MIRINDIMO

At 47, most women are married, divorced or settling into the role of grandmother. Mbilia Bel, the angelic-voiced queen of Rhumba, who is as striking in her looks as a teenager in a church choir, has no such issues in her life. She says she is comfortable with her single status.She has chosen her career over men, saying that there is nothing she misses as a woman. "I can get married, but all the men who approach me want me to stop singing," she says. "Music is my husband," she explains passionately.

She confides that she nearly tied the knot with a Government minister in Gabon but the man wanted her to stop performing."Bwana wangu angekuwa minister but he could not let me sing. I cannot marry and leave my job," she says with finality.And it’s not just older men who seek her hand in marriage. "Young men approach me but I treat them as my sons," she says.She is currently writing an autobiography and is looking for a sponsor. "It is meant to inspire women. They are givers of life and I hope to bring unity and to educate the girl child using my book."She is a contradiction of sorts — in person she is soft spoken and down to earth; in concert she has a magnetic stage presence — hypnotic dance moves, versatile voice and all.Mbilia has composed songs such as Right to Love, which is dedicated to the children of the world. It denounces the ill treatment and exploitation of children around the world, and especially in Africa. "Everyone recognises that children constitute the future of a nation, but few people act to protect them," she says.

As she speaks, through a translator because she can only speak French, I notice that she has neither wrinkles nor age spots — but a closer look at her hands reveals just the slightest hint of her age.She says her upcoming book will delve even deeper into her childhood, which she refers to as "the simple days in Congo".At the tender age of eight, singing was the order of the day for most children. Mbilia inherited her vocals from her maternal grandfather, who was a great griot, and her grandmother, who was the unbeatable dancer in the village.She says that artists featured on television inspired the beginning of her career."Once, I saw Bela Bello (the late Togolese star) on television during one of her performances in Kinshasa and I was charmed by her talent and beauty. I swore to myself that I would become just like her. When she died, I cried for many days."Seven years later, Mbilia saw the late AbÈti Massekini on TV and wrote to her. She was surprised when AbÈti sent her agent to contact her. "That’s how I began singing. It was incredible. AbÈti was a formidable woman. As a chorus-singer in her band, I learnt a lot by her side in those four years."Mbilia later left AbÈti for Sam Mangwana, who contacted her after watching her on a music show on television. But after two years with Mangwana, she again left to join Tabu ley. "It was not what I wanted. I wanted to express my feelings ... I then decided to drop all and to learn shorthand and typing," she remembers. The training lasted a few months and then she joined Afrisa Band.

As a female musician, it has not been easy for Mbilia to be accepted as a professional woman in her line of work. People don’t trust her and regard her work as immoral, she says. "We women trust our husbands and we do not force them to leave their job. Why do men think that when I shake my body I’m inviting them?" she poses.

Mbilia says that women should unite and let men know that they are not cheap.
"Dancing and singing is not immoral or cheap, and men should not be jealous," she adds.Currently, the singer lives in Congo and Gabon. She spends her free time visiting street children, rehabilitation centres and donating food and clothing. Mbilia says that an artiste can live anywhere since their livelihood depends on performances.A typical day for her begins as early as six o’clock, with prayers. "I wake up and pray and later go to the gym to exercise," she says."The secret to youthfulness, she says, is living healthily and not eating red meat or drinking alcohol. A glass of milk without fat and a glass of water is what I have for breakfast every day."Mbilia then spends the rest of the day writing music and watching movies.Music, she says, consumes a lot of time and is a full time job. In fact, she finds it difficult to find time for any other job. And she adds that she does not consider herself rich, but she is satisfied."I don’t sing for money; I do it to make people happy. Money comes when people are happy and enjoy my songs," she avers. She adds that she wants producers to treat female musicians better.
"My challenge is to make the producers respect us, female singers. Most of them do not give us respect as women," she adds.She is planning to sensitise women musicians around Africa and hopes to collaborate with other singers for peace.Mbilia loves Kenya and Nairobi in particular. And her love affair with Kenya forced her to learn Kiswahili and sing some songs in the language.

