A Senegalese police officer runs past a fire, after protests erupted during a curfew in Dakar on January 6, 2021. - Senegalese President Macky Sall announced on the evening on January 6 the state of emergency with a night curfew for two regions including Dakar to stop the rise of the coronavirus.
Protests Erupt Again in Senegal Over COVID-19 Curfew
Youths in Senegal have again taken to the streets in protest against the recently imposed curfew by President Macky Sall this past Wednesday.
News24 reports that protests have broken out in Senegal's capital of Dakar in response to the recent curfew imposed by President Macky Sall. This comes after the head of state declared a state of emergency this past Wednesday with regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has seen close to 90 percent of the cases concentrated in Dakar and the Thies regions—both of which are now under an 8-hour curfew. Currently, there are a reported 20 376 coronavirus cases with at least 438 deaths in the West African country.
Speaking in a televised national address, President Sall said, "This is a grave hour." He added that, "On the recommendation of the medical corps I decided to declare a state of emergency on two regions initially."
Protests erupted shortly after the announcement was made with many Senegalese youth expressing their dissatisfaction over their various economic activities having been affected by the curfew. Additionally, many have pushed back against the curfew citing that "it won't make the virus go away," according to EWN. No arrests have been made thus far although there have been reports of fires having been started and barricades erected by protesters. This is not the first time this is happening, however. Last year in June, youths protested against the curfew and ban on inter-regional travel in major cities including Dakar, Mbacké, Touba, Tambacounda and Diourbel.
As cases of the coronavirus continue to increase all over the world, the much-anticipated vaccine is set to be rolled out in several countries. Nigeria is reportedly set to receive it first shipment of the the vaccine by the end of this month while South Africa's Health Ministry recently announced that it will distribute 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to its healthcare workers from January through to February.
Senegal's Baaba Maal shares a new song ahead of his upcoming album, Being.
Renowned Senegalese singer and guitaristBaaba Maalhas shared a new single called "Agreement." The song is the fourth track on his upcoming album Being, which is slated to be released on March 31st, 2023.
"Agreement," a percussion-heavy record produced by Johan Hugo, fuses both ancient and modern rhythms, and continues Baaba Maal's ongoing musical quest to connect the past and the present, while making lasting cultural and emotional connections through music.
While discussing the record, Baaba Maal dissects the meaning of the song and explains that it draws inspiration from day-to-day relationships.
“Agreement is about the relationships you make in your life, whether they are with friends, musicians, neighbors, people you love,” says Baaba Maal. ”When you say to people, we are going on this journey through life together, through good times and bad, you should be very sure that you mean it.”
The Senegalese legend continues breaking down the meaning of the song by explaining it through a cultural lens.
“It’s based on a proverb from my community — to say no at the beginning to the idea that we will always be together is much stronger and more noble that beginning a relationship and then cutting it short later, maybe forty years later. Be mature enough to take seriously an agreement you make with someone about the future, about your souls being connected,” says Maal.
After a seven-year music hiatus, "Agreement" is one of Maal's new releases, and he will continue to share his music in the coming months with fans. In addition to releasing his upcoming album, the Poor-born icon will be performing at the Barbican in London, for the first time in 20 years on May 30th, 2023.
Maal'sBeing is a riveting extension of his pioneering, transcendent, and inspiring four-decade legacy that has blended the traditional and the innovative, the acoustic and the electronic over the years. For being, Maal reportedly partnered with long-time producer Johan Hugo, and recorded the body of work in Brooklyn, London and Senegal. Watch the visualizer for "Agreement" below.
The awards, which were held at the Dakar Arena, saw the likes of Nigerian superstar Davido take home three trophies in one night as he won the Best African Collaboration, Best Duo or Group in African Electro, and Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music categories.
Egyptian rapper Marwan Moussa followed closely, nabbing two wins for Best African Rapper/Lyricist and Best Duo or Group in African Hip Hop.
In other notable moments, Senegalese icons Youssou N’dour, Baaba Maal, and Ismaël Lô were given the AFRIMA Legend Award, which is selected by the awards' international executive committee.
All of the winners across the remaining 39 categories for the 8th AFRIMA in Senegal were decided by popular vote across a pool of 9,067 submitted entries.
