Music Without Borders

For the sheer range and variety of artists on offer, world music is clearly an unbeatable genre. The BBC knows this, which is why it has created the Radio 3 World Music Awards, an annual celebration of music that transcends all cultural borders and differences.

Although the awards have been running for seven years now, they still possess the power to surprise; showcasing a diverse range of artists who receive a huge sales boost as a result of winning a prize. Past recipients include the wonderful Portuguese Fado singer, Mariza, the uber-cool Gogol Bordello and Manu Chao and the maestros Ibrahim Ferrer and Ali Farka Toure.

Although these are marquee names who have found mainstream success, the World Music Awards are great because they also provide a platform for fantastic newcomers like Balkan Beat Box, Bassekou Kouyate and Mayra Andrade.

This year's awards introduce a new awards ceremony, the first of its kind in the Awards' history. The event for which members of the public can apply for tickets via the BBC Audience Lines adds a new dimension to the Awards alongside the traditional celebratory Poll Winners' Concert in the summer.

The April awards event will feature all the regular trappings of an awards ceremony, with live performances, videos, winners announced on the night and presented with their ' Planets '.

The evening is being hosted by Mary Anne Kennedy (one of the new voices of world music on BBC Radio 3) and is being recorded for broadcast the following night in a new, expanded, prime-time slot on BBC Radio 3, from 7.00 - 8.45pm.

This should be a carnivalesque celebration of international music that speaks to all generations.

The Awards Winners' Ceremony will be held on Thurs 10 Apr at Dingwalls, Camden Lock, Camden, London, NW1 8AB.

By Diriye Osman

Premium Urban Boutique UK Launch

Famed rapper Jay Z's recent clothing label acquisition joins a host of exclusive designer and street wear brands under the fashion savvy wing of a new clothing retailer website.


Urban attire just got a whole lot hotter, with the launch of Yukka Limited's online fashion house, www.yukkadeluxe.com.

Claiming the title as Britain's premier online urban clothing boutique, Yukka Deluxe's online store showcases pieces from the world's most exclusive designer and street-wear apparel names around the world.

Featured high-end brands include Artful Dodger, an exclusive designer label recently bought by Jay Z, adds further credibility to the brand's name.

The rapper acquired the label as a joint venture with Iconix, the company that purchased the mogul's clothing company Rocawear. Named after the 19th century Artful Dodger, who led a group of young men in mischief throughout the UK, Jay Z describes the brand as representative of ". what's next and new in fashion."

Another featured label is Triko, a progressive, 'green' influenced brand which features fashionable designs with an ethical focus by using the finest natural materials to advance a healthier environment.

Other labels that can be found on the website are Yen Jeans, the iconic jeanswear line from Japanese designer Michiko Koshino, Marc Ecko 'Cut & Sew' range, a premium collection from Ecko Unltd, and hot American underground label Crooks & Castles.

Further raising the company's profile, earlier this year Yukka allowed young fashion designers the chance to showcase their work at Britain's largest online urban store. Their brands now sit alongside other rags-to-riches labels like RocaWear, Baby Phat and ECKO.

Yukka has an established customer base with in excess of 10,000 registered members and receives several
thousand unique visitors daily.

Urban clothing expert Robby Sur, the founder and managing director of www.yukka.co.uk, said: "YukkaDeluxe.com is a step forward, showcasing the most exclusive designer and street-wear brands from around the world."

By Isatta Kpakiwa