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Nollywood Producer And Former Boss To Junior Pope, Tchidi Tchikere Pens Down Emotional Tribute To The Late Actor

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Legendary Nollywood director and producer Tchidi Tchikere has penned down an emotional message for late Junior pope

He wrote;

“My boy. My son . Adieu. I feel like a man who has lost a son. You came to dance in my music video. I paid you and you said ‘Thank you sir’ I was touched by your gratefulness and I asked my production manager to call you back. I took your number and told you I d push your career cos out of all the people I paid that day you were the only one who said THANK YOU. So one month later and after auditions , I cast in a leading role in the movie DEEPER THAN FACES. I surrounded you with established actors like Tonto Dikeh. Uche Elendu and the legend Uncle Pete Edochie. Cos I knew casting you among them would make you fly. And fly you did. I carried your career AMAKA MUSTAPHA. BE NOT AFRAID. NEW JOY etcetera, and you kept flying.

“Others began to cast you and I was happy watching you grow. Casting you as Churchill son of legendary actor Kanayo O Kanayo in GLOBACOM’s sitcom Professor Johnbull was one of the best decisions of my career because again you showed your versatility.

“I don’t know how this happened, it s only God that knows, JP, for me you are not dead, you have only gone to another level. That is the only way I can cope with this terrible news. We will keep holding the flag until we meet again”.

Junior Pope and four other crew members died during a boat accident on their way to a movie location on the 10th of April 2024. His death is still a huge shock.

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Young Artists Chase Dreams at Next Afrobeats Star Lagos Auditions

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Afrobeats Star Lagos Auditions
...waiting to audition

“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.

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Burna Boy and On Announce Multi-Year Partnership Connecting Sport and Culture

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Burna Boy
Burna Boy

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.

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

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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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