South Africa's Costa Titch and Frrench-Congolese artist Dadju lead the group, with each artist earning six nominations. Burna Boy, KIzz Daniel, Tiwa Savage and Fireboy DML bagged nominations each.
This year, the organization received its highest number of entries ever recorded since the award show began in 2014. The award show's jury chose 382 nominations across 39 musical categories, to underscore five African regions and the musical talents that represent those regions.
South African jury member Adam Tiran, said that he was confident that he and other members had made the right selections this year for talent.
“We are confident in our selection this year, after carefully reviewing all 9,076 entries. We are sure this is an accurate and inclusive representation of where the African music industry currently is," said Tiran. "We have put in the effort to ensure that AFRIMA’s nominations remain as credible and authentic as always.”
West African countries led the charge with a total of 134 nominations, and this was followed by the Eastern African region, whose artists came to 69 nominations. Southern African artists followed behind with 68 nominations and Central African artists had 52 nominations, while Northern African artists had an entry totaling to 49 nominations. The global region for this year's award show representing non-Africans pulled in 10 nominations.
The nominations fall into a variety of categories, according to Angela Martins, Head of Culture, African Union Commission on the Jury:
“The nominees list comprising 29 continental award categories and 10 regional award categories released for public voting on www.afrima.org. The remaining category for the “Legend Award” will be announced at the awards. Also, we brought back the “Best Soundtrack in a Movie, Series or Documentary” category, this year, due to the availability of quality entries for this year’s edition. Recall that we had to suspend it, last year, due to a shortage of quality entries, said Martins. “Overall, we are very proud and confident in our work, and we would continue to intensify our efforts to ensure AFRIMA remains the ultimate recognition of African music globally in line with its vision.”
See the full list of winners below.
Here are all the winners at the 8th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA)
REGIONAL WINNERS
Best Female Artiste in Western Africa
Asa
Ocean
Nigeria
Gyakie
Something
Ghana
Josey Ft. Bonigo (Winner)
Zambeleman
Cote d'Ivoire
Manamba Kante
Bhouloun Djouri
Guinea
Oumou Sangare
Wassulu Don
Mali
Simi
Woman
Nigeria
Soraia Ramos
BKBN
Cape Verde
Tems
Crazy Tings
Nigeria
Tiwa Savage Ft. Brandy
Somebody's Son
Nigeria
Viviane CHIDID Ft. Bass Thioung
Sweet Game
Senegal
Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa
A-Reece
Couldn't Have Said It Better, Pt.3
South Africa
Blxckie feat A-Reece
Sneaky
South Africa
DJ Tarico Ft. DJ Consequence, Nelson Tivane & Preck
Number One
Mozambique
Gemini Major Ft. Ayra Starr
Ooh Lala
Malawi
Focalistic X Madumane and Mellow & Sleazy feat. DJ Maphorisa
16 Days No Sleep
South Africa
Kabza De Small Ft. DJ Maphorisa
