Culture

How Davido, Tiwa Savage brought down the roof at Giants of Africa closing ceremony

Published

1 year ago

August 20, 2023

It was a closing ceremony to behold as the Giant of Africa Festival called it a day in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, with Nigerian music stars, Davido and Tiwa Savage practically bringing down the roof of the BK Arena with their spectacular performances on Saturday night.

The week-long event organised by former NBA star, Masai Ujiri, had brought thousands of youngsters from different African countries where they participated in basketball, dance, art exhibitions and other events, was brought to a befitting crescendo by Africa’s best Afrobeats artistes, Tiwa Savage and Davido headlining the Giants of Africa Festival closing concert, making it one of the most anticipated events in the city.

The concert, which was sold out with an estimated 10,000 people convening at the BK Arena. According to New Times, the event “spoke volumes to just how much mainstream African music and heritage has become over the years, one of the biggest takeaways from numerous interactions with Giants of Africa.”

“MC’ed by media personalities Makeda Mahadeo and Luckman “Lucky” Nzeyimana, the Spotify powered concert began sometime between 3 and 4 pm, with interchanging sets from the likes of DJ Sonia and DJ June, some of the country’s renowned entertainment liasons,” the platform reported.

“The concert was brought to life with the arrival of Davido whom the crowd had eagerly awaited. Earlier performances fell to nothing in comparison to how Davido’s performance and arrival to stage was perceived, considering he was the man of the hour.

“Upon his stage arrival, the audience exhibited a resounding roar that mostly stretched far beyond the walls of the arena, and that was before he uttered a single word.

“Davido went on to entertain the audience with off the chart hits such as “Assurance”, “Electricity” and “Jowo”. However, it was “Unavailable” that truly set the crowd ablaze, and the fascinating dances he paired the performances with.

“You’d think an exhilarating performance like that would be hard to follow, but Tiwa Savage and her entourage were up for the challenge, and they made for a worthy closing act.

“Tiwa Savage graced the stage with her “hypeman” and began her performances, some of which included one of her earlier hits “Romantic”, which got the audience excited, as well as “Somebody’s Son”, a feature she did with mainstream artiste Brandy, that had the audience following line after line”, it added.

Related Topics:Davido Featured Giant of Africa Kigali Rwanda Tiwa Savage

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Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

Culture

UNESCO lists Ghana’s Kente cloth as cultural heritage

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The iconic Ghanaian Kente, a piece of clothing, has been recognized as a cultural heritage on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The global recognition, according to the UN body, is coming under the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage highlights the cultural and historical significance of the vibrant, handwoven textile.

In a citation on its website, UNESCO describes the Kente cloth as “originating from Ghana’s Asante and Ewe communities and renowned worldwide for its bold colors, intricate patterns, and deep symbolic meanings, embodying the creativity and identity of the Ghanaian people.”

Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, described the recognition as a testament to Ghana’s commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

“This achievement places Ghana at the forefront of global efforts to safeguard and celebrate cultural traditions,” he noted.

In a statement acknowledging the recognition, Mercer said the “Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, UNESCO, and the artisans, cultural institutions, and traditional authorities who contributed to this milestone.”

“Special acknowledgement is given to the Bonwire and Agotime communities for their enduring role as custodians of the craft.

“As Ghana celebrates this historic moment, MoTAC reaffirms its dedication to promoting and preserving the nation’s rich cultural legacy.”