"If I can only sing in Swahili alone I will be happy because I love Kenya. I sang a song in praise of [former] President Moi and Nairobi, which was great," she says.
"I was not paid to do the songs by the president or the government," she adds.
And Nairobians paid back her love as many fans thronged Carnivore’s Simba Saloon on Friday during the Afromixx night.And she did not let them down; Mbilia reaffirmed her status as the high priestess of African music when she brought the house down.
It seems that little has changed about this music diva, who captured the imagination of millions across the continent in the early 1980s.Imeandikwa na Charles Otieno, Thanks bro.

Huko RUSTENBURG, Afrika kusini;Mchezaji Asamoh Gyan alfajiri ya leo aliwatoa kimasomaso waafrika baada ya kufunga goli la ushindi dakika ya tatu katika muda wa ziada dhidi ya timu ya Marekani katika mzunguko wa pili wa mtoano kombe la dunia huko Afrika Kusini.

Timu hiyo sasa inatinga robo fainali ikiwa ni timu ya tatu ya kiafrika kupata kuingia katika hatua hiyo. Timu hizo zilitoka sare ya moja kwa moja katika dakika 90 za awali na sasa Ghana itakwaana na Urugway siku ya ijumaa katika jiji la Soccer city katika robo fainali.
Katika mechi hiyo Marekani iliwakilishwa na Tim Howard, Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Bornstein, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Ricardo Clark (Maurice Edu, 31), Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore (Herculez Gomez, 90), Robbie Findley (Benny Feilhaber, 46).
Huku Ghana ikiwa na ;Richard Kingson, Hans Sarpei (Lee Addy, 73), Asamoah Gyan, John Pantsil, John Mensah, Anthony Annan, Samuel Inkoom (Sulley Muntari, 113), Jonathan Mensah, Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah, Kevin-Prince Boateng na kocha (Stephen Appiah, 78).


Full mapambo usoni....
Mdada wa Afrika Kusini akifurahia pilikapilika za Kombe la Dunia.

Chinga wa Afrika Kusini akiuza bendera za nchi mbalimbali kwa mashabiki. Kila jambo lina jambole.

Mtangazaji wa Idhaa ya Kiswahili ya BBC Charles Hillary akiongea na washabiki wa soka huko Sauzi , Kushoto kabisa ni Ally Mutasa wa BBC huko S.A. (Picha na BBC)

Miongoni mwa beni zinazofanya vizuri jukwaani Tanzania ni hii au!
Kibaruani...

Wanenguaji wa Bendi ya FM ya Dar es salaam , Tanzania(Picha kwa hisani ya mtandao wao)

Ushanfahamu?

Kuna kitu kwa kisukuma kinaitwa Investigative journalism ama kwa kiswahili uandishi wa habari za kiuchunguzi katika fani ya uandishi wa habari. Mwandishi huyu wa KTN Kenya Mohamed Ally ameifanya aina hii ya uandishi kwa umahiri wa kiasi cha kutosha , pengine alikosa tu vifaa vya kisasa zaidi. Hebu ungana naye halafu unipe maoni yako.

Mzee Nelson Mandela hakuonekana jana kwenye sherehe za ufunguzi w michuano ya Kombe la dunia ambapo Bafana Bafana ilitoka sare ya moja kwa moja na Mexico kufuatia kufiwa na Kitukuu chake kipenzi Zenani.Kitukuu cha Mzee Nelson Mandela , zenani (Pichani) amefariki dunia katika ajali ya barabarani akitokea katika moja ya shamrashamra za ufunguzi wa kombe la dunia.

