GRUNGECAKE

Author: grungecake

  • Paris plans to name sports venue after slain Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei

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    “Paris willl neber forget you.”

    According to a report on Reuters, the French capital plans to pay tribute to the Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei. It was announced on Friday by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Unfortunately, the thirty-three-year-old marathon runner was set on fire by her boyfriend. Subsequently, she died on Thursday “four days after she was doused in petrol and ignited by her boyfriend in Kenya.” Kenyan and Ugandan media reported that Rebecca Cheptegei suffered from burns to more than seventy-five per cent of her body in the attack. She was the third woman, prominent in the sports world, to be killed in Kenya since 2021.

  • Lady Gaga plans to release her 7th studio album next year, according to VOGUE

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    In a recent interview with VOGUE, Lady Gaga revealed her plans to release her seventh studio album in February 2025, referred to as ‘LG7’. We aren’t sure if that is the official name of Gaga’s feverishly-anticipated album. Still, we are delighted to receive and read so much good news about our beloved legendary artists. Again, according to the world’s leading fashion publication, the lead single lands next month. But wait, there’s more. According to you know what publication, there’s a good chance we may get a “surprise project”.

    I’m unsure how it’s a surprise, but I want to see what it is.

  • Sade to release new music after 14-year hiatus on Red Hot’s ‘TRAИƧA’ album

    The song is a dedication to Sade’s trans son, Izaak Theo Adu.

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    According to the busy news cycle, Sade from the iconic British band of the same name will release new music in November as a part of Red Hot’s forthcoming compilation album. The work on the non-profit’s compilation album started in 2021. The final version is forty-six tracks and will be over three and a half hours with contributions from over a hundred artists. According to the text, many of them are trans, queer, or non-binary. The album ‘TRAИƧA’ is scheduled to be released on November 22 alongside Sade’s record ‘Young Lion’ made for her trans son, Izaak Theo Adu.

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    Andre 3000, Sam Smith, Moses Sumney, Perfume Genius, and more will join Sade on the album presented as eight chapters. So, Sade fans, get ready to feast. It will be here in no time.

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  • Listen to Timaya’s ninth album showcasing warhorse Afro-Fusion chops: ‘Gladiator’

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    Opening his ninth album with a record that could’ve been produced with the likes of American rapper 50 Cent in mind and stored for twenty years, Timaya took the time to sing about how their quality of life has increased and living his life as a “free man” Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s former and late President. Coming in at number three is ‘Sweet Us’, Timaya’s largely supported rhythmic single with bright and tropical Afro-Caribbean influence. When I touched down in Lagos, Nigeria, for Christmas in 2022, we listened to the track as we rode through the steamy traffic-prone roads. Following suit with the high-tempo riddims is ‘Compozure’, an Afrobeats song that speaks to the desire to achieve peace (“wanting no commotion”), competition from “other girls” who want what she has (Timaya), and craving love and affection from her partner.

    Following suit with the high-tempo riddims is ‘Compozure’, an Afrobeats song that speaks to the desire to achieve peace (“wanting no commotion”), competition from “other girls” who want what she has (Timaya), and craving love and affection from her partner. ‘Treasure’ finds Afrobeats artist Alpha P’s official return to the market, alongside Nigerian music veterans like Olamide and Phyno.

    ‘Free’ is an Amapiano variant different from most signature Timaya songs. However, if you are from Southern Africa and reading this, you may liken it to the music you’d hear at the News Cafe in the bustling Rosebank, Johannesburg. Immediately after one song that feels out of place from the others, Timaya and Mr Killa’s hardcore Dancehall tune ‘Whinin Criminal’ adds a different vibe.

    Next, the seemingly wobbly tracklist resets and realigns into the smoother Afro sounds like on ‘In My Head’ with Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage throughout to the end.

  • Play Nigeria’s gifted artist Llona’s debut album ‘Homeless’ more than once

    No skips.

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    In the later days of July, Nigerian Afrobeats singer-songwriter Llona — from Kogi State, Nigeria — released his twelve-track album ‘Homeless’. Across the buoyant compositions (literally felt like I was in warm water when listening to the album), the listener gets a sense of who the rising star is as he doesn’t shy away from sharing his feelings and thoughts on things. For instance, how Llona candidly sings that “death is the only that saves us” in ‘Still Scared’, high-stress situations with Afrobeats/Street Music superstar Bella Shmurda on ‘HBP (Remix)’, and notifying a person that without them you are a safer (‘Stranger’).

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    Some other themes or topics covered in the music are being sicker than the next person (‘Gangsta Love Letter’), aspirations to make lots of cash (‘Billion Paper’), and the lack of interest in chasing clout and loneliness (‘Rollercoaster’). There are only three features who happen to be fellow Nigerians: Wizard Chan, Bella Shmurda, and FAVE. The buttery, well-produced Afrobeats LP is out now independently through KVLT and has amassed approximately twelve million streams already. Add to the total.

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    According to the album’s description, ‘Homeless’ is an introspective kinfolk-themed album that offers an unfiltered outlook on the struggles of the Nigerian youth with actualising their dreams, finding community and resiliently powering through any obstacle on their journey to success.

