Gender-based violence (GBV) is a severe problem plaguing African communities, with the country experiencing high levels of violence against women and children. MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man, produced in partnership with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Meta Africa and UNFPA is a documentary series seeking to spark sustained conversation that drives meaningful action. MTV Shuga What Makes A Man premieres exclusively on MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322) Tuesday, March 1st at 21:30 CAT & Wednesday, March 2nd at 22:00 WAT.

The MTV Shuga documentary series What Makes a Man is executive produced by and features star of MTV Shuga Down South Ayanda Makayi. The issue of GBV is close to Ayanda’s heart having portrayed the character of “Sol” on the hit MTV Shuga Down South series whose character is a perpetrator on the show. In this powerful 3-part documentary series, Ayanda asks himself the question “What Makes a Man?”, and having recently become a new father he seeks to set an example to his son.

“This has been a long time in the making and quite a personal project for me. I am incredibly proud to not only have starred in this documentary series but to have executive produced it as well. ‘What Makes A Man’ won’t end the epidemic of GBV but we’re hoping this is the start of a long road ahead of uncomfortable questions and conversations. The biggest outcome for me from this entire journey has been self-reflection and I hope we evoke the same for all Africans,” says host and executive producer Ayanda Makayi.

MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man tackles the subject of GBV as a collective societal issue that can only be solved if everyone unites in the fight against it. The documentary includes notable South Africans including TV personality and activist Andile Gaelesiwe, musician Big Zulu, rapper Maglera DoeBoy, MTV Base Culture Squad Member Uncle Vinny and radio personality Bujy Bikwa. The documentary series explores the question of What Makes a Man engaging people from all walks of life across the country.

Monde Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Paramount Media Networks Africa and MTV Staying Alive Foundation Board member commented “MTV Shuga has been at the forefront of using the power of storytelling to address social issues, and to drive meaningful change within communities around the continent. We have seen this with our MTV Shuga series and this documentary seeks to address gender-based violence. Along with our partners, we are committed to continuing to use our platform

and content to inspire behavioural change, engagement and real action in the fight against GBV.

MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man docu-series seeks to leave the audience asking questions, recognising that we are all part of the issue and equally so a part of the solution. By asking ourselves “What Makes a Man?” we are learning and unlearning harmful behaviours that are going to be fundamental towards starting conversations that will drive meaningful change.

“We hope that our audience watch the show, reflect on the current climate of the GBV epidemic and start to think about positive changes we need to make individually to create a society where we each feel safe, irrespective of our gender. Through support from various funders, namely UNFPA, META, the US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa and the South African Presidency’s Gender-Based Violence Fund Response 1, MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man will be extended into community outreach through peer education. It is through this interpersonal intervention where we aim to see a shift in attitudes and behaviour.” Commented Yvonne Diogo, MTV Staying Alive Foundation Country Director.

The premiere episode of MTV Shuga: What Makes a Man is set to take viewers on an emotional and reflective journey that will spark dialogue on the epidemic of GBV, the root causes and how men and South Africans can end GBV. Host Ayanda Makayi emotionally opens up to his unborn son on the man and father he hopes to be. Ayanda also engages on issues such as bullying and how they can manifest in unhealthy and dangerous behaviours that can lead to gender-based violence. With the understanding that the issue of GBV is one that affects our immediate communities, Ayanda journeys to his home engaging his mom on the issue and speaks to pupils at his former high school on what really makes a man.

Be sure to catch the riveting MTV Shuga What Makes A Man docu-series premiering exclusively on MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322) Tuesday, March 1st at 21:30 CAT & Wednesday, March 2nd at 22:00 WAT.

Zedcrest Group, a new-age financial solutions powerhouse, is sponsoring the 16th edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) to support and celebrate young leaders who are shaping the culture, defining trends, and creating new opportunities across the continent.

According to the Group Managing Director of Zedcrest, Mr. Adedayo Amzat, CFA, the decision to sponsor Africa’s biggest youth awards organized by The Future Project is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that drive the acceleration of transformational growth in Africa.

“As a youth-driven company, TFAA’s brand essence reflects what the Zedcrest Group brand stands for – excellence and impactful innovation. For more than a decade, TFAA has celebrated the wealth of talent and amazing work African youth deploy every day in not only driving economic growth but in touching lives positively in their communities. This is very commendable and at Zedcrest, we are very delighted to support The Future Project on this journey”, said Mr. Amzat.

