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US to launch first ever Afrobeats Billboard chart

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Afrobeats Music is set to explode into an international phenomenon after world famous US music magazine, Billboard, announced on Saturday that it is teaming up with Nigerian festival company, Afro Nation, to launch America’s first ever Afrobeats chart.

This will be a significant breakthrough for the music genre which many music connoisseurs believe was created by late Afrobeat icon, late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, but has now been taken to a “second base” by new generation artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Ckay, Davido, Seun Kuti, Fireboy, and a host of others.

It will also be a significant boost for the genre as Billboard publishes music charts showing the most popular albums and songs in various genres every month.

The chart, according to Obi Asika, founder of Afro Nation, will go live on March 29 and will rank the top 50 most popular Afrobeats songs in the Nigeria based on their monthly streams and downloads.

“As with much of the world, Afrobeats has grown tremendously as a genre in America. Several Afrobeats songs have had international success recently including Ckay’s Love Nwantiti, Fireboy DML’s Peru and Wizkid’s Essence.

“I am humbled to have made a contribution to growing the genre alongside many talented, passionate people,” Asika said.

“We are proud to showcase the top songs and artists with this new weekly ranking,” Billboard executive, Silvio Pietroluongo, said shortly after making the announcement.

Culture

Moroccans celebrate ‘special towncrier’ who works only during Ramadan

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Moroccans have continued to celebrate a “special towncrier” otherwise known as “Nafar”, who works only during the Ramadan period.

The Nafar, Naoufal Boukhriss, whose seasonal job lasts for one month and ends once Eid al-Fitr is declared, signalling the end of the holy month, is seen as a rare occupation as he “walks the paths and alleys in the early hours of the morning, starting at three am,” alerting faithful to the morning prayers and the Suhoor which is the meal to be taken before commencement of the day’s fasting.

According to Boukhriss who operates in the ancient Moroccan city of Rabat, the “Nafar plays a certain tune with a long trumpet-like instrument to wake people up for the suhoor meal before Muslims start their day of fasting during Ramadan.”

Nafar is the Moroccan way of calling someone who does this job, but the name of this profession differs from country to country. It shares the same name as the instrument in Moroccan Arabic,” he said.

“This craft, once a widespread Ramadan tradition in the past, has become rare today, as it has gradually disappeared with the emergence of technology and new urban areas.

“This (Nafar) is currently only found in the old city. As for the upscale neighborhoods, most of them do not accept the presence of the Nafar, because they say that they have a phone and an alarm clock that they use,” Boukhriss explained.

Local media reports that as a symbol of tradition, Boukhriss usually wears a special set of traditional clothes before he goes on his rounds in the old city.

“He dons a long shirt or ‘Jallaba’, a headpiece or ‘Tarbouch’, leather slippers ‘Belgha’ and white socks.

“While walking through the alleys, Boukhriss plays a special tune that notifies people of the time of suhoor, which is different from the ones they perform inside the mosque.

“Boukhriss considers this work as a reward from God. In return, residents thank him with food, sugar, or a share of money.”

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Tanzanian singer Zuchu in cloud nine as hit single ‘Sukari’ makes YouTube history in East Africa

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Tanzanian singer, Zuchu, is over the moon after her hit single “Sukari” made history as the first song in East Africa to garner over 100 million views on YouTube.

Zuchu who is Diamond Platnumz Wasafi Record signee, also etched her name in the annals of East African music history by becoming the first solo artist from the region to achieve that feat.

The singing sensation who also celebrated her milestone, took to her social media platforms to express her gratitude and acknowledge the team behind the masterpiece.

Reminiscing on the transformative power of “Sukari,” she said the song not only changed her life but also carved a significant mark in the East African music industry.

Writing in her local Swahili dialect, Zuchu said:

“Viewers Milioni 100,000,000 Za Sukari zinanifanya Kua msanii Wa Kwanza kutoka East Africa Kufika Mafanikio Haya Kwenye Wimbo wa peke yangu.”

She also didn’t miss the opportunity to thank her loyal fans, particularly singling out one named Milly, whom she credited for contributing to the success of the project.

“To my family thank you so much haya ni mafanikio yetu wote tuliowezesha ukubwa wa hii project, I appreciate you,” she expressed with heartfelt appreciation.

Diamond Platnumz, himself a Tanzanian music mogul and Zuchu’s mentor, also celebrated her while emphasizing the significance of achieving such a feat with a song that’s 100 per cent Swahili and without any feature.

“When you look with the eye, you’d think it’s a normal thing, but when you try to do it, you’ll know how heavy it is,” Diamond remarked.

Zuchu is among the top female artists in the eastern African region with 3.2 million YouTube subsribers with hit tracks like “Honey”, “Kwikwi”, “Utaniua”, among others, to her name.

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