CBS Networks International Announces New Africa Executive Leadership Team
ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) announced today that following the departure of VCNI veteran Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of VCN Africa and BET International at the end of February 2020, Craig Paterson and Monde Twala will be named as co-General Managers of ViacomCBS Networks Africa.
Okosi took over leadership of BET International in 2017 and has continued to advance the value of the brand internationally delivering double-digit distribution growth and improving profitability and margins. Under Okosi’s leadership, BET International elevated its presence at the BET Awards by incorporating the “Best International Act” award into the live broadcast, which simulcasted live in Africa for the first time. In addition, BET International expanded its presence during the BET “Hip Hop Awards” by launching a new category to honor artists from around the world.
“I am proud to have had the opportunity to build our Africa business from the ground up,” said Okosi. “This has played a pivotal role in transforming the music and content space and changing the narrative on Africa. Leading our Africa and BET International businesses to success is a testament to the extraordinary teams, colleagues and partners that I have worked with throughout my tenure. ViacomCBS has been my home for more than 20 fantastic years, and I leave behind incredible creative and commercial talent that will continue to deliver growth.”
David Lynn, President & CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International added, “I’m immensely grateful to Alex for his contribution to the success of VCNI, including his role in developing such a strong team of successors. Alex’s leadership has been essential to our success in Africa and to the continued growth of BET International.”
Effective March 1, 2020, Monde Twala and Craig Paterson will assume their new roles as General Managers of VCN Africa.
As co-head of the business, Twala, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Editorial VCN Africa, will focus on content, creative, editorial and marketing across all VCNI brands. Twala is currently the Vice President of ViacomCBS Networks Africa’s BET, Youth & Music brands. Twala is responsible for driving the development and growth of iconic music, youth and entertainment brands BET, MTV, MTV Base and MTV Music24, across the African continent. Monde joined the company in 2016 after nearly 20 years’ experience in the South African broadcasting and media industry.
Craig Peterson
Paterson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, VCN Africa, will be responsible for all corporate functions, including business development and strategy. Currently Senior Vice President, Business Operations for ViacomCBS Networks Africa, Paterson is responsible for driving strategic growth and business opportunities in Africa. Prior to this role, Paterson was responsible for Operations and Finance for multimedia brands MTV, MTV Music24, Nickelodeon, Nick Toons, Nick Junior, MTV Base, BET and Comedy Central on the African continent.
He spent nearly five years at Viacom beginning in 2011 as VP of Operations and Finance in Africa and returned to the company in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Business Operations in Africa.
The Oxford Dictionary recognises Nigerian English as it adds words “Tokunbo,” “Danfo” & “Buka”
It was especially after the disqualification of “Lionheart” from the Oscars foreign feature category that the distinctiveness of Nigerian English made it into the mainstream.
Folks debated on Twitter about how exactly Nigerian English differs from the British or American one, how it carries the peculiar cadence of Nigerians.
And now, the Oxford English Dictionary has recognised Nigerians’ ownership of the English language, and several of our words have made it into the dictionary for the first time.
In a statement released on the dictionary’s website, they wrote that “Nigerians have made, and are continuing to make, a unique and distinctive contribution to English as a global language,” and shared the 29 Nigerian-English words that are now “official.”
They are:
agric
barbing salon
buka
bukateria
chop
chop-chop
danfo
to eat money
ember months
flag-off
to flag off
gist (noun)
gist (verb)
guber
Kannywood
K-leg
mama put
next tomorrow
non-indigene
okada
to put to bed
qualitative
to rub minds
sef
send-forth
severally
tokunbo
zone (verb)
zoning (noun)
D’Banj, DJ Spinall, Praiz, Olisa shut down Lagos at an Exclusive Party hosted by MTN for MusicTime!
How ‘Detty’ did your Detty get? Our sources say you upgraded your wardrobe in preparation for the yuletide, different outfits for different parties, right? Don’t worry, we know you did not disappoint. We bet December didn’t know what was coming!
Unku, Hanty! We are pleased to inform you that you were not the only one with a formula for the Detty December semantics. That’s how D’Banj, DJ Spinall, Praiz, Olisa and other celebs decided to shut down Lagos at an exclusive party hosted by MTN for the data-bundled music service MusicTime! Ah! Okay, you thought you’re the only one that can parte after parte abi. Stay there!
The party was on fleek, gbedu non-stop, the who’s who in the music industry were there. As a host on top of its game, MusicTime! a digital music streaming service was dropping the hottest jams back to back. Our celebrities could not stay sitting down, from Zanku to Azonto to Shaku Shaku to the evergreen Shoki; they were definitely sweating it and it was mad fun!
During the Hangout, industry stakeholders, including Praise ‘Praiz’ Adejo, Oye Akideinde, Donald ‘Djinee’ Osayamwen, and Funso Finnih were engaged in a panel session to discuss the future of music in the advent of digitalization, while taking cognizance of current milestones Nigerian artistes have attained.
Rumour has it that the trending catchphrase from the “Detty December” phase is “Party Time, Music Time!”. Apparently, the digital streaming service allows users to enjoy local and international music the way they want it how they want it and when they want it. If MusicTime! does not give it to you, how will you take it?
In 2018, MTN acquired Simfy Africa, which developed MusicTime! for users to enjoy the best listening experience on the platform. Enhanced with a music catalogue from local and international artists, MusicTime allows users to stream music instantly with data.
To know more, visit https://www.mtnonline.com/play/musictin
After 15 years, Nigeria, France sign film cooperation agreement
After over 15 years of diplomatic engagements, Nigeria and France have finally signed their first Cooperation Agreement on film, cinema and ancillary matters.
The Agreement was signed recently in Paris, France between the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) and its French equivalent, the Centre National Du Cinema ET De L’image Animee (CNC).
Its President, Dominique Boutonnat signed for France while Managing Director of the NFC, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, signed on behalf of Nigeria.
In his comments at the signing ceremony, Maduekwe assured that Nigeria would begin immediate commencement and implementation of the terms of the Agreement.
“This, no doubt, will enable the harnessing of the great potentials of filmmakers and other stakeholders as well as practitioners of both countries to further up the ante of cinematic activities, through joint and cooperative windows and platforms,” he said.
Nigeria, Maduekwe added, has a vast middle and lower level cinema viewing population. There was the need to cater for and mainstream them into the film distribution and exhibition value chain.
He said that the NFC would continue to actively seek international opportunities that will benefit film production in the country while adopting the CNC model of operations and funding.
The CNC funds its activities from box office returns, other forms of taxes, technical and other services.
Maduekwe disclosed that the NFC and Google are partnering to develop a mobile app that would further increase the volume of viewership and create more jobs.
Speaking earlier, CNC President, Boutonnat, thanked the NFC for expeditiously facilitating the signing of the Cooperation Agreement. He assured of the CNC’s willingness to ensure that both countries benefitted from each other’s distinctive ingenious expertise.
Apart from the promotion of reciprocal participation and exhibition of cinematographic works of filmmakers from both countries at national and other film festivals, the Agreement also provides inroad for theatrical and distribution markets.
Other areas are institutional exchanges, policy engagements on intellectual property, educational training, solutions and capacity building for upcoming filmmakers; transfer of skills and best practices in film production, preservation of film heritage, circulation and exhibition of films/movies from both countries, and in both countries.
The Cooperation Agreement formed part of discussions between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Emmanuel Macron of France during the latter’s visit to Nigeria in 2018.
