There will be no registration fee for Miss Nigeria 2018 pageant

Posted on by The Native

Folio Communications Plc, organisers of Miss Nigeria, announced in a statement earlier this week, that registration for the pageant is now free for all participants. Bonaventure Melah, the media adviser for Folio Communications, said that this decision is the organisation’s attempt at ensuring all economic classes in Nigeria are included and represented in the national beauty competition.

Until now, one of the prerequisites for the annually held competition was a fee of N 5,000, which Melah identifies as a barrier for young Nigerian women; “Young women, especially from rural communities may not be able to pay even N500 to participate in the contest”, he stated. “The management therefore decided to abolish payment of entry fees from this year’s edition so that many more doors and window of opportunities are opened for everyone that has confidence in their selves to dare”.

Melah also hinted at a development of new selection criteria in the absence of the fee. Which Ezinne Akudo, 2013 Miss Nigeria who was recently appointed the creative director of the pageant, echoed in her statement “We are committed to finding a young lady who defies the stereotypical perception of beauty queens as just superficial”

The competition is open to young ladies within the 18-25 age whose values “align excellently with the organisation’s mission to empower women beyond beauty”. The competition will be selecting values that align in 5 areas: education, environmental sustainability, arts & culture, health, financial management and technology.

The winner of the pageant will be awarded N3 million, a luxury apartment and a car. Call for entry starts September 26 and will end October 14. Melah assures that “any qualified young Nigerian woman is free to take advantage of [the] new policies and register through the appropriate platforms”. To register, interested contestants are expected to visit MissNigeria.ng.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/missnigeriaorg
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Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency launches “iReport” app to give awareness

Nnedi Okorafor will launch Sci-fi Comic Series “LaGuardia” in December

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In July 2017, we wrote that Okorafor’s Who Fears Death, will be adapted into an HBO Series, produced by Game of Thrones creator George RR Martin, who Okorafor attended the Emmys with last week Monday. While that book has steadily been behind the scene for production works, Nnedi has been in the media rounds for her other books, including the final issue of her fascinating Dora Milaje spin-off, which she released just last month.

Now, Nnedi Okorafor has announced another original comic series, LaGuardia; the first in the series is set to be in shops on December 5th. She announced this on her twitter, briefly describing the premise of the new project, LaGuardia: “It’s about African and alien immigrants in a Brooklyn apartment building called New Hope”.

As she states, the new sci-fi project is set in the same universe as her previous work, Binti. Through the link she shared to BleedingCool.com, other details are seen, including the project’s illustrators, Tana Ford and James Devlin, and thanks to Dark Horse Comics, a brief summary of the work is also written on the site.

LaGuardia is “a very modern story of immigration”, which is set in an alternative world where aliens have come to earth and integrated with society. “It revolves around a pregnant Nigerian-American doctor, Future Nwafor Chukwuebuka who has just returned to NYC under mysterious conditions. After smuggling an illegal alien plant named “Letme Live” through LaGuardia International and Interstellar Airport’s customs and security, she arrives at her grandmother’s tenement, the New Hope Apartments in the South Bronx. There, she and Letme become part of a growing population of mostly African and shape-shifting alien immigrants, battling against interrogation, discrimination and travel bans, as they try to make it in a new land. But, as the birth of her child nears, Future begins to change”.

A major question the novel seeks to unravel is, “what dark secret is [Future] hiding?”

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ICYMI: Nnedi Okorafor’s “Who fears Death” gets the greenlight from Game Of Thrones Creators

Watch Zoro and Mr Real on the streets of Onitsha for “Upandan”

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Zoro’s fire dance track with Mr Real, which was released a month ago, is only one of the latest adaptations of Nigerian street-hop held together with a synth percussion and drum loops, worked by T spize. For the video, the two artists Owoh Chimaobi (Zoro) and Uchenna Okafor (Mr Real), enlist Promise Charles to direct it on the the streets of Onitsha and he does so fittingly. Unsurprisingly, like any viral street hit we’ve encountered —from Junior Boy’s “Irapada”, Small Doctor’s “Penalty”, Mr Real’s “Legbegbe”, to Olamide’s “Wo”— the video for “Ugandan” captures Zoro and Mr Real surrounded by the vibrant spirits of people dancing energetically to the track on the streets.

Watch Zoro’s “Ugandan” featuring Mr Real below.

