Stanbic Bank has announced that American artistes Omarion and Musiq Soulchild will headline this year’s Music Festival, taking place in October.

Omarion, born Omari Ishmael Grandberry, is a multiple Grammy-nominated actor and singer, formerly the lead singer of the group B2K.

Musiq Soulchild, born Taalib Johnson, is a 13-time Grammy nominee influenced by artistes like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and D’Angelo.

Making the announcement in Lusaka on Thursday, Bank Chief Executive Officer, Mwindwa Siakalima, said the music festival would be held at the Lusaka Polo Fields and feature both international and local artistes.

“In a bid to promote culture, music and local talent, bank has been hosting the Stanbic Music Festival for the last ten years, bringing together people from all walks of life to experience live music and culture,” Siakalima said.

Read More:Music star, D’Banj, unveils details of fifth studio album, ‘entertainer- the sequel’

He added that the bank aimed to create and sustain a powerful, positive musical experience for customers in Zambia and beyond.

“We also want to showcase our bank’s brand philosophy of ‘We believe in here,’ which translates to ‘We believe in Zambia,'” Siakalima said.

Siakalima emphasized the power of music in uniting people and fostering a culture of unity, driven by a desire to elevate the standards of the local music and arts industry.

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Nigerian global music sensation, D’Banj has announced his highly-anticipated fifth studio album, titled ‘Entertainer – The Sequel’, set for release in August.

The album features a blend of Afrobeats and Afropop, comprising eleven tracks and two bonus songs.

The album included collaborations with international stars such as Grammy winner Wyclef Jean, Congolese icon Awilo Logomba, Senegalese music legend Youssou N’Dour, American superstar Akon, South African megastar DJ Maphorisa, and NBC’s The Voice talent, Chechi Sarai.

Nigerian artiste, Phyno, Timaya, Kayswitch, Zlatan, Peruzzi, Bhadboi Oml, and Chuchu Lee also feature on the album.

Read More: Maleek Berry returns with anticipated single ‘secrets’ after some quiet

Ahead of the release, D’Banj dropped a new single, ‘Worthy’, on July 19, featuring Youssou N’Dour and Chechi Sarai, offering fans a preview of the upcoming album.

D’Banj expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Life is a maze of self-discovery, and my new album, ‘Entertainer – The Sequel,’ is a true reflection of my growth as an artiste and my commitment to advancing African music.”

Following the album’s launch, D’Banj would embark on a global tour, in partnership with The Temple Company.

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American rapper and actor, Snoop Dogg, will be one of the final torchbearers of the Olympic flame ahead of the Games’ Opening Ceremony in Paris on Friday.

According to CNN, Snoop Dogg, whose full name is Calvin Broadus Jr., will carry the torch through the neighborhood of Saint-Denis, the final stop of the Olympic flame’s journey before it reaches the Eiffel Tower, as confirmed by the town’s mayor, Mathieu Hanotin.

Read more: Confident team Zambia arrives in Paris for 2024 Olympic Games

Snoop Dogg had already arrived in Paris, tweeting a photo on Tuesday with the caption: “U ready? Paris 2024 Olympics ya digggg.”

The rapper would also be involved in NBC Universal’s coverage, providing “regular reports” and exploring the city’s iconic landmarks for the network’s prime time shows on NBC and Peacock, as outlined in a December NBC statement.

“I grew up watching the Olympics and am thrilled to see the incredible athletes bring their A-game to Paris. It’s a celebration of skill, dedication, and the pursuit of greatness,” Snoop Dogg said in the statement.

He also appeared at the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, earlier this month, running a 200-meter exhibition race in 34.44 seconds.

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Versatile Zambian artistes Jay Rox and Willz Mr. Nyopole have put old differences aside to release a joint album titled ‘Social Introverts’.

The announcement on Monday sparked some fan chatter about their past fallout.

However, both artistes have confirmed they have moved past their misunderstandings.

Read more: Jay Rox’s latest album goes viral, hits 100,000 streams on Boomplay

“Zero bad blood between my brother and I. Let the music start a new chapter at midnight. The music industry missed your talent, Willz Mr Nyopole,” Jay Rox posted on Facebook.

Willz echoed the sentiment, affirming their renewed bond.

