Music
MTV Africa Music Awards set to return in 2021
MTV Africa and MTV Base announced the return of the continental flagship award show in 2021.
The Iconic MTV Base celebration, MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA), which showcases the ultimate in African culture, music, and creativity, will be held in a re-imagined virtual format in partnership with Uganda, The Pearl of Africa on February 20th 2021.
The MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be broadcast on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and MTV (DStv Channel 130).
The event will celebrate African talent across 20 award categories, including Best Male, Best Female, Best Song, and Best Collaboration.
The contribution of artists from Portuguese and French-speaking Africa will also be recognized in the Best Lusophone and Best Francophone categories.
Additional new categories included are the MAMA Generation Change Award, Best Fan Base, Alone Together Best Lockdown Performance and Personality of the Year.
These new categories seek to demonstrate MTV Base’s commitment to supporting the youth of Africa.
The MAMA Generation Change Award will recognize the inspiring, young changemakers of the continent who are tackling some of the world’s most challenging social problems.
The Alone Together Best Lockdown Performance recognizes outstanding performances that took place virtually by celebrating artists who took to streaming services to share their music and unite society during the unprecedented 2020 lockdown.
The category selection criteria are from October 1st 2019 to October 1st 2020. The nominees will be announced in December 2020 and music lovers will have their say by voting for their favourite stars online.
The news was revealed o Wednesday via a virtual press conference broadcast from Johannesburg and Kampala by Monde Twala and Craig Paterson, Senior Vice Presidents and General Managers at ViacomCBS Networks Africa (VCNA), The State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda at Ugandan Ministry of Tourism and the CEO for the Ugandan Tourism Board, Lilly Ajarova.
“It is an incredible honour to announce that the seventh MTV Africa Music Awards Kampala 2021 will be hosted by the vibrantly diverse Uganda, The Pearl of Africa for the first time on February 20th, 2021.
“We are excited to bring this amazing showcase to audiences across the continent and globally with an innovatively re-imagined awards show and celebration.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, content production has embraced innovation as the new gold and we are excited to take Africa to the World and showcase its immense talent and culture as we stage the biggest music awards show on the continent”, said Twala.
First staged in 2008, the MTV Africa Music Awards has recognised the talent of musicians, achievers and personalities from across Africa, rewarding iconic artists and gamechangers such as 2Face Idibia, AKA, Anselmo Ralph, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Clarence Peters, Cabo Snoop, Davido, D’Banj, Diamond Platnumz, Flavour, Gangs of Ballet, HHP, Fally Ipupa, Liquideep, Lira, Lupita Nyong’o, Mafikizolo Nameless, P-Square, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Toofan, Trevor Noah, Uhuru, Wahu, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Zebra & Giraffe and many more.
-IOL
In other news – Emotional scenes during Kwaito star Mshoza’s memorial service – Photos
“I am at a loss of words. I wasn’t ready to lose you, mommy.” Those were the words of late Queen of Kwaito Mshoza’s 12-year-old daughter, Pride that got many people in tears at her mother’s memorial service.
Her 11-year-old daughter Junior could not hold back and when she tried to speak, she just wept. All she could say as they were about to step off the podium was: “I love you mommy.” Learn More
Nigerian artist Tiwa Savage joins The Zane Lowe Show for the broadcast premiere of her new single, “Tales By Moonlight (feat. Amaarae),” from upcoming EP Water & Gari. Tiwa talks about how the track came about, and how this EP is a new exploration for her. She shares about her collaborations with Nas, Pharrell, and Brandy, and how she felt inspired to go back into the studio after the release of Celia. Key quotes below. Feel free to use with credit to Zane Lowe and Apple Music 1.
Tiwa Savage Tells Apple Music about the song being named after a Nigerian program
So when I heard the instrumental, exactly how you said, just the way the beat felt just soft and light, but it still felt like this old school vibe. You just want to two-step to it. So I wanted a record that felt good. The lyrics, even my delivery on it, my tone, I was very soft on it. But it’s a love song.
Tales By Moonlight, it was a popular program when I was growing up in Nigeria and it was this lady or this man that used to tell stories. So it’s me saying I just want that fairy tale type of love. I don’t want to lose hope in just finding real love. I still believe in that. No matter how many times I’ve been heartbroken, I still am a sucker for love. I still believe there’s still that fairytale Cinderella ending.
Tiwa Savage Tells Apple Music about collaborating with Nas
There’s a song on there, very first song called Work Fada. It’s featuring Rich King and Nas. I’ve never created music like this. You just have to listen to it. You have to hear it. It’s not one of those things that you just listen to, you experience it.
Tiwa Savage Tells Apple Music about playing the record for Pharrell
Everybody that was involved from Rodney Jerkins to Brandy, to Ty Dolla Sign, to Nas, it’s just, it’s incredible. When I played the record for Pharrell, he was blown away. He was just quiet for a few seconds, like, “Wow.”
