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Here are top 10 keywords of StarTimes in 2018

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6 years ago

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2018 is special for StarTimes as it marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the company and it is also the 10th year since StarTimes has entered African market in 2008. Now, with nearly 20 million users all across the continent through terrestrial and satellite television as well as its new online video streaming service, StarTimes is the leading digital TV operator in Africa.

The followings are Top 10 keywords of StarTimes in the past year:

As the official broadcaster of 2018 Russia World Cup, StarTimes broadcasted all 64 matches in full HD on both DTT and DTH platforms, enabling African football fans to enjoy a clearest World Cup ever.

StarTimes in Russia

During World Cup, all of live games, full highlights, build-ups, interviews, analysis and magazine shows on StarTimes sports channels will be offered in full HD.

To get people into World Cup atmosphere, StarTimes forged a series of World Cup special programs, such as World Cup Trekker, World Cup Fiesta and Road to Russia.

For the commentaries, StarTimes tried to satisfy diverse demands of audiences. StarTimes offered English, French, Swahili and Pidgin commentaries to diverse audience groups.

Startimes ON

In November 2018, StarTimes launched a new brand, StarTimes ON, for its online video streaming service, dedicated to providing ultimate entertainment and enriched experience.

With the launch of StarTimes ON, the original StarTimes App has been upgraded to StarTimes ON. StarTimes ON provides Live TV, VOD and short videos with covering news, sports, movies, series, music, entertainment, documentary, kids and religion.

Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages

Currently, there are total 150+ channels in over 10 languages available on StarTimes ON online platform with now over 140 channels being limited free.

Under the guide of Chinese and African governments, StarTimes rolled out the project of “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages” in 2018, which enabled thousands of African rural villagers to watch satellite TV.

The project was first announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping on December 4th, 2015, when he was delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

FOCAC Beijing Summit

There are over 10,000 villages in 23 African countries benefiting from the project of “Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages”.  Under the project, each village is aided with two StarTimes Projector TVs, one 32 inch Digital TV set and 20 DTH decoders and satellite dishes.  Projector TVs and Digital TV set will be equipped with solar power systems and DTH access units.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit was successfully held in Beijing in September with over 3,200 participants from China, Africa and international organizations having attended the summit, making it the largest and most high-profile diplomatic event ever hosted by China.

StarTimes, Africa’s leading digital TV operator as well as a Chinese influential media group, has been a star of China-Africa Cooperation with playing active roles in African digital migration progress, the project of Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages and African HIV/AIDS Prevent Campaign.

During the summit, StarTimes attracted 18 African presidents and distinguished guests to visit its Beijing headquarters and all of them expressed their admiration and support to StarTimes career in Africa.


HIV/AIDS Prevention

In September, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi Gertrude Mutharika, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and StarTimes Group Vice President Guo Ziqi held a meeting in Beijing with the theme of “Value of new media in African HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaign”.

UNAIDS and StarTimes agreed to explore collaboration on increasing HIV/AIDS awareness among African young people with mobile online video application as Now new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are more likely to occur among young people in Africa because HIV/AIDS prevention information and knowledge don’t reach out to young people efficiently.

After the meeting, StarTimes promoted 4 UNAIDS PSAs on the front page of its online video streaming platform, StarTimes ON in September and December, which helped deliver the HIV/AIDS Prevention messages to African young people.

SOS Children’s Villages

On May 14th, 2018, StarTimes and SOS Children’s Villages International signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Nairobi that the two organizations partner towards supporting vulnerable families and children, with an emphasis on empowering youth in light of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The MOU sees StarTimes support SOS Children’s Villages programs in over ten African countries specifically in broadening local learning opportunities and extending diverse experiences to young people from SOS Children’s Villages programmes.

It includes technical and vocational skills training and mentorship, alongside driving access to digital television in SOS Children’s Villages programs and benefitting from media exposure on the StarTimes platform.

SOS Children’s Villages would share resources, skills and knowledge as far as youth employability and capacity building is concerned towards the implementation of the MOU.

African Digital TV Development Seminar

On June 28th, 2018, the 8th edition of African Digital TV Development Seminar, organized  by StarTimes, was held in Beijing with a focus on reviewing trends, developments and cooperation towards digitalizing broadcasting in Africa, as well as OTT industry which is upgrading African television landscape.

This year’s seminar recorded a landmark with over 400 delegates, dignitaries, heads of broadcasting corporations and guests from 48 African and Asian countries attended the event.

Alagbara

In Nigeria, StarTimes in collaboration with veteran Nollywood actor, Adebayo Salami, popularly known as Oga Bello, completed the production of an exclusive TV series titled Alagbara.

