Events
Ayra Starr to headline inaugural YouTube Live Concert in Nairobi
Grammy-nominated Nigerian music artist Ayra Starr will perform a special YouTube Live concert streamed globally from Nairobi, Kenya.
This concert will offer fans an intimate experience as Ayra Starr will perform new tracks from ‘The Year I Turned 21” alongside other fan favourites.
The event, produced in partnership with Raha Fest, will celebrate the release of her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21”, and will be available for fans worldwide to experience on her official YouTube channel.
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube, giving audiences around the world, the chance to be part of this special moment. Fans, Mobstarrs, as she calls them will also have the opportunity to engage directly with Ayra Starr through the ‘Woman Commando” YouTube Shorts challenge, allowing them to create and share their interpretations of her hit single.
Additionally, exclusive behind-the-scenes content will be captured, adding another layer of excitement to the experience, which will be shared on YouTube.
Nairobi, with its vibrant music scene, deep roots in African culture, and a youth population that adores Ayra Starr, was chosen as the perfect setting for this electrifying performance. Ayra’s growing fan base across Kenya and East Africa makes the city a fitting backdrop for her first YouTube Live concert.
Speaking about the concert, Ayra Starr said, ‘Performing live is where I get to connect deeply with my fans, and I’m so excited to do this on a global scale from Nairobi. This album means so much to me, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone through YouTube.”
Fans all over the world can tune in to watch the concert live on October 20, 2024, at 9 PM EAT on Ayra Starr’s official YouTube channel: YouTube.com/AyraStarr.
Events
SEE FULL LIST: Burna Boy, Odumodublvck lose categories at BET Hip Hop Awards
Odumodublvck and Burna Boy lost their categories as Kendrick Lamar dominated the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards.
The award ceremony aired on Tuesday from Drai’s Beach Club Nightclub in Las Vegas.
The Afrofusion star lost the ‘Best Live Performer’ category to Missy Elliot, the US rapper, while Ghetts, the British songwriter, won Odumodublvck’s category.
Lamar, the US rapper, secured eight awards including ‘Hip-hop Artiste of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, ‘Lyricist of the Year’, and ‘Impact Track’.
50 Cent won the ‘Hustler of the Year’ while The Alchemist bagged the ‘Producer of the Year’ and ‘DJ of the Year’.
See the full list below:
- Hip-hop artiste of the year
21 Savage
Cardi B
Drake
Future
GloRilla
WINNER — Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
- Song of the Year
“Agora Hills,” Doja Cat
“Bent,” 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata)
“Fe!N,” Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti
“FTCU,” Nicki Minaj
“Get It Sexyy,” Sexyy Red
“Like That,” Metro Boomin, Future, Kendrick Lamar
“Mamushi,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
WINNER: “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
“Yeah Glo!,” GloRilla
- Hip-hop album of the Year
American Dream, 21 Savage
Ehhthang Ehhthang, GloRilla
For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition, Drake
In Sexyy We Trust, Sexyy Red
Megan, Megan Thee Stallion
One of Wun, Gunna
WINNER: Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj
Utopia, Travis Scott
We Don’t Trust You, Future & Metro Boomin
- Best Hip-hop video
“8 AM in Charlotte,” Drake
“Band4band,” Central Cee feat. Lil Baby
“Bent,” 41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata)
“Big Mama,” Latto
“Boa,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Enough (Miami),” Cardi B
WINNER: “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
“Type Shit,” Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
- Best Breakthrough Hip-hop Artiste
41
310babii
Bossman Dlow
Cash Cobain
Lady London
WINNER: Sexyy Red
Skilla Baby
Tommy Richman
- Best Collaboration
“At the Party,” Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams & Travis Scott
“Band4band,” Central Cee feat. Lil Baby
