Entertainment

AFRIMA 2021: Top Shots Gear Up For ‘Best Act In The Diaspora (Male)’

Published

4 years ago

November 11, 2021

Eric

African art has become one of globally renowned phenomenon. From folklore to visual arts, you can find a bit of Africa in every corner of the world. After several powerful Afro-American musicians surfaced, from the Banjo, and Gumbe players among black slaves, to post-independence singers such as Jazz lord Thelonious Monk, Blues Legend Little Walter, and the vocal amazon Dinah Washington, among others, music from African natives in the Diaspora has continued to be on a steady upward drive.
Now, with the likes of Rotimi, Jae5, Dave, Seal, among others, African acts continue to seize the spotlight in contemporary musicdom. With barely 10 days to the All African Music Awards (AFRIMA), here are some of the big shots in the ring for the highly acclaimed ‘Best African In The Diaspora’ (Male).

DAVE

DOUBLE S

NELSON FREITAS

Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde & Portugal)
FONDLY called ‘Mr. Magic’, Nelson Freitas is an avant-garde singer, dancer and one of Europe’s most vibrant crowd controllers. “I ain’t got on diamonds, ain’t got on pearls to give / But I’ll give you loving, every day all day / Every day all day,” Freitas’ song, Every Day All Day featuring Spanish producer, Juan Manuel Magán González, perhaps best embodies the 46-year-old singer. Born to African Parents from Cape Verde, the wide-eyed singer rose from a music enthusiast on the streets of Holland, to become one of the finest Afro-fusion singers in the Diaspora.

Dave (Nigeria & UK)
Two years ago, Dave beat the likes of Anna Calvi, The 1975 and Foals for the prestigious 2019 Hyundai Mercury Prize with his debut album dubbed, Psychodrama. That album became the foundation of David Omoregie’s phenomenal rise within the UK and African Hip/Hop music scene. Born to Nigerian parents, Dave grew up with under his mother in the streets of Brixton. His clear-minded lyricism underscores his entire discography, pushing him to the limelight as one of UK’s most socially conscious lyricists.

Double S (Uganda & UK)
Born Bashir Bazanye, Double S is a prolific British rapper repping both Tottenham and Uganda. He is very popular for being an original-founding member Shoddy Crew-a grime collective from the Northumberland Park Estate in Tottenham – which also comprised Chipmunk. When it comes to Grime Music, the maverick is best known across UK as one of the ‘big daddies’ of Grime.

Headie One (Ghana & UK)
Irving Adjei is one son that Ghana, and Africa, can be proud of. The 27-year-old rapper better known as Headie One is an enigmatic drill rapper in Tottenham, London. He is a member of the drill group dubbed, OFB. His raps are mostly stewed in his life experiences and observations. The artiste whose last album dubbed, Edna, is named after his mum, is one of the masters of dancehall, hip-hop, drill and trap fusions in UK’s musicdom.

JAE5

TION WAYNE

HEADIE ONE

JAE5 (Ghana & UK)
Jonathan Mensah is not just your typical 28-year-old African creative. The Ghanaian-British music producer is one of the hottest on the scene right now. He is notorious for his dexterity in combining hiplife, hip-hop, house, dubstep, bashment, Afrobeats into his discography. His summer smash with Rema dubbed, Dimension, alongside his other unreleased collaborations, have solidified his position as one the most vibrant African-British music makers of our time.

Tion Wayne (Nigeria & UK)
Another 28-year-old Nigerian-British rapper winning on the big scene is Dennis Odunwo, better known as Tion Wayne. His collaborations with other African heavyweights such as Davido, Kojo Funds, Rema, Afro B, among others might be the only records you remember of the rapper, but Wayne has been winging it on the lyricist side since 2010.

Rotimi (Nigeria & US)
You might probably have known him first for his role as Andre Coleman in the Starz network blockbuster Power, but 32-year-old Olurotimi Akinosho is one of the most talented Nigerian-American RnB singers. His earlier soundpieces dubbed, The Resume (2011) and While You Wait (2011) helped him develop a vibrant musical personality that pushed him towards public attention. His recent smash single featuring Nigerian-American rapper, Wale, which is dubbed In My Bed, has kept the singer in the ears of many black people, especially Africans.

