TIPTOPSTARS

Those who have witnessed the recording of the first two editions of the TV contest, aimed at selecting five talented singers to make up a gospel band can at least begin to know who these future stars will be. Relying on their individual talents, the 20 contestants have been convincing the audience and potential voters in their various rights. Even after the first recording, many were those who carved out their band. "The contest can end with this first recording. I have my band already drawn up," said one fan of the five he thought had performed best. This reporter was tempted to name his as well, for, the five were just too irresistibly good. But for one thing, all the young singers were convincing and one would quickly have the impression that the pre-selection was carefully done.

Perhaps the jury's comments have helped the audience to decode certain complexities that characterize singing. Via such remarks, they audience has understood how rich and enriched the musicians are. Also such comments as "To me, you're a professional singer", "A little bit more and you're perfect", "Your style is what many musicians are looking for and can't find", "even the artiste whose song you're interpreting is unable to perform the way you do" have been common from the chairperson of the jury, renowned gospel artiste Odile Ngaska and her team comprising of Papa Rolland Dipita, Terence Pharaltee aka T-Boy .Ngaska who is also Board chair of SOCAM (Cameroon's corporation in charge of music copyright issues) has been quite impressed that there are young people who would not only join them in valorizing songs of praise, but would do it in a spectacular manner.

The contestants have been interpreting popular gospels songs from renowned musicians including R.Kelly, Espoir 2000, and a host of others

Meanwhile, TV presenters will be put to task when Gopsel Musical 2010 finally goes on the airwaves. This is because the moderators have been doing their thing so nicely. "They are doing a great job and I must congratulate them on that," said Nforgwei Rogers, the initiator and pilot of the project.

That Cameroon is the new nursery for potential mega stars in gospel music is no longer news. Yet, it should not be taken with a pinch of salt, for, it goes beyond just producing big names and explosive albums. Rather, the Gospel Musical 2010, an initiative of the United Crusade Team for Jesus (UNITEJ) and Dream Foundation (civil society organization) is fixed on giving songs of praise a new twist.

The Gospel Musical 2010, a project aimed at selecting five young and talented singers  which has been ongoing since September 2010 has entered its last phase with 20 candidates already drawn to camp in Yaounde. The ambitious youths are vying for five prestigious places in what is going to be one of Africa's most explosive Gospel Bands in recent years. The 20 are drawn from four regions of Cameroon (North West, South West, Littoral and Centre), after song contests organized in each of these places.

Now converged on Yaounde, the pre-selected candidates are bracing up for a TV contest from where their fans will be expected to vote them to victory. Recording of the TV reality show to be broadcast by State-run CRTV and other private channels is scheduled for Sunday 23 October in one of Yaounde's befitting hotels.

According to the coordinator of the Gospel Musical 2010 project, Papa Rolland Dipita, a maiden album with 15,000 CDs to hit the market will be produced. The proceeds will be channeled to the artistes who must find a livelihood from the wonderful gift God has embellished on them. Said Papa Rolland: "We think the time has come for young and talented gospel singers to be identified, projected and given the opportunity to use their God-given skills to put food on their table." Also speaking at a press conference to present Gospel Musical 2010 recently, the coordinator explained that the initiative was equally aimed at encouraging decency and faith in God among singers. "They must not think that to be successful musicians, they have to go on stage half-naked or dance indecently," he emphasized. Papa Rolland challenged potential singers when he mentioned Tony Braxton, Sisqo, R. Kelly and others whose background in the art is Christian.

To Odile Ngaska, the Board Chair of SOCAM, the Cameroonian corporation in charge of copyrights issues, the Gospel Band in gestation will come to add to what has been going on for quite some time now. Ngaska who doubles as a gospel music artiste prided that such an initiative was coming to add meaning to a genre (gospel music) often relegated to the background, perhaps because of ignorance. "Music was created by God for God," she said. Add asked: "Who therefore are you singing for if not for God?"

Back in camp, the young boys and girls have been nursing hopes of becoming the pioneers of this much-talked about band, said to be going international as soon as it sees the light of day. "My conviction brought me here. I'm quite convinced I'll make it and know that my soul-searching voice will lead me through," Philipo Samsino, representing the Centre Region told TIPTOPSTARS. The 26-year-old singer, a student of the University of Yaounde I said it was time to bring out what God had deposited in him and he was thankful to the organizers for such a wonderful opportunity. "It's a unique and exciting experience," the 1.75m-tall singer revealed.

To Achu Joan, 20, it was one of the big opportunities to praise God and even if she was not going to emerge among the top five, she was ready to pray for the project and those who would have won. "I have done back-up for several artistes, but do think my place is in gospel music," the 1.70m-tall University of Buea Accounting graduate told us further.The Limbe-based singer however hopes she will grab more votes from the public.

