nigerian music
News Brief
Damola Durosomo
Jan. 07, 2019 03:09PM EST
Still from Youtube.

Burna Boy, Busiswa, Teni, Mr Eazi and More Win Big at Soundcity MVP Awards

But it was Burna Boy's mom who stole the show.

The Soundcity MVP Awards, which recognizes accomplished musicians across Africa, took place in on Saturday, and some our our favorite artists took home trophies in major categories.

Winners include South African singer Busiswa, who won Best Female MVP, Davido who won Best Pop Artist, Mr Eazi who won Digital Artist of the Year, Teni the Entertainer who won Best New Artist, AKA who won Best Hip-Hop Artist and many more.

But the big winner of the night was none other than Burna Boy who won a total of four awards—the most for any artists at Saturday's show. He wasn't in attendance, but his mother and manager Bose Ogulu attended on his behalf and ended up stealing the show with her lively acceptance speeches.

READ: Burna Boy Won 2018

When the artist won the award for Song of the Year for his hit single "Ye," Burna's mother took to the stage to thank a number of people including Kanye West for "making a mistake and calling his album 'Ye'." She also told the world to "expect more madness" in 2019.

She received much applause on Twitter, with folks sharing funny responses to how "boss' her speech was. Burna Boy gave his mother a shoutout as well, writing "Honestly, she is something special!"





Congrats to all of Saturday's winners! You can check out the full list of 2019 Soundcity MVP winners below.

BEST MALE MVP

Burna Boy

BEST FEMALE MVP

Busiswa

BEST HIP-HOP ARTIST

AKA

BEST POP ARTIST

Davido

BEST COLLABORATION

"Soco" – Starboy Ft Wizkid, Terri, Spotless & Ceeza Milli

DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Mr Eazi

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

"Heal D World" – Patoranking

BEST GROUP OR DUO

Navy Kenzo

SONG OF THE YEAR

"Ye" – Burna Boy

BEST NEW ARTISTE

Teni

VIEWER'S CHOICE

"So Mi So" – Wande Coal

LISTENER'S CHOICE

"Ye" – Burna Boy

AFRICAN PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Phantom

AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Burna Boy

AFRICAN DJ OF THE YEAR

Dj Neptune

burna boy mr eazi aka teni the entertainer nigerian music
Interview
Photo courtesy of CSA Global.

In Conversation with Congolese NBA Player Emmanuel Mudiay: 'I want more African players in the NBA.'

The Utah Jazz player talks about being African in the NBA, supporting basketball in the DRC and how 'everybody knows about Burna Boy'.

Inspired by his basketball-playing older brothers, by second grade, Emmanuel Mudiay already knew that he wanted to play in the American National Basketball Association. Then in 2001 his family, fleeing the war in Democratic Republic of Congo, sought asylum in the United States.

In America, Mudiay saw basketball as a way for him to improve his situation. After impressive high school and college careers, he moved to China to play pro ball. Picked 7th overall in the 2015 NBA draft, the now 23-year-old guard has made a name for himself this season coming off the bench for the Utah Jazz.

Mudiay attests to the sport having changed not only his life but that of his siblings. Basketball gave them all a chance at a good education and the opportunity to dream without conditions. Now he wants to see other talented African players make it too.

We caught up with him to talk about his experience as an African player in the NBA, his hopes for basketball on the African continent and who he and his teammates jam out to in their locker rooms.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Watch the Music Video for ‘Ayipheli’ by Makwa, MarazA and AKA

Makwa shares visuals for his single 'Ayipheli.'

Makwa's hit "Ayipheli" has just been treated to visuals. The song, which was released last year, features a hook from MarazA and a verse from AKA.

"Ayipheli" is a song that was tailored for the summer—it's celebratory in nature and light-hearted in mood. The music video shows the three artists' performance scenes in an open field crowded with fans. The colorful outfits and free movement from the people present plays to the idea of summer. You'll spot cameos from Kwesta, Yanga Chief and a few others.

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University lecturer and activist Doctor Stella Nyanzi (L) reacts in court as she attends a trial to face charges for cyber-harassment and offensives communication, in Kampala, on April 10, 2017. (Photo by GAEL GRILHOT/AFP via Getty Images)

Jailed Ugandan Activist, Stella Nyanzi, Wins PEN Prize for Freedom of Expression

The outspoken activist, who is currently serving a prison sentence for a poem she wrote about the president's mother's vagina, won for her resistance "in front of a regime that is trying to suppress her."

Stella Nyanzi, the Ugandan academic, activist, and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni has been awarded the 2020 Oxfam Novib/PEN International award for freedom of expression, given to writers who "continue to work for freedom of expression in the face of persecution."

Nyanzi is currently serving a 15 month sentence for "cyber harassment" after she published a poem in which she wrote that she wished "the acidic pus flooding Esiteri's (the president's mother) vaginal canal had burn up your unborn fetus. Burn you up as badly as you have corroded all morality and professionalism out of our public institutions in Uganda."

According to the director of PEN International, Carles Torner, her unfiltered outspokenness around the issues facing her country is what earned her the award. "For her, writing is a permanent form of resistance in front of a regime that is trying to suppress her," said Torner at the award ceremony.

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Video
Photo: Ben Depp.

Watch Yilian Canizares & Paul Beaubrun's Beautiful Video For 'Noyé'

"Cuba and Haiti come together to share the love and heritage of our deep rooted culture and spirituality."

Yilian Canizares and Paul Beaubrun connect for the serene "Noyé," one of the highlights from Canizares' latest album, Erzulie.

The Cuban singer and Haitian artist are now sharing the new Arnaud Robert-directed music video for the single, which we're premiering here today.

"Noyé is a song that comes from our roots," Yilian Canizares tells OkayAfrica. "Inspired by the energy of love. The same love that kept Africa's legacy alive in the hearts of Haiti and Cuba. We wanted to do a stripped down version of only the essential pieces from a musical point of view. Something raw and beautiful where our souls would be naked."

The striking music video follows Canizares and Beaubrun to the waters of New Orleans, the universal Creole capital, where they sing and float until meeting on the Mississippi River.

"Noyé is a cry of love from children of African descent," says Paul Beaubrun. "Cuba and Haiti come together to share the love and heritage of our deep rooted culture and spirituality."

Watch the new music video for "Noyé" below.

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