Tiwa Savage Tells Apple Music about Brandy being her biggest influence
Brandy is literally the reason why I started singing, literally. As a kid, just listening to I Want To Be Down, every interview I’ve ever had, she’s my favorite, my all time, my mentor, everything. And I’ve been trying to work with her for years. It was a dream of mine. And when it happened this time, it’s not even just music, we connected like sisters. She’s someone that I speak to literally every other day. It’s beyond my expectation.
Tiwa Savage Tells Apple Music about continuing to create music through the pandemic
Some people are like, “Are you sure you want to release another project? We’re not sure about touring yet.” And for me, it’s not really about that. It’s about putting music out and just making sure that people’s souls are still fed. That’s the only way I contribute to what’s going on around the world.
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Popstar and songwriter Ariana Grande is the latest musician to perform a series of concerts inside the hit video game Fortnite.
Millions of gamers are expected to watch the virtual gigs, which see Ariana Grande soar through the sky with huge angel wings while surrounded by players inside bubbles.
Gaming reporter Marc Cieslak spoke to Fortnite’s Phil Rampulla about the project and his ambitions to create a “metaverse” – where people can gather for shared experiences online.
In Other News – Apple criticised for the system that detects child abuse
Apple is facing criticism over a new system that finds child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on US users’ devices.
The technology will search for matches of known CSAM before the image is stored onto iCloud Photos.
But there are concerns that the technology could be expanded and used by authoritarian governments to spy on their own citizens. learn more
Source – BBC
If you’ve been on social media in the last week or so, you have probably seen an image or video of a new artist named Gee Six Five.
She has become so popular, in fact, that she is practically a meme at this point, often used when people want to indicate that they have no idea who someone is.
Jacob Zuma: We are friends
Sikhakhane: This should be common course
Zondo: pic.twitter.com/m7HYRZenWu
— Oliver Dickson (@Oliver_Speaking) November 21, 2020
This is due to the fact that she is the artist behind a hit single titled Obani Labababantu (who are these people?)
Gee Six Five released it last week after months of working on it.
❤️❤️❤️😂 pic.twitter.com/65GdDxbhp4
— Láoshī👨🏽🏫 (@TeacherJamani) November 22, 2020
Olpha Selepe (65) is a grandmother and retired teacher who decided to take another shot at her music career in July after she left the teaching profession at the beginning of lockdown.
Selepe is a master’s graduate and currently working towards a doctorate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
#GeeSixFive said she wants to be a one hit wonder to show others that it is never too late to start something new. I think the PhD candidate has proven her point. The 65-year-old has the most downloaded song in SA right now. pic.twitter.com/1Efn29gWMg
— Siphumelele Zondi (@SZondi) November 24, 2020
So Gee Six Five is my aunt (she who got her masters at 60 yrs+ & is pursuing a doctorate).
My family is very divided about her recording this single. She says she wants to show that you can go after your dreams no matter the age.
A festive jam? 😊 #G65 https://t.co/C60Pb5H0hd
— Sbu Mpungose (@SbuMpungose) November 19, 2020
Despite many makking fun of the song, it seems to have grown on them.
😂😂😂
— Láoshī👨🏽🏫 (@TeacherJamani) November 22, 2020
I love this 😂. Honestly, she sounds the same even in the album and on the live. Granzo serving us authenticity
— Asa (@asajolo07) November 22, 2020
😹😹😹I know I’m not the only one pic.twitter.com/x6TLoLaY31
— Percy_Comedy (@Realkashkay_2) November 22, 2020
Where’s Gee Six Five performing this weekend. I have to see this for myself!!!
— #SatanOWele (@ReasonHD) November 21, 2020
Gee Six Five appreciation post ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/QFKgHJ5VsO
— 2021 AFRICA (@2021AFRICA) November 22, 2020
Selepe has grown on people after clips from a recent Instagram Live were shared on Twitter.
In the interview, Selepe hails her talent which she said should not be confused for bragging.
Our #G65 🤗🤗🤗❤️. I love her focus. pic.twitter.com/bVIL5PTVNh
— Mazaleni (@SpitchNzawumbi) November 22, 2020
According to a relative of Selepe’s, Sbu Mpungose, this is the first and last time we’ll be hearing from Selepe.
She said she’d like to be a one-hit wonder. 😅
— Sbu Mpungose (@SbuMpungose) November 19, 2020
Girl, they want to protect her from negative comments and publicity.
— Sbu Mpungose (@SbuMpungose) November 19, 2020
-The Citizen
In other news – Emotional scenes during Kwaito star Mshoza’s memorial service – Photos
“I am at a loss of words. I wasn’t ready to lose you, mommy.” Those were the words of late Queen of Kwaito Mshoza’s 12-year-old daughter, Pride that got many people in tears at her mother’s memorial service.
Her 11-year-old daughter Junior could not hold back and when she tried to speak, she just wept. All she could say as they were about to step off the podium was: “I love you mommy.” Learn More