Showbiz
AFRIMA Suspends Best Soundtrack in Film Category

By Ashemiriogwa Emmanuel
The nominees’ list for the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2021 has been released by the organisers, with the Best Soundtrack in a movie/series/documentary film category suspended.
Mrs Angela Martins, a member of the 13-man AFRIMA jury, said that this was a result of the low quality of entries for this year’s edition.
Recall that earlier before the deadline for entries submission, three new categories were added to the existing 37 award categories of the laurel platform which included Best Soundtrack in a movie/series/documentary film, Best Global Sound, and Breakout Artiste of the Year as approved by the International Committee of AFRIMA and The AFRIMA International Jury.
However, Mrs Martins assured that for the other categories, the committee gave Africans and the world the very best nominations and songs under the year in review.
The shortlist, which was released on Wednesday, was from over 8,880 songs submitted for adjudication and features a selection of over 400 songs from artists in the 30 continental and 10 regional categories.
Nominated African artiste by the 13-man AFRIMA panel cut across talents and creatives living on the continent and in the diaspora.
South Africa’s duo, Blaq Diamond came out as the top with eight nominations for the categories: Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa, Artiste of the Year in Africa; Song of the Year in Africa; Producer of the Year in Africa with their hit song, ‘SummerYoMuthi’.
Other categories where the duo was nominated included Best Male Artiste in African Inspirational Music; Breakout Artiste of the Year; Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop; Best African Duo, Group or Band.
This was followed by another South Africa talent, Focalistic, bagging seven nominations with the hit single, ‘Ke Star’ [Remix], which featured Davido and Virgo Deep.
Focalistic is in contention of the categories: Best Male Artiste in Southern Africa; Artiste of the Year in Africa; Song of the Year in Africa; Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Dance or Choreography; Best African Collaboration; Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Electro; Breakout Artiste of the Year.
Next on the scorecard was Nigeria’s made-in-Lagos crooner, Wizkid with six nominations for his hit song, ‘Essence’ featuring Tems, including ‘Artiste of the Year in Africa’, ‘Best Male Artist in Western Africa’ and ‘Album of the Year’.
The Afrobeat singer’s other nominations are ‘Best African Collaboration’, ‘Song of the Year in Africa’, and ‘Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African R n B Soul
Closely followed was Aya Nakamura of French-Mali with her single, ‘Plus Jamais’ featuring Stormzy with five nominations.
Equally, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz with his song, ‘waah’ featuring Koffi Olomide; Iba One of Mali for his single, ‘Education’, featuring Oumou Sangare and DJ Tarico from Mozambique with his song, ‘Yaba Buluku’ featuring Burna Boy, Preck & Nelson Tivane secured five nominations each as well.
Nigeria’s Omah Lay came behind this with four nominations for the Artiste of the Year in Africa; Best Artiste in Western Africa; Best Artiste, Duo or Group in African Pop; Breakout Artiste of the Year categories.
DMW boss, Davido, and Patoranking from Nigeria; Fally Ipupa from DRC Congo); MHD from Guinea; and Rayvanny from Tanzania were also nominated in four categories.
Following this on the nominee’s list was Ghana’s Gyakie, Nigeria’s Bella Shmurda; Kenya’s Nikita Kering; Sierra Leone’s Nata, and Morocco’s Abir with three nominations each.
Singer Olakira, Burna boy from Nigeria; Calema (Sao Tome & Principe); Cassper Nyovest from South Africa; DJ Moh Green from Algeria; and Djelykaba Bintou from Guinea also have three nominations.
Artistes with two nominations are Ditto Ferre Gola (DRC Congo); Gyakie (Ghana); Kamo Mphela (South Africa); Kelly Khumalo (South Africa); Loco (Cameroon); Lojay & Sarz; Makhadzi (South Africa); Nasty C (South Africa); Rebo (DR Congo); Tems (Nigeria); Tiwa Savage (Nigeria); and Vector (Nigeria).
It also includes Shan’L (Gabon); Tayc (Cameroon); The Isomers (Nigeria); T’neeya (Cameroon); Cavemen (Nigeria); Afrie (Uganda); Solking (Algeria); Ko-C (Cameroon); Salatiel & Rutshelle Guillaume (Cameroon); Djodje (Cape Verde); Adekunle Gold (Nigeria); Bensoul (Kenya); Blxckie (South Africa); Franck Biyong (Cameroon); and Innoss’B (DR Congo).
Others are Kidi (Ghana); Ladipoe (Nigeria); Major League DJZ (South Africa); Manal (Morocco); Mapara A Jazz (South Africa); Mi Casa (South Africa); Nandy (Tanzania); Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde); Nomcebo Zikode (South Africa); Sauti Sol (Kenya); Stonebwoy (Ghana); Toofan (Togo); Yaw Tog (Ghana); Yemi Alade (Nigeria) and Zuchu (Tanzania).
AFRIMA will be broadcast from Lagos from Friday, November 19 to 21, 2021.
Showbiz
Husband of Late Gospel Singer Osinachi Nwachukwu to Die by Hanging

