Ghanaian songstress and composer, Wendy Shay, will be guest on this week’s edition of the Globacom-sponsored African Voices Playmakers on CNN International.

The edition will highlight Shay’s abilities and accomplishments that have propelled her to the pinnacle of her profession and her influence in charitable endeavours.

Born on February 20, 1996, Shay was originally named Wendy Asiamah Addo. She is a former midwife and nurse who plays a distinctive kind of music that combines hip-hop, highlife, and Afrobeats. “Africa Money” and “Uber Driver” are some of her successful albums.

Among other honours, Wendy Shay, a brand ambassador for Ghana’s Youth Employment Agency (YEA), took the Ghana-Naija Showbiz Awards’ Best New Artiste of the Year title.

This Saturday, African Voices Playmakers will broadcast at 8.30 a.m. The same day at 12 p.m. and Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7 p.m. will see another rerun of the edition. There will be further repetitions on Monday at 4:00 a.m., Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., Sunday at 4:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and Monday at 4:00 a.m.

By Eric Elezuo

Class, intelligence and brains were all at display when the much anticipated Chess Showdown, tagged Battle of the Ages hit town in the luxurious Centerpoint Tower, Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos

Powered by Daniel Ford International, the game of mind, wits and alertness was between Guinness World Record holder, Tunde Onakoya, who is also the Founder, Chess in Slums of Africa, and the 12-year-old child chess prodigy, Deborah Quickpen. The game ended in a draw.

Analysts have scored Tunde Onakoya high for showing his prowess early in the game winning the Rapid games 3:1.

But as her name is, Quickpen made a quick recovery, turning the tables in the blitz games. Her recovery gave her a 3:1 victory

Tunde had started well in the blitz game, winning the first, and keeping Deborah in a tight corner. However, fate was on Quickpen’s side as she took the second, third and fourth games with ease.

The last two games of the blitz sessions were indeed a walk over for Quickpen. She won convincingly on both the board and on the clock.

While Onakoya won the first set by 3:1, Quickpen won the second by the same 3:1. The total at the end of proceedings was 4:4. No winner, no vanquished!

A deep hug, immediately after the game by  Tunde to Deborah was all it took to prove the game was not just a tough one, but also well enjoyed.

Congratulations to the duo of Onakoya and Quickpen for their great contributions to the game of Chess in Nigeria.

Afropop singer, Adekunle Almaruf Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, is guest on this week’s edition of CNN African Voices Playmakers sponsored by telecommunications company, Globacom.

Born on January 28^th, 1987, Gold is reputed for his rich lyrics and unique rendition of his songs, He holds a Higher National Diploma in Arts and Design from the Lagos State Polytechnic. Gold hit the lime lights in 2015 after releasing his hit single “Sade” which was subsequently nominated for Best Alternative Song at the 2015 Headies. He later released  2 more singles, “Orente” and “Pick Up” singles following the success of ‘Sade’.

Gold progressed further in 2015 by signing a record deal with YBNL Nation and released his debut studio album “Gold”, which clinched number 7 on the Billboard World Albums chart.

Adekunle Gold is using his superstar status to raise awareness and rally support for those living with sickle cell, which he also battled behind closed doors for his entire life.

Gold who married a Nigerian songstress, Simi, in 2019, has received many awards including Best New Act Award of the Nigeria Entertainment Awards in 2015 and 2016, the City People Entertainment Awards for Album of the Year in 2016 and 2017; the Best African Music Artist of IARA in 2017 and Songwriter of the Year for The Headies, 2023.

African Voices Playmakers comes up on Saturday at 8. 30 a.m. on DSTV Channel 401 with repeats the same Saturday at 12.00 noon; Sunday at 4.30 a.m., and 7.00 p.m. The edition will be repeated on Monday at 4.00 a.m., next week Saturday at 8.30 a.m., 12 noon and on Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. and on Monday at 4. 00 a.m.