As we wrap up the week, here are the top stories from Africa. Nollywood veteran John Okafor, known as Mr. Ibu, left a lasting legacy with his remarkable contributions to the film industry....CONTINUE READING
Construction has commenced on the ambitious $100M Lagos Arena project, set to redefine entertainment and sports in Nigeria. Universal Music Group’s significant investment in Nigeria’s Mavin Records marks a major milestone in the country’s music industry.
In Ghana, parliament’s passing of a bill to criminalize LGBTQ activities reflects ongoing societal debates and challenges. Additionally, Nigeria faces health concerns as it grapples with 477 confirmed cases of Lassa fever within seven weeks, highlighting the need for continued vigilance in public health efforts.
Check out all the top stories below:
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW $100M LAGOS ARENA PROJECT
Construction has started on a new $100 million Lagos Arena, which will be Nigeria’s top venue for sports and concerts. It’s set to boost the country’s economy by hosting big global events.
The Lagos Arena, with a capacity of 12,000 people, will be located in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, and will be managed by the Oak View Group.
According to their description, the Lagos Arena is primarily built as a concert venue but will host a diverse range of events, including performances by both global and Nigerian music artists, family entertainment, basketball games, UFC fights, boxing matches, WWE shows and so much more.
Along with the arena, the complex will also include a hotel and parking facilities.
MR IBU DIES
Nollywood veteran John Okafor, famed as Mr. Ibu, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
Mr. Ibu, aged 62, passed away on Saturday at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State.
Daily Post reports that
The Daily Post reports that Mr. Ibu faced health challenges that resulted in the amputation of both his legs, and he was diagnosed with diseased blood vessels.
“It’s a sad day for the Actors Guild of Nigeria,” Rollas conveyed.
“Kate Henshaw lost her mother earlier today, and Mr. Ibu suffered a cardiac arrest,” noted his manager of 24 years, Mr. Don Single Nwuzor. “I announce with deep sorrow that Mr. Ibu didn’t make it. May his soul rest in peace,” Rollas concluded.
TIKTOK HAS BEGUN REMOVING UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP-CONTROLLED MUSIC ON ITS APP
TikTok has started the third and final phase of removing all Universal Music Group-controlled music on TikTok, with a deadline of 30 days from January 31, 2024.
In the first phase, TikTok made it harder to create new videos with tracks from Universal Music Group (UMG) artists by removing their songs from its pre-cleared music library. Then, in the second phase, videos already posted featuring UMG music were muted.
Universal Music Group controls over 3-4 million tracks from artists like Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, SZA, Drake, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Adele, U2, Elton John, J Balvin, Brandi Carlile, Coldplay, Post Malone, and many others.
In its third phase, TikTok is muting or removing any videos featuring songs controlled by UMG Publishing Group, affecting both creators and the music industry at large. This includes tracks recorded or covered by non-UMG artists and on non-UMG labels.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP ACQUIRES MAJOR STAKE IN NIGERIA RECORD LABEL MAVIN RECORDS
Universal Music Group announced on Monday that it has acquired a controlling stake in Mavin Global, an independent Nigerian Afrobeats record label.
Mavin Global is a Lagos-based label founded by the renowned Nigerian artist, producer, music executive, and entrepreneur, Michael Collins Ajereh (aka Don Jazzy), in 2012.
After the investment from Universal Music Group, Mavin Global will become more connected with UMG but will still run independently, led by Don Jazzy and COO Tega Oghenejobo. Additionally, private equity investor TPG has exited the business, while Kupanda Capital will stay on as a minority investor and strategic adviser.
The label has played a pivotal role in the global ascent of the Afrobeat genre and in shaping the careers of artists such as Ayra Starr, Ladipoe, Johnny Drille, Crayon, Magixx, Bayanni, Boy Spyce, DJ Big N, Lifesize Teddy, and Rema.
KENYA SCRAPS ENTRY FEE FOR SOUTH AFRICANS AND OTHER COUNTRIES
Kenya has waived the $30 entry fee for passport holders from South Africa, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and four other countries.
The Department of Immigration and Citizen Services announced that citizens from South Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, Mozambique, and San Marino no longer need to pay the $30 fee per traveler when applying through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system.
This adjustment has been effective since February 15.
The eTA system, launched in January, received criticism for its $30 fee, which some saw as a de facto visa charge.
Kenya’s waiver for six countries, including Ethiopia, follows its dedication to nations with visa agreements. For five decades, Kenya and Ethiopia have had such agreements, enabling Kenyans to travel to Ethiopia with only a passport, while Ethiopians previously had to pay the $30 eTA fee applied for at least 72 hours before arrival.
GHANA’S PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL TO CRIMINALIZE LGBTQ ACTIVITIES
The finance ministry of Ghana is advising the president against signing a contentious anti-LGBT bill approved by parliament last week, cautioning that the country risks losing $3.8 billion (£3 billion) in World Bank funding over the next five to six years.
