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Secretary Of State Antony Blinken Performs Muddy Waters’ ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ To Kick Off Global Music Diplomacy Initiative

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Secretary of State Tony Blinken kicked off a new state department global music diplomacy initiative by showing off his own skills as a singer-guitarist.

After delivering remarks at a State Department event, Blinken said that it would not be complete “without a little bit of blues,” before playing and singing the Muddy Waters classic “Hoochie Coochie Man.”

The State Department on the diplomacy initiative, which is designed to highlight music as a diplomatic tool in foreign policy, includes the Recording Academy as a partner. An American music mentorship program will bring international music industry professionals for mentorship and other opportunities. The first will be held in fall 2024.

Also announced was the Fulbright-Kennedy Center Visiting Scholar Award in Arts in Science, focusing on the intersection of arts and science. The competition will be announced in fall 2023, and the Kennedy Center will host the first scholar in 2024-25.

The State Department also will incorporate music into English-language learning overseas, and the diplomacy initiative will include oversees programming with arts envoys, including Herbie Hancock and the Dee Dee Bridgewater ensemble performing in Jordan in October. The tour then will go to Saudi Arabia for a first-of-its-kind program in that country. Ten American bands will travel to 30 countries starting in October, and the AMA Academy Cleveland will host young musicians from Ukraine in November.

Blinken and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. also announced a Peace Through Music Award, with Quincy Jones as the inaugural recipient.

Mason said that the initiative will “promote peace and cross-cultural understanding through music while continuing our mission to lift up music people around the globe.” Also part of the initiative is YouTube and Google. In a statement, its global head of music Lyor Cohen said that the initiative “creates a new avenue for us” to raise artists’ voices “and drive global music diplomacy forward; breaking down cultural barriers and fostering peace through music.”

BBC

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Davido’s ‘Timeless’ album wins silver certification in the UK

“Timeless”, which was released on March 31, 2023, explores diverse musical styles such as Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, konto, highlife and Afropop.

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Nigerian music superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has earned the prestigious Silver Certification in the United Kingdom for his fourth album “Timeless”.

Chart Data, a leading platform for music analytics and certifications, said that the acknowledgement comes after the album sold over 100,000 units in the UK, making it eligible for a silver plaque.

“Timeless”, which was released on March 31, 2023, explores diverse musical styles such as Afrobeats, dancehall, reggae, konto, highlife and Afropop.

It features 17 tracks and includes collaborations with notable artists like Asake, Skepta, Dexta Daps, Fave, Cavemen, and Angelique Kidjo.

The album enjoyed massive success, breaking multiple streaming records on platforms such as Spotify Nigeria, Audiomack, Boomplay, and YouTube.

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“I Was Blacklisted by Marketers”: Moji Afolayan Speaks on Sudden Screen Disappearance (VIDEO)

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Veteran Nollywood actress, Moji Afolayan has finally revealed why she suddenly disappeared from the screen for over a decade.

The screen goddess disappearance left netizens and fans worried about her well-being and whereabouts.

However, addressing her fans during her latest interview on Oyinmomo TV, Moji stated that she was blacklisted by film marketers after refusing their sexual advances.

The actress also revealed that many married actresses exchange sex for movie roles.

“Before now, marketers used to give producers money to work. But because I refused their sexual advances, they held a meeting among themselves and agreed not to call me for work.

“I did not sleep with any of them because I can’t trade my body for films. It’s my principle. I know they will watch this interview.

Many of those doing it will go with their husbands and have them wait outside while they go inside to meet marketers. I’m exposing their secrets now.

Marketers made them stars. Their posters were all around. But I thank God that I stood with my dignity. That is what I am enjoying today.

“They denied me movie roles because I didn’t offer myself for sex”.

Although it affected my income and fame, but I cherish my body more than every other thing. Even my husband knows.

“They now know how it feels because they have made us social media friendly. We now pushed our movies on YouTube without any marketers,” she said.

Watch the video below:

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Lagos: Mohbad’s Father Appeals DPP’s Legal Stance

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Mr Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad, has filed a notice of appeal against the Lagos High Court ruling which upheld the legal advice that cleared music executive, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and show promoter, Balogun Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry, of any wrongdoing in his son’s controversial death.

The appeal, filed at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, seeks to overturn the July 2, 2025, decision delivered by Justice D.T. Olatokun.

Through his legal team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, and Don Akaegbu, Aloba is challenging the Director of Public Prosecutions’ legal advice, which he argued was used to absolve key suspects in the late singer’s death.

In the appeal document on Tuesday, Aloba contended that the trial court erred by holding that the Attorney-General’s prosecutorial powers under Section 211(1) of the 1999 Constitution are absolute and not subject to judicial review.

He argued that such powers must be exercised in line with public interest, justice, and due process, and not used to shield any individual from prosecution.

Citing the Supreme Court case of Elias v. Arkas (2018) 10 NWLR (Pt 1626) Pg 37, the appellant contended that “such power was not beyond judicial scrutiny, especially when it appears contrary to the public interest, interest of justice, or amounts to abuse of legal process.”

He however urged the court “to allow the appeal and set aside the lower court’s ruling and issue an order of certiorari to quash the legal advice issued by the DPP with Reference No. LJP/HOM/2023/170 concerning Mohbad’s death.”

The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro SAN, and the Director of Public Prosecutions were listed as respondents in the case.In an ex parte motion earlier filed before the Lagos High Court, Aloba argued that the coroner’s inquest, initiated on September 29, 2023, had not concluded its probe into Mohbad’s demise before the DPP’s actions were taken.

He further disclosed that key individuals who had been summoned by the Coroner’s Court and mentioned during the inquest were released prematurely and had yet to appear to clarify their roles in the case.

He added that the police and DPP allegedly acted without notifying the coroner, thereby obstructing the inquest’s statutory duties.

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