Rihanna’s Secret Garden Campaign With DIOR

Rihanna is making history as the first woman of colour to star in a Dior advertisement in her latest fashion campaign which will be revealed on May the 18th.

 

Sidney Toledano, Chief Executive of Dior said this, “In this short movie, Rihanna knew how to work with Versailles. She has this kind of elegance – we saw it from the very first – and then she can surprise. She can be unexpected and we like it. It’s part of this personality.”

More images below:

Congradulations to KA & The Soil (BET AWARDS 2015)

The 2015 BET Awards are around the corner and nominees have been announced but before we get to the full list of nominated artists, we’d like to congratulate our very own AKA and The Soil for bagging noms in the “Best International Act Africa” category.

I’m really rooting for both acts and hopefully SA brings this award home, yawl know Nigeria and Ghana have been dominating this category for the past 5 years or so.

The BET Awards will be hosted by Kevin Hart in LA on the 28th June.

For the full list of nomination visit www.bet.com

CONGRATULATIONS!

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @appropriate_prs

XXI South African Music Awards

Complete list of winners at the annual XXI
South African Music Awards(SAMAs):

Album of the Year
Beatenberg - The Hanging Gardens of
Beatenberg (winner)

Duo or Group of the Year
Beatenberg - The Hanging Gardens of
Beatenberg (winner)

Female Artist of the Year
Bucie - Princess of House (Easy to Love)
(winner)

Male Artist of the Year
AKA - Levels (winner)

Newcomer of the Year
Cassper Nyovest - Tsholofelo (winner)

Best Rock Album

aKING – Morning After (winner)

Best Pop Album
Beatenberg – Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
(winner)

Afrikaans Pop Album
Riana Nel – Die Regte Tyd (winner)

Best Adult Contemporary

Joe Niemand – Back Again (winner)

Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album
Dewald Wasserfal – Ek en Jy (winner)

Best Traditional Music Album
Botlhale Boikanyo – Spoken Word & Music
(winner)

Best Maskandi Album
Thokozani Langa - Igema Lami (winner)

Best Jazz Album
McCoy Mrubata - Brasskap Sessions Vol. 2
(winner)

Best RnB Soul Reggae Album
Afrotraction - For The Lovers (winner)
Best Rap Album
K.O. - Skhanda Republic (winner)

Best Kwaito Album
Professor - University of Kalawa Jazmee Since
1994 (winner)

Best Dance Album
Black Motion - Fortune Teller (winner)

Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album
Wouter Kellerman - Winds of Samsara (winner)

Best Traditional Faith Album
Sfiso Ncwane - Bayede Baba (winner)

Best Contemporary Faith Music Album
Loyiso – Power Love Sound (winner)

Best African Adult Album
Maleh - You Make My Heart Go (winner)

Best Alternative Album
Bittereinder – Skerm (winner)

Best Live DVD
Robin Kohl for First Decade by Lira (winner)

Music Video of the Year
Ryan Kruger for Prime Circle - Let The Night In
(winner)

Best Producer of the Year
Wouter Kellerman and Ricky Kej for for Winds
Of Samsara by Wouter Kellerman (winner)

Best Engineer of the Year
Brian O'Shea, Crighton Goodwill &
Maruispopplanet for Johnny Apple by Johnny
Apple (winner)

Best Collaboration
K.O. ft. Kid X - Caracara (winner)

Remix of the Year
DJ Sbu, Robbie Malinga - Indlela Yam by DJ
Sbu & Mojalefa Thebe (winner)

KIA RECORD OF THE YEAR
Caracara - K.O. ft KiD X

SPECIAL AWARDS

International Achievement Award
Wouter Kellerman
Lifetime Achievement Awards
M'du Masilela

Mandla Mofokeng aka Spikiri
Zim Ngqawana

BEST SELLING MOBILE MUSIC DOWNLOAD
Best Selling Album
Riana Nel - Die Regte Tyd

Best Selling DVD
Vol. 18 One Purpose - Joyous SA

Best Selling Mobile Music Download
Beatenberg and DJ Clock

Best Selling Ring-Back Tone
Pluto - DJ Clock ft Beatenberg

Best Selling Full-Track Download
Pluto - DJ Clock ft Beatenberg
SAMPRA AWARD
Highest Airplay of the Year - Pluto; DJ Clock ft
Beatenberg

Allegro Dinkwanyane of Orgella Online

It seems like everyone is joining the
blogging bandwagon but only a few are
really good at it. Allegro Dinkwanyane of
the Orgella Online fame reflects on
blogging her way to success.