Kufuatia tukio hilo Mzee Mandela ameshindwa kwenda mpirani na badala yake amejumuika na familia yake katika msiba wa kitukuu chake Zenani mwenye umri wa miaka 13 , na kuyafanya mashindano hayo kuwa na kihoro kiasi Fulani.
Msemaji wa Polisi katika jiji la Johannesburg Bi. Edna Mamonyane amesema kuwa dereva la gari lililomuua Zenani amekamatwa na atashitakiwa kwa kosa la kuendesha gari akiwa amelewa na kusababisha kifo.
Akiongea jana Jioni kwa saa za Afrika Kusini wakati wa ufunguzi wa michuano hiyo Raisi wa Afrika Kusini Jacob Zuma alisema kuwa Mzee Madiba Mandela ameshindwa kufika uwanjani kutokana na msiba mkubwa ulioikumba familia yake.
Mtoto Zenani alikuwa kipenzi kikubwa cha Mzee Nelson Mandela miongoni mwa vitukuu tisa vya mzee huyo.

Mechi ya ufnguzi Kombe la dunia huko Afrika kusini katika uwanja wa Soccer City , Johannesburg kati ya wenyeji Bafana bafana na Mexico ilimalizika kwa sare ya 1 kwa Moja. Mchezaji Siphiwe Tsabalala (Pichani hapo chini)ndiye aliyezitikisa nyavu za Mexico kunako dakika ya 55 kipindi cha pili na baadaye Rafael Márquez wa Mexico akarejesha bao hilo kunako dakika ya 79 na kuufanya mchezo kukamilika kwa sare.
Habari zaidi kwa kisukuma!
FIFA World Cup 2010 witnessed a superb and swanky celebrations yesterday where the biggies of the showbiz trade performed to entice the audiences present there and situated before the TV screens. The hip shaking dance movements’ performance by Shakira was the one got huge headlines on all the channels and in the media across the globe. The World Cup kick started earlier today getting all the eyeballs fixed on the TV screens. The entire world has got crazy for the football phobia and everyone has left the whole assignments to watch the matches grabbing the couches and having the tea-cups in hands sitting in front of the televisions. The moment the opening match between Mexico vs. South Africa 2010 began, the anxious eyes just stayed opened till the match reached to the end. The match turned tie with the score 1-1.
Siphiwe Tshabalala (55′) scored 1 for South Africa and Rafael Márquez (79′) scored 1 for Mexico. The Mexican was dominating the game initially in the match but sensing it that the opposites were riding on them, the South Africans played brilliant counter attack game. The match ended in a draw thus enabling the host to become the sixth host nation, which has drawn their opening match of the tournament. The previous five were England in 1966, Mexico in 1970, Spain in 1982, USA in 1994 and Japan in 2002 respectively.
South Africa saw huge fan following in the match since they are the host of the tournament therefore got the advantage of the same. The others in this group are France and Uruguay in addition to South Africa and Mexico.
Keep visiting this space for the updates on the matches.
Habari na Goher Iqbal Punn wa seven sided cube

Saa chache zimebakia kabla ya kipute cha kombe la dunia kuanza nchini Afrika kusini. Kwa washabiki wa soka roho ziko juu . S.A Kusini timu zote zimewasili na zinaendelea na mazoezi ya mwisho mwisho kabla ya kesho Ijumaa kushuhudia ufunguzi.
Washabiki walikusanyika pia jana katika Uwanja wa pira wa Eerstrust huko Pretoria kuiangalia timu ya Ghana. hapa Mchezaji wa kiungo wa timu hiyo akitia saini mpira wa shabiki mmoja .
Hebu angalia tathmini ya mchambuzi wa masuala ya soka kutoka mtandao wa twitter.
Every nation in the World Cup has now made its way to South Africa, with final preparations in full flow.
All the conjecture and all the speculation is coming to a close; all the squad lists have been submitted; and the time is fast approaching when the planet can stop talking about this tournament and get on with the job of watching it unfold.
The merits of every squad have been pored over and analyzed for months, leaving us with assumptions of respective strength which – if history is anything to go by – will soon be blown out of the water.
The World Cup wouldn't be the World Cup without a healthy dose of surprises, with underdog teams and unheralded players grasping their moment in the South African sun. That's why ranking the finalists from 1 to 32 could be best described as a fool's errand that is certain to prompt its fair share of sneering I-told-you-so's before the group stage has even ended.
That said, here's our rundown of the teams which clinched their place in soccer's greatest showcase.