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ICYMI: Hear Zoro’s Tribute to Bianca Ojukwu on ‘Bianca’

Watch Juls, Kwesi Arthur and Akan in the beautiful Ghanaian video for “Saa Ara”

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While Juls is currently working on a major jam with Wande Coal and Davido, which the two artistes have teased on their Instagram accounts, the award winning Ghanaian producer has released the music video to his song, “Saa Ara”.

Upon release last month, “Saa Ara” immediately sounded like a beautiful tribute to Ghana, and Africa at large. It’s no surprise that when he premiered the video for the track today on OkayAfrica, Juls explained that “Saa Ara”, translates to “We working hard to make it, despite all the obstacles that come our way” and he needed the video to be as traditional and iconic as possible.

So like the vintage highlife track, the video for “Saa Ara” exhibits the culture of Ghana through Babs Direction, who takes us into the beautiful landscape of the country, from the coastline to Elmina Castle (the oldest European building south of the Sahara Desert) which was built by the Portuguese in 1482. The setting of the video couldn’t have been any better. It proceeds to show us the young unassuming people of Ghana on the streets of their country. While Kwesi Arthur and Akan sing their verses, producer Juls is continuously present as an onlooker.

You can watch Juls’ video for “Saa Ara” featuring Kwesi Arthur and Akan below.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Julsbaby

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ICYMI: Watch Juls’  “Normal” featuring Kojey Radical

Nigeria’s D’Tigress secures first win at 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup

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The 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup began on Saturday, the 22nd of September at Tenerife in Spain. After losing their opening game against Australia 86-68, Nigeria’s D’Tigress team recorded a landmark victory in their second game, defeating Turkey 74-68 to become the first African team to record a win in the group stage of the competition. Since making their debut at the tournament in 2006, this is only the second time the Nigerian team has qualified for the Women’s Basketball World Cup.

With their first victory in the bag, the now reigning African champions have set the ball rolling to make even more landmark statements as they take on Argentina today. A win against Argentina will guarantee that the D’Tigress will qualify for the next round of the competition and set yet another record as the first African team to make it to the round of 16 stage of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Featured Image Credits: Twitter/nigeriabasket
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ICYMI: Victor Oladipo shares interesting retirement plans after OKC Thunder

Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s highest selling artwork is a 2017 piece valued at $3.4 million

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Los Angeles based Nigerian visual artist, Njideka Akunyili Crosby has a 2017 botanical painting, titled “Bush Babies”, which recently sold for $3.4 million USD —her highest sale yet. The painting was initially valued at $80,000 by Sotheby, a New York Based art dealership reported to have sold the painting. The sale, albeit unexpected, reflects the spike in the value of Akunyili Crosby’s paintings, which she says she has witnessed of late.

Like many of her paintings,  Akunyili Crosby’s “Bush Babies” was inspired by her heritage, and draws from her own experiences as a Nigerian woman living in America for work. Born in Enugu to J.C. Akunyili and the late Ms. Dora Akunyili —who was the Director General of NAFDAC until she passed away in 2016—  Akunyili Crosby, now 35, moved to the United States at 16 and has since studied variations of art.

Her work has been described by Victoria Miro Gallery in London as “densely layered figurative compositions that, precise in style, nonetheless conjure the complexity of contemporary experience”. The gallery also noted how the combination of lives she lived in Nigeria and the US manifest in her art, stating that the two lives produce “a hybrid identity that is reflected in her work”. 

Akunyili Crosby says that as recent as three years ago, her paintings sold for an average of $3000. But the value of her work steadily began to rise after her 2010 painting titled “I Refuse To  Be Invisible”, sold at $5,000 at an auction. “I Refuse To  Be Invisible” is a painting of her dancing with her husband, Justin Crosby.  Shortly after, three of her works sold for $8,000 each at an auction in Fredericks & Freiser gallery in New York.

However, Wall Street Journal reports are worrying. Writing for the publication, Kelly Crow reports that in an attempt to keep her prices from swirling out of control due to auction sales, Njideka Akunyili Crosby has sought to gather careful records about who owns her works and has even gotten into a legal dispute with one of her galleries. “My friends tell me I should just be happy my works are selling, and I am” Crosby said in the interview, “It’s scary how vulnerable I still feel”.