WHO IS ALLEGRO?

I’m a 24-year-old ambitious and hard-
working woman from Limpopo. I fell in
love with the media industry when I was
about 12 years old. My family moved
around quite a bit so I grew up in
different places but I was mostly based
in Pretoria and then in Lebowakgomo,
Polokwane. I’ve been based in
Johannesburg since 2009. I’ve always
known that I was destined to be in the
entertainment industry, whether as a
singer, journalist or even a media mogul.
My aspirations were to be where I am
today so I’m really blessed to have
realised my dreams.

WHAT DID YOU STUDY?

I studied a BA in Journalism at the
University of Johannesburg because I
enjoy telling people’s stories. For me,
being an interviewer is much more
enjoyable than being an interviewee. My
role models are people like Oprah
Winfrey, Khanyi Dhlomo, Basetsana
Khumalo, Carol Bouwer because they are
powerful media moguls. Journalism was
and still is something I enjoy, although I
don’t consider myself as a typical
newsroom journo.

TELL US ABOUT ORGELLA
ONLINE. WHEN AND HOW
DID IT START?

Orgella Online is my entertainment blog
that I launched in 2011 while studying.
Initially it was like my personal “dear
diary” blog where I wrote about stuff I
love like music, celebrities, fashion and
events. The idea of running it as a
business came after I started receiving
mails from potential advertisers, huge
brands that wanted to sponsor me and
help me establish my blog. Now after three
years, it’s one of the top entertainment
blogs in South Africa.
Online journalism interested me the most
at tertiary. I remember for one
assignment we had to create a fake blog.
I already knew what I wanted to blog
about and how I wanted it to look so I
pitched my idea to my lecturer and she
loved it and I got top marks. I just
simply continued blogging until the
official launch in October 2011. There’s
nothing I love more than staying updated
with the latest local and international
entertainment news so I figured I’d be
one of the sources for my target market.

BLOGGING IS VERY
POPULAR NOW. WHAT
SETS YOU APART FROM
EVERYONE?

It’s true, everyone has a blog now but not
everyone runs it like a business or stays
consistent. One of the keys to being a
successful blogger is consistency and I’ve
been consistent for three years running
and I can tell you now that my team and
I will not be slowing down anytime soon or
never. But most importantly, I use my
own voice! I think that’s what makes me
different. There’s only so many
“exclusives” we can get, half the time
we’re all blogging about the same thing.
What’s important and interesting is what
YOU as the blogger have to say. Most of
my readers come to my blog to find out
what MY opinion is on entertainment news
making headlines. Having my own voice is
what makes me unique.
For me, blogging is not a hobby – it’s my
job. I got inspired by my favourite
international bloggers who actually make
a good living from their websites. I told
myself I could also do that. Fair enough,
blogging in South Africa and Africa is
still not where I’d like it to be in terms
of the standards but we have quite a few
people who are successful. I take what I
do seriously. It may be entertainment
news but it’s still my livelihood. Orgella
Online has done so well in the past three
years that I’m going as far as launching
two more digital platforms @AllegroEats
and @BossChiq_SA.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO
MONETISE ORGELLA
ONLINE?


I get approached by different brands
and sponsors, especially corporate
companies that want to tap into my
target market. They buy ad space on the
blog. There are also Google ads, but I
don’t use that because it clutters my
website. I love how my site looks without
too many ads.

SPEAKING OF SPONSORS,
HOW WERE THOSE
RELATIONSHIP STARTED?

I’m just blessed! Sponsors like Avon,
Brutal Fruit and FabroSanz have been
with me from the beginning. They believe
in my brand and we have a very good
and clear working relationship. They love
what I do and I appreciate what they do
for my business.

