IRIS

Tony Tambi is a US based actor of African origin with an upward trajectory. He is talented, brilliant, bold - not afraid to take risks- yet humble and very well grounded. He is one of those guys who is so easy to root for. We had an opportunity to interview him... wait for it.

Tambi was born in Nigeria where he spent the first 7 years of his life, then his family relocated to Cameroon where he would spend the next 14 years of his life. Eventually he travelled to the US and settled in Minnesota, attended Collège and got a degree in Accounting. Tony made a bold move not long after graduation; he set off to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.

Things did not happen for him right away, but he persevered until slowly the roles and credits started to come.

He received an NAACP Theatre Award Nomination for his role in 'The God Botherers.' Then followed 'Butterflies of Uganda.' He  did  'A Providential Occurrence,' also 'The Fair Maid of the West,' and of course 'Saturday Night at The Palace'. He had a co-starring role in 'The Unit'.

Tony made appearances on 'Scrubs,' then 'NCIS Los Angeles' and was a regular on 'Nip Tuck.'

Tony produced, directed, co-wrote and starred in the short film 'Chapter One.'  It won an Award of Merit (Best Shorts Competition). Then came the dark comedy, 'Oscar' and there was 'The Aspect Ratio' and also 'Lorala'

His screenwriting debut 'Letter From The President' was one of the few projects selected to join Forest Whitaker's JuntoBox Films (Inaugural Feature Film) Incubator Program in 2014.  

He was in 'Bob Hearts Abishola' where he took on the role of the Pharmacist known as Chukwuemeka in the CBS hit sitcom .

Tony directed the pilot episode, the 4th and 5th Episodes  and  the Season Finale of  ''Con$equences.'' 

BronzePage: ''You made a bold move to relocate to Los Angeles. How was that? Did you know anyone in that city and how difficult was that decision?''

Tony: ''I had just graduated from college, was struggling with work and not exactly doing a job that I found fulfilling. I figured if I was going to have job insecurity it might as well be with something I was passionate about. I had been bitten by the acting bug all the way in Nigeria but never had the guts to pursue it. Upon graduation, I felt I had fulfilled my contract with my parents, so it was okay for me to follow my dreams. It had to be New York or Los Angeles, and I didn’t know anyone in the former. One of my college roommates had relocated to LA a year prior. I moved in with him and his girlfriend and they made the transition quite comfortable. Moving was a simple decision for me, simply because I didn’t know any better. The difficult part was the actual journey. I drove from Minnesota, got into an accident where my car was totaled and I spent the night in the ER. I took a Greyhound bus from Sydney, Nebraska for the rest of the trip to LA. I still don’t regret my decision to move to LA''.

BronzePage: ''Not even an accident could stop your sheer determination. How long did it take before you were able to break into the movie business?'''

Tony: "It took four years before I got my first TV credit on a show called 'The Unit'. However, I did plays, documentaries, music videos, student films, short films, joined the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and even worked as a background performer in that four-year span.''

BronzePage: ''You were in 'Bob Hearts Abishola.' Many Americans saw some parts of the cultural makeup of the Nigerian/African community. Did it hit you that you

were working with one of the most prolific people in Hollywood....Chuck Lorre? The guy with the Midas touch; his work in Hollywood beyond amazing: 'Big Bang

Theory', 'Two and a Half Men',' Moms,' 'Mike and Molly,' 'Young Sheldon', 'Cybill'......how does it feel to work with such a genius and how did you get that role? How did Chuck know so much about Nigeria? Did he use Nigerian writers or he just rely on you guys?

Tony: 'Bob Hearts Abishola' was an amazing experience and definitely a career-defining moment for me. I was

already a huge Chuck Lorre fan, and when I realized that he was creating a show about Nigerian immigrants, I couldn’t be more excited; I wanted to watch it; I wanted to be in it! When my agent and manager informed me that I had an audition for the role of Chukwuemeka, I read the breakdown of the character and something just felt right. I knew I was Chukwuemeka. I knew the role was going to be mine. I did the work and prepped for the audition – with a little extra zest and confidence. After two auditions, I got the call, and the rest like they say is history.

Chuck Lorre was great to work with. In Season 1, he was very hands-on as the show-creator, and was there every time we were shooting. He was soft-spoken, friendly and gave me great notes a couple of times. This was always done in collaboration with the director. When I was done with (after shooting). my very first episode he came up to me, shook my hand and told me thanks for doing a great job. He said they were happy to have me and appreciated the job I had done. Needless to say that was the highlight of my time on set. In subsequent seasons, due to COVID restrictions, there was less interaction but he was always warm and gracious every time we met.

