ASA, NNEKA, ODEWINGIE VERIFY TWITTER ACCOUNTS

 

It looked like it would never happen, but Micro-blogging site Twitter has finally verified official accounts of some Nigerian celebrities.

And the first set of celebs include international singers Asa, Nneka and Premiership footballer Peter Odemwingie.

In June 2008, Twitter launched a verification program; allowing celebrities to get their accounts verified as a way of helping users verify which celebrity accounts were created by the celebrities themselves.

Prominent Nigerians and celebs such as Paul Okoye, Jim Iyke, and Wole Soyinka have all suffered from fake or parody accounts on Twitter which often mislead and confuse followers. With the new development this might stop soon.

Interestingly, the three new verified accounts are owned by people who have plied their trade in the international scene and have less than 50,000 followers as compared to the likes of Don Jazzy, Wizkid, and Banky W who have well over a hundred thousand followers but are more rooted in Nigeria.

The Nigerian with the highest Twitter followers so far is popular Pastor, Reverend Chris Oyakhilome totalling over a million.

NNEKA APPOINTED ARTS AMBASSADOR

Nigerian-German singer Nneka Egbuna has been appointed Ambassador for the Arts by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in a ceremony held at the AWDF House in Accra, Ghana.

‘I feel good; I feel it is another way to get my message out there. It compliments my music and the consciousness within my music. It is a way to share my music and empower people, empower women and empower the youth. My songs raise awareness about issues that the African Women’s Development Fund also addresses, so it’s a good partnership’ says the singer who’s getting set to take her musical offerings to American fans with live performances of her songs at Gramercy Theatre, New York on March 27, 2012.

Meanwhile, the singer, whose musical career is steadily on the rise, on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, released a new video for her single ‘Shining star’ (featuring Black Thought of The Roots), off her upcoming album, ‘Soul heavy’.

Although she’s yet to get the big break back home and abroad, Miss Egbuna has garnered worldwide accolades and attention, due to the conscious and politically charged themes of her music; and, remarkably, she has worked with a growing number of international acts including Nas, Talib Kweli, and Damien Marley.

CNN LISTS 2FACE,ASA AND NNEKA AMONG AFRICA'S TEN BIGGEST MUSIC STARS

The list was determined by fame ,fanbase , number of concerts the artistes have performed across the world.

Nigerian Music stars Asa ,Nneka and 2face were listed first ,third and fourth respectively . Others on the list include Somalia born rapper Knaan, Senegalese's Youssou N'Dour, Ghana's Rocky Dawuni.

See the full list below.

Ten Africa's Biggest Music stars

1.Asa (Nigeria)

2.K'Naan(Somalia)

3.Nneka(Nigeria)

4.2face Idibia(Nigeria)

5.Rocky Dawuni(Ghana)

6.Amadoue et Mariam(Mali)

7.Youssou N'Dour(Senegal)

8.Salif keita(Mali)

9.Ladysmith Black Mambazo(South Africa)

10.Cesaria Evora(Cape verde island)

NNEKA, NIGERIA SONGWRITER TO RELEASE "SOUL IS HEAVY" ON FEBRUARY 28, 2012

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Girlie Action Media & Marketing) Soul is Heavy is the new album from the award winning Nigerian songwriter, Nneka. An effortlessly balanced combination of hip hop beats, reggae grooves, brass riffs and African-pop are the canvas for the motif of love, pain, politics and God.
Respective albums have earned Nneka the moniker of 21st Century Soul for their sincerity and frankness and this, her third album, is no different. Featuring guest collaborations with The Roots' Black Thought ('God Knows Why') and Ms. Dynamite ('Sleep') Soul Is Heavyfurther affirms her credentials as a fast-rising star of black-consciousness music.

"Our girl Nneka is the greatest… this afro-soul rump-shaker is pure hotness"
- Rolling Stone

"One of the best soul singers to emerge in the past few years"
- The Times of London

"Nas and Marley (Distant Relatives) offer nothing but praise for Nneka"
- in an interview for Prefix Magazine

Nneka's natural energy channels hope and optimism throughout her writing ('Shining Star'), but her signature steeliness and stark life observations are maintained ('No Doubt'). This isn't an album that has to be pretentious to stand out. It is real, honest, true to itself and bursting with feeling.