On her part, 22-year-old Jeanna Ebangha from the South West Region revealed that she didn't believe in herself until she qualified for the last phase of Gospel Musical 2010. "Now I know I can make and I'm quite confident," she said. To the University of Buea Law graduate, she is meant to sing and touch people's lives and would be very privileged to be part of the 'Golden Five' in the making.

Meanwhile, coach Achalle, has been having a new experience training budding singers for a challenging music project. ''It's really been exciting and I must say I enjoy doing it," the pioneer winner of the Stars de Demain song competition told journalists in Yaounde.

The Gospel Musical is going to be an annual event. It has brought on board experts in music and renowned production outfits including the Bright Phase, Emile Ngumba , Weg Muller Ikome,  Njukeng George, Steve Micky and the Buea-based M1 and Blue Drops Studios.

Following the triumph of CamerCouture (CC) 2009, the critically acclaimed style fete returns with "African decadence"- a show themed around the continent's opulence

"We chose this theme because we want to portray Africa's unsurpassed beauty, its cultural richness and the way these aspects shine through fashion and art," explained show coordinator, Soraya Sone.

Set in London's trendy Shoreditch, CC is organised annually by Votre Avant Garde (VAG), a London-based PR and marketing company.

The 2009 CamerCouture showcase treated fashion followers to a delightful cream of Cameroonian talent as ' Afro-eccentric ', Anggy Haif and Cannes favourite, Olivia Ervi  teamed up with exciting newcomers KiRette Couture, Bot I Lam, RoViSa Design and Ms Mi to style their nation onto the fashion map.

But this year, CC is going international.

"Last year, we gained a lot of interest from fashion enthusiasts and designers across and beyond Africa. So, this time, we are broadening the spectrum accordingly," explained Cynthia Anduhtabe, co-founder of VAG.

"Haute couturiers Yemi Osunkoya, Alain Martial Tapolo and Anna Ngann Yonn will join forces with ready to wear designers, Côté Minou, Eki Orleans and Deenola to redefine London's fashion scene," she added.

We are very proud and excited to present this stunning expression of our motherland's richness and global influence," the VAG executive noted.

With CamerCouture 2009 attracting coverage from prominent media including the BBC, Vox Africa TV as well as New African Woman and Amina magazines, the upcoming event's thrilling designer line-up and high powered guest list is set to cause even more frisson.

"There will be celebrities, fashion buyers, politicians and entrepreneurs among our diverse crowd of guests. Apart from a fabulous evening out, the show also presents an excellent networking opportunity," observed Anduhtabe.

It will also feature live performances from London-based, neo-soul songbird, Debra Debs and an auction to benefit the Rhema Grace Orphanage in Ombe, Cameroon.

"Like last year, CamerCouture 2010 will be at the Shoreditch Studios. But our guests will arrive to a transformed venue. Expect lush, sexy tones of red, black and gold. From the moment people arrive, through to the catwalk show and performances, it will be a one hundred percent classy experience," promised Sone.

Running from 6pm till midnight, the CamerCouture Fashion Showcase 2010 will take place at Shoreditch Studios, 29B New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3EY.

Tickets cost:

£50 - standard.

£60 - second row.

£75 - front row.

''Zimbabweans are lousy readers.'' This is the quikest describtion you would hear when talking to a Zimbabwean publisher or writer. How severe is the problem... You can see from the volunms of books we published that the country harbours enthusiastic writers, but very few of these books get read,'' an official of Weaver Press told journalists in Harare recently. Weaver Press is one of Zimbabwe's leading publishers.

Zimbabwe's low reading culture has found it hard to thrive on the zeal of its writers, amongst them Lawrence Hoba. Young Hoba who is springing at an exemplary speed gives more consideration to his childhood passion and dream than to his people's reaction towards the book industry.

Having found Weaver as his publisher, Hoba can now settle to work on his numerous pieces, unperturbed. His next book will be succeeding The Trek and Other Stories, published in 2009 as Hoba's maiden book. However, his stories have been published in several other short stories collections, including Irene Staunton's Laughing Now and Writing Now.

In his stories, Hoba dares into his society's ambiguities, including the Agrerian Reforms that plunged Zimbabwe into an economic quagmire. "I duel on several other issues of great Importance,'' said the Harare-based writer, who has several role models. " I admire writers such as Shimmer Chinodya, Charles Mungoshi, Gabriel G. Marquez, Paulo Coelho, Pablo Neruda and Chenjerai Hove.