By Dipo Olowookere
Mr Peter Nwachukwu, the husband of the late popular gospel musician, Osinachi Nwachukwu, has been sentenced to death by hanging.
Recall that in April 2022, the singer was said to have died from a domestic violence in the hands of her husband.
Mr Nwachukwu was taken to court on a 23-count charge bordering on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, and spousal battery, among others.
It was reported that while in alive, their spiritual father intervened in the marital crisis between the couple, but the late singer was advised to endure, especially because of her status.
However, things degenerated and she died in the marriage, leaving their children devastated.
At an FCT High Court in Abuja on Monday, April 28, 2025, Justice Nwosu-Iheme found Mr Nwachukwu culpable of killing his wife.
According to the judge, the prosecuting team proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Nwachukwu was responsible for the death of the late musician.
The case could still head to the Appeal and Supreme Courts.
Showbiz
Popular Artist Terry Apala in Ikoyi Prison for Naira Abuse

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A popular music act, Mr Terry Alexander Ejeh, otherwise known as Terry Apala, has been remanded in a correctional centre in Lagos for alleged mutilation of the Naira notes in January 2025.
He was arraigned on Friday, April 25, 2025, by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on a single-count charge bordering on mutilating the Naira notes.
The musician was accused of committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
“That you, Terry Alexander Ejeh, on January 5, 2025, at La Madison Place, Oniru, within the jurisdiction of this court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with Naira notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by marching on the same and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007,” the count read to Terry Apala today at a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, read.
However, he pleaded not guilty to the offence when it was read to him, which prompted the prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, to ask for a trial date, urging the court to remand him in a correctional centre.
The defence counsel, Mr Felix Nwabuda, informed the court of a bail application dated April 23, 2025, and prayed the court for a short date for the hearing of the application.
“Whilst praying the court for a short date for the hearing of the bail application, I will be craving the indulgence of the court to release the defendant to the defence.
“We undertake to produce him in court. He will not evade hearing. He came in from the United Kingdom on April 23, 2025; and on the invitation of the EFCC, he came on his own,” he stated
But the prosecution counsel opposed the application, saying, “The application is alien and unheard of.”
“I urge the court to afford us the opportunity to look at the application and respond properly so that the court can make a well -informed ruling,” he said.
In a short ruling, Justice Akintayo Aluko refused the application of the defence, ordering the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the determination of the bail application. The matter was, thereafter, adjourned till May 5, 2025.
Showbiz
Spotify’s AI Playlist Now Available in Nigeria

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Global streaming platform, Spotify, has announced the availability of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) playlist in Nigeria.
In a statement on Friday, it said the AI Playlist in beta is for its premium users in more than 40 markets, including Nigeria.
This feature can be found via the search tab of Spotify by simply typing AI Playlist and selecting one of the suggestions.
With AI Playlist, Spotify will curate a personalized playlist made just for users based on the tracks, artists, genres and more. This is easy to revise and refine as users only have to ask for what they want – like “more upbeat,” “more new releases,” or “happier songs.”
The most successful playlists are generated through “genre”, “mood” or “artist” prompts. But animals, activities, movie characters, colours – and even emojis – are all fair game too.
Some fun prompts the platform suggests users to try out include Afrobeat tracks for the dance floor, Trending K-Pop hits I need to know, Reggaeton for hanging out at the beach, Songs to hype me up for a football match, and Latin songs from my top genre, among others.
Since launching last year, premium users have created millions of playlists with the goal of finding music that fits any mood or moment in an instant.
Now, Spotify is making it even easier for users around the globe to create the perfect playlist and find their next favorite artist.
The company has promised that this feature would expand to markets across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.
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