Entertainment
Spotify dedicates new site for Afrobeats
Spotify, the streaming platform, has launched a dedicated website for the Afrobeats genre of music.
‘Afrobeats: Journey to a Billion Streams’ is a dedicated site that will track all things related to the genre; from its origins in Ghana, its popularisation in Nigeria, its fusion with other genres as well as how it has become one of the continent’s biggest cultural exports.
The website will be updated on a biweekly basis and remain active as an always-on resource, with frequent updates on new Afrobeats moments.
“Afrobeats ascending to where it is today has taken a proverbial village. Multiple players from the artistes themselves to DJs on the continent and in the diaspora, and the very loud and proud fans have helped shape the music which draws from an array of sonic influences,” said Phiona Okumu, the head of music for Spotify in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Today Afrobeats is an undeniable influence on global pop culture thanks to these contributors.”
The updated Afrobeats website showcases the genre’s constant thirst for reinvention, with research conducted on behalf of Spotify by research firm Kuvora. The findings showed that 90% of fans expect Afrobeats to continue evolving.
The latest updates to the site explore the evolution of Afrobeats through three distinct eras of creativity that laid the foundation for Afrobeats’ connection to global audiences. From the early era of Hip Hop-influenced but locally rooted sounds to the infusion of foreign influences and local lyrics, and the definitive hits that marked pivotal moments, the website provides a comprehensive exploration of Afrobeats’ journey.
The evolution story also explores the key figures who have played significant roles in shaping and propelling Afrobeats forward. From trailblazers like 2Baba, P-Square, and Wande Coal to influential women such as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, these artistes have defied stereotypes, broken barriers, and taken Afrobeats to unprecedented heights.
Spotify will also be sharing new data including:
The top streamed Afrobeats artists of all time
The number of hours of Afrobeats music streamed last year
The top-streamed songs in the top streaming cities
“There is no doubt that Afrobeats as a genre is here to stay, and will only continue to shatter more ceilings. In 2023 alone, the genre has been played for more than 223 million hours with streams exceeding 7.1 billion on Spotify. We created this site for both new and longtime fans of the genre, who would like to have a better understanding of how and where this explosive sound came to be,” said Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Entertainment
Spyro says he spends over N15m yearly on people who beg for help
Spyro, the Nigerian singer, has expressed frustration about the constant requests for money and gifts from people.
In a recent Instagram post, the ‘Who’s Your Guy’ hitmaker revealed that he spends “at least N100,000 on gifts” whenever he goes out, which adds up to “around N15 million per year”.
The 34-year-old also complained that people often insult him when he refuses to give them money or gifts.
He said being a celebrity in Lagos comes with immense pressure, and he feels obligated to spend money on others whenever he’s out in public.
“Really hard being a celebrity in Lagos. I told a guy I didn’t have anything and would see him the next day. He rained insults on me. Every day I step out of my house, I spend a minimum of N100k on gifts. Now let’s do the maths: let’s say I go out three times a week, that’s N300k per week, making N1.2m per month, and that’s about N15 million a year. Kilode,” he wrote.
“If I enter restaurant, billings go de wait me outside. I enter church, same thing. Enter estate, same. Carry phone enter online, na same same,” he captioned the post.
“Everybody wants to take, but nobody de give you, and nobody thinks of how you are fairing. 🤦🏾♂️ S/O to everyone of my colleagues out there going through this. Ya’ll are the real MVPs, and I celebrate you. 🙏🏾.”
Entertainment
Wizkid, Jada Pollock welcome third child
Wizkid and Jada Pollock, his manager, have welcomed their third child together.
The baby’s arrival was announced via a photo on Pollock’s Instagram story.
In the picture, Jada, noticeably without her baby bump, was dressed in comfortable sweatpants while holding onto a baby’s cot.
The baby’s gender, name, and date of birth, however, remain unknown.
In December, the talent manager revealed that she suffered a health scare during the first three months of her third pregnancy.
Pollock disclosed that she underwent an appendectomy. She described the period as the most terrifying experience of her life.
“At the beginning of the year, I faced the biggest fright of my life,” she wrote.
“Three months into my pregnancy, I was rushed to the hospital to have my appendix removed. Against all odds, both my baby and I made it through safely.
“Life is too short to be anything but grateful.”
Pollock, 41, and Wizkid, 34, met in 2012 when she was still managing Akon, the 51-year-old Senegalese-American singer.
The duo became friends and later lovers. They welcomed Zion Ayo-Balogun, their first child in 2017. In October 2022, Pollock announced the birth of their second child.
Entertainment
Segun Arinze addresses claims of homosexuality in Nollywood
Segun Arinze, the ace actor, has shared his thoughts on the long-standing claims of homosexuality in the Nigerian movie industry.
Addressing the allegations in an interview with Arise TV, Arinze stressed that he does not engage in homosexual activities.
The 59-year-old movie star said those who “bend over are adults and they have a right to do whatever they want to do”.
Arinze expressed his preference for living a straightforward life, focusing on his business and being a professional.
“I do not bend over, so I cannot react to it. Well if they do bend over, they should keep bending. That is their problem. They are adults and they have a right to do whatever they want to do. It is none of my business,” he said.
“I am not going to concern myself with that. I do not like those lash backs, I like living my life straightforward, doing my business and being a professional that I am.”
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