Entertainment
My crises nobody knew about – Adekunle Gold speaks out.
The Nigerian artist, Adekunle Gold recently shared a part of his life story that has been a secret all his life. The singer poured out his heart on his Instagram page as he told his fans the battles and challenges he faced before gaining fame. He said he was a sickle cell anaemic patient who lived his life with pains because of the sickness.
He wrote: “It feels liberating to finally be able to share this part of my life with you, to finally be able to speak my truth. When I talk about how I struggled to get to where I am today, I need you to know that my struggle was real. I was born with sickle cell disease. It was life and death, it was physical, mental, financial, you name it and I went through it all. It was tough, painful, and frustrating. I lived with a sickness no one around me understood, I lived with restrictions all my childhood. “I wasn’t able to join some of the most minor child play and liberating activities like going out in the rain. The times when I insisted and rebelled against my parent’s orders and went out in the rain, I would end up having a crisis. The nights were painful and lonely, nights that no one could help me get through. It was just me, God, and my mind. The pains and shivers were unbearable. “They always came in the night, when my family had no means to transport me to a hospital. We simply couldn’t afford the constant hospital bills so I had no choice but to endure the pain. “My mum wanted me to be well, she did her best. She took me to all the churches she could find, I’m grateful for her because she saw a future for me.
“A future where no illness or sickness could hold me back from my purpose. From the life, I was destined to live. “Sickle cell disease took away my freedom, my childhood. I lost friends, a lot of them. Some didn’t understand the restrictions and rules I had to live by, some just didn’t want to deal with my Illness or thought it was a nasty or contagious disease that they could catch. I was a burden for some. Living with sickle cell is far from living a normal life. “One of the most intense crises I had was at the age of 20, I remember laying in my bed in the middle of the night asking for an end to it all. I begged God to take my life away because I couldn’t understand what I did to deserve the pain my body and mind were under. As usual with sickle crisis after some days, the pain subsided and God asked me; “That end you begged me for, do you still want it?” Of course, I said no and that’s when everything changed for me. That’s when I realized that I had been given another opportunity to live my dreams and to show those that mocked me that sickle cell anemia was never going to end me, that it was never going to hold me back from my dreams and aspirations. “My body caves in once in a while, and some symptoms come back but what this disease has taught me is resilience. Sickle cell anemia gave me hope, made me tough, gave me the discipline I needed to be who I am today, and built my character. I mean I went through a whole 5 weeks of back-to-back performances and didn’t fall sick. Grace. “My mind and body were challenged and I’m stronger, more determined, and ready to take on the world. I’m ready for Adekunle Gold Supremacy, I’m ready to live and enjoy the 5 Star life that I deserve, that my body toiled for. “I’m sharing my testimony with you because I hope that you can find strength in my truth. Some ailments hold us back but I’m thankful this hasn’t. I want to encourage you in whatever it is you’re going through, know that there is hope. You are strong and you must not give up. YOU CAN DO THIS! “Victory lies at the end for you just as it did for me. “If you know anyone going through any struggle, physical, health, or mental. Be kind, and show compassion. In fact, be kind to everyone, you just never know what they’re dealing with privately. Be supportive, be gentle, and love endlessly. “If you are a sickler, know that the disease does not define you. Don’t allow it to limit your dreams or cap your potential. Spread your wings and dream big! Hope to see you soaring in the big skies. “All my love.”
It feels good to know that he was able to overcome it all and be the star he is today, which was why he wrote his story in order to encourage other sicklers and people out there to keep pushing and believing, because miracle is real and will get to them too. Congratulations to the star on his success story.
“I’ve been looking for the opportunity to go big and showcase my sound to the world, let people hear my experiences and my journey,” Lagos-based singer, Mogueto confessed.
He was born Gbadamosi Ibrahim Gbolahan. Raised in Ibadan, he has been chasing music since secondary school, sneaking headphones into the hostel to practice songs with friends and eventually, moving to Lagos to chase his dreams.
When he stumbled on the Next Afrobeats Star (NAS) auditions while scrolling Instagram, he knew it was the chance he had been waiting for. he said.
The audition process delivered lessons. “I’m going to actually take the fact that I built the courage to come here, and I did something, it shows that okay, there’s more that I can do.” Beyond the stage, he also found connections with other artists whose sounds align. “We shared our social media handles, and we’re hoping to make something out of the connection.”
For Hope Kesemen, better known as Specta, the Lagos auditions were about pushing her creativity. A singer-songwriter who also doubles as a lawyer and business owner, she has always found ways to bring humor into music. “When I was in secondary school, I would always just remix songs, make popular songs funny, songs about garri and stuff like that.”
But her path hasn’t been simple. “I come from a family where my father is a pastor,” she explained. “Breaking out of that to explore my creativity has been a challenge. My mother was never cool with it. But I got a little bit of support from my dad, and that little support helped me a lot.”
Then there was Praise Okafor, AKA Rohila, an 18-year-old model and singer who came looking for more than just the prize. Though not her first audition, she said the NAS platform felt bigger and more validating. “The exposure, the cameras, everything makes me feel like this is where I belong,” she said. “Regardless of what happens, my takeaway is to be myself and do what I love.” For her, music is a family affair. “We all sing, like my mom sings. We are living this for her dream, but also for ourselves.”
The Lagos leg of Next Afrobeats Star (NAS) lit up Ultima Studios from September 5 to 8, pulling in hundreds of young talents eager to prove they belong on the Afrobeats stage. For many, it wasn’t just about chasing a $100,000 music deal with ONErpm, it was about testing themselves and finding their place in Nigeria’s most dynamic music scene.
By the close of auditions, it was clear why NAS matters. The talent is abundant, but platforms like this give young voices the visibility, mentorship, and access they need to break through. Next stop: Abuja on September 13 and 14, then Port Harcourt on September 20 and 21.
Global music sensation Burna Boy has partnered with Swiss sportswear brand On in a multi-year collaboration that merges sport, culture, and creativity.
This partnership aligns with On’s mission to ignite the human spirit through movement, reflecting Burna Boy’s own ethos of connecting music, sport, community, and culture.
As the newly appointed Clubhouse President, Burna Boy will play a symbolic role in On’s growing tennis universe. His involvement will help shape the brand’s creative direction, reflecting his passion for music, sport, and community.
“For me, everything I do comes from the same place; music, sport, community, and culture. It’s all connected,” said Burna Boy. “On gets that. Our partnership is about shaking things up and creating new energy in the world of sports.”
The partnership was announced through a visually striking short film showcasing Burna Boy’s bold aesthetic and On’s Swiss roots. Directed by Rollo Jackson, the film reimagines tennis as a vibrant, culture-forward space. With this collaboration, Burna Boy and On aim to create inspiring and innovative content that pushes boundaries in sports and music.
On is a Swiss sportswear brand founded in 2010 with a mission to ignite the human spirit through movement. Known for industry-disrupting innovations like CloudTec and LightSpray, On delivers high-performance footwear, apparel, and accessories for running, outdoor activities, training, and tennis. Present in over 80 countries, On engages with a digital community on inspiring humans to explore, discover, and Dream On.
Entertainment
Elie Kamano’s Anthem Amplifies Pan-African Reparations Call with Striking New Music Video
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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