Mtoto akipuliza vuvuzela...! Hebu tuiangalie kila timu...
1. Brazil – Dunga's squad is packed with quality but, thanks to a tough draw, faces a rocky road to the final.
2. Spain – The Spanish are hungrily chasing another tournament title after a magnificent Euro 2008 victory.
3. Argentina – A sketchy qualifying campaign is now long forgotten with Lionel Messi and other stars in superb form.
4. England – Fabio Capello's hard-line regime has reaped rewards. Wayne Rooney's health is a huge plus too, but captain Rio Ferdinand is out injured.
5. Netherlands – The Dutch head into another big tournament with an awesome squad, but will they lose their nerve again?
6. Germany – The Germans have the experience and organization to cope with the loss of Michael Ballack.
7. Italy – The Azzurri probably won't repeat as champions, yet a favorable draw could take them far.
8. Cameroon – Boosted by plenty of discipline and a determination to become the first African semifinalist.
9. Portugal – It's a squad beset by problems, but the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo can't be discounted.
10. France – Coach Raymond Domenech is a dead man walking, and the team might not last long either.
11. Denmark – The Danes enjoyed an excellent qualifying campaign, but can they deliver on the big stage?
12. Serbia – Interesting team that divides opinion … the Serbs could crash early or go deep.
13. United States – With no megastars but lots of courage, the Americans are focused on getting out of Group C.
14. Australia – Fiery and determined, the Socceroos could spring some shocks in Group D.
15. Ivory Coast – Didier Drogba's broken arm is a devastating blow to the side's chances of emerging from the Group of Death.
16. Chile – A welcome return to the World Cup after 12 years, thanks to some outstanding qualifying performances.
17. Paraguay – Took a worrying dip toward the end of qualifying but still well-drilled and heavy-scoring.
18. South Africa – The most derided host team in history might not be as bad as everyone expects. Bafana Bafana must maximize their home advantage.
19. Ghana – Would have been ranked far higher if its talisman, Michael Essien, hadn't been ruled out with a knee injury.
20. Mexico – El Tri got their act together under Javier Aguirre, but serious questions about their consistency remain.
21. Greece – No longer just a defensive wall, the Greeks scored 20 goals in 10 games during European qualifiers.
22. Slovakia – This rugged side, lit up by Marek Hamsik's style and craft, could spring some shocks.
23. Switzerland – The Swiss possess a strong backline and a competent midfield, but their weak mentality could be exposed.
24. Slovenia – Banking on a rock-solid defense that has let in just six goals in its past 12 competitive games.
25. Uruguay – Did well to reach the finals but is some ways behind South America's other World Cup representatives.
26. Nigeria – Decent and competitive but lacking the explosiveness of other African nations.
27. Japan – Their speedy strikers could make life interesting. The defense, though, is lightweight and leaky.
28. South Korea – Lacks the firepower to mount any kind of realistic challenge.
29. Honduras – Enterprising and entertaining side will find its Group H opponents too hot to handle.
30. New Zealand – Fast-improving side should avoid embarrassment but not much more.
31. Algeria – Survived an emotional playoff against Egypt but not really of World Cup standard.
32. North Korea – The weakest team + the toughest group = an early exit.
Martin Rogers of Twitter

Familia ya mmoja wa wake wa Rais wa Afrika Kusini, Jacob Zuma imelazimika kumlipa Zuma fidia ya mbuzi mmoja mweupe kama kumuangukia Mkuu huyo wa nchi baada ya kugundulika kuwa mke wake Nompumelelo Ntuli (pichani akiwa na Raisi Zuma hivi karibuni huko India)huyo wa rais Zuma aliisaliti ndoa yake na kula uroda na mlinzi wake.


