films after noticing how his mother and other relatives had difficulties getting their hands on their beloved movies from Nigeria’s booming film industry.

The tech entrepreneur spotted the gap in the market and in 2010 he founded iROKO Partners, an Internet company that distributes Nollywood films to viewers across the world.

Described as the “Netflix of Africa,” Njoku’s company has today grown to have more than 500,000 registered users. It has offices in London, New York and Lagos with some 100 staff and has secured $8 million in funding from U.S.-based hedge fund Tiger Global, early investors in Facebook.

Earlier this week it launched a new internet subscription service which enables viewers to watch exclusive Nollywood films for $5 a month.

Q: Your company has been described as the Netflix of Africa. Do you want to be as big as Netflix?

A: At the moment we are focusing on the 30 million African diaspora. We’ve just reached 500,000 registered users, we think our additional market in the West is at least five to 10 million people, there are lots of Africans who love this stuff.

I guess, ultimately, the big market is Nigeria... this is where the content originates from. If you spend any time in Nigeria, it is difficult to come across a person who hasn’t heard of Nollywood.

But at the same time, the pan-African nature of it -- from the Kenyans to the Ghanaians to Gambians to people in the DRC -- there’s a massive base of

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people who really love this content. So because of the broadband restrictions in Africa, we are currently focused on the diaspora.

The evolution of African cinema

Q: What prompted you to start the business?

A: I went to university to study chemistry with high hopes, my mum was really happy. I graduated in 2005 and then I started an entrepreneurial sort of trail. Whereas my friends went into banking, consulting, finance, I just wanted to be an entrepreneur, to work in projects which really interested me. Unfortunately, for five, almost six years I failed miserably at being an entrepreneur.

So, in fact, literally what prompted the whole genesis of iROKO was at 29, almost 30 I had to move back with my mum. That was itself a harrowing experience but the interesting thing was that for the first time in eight years since I’d moved out I was actually able to see the viewing patterns of my mom change...She’d gone from watching western films to watching African films.

Because I was able to observe her and we lived together then I could actually relate and she’d spend hours watching it. Then I had to drive her around to go and see my aunts and uncles who I hadn’t seen in a long time -- it was exactly the same thing for these guys and I was like ‘well, how can it be that so quickly so many people’s viewing, video and entertainment habits change.’ So it was really intriguing to find this stuff.

African & Distinguished

Q: Do you see the potential in the Q: What has been the reaction from future to become as big as Netflix? the Nigerian film industry?

A: I think Netflix has 25 million subscribers across South America, U.S. Canada and the UK. We are really young, as ambitious as we want to be. Are there 25 million people who love this content? Most definitely there are 25 million people in Nigeria who love this content. Are they willing to pay for it? That’s the big experiment we’re kind of playing now. So we wouldn’t want to compare ourselves to Netflix but we have an interest and opportunity to at least get somewhere along that line.

A: The key thing is that we’ve invested more money in Nollywood in the shortest space of time -- far more than anybody else has done. We are remunerating movie producers who, quite rightly, are receiving additional revenue form their films as we have opened up a new funding avenue for them.

Before, they were losing out to the pirates, now they are gaining financially from iROKOtv. Hopefully this new approach to monetizing Nollywood content will lead to producers re-investing in their films.

- Extract CNN

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In the garden, be sure to only water once on your rostered watering days, either before 9am or after 6pm. Watering in the morning is generally best, since the water is available to the plants throughout the day when they need it most.

And for pop-up sprinklers, try to keep to a ten minutes per station. For lots more water-saving ideas, and to create your personal Target 60 action plan, visit watercorporation.com.au

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My Africa: Angola Kenya

Serra da Leba - Angola

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Photograph by Kostadin Luchansky, Your Shot

Capital: Luanda Region: Southern Africa Population: 19 million (2009 est.)

Currency: Kwanza (AOA) Language: Portuguese GDP: US$115.679 billion (2011 est.)

Calling code: +244 Tourist Attractions: Iona National Park, Kalanda Waterfalls, Kissama Game Park, Missomo Island, Benguela Beache

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Phenomenal Woman

Helen Zille

“We’ve got to build this democracy. And democracies, especially on our continent, have failed because too much power has been concentrated in too few hands, been abused and led straight to corruption and the criminal state. We’re not going to have that in South Africa.”

Phenomenal Woman

a

Image credit: Akanyang Africa

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a

a

Phenomenal Woman

Remarkable African women who are making the most significant impact in business, politics, technology, entrepreneurship and leadership on the continent and elsewhere around the world.

