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☆ Nigerian Fashion Moves Beyond the Catwalk
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Tariro Mzezewa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

LAGOS, Nigeria — For the past decade, Nigeria’s best-known ambassadors have, arguably, been its musicians: Burna Boy, WizKid, Davido, Tiwa Savage Asake and Tems, who have popularized Afrobeats beyond West Africa. At a moment when music, literature, visual art and food from across the African continent continue to gain global popularity, fashion designers, particularly those from Nigeria, are ready for their industry to take center stage. There’s more variety, and people feel proud to be wearing things made by Africans.” In 2023, Alara opened a pop-up shop as part of the Brooklyn Museum’s “Africa Fashion” exhibition. “Currently the global fashion community is looking to the African continent for more than inspiration,” said Ernestine White-Mifetu, the Sills Foundation curator of African art at the Brooklyn Museum. “The fashion world at large is finally ready to pay attention.”

Persons: Nigeria’s, Burna, Tiwa Savage, Reni Folawiyo, Alara, ”, Ernestine White Organizations: Designers, “, Brooklyn, Sills Foundation, Brooklyn Museum Locations: LAGOS, Nigeria, West Africa, Lagos, ”, Africa

☆ Grammys 2024: There’s a new category for African musicians at the awards. Meet the nominees
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Lamide Akintobi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Lagos, Nigeria CNN —For the first time, African music will have its own category at the Grammys. The Recording Academy will showcase three new categories for this year’s awards, including “Best African Music Performance” — featuring some of Afrobeats’ global superstars. The Nigerian singer best known as Davido is also nominated for Best Global Album and Best Global Music Performance. Burna BoyVideo Ad Feedback The night Burna Boy became a Hollywood star 03:19 - Source: CNNBurna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, is up for a total of four Grammys this year for Best Global Music Album, Best Melodic Rap performance, Best Global Music Performance and Best African Music Performance — and will perform at the awards. No stranger to the awards circuit, he won the Best Global Music Album Grammy in 2021 for his album “Twice as Tall.” Burna Boy ended a historic 2023 at No.

Persons: ”, Harvey Mason Jr, Arya Starr, Sarah Aderibigbe, Ayra Starr, “, Barack, Kelly Rowland, Stormzy, Tiwa Savage, ” Asake, Ahmed Ololade, Amapiano, Olamide, Tyla Tyla, John Lamparski, Musa Keys, David Adeleke’s, Davido, “ I’m Organizations: Nigeria CNN —, Recording Academy, Recording, Spotify, YouTube, Mavin Records, CNN, Vibe, Art, Olamide, Getty Images, South, Hollywood, Best Locations: Lagos, Nigeria, Los Angeles, Square , New York City, AFP, South African, Nigerian, Africa

☆ On tour with Burna Boy to Wizkid: How Afrobeats conquered the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Thomas Page | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The following week the two crossed paths again and the photographer let Burna Boy know the photos were his. There was something fresh; it was something that they hadn’t seen before.”Photographer Oliver D. Akinfeleye, aka DrDrummerD, has documented Afrobeats artists in the US and Europe since 2017. Of all the artists Akinfeleye has worked with, he says his bond with Wizkid is the tightest. “Nigerian music – African music – is there to make people feel good no matter what,” he added. The world needs to feel good,” Akinfeleye argues, and that need isn’t disappearing any time soon.

