Disney has announced that the Lion Queen herself, Beyoncé, has executive produced an album inspired by the film, The Lion King: The Gift — which she enlisted African artists and producers for.
(Photo: Disney Studios)
Along with the exciting announcement, Beyoncé also dropped a new track off the project, “Spirit”, which serves as a taste of what to expect. The powerful, anthemic song will appear in the film, during a pivotal scene with Beyoncé’s character, Nala.
Speaking in a statement about what this album means to her, Beyoncé said:
“This is sonic cinema, a new experience of storytelling. I wanted to do more than find a collection of songs that were inspired by the film.
It is a mixture of genres and collaboration that isn’t one sound. It is influenced by everything from r&b, pop, hip-hop and afrobeat.”
(Photo: Disney Studios)
In the same statement, she reveals that all the music on the project has been worked on by the most interesting and talented artists, but also produced by the best African producers, in order to maintain authenticity in the storytelling.
Nigerian senators have demanded that convicted rapists be punished with the death penalty to address the worrying cases of rape gaining steam in the country.
During plenary on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, Senator Rose Oko (Cross River North – PDP) moved the motion for lawmakers to review existing laws that’ll discourage rape crimes sweeping the nation.
She said the worrying increase in the rape of women and minors must not be allowed to continue.
Other senators who contributed to the motion pushed for the death penalty to be introduced as a deterrent to end the scourge of rape crimes in the country.
Senator Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East – PDP) said the implementation of the death penalty would ensure that justice is done for the victims.
“We should make it a death penalty. By the time you kill two people, people would have learnt and they will stop it,” he said.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central – APC), also backed the proposal to introduce the death penalty, urging the Senate to take the lead in putting an end to the scourge of rape crimes.
“Children are the most vulnerable group. Whoever is involved in acts like this, should face death. I think rape of a minor deserves a death sentence. This is what we need to do to stop this madness,” she said.
Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West – PDP) and Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North – APC) also said a stiffer punishment is needed to arrest the situation.
“This issue is not only satanic, it is also wicked. This is one of the satanic manifestations in the country.
“If we don’t propose stiffer punishment, people will continue to get away with it,” Melaye said.
Abdullahi said a sex offenders’ register should also be created to further deter people from committing rape.
“It is time for us to look at our laws and put sex or rape offenders on a register anywhere in the country,” he said.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central – APC), said attention must also be paid to sentencing guidelines. He also called for the review of clemency privileges.
He said, “There should be a minimum sentencing timeline, it will help. We need to look at the status regulating the prerogative of mercy.
“We have governors and state chief judges setting free prisoners. I believe we should focus on these areas. We should have the sex offenders register.”
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North – APC), said rape should not be tolerated and urged lawmakers to review and make laws that discourage others from committing such a crime.
The upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly called on the Nigeria Police Force to diligently deal with sexual abuse cases.
The senators resolved that the relevant Senate committees, when constituted, will push for the implementation of extant laws on rape of women and defilement of minors.
Mobile internet services were restored across Sudan on Tuesday following a court order, weeks after the ruling generals imposed a blockade in the wake of a brutal crackdown on protesters.
Demonstrators were violently dispersed on June 3 by men in military fatigues, who stormed a weeks-long protest camp outside army headquarters in Khartoum where Sudanese had camped to demand that the generals step down.
Armed men, shooting and beating protesters in a pre-dawn raid, killed dozens of demonstrators and wounded hundreds.
Days later internet on mobile phones and fixed land connections was cut across Sudan, with users saying it was done to prevent further mobilisation of protesters.
Khartoum-based lawyer Abdelazim al-Hassan filed a case against the blockade, urging a court in the capital to order telecom company Zain to restore the internet services on his own mobile phone.
Days later internet on fixed land connections was restored, but the mobile 3G and 4G services remained cut.
“I returned to court and said that numerous clients of Zain and other telecom companies were impacted due to the cut,” Hasan told a news conference on Tuesday.
“Today, the court issued an order to Zain and to MTN and Sudani to restore their mobile internet services,” referring to three telecom companies.
Later on Tuesday the internet services on MTN and Sudani networks were restored, but not on Zain, users said.
Several subscribers of MTN and Sudani contacted by AFP confirmed they were able to make voice and video calls through social media networks like the WhatsApp messaging platform.
Protesters and rights group say the internet blockade was an attempt to quell protests against the generals, who had seized power after the army ousted longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April following nationwide protests against his rule.
