Entertainment
Victoria Kimani Speaks on Tiwa Savage, Ycee, Chocolate City Others
Kenyan-born singer, Victoria Kimani, set the Internet into frenzy last week after she dropped her version of Kizz Daniel’s Fvck You challenge.
In her song, she called out Nigerian rapper, Oludemilade Alejo, popularly known as Ycee for stealing her song – an allegation that left tongues wagging.
However, in subsequent lines in her song, she seemed to have insulted a Nigerian female artiste and even though she didn’t mention any name, the adjectives she used to qualify the artiste made most people speculate that she was referring to Tiwa Savage.
In an exclusive interview with Saturday Beats, Kimani noted that she didn’t mention Savage’s name but people only took a cue from the content of her song.
She said, “I don’t have any issue with Tiwa Savage at all. I approached the ‘Fvck you challenge’ with a below the belt move.
“It is common knowledge in the industry that this girl doesn’t like performing in the same show with other female artistes, everybody knows this. I never mentioned any names in my Instagram post, people just attached meaning to whoever they wanted to attach it to.
“Secondly, I never mentioned her name in the record but when I saw that she was sending fake Instagram accounts to attack me, that was when I realised she was offended with what I said.
“It was meant to be a light-hearted challenge, I had to be forced to send my statement, and I don’t have a problem doing that. I don’t have a problem defending my statement about blocking women from certain platforms, this is common knowledge that has happened over the years and people don’t like to admit it.
“At the same time, it is not fair for me to body shame, so I apologised for that, but for the other statements, everybody knows that.”
Kimani also spoke about the reason she has been absent from Nigeria for a while, attributing it to the bad experience she had with Chocolate City, her former record label.
She added, “When I was signed to Chocolate City, I had my team there that was where I was pushing. Ever since I lost the label, my focus shifted and I felt I could only come to Nigeria if I have bookings.
“It wasn’t like I forgot about the country, after having a bad experience in Chocolate City, I just wanted to make sure that if I am doing anything in Nigeria, then it is done correctly. I didn’t just want to be there in everyone’s face.”
She also revealed the reason she called Ycee out for stealing her song, adding that they are still very good friends.
“Ycee and I are still friends; the ‘Fvck you challenge’ for me was more like a rap battle. Sometimes in rap battles, things below the belt are said and then at the end, you can still shake hands and still be friends.
“My perspective was that we can go below the belt in music and there will still be love and respect outside of that.
“Before the song came out, he told me he borrowed a line from my song. My ‘Fvck you challenge’ is not meant to be as serious as some people are making it seem.
“I never planned to take the issue to court or anything and that was why I decided to use the ‘Fvck you challenge’ to tease him, but it is not like in a bad way,” she stated.
The Punch
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.
Chuck Norris, the US martial artist and Hollywood action star most famous for his role in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” has died, his family said Friday. He was 86 years old.
“It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning,” the family said in a statement on Instagram.
“He lived his life with faith, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people he loved. Through his work, discipline, and kindness, he inspired millions around the world and left a lasting impact on so many lives,” the statement said.
Norris reportedly fell ill on Thursday on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
Norris turned 86 last week, marking the event with a video of him boxing on social media and saying, “I don’t age. I level up.”
Entertainment
South African Actress, Nomzamo Mbatha, Tells Success Story on Glo-Sponsored African Voices
Delectable South African actress, Nomzamo Mbatha, will this week on Globacom-sponsored Cable News Network International’s African Voices Changemakers, reveal her trajectory from the Rainbow Nation to the global stage of make-belief.
In the 30-minute magazine programme, show anchor, Larry Madowo, will engage Mbatha on her soaring career which earned her a mention in the prestigious TIME100 Next in 2025.
The thespian who has been featured in two Hollywood productions has also gained acclaim in the beauty industry as she has signed endorsement deals with Neutrogena and Cream of Nature, both global brands in skincare and haircare, respectively.
Madowo and Mbatha sat for the exclusive interview on set of the final season of the hit television series, Shaka iLembe at the historic Cradle of Humankind outside Johannesburg where she highlighted the cultural significance of Shaka iLembe, and why giving back to her society is at the center of her aspirations as well as the legacy she desires to build beyond the glitz and glamour of the big screen.
This edition of African Voices Changemakers will be broadcast on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with additional broadcasts at noon same day. On Sunday, further repeats hold at 4:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and on Monday at 3:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. The repeats continue on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m and Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m and Sunday, March15 at 3:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m as well as Monday, March 16 at 3:00 a.m.
