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Cissy, ace gospel singer and mum of Whitney Houston, dies at 91

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Cissy Houston, the two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artiste and mother of Whitney Houston, has died.

The 91-year-old singer died on Monday morning in her New Jersey home while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease.

Pat Houston, her daughter-in-law, in a statement, described Cissy as a “strong and towering figure” in the family’s life.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We lost the matriarch of our family,” the statement reads.

“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.

“Her contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled.”

Cissy was born in New Jersey in 1933 as the youngest of eight children. Born Emily Drinkard, she began singing at a young age after she formed a gospel group with her siblings.

She started to gain popularity in the 1960s as a member of the backing group The Sweet Inspirations with Doris Troy and her niece Dee Dee Warwick.

They sang backup for soul legends including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and the Drifters, and Dusty Springfield.

Cissy left the group to pursue a solo career, which made her one of the world’s most in-demand session singers of that era.

She recorded more than 600 songs and her vocals can be heard on tracks by Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Beyoncé and Paul Simon.

In 1997, Cissy won a Grammy Award for her traditional soul gospel album ‘Face to Face’. She secured another Grammy Award in 1998 for her album ‘He Leadeth Me’.

She lost her daughter Whitney in 2012. Whitney died at the age of 48 after years of battling addiction and a notoriously troubled marriage.

Cissy and Whitney were famously close. Their relationship was also one of mentor and protégé. She also recorded a duet with Whitney titled ‘I Know Him So Well’ in 1987.

Entertainment

Olajumoke Onibread recounts struggles as she returns as radio host

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Olajumoke Orisaguna, the model better known as Olajumoke Onibread, has launched her talk show titled ‘Kilon Shele’.

The former bread seller turned model joined City FM as a radio presenter following a long hiatus from the spotlight.

Speaking at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Orisaguna expressed gratitude to TY Bello, the renowned photographer who played a pivotal role in her rise to fame in 2016.

The model expressed willingness to return to school, adding that she encountered challenges due to her lack of formal education.

She disclosed that her radio show will focus on her personal story, including her experiences with exploitative managers who took advantage of her lack of education.

The former model said she will also address the emotional struggles she faced during her time away from the public eye and her path to self-discovery and empowerment.

The show will also feature inspiring conversations with guests who have faced similar challenges.

“I want to use my platform to share my story, the good and the bad. I want to show that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a better tomorrow,” she said.

“My show will be a beacon of inspiration for those who have faced similar struggles.”

Olajumoke revealed mistakes that damaged relationships with benefactors.

“I have suffered a lot,” she said. “But I thank Azuka and TY Bello for not giving up on me. My advice to those coming behind me is to work hard and never bite the finger that feeds them. I made many mistakes, but I’ve learned my lessons and want others to learn from my story.”

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Comedian Funnybros welcomes baby girl with partner

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Onwuka Ugochukwu Richard, the Nigerian skit maker popularly known as Funnybros, has welcomed a baby girl with his partner.

The comedian took to Instagram on Wednesday to share photos from his partner’s maternity shoot while expressing gratitude to God for the new addition to his family.

“It’s a bouncing baby girl 🤍👧🎉🎉. Thank you Lord 🙏💫🤩,” he wrote.

The announcement triggered an outpouring of congratulatory messages from fans and colleagues in the comment section.

Skit maker Iamdikeh commented, “Congrats bro❤️”, while Cute Abiola, another content creator wrote, “Congratulations”.

MC Edo Pikin, the comedian, added “Congratulations brov❤️”.

The skit maker’s bundle of joy comes shortly after Dayo Amusa, the actress, celebrated the birth of her first child, a baby boy, in the United States.

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Davido’s ‘Na Money’ wins best costume award at Berlin Fashion Film Festival

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The music video of ‘Na Money,’ a song by Afrobeats star Davido, has earned international recognition, securing the ‘Best Costume/Styling (Craft)’ award at the 12th Berlin Fashion Film Festival.

Directed by Dammy Twitch and produced by Blessing Uzzi, ‘Na Money’ is the third track off Davido’s album ‘Timeless’.

The project features Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo and Nigerian highlife stars The Cavemen.

The visuals’ vibrant costumes, rich cultural elements, and stunning visuals impressed the judges.

Davido’s win highlights the growing global appreciation for African creative talent.

The Berlin Fashion Film Festival is part of the renowned Berlinale, a prominent European and global film industry event since 1951. The festival annually attracts industry stars, filmmakers, and enthusiasts to Berlin.

Watch the colourful visuals below:

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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