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Album Review: Flavour Of Africa

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On December 4, 2020, Nigerian superstar, Flavour released his seventh studio album, ‘Flavour of Africa.’ Since the turn of Flavour’s illustrious career, his brand has transcended beyond Nigeria. His albums also follow a familiar template that reflects the markets and demographics, to which he appeals.
Sounds on ’Flavour of Africa’ are well-rounded to reflect Gospel, Soukous, Highlife, Afro-pop, Sentimental Ballad, R&B, Afro-pop and Alternative sounds. Topics addressed are largely based around women, sex and love. Sometimes, they are based on empirical happenings and a lot of times, they are based on an appreciation of God.
In fact, whether Flavour was appreciating Africa or celebrating a ‘Good Woman,’ he always found a way to reference God. This is because Flavour realizes that he is a, “Product of Grace’ and a light in darkness…” He also realizes that God is the author and finisher of his journey, and he’s not afraid to create a Gospel song to reflect his faith.

While ‘Product of Grace’ is more Alternative, ‘Ebube’ is Ogene music which appreciates God in pure Igbo language. He delivers, “There is only one power and that power is Jesus Christ…” in English though. Delivered on a Ballad-esque beat, ‘Omehioma’ is an amazing interlude that extols God. ‘Product of Grace’ is tailor-made for a live performance though.
By far, the best song on the album is the Gospel-tinged opening title-track, ‘Flavour of Africa.’ While you would normally hear the track from global stars of Gospel music, Flavour used it to appreciate Africa in great detail and a double entendre. It can also be inferred that Flavour appreciates God for creating the beauty that is Africa.
While Flavour gets vulgar with the classic Igbo saying, ‘Look nyash, kill goat’ on‘Looking Nyash,’ he appreciates the pluses of a ‘Good Woman’ in Igbo, Pidgin and English. Once again he references God, “A good woman cometh from the Lord…” In fact, Flavour’s definition of a ‘Good Woman’ is one who transcends a diva and trusts in God.
But at five minutes and 10 seconds, the song is far too long. Once again, ‘Berna’ sees Flavour appreciate a woman of the same name, with the help of Tekno and Congolese star, FallyIpupa aboard a Soukous beat, straight from Francophone Africa. That line, ”Na only monkey go say you nor fine, Berna…” unlocks a new level of ‘wash.’
Flavour should have recruited Mr. P or J. Martins for the song though. ‘OmoTemi’ is Yoruba for ‘My woman’ and Flavour appreciates the beauty of a woman in the song. ‘EgwuNdi Oma’ and its Selebobo-produced Folk sound samples the classic Udodo Nnobi song, ‘ObodoEdeligo’ before breaking into an amazing love song.
‘EgwuNdi Oma’ is one of the best songs on this album. ‘Odoyewu’ is Ghanian colloquialism for a beautiful woman. ‘Bestie’ also focuses on love and a woman.
It’s not all love and God on ‘Flavour of Africa’ though, the album also addresses empirical factors like money, destiny, success and providence on an gene record. ‘Umuigbo’ means sons of Igbo or Igbo men. Like a lot of South-Eastern artists have done across 2020, Flavour also issues a public plea for unity to his Igbo kin, regardless of state of origin.

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Why I Am Not Ready To Have Kids Yet-Burna Boy

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Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, has opened up about why he is not ready to be a father yet.
According to the 32-year-old, he is not ready to have kids yet because he can not give them the attention they deserve.
Burna Boy disclosed this while responding to questions from newsmen, in a recent interview.
He explained that he would have children when he is settled or married.
“Why have not I had kids yet? Bro, because I don’t want to have kids yet,” he said.
“Have you seen my mum the way she loves me? Have you seen my dad the way he loves me?I know I can not give that to anyone right now with the life I’m living. So until I’m settled and I can be there for my children everyday, I’m not having no kid.
“I feel like my kids deserve better than I got. And I got both my mum and dad so you understand?”
On the allegations that he is impotent, Burna Boy said, “When I see the bants and the things people say about me not being able to have kids, I said this is unimportant. Let’s assume that it is true that I could not even have kids, you know that there’s something called IVF? But that is not even true,” he summed up.

