Winnie Mandela To Appear on MTV Base Meets
Wednesday, August 01, 2012Omoba
South African politician, anti-apartheid campaigner and former
President of the ANC Women’s League, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has been chosen
to participate in the second season of MTV Base Meets…with MTN. Sponsored
by Africa’s leading mobile company, the motivational youth empowerment
initiative and multimedia campaign aims to stimulate dialogue between ‘thought
leaders’ and young African entrepreneurs.
Ms Madikizela-Mandela joins previously
announced ‘influencers’, Senegalese-American R&B and Hip Hop artist Akon,
Hip-Hop pioneer and entrepreneur, Russell Simmons, South Sudanese supermodel
Alek Wek, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria,
and Togolese international soccer star and Manchester City striker, Emmanuel
Adebayor.
MTV Base Meets Winnie Madikizela-Mandela with MTN was recorded on Monday 16 July at her home in Soweto, with MTV Base VJ Sizwe Dhlomo and a panel of young people from across the continent. The episode featuring Ms Madikizela-Mandela will premiere to 50 countries across Africa on Wednesday 5 September 2012.
The news of Ms Madikizela-Mandela’s
involvement comes as MTV Base prepares to screen the first episode of the new
series of MTV
Base Meets…with MTN on 1 August 2012 on MTV Base (DStv Channel
322). The special “Best of” episode pinpoints the best
highlights from Season 1, which featured leading figures from the realms of
entertainment, politics, fashion and sport, including Nobel Prize laureate and President of
Liberia, Madame Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame,
Grammy-winning R&B artist Alicia Keys, controversial South African
politician Julius Malema and legendary musician and activist Hugh
Masekela.
First initiated in 2011, MTV Base
Meets…with MTN connects African youth with the thought leaders,
opinion formers, decision makers and role models who shape their world. Season
2 of MTV Base Meets…with MTN will air across Africa on MTV Base (DSTV Channel
322) and on terrestrial stations across the continent, including STV (Nigeria),
Spectrum TV (Cameroon), Viasat (Ghana), Rwanda TV (Rwanda), Swazi TV
(Swaziland), Muvi TV (Zambia) and NTV and WBS (Uganda).
In each episode of MTV Base Meets…with
MTN, ambitious young Africans from all walks of life pose hard questions
to high-profile “thought leaders” about issues close to their hearts – in an
intimate and informal environment, with no questions
off-limits. Topics on the agenda include entrepreneurship,
education, youth culture, politics, sport, racism, gender issues and the
African Renaissance. To date, youth panellists asking the questions have
included students, journalists, bloggers, models, comedians, actors, musicians,
humanitarian campaigners and poets.
The series has inspired young
entrepreneurs from around the African continent to change their lives after
meeting with their heroes:
·* South
African event organiser Sizie Modise was one of a group of young people who met
with Ben Murray-Bruce of the Silverbird Group. She made such an impression on
Murray-Bruce during the interview that the media mogul offered her a job.
·* Liberian-born
singer Jerrilyn Mulbah was inspired by Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote to
echo his 18-hour a day work ethic. Subsequently, Jerrilyn saw her career take
off, with three successful singles getting great traction on radio in Nigeria
and Liberia, and a new music video due for release at the end of June.
Jerrilyn’s first album release follows soon, and her first national tour of
Nigeria is due to be announced in the coming months.
·* Ghanaian
Arnold Sarfo-Kantanka met with British entrepreneur and humanitarian Sir
Richard Branson as part of the series and afterwards decided to concentrate
full-time on helping young Ghanaians achieve their full potential through his
role as the Operations Director of youth outreach project, WAM Campaign, and
fashion line, Ma FIRI Ghana.
As part of the initiative, MTV Base and
MTN are running a pan-African competition offering viewers the chance to appear
in the final episode of MTV Base Meets…with MTN. Eight young people will win
an all-expenses paid trip to meet with Akon in the USA in September 2012.
Speaking on behalf of MTV Base, Alex
Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International
Media Networks Africa, commented, “In today’s competitive business and economic
environment, it is vitally important to provide strong role models, heroes and
mentors to help young people achieve their goals. MTV Base Meets…with MTN aims to
inspire and motivate young Africans to understand that they are key drivers in
ensuring a brighter future for our continent.”
Commented Jennifer Roberti, Executive
for Group Marketing, MTN, "MTN got involved with this initiative last year
at a time when there was a real need to bring youth and leaders together in
open dialogue and debate. We still believe in the transformative power of
giving young people on the continent this kind of forum. As the leaders of tomorrow,
it's not always about finding agreement. Sometimes questioning and challenging
can be just as educational and inspiring. As MTN, we believe that when we
connect people and ideas, we are creating platforms for better understanding
and a common ground."
To learn more about MTV Base
Meets…with MTN, or to view clips from Season 1, please go to:
Connect
with the campaign on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/MTVMEETS or join the conversation
on Twitter at #MTVMEETS.
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