“Bongos,” Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion
“Everybody,” Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert
“First Person Shooter,” Drake feat. J.Cole
WINNER: “Like That,” Metro Boomin, Future, Kendrick Lamar
“Mamushi,” Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
“Wanna Be,” GloRilla feat. Megan Thee Stallion
- Best Duo or Group
¥$, Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41 (Kyle Richh, Jenn Carter, Tata)
Common & Pete Rock
Earthgang
Flyana Boss
WINNER: Future & Metro Boomin
Rick Ross & Meek Mill
- Best Live Performer
Burna Boy
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
Drake
GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
WINNER: Missy Elliott
Nicki Minaj
Travis Scott
- Lyricist of the Year
21 Savage
Cardi B
Common
Drake
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
- Video Director of the Year
20k Visuals
A$AP Rocky
Cactus Jack
Cole Bennett
WINNER: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Dave Meyers & Travis Scott
Doja Cat & Nina McNeely
Offset
- Producer of the Year
Atl Jacob
Cash Cobain
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka
Metro Boomin
Pete Rock
Q-Tip
WINNER: The Alchemist
- DJ of the year
Big Von
DJ D-Nice
DJ Drama
DJ Khaled
Kaytranada
Metro Boomin
Mustard
WINNER: The Alchemist
- Best Hip-hop Platform
Bootleg Kev
WINNER: Club Shay Shay
Complex
Drink Champs
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
On the Radar
The Breakfast Club
The Joe Budden Podcast
The Shade Room
XXL
- Hustler of the Year
WINNER: 50 Cent
A$AP Rocky
Cam’ron & Ma$e
Cardi B
Drake
Fat Joe
GloRilla
Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion
- Sweet 16: Best-featured Verse
21 Savage, “Good Good” (Usher, 21 Savage & Summer Walker)
A$AP Rocky, “Gangsta” (Free Nationals, A$AP Rocky & Anderson .Paak)
Cardi B, “Wanna Be” remix (Glorilla, Megan Thee Stallion & Cardi B)
Drake, “Meltdown” (Travis Scott feat. Drake)
J.Cole, “First Person Shooter” (Drake feat. J. Cole)
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar, “Like That” (Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar)
Lil Wayne, “Brand New” (Tyga, YG & Lil Wayne)
Megan Thee Stallion, “Wanna Be” (Glorilla, Megan Thee Stallion)
- Impact Track
“Blessings,” Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“Fortunate,” Common & Pete Rock
“Get in With Me,” Bossman Dlow
“Hiss,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Humble Me,” Killer Mike
WINNER: “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
“Precision,” Big Sean
“Yeah Glo!,” GloRilla
- Best International Flow
SDM, France
Leys Mc, France
Racionais Mcs, Brazil
Budah, Brazil
WINNER: Ghetts, UK
Bashy, UK
Stefflon Don, UK
Maglera Doe Boy, South Africa
Blxckie, South Africa
Odumodublvck, Nigeria
Events
2024 Felabration kicks off with climate change debate
The 2024 Felabration Festival has kicked off with a thought-provoking debate on climate change at the NECA Hall in Ikeja, Lagos.
Felabration is an annual festival celebrating the life and legacy of Fela Anikulakpo Kuti, the late Afrobeat legend.
This year’s theme ‘Look and Laugh’ draws inspiration from Kuti’s 1980 song, emphasising the need for critical discourse on pressing societal issues.
The annual week-long celebration runs from October 14 to 20.
The festival begins with the prestigious Fela Debates, featuring four renowned speakers: Adewale Tinubu, Dele Faseemo, Titilayo Oshodi, and Desmond Majekodunmi.
Moderated by Laila Johnson-Salami, the debate is expected to tackle ‘The Geopolitics of Africa and Climate Change,’ promising intellectual fireworks and meaningful conversations.
The festival pre-events recently concluded with an art competition, Afrobics dance showcase, and the Dress Fela Fashion contest.
Inspired by Fela’s ethos, the events drew participation from across Nigeria and beyond.
The festival will continue with other activities including concerts, workshops, and cultural displays. The events will be held at the New Africa Shrine, Freedom Park, and Bature Brewery.
Speaking with Eyes of a Lagos Boy, Yeni Kuti, Fela’s daughter, said: “We are proud to announce the opening of Felabration 2024. Music fans can be sure of maximum entertainment in the most natural atmosphere”.