  • Rage like a rockstar to Milwaukeean star DC the Don’s irresistible ‘God Level’

    If you’re a fan of Travis Scott, there’s a good chance you’d like this.

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    ‘God Level’, a song recently dropped by Milwaukee’s multi-talented artist DC the Don, has accumulated over 100,000 streams on Spotify since its release. Paired with his “crazy” emo drip in a carousel online, the ‘Worst Day’ singer showcases his ability to make atmospheric records. For a good portion of the record, he carries on about the sometimes surprising carnal desires of a woman (“She wanna f**k”). Check out the genre-boundless banger below to hear him flex about how many minutes his wrist needs, the number of minutes his shawty needs, and riding around lavishly in a Rolls Royce. It’s out now through Rostrum Records.

  • Listen to Nigerian baddie Brazy’s latest swanky track ‘Finest’

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    Knowing your worth is key and Brazy is aware of her value. She knows what she warrants and deserves the best of all things. It’s a high-energy uplifting song, detailing her nightlife and the garb or drip she normally dons herself in. In short, if you’re going to be in Brazy’s life, thirty thousand dollars in cash, private jets landed in the South of France, at least one hundred bottles of the finest bubbly or hard liquor, and anything else she could think of. The Odeal collaborator from Nigeria has an upcoming show in Paris, France on September 29. Also on the lineup are Black Sherif, Victony, and more. If you’re in the City of Love, support the young rising recording artist.

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  • Canon Central and North Africa celebrates 10 Years of Miraisha: A decade of empowerment

    The milestone event highlighted the programme’s remarkable journey and the impact it has had on aspiring photographers, filmmakers, and creative professionals throughout the continent

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    Canon’s Miraisha Programme , launched in 2014, has educated over 7000+ future professionals across Africa through skills workshops, training programs, and enterprise support, helping them gain qualifications, secure employment, and establish their own businesses; Canon made a special announcement of awarding ten scholarships to hand-picked African students and unveiled a coffee table book documenting the Miraisha program’s ten-year journey of empowering young talent.

    Canon Central and North Africa, a global leader in imaging solutions, proudly commemorated the tenth anniversary of its Miraisha programme, celebrating a decade of transformative impact and achievements across Africa. The milestone event, titled “10 Years of Miraisha”, highlighted the programme’s remarkable journey and the impact it has had on aspiring photographers, filmmakers, and creative professionals throughout the continent.

    During the exclusive media event held at KCA University on 3rd September 2024, Canon made a special announcement of awarding 10 scholarships to hand-picked students from across Africa. These students, selected by the Miraisha team, trainers, and partners, represented the diverse nations where the programme has been actively nurturing talent. The scholarships will support a one-year course at prestigious institutions, including KCA University in Kenya, PEFTI Film Institute in Nigeria, and IFCPA/CRTV (Institut De Formation Et De Conservation Du Partrimoine Audiovisual) in Cameroon.

    A significant highlight of the event was the launch of a visually stunning coffee table book, which chronicles the journey of Miraisha from its inception to its status as a cornerstone of empowerment. This comprehensive journal showcased the outstanding work of trainers and students, highlighting success stories from the previous scholarship programme and offering an account of the last ten years.

    “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Miraisha programme, a decade that has seen remarkable transformations and inspiring stories from across Africa. The Miraisha initiative embodies Canon’s commitment to nurturing talent and creating opportunities in the creative industry. By providing scholarships and launching the coffee table book, we continue to invest in the future of African photographers and filmmakers, ensuring their stories are told and their voices heard. This celebration is not just about reflecting on our past achievements but also about looking forward to a future filled with limitless possibilities for the talented individuals we support”, said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central and North Africa.

    A keynote address delivered by Timothy Owase, CEO, Kenya Film Commission, highlighted the importance of the Miraisha programme in empowering African talent. He also lauded Miraisha’s efforts in providing invaluable opportunities and resources to aspiring photographers and filmmakers across the continent.

    Canon’s guests for this momentous occasion comprised a distinguished gathering from diverse sectors, including key representatives from KCA University and partner organizations: the Kenya Film Classification Board, Film Lecturers and Trainers Association of Kenya (FLETA-K), The NRB Bus, Ishara Mara, Zebra Productions Kenya Ltd, and Elimu Project. Our dedicated trainers and talented students also graced the occasion with their presence. This impressive turnout underscored the widespread impact and recognition of the Miraisha program.

    The event also featured a photography exhibition displaying student work. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with the students and gain insights into their creative processes. Canon honoured the invaluable contributions of the programme’s trainers with certificates and speeches. Additionally, a training session on the topic of “How to make a successful photography business” enriched the day’s program for KCA University and Miraisha alumni students. The session, led by Canon Certified Trainer Georgina Goodwin, covered essential topics such as building your brand presence, effectively presenting and introducing yourself to clients, crafting compelling elevator pitches, and understanding client expectations for portfolio reviews.

    Since its inception, the Miraisha Programme has reached significant milestones, including establishing 33 partnerships with various organisations, training over 7,000+ participants, and setting a target to train 10,000 participants by 2027.