Zedcrest Investment Managers (ZIMVEST), the asset management firm of Zedcrest Group, is offering five Zimvest App users the opportunity to attend the ceremony. To qualify for the VIP ticket, existing and new users of the app are required to save or invest a minimum of N20,000 on the Zimvest App on or before Thursday, February 17th, 2022. For more information on the challenge, follow @zimvestapp on all social media platforms.

The 16th edition of the awards –themed “Celebrating Challengers and Builders”– will be held on February 20, 2022, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. It will also be televised live on Channels TV, Hip TV, and Wazobia TV. To stay up-to-date, follow @zedcrest and @zimvestapp on all social media platforms.

MTV Base today announced Nigeria’s number one candy brand, TomTom, as the official sponsor of the new season of MTV BASE CYPHER which premieres on Sunday, 27 February 2022, at 19:00 WAT.

Tagged ‘Freshman Class’, the all-new season (third in the sequence) is set to feature series of thrilling rap battles, amongst different teams, with winners to be determined by the viewers.

Speaking about the TomTom sponsorship of the show, Category Manager, Morolake Emokpaire, says that “Through the MTV Base Cypher, we are connecting the TomTom’s essence of giving consumers the clarity of voice and confidence for expression with the passion point of millions of Nigerians, music. Having kicked off our IMC campaign (Breathe For It) last year, sponsoring the MTV Base Cypher is just one of the many activities we have in store for TomTom. As a music genre that is fun, vibrant, refreshing and edgy, Rap is an integral part of the Nigerian music culture. It embodies the lyrical uniqueness and expressions of individual talents, and that’s something we connect to as a brand.”

Base cypher is a short form that caters to the rap culture and gives performers an opportunity to share their truth. This season’s MTV Base Cypher’s ‘Freshman Class’ will see Africa’s best young, up and coming rappers paired up into various groups for a friendly face-off and a chance to win the grand prize of one million naira.

The Country Manager, Paramount Africa, Bada Akintunde-Johnson, said, “Nigeria’s music industry is brimming with refreshing talent. So far, we have seen hip-hop, soul, afro-pop, afro-fusion and similar genres of music flourish. MTV Base launched the Base Cypher to ensure that while engendering an enabling environment for music artistes, no genre is left behind.”

“Rap culture has blossomed in Nigeria, and we have quite a number of quality lyricists seeking global platforms like MTV Base to showcase their talent to a wider audience. Through the Cypher, we want to give budding artistes the visibility they need to ‘blow’”, he continued.

To catch all episodes of MTV Base Cypher ‘Freshman Class’, tune in to MTV Base DStv Channel 322 and GOtv Channel 72, every Sunday at 19:00 WAT starting 27 February 2022. You can also follow @mtvbasewest across all social media platforms for more exciting

scoops from the show and join the conversation using the hashtags #TomTomxMTVBase and #MTVBaseCypher.

BET Africa unveils a new Brand Identity that honours all types of Black creative expressions and affirms that “it all happens here” with Black innovators, Black visionaries, Black talent, and Black communities.

BET Africa’s new look and feel aims to become a platform where innovators, visionaries, performers, and communities can all come together and make things happen. BET Africa reinforces their new identity as the destination for all forms of Black creative expression. This is a platform where you may learn about and express Black creativity and the power of storytelling.

For decades, BET has been at the forefront of telling stories that are relatable, relevant, entertaining, and impactful. The brand refresh brings together culture, community, and creative expression that is undoubtedly beautiful and unapologetically black.

“Successfully rebranding a content platform like ours often comes with great expectations and requires meticulous execution across the board, given our rich history and accomplishments over the years. With our enviable position as the leading global black entertainment platform, we remain confident that our audience will continue to resonate with everything we stand for regardless of our brand refresh efforts,” said Monde Twala, SVP/GM ViacomCBS Networks Africa and BET International Peer Lead.

“The Culture is forever evolving, it’s very important that BET captures this authentic creative spirit. It is also critical to provide our fans with the ability to see themselves and to provide them with something with which they can identify with. BET Africa is rooted in culture and ingenuity, and this new positioning celebrates the heartbeat and rhythm of culture and Black entertainment,” Twala concludes.

Premium tea label Lipton hosted a “Sip and Paint” event on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Tree House Garden, Lagos.

The event, which was geared towards encouraging tea consumption and building awareness around the newest addition to its product line, was hosted by radio personality and presenter, Kaylah Oniwo.

