Entertainment
Young Artists Chase Dreams at Next Afrobeats Star Lagos Auditions


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


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