Abalele
South Africa
Musketeers Ft. Azmo
Danko feat. Azmo
Namibia
Master KG x Wanitwa Mos Ft. Nkosazana Daughter, Basetsana, Obeey Amor
Dali Nguwe
South Africa
Winky D (Winner)
Happy Again
Zimbabwe
Zakes Bantwini Ft. Kasango
Osama
South Africa
Best Female Artiste in Southern Africa
DJ Yessonia Ft. Boohle
Ngifuna Wena
Namibia
DJ Zinhle Ft. Black Motion, Kabza De Small & Nokwazi
Siyabonga
South Africa
Kamo Mphela
Ghost
South Africa
Makhadzi (Winner)
Mama
South Africa
Nadia Nakai Ft. Lucasraps
Not The Same
South Africa
Nomfundo Moh Ft. ShaSha & Ami Faku
Phakade Lami
South Africa
ShaSha Ft. Kamo Mphela & Felo Le Tee
iPiano
Zimbabwe
Simmy
We Were Here
South Africa
Tamy Moyo
Sare
Zimbabwe
Uncle Waffles & Tony Duardo Ft. Sino Msolo & Boibizza
Tanzania
South Africa
Best Male Artiste in Northern Africa
A.L.A (Winner)
30
Tunisia
Ali Loka
Matkhafesh Yamma
Egypt
Ahmed Saad Ft. 3enba & Double Zuksh
AlMoulouk
Egypt
DJ Snake
Disco Maghreb
Algeria
Draganov
Chichi
Morocco
El Grande Toto
Salade Coco
Morocco
Marwan Moussa
Batal 3alam
Egypt
Snor
Kasseta
Morocco
Soolking
Suavemente
Algeria
Wegz
Albakht
Egypt
Best Female Artiste in Northern Africa
Faouzia (Winner)
RIP Love
Morocco
Jaylann
Oui Oui
Morocco
Kenza Morsli Ft. DJ Adel
Moustahil
Algeria
Lyna Mahyem
Mal De Toi
Algeria
Manal
Makhelaw Magalou
Morocco
Marwa Loud & Moha K
Ghir Ntiya
Morocco
Ruby
Namet Nenna
Egypt
Rym
Stylo Warqa
Morocco
Best Male Artiste in Central Africa
C4 Pedro
Posa
Angola
Dadju
Ambassadeur
DRC
Fally Ipupa (Winner)
Bloqué
DRC
Innoss'B
Mortel-06
DRC
Gaz Mawete
500
DRC
Matias Damasio
Como Antes
Angola
Ninho
Jefe
DRC
Roga Roga & Extra Musica
Bokoko
DRC
Tayc
Dodo
Cameroon
Tenor Ft. Innoss'B
Mami Wata
Cameroon
Best Male Artiste in Eastern Africa
Addis Legesse
Enja
Ethiopia
Bien (& Aaron Rimbui)
Bald Men Anthem
Kenya
Diamond Platnumz Ft. Zuchu
Mtasubiri
Tanzania
Eddy Kenzo
Songa
Uganda
Kassmasse (Winner)
Sewasew
Ethiopia
King Saha
Zakayo
Uganda
Marioo Ft. Jovial
Mi Amor
Tanzania
Mbosso Ft. Costa Titch & Phantom Steeze
Moyo
Tanzania
Nyashinski Ft. Femi One
Properly
Kenya
Rayvanny Ft. Vjollca
Pele Pele
Tanzania
Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa
Betty G
Addis Semay
Ethiopia
Frida Amani
Fala Mimi
Tanzania
Hewan Gebrewold
Shemuna
Ethiopia
Muthaka (Winner)
Sorry
Kenya
Nandy
Siwezi
Tanzania
Nikita Kering
Last Name
Kenya
Rosa Ree
Watatubu
Tanzania
Spice Diana Ft. DJ Seven
Tujuoge
Uganda
Tanasha Donna
Maradonna
Kenya
Zuchu Ft. Bontle Smith & Tyler
Kitu
Tanzania
CONTINENTAL WINNER
Song of the year
Black Sherif
Kwaku The Traveller
Ghana
Burna Boy
Last Last
Nigeria
Costa Titch feat. Banaba Des, Alfa Kat, Man T, Sdida, C’Buda M
Big Flexa
South Africa
Dadju
Ambassaduer
DRC
Didi B (Winner)
Tala
Cote d'Ivoire
DJ Snake
Disco Maghreb
Algeria
Fireboy DML feat. Ed Sheeran
Peru (Remix)
NIgeria
Kizz Daniel feat. Tekno
Buga
Nigeria
Marioo feat. Jovial
Mi Amor
Tanzania
Rema
Calm Down
Nigeria
Soolking
Suavemente
Algeria
Wegz
Elbakht
Egypt
Album of the year
Brymo
9: Esan
Nigeria
Burna Boy (Winner)
Love Damini
Nigeria
Dadju
Cullilan
DRC
Diamond Platnumz
First of All
Tanzania
Didi B
History
Cote d'Ivoire