Commenting on the event, Asst. Brand Manager, Ekaterra-Zainab Abbas, said, “As much as tea-drinking is a common culture in Nigeria, we realized that a lot of people do not realize its wide-ranging benefits, particularly unsweetened tea. We hosted the Sip and Paint event to not only raise awareness about these benefits but to support the tea-drinking culture. ”

“Tea is a rich source of flavonoids. Dietary flavonoids may help maintain a healthy heart. The event enabled people to have first-hand experience of the goodness of tea, particularly Lipton Extra Strong Tea, “she added.

The event featured celebrities like Denola Grey, Toke Makinwa, Taymesan, Opeyemi Famakin, and Enioluwa, among others. Other attendees included Ekaterra’ s General Manager Africa, Chiedozie Egbuna, Country Brand Manager, Motunrayo Babalola, and R & D Lead, Africa, Kayode Oluwatoba.

Chigozie Obi, a multi-dimensional visual artist has emerged as the winner of Access Bank Art X Prize’s 2021 art competition.

The winner was awarded a N1,800,000 grant; a three-month residency at Gasworks, London; and a solo booth presentation at ART X Lagos in 2022.

The winner of the Access Bank ART X Prize 2021 was announced at the official launch of the sixth edition of ART X Lagos, which was held on the 28th of September 2021.

The multi-dimensional visual artist was selected by a jury from five shortlisted finalists, which included: Chukwudi Onwumere, Mobolaji Ogunrosoye, Nyancho NwaNri, and Omoregie Osakpolor.

Prior to the announcement, the finalists had participated in the Finalists’ Forum, a two-day intensive program designed to support their creative practice and prepare them for their final presentations to the jury.

Group Head, Corporate Communications at Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi, stated that the initiative has shown that “good can come out of Nigeria, and Africa,” reaffirming that Access Bank “would continue to support the Access Bank Art X prize and Art X Lagos.”

Addressing the finalists, Okobi declared, “You’re all winners; you are all incredibly talented, so be assured that whatever happens after today, your future is bright.

“Remember that you are all ambassadors of our great country. Wherever you go, wherever you find yourself, remember that people will be looking to you as story tellers, so tell stories about where you come from.”

The winner, Chigozie Obi, showing much gratitude for the platform and expressing her joy, stated that:

“The residency is so amazing, particularly working with new materials. I am very excited about that and just connecting with people because my work is very much about human connection. I am excited about the reach; a lot of people are going to see my work. I am also excited to experiment in a new space.”

Themed “Forward Ever”, this year’s Art X Lagos edition speaks to the youth generation’s increased understanding of their role as engaged citizens, navigating their presence and trying to become active instigators in the creation of their futures.

Access Bank, Africa’s leading retail Bank, has shown great commitment to the Nigerian economy by playing a critical role in the art sector’s booming and flourishing status.

Dedicated to fostering a healthier lifestyle for Nigerians, Nigeria’s first-ever no-added-sugar malt brand, Amstel Malta Ultra, sponsored Festac half Marathon which held on October 2, 2021.

The half marathon, which is aimed at reviving the Festac legacy by promoting home-based athletics and cultivating a sense of pride and community among locals, had a total of 650 registered participants from across Nigeria. All the athletes were required to provide medical reports before running the race, which started at exactly 8am.

Speaking of their support for the race, Senior Brand Manager Amstel Malta, Aminah Jagun, said, “The Festac Half Marathon is in line with our ambition to promote a healthy lifestyle for Nigerians not only through our products but also through our support for homegrown sporting activities.

“We are glad to see the number of participants who signed up to be a part of the race and the excitement this brings to the Festac community”.

Emerging in first place in the male category was Ismael Sajo from Cross Rivers State, who went home with five hundred thousand Naira cash. Jigak Monday from Plateau State came in second winning three hundred thousand Naira, and Emmanuel Gyang also from Plateau State who came in third walked away with a sum of two hundred thousand Naira

For the female category, Joy Abiye David came in first place receiving a cash prize of five hundred thousand Naira. Vera Yohanna came in second winning three hundred thousand Naira, and Elizabeth Nuhu who came in third walked away with a sum of two hundred thousand Naira. Additionally, all participants who finished were rewarded with a medal.

Special guests in attendance at the event were; Chairman Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Engineer Valentine Buraimoh, his Chief of Staff, DPO Festac Town, CSP Balogun among others.

After the race, the community marathon torch was handed over to the Chairman of Eti Osa Local Government as the next community marathon is scheduled to be held in Lekki, Lagos.