TIPTOPSTARS

Sarah Batumbu is the name that will reign, at least for the next 12 months throughout Africa in the area of social development. The Cameroonian-born beauty queen has emerged as 2013 Miss Elegance Afrique. She was crowned last weekend in Belgium amidst great excitement from guests to the event which took place in the capital city of Brussels.

Picked from an armada of participants between 18 and 30 years of age and drawn from eight African countries, Miss Batumbu will have the herculean task of raising funds to support educational initiatives in Africa. She will be assisted in this huge assignment by Ingrid Diawara of Senegal, crowned Miss Congeniality and Vanessa Yindjeu, second runner-up who bowed her head for the crown of Miss Photogenic.

During Saturday’s event, funds were raised, which funds will be channeled to Africa for projects in education. “Some one hundred primary school children in Cameroon have already benefited from our scholarship scheme and we would love to expand it and keep it going throughout Africa,” Thecla Mbunwe, CEO and founder of African Beauty International, ABI (organizer of Miss Elegance Afrique) told TIOTOPSTARS. “With the growth of the ABI profile, we have been lucky enough to have some individual sponsorship and goodwill from well-wishers of the show. Some corporate organizations have indicated interest and are watching to come in at the appointed time,” she announced further.

Participants to this enriching 2013 beauty contest came from Sierra Leone, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Senegal, Nigeria, Rwanda and Djibouti.

Present at the event were representatives from the embassies of Cameroon, Angola and Nigeria. The presence of Miss Ghana in Belgium added colour to Miss Elegance 2013.

Meantime, the Miss Elegance Afrique beauty contest is is designed to highlight and showcase natural African beauty with a purpose of to creating entertainment and at the same time raising funds to support education in Africa. It also provides a platform for young Africans living in Belgium to showcase their God-given talents especially in the field of music. Organizers say next year’s edition will be more electrifying.

“It was simply a resounding success.” This is how an attendee of the third edition of the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards, NAFCA described Saturday’s African Oscars that attracted scores of entertainment lovers to the legendary Warner Theatre in Washington DC. A week to the event, Dr Victor Olatoye, CEO/President had told this writer on African Cocktail (a show on Afrikka Radio) that his team was ready for NAFCA 2013 and were envisaging great success. True to his words, this year’s edition of the recognition ceremony was a come-and-see.

According to reports from DC, the evening was a beautifully packaged organizers of NAFCA presented to guests. If the Warner Theatre befitted NAFCA, the gold-plated statuettes only made it more prestigious. Perhaps, the people who answered present at the event kept to the tradition of being just who they ought to be. The celebs - call them stars – gorgeous in outfit and constantly posing for snapshots. Then the names – Nollywood’s Vitalis Ndubuisy (laureate), clad in a dark jacket with white stripes and a butterfly tie – Ghollywood’s John Dumelo - Miss Ethopia, in red smiling all through the evening – Haiti’s Sarodj Bertin (actress, model) in red displaying her trophy – actress Cece Maintain with stylish hair-do – Majid Michel (laureate) in blue shirt and jean – Merlissa Determined, Carribean-born Nollywood/USA actress and the list is endless.

But one thing stood out clear at NAFCA III – the Cameroonian delegation was extraordinarily big. The enthusiasm displayed by this group is definitely what NAFCA’s organizing team needs to made a comment on. “This was far beyond the fact that a Cameroonian movie had secured eleven nominations, we simply love the initiative and think it is worth being part of it,” a Cameroonian movie star attending NAFCA III told this writer on the line to in the course of the evening. Conspicuously present therefore were ace producer Agbor Gilbert Ebot,producer/director cum Cameroon Film Induistry (CFI) diaspora representative Akim Macauley, gospel singer Maybelle Boma (now making debuting strides in movie acting), producer/actor Kenneth Ngamne, producer/actor Kang Quintus, actresss Elian Mambo, producer Sahndra Fondufe, entertainment promoter Anne Ngono. These celebrities were backed by Cameroon’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E Foe Atangana.

Perhaps the Cameroonian of the evening was Victor Viyuoh, producer/director of the award-winning Ninah’s Dowry who lifted the movies’ first ever NAFCA award to made his country proud. As modest as ever, Victor could be spotted in his dark bold tie celebrating his umpteen victories just with a smile. NAFCA honoured the Cameroonian Minister of Culture Ama Tutu Muna whose trophy was received by the Executive Producer of the Cameroon Entertainment Awards, CEA Maybelle Boma, handed over to her country’s Ambassador to the US for onward transmission to Yaounde.

Meanwhile, NAFCA’s CEO, Victor Olatoye will be speaking to African Cocktail this Wednesday, September 18 at 10:30 am EST (4;30pm Lagos time) as one of the show’s guests-at-large. On his part, the producer of Ninah’s Dowry will be main guest. Tune in by clicking on www.afrikkaradio.com or dial 832-280-0016.

It was a starry Thursday night at the ModeMaison PR headoffice at AES Sonel in the hip quarters of Bonamoussadi when the communications, marketing and branding agency finally launched in Douala after making its appearance on the Cameroon market early this year .

Invited guests were representatives and the movers and shakers of the buzzing Cameroon showbiz scene including music artists Sophy Aiida, Steveslil and Mister Elad, music reps Jules Nya, Allen Munde and Estelle Ahanda, fashion designers Anrette Ngafor of Liiber London, Reneta Ndisang of Afroshic Clothing, Kristyne Nkwanyuo of EB Creations, documentary maker Alenne Menget, media reps, Kristelle Asek of STV,  Brice Albin and Carole Leuwe of Nostalgie Radio, Bonas Duvalier of RTM Radio/LTM TV, Fidjil of Equinoxe TV/Radio, film makers as well as bloggers Leelipop and Franky Willy.

The guests sipped on Champagne bubbly and dined on canapés and fruits as the atmosphere evolved to that of networking, mingling – pure interaction. “We need such informal soirees in Cameroon where young talents can come together and network and build up their contact list. Great initiative from the ModeMaison PR crew.” Stated Jules Nya CEO of MuMaK.

ModeMaison PR (MMPR) is a concept by Cynthia Tabe to provide an affordable service to the fashion, music, film and lifestyle brands within Cameroon and on the international front. The agency provides online and offline services, public/press relations, marketing and branding strategies as well as styling and fashion rentals under their showroom “Ward*Robe @ Studio 25”. Current clients on the MMPR list include music brands Stanley Enow, MuMaK, Nabil aka Nabstar, fashion brands Liiber London, Mina Evans, My Miry as well as charity Path to Possibilities. “Our aim is to ensure visibility for our clients as well as ensure they are well branded and well represented in the market. We strive to make a difference to their brands on the local and international front” states Cynthia.

For more information, contact:

Karen Ayungwa (PR handler): This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModeMaisonPR

Twitter: @ModeMaisonPR

Blog: www.modemaisonpr.wordpress.com