For the generals the internet and social media had become a threat as protesters used online social media apps to mobilise tens of thousands of demonstrators.
The generals and protesters last week reached a deal to form a joint civilian-military ruling body, which would install a new government and parliament for a transitional period of little over three years.
The agreement between the two sides is expected to be formally signed in the next few days.
The 24-year-old scored the goal after receiving a long pass in the 75th minute. She had dribbled past a defender and the goalkeeper, slipping the ball into the net from a really tight angle. She made the shortlist alongside nine other nominees.
Given that Nigeria couldn’t make it all the way to the final, winning this award will certainly be a huge consolation for Oshoala, the team and the country at large. So, while you watch her goal below, you can vote for her here.
Nigerian writer, Lesley Nneka wins the Caine prize for African writing for her short story, Skinned. Initially, this story was published in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern (Issue 53).
Before the win, Arimah’s story had appeared on the shortlist for the third time on the Caine prize, and there is definitely no wonder why her amazing story won the prize.
According to a statement made by Caine Prize representatives;
“‘SKINNED’ ENVISIONS A SOCIETY IN WHICH YOUNG GIRLS ARE CEREMONIALLY ‘UNCOVERED’ AND MUST MARRY IN ORDER TO REGAIN THE RIGHT TO BE CLOTHED. IT TELLS THE STORY OF EJEM, A YOUNG WOMAN UNCOVERED AT THE AGE OF FIFTEEN YET ‘UNCLAIMED’ IN ADULTHOOD, AND HER ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE A RIGIDLY STRATIFIED SOCIETY FOLLOWING THE BREAKDOWN OF A PROTECTIVE FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MARRIED CHIDINMA. WITH A WIT, PRESCIENCE, AND A WICKED IMAGINATION, ‘SKINNED’ IS A BOLD AND UNSETTLING TALE OF BODILY AUTONOMY AND WOMANHOOD, AND THE FAULT LINES ALONG WHICH SOLIDARITIES ARE FORMED AND BROKEN.”
Serena Williams will be paying $10,000 in fines, after damaging a Wimbledon tennis court during a pre-tourney practice session.
It was alleged that the American tennis star damaged the practice court at Wimbledon, after throwing her racket before the start of the tournament. The All England Club, the organization which hosts Wimbledon is said to take its grass courts seriously, however Serena won’t have to worry about the fine as she has already made $367,000 for making the quarterfinals.
The mother of one has won her first four matches so far at Wimbledon, losing only one set on her way to the quarterfinals. She also won her first mixed doubles match with Andy Murray in straight sets.
Naspers, Africa’s most valuable company has appointed a new CEO making history in the process.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, 48, takes on the role and becomes the company’s first female and first black chief executive.
Her appointment follows a long streak of white, male CEOs leading the 104-year old company.
As CEO for the South Africa unit, Mahanyele-Dabengwa will lead its daily business activities and also manage the company’s long-held desire to make successful tech investment bets in Africa.
Mahanyele-Dabengwa will now lead Naspers’ drive for major African tech startup wins with a $314 million fund announced last October. She will also oversee Naspers Labs, a social impact and skills acquisition initiative for South Africa’s unemployed youth. Mahanyele-Dabengwa will report to Bob van Dijk, Group CEO of Naspers.
She’s been CEO of Shanduka Group (Pty) Ltd., a black-owned investment holding company started by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. She’s also on the board of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. In addition, she’s held board positions at companies including mobile operator Vodacom Group Ltd., miner Gold Fields Ltd. and airline company Comair Ltd.
Her education includes an economics degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey and an MBA from De Montfort University in the U.K.
Putman Media, publisher of Chemical Processing, Control, Control Design, Food Processing, Pharma Manufacturing, Plant Services and Smart Industry magazines has announced the 2019 Class of Influential Women in Manufacturing. (See below for full list of honorees.)
The 27 women who join the ranks of IWIM this year are recognized for their change leadership in manufacturing—their risk-embracing work that serves to move the needle on asset management and reliability, digital transformation, workforce development, and other elements critical to ensuring the manufacturing industry’s readiness to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Founder of STEMHub Foundation, who is also Senior Additives Manufacturing Engineer at Cummins Inc, Dr. Adeola Olubamiji is one of the Honorees on the List.
