Entertainment Page 4 of 16
Album releases, music videos, artist profiles, concert news, and trends in the entertainment industry.
Entertainment The Gambian-British rapper who helped invent Afroswing: J Hus
J Hus, born Mamadou Lamin Jallow in London in 1996 to Gambian parents and raised in Stratford, is credited with pioneering Afroswing, a blend of UK rap, Afrobeats and dancehall. His 2017 debut Common Sense was named the best UK album of the year by Complex, and "Who Told You" with Drake reached number two in 2023.
Entertainment Grime, a Mercury Prize and a Nigerian chieftaincy: Skepta
Skepta, born Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr in 1982 to Nigerian parents of Yoruba and Igbo backgrounds, co-founded Boy Better Know with his brother JME. His 2016 album Konnichiwa, with "That's Not Me" and "Shutdown", won the Mercury Prize. In April 2018, he was given the Nigerian chieftaincy title Amuludun of Odo-Aje.
Entertainment Friday Black and Chain-Gang All-Stars: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, the Ghanaian-American writer of dark satire
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, born in Queens to Ghanaian parents and raised in Spring Valley, New York, wrote the story collection Friday Black (2018) and the novel Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023), which was shortlisted for the National Book Award and named one of the New York Times' ten best books of 2023.
Entertainment Born Ian Roberts, renamed Kwame Kwei-Armah: the actor who became artistic director of the Young Vic
Kwame Kwei-Armah, born Ian Roberts in London in 1967 to parents from Grenada, changed his name after tracing his ancestry to Africa. Known for playing Finlay Newton in Casualty, he wrote Elmina's Kitchen, led Baltimore's Center Stage and became the first Black Briton to head a major British theatre when he took over the Young Vic in 2018.
Entertainment Born in Mampong, raised in Alabama, a debut that swept the prizes: Yaa Gyasi and Homegoing
Yaa Gyasi, born in Mampong, Ghana, in 1989 and raised largely in Huntsville, Alabama, wrote Homegoing (2016), which traces two half-sisters' descendants across 300 years in Ghana and America. It won major debut prizes. Her second novel, Transcendent Kingdom, followed in 2020.
Entertainment Born in Benin, found by Don Jazzy on Instagram, nominated for a Grammy: Ayra Starr and “Rush”
Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe in Benin in 2002 and raised in Cotonou and Lagos, was signed to Mavin Records after Don Jazzy contacted her. Her 2022 song "Rush" charted internationally and earned a nomination at the 66th Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.
Entertainment The first winner of the Grammy for Best African Music Performance: Tyla and “Water”
South African singer Tyla, born in Johannesburg's East Rand in 2002, broke through internationally with "Water" in 2023. It was the first song by a South African solo artist to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 in 55 years and won the first Grammy for Best African Music Performance.
Entertainment Introvert, Mercury winner, actor: Little Simz and the album that took over British music in 2022
Little Simz, born Simbiatu Ajikawo in London to Nigerian parents, won the Mercury Prize in 2022 for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. The rapper, who also acts in Top Boy, is known for her independent approach and her lyrics about identity, family and fame.
Entertainment A rap album built like a therapy session won the Mercury Prize: Dave and Psychodrama
British rapper Dave, born David Orobosa Omoregie in London to Nigerian parents, won the Mercury Prize in 2019 for his debut album Psychodrama, structured as a series of therapy sessions. His performance of "Black" at the 2020 Brit Awards made headlines.
Entertainment Africanfuturism, a Hugo and a Nebula: Nnedi Okorafor, the Nigerian-American writer behind Binti
Nnedi Okorafor, born in the United States to Nigerian parents, writes science fiction and fantasy rooted in African cultures. Her novella Binti won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. She coined the term Africanfuturism to describe her work.