Malawi's Hazel Warren Answers to all the Accusations Against Her

Caleb Phiri

Many have outrightly said that Hazel Warren is not Malawian and she is older than she says. In this Exclusive Interview,2008 Malawi Personality of the Year (2008 Malawi Web Award Winner), Hazel Warren answers to all the allegations circulating around and she also talks about her present and future plans. Hazel Warren is Big Brother Africa 3(BBA3) runner up.

Mmalawi Blog: First of all it’s a pleasure to have you here for this interview.

Hazel Warren: Thank you, I am honored

Mmalawi Blog: How do you feel having been voted 2008 Malawi Personality of the Year?

Hazel Warren: I think this is a big accolade, I did not see this coming, this must be my Christmas present! The feeling is great, it really shows that my contribution has been appreciated most of all I feel blessed.

Mmalawi Blog: So did you expect any of the fame you received before you went to the BBA House?

Hazel Warren: I thought of life after the show and I did not see the FAME I have now, I did know that I would be noticed here and there but it is definitely BIGGER than I thought.

Mmalawi Blog: Many people have been wondering about you, Could you please tell us about your Childhood.

Hazel Warren: I am born and bred in Lilongwe, I was born at the Kamuzu Central Hospital on Feb 6, 1983, the second born in a family of four children, the only girl! So I hung out with my brothers quite a lot from when I young. The family lived in Kawale 1 and 2 for most of my childhood, we also lived in Biwi and Chilinde and now I live in area 14.

I went to different schools, from Chisamba in Kawale, St. Maria Gorret (Lilongwe Girls Primary school), Livimbo and Nanjati then I went to Carewell Private and Walani Private and finally Bwaila Secondary School.

From There I went to Shareworld open University where I studied Travel, Tourism and Hospitality. They have also offered me a three year scholarship so I will be back to Shareworld soon.

Mmalawi Blog: Who or What do you consider as your love?

Hazel Warren: God Almighty!

Mmalawi Blog: What is your advice for young Malawians and Africans?

Hazel Warren: I think we should take pride in who we are, we are what we are and where we are for a reason. We should also develop a mindset of not waiting for someone else to do things for us, we should take the initiative and take the leading role.

Mmalawi Blog: What are your present and future plans?

Hazel Warren: There are a few projects I am working on, I would still like to keep the “Hazel” brand going so there are some activities that I am working on. I will also take up the scholarship offer, I am working on a recipe book (all of those BBA recipes and more) I would like to work with the youth, I find that most youths copy what their friends do in order to fit in, but I would like to make them see that you can be YOU and still be really cool.

Another area is in empowering women, in the sense that they can use readily available resources to better their lives.

Mmalawi Blog: Who do you consider as your Malawian Hero?

Hazel Warren: John Chilembwe of course, he laid down his life for our sake, that’s heroism.

Watch the 2008 Malawi Web Awards, where Hazel Warren won 2008 Malawi Personality of the Year:

Mmalawi Blog: What kind of Music, Movies, Activities do you like?

Hazel Warren: I like R&B, but I am not limited to that, I like a song that lifts up my spirits and also music that will make me dance, I also like some of our local music. I like real life dramas for movies and comedies also like some horror.I also like to cook; it was nothing new in BBA house, I like to look at nature, listen to the wind, the sound of water and birds in the wild.

Mmalawi Blog: What is your reaction when people are not happy with your success?

Hazel Warren: They definitely have a right to their opinion and expressing it, I am well aware that it is impossible to please everyone so that is inevitable.

Mmalawi Blog: Any words on the AIDS pandemic in Malawi?

Hazel Warren: It is a fact AIDS is affecting everyone, my personal opinion is that the unmarried youths should abstain and those who are married should remain faithful. I think abstinence is the best choice because you have no doubts, you know where you have been. For those who cannot abstain/be faithful should definitely condomize, Let us spread the love not the disease!

Mmalawi Blog: Your Perfect Malawi how do you describe it?

Hazel Warren: Being around the friendly people, peace, no hunger, healthy people and people who are not poverty stricken, to this add our amazing organic food and our unpolluted air!

