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South African singer Tyla clears air on race controversy, accepts being a black woman

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Grammy award-winning South African singer, Tyla, has cleared the air on a recent controversy surrounding her race as being either a coloured or a black woman.

The “Water” crooner, who made the clarification during an appearance on New York City’s Power 105.1 radio morning show, “The Breakfast Club”, hosted by controversial hosts, Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, and Jess Hilarious, accepted that she was truly a black woman rather than coloured.

During the interview, the hosts probed the singer about her racial identity as a coloured woman from South Africa, to which her management asked that she not touch on the topic.

During the last leg of the conversation which mostly focused on her global crossover and musical growth, Charlamagne switched gears abruptly from discussing Tyla’s work-life balance to her identity.

“School me on these debates that they be having about your identity as a South African Coloured person. What does that even mean?”

“I have never denied my blackness, I don’t know where that came from. I’m mixed with black/Zulu, Irish, Mauritian/Indian and coloured.

“In ‘Southa’ I would be classified as a coloured woman and other places I would be classified as a black woman. Race is classified differently in different parts of the world,” Tyla was quoted as saying.

Writing on her X handle after the interview, she said:

“I don’t expect to be identified as coloured outside ‘Southa’ by anyone not comfortable doing so because I understand the weight of that word outside SA.

“To close this conversation, I’m both coloured in South Africa and a black woman. With that being said, Asambeee,” she added in Zulu which means “let’s go.”

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GWR: Nigerian lecturer hits 100-hour mark in marathon lecture

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A Nigerian lecturer, Dr Nsikak Akpan, has hit the 100-hour mark in his attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the marathon lecture series, a record currently held by an Indian Professor, Arvin Mishra, who clocked 139 hours, 52 minutes, 42 seconds in 2014.

Dr Akpan, a lecturer at Foreign Links College of Health Technology, Moro, Osun State, had embarked on a 150-hour marathon lecture in a bid to set a new world record for the longest lecture stretch.

Each session of the lecture lasts four hours before the record chaser takes a break and returns after 20 minutes.

While speaking with journalists ahead of the event on the campus of the college, Akpan disclosed that his application sent to the Guinness World Records for him to embark on the marathon lecture was approved.

Delivering a lecture on a topic relating to mental health, Akpan reached 100 hours of continuous lecture at about 12:30 pm on Friday.

“The mental health of a man is a product of different things, most especially his environmental and spiritual well-being,” Akpan said on reaching the 100-hour mark.“

There are health conditions and seasons that one may have and will not contribute to the mental health of workers. The environment by which someone works has a direct effect on his health,” he noted.

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Nigerians are angry that British actor Idris Elba is selected to play lead role in ‘Things Fall Apart’ adaptation

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Nigerian social media users are wondering why British actor, Idris Elba, has been selected to portray the character of Okonkwo in the adaptation of Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’, in a new TV series by American entertainment company, A24.

According to English tabloid, Variety, apart from playing the lead role as the protagonist, Elba will also serve as executive producer alongside Gina Carter under their 22Summers production banner, while Nigerian filmmakers, David Oyelowo and Amanda N’Duka, will be the executive producers.

“Things Fall Apart states it is the “story of Okonkwo (Elba), one of literature’s most iconic characters—a fearless African warrior and leader who is resolute about preserving his people and culture,” the tabloid wrote.

“As British colonisers disrupt his world, Okonkwo’s struggle to maintain power and tradition spirals into a heart-wrenching confrontation. His fierce resolve, a fatal flaw in the face of unstoppable change, makes him an unforgettable character, embodying the tension between strength, vulnerability and adaptability,” it added.

However, Nigerian Netizens are not happy with the arrangement as they believe a Nigerian actor in the mould of Pete Edochie should have been the right fit for the role as he had played Okonkwo when the novel was first adapted as a movie in 1971 and later as a mini-series in 1987.

They are also wondering how Elba who is British, will be able to handle Igbo words and proverbs which made the Okonkwo character unique.

Others were also quick to point out Elba’s bad ‘African’ accent as noticed in the movie Wakanda accent.

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