Entertainment
Asa Out with New Song, Receives Fans’ Applause
Fans have continued to show their appreciation to Afro-soul superstar, Asa Elemide, on social media following the release of her new song ‘Beginning’ after a five-year hiatus.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ‘Eyo’ singer dropped a new song and video on Tuesday, her first since 2014.
On her Instagram page, @asaofficial, she wrote, “Here is to you, ‘The Beginning’. For me, a reset, a rebirth. I hope you love it as much as I do. Thank you for all your love and patience.”
Fans have taken the message and song to heart and showed their gratitude across social media. They thanked the singer for ‘blessing’ them with a timely song, noting that it was worth the wait.
@Omoaye1 tweeted, “Thank you so much Queen ASA, your output radiates purity and genuine work of art. The wait is worth it. You are celebrated.”
@Abeltesfaye said, “Welcome back, your grace.”
@iGordon said, “Nothing good comes easy. We wait even if it’s forever.”
@MarshallOsutelu wrote, “Thank you very much for this. God will keep you and bless your life. It was worth the wait.”
@Chocmuse tweeted, “We love a queen that makes pure art, and the wait worthwhile.”
NAN reports that in the track, she explores the complexities of human relationships. She sings that to move forward, one must shed all dead weight and return to the beginning.
Apart from the strong vocals, the lyrics in the sound mirror the classic Asa style but with a much deeper message that echoes the song’s title.
In the video, Asa sits pensively in different desolate settings and dramatically performs the song as she walks on the streets; representing a deserved comeback.
Asa has released several albums including, “Asa’’, which charted radios across Europe, Asia and Africa and went on win the prestigious French Constantin Award in 2008.
Other albums released include: Beautiful Imperfection in collaboration with a French composer Nicolas Mollard, “Bed of Stone’’ released in August 2014.
(NAN)
Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun has reunited with his estranged wife, Faithia Williams at the graduation ceremony of their son, Khalid Ayomide Balogun.
The couple, both Nollywood actors, who called it quits with their marriage a few years ago, had cause to come together, to celebrate their son’s achievement as he graduates from the University of Lagos with a first-class honours.
Trending videos and photos captured the couple in jolly mood posing for photographs and exchanging pleasantries with well wishers and friends.
Saidi and Faithia had a bitter separation, which prompted Saidi to caution his ex-wife to desist from using his name, Balogun.
African Voices Changemakers, the popular CNN International magazine programme will this weekend host one of Hollywood’s most celebrated African actors, Djimon Gaston Hounsou. The programme is sponsored by digital solutions provider, Globacom.
The star actor who was born in Benin Republic in April 1960, will be chatting with programme anchor, Larry Madowo on his inspiring journey and how he links the Black diaspora with its roots through the Djimon Hounsou Foundation which he launched in New York in 2019.
Hounsou became a thespian when he acted in the 1990 film titled Without You, I’m Nothing from which he has gained recognition for his outstanding roles in several other films including Amistad (1997); Gladiator (2000) and a French film titled Forces speciales (2011) among other great works. His talents have earned him the Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in Drama and the NAACP Image Award both in 1998 and for his role in Amistad. He also got the Academy Awards as Best Supporting Actor in 2004 as well as an Outstanding Performance Award for Blood Diamond in 2007.
His foundation has been at the forefront of empowering Africans through his philanthropic initiatives like Run Richmond 16.19. He has successfully bridged history, culture, and community in a mission to unite the African diaspora and honour African heritage.
African Voices Changemakers will be broadcast on Saturday at 8.30a.m. and will be repeated same day at noon. Further repeats will be broadcast on Sunday at 4.30a.m. and 7p.m.; Monday 4a.m. Repeat editions will come up in the same broadcast schedule next week from Saturday.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has postponed the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations due to the wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area.
Originally scheduled for Friday, January 17, the nominations will now be revealed on January 19.
Voting for the nearly 10,000 Academy members, which began on January 8, has also been extended by two days, now closing on Tuesday, January 14.
Among the celebrities affected by the fires are former Oscars host Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, James Woods, and Miles Teller, all of whom have lost their homes.
In a letter sent to members on Wednesday, Academy CEO Bill Kramer offered his condolences, saying, “We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California.
“So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”
Wildfires sweeping through communities across Los Angeles County, which began around 5:45 pm on Wednesday, have damaged or destroyed over 2,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings, with at least five confirmed dead.