Mmalawi Blog:Any last words?

Hazel Warren: I am definitely grateful for this accolade, and I am ever so grateful for the support I am getting both during and after Big Brother Africa.

I feel that Malawians have a lot to offer and we should step up and do more for our country and for ourselves.

You can connect with Hazel Warren on Facebook.

This Interview was done with Hazel Warren by Caleb Phiri for MMALAWI BLOG

Kaysha's Exclusive Interview with Mmalawi Blog

Kaysha, Born Edward Mokolo is originally from Congo Kinshasa and with his parents, he immigrated to France when he was 7. He currently lives between Liboa Portugal, Brussels in Belgium and Paris in France. We had the priviledge to attend his concert last weekend at the Olympia of Montreal in Canada.
Kaysha is sometimes called the "African Timbaland" because of his ability to produce many artists from around the world as well as being a succesful artist in his own right. Kaysha is the CEO of SUSHIRAW Entertainment, a company that produces music and also a clothing line. Kaysha has collaborated with WuTang Clan's Killah Priest and many other artists like Biso na Biso's Passi. Kaysha sings Zouk/Pop/Hip Hop/Rnb/Kizomba and many other music styles.
Kaysha who fluently speaks French,English,Portuguese and Spanish was nominated for an MTV AWARD, he has won 2 prestigious KORA AWARDS among many other awards.
In this Exclusive Interview with Mmalawi Blog's Postera Tenthani, Kaysha talks about his present and future plans and also gives advice to young Malawian and African artists.

Mmalawi Blog: Kaysha it is a pleasure to have this interview with you today. Tell us, why did you choose music and not a different avenue and how did you get into it?
Kaysha: It was simply meant to be. I never made the choice, it was this since the begginning and I just had to go through the right sacrifices, the right encounters and the touch the dream & the sky...
Mmalawi Blog: How do you describe your music?
Kaysha: Freedom. My culture is so diverse, I couldn't just represent my influence by just picking one style. My music is computer generated but the influences come from electro, house, rock, reggae, zouk, hip hop, RnB, 80's pop... Everything I grew up listenin' to as a young afro-european
Mmalawi Blog: What has been your most memorable experience as a musician to date?
Way too many to just nail it to one moment... This whole life is the beautiful moment... Being able to capture the hearts of so many people and see them sing along when you perform from Portugal to Mozambique, London to Paris is just a life of memorable experiences... I'm totally blessed
Mmalawi Blog: This was well demonstrated this last saturday at your concert at the Montreal Olympia. What would you say is your biggest inspiration?
Kaysha: Life
Mmalawi Blog: Now lets talk about your soft side, what or who is the greatest love of your life?
Kaysha: My mom, my son, babymom & an ex or two...My experience is that the greatest love can be a person in a part of your life and another in the next
Mmalawi Blog: That is very interesting! Now what is your idea of perfect happiness?
Kaysha: Perfect hapiness would be wifey, kids & friends in a big warm home not too far from the sea, my studio in the basement & enuff money to see thru 3 or 4 generations... I touched that dream before
Mmalawi Blog: What do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Kaysha: The pride of my parents and my maturity as a father
Mmalawi Blog: We all know that the things happening in Africa are very sad. If you had the power to change anything in Africa what would it be?
Kaysha: If I had the power to magically change something in Africa in one day, I would just bring intelligence & education to the whole population.People would then stop allowing foreign countries stimulate hate and we would be able to create an auto alimented afro-centric continent that would stand equal before the other continents... Leaders wouldn't be able to generate hatred between people of the same blood and the masses wouldn't be easily manipulable... The countries would be clean and technologically advanced, yet totally ancred in their roots and
culture would be put in front with pride...
Watch One Love by Kaysha.