The production of was commissioned by StarTimes early 2018, making it the first fully commissioned series by StarTimes and one of the best production ever done in the Yoruba movie industry.

According to Oga Bello: “Producing this series for StarTimes was a deliberate decision because of the positive impact that StarTimes has had on the African continent especially with its contribution to local content across Africa.”

UPL

In 2018, StarTimes unveiled the biggest ever single sponsorship in the history of Ugandan sport after remarkably securing the Uganda Premier League and FUFA Big League “Title and Broadcasting Rights” from FUFA for a staggering US$ 7,240,000 for 10 years starting with the 2018/2019 season.

The FUFA President Moses Magogo was full of praise for StarTimes and thanked them for the endorsement this gesture has given to FUFA’s leadership: “The enabling environment that FUFA has created by improving the image of local football and setting in place visible systems and structures to improve the game is now paying off. Sponsors are strategic stakeholders in football and it’s incumbent upon the football fraternity, leaders, players and everyone to support StarTimes who have selflessly demonstrated their goodwill to see Ugandan football progress with this historic sponsorship.”

The Vice President of StarTimes Uganda company, Aldrine Nsubuga said: “The legacy we want to leave behind in the Ugandan local communities is the support towards the development of football -the game that unites the whole country without bias. A strong top division league reflects on the strength of our national team the Cranes.”

30th Anniversary

18th October, 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of StarTimes. President of StarTimes Group, Pang Xinxing led a running for the 30th anniversary and gave a stirring speech for the celebration at StarTimes Beijing Headquarters on the day, stressing the “We never give up” spirit of the company.

The StarTimes President said in his speech: “In the past 30 years, the setbacks that we have had experienced, the difficulties we have had overcome, and the crises that had been resolved cannot be expressed by numbers. But no matter what, we always stay true to our mission and never give up. In the spirit of persistence, we are unswervingly moving toward our established goals.”

He stressed that no matter how the market changes, no matter how perilous the situation is, our vision of “enabling every African family to afford digital TV, watch digital and enjoy digital TV” remains unchanged.

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Elie Kamano’s Anthem Amplifies Pan-African Reparations Call with Striking New Music Video

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21 hours ago

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June 12, 2025

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Elie Kamanos Anthem Amplifies
Source: Elie Kamano and the Pan-African Reparations Movement

Guinean artist and activist Elie Kamano has released a powerful new music video for his single, “Ils veulent l’Afrique sans les Africains” (“They Want Africa Without Africans”), delivering a bold artistic statement that fuses political resistance, cultural memory, and Pan-African solidarity.

Filmed on the sacred grounds of the Thiaroye mass graves in Dakar, the video honors victims of one of colonialism’s most heinous massacres. Kamano’s visual tribute transforms the site into a defiant stage, linking Africa’s historical trauma to the modern reparations movement. With raw lyricism and symbolic imagery, the video makes a clear demand: “Africa will reclaim what Europe stole.”

The release arrives at a pivotal moment. The African Union has declared 2025 as the Year of Reparations, providing institutional momentum to cultural and civic efforts across the continent. In Dakar, a recent high-profile conference reignited demands for justice surrounding the Thiaroye massacre, leading Senegalese authorities to launch archaeological excavations to document the scope of the 1944 French military crime—evidence that may substantiate formal reparations claims to France.

The reparations conversation has visibly moved to the streets. Dakar’s walls now feature bold graffiti murals demanding €50 trillion in reparations from former colonial powers—vivid calls for justice that cannot be ignored. In Bamako, Malian scholars and policymakers echo the urgency, calling for strategic frameworks that link historical redress with sustainable African futures.

Kamano’s work stands at the intersection of music and movement—galvanizing Pan-African youth, scholars, and policymakers alike. His anthem doesn’t just commemorate the past—it ignites the future.

“This is not just a song,” says Kamano. “It’s a voice for the voiceless. A call for dignity. A battle cry for what is rightfully ours.”

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“His Death Leaves a Huge Void”, Gov Mbah Mourns Music Icon, Ejeagha

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2 days ago

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June 10, 2025

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'Gentleman' Mike Ejeagha

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed deep grief over the death of music icon, ‘Gentleman’ Mike Ejeagha, saying the legend had created a void that would be too difficult to fill.

Mbah described Ejeagha as an unassuming and easygoing personality, whose fanbase spread across international boundaries.

Recall that the news of the passing on of the ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ crooner at age 95 filtered into public space Friday evening.