Kabza De Small
KOA II
South Africa
Nomfundo Moh
Amagama
South Africa
Oumou Sangare
Timbuktu
Mali
Soolking
Sans Visa
Algeria
Rema
Raves & Roses
Nigeria
Producer of the year
C4 Pedro
Posa C4 Pedro
Angola
CKay & BMH
Emiliana by CKay
Nigeria
Kimambobeats
Mi Amor by Marioo feat. Jovial
Tanzania
Nyadjiko & Dadju
Ambassaduer by Dadju
DRC
Rahal
Elbakht by Wegz
Egypt
Reward Beats
Buga by Kizz Daniel feat. Tekno
Nigeria
Sdida & Man T
Big Flexa by Costa Titch
South Africa
Serge Beynaud
C'est Dose by Serge Beynaud
Cote d'Ivoire
Shizzi (Winner)
Peru (Remix) by Fireboy DML
Nigeria
Stan-E Kibulu & William Grigahcine
Disco Magrehb by DJ Snake
Algeria
A Artist of the Year
Burna Boy (Winner)
Last Last
Nigeria
CKay
Emiliana
Nigeria
Dadju
Ambassaduer
DRC
Diamond Platnumz feat. Zuchu
Mtasubiri
Tanzania
Fireboy DML feat. Ed Sheeran
Peru (Remix)
Nigeria
Kabza De Small feat. DJ Maphorisa, Ami Faku
Asibe Happy
South Africa
Manal
Makhelaw Magalou
Morroco
Tiwa Savage feat. Brandy
Somebody's Son
Nigeria
Wegz
Elbakht
Egypt
Zakes Batwini feat. Kasango
Osama
South Africa
Songwriter of the Year
Bridget Blue & Jibiril Blessing
Woman by Bridget Blue
Kenya
Daniel Baron
How To Feel by Daniel Baron
South Africa
Iba One (Winner)
Hommage a mes parents
Mali
Lloyiso Mandlovandile Gigana, Luke Goliath
Seasons by Lloyiso
South Africa
Martin Obudho, Muthaka
Sorry
Kenya
Matias Damasio
Como Antes
Angola
Mordecai 'Dex' Mwini
Reason by Wanavokali Ft. H_art the Band
Kenya
Olawale Olofo'ro
Fura Sára by Brymo
Nigeria
Rokia Kone, Garret Lee
Kurunba
Mali
Sidy Diop
Ngalam
Senegal
Winner
Breakout Breakout Artist of the Year
Asake (Winner)
Peace Be Unto You (PBUY)
Nigeria
Camidoh
Sugarcane (Remix) feat. Darkoo, King Promise, Mayorkun
Ghana
Costa Titch
Ma Gang feat Champuru Makhenzo, Phantom Steeze, ManT, Sdida & C'BUDA M
South Africa
Daliwonga
Abo Mvelo feat. Mellow And Sleazy & M.J
South Africa
El Grande Toto
Salade Coco
Morroco
Fior 2 Bior
Godo Godo
Cote d'Ivoire
Hewan Gebrewold
Shemuna
Ethiopia
Marwan Moussa (Winner)
Batal 3alam
Egypt
Nomfundo Moh
Phakade Lami feat. ShaSha & Ami Faku
South Africa
Pheelz
Finesse feat. BNXN
Nigeria
Most Promising Artist
Ans-T Crazy (Winner)
10 Na ifari feat. Ibro Gnamet
Guinea
Dafencii
King Alhalaba
Sudan
Fave
Baby Riddim
Nigeria
Frida Amani
Fala Mimi
Tanzania
Jeeba
Lamou Saff
Senegal
Khanyisa
Bheka Mina Ngedwa feat Tsiki XII, Marcus MC and Lady Du
South Africa
Kikimoteleba
Tigini feat. Franglish
Cote d'Ivoire
Lloyiso
Speak
South Africa
Magixx
Love Don't Cost A Dime feat. Ayra Starr
Nigeria
Zara Williams
Posa feat. C4 Pedro
DRC
African Fans Favourite
Bello Falcao
Dibango Dibanga
Cote d'Ivoire
Ch'cco, Mellow, Sleazy
Nkao Tempela
South Africa
Goya Menor & Nektunez
Ameno Amapiano
Ghana & Nigeria
Joeboy
Sip (Alchohol)
Nigeria
Lojay X Sarz feat. Chris Brown
Monalisa (Remix)
Nigeria
Mavins; Ayra Starr, Boy Spyce, Crayon, LADIPOE, Magixx
The Nigerian American director has long used the tools of his multi-hyphenate trade to expand the ways Africans are seen. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, 'Bravo, Burkina!' gives him a larger canvas on which to paint.