Mmalawi Blog: Now lets talk about Malawi, what is your advice for the Malawian youth?
Kaysha: Keep the head up, we're getting there...
Mmalawi Blog: In Malawi, the music does not usually reach greater heights like yours does, what is your advice for young upcoming Malawian musicians?
Kaysha: My advice would go to the government: We need to put the culture first and have laws that empowers the culture. Culture is the best way to represent a country. Musicians, actors, directors, singers, etc, need copyright, right protection, tv stations need to pay fees when they play your song and these fees would go to the creators of songs. Piracy needs to have boundaries set by the people who are supposed to represent the law. And African musicians must just understand that the future is now and it has never been so easy to sell your own music
online... Make it happen
Mmalawi Blog: Kaysha tell us, what are plans for the future?
Kaysha: I have my double cd "Forever young" that is coming out december 23rd and I'm running my label and putting out more and more records. I'm moving into film very soon and my Sushiraw African Clothing Company is also geting good exposure( http://skin.kaysha.com)
Mmalawi Blog: How can people check out your music?
Kaysha: Everything is at Kaysha.Com http://www.kaysha.com
Mmalawi Blog: Any last words?
Kaysha: Check out my Malawi tshirt at
http://www.mysoti.com/mysoti/product/17280
And much love to you reading this interview right now. Thanks a lot for your time, Muah!
Dance with Kaysha in this Video: On dit Quoi

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Buy Kaysha's music here:
http://kaysha.com/store/kaysha

Interview by Postera Tenthani in Montreal, Canada for http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/ (2008)
Photos courtesy of Kaysha.Com

This Tuesday: Exclusive Interview with African Megastar Kaysha

African Musician Kaysha is a Producer,who won 2 Kora Awards (Best African Artist), MTV Europe Award Nominee, He appeared on CNN several times. Kaysha, the CEO of SUSHIRAW Entertainment has granted us a special interview that will be posted on Mmalawi Blog this Tuesday. In the interview, Kaysha will talk about his present future plans.
Watch a Video Directed/Sung/Mixed by Kaysha "The African Timbaland"


His Exclusive Interview will be Posted on Monday on:
http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/

Tajah Olson's Exclusive Interview with Mmalawi Blog

Mmalawi Blog finally caught up with Tajah Olson; "The Face of Malawi" Tajah is currently working on finishing her B.A in Fine Arts in Vancouver, BC, Canada; her current residence. Tajah Olson comes from Lilongwe, in Malawi. In this interview, she gives us an insight on her aspirations; past, present and future.

Mmalawi Blog:Why modeling?Why didn’t you choose a different avenue, how did you get into it?
Tajah Olson:Modeling hasn’t become a full time career yet, I keep my door open for other opportunities.I basically started out working with photographers, building my portfolio and getting myself out there by entering modeling competitions and fashion shows, choreographing and organizing my dance group. From there I got different opportunities to be a dancer and model for music videos, costume design for a film. I feel like it’s a cycle constantly meeting new people, trying new things and just going until your satisfied and at a point where you want to be.
Mmalawi Blog: Tell us about your biggest inspiration.
Tajah Olson: My biggest inspirations would be my parents and my sister because they are both people who like to give and have great hearts. A model that I look up to is Alek Wek (the dark Sudanese model), who I find beautiful, and I like her because she’s different, and with all her success she gives a lot back and helps her country. She also seems like a very nice and down to earth person. I am also inspired by Madonna because she put Malawi on the Map and now I don’t have to explain where it is on the African continent! I am inspired and also congratulate Maria Da Silva, I think she is an amazing woman and if she can be awarded by CNN, then any other Malawian can too
Mmalawi Blog: That's very nice. Now, talking about love, what or who is the greatest love of your life?
Tajah Olson: That is a very hard question! The one thing that I can’t live without or can never imagine living without is my family.