In terms of the Nigerian aspects of the show, most of that came from Gina Yashere who was initially hired as a consultant but ended up becoming one of the show- creators, producer, and a series regular. She was also one of the writers along with other Nigerian writers.'' 

BronzePage: ''Besides 'Bob Hearts Abishola,' you have done a few Hollywood movies such as: Hollowpoint, Blood Corral. Sugar babies, Acceleration, even shows like

Scrubs....you most likely saw some of these actors on the big screen while growing up in Africa. How does it feel to see them up close and personal and work with them?''

Tony: ''My career so far has been nothing short of amazing. It feels great to have worked with some legends of industry and every single one of them has been a class act. I remain eternally grateful for the kindness of Gina Yashere, the wisdom of Vernee Watson, the knowledge of Barry Shabaka Henley... just to name a few. Every single time I’ve met actors I knew and respected, the meeting was pleasurable and memorable. I feel I’m lucky in that aspect and I pray it continues that way.''

BronzePage: ''Have you thought about producing or directing? This way you can have more creative control and say-so in movie productions, redirect your movies to create specific narratives and also be able to employ actors.''

Tony: ''As a matter of fact, writing, producing and directing have been the natural next steps in my progression as a filmmaker. I’ve been writing for the last 10 years. I co-wrote, produced and starred in the short film 'Chapter One.' It played at various festivals nationwide, culminating in multiple airings on PBS as part of its Shorts Showcase Festival. 'Chapter One' was the basis for 'Con$equences' a web series that I created based on a TV pilot I wrote.

In 'Consequences' reformed internet scammers get a team together to reinvent their old business, this time only targeting immoral people. It’s a modern-day serialized drama that follows the lives of culturally diverse con-artists; but unlike other similarly themed shows and movies, this one is anchored by adult Yahoo Boys. Seasons 1 & 2 are available on YouTube, Amazon, Tubi and various VOD and streaming platforms''.

(Other cast members include Constance Ejuma, Bambadjan Bamba, Dele Ogundiran, Eboni Adams, Kofi Boakye, Sahlima.....and many more}.

BronzePage: ''Tony, do you have an organization that is very dear to your heart? Let's give them a shout-out"

Tony: ''Thanks so much for your interest. I have  an organization that is important to me because it serves to bridge the gap between Africa, the African diaspora and Hollywood. It is the African Artists Association (3As). The 3As is based in Los Angeles. Any new artists in town should endeavor to join.

You can follow me on Instagram to stay updated with my work: @tonytambi

Please check out both seasons of 'Con$equences'on YouTube.''

BronzePage: ''Thanks for taking this time out of your very busy schedule. You have an open door here when you have any new projects''.

(FOLKS, THAT'S A WRAP).

Bob Hearts Abishola, a CBS  sitcom, premiered in 2019 on US television. It gives us an insight into the core and inner workings of the Nigerian family, and aggregates those things that are held important and valuable. It captures the intersection of two unique cultures, the Nigerian way of life, mainly represented by Abishola and other Nigerian cast; and of course, the American way of life as represented by Bob and his family in this comedic-love story. 

Bob, an American entrepreneur, suffered a heart attack, which led him to being hospitalized. He found himself falling for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian woman, known in the show as Abishola, played by Nigerian actress, Folake Olowofoyeku.   

Bob went out of his way to learn more about the Nigerian culture in his relentless desire to win her over...whatever it takes, and a very daunting task- it was, because aloof and introverted Abishola never made it easier for him.

Never has any show clearly distilled the Nigerian culture on an international stage as Bob Hearts Abishola.

It premiered on CBS, in September 2019 and came to an end in May 2024. Five seasons and 95 classic and funny episodes.

Bob Hearts Abishola  sheds light on the struggles of a rigid- hardworking mother -Abishola, as she tries to raise her son in the more permissive American culture, while at the same time trying to get him to stay true to her strict Nigerian upbringing. It highlights those things that are held as sacred and very important as well as those things that are frowned upon....the societal expectations placed upon Nigerian children, the disappointments when they do not live up to such expectations. 

Though, restricted to the Nigerian family, it is not limited to only those from Nigeria; other Africans can relate to many aspect of this sitcom. One gets a glimpse of how  most African parents raise their children; the value and  importance placed on education, the inflexibility of Abishola- a woman very set in her ways; her work ethics, the never ending desire to study hard and acquire more degrees, the close-knit family unit and respect for elders. 

