Culture

Busta Rhymes applies for South African citizenship after falling in love with country

Published

1 week ago

October 1, 2024

American music great, Trevor George Smith Jr, popularly known as Busta Rhymes, may soon become a South African citizen after he applied for citizenship of the African country.

Busta, who was part of the recently held DSTV Delicious Festival in Johannesburg, posted in a video that he is in the process of applying for citizenship of South Africa after falling in love with the country.

Busta went on to add that he so much enjoyed his stay in SA and would not mind becoming a permanent fixture in the country.

In the video posted by @MDNnews on X, the “Look at me now” hit maker was heard saying:

“Joburg, thanks for having me back. Don’t take so long bringing me back. We have established our family and loving relationship with one of Africa’s good son’s.

“But still don’t take too long bringing me back. You know what, don’t worry about it because I’m working on my citizenship. Thank you so much for the love Joburg. I really had a blast at Delicious Festival.”

He was later seen in the video meeting up with some South African artistes including the likes of Heavy K. He was also seen enjoying South African music and jamming to it while learning Mzansi’s moves.

Local entertainment tabloids report that Busta also received an invite to Kabza de Small’s Pianohub club opening and videos of him living his best life were circulating on social media for the past few days.

“He went to a popular club in Sandton called Liv, where he had a reward of $5,000 for a stolen phone, which had social media users talking.

“Busta Rhymes was not the only American artist that was invited to perform at the DSTV Delicious Festival. Jill Scott, an American singer, songwriter and actress was also a headline act at the festival. She performed on day 2 of the festival, September 22.

“The “Swalla” hit maker, Jason Derulo was another who was amongst the international artists that performed at the DSTV Delicious Festival.”

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Culture

Online streaming platform Spotify increases price for its Nigerian premium subscribers by 40%

Published

2 days ago

October 7, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Online audio streaming platform, Spotify, has announced an immediate increment in price for its premium subscribers in Nigeria by over 40%.

In a statement announcing the price increase, the platform said the hike in the fee would allow the team to continue innovating on its product offerings and features, providing users with the best experience.

In the notification, Spotify informed that starting from their billing date in November, their subscription price would change from ₦900/month to ₦1,300/month.

The latest price update puts the Premium subscription plan at ₦7,000 ($4.40) monthly, up from the initial ₦5,000 ($3.14), indicating a 40% rise.

The platform had in April, hiked its Premium Plan price from ₦4,400 ($2.76) to ₦5,000 ($3.14).

However, it added that users who do not wish to continue paying for Premium at the new price can cancel via their account page.

Spotify has also introduced Offline Backup to its Premium users globally, allowing them to listen to music offline without needing to download, with the
Offline Backup appearing in the Home feed when users are offline, and can listen to more than five songs once they have offline listening activated.

Culture

Legendary SA gospel artiste Solly Moholo passes away at 65

Published

4 days ago

October 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Legendary South African gospel singer, Solly Moholo, has passed away following an illness shortly after his pre-album launch tour in Botswana.

According to his family, Moholo who was known and celebrated for his energetic performances and spiritual music, passed away on Wednesday, October 2, at the age of 65.

“It is with great sadness that we inform you that our beloved legend Solly Moholo has sadly passed on,” a statement issued by the family on Friday read.

The statement however, requested privacy as the family gradually comes to terms with their loss and prepare for Moholo’s funeral, with details about the memorial service to be shared on his official pages in the coming days.

Moholo who was born Solomon Molokoane, was a pivotal figure in South African gospel music, known for his unique blend of traditional gospel sounds and modern township influences.

A local media in a tribute to the singer, wrote:

“His powerful voice and uplifting lyrics resonated deeply with millions, making him a beloved household name in South Africa and beyond.

“Hits like “Ba Mmitsa Moholo Wa Dipelo” and “Ke Mo Afrika” became anthems in churches and community events, offering comfort, hope, and joy to listeners.

“Despite the loss, Moholo’s legacy will endure through his extensive discography, which features dozens of albums reflecting themes of faith and perseverance.

“His music not only shaped the gospel genre in South Africa but also addressed social issues, demonstrating his commitment to using his platform for good.

“Solly Moholo’s influence extended beyond South Africa, as he regularly performed in countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Lesotho, where his music was equally celebrated. His passing leaves a significant void in the hearts of fans across the African continent.”