Entertainment

AU, AFRIMA Releases 5th Awards Nominees List …Public Voting to Commence Monday, August 27

Published

8 years ago

August 18, 2018

Eric

The globally-anticipated Nominees List for the 5th All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has been unveiled by the African Union Commission, AUC, and the International Jury of AFRIMA, during a World Media announcement held on Tuesday, August 14, 2018, at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The released nominees list covers the five Regional Categories divided into Female and Male categories as follows: Best Female Artiste in Central Africa; Best Male Artiste in Central Africa; Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa; Best Female Artiste in Western Africa and Best Male Artiste in Western Africa.

A total of 79 songs made it to the Regional nominees list.

The AFRIMA’s open voting process will occur via the AFRIMA website, www.afrima.org. Music lovers will be empowered to decide which artiste/song emerges winners of the 23.9 carat gold-plated AFRIMA trophy.

The 5th AFRIMA is scheduled to hold in November 2018, other activities scheduled for the main awards events is the Africa Music Business Roundtable, a combination of musical conference and trade expo where stakeholders in the creative and arts industry come together to discuss the business of music in Africa, also the AFRIMA Music Village, a music concert and cultural festival that accommodates over 40,000 music lovers across the continent who witness live performances from their favourite African artistes.

Below is the nominees’ list and their various categories.

	Best Female Artiste in Central Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Amanda Malela	DRC	Kumama
2	Anabela Aya	Angola	I love you Bue
3	Blanche Baily	Cameroon	BonBon
4	Bruna Tatiana	Angola	Amo-te
5	Charlotte Dipanda ft Yemi Alade	Cameroon	Sista
6	Daphne	Cameroon	Jusqu’à La Gare
7	Iyenga	DRC	Sorry
8	Shura	Cameroon	Allez Dire

	Best Male Artiste in Central Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	AFROTRONIX	Chad	DYD
2	Belamy Paluku (DRC)	DRC	Blood Brothers
3	Dadju	DRC	Bob Marley
4	FALLY IPUPA FT KEBACK& NAZ	DRC	MANNEQUIN
5	GAZ MAWETE	DRC	PAULINA
6	Locko	Cameroon	Je Serai La
7	Magasco	Cameroon	Sokoto
8	Maite Gims Ft. Vianney	DRC	La Meme

	Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Betty G	Ethiopia	Mengedegna
2	Irene namatovu	Uganda	Nsambila nyuma nga janzi
3	Maua Sama	Tanzania	Nakuelewa
4	Petra Ft. Victoria Kimani	Kenya	I got that
5	Rash Ft Ruff	Kenya	Nitachange
6	Sandra Nankoma	Uganda	kaddugala
7	Sheebah SASHA VYBZ	Uganda	Mummy Yo
8	Vibe ft MC Galaxy	Rwanda	Neza

	Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Bebe Cool	Uganda	Freedom
2	Diamond Platnumz	Tanzania	A boy from Tandale
3	HARMONIZE FT DIAMOND PLATNUMZ	Tanzania	KWANGWARU
4	Kagwe Mungai Ft. Niniola	Kenya	Till the end
5	Khaligraph Jones Ft. Petra	Kenya	Rider
6	Nyashinski	Kenya	Bebi Bebi
7	RAYVANNY FT MAPHORISA & DJ BUCKZ	Tanzania	MAKULUSA
8	Yamiu Mola	Ethiopia	Wegegta


	Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Kenza	Algeria	Maliket Saba
2	Lyna Mahyem	Algeria	Boucan
3	Lyna Mahyem ft Medi Meyz	Algeria	Bye Bye
4	Maryam Saleh, Maurice Louca, Tamer Abu Ghazaleh	Egypt	Ekaa Maksour
5	N-S feat Kafon	Tunisia	Daloula
6	Souhia Ben Lachhab	Algeria	Lik Manwalich

	Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Abu Ft. Yousta	Egypt	3 Daqat
2	Balti ft Hamouda	Tunisia	Ya Lili
3	DJ Moh Green Ft. Magasco	Algeria	Por Favor
4	Hamza El Fadly	Morocco	Ya Mraya
5	Lartiste ft Carolina	Morocco	Mafiosa
6	Muslim	Morocco	Mama
7	Saad Lamjarred	Morocco	Casablanca
8	Sofiane Ft. Maitre Gims	Algeria	Arafricain

	Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Ammara Brown	Zimbabwe	Akiliz
2	Babes Wodumu	South Africa	Ganda Ganda Ft. Mampintsha & Madanon
3	Lily	Malawi	Bad at Love
4	Mandisa Mamba	Swaziland	Party
5	Nadia Nakai	South Africa	Money Calling Ft. Frank Casino
6	Rouge	South Africa	Dololo Ft. Bigstar
7	Ruby the Pigeon	Namibia	Rorisang
8	Shekhinah	South Africa	Please Mr

	Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Cassper Nyovest	South Africa	Ksazobalit
2	EXQ	Zimbabwe	Pahukama Ft. Jah Prayzah
3	Jah Prayzah	Zimbabwe	Nziyo Yerudo Ft. Yemi Alade
4	Kwesta	South Africa	Spirit Ft. Wale
5	Nasty C	South Africa	Jungle
6	Roberto	Zambia	Contolola Ft. Patoranking
7	Shane Eagle	South Africa	Let it Flow
8	Sibusiso Mashiloane	South Africa	Niza

	Best Female Artiste in Western Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Angelique Kidjo	Benin	Once in a Lifetime
2	Aya Nakamura	Mali	Oumou Sangare
3	Becca	Ghana	Number One Ft. Mr. Eazi
4	Efya	Ghana	Mame Ft. Mr Eazi
5	Josey	Cote d’Ivoire	Jour J-O
6	Simi	Nigeria	Joromi
7	Tiwa Savage	Nigeria	Ma Lo Ft. Wizkid & Spellz
8	Viviane Chidid	Senegal	Marriage Force

	Best Male Artiste in Western Africa
	Name of Artist	Country	Track title
1	Davido	Nigeria	Fia
2	DJ Spinall	Nigeria	Nowo Ft. Wizkid
3	Djodje	Cape Verde	Be Mine Ft. Patoranking
4	King Promise	Ghana	CCTV Ft. Mugeez
5	Kuami Eugene	Ghana	Angela
6	Kwesi Arthur	Ghana	Grind Day Ft. Sarkodie & Medikal
7	MHD	Guinea	Bella Ft. Wizkid
8	Olamide	Nigeria	Wo!
9	Starboy	Nigeria	Soco Ft. Terry, Spotless, Ceeza Milli & Wizkid

Entertainment

Joeboy Stars on Easter Edition of Glo-Powered African Voices

Published

3 days ago

April 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria-born Afro-pop star, Joeboy, whose melodies now ripple across continents, takes centre stage this week on the Easter edition of African Voices, the Globacom-sponsored CNN magazine programme.

In a captivating session from Lagos, show anchor Larry Madowo drew out the rhythm of Joeboy’s journey, tracing the arc from a starry-eyed university dreamer to a maestro whose songs now traverse the globe like whispered secrets carried on the wind.

Born Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus in 1997, Joeboy—affectionately dubbed Afrobeats’ “lover boy”—embarked on his musical odyssey in 2017 with a viral reinterpretation of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You.

This pivot from rap to melodious crooning caught the discerning eye of Nigerian artiste and entrepreneur Mr Eazi, who, upon discovering him on Instagram, extended an invitation to join the emPawa Africa Talent Incubation initiative—a sanctuary for budding African talents where raw potential is nurtured into brilliance.

The partnership bore fruit in 2018 with the release of Fààjí, featuring Mr Eazi, and soon after, Joeboy was signed to Warner Music Africa. From there, his ascent became a symphony of milestones: the intoxicating single Baby in 2019, followed by Beginning, which amassed over 23 million views on YouTube, and Love & Light the same year.

