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Legendary American music icon Stevie Wonder becomes full Ghanaian citizen

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Legendary American singer and songwriter, Stevie Wonder, is now officially a Ghanaian citizen after he took an oath of allegiance administered by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Wonder who was granted citizenship of the West African country on Monday which marked his 74th birthday, is one among a number of American celebrities who have decided to trace their family roots back to Africa.

While granting the icon the country’s citizenship with a certificate at a ceremony in the presidential palace, Akufo-Addo said it was a big honour to the country and Africa that such greats were coming back to the black continent.

He was also presented with a birthday cake with a Ghanaian flag iced on top.

After the ceremony, Wonder told the BBC that gaining Ghanaian nationality on his birthday was an “amazing thing” moment for him and his family.

The superstar was born and bred in the US state of Michigan but has long had an affinity for Ghana.

As far back as 1975, Wonder had openly expressed a desire to quit music and move to Ghana, a country he believed his ancestral lineage could be traced there while in the 1990s, he made frequent trips to the country as well as headlining a Ghanaian music festival where he again expressed a desire to set up a home there.

Wonder had, in an interview, confessed that his love affair with Ghana was ignited by the people he met whilst there including the late Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, who in the 1990s hosted him at the presidential residence.

“I remember the late President Rawlings, who allowed me to be a co-pilot on a flight,” Wonder had said.

“I was able to fly with him from one end of Ghana to the other end. The north to the south, and it was amazing.”

Aside Stevie Wonder, other American-African celebrities who took up Ghanaian citizenship included writer, W E B Du Bois, who moved to Ghana and was buried there in 1963, while Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali all paid high-profile visits to the country to reconnect with their African roots.g

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Culture

Obama names three African artistes in his Favorite Music list 2024

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In keeping with the tradition of naming his favourite music list of the year, former United States President, Barack Obama, has released his favorite music from 2024, which includes three African artistes.

The Obama Favorite Music list 2024, which he dropped on social media, has Nigerian stars Asake, Rema, and South African Ampiona sensation, Tyla, alongside Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, amongst other world-renowned stars.

While dropping the list, the former US President wrote:

“Here are my favorite songs from this year! Check them out if you’re looking to shake up your playlist – and let me know if there’s a song or artist I should make sure to listen to.”

The top picks for Obama’s shortlist were Billie Eilish’s “Lunch,” Jordan Adetunji’s “Kehlani,” Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby,” Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido,” Bonny Light Horseman’s “Old Dutch,” Central Cee, Asake’s “Active,” Lil Baby’s “Band4band,” Rema’s “Yayo”, Karol G’s “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido” and “Gata Only” by FloyyMenor and Cris MJ.
and more.

The Obama Favorite Music of 2024 list also showcased a vibrant mix of genres and artists, reflecting his diverse musical preferences, spanning hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and reggaeton, showcasing his appreciation for a variety of musical styles.

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Culture

Moroccan tourist arrivals hit record-breaking 16 million

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The year 2024 has seen Morocco celebrate a record-breaking 16 million tourist arrivals, surpassing the 12 million mark set in 2023, with the country continuing to see impressive growth in tourist arrivals.

Data from the country’s Ministry of Tourism, the Directorate of Studies and Financial Forecasts (DEPF) reveals that additional indicators reveal that the sector reached remarkable numbers in just 10 months, surpassing the total number of arrivals typically seen in a full year.

According to the new details from the directorate, which is affiliated to the Ministry of Economy, the country’s tourism revenues reached MAD 96.9 billion by the end of October, an increase of 9.3% compared to the same period last year.

A statement by the Ministry said
Morocco notably reached a new record of 14.6 million tourists by the end of October, the directorate indicated, noting that this far surpassed the previous record set at the end of 2023 in just 10 months.

“The number marks a 19% increase year on year, representing 2.3 million additional arrivals by the end of October 2024,” it said.

“This remarkable growth is driven both by foreign tourists, whose numbers have increased by 22%, and Moroccans living abroad.

“This past October was an especially strong month for the Moroccan hospitality industry. Approximately 1.5 million visitors traveled to the North African country during that month, representing an increase of 30% compared to October last year,” it stated.

The Ministry of Tourism celebrated the upward trend during a meeting of the Moroccan National Tourism’s Board of Directors held on Monday, with data showing that the North African country saw a record 15.87 million visitors by the end of November, marking a 20% increase while tourism revenues soared to MAD 97 billion.

“The sector achieved a growth rate of 19%, higher than the world average of 12% and most competing destinations,” the Moroccan Tourism Office said.

Speaking at the event, Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor:

“Our tourism roadmap is bearing fruit and we can now enter the year 24 with confidence and determination.”

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