Entertainment
Afrobeat: The Long Journey To Grammys
Afrobeat is a jubilant party music that draws from west African source, hybrid languages, propulsive rhythms move them with delivery and tone from across America’s referencing hip hop and Jamaican dancehall
Wikipedia defines Afrobeat as “a music genre which involves the combination of elements of west African musical styles such as Fuji music, highlife with American jazz, and later soul and funk influence with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms and percussion”.
Distinct from Afrobeat is Afrobeats, a sound originating in West Africa in the 21st century, one which takes in diverse influences and eclectic combination of genres such as Azonto, dancehall, highlife, House juju, Naijabeats, Ndombolo, Palm wine, RnB and Soca.
Typical instruments are bass guitar, congas drum, horns, Hammond, organ, keyboard percussion, saxophone and vocals. The two genres though often conflated are not the same.
The origin of Afrobeat music genre could be traced to Ghana in the early 1920s when Ghanaian rhythms like Osibisaba, (Fante), Highlife was associated with the local African Aristocracy during the colonial period and was played by numerous bands including jazz king, Cape Coast Sugar Babies and Accra orchestra along the country’s coast.
Nigeria later joined the Afrobeat wave in the late 1960s led by Fela Kuti, who experimented with different contemporary music of the time upon arriving in Nigeria. Fela also changed the name of his group to Africa 70 and opened his club African Shine in Lagos, between 1970 and 1975, Afrobeat ruled the club and thrived among Nigerian youths. Fela, a much instrumentalist and band leader was repoonsible for pioneering and popularising the style both within and outside Nigeria.
Politics became essential to Afrobeat as Fela used social criticisms to pave way for social change. His message can be described as confrontational and controversial which can be related to the political climate of most of the African countries in the 1970s which were dealing with political injustice and military corruption, while recovering from the transition from colonial government to self determination.
Many jazz musicians have been attracted to Afrobeat, the genre has also influenced important producers and musicians like Brian Eno and David Byrne, who credit Fela as an essential influence. In July 2020, the Afrobeat genre got its official chart which highlights impactful Afrobeat artistes in united kingdom where the scene was accrued wide-spread popularity for about a decade.
Afrobeat growing traction was seen in traditional and new avenues starting with a steady supply of hit songs, international collaborations with Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage among others, leading affairs with both local and international awards and recognitions to show for their exploits in the Afrobeat clan.
Nigeria took centre stage of the world’s attention yet again on Sunday March 14, 2021 at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, USA as Nigeria’s Afrobeat super stars, Burna Boy and Wizkid did the country proud by winning a Grammy each in different categories. While Burna Boy won the award in the Best Global music Album category for his body of work, ‘Twice As Tall’ Album, Wizkid clinched the Best music video Award for a collaborative effort with Beyonce on the ‘Brown Skin Girl from the Lion king: the Gift Album.
Recently, an African American Grammy Recording Academy member and Afrobeat to the world Advocate, Richardine Bartee who revealed that she voted for Burna Boy at the just concluded 63rd Grammy Award highlighted what the Nigerian two Grammys entails not only to Africa, but the future of Afrobeats on the world stage.
In a WhatsApp chart with potpourri, she said “Wizkid and Burna Boy winning Grammy awards is a big deal not only to Africa, but also to the people in the US pushing music made in Africa. A group of people including Quincy Jones and myself are involved in the bringing a new inclusive category to the Grammy which we hope will help to blend western and non-western elements of rhythm, melody and instrumentation.
Addressing the mounting fear that Afrobeat of which Nigeria is the flag bearer to the world may die a natural death like soukus and makossa, Barter assures that the genre can never die in its true form.
“Based on music history and what happen in American pop culture, most things have their moment, its what we refer to as an era, or something had its 15 seconds of fame. Nothing lasts forever in its original form and it shouldn’t, human life is ever evolving, like the Christ Redeemer status is to Brazil, Afrobeats will always be synonymous with Africa. I hope that Afrobeat in the future gets coupled with how it affects diaspora people encouraging them to learn more about their ethnic background and visit the land”, she said.
Many Americans, particularly those of African descent, have been vigorously promoting Afrobeats in America. Richardine Barter for the better part of 10 years, has been an advocate of Afrobeats with a special focus on emerging artistes.
Recently, another African American, Sheila O with Afro zones and in conjunction with mix cloud just launched a programme tagged “Afrobeats US weekly Top 10 chart”, with a view to promoting Afrobeat in the USA and its neighbouring countries. Sheila Akonji popularly known as Sheila O, is the anchor of the show titled, “How Far With Sheila O”, which airs on HIPTV.
By: Jacob Obinna
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French
The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
Popular Nigerian comedienne, Tomama has revealed how she waited for Afrobeats superstar, Wizkid outside the bathroom.
She shared this while recounting her encounter with the singer at a recent event with heavy security.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Tomama explained that she waited by the bathroom in an attempt to have a one-on-one conversation with Wizkid.
She stated that she positioned herself near the restroom, hoping Wizkid would eventually use it, giving her the perfect opportunity to speak with him.
“Wizkid, I saw you, and I waited for you to pee, but you didn’t even stand up from where you were sitting. You just stayed there. All your crew members standing around got up to go pee. I was standing by the bathroom, waiting for you to come pee so that you would notice me,” she said.
Content creator and actor, Mr Macaroni has opened up about his financial struggles, saying he was both a victim of a scam and a failed investment in 2021.
He revealed that after losing all his savings, he resorted to borrowing to settle pending commitments and slipped into N500 million in debt.
He admitted that he is financially reckless and generous, impacting his financial stability negatively.
In lengthy post shared via his X handle yesterday, Mr Macaroni wrote, “Sometime around 2020/2022, I was a victim of a scam and simultaneously a failed investment that cost me all I had saved at the time. It shook me deeply but I told no one about it. If you know me well enough, you would know I do not like to share my problems. I could be going through the worst and at the same time helping others solve their own problems but I just would never share mine.”
“After I lost all the money I had then, Trouble started when I had to borrow money from different sources to settle all pending commitments and also fulfill certain responsibilities I have always believed were mine to fulfill. I make money in millions so I never thought borrowing money to pay back with interest could ever be a problem. But I got too comfortable and it took me a long time to realise that I was using the money I was earning to pay back interests. Also, my financial recklessness did not help. Please don’t borrow money! But if you must, please be responsible.”
The actor stated that 2024 marked a pivotal moment in his acting career but it was also the most challenging year for him as he faced over half a billion naira in debt.
Mr Macaroni revealed that his frustration grew worse after he was betrayed by someone he considered “a friend and sister.”
He added that with the support of family and friends who stood by him during his trying times, he now “feels better than I have felt in the last three years!”
The comedian stated that he decided to finally share his story to encourage others who are going through challenges.