Tough and charismatic, South African opposition leader Helen Zille is one the country’s most powerful women.

she exposed how activist Steve Biko was killed by apartheid police while in detention.

the ANC in a major South African city. In May 2007, Zille was elected party leader of the DA and in 2009 she became premier of the Western Cape province.

Her story in the liberal Rand Daily Mail refuted the regime’s Since she was elected leader of the Democratic Alliance in 2007, version that Biko’s death was the While Zille admits that winning Zille has been concentrating her result of a hunger strike and was elections in a big city like Cape efforts on broadening the appeal seen as a watershed moment for Town and a major province South Africa as it uncovered one like Western Cape is a big of her party. improvement for the DA, she of the darkest episodes in the is determined to make further country’s history.

“Growing the base of a political gains. party on the foundation of a political philosophy and a value “I have no doubt that our politics would have taken a very “We’ve got to build this set is very difficult in a raciallydifferent turn had he lived and democracy. And democracies, divided context, where people had he led and when he died in especially on our continent, have tend to see politics as a choice detention we all knew what a failed because too much power between different race groups,” critical moment that was and we has been concentrated in too she says. all understood that a big coverfew hands, been abused and led up was in progress,” Zille says. straight to corruption and the “And so growing your base across criminal state. We’re not going all barriers requires a mix of to have that in South Africa.” she Soon after breaking the Biko strategies,” adds Zille, who is says. story, Zille left journalism to also premier of the Western Cape become a political activist. She province, where her party beat worked in a number of non- Extract CNN the ANC. governmental organizations and human rights groups, including Under Zille’s leadership, the the Black Sash, a women’s civil DA has become the most vocal rights movement. opponent of the ANC. She later joined the DA and An investigative journalist before became mayor of Cape Town in entering the political arena, Zille 2006 -- marking the first loss for made her name in 1977 when

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Entertainment

Miss Africa Perth 2012

Kumba Tamba

An Audience with Kumba Tamba

I

was born Liberia in 1993 but my memories of my country have faded. I wish I could say that I remember my family’s escape from the war that took my father’s life. All I know is that my older brother and I,a four year old then, would have followed very closely by hand our mother as she walked for 3 days and night caring my younger sister until we found a refugee camp in Guinea.

The seven years we spent in the refugee camp must have been hard on my mother.

We lived from hand to mouth - in one room with just a few bundles of clothes. There was a little schooling available but as we had practically no money we were barely able to take advantage of it.

In 2004 we were accepted into Australia, we had no idea what living in Australia would mean but we will be forever grateful that we were given this opportunity of a new life.

Becoming a mother at 16 I had to take a lot of responsibility and face challenges, looking back I would made different decisions but I am grateful to have two beautiful girls and my absolute goal in life is to be a positive role model for them.

I have been able to complete a certificate 111 in aged care and a further certificate 111 in community support work. I plan to go back to school next year and complete my diploma in community support work.

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Entertainment

Miss Africa Perth 2012

Kumba Tamba

An Audience with Kumba Tamba (cont...) miss africa journey

What now?

The reason why I took part in Miss africa Perth was to meet new people, I wanted to find my place in the African community. I know I said I was in the competition to win it but I had no ounce of confidence to win it, it was all talk.

I intend on being involved with nonprofit organizations that assist young African women understand child development,positive discipline and provide them with advice on education and careers.

I am passionate about this cause because My involvement with Miss Africa Perth has having gone through the experience of being given me new confidence, I have learnt that a very young single mother I know about I can make a difference no matter how small. the struggles and i know that part of being I look forward to assisting young african crowned Miss Africa Perth 2012 gives the woman find their hope. responsibility to make a difference in my community.

Samantha Ofole-Prince is an entertainment journalist who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film. She can be reached on sofole@gmail.com

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Movies

Queen GAGA 2:35 | ACTION | M (E) | 4.2/5 stars STARS: Oge Okoye,Funke Akindele Director – Obi Emelonye Synopsis: The story continues as Lady Gagaa (Oge Okoye)gets help from a muse who helps her to stardom but her adversaries will stop at nothing to spite her and hurt her...

Tango With Me 1:50 | ROMANCE | M (E) | 5/5 stars STARS: Joke Silva, Bimbo Manuel and Genevieve Nnaji Director – Mahmood Bolagun Synopsis: Lola and Uzo are the perfect couple, their newly married life in front of them. All is well until the happiest day of their lives became the worst. This event leads the couple on a journey of self discovery. “Tango With Me” is a contemporary story about forgiveness about some of our core values as a people and our faith.

