Great Black Music exhibition documents the protest history of black music Kigali, Rwanda| JOSEPH ONDIEK| Black music played a large part in bringing freedom, not only in the United States from slavery and civil rights movement but also in Africa and the Caribbean. It raised the consciousness of those suffering from different …
Read More »Fête de la Musique in full gear in Uganda
Alliance Française opened their week-long music festival Fête de la Musique on Sunday June 18 at QuePasa in Kampala, drawing a large and lively crowd. The line up of artists included lesser known but highly talented Uganda singers, poets and instrumentalists including Body of Brian, Wake the Poet, Apio Moro …
Read More »Pop superstar Beyonce gives birth to twins
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Pop diva Beyonce and her rap mogul husband Jay-Z have welcomed twins, according to multiple US media reports, with two new members joining music’s royal family that already includes five-year-old Blue Ivy. News that the songstress had given birth, which was first reported …
Read More »US judge declares mistrial in Cosby sex assault case
US judge declares mistrial in Cosby sex assault case Norristown, United States | AFP | A US judge declared a mistrial Saturday in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case with the jury deadlocked on whether the disgraced star drugged and molested a woman in 2004, as prosecutors vowed to seek a retrial. …
Read More »Deadlocked Cosby jury eyes fifth day of deliberations
Norristown, United States | AFP | A deadlocked Pennsylvania jury battling to reach a verdict in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial was to deliberate a fifth day Friday as to whether or not he drugged and molested a woman more than 13 years ago. The 79-year-old pioneering black actor could …
Read More »Fête de la Musique comes to Uganda June 18-24
The World Music Week (Fête de la Musique) that started in France in 1982, comes to Uganda again this week. This year the Alliance Française Kampala in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Uganda, the Sheraton Hotel Kampala, the Ecole Française les Grands Lacs, the Pearl Rhythm Foundation, Que …
Read More »In Africa’s fashion capital, Lagos, ‘trad is swag’
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Leggy dancers in tight shorts, bottles of Moet champagne and flashy cars feature in Nigerian pop icon Wizkid’s bling-bling music videos. But the singer himself has now swapped the Versace T-shirts and low-slung jeans that show his underwear for traditional African dress — a new …
Read More »Jury in Cosby trial to deliberate for third day after failing to reach a verdict
Norristown, United States | AFP | The US jury presiding over the Bill Cosby trial will deliberate for a third day Wednesday after failing to reach a verdict on whether the disgraced cultural icon drugged and sexually assaulted a woman 13 years ago. The 79-year-old legendary entertainer, once loved by …
Read More »Cosby won’t testify, defense rests in sex assault trial
Norristown, United States | AFP | Disgraced US comedian Bill Cosby confirmed in court Monday that he would not testify at his sexual assault trial as the defense called just one witness before resting their case. In one of America’s biggest celebrity trials in years, the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian …
Read More »Hooray for… Kumawood! Ghana’s fastest filmmakers
Kumasi, Ghana | AFP | India has its Bollywood and Nigeria, Nollywood. Even New Zealand has a Wellywood. In Ghana, films made in Kumasi and the surrounding region go by a similar shorthand — Kumawood. The cultural heart of Ghana is about five hours’ drive from the more cosmopolitan coastal …
Read More »