News Brief
Damola Durosomo
Sep. 25, 2018 10:02AM EST

The MOBO Awards Are Taking the Year Off to 'Revamp'

The award show will be back "bigger and bolder" in 2019 says the CEO.

The UK-based MOBO awards, dedicated to recognizing the work of black musicians, will be taking a break in 2018, reports The Fader.

Awards organizers announced on Tuesday that the show will return in 2019, but will take the year off to revamp. "We understand that the MOBO Awards will be missed this year, but we will be back in 2019, bigger and bolder," says MOBO CEO Kanya King.

The award show has long recognized the work of African artists. Past winners include Idris Elba, British-Ghanaian grim heavyweight Stormzy who was the most awarded artist at last year's show, as well as Nigerian pop stars Davido and Wizkid. British-Gambian MC J Hus also took home an award at last year's show.


Instead of holding an awards ceremony this year, organizers plan to honor artists with an event at London's British Library in October, reports the Fader.

Folks have been reacting to the announcement online with some supporting the decision, and others a tad more skeptical. Check out some responses to the news below.









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Kayode Kasum’s Quarantine Watchlist

From 'Wives on Strike' to 'Goodwill Hunting' here's what the Nigerian filmmaker is watching while stuck at home in Lagos.

Kayode Kasum, like most filmmakers, has been stagnated by the coronavirus pandemic. The director behind the blockbuster Sugar Rush and the critically acclaimed Oga Bolaji was working on the post-production of his upcoming movies, The Fate of Alakada: Party Planner and Kambili—a collaboration between FilmOne Entertainment and Chinese Huahua Media— when the Nigerian government announced the lockdown order.

While post-production on Alakada has concluded, the stay-at-home orders have delayed work on Kambili. "Since the team cannot meet at a single point, we are moving hard drives left and right," he says to me over the phone from his home in Lagos. "It is a challenge, but the beautiful thing about a challenge is, when you make it work, it is fulfilling."

Still from 'Kambili'

Kasum has turned to books and films for an escape from the unpleasant realities of the pandemic. "I have been reading Elnathan's books: Born on a Tuesday and Becoming Nigeria," he tells me. "I have also been reading film directing books, Directing Actors by Judith Weston." However, Kasum longs for the movies. "I miss going to the cinemas; I miss that experience," he says. "There are times during this pandemic that I'm like 'na wa o, I wish I can go to the cinema.'"

Below are five films he recommends you watch during this pandemic.

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Listen to Mr Eazi's New Song 'I No Go Give Up On You'

The Nigerian artist also recently announced an upcoming EP.

Mr Eazi is back with his latest track, 'I No Go Give Up On You," his latest song since the release of "Kpalanga" at the top of the year.

The track, is a mid-tempo love song, with Eazi singing sweetly to his lover about his unwavering feelings for her. He released the track under his ever-growing emPawa initiative, with a humorous visualizer to accompany it. The song was produced by Blaq Jerzee.

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Images courtesy of Universal Music Group.

Def Jam Africa Launches in South Africa and Nigeria

Def Jam Africa launches with a roster of South African and Nigerian hip-hop and Afrobeats artists.

Universal Music Group today announced the launch of Def Jam Africa, a new label division within the continent dedicated to representing the best hip-hop and Afrobeats talent on the continent. According to a press release from UMG, Def Jam Africa will "follow the blueprint of the iconic Def Jam Recordings label, which has led and influenced the cutting-edge in hip-hop and urban culture for more than 35 years."

The label will initially be based in two of the continent's main music and entertainment hubs Joburg, South Africa and Lagos, Nigeria, but will identify and sign artist talent from across the entire continent.

Def Jam Africa launches with a roster that includes some of the most successful African talent including Nigeria's Larry Gaaga and Vector alongside South Africa's Boity, Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai, Nasty C, Tshego, Tellaman and Ricky Tyler. A majority of who were already signed to UMG.

Read: 8 Things You Need to Know About Nasty C's Upcoming Album 'Zulu Man With Some Power'

This roster will be supported by dedicated A&R, marketing, creative and digital teams from the UMG teams in both Nigeria and South Africa and will report to Sipho Dlamini, the MD of Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa & South Africa.

Dlamini shared in a press release that the aim for Def Jam Africa is to become the authentic and trusted home of hip-hop and urban culture in Africa. "Def Jam Recordings has always historically pushed the boundaries of the genre," he said, "and we are excited to create a new community of artists within the continent, shaped around the unique and multi-cultural sounds, rhythms and productions coming from our streets, in order to help elevate hip-hop, afrobeat and trap music from Africa, to reach new global audiences within the continent, across the diaspora and beyond."

Jeff Harleston, interim Chairman & CEO for Def Jam Recordings said:

"Def Jam is a globally recognized brand, synonymous with excellence in hip-hop, and we enthusiastically welcome the launch of Def Jam Africa as an opportunity for audiences worldwide to discover the incredibly talented hip-hop artists emerging from across the continent."

Earlier this year, Nasty C announced he would be releasing his third studio album Zulu Man With Some Power through Def Jam Recordings which was a joint venture with Universal Music Africa. New releases from the Def Jam Africa should be expected this year.

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Sam Turpin Shares Stunning Video for ‘Sahara Flow’

Watch Sam Turpin's music video for 'Sahara Flow.'