“If you look at the situation in Nigeria today, we can only look and laugh. Otherwise, the tension could be overwhelming. Let us all come together to celebrate the growing and resonating impact of Fela’s message.”
Events
Obasanjo, Amaechi, media stakeholders laud ex-PUNCH Editor, Oketola, at book launch
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday congratulated the immediate past Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola, during the public presentation of his book titled ‘The Catalyst: Nigerian ICT Evolution Through a Journalist’s Lens.’
The book was unveiled at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, with several dignitaries and media stakeholders gracing the occasion and pouring encomiums on the former PUNCH Editor.
Oketola bowed out as The PUNCH Editor in June this year after nearly two decades as an accomplished journalist with multiple awards nationally and internationally.
While speaking, Obasanjo, who unveiled the book, discussed the need for Nigeria to enable a conducive business environment for investors in order to attract revenue to the country.
The former President took the attendees through the history of telecommunication firms in Nigeria, especially during his time as President.
He explained how the government created a competitive environment for mobile telecommunication networks such as MTN, GLO, Airtel and 9Mobile, among others.
Obasanjo said his government achieved competition and attracted money to Nigeria.
“That opportunity can still be made available. The money to develop Nigeria is out there. That money will not come unless we create a conducive environment for that money to come.
“What we did, what Nigeria has done in the good days when things were going well are still there and can still be done today.
“When we show the character and the attribute, and we show the understanding and the knowledge to make this country a great country that God has created it to be – a land flowing with milk and honey – not a land of insecurity, not a land of lack of prosperity but a land where everybody can enough for himself or herself,” the former President said.
The event was also graced by a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Amaechi, in a very brief speech, commended Oketola on the milestone achieved.
He did not fail to lament that the condition in which journalists are practising journalism in Nigeria now is worse than in the military era.
While speaking, the former Editor, Oketola, said his exaugural event was not the end of his journalism career but a mark of the end of his career as an Editor of The PUNCH.
In his introductory speech at the lecture titled ‘Print Journalism in Peril: Challenging Times for Newspaper Editors,’ Oketola said, “This occasion marks a significant milestone in my professional journey — a journey that has spanned about two decades of dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment to the ideals of journalism.”
Oketola said the media industry at this age faces critical challenges, especially with the advent of online journalism and social media, describing the moment as a time for industry players to re-strategise and harness the opportunities presented by the social realities.
He said, “As we gather here today, we find ourselves at a critical juncture in the history of print journalism. The industry faces unprecedented challenges — from the disruptive impact of social media to the evolving demands of our readership. Yet, in these challenges lie opportunities for innovation, reinvention and a reaffirmation of the core values that define our noble profession.”
He stressed that his appointment as an Editor of the most widely read newspaper in Nigeria at a young age was a testament that long years of experience were not a criterion for leadership in the newsroom as being held by some media veterans.
“This perspective (of being old to lead) is both flawed and detrimental to the dynamism of the media industry,” he said, adding, “age is indeed just a number and leadership capability is not determined solely by the length of time one has spent in the industry. Instead, leadership is shaped by dedication, creativity, hard work and often the grace of God.”
He added, “In Nigeria, some years ago, we had the ‘Not too young to rule’ mantra. In the media, we also have the ‘not too young to become a newspaper editor.’”
Other prominent dignitaries and media stakeholders who graced the occasion include the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; the President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, and the chairman, Editorial Board, The Nation, Sam Omatseye.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, was also represented at the event.
The founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church C&S (Worldwide), Revd. Esther Ajayi, was also present just as families and friends of the ex-editor flooded the event.
The event was chaired by former Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoti, while the book review was done by the Convener, Centre for Social Media Research, Dr Akin Olaniyan.
While speaking, the Commissioner for Information in Lagos State, Omotoso, said the state government was planning new innovations in the area of ICT as it resonates with the title of the book being launched by Oketola.
The innovations according to the commissioner include the plan to provide public internet access in Lagos.
Past and present staff members and management of PUNCH Nigeria Limited also graced the event.
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