Culture

Iconic South African singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, launches ‘Afrocentric’ homeware range

Published

1 year ago

December 13, 2022

Iconic South African songstress, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, has launched an Afrocentric range of limited-edition homeware collections in conjunction with international firm, Woolworths.

The homeware range of the “Princess of Africa” as Chaka Chaka is fondly called, draws inspiration from the singer’s African culture and heritage and represents the beauty of the continent, according to her management in a statement released on Tuesday.

The homeware collection, according to the statement, “draws inspiration from traditional African attires characterised by beautiful patterns and materials such as the Zulu traditional crown Isicholo, neckpieces important to the African culture, and the South African national flower also forms part of the inspiration.”

“The homeware collection is a reflection of Chaka Chaka’s elegant style and Africa’s beauty. It is designed in monochrome black and white with touches of gold flora featuring portraits of Chaka Chaka,” the statement reads.

“The range consists of a 12-piece dinner service, salad bowl, mug, cup and saucer, all made from porcelain, and also includes a teapot, salad bowl and charger plate,” it added.

Born Yvonne Machaka on March 18, 1965, the legendary singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher is one of Africa’s most popular artists with loads of songs to her credit.

Songs such as “I’m Burning Up”, “Thank You Mr. DJ”, “I Cry For Freedom”, “Motherland” and the greatest of them all, the ever-green “Umqombothi” (“African Beer”) ensured Chaka Chaka’s stardom and cements her place on the African entertainment scene.

Click to comment

Culture

Egypt reclaims 3,400-year-old stolen statue of King Ramses II

Published

16 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Egypt has received a 3,400-year-old statue depicting the head of King Ramses II that was stolen and smuggled out of the country more than three millennia a ago, the country’s Antiquities Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Ministry, the statue was stolen from the Ramses II temple in the ancient city of Abydos in Southern Egypt more than three decades ago.

Head of Egypt’s Antiquities Repatriation Department, Shaaban Abdel Gawad, who received the artefact said though the exact date the artefact was stolen is not known, the piece is estimated to have been stolen in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

“The statue is now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo but not on display. The artefact will be restored,” he said.

He stated that Egyptian authorities spotted the artefact when it was offered for sale in an exhibition in London in 2013 before it was moved to several other countries before reaching Switzerland.

“This head is part of a group of statues depicting King Ramses II seated alongside a number of Egyptian deities,” Abdel Gawad said.

King Ramses II is one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful Pharaohs. Also known as Ramses the Great, he was the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt and ruled from 1279 to 1213 BC.

“Egypt collaborated with Swiss authorities to establish its rightful ownership and Switzerland handed over the statue to the Egyptian embassy in Bern last year, but it was only recently that Egypt brought the artefact home, he added.

Culture

Ghana mourns as top gospel music icon Koda passes away

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Ghanaian entertainment industry has, once again, been thrown into mourning following the death of renowned gospel musician, Kofi Owusu Dua Anto, known professionally as Koda, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 46.

According to reports, the gospel music icon and producer died from a kidney-related condition he had been suffering from for sometime.

Koda, renowned for hit songs like “Hossana”, “Nkwaa Abodo”, “Nsem Pii” and “Adooso”, was also a producer of repute who gained fame for his inspiring compositions and his captivating, soul-stirring vocals that struck a chord with audiences nationwide.

A local media reports that he worked with a lot of Gospel musicians in Ghana and Nigeria including popular Nigerian gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey.