reeva steenkamp
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Rufaro Samanga
Feb. 14, 2019 05:18AM EST
Reeva Steenkamp via Flickr Creative Commons

Reeva Steenkamp's Death Highlights the Femicide Crisis in South Africa

Today marks six years since she was murdered by her boyfriend, Oscar Pistorius. A plight shared by too many South African women.

It's been six years since South African model Reeva Steenkamp was murdered by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius. South Africans are taking some of their time on Valentine's Day to remember her life and reflect on the crisis of femicide and intimate partner violence in South Africa.

The Oscar Pistorius trial was probably South Africa's most explosive trial to date. There has been none like it since. The beloved gold medalist athlete, Oscar Pistorius, was charged with the murder of his girlfriend in an elaborate saga that many South Africans grappled to understand for months to come.

Pistorius alleged that he had mistaken Steenkamp for an intruder in his home and shot her multiple times. His version of events had multiple loopholes. He then went on to state that he was mentally unfit to stand trial. Every trick known in the book was exercised by his formidable defense lawyer, Advocate Barry Roux. Pistorius was initially found not guilty, a verdict that was appealed and consequently landed him behind bars for 13 years.

However, today is not about Pistorius. It is about Steenkamp and the life that was cut so short at the hands of someone close to her.

Steenkamp's story is unfortunately the daily reality of so many South African women. South Africa's femicide rate isfives times the global rate. Every four hours a woman is murdered in South Africa and half of these murders are at the hands of the women's partners.

READ: The Daily Nightmare of Being a South African Woman Shows No Signs of Ending

And so when Valentine's Day in February or an entire women's month in August rolls around (purporting to care about women) South African women are under no illusions. They simply cannot afford to be.

Here are some messages remembering Steenkamp on social media.








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The Best Afrobeats Songs Right Now

Featuring tracks from Joeboy, Amaarae, Odumodublvck, Wande Coal, Wizkid, Ckay, and more.

Afrobeats is one of the biggest cultural movements in the world. Influencing everything from fashion to sports, the music acts as the adhesive, catching on to listeners of all demographics and shaping the scene in Africa with great potential. With the growing number of new Afrobeats releases every month, it becomes necessary to round up the best of the bunch. From singles to new music videos, the continent’s vast expanse will be covered in our "Best Afrobeats Songs Out Right Now" column. Get started below.

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Events
Photo by Mohau Mannathoko for Unsplash

Fun Places in Accra, Ghana to Visit This Weekend

From Karaoke at The Woods to Outmosphere Festival, Accra is packed with places to have fun.

Gather your squad for some midweek karaoke, go Kizomba dancing at Afrikiko, or drive down to Prampram for Outmosphere Festival.

Whatever your choice of fun is, here is a list of places to visit this weekend in Accra, Ghana.

Karaoke at The Woods

The Woods is a bar and lounge located at Osu that features a cozy and charming space for events perfect for an intimate night out with your partner or a hangout with friends. On Thursday, The Woods will be hosting their Karaoke Night, and it’s the perfect excuse to sing covers of your favorite hits, while enjoying good food and drinks from The Woods’ delectable menu.

Date: Thursday, 1st June, 9pm

Venue: The Woods, Osu

Cost: Free

Kizomba Night at Afrikiko

Afrikiko is one of those must-visit places while in Accra. It’s a restaurant and bar well known for their midweek events—the most notable being their popular Kizomba dancing event hosted by Kizomba Ghana. Participate, learn, or just watch others dance the night away, led by an experienced Kizoma dance tutor.

Date: Thursday, 1st June, 7pm

Venue: Afrikiko

Cost: Free

Movies at Silverbird Cinemas

Silverbird Cinemas is West Africa's biggest cinema chain, with two locations in the premier malls of Accra. You can catch your favorite actors from Hollywood, Nollywood, and even Bollywood on the big screen, or watch local Ghanaian productions from top movie houses in the country. Box office hits like Fast X,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and The Little Mermaid are currently screening as well, so if you haven’t seen them yet Silverbird is the place.

Date: Friday 2nd June - Sunday 4th June, 10am – 9pm

Venue: Accra Mall, West Hills Mall

Cost: Tickets starting from GHS50

Grand Opening of Mad Club

If you’re looking for a club event to go to this weekend, Mad Club Accra will be having its grand opening this Friday. On the bill to provide sounds is renowned Nigerian disk jockey and afrobeats hitmaker DJ Neptune, among others. Accra is a city that takes its nightlife seriously, so you can trust that Mad Club’s event will be an epic affair.

Date: Friday 2nd June, 12am

Venue: Mad Club, East Legon

Rooftop Sip & Paint

Sip & Paint Ghana will be hosting an event this Saturday, 3rd June. Participate in a fun painting class while enjoying complimentary wine, finger foods, and art supplies.

Date: Saturday, 3rd June, 8pm

Venue: Arrital Ghana, Airport Residential

Cost: GHS200

Pickup Soccer at Lizzy’s Sports Complex

Lizzy Sports Complex is an all-in-one sports facility comprising four top quality grass and astro turf soccer pitches, and other facilities including a swimming pool, a spacious lounge, a sports bar and grill. It was founded by renowned Ghanaian born French soccer player Marcel Desailly, and it’s the go-to location for friends who are looking to play a few quick games of five-aside pick up soccer.

Date: Saturday, 3rd June - Sunday 4th June, 9am-9pm

Venue: Lizzy Sports Complex, East Legon

Cost: Call to book

Wine Tasting at Vinakoper Wine Festival

For the wine lover, Vinakoper will be hosting the Vinakoper Wine Festival this weekend. Try out 15 different wines from Slovenia and participate in a wine tasting and pairing workshop, for an affordable flat rate.

Date: Saturday, 3rd June - Sunday, 4th June, 10am-11pm

Venue: Accra Polo Court

Cost: Tickets for GHS50

Outmosphere Festival

Outmosphere is an eco-friendly festival designed to empower and connect a generation of hybrid thinkers, self-starters and innovators with shared culture and passion for community driven agenda and creativity. The event is held at a different location each time, and this time around it’s taking place at Prampram, a coastal town 45 minutes away from Accra, known for its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage.

Date: Saturday, 3rd June - Sunday 4th June, 1pm-3am

Venue: Prampram, exact venue TBA

Cost: Tickets for GHS100-250



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Burna Boy Shares New Single ‘Sittin' On Top Of The World’

The African Giant samples Brandy and Ma$e in his new summertime-ready single.

Odogwu is back and sitting on top of the world!

Burna Boy has graced the airwaves once again with his latest single called "Sittin’ On Top Of The World," marking his highly anticipated solo debut in 2023.

The distinguished Nigerian artist, who is currently on tour, has shared this track as a delightful auditory treat for his dedicated fans. The song seamlessly incorporates elements from Brandy and M a$e’ss 1998 hit "Top Of The World.”

Notably, the composition of the song captivates listeners with its summer-ready sample, also showcasing Burna Boy's remarkable vocal range and effortlessly smooth delivery.

Earlier this year, Burna Boy featured on the single "Mera Na," a heartfelt production by the late Indian hip-hop luminary Sidhu Moose Wala, who passed away last year. “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” is yet another demonstration of Burna’s versatility and global appeal as he continues to solidify his position as an influential force in the music world. The single also shows Burna Boy’s ability to bring the signature “Burna vibe” to any record.

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News

Places in Lagos to Have Fun this Weekend

From Plantain People’s Party by Dodo Gang to Sunday Drunch at 355 Ikeja, here’s where to spend the weekend in Lagos.

Who doesn’t love plantain? It’s a rhetorical question. But as World Plantain Day is this Sunday, it’s also worth asking straightforwardly. The good guys at Dodo Gang have taken it upon themselves to celebrate, an open invitation to all plantain lovers to merry and feast while recognizing the awesomeness of this staple food.

