August Issue 20

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

August • Issue 20

INSIDE

‘Blood Diamond’ Star’s remarkable journey From scavenging to an international fashion model and a Hollywood A-lister, Djimon Hounsou’s journey to stardom has been an astonishing

Doing the Double DOUBLE! It was the photograph of the Games.

Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Mo Farah clowning around together on top of the podium.

Cover: THE MO AND BOLT SHOW

2 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011

IN THIS ISSUE 04

To Our readers

06

Doing the Double Double

06

08

London 2012

Isaac makes strides in fast lane

12

Afriqan & Distinguished: Johny Akyinyemi

Lena Kozak-Fretwell

The flow of contrast...

Meet the African Canoeist

Afriqan Times Editor

18

My Africa: Mozambique

Setting New Records

21

Africa Down Under

24

Djimon Hounsou:

From scavenging for food through garbage and sleeping in the streets, to becoming an international fashion model and a Hollywood A-lister, Djimon Hounsou’s journey to stardom has been an astonishing one

29

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.

08

While Olympics was the talk of the month for many, here, at AQT, the launch of our sister publication was the most important event.

I would like to congratulate co-founders Len Fretwell and Emmanuel Solomon for the successful launch of Digging & Drilling Australasia print and on-line magazine, who went for gold, silver and bronze at the same time, finding oil and gas along the way.

You can learn more about AfriQan Times new sister publication at www.diggingdrilling.com.

This month we are talking about big ideas, growing business and expanding opportunities, all of that, plus a bit of fun. As always, couple of questions for you: are you putting your best leg forward in everything you do? are you investing enough time in practice and preparation? will you be coming first, second, third or last in your personal professional Olympics? In a way, we are all running a life long marathon. The good news is there can be more than one winner. I hope you are one of them.

12

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AUGUST 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 3

06

21

24

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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

4 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

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Doing the

DOUBLE DOUBLE! Somalian born Double Olympic champion and Jamaican superstar lights up London Olympics

6  AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

It was the photograph of the Games. Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Mo Farah clowning around together on top of the podium – the final moments of the very last night of athletics action in the Olympic stadium. A full-capacity crowd of 80,000 had stayed on to watch Farah’s medal ceremony following the 5,000m gold medal win that cemented his status as Britain’s alltime greatest athlete, and were treated to an additional surprise as the Jamaican triple Olympic gold medallist unexpectedly shot out of the tunnel to join his Somalianborn British friend.

The pair exchanged race celebrations, Farah performing Bolt’s “To Di World” – a Jamaican dancehall move that has become Bolt’s signature pose – while Bolt put his hands over his head in an M-shape to do the “Mobot” – and the stadium erupted. The two athletes have known each other for over a decade, since Bolt first came to prominence on the global stage as the youngest sprinter ever to win the 200m world junior title at the age of just 15. “Me and Mo we go way back,” said Bolt afterwards, “we have the same agent [Ricky Simms], we have been through ups and downs. I’ve seen him train. It was good, it was a joy for me to see him get the double gold medal so it was wonderful.”

After watching Farah win gold in the 5,000m Bolt says he was inspired to perform the Mobot on crossing the line in his final race of the Games – the men’s 4x100m relay in which the Jamaican quartet set a new world record of 36.84sec. “Before the Olympics I said I’m going to do that,” said the 25-year-old. “It escaped me two times [at grand prix races] because I was so happy that I won. But before I came out [for the relay] I watched him in his 5,000m and I made sure I remembered to do it. So for me it was fun.”

Farah, who modestly baulks at the suggestion that he is anywhere near Bolt’s legendary status – “No way, I’d have to break world records and win more gold medals” – said it was an honour to share the stage with such an icon. “It was good, he’s a great athlete, a

legend … He did the Mobot and I did the ‘To the world’.

I can’t believe he did the Mobot as he was breaking a world record, we will be looking back in a year’s time – a world record and he did the Mobot. I never thought it would take off.”

Farah, whose wife is expecting twins soon – future athletes if he has anything to do with it, “apparently they have long legs like their dad” he said – went on to pay tribute to the “genius” methods of his American coach, Alberto Salazar. In just 16 months the coach known for his unorthodox use of machinery such as the cryosauna, a cooling chamber used to aid muscle recovery, an underwater treadmill, and a punishing work ethic that means Farah keeps a treadmill in his bedroom, has elevated the 29-year-old Briton from double European champion to double Olympic champion, picking up world championship gold and silver medals along the way.