It is sad that this show had to come to an end. Many Americans as well as those of other cultures and nationalities learned a lot by watching this show every week on US television. 

Bob Hearts Abishola is still streaming on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Hulu, HBO Max, Sling TV, Fernando at Home, Roku TV as well as Apple TV. 

What is more impressive is that one of the creators and the writer of this sitcom is Hollywood-Great, Chuck Lorre, also know as the 'King of Sitcoms', and rightfully so. No one does it better than Chuck when it comes to creating 'Hit-Sitcoms on Television'. His other television shows include Cybill, M.A.S.K, Grace Under Fire, Roseanne, Mike and Molly, Two and a Half Men,  Mom, The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon......and many more-all hit shows .

Coming up soon, BronzePage interviews one of the actors in this sitcom. Do not miss what he has to say.

The song, 'Way Maker' is a contemporary gospel worship song that has touched Christians all over the world. It was originally written by Nigerian Gospel Singer and ongwriter, Sinach.  Way Maker was released in 2015 and quickly  spread like wildfire throughout churches all over the  world. By early 2019,  the video for the song received more than 100 million views on YouTube. (Never has that happened to a Nigerian gospel artist). 

Sinach was the first Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter to top the Billboard-Christian chart for 12 continuous weeks. In fact she was  the first African artist to top the Billboard Christain Chart.

It won the award  for The Song Of The Year (in October 2020) at the 51st GMA Dove Awards. (Once again, Sinach was the first Nigerian gospel artist to win that  award). 

Christian Copyright Licensing International ranked “Way Maker” at  the very  top position in its  list of Top 100 songs. This ranking is based on how often a song is used in church worship. 

The song Way Maker, has been covered by  several prominent Christian music artists around the world including Michael W. Smith, Darlene Zschech, the late singer Mandisa, and several artists in Bethel Music.

The song has been used in several rallies and gathering worldwide.

Sinach (full name- Osinach Kalu Okoro Egbu) hails from  Eastern Nigeria. She studied Physics at the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria and is a senior worship leader at Christ Embassy Church. She was invited to Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston Texas in October 2019. 

Sinach became the first gospel artist from Africa to tour India, and has preformed in over 50 countries around the world,  including countries like United Kingdom, (she sold out the OVO Wembley arena in London) Canada, USA, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Grenada, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Dominica (the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica awarded Sinach as global ambassador in February 2023). 

Way Maker has a universal appeal and has  been translated into 50 languages.

Sinach joined the Grammy Recording Academy as a voting member in 2022.

What an incredible feat!

What an incredible song!

What an incredible woman!

'Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.'

(William Shakespeare-Twelfth Night).

Shakespeare must have known someone like Patti Boulaye. A young girl from Nigeria, Patricia Ebigwei had aspiration to  be a nun, when she travelled to London. Fate had other plans; she was thrust into the spotlight. Her career took off and her candle never stopped burning. Five whole decades in the limelight, she has met almost everyone in the royal family, she was honored with the OBE on Queen Elizabeth's birthday, Patti was friends with Michael Jackson, she met Lady Di, she filled up the Royal Albert Hall...…and we have not even scratched the surface. Miss Boulaye was 2 decades ahead of Nollywood with her classic movie that made history. Welcome to the  life of the great Patti Boulaye.

Her achievements are such that it is impossible for anyone to encapsulate them all in one article. It needs a book and she did so in her biography 'The faith of a Child'-a superb book to read.

After the horrific Nigerian civil war, fame and fortune were the furthest thing on young Patti's mind. Her father wanted her to become a lawyer, but she felt she was too honest to become one. She said she could never see herself defending someone she felt was  guilty. She wanted to be a nun, she joined the boarding school at the convent to study in order to become a nun, but her Mother Superior (Head of the convent) advised her dad to let young Patti do some travelling for a while. Her dad sent her to England where Patti's sister was already studying.

The curtain to greatness swung wide open and it never closed for Patti. She has stayed very relevant all through the years. In the next few days, we will slowly unveil the life of an innocent young girl who was not looking for fame, yet she stumbled upon it and a country that just could not have enough of her.....just as Shakespeare wrote, 'some people have greatness thrust upon them'.

We asked her what she thought was the secret of her longevity in the limelight. She gave us a very insightful response. 

In 1978, Patti Boulaye won the UK talent show, 'New Faces', (today's version of X Factor or British Got Talent). Something unusual happened; Patti impressed the judges so much, she was given the maximum point possible-120 points. A perfect score.

