Entertainment
Decemberissavybe: FirstBank Celebrates Female Singers, Sponsors ‘A Night of Queens’ Concert
It promises to be a spectacular celebration of extraordinary talent as FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier bank takes centre stage as the lead sponsor of the highly anticipated ‘A Night of Queens’ concert.
The all-female showcase of musical and creative talents will take place on Sunday, December 17th, 2023, at the prestigious Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
In collaboration with Livewire Concerts, an international entertainment company in Nigeria, FirstBank aims to create a lasting impression on the audience with this groundbreaking flagship musical event.
The energy, excitement, and fun that these talented women bring to the stage are simply contagious, and the audience is sure to be swept away by the undeniable talent and passion.
Beyond being a musical performance, ‘A Night of Queens’ signals a celebration of female excellence and a tribute to the groundbreaking achievements of these remarkable artists as each of the female superstars has made significant contributions to the Nigerian music industry, inspiring countless women to dare to dream and strive for greatness.
FirstBank, with its nearly 130 years of operation, has become deeply woven into the fabric of Nigerian society. And as part of its annual campaign, ‘DecemberIssaVybe,’ the bank is proud to sponsor this concert, in order to further foster family bonding, entertainment, and nation-building during the festive season. Since 2017, the campaign has been synonymous with joy, excitement, and unforgettable musical experience.
Some of the heavyweight Afrobeat female singers to take the stage at ‘A Night of Queens’ includes Tiwa Savage, Teni, Simi, Waje, Niniola, Yemi Alade, Dope Ceaser, and many more.
These vocal powerhouses will showcase the incredible talent and diversity of Nigeria’s female music scene, leaving music enthusiasts begging for more. With their track records, one can expect an evening filled with maximum entertainment and musical delight.
But that’s not all! As part of the ‘DecemberIssaVybe’ campaign, FirstBank has curated a lineup of other star-studded events for customers and followers to enjoy. From Asake’s concert in Abuja and Lagos, to Adekunle Gold’s musical extravaganza, Street Souk at Harbour Point, Super Family Fair, A True Christmas Story, Eko Hotel PrideLand Adventures, Duke of Shomolu Productions, Kakadu The Musical, and the Calabar Carnival Festival, there’s something for everyone.
And here’s the good news: there’s a chance to attend these events for free! FirstBank will be giving away VIP tickets to ‘A Night of Queens’ and all other events through their social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and more.
To participate, follow FirstBank on its social media handles, answer simple questions, and stand a chance to win a VIP ticket and experience the Vybe at ‘A Night of Queens.’
Follow FirstBank on Facebook as First Bank of Nigeria Limited and on Instagram as @firstbanknigeria.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary talents of Nigerian women and create unforgettable memories during the festive season. December is indeed a Vybe, and FirstBank is leading the way in making it an unforgettable one!
Shakira has announced the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring Nigerian Grammy-winning star, Burna Boy.
The Colombian superstar revealed on social media that the song, titled “Dai Dai,” will be released on May 14.
“From Maracaná Stadium, here is ‘Dai Dai,’ the FIFA World Cup Official Song 2026. Coming 5/14. We’re ready!” Shakira posted on X alongside a teaser for the track.
The announcement has sparked excitement among football and music fans, especially with Burna Boy becoming one of the African artists to feature prominently on a World Cup anthem.
Shakira is no stranger to World Cup songs. Her 2010 hit Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) became one of the most iconic football anthems in history during the tournament in South Africa.
Recent World Cup theme songs have also featured global stars. In 2014, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte performed We Are One (Ole Ola) for the tournament in Brazil.
For the 2018 tournament in Russia, Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi released Live It Up.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA rolled out multiple soundtrack songs, including Hayya Hayya (Better Together) by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This week, African Voices, the Globacom-sponsored magazine programme on CNN International, turns its searchlight on Ejatu Shaw the London-based photographer and multidisciplinary artist whose work continues to refract heritage into striking visual poetry.