Whether it’s employing asylum seekers to model his designs or adding his flair to a piece of pivotal clothing that the late Chadwick Boseman wore in Black Panther, Walé Oyéjidé has always been about using whatever elements he can to push the ways Africans have traditionally been portrayed. What he hinted at in his short film After Migration: Calabria (available on the Criterion Channel), which tells the story of two refugees settling in Italy, he now gets to explore further in the feature debut, Bravo, Burkina!
“It's the best sandbox in which to play,” Oyéjidé tells OkayAfrica about the medium of film. “It’s been the natural evolution of all the work we’ve done over the past decade, and for me, it’s the perfect Venn diagram.” From working with a composer on the score, which harks to his career as a musician, and creating the costume design, which is rooted in his work as founder of menswear label Ikiré Jones, Bravo allows Nigerian-born Oyéjidé to continue the theme of paying homage to the many cultures he’s experienced and to share stories of people who have traveled from one place to another.
Bravo is part of the Sundance Film Festival’s Next section, which spotlights innovative films that are set to shape the future of cinema. Just as he did in the short, After Migration, Oyéjidé uses sumptuous cinematic images to re-shape the way migration stories are often centered on trauma and suffering. His lens has always been love-centered and steeped in regality, in a passionate effort to re-assign meaning to images that have too easily become the accepted norm, and in this feature film, his mission flourishes.
Photo: The Sundance Institute
Once again, Oyéjidé sets part of the story in Italy, a recurring mise-en-scène for him on account of its visuals and aesthetics, but also, for the role it plays in migration. “It’s prevalent everywhere, but because they are on the forefront of North Africans and West Africans crossing the Mediterranean it’s sort of the perfect staging ground – both from a story standpoint and also from a design standpoint,” he says. “So it's very much where I love to play. And also it looks gorgeous,” he adds.
Shot in two weeks, on two continents, the film was made with the collaboration of the Ethical Fashion Initiative, which introduced Oyéjidé to the weavers of a village just outside Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso who become characters in the film. “It’s set in Burkina Faso and the name is in the title for deliberate reasons, but the idea is that really this boy or child or person could be from anywhere, going to anywhere. It's intended to be a universal global story about the need to leave and the desire to return.”
Oyéjidé spoke to OkayAfrica about how this film, which sees a young boy leave his Burkinabè village, fits into his greater life’s work.
Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The costumes in Bravo, Burkina! are beautiful - and they once again speak to a different way of seeing migrants - how did you go about creating them for this film?
The through line of all our work has always been with the attempt to depict regality. So you'll often hear me say I have no interest in peddling in trauma. Every artist has their burdens that they carry which inform their work. I happen to be of a generation in which images of persons of African descent were almost always condescending, demeaning, not beautiful, perhaps with some degree of truth, but rarely with a wide enough aperture to show those people depicted as their full selves. With all my work, it is first and foremost, visually beautiful and respectful and regal, despite what is happening with the characters, even at their lowest points, even if they're villainous.
The idea is that you're showing that all these persons, particularly those of African descent – or really anywhere, the idea is that they're stigmatized, marginalized populations – you show them, or I intend to show them, with a vast range of nuance, and specifically, those who are from populations that have been disregarded, I seek to give the beauty and strength that I know that they possess. Because I know these people; they are aunts, cousins, people you know.
So when we're making clothing, the fact that this child might be in a village doesn't mean he looks destitute. This kid looks amazing. The fact that this person is an older man, walking the streets of Italy looking for work, doesn't mean he's not regal, doesn't have elegance. We know all these people. Like, I don't know any cousin of mine who doesn't have pride, who doesn't look stunning, when he or she is walking down the street, regardless of what their financial circumstances or job circumstances may be. The missing link for a lot of these very common immigration stories is that they're often made by a filmmaker who doesn't love the subject.
"When we're making clothing, the fact that this child might be in a village doesn't mean he looks destitute. This kid looks amazing," says Walé Oyéjidé about his approach to the costumes of 'Bravo, Burkina!'
Photo: The Sundance Institute
In all of my work, the reason that people are seen as they are, is because I see them as I see my wife, child, mother, aunt, brother's best friend. I'm looking at them through the lens of love, despite what's happening for them. The clothing really is just one more tool to depict the innate natural regality that all these persons, that we, you and I, know very well, possess. The clothing just helps them accentuate what has always been there, and that is the secret weapon that I have. But the clothing itself would do nothing; the magic really is in the people.