She soared to fame. 

Long before what is known today as Nollywood, Patti Boulaye starred  in the African hit movie 'Bisi, Daughter of the River'. The movie became the highest grossing African movie ever made. It ran for three years in Nigerian movie theatres. This was two decades before the resurgence of what is now known today as Nollywood. She was way ahead of the curve.

Patti was the face of LUX soap in Nigeria for almost 29 years. Her commercial ran endlessly on Nigerian Television

Patti Boulaye also starred in another movie: 'The Music Machine' -(the British form of the movie Saturday Night Fever). She was in another movie, 'Hussy'  with the legendary actress Helen Mirren.

Patti has made over 200 TV appearances.

Her debut album was titled, 'You stepped into my life'.      In 1984, she was so famous, that she had her own TV series, titled 'The Patti Boulaye Show' on Channel 4. UK could not have enough of Patti Boulaye.

BronzePage: You have lived a remarkable life and you have stayed consistently at the top and your star never stopped shining. Many of the celebrities who were very relevant at the time you shot to limelight have fallen off ....and we do not hear from them anymore. How did you stay very consistent without being overexposed or becoming irrelevant? What is the secret of your  stay-power?

Patti Boulaye: I have always been diligent about my career. I work hard and I have never missed a show in fifty-five years. I make sure that I am totally reliable for producers, I am the first in and the last out. I am the best I can be at every task. For instance, when I wanted to play Carmen in “Carmen Jones” in the West End, I took lessons in singing Opera for six hard months before asking the director for an audition and went on to play the part for four years. I am creative and often produce my own shows which means that I am not always reliant on other producers. I review each opportunity that comes my way carefully and, this is important; I leave the decision as to whether I play the part or go with the project, up to God. He always leads me.

BronzePage: You were ''Nollywood before Nollywood''. Your movie 'Bisi Daughter of the River' was a trailblazer. You were way ahead of the curve. How did that role fall on your laps and do you have any intention of taking on more movie roles? Also why was there no follow-up to Bisi, Daughter of the River? Is there any reason why you left the Nigerian acting scene, especially now that Nollywood is exploding? Would you do a Nollywood  movie, if you found the right role?

Patti Boulaye: I have made two other movies, I was the lead again in the British film “The Music Machine” and I played a part in the Helen Mirren  movie “ Hussie”. Yes, I like filming and would do a Nollywood movie if I liked the part and the terms are right. I have been offered Nollywood movies, but have not accepted them to date for various reasons. The Producer of “Bisi Daughter of the River” saw me playing the female lead in “The Black Mikado” in the West End and cast me as Bisi.

Although the movie was a great success, the producers never got round to a follow up,....there was talk of a new Bisi production at the time. The success of the movie took everyone by surprise and the producers regretted killing off the main character "Bisi". Anyway, I was too young to have influence in the matter and my UK career had just rocketed..... I was making my first album. 

BronzePage: What would you like us to plug for you? Any foundation? Your  book?.... 

Patti Boulaye: I would love people to read my book “The Faith of a Child” which is published in hard-back by Kaleidoscope Publishing (TV Brain) or a paper back version can be found on Amazon. I am writing songs for my next album, which is based mainly on gospel, dance Afrobeat and I am hoping to find the right producer and musicians to collaborate with me.

After the musical-'Hair', Patti Boulaye featured in 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona'.

She got her first starring role in The Black Mikado. (It was under her birth name Patricia Ebigwei). She was also in 'Jesus Christ Superstar', then 'Carmen Jones', She did the musical, 'Sun Dance', which Patti wrote and produced. Patti was in the Fosters, in Dempsey  in Makepeace, and in Brothers and Sisters. Then the BBC annual Christmas edition , 'Joy to the world' which featured legends like, Cliff Richards and Roger Moore.

Patti featured  in the Shape Up and Dance Keep-fit albums. She was in a three-part series of Real Marigold Hotel.

On the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, Patti led a 5,000‑strong gospel choir down The Mall.

She was in the 2023 Christmas Special 'Would I lie to you?' and also When 80s TV Go Wrong and she was a recent  guest on Good Morning Britain.

Patti Boulaye has done special shows such as Billie and Me, Diana and Me and Aretha and Me. She featured the songs of Billie Holiday, Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin. In each of these shows, she compares and contrasts her life with these legends and sings some of their famous songs as well as hers.

She also had her show: Me, Myself and I, Patti Boulaye.

