Entertainment

America’s Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, Bows Out at 76

Published

7 years ago

August 18, 2018

Eric

Though the news of her death did not come to many as surprise it nonetheless elicited emotional breakdown from as many that knows the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Franklin, noted for her ‘gospel-rooted singing and bluesy yet expansive delivery’ earned her the title “the Queen of Soul,” died in the early hours of Thursday, August 16, 2018 at the age of 76 in her home in Detroit, USA.

She was surrounded by family and friends, according to a statement on behalf of Franklin’s family from her longtime publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn.

The “official cause of death was due to advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type, which was confirmed by Franklin’s oncologist, Dr. Philip Phillips of Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit,” the family statement said.

In his tribute to a woman who drew tears from his eyes with her wonderful sonorous voice, the immediate past president of the United States of America, Mr. Barak Obama said “Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade—our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace.”

For legendary soul singer and Franklin’s friend of more than sixty years, Sam Moore, it was words of sorrow and comfort to offer.

“I adored her and I know the feelings were mutual. While I’m heartbroken that she’s gone I know she’s in the Lord’s arms and she’s not in pain or suffering anymore from the damn cancer that took her away from us,” he said in a statement. “I’m going to hope, pray and count on the fact that I will see her again sometime. Rest in the Lord’s arms in love, Re.”

Franklin’s fans paid tribute with flowers and a crown left on her Hollywood Walk of Fame star in Los Angeles.

The statement that announced her death read:

“In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds,” Franklin’s family said.

“We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days, the statement said.

Her final public performance was last November, when she sang at an Elton John AIDS Foundation gala in New York.

Over the course of a professional career that spanned more than half a century, Franklin’s songs not only topped the charts but became part of the vernacular.

She made “Respect,” written by Otis Redding, a call to arms. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” a Carole King song, was an earthy expression of sexuality. “Think,” which she wrote with her then-husband, Ted White, became a rallying cry for women fed up with loutish men.

The first woman admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she had 88 Billboard chart hits during the rock era, tops among female vocalists. At the peak of her career — from 1967 to 1975 — she had more than two dozen Top 40 hits.

She won 18 Grammy awards, including the honor for best female R&B performance for eight straight years.

“I think of Aretha as ‘Our Lady of Mysterious Sorrows,'” wrote the late Jerry Wexler, Franklin’s producer at Atlantic Records. “Her eyes are incredible, luminous eyes covering inexplicable pain. Her depressions could be as deep as the dark sea. I don’t pretend to know the sources of her anguish, but anguish surrounds Aretha as surely as the glory of her musical aura.”

She finally gave up the ghost three days after she was said to be critically ill, ending a prolific career of entertainment laced in very deep soulful voice.

Goodnight Aretha!

Entertainment

Mercy Johnson Reveals Reason Behind Weight Loss, Says I Had Cancer Scare, Underwent Thyroid Surgery

Published

4 days ago

May 19, 2025

Eric

Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie has opened up about her health struggles and her sudden weight loss.

The movie star recently sparked concerns with her drastic weight loss, which has been the subject of intense discussion across social media platforms.

In a recent conversation with veteran actress Joke Silva, Okojie explained that she had a cancer scare and underwent a thyroid removal surgery.

She said, “I had a cancer scare and I had my thyroid removed. I was like a journey for us because we have kids and my lastborn was six month old at that time, we [my husband and I] kept saying, we had to understand this is the new us, let’s go get the surgery done.

“When we got there, they said that I was going to be on medication for the rest of my life. We had to sit down, they were saying I can’t miss my medication, telling me the side effects. So, I’m reconciling with this you are saying [my weight loss]. I’m at the point where you realised that this is where we are, let’s grow from here and live in this comfort zone.”

DailyPost

Entertainment

Nobody Kidnapped Me, Sunny Ade Dispels Abduction Rumours

Published

3 weeks ago

April 30, 2025

Eric

Juju music singer, King Sunny Ade, has finally spoken to dispel the swirling rumour that he has been kidnapped.

For several days, social media platforms were abuzz with speculation that the musician had been abducted, leaving his fans both worried and confused.

In response to the frenzy, Sunny Ade took to a video released by his wife, Mrs. Bose Olubo-Adegeye, to dispel the unfounded rumours.