Persons: CNN — Oliver Akinfeleye, Burna Boy’s, Burna, Akinfeleye, Wizkid, Rema, Selena Gomez, Oliver D, Aubrey, Drake, Graham, Mr Eazi, Brandon Boyd, Wiz’s DJ, DJ Tunez, ” Akinfeleye, “, ”, he’s, Afrobeats, it’s Organizations: CNN, Palladium Times, Madison, Citi Field, Tottenham Hotspur, O2, MTV, Washington DC, O2 Arena Locations: New York, American Nigerian, Queens , New York, Nigerian, Citi Field , New York, Glastonbury, London, African, Europe, Runtown, Washington, Akinfeleye, Puerto Rico

☆ MTV VMAs 2023: See the full list of winners
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Alli Rosenbloom | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The 2023 MTV Video Music Awards were presented on Tuesday. Beyoncé, Doja, Karol G, Minaj and Shakira joined Swift as artist of the year nominees, marking the first time since the category was introduced in 2017 that all artist of the year nominees are women. Shakira received the Video Vanguard Award. The night also welcomed brand new category Best Afrobeats. Demi Lovato, Shakira, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Doja Cat and Fall Out Boy, among others, all performed during the ceremony.

Persons: Taylor Swift, ”, Doja, Karol G, Minaj, Shakira, Swift, Demi Lovato, Olivia Rodrigo, Cardi, Megan Thee, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus –, Nicki Minaj –, Olivia Rodrigo –, Sam Smith, Kim Petras, Bill ” Taylor Swift, Karol, Nicki Minaj Shakira Taylor, Cyrus –, Rema, Selena Gomez, Steve Lacy –, PinkPantheress Reneé Rapp, Saucy Santana –, Booty, Stephen Sanchez – “, Flo Milli, Conceited, Reneé Rapp – “, Sam Ryder –, Armani, GOATED, Fletcher –, Diana ”, FLO –, Lauren Spencer Smith, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, Post Malone, Bryson Tiller, Yung Miami, Shakira –, Savage, Diddy, Lovato, ” Ed Sheeran, ” Taylor Swift, DJ Khaled, Lil Baby –, Swizz Beatz, ” Nicki Minaj –, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown –, Toosii –, ” Yung Bleu, Nicki Minaj, Metallica, “, –, Ella Baila Sola, Despechá, Starr – “, Musa Keys, ” Rema, Ayra Starr – Organizations: CNN, Metro Boomin, NK – Locations: Reneé Rapp – “ Colorado, Lipa

☆ Pirelli calendar 2024: Idris Elba, Naomi Campbell and Angela Bassett top latest edition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Ayanda Ntuli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Featuring Idris Elba, Angela Bassett and Naomi Campbell, the latest edition of the prestigious Pirelli calendar is the first to have been shot by a Black photographer in its more than half-century history. Known as “The Cal,” the Pirelli calendar started in 1964. Until the 2024 edition, no Black photographer had been selected for the commission. Prince Gyasi directs actor Angela Bassett for the 2024 Pirelli calendar. Alessandro ScottiGyasi chose to shoot some of his subjects for the 50th Pirelli calendar in Ghana, where some of them have ties.

Persons: CNN —, Idris Elba, Angela Bassett, Naomi Campbell, Prince Gyasi, ”, Tiwa Savage, Amanda Gorman, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asante, supermodels Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Campbell, Patrick Demarchelier, Nick Knight, Annie Leibovitz, risqué photoshoots, Terence Donovan, Edward Enninful, Tim Walker, Alessandro Scotti Gyasi, Burna, “ I’m, “, “ They’ve, ” Gyasi, “ We’ve, you’re, Alessandro Scotti, ” Pirelli Organizations: CNN, Pirelli, Cal, Black, Black British Vogue, Puma, Apple, Converse, Balmain, GQ, Idris Elba braves Locations: Ghanaian, Ghana, West African, Black British, White, Accra, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Elba

☆ Wizkid becomes latest Afrobeats star to make history with sold-out stadium show in London
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Samantha Bresnahan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Africa Walk 2023: Africa's creative industry takes center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Themed “Unleashing the potential and value of the African Creative Industry,” the continent’s billion-dollar creative industry will be at the center of conversations at the event, which aims to shine a spotlight on the possibilities and untapped value that the industry holds. Courtesy Platform CapitalAs an advocate for the continent’s cultural potential, Akindele is passionate about changing misconceptions surrounding the African creative industry at Africa Walk. “There’s a myth about the creative industry (in Africa) - that it is not structured and that you cannot put money in there,” he said. Similar to the oil industry’s success, the creative industry requires a lot of refineries to produce the finest oil product. The same refining is highly needed for our creative industry now,” said the singer whose real name is Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo.