HOW MANY VISITORS DO
YOU GET IN A MONTH?

I have an average of 35 000 to 40 000
unique visitors monthly and a hit rate of
about 5 million per month. Most of my
readers are based in South Africa,
Nigeria, Botswana, the U.S and the UK.

WHAT HAS BEEN MOST
INSTRUMENTAL THING IN
MAKING YOUR BLOG
SUCCESSFUL?

My commitment, consistency, my sponsors
and my team of freelancers. I also have
wonderful readers who practically live on
the blog (even though most are “silent
bloggers” that always visit the blog and
keep me on my toes).

YOUR BLOG IS THREE YEARS NOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE
FACED AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

I haven’t faced that many challenges.
The one thing I would say I overcame was
pitching my blog as a business and saying
no to companies who always want to offer
you freebies for free advertising. I
respect my blog as a business and so I
should collaborate with brands who value
what I have. Sometimes the site will crash
unexpectedly but that’s easy to deal with.

TELL US MORE ABOUT
YOUR OPERATING
EXPENSES?

I pay for hosting services, upgrading and
maintaining the website. I work with
several freelance photographers who also
need to get paid. Money is spent
travelling to events and meetings with my
team of writers.

SINCE YOU WORK
INDEPENDENTLY, HOW IS
YOUR RELATIONSHIP
AMONG THE BLOGGER
COMMUNITY?

I’m cool with everyone. I know what I
want and I stick to that and focus on
me. I don’t compare my blog to anyone
else’s. I have friends that are bloggers
and we all get along.

WHAT’S THE ONE THING
YOU’D WANT PEOPLE TO
KNOW ABOUT BEING A
BLOGGER?

It’s not all fun and games, meeting
celebrities, attending events and all that
glitz you’re sold on social media. It’s a
lot of work, sleepless nights and loads of
bandwidth but if it’s what you love, you’ll
do just fine.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

There are quite a few things coming up
from Orgella Media, which is my company
that Orgella Online is a subsidiary to. I
run a PR agency called Orgella
Communications . I’m launching my food
blog #AllegroEats on www.allegroeats.com
before the end of 2014 and I’m also
working towards my first cook book.
There’s an online talk show in the works
and my online store Boss Chiq SA soon.
I’ll also be back on radio full time in
2015. There’s also plenty of travelling too!
YOUR ADVICE TO UP AND
COMING BLOGGERS?
Be consistent. Stay true to who you are
and what your blog represents. Be online
savvy. Have fun!

Trevor Noah joins the Daily Show

New York — The deal was done only last week, says Trevor Noah, the 31-year-old South African comedian who will take over The Daily Show from longtime host Jon Stewart. Shortly after Comedy Central made the news official on Monday, Noah, on a standup comedy tour, discussed his new gig by phone from Dubai. AP: How do you feel to be taking over soon from Stewart?

 TN: I don't think of taking over. I'm joining the team. It's a huge ship that has won Emmys and Peabodys for a reason, because it's a fantastic team of writers and producers working to make that show magic. I get to be a part of that now as the host and a face, sharing that space with my fellow correspondents. I feel really confident. All I needed in my life was Jon's blessing. That's what I have, so I'm looking forward to being part of 'The Best Damn News Show in the World'!

AP: You have a much different background than Stewart. How will that affect the show? TN: One thing we both share: We are both progressives. Obviously where you're from may inform a lot of your decisions. But travelling the world I've learned that progressives, regardless of their locations, think in a global space. And although I happen to be a guy who's not from the same place that Jon's from, I've lived in America for years before I went back out on the road, and I've learned to love the place. I'll bring something different because I am different, but because it's a team, it'll be the same as well. AP: You may not have heard: There's a big U.S. election coming up. Are you looking forward to addressing that on the show?

TN (laughing): I love the drama around it! That's going to be fascinating to be part of, this time. And that's the environment The Daily Show thrives in, taking that information and deciphering it and getting it out to everybody in a way that's not biased in any way, hopefully, where you're going, "This is the bare bones of what you need to know and how you need to know it, in the funniest way possible."

