Showbiz
Tanzanian Sensation Abigail Chams Joins Spotify’s EQUAL Africa as December’s Artist Ambassador
Afro-pop songstress Abigail Chams (real name Abigail Chamungwana) continues to collect accolades. Following her nomination in 2022 for the Emerging Artist award at the Tanzania Music Award, she closes 2023 as the Spotify EQUAL Africa ambassador for the month of December.
The prodigiously talented Abigail, or Abby, as she is often referred to, is a multilingual singer who performs in Swahili, French and English. She is also a multi-instrumentalist who plays five musical instruments, the violin, piano, guitar, flute and drums.
The Nani hitmaker was born into a family with a musical heritage where her grandfather directed an orchestra and her grandmother was a singer in the church choir.
Abigail, who rose to prominence by sharing covers of popular songs on social media, took the music world by storm; coming up with original tracks that were a combination of hip-hop melodies, modern pop and traditional instrumentation, and has since gained over 67,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
In September this year, she released her debut EP 5, which contained six tracks including collaborations with Marioo, Rayvanny, Whozu and Chino Kid.
“Abigail is a true testament to the boundless talent and creativity that exists on the continent, having made such significant strides musically at such a young age. We are proud to have her join our EQUAL programme, closing off what has been one of the best years for African music,” said Phiona Okumu, Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa Head of Music.
Looking back at her mercurial career trajectory, Abigail notes it hasn’t all been plain sailing, “as a young woman in the male-dominated world of music, I had to learn to navigate it with a different compass. One that is unfortunately twice as hard to use but has ultimately shown me that no force can stop a woman who knows what she wants and stops at nothing to achieve it.”
The Spotify EQUAL Africa programme seeks to provide female artists with the support and resources to grow their craft and reach worldwide audiences through multiple playlists. The beneficiaries also receive off-platform guidance and tools to help take their music careers to even greater heights.
Check out Abigail Chams’ track Nani, featuring Marioo on the EQUAL Africa playlist, and see our chat with her below:
1. What is the one surprising thing your fans might not know about you?
I’m most creative and write my best songs when I’m in the bathroom
2. When did you realise that making music was in your destiny and what is your WHY for pursuing this craft?
I’ve always had a love for music and started learning musical instruments when I was five years old. But when I was 8 years old I performed on stage for the first time at a school talent show hall, on what looked like a ginormous stage but felt like home. From that day onwards, I knew that music was my destiny and the stage was where I belonged.
3. Which African songs or artists did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to such a wide variety of music. But P-Square was the duo that lit up my childhood! Growing up it was African artists like Davido, D’Banj, Tiwa Savage, and Sauti Sol, and songs like 2Baba’s “African Queen”, and Davido’s “Dami Duro” that made me fall in love with Afrobeats. And artists like Vanessa Mdee and Diamond Platnumz made me fall in love with Bongo Flava.
4. To someone who has never heard your music, how would you describe the sound, tone, and style?
My music is characterised by lively pop melodies and arrangements which allow me to show off my wide vocal range. A blend between Afropop and Bongo Flava in Swahili, English and French languages.
5. Any advice for someone dreading following their dreams?
My advice is to always follow your heart. If you are a dreamer and have big goals and aspirations, those dreams were placed in YOUR heart for a reason. It doesn’t matter how big, how far or how wide they may be, that dream is in YOUR heart and not anyone else’s because God knows YOU can achieve them.
Some kids want superheroes. Some want animals. Others will happily sit through a funny story about a girl trying to figure out boarding school after being raised by goats.
That last one is Goat Girl, one of the new shows joining the kids’ lineup on GOtv this August. The series follows 13-year-old Gigi as she leaves the mountain life she knows behind and starts boarding school, where making friends and understanding human behaviour turn out to be a whole new adventure.
And Gigi is not the only new character young viewers will be meeting this month. August brings imaginative adventures, rescue missions, comedy, LEGO chaos and stories about friendship and family, giving different kinds of kids plenty to find themselves in.
For Kids Who Love a Rescue Mission: RoboGobo Season 2
Some children will always choose the show where somebody needs saving, and that is where RoboGobo comes in. Dax and the rescue team are back with upgraded Robo-Suits that can transform into Robo-Vehicles as they continue helping animals in trouble.
Season 2 airs Saturdays and Sundays at 12:25 pm on Disney Junior GOtv Ch 82.
For the Ones Who Want Something Funny: Goat Girl
Gigi’s story is probably not what you would call a normal school experience. Raised by mountain goats, the 13-year-old has to adjust to boarding school and figure out how to fit into a world that is very different from the one she knows. Her attempts to navigate friendships, school and human behaviour make Goat Girl an unusual and funny addition to the lineup.
It airs Monday to Friday at 5:20 pm on Cartoon Network GOtv Ch 89.
For the LEGO Fans: LEGO City: No Limits MAX
If your child can turn almost anything into an adventure, LEGO City: No Limits MAX should keep them busy. Jason and his friends find themselves dealing with zombies, cowboys, strange creatures and one particularly mysterious banana. Basically, you never quite know what is coming next.
