Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Former South African president Jacob Zuma’s plan to record an album of apartheid-era struggle songs sparked off a political row Thursday as opposition politicians slammed the project as a taxpayer-funded waste of money. Zuma, ousted from power last year amid multiple fraud scandals, is …
Read More »Historic UK music retailer HMV collapses for second time
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British music retailer HMV, which was launched by English composer Edward Elgar in 1921, has collapsed into administration after weak Christmas sales and amid a declining market for CDs and DVDs, its owner said on Friday. His Master’s Voice (HMV), which is known worldwide …
Read More »Austria celebrates 200 years of beloved carol ‘Silent Night’
Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria | AFP | Austria has something special to celebrate this festive period as it marks 200 years since the first performance of one of the world’s most beloved Christmas carols, “Silent Night”. Celebrations of the anniversary will culminate with a special December 24 performance of “Stille …
Read More »Music promoters, Event managers petition Kadaga over Bobi Wine’s concerts
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Music promoters and events managers have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga to intervene in the suspended music concerts of Bobi Wine. The petitioners say they have incurred huge losses for failing to host concerts involving the Kyadondo East MP and artist, Robert Kyagulanyi …
Read More »Uganda’s popstar MP ‘hiding’ from police after raid: lawyer
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Ugandan popstar turned opposition lawmaker Bobi Wine is in hiding after police raided a hotel he was staying in ahead of a concert, his lawyer said Sunday. Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, had been due to perform at a concert in Jinja, …
Read More »Anti-Kabila rapper abducted in DR Congo: father
Bukavu, DR Congo | AFP | A rapper critical of outgoing President Joseph Kabila was abducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern city of Bukavu overnight, his father told AFP on Sunday. Akim Bufole Corneille, 26, was taken by unidentified people as he left a karaoke party, where he …
Read More »Anti-govt rapper abducted as DR Congo vote tensions rise
Bukavu, DR Congo | AFP | A rapper critical of President Joseph Kabila was abducted in the eastern DR Congo overnight, his father said Sunday amid rising tensions two weeks ahead of landmark elections. Akim Bufole Corneille, 26, was taken by unidentified kidnappers as he left a party in Bukavu, …
Read More »Pop star Ariana Grande’s ‘Thank U, Next’ video smashes records
New York, United States | AFP | Pop star Ariana Grande’s sugary new music video for the hit “Thank U, Next” is now the fastest to rack up 100 million views on YouTube, the platform told AFP Wednesday. After dropping Friday, the clip needed little more than three days to …
Read More »Beyonce, Jay-Z dazzle South Africa at Mandela gig
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Beyonce was leading an all-star line-up including Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z and Usher in Johannesburg at a concert to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. The concert was the climax of a year of events celebrating the centennial of Mandela’s birth in 1918, …
Read More »Cheese maker plays music to his cheese for better taste!
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Beat Wampfler , a cheese maker from the Emmental region of Switzerland has been experimenting with various musical genres to see if they can make his cheese taste better. While his idea may sound a bit crazy, he actually managed to get some scientists from …
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