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2Baba’s  20 Years Anniversary Of  ‘Face 2 Face’

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May 15, 2024, made it 20 years since Nigerian seminal superstar, 2Baba released his debut album, ‘Face 2 Face’.
Before 2Face Idibia (Now 2Baba) left the boy band Plantashun Boiz to chase a solo career, he was adjudged by many to be the band’s most talented member.
In fact, superstar rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem could not resist the urge to point this out in ‘Wackawikee MC,’ where he dissed former Remedies members, Tony Teitula and Eddy Montana as well as the Plantashun Boiz.
It was this huge expectation based on proven talent that preceded the release of 2Baba’s debut album, ‘Face 2 Face’ which was an emphatic statement of his ability and ambitions.
The Tide Entertainment reports that released under the iconic Nigerian music label, Kennis Music on 15th May 2004, ‘Face 2 Face’ would carry the zeitgeist of Nigerian pop music in the 2000s with heavy hip-hop and RnB influences.
For 2Face, the album was crafted to position him for commercial success justifying his decision to leave the Plantashun Boiz. ‘Face 2 Face’ would achieve this as it houses some of the biggest hit tracks that defined the 2000s and rocketed 2Baba as the face of Nigerian pop music.
‘Face 2 Face’ welcomes listeners to 2Baba’s world where he shares his many thoughts through mind- blowing lyrics, melodies, and compelling versatility.
“Today is the first day of the rest of my life,” he says in the hit song ‘Nfana Ibaga,’ where he delivers his statement of intent that will alter the direction of change in the Nigerian soundscape.
2Face had many things to share and he found exciting ways to communicate these thoughts. When he raps about love on the hit track ‘Ole’ he effortlessly molds melodies in unprecedented fashion.
2Baba is arguably Nigeria’s most gifted artist and his unbelievable ability shines in elevated lyricism, remarkable shapeshifting, and mind blowing delivery.
The acceptance of his fallibility offers food for thought on the lyrical masterclass ‘U No Holy Pass,’ where he cautions his critics who have a lot to say over his decision to leave Plantashun Boiz and the way he chooses to live his life. This record is one of those songs that reminds listeners that there is about nothing 2Baba can- not do as he effortlessly flows over the strings and drums of Rock music.
While the album carries significant hip-hop influences, it also has the palpable RnB music that shaped the American soundscape in the early 2000s.
On ‘Right Here’, 2Baba pours out his heart on a brilliant domestication of RnB and hip hop hybrid popular with Western RnB stars like Usher, Craig Davids and Joe.
The album’s biggest song is the classic guitar ballad, ‘African Queen’ which will break the commercial roof of Nigerian and African music. If there is any such thing as a perfect song, it will be ‘African Queen’ as the writing, delivery and production make for a perfect combination that is one of the most important records in the history of Nigerian mainstream pop music.
The success of 2Baba’s ‘African Queen’ transcended the shores of Africa as it was used in the 2006 Hollywood movie, ‘Phat Girls’ which was one of the earliest exportation of Nigerian mainstream pop music.
2Baba is known for being an artiste who constantly uses his music to speak on social justice and this is a trait that runs back 20 years ago.
On ‘police Skit,’ listeners get a commentary on the state of the Nigerian Police who are hardly distinguishable from armed robbers.
2Baba is one of Nigeria’s music’s most indefatigable hitmakers and he laid the blueprints for what is to come on the groovy party-starter ‘Keep on Rocking’ feat Natives & Lil Seal where he effortlessly switches language and flows.
‘Face 2 Face’ is a product of an era when artists craft wholesome albums with something for every listener and a concerted effort to carry a national outlook. Tracks like the gospel tune ‘Thank U Lord’ and ‘Odi Ya’ feat Black Face where he showcases his Benue roots point to this effort.
20 years after its release, ‘Face 2 Face’ is celebrated as a hall-of-fame Nigerian album that laid the blueprint for the hit projects in the Nigerian mainstream.
‘Face 2 Face’ showed listeners many sides of 2Baba – the singer, the rapper, the songwriter, the sage, the hitmaker, and ultimately, the pacesetter.

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Davido Reacts To Report Of Sacking His Lawyer

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Nigerian Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has debunked reports that he sacked his lawyer and longtime friend, Bobo Ajudua, over embezzlement.
The Tide Entertainment gathered that Davido recently sacked his long-term business partner and lawyer, Bobo Ajudua for embezzling $370,000.
However, reacting, the singer said, that was not the case.
He clarified that they are still friends even though they are no longer business partners.
”This was not the case at all! We are still very good friends! In business, things evolve and change all the time! Please, everyone disregard this narrative.”

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