by Nabaparna Bhattacharya, Benzinga Editor Netflix, Inc. NFLX+0.36%+ Free Alerts is reportedly concluding its free mobile plan in Kenya, which has authorized users to access a quarter of its shows and movies without spending over the past two years. It did not say how many subscribers it had added as a consequence of the strategy, designed to recruit new paying users,…
The awesomely creative and inspiring videos just keep coming. Here are six more additions to Afropop’s Top Videos YouTube playlist, once again spanning the endless diversity of today’s African and diaspora music and video. Las Hijas del Rap “La Kumbia Quesana” Here’s a find: an all-female Mexican hip-hop act. Well, hip-hop may be too limiting a term for these…
American rapper Fabulous who is currently in the country has sparked the ire of Kenyans on the internet after what many under his comment section perceive to be an insult to Kenya and Africa. After an unclear photo of him was posted performing, he responded to a comment asking about the state of the photo by saying that “it…
Clondalkin rapper Selló is making big waves. Since releasing debut single Dublin in 2021, he’s racked up millions of streams, broken into Ireland’s top ten albums, and signed a major record deal in the UK and Ireland. It’s swift progress for the 22-year-old Gaelic drill pioneer, who is still working part-time in social care. “When I left for college,…
What you need to know: Britain’s Got Talent (often abbreviated to BGT) is a televised British talent show competition, and part of the global Got Talent.The highly anticipated final is scheduled to take place this Sunday. ___ Full story here
By Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter Stormzy has said having “the greatest music on Earth” coming out of Africa is “inspiring”. The 29-year-old British rapper, who has had three UK number ones including Vossi Bop, has previously spoken about his Ghanese heritage along with his support of the country during the World Cup in Qatar last year. In…
Afrobeats superstar Fireboy is making his comeback with a new single with which he aims to add some sonic diversity to the soundscape. Expectations are high for Fireboy who has made a rapid rise to the top of the Nigerian music industry. His intercontinental hit single ‘Peru’ assisted by British megastar Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest Afrobeats…
This was a joyful, fitting farewell to the latest casualty of the struggling club scene It’s a bittersweet booking to kick off the closing weekend for Printworks London, the riverside nightclub beloved by the music scene and now set for demolition. South African DJ Black Coffee made his Printworks debut to a sold-out crowd, filling the cavernous former printing…
It is also revealed that applicants must be at least 20 years old and under 30, as of August 13 this year. This means that an applicant can turn 30 within their year of reign (starting August 2023). There are also no height or weight specifications or requirements. Entries for the coveted title opened on April 28 and will…
American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men is set to headline the second edition of the Stanbic Yetu Festival set for June 10, 2023. This will be their first-ever Africa tour and they will later proceed to Uganda and South Africa. In what promises to be a concert to remember, there are three categories of tickets for those who…
Young football talents in Nigeria and Africa in general who have been yearning for an avenue to showcase their God-given skills have been provided with a platform through which their dreams could be realized. Three partners: the Abu Salami Media, 1XBet, and David Adeleke (Davido) have teamed up with a plan to launch a model football talent hunt programme…
Netflix’s highly popular reality show, Young, Famous, and African, is making a much-anticipated return to screens on May 19, 2023, with a second season. Fans of the show are eagerly anticipating the return of their favorite African celebrities as well as the introduction of new cast members. The show, which follows the glamorous lives of African celebrities from six…
Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has expressed joy over the phenomenal growth of his junior colleague, Rema. He said the youngster’s musical exploits made him believe in “miracles”. Davido stated this in a recent interview with Kiss FM, London, United Kingdom. The Omo Baba Olowo crooner, while recounting how Rema used to come to his mansion…
South African Hip-Hop artist, Shane Eagle hints at new music with new official cover art. Following the success of his sophomore album, “Green” released last year, South African star Shane Eagle may be on the verge of dropping new music again soon with a post of a cover art titled “JTHY”. After clearing his Instagram page, Shane Eagle came…
On 8 March 2023, five teenage girls uploaded on social media a video of themselves performing the Calm Down Dance Challenge. This is the choreography for the first verse of the Afrobeats hit Calm Down by Nigerian singer Rema (Divine Ikubor). The girls were following people across the world who’ve made this dance challenge go viral for over a…
He continues to cement his place at the king of yanos. Amapiano is arguably South Africa’s hottest cultural export right now and to showcase the genre, Spotify is hosting media and influencers from across the continent on an Amapiano Tourism experience which shares the roots of the genre, the power of collaborations and how streaming is helping to export…
Award-winning musician Nomcebo Zikode was grateful to be awarded the Top Entertainer Award by Forbes Women Africa. It’s been one win after the next for Grammy Award winner Nomcebo Zikode, and this time, on 9 March, she took to Instagram to announce she was awarded the Top Entertainer Award by Forbes Women Africa and had her online followers congratulating…
This article was first published by The Conversation. Just a few days before he died, AKA reiterated he was South Africa’s greatest ever hip-hop producer on account of his multiple hits. ‘Mass Country’ – tipped for a late February release – was to have been AKA’s fourth album. Picture: @akaworldwide / Twitter By Sanya Osha AKA, South Africa’s most…
Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini, and Wouter Kellerman took to the podium, each with a special thank you message for Bayethe’s best global music performance win. Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, and Nomcebo Zikode accepts the best global music performance award for ‘Bayethe’ onstage during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. Picture: Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/AFP. Three South African artists came out…
The multi-day tryout event will hold in Lagos in February 2023. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and SuperSport have announced plans to hold a talent hunt in Nigeria to help find the next generation of African WWE superstars. According to the organisers, the multi-day tryout event will hold in Lagos in February 2023. James Kimball, WWE’s head of talent operations…
Live Hub Entertainment (https://LiveHubEnt.com/) has announced that Grammy award-winning superstar Wizkid will be returning to Ghana for his first show in Africa this year. The Nigerian-born multi-platinum selling artist will perform at Accra Sports Stadium this December 10th in what is expected to be a sell-out 40,000-capacity show during yet another busy and exciting festive season in Ghana. Early…
The city of Lagos will reverberate tomorrow evening as African filmmakers and stars gather for the 18th edition of prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA. The glamorous event, which will be broadcast live on ST Nollywood channels on StarTimes and StarTimes-ON mobile app respectively, will take place at the bespoke Jewel Aeida hall, Lekki phase I, Lagos. During the…
A Tanzanian film has been shortlisted for an Oscars award – ending the country’s two-decades wait for an entry in the awards. Vuta N’kuvute film – Swahili for tug of war – has been shortlisted in the 95th Oscars’ Best International Film category. Released in Swahili and with a majority black cast, the film tells the story of a…
“You promised me, dad,” Uswege said, his face gloomy. Dr. Nyandula swallowed and then wiped his lips. “Whatever I promised you, son, I doubt if breakfast time is the appropriate time to fulfill that promise.” Mrs. Nyandula chuckled while chewing. She swallowed and then said, “If in the promise you did not indicate when you’re to be reminded about…
1 “Nyandula’s house, may I help you?” Uswege spoke into the house’s telephone receiver. At the other end of the phone line a female’s voice said, “This is Mrs. Shirima. Is that Uswege?” Uswege chuckled with delight. “Yes, Mrs. Shirima. Is Tony feeling better now?” “He’s much worse, dear,” Mrs. Shirima’s voice had become serious, Uswege thought….
A global streaming platform, Spotify, says Nigerian singer and songwriter, Simi Ogunleye, popularly known as “Simi”, has been selected as Spotify EQUAL Africa music programme ambassador for July. Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos. This announcement followed the release of her latest album, “TBH (To Be Honest)”,…
(RTTNews) – Swedish audio streaming platform Spotify Technology S.A. said it aims to reach a billion users over the next eight years, by 2030, and $100 billion revenue annually in the next 10 years. In its first investor day since going public in 2018, in New York, the company said it expects high-margin returns from its expansion into podcasts…
BET announces the “BET Awards” 2022 nominees with Doja Cat leading the pack with six nominations. This year’s nominees reflect an abundance of creative expression and Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports. Hosted by Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actress, writer, director, producer, and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson, “BET Awards” 2022 will air live on Monday, 27…
The Nigerian Afrobeats singer Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun popularly known as Wizkid has hit over one billion streams as a lead artist on Apple Music, making him the first African to achieve it. The artist hit 1.3 billion YouTube views, 1.16 billion Spotify Lead streams, and 4.6 billion Spotify total streams. He also has 349 million total Audiomack streams, 183…
The sponsorship which is set to take care of the festival’s operational cost is worth some $120,000 annually and will be issued on a quarterly basis. Pennyroyal Limited the developers of Blue Amber Zanzibar and Busara Promotions on Tuesday, March 29 signed a three-year sponsorship deal that will see the festival’s continuity and sustainability.The sponsorship which is set to…
After 19 years of celebrating a diverse range of African rich music Sauti za Busara has come to an end, its organisers say, citing lack of funding. One of Africa’s finest music festivals will not stage another show after it ceases operations from March 31. This is despite Tanzania’s government’s pledge to ensure the live-music extravaganza continues. “Without funds to…
he Young Famous and African show that debuted recently on Netflix has been on Netizens’ lips in the days following its premiere. The show is Netflix’s first African reality series which seeks to change Africa’s narrative and project the continent in a new light. The unscripted show stars celebrities such as Tanzanian Bongo musician Diamond Platnumz and his ex-wife…
Netflix has released its first original African reality show, Young, Famous & African, a series that follows the lives of some of the biggest celebrities in the continent. Although its stars come from all over Africa, the show is based in Johannesburg. Peace Hyde, one its co-creators, says it is an opportunity to show the rest of the world…
In 2021 Burna Boy took home a Grammy for his album Twice as Tall and was featured on tracks by the likes of Sia, Justin Bieber, and John Legend. That’s to say nothing of the collaboration between Kenyan artists like Sauti Sol and India Arie or between Ghana’s Kwesi Arthur and British rap giant Stormzy. For years, the phrase “Africa rising” was applied to the continent’s growing…