Happy Holidays

Hope you have a safe and fantastic festive season.
We'll see you all soon :)
Be good,

Twanji

African Renaissance

It was really exciting to see the first episode of Keeping It Real on TV last night, after months and months of work the core production team of the show were overjoyed. It's not perfect yet, and I can tell you that the episodes get better and better. Keep checking it every Tuesday at 16:30 on SABC2.

Last Friday I attended the launch of Cape Town-based band Coda's second album, African Renaissance. This blog is basically becoming their fan site, because I write about them so much. It was awesome to see the band, which has had slight line-up changes, perform songs from their first album, as well as the new one. This album features the already hit songs 'O Mama' and 'It's Still The Music'. Had so much fun.

I went to the first launch and interviewed them when they were promoting their first album Believe, so it is great to see one of my favourite acts going strong and doing well.

Get the album and watch my show!

Keeping It Real on SABC2

This is technically my 100th post - which means that I have rambled on about life as I know and experience it 100 times over the last three years. That's staying power! Thanks to the thousands of you who have stopped by to read and let me know what you think etc.

I have been keeping my latest project to myself, but now it is time to share. I have been working as a Researcher (Content Producer) and Scriptwriter on the youth television talk show Keeping It Real on SABC2. It has been hard work, and tomorrow it will finally pay off as our first episode airs. The show has been on air for the last three years, but after a mid-season hiatus we were tasked with re-launching the show with a new presenter, new look and new edge.

It has been a challenging, but exciting experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team and you have to watch the show! I am so excited to see my first foray into television hit the airwaves. We have a group on Facebook - 'Keeping It Real on SABC2' - join it. Tomorrow, Tuesday, 2 December at 16:30 on SABC2 is our season premiere, and the show will air at the same time every Tuesday thereafter.

Here is a variation of the press release that I wrote for the show:

Faced with living in a fast-paced world, today’s teenagers have more challenges and opportunities than ever before. Keeping It Real, Mzansi’s first youth talk show, is back with a new look, a new edge and a new host. Each week, 22-year-old Noluthando Meje will tackle the hard-hitting as well as the lighter issues affecting the everyday lives of young people growing up in SA. The show aims to go beyond merely discussing problems, by giving the youth a platform to express and empower themselves.

Noluthando is a familiar face on Tube and has been on TV in various capacities since she was five. She first caught the nation’s attention as the youngest Top 12 finalist on Idols in 2003. A talented singer and actress, she has acted on numerous drama series, presented the TV shows Destination SA and What’s Your Story? and is an in-demand voice work artist.

Nolly has her fingers placed firmly on the pulse of what it means to be young in Africa, and with her vibrant personality, passion for our continent and its youth she thrives on this platform. By combining entertainment and education, this interactive show is destined to take the Keeping It Real you know and love to greater heights.

The all-new season of Keeping It Real starts on Tuesday, 2 December 2008 at 16:30 on SABC2.