JAY -Z HITS SA FAN?

Caught on Video

Sorry to Kill the JAY-Z love going on but have you guys seen this video of JAY Z allegedly punching a South African woman on the AND network site. It is making its rounds in SA.
Is it real? This article says NO... that it happened a while ago and it is not a fan in SA but some one on his crew. What do you think? Looks like an attempt to cast a negative light on JAY-Z.
(the above is a timely break out to the real topic)

There have been some opinions about the This Day concert that featured JAY-Z and Beyonce about the cost of the tickets and the fees they were paid. Here's one sent in by a reader...
"Adaure, i was wondering why you didn't cover the This day Music festival as many other blogs did. I was waiting to post my opinion when you did, but anyways, here it is: I really don't know if I'm the only one who feels this way but something is totally amiss with the concept of the This day festival, i can't stand to watch it without getting angry; the reason? It could be that we, Nigerians have our priorities utterly misplaced. First the people dancing for 53hrs straight to break some world record, now this? HOW IN THE WORLD CAN PEOPLE PAY UP TO 100K for a show promoting foreign artistes- in a country struggling to promote our image economically and culturally?! I understand the festival's role in promoting cultural tourism but not through a misguided festival for Nigerians. We are meant to sell ourselves to the world, In my opinion, this is excessivness at its worst."

I'll share my opinion later but what say ye... do you share or oppose this reader's view?

Plus Madonna's Adoption of a Malawi boy. It's celebrities and their Africa Pet projects.

All that coming soon...in the mean time I want to hear what you have to say.

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***********UPDATE**********

JAY-Z , This Day Concert, Madonna and the African Pet Projects

I have been waiting for the right opportunity to discuss this and I have somethings on my mind. First of all let me give all kudos to my fellow bloggers, Bella, Taureanminx and Don Chi for their exceptionally brilliant and impressive 'point-to-point-team coverage' of what was undoubtedly the biggest hip-hop concert to hit the shores of West-Africa. If I owned my own darn TV station I would hire ya'll and we would give Entertainment Tonight a run for their money Africa Style. As in did they literally put the organizing news magazine to shame or what? I hope This Day execs get to read this...SEND THE REPORTER ON THAT BEAT TO DESK DUTY FOR 2 WEEKS FOR GETTING SCOOPED ON YOUR TURF. One would think that in this day and age of New Media that a major news leader, for whom I imagine has a large number of Internet readership based in the diaspora, as is with many online Nigerian newspapers, did not provide any coverage online save for a few poorly written articles and poor quality photos. Their complete wrap up came a week later after the bloggers had floored them and the sizzle had ultimately fizzled. I hope the Internet version does not reflect the hard copy coverage. That having been said the organizers, This Day truly out did and surpassed expectations and deserve due credit. It is easy to sit at my computer, millions of miles away and lambaste, criticize and theorize about their choices, motives and our priorities as a nation. That's a mental exercise that some of us burden ourselves with when in actuality no body gives a flip. The concert is like so over, Jay-Z, Beyonce and Busta are gone and I am freaking bitter. As much as I would have sworn not to pay the ridiculous amount that was the cost of the ticket (ranging from an equivalent of $200 -$800 depending on who you ask), as a typical Nigerian girl, I would have shamelessly found an 'Aristo' or 'interested-fellow' to foot the bill, not just because paying such an excessive amount on a concert or item of limited value goes against my principles but because there is less guilt in spending someone else's money. As a last resort a puppy face for my old-man or a series of 'successive-obtainments' from him would have done the trick and gotten me either the cheapest possible ticket available or the VIP ticket respectively. Again, the later being highly unlikely because of prudence. I probably would have pocketed the money and tried to get a FREE press pass.

But hypocrisy, fan flare and aspersions aside, it begs to question, what was this concert about because it appears to be double faced in the way it was presented versus what it was really about. And did our senators and governors get courtesy tickets or did they seriously pay $1000 to attend a hip-hop concert while their constituents live on a less than a $1 a day (Scratching my head...skewered priorities?). I am sure I am not the only one asking this or who was thinking this as I read down the list of dignitaries who attended? I also have to ask did we really need 'foreign' musicians to front line a music festival about 'Nigerian Independence'? It looked more like a 'July 4th' celebration on 'October 1st' because it was not about Nigerian music but American music. Truth be told no one really cared about the Nigerian acts, they were there just to fill up time.

Then what is up with Jay Z masquerading what is indeed an 'Africa Tour' ahead of his album release as a UN mission and about water conservation. Who are we kidding? For all intents and purposes bringing awareness to the water shortage is noble but after reading this article, not asking whether this whole thing is less about water shortage than his comeback is simply fatuous. This is a classic form of patronization. I would probably differ in opinion if Jay Z and co turned around and gave back their concert fee to a cause in the places they visited but since all the buzz I am yet to read anything about either of these people making any donation to either the water project or the places they have visited in Africa. My 'google news alert ' has been known to be slow on delivery so fill me in if you have any information that shows otherwise. And if I may borrow the words of Y.A and I quote "I don't remember any (US) state governor having Styl-Plus help open power plant(re:borehole) when they came over here o". Lol... seeing Jay Z in the Emir regalia though was priceless and showed he was really into his trip.

