Culture

Canadian rapper, Drake reveals he is 30% Nigerian

Published

2 years ago

May 8, 2023

Grammy Awards winning Canadian rapper, Drake has raised some serious reactions in the Nigerian entertainment space after he posted on Instagram that the result of an ancestry test had revealed that he was 30% Nigerian, as his father’s roots can be traced back to the West African country.

In the post, Drake, who said his father, Dennis Graham, sent him the result of the study, said it showed that he was “30% Nigerian” and asked if he could finally call himself a “Naija man.”

The rapper, whose birth name is Aubrey Drake Graham, also shared a screenshot of the results of his father’s DNA ancestry test containing the information.

“This my dad’s results, does this mean I’m a Naija man finally?”, Drake asked in the Instagram post.

The screenshot he posted also showed that Nigeria has the highest percentage of ethnicity followed by Cameroon, Congo, and Western Bantu Peoples, which is 28%, then Ivory Coast and Ghana, 11%.

The results further showed Drake’s father has a multi-ethnic background including roots in Nigeria, Mali, Benin, and Togo.

Drake was born on October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario, to an African-American father from Memphis who once performed with country musician, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Over the years, he has not hidden his love for Nigerian artistes as he has performed with the likes of Wizkid, Burna Boy, and Tems, and has said on several occasions that he would love to settle down in Nigeria sometime in the future.

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Culture

Nicki Minaj eulogizes Davido for collaborating with her on new song

Published

10 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

American rapper, Onika Maraj, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has poured encomium on Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, aka Davido, for featuring in her track, ‘If It’s Okay”, which, according to her, gave the song an authentic Afrobeats tempo.

Nicki, who expressed her gratitude to the Nigerian singer, had, on Friday, taken to her X page to show love to Davido by posting “Thank you Davido” along with the visuals of the track.

To further show her appreciation, Nicki, while responding to a question from an X user, Tae, said the “Unavailable” singer gave the track the Afrobeat feel.

Tae had written: “What drew you to Davido for the song ‘If it’s Okay’? In my opinion, he was an ideal choice for this incredible masterpiece! He was speaking that ish.”

Responding to Tae, Nicki wrote:

“That man is an incredible writer and melody maker. It’s always a pleasure working with him because of our mutual respect for one another.

“I asked him to be a part of it in order to bring out the Afro beats tempo/feeling in it a bit more. Naija to the world.”

The track, “If it’s Okay” is part of the 10th-anniversary special edition of Nicki Minaj’s iconic album “The Pinkprint”, which was originally released in 2014.

The commemorative edition features four brand-new tracks, including collaborations with Swae Lee (Turn Ya Cap Back), David Guetta and Davido (If It’s Okay), and the late Juice WRLD (Arctic Tundra).

Culture

South African DJ Black Coffee bags World’s Best DJ 2024

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

South African disc jockey, DJ Black Coffee, has been named the World’s Best DJ 2024 at the Golden Moon Awards.

Reporting on the award, prominent South African tabloid, IOL, wrote:

“All hail Black Coffee from South Africa, winner of the Golden Moon award for the World’s Best DJ 2024! Black Coffee has taken the global stage by storm, blending his unique Afro-house sound with deep, soulful grooves that resonate with audiences worldwide.

“A pioneer, a visionary, and a cultural ambassador, Black Coffee continues to inspire millions, pushing boundaries and connecting the world through his music. A truly deserving icon of this prestigious honour!”

DJ Black Coffee whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, was not the only local South African entertainer who was recognised at the awards as rising star, Palesa Desiree Shilabje, popularly known as DESIREE, was also named the World’s Breakthrough Artist 2024.

On DESIREE, the tabloid said:

“DESIREE’s rise to prominence comes from her ability to craft electrifying DJ sets that seamlessly blend genres—African-inspired house, deep house, techno, and soulful rhythms.

“Her passion for diverse sounds has landed her on some of the world’s most respected stages, like DC-10, fabric, and Hï Ibiza, bringing her deep African influences to a global audience.

“Beyond her music, DESIREE proudly represents the intersex community, using her platform to inspire and educate about her experience. A truly groundbreaking artist, DESIREE is already leaving an unforgettable legacy.”

The Golden Moon Awards are held every year to select the best 100 clubs in the world and to award prizes in different categories to the major players in nightlife, individuals, clubs and associations.