“Nobody kidnapped me,” the renowned singer said with his accustomed calmness.

“I pray, as I don’t want anybody to kidnap me. I believe the whole world is in love with me. This is me, King Sunny Ade.

“I have to thank God and you, my fans, for the concern. I have been doing my shows. I was at a show last Saturday at Lekki, Lagos. I am on my way to have a show, and I am coming back again to play in Lagos, as well,” he said.

Sunny Ade, fondly referred to as KSA, reassured his fans, thanking them for their concern and love.

The musician explained that the confusion surrounding his absence could have been linked to the fact that some of his children hadn’t seen him recently.

“I know my children are in love with me, and they want to see me. I didn’t go anywhere. This is me. I thank the children, too, for their concern as well,” KSA added.

The 78-year-old star, who is known for his vibrant performances and contributions to Nigerian music, expressed his continued passion for music.

“By God’s grace, enjoyment continues. I am still in music. Music is my life; it is my business, and I will continue to do it.”

Entertainment

Easter: ‘Dear Kaffy’ Returns to Lagos After Sold-Out Shows, International Success

Published

1 month ago

April 19, 2025

Eric

From its prestigious debut at the Lagos International Theatre Festival to a phenomenal Christmas run in Lagos with 20 sold-out shows, and a successful international tour in Pretoria, South Africa in partnership with the South African State Theatre, Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions is proud to announce the highly-anticipated return of its hit stage play, Dear Kaffy – Diary of a Single Woman, to Lagos for a special Easter showing.

The play, directed by the acclaimed Queen of theatre in Nigeria, Bolanle Austen-Peters, will be live at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, from April 18–21 and April 26–27, 2025, with two shows daily at 3PM and 7PM.

A Story That Reflects So Many, Yet Tells One Woman’s Truth, Dear Kaffy – Kike’s Story is a heartfelt and relatable narrative that follows Kikelomo Olota, a brilliant 35-year-old Lagos woman navigating the complex terrain of love, identity, family pressure, and societal expectations.

From her teenage years, Kike was celebrated for her academic excellence, yet felt out of place among her peers due to her inexperience with love and relationships. Eager to fit in, she chose popularity over authenticity, plunging herself into a series of complicated relationships.

There’s Femi, the smooth-talking charmer with a hidden agenda. Then Emeka, seemingly perfect until it’s revealed he’s already married. Through each heartbreak, Kike learns valuable lessons about herself and the kind of love she truly desires.

As pressure mounts from her parents especially her father, Kike is introduced to Debo, a potential suitor who offers hope and something new. Just as she starts to open her heart again, her ex, Tamuno, resurfaces, igniting emotional chaos and forcing her to confront her past.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos, Dear Kaffy explores the emotional complexities of a modern African woman. Through humour, music, and sharp social commentary, the play challenges cultural norms and celebrates the courage it takes to choose authenticity over conformity.

A Stellar Production, A Stellar Cast
Produced by Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, this theatrical gem features a powerhouse cast including: Uzo Osimkpa, who plays the lead role of Kike; Yewande Osamein (Tolani), Abiola Lepe (Bidemi), Sharon Onyegbula (Shalewa) and Ralph Okoro (Tamuno), Hector Amiwero (Debo), Obiora Maduegbuna (Debo), Floyd Igbo (Femi), Bimbo Manuel who plays the role of Father, and Bukola Ogunnote who plays the role of Mother.

Some of the best hands in the industry are also on the crew list, with Stage Manager being Ikenna Jude Okpala while Kehinde Oretimehin and Deji Aremu directed the music for this beautiful production.

“The quality of storytelling and performance in Dear Kaffy is excellent, it sells itself,” says Bolanle Austen-Peters, founder of BAP Productions. “This play gives a voice to the everyday African woman while celebrating her strength and vulnerability. We are honoured to bring it back home for Easter.”

Now, the story returns to where it all began, Lagos, bringing with it a renewed energy and even more to look out for, building on the emotional richness that left audiences spellbound across two nations. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time or coming back for another laugh and cry, Dear Kaffy promises a soulful, hilarious, and unforgettable Easter experience. Get your tickets at www.terrakulture.com.