 AP: Although Stewart has called it a "fake news show," a lot of people do rely on The Daily Show as a primary news source. Will that continue?

•  TN: When you are honest in your comedy, you have to acknowledge the world that you're in. Through a comedic voice you're talking about what needs to be talked about, whether it's race relations or politics or anything that's happening on a global or an American scale. That's exactly the space The Daily Show is in. AP: The late-night talk/comedy realm is pretty crowded. How do you feel to be going up against all that competition? TN: "Against" is a very strong term. Maybe it's because I come from a very utopian world of being a comedian, but I'm used to many live comedy performances going on in any city I'm in, and each of us is trying to be the best at what we do. I don't think of it as a competition so much as a thriving comedy economy. And now I'm joining on a show with one of the best teams in the world. AP: How involved will Stewart be in the show once you arrive? TN: What's great for me is, I have in him a mentor and a friend who I can call on, who can give me advice — a fellow comedian, at the end of the day.

SAFW 2015_URBAN ZULU HITS MILESTONES

#SAFW 

2015 BEHIND THE SCENES

On the 18th March  people gathered to witness SA FASHION WEEK,spring summer collection  at Crowne plaza The Rosebank and guess what, Urban Zulu was there showcasing their designs,i mean i have so much respect for this brand,its  young its fresh its dynamic.They are always on point, big up to Sphephelo Mlambo & Papy Kaluw. you guys are remarkable.

Here are some of the pics from behind the scenes:

 

Hulisani Ravele shares 7 most important lessons in her life.

TV presenter and voice-over artist Ravele hasbeen working in entertainment since age nine. She shares the crucial lessons she's learnt over the past 18 years.

Prayer changes things. 

Working in entertainment comes with certain unnecessary and morally challenging pressures. However, being a fan of prayer helped me stand firm and say no to anything that wasn’t in line with what I stood for. I started out in TV at age nine and joined YoTV in 2000. Leaving the latter posed what would become the biggest challenge of my life. I was no longer a kid and felt stuck somehow. As someone who’d always been an over-achiever, I felt like I wasn’t achieving any more. I grew in my faith during this time.



Respond what you seek  and the Universe will respond:

If you’re looking for a door to be opened for you, open the door for someone else. Eighty percent of the time I find that our good deeds are returned ten fold. This lesson in particular,is what gets me out of those energy-zapping low points.

Life is a series of choices:

For me, there’s no bigger lesson than this! The ability to say “NO” is a huge accomplishment.When I went into negotiations with the production company responsible for the ANN7 show I Am South African , we intially struggled to reach an agreement. The logical thing for me to do was to walk away because I felt like my worth was not being honoured. They came back to me saying they believed I was worth my asking price.

Comparison is the thief of joy:


After leaving YoTV , I found myself in limbo—the most frustrating place anyone can ever find themselves in. There was all this new up-and-coming talent getting all the cool shows and endorsements. I’d wonder why those opportunities were not coming my way. I stayed
in that unhappy rut until I decided to stop comparing myself to others – and therein lay my
joy.

I serve God of abundance:

I find that competition is a waste of energy because there’s enough for all of us. It’s all
about finding what works for you. It has been a year since I left my stable corporate job of four years to pursue my passion, which is entertainment. And since then, I haven’t had a single struggle. Vuzu approached me to their
voiceovers during V Entertainment and I also
have a few opportunities in the lineup.
Being able to surrender is such a powerful thing:
Having worked from when I was nine years old,
I grew up way quicker than my peers. When
you’re responsible from that young age, you
think that you must always have it together. But
it was after watching an episode of Oprah’s Masterclass a while ago that I learnt that sometimes, it’s okay to say: “I can’t, I’m weak!” Besides, one can’t always lead.

We’re all destined to change lives:

In some way or another, we’re all created with a certain talent and purpose. There’s something that you do, the way that you do it, that is bound to impact someone positively. I’m in the process of putting together a concept for a talk show targeted at young South Africans. I haven’t set a date to it because I want to do it properly. I want young people to walk away #inspired.