New York, United States | AFP | Rap superstar Kanye West is back nearly a year after suffering a breakdown — making a brief musical appearance in which he appears to keep his feud with Taylor Swift alive. West, a once omnipresent celebrity with a prolific media presence and high-profile marriage …
Read More »Bobi Wine goes to court
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine on Thursday rushed to the Civil Division of the Kampala High Court to challenge a ban imposed on his musical shows by the Uganda Police. He says he has lost sh300 million as a result of …
Read More »Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez to host telethon for hurricane victims
Miami, United States | AFP | Celebrities including Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Stevie Wonder are set to appear Saturday night at a telethon for those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Appearing from both Miami and Los Angeles, performers will raise funds to provide food, shelter, medicine, electricity and …
Read More »Men dominate American Music Awards nominations
New York, United States | AFP | Bruno Mars, Drake and Ed Sheeran led nominations Thursday for the American Music Awards, where for the first time no women were vying for the top prize. In the televised gala, set for November 19 in Los Angeles, winners are determined by fan voting, …
Read More »Nigerian singer Davido questioned by police after three deaths
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigerian pop star Davido was questioned twice by police over the suspicious death of his friend after two other members of his entourage died later in the same week. The incident triggered passionate reactions in Nigeria, where the 24-year-old singer, whose real name is David …
Read More »Beyonce charity song finally dethrones ‘Despacito’
New York, United States | AFP | Beyonce’s Spanish-language remix of “Mi Gente” for hurricane relief opened Wednesday on top of the US Latin song chart, finally dethroning the global mega-hit “Despacito.” “Mi Gente,” which Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin created from the African dance rhythms of French DJ Willy William, …
Read More »BOBI WINE: We are more powerful than we’ve been made to believe
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In the thick of Uganda’s current political tensions, artists from across Africa and the diaspora have come to Kampala for a “Your Music Your Voice” 2017 event to collaborate and discuss their common goal of advocating for social justice in their respective countries. On Tuesday …
Read More »Gaga urges gun control amid artist shock at Vegas carnage
New York, United States | AFP | Lady Gaga urged US leaders Monday to act quickly to tighten gun laws following the carnage in Las Vegas as artists voiced shock at the deadliest shooting in modern US history. While most artists left their comments to general messages of sympathy after the …
Read More »‘What does it mean to be a civically engaged musician?’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala’s German Culture organization Goethe-Zentrum Kampala is hosting socially conscious artists from across Africa this week for the “Your Music Your Voice” event. “Your Music, Your Voice” will create a platform for Pan-African dialogue between socially active artistes to discuss their role in using music …
Read More »Jay-Z, J.Lo headline hurricane benefit show
New York, United States | AFP | Rap mogul Jay-Z and pop superstar Jennifer Lopez will headline a concert in New York to raise funds for survivors of hurricanes that have devastated the United States and the Caribbean. Tidal, the streaming service led by Jay-Z, on Wednesday announced the line-up of …
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