Featured Image Credit: Web/Njidekaakunyili.com

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 ICYMI: Ben Enwonwu’s “Tutu” painting sets new record for auctioning at over £1,000,000

Eugy and Kwesi Arthur team up for a new hustler’s anthem, “Pray In The Morning”

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Eugy’s eclecticism, switching between melodic Afropop and the more provocative lyricism of hip-hop has allowed his music achieve a galactic variety. From churning up Ghanaian high-life influenced dancehall songs to downbeat UK grime releases, he retains an enthusiastic poise that makes sense across genres. On his latest single, “Pray In The Morning” featuring Ghanaian rapper Kwesi Arthur, he marries his delicate inner-thoughts with a materialistic swagger. But it’s his confessional rap verse, narrating his presumed ‘started from the bottom’ story in London, that turns “Pray In The Morning” into an inspirational hustlers anthem. Over the high-hat drum riffs and ambient synth harmonies Team Salut produces, Kwesi Arthur also contributes a few rap bars in his indigenous Ghanaian dialect while Eugy’s takes the hook, highlighting the desired result of hustling; “Balling, Balling, Count The Money Up, No Stalling”.

You can stream Eugy and Kwesi Arthur’s “Pray In The Morning” below.

https://soundcloud.com/samuel-budu/eugy-ft-kwesi-arthur-pray-in-the-morning

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/eugyofficial
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ICYMI: See Eugy and YCee in their music video for “Say Bye Bye”

Gbenga Akinnagbe set to play boxer, George Lee Martin in biopic

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American-Nigerian actor, Gbenga Akinnagbe has been cast to star as boxer, George Lee Martin in the Angela Shelton-directed indie movie, “Heart Baby”, about the boxer’s life.

The film tells the true story of Martin, who at 18, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for armed robbery in Tennessee and became known in the prison system as the unbeatable boxer, nicknamed “The Hammer”. What he is famously known for however is turning down an opportunity to fight for Team USA in exchange for his freedom. Akinnagbe is joined by Jackson Rathbone, who plays an inmate, “Doc”, a musician who becomes Martin’s best friend and spotter in prison.

The trailer follows Martin’s life as he rises to champion status. It also shows  growth in the strength of his relationships as the often manipulative law enforcement agents present their consideration. It begins in a dark room in the prison, where Martin, in his boxing gear, fights a fellow inmate, knocking him down within minutes. His protective best friend, Doc, acts as an ally, often confronting people that Martin is too conflicted to face.

Watch the trailer for “Heart, Baby!” here

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 Harriet Tubman biopic starring Cynthia Erivo sets production date

Ego Nwodim Joins cast of 44th season of Saturday Night Live

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Saturday Night Live (SNL), the NBC comedy series that earned  Kenan Thompson his first Primetime Emmy award this year, for his performance in the previous season, is set to start its 44th season next weekend. In preparation for the forthcoming season, the show has shuffled a few regulars around; Last month, executives announced that Luke Null won’t be returning for the next season. Earlier this week, they announced that he will be replaced by comedian and actress, Ego Nwodim.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoA9bygA_OJ/?hl=en&taken-by=eggyboom

S.N.L has constantly been under heavy scrutiny for diversity issues since since 2013, when Kenan Thompson implied that the show’s reluctance towards black female comedians was due to the difficulty finding black women who were “ready” to join SNL’s barely racially diverse casting. The controversy that followed forced the show to sign two black women —Sasheer Zamata and Leslie Jones— in the same year. Though Zamata left the show last year, Jones still remains.

Nwodum, who recently perfromed a one-woman show titled Great Black Women . . . and Then There’s Me to a sold-out audience at the UCB Theatre, will join Jones on  SNL from the 29th of September 2018.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Egoboom

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 Deborah Ayorinde has been added to the cast of Harriet Tubman biopic

See the video for Kida Kudz and Geko’s new single, “Again”

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After collaborating on “Issa Vibe Remix”, which also featured Burna Boy, Kida Kudz and UK Afropop singer, Geko, are teaming up for the second time this year. This time, Kida Kudz features Geko on “Again”, where they both sing a tribute to partying. The mid-tempo beat S.O.S produces sets the mood with sweeping synth instrumentals, catchy drum riffs and percussion samples that add a bounce to the drums.

Kida Kudz in a press release was quoted saying; “When SOS played me the instrumental, I just pictured myself in an empty club with my headphones on, by myself dancing, with the most random dance moves. Weird, I know, but when I make music, I feel free and I want people to feel free and express their selves in any way they want when listening to me.” And that’s exactly what “Again” listens like with lyrics expressing sentiments that one would expect from a night out at a club; “DJ Bring It Back Again? Put It On Repeat Again”. The video KC Locke directs highlights the club inclined direction of the song with purple lighting and pretty models smoking and performing with Kida Kudz and Geko.

