Gossip: On the grapevine

Sophie Okonedo for x-mas Twist Hotel Rwanda’s Sophie Okonedo has built her career on “difficult” roles, after harrowing Rwanda film, we hear she’s going to star as the first black Nancy in the BBC’s Christmas re-make of Charles Dicken’s classic Oliver Twist. Be warned! Exotic is the unavoidable word for Okonedo, with her high cheekbones and her tall, regal bearing. The 38-year-old actress doesn’t come to a halt at her passing, but it does take stock. The glances are not only result of fame – she has also got a tenderness and sense of humor; the combination has made her name sound louder. Recently, the actress was seen whooping crazily upon receiving her Oscar nomination Award for the Hotel Rwanda performance. The security guards had to interviene to cool the situation…and she was applauded by many people, of course including her family members and friends. Mizero children in Ovid Latest on Grapevine is that a group of Mizero children, six boys and six girls, aged between 13 and 17, on Tuesday arrived in the Ovid, United States. The group is among members who are affiliated with the needy children’s home founded by Jean Paul Samputu, an award-winning Rwandan musician. Ngo, the trip is in line with crisscrossing the United States to raise awareness about needs of vulnerable in Rwanda. The tour which began in late October at the Lake Eden Arts Festival in Asheville, N.C. will end in New York City, 19th, Dec. coinciding with the United Nations’ Day. Meanwhile, the children are reported to be cultural ambassadors in U.S, taking audiences on a journey into the lives of the Rwandan people through music and dance. Word has it that Mizero has plans of creating an arts academy with housing in Kigali, which will be open to donations. News reaching us is, officials in Ovid said they are discussing the possibilities of a world tour next year. It is thus said, the children are still enjoying their trip, and on Thursday, they will be meeting area youth group leaders to learn about the children’s music, dance and lifestyle. Capital FM fires Blu 3’s Lillian Also news reaching us is that Uganda-based Rwandan diva and member of Blu3, Lillian Mbabazi, was recently fired from one of Kampala’s most popular radio’s stations on the air wave, Capital FM. According to those in the know, the morning crew co-presenter ceased being a member staff on the station last Friday. No specific reasons have been named for her sacking. Ngo, despite what rumour is spreading, the songbird goes around telling her close friends that she wasn’t fired, but rather decided to resign after a certain un-named radio station booked her for a slot. Meanwhile, though terribly missed back home by her fans, Lillian has an older sister working with Rwanda’s Ministry of Justice. Trust me, these two babes look like identical twins and Lillian’s sister has always found it difficult to convince people that she is not the t renowned singer. Rwanda to adopt cave tourism After its success in gorilla tourism, which has attracted tourists from different parts of the world, including the world’s richest individual, Bill Gates who was in the country mid last year, Rwanda’s national tourism body, ORTPN has decided to include cave tourism on its menu of offering. This follows the launching of bird watching recently. Cave tourism will also be launched before the end of the year in Musanze, in the northern part of the country. Fondly called a country of thousand hills, the entire country is endowed with natural caves. The talk of the city is that ORTPN will market cave tourism before the year ends, in order to tap more revenue from tourists. For those who may not know, it is not a rumour that tourism is the third biggest foreign exchange earner in Rwanda. Reports indicate that cave tourism has over the years become popular across the world. For instance in China, the cave resorts receive over 40 million tourists from home and abroad annually. By the way, fifteen percent of the world’s bird species are found in the Eastern African region, with 650 species in Rwanda. Ends