She has done so much...there is no way to list all her achievements without leaving some out. This is why one must get a copy of her book : 'The Faith of a child'-he Autobiography of Patti Boulaye.

For the past 5 decades, Patti Boulaye has been very relevant and on top of her game. What an incredible feat!! What an Incredible woman! ...and she keeps going.

We love and appreciate Africa and our hope is that the rest of the world also sees the beauty in that amazing continent, however some of the most terrible  inhumanities have also occurred in Africa. We cannot overlook the pain and sufferings of many people in Africa; to do so would be atrocious. We present to you the story of a woman who saw these first hand and rose to tell her story unlike many people whose voices died in the grave. Hers is a story of a woman who endured untold hardship during the war in Rwanda, a story that would baffle the minds of most people in modern societies....it is almost impossible to grasp. Man's inhumanity to man. Yet she saw the light.

For the next few days, you are about to get transfixed by the story of Sonia Gisa.

At an age when kids were playing innocently in the yard, she saw deaths by the thousands. A war that killed her family.... many people did not make it out alive, but she did and rose to prominence. A reminder that no matter how dark your life may be, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Never give up!

BronzePage! We do it like no one else. 

In 2009, Sonia Gisa moved to Belgium from Rwanda; she was 18 years old and faced a whole new world. She was like a stranger in a strange land. The adjustment was not easy as she had to learn the language and be able to communicate well, she also dealt with life in a new school, coupled with trying to get a job and an apartment. Sonia was determined and each time she met the struggle with resolved strength.

She discovered her love for modelling and threw herself into it when the opportunity arose. She became one of the top models representing such major brands as Dior, Gucci, Yves-Saint -Laurent, Dolce and Gabanna, Moschino.

It was as if the future opened up for her. She delved into beauty pageantry and represented Rwanda in Miss Supranatural. The final event was held in Poland in December, 2014. Sonia won !! She told BronzePage '' It was sensational, I went home with the title of Miss Supranatural Africa.....it was the first time the crown went to Rwanda'.

Talk about redemption! What an irony, the very country where she experienced untold pain and tragedy, the same country where her life was almost destroyed, it was that same country, she represented and placed on the  world map.

She also took part in Miss Grand International, which took place in Las Vegas in 2016. 

Sonia told BronzePage "It was an incredible experience, and I learned a lot from it. Beauty pageants played a big role in helping me feel confident on stage and in public speaking. Additionally, you get to meet and connect with different contestants representing their own countries you discover new cultures and build an international friendship circle''.

Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) is a yearly event that brings value to designers through, contacts, experience and knowledge within the fashion community. 

 With a collaborative catwalk, exhibition, and business development program, AFWL has led the way in highlighting Africa’s emerging designers and apparel industry and has been at the forefront of bringing awareness of Africa’s burgeoning fashion industry to the international market. 

Designer & Exhibitor application form for AFWL 2025 is available on line: africafashionweeklondonuk.com

The name 'Noella' a feminine version of Noel,  stands for ' Christmas day' or 'born on Christmas day'. This gorgeous Model and Philanthropist was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo on December the  25th while people all over the world were celebrating Christmas.

You are about to enter into the world of a woman who refused to turn her back on those she left behind. We bring you the story of  the woman behind Malaika (her School for  poor kids in Democratic Republic of Congo).

We cannot say enough about this woman. We have devoted the next few days to 'The Noella Story'. Her thoughts, her aspirations, her passion, her experience, her childhood.

Bronzepage does it better than anyone else.

Shortly after Noella completed her degree, one of her friends entered her into a modelling competition; good news of course, her life took a turn as her journey to the global stage just started. She was chosen to appear in a campaign for Agent Provocateur. Noëlla did various campaigns in New York and London as modeling gave her access to the pages of fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair and Marie Claire..... the doors just sprung wide open.

Unlike many successful people who forget their past and turn their back on where they came from, Noella had a burning desire to give back. As she traveled the world, she realized she deeply wanted to help and share her passion for human rights. 

After 13 years in Europe, 18 year old Noella was now ready to visit her homeland and reunite with her mother.  

The minute Noella introduced Malaika to the world, more  doors started to open for her. Her story was intriguing; a celebrity who was actually proactive, sincerely helping, giving back and not just talking about things that should be done. 

