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Castle Stout launches Afrikaraoke to preserve South African traditional music

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Local South African beer brand, Castle Milk Stout, has launched a new initiative known as Afrikaraoke, a blend of karaoke with traditional music to reconnect South Africans with their cultural heritage.

According to Khwezi Vika, the marketing manager at Castle Milk Stout, the Afrikaraoke is coming in “an era where modern urban life often overshadows age-old customs, with many young South Africans losing touch with the traditional songs that once played a central role in their cultural practices.”

Speaking during the official launching of the initiative, Vika said traditional songs, rich in history and meaning, are at risk of being forgotten, noting that Afrikaraoke has been launched to blend the enjoyment of karaoke with a revival of these important cultural melodies.

“Afrikaraoke is an innovative campaign by Castle Milk Stout, which is designed to reconnect South Africans with their traditional songs and cultural heritage,” Vika said.

Afrikaraoke is not just about singing, it is a cultural movement aimed at educating and engaging the younger generation. The project features a selection of traditional songs, curated with the help of professor Dr. Evans Ntshivhambe, an expert in African traditional songs.”

Also speaking at the launching, Dr. Ntshivhambe highlighted the importance of songs in connecting people with their heritage.

“The insight I can give you for those songs is that they are more about connecting our people. They make us celebrate who we are. We love singing.

“We sing when we have problems, we sing when we celebrate, and we celebrate through singing. I believe those songs have the power to connect our people, to glue our cultures together.”

The campaign will culminate on Heritage Day, September 24, with a special broadcast on one of South Africa’s major television channels with the event showcasing the traditional songs through a vibrant, modern lens, ensuring they reach a wide audience. Afrikaraoke episodes will also be available online.

“Traditional songs play an integral part in African culture. Whether at a wedding, coming of age ceremony or other significant occasions, our traditional songs, accompanied by ululations, are what anchors us during ceremonies,” said Vika.

He added that the Afrikaraoke was a platform that ensured we do not lose this important element that makes us who we are, and one that called for people to preserve their cultural songs.

“It is an opportunity for South Africans to immerse themselves in the songs that have defined our heritage.

“Afrikaraoke represents our latest effort to connect people with their cultural roots in a fresh and interactive way. The platform invites all South Africans, whether they know traditional songs well or are new to them, to celebrate their heritage.

‘By combining karaoke with traditional music, Afrikaraoke offers a fresh approach to rediscovering the songs that define South Africa’s cultural identity.”

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Culture

Please forgive me, I’m now a child of God,’— Nigerian singer Portable begs for slapping pastor (Video)

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Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okiliola, popularly known as Portable, has pleaded for forgiveness following an incident where he allegedly slapped a pastor who went to preach at his bar.

The drama was ignited last week on Monday, September 9, when the street-wise singer was seen in a viral video slapping a man of God who had gone to preach at his bar in the Sango area of Ogun State.

The incident generated a lot of criticism from Nigerians including fellow pastors with some giving Portable an ultimatum to apologize or face their wrath.

In an apparent turn around, the street-pop Monday, tendered an apology and begged for forgiveness from the pastor and Nigerians in general.

Making the apology in a video the singer explained that he attacked the preacher because he thought he was there to cause him spiritual harm.

While begging God for forgiveness, Portable said:

“My fans, community issues are different from that of the street. May God forgive me. I didn’t know he was a genuine man of God. If I knew I wouldn’t have slapped him.

“I’m also a child of God. I’m human, I’m not perfect. I am an orphan. They have harmed my sister through this same strategy,” he said.

Watch the video below:
‘Please forgive me, I’m now a child of God,’ –Nigerian singer Portable begs for slapping pastor (Video)

Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okiliola, popularly known as Portable, has pleaded for forgiveness following an incident where he allegedly slapped a pastor who went to preach at his bar.

The drama was ignited last week on Monday, September 9, when the street-wise singer was seen in a viral video slapping a man of God who had gone to preach at his bar in the Sango area of Ogun State.

The incident generated a lot of criticism from Nigerians including fellow pastors with some giving Portable an ultimatum to apologize or face their wrath.

In an apparent turn around, the street-pop Monday, tendered an apology and begged for forgiveness from the pastor and Nigerians in general.

Making the apology in a video the singer explained that he attacked the preacher because he thought he was there to cause him spiritual harm.

While begging God for forgiveness, Portable said:

“My fans, community issues are different from that of the street. May God forgive me. I didn’t know he was a genuine man of God. If I knew I wouldn’t have slapped him.

“I’m also a child of God. I’m human, I’m not perfect. I am an orphan. They have harmed my sister through this same strategy,” he said.

Watch the video below:

https://x.com/TeniolaYBNL/status/1835560801693823300

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Culture

World-famous Sierra Leonean ballerina Michaela DePrince dies at 29

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World-famous Sierra Leone-born ballerina, Michaela DePrince, has died at the young age of 29.

A statement released by her family said DePrince who was the principal soloist at Boston Ballet, passed away on Friday.

“With pain in our hearts, we share the loss of star ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, whose artistry touched countless hearts and whose spirit inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond,” the statement said.

“Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us.

“She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places. Though her time with us was far too brief, her brilliance and legacy will continue to shine in the hearts of all who were touched by her story, for generations to come. Love and prayers go to her chosen family, friends, and those who loved her.”

Born Mabinty Bangura in Kenema, Sierra Leone, in 1995, DePrince lost both parents tragically died in the country’s civil war and was adopted by an American family at the age of four.

In various interactions with the media, DePrince had credited her years in an orphanage, where she found a magazine featuring the photo of a ballerina, as what led her on the path to becoming a professional dancer.

DePrince grew up in an orphanage, where she was cruelly mistreated and mocked for her vitiligo.

“They thought of me as a devil’s child. They told me every day how I wasn’t going to get adopted because nobody would want a devil’s child,” she told the BBC in 2012.

However, she and another girl named Mabinty, who now goes by Mia, were adopted by Elaine and Charles DePrince in New Jersey in 1999.

DePrince became a world star and barrier-breaking ballerina after appearing on “Dancing With the Stars” and in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” film when she was just 17.

After fixating on an image of a ballerina in a magazine, DePrince enrolled in ballet school in Philadelphia and performed at the Youth America Grand Prix. She was one of six primary subjects in the 2011 documentary First Position, trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet in New York, and appeared in an episode of Dancing With the Stars the same year.

She went on to join the Dutch National Ballet’s junior company and later became second soloist for the Boston Ballet.

She rose to fame after graduating from high school and made history as the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

A dedicated humanitarian, DePrince also advocated for children affected by conflict and violence.

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