During a recent interview with Capital Xtra Radio, Nigerian musician Bella Shmurda shared exciting news about his upcoming music releases. He plans to drop two projects in 2024: first, an EP, and then a full-length album scheduled for release in September.
This upcoming music promises to be a treat for his fans, and the September album release holds particular significance, as it will be revealed closer to the date.
This album is significant, as it’s dedicated to Shmurda’s late friend and fellow musician, Mohbad, who tragically passed away in September 2023.
Just after his friend Mohbad’s passing in September 2023, Bella Shmurda dedicated the song “My Brother” to him. Now, Shmurda’s upcoming album acts as another heartfelt tribute, adding to the over 60 songs created by other Nigerian artists in Mohbad’s honour. This upcoming album serves as a further testament to Shmurda’s deep respect and admiration for his friend and fellow musician.
This September release, titled yet to be revealed, will follow Shmurda’s 2023 EP “DND,” which featured hit songs like “Ara” and “NSV” featuring Tiwa Savage.
Shmurda’s forthcoming projects not only showcase his musical talent but also demonstrate his dedication to honouring the memory and influence of his friend Mohbad.
Davido’s “Na Money” music video, featuring Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen, has earned the prestigious Best Costume/Styling (Craft) award at the 12th Berlin Fashion Film Festival.
The vibrant video is directed by Dammy Twitch and produced by Blessing Uzzi. The video captivated audiences with its colourful costumes, cultural depth, and breathtaking visuals. This celebrates African heritage with impeccable creativity and style.
The win underscores the team’s exceptional attention to detail in showcasing the beauty of African fashion and culture. From the elaborate traditional attire to the contemporary designs, the video seamlessly blends visual artistry with the powerful Afrobeat sound of the track.
This recognition cements “Na Money” as a benchmark for combining music and fashion in innovative storytelling.
The Berlin Fashion Film Festival celebrates fashion and film annually.
It has recognized outstanding talent since its establishment. The festival is part of the larger Berlinale, a global cinema event dating back to 1951.
It focuses on creativity and craftsmanship in filmmaking. The festival highlights emerging talent across various artistic disciplines. It awards prestigious honours like the Golden Bears.
The event attracts filmmakers, designers, and film enthusiasts from around the world. The festival provides a platform for innovative storytelling through visual media.
Recognizing creative excellence supports artistic development. The award represents a significant achievement for artists and creators. For Davido and his team, this recognition underscores their contribution to global cultural representation.
The festival continues to be an important stage for showcasing innovative artistic expressions.
The video’s dynamic visuals and cultural richness not only earned industry accolades but also resonated with fans worldwide.
To experience the award-winning brilliance firsthand, watch Davido’s “Na Money,” featuring Angélique Kidjo and The Cavemen, now.
Let the stunning visuals and captivating storytelling take you on a journey through Africa’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
Explore the full list of winners on the festival’s official site and join in celebrating this milestone for African music and fashion.
On November 18, 2024, fans woke up to the shocking news that Wizkid’s latest single, “Kese (Dance)”, had suddenly vanished from the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100.
Just days ago, the song had been proudly sitting at the number one spot. This abrupt drop sparked widespread speculation, with many fans and industry insiders suspecting that Apple Music had penalized the track for streaming manipulation.
Such drastic deductions often indicate stream deductions or “chart-drinking,” which are common penalties that Apple Music enforces against artificial streaming boosts.
Adding fuel to the controversy is Wizkid’s “Kese (Dance)”, released on November 15, 2024, as the second lead track from his forthcoming album “Morayo”.
Within hours of its release, “Kese” soared to the top of the Apple Music Nigeria Top 100, demonstrating Wizkid’s enduring popularity and dominance on the charts.
However, the unexpected removal of the song from the charts sent shockwaves through social media, leaving fans divided. Some believe Apple Music may have acted to curb stream farming, while others argue it might simply be a technical glitch.
Historically, Apple Music has taken stringent measures to crack down on streaming manipulation, especially against high-profile artists.
This latest move, if confirmed as a penalty, would be one of their strongest actions yet against stream farming. However, the possibility of a glitch cannot be entirely dismissed, as similar occurrences have happened before.
Fans now eagerly watch to see if “Kese (Dance)” will rebound to its previous chart-topping position. A quick recovery would lend credence to the glitch theory.
Meanwhile, a continued absence would suggest that Apple Music has indeed taken a firm stance against streaming irregularities—even against a major act like Wizkid. For now, all eyes remain on the charts to see how this drama unfolds.
Nigerian music stars Ruger and Tiwa Savage have joined forces on the new single “Toma Toma,” released on November 15, 2024.
The track blends Ruger’s signature melodic style with a percussion-heavy Afrobeats instrumental produced by Kukbeatz.
Tiwa Savage’s captivating vocals complement Ruger’s performance, creating an effortless collaboration between two of Nigeria’s top talents.
This release comes on the heels of Ruger’s successful joint EP “POE” with BNXN, which included a lead single amassing 27 million streams and reaching #1 on Spotify and Apple Music in Nigeria.
Ruger has maintained an incendiary trajectory in 2024, further cementing his status as one of the most exciting Afrobeats artists.
Earlier this year, he dropped the double A-side “Luv Again / Make Way” and remixed the hit “Cry Baby” by Clean Bandit, Anne-Marie, and David Guetta.
The rising singer recently wrapped up an extensive tour across Europe, including festival appearances at DLT Malta and Wireless Festival in London.
He also completed an 8-date Canadian tour, playing shows in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto. These live performances follow a packed summer schedule that saw Ruger captivate audiences in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Since bursting onto the scene just three years ago, Ruger has distinguished himself with his dynamic blend of Afrobeats and dancehall.
Indeed, the “Toma Toma” collaboration with Tiwa Savage represents the next chapter in his rapidly rising career.