Tayc (Cameroon & France)
The Cameroonian RnB superstar, Tayc, shook the African music scene, last year, with the release of his avant-garde album dubbed, Fleur Froide, which also translates to ‘Cold Flower’. The 18-track album has been certified Platinum by the French-based SNEP.

MHD (Guinea & France)
Mohamed Sylla has carved a legacy for himself as one of Africa’s most vivacious rappers, under the moniker MHD. The French artiste of Guinean-Senegalese origins is best known for pioneering the Afro-Trap legacy, with his continentally-smashing hits. In France and Africa, MHD continues to power his fame with his hit-laden albums, the most recent being Mansa, which was released mid-July.

MHD

ROTIMI

AFRIMA 2021 holds at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, Nigeria from Friday, November 19 – Sunday, November 21, 2021. Preceding the award ceremony is the African Music Business Summit (AMBS), a platform for business networking and interaction among music professionals which will take place on Friday, November 19, 2021at 8.30am.
Sunday, November 21, 2021 comes with glitz from Africa’s music superstars, celebrities, and international personalities at AFRIMA awards ceremony with Red Carpet at 4.30pm and main awards at 7.30pm. Voting and ticket sales are ongoing on AFRIMA website www.afrima.org .
AFRIMA has been regarded as the ultimate celebration and recognition of African talents and creatives globally since 2014.

For more information, please contact:
Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi
Email – maureen.ihuamaduenyi@afrima.org

Phone – +2348026620173

Entertainment

Tribute to Jimmy Cliff: Last Lion of Reggae Crossed the Rivers

Published

5 days ago

December 14, 2025

Eric

By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare

The wind blows soft across the hills of Jamaica, and the world feels it — a tremor of sorrow, a sigh of history, as Jimmy Cliff, the last Lion of the Reggae Mountains, crossed the great river at eighty-one.
He was the troubadour who sang survival into existence. The freedom-fighter who turned melody into movement. The dreamer who taught the world that:
“You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try and try.”
And try he did — from Somerton to Kingston, from Kingston to the world.

THE JOURNEY — FROM SOMERTON TO THE SUMMIT

Born James Chambers, a young boy humming tunes to the morning breeze, Jimmy Cliff stepped into Kingston with nothing but ambition and spirit. He recorded “Hurricane Hattie” at sixteen, and the island took notice.
He rose like sunrise — slow, steady, unstoppable. Reggae, ska, rocksteady — he touched them all, carving a golden road across Jamaica’s musical skyline.

Then came the explosion that stamped his immortality.

“THE HARDER THEY COME” — A REVOLUTION ON SCREEN

With the 1972 classic The Harder They Come, Jimmy Cliff did more than act; he preached struggle and hope for the entire world.
His voice cried out: “The harder they come, the harder they fall.” Oppressed people everywhere heard their story.
In “Many Rivers to Cross,” he poured a lifetime of pain, faith, and yearning:
“Many rivers to cross, but I can’t seem to find my way over.”
Yet he always crossed — and showed humanity how.

THE MAN WHO SANG FOR HUMANITY

Jimmy Cliff lived with the soul of a pilgrim, a man who believed that peace could ride on melody. He travelled far, performed wide, raised children with pride, held philosophies that blended faith and freedom.

He sang of unity in “Wonderful World, Beautiful People,” reminding humanity:
“There is a place where love is flowing freely.”
His life proved that music could make nations kinder and people braver.

AWARDS, HONOURS, AND ETERNAL RESPECT

Jimmy Cliff earned the world’s applause:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Grammy Awards

Jamaica’s Order of Merit

Worldwide tours and universal reverence
A catalogue woven into the soundtrack of global culture
But his deepest legacy lies in the millions who found hope in his voice, who stood tall because he sang:
“I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.”

THE LAST LION OF THE REGGAE GENERATION

With Marley gone, with Toots, Peter, Bunny, and Gregory gone, Jimmy Cliff stood as the final elder — the last lion roaring from reggae’s original pride.
He carried the flame when others dimmed. He carried the memory. He carried the movement. He carried the message.
And now he has crossed the last river — the one his own lyrics foresaw.

TRIBUTES FOR A TITAN

“Jimmy Cliff was a bridge between struggle and joy — a global treasure.” — Jamaican Prime Minister
“He sang the world into courage.” — Global Entertainment Guild
“Reggae has lost its last first-born. The music will never forget.” — International Music Legends Alliance

Though gone in body, the stage curtain remains open for the last lion who crossed all the many rivers after finally finding his way.