Some of the magazines, platforms and opportunities that have showcased the Noella and Malaika Story are listed below:

Vanity Fair, Cotswold Style, Grazia, Shiffon, 

Greek World Reporter, Forbes, Sandton, 

Elle South Africa, Bizcommunity, Now in SA,

Laqua Magazine, Greek Reporter, Image, British Vogue,Fashion Network, Vouge India, Billionaire, Editeur Plus, Vogue Espana, Harpers Baazar, Elle Germany, L'Officieal, Tatler Ireland, Moda, Greek City Times, Vogue Australia, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Neue Afrique, Leadership, Forbes, Actualite, South Africa Daily, True Africa, The St Raphael Resort & Mariana Magazine, Daily Mail, Global Fund for Children, Congo Airways Magazine, Africa News,  CNBC Africa, Marie Claire, The Guardian, TV%. IGNYTE, CountryandTownHouse, Fashion Magic 42,

HARPERS BAZAAR, LacunaMagazine, SCHICK,

#CongoExcellence, Harper's BAZAAR Japan, 

Women of Influence 'Meet a Role Model' Feature Questions, FOOT AU FEMININ (Cameroon), NEW AFRICA DAILY, MOJEH

Congolese Entrepreneurs, Kaieteur News,  

Sustainability Forbes, Malaika Foundation Congo And Formidable Magazine, Telegraph, TAP Magazine, FORBES AFRICA, Afropolitan

Brune Magazine, Creative Wardrobe, Vogue, 

Harper Bazaar, Sunday Times, Grazia, IIRR, 

Congolese Prodigies LeCongolais, PORTER, Net a Porter, The Times, Luxx Philanthropy

INNOV MAG, Book "Lessons from life and business" by Facebook Inc., Actualite.cd, 

APO Group, Magazine Congolais, Telegraph, Maverick Life, Vogue and Piaget, C'CHIC Magazine, Rachel SUMBU ( Radio de la Femme (Kinshasa), CIAB MAGAZINE, CHANGE IN AFRICA, Vogue Germany, Financial Times, Ici et Ailleurs Magazine, Marie Claire, 

Hunger Magazine, Adunagow Magazine, 

METAL magazine,  African Shapers, Pride Magazine Nigeria's Woman of the Month: January 2022, Salon d'Afrique, Interview seSalon d'Afriquer, lemondefemin.com,  

Hamaji, Sans Frontières mag ( FRENCH ),

CLAM Magazine, Elle Italia, Daily Telegraph, 

Nigeria Business, Opt1mum Magazine, 

VoyageDallas, HERA Magazine, Amazing,

Mayfair Times, Optimum, Marie Claire UK, 

Sandy Times, Madame Arabia, Vogue ARABIA.....the list goes on. Some of these brands were not listed here.......just too many of them.

Malaika has taken Noella to meet and work with people  she never dreamt she would ever meet.  From Bill President Clinton,(Clinton Global initiative 2015) King Charles, Princess Caroline of Hanover, working with Hollywood star Eve, meeting with Forest Whitaker, Alexandra Palt, Nelson Mandela's grandson- Ndaba Mandela,Hollywood actress Kerry Washington, President of FIFA Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, the wife of King Charles - Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, Model Naomi Campbell, Will.i.am, Cherrie Blair (spouse of former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair) ....the list just continues to grow.

Malaika’s work has been recognized internationally. In 2023 Malaika was awarded the Peace Through Sport Initiative of the Year at the Peace and Sport Awards. Malaika teacher Therese Mabaka was selected as one of the top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2023, presented by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO. Other awards include: World Literacy Award (2021), Maya Amerja Sustainability Award (2018), House of Mandela Award (2018).  

MSNBC President, Rashida Jones who was the First Black Woman to lead a major cable news network, is stepping down after four years.  Jones said she was leaving to “pursue new opportunities.'

Rashida Jones was born in Pennsylvania, but her family  later moved to Virginia where she attended high school. Her love and flair for journalism started at a young age. She was the Editor of the Student Newspaper in high  school. When she graduated, she  attended Hampton University, where she majored in Broadcast Journalism. 

 While she was still a senior in college, Jones worked as a Morning Show producer at WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in 2002.

 A few years later, she moved to The Weather Channel, as a weekend producer, and became Director of Live programming in 2009. She also worked as News Director, at WIS-TV in Columbia, South Carolina. Jones would later move to New York as an Executive Producer for Daytime Shows at MSNBC, and became the Managing Editor at MSNBC and Senior Vice President of specials for NBC News and MSNBC.
On February 1, 2021, Jones succeeded Phil Griffin as the President of MSNBC and the First Black Woman to be the President of a major network.
On January 14, 2025, she resigned from her position at MSNBC.

We wish her the very best in her new pursuit.