Imebainika kuwa Mke huyo Nompumelelo Ntuli alifukuzwa toka nyumbani kwa Zuma siku chache kabla ya krismasi mwaka jana baada ya kugundulika alimsaliti Zuma na kutembea nje ya ndoa.Ntuli alimpa uroda mlinzi wake, Phinda Thomo mkazi wa Dobsonville, Soweto. Mlinzi huyo alijiua mwenyewe baada ya siri kufichuka kuwa ametembea na mke wa rais, na alijua kuwa yatampata makubwa ...bora atangulie!
Bi. Ntuli ambaye hivi sasa yuko pamoja na Zuma katika safari ya kiserikali nchini India, ana mimba ya mtoto anayetarajiwa kuwa mtoto wa 21 wa Zuma. Hata hivyo maswali mengi yamezuka kuhusiana na ukweli wa baba wa mtoto huyo aliye tumboni mwake.
Taarifa zinasema kuwa Ntuli mwenye umri wa miaka 35 aliamua kufanya hivyo baada ya kukasirishwa na hatua ya Zuma kutangaza kuoa mke wa tatu.Taarifa zaidi zinasema kwamba Ntuli alimtukana mke wa tatu wa Zuma Tobeka Madiba na pia alitishia kutohudhuria harusi yake iliyofanyika mwezi januari mwaka huu, hata hivyo alibadilisha uamuzi wake na kuhudhuria harusi hiyo lakini alifukuzwa na kurudishwa kwao wakati wa sherehe za kitamaduni za harusi hiyo.Ntuli alisindikizwa na wazee wa kijadi hadi kwenye nyumba ya familia yake ambapo alikabidhiwa kwa wazazi wake.
Ntuli aliambiwa kuwa kitendo chake cha kuisaliti ndoa yake kimeikasirisha familia ya Zuma na mizimu ya mababu.Ili kuweka mambo sawa mwezi aprili mwaka huu, familia ya Ntuli ilienda kwa mzee Zuma na kumlipa fidia ya mbuzi mmoja mweupe ambaye alichinjwa siku hiyo hiyo.Habari za Ntuli kumsaliti Zuma zimeigawanya Afrika Kusini ambapo watu wengi wanampongeza Ntuli wakisema kuwa kama Zuma anazisaliti ndoa zake kwanini wake zake nao wasimsaliti.
Mmoja wa watu waliopiga simu redioni kujadili suala hilo alisema kuwa Zuma ambaye hivi sasa ana umri wa miaka 68 hayawezi tena mambo ndio maana mke wake ametembea nje.Sijui bwana! Picha hapo chini inaonyesha list kamili ya wake wa mh. Jacob Zuma .

Kutoka Kushoto; Nompumelelo Ntuli, Thobeka Madiba, Mh. Jacob Zuma, na Mke Mkubwa kulia kabisa Sizakele Makhumalo. (Habari na Nifahamishe)

Muziki wa kizazi kipya kutoka nchini Uganda...Burudani na ujumbe mzito ...kwa wanaujua kibaganda wanaweza kulainisha hapo.!

Mwanamke mmoja nchini Iran amemfikisha mumewe mahakamani akidai talaka kwakuwa mume wake hajawahi kumpiga hata siku moja.Mwanamke huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 24 alifungua kesi katika mahakama ya masuala ya familia mjini Tehran akilalamika kuwa mumewe hampigi hivyo anataka apewe talaka.
Kwa mujibu wa gazeti moja la kila siku la nchini Iran, mwanamke huyo aliiambia mahakama "Mume wangu ananitumikia na kunitunza vizuri sana lakini mimi nataka awe ananipiga, kama hawezi basi naomba anipe talaka yangu".Mume wake ambaye ana umri wa miaka 28 alijitetea mahakamani "Mke wangu nampenda sana, sioni sababu ya kumpiga au kutumia maguvu dhidi yake".Kwakuwa mwanamke huyo alisisitiza kuwa anataka awe anapigwa na mumewe au la apewe talaka, mahakama ilimruhusu mumewe awe anamshushia kipigo mkewe siku moja moja ili kuilinda ndoa yake, umekaririri mtandao wa www.nifahamishe.com .Mumewe kwa shingo upande alikubali na aliahidi kuwa atakuwa akimshushia kipigo mkewe ili kumridhisha.