Over the past week, on Wednesday (February 28), Ghana’s parliament passed a bill to make LGBTQ activities illegal in the country.
This simply means that Ghana’s parliament voted to make activities related to LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) individuals illegal within the country.
The bill states that individuals engaged in non-conventional sexual activities could be sentenced to jail for six months to three years, while promoters, sponsors, and financiers could face jail terms of three to five years.
The country’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, still needs to sign the bill for it to become law.
Akufo-Addo is said to be meeting with key ministries and donors to evaluate the effects of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill.
ZIMBABWE REPORTS DECLINING CHOLERA CASES
On Tuesday, a cabinet minister in Zimbabwe stated that suspected cholera cases are decreasing in the country due to effective intervention strategies implemented to fight the outbreak.
During a press briefing, Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, announced a decline in cholera cases, with 1,025 new suspected cases documented, a decrease from the 1,286 cases reported the week before.
“The robust vaccination campaign is yielding visible results in the known cholera hotspots while screening for cholera and other infectious diseases is ongoing at all points of entry,” Muswere said.
“Furthermore, the Africa Centre for Disease Control is procuring water treatment chemicals and branded tents for Oral Rehydration Points. The Centre has also supported the training of 500 community health workers in Harare and Chitungwiza, and will also support training in Case management and surveillance,” said the Minister.
US CITY, BOSTON DECLARES 2 MARCH AS ‘BURNA BOY’S DAY’
The city of Boston in Massachusetts, United States, has officially declared March 2nd as “Burna Boy’s Day” to honor the Nigerian singer.
The Boston City Council, in a document signed by Councillor Ruthzee Louijeune, declared March 2nd as “Burna Boy’s Day” in recognition of the Nigerian singer’s performances and advocacy works.
The document read inter alia:
“Boston’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating culture and diversity is evident in the range of cultural events, festivals, and community initiatives that showcase the city’s multicultural landscape and:
“Whereas, Burna Boy’s legacy serves as a reminder of possibility, reminding us to continue amplifying voices that have long been silenced or overlooked, now, therefore be it resolved: That March 2, 2024 is designated Burna Boy Day in the City of Boston.”
Since gaining international recognition in 2018, Burna Boy has successfully hosted numerous sold-out shows in Boston.
CHAD SETS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR MAY 6
Chad’s National Elections Management Agency (ANGE) declared that the country will conduct the first round of its presidential election on May 6, and candidate nominations will be open from March 6 to March 15.
ANGE President Ahmed Bartichet informed reporters in the capital N’Djamena that a final list of candidates would be published on March 24. He also mentioned that campaigns are scheduled to run from April 14 to May 4.
If there is no clear winner in the first round, a second round of the election will be held on June 22, Bartichet added.
Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno is the current president of Chad.
SENEGAL SETS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR MARCH 24
Senegal’s government has declared that the country’s presidential election will be held on March 24, following tension and protests triggered by President Macky Sall’s decision to postpone the election last month.
The announcement was made on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting, following a February ruling by the country’s top court that declared outgoing President Macky Sall’s plans to hold the vote after his term expires on April 2 as unconstitutional.
NIGERIA RECORDS 477 CONFIRMED LASSA FEVER CASES IN 7 WEEKS
On Wednesday, February 28, data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed that Nigeria had confirmed 477 cases of Lassa fever out of the total 2,629 suspected cases reported between January 1 and February 18, 2024.
The NCDC data also revealed that Nigeria lost 85 lives to the infection during the seven weeks under review, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 17.8%, slightly lower than the CFR for the same period in 2023, which was 18.1%.
The NCDC explained that Lassa fever is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus, primarily transmitted by rodents such as the multimammate rat or African rat.
The report shows that in 2024:
- At least one confirmed case of Lassa fever has been recorded in 24 states across 89 Local Government Areas.
- Sixty-four percent of the total confirmed cases were reported from Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi states, while the remaining 36 percent were reported from 17 other states.
- Among these, Edo reported the highest number with 119 cases (25%), followed by Ondo with 108 cases (23%), and Bauchi with 76 cases (16%).
IATA: AFRICA RECORDS 3 YEARS WITHOUT FATAL AIR TRAVEL ACCIDENTS
According to the 2023 safety performance report, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has noted that there have been no fatal air travel accidents in the African region for three years.
The report further states that the overall accident rate dropped to 0.80 per million flights, the lowest in over a decade, indicating better safety performance compared to previous years. Additionally, the risk of fatalities decreased, with just one fatal accident occurring, resulting in 72 fatalities, a reduction from previous years.
This positive trend reflects the efforts of airlines and safety measures implemented to enhance air travel safety in the region.
