MTV Base Africa and Shell have partnered in another initiative to shoot some excellent music videos for a number of African musicians. They have already shot videos for Ghana's Tinny (Incomplete), South Africa's HHP (Music and Lights) and Kenya's Nikki (Kipofu).

The first MTV Making the Video Challenge with Shell partnered Little X, the Toronto-born music video director behind cutting edge music videos with Sean Paul, Jay Z and Rihanna, with South African video directors, Kwaito artist Bleksem and Mozambique's Dama do Bling on their exciting single collaboration, 'Wena Uthini' (also known as Thula Uzoyiboma). Bleksem has been riding high on the success of his 'How low can you go' track with DJ Cleo. Dama do Bling is one of Africa's best female emcees and she has also released singles from her new album (Chamadas para a Bling), including 'Gimme love'.

In Kenya, the initiative brought together Kenyan directors who were mentored by US director Melina in creating a video for the Wahu/Bobby Wine collaboration, 'Little Things You Do'. Bobi Wine is from Uganda and is one of the most recognized artises there. This track is on Wahu's Mambo Bado album, together with the Reggae hit, 'Sweet love'. You can see the video for this East African collaboration track on Museke.com at this link.

The initiative also went to Nigeria where it shot a video for a collaboration between Olu Maintain and Ghanaian Rap Doctor, Okyeame Quame on a remix of Olu Maintain's track, 'Yahoozee' with input from Nigerian music video directors. You may have heard about Colin Powell dancing to this popular Nigerian jam recently at the 'Africa Rising' festival in London. Okyeame Kwame has been ruling the Ghanaian airwaves with his track, Woso remix featuring Richie, which is signalling the emergence of crunk hiplife or what people are calling GH Rap in Ghana.

The MTV-Shell initiative also partnered veteran international director Anthony Mandler with Ghanaian hiplife star Kwaw Kese, Tanzania's Professor J and a group of Ghanaian video directors. The video would be for a remix of Kwaw Kesse's track 'Who be You'. Professor Jay is regarded as one of the finest emcees in East Africa and his song 'Hapo Sawa' has been a big hit. Kwaw Kese won 5 awards at the last Ghana Music Awards and is seen as the king of hiplife at the moment.