By Eric Elezuo

Among the giant strides of Dr. Mike Adenuga’s Glo, and its effect on humanity, is the hype of African superstars from various entertainment sectors, giving them voices in a CNN International programme titled African Voices Changemakers.

So far, a sizable number of Africans of distinct innovations and class have been featured. They include but mo limited to:

Ghanaian songstress and composer, WENDY SHAY

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.

Afropop singer, ADEKUNLE ALMARUF KOSOKO, popularly known as ADEKUNLE GOLD, is another guest that has featured on the programme.

He was born on January 28^th, 1987, and 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.

There was also two Nigerian fashion icons, DUMEBI ANDREA IYAMAH (brand name Andrea Iyamah) and RUTH ERIKAN JAMES (brand name Veeke James).

Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, ANDREA IYAMAH is a fashion designer who is Canadian-Nigerian. Her fashion label, “Andrea Iyamah”, specializes in bridal, swimsuit, and ready-to-wear lines. She founded the company and serves as its CEO. Celebrities, including Michelle Obama, Kate Hudson, Gabrielle Union, Ciara, Issa Rae, and Genevieve Nnaji, have all donned her designs.

Iyamah, who was born on March 18, 1993, left her professional studies early at the age of 17 to start her fashion brand, Andrea Iyamah. The company is based in Toronto, and in 2017 it opened a flagship store in Lagos.

Bright colors and intricate patterns are hallmarks of current design, and Andrea Iyamah’s colorful swimwear combines African tradition with style.

VEEKEE JAMES, on the other hand, learned how to sew when she was still a young child from her mother Esther James, who was also involved in fashion design.

In fact, it was her mother who gave her the inspiration to launch “Veekee James”, her own clothing line, in 2019. Over time, she established two fashion brands: “Shoprikan” for ladies and “Veekee James Man” for men. With her magnificent gowns, which are renowned for their flawless craftsmanship and red carpet appeal, Veekee James transforms bespoke couture.

On the weekly feature show, CNN’s Larry Madowo delves into the world of the two Nigerian designers who are revolutionizing international fashion.

Star singer SIMI also featured on Glo-sponsored African Voices

Nigerian songster, songwriter and actress, Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, popularly known by her stage name, Simi

Simi was born on 19 April 1988 in Lagos as the last of four children. She started her career as a gospel singer, releasing her debut studio album in 2008, entitled “Ogaju”. She gained public recognition in 2014 after releasing “Tiff”, a song that was nominated for Best Alternative Song at The Headies 2015. Earlier in 2014, Simi signed a record deal with X3M Music, but left the label in May 2019 following the expiration of her contract.

She released her second studio album “Simisola” on September 8, 2017. Her third studio album “Omo Charlie Champagne”, Vol. 1 was released to coincide with her 31st birthday on April 19, 2019, after which she launched her record label Studio Brat in June of the same year.

The graduate of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State was one of the top judges in Season 7 of the Nigerian idol TV show in 2022.

Simi who married a singer named Adekunle Gold in a private wedding ceremony on January 9, 2019 became a mother for the first time on the 30th of May 2020 when she gave birth to her daughter Adejare.

Ghana’s Afropop and reggae star, STONEBWOY, has also featured as special guest.

Livingstone Etse Satekla popularly known as Stonebwoy was born in Ashaiman, great Accra region of Ghana in on March 5, 1988. He started his musical career from primary school where his talents and abilities as a lyricist and scriptwriter were discovered at an early age.

Since then, he has never stopped singing both songs that he has written and composed and those by artistes he is influenced by In the Ghana music industry.

His current album, 5th Dimension, making waves in the country is an indication of  how gifted and talented Stonebwoy is in his music career. The afropop, dancehall and reggae star is currently the CEO of Burniton Music Group and has been recognised and rewarded for his musical feats over the years.

In 2015, he won the duo of Vodafone Ghana Music Awards and Africa category at  BET Awards.  He also won two Billboard plaques as well as the Golden Club plaque from Boomplay after surpassing 100 million streams on the platform.