She wrote on her facebook page:
Happy Independence Day America – The American Dream
Part A:
It is with pleasure that I announce to you my beloved that I have been named one of the 27 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING in the USA for 2019: https://www.influentialwomeninmanufacturing.com/iwim-honorees-announcement-2019/
The 2019 Influential Women in Manufacturing honorees will be profiled in a dedicated e-book to be released by Putman Media in September and recognized in person at the 2019 IWIM awards luncheon, taking place Friday, Oct. 4 (Manufacturing Day) at MxD in Chicago.
Part B:
8 months ago, I moved to the USA in search of the “American Dream.” The last eight months has been the most challenging, the most promising and also the most rewarding period of my career. Although the American Dream hasn’t been achieved in full circle, I am thankful for the opportunity to yet again TRAIL-BLAZE in corporate America 🙏🏿.
My knowledge and experience is now making contributions to the advancement of digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 at #Cummins and this has received the deserved credits: https://www.cummins.com/news/2019/03/07/cummins-takes-next-step-3d-printing-and-future-manufacturing
America, thank you for welcoming me, my blackness, my youthfulness and my multiple foreign degrees with open hands. I am indeed grateful for the career advancements, the accolades and the chance to thrive without boundaries.
I had a DREAM, I DESIGNED a plan, I put in the WORK, GOD provided a FERTILE ground, I took the calculated RISK and I hope you can see the RESULTS.
In this second quarter of 2019, I hope you will take at least one major risk and give it all you’ve got.
The 2019 Influential Women in Manufacturing honorees will be profiled in a dedicated e-book to be released by Putman Media in September and recognized in person at the 2019 IWIM awards luncheon, taking place Friday, Oct. 4 (Manufacturing Day) at MxD in Chicago.
See full List Of The 2019 Class of Influential Women in Manufacturing below:
The woman, who says she’s a former member and staff at the church, said Fatoyinbo, who she regarded as a mentor, spiritual leader, and father figure, allegedly raped her when he invited him to his house to discuss church issues.
She said that wasn’t the first time she was going to the house, adding that things moved on really fast and Fatoyinbo in no time was all over her.
She says she hopes that her story will build on the impact of Busola Dakolo’s and Ese Walter‘s stories.
In her story, she said Fatoyinbo addressed the Busola Dakolo incident, saying she had seduced him and “something had happened”.
Her Story
The woman said she joined the church in 2009, and in 2013, when the Ese Walter story broke, she immediately felt the weight of its implications, but dismissed it as some smear campaign. She hadn’t been working closely with the pastor at the time and the church was a place of sanctuary for her.
She joined the music group and was there till 2015, when Fatoyinbo’s wife Modele took an interest in her, and she began working with her on church adminstration duties and even taking care of the Fatoyinbos’ son.
The woman said she had found out about how church members viewed their proximity to the pastor as something special and she did feel special.
She says women and girls who were granted access to the Fatoyinbos’ children were referred to as ‘choice daughters,’ as the pastor was known to guard access to their kids.
She said she took care of the kids from 2015 to 2016, and later on, she moved to another country, living in one of the cities where COZA had a branch.
While she was hired by Modele, her job also required that she worked with Fatoyinbo who visited regularly to minister to the congregation and spend time with his children who were schooling in the city.
The alleged rape took place when Fatoyinbo visited and invited her to the house to discuss church issues.
As he forced himself on her, she says, removing her shirt and unbuttoning her trousers, telling her to “relax”.
She adds that she was too shocked to react, trying to reconcile the person in front if her, with the person who she saw as a spiritual leader, father figure, and mentor.
After the rape, she said he switched back to the pastor she knew, going on to apologise for what happened, saying he didn’t mean to hurt her.
She said she stayed silent and couldn’t talk to church members about it, remembering how the church took the Ese Walters case.
She was happy Fatoyinbo lived in Nigeria, pastoring the church in Abuja, so the distance helped her reevaluate her life. She wanted to leave the church but it would be difficult, seeing the church was responsible for her livelihood. She began saving to come back to Nigeria and continue her life.
One day, a friend called her out of the blues saying Fatoyinbo was asking for her number. She couldn’t tell the friend why she refused to share her contact with the pastor, so she had to give it to the friend to share with him.
Fatoyinbo called her, she said, saying ‘I know you are angry with me.’ She said his apology rang of dishonesty and after the call ended, her other friends called to tell her about Busola’s husband, Timi Dakolo‘s May 2018 Instagram postaccusing an Abuja pastor of sexual assault.
She said she figured Fatoyinbo’s call was an attempt at damage control and if she had any doubts about him being a sexual abuser, that call cleared them.
