News Brief
Antoinette Isama
Sep. 01, 2017 09:53PM EST

Here Are Stunning Images From the 2017 Eid al-Adha Edition of #BlackOutEid

It's one of our favorite times of the year.

Eid Mubarak to our Muslim fam!

Today marks the official end of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holy day held yearly during Hajj, the five-day pilgrimage to Mecca.

Also known as "The Feast of Sacrifice," it's one of the two major holidays where Muslims around the world congregate to give thanks and celebrate.

"We're honoring when Abraham was told to sacrifice his son and God allowed him to sacrifice a sheep instead," says Aamina Mohamed, the creator of the hashtag, #BlackOutEid.

Mohamed started #BlackOutEid three years ago to highlight diversity within the Muslim community though the lens of young black Muslims as they celebrate the holy holiday.

The hashtag has already made an impact in the digital space and Mohamed is moved by that.

"I'm actually pretty amazed at the continued self-sustaining support," she says. "I think of it a lot like, 'Wow, this is going to be amazing to look back on in 15 to 20 years. It's like a in real-time archival experience."

Take a look at the 2017 Eid al-Adha capsule of #BlackOutEid below:

#BlackOutEid
Music

Listen to Solo’s New Single ‘Promises’ Featuring Kwesta

Solo and Kwesta connect on 'Promises.'

Solo and Kwesta share a bouncy kwaito beat on "Promises." Kwesta's at home over an instrumental of this kind. It's, however, a shift on Solo's side, who hasn't been known for new age kwaito. The rapper adapts his delivery accordingly, using fewer words than you'd normally expect in his verse.

Keep reading... Show less
News
"85 to Africa" album art.

Listen to Jidenna's New Album, '85 to Africa'

Plus watch the music video for his latest single "Worth the Weight" featuring Seun Kuti.

It's been two years since Jidenna dropped his debut album, The Chief, today, the artist shares his latest studio album 85 to Africa.

In the lead-up to the album's release, the artist dropped the singles "Tribe," "Sufi Woman" "Sou Sou," and "Zodi" featuring fellow Nigerian artist Mr Eazi. He also held several listening parties across the US ahead of its release, and from what we can tell from videos that have been circulating on social media—they've been a really great time for both Jidenna and his fans.

Keep reading... Show less
Audio

Mr Eazi & Simi Drop the New Single and Video For 'Doyin'

A head-nodding Afro-R&B track produced by Killertunes.

Mr Eazi seems to be in unstoppable work mode right now as he's been popping up in big singles and collaborations all over the place this summer, as well as continuing his emPawa Africa initiative.

For his latest single, "Doyin," Eazi connects with Nigerian singer Simi for a head-nodding Afro-RnB track. The new song, which is built on woozy synthesizers and mid-tempo beat work, was produced by Killertunes. Eazi and Simi trade verses in the addictive single, which comes paired with a new music video directed by Manuel Concha.

Read: The Music Business of Mr Eazi

"Doyin" is the first song released through emPawa Distribution, a digital music aggregator focused solely on distributing African music, which Eazi announced after the success of emPawa Africa. Speaking of the initiative, emPawa Africa is now reopened to submissions that will help fund the music videos of 30 up-and-coming artists and offer mentorship from big name artists.

Keep reading... Show less
Music

Listen to Rick Jade (Bontle Modiselle and Priddy Ugly)’s Album ‘D.N.A (Da New Africa)’

Rick Jade release their debut album.

Bontle Modiselle and Priddy Ugly, collectively known as Rick Jade, aren't half-stepping. Today, the couple released their debut album D.N.A (Da New Africa).

D.N.A consists of 10 songs that dabble in pop, trap and even kwaito. Guest features on D.N.A include Forcalistic, KLY and some members of the collective Frsh Citizen, which Bontle and Priddy are part of.

In his previous projects, Priddy Ugly had some moments of showing emotion and sharing intimate details of his life. But on D.N.A, he explores that side of himself further.

Keep reading... Show less

get okayafrica in your inbox

news.

popular.