9 Celebs Who Help Africa

Whether they do it to boost their image or truly help others, numerous celebrities have used their image and clout to help make a change for people who need it.

Spotlight On Nollywood: Single and Married

Single and Married, one of Ghana’s biggest movies, hit the screens late last year. This amazing movie, featuring the cream of Nollywood topped the list at the 2012 Ghana Movies Awards with a total of 10 nominations and went on to win four awards. Fans and critics alike praised the movie.

The movie had its online premiere on iROKOtv PLUS but it is now available for free on iROKOtv! In Single and Married three recently married female friends, all with challenges within their marriages embark on a journey to discover what it is that it takes to make a marriage succeed. Starring: Yvonne Nelson, Chris Attoh, Nadia Buari, Eddie Watson, Kofi Adjorlolo, Tana Adelana, Jane Awindor, Kweku Elliot & Tiffany Director: Pascal Amanfo

Spotlight On Nollywood: Richard Mofe-Damijo

July 6th is the birthday of award winning veteran actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, who is popularly known as RMD. He was born on this date in 1961 in Warri, Nigeria. He studied Theatre Arts at University of Benin. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful and talented actors in Nigeria. In 2009 RMD took up a political role as a Commissioner for Cultural and Tourism in Delta State and ever since, acting has taken a less active role in his life. He is married to Jumobi Adegbesan and they are blessed with four children. In celebration of RMD’s birthday we present to you 10 classic RMD movies! See more from RMD HERE

Samini: Reggae and Dancehall King

Ghanaian Reggae and Dancehall artiste Samini is known for consistency, flair and a uniquely golden singing approach.. He is the West African country’s biggest reggae and dancehall musician at the moment, and his popularity stretches beyond the West African nation's borders into the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa. At the maiden edition of the Bass Awards (Reggae and Dancehall awards) held in the Ghanaian Capital, Accra, this month; he won the award for Best Dancehall Artiste of the Year. And even though he is still climbing up the career ladder, he perfectly fits into the band of celebrated Ghanaian artistes in that genre including the US-based Rocky Dawuni.

Africa And The Facebook Craze

Facebook has become an integral part of the lives of millions across the globe. Pretty much everyone with access to a computer or smartphone has a profile on the social network and, somewhat sadly, tend to play out their daily lives through it. In the latest Facebook statistics gathered by Social Bakers, it was found that just over 50 million Africans are users of the site. When put into perspective, that means 5% of the continent's total population of roughly 1 billion is registered and active on Facebook.

Egypt's interim PM seeks to form cabinet

Hazem al-Beblawi says a government, which may include Muslim Brotherhood figures, will be formed by Sunday.

Egypt's new leadership is facing increased difficulties in forming an interim government after it issued an arrest warrant for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement backing ousted president Mohamed Morsi. Egypt’s interim prime minister Hazem al-Beblawi has said a new government will be formed by Sunday, a week after the popular military coup toppling Morsi. Beblawi said on Thursday he would not rule out posts for Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood in the new cabinet.

But the Brotherhood rejected the offer, demanding Morsi's reinstatement and calling for fresh rallies on Friday against what it called "a bloody military coup". The Brotherhood, for its part, accused the army of "massacring" its supporters. Morsi's overthrow after nationwide protests demanding his resignation has plunged Beblawi, who was appointed by the military on Tuesday, said: "So far I haven't approached anyone,” adding that he wanted to decide on the best candidates before asking them to join the government. Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh, reporting from Cairo, said the new leadership was moving quickly on announcing a new cabinet because it was under pressure to transfer power from military to civilian rule. But the country remained deeply divided, as the military-backed government continued to crack down on the Muslim Brotherhood, ordering on Wednesday the arrest of its leader Mohamed Badie and other senior figures in the movement.

the arrest of its leader Mohamed Badie They are wanted on suspicion of inciting clashes near an army building on Monday which killed at least 51 people, mostly Morsi supporters,

judicial sources said. The army said soldiers came under attack by "terrorists" and armed protesters. Egypt into violent turmoil. US arms deal

The latest development came as US officials said Washington will go ahead with plans to deliver four F-16 fighter jets to Egypt in the coming weeks.

The US has neither welcomed the toppling of Morsi nor denounced it as a "coup". A US decision to brand his overthrow a coup would, by US law, require Washington to halt aid to the Egyptian military. The jets, which will likely be delivered in August, are part of the annual aid package, a US defence official told Reuters news agency on Wednesday. Another eight F-16s, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, are due to be delivered in December, the official said on condition of anonymity. "There is no current change in the plan to deliver F-16s to the Egyptian military," a second US official said.

The Egyptian army receives $1.3bn in annual US assistance. The country has been one of the world's largest recipients of US aid since it signed a 1979 peace treaty with Israel. It was the first Arab country to buy F-16s, widely viewed as a symbol of political and security ties with Washington. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has spoken by phone with the head of Egypt's armed forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, eight times since July 2.

Sisi was the country’s defence minister until he led the coup against Morsi.

WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?

WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD? Do You Know? Question: How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?

Answer: It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam. 1. Islam means peace. Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt). 2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and antisocial elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice. 3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary. The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book “Islam at the cross road” (Page 8): “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated.” 4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years. Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers. 5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians. Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian. 6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India. The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword. 7. Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, “Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?” 8. East Coast of Africa. Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, “Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?” 9. Thomas Carlyle. The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book “Heroes and Hero worship”, refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: “The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can.” 10. No compulsion in religion. With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse: “Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error” [Al-Qur’an 2:256] 11. Sword of the Intellect. It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur’an says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125: “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” [Al-Qur’an 16:125] 12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984. An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam? 13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe. Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large numbers? 14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, “People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born”.