“Jay Rox and I squashed the beef, we are back to being brothers. Forget about what I said in ‘My Diary’, he stated, referencing KB’s popular My Diary series where he addressed their differences in Part 7.

The hip-hop and dancehall duo entrusted Shinko Beats, Crown, Tivo Shikapwasha, Miles Came Along, and Jay Rox himself with the production on the ten-track project.

Released under their labels, Loud House and Headphone Music, the album has been hinted at through social media posts featuring the pair.

Jay Rox revealed to Zambian Monitor that it took only two weeks to complete the recording.

The album explored various genres beyond hip-hop and dancehall, showcasing the artistes’ versatility.

“We are bringing versatility to the project. Different versions of Jay Rox and Willz. So, we have our hip-hop versions, Afro R&B, and dancehall. People will move from listening to bars, melodies, and soulful things; it’s a different type of art,” he said.

The album, featuring Dimpo Williams and The Bwoy Golden, dropped at midnight on Tuesday.

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The multi-talented record producer, recording artiste, and songwriter Maleek Berry, known for hit tracks like “Kontrol” and “Eko Miami,” is ready to captivate fans once again with his unique sound and compelling storytelling.

After a brief hiatus, British-Nigerian artiste Maleek Berry is set to return to the music scene with his highly anticipated comeback single, “Secrets,” dropped on July 12, 2024.

Before his hiatus, Maleek Berry released “Ole Gan” in 2022 and made guest appearances on Jastin Martin’s “Replacement” and Smallgod’s “Wave” in 2024, reports Pulse Nigeria.

His new single marks a new chapter in Maleek Berry’s illustrious career, which had seen him collaborate with top-tier artistes such as Wizkid, Wale, Runtown, and Iyanya.

Read More: Jemax’s debut album ‘The Boogeyman’ hits 25 million streams on Boomplay

Released on July 12, 2024, the song upholds Maleek Berry’s status as one of Afrobeats’ genre-bending artists whose music continues to push the boundaries of Nigerian contemporary music.

Speaking on the new single, Maleek Berry said: “I’m excited to share this new music with my fans. It’s been a journey of growth and exploration, and I believe this track truly reflects where I am artistically right now.”

With “Secrets,” fans will get a fresh and dynamic sound, staying true to Maleek Berry’s roots while exploring new musical landscapes.

The release was accompanied by a music video directed by Alice Berry and Billy King, shot in London.

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Rapper Jemax has achieved a remarkable milestone with his debut album ‘The Boogeyman,’ which has now surpassed 25 million streams on Boomplay within just a month and a half of its release.

The streaming platform announced this achievement on its official Facebook page, celebrating Jemax’s success as one of the most streamed albums of 2024.

The album, launched in Lusaka on July 6, has been a standout success, reaching 1 million streams within the first 12 hours of its release.

‘The Boogeyman’ features collaborations with prominent local artistes such as Yo Maps, Jay Rox, Tommy Dee, Chef 187, and Jae Cash, as well as emerging talents like 76 Drums, Blood Kid YVOK, Dizmo, and Xaven.

Production credits included names like Eazy the Producer, King Nachi, Fuego, and the renowned Jerry Fingers, contributing to the album’s diverse and captivating sound.

Boomplay’s announcement underscores the album’s popularity and widespread acclaim, marking a significant achievement for Jemax in his musical career.

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Despite a slow start, the first half of 2024 has seen several singles soar to hit status, with songs from Kizz Daniel, Chike, Shallipopi and Seyi Vibez topping the charts.

Pulse reports that Nigeria’s music chart publication TurnTable Charts had released the data for the most streamed songs in the first half of 2024.

According to the data, many of the songs that enjoyed huge success in 2024 were released in the third quarter of 2023.

Read More: Rema’s ‘calm down’ shatters records with over 2 billion Spotify streams, setting new benchmarks for Afrobeats

Kizz Daniel’s hit single ‘Twe Twe’ emerged as the most streamed song of 2024 in Nigeria.

Grammy nominee Ayra Starr was the only female artiste on the list, with her song ‘Commas’—one of the lead singles from her sophomore album ‘The Year I Turned 21’—ranking at number 7.

South African stars Titom, Yuppe, S.N.E, and EeQue were the only non-Nigerians on the list, with their viral single ‘Twala Bam’ entering at number 10.

