Masekela Jnr

ESPN presenter and co-host of E!Entertainment's The Daily Ten Sal Maskela is one lekker guy. He's been travelling around South Africa with his famous father Hugh Masekela, filming a TV series called Umlando: Through My Father's Eyes. It sounds great: father and son meeting interesting South Africans like photographer Sam Nzima and lion whisperer Kevin Richardson. It's been airing on ESPN in the States, but there are plans for it to air here too, after the World Cup. I think that would be fantastic. Plus, I've also heard it's in the works for locals to be able to see the great collaboration between U2 and Soweto Gospel Choir that's currently airing on the sports network.  

I'd spoke to Sal last year, ahead of the US elections, but only met him in person at the E! Oscars Afterparty in LA earlier this year. We then met up at a cool little spot in Santa Monica called the Lazy Daisy where he told me about his trip to come here for the World Cup. As a kid, Sal used to spend some time with his dad on tour. He says that when he was 19, he was a road manager for the Homecoming Tour that Hugh did with Sankomoto, so he got to see the country then. Now, it's been a different journey of sorts, one he says has been filled with lots of laughter. We know his father as a legendary musician, who is he to Sal?

 "To me, he's the funniest global inspector of great food and pop culture that I've ever met. He's my best friend. He really is my best friend."

Sal's mother is from Ghana so he had a pretty tough time choosing which side to support when they played USA. The interesting thing about that match is that it was such a record-setting game - ESPN says the June 26th match is the highest-rated and most-viewed match of the tournament so far, and the most-watched FIFA World Cup game ever in the US. Sal reckons the ratings post that game show that interest for Americans in the tournament is still there - even though Landon and the guys have gone back home.

Marley and Me

Well, Ziggy, Robbie and Rohan Marley and me ;)

The three brothers, and sons of legendary Bob Marley, are travelling around Africa for a documentary series along the lines of Long Way Down and Long Way Round that Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman did a few years ago. In fact, the series is produced by the same company that filmed their adventures. Marley Africa Roadtrip sees the brothers riding on Ducati Multistrada 1200 motorcycles. From speaking to Ziggy, it seems they're taking things at a more relaxed pace, allowing the journey to lead them to their next destination, rather than having a set plan as the McGregor and Boorman did.

They're also aiming to bring some of the Marley magic back to the continent. 30 years ago, Bob travelled to the continent and performed a unity concert in Zimbabwe. Ziggy says the World Cup presents a great opportunity to think beyond the tournament and how Africa can grow its next leaders. Or as he puts it: "The FIFA World Cup is just a celebration. It’s not a finale. It’s the road leading to the finale."

Ziggy will be performing a free concert in Soweto in the next two weeks and the details for that are being finalised. But in the meantime, according to Ziggy, the brothers have been stopping over in some interesting places all over the continent and country - like Parys!

Team USA!

So while my gal pals ogle at Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabio Cannavaro, I have set my sights on Landon Donovan. He managed to score the winning goal against Algeria - in the 91st minute!! And yes, I think he's a cutie. Apparently Bill Clinton was watching the match and went to the lockeroom afterwards to congratulate the team. He also told Ryan Seacrest that South Africa is a "pretty cool country" and everyone here has been very welcoming.

Wave Your Flag - Highlights from the World Cup Kickoff Celebration Concert

There were so many - but the man who practically stole the show was undoubtedly Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.

Some other highlights include:

* Alicia Keys and Blk Jks covering the late Brenda Fassie's Too Late for Mama. The creative producer of the show later told me this was all Blk Jks' idea and Alicia ran with it.
* John Legend giving us the Green Light and performing with Soweto Gospel Choir and Angelique Kidjo.

* Shakira doing Hips Don't Lie with Tumi Molekane rapping Wyclef Jean's part, and then Freshlyground joining her in an explosion of colour on stage.

* Vusi Mahlasela bringing the 30 000-strong audience to its knees with the spectacular story-telling of his song Say Africa

* The closing song - a cover of Arrested Development's Everyday People - when all the artists came on stage to sing and dance and take pictures of each other!

 

Woza World Cup

And World Cup Week begins! Woke up before my usual gym-time to catch Shakira at the airport. She's here to perform the 2010 Fifa World Cup official song - Waka Waka: This Time for Africa, together with Freshlyground. It all seemed pretty low-key, until the Colombian popstar came out the terminal arrival doors...

Here is the brief interview I had with her:

Later in the evening I went to the first ever Captain's Dinner hosted by Bafana Bafana's main man, Aaron Mokoena. The auction helped raise money for the Aaron Mokoena Foundation, which uses sport to help disadvantaged children.

GO BAFANA BAFANA!