A story that proves that above all, Love does indeed, conquer all.

Coming to Cinemas

Total Recall (2012) 2:01 | ACTION | G STARS: Bokeem Woodbine, Bryan Cranston, Colin Farrell Director – Len Wiseman Synopsis: In 2084, after being devastated by war, Earth is divided into two superpowers, Euroamerica and New Shanghai, who are locked in a battle for supremacy. In this world lives Douglas Quaid, a simple factory worker suffering from violent nightmares who, after a visit to the Rekall Corporation that provides its clients with implanted artificial memories of the lives they’d like to have, begins to suspect that he’s a spy whose memory and personality were erased and replaced, though he is unaware which side of the fight he’s on.

Taken 2 1:50 | ACTION & DRAMA | PG-13 STARS: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace Director – Olivier Megaton Synopsis: A year after the events that transpired in Paris, retired CIA agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is once again forced to take action when an Albanian (Rade Šerbedžija), whose son was one of the men killed in Paris, abducts his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) during a vacation in Istanbul.

In Cinemas

The Amazing Spider-Man™ 1:36 | ACTION | PG-13 STARS: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary Director – Marc Webb Synopsis: An outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle and Aunt. Like most teenagers, trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today.

Also finding his way with his first high school crush, and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As he discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance.

Deep Blue Sea 1:30 | ROMANCE & DRAMA | M STARS: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell Beale Director – Terence Davies Synopsis: Set ‘around 1950’, The Deep Blue Sea tells the story of the younger wife of High Court judge Sir William Collyer, who has embarked on a passionate affair with a handsome young former RAF pilot troubled by his memories of the war; that the mix of fear and excitement once in his life is missing.

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o Obsessions Entertainment

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

OUYA

Schick Hydro 5 Power Select Razor

Refined English motoring meets the open air in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster (US$233,000).

Like its hardtop counterpart, the Roaster is powered by a naturally aspirated, 6.0L V12 engine pumping out 510 hp and mated to a six-speed gearbox that can send the two-seater from 0-62 mph in just 4.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 190 mph. Other features include copious amounts of carbon fiber - in the side strakes, front splitter, rear diffuser, mirror caps, and rear lamp infills - and sexy 19-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber.

Been waiting around on Apple to turn the Apple TV into a video came console? You can get a preview of that experience with the Ouya ($100). Sporting a Tegra 3 quad-core processor, Android 4.0, 1GB of RAM 8GB of flash storage, HDMI, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a wireless hardware controller, it’s got the chops to output fine-looking games, and thanks to an open SDK combined with the guarantee of digitally-delivered, free-to-try titles, it could up-end the console business as we know it.

If you’ve had trouble finding a power razor that suits your needs, perhaps you should give the Schick Hydro 5 Power Select Razor ($4) a try.

Thanks to its comfort control system, it offers three different vibration settings so you can find one that suits your skin, a digital interface with LED screen, a solid, sleek design, and a single button that makes controlling it as easy as can be.

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FIFA Soccer 12

CASH FLOW 101 BOARDGAME

Hard Graft Frame1 Camera Bag

If you’re more excited to see Ronaldo than Romo this season, then you’ve probably been looking forward to this one. FIFA Soccer 12 is the latest version of the only soccer game that matters, and adds new features like the Player Impact Engine, new Precision Dribbling, Tactical Defending, and smarter CPU players thanks to something called Pro Player Intelligence. The EA Sports Football Club, “a live service connecting players to the real-world game,” is also part of the new package.

MONOPOLY on Steroids - Cashflow 101 is an educational tool in board game format designed

by Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad), which aims to teach the players concepts of investing by having their money work for them in a risk free setting (play money) while simultaneously increasing their financial literacy and stressing the imperative nature of accountability. In place of “score cards”, there are financial statements.

You spent a lot of money buying your high-end DSLR, so why are you carrying it around in $5 worth of nylon? The Hard Graft Frame1 Camera Bag (roughly $470) is a fitting case for your shooter, handmade in Italy from premium vegetable tanned leather, and featuring a soft leather lining, plenty of padding, a removable divider, signature wool felt details on the shoulder strap, and a small zip pocket for memory cards, cables, your phone, or other goodies.

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