Ugandan musicians and amateur bands will have a chance to perform and showcase their work at shown at the Asian Beat Band Competition in Tokyo. Talent Africa has teamed up with SELAK Uganda Ltd to organise a competition, where the best local band will win an all-expense paid trip to Japan to showcase at the …
Read More »Celine Dion to release first album since husband’s death
Montreal, Canada | AFP | Canadian singer Celine Dion will release Friday her first album produced without direct input from her longtime manager and husband Rene Angelil, who died in January. Dion has sold more than 220 million albums worldwide since 1981 when Angelil discovered her powerful voice and helped …
Read More »Montreal concert aims to end AIDS, malaria and TB
Montreal, Canada | AFP | US R&B star Usher and Canadian indie rock groups Metric and Half Moon Run will headline a free concert in Montreal next month aimed at ending AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Advocacy group Global Citizen, the concert sponsor, said the September 17 show would be held …
Read More »Ugandan-born talent shines on world stage
Nakaweesa rises on dance: Ugandan-born talent shines on world stage Catherine Nakaweesa is possibly among Uganda’s leading dancers and choreographers On stage she is able to turn her body into a malleable form that she can twist and turn at will to make very complex dance moves to the beat of …
Read More »My heart will Gabon: Dion helps young African singer go viral
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | An aspiring young Gabonese singer said Wednesday he was “overwhelmed” after Canadian superstar Celine Dion shared a homemade video of him performing one of his hits with her millions of social media followers. Samuel, aged just 17, was filmed performing a haunting rendition of Dion’s …
Read More »Koffi Olomide arrested again
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Star Congolese rumba singer Koffi Olomide, who was expelled from Kenya at the weekend after allegedly kicking one of his dancers, was charged with assault and battery Tuesday, a judicial source told AFP. The source, who asked not to be identified, said the 60-year-old …
Read More »Zambia show cancelled, Koffi Olomide apologizes
Lusaka, Zambia | AFP | Zambian authorities said on Sunday they had called off a planned show by Congolese singer Koffi Olomide following his deportation from Kenya for kicking one of his female dancers. Olomide was scheduled to perform at the annual agricultural trade show in Lusaka this week. “Following …
Read More »You can now sing ‘Happy Birthday’ free of charge
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | A US federal judge on Monday signed off on a settlement that puts the song “Happy Birthday” — considered one of the most recognizable tunes in the English language — in the public domain. The settlement approved by Los Angeles judge George King …
Read More »Maurice Kirya: I share traits with Bob Marley
Maurice Kirya is a Ugandan musician and actor best known for his ‘soul’ style of music. He spoke to Agnes E. Nantaba about his music journey. Explaining his preference for ‘soul’ music, Maurice Kirya says he wanted to do music that resonates well with Ugandans. “It took me about four …
Read More »Gambia bans music and dancing during Ramadan
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia has banned music, dancing and drumming during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, on pain of being arrested — and people are complying, police said Monday. Ordinary citizens in the small west African country — whose president declared it an Islamic state in …
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