Music

Entries open for All African Music Awards 2021

The international committee of the All African Music Awards (Afrima) has announced the 2021 event calendar at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking the opening of Afrima 2021. This year’s calendar features a lineup of undertakings and events that would take place between 20 June and 21 November 2021. Speaking on behalf of the African Union, the …

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Davido hits 20 million followers on Instagram, becomes most followed African artiste

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has hit 20 million followers on Instagram. The multiple-award wining musician is now the most followed African artiste on the Facebook-owned photo and video sharing social networking service. As of January 2021, the most followed person on Instagram is Portuguese professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo with over 275 million followers. Davido also recently …

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Remembering Papa Wemba, 5 years on

Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016) It was a terrible shock for the African and international music world when news about Papa Wemba’s passing away circulated around the globe on 24 April 2016. More so as it happened when he was in full swing during a performance at a festival in Abidjan on the night …

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Grammys for Burna Boy, Wizkid a global endorsement of Afrobeat – Nigerian minister

A Nigerian minister has described the Grammy Awards of music stars Burna Boy and Wizkid’s as endorsement of Afrobeat genre of music Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, on Monday, while congratulating the music stars for their feats, said that Afrobeat genre of music had propelled Nigeria’s increasing prominence of the music world. In a statement issued by …

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Universal Music signs Tenor, Suspect 95 and Omzo Dollar as it expands into French-speaking Africa

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has announced the further expansion of its Def Jam Africa division into three new markets within French-speaking Africa; Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Cameroon, effective immediately. Def Jam Africa launched in May 2020, as the first label dedicated to representing the best hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa, and follows …

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Niniola, Femi Kuti in new music video of ‘Fantasy’

Nigerian singer Niniola has launched the music video for her latest single “Fantasy”, which was originally released in February. The video features Grammy nominee and Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti The track, produced by Kel-P, features rich vocals from Niniola, and classy saxophone riffs and horn arrangements from Femi Kuti. “I used to watch videos of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti, …

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Music legend Manu Dibango dies of coronavirus in Paris

Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango is dead. The family of the Cameroonian singer and saxophonist announced his death at 86 of the new coronavirus on his Facebook page on Tuesday (24 March). “It is with deep sadness that we announce to you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove,” a statement on his official Facebook page read. Dibango’s agent Thierry …

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Nigerian singer Yemi Alade signs deal with Universal Music Group

Nigerian Singer Yemi Alade has signed a licensing deal with Universal Music Group Africa/France. The Universal Music Group’s West African affiliate is in partnership with Universal Music France (UMF). Alade, one of Africa’s most creatively and commercially successful artists, through her record label signed the deal with Universal Music Africa (UMA) in Paris on Monday. Based on the multi-year agreement, …

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Germany: Emmendingen set for African music jamboree

From the 2nd to the 4th of August, the Schlossplatz in the south-western German town of Emmendingen will once again be all about Africa and its many musical styles and cultures. Under the motto “We are the world!” Afrikaba Kulturkreis e.V. has once again put together an exciting festival programme. The rhythmic pulse of Africa has been beating in the …

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New Music Release: #NuNairobi – Kenya’s music hub

Outhere Records, a Munich-based label, has announced the release of a new album by artists from Kenya’s tech city Nairobi. “#NuNairobi – Kenya’s music hub is more than a music compilation,” Outhere Records said in a press release. “It is also a map and a website that introduces some of the most important bands and musicians that helped to reshape …

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Universal Music signs exclusive agreement with Tiwa Savage, one of Africa’s biggest stars

Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has announced an exclusive global recording agreement with acclaimed Nigerian singer songwriter Tiwa Savage, one of Africa’s biggest stars and an artist whose success spans music, fashion, film and television. Under the agreement, her future music will be released internationally through UMG’s operations in more than 60 countries worldwide. Projects …

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Ghana to host 2018 All Africa Music Awards in November

Ghana has accepted to host the 5th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) between Wednesday, November 21 and Saturday, November 24 in Accra. It will be hosted in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Committee of AFRIMA. The host country rights acceptance was conducted on Tuesday at a media announcement at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, …

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Universal Music expands strategic operations in Africa, signs new artists

Universal Music Africa opens new division in Côte d’Ivoire, kicking off an expansion of live music activity throughout the continent in partnership with Vivendi and CanalOlympia. Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has announced a significant expansion in French-speaking Africa, with the launch of a new strategic division in the regional market with a focus on …

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French President Macron visits Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s nightclub

French leader Emmanuel Macron visits on Tuesday a nightclub founded by Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, becoming the first “real president” to enter a venue synonymous with marijuana smoke, sexy backup dancers and protest music. The New Afrika Shrine located in the teeming Lagos district of Ikeja replaced Fela Kuti’s original club that burnt down in 1977, but for millions …

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Ghanaian musician Ebony Reigns dies in car accident

The popular dancehall singer Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, popularly known as Ebony Reigns, died after her car collided with a bus. She would have been 21 in a week’s time. According to police, the 20-year-old singer and two military officers were on board a Jeep from Sunyani heading towards Kumasi when it collided head-on with a VIP bus heading towards Sunyani from …

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How Afro-German singer Nneka found a home in music

Nothing in life was given to her. Instead, Nneka Egbuna had to fight for it — a struggle which her gripping songs reflect. The German-Nigerian musician granted the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) a glimpse into how her life and music span continents. “Wake up Africa, wake up and stop blaming / Open your eyes, eyes, stand up and …

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