Salazar’s approach was blunt, and brutal. “Alberto said I run like a girl,” said Farah, laughing now at the indignity of it. “I was weak.” The coach worked on Farah’s strength, upping his mileage and added in gruelling hill runs which initially left the Briton struggling to cope.

In the Olympic Stadium he showed how the work had paid off as he finished strongly on the home straight to take double Olympic gold.

Moving to the other side of the world to train at Salazar’s Oregon base last February was a huge risk to take so close to the London Games, Farah admits. “It felt like it was a gamble,” says the Somali-born runner, who uprooted his wife, Tania, and daughter, Rihanna, so many miles from home. “There was a lot of questions asked at the time because I was double European champion and people were like, ‘Mo why are you changing when things are going so well?’ but in your mind you knew something had to change because I was coming sixth, seventh and if I didn’t make that change I don’t think I would have been [here] today and competing with those guys.”

AUGUST 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 7

Quick Notes

“Isaac continues a great legacy of young sportspeople from Fairfield City who excel in their sport”

8 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

LONDON 2012:

Isaac makes strides in fast lane

I

saac Ntiamoah and Anthony Alozie, members of Australia’s history making track finalist, have raced against the world’s best at the London Olympics with distinction.

Ntiamoah and his Australian 4x100m relay team equalled the Australian record time of 38.17sec to qualify for the final, where they faced the might of Jamaica and the US. The Australians finished seventh in 38.43sec.

There were lots of cheers from staff and students at Ntiamoah’s former schools, Fairfield Public and Fairfield High, who woke up early to watch him.

“We were very excited and we’re so proud of Isaac,” Fairfield Public deputy principal Natalie Piccinin said. “I got up early and I actually got an SMS message from Fairfield High’s principal (Robert

Mulas), who was watching it too.

“Between the two schools, we’re hoping to organise something for Isaac when he comes home.”

Mrs Piccinin said it was an extra special moment for colleague Mandy Wells, who was Ntiamoah’s relay coach in primary school. Ntiamoah’s former coach Gavin Beahan from Bankstown Sports Club said it was a great achievement.

“It’s hard enough just to qualify for the Games and then to go on and make the final was fantastic,” he said.

Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone said Ntiamoah was a great ambassador.

“Isaac continues a great legacy of young sportspeople from Fairfield City who excel in their sport,” he said.

Isaac Ntiamoah – Member of Australia’s 4 x 100m Team

in their heat.

•Atthe2010DelhiCommonwealthGameshewaspartof the relay team that narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in 39.14.

• A Fairfield local, Ntiamoah first began running at the age of seven at Fairfield Little Athletics Club.

Native: Ghana

Career Highlights • 4th place in the 4x100m relay at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games • Winning the 100m at the Australian University Games in 2007, Gold Coast • Making my first National Team in 2003

Interesting Facts • Isaac Ntiamoah ran a personal best 10.35 at the Melbourne Track Classic in March 2012 to secure his place on the 4x100m relay team.

•NtiamoahracedinAustralia’s4x100mteamatthe2011 World Championships where the men finished fourth

Sport Years on national team : 3 Primary Training Base: Sydney, NSW Institute/Academy: NSW Institute of Sport, Sydney

Education Primary: Fairfield Primary School (NSW, Australia) Secondary: Fairfield High School (NSW, Australia) Tertiary: Bachelor of Computing - University of Western Sydney (2007 - 2010)

10 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

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.

12 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

The flow of contrast...

Meet the African Canoeist

Johny Akinyemi

JUNE 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 13

African & Distinguished

African & Distinguished

The flow of contrast...

Meet the African Canoeist

A

mongst those bidding for Olympic glory “It was just such a great experience,” was canoeist Johny Akinyemi, the first remembers Akinyemi of his time in the West athlete to paddle for Nigeria at the African country. “Just to see where your roots world’s major sport event -- the 23-year- are, to see your heritage and what makes old enters the race on July 29, just two days you a person -- there’s a Nigerian boy within after the Games’ opening ceremony. me and there’s a British boy within me, I’ve only seen the British side of things until I Born and raised in the UK to a Nigerian father went back to Nigeria and saw my Nigerian and a British mother, Akinyemi’s path to the heritage and that’s something I’m proud of.”

30th Olympiad has been as winding as the Akinyemi says people in Nigeria “welcomed whitewater courses he navigates. him with open arms,” making it easier for him to embrace his roots and change his He first started canoeing aged 12 in northern Olympic allegiance.

