Category: Entertainment

Will Smith and David Oyelowo Team to Adapt ‘Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun’ for Netflix

By Angelique Jackson | Variety

Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and David Oyelowo’s Yoruba Saxon have partnered with Netflix to produce the film adaptation of “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.”

Based on the upcoming book by British-Nigerian author, journalist and hair care educator Tọlá Okogwu, “Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun” tells the tale of a teenager who learns she has powers and travels to Nigeria to learn more about her origins, where she discovers a threat to her newfound magical community.null

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Diamond breaks Davido’s YouTube Africa record within 8 hours

By Mpoki Thomson | The Citizen

Tanzanian artiste Naseeb Abdul alias Diamond Platnumz has reached another milestone in his illustrious music career after his latest hit song ‘Waah’ featuring Congolese music maestro Koffi Olomide garnered over one million views within 8 hours of its release. With this rare feat, Diamond has broken the record set by Nigerian artiste Davido earlier this year when his song ‘Fem’ attracted one million views within 9 hours of release.

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Wizkid wins 2020 BET Soul Train Awards with Beyoncé

By Punch Newspaper

Nigerian Superstar, Wizkid is a recipient of the 2020 BET Soul Train Award. He won the award alongside American superstar Beyoncé for their collaboration on the song, Brown Skin Girl. The song is off Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift album. 

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The Weeknd |Ethiopian-Canadian singer beats Chris Brown, John Legend at American Music Awards 2020

BY CONAN ALTATIS  | CONAN Daily

Abel “The Weeknd” Makkonen Tesfaye, 30, of Canada was one of the big winners at the American Music Awards of 2020. The 48th edition of the annual American music awards show took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, United States on November 22, 2020.

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Here are 10 of the most successful Kenyan actors in Hollywood 2020

by  Caiaphas Wanjala | TUKO

Who is the best actor in Kenya? With each dawn, more and more African actors and actresses are getting featured and earning a spotlight in Hollywood’s biggest movie and film industry. That said, several successful Kenyan actors in Hollywood have made a name for themselves due to their acting prowess.

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Burna Boy, Tinariwen, Michael Kiwanuka & More Nominated For 2021 Grammy Awards

The Nigerian star, Burna Boy and Tuareg band are nominated in the newly named Best Global Music Album category.

By OkayAfrica

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Trevor Noah to host the 2021 Grammy Awards

By Rachel Yang  | EW

From The Daily Show to music’s biggest night! Trevor Noah has been tapped to host the 63rd Grammy Awards on Jan. 31, marking his debut as the ceremony’s emcee.

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American Dreams Are Alive And Well On ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’

by Adam Buckman | Media Post

At first glance, Billy Gardell might not seem like the romantic leading-man type, but he has emerged nevertheless as TV’s top romantic comedy star.For six seasons, he romanced Melissa McCarthy in “Mike & Molly.” And now he is courting an immigrant from Nigeria in “Bob ♥ Abishola,” also on CBS and emanating from the sitcom factory of producer Chuck Lorre.

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Davido | The Afrobeats Star is an Upbeat Voice in a Turbulent Time


By Jon Pareles | The New York Times

Davido — the American-born Nigerian Afrobeats artist David Adedeji Adeleke — has built an international career on songs about love and lust that have collectively amassed more than a billion streams. The album he is releasing , “A Better Time,” is filled with them.

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New Afro-Canadian TV series shooting in Calgary challenging narratives and industry norms

By Dan McGarvey  | CBC News

A new TV drama series being shot in Calgary is a Canadian first, according to its African producer and director. The African Family is based around a young Afro-Canadian woman who sponsors her husband to come to Canada from Angola, but discovers the truth about their marriage.

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Burna Boy, Tobe Nwigwe, others shine at the 2020 BET Awards

By Ezenduka Ebuka Murphy | Deythere.com

Burna Boy, Tobe Nwigwe, Roddy Ricch and Megan thee Stallion were some of the artistes who took the 15th annual BET Hip Hop Awards by storm .During a show that seemed to focus more on performances than awards, Nigerian star Burna Boy and Nigerian-born Houston spitter Tobey Nwigwe stood out with their performances.

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Esi Chelle|Ghanaian Born American Singer, Calls For Diaspora To Amplify Africa’s Voice

By Emmanuel Oscar Ugoh  | Modern Ghana

Many Africans have become known for becoming Icons in first world countries, where they’ve broken norms and glass ceilings to prove that as a people, Africans are enterprising. One such name rising from the diaspora is Esi Chelle. The singer who was raised in Denver and other parts of America spoke on the importance of the diaspora in Africa’s quest for better.

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Barak Jacuzzi: 5 quick facts to know about the Kenyan-American rapper

by  Florence Wanjiru | Tuko.co.ke

If you are a fan of Kenyan rap music, then you must have listened to the hit rap songs released by Barak Jacuzzi, in collaboration with Octopizzo. Barak’s real name is Baraka Njoroge. The super talented artist wears many hats. Besides being a Kenyan American rapper, he is an emcee, entertainer, pianist, and radio presenter at NRG radio.

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Sarkodie, Fameye and Diana Hamilton win big at Ghana Music Awards-USA

By GhanaWeb

The maiden edition of the Ghana Music Awards-USA (GMA-USA) came off last Saturday, October 10 at the Show Boat Atlantic, New Jersey in a star-studded ceremony which set the standards for future award shows in Ghana.