The change I seek to create in the world is what I didn't have when I was younger. I’m hoping to give both myself, and those who come after me the opportunity to see themselves in a way that they know themselves to be, so we don't have to pretend to be somebody else.
Lawyer-turned-designer Walé Oyéjidé is releasing his first feature film into the world, sharing his beautiful but mission-centered work on a new canvas.
Photo: The Sundance Institute
The film captures feelings, states of being, of leaving and returning - how did it unfold in your mind as the writer as well as director?
We definitely had it really well scripted, but I think the beauty of this work, particularly when you work, as we like to often work, with both a combination of non-professional actors and professional actors, is that people bring a level of authenticity in themselves. Also, the cultural sensitivity – despite the fact that I'm Nigerian American, these are all cultures, which you need to respect and kind of slow walk towards and let people educate you on their landscape and how they speak, how they eat, how they love and hate each other. I think people inform and bring themselves to the stories in ways that bring much more life than the words you might have on a page.
For example, the Italian artisans are a real father and son in their real space. This is really just us pointing a camera at them and saying, 'Be yourself within this construct narratively, but be yourselves.' It's the same thing in Burkina Faso. These are real weavers, in their real living space with their real issues and their real joys and their real happiness. It's about having the privilege to let people allow themselves to be shown in their own glory, as opposed to dictating and enforcing upon them a preconceived notion. Certainly, I have a point of view and an aesthetic lens, but it's one that seeks to collaborate, and respect those in their natural state of being, and hopefully reflect themselves in ways that they want to be seen.
What's behind the title, 'Bravo, Burkina!'?
I'm interested in making cinema and work that lasts beyond me because all of us will be gone sooner or later. So the question then becomes, if you are going to speak or make, are you wasting people's time or are you adding to the conversation? It is always my interest in adding and informing. It's not to say that this is the greatest work or the best but it is, I believe, a perspective that is unseen and hopefully, a perspective that will be healing. It's exciting to me, the idea that you can have African cinema that doesn't look at all the way people would assume when they hear the phrase.
When you ask a person outside of the continent, where and what is Burkina Faso, if they have an answer, it rarely will be a positive answer. So this is an intentional branding of an African nation. In my culture, in Yoruba culture in West Africa, and it's very prominent in Africa, all names have meaning.
It's my belief that I have a duty to make the world easier for those who come beyond. So when I have the opportunity to speak to the entire globe with art, what am I doing? Am I going to present my culture, my people, my continent in a way that sets us further back? Or am I going to do something that is uplifting -- despite how you feel about this work. Even in the naming, the simple naming, a thing people say with their mouths. Regardless of how the film is received, if nothing else, the title itself is a raised fist or a torch flame, and the hope is the beyond that, beauty permeates.
Nigerian music newcomer Khaid comes through with a new love song.
Khaidshares "Jolie," an Afro-infused love song that marks his first music release for the year. The record is a rhythmic and melodic offering that is complete with an infectious hook and Khaid's captivating vocals. In the song, Khaid describes his admiration for a girl that he is pursuing, but equally expresses the challenge that he is having getting her attention.
At the age of 12, Khaid, who was born and raised in Ojo in Lagos, Nigeria, began to freestyle and shoot videos in the streets of Ojo, which is where he was eventually discovered and signed by Sydney Walker, the owner of Neville Records, and a prominent Nigerian comedian.
At the beginning of 2022, Neville Records announced Khaid as a new signee, and since then, he has continued to make waves in the Nigerian music industry. His debut single "With You," was released only eight days after the announcement, and went on to become a commercial success. The song became one of the country's top hits, which now has over 3.7 million views on YouTube and 5 million Spotify streams.
Khaid went on to a release a 6-track album called Diversity and continues to push the envelope at only 17-years-old. The young talent has an EP on the way in the near future, and was recently featured on Okay Africa's 12 Nigerian Artists To Watch In 2023.
Nigeria's renowned Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, scored a nomination at the 2023 Oscars for co-writing ‘Lift Me Up’, one of the songs on 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.'
Photo: The Sundance Institute 
