From Dreaming to Drawing: Omotunde Akiode’s Journey from Screenwriter to Acclaimed Animator

From Dreaming to Drawing: Omotunde Akiode’s Journey from Screenwriter to Acclaimed Animator

By Gbemisola Esho, via bird story agency Omotunde Akiode sits at her workstation in Lagos, appearing to doodle. To the occasional visitor, this may look like play but the result of the creative session will be a very real cartoon character, possibly for an acclaimed African cartoon series -- like Supa4. “I grew up watching Sesame Street, the Muppet show animations on television. I saw the […]

February 15, 2024 20

Entertainment

2024 Superbowl breaks viewership records

Not sure if you’ve watched Usher's performance...rollerskate dancing, Alicia Keys, and Lil John...But this year's Superbowl was the most watched television broadcast since the 1969 Moon landing. According to preliminary television ratings between 125 to 150 million people tuned into the annual spectacular. But who or what did they come to watch? Football, Usher, or Taylor Swift? Jody Jacobs reports.

February 14, 2024 28

Entertainment

100 years of radio in Africa: from propaganda to people’s power

By Sisanda Nkoala, University of the Western Cape; Christina Chan-Meetoo, University of Mauritius; Jacinta Mwende Maweu, University of Nairobi; Marissa J. Moorman, Indiana University; Modestus Fosu, Ghana Institute of Journalism, and Stanley Tsarwe, University of Namibia Radio is thriving across Africa. Exact figures are difficult to come by because audience research differs across countries. But studies estimate radio listenership to be between 60% and 80% of the continent’s […]

February 13, 2024 37

Entertainment

Books: folklore and fantasy combine in Langabi, a supernatural historical epic from Zimbabwe

By Gibson Ncube, Stellenbosch University In 2023, award-winning Zimbabwean author Christopher Mlalazi published a new book, Langabi: Season of the Beast. He’s the author of novels like Running with Mother (2012), Dancing with Life: Tales from the Township (2012) and They are Coming (2014). His books grapple with diverse social and political issues in Zimbabwe. As a scholar of African literature, including speculative fiction, I have […]

February 9, 2024 19

Entertainment

Rapper Kanye West lists Kenya, and Nigeria as tour venues

US rapper Kanye West has excited his fans in Kenya and Nigeria after listing the two countries among the potential concert venues for his new tour. According to the BBC, a tentative venue list shared on West's Instagram stories shows that the rapper plans to perform at Eko Energy City in Lagos and the Nyayo International Stadium in Nairobi. West also shared interest in performing at Egypt's Giza Pyramids.

February 8, 2024 29

Entertainment

Tyla wins Grammy award for Best African Music Performance

South African music sensation Tyla Seethal has won a Grammy for Best African Music Performance for her hit song 'Water', which has become a global hit, edging out Nigeria's Burna Boy, Davido, and Ayra Starr. The BBC reports that last year, Water became a widely popular global summer anthem, propelling it to smash records on streaming platforms and dominate charts like the Billboard Hot 100.

February 5, 2024 141

Entertainment

Grammy Awards: Africa finally has its own category – but at what cost?

By Eric Charry, Wesleyan University For the first time in its 65-year history the Grammy Awards in the US has introduced an African category, Best African Music Performance, which recognises the song of the year. The Grammys is the most prestigious award in the largest music industry in the world. Its focus has always been US music styles in categories like pop, R&B, rap, country, jazz and classical. […]

February 2, 2024 38

Entertainment

Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty over ‘Rust’ shooting

Alec Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges over the accidental death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust. Prosecutors in the state of New Mexico recently refiled charges against the actor after the case fell apart last year. Ira Spitzer reports.

February 1, 2024 39

Entertainment

Wetlands are superheroes: expert sets out how they protect people and places

By Jacqueline L Raw, Nelson Mandela University In the past, wetlands were often seen as undesirable landscapes – waterlogged areas that were difficult to navigate, impossible to build on or farm, and a source of pests such as mosquitoes. But the view on wetlands has shifted as we have learnt how important these ecosystems are for essential “services”. They purify water and provide habitats for plants and animals. […]

February 1, 2024 26