    Since 2014, the Miraisha Programme has collaborated with a diverse array of organisations across Africa. These include Kenyatta University, Kenya Film Commission (KFC), Kenya Photography Awards, Yaba College of Technology in Nigeria, Uganda Press Photo Award (UPPA), The NRB Bus, Zebra Productions Kenya LTD, Lens on Life, PEFTI Film Institute in Nigeria, and the National Film & TV Institute of Ghana (NAFTI), among many other institutions and events.

    In alignment with Canon’s corporate philosophy of Kyosei, which means living and working together for the common good, the Miraisha Programme promotes job opportunities in Africa by providing workshops for photographers, videographers, filmmakers, and print business owners. The name ‘Miraisha’ is a fusion of Japanese and Swahili, symbolising the programme’s cross-cultural approach.

    As the Miraisha Programme enters its second decade, Canon is committed to expanding its reach and empowering an even greater number of young people across Africa to pursue their passions and build successful careers in the imaging industry. This next phase will see an increase in partnerships with educational institutions, government bodies, and industry leaders to provide more comprehensive training and development opportunities.

    By fostering a new generation of talented photographers, videographers, filmmakers, and print business owners, Canon aims to contribute significantly to the economic growth of the continent, ensuring that the creative voices of Africa continue to thrive and inspire globally.

  • African Development Bank president praises Saudi Arabia for $5.3 billion investment in Africa

    Projects the country has financed range from irrigation to produce food, dams for energy, hospitals for mothers and their babies, electricity to light up schools and enhance learning, airports and roads to link countries, counties and communities

    Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank Group, has praised Saudi Arabia for its generous “support, dedication and friendliness” to Africa where it is supporting a host of projects touching virtually all aspects of people’s everyday life on the continent. Adesina was speaking at the Saudi Fund for Development’s 50th anniversary celebration in Riyadh on Sunday. He said the fund translated the pulse of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into development support in Africa.

    “Its work covers 407 projects in 41 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with support of over $5.3 billion”, he declared, in an address congratulating the Fund on the landmark occasion of its golden jubilee.

    Projects the country has financed range from irrigation to produce food, dams for energy, hospitals for mothers and their babies, electricity to light up schools and enhance learning, airports and roads to link countries, counties and communities.

    The Bank Group president said the Fund was part of an ongoing attempt to forge a deeper friendship and engagement of Saudi Arabia with Africa. He said this “was evident during the Saudi-Africa Summit held by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, attended by over 40 heads of state and government.” That landmark summit in November 2023 set out a blueprint for Saudi-Africa cooperation.

    Adesina said one thing that makes the Saudi Fund for Development to stand out in the development financing landscape was its “unlimited territorial scope”. What is important to it is: “countries need”, making it different from the approaches of other developmental partners.

    “That means: Open heart. Open hands. Open purse. Its success is rooted in its values, reflected by its acronym, SDF, which I call: Supportive. Dedicated. Friendly. That’s why countries appreciate the SDF”, he said.

    Adesina noted he had visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia more than any president in the history of the African Development Bank since 1964 and had forged strategic alliances with major Saudi institutions delivering billions of dollars of co-financing for projects in Africa.

    “The African Development Bank is your friend and strategic partner in Africa…I wish the Saudi Fund for Development another fifty exciting years ahead, as we partner together to support Africa with renewed dedication to accelerate Africa’s development”, Adesina concluded.

  • Ecobank Uganda partners with Ria Money Transfer to enhance remittance services

    Both account holders and non-account holders will also have the option to collect cash transfers promptly at any Ecobank branch or through the bank’s wide sub-agent network across the country

    Ecobank Uganda Limited has formed a strategic partnership with Ria Money Transfer, a renowned global leader in cross-border remittance services. This partnership will significantly improve remittance options across Uganda, allowing customers to receive funds directly into their Ecobank accounts. Both account holders and non-account holders will also have the option to collect cash transfers promptly at any Ecobank branch or through the bank’s wide sub-agent network across the country.

    Commenting on the partnership, Ms Grace Muliisa, Managing Director of Ecobank Uganda, emphasised its importance for Ugandans at home and those in the diaspora, particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Middle East. She noted that this collaboration makes it easier for Ugandans abroad to send money to their loved ones in Uganda.

    “There is a growing need to provide seamless financial solutions to Africans in the diaspora. We are excited to collaborate with Ria Money Transfer to enhance the security and efficiency of remittance services for all Ugandans”, Ms Muliisa said.

    She also highlighted how this partnership aligns with Ecobank’s mission to offer unmatched convenience in global funds transfer services and strengthen its position as a trusted partner for the Ugandan diaspora.

    Mr El Hadj Malick Seck, Managing Director of Ria Money Transfer – Africa, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that this collaboration is a valuable addition to Ria’s network, which spans over 580,000 physical locations in almost 200 countries. He noted the importance of East Africa, particularly Uganda, in Ria’s operations and emphasized how this partnership would provide even greater convenience to Ugandans sending money to their families back home.