Jimmy Cliff is gone. But Jimmy Cliff can never die.His voice lives in street corners where youth gather, in radios crackling across African markets, in festivals, in freedom rallies, in every soul that ever felt hope rise from a song.

His own words now carry him across eternity:
“There’s a river that must be crossed, and I must cross it.”

He has crossed. The Lion rests. But his roar echoes forever.

One love. One legend. One Jimmy Cliff.

Entertainment

Globacom-Sponsored African Voices Changemakers Features BBN Host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Published

3 weeks ago

November 30, 2025

Eric

Nigerian media personality and Big Brother Naija host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, is the guest on CNN International’s acclaimed magazine show, African Voices, this week. The 30-minute show, sponsored by telecommunications leader, Globacom, gives viewers an in-depth look at Ebuka’s journey and impact.

Born on July 14, 1982, Ebuka first entered the spotlight as a contestant on the inaugural edition of Big Brother Naija in 2006. Since then, he has become the show’s longest-serving host, captivating audiences with his charisma and style.

A Law graduate of the University of Abuja, Ebuka also holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Washington College of Law at American University, Washington, where he specialized in Intellectual Property. Beyond reality TV, he has anchored notable programs including Rubbin’ Minds on Channels Television and the Glo Show.

The episode highlights Ebuka’s impressive fashion collaborations with designer Mai Atafo, the cultural stories behind his signature style, and his passionate advocacy for young boys across Nigeria.

The show which runs on Saturday on DSTV Channel 401 at 8:30 a.m. and 12.00 noon is repeated on Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. The repeats continue on Monday at 4 on the morning belt and at 6.45 p.m. the same day and at 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday. The edition will be repeated next weekend at the same time slots.

Entertainment

My Character in “Sinnners” Reflects Deep Ancestral Reverence, Connection – Starlet Wunmi Mosaku

Published

3 weeks ago

November 29, 2025

Eric

By Samantha Ofole-Prince

She received a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award (BAFTA) for playing a grieving matriarch in the heartbreaking drama “Damilola, Our Loved Boy.” She captivated audiences as Ruby Baptiste in the horror-drama series “Lovecraft Country” and was the sidekick to Idris Elba’s character in the fifth series of the BBC crime drama “Luther.”

Wunmi Mosaku’s latest role as a spiritual healer and Hoodoo conjurer is earning her rave reviews.

In “Sinners,” the supernatural horror film directed by Ryan Coogler, Mosaku, who is known for her roles in “Loki” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” and the film “His House” is much more than just the estranged wife of Elijah “Smoke” Moore (Michael B. Jordan).

“Annie is Smoke’s protection, his comforter. She’s his mother, his teacher, his friend and his lover,” says the Nigerian-born British actress whose performance has been widely praised for its emotional arc and authenticity. In playing Annie, she steeped herself in research ensuring she not only perfected the Southern American accent required but arduously rehearsed with Jordan as their on-screen relationship is central to the film’s core.

“We had a couple of weeks of rehearsal and shared our story, our lives, our hopes, our dreams, our fears, the things most precious to us. And so, we built a level of trust and openness and safety to really explore that love, that grief, the differences. I think that’s kind of the fastest way to get to trusting your scene partner and being free is just to open up, and that’s what we did.”

An original tale that takes place in a single day, “Sinners” follows identical twin brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan), who return to their Mississippi hometown to open a juke joint. While they plan to start a new life, they soon find themselves battling a group of vampires who attack their establishment, forcing the survivors to learn how to fight and defeat them.

Her character’s expertise in Hoodoo proves crucial in helping her companions tackle the vampires. She provides spiritual and intellectual guidance for the group. It’s a role which also allowed Mosaku, who was born in Zaria, to explore her own heritage as a Hoodoo expert Dr. Yvonne Patricia Chireau, an authority on Africa based religions and spiritual traditions served as a consultant on the film.

“There is this reverence for our people, who we are and where we’re from, and I was excited by the depth and the quality of the writing when I read the script, and I learned so much from Annie. The onset conversations Michael and I had, and those I had with the community, truly inspired me. I hope the film reminds people to stay connected with their ancestors.”

With music, humor, drama, suspense and history, director Ryan Coogler (“Creed,” “Black Panther,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”), who also wrote the screenplay, has created a modern cinematic masterpiece.

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