Senegalese-American singer, songwriter and producer Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, known as Akon, is no doubt one of the most successful and influential musicians of African descent.

Akon is out with a plan to bring electricity to a million African households, through a project tagged ‘Akon lighting Africa’. ‘Akon Lighting Africa’ is aimed at redressing the fact a large part of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is living in the dark. Report claims Akon’s company, Akon Corporation, is working with GIVE1 Project and Solektra International, member of ADS Group (Africa Development Solution Group, in order to create resourceful and standby effective energy solutions.

The Senegalese, who has also partnered with Azuri Technologies to support the installation of solar equipment in households, which will provide good access to better and prominent electricity to the folks. ‘We are extremely pleased by the overwhelmingly positive response of government leaders to embrace a public-private partnership that aims to address access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. This initiative is given further validity and momentum based on the support of these nations and their executives and advisor,’ Akon said in a statement.

Lupita Nyong’o: I use to pray for lighter skin

12 years a Slave star, Lupita Nyong’o says she used to hate being black and constantly prayed to God for her skin colour to miraculously become lighter.

Speaking at the ‘Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon’ in Beverly Hills, California, USA, Lupita said she always felt un-beautiful and faced a lot of insecurities early on about her night-shaded dark skin.

At the event where she was honoured, she said, ‘and my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned. The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I was the day before’.

She would also share her experience where a fan sent her a letter saying she almost bought Dencia’s Whitenicious cream, but decided against it after seeing Lupita rise to stardom in Hollywood despite being black.

Guests at the event include Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Kerry Washington, Michael Ealy, Chaka Khan and many others.

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Muhammad Ali’s Championship-Winning Gloves Sell At Auction For N139million

Boxing great Muhammad Ali’s gloves when he won his first championship title have sold an auction for almost N139million.

Organized by Heritage Auctions, the auction held almost 50 years since since Ali had beaten Sonny Liston to win the title.

“These are the very gloves that Ali wore when he claimed his first heavyweight championship 50 years ago and, given the attention these received from media and fans all over the world, and the spectacular price they achieved, it’s clear that Ali is just as loved and respected today as he’s ever been,” said Chris Ivy, director of sports collectibles at Heritage Auctions.

It was after that fight that Ali uttered two of his most famous quotes: “I am the greatest!” and “I shook up the world!”

 

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Hot Music: P-Square – Taste The Money (Testimony)

Africa’s biggest duo/boyband P-Square kickstarts another potentially dominant year for them with a new single “Taste The Money (Testimony)”. As usual, they craft out a song that’s capable of causing real damage in Anglophone and Francophone Africa due to its wide range of appeal.

Expect an album from P-Square before the year runs out.

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Fresh Music: Omawumi– Finally + You Must Love Me + Serious Love Nwantinti (Remix)

Multiple awards winning Nigerian singer, Omawumi has released three beautiful ballads that captures the essence of the Valentine season and an everyday lovers’ anthem. The three songs entitled Finally, You Must Love Me and Serious Love Nwantinti (remix) are timeless classics that show more musical diversity of the gifted singer.

Without any hype, the first cut, ‘Finally’ produced by E-Kelly is a powerful music narrative that has a mind of its own. It describes the genesis of every relationship, the lady’s pretence and the required patience by the man before giving up on his prospective lover. The rhythm and melody expresses personal ecstasy as she delivers the song. Since everyone has experienced either some success or failure at love, the subject is a familiar territory.
The Second single, ‘You Must Love Me’ is more receptive due to its mid-tempo masterpiece. The lyrics is enthralling with the profession of true love and then, you can’t fault Omawumi’s vocal charms and the song’s excellent production by Sizzle Pro. It’s very infectious.

With the third single, ‘Serious Love Nwatinti (remix)’, Omawumi highlights her love for live instrumentation. One will also notice that the tempo of the song has increased compared to the original version on her debut album, Wonda Woman.

Omawumi sure has a great musical mind that goes beyond one type of music and she pushes the boundaries at every given opportunity with a much heavier confidence on R&B-infused vocals.

‘Finally’ is off the Lasso of Truth Deluxe deluxe album.

Finally

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You Must Love Me

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Serious Love Nwantinti (Remix)

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Video: Banky W shares his Worst Experience On The Streets Of Lagos

The EME boss in an interview with HipTV Sam Walsh shares worst experiences on the street of Lagos

 

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Photos from Cristiano Ronaldo’s 29th birthday party

Current world best football player Cristiano Ronaldo turned 29 on February 5th and celebrated it with his team mates, family and friends at The Reebok Sports Club, La Finca in Madrid yesterday Sunday February 9th. See more photos after the cut…

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Michelle Obama Advises Justin Bieber

America’s first lady, Michelle Obama has this to say about the pop star’s many misdemeanors and his troubles with the police. In a recent interview with Univision Radio host Enrique Santos, Michelle said:

“I would pull him close. You know, I don’t know if it would be advice as much as action, I would be very present in his life right now. And I would be probably with him a good chunk of the time, just there to talk, to figure out what’s going on in his head, to figure out who’s in his life and who’s not, you know.”
A petition calling for Justin Beiber’s deportation has garnered more than 250,000 signatures which has triggered the 100,000 signature thresh hold required to trigger an official response.
“That response will come I’m sure relatively soon,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said last week.

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Fresh Music: Sasha P – Falling In Love Ft Myst

It’s some days to valentine’s day and our musicians are making sure all of us know this very well.In the spirit of valentine, Sasha starts the year by telling a love story with a twist! Teaming up with the amazing vocalist MYST, the two evoke nostalgic moments every woman can relate to in the new song titled “Falling in Love”.

It’s a KNIGHTHOUSE produced record and is a bit of a different feel from Sasha P who is used to hitting us with heavy bars.

About the inspiration for the song Sasha says:

“ We always hear songs about people in love, but not enough about the different ways it can happen. They say being in love with your best friend is the best relationship – when it’s mutual! This one is inspired by a true-life story and dedicated to celebrating THAT MOMENT, you realized you had fallen in love with that special someone! Enjoy”

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ASUU Accuses FG Of Reneging On Release Of N20bn

ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASSU, has accused the Federal government of reneging on some of the agreements that led to the suspension of a six-month strike that grounded the university system last year.

Specifically, the academic union, through its National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, lamented that the Federal Government was yet to honour the agreement that N20 billion would be released at the beginning of each quarter to meet identified needs in the universities.

Aremu, during a chat with newsmen at the Post Graduate Hall, University of Ibadan, weekend, said: “This is February and the government is yet to release the money for the quarter.”

He stressed that the call was necessary to avoid the embarrassment that the last strike caused the nation. His words: “All the strike ASUU had embarked upon in this country were basically because the Federal Government failed to honour agreements freely entered with us.

“It is also sad that each time before we begin the strike, we would give the government enough warnings and grace to make them retrace their steps. But they always fail.

“We don’t know why the government is always unwilling to implement the documents signed by their representatives. However, we will continue to fight for the system because if the system collapses, we will collapse with it.”

In his own comments, ASUU chairman, UI chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, said it was unfortunate that successive governments in Nigeria failed to learn from history as they always wait till major standoff with their members before doing the needful.

He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian media for standing by ASUU during the struggle, adding that the support was not really for the members, but for a better Nigeria.