England and in 2006 he emerged as the junior British national champion. But a year later “It made a lot of sense to me because there’s he gave up his top ranking in the country always been questions about my identity of his birth to compete for the country of which has been unanswered until I started his heritage following a visit to his father’s to look into my family and my family history homeland -- a trip he describes as a “baptism and stuff like that and gone back to my roots.” of fire.”

A talented athlete, Akinyemi wants to leave his mark in this year’s Olympics. In 2008

14 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

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

“It made a lot of sense to me because there’s always been questions about my identity which has been unanswered until I started to look into my family and my family history and stuff like that and gone back to my roots.”

A talented athlete, Akinyemi wants to leave his mark in this year’s Olympics. In 2008 Akinyemi came agonizingly close to going to the Beijing Games but missed out on qualification by a single place.

That failure made him more determined to train even harder to improve his power, technique and speed and be able to compete at the top level in the physically demanding sport of canoeing.

In February this year his Olympic dream finally came true when he made Nigerian history by winning the 2012 African slalom

championships and securing a place for London.

Akinyemi, who is also studying to be an accountant after his sporting career is over, wants to make sure that Nigeria stays on the canoeing map. He says there is a lot of potential in Nigeria for the sport and many more athletes can follow in his footsteps.

“We need to now push it to develop more canoe slalom athletes, to develop the canoe slalom world in Nigeria,” he says. “I just think we have so much potential. It’s deep rooted in Nigerian culture. We just need to get the kids and the youngsters into a competitive environment, into the right types of packs and canoes so they can race.”

Extract CNN

AUGUST 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 15

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My Africa: Mozambique Kenya

Mozambique - Maputo

18 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

Capital: Maputo Region: South Africa Population: 22 million (2011 est.)

Currency: Mozambican metical (Mtn) (MZN) Language: Portuguese, Swahili, Sena, Makhuwa GDP: US$23.886 billion (2011 est.)

Calling code: +258 Tourist Attractions: Ardim, Tunduru, Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception, Maputo Elephant Reserve, Inhaca Island, City Hall, The Iron House

AUGUST 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE  19

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20 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | FEBRUARY 2012

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Phenomenal Woman

African Down Under:

Africa-Australia’s most important event JUNE 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 21

August 29-31 will see the resources world once again descend on Perth for Paydirt Media’s annual Africa Down Under Conference

N

ow in its 10th year, Africa The forum will be opened by Australian In 2011, the event attracted ministerial Down Under has grown from Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bob delegations from; Zimbabwe, South niche event to one of the most Carr, and will also be addressed by Africa, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, important and well-attended forums Federal Resources Minister Martin Namibia, Mozambique, Liberia, Ghana, on the Australian resources calendar. Ferguson. A number of other leading Burkina Faso, Angola, Botswana and Government and opposition figures the newly independent South Sudan.

This year’s conference, to be held will be in attendance, as well Western once again at the Pan Pacific Perth Australian State Government cabinet The level of engagement between and Novotel Langley Plaza, is set to members. the Australian mining industry and break the attendance records which the African continent has grown were set in 2011.

From Africa, the conference remarkably in recent years. There organisers are set to welcome more are now more than 200 Australian Some 90 speakers will give their than a dozen senior African ministers companies with projects in 43 accounts of the African resources as well as delegations from across the African countries, from Mauritania sector while 175 exhibition booths will continent, cementing Africa Down in the north-west to Mozambique keep the expected 2,500 delegates Under’s position as the largest African in the south-east. In addition, some fully engaged throughout the three- resources show outside of the African 250 mining services companies are day event. continent. expanding their scope across the continent.

22 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

Although difficult to gauge, it is believed that total Australian investment in African resources projects has now reached beyond $20 billion.

Conference organiser and Paydirt Media executive chairman Bill Repard said he had been “bowled over” by the level of interest created by this year’s conference.

“We are delighted with the enthusiasm this year’s event is being received with,” Repard said. “From humble beginnings, Africa Down Under has grown into a vital part of the always busy international resources calendar.

We will be welcoming visitors from across the African continent as well as from Britain, Europe and North America.”

As well as company and government presentations, the conference will showcase some of the many community and social development initiatives Australian companies have launched in their host communities.

Junior and mid-tier Australian mining companies are gaining a reputation across Africa for being good corporate citizens, supporting community development by initiating training and skills programmes, building infrastructure and assisting in the establishment of sustainable, locallyowned businesses.

