Culture

Egyptian Musicians Union bans Travis Scott’s ‘Pyramids of Giza’ concert

Published

1 year ago

July 19, 2023

The Egyptian Musicians Union (EMU) has banned a planned concert by American rapper, Travis Scott which was scheduled to hold in the Giza Pyramids Complex in Cairo on July 28.

The much-publicised concert was planned to coincide with Scott’s release of his new album, “Utopia” and had garnered social media buzz with the tickets sold-out in a matter of a few hours.

However, on Tuesday, the Music Professions Union in Egypt announced the cancellation of the upcoming concert following public outcry, after some people launched a campaign of boycott against Scott, calling him ‘controversial’, as well as linking him with Afrocentrism, a trend which is staunchly opposed by Egyptians, while another group made links between the American artist and satanic rituals.

The union justified the decision to cancel the concert citing the artist’s performances as conflicting with “Egyptian traditions.”

A statement released by the Music Professions Union, a body which has the authority to supervise concerts and music broadcasts in the North Africa country, said though it welcomed all forms of art and concerts, it set conditions and regulations to ensure they did not violate the country’s inherited customs and traditions.

The union further stated that based on observations and opinions of social media users and information that had been widely shared, the concert by Travis Scott allegedly involved strange rituals during his performance that conflicted with the genuine social values and traditions of the Egyptian people.

“Consequently, the union decided to revoke the license for this type of concert, which is deemed inconsistent with Egypt’s cultural identity,” the statement said.

The statement did not, however, specify the nature of these alleged rituals attributed to Scott who is one of the most prominent figures in American hip-hop music and is currently on a global tour.

The Giza Pyramids Complex has regularly hosted concerts by international music stars, including the American hip-hop group, The Black Eyed Peas who performed there in October 2021.

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Culture

Ghanaians react angrily as American video vixen Rubi Rose tours Jubilee House

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Some Ghanaians have been outraged following a tour of the Jubilee House, the country’s seat of government, by American entertainer and video vixen, Rubi Rose.

The visit and tour of the Jubilee House by the controversial vixen, rapper, and OnlyFans content creator who arrived in Ghana on Thursday, October 31, 2024, sparked outrage and angry reactions among Ghanaians on social media who questioned the rationale behind the visit.

The American star was a special guest for a Halloween party in Accra and during her stay, was granted access to the Jubilee House, where she met with Nadia Adongo Musah, Deputy Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, and was given a tour of the premises.

Photos of Rose’s visit to the Jubilee House circulated on social media, prompting discontent among Ghanaians, who questioned why someone with her background was allowed into the Jubilee House, also known as Flagstaff House, which holds significant historical and symbolic value as the seat of Ghana’s presidency.

Some angry Ghanaians took to social media to voice out their discontents.

A X user with the handle @fanti_boy wrote:

“Is this really Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana?”

Another user, @_blacksnow09, said:

“Foreigners have more access to the presidential residence than citizens.”

@CopsonClaude commented:

“The Jubilee House is now Oasis Lounge.”

@PositiveAt59011 said:

“Please, is the place a hotel where Americans do lodge in?”

@DanQuaye22 said:

“They told the citizens Flagstaff House is a security zone, but see who has easy access.”

Culture

Mauritius bans access to social media until after elections

Published

3 days ago

November 2, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Mauritius government has placed a blanket ban on access to social media websites ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled to hold on November 10.

The ban, which was announced on Friday by the country’s national communications regulator, will be in force until November 11, the day after the election.

“The ICT Authority wishes to inform the public that in response to concerns regarding illegal postings that constitute a serious threat to national security and public safety, it has received directives in the evening of 31 October 2024, to direct all Internet Service Providers to temporarily suspend access to all social media platforms until 11 November 2024”, the Information and Communication Technology Authority said on Friday.

The move which came amid a wiretapping scandal in the Indian Ocean nation, has however, raised concerns as opposition parties and prominent figures have a ploy by the governing party to avoid defeat at the polls.

Local media say the unprecedented social media ban follows a wiretapping scandal which rocked the country last month when recorded conversations of politicians, business people, and members of civil society were leaked on social media.

According to media freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the recorded conversations of five well-known journalists were leaked published on social media, prompting the ban.

“The government of the Indian Ocean Island country, which has a population of 1.2 million, has claimed that these leaks are a threat to national security and instructed the communications authority to suspend all access to social media,” the RWB said in a statement.

In response to the bank, network service provider, EMTEL, said it would comply with the directive and user experience will be “progressively disrupted”.

“EMTEL understands the inconvenience that this action shall cause to its customers but reiterates that it has no alternative other than to comply with ICTA directive,” the company said.

Local media also quoted a statement from the office of the Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, who is seeking a second term in power, as saying that the suspension of social media was essential to protect national security and the country’s integrity.