Entertainment
Nigerian Artists To Benefit From You Tube’s Black Voices Fund
You Tube has announced that artists and creators from Nigeria can apply for grants from its black voices fund. The global $100 million fund will over the next three years offer support to black artistes and creators so that they can thrive on You Tube.
According to the Managing Director, Emerging Markets, Black Voices Fund, Alex Okosi, You Tube EMEA will invest with the intention to present fresh tunes that emphasizse the intellectual power, authenticity, dignity and joy of black voices as well as to educate audiences about racial justice.
The $ 100 million fund was first announced in June, 2020. It has since been officially named the You Tube Black Voices Fund.Okosi said this year, the fund will be focusing its efforts on creators within United States, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.
“ Our goal is to expand funding to more countries over the course of the next three years, additionally, we hope to provide a consistent drumbeat of educational training workshops and community events to black creators and artists globally.”
The You Tube Black Voices Fund is part of the work currently underway to ensure that You Tube is a place where black artists, creators and users can share their stories and be protected.
Along with our commitment to amplifying marginalised voices on the content side,we are also investing in product and policy changes that will continue to advance You Tube’s mission of giving everyone a voice and showing them the world”, Okosi said.
You Tube believes that it is only by taking a stance against those who would like to bully,harass, silence and intimidate others that it moves closer to actualise this mission. Its new efforts include beefing up enforcement and terminating more accounts that repeatedly post hateful comments. It is also in the process of rolling out product changes to make creator moderation tools more streamlined.
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.’