The increasing scope of the conference will see this year’s activities span the entire week with the African Research Forum and International Mining for Development Centre holding complementary seminars leading up

to the main event. These seminars will look at the way Australian-African relations are developing and how Australia can provide assistance in building capacity in the emerging nations of Africa, particularly in regards to the industries of mining, agriculture and education.

Sponsorship opportunities for the event are all but closed however delegate spaces remain. For more information please contact Tammy Caldwell on +61 8 9321 0355 or tammy@paydirt.com.au.

Courtesy: Paydirt Media

AUGUST 2012 | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 23

Entertainment From scavenging for food through garbage and sleeping in the streets, to becoming an international fashion model and a Hollywood A-lister, Djimon Hounsou’s journey to stardom has been an astonishing one.

The Benin-born actor, one of the most At the age of 13 he left Benin to move to Paris prominent film stars to come out of Africa, has with his older brother -- but the hardship appeared in blockbusters such as “Gladiator,” continued.

“Amistad” and “Blood Diamond,” and has worked with Hollywood royalty like Steven “The rocky time came right after I left school,” Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio. remembers the acclaimed actor. “I spent a lot His role in the film “In America” made him of time at night navigating the streets of Paris the first black African man to be nominated trying to find something to eat,” he says. for an Oscar, while his performance in “Blood Diamond” earned him a second nomination.

“I was not anymore legal because I’m no more a student and I could not work. So I was left It’s a long way from where the soft-spoken out on the street, I couldn’t walk around too actor imagined he would be while growing up much because obviously if you get caught, under difficult conditions in the West African noticed or get stopped by the police you’re country of Benin. deported immediately.”

“I was just a very torn child, very wounded in so many areas, with no family support,” recalls Hounsou’s good looks, Hounsou, who grew up without his parents, however, did get noticed by who had moved to Ivory Coast. a Paris photographer, who invited him to audition as a fashion model. There, “I happened to the be the fifth child of my Hounsou met famous family,” he explains, “so everybody was French designer Thierry already grown and had left home already.”

Mugler and soon For Hounsou, who finally met his father for the first time around the age of 10, this was a established himself as “very lonely” period of his life. “The dream was a successful highfashion model. to escape that surrounding,” he says.

24 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

Djimon Hounsou:

‘Blood Diamond’ star’s remarkable jounrey

Entertainment

The collaboration with Mugler also took Hounsou to the United States for the first time, where he quickly started working toward realizing his dream of becoming an actor.

The film was set in Sierra Leone in the 1990s -a time of civil war and a period when more than 4% of all African diamonds were sold on the black market.

He made his foray into the industry by appearing in music videos and went on to feature in Roland Emmerich’s 1994 film “Stargate.”

“My passion is more about bringing the stories out from the African continent mixed with the West,” says Hounsou.

But the break-out moment in Hounsou’s acting career came three years later with Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad,” where he appeared alongside Hollywood legends Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman.

Hounsou, who is married to former fashion model Kimora Lee Simmons, is also an outspoken activist and a prominent campaigner in the fight against climate change.

His desire to make a difference has seen him working with charities such as Oxfam and SOS, while in 2009 he spoke at the United Nations’ “It was one of the most powerful stories about Summit on Climate Change in New York -- a Africans that define African Americans’ legacy and that a lot of people were shy about wanting far cry from his early days as a lonely child in Benin. to hear, wanting to see,” says Hounsou of the film.

But despite all he’s achieved so far, Hounsou says his remarkable life journey is just starting.

Another defining moment for Hounsou was his performance in 2006’s “Blood Diamond,” where He says: “It was a great journey, but I strongly he won rave reviews for portraying a fisherman feel like I’m still at the beginning of that journey”. forced to work in a diamond mine after being Samantha Ofole-Prince is an entertainment journalist who covers industry-specific captured by rebels. news that includes television and film. She can be reached on sofole@gmail.com

26 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | AUGUST 2012

Movies

Last Flight To Abuja 2:35 | ACTION | M (E) | 4.2/5 stars STARS: Uru Eke, Jim Iyke and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde Director – Obi Emelonye Synopsis: A set of everyday Nigerian traveller’s board the last Flamingo Airways flight scheduled to fly from Lagos to Abuja on a fateful friday night in 2006.

The plane cruises at 30,000 feet, tranquil and on schedule. But like a bolt out of the blue, through a mixture of human error, technical failure and sheer bad luck, the plane develops major difficulty that sends it to the brink of disaster. Young lovers, an elderly couple, a corporate party, a sportsman on the threshold of greatness; all the passengers are caught up in the nightmare scenario...