Tagged Plantain People’s Party (PPP), there’s so much on offer, and you just have to attend to witness it all. Elsewhere, experience drunch at 355 Ikeja restaurant and lounge. They are going Mexican this time, meaning Mexican cuisine is on the table. They are throwing cocktails too as a sweet deal, and we can’t complain.

Danfo Cruise with EXP Lagos

Danfo Cruise by EXP Lagos is a cute, niche hangout that is inserting the idea of cruising in Lagos. Held every first Friday and second Sunday of every month, the cruise shuttles around predetermined areas in Lagos while participants enjoy food and other fun activities. This Friday continues the tradition. Also, this is the fourth anniversary of Danfo Cruise and it’s already gearing up to be a good time.

Friday, June 2, 5pm

Venue: 256, Etim Inyang Crescent Victoria Island

Cost: N2k

Amapiano District Party

Amapiano District is slowly becoming ground zero for amapiano raves and parties at Hard Rock Cafe, Lagos. Just ask the party revelers as they leave hyped-up, post-party comments on their Instagram. It’s one place to learn new dance moves, meet people, and update your amapiano playlist. It will have DJ sets from New Guy, Smeez & D3an, Sammay, Nino, Dope Caesar, Uncle Bubu and Tohbad.

Friday, June 2, 8pm till dawn

Venue: Landmark Village, Water Corp. Road, Oniru, Victoria Island

Cost: N10k

Element House by Spektrum

Specktrum’s Element House is where afro house, deep house, and techno house collide. Curating a party space for house lovers, Element House is infectious in its appeal and location. This edition brings on UK-based DJ and producer Sef Kombo as the headliner, who is a deep and afro house tastemaker. He will be joined by Icey, Jarlight, and Deji.

Saturday, June 3, 11pm

Venue: The Good Village, Good Beach, Victoria Island


Cost: N7k online, N10k at venue

Silent Disco Party at House of Oni

Silent disco parties and raves aren’t new in Lagos. That said, House of Oni has been one of the platforms spearheading a revolution of Lagos clubbing with their routine silent party events. This time, they are tagging it A Silent Brew, so get ready to put on the headphones with some booze on this side.

Saturday, June 3, 7pm

Venue: Bature Brewery, 256 Etim Inyang Crescent Victoria Island

Cost: N3k, single

The Baccyard Barn

The Baccyard is a newly launched platform in Lagos to assemble creatives in one place, and reflect the relentless spirit in the city. To that end, it is putting out its first event that will see music performance, visual art, poetry, comedy, and a vendor village coexist. Billed to perform are Adam Srae, Ella Gomenti, Ovibeat, Morrelo Virusman, Kxng Nero, LB, Jamz, Rozzz, to name a few.

Saturday, June 3, 4pm - 10pm

Venue: The Corner, Admiralty Way, Lekki

Cost: Call to RSVP

Plantain People’s Party

How do you celebrate World Plantain Day? Dodo Gang, the Lagos-based, plantain-loving community have the answer. In what they call Plantain People’s Party, it will see plantain lovers unite this Sunday at The Terrace in style. Indulge in a variety of plantain-infused dishes, from traditional favorites to innovative creations that showcase the versatility of this beloved fruit.

To boot, the event will also feature a merchandise pop-up shop where you can cop exclusive plantain-themed fashion items like tote bags, t-shirts, bucket hats, button badges, and more.

Sunday, June 4, 2pm

Venue: The Terrace Lagos, 23, Kunle Ogunba Lekki 1

Cost: Free

Sunday Drunch at 355 Ikeja

You’ve heard of brunch, but how about some drunch? 355 Ikeja restaurant and lounge on the mainland are doing drunch time, and what is even more exciting is that it is Mexican-themed. From starter to main to cocktails, relish in Mexican meals like tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, margaritas, and more.

Sunday, June 4, 2pm - 6pm

Venue: 22, Simbiat Abiola Way, Ikeja

Cost: N20K

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