Four aid workers were killed in a Boko Haram attack in Rann, in northeast Nigeria, the UN said on Friday, in the latest violence to hit the remote town.
The attack happened “after dark” outside a camp housing some 55,000 people displaced by the conflict and appeared to target the military, said UN spokeswoman Samantha Newport.
A civilian militia source in Rann, which is some 175 kilometres (110 miles) from the Borno state capital of Maiduguri, and a senior military source gave an identical death toll.
They also said eight soldiers were killed in the attack but there was no immediate official confirmation.
Newport said: “Four aid workers were killed, one aid worker was injured and one aid worker is missing, feared abducted.
“Of the aid workers that were killed, two worked for the IOM (International Organization for Migration) in camp management; and one was a medical doctor working as a third party consultant for UNICEF,” the UN children’s agency, she said.
No details were immediately available for the fourth but Newport said the injured and missing were both women. All those involved were Nigerian, she added.
Boko Haram fighters killed nine people from the Rann internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in September last year, as they worked on farms just outside the town.
In January last year, a botched Nigerian air strike intended to hit jihadist fighters killed at least 112 people as aid workers distributed food.
Commanders at the time called the bombing a mistake and blamed “the fog of war”.
An air force board of inquiry later blamed “lack of appropriate marking of the area” for the bombardment and an unexpected gathering of people at the location.
Singer Rotimi went on a podcast, the “85 South Show Podcast,” to talk about his career success.
Rotimi also discussed his role in bringing Afrobeats, a music genre with African roots, to the attention of American audiences.
Rotimi claims he was the first artist to introduce Afrobeats-inspired music in the US. This was even before collaborations with international artists became popular and helped spread Afrobeats globally (“Afrobeats to the World” movement).
Interestingly, Rotimi mixes R&B with Afrobeats in his own music. He even mentioned a song called “Love Riddim” that he released in 2018. Unfortunately, radio stations didn’t accept it well because of the Afrobeats sound.
“I remember bringing ‘Love Riddim’ to the radio stations in 2018 and the program director was like ‘This is not good’. They didn’t even understand it and this was before Wiz (Wizkid) got the record with Drake,” Rotimi narrates. “I can comfortably say I brought Afrobeats to America,” he added.
Rotimi deserves credit for contributing to the rise of Afrobeats in the US, particularly in the early stages when it was gaining a foothold. However, some might contest his claim of single-handedly introducing the genre.
Several Afrobeats tracks achieved success in the US before Rotimi’s breakthrough. Ayo Jay‘s “Your Number” (2015) stands out as the first Afrobeats song to chart on the Billboard R&B/Airplay chart without a collaboration with another artist.
Wizkid, another Nigerian artist, also enjoyed significant recognition through collaborations with Drake on “One Dance” (2016) and “Come Closer” (2017). These tracks gained immense popularity and played a role in bringing Afrobeats to the forefront of Western audiences.
Davido, another Afrobeats heavyweight, notched hits with “If” and “Fall” (both released in 2017).
Notably, “Fall” was one of the first Afrobeats songs to achieve platinum certification in the US.
The groundwork for Afrobeats’ US success can be traced back even further. Big names in the Afrobeats scene like 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj actively collaborated with American stars like T-Pain, Rick Ross, T.I., and Snoop Dogg. D’banj even secured a record deal with Kanye West’s Good Music label.
These collaborations served as a bridge, introducing American audiences to Afrobeats and fostering their early popularity in the US.
In conclusion, the surge of Afrobeats in the US during the 2010s wasn’t solely driven by one artist. It stemmed from a confluence of factors: the rise of social media platforms, the accessibility provided by music streaming services, and most importantly, the collaborative efforts of numerous talented Afrobeats musicians.
While Rotimi’s music undoubtedly played a part in this growth, the overall success of Afrobeats in the US is a testament to the collective power of the entire Afrobeats movement.
Watch Rotimi’s full interview on the 85 South Show Podcast below.
Calling all Jenifa’s Diary fans! Get ready for a fresh serving of laughter with the return of your favourite comedy series. The show is getting a makeover, complete with a brand new name: “Everybody Loves Jenifa.”
This is fantastic news for fans who have been following the hilarious journey of Jenifa since her first appearance in 2008. The character, created by the talented Funke Akindele, proved to be a scene-stealer, and she quickly landed her own television series, “Jenifa’s Diary,” in 2015.
The show chronicled the adventures of Jenifa, a naive yet funny character, and it resonated with audiences, making it a ratings hit.
But the Jenifa series extends far beyond the original series. The character’s popularity spawned a whole franchise, allowing viewers to see different sides of Jenifa.
In 2011, fans were treated to “Return of Jenifa,” a sequel to the original movie. Then came “Aiyetoro Town” (2019), a spin-off series that transported audiences to Jenifa’s village, offering a glimpse into her roots. Even the challenges of a global pandemic couldn’t keep Jenifa down.
In 2021, a special titled “Jenifa on Lockdown” gave fans a hilarious look at how Jenifa was coping with the new normal.
By December 2024, Jenifa would be back for another round of laughs with “Everybody Loves Jenifa.” This new title hints at the universal appeal of the character and the series’ promise to deliver side-splitting comedy once again.
Whether you’re a longtime Jenifa devotee or a new viewer curious about the buzz, “Everybody Loves Jenifa” is sure to tickle your funny bone. So get ready to join the crowd and celebrate the return of this character!
A social media influencer named VeryDarkMan accused Nigerian chef Hilda Baci of scamming people who paid for her online cooking class but never received access.
Hilda Baci, who holds a Guinness World Record, isn’t taking these claims lightly. On April 23rd, 2024, she fought back against the accusations. Baci posted a screen recording of her online cooking class in action. The video showed activity within the online platform, including new students joining, media being shared, and overall engagement—all evidence to counter the claims that the class wasn’t happening.
Her caption read, “5880 active students, 156 recipes already posted, comprehensive editing class done, plating class done, official assignment given. LOL.”
Social media influencer VeryDarkMan didn’t hold back in his accusations. He went even further, suggesting this might be a criminal offence, specifically “obtaining money under false pretences.” This means VeryDarkMan believes Baci took people’s money with the promise of a class but didn’t deliver.
He said,
“Hilda Baci, you have worked so hard for your brand but it’s as though you’re trying to spoil the reputation of your brand. What you’re doing now is giving ‘Obtaining under false pretense’ which is fraud, by the way. You can’t collect money from a lot of people for something and then not do it and you’re not even addressing it.”
“You collected money for an online cooking class which was meant to start on the 22nd. But on the 22nd you didn’t start. You posted that registration closed on the 28th of March and since then you’ve been quiet. Don’t you see all the women complaining in the comment section? This is giving fraud. You can’t collect money from people and just ghost them,” he added.