Truth be told lending his image to the cause will help turn the world eyes to the continent and the issue. In addition the success of this concert has been kinda positive for Nigeria. I say that hesitantly because the concert is what it is, entertainment...that's being used as part of an image building campaign. Without the facts behind the deal (relying on news articles)I can't say too much but let me put it in a term that paints a clearer picture. This would be like giving incentives and tax breaks (performance fee) to lure Transnationals (high profile celebrities) sample our market (entertain us) and help refine our crude oil (improve our image) by shipping it out of the country (positive media coverage and buzz) so that it becomes more attractive and is of more value. The success of which is expected to result in more Transnationals and conglomerates to becomes interested (foreign investment) so as to boost our economy. Hmh...I don't know about that over simplified theory but that seems to be what is most implied. Misguided as it may be it makes small sense and could actually work. It is still to soon to call the jury out on that. But over all, the concert was entertaining, Nigerians loved it, it brought business for some people, and took away other people's pocket money. It was hip-hop at its best with a promise of more to come. Hopefully P.Diddy, John Legend (whom ever else is famouse that year) May be it is just us in the diaspora, and those who have high speed internet and extra times on our hands, but I am hoping we can get to a point where we won't have to ask these hard questions and just see things as mundane as this on the face value for what they are. But who am I kidding, it's Nigeria we are talking about and sometimes that's kinda hard.

Coincidentally another celebrity was also in Africa making the rounds just like Jay Z, Anderson Cooper, George Clooney etc. I guess the past month it has all been about somebody famous or the other going to Africa. Truth be told celebrities have good intentions and mean well to lend their images to certain causes but some of them make it about themselves that they defeat the purpose and essence of why they were there in the first place. Our dear Madonna and her adoption issue for example. Is she copying Brangelina or this is just Madonna being Madonna? Attention Seeker.... I just wonder? This whole adoption of a 'poor unfortunate African baby' is beginning to look more like a fad than anything. One reminiscent of the Hollywood celebrity and their Chihuahua and toy-puppy phase (@ Calabar Girl I drew this parallel before your comment so let's just say great minds think alike). These are children we are talking about not goods or animals at Petco. What should we expect next Paris and Nicole adopting African babies too. Believe you me that's coming soon to your next tabloid stand. Let's also not forget the rave that it was also for Americans to adopt Asian children. If I recall correctly didn't some of them end up in the sex trafficking trade?

So now that Malawi's government has expedited Madonna's adoption of the child does that now mean that the law that disallows adoption by non-resident is no longer valid? This again is another between a rock and hard place situation because Madonna's situation is bringing well needed and over due attention to the many Aids orphans but does it have to be about her as well. Some of these celebs should take a cue from Oprah and Bono who have mastered the art of being entertainment celebrity philanthropist without casting too much of the spotlight on themselves and turning it into PR. George Clooney and his dad are also doing it well with the Darfur matter. The more the merrier but this should not be an exercise in egotistical splendor. When people start questioning your motives then perhaps it is time to reacess and say 'Wait a minute' because you must have sent the wrong unintended message. Africa has been exploited enough, there is not need to exploit us any more. Rather than all this misplaced need to give a child a 'loving home' away from home how about sponsoring the child's upkeep and education, build and maintain a school for the orphans, build, equip and sponsor an Aids of Fistula clinic, buy sewing machines for the women in shelters to learn a trade. These would go a longer way than shopping for a baby to bring into a dysfunctional lifestyle that the Hollywood celebrity life can be. One day one marriage another divorce, custody battle, paparazzi problem. Life in the quiet African Village without electricity begins to seem more appealing amidst that chaos . Many of us are afraid to say this but I will... lets pray some of these children don't turn into your stereotypical Hollywood kids who are strung out on drugs and alcohol by the time they are legal.

Again who the hell am I? If it bother's me that much perhaps I should step away from my computer and go and that which I think is proper. It is not my place to judge or question people's personal or business choices and motives. What they do with their time, money and fame. I am merely an observer, a citizen-Kane expressing my opinion. Am I right? I don't expect to be and don't have to be. Could this all be an incoherent pointless diatribe? Perhaps so, Perhaps not, I have put it out there, you decide. Do you have to agree with my point of view? Absolutely not, but do take one. Should you ask questions and think critically about some of the, albeit, mundane things that happen in our world today? To that I say an unequivocal 'You betcha you should'.

The Floor is open....fire away