In 2019, he was listed as part of the 50 (fifty) young CEOs by YCEO and Avance media. The list honoured distinguished young individuals who are committed to providing solutions to some of Ghana’s problems.

In 2021, three albums in which Stonebwoy featured were nominated for the 2022 Grammy Awards. In 2022, Vodafone Ghana recognised him for using his creativity and music to promote the awareness of environmental and sustainability issues.

There was also Nigerian TOSIN OSHINOWO and South African, LUYANDA MPHALWA.

The two designers have successfully engendered social change while creating  more inclusive places for people to live, work, and play.

Lagos-based OSHINOWO is, in addition to practising architecture, also a designer, creative entrepreneur, public speaker and author who  weaves  identity and culture into her work. She  graduated from Kingston College, London, and equally holds a  Master’s degree in Urban designs from Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London.

Oshinowo has numerous awards to her credit, including the 3rd City People Real Estate Awards for Architect of the Year 2017 and the Lord’s Achievers Awards for Creativity, in celebration of World Achievers Day 2019. She was among five finalists for the 2023 Diversity in Architecture Divia Awards. ^[

MPAHLWA on his part is an accomplished architect; one of South Africa’s earliest black students permitted to study the course. He uses his life’s journey as a blueprint to uplift those in need in post-apartheid South Africa.

He got a Masters in Architecture from the Technical University of Berlin and is the  Director of DesignSpaceAfrica, a Cape Town-based architecture and design practice which he  established in 2009.

Also, the flourishing career of Moroccan-American rapper, M.C FRENCH Montana was featured.

Originally named KARIM KHARBOUCH but widely addressed by his stage name, MC French Montana, the November 9, 1984 born hip-hop star so far boasts of 41 platinum singles.

He emigrated with his family to the United States at age 13. His career in hip-hop led him to found Coke Boys Records and its predecessor Cocaine City Records. He signed a joint-venture record deal with Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records and Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group in 2012.

African VoicesChangemakers’ Larry Madowo who was with the multi-platinum selling artiste at his home in Los Angeles followed him to New York  where he premiered his new documentary about his life from  a struggling immigrant to an accomplishment rapper.

His hit track, “Quarter to Eight” was the first of manycollaborations with Rick Ross who is also a legendary musical artiste. He has either won or been nominated for several awards including the Best Club Banger Award which he won at the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2013. Also, in 2016, he was nominated twice in the Best Rap Song Category and in 2017 for the Best Rap Performance at the Grammy Awards.

The programme also featured Five renowned African musicians: Nigerian songwriter, singer and actor, CHIKE EZEKPEAZU OSEBUKA, popularly known  as Chike, L.A.X., DAMILOLA  AFOLABI OF STARBOY ENTERTAINMENT, talented singer and rapper, BLESSING AKIODE of Candy Bleakz fame, as well as EKEH CHIAKA JOSEPH (Majeeed,) and WENDY SHAY from Ghana.

Chike, a 31-year-old Glo ambassador, graduated from Covenant University in Nigeria. He gained fame through Project Fame West Africa and acting before pursuing music full-time. He won the 2020 City People Music Award for Album of the Year. L.A.X, is also 31 and he holds a Master’s degree from the University of Manchester and started his music career as a rapper.

Candy Bleakz on the other hand began her musical journey in 2013 in a group of three called Flybois and was signed to Chocolate City Music in 2020,  while  Majeeed, a Mass Communications graduate from Iscom University, Republic of Benin started his music career with two promotional singles. “Gee for Life” and “Rocky Lo”.

Also Wendy Shay, a Ghanaian honed her musical skills in Germany before launching her career with her debut single “Uber Driver” in 2018. Aged 28, she is a trained nurse.

The Programme shows on DSTV Channel 401 every Saturday at 8.30 a.m. and the show is repeated the same day at noon. Other repeats follow on Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and 7.00 p.m., on Monday  at 4.00 a.m., and on Saturday next week at  8.30 a.m. and 12 noon. It will also air again on Sunday at 4.30 a.m. and  7.00 p.m. and on Monday  at 4.00 a.m.