Connect with us

Culture

Nigerian singers, Burna Boy, Tems, Rema steal show with NBA All-Stars halftime performance

Published

on

The 2023 NBA All-Stars game played on Sunday, February 19, will go down on history as the trio of Nigerian singers, Burna Boy, Tems and Rema put up scintillating performances that organisers feel justified that in incorporating a special African-themed Afrobeat held at the Vivint Arena, adding flavour for the event.

In celebrating African contributions to the NBA including the league’s partnership with FIBA in creating the Basketball Africa League, the 2023 All-Star Game Halftime Show featured three of Africa’s most prominent Afrobeats/Afropop performers who were introduced by Cameroonian Toronto Raptors’ star, Pascal Siakam.

The halftime show which was always the major highlight of an All-Star game, opened with Burna Boy playing two of his hit songs, “Anybody” and “It’s Plenty,” followed by young Rema who wowed the crowd with renditions of “Calm Down” and “Holiday.”

Grammy Award winner, Tems, rounded up to close things out the huge crowd with her hits, “Crazy Tings,” “Free Mind,” her verse from Wizkid’s “Essence,” and her verse from Future’s “Wait For U.”

According to a post on the website of the NBA, the Nigerian “singers were all accompanied by dazzling visual effects, a dance team that incorporated both traditional and modern African dances, and a band that kept the vibe lively.”

“And just when it appeared that things were winding up, Burna Boy returned for renditions of his megahit “Last Last” which threw the crowd into a frenzy, including players who rocked to every bit of the song,” the post said.

Culture

Davido’s ‘Unavailable’ achieves milestone with 100 million views on YouTube, Spotify

Published

on

Nigeria’s Afrobeats sensation, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has landed another milestone after his hit single, “Unavailable’, surpassed 100 million streams on both YouTube and Spotify.

According to a release on Wednesday by his management team, the track which features South African artist, Musa Keys, also hit a major milestone as its music video crossed 100 million views on YouTube.

The hit track which was released on April 11, 2023, as part of Davido’s chart-topping album “Timeless”, grew to become the most streamed Afrobeats song of 2023 and received high praise, including being named by Rihanna as her favorite single of the year.

“The single, Unavailable, has also surpassed 100 million streams on Spotify to become Davido’s first single to achieve this feat,” the statement said.

“With the music video surpassing 100 million views, it becomes Davido’s fourth song to surpass the 100 million streams mark following his 2017 hit releases ‘If’, ‘Fall’, and ‘FIA’.

“Following the success of Unavailable, Davido released a remix EP that includes collaborations with Jamaican Dancehall star Sean Paul and American rapper Latto.

“Described by Rihanna as her favourite single of 2023, Davido’s Unavailable was the most streamed Afrobeats song released in 2023.

“Additionally, the single recently earned a SNEP Gold plaque after reaching 15 million streams in France, cementing its status as a global hit,” it added.

Continue Reading

Culture

Cameroon opens museum dedicated to oldest, influential kingdoms

Published

on

The Cameroonian government has inaugurated a historical museum which is dedicated to honouring its oldest and most influential kingdoms.

Known as the Royal Bomaun Kings Museum, it was inaugurated on Saturday, April 13, in Foumban, the Bauman Kingdom’s traditional capital, located in the western part of the country.

The edifice which is next to the royal palace of the Bamouns, has been described as an architectural masterpiece, pays homage to the emblem of the Bamoun – a double-headed snake, a spider, and a double-mounted gong, and houses over 10,000 historical artefacts most of whom are century-old objets d’art.

It was inaugurated by King Nabil Mbombo Njoya, the 20th ruler of the Bamouns, alongside Culture Minister, Pierre Ismaël Bidoung Mkpatt.

Foremost Cameroonian historian and anthropologist, Professor Francois Bingono Bingono, who was among the visitors at the opening of the museum, spoke glowingly of the project.

“I was privileged to visit the museum. I can tell you that it is not only the culture of western Cameroon, the culture of the Bamouns that is celebrated inside those walls.

“I recognized the culture of the forest, meaning the culture of the inhabitants of southern Cameroon, a heavily forested region.

“I also recognized the cultures of the regions of East, Centre and South Cameroon. One can also come across the cultural heritage of Loum, of the Hauts-Plateaux department, and that of northern Cameroon.

“This museum is the ideal place for those who wish to go back to their roots or take a deep dive into the culture heritage of Cameroon.

“You can see valuable items inside such as thrones and chairs used by the King. Really anything that has to do with the Bamoun dynasty from the first rulers to the current monarch.

“This is patrimony that is handed down to future generations. For the Bamouns, it represents an achievement and a celebration of their culture. For Cameroonians at large, it is part of their history.”

The Bamoun Kingdom is one of the oldest in sub-saharan Africa with historians dating its creation to the late XIVth century.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Sports15 hours ago

Top European, Asian clubs on alert as Super Eagles keeper set to make contract decision

Some top clubs in Europe and Asia have been put on alert as Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley...

VenturesNow15 hours ago

IMF says South Africa needs to do more to cut spending, lower debt-to-GDP ratio

A top official from the International Monetary Fund has revealed that South Africa needs to do more to cut spending...

Politics15 hours ago

Burkina Faso expels 3 French diplomats over ‘subversive activities’

According to a letter quoted by Reuters on Thursday, three French diplomats have been sent back to France by Burkina...

Tech15 hours ago

Nigeria’s MAX partners Ghana’s Kofa in e-bike financing deal

Nigeria’s electric vehicle solutions provider, MAX, has announced striking a partnership deal with Ghana’s innovator in energy networks, Kofa, that...

Metro15 hours ago

Zambia asks EU to help strengthen its democratic initiatives ahead of 2026 elections

The Zambian government has called on the European Union (EU) to help in strengthening democratic initiatives in the country as...

Metro19 hours ago

Nigeria destined to become major global economy under Tinubu— VP Shettima

Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has predicted that the country is destined to become a major economic force in the...

VenturesNow22 hours ago

Nigeria’s central bank insists depleting external reserves not due to Naira defence

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the big drop in the country’s foreign exchange reserves was not due...

Tech2 days ago

African Guarantee Fund partners Nordic Development Fund to launch green finance in Nigeria

The African Guarantee Fund (AGF) has teamed up with the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) to launch a green finance fund...

Sports2 days ago

Ethiopia’s Lemma, Kenya’s Obiri give Africa double podium finish at Boston Marathon

Ethiopia’s long distance runner, Sisay Lemma, and Kenyan female marathon sensation, Hellen Obiri, teamed up to give Africa a double...

Culture2 days ago

Davido’s ‘Unavailable’ achieves milestone with 100 million views on YouTube, Spotify

Nigeria’s Afrobeats sensation, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has landed another milestone after his hit single, “Unavailable’, surpassed 100...

Trending