You can stream the music video for Kida Kudz and Geko’s “Again” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/GRM Daily
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ICYMI: Listen to Kida Kudz, Burna Boy and Geko on “Issa Vibe Remix”

Hear Shizzi and Ceeza Milli’s new party anthem, “Wasted”

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With a title like “Wasted”, you’re inclined to instantly file Shizzi and Ceeza Milli’s new single into an Afropop party playlist. The catchy beat Shizzi produces, laying bouncy drum riffs over a sultry mix of guitar harmonies, percussion, synths and a familiar flute sample sets the party mood as he masterfully uses horns and DJ scratch effects to conjure club scenes. But while Ceeza Milli’s vocals also emphasize the partying plot of the song —“Can’t You See I’m Wasted? All of My Guys Don Mesebu”— his introspective lyrics expand the narrative to include some cocky brags that are striking enough to be inspirational for hustlers.

You can stream Shizzi and Ceeza Milli’s “Wasted” below.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram/iamshizzi
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ICYMI: See the video for Tiwa Savage and Duncan Mighty’s “Lova Lova” here

Nasty C has a new video, “King” with A$AP Ferg: Watch

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In the lead up to Nasty C’s Ivyson tour of five states in South-Africa, the young rapper has released a new video with A$AP Ferg, “King”. On it, the two rappers deliver lines that literally ask people who are not in their league to shut up and mind their business. In the video that Meji Alabi directs, he kicks off with an establishing shot of Contract Packers, indicating that they are in New York City before a medium shot of Nasty C is shown posing in front of a black Mercedes-Benz. As soon as Nasty C feigns a smile with his solid gold grills, the song kicks off and the video accelerates in tune with the pace of the rappers’ bars. The video becomes more exciting as it progresses with Nasty C and  A$AP Ferg amidst an entourage. As a whole, their performance is delightful and confounding in the best possible way.

Check out Nasty C’s “King” featuring A$AP Ferg below.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Nasty_C “King”
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ICYMI, Best New Music: Broken hearts don’t heal on Nasty C’s “Send Me Away”

Jameson Connects Lagos with Boj and Seun Kuti for Independence Day Concert

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Jameson is inviting Nigerians and Lagos City dwellers to the Independence Day celebration on the 1st of October. In line with the patriotic theme, the event will be held at the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos for its significance in the history of the country. The event will begin at 3pm, with food vendors, games,  body painting, Jameson’s pop-up baebershop, and cocktail bars. It will continue into a concert where Boj and Seun Kuti will grace the historic Fela Kuti stage before ending at 10pm.

Tickets are available for N1,500 at nairabox.com, and will include a complimentary Jameson Whiskey cocktail.

 


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Best New Music: Seun Kuti’s “Last Revolutionary” channels rebellion through Afrobeat

Deborah Ayorinde has been added to the cast of Harriet Tubman biopic

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The production team of Harriet, has added Nigerian-American actress Deborah Ayorinde (Girls Trip star) to the cast of the autobiographical film, which also stars British-Ghanian actress, Cynthia Erivo. Harriet is centred on the life and times of freedom fighter and abolitionist, Harriet Tubman.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoEtv1gnHI5/?taken-by=itsdeborah

Ayorinde, who appeared in season one of Netflix series, Luke Cage and is also set to appear in the forthcoming third season of True Detective, will be joined by Vanessa Bell Calloway, Zackary Momoh, Vondie Curtis-Hall on Harriet. This adds to the original cast of the biopic, which includes Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, Jennifer Nettles, and Clarke Peters.

Harriet follows Tubman on her escape from slavery and subsequent missions to visit slaves through the Underground Railroad in the face of growing pre-Civil War adversity.

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 Harriet Tubman biopic starring Cynthia Erivo sets production date

See Kcee and Wizkid’s video for “Psycho”

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Just like drugs, being in love can be so pleasant to make even the unwanted side effects seem like a walk in the park. On “Psycho”, Kcee and Wizkid sing of their romantic relationship, praising their love interest with double entendres that completely blur the lines between compliments and complaints. Heard over the mid-tempo beat Blaq Jerzee produces, lines like “Fine Like a Mango” are almost certainly compliments and the video Patrick Elis directs fits in rightly. The video shows Kcee and Wizkid at a house party where they perform their lyrics, surrounded by beautiful women. While seashore scenes and slow motion shots don’t exactly give the feel you’d expect from a song titled “Psycho”, the serene atmosphere certainly makes for good imagery.

You can watch the video for Kcee and Wizkid’s “Psycho” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/OfficiallyKcee
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ICYMI: Watch the video for Mr Real’s “Legbegbe Remix” featuring Niniola, Vista, DJ Maphorisa, DJ Catzico

Mayorkun announces ‘The Mayor Of Lagos’ concert date

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Over the weekend, Mayorkun performed at the Lagos leg of Trace Naija’s county-wide University tour, Trace In The City. The show, which held at  Yaba College of Technology on Friday featured Perruzi, Dremo, Ice Prince and others. According to reports, Mayorkun was mobbed by students at the institution after his performance. The singer shared a video detailing the incident via his Instagram, claiming that students at the institution had attacked his entourage while they left the venue after his performance.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoCSmf0BDPh/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading

This ordeal has thankfully had no effect on Mayorkun’s end-of-the-year show plans. The singer announced three days ago that his final leg of his three-city concert series The Mayor Of Lagos will be held in Lagos this December. The mini-tour started in June with a sold out concert in Ibadan, and an August show in Abuja,where he was supported by Burna Boy, Lil Kesh, Ycee, Skales, Dice Ailes, Kidi and DJ Consequence.

The first The Mayor Of Lagos concert, held at Hard Rock Cafe, Lagos in 2017, featurinng performances from DJ Cuppy, Terry Apala, Jilex Anderson, DNA, DJ Consequence, Viktoh, Tjan, Wale Turner, as well as Mayorkun’s DMW mates, Dremo and Ichaba. This year’s Lagos run will be held at Balmoral Event Center in Victoria Island, on the 14th of December 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn_JbS5H-26/?taken-by=iammayorkun

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NATIVE 11: Mayorkun

Timaya has a new dance tune, “Bam Bam” featuring Olamide: Watch

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In 2016, Kanye sampled “Bam Bam” for his Life of Pablo single “Famous”; In 2017,  JAY-Z used the hit in his 4:44 track “Bam” featuring Damian Marley. This year, the famous chorus of  “Bam Bam” appears to be a blessing on Timaya’s new track of the same name, featuring Olamide with a cameo from Phyno, adding to the continuos proof that Sister Nancy has had a very influential career, especially through her 1982 track “Bam Bam”, which has been sampled over 80 times across genres —though she’s only recently begun collecting royalties more than 30 years later.

On his version of “Bam Bam”, Timaya stylises the cadences of the chorus into a slightly different but similar form, proceeding to show us in the song’s verse that he’s been reflecting on what people have to say about the progress of his career in the industry; “Dem say Timaya no dey reign again, Some people Say Timaya no fit sing Again”. And to actually prove these people wrong, Papichulo doesn’t do the job alone; he enlists Olamide and Phyno to testify, bridge his seemingly creative gap and fuel his creative exploration.

Olamide and Timaya deliver braggadocios and thankful verses over Mastercraft’s music production, while Unlimited LA shoots the video.

Check it out below.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@TimayaTimaya

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ICYMI: Timaya links up with Phyno and Olamide for “Telli Person”

Best New Music: Major Lazer and Burna Boy’s “All My Life” brings on a vibe for a lifetime

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History is often said to be the victor’s narration of events, and African music is at such a pivotal moment that it can sometimes feel as though we can already pin-point some of the winners who will mark this explosive era for the continent.

Over the last couple of years, African sonics have drawn more from electronic music and it’s Carribean-Hip-Hop derivatives. Though Major Lazer’s endorsement of the scene has been relatively recent, the group is undoubtedly one of the names the regaling of this era would include.

Before Skepta and Drake dropped verses on “Ojuelegba”, Major Lazer first tapped Wizkid for “Boom” featuring TyDolla $ign and Krainium, off their Peace is The Mission album re-issue in 2015. Then last year, Diplo headlined GidiFest in Lagos and the rest is real-time history we are witnessing with the group’s latest release: Afrobeats Mix.

The project is currently available digitally and it features some of Afropop’s most famous names, re-mastered versions of hits released on the continent in the last two years and a handful of never-heard-before cuts of unreleased music. “All My Life” featuring Burna Boy is one of the standout singles from the mix and it has been released officially with an accompanying video.

Much of Major Lazer’s Afrobeats Mix taps an electro-Carribean texture that originally made the group a worldwide phenomenon, leaving room for the question of why new material wasn’t recorded for the project through-and-through. However, on “All My Life” Major Lazer’s attempt to lend its voice to the expansion of African music is most visible without appearing over-glamourised or morosely pretentious. Starring Burna Boy, “All My Life” is intended to give you the feeling of a timeless classic, and it doesn’t fail in that department thanks to a retro-filtered music video shot in suburban Lagos.