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As the local film production scene continues to expand, Zambian V Media Studios has joined forces with Uganda’s Xunda Productions to bring the highly anticipated movie “Queen of the Jungle” to audiences.

The film is set to premiere on July 20, 2024, with the first two episodes debuting at Apple Bee’s in Zambia.

This cinematic masterpiece, directed by Ande M Visuals and produced by Victor Nyirongo, CEO of V Media Studios, features an impressive cast including Jessica Mainza, Amson Sontapo, Pst. A S Joshua, and Agness Kaunda.

The movie’s music was composed by Jozzy Beats and editing is handled by Ande M Visuals.

Read more: ‘The lie’, a Zambian film production to premier at Chingola theatre

The screenplay was crafted by V Media Studios, showcasing a truly collaborative effort.

In a recent interview, Victor Nyirongo expressed his excitement about the movie’s premiere. “We are thrilled to bring this epic story to life, showcasing the talents of our cast and crew.

‘Queen of the Jungle’ promises to be an unforgettable cinematic experience, and we invite everyone to join us on this special night,” he said.

The premiere event would also feature performances by renowned artistes, including Pk Muzizi, Dre Nimulusaka Muno, Minister Divine, Brave Nomore Pain, and many more.

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Rema is one of the Nigerian artistes leading the global exportation of Afrobeats through his music, which has won multiple awards and earned several records for Nigerian mainstream music.

In another landmark feat, his mega-hit single ‘Calm Down’ has now surpassed 2 billion streams on Spotify, making it by far the most streamed song by an African artiste on the platform.

The Pulse Nigeria reports that the 2 billion mark was achieved by both versions of the single, with the original surpassing 590m streams and the Selena Gomez remix crossing 1.410B streams in a monumental accomplishment.

In 2023, Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ with Selena Gomez became the first Afrobeats single to surpass 1b streams on Spotify, marking a significant moment for Nigerian and African music.

Read More: Six baby mamas who reportedly lost the chance to marry Nigerian artiste, Davido

Rema’s latest achievement adds to the several records he has set with ‘Calm Down’, including the Guinness World Record for being the first-ever NO. 1 song on the MENA chart.

Other records set by ‘Calm Down’ included the highest peak of number 3 for a song by a Nigerian artiste on the Billboard Hot 100 and the longest-charting song by a Nigerian artiste on the chart.

Rema kicked off his 2024 on a high note with the release of ‘Benin Boys’, his collaboration with fellow Benin city star Shallipopi, which debuted at NO. 1 on the TurnTable Top 100.

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The wedding of Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, to his longtime partner Chioma Rowland, also known as Chef Chioma, on Tuesday, June 24, has undoubtedly left a few hearts broken.

As a single and eligible bachelor, Davido had numerous relationships with several women, some of whom hoped to become his wife.

This information comes from a report by Ripples Nigeria.

Several women reportedly had babies with him, becoming what is popularly known as ‘baby mamas.’ Some revealed their relationships with Davido only after the fact, leading to social media frenzies and sensational headlines.

Throughout all of this, Chioma remained steadfast and patient. On June 25, 2024, she finally became Davido’s chosen one, marrying him in one of the most celebrated weddings of the year.

Read more: Nigerian Afrobeat star, Davido marries long-time partner, Chioma, in lavish ceremony

Ripples Nigeria has compiled a list of Davido’s baby mamas who reportedly lost out on the chance to marry the billionaire superstar.

1. Sophia Momodu: The most celebrated and popular of Davido’s baby mamas, Sophia bore his first child, a baby girl named Imade.

2. Amanda: Shortly after Imade’s birth, Amanda came forward to claim that Davido was the father of her baby.

3. Larissa Lorenco: An Angolan-born, London-based makeup artist and DJ, Larissa became Davido’s fourth baby mama.

4. Chioma Rowland: Though she is now Davido’s lawfully wedded wife, Chioma was the third woman to have a child with him. Their son, Ifeanyi, tragically died after drowning in Davido’s swimming pool last year.

5. Ayotomide: Not much is known about Ayotomide, who also had a baby with Davido, thus qualifying her as one of his baby mamas.

6. Anita Brown: Anita stirred controversy last year when she claimed during an Instagram live session that she was pregnant with Davido’s child.

The story of Davido and his relationships has captured the public’s imagination, culminating in his highly publicized wedding to Chioma, who stood by him through it all.

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