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

Ice Age: Continental Drift 1:34 | ANIMATION & ADVENTURE | G STARS: Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo Director – Steve Martino, Synopsis: Taking place a few years after the events of Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Scrat’s pursuit of the acorn has world-changing consequences, forcing Manny, Sid and Diego on an adventure, where Sid reunites with his long lost family, Diego finds his love interest, Shira, and they encounter exotic sea creatures and meet a gang of pirates determined to stop them from returning home.

Flight 1:50 | CRIME & THRILLER | PG-13 STARS: Denzel Washington, James Badge Dale Director – Robert Zemeckis Synopsis: An airline pilot saves a flight from crashing, but an investigation into the malfunctions reveals something troubling.

In Cinemas

3D Men In Black 1:46 | ACTION, COMEDY & SCI FI | PG-13 STARS: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin Director – Barry Sonnenfeld Synopsis: Agents J and K are back... in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him -- secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.

That’s My Boy 1:56 | COMEDY | PG-13 STARS: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Leighton Meester Director – Sean Anders Synopsis: While still in his teens, Donny (Adam Sandler) fathered a son, Todd (Andy Samberg), and raised him as a single parent up until Todd’s 18th birthday.

Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd’s world comes crashing down on the eve of his wedding when an uninvited Donny suddenly shows up. Trying desperately to reconnect with his son, Donny is now forced to deal with the repercussions of his bad parenting skills.

AUGUST | AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE 27

o Obsessions Entertainment

APPLE MACBOOK PRO WITH RETINA

MOPHIE JUICE PACK PRO

FERRARI GOLF COLLECTION

Just like the latest iPhone and iPad, the all-new MacBook Pro sports a bee-you-tee-full-clark Retina display, making it the world’s highest resolution notebook display. But contrary to what you’d think, the new MacBook Pro actually sheds inches and pounds, and is now 25% thinner than the previous generation, sitting at a mere 0.71-inches. The MacBook Pro packs in a quadcore CPU up to 2.7 GHz, up to 16GB of RAM, a crazy graphics card, and up 768GB of SSD storage. Plus, it’s got a 7-hour battery, FaceTime HD camera, SD slot, HDMI, USB 3, Thunderbolt, and a new Magsafe power connector for the clumsy among us.

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The new Mophie Juice Pack Pro assumes a couple of things about you. One, that you’re in need of extra juice for your iPhone, and two, that you’re either involved in a profession that puts your phone in constant peril, or a complete klutz. If any or all of the above describe you, the Pro has got your back with a Mil-Spec ruggedized case that protects your iPhone 4 or 4S from water, sand, and impacts and a massive 2500 mAh battery that can completely recharge your phone — and then some.

The Ferrari Golf Collection is the result of a collaboration between the legendary Italian automaker and Cobra/Puma golf, and includes the signature Cobra Ferrari Driver, which is based on the Cobra ZL Encore, but has undergone some changes at the hands of Ferrari’s engineers to improve aerodynamics, increase club head speed, and generally make it look more badass. Other pieces of the collection include an accessory range with premium visors, belts, gloves, umbrellas and bags, an apparel range with polos, knits, jackets and pants, and a signature Ferrari Golf Shoe.

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG GT

FITBIT ARIA WI-FI SMART SCALE

STAKE 3-IN-1 BBQ TOOL

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT bests its predecessor by 20 hp thanks to additional tuning of the 6.2L V8, making it a tenth quicker in the sprint from 0-60 mph — it now takes just 3.6 seconds — and also features new AMG Adaptive Performance Suspension, new, optional designo style interior packages featuring the highest-end leather upholstery with contrast stitching and diamond quilt details, and the same, rock-solid AMG Speedshift sevenspeed dual-clutch transmission.

Using a Fitbit to get in shape? Then odds are you’re also watching your weight — so why not combine the two with the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale ($130)? This high-tech bathroom floordweller tracks your weight, BMI, and body fat percentage, automatically uploads your stats to Fitbit.com, where they’ll enhance the data from your Tracker, and automatically recognizes up to eight users so it won’t be getting you confused with other members of your household.

Most grilling tool sets include three basic tools: a spatula, tongs, and fork. The Stake 3-in-1 BBQ Tool ($30) combines all three into a single, grilldominating tool that features leaf spring tongs, a slide-out fork that hides away when not in use so you’re not stabbing your food — or guests — accidentally, and a locking mechanism for the wooden handles to convert the entire mess into a spatula

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30 AFRIQAN TIMES MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2011