The rape occurred in the last quarter of 2017, she said, but she continued working in the church till July the next year. She said she told Fatoyinbo of her plan to leave and he insisted that they both see each other before she does so.
She adds that by the time she returned to Nigeria, Timi Dakolo had made his second post, accusing Fatoyinbo of sexual assault, although not explicitly.
One month later, Busola shared her story, accusing Fatoyinbo of raping her twice when she was 16.
The woman said when she returned to Nigeria, Fatoyinbo insisted on them meeting, and he shared that Busola had seduced him and “something had happened.” He said he didn’t know she was a teenager, adding that he had no idea why she was trying to “sabotage” his ministry.
The woman said she doesn’t think Modele is unaware of her husband’s alleged assault, adding that she either intentionally or inadvertently brought young women closer to her, setting them up for exploitation by her husband.
She added that some pastors are aware of Fatoyinbo’s sexual violence but either kept quiet, or enabled it. She called them “The COZA 12,” saying they are pastors within and outside the church.
Young people have the power to change the world – those are the words of The Diana Award, set up in memory of Princess Diana, who during her life doggedly pursued positive change in the world.
In 2019, 9 young Nigerians are among the few selected from across the world, recognised for making an impact on Nigerian lives and on Nigeria. They include:
Meukara Monday Lekeh Development Foundation. 24 Muekara has been volunteering with an environmental group called Eco-Club, aimed at educating primary and secondary school students to learn about their environment and how to take action. Through campaigning, he has raised awareness of issues from dropping litter in the playground to the illegal cutting down of trees and engaged his community to take responsibility for their planet. Muekara also teaches subjects including Maths and English, educating students on the Sustainable Development Goals. His aim is to raise global leaders across the 24 schools his Eco-club has reached, empowering young people to make a change.
Precious Adebola Precious Fount Foundation. 25. Precious has embarked on a number of selfless services to help disadvantaged students in Nigeria. She started a scholarship for students in the Nigerian village of Ufodo and has also initiated a project that prepares students for their return to school by providing them with Back to School packages. In addition, she supervises mentoring sessions and an online academic support group. Precious has overcome challenges including sourcing the funding for her projects, requiring her to leverage on her social skills and inspire others towards her mission to strengthen Nigeria’s educational system.
Eedee-Bari Bawoh Voice To The Street. Lagos. 22. After seeing so many children falling into the traps of the street, Eedee-Bari was inspired to take action. She made it her mission to empower children through education, giving them the best life chances possible. Since founding ‘Voice to the Street’, Eedee-Bari has supported over 1,350 street-children through counselling events, scholarship funds and the distribution of educational materials. Thanks to her hard work, and the coordination of over 50 volunteers, Eedee-Bari is building new futures for children throughout Lagos. Eedee-Bari used to find it hard to speak out but now she has gained enough confidence to see a wrong and opt to make a difference. And that difference is only going to keep on growing.
Wadi Ben-Hirki Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation. 22. Wadi founded her non-profit organisation at the age of 18, focused on improving the lives of women and children, and now uses her voice to amplify the issues surrounding education, peace and gender inequality. Wadi’s organisation runs four main projects and campaigns to empower marginalised and disadvantaged people. ‘Street to School’ focuses on free and inclusive education. ‘Girls Not Wives’ advocates against child marriage, ‘Love in the Midst of War’ rehabilitates survivors of insurgency. ‘SHEROES’ empowers young girls and women to be the best version of themselves, helping them to dream beyond their present and become great leaders. Wadi’s work is changing the lives of young people across Nigeria.
Chidinma Okoli Financially Literate Africa. Lagos. 23. After witnessing first-hand the level of poverty prevalent in her community, Chidinma founded Financially Literate Africa – a financial education organisation for young Africans to bring themselves and their families out of poverty. In this capacity she provides young people with financial advice to become economically empowered and financially literate. Through her campaign “Be Financially Intelligent” over a thousand young people took part in activities that would benefit their future financial self. She has mentored over 50 young girls on financial literacy through the G7 initiative and has become passionate about bringing financial stability to young people in poverty.
Marvellous Olusegun The Invasion Foundation. 24. Marvellous founded “The Invasion Foundation” which carries out free breast and prostate cancer screening in Nigeria – a country which has one of the worst cancer:death ratios in the world. Cancer statistics in Nigeria were so alarming that Marvellous became determined to lead the fight against cancer and so far his efforts have directly affected 8,000 lives and saved more than 50 Nigerians from needless deaths. Through the foundation, Marvellous has gathered a volunteer base of 350 college students, making it the first youth led cancer initiative in the country. Marvellous is a trail blazer, he identified the gap in the healthcare system and plunged into it.
Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph Calabar Youth Council For Women’s Rights. Calabar. 20. Kennedy’s work addresses the scourge of female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence and the stigma attached to menstruation in Nigeria. He established the Calabar Youth Council for Women’s Rights and, through research and advocacy, worked with partners to establish and run safe houses for victims of FGM. His work distributes menstrual products to Nigerian girls unable to afford them – focusing on children at risk of dropping out of school, and prisoners. Additionally, his work seeks to empower women: the safe houses are also schools for the residents, and he has worked with The Girl Generation in Nigeria to help bring STEM education to schoolgirls.
Victoria Ibiwoye One African Child Foundation. Lagos. 25. Amidst the responsibilities of studying for her law degree, Victoria founded the One African Child Foundation to address the inequality in education. Having faced difficulties herself, Victoria understood the power of education in transforming lives, breaking the cycle of poverty and building peaceful and resilient societies. Through activity-based workshops on global citizenship education, life skills and peace building in violent communities, the One African Child Foundation has worked with and trained over 4,000 children from disconnected communities and provided mini grants to 25 young change makers across Africa. Victoria is youth representative of the SDG Education 2030 Steering Committee and is a strong voice for education both in Nigeria and globally.
Mariam Pearls Africa Foundation. Lagos. 22. Described as a ‘strong and fearless’ leader in the volunteering field, Mariam inspires and educates young people to also become volunteers. At the age of just 22, Mariam has already volunteered for over 100 organisations. After attending a developer meet-up where she was the only female present, Mariam was inspired to encourage more girls to take up coding. Currently volunteering with Pearls Africa Foundation (popularly known as Girls Coding, a CNN Heroes Top Ten Nominee 2018) Mariam motivates young women with her communication, negotiation and programming skills, leading them through their own personal and professional development.
Several other Africans also received the award, making impact in their home countries of Ghana, Benin, Tanzania and Kenya. They include:
Julio Muhorro of Ideia Lab from Mozambique. 23.
Saul Mwame of the United Nations from Tanzania. 19.
Efua Asibon of the The Swarthmore Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility from Accra, Ghana. 25.
Ida Na-Tei of Techworld Hub from Ghana. 22.
Catherine Nakayemba of Gejja Women Foundation from Uganda. 22.
Nora of Bedayaa Organization for LGBTIQ+ from Cairo, Egypt. 25.
Margaret Oslo Odhiambo of Streetwise Transformers from Nairobi, Kenya. 22.
Meganne Lorraine Ceday Boho of Sephis from Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. 24.
Esi of Heritage and Culture for Development from Ghana. 17.
Castello Semevo Zodo of Youth and Green Jobs for a Green Economy from Benin. 23.
Freda of Inspiring Young Achievers Network from Ghana. 25.
Tanatsei Gambura of The 25 May Movement from Zimbabwe. 20.
Zanji Sinkala of She Entrepreneur And Women Taboos Radip from Zambia. 23.
Phyllis Wanja Gitimu of Afyakili Organization, Nairobi, Kenya. 24.
Joseph Ssengooba of JBCaring Hearts from Uganda. 24.
Susan of The Mesh from Harare, Zimbabwe. 22.
Agnes Kabonesa of World Vision Uganda from Uganda. 25.
Erick Venant of Roll Back Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative from Tanzania. 25.
Brightstar Kasyoka of Brightstar Rose Foundation from Kenya. 20.
Ziyaan Virji of The Age Khan Academy in Mombasa, Kenya. 17.
Divine Kporha of Mental Health and Wellbeing Foundation from Ghana. 24.
Wantoe Teah Wantoe of National Children and Youth Advisory Board from Monrovia, Liberia. 24.
Christelle Kwizera of Water Access Rwanda in Rwanda. 24.
Elizabeth Wathuti of Green Generation Initiative from Kenya. 23.
Trevor Lichuma of Save the Future Leader Organization from Nairobi, Kenya. 24.
Cape Town Diabetes Initiative’s Primary Health Care Directorate, University of Cape Town. Ages 21 – 25.
Louise of Sophie A Kanza Foundation from Johannesburg, South Africa. 25.
Infinite Research Institute. Ghana. Ages 22-25.
Nicholas Luweesi of Refugees for Prosperity, Kampala, Uganda. 23.