The new series airs Monday to Friday at 4:20 pm from August 17 on Cartoon Network GOtv Ch 89.
For the Ones Who Love Family Stories: Wylde Pak
Lily and Jack are half-siblings who suddenly have to spend the summer together, while also helping out with their family’s pet grooming business. Naturally, things do not go smoothly.
Wylde Pak follows the pair as they navigate sibling rivalry, a new family dynamic and the everyday chaos that comes with working together. It is a story about family, friendship and figuring out how to get along when you have no choice but to spend time together.
Catch it Monday to Friday at 5:15 pm on NickToons GOtv Ch 86.
Something for Every Kind of Kid
The best thing about this month’s lineup is that there is no single type of child it is trying to entertain.
The little ones can follow Maisy’s imagination. The animal lovers have RoboGobo. Kids who enjoy unusual comedy can meet Gigi in Goat Girl. LEGO fans have another adventure to get into, while Wylde Pak brings family and sibling drama into the mix.
So when the inevitable “Mummy, what can I watch?” comes up during the holidays, you already have a few answers.
And with new stories arriving across CBeebies, Disney Junior, Cartoon Network and NickToons, they might not run out of things to watch anytime soon.
To upgrade, subscribe or reconnect, download the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. For catch-up and on-the-go viewing, download the GOtv Stream App and enjoy your favourite shows anytime, anywhere.
The Big Brother Naija Season 11 housemates facing possible eviction this week are Tram, Barry, Goddessa, Yusuf, Temi Nkem, Sultex, Abi, Araga, Flora, Nomy, Ricky, Kamsy, Sheba, Oyin, Keivo, Gerad and Bells.
The 17 housemates emerged from this week’s nomination process, which saw the housemates vote to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction.
Conspiracy Hour
Ahead of the nomination process, Biggie announced Conspiracy Hour, giving the housemates the opportunity to rally together, discuss their thoughts and share who they would like to save ahead of the nominations.
This was followed by the nomination process, where the housemates were asked to save three of their fellow housemates from possible eviction. Chimsom Chuka, the Most Influential Player of the Week, Neche, the Head of House, and Nomy, the Benchwarmer, were exempt from the process.
Cassi, Bluethopia and Gerad were initially saved by their fellow housemates. However, as Head of House, Neche had the power to remove one housemate from the list and chose to remove Gerad.
Neche Wins Head of House Challenge
Neche emerged as this week’s Head of House after going head-to-head with Chimsom Chuka in the final round of the Head of House challenge.
The final stage was an endurance test, with Neche outlasting Chimsom Chuka to claim the Head of House position and its accompanying privileges, including immunity from this week’s nominations.
Biggie Introduces BB Bucks
Biggie also introduced the housemates to BB Bucks, the official currency of the Big Brother house.
The BB Bucks have no value outside the house but can be earned through tasks, challenges and other activities. While the housemates can earn BB Bucks, they can also lose them depending on how they choose to use them.
The BB Marketplace will also open in the house, giving the housemates the opportunity to spend their BB Bucks on items and privileges available to them during their stay.
Voting Is Now Open
With the nomination process completed, voting is now open, giving viewers the opportunity to decide which of the nominated housemates will remain in the competition.
Fans can cast their votes through the MyDStv app, MyGOtv app or the official Africa Magic website before voting closes at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Catch all the drama live and 24/7 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49. BBNaija Season 11 is also available to watch on DStv Stream and GOtv Stream.
For updates and exclusive news, visit the official Africa Magic Big Brother Naija page or join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BBNaija.
The Big Brother Naija Season 11 House has recorded its first evictions on Sunday night, with Martins and Mercedes leaving the competition after polling the fewest votes from viewers.
Speaking with host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu after his eviction, Martins remained positive about what comes next, saying he plans to surprise the world with his next steps outside the House.
For Mercedes, the eviction was not something she considered a loss. She said she gave the experience everything she had and was proud of how she spent her time in the House. On what comes next, she revealed plans to perform globally while continuing to build her massage and concierge businesses. She also shared that one of her priorities is paying for her father’s surgery.
Chimsom Chuka Takes the First Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW) Title
While two housemates said goodbye to Biggie’s House, the evening also brought a new advantage for Chimsom Chuka, who emerged as the first Most Influential Player of the Week (MIPOW). The title earned him the betPawa Elite Award and immunity from next week’s eviction.
This adds another layer to the competition as the remaining housemates settle into the reality of the game, with strategies, alliances, and individual influence already beginning to take shape.
Nomy Receives Strike and Final Warning
Moments before the live eviction show, Big Brother summoned the housemates for a meeting following repeated violations of his instructions by Nomy. After addressing the importance of following the House rules, Big Brother issued Nomy a strike and final warning, making it clear that housemates cannot choose which of his instructions to follow.
With two housemates already out of the competition and Chimsom Chuka holding immunity for the coming week, the race for the N160 million grand prize is fast heating up.
Keep up with all the drama, suspense and gameplay in Big Brother Naija Season 11 on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 49, or watch it live on DStv Stream. Download the DStv Stream app and sign up – no dish, no decoder needed.