Soul is Heavy is both affirmative and compelling in addressing the tough realities and uncomfortable truths of modern politics - both personal ('Stay') and international ('Soul is Heavy') - and adding credence to the Lauryn Hill / Erykah Badu references so often cited in comparison of her.

A majority of the album has once again been produced by close friend and co-writer DJ Farhot, and mixed by Tom Elmhirst and Philippe Weiss whose recent credits include Amy Winehouse, Adele, Cee Lo Green and Wyclef Jean.

Since the release of her last album, Concrete Jungle, Nneka has had an incredibly active tour schedule, performing over 150 shows for over 500,000 people. Appearances at SXSW and on the David Letterman show, Glastonbury and Newport Folk Festival were recent highlights, in addition to supporting Lenny Kravitz, Nas & Damian Marley ("Distant Relatives"), The Roots, Gnarls Barkley.

Chinua Achebe Is The Most Powerful Celebrity In Africa

American publishing and media company Forbes has named Nigerian novelist, poet, professor, and critic, Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe better known as Chinua Achebe as the most influential celebrity in Africa.
Achebe ranks number one out of a list of 40 most influential celebrities which also includes actors, cerebral authors, musicians, movie producers, supermodels, TV personalities and athletes selected from all across the continent of Africa. The second position is occupied by Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour, while the third position by Ivorian footballer and Chelsea FC centre forward Didier Drogba.

The 40-man list selection involved picking out individuals with the highest number of votes from a vast nominations entry of 7,500 people. And then their media visibility (which includes exposure in print, television, radio and online), references on Google, TV/radio mentions and other mentions across continent.

A total of 11 Nigerians including Achebe are featured on the list. They include Noble laureate Wole Soyinka (6), Afrobeat maestro Femi Kuti (10), Nollywood star actress Genevieve Nnaji (19), Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie (32), hit producer Don Jazzy (36) and musicians 2face Idibia (34), Psquare (35), D’banj (37), Nneka (38) and Asa (39).

Check out the full list below…

1. Chinua Achebe, 80, Novelist (Nigeria)
2. Youssou N’dour, 51, Musician (Senegal)
3. Didier Drogba, 33, Footballer (Cote D’Voire)
4. Angelique Kidjoe, 51, Musician (Benin Republic)
5. Akon, 38, Musician (Senegal)
6. Wole Soyinka, 77, Playwright (Nigeria)
7. Salif Keita, 62, Musician (Mali)
8. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, 46, (South African)
9. Oumou Sang, 43, Musician (Mali)
10. Femi Kuti, 49, Musician (Nigerian)
11. Toumani Diabaté, Musician (Mali)
12. Oliver Mtukudzi, 59, Musician (Zimbabwe)
13. Haile Gebrselassie, 38, Athlete (Ethiopia)
14. Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 51, Musician (Algeria)
15. Samuel Eto’o, 30, Soccer Player (Cameroun)
16. Alek Wek, 34, Supermodel (Sudan)
17. Liya Kebede, 33, Supermodel (Ethopia)
18. Dobet Gnahoré, 29, Musician (Ivory Coast)
19. Genevieve Nnaji, 32, Actress (Nigeria)
20. Koffi Olomidé, 55, Musician (Congo)
21. Neill Blomkamp, 32, Movie Director (South Africa)
22. Souad Massi, 39, Musician (Algeria)
23. Baaba Maal, 58, Musician (Senegalese)
24. Hugh Masekela, 72, Musician (South Africa)
25. K’Naan, 33, Rapper (Somalia)
26. Amadou and Mariam, Musicians (Mali)
27. Awilo Longomba, Musician (Congo)
28. Eric Wainaina, 38, Musician (Kenya)
29. Binyavanga Wainaina, 40, Author (Kenya)
30. Ngugi Wa Thiongo, 73, Author (Kenya)
31. Freshlyground, Musicians (South Africa)
32. Chimamanda Adichie, 34, Writer (Nigeria)
33. Rokia Traoré, 37, Musician (Mali)
34. Tuface Idibia, 36, Musician (Nigeria)
35. P-Square, 29, Musicians (Nigeria)
36. Don Jazzy, 30, Music Producer (Nigeria)
37. D’Banj, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
38. Nneka, 31, Musician (Nigeria)
39. Asa, 29, Musician (Nigeria)
40. Patricia Amira, 33, TV Personality (Kenya)