Persons: ”, Lehle Balde, Akintoye Akindele, ” Akindele, Lai Mohammed, Renee Yao, “, Nollywood, Party ”, Afrobeats, Kunle Remi, D’banj, creatives, “ I’ve, Daniel Oyebanjo, Oyebanjo, Riyah Abdul, ” Abdul Organizations: Nigeria CNN, Capital, CNN, African Creative Industry, Nigerian Information, Global Healthcare, Nvidia, Party, Africa Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Africa, Senegal, Dakar, Lagos, Europe, North America, Asia, South Africa, Kenya

☆ Grammys add Best African Music Performance category
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Next year’s Grammys will feature three new categories, including Best African Music Performance, as the awards move to reflect the massive popularity of Afrobeats around the world. The category “recognizes recordings that utilize unique local expressions from across the African continent,” the organizers said in a statement published Wednesday. Throughout the year, the Recording Academy – the group of music industry professionals that presents the Grammy Awards – accepts proposals from its members for new categories. Those proposals are then reviewed by a committee and voted on by the academy’s board of trustees. At a meeting in May, the trustees voted to introduce the Best African Music Performance category, as well as awards for Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording, the statement said.

Persons: –, Harvey Mason Jr, Afrobeats, Mason Jr, ”, Beyoncé, Drake, Ed Sheeran, they’ve Organizations: CNN, Recording Academy, ” Recording, TikTok, Billboard, Company Locations: West Africa, Africa

☆ Guns N' Roses and Arctic Monkeys to headline Glastonbury along with Elton John
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Sumaya HishamLONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - Guns N' Roses and Arctic Monkeys will join Elton John as headliners at the Glastonbury Festival in June, organisers said on Friday, drawing attention to the largely male line-up of its biggest performers this year. The festival's official poster gave U.S. rapper Lizzo joint headline billing but she was the lone, high-profile female performer among the main acts this year. Paul McCartney, 80, played last year's Glastonbury, as the festival returned from a three-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. While English rock act Arctic Monkeys will be making their third appearance as headliners at Glastonbury following the release of a new album in October, it will be the first time for American rock legends Guns N' Roses, who will be touring Europe in June. Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by Paul Sandle and William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The Grammys consider adding an Afrobeats category
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

In recent years, the genre has gained a foothold in Western pop culture, and the Grammys are taking notice. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. recently said that the Grammys were considering adding an award category for Afrobeats. Throughout the year, the Recording Academy – the group of music industry professionals that presents the Grammy Awards – accepts proposals for new categories from its members. Those proposals are then reviewed by a committee and voted on by the Recording Academy Board of Trustees. “My goal is to make sure that we represent all genres of music, including Afrobeats, at the Grammys.

☆ Africa's next big thing will be its tech startups, says prolific investor
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-08 | by ( Paul Adepoju | For Cnn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Between 2015 and 2021, total annual funding flowing into African tech startups has grown by 1,000 per cent according to the African Tech Startups Funding Report 2021According to the report, 125 tech startups in Africa raised $185 million in funding in 2015 but in 2021, 564 startups raised $2.1 billion. In countries like Nigeria, which is home to five of the continent's seven tech unicorns, these success stories are still largely seen as Nigerian and African and not truly global tech companies. Akindele noted that taking African tech companies global would also require efforts similar to how Afrobeats became known around the world. Akindele noted that Africa's burgeoning fintech ecosystem is only about a decade old but he has high hopes for its growth in the global marketplace. Akindele noted that tech can be an avenue for Africa to quickly solve its problems, catch up with and overtake the rest of the world.

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