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How Nigerian words made it into the Oxford English Dictionary

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) included 29 Nigerian English words in its January 2020 update. As the world’s foremost historical dictionary of English, the OED documents 600,000 words through 3.5 million illustrative quotations from over 1,000 years of history across the English-speaking world. Among the words, typically used by Nigerians, included in the latest edition of OED are Buka, Danfo, …

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Kenyan Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o visits Nigeria, praises Chimamanda Adichie’s novel

Kenyan Hollywood actress Lupita Nyong’o paid a short visit to Nigeria at the weekend to attend an event organised by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the award-winning Nigerian writer. The purpose of the event was for the Oscar-winning actress to intimate the Nigerian creative community with her screen-adaptation of Americanah, a novel by Adichie. HBO Max, a division of Warner Media Entertainment, …

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Dutch government returns stolen crown to Ethiopia

The Netherlands has returned a ceremonial 18th century crown that had been stolen from Ethiopia in 1993. Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Ms Sigrid Kaag, personally handed over the crown to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when she called on the Ethiopian leader in Addis Ababa on Tuesday (18 February). The crown, which has depictions of Jesus Christ, …

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African airlines recorded world’s highest demand increase in 2019 – IATA

Airlines across Africa recorded a five per cent demand increase in 2019, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has said. According to IATA, the airlines recorded a capacity increase of 4.5 per cent while load factor went up by 0.3 percentage point to 71.3 per cent. The association stated in its full-year global passenger traffic results for 2019 that Africa …

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Open Society offers grants to media organisations in West Africa

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is accepting proposals to support initiatives in Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Possible target areas include journalism, justice reform and the rule of law, the democratic practice and more. Proposals must promote investigative journalism and free, quality and independent media. The amount of funding …

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“I know who I am” – An encounter with a racist

In this short story, Berlin-based legal scholar and creative author Nelly Sarpong writes on a fictional encounter with a racist at a train station, revealing how difficult it is to react in a situation where the dignity of a Black person is under assault. ——— It was 5: 45 pm, I was packing up and getting ready to leave when …

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Bob Marley: Family, Island Records announce year-long 75th birthday commemoration programme

Bob Marley, who is considered one of the world’s greatest artists of all time, would have been 75 years old on 6 February. His family and recording company have released a year-long commemoration programme, MARLEY75, featuring special releases, live performances and new music videos plus rare and unreleased material from the Marley family vaults and private collection. The Marley family, …

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Angelique Kidjo dedicates Grammy Award to Burna Boy

Angelique Kidjo’s Celia won the Best World Music Album award at the 2020 Grammy awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night, ahead of other nominees including Altin Gün (Gece), Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley (What Heat), Burna Boy (African Giant) and Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet (Fanm D’Ayiti). It marked Kidjo’s her fourth win in the category.   The Benin Republic-born …

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Lagos airport tightens security as it records higher passenger traffic

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos handled 187.49 million kg of cargo and 7.319 million passengers last year, figures obtained by the national newspaper PUNCH from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria have shown. The Manager, South-West Airports, FAAN, Mrs Victoria Shina-Aba, who reportedly gave the figures, said the MMIA witnessed increased growth in passenger, cargo and aircraft movement in …

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Berlin hip-hop star collaborates with Nigerian artists

Solarrio is a notable name in the thriving Berlin’s hip-hop scene. His biography already marks him out, being the son of a world-famous conductor and, of course, his music, which brings together all of the influences he’s been exposed to as a global citizen, having lived in France, US and Germany. The hip-hop artist, whose musical styles and influences range …

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Brussels Airlines launches new Premium Economy Class to sub-Saharan destinations

Brussels Airlines gradually introduces its brand new Premium Economy class on its African routes. With 84 weekly flights and 17 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa, the African continent remains Brussels Airlines’ most important market. Improved offer on African routes In 2019, the Belgian carrier announced the retrofitting of its fleet with the concept of a Boutique Hotel above the clouds. On …

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Don’t come to airport with friends and relatives when travelling – FAAN

To reduce the crowds at its airports and enhance the security and comfort of passengers, the government has issued a directive calling on both private and official travellers not to bring friends, relatives and staff to the airport The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that no individual or government agency will henceforth be allowed to escort passengers …

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