“All My Life” invokes the storytelling of Burna’s latest Outside album, re-introducing the same colourful composition we heard on tracks like “PH City Vibration” combined with his empathetic gaze at the Nigerian hustle notable from—song of the year contender— “Ye” . You hear this when Burna sings “Before I turned 21, I was already savaged up”—a reference to his younger years in Port Harcourt—before slinking into a bridge about people working to make ends meet, landing at a personal inflection about just wanting the simple things (“I Just want the weed and the girls of course”).

When Burna Boy released the video for “Ye” earlier last month, many fans were disappointed in the outcome: a seemingly flamboyant hip-hop-inspired music video that sharply contrasts the humanity at the core of “Ye”. Yet some fans understood, Burna Boy’s self-removal came as a result of our society in itself. In a warped sense, “All My Life” provides some context for Burna’s inherent jadedness. After all, if we’re all to aspire to a certain degree of greatness of our own, what is more human than accepting there are limitations to how much of the world you can change?

See Burna Boy in “All My Life” video below

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Watch Major Lazer’s ghanaian-shot video for “Tied Up” featuring Mr Eazi and Raye

Fekky and Runtown head to Lagos for “One More Time” music video

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In a press release, following his move to start his own record label, Fekky explained how he wants to take control of his future. “When I was signed, my future was in other people’s hands. I’ve always been a boss from young. F MUSIC will be the new Bad Boy, the new YMCMB, the new Roc-A-Fella. I want to bring art and lifestyle together because I feel like I am lifestyle and I am art. It’s time to create a movement of like-minded people.” He has since released two singles, “Look At Me Now” and “One More Time” featuring Runtown.

The video for “One More Time” is directed by Adasa Cookey who shoots at a market scene in Lagos where people are seen dancing, playing checkers and having a good time, in the lead up to a party at night. While Fekky and Runtown perform their sultry romance themed verses, the video highlights the song’s competence at parties as we watch the street morph into a festive bash.

You can watch the video for Fekky and Runtown’s “One More Time” below.

Featured Image Credits: YouTube/Fekky

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ICYMI: See Runtown and Fekky in video for new single, “Unleash”

Yemi Alade has a new video for “Oh My Gosh”

Posted on by The Native

Yemi has been steadily combining her music tour with music production. It hasn’t been up to 10 days since she released her video for “Issokay”, and she already has a spanking new video for “Oh My Gosh”. As you’d expect, “Oh My Gosh”, which is produced by DJ Coublon, is filled with a lot of dancing and drama. The Ovie-Etseyatse-directed video actively begins when a black Bentley and Rolls Royce are delivered to her doorstep by a melodramatic deliveryman. Yemi becomes super excited, and then begins a pantomime with her girls as the video progresses to show them dancing in front of the two cars before leaving with the Rolls Royce to party outdoor at night. Yemi gets caught by the police for driving without her license, but ultimately the video ends with she and her goons happily dancing.

Watch the video for Yemi Alade’s “Oh My Gosh”, released under the record label, Effyzie Music.

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/ YemiAlade

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Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie earns the 2019 Everett Mitchell Rogers Award

Posted on by The Native

While Chimamanda’s name has been in the media this week for an invitation to her WorkStation event in Victoria Island, Lagos tomorrow, her transformative power of storytelling has earned her the Everett M. Rogers 2019 Award in California. This comes as a follow up to the several internationally recognised  awards she already has in her catalogue including the MacArthur Genius Grant and the Caine Prize for African Writing, to name a few.

Willow Bay, the Dean of (USC) University of Southern-California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where Chimamanda will receive the award said that this win is as a result of “her voice and her power to inspire”. In her exact words, as written on the site,

“Her voice and her power to inspire made Chimamanda Adichie the unanimous choice for the 2019 Rogers Award. Her visit will continue the global conversation about race, gender and identity to which she’s contributed so forcefully”

Since 2007, the Everett M. Rogers award has been presented by the Norman Lear Centre within the school, in honour of the late professor Everett Mitchell Rogers, whose book, Diffusion of Innovation, ranks number 2 in the list of the most-cited book in social sciences across the world. Chimamanda is set to receive the award on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at USC Annenberg, where she will also make a speech.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@the_ladymaker
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Fisayo is a journalist in search of words. Tweet at her @fisvyo

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