Born in 1996, Shaw is a graduate of University of Westminster, where she earned a Master’s degree in Photography Arts in 2020. Yet the true genesis of her craft predates the academy. It was during a 2013 family sojourn to Sierra Leone that her creative awakening first flickered—like light finding its way through a narrow aperture—setting her on a path of introspective exploration.
Her oeuvre is a delicate tapestry, interweaving strands of Islamic faith with the vibrant textures of African heritage. Echoes of the great studio photographers of the 1960s and 1970s—such as Malick Sidibé, Sory Sanlé, and Omar Yahia Barram—resonate subtly within her compositions, like ancestral voices carried on a visual wind.
From these influences, Shaw has cultivated a practice rooted in memory and self-inquiry. Through self-portraiture and conceptually layered projects, she transforms personal recollections into images that speak with both intimacy and universality—mirrors in which the past and present quietly converge.
Her ascent has been both swift and assured. In 2025, the British Fashion Council named her a New Wave Creative, affirming her place among a new generation of cultural vanguards. In the same year, her lens captured figures of global renown, including Angela Bassett for EBONY, Cynthia Erivo for The Guardian, Sunday Times and Vogue, and Usain Bolt for Puma.
She also conceived and shot the album cover for Craig David—each frame a testament to her evolving visual language.
African Voices airs on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with further broadcasts on Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and repeat transmissions on Monday at 3:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.—an invitation to witness, through Shaw’s eyes, a world where identity is not fixed, but fluid, luminous, and ever unfolding.
Nigeria-born Afro-pop star, Joeboy, whose melodies now ripple across continents, takes centre stage this week on the Easter edition of African Voices, the Globacom-sponsored CNN magazine programme.
In a captivating session from Lagos, show anchor Larry Madowo drew out the rhythm of Joeboy’s journey, tracing the arc from a starry-eyed university dreamer to a maestro whose songs now traverse the globe like whispered secrets carried on the wind.
Born Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus in 1997, Joeboy—affectionately dubbed Afrobeats’ “lover boy”—embarked on his musical odyssey in 2017 with a viral reinterpretation of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You.
This pivot from rap to melodious crooning caught the discerning eye of Nigerian artiste and entrepreneur Mr Eazi, who, upon discovering him on Instagram, extended an invitation to join the emPawa Africa Talent Incubation initiative—a sanctuary for budding African talents where raw potential is nurtured into brilliance.
The partnership bore fruit in 2018 with the release of Fààjí, featuring Mr Eazi, and soon after, Joeboy was signed to Warner Music Africa. From there, his ascent became a symphony of milestones: the intoxicating single Baby in 2019, followed by Beginning, which amassed over 23 million views on YouTube, and Love & Light the same year.
Collaborations with Mayorkun yielded the spirited tracks Don’t Call Me and All for You, further cementing his place in the Afrobeats constellation.
Joeboy’s debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, unfurled in February 2021, a melodic tapestry of youth, hope, and desire. By 19 May 2023, he unveiled his sophomore studio effort, Body & Soul, preceded by the evocative singles Sip (Alcohol), Contour, Body & Soul, and Duffel Bag. In 2023, he teased the world with Only God Save Me and the extended EP Body, Soul and Spirit, offering listeners a window into the essence of his artistic spirit.
February 2024 marked another milestone as he launched his own imprint, Young Legend, soon releasing Osadebe, a track that resonated nationwide with the familiar warmth of homegrown brilliance.
Joeboy’s dedication has been richly rewarded. He clinched Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival. His music has earned numerous nominations, including at the City People Entertainment Awards and The Headies, affirming his status as a luminary of contemporary African sound.
The Easter edition of African Voices featuring Joeboy will air on DSTV Channel 401 at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, with repeats at 11 a.m.; Sunday at 3:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Monday at 3 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.; and Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. The schedule will be mirrored the following week, culminating in Monday at 3 a.m., giving audiences multiple opportunities to bask in the artistry of a musician whose voice carries the pulse of a continent.
