African Voices Changemakers, the popular CNN International magazine programme will this weekend host one of  Hollywood’s most celebrated African actors,  Djimon Gaston Hounsou. The programme is sponsored by digital solutions provider, Globacom.

The star actor who was born in Benin Republic in April 1960, will be chatting with  programme anchor, Larry Madowo   on his inspiring journey and  how he links the Black diaspora with its roots through the Djimon Hounsou Foundation which he launched in New York in 2019.

Hounsou became a thespian when he acted  in the 1990 film titled Without You, I’m Nothing from which he has gained recognition for his outstanding roles in several other films including Amistad (1997); Gladiator (2000) and a French film titled Forces speciales (2011) among other great works. His talents have earned him the Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in Drama and the NAACP Image Award both in 1998 and for his role in Amistad. He also got the Academy Awards as Best Supporting Actor in 2004 as well as an Outstanding Performance Award for Blood Diamond in 2007.

His foundation has been at the forefront of empowering Africans  through his philanthropic initiatives like Run Richmond 16.19. He has successfully  bridged history, culture, and community in a mission to unite the African diaspora and honour African heritage.

African Voices Changemakers will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.30a.m. and will be repeated same day at noon. Further repeats will be broadcast on Sunday at 4.30a.m. and 7p.m.; Monday 4a.m. Repeat editions will come up in the same broadcast schedule next week from Saturday.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has postponed the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations due to the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.

Originally scheduled for Friday, January 17, the nominations will now be revealed on January 19.

Voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members, which began on January 8, has also been extended by two days, now closing on Tuesday, January 14.

Among the celebrities affected by the fires are former Oscars host Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, James Woods, and Miles Teller, all of whom have lost their homes.

In a letter sent to members on Wednesday, Academy CEO Bill Kramer offered his condolences, saying, “We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California.

“So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”

Wildfires sweeping through communities across Los Angeles County, which began around 5:45 pm on Wednesday, have damaged or destroyed over 2,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings, with at least five confirmed dead.

Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has revealed in a recent interview that she is been a victim of rape five times in the past.

Speaking with Biola Bayo, on her talk show, Talk to B, she expressed her frustration with rape apologists.

Iyabo Ojo shared her traumatic experiences, emphasising her zero-tolerance stance on rape.

Iyabo Ojo also discussed her complicated family history, including her father’s struggles with addiction, which led to his death at 49.

She revealed that she grew up with her grandmother and didn’t meet her mother until she was seven years old.

“I was raped five times in my life. I discovered we have a lot of rape apologists. I don’t care who the person is; if that person is my son, I am going to come for him unapologetically.

“I have never met Naira Marley before my entire life. The only time I lacked was when I insisted this was the man I was going to get married to because, at that time, my dad and I disowned each other.

“My dad did everything, alcohol and drugs, so it messed him up at a young age. He died at 40.

“I grew up with my grandmother, who is half Delta and half Igbo. I think I was seven before I knew my mother.”