Entertainment
Beyonce’s Love Draught Video Reminisces Igbo Landing
Beyonce
It is one of the many strik
ing images from Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ visual album. The scene (from the love draught video) showcases a procession of black women walking into an ocean as if -they are about to drown themselves willingly.
The video draws inspiration from a slave time story popularly known as the “Igbo Landing” which is the story of Igbos who were brought to America to be slaves but vowed to drown themselves rather than be slaves in foreign land. Here is the full story of the ‘Igbo Landing’ via Wikipedia.
“In May 1803, a ship load of captives from West Africa upon arriving the middle passage were landed by American paid captors in Savannah by slave ship to be auctioned off at one of the local slave markets. The ship enslaved passengers included a member of Igbo people from what is now known as Nigeria.
The Igbos were known by planters and slavers of American south for being fiercely independent and resistant to chattel slavery. The group of 75 Igbo slaves were brought by agent of John Couper and Thomas Spalding for forced labour in their plantations in St. Simon’s Island for $100 each.
The chained slaves were packed under the deck of a small vessel named the Schooner York to be shipped to the island.
(Other sources say the voyage took place aboard the morovia). During this voyage, the Igbo slaves rose up in rebellion, taking control of the ship and drowning their captors in the process causing the grounding of the Morovia in Dubar creek at the site now locally known as “Igo Landing”.
According to the historical account, under the direction of a high Igbo chief, they all walked in unison into the creek singing in Igbo language “the water spirit brought us, the water spirit will take us home”. They would rather accept the protection of Chukwu than end up in chains. Pretty remarkable story, and in parts of south Carolina and Georgia, this story still holds true and the ground where the slaves drowned themselves is a historical land mark.
The entire video is set in a Marhy Swampy landscape which is very reminiscent of what the shores of slave landing will be like and in addition, there is a lot of random imagery that points to the slave trade and landings. One of them is seeing Beyonce physically bound in ropes and trying to resist the pulling.
This is not the only African inspired theme in the album, Nigerian designer Amaka Osakwe is credited with designing some of the outfits Beyounce wore in some videos in the album. In addition, Beyonce featured famed novelist Chimamanda Adichie in her 2013 hit single “Flawless”
Source Naij.Com
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’