Mmalawi Blog: Now what is your idea of perfect happiness?
Tajah Olson: To be around the people I love, like my family and friends.
Mmalawi Blog: What is the most important lesson life has taught you Tajah?
T.O: To be positive, to be healthy and to be happy and not stress about the small things because its not worth it. And always following your heart!
Mmalawi Blog: What do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Tajah Olson: Lifewise, I am about to graduate and receive my Fine Arts Bachelor. So I am really excited, finally!
I was a Miss Molson Indy in Victoria BC,(Molson Indy is a big Champ Car race) and they had a model search and different models won in each province of Canada, so I won in Victoria, I cut up my clothes to look funky braided my hair in different colors, and did a Janet Jackson dance routine, I got the crowed going and it was a one of the greatest nights of my life. This summer I was in another modeling competition called the The International Top Model Search New Silk Roads and I was picked as one of the 20 finalists out of many other pageants. It was a lot of work/training/events and lots of sleepless nights. Definitely a big learning curve. I came out with a lot more confidence and a new attitude.
Mmalawi Blog: What are your plans for the future (Any Miss Malawi plans?)
T.O: I haven’t thought about it but I would be a great Ambassador, It would be up to Malawians if they wanted me as Miss Malawi. The one thing I would love to do is be a supporter for the girls and teach them what I have learned.
Mmalawi Blog: What if you had the power to change something in Malawi what would it be?
T.O: If I had the power to change something in Malawi, it would be to be put women in power and in Charge and if that had to happen, there would be no abuse against women , safe sex would be taken more seriously , the environment would be taken more seriously, women would work together to grow crops and make sure everyone was fed. Money would be spent on education, better health and a great future!!
Yeah that is my perfect Malawi.
Mmalawi Blog:Do you have any advice for the Malawian youth?
T.O: To get an education,practice safe sex, not rush to get married . Enjoy your youth, have goals in life and be someone that you want to be remembered. Just because no one around you doesn’t have any goals, that doesn’t mean you should be like that person. Treat others the way you want to be treated. I strongly believe that if you really want something so bad or want to be someone it will happen as long as you work at it and focus.
Mmalawi Blog: That is some 'straight talk'! How would you advise young girls who want to model
Basically don’t give up on yourself just go for it, have a positive attitude, be confident, be safe, be healthy, make sure you are respected and treated professionally. Don’t do something just because you feel you have to, do it because you want to. Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable because there is no point… and I always say aim High and act like the way you want to be treated.

Mmalawi Blog: In Malawi, it is not common to see Malawian girls wear what they want in fear of being the laughing stock or sometimes being insulted. What is your view on that?

T.O: You are right. When I was in Malawi, I felt like I wasn't able to dress freely without being pointed out in public and disrespected,it seemed that there wasn't much acceptance for women to just dress sexy or show a little skin. Being a Model has taught me to become comfortable and confident with myself ,my body, and who I am and I feel free to express myself, I'm not ashamed to dress sexy or show some skin. It would be great if people in Malawi became more open of this and not consider women who dress or express themselves"freely" to be "whores or sluts". I'm not saying women should dress like they are going to the bar in the middle of the afternoon, but feeling good about yourself and looking good doesn't hurt anybody.
Mmalawi Blog: We really appreciate your point of view on that subject. Now Tajah, what usually comes to your mind when you hear the words....Malawian politics?

T.O: No comment

Mmalawi Blog: Homosexuality/Lesbianism?

T.O: Nothing against them and I think that everyone should be free to choose who they want to love.

Mmalawi Blog:Religion?
Tajah Olson:I’m not religious
Mmalawi Blog: Any favourite music/musician?
Tajah Olson: I don’t really have a favourite musician. I enjoy lots of world music especially from different countries in Africa. They are all unique in different ways.

Mmalawi Blog: Any last words?
Tajah Olson: I feel bad that there are not many positive public figures for the youth of Malawi. It is very sad because I know there are probably a lot of young people out there who want to do something or be someone but they have no one to look up to or their families have different plans for them. I truly hope that it changes one day.Also I would like to point out that I'm very grateful to have made contact with Radio Yako and Radio Yako introducing me to other Malawians. I appriciate the work and exposure they have done for me....It has been a great pleasure working with them and hoping to keep our friendship forever.
Mmalawi Blog: Thank you very much for your time Tajah, and we wish all the best in all your endeavors.

Please support Tajah Olson by visiting her official website: Aswesi.com (here)

This interview was done for http://mmalawi.blogspot.com/ (mmalawi@ live.com)