Collaborations with Mayorkun yielded the spirited tracks Don’t Call Me and All for You, further cementing his place in the Afrobeats constellation.

Joeboy’s debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, unfurled in February 2021, a melodic tapestry of youth, hope, and desire. By 19 May 2023, he unveiled his sophomore studio effort, Body & Soul, preceded by the evocative singles Sip (Alcohol), Contour, Body & Soul, and Duffel Bag. In 2023, he teased the world with Only God Save Me and the extended EP Body, Soul and Spirit, offering listeners a window into the essence of his artistic spirit.

February 2024 marked another milestone as he launched his own imprint, Young Legend, soon releasing Osadebe, a track that resonated nationwide with the familiar warmth of homegrown brilliance.

Joeboy’s dedication has been richly rewarded. He clinched Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His music has earned numerous nominations, including at the City People Entertainment Awards and The Headies, affirming his status as a luminary of contemporary African sound.

The Easter edition of African Voices featuring Joeboy will air on DSTV Channel 401 at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, with repeats at 11 a.m.; Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday at 3 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.; and Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. The schedule will be mirrored the following week, culminating in Monday at 3 a.m., giving audiences multiple opportunities to bask in the artistry of a musician whose voice carries the pulse of a continent.

Entertainment

Hollywood Action Movie Superstar Chuck Norris Dies at 86

Published

2 weeks ago

March 20, 2026

Eric

Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 86 years old.

“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.

“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives,” the statement said.

Norris reportedly fell ill on Thursday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

Norris turned 86 last week, marking the event with a video of him boxing on social media and saying, “I don’t age. I level up.”

Entertainment

Great Facts About the Forthcoming Oscars You Need to Know

Published

3 weeks ago

March 14, 2026

Eric

By Samantha Ofole-Prince

Below are great facts about the forthcoming Oscars most entertainment buffs may not have know…

1. Oscar is a nickname. The origins of the nickname are not clear, but a popular story has been that Academy librarian Margaret Herrick thought it resembled her Uncle Oscar and said so. The Academy staff began referring to it as Oscar, but the Academy itself didn’t use the nickname officially until 1939.

2. Each Oscar statuette is individually handcrafted, and the Oscar statuette stands at 13½ inches high and weighs 81/2 pounds.

3. The Oscar statuette is the most recognized award in the world and statuettes have been presented since the first initial awards banquet on May 16, 1929.

4. At age 74, Clint Eastwood became the oldest winner to date in the Directing category.

5. Hattie McDaniel is the first African American to win a best supporting actress Oscar. She won for her role as Mammy in the 1939 movie “Gone with the Wind.”

6. Halle Berry is the first African American actress to win best actress Oscar. She won in 2002 for “Monster’s Ball.”

7. In 2002, Denzel Washington became the second African American actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor (“Training Day”), and the first African American actor to have won Oscars for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (Sidney Poitier was the first to win an Oscar in 1963 for “Lilies of the Field “).

8. Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock have previously hosted the Oscars, but Billy Crystal remains the longest serving host. Crystal has hosted the Oscars nine times to date.

9. Attendance at the Oscars ceremony is by invitation only. No tickets are sold to the public and in Oscar history; only three circumstances have prevented the Academy Awards presentation from going off as scheduled. The first was in 1938, when destructive floods all but washed-out Los Angeles and delayed the ceremony. In 1968, the Awards ceremony was postponed out of respect for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who had been assassinated a few days earlier, and in 1981, the Awards were postponed for 24 hours because of the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

10. The longest Oscar telecast was the 74th Oscars show in 2002 which had a running time of 4 hours, 23 minutes. Shortest Oscar telecast was the 31st Academy Awards in 1959 which had a running time of 1 hour, 40 minutes.

The Oscars, one of the most-watched live entertainment events of the year, will be held on Sunday, March 15 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, streamed live on Hulu. With 16 nominations, Sinners set the record for most nominations for a film for the 98th Oscars.

Samantha Ofole-Prince is a U.S. journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film.