Tag: African entertainers in America

Music

CKay becomes best-selling African singer in USA with ‘Love Nwantiti’

By Adegboyega Adeleye | Vanguard

Afrobeats sensational superstar, Chukwuka Ekweani popularly known as CKay, has earned another recognition in his stellar career.

The talented singer, songwriter, and producer has reportedly been named the best-selling African artiste in the United States of America (USA) after his record-breaking international hit song ‘Love Nwantiti’ earned over 1.6 million dollars in 2022 — which is the largest amount ever achieved by an African artiste.

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Music

Nigerian singer, Burna Boy, thrills fans in New York

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, thrilled music lovers in New York with an electrifying performance on Thursday night at the prestigious Madison Square Garden.

The historic concert with caption ‘One Night In Space’, saw Burna Boy performing at the famous Madison Square Garden which has a seating capacity of more than 20, 000 people.

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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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Music

UNK student, Victoria Nimneh connects African heritage with love of performance

By ERIKA PRITCHARD | UNK Communications

Victoria Nimneh strutted the runway like she owned it. At the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s recent Cultural Fashion Show, the daughter of African immigrants happily bounced to the music in an off-shoulder dress made of a patchwork of bold red, gold and black prints.

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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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Uncategorized

Folake Olowofoyeku is the Star in “Bob Hearts Abishola” You Should Know About

By Damilola O. | BellaNaija

Folake Olowofoyeku is a Nigerian-born American who’s the star of CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola. Folake plays the role of Abishola, a no-nonsense cardiac nurse and single mother navigating immigrant life in America. In this chat with BellaNaija, Folake talks about her character, her experience as a Nigerian in diaspora, upcoming projects, some of the challenges faced by women of colour in Hollywood and the Nigerian songs she loves.

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Entertainment

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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Movies

28th Annual African Diaspora International Film Festival to hold with New York premieres

By Black Star News

The African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) will celebrate its 28th anniversary virtually nationwide for the first time from Nov. 27 to Dec. 13 with 75 narratives and documentaries from 31 countries including 26 World, US and New York premieres.

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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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Music

Afrobeats’ Global Takeover

By Pitchfork

Over the last several years, American listeners have grown more and more attuned to the sounds of West African pop music, also known as Afrobeats—whether it’s the swaggering Nigerian Afro-fusion of Burna Boy, the playfully genre-bending anthems of Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae, or the enthusiastic dabbling of stateside superstars like Drake and Diplo.

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Movies

Diaana Babnicova | Ghanaian Child who Stars in Hollywood Xmas Movie Jingle Jangle

By YEN

The Ghanaian UK-based child actress, Diaana Babnicova, has come under the spotlight after starring in Netflix’s Hollywood Christmas feel-good family film titled Jingle Jangle.

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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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Uncategorized

Ernest Ugeziwe | Podcast creator tells inspirational stories of Rwandans in America

By Sharon Kantengwa | The New Times | Rwanda

Ernest Ugeziwe is a Rwandan radio and television personality, mostly known for his music and entertainment shows mainly on Rwanda Television and other local media houses, a career he started in 2010 while still in college.

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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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Uncategorized

On The Daily Show Trevor Noah Explains The Meaning Behind #EndSARS And Nigerian Police Protests

By Liz Kocan | Decider

Celebrities like Kanye West, Beyonce and Rihanna have all publicly responded to the nationwide protests occurring in Nigeria in recent weeks using the #EndSARS hashtag, but in case SARS and the protest movement to abolish it is unfamiliar to you, Trevor Noah broke it down in simple terms on last night’s episode of  The Daily Show With Trevor Noah.

 Continue reading “On The Daily Show Trevor Noah Explains The Meaning Behind #EndSARS And Nigerian Police Protests” →
Uncategorized

Beyoncé, Rihanna, Burna Boy, More Voice Outrage at Protest Killings in Nigeria

By Jazz Monroe | Pitchfork

Artists around the world have voiced support for Nigerian demonstrators after soldiers fired upon protest crowds yesterday (October 20), killing at least one protestor. Several more are thought to have been killed, the BBC reports, citing Amnesty International.

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Uncategorized

Tiwa Savage Pleads With Beyoncé To Speak Up About #EndSARs Movement In Nigeria

Protests have erupted in Nigeria as citizens are calling for an end to police brutality. The “#EndSARS” movement has been reignited in recent months as Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS.

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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

‘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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Opinion

Africa’s Creative Industries Are Ripe for U.S. Investment

BY AUBREY HRUBY | FOREIGN POLICY

When one of Nigeria’s biggest artists, Burna Boy, released his new album, Twice as Tall, in August, it became an instant global success. Burna Boy’s international popularity had skyrocketed the year before with the release of his fourth studio album, African Giant, which garnered the artist his first Grammy nomination and sold out arenas in Europe and North America. 

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Entertainment

‘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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Music

Diamond Platnumz Talks On Breaking Into The U.S. Market

By Christopher A. DANIEL | GRAMMY.com

When Diamond Platnumz exploded onto the African music scene in 2010 with his debut LP, Kamwambie, his sole mission was to be able to buy food for his mother. He didn’t realize that his sound and vision would go on to transform both East African popular music and the heights its regional superstar talent could reach.

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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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Entertainment

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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