NEWS

Thousands march in second day of Togo protests

Published

7 years ago

October 5, 2017

FAB.NG

Thousands of protestors turned out in the West African state of Togo on Thursday for the second day running, in a campaign aimed at forcing out President Faure Gnassingbe.

Demonstrators converged from three points in the capital Lome for what was billed as a “march of anger” against a family which has ruled Togo for 50 years, culminating in a rally on the seafront.

“Demonstrators have used rocks to block the road from Gakpoto to St. Joseph’s school, and others are preventing cars from going through,” Amnesty International’s director for Togo, Aime Adi, said.

In Atikoume district, angry youths refused to follow the march itinerary set down by the 14-party opposition coalition, and said they would block streets, an AFP journalist saw.

However, in some neighbourhoods on the march route, tension that was noticeable on Wednesday seemed to have eased somewhat.

Marchers said they would maintain pressure on the Gnassingbe regime.

“I am not tired and I will never be tired so long as the struggle is not over. Even if we have to march every day, I will be there,” said Elie Zikla, a young man whose job is a motorbike taxi drive.

In the north of the country — a region previously seen as reliably pro-government — several other rallies, also drawing thousands of people, took place in the northern cities of Sokode, Bafilo and Dapaong, local residents told AFP.

However, there were no protests in the far northern town of Mango, where a young man was killed in a demonstration on September 20, which was followed by a crackdown by the authorities.

The protests are the seventh in a wave of agitation that began in August. At least four people have been killed and dozen injured.

The government, responding to unprecedented protests from the street, is proposing an overhaul of the constitution under which presidential terms would be limited to two five-year spells in office.

Gnassingbe, in power since the death of his father in 2005, was re-elected in 2010 and again in 2015, in votes that the opposition denounced as unfair.

If the two-term limit applies from the next elections, scheduled in 2020, he could theoretically remain in office until 2030.

As a result, the opposition wants the two-term restriction to be applied retroactively by restoring the 1992 constitution, in order to force Gnassingbe from office.

The president’s father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, ruled the country with an iron fist from 1967 until his death in 2005.

According to a source close to the presidency, the proposed change to the constitution will be put to a referendum “by the end of the year”.

MUSIC

Ayra Starr Opens For Coldplay In Sold-Out Stadium Concerts

Published

59 mins ago

November 5, 2024

Reporter

Ayra Starr opens for Coldplay in sold-out stadium concerts | fab.ng

Grammy-nominated singer Ayra Starr is achieving new heights in her career as she joins the legendary band Coldplay on their Australian tour.

Currently, the Music of the Spheres 2024 World Tour has Coldplay headlining 11 dates across Australia and New Zealand.

First, Ayra Starr joins Zimbabwean singer Shone and Australian X Factor contestant Emmanuel Kelly as opening acts for the multi-award-winning group. Consequently, this opportunity allows her to perform in front of large international audiences.

Moreover, at their Coldplay concert at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Ayra Starr energetically entertains thousands of fans. Specifically, she performs her hit single “Rush” and additionally thrills the audience with popular tracks from her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’.

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Her engaging stage presence and unique sound made an impression on Coldplay’s fans. Further marking yet another success for the Nigerian star, she continues to expand her global influence.

Adding to her impressive achievements, Ayra Starr features on Coldplay’s latest album, ‘Moon Music’. She collaborates with the band on the track “Good Feeling.”

This collaboration is particularly historic, as she becomes only the fourth woman to feature on a Coldplay track. Interestingly, she follows the likes of Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Selena Gomez, in the band’s nearly 30-year history.

Ayra Starr has enjoyed an exceptional 2024, which began with a historic Grammy nomination. Furthermore, this makes her the first Nigerian female lead artist to earn this recognition.

Her album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’, continued to build her commercial success with standout guest appearances from Nigerian stars Asake and Seyi Vibez, American R&B artists Giveon and Coco Jones, and Brazilian sensation Anitta.

Each collaboration has contributed to her global appeal, further establishing her as one of Africa’s top music exports.

Recently, Ayra Starr received nominations for the 2024 MTV EMAs in two categories—Best New Artist and Best Afrobeats.

As her global presence grows, she is set to represent Africa proudly at the awards show on November 10 in Manchester. This would mark another milestone in her remarkable journey.

MOVIES

Showmax To Screen “Princess On A Hill” At AFRIFF 2024

Published

4 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Reporter

Princess on a Hill to screen at AFRIFF 2024 | fab.ng

In celebration of African storytelling, Showmax announces that its upcoming Nigerian Original drama, Princess on a Hill, will screen at the 13th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

Furthermore, the TV series brings a captivating story of ambition and corporate power struggles to the festival on its screening date.

Additionally, MultiChoice, Showmax’s parent company, will host a panel session titled “Crafting Local Content for Global Success,” which explores how African narratives can reach global audiences.

In this limited series, co-creators Abiola Sobo and Tolu Ajayi tell the story of Zara (Onyinye Odokoro), a young executive who enters a high-stakes corporate environment after winning a reality show.

Subsequently, she faces off against the fierce CEO, Moyosore Lawson (Bimbo Manuel). As a result, Zara must adapt to her new reality in the complex and cutthroat world of high-stakes business, where power struggles and ruthless competition dominate.

Moreover, the series showcases the complexities of power and ambition while demonstrating Showmax’s commitment to authentic African storytelling.

Meanwhile, MultiChoice will present an exclusive session at this year’s festival, focusing on “Crafting Local Content for Global Success.”

During this session, key industry players and stakeholders will lead discussions on Thursday morning, November 7, 2024. First, they will highlight local content’s importance in global entertainment.

Then, they will explore strategies to produce TV content that connects with diverse global audiences.

Above all, MultiChoice and Showmax actively support AFRIFF’s mission to elevate African filmmakers and create a global platform for African stories.

Finally, viewers can watch Princess on a Hill when it premieres on Showmax on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

Are you interested in staying updated? You can discover more exciting movie updates by visiting our website.

NEWS

Bobrisky Released On Bail After Denying 15 Million Naira Bribery Allegations

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Reporter

Bobrisky granted bail after denying N15m bribery allegation | fab.ng

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently granted bail to Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, following his detention.

On Thursday night, Bobrisky was apprehended and removed from a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport while attempting to travel to London.

Subsequently, Bobrisky took to social media to inform his followers about his arrest, claiming to have sustained injuries during the incident.

He posted, “Nigerians, help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

After his arrest, officials transported him to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for questioning over alleged bribery claims involving the commission.

The allegations arose when social media critic Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, released a voice note reportedly featuring Bobrisky’s voice. In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly claimed he had bribed EFCC officials with N15 million to drop money laundering charges.

However, late on Friday, November 1, authorities processed Bobrisky’s bail, and he regained his freedom shortly after. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the release on Saturday but declined to provide additional information.

A source close to the case disclosed that Bobrisky denied all bribery allegations in his official statement. He also challenged the voice note’s authenticity, urging the individual who shared it to prove the claims.

According to the source, Bobrisky asserted that no EFCC official had solicited money from him and insisted he had not offered any bribe.

Through this statement, Bobrisky maintained his innocence, asserting that the bribery accusations were baseless. Meanwhile, the EFCC has yet to comment further on the case. This leaves questions about the voice note’s origins and the nature of the allegations still unresolved.