Ushauri wa bure kama anataka kipigo cha kuua nyoka akaolewe na watani zangu Waku...kule nyumbani.

SERIKALI ya Japan imetoa msaada wa zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 74 kwa ajili ya upanuzi wa barabara ya Bagamoyo kupitia Mwenge


Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Ramadhan Khijjah, alisema msaada huo wa fedha utasaidia kupunguza foleni katika barabara hiyo pindi ujenzi huo utakapokamilika.Alisema barabara hiyo, ina urefu wa kilomita 12.9 italeta maendeleo na kurahisisha suala zima la usafiri na kuondoa kuwepo kwa msongamano mkubwa wa magari unaosababisha kuwepo kwa foleni.Pia alisema upanuzi huo utalazimu nyumba zilizopo kando ya barabara hiyo kubomolewa kwa kuwa mafundi wataingia ndani mita mbili kila upande wa barabara hiyo kuanzia Mwenge, Tegeta hadi Bagamoyo ili kupisha ujenzi huo.Alisema wakazi wote watakaobomolewa nyumba zao, watalipwa fidia kutokana na tathmini itakayofanyika kila mtu atapewa fidia yake kwa kigezo cha uthamani wa nyumba itakayobomolewa. *Picha na Sufiani Mafoto...(Take 5 Bro.)

Yukio Hatoyama, who took office in September, has seen his poll ratings plummet from more than 70 per cent to below 20 per cent amid a row over an unpopular US army base on the southern island of Okinawa.

Hatoyama initially promised to move the base off the island but backtracked and decided to keep it there, caving in to Washington but enraging Okinawans and his pacifist coalition partners the Social Democrats.The left-leaning group quit his three-party coalition on Sunday, weakening the government in the upper house ahead of July elections, while Hatoyama's poll ratings plunged to a new low of below 20 per cent.
A tearful Hatoyama made the announcement at a special parliamentary meeting of MPs from his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), telling them: "I will step down" while also vowing to "create a new DPJ"."The government's work has not reflected the public's wishes," the prime minister said, adding that he had also asked party heavyweight and secretary general Ichiro Ozawa to quit.Ozawa has been embroiled in a funding scandal that has seen three of his current and former aides indicted.Prosecutors have also in the past questioned Ozawa and raided his offices.
Hatoyama, 63, named Ozawa's and his own funds problems and the Okinawa issue as the two main reasons for his resignation.He became embroiled in a funding scandal over large donations made by his millionaire mother into his electoral warchest, a scandal in which a close aide received a suspended jail term."I have caused trouble for the people of Okinawa," Hatoyama said, referring to the base issue."We will need to make efforts to move the US base outside of Okinawa. But the result was that we could not deliver."
Speculation that Hatoyama would quit had dominated newspapers this week, and calls for him to resign as leader of the world's second largest economy have grown within the DPJ ahead of upper house elections expected on July 11.Hatoyama met on Tuesday with Ozawa, the chief election strategist often dubbed the "Shadow Shogun" and the power behind the premier's throne, and his party's upper house caucus leader Azuma Koshiishi.Hatoyama, who last year ended more than half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule, was Japan's fourth prime minister in four years.
Tipped as the most likely successors was Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Naoto Kan, with Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Transport Minister Seiji Maehara also seen as possible contenders.A Stanford-trained engineering scholar, Hatoyama has a scholarly bent that often saw him criticised as lofty and out of touch with the common people.Hatoyama hails from one of Japan's most powerful political and business clans, a family sometimes dubbed "Japan's Kennedys".


U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the latter's office and official residence on May 21, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. Clinton kicked off an Asia tour in Japan where both sides have condemned North Korea after investigators blam U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the latter's office and official residence on May 21, 2010 in Tokyo, Japan. Clinton kicked off an Asia tour in Japan where both sides have condemned North Korea after investigators blamed it for sinking a South Korean warship.