Asked whether it was not in defiance of a travel warning the government of United States has been giving its citizens in light of a potentially violent period prior to elections, Thomas said he felt safe."What risk?" the puzzled Thomas asked. "There are bullies and all those people who make America more risky. I can wear my jewellery here without fear. This is the most beautiful place to be. All this talk about these places being risky is the problem of the Western media and the perceptions it gives but Akon (American rap artist of Senegalese origin) is putting Africa on the map."

Thomas, billed to perform last night at the Harare International Conference Centre, flew into the country last Thursday to screaming female fans who swarmed him at the Harare International Airport.He also had many fans milling around the Crowne Plaza Hotel where he was sheltered together with his entourage.Karikoga Kaseke, the ZTA chief executive who organized Joe's visit, said they had invited him so they could put Zimbabwe on the map.

"We did not invite Joe Thomas only to perform but as a celebrity under the celebrity host programme meant to select the country's tourism ambassadors," said Kaseke.The American singer is expected to be the tourism ambassador, with his first job being in the United Kingdom where he will give a "positive" outlook of the country.Thomas on Friday went on a fact-finding mission to the Heroes Acre, Mbare Market and the upmarket Borrowdale Brooke suburb. Yesterday, he was in Victoria Falls, the seventh wonder of the world. Thomas told this reporter he was "dying to check it out".His breakthrough album was All I am which was released in 1997. The album includes the popular track, Don't wanna be a player.

Joe did a duet with songbird Mariah Carey and other prominent names in the American showbiz, such as Tina Turner and the late Barry White.His most successful album was his third, My Name is Joe, released in 2000. This album was his first to make an impression outside the United States. It featured plug tracks I wanna know, Treat her like a lady and I believe in you.

                                                                     JOE-I WANNA KNOW

“Definitely, I thought it was worse then what we see on Cable News; that is starvation and poverty. But I wanted to take a chance to see and the experience is an eye opener. I can’t wait to show it to the rest of the world,” says the Boss Up Entertainment CEO.Dressed in sagging, faded blue jeans, a white T-shirt and brown sunglasses, he strolled through the airport accompanied by his DJ. Waiting to meet them was James Kinsey of Dusk Till Dawn Entertainment.

So why did he choose East Africa as the location to film his video?“I wanted to go back to my African roots, to understand where I came from, so by shooting this video we plan to explore the positive side of Africa for other artistes and the world,” he says.Loon, who achieved fame under Sean ‘P Diddy’ Comb’s Bad Boy label, says that he had learned more about Tanzania than any other East African country.

“Tanzania has the features that most attracted me, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and just the overall culture and I felt it was time for me to get back to my roots in Africa and Tanzania was the spot to start,” he adds.The rapper says that he left Bad Boy to venture into own music business.

“Bad Boy was a family I grew up with and I got to share my heartfelt experience with Diddy and other artistes and a time came when I wanted to venture on my own and share my knowledge and experience with other up and coming artistes, you know give what you experienced. I branched out to start my won record label, Boss Up Entertainment, and as you can see I’m sticking to my promise. Tanzania is the first country I have explored and plan to travel to others for my upcoming album,” he explains.

Loon was initially riding as the first artiste on next-generation Bad Boy. After collaborating on ‘I Need A Girl’ (Pts 1 & 2) with P Diddy, his self-titled debut album, Loon was released in October 2003 and his first single was ‘How You Want That’ featuring Kelis.,Born in Harlem (the home of hustles and money makers) Loon is no stranger to struggling. At the start of his career he had a brief interlude with ‘Tommy Boy Records’ and after a change in management he left.

Mase brought him to All Out Records to join his group, Harlem World, consisting of Meeno, Baby Stase, Huddy Combs, Blinky Blink, Cardan and Suga J Loon wrote many of the lyrics and was influential all over the album, The Movement, shining on tracks like ‘You Made Me’ that featured Carl Thomas and Nas. Harlem World went gold, yet the group was forced to split after Mase retired as an artiste.

Loon joined up with Arista Records temporarily with whom he recorded eight tracks. Diddy hooked up with Loon and wanted him to lay down a few verses and ghostwrite some tracks. After incredible success in ‘The Saga Continues’ and creating the ‘I Need a Girl’ era, Loon secured a contract on Bad Boy Records where he appeared on hits with 3LW, Toni Braxton, LSG, Busta Rhymes, P Diddy and wrote hits like ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’.

Loon’s self-titled album received a level of success after his singles ‘How You Want That’ and ‘Down For Me’.For his latest video, Loon managed to assemble a cast that included TMK Wanaume’s front man Sir Juma Nature, bongo star Noorah, Miss Tanzania Nancy Sumari and diva Ray C, as well as a bevy of beautiful models.