Winnie Mandela Celebrates 76th Birthday on MTV Meets

South African politician, anti-apartheid campaigner and former President of the ANC Women’s League, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is set to inspire young African entrepreneurs in the latest episode of MTV Base Meets…with MTN, which premieres on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) on her 76th birthday (26 September 2012).


Recorded in July at her home in Soweto, with MTV Base VJ Sizwe Dhlomo and a panel of young people from across the continent, MTV Base Meets Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will air to viewers in 50 countries across Africa via DStv and other terrestrial channels.

The 30-minute programme will include questions put to Ms Madikizela-Mandela by 25-year old internal auditor Djenneba Sidibe (Zambia), South African journalist Chanelle Ellaya (25), Belinda Gaboo, a PPE Student at UNISA from Swaziland (24), Nigerian journalism student Akin Oyedele (22), African Leadership Academy student Goodman Lepota (19) and temp agency operations director Amandla Mbana (29).

Among the varied topics under discussion will be leadership, personal responsibility and the need for positive role models for young people.

Speaking on behalf of MTV Base, Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, commented, “We are honoured that Ms Madikizela-Mandela has
granted our youth panelists the great opportunity to share her wisdom and experience in a manner that is sure to inspire and motivate young Africans across the continent.”

Ms Madikizela-Mandela is among numerous high profile ‘influencers’ to have featured in Season 2 of the youth empowerment series, including Senegalese-American R&B and Hip Hop artist Akon, Hip-Hop pioneer and entrepreneur, Russell Simmons, South Sudanese supermodel Alek Wek, His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, Togolese international soccer star Emmanuel Adebayor and Hollywood actor Idris Elba.

First initiated in 2011, MTV Base Meets…with MTN connects African youth with the thought leaders, opinion formers, decision makers and role models who shape their world. Season 2 of MTV Base Meets…with MTN airs across Africa on MTV Base (DSTV Channel 322) and on terrestrial stations across the continent, including STV (Nigeria), Spectrum TV (Cameroon), Viasat (Ghana), Rwanda TV (Rwanda), Swazi TV (Swaziland), Muvi TV (Zambia) and NTV (Uganda).

In each episode of MTV Base Meets…with MTN, ambitious young Africans from all walks of life pose hard questions to high-profile “thought leaders” about issues close to their hearts – in an intimate and informal environment, with no questions off-limits.  Topics on the agenda include entrepreneurship, education, youth culture, politics, sport, racism, gender issues and the African Renaissance. To date, youth panellists asking the questions have included students, journalists, bloggers, models, comedians, actors, musicians, humanitarian campaigners and poets.

To learn more about MTV Base Meets…with MTN, or to view clips from the programme, please go to www.mtvmeets.com or www.mtvmeets.mobi.  Connect with the campaign on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MTVMEETS or join the conversation on Twitter at #MTVMEETS.