Reacting to the sad development, the governor, who had celebrated the folklorist during his lifetime by reconstructing the popular Obinagu Road and the adjoining Chief Mike Ejeagha Crescent leading directly to his residence in Abakpa Nike, Enugu, a long wish of the icon left unfulfilled by successive administrations in the state, and by renaming Obinagu Road as Chief Mike Ejeagha Road in his honour, assured that his government would further immortalise the legend in death.

Taking to his verified  social media handles, @PNMbah, the governor paid a heartfelt tribute to the Enugu-born musician

“I’m profoundly saddened by the death of music icon, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.

“Mike Ejeagha was a legend, a cultural ambassador and a revered son of Enugu State.

“He was one of the finest musicians of his generation with an easygoing personality and humility that belied his towering celebrity status.

“I will always cherish fond memories of the time spent in his company – the warmth and wisdom he radiated; the joy he found in the ordinary.

“This is a loss not only for his immediate family; it’s a big loss for Enugu State, the entire music community, and the country as well.

“Ejeagha’s immense talent and genius lay in how he took simple indigenous folktales and turned them into unforgettable songs that resonate across cultures.

“Ejeagha’s fan-base transcended boundaries. He was easily one of the most recognizable voices in music.

“His death leaves a huge void that will be difficult to fill. But the legacies he has left behind will last a lifetime.

“On behalf of the Enugu State government, I offer heartfelt condolences to the Ejeagha family, and assure them of our support.

“As a government, we would ensure that his memory is duly immortalized.

“Above all, I pray that his family experiences the comforting grace of God’s love, and the fortitude to bear the loss.”

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From Bomb Blast to Praise: Maureen J’s Miracle Song

–Lagos bomb blast survivor tells her story through soul-stirring gospel track

Published

1 week ago

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June 5, 2025

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Maureen J

From the ashes of one of Nigeria’s most devastating tragedies has emerged a powerful testimony in song. “How Do I Kelee Gi?” — a soul-stirring blend of English and Igbo meaning “How do I thank You?” — is the heartfelt anthem of Maureen Onwuka, popularly known as Maureen J, a survivor of the January 27, 2002 Lagos bomb blast.

The blast, which rocked the Ikeja Cantonment area, left hundreds dead and thousands displaced in an unforgettable moment of national grief.

For Maureen, then a young evangelist, it marked the beginning of an emotional and spiritual journey that would change her life and eventually give birth to a song of thanksgiving.

On the day of the explosion, Maureen had stepped out for routine evangelism when she was caught in the chaos. Fleeing with a panicked crowd, she found herself at the edge of a canal near Ajao Estate. She couldn’t swim. Before she could react, the surging crowd pushed her into the water.

“I found myself stepping on bodies. People who had already drowned. It was like walking on human carpet, and I didn’t even know at first,” she recounts, her voice heavy with emotion. “Some were grabbing at me, trying to come up, but every time someone held my leg, I felt myself going under.”

Maureen screamed out a desperate prayer: “Lord, remember me! I was just out telling people about You! Please show me mercy!” In that moment, a stranger appeared in the water — a man who swam to her, pulled her to safety, and vanished without a trace. “I don’t know who he was. I believe he was an angel,” she says.

She escaped with her life, but the images of that day, especially the lifeless bodies of children, women, and men, remained etched in her memory. In the aftermath, she made a solemn vow to God: to tell the world what He did for her.

That vow found its fullest expression in “How Do I Kelee Gi?” — a song she describes as a sacred offering of gratitude. “Words weren’t enough to carry my story. I had to pour it into music,” Maureen explains. “Mixing English and Igbo was intentional — what God did for me was too great to explain in just one language.”

Though the song was written two to three years after the tragedy and initially recorded with little fanfare, Maureen never stopped sharing her story. Encouraged by those who’ve heard the track and urged her to push it further, she is now relaunching the song with renewed purpose.

“This song is my flagship,” she says. “It’s time to tell the world. I want people to not just hear my voice, but to know the miracle behind it.”

Maureen, who hails from Umukparo, Mbala Isuochi, in Abia State, has always been musically inclined, serving in choirs from her youth. But the 2002 experience gave her voice a new purpose. “After the blast, music became more than a gift — it became a mission,” she says.

Inspired by gospel icons like Mercy Chinwo, Sinach, and Nathaniel Bassey, Maureen hopes to reach hearts and stir worship through her sound. “Their songs move me toward God. That’s what I want mine to do too.”

“How Do I Kelee Gi?” is currently available on Audiomack and CD Baby, with plans for a full official launch slated for August this year.

From tragedy came a testimony. From near-death, a new life’s mission. And through it all, Maureen J stands — a living witness that miracles still happen, and when they do, the only fitting response is to sing.

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