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‘Americanah’ Drama From Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira Dead at HBO Max

by | Hollywood Reporter

Americanah, the planned limited series starring Lupita Nyong’o and from showrunner and actress Danai Gurira, is no longer moving forward at HBO Max. Sources say Nyong’o had to drop out of the series after running into a scheduling conflict.

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Full list of winners at the Ghana Music Awards USA

By  MyJoyOnline   

The Ghana Music Awards USA came off on Saturday, October 10 in New Jersey. The event saw performances from Keche, Fameye, Eno Barony, Nathaniel Pryce, Stella Seal among others. The performances of some of these artists took place on a stage set in Accra while others were in New Jersey.

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Gospel in your disco: Why South Africa’s ‘Jerusalema’ became No. 1

Bound by the pandemic this year, people from around the world now also have something more joyful in common: a hit song and a dance with deeply South African roots.

By Ryan Lenora Brown  | Christian Science Monitor

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‘The Real Africa Has Not Been Shown.’ How Burna Boy Is Using His Voice to Share a New Vision for His Homeland

By Andrew R. Chow  | TIME

“The real Africa has not been shown. For a long time, the world has only seen videos of little kids and their ribs, asking for donations,” Burna Boy says with a bitter laugh. The Nigerian superstar sits in a London studio, sporting a crisp marbled button-down and immaculately coiffed dreadlocks while serenely holding a cup of Hennessy and Coke, presenting a very different image indeed.

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Mannywellz Bridges the Gap Between America & Africa

By Marcus K. Dowling | DJBOOTH

Mannywellz’ skill as a singer and songwriter connects African music to the thriving space where R&B, trap, and mainstream pop converge. The 26-year-old R&B artist, born in Nigeria and based in Laurel, Maryland, is a second-generation musical creative whose style, sound, and inspirations occupy a growing African-led space in American and global popular music.

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Why Netflix is a lifeline for African film-makers

The streaming giant’s ambitious initiative Made By Africa, Watched By the World is a welcome platform for the continent’s overlooked cinematic talent.

By Fred Onyango | The Guardian

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Trevor Noah |Comedy Central celebrates 5 years of South African comedian at the helm of the ‘Daily Show’

by Encomium

When late-night titan Jon Stewart announced that he would step down from The Daily Show there was much speculation about who would take his spot. The biggest names in American comedy were thrown around, but no one expected a little known South African comedian to take the helm. 5 years on Trevor Noah is one of the biggest names in late-night television and a household name across the globe. Tune in to Comedy Central (DStv Channel 122) as we celebrate this iconic milestone on The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) at 10:30 PM

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Folake Olowofoyeku |Bob Hearts Abishola Star Signs With WME & M88

 WME and M88, the newly formed company from former WME partner Phillip Sun and MACRO CEO Charles D. King, have signed Nigerian-born actress and star of the CBS/Chuck Lorre sitcom Bob Hearts AbisholaFolake Olowofoyeku.

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Stephen Ojo | Nigerian Dancer says Working with Beyonce was an experience of a lifetime

Singer, actor, model and choreographer, Stephen Ojo, aka Papi Ojo, recently enjoyed international acclaim when he featured in Beyonce’s visual album, Black is King.

By CHIJEKWU MICHAEL | Punch

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5 Siblings Launch “The Sisters Show” Podcast to Connect Black America With the Global African Diaspora

By Blacknews

The Sisters Show is a new talk show & podcast hosted by five sisters from Gambia (West Africa) now streaming on Apple Podcast and Facebook Live. The sisters — Dr. Jay Ceesay, Olay Ceesay Jabbi, Amy Ceesay, Juka Ceesay, and Dr. Mamaram Ceesay — all have diverse views, different professions, and vibrant personalities.

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Mo Abudu | Nigerian Producer talks on Striking Netflix’s First Multi-Title African Deal

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Djimon Hounsou Joins Tony Kaye’s ‘African History Y’

By Anthony D’Alessandro | DEADLINE

 Djimon Hounsou has boarded director Tony Kaye’s African History Y. The plot is being kept under wraps billed only as “a story of tragedy and redemption.” Charles Chanchori, Jason Corder and Kaye are writing. DeForrest Taylor, Marc Le Chat, Kaye and Raymond J. Markovich are producing.

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Issa Rae | Senegalese-American said a white producer told her what Black people wanted to watch when he rejected her show


By Jacob Sarkisian | Insider

Senegalese-American Issa Rae was nominated for three Emmy Awards at the 2020 ceremony. During last the Emmys, Issa Rae spoke about her first Hollywood pitch, in which a white producer told her what Black people want to watch.

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Uzo Aduba | Nigerian-American is sole African winner at 2020 Emmys

By Ebimo Amungo

Nigerian-American Uzo Aduba was awarded her third career Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a limited series for her role in the FX miniseries Mrs. America. She was the only African to win an award after six actors with African heritage had been nominated for the 2020 Emmys Award

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Ghana Music Awards USA set for October 10

After much waiting, the Ghana Music Awards USA (GMA-USA) is set to come off on Saturday, October 10, 2020.Dubbed a night to remember, GMA-USA 2020 will see some of the biggest acts from both Ghana and the USA vying for honours in various categories.

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