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2,500-year-old astronomical observatory site discovered in Egypt

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The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the discovery of a 2,500-year-old ancient astronomical observatory by a team of a team of scientists and archaeologists, which they say is the “first and largest” of its kind in its history.

The observatory, according to the Ministry, is the remains of the sixth-century-B.C. structure, and was discovered three years ago during excavations at an archaeological site in the ancient city of Buto, now called Tell Al-Faraeen, in Egypt’s Kafr El-Sheikh governorate.

In a statement by the Director-General of Kafr El-Sheikh Antiquities and Head of the Egyptian Archaeological Mission, Hossam Ghonim, the team uncovered the ruins of an L-shaped mud-brick building spanning over 9,150 square feet (850 square meters).

‘Its east-facing entrance, marked by a traditional gateway known as a pylon, leads to a spot where sunlight would have illuminated where the sky observer — known as ‘smn pe’ and who was usually a priest — stood to track the sun and stars. Everything we found shattered our expectations,” Ghonim said.

He added that the structure still has a carving of smn pe facing the rising sun.

“This figure symbolizes the ancient Egyptians’ connection to the cosmos. At first, the team thought they had discovered a temple. Yet, as the excavation progressed, they uncovered artifacts and inscribed symbols, such as Chen, Cenet and Benu, that related to time and astronomy.

‘But it was the discovery of a huge sundial — along with several inscriptions, artifacts and the layout of the building — that led researchers to make the new announcement that this structure was an observatory.

“A surveying and timekeeping tool known as a merkhet, pottery, religious items, and a statue dated to the 26th Dynasty (664–526 B.C.) were also recovered.

“The discovery highlights the advanced astronomical knowledge of the ancient Egyptians, including their ability to determine the solar calendar and significant religious and agricultural dates,” Ghonim explained.

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SA rapper Khuli Chana to pay special tribute to AKA at the DSTV Delicious Festival

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South African rapper, Khuli Chana, has revealed that he will pay tribute to his friend and mentor, the late Kiernan Forbes, also known as AKA, who was shot dead outside a restaurant in Kwazulu-Natal on February 10, 2023.

The ‘Motswako” hit maker disclosed that he plans to pay tribute to AKA at the upcoming DSTV Delicious International Food & Music Festival which will take place on September 21.

Chana said he will honour the life and legacy of AKA who was known for hits like “Fela in Versace” and “All Eyes on Me”, and was recognised worldwide for his impact on hip-hop in Africa.

Chana who shared the news on his Instagram page wrote:

“It is an honour to rock the @dstvdeliciousfestival stage in celebration of the life SUPA Mega @akaworldwide on 21st of September. It is gonna be EPIC!”

He accompanied the post with a video in which he said:

“I’ll be running, Jozi. I have been so patient. I am trying to keep my composure. I’ll be going on the super mega level.”

He also shared his excitement about the festival asking people to be at their best. “Bring that best energy, best behaviour, great company.”

Chana and AKA shared a long history of collaboration and had worked together on several singles before their 2015 hit ‘Baddest’, which also featured Yanga and Nigerian Afrobeat sensation, Burna Boy. They had also collaborated for ‘Prada’ which was release in 2023.

According to the organizers, this year DStv Delicious Festival will be celebrating 30 years of Creative Freedom in South Africa and will unite people of all cultures and backgrounds through the enjoyment of music, art, fashion, and great food.

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Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina to undergo therapy over xenophobic abuse

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Chidimma Adetshina who became Miss Universe Nigeria only on Saturday has revealed that she would be undergoing therapy following the xenophobic abuse she received in South Africa as a result of her nationality despite being born in the country.

Adetshina who was a finalist in the Miss South Africa beauty contest, sparked criticism as despite being a South African citizen, because her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots and came in for severe xenophobic attacks by South Africans and became the subject of a government investigation.

The controversy reached its peak when SA Home Affairs department announced that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to become a South African national.

In the heat of the saga, she withdrew from the South African pageant and was invited to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria where won the contest.

After the Nigerian pageant, the new beauty queen made her intentions known in an interview with BBC Africa, saying she will be seeking therapy because of the saga.

Speaking on how she had been “suppressing her emotions” throughout the controversy, Adetshina said:

“It’s just not a nice feeling, I think I’ve been avoiding it a lot and only now it’s started to cloud me.

“It’s something I will work on and see a therapist because I feel like I have been suppressing my emotions… because what has happened… it wasn’t a minor thing, it was actually really major.”

Adetshina who was born in the South African township of Soweto, she could not comment on the South African government’s ongoing investigation into her nationality, as it was a “legal matter”.

“Even though it was a rough path for you, you really stepped up, I think I really give myself that title of a strong black African woman,” the 23-year-old law student said.

Commenting on the contest which she joined in its later stage amid disaffection from other contestants who had gone through various stages, she said:

“I do get where people are coming from, but at the end of the day, I also had my own journey, I had my fair share of going through the process.

“There might have been a slight difference, but I feel like I also went through the journey that they went through.

“I still see myself proudly South African… I still see myself proudly Nigerian,” she concluded.

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