Iconic music star Aretha Franklin has been posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her contribution to American music and culture.
Aretha, who passed away in August 2018 at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, was honored with the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.
Aretha Franklin is now the first individual woman to receive a special citation prize, which was first awarded in 1930.
Credit: Bella Naija
As Dapo Abiodun prepares to take oath of office in a few weeks time as Ogun state governor, the billionaire businessman has released the names of the individuals who will be working in his economic transition committee.
Rapper Olamide, and actress Eniola Badmus were named as part of the Commerce and Industry sub-committee by the incoming governor.
Abiodun made the announcement on Instagram on Monday. See below (swipe left):
Credit: Bella Naija
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is partnering with Apple” to produce original content including documentaries and a book club to a wider audience in Apple TV Plus, the tech company’s upcoming video-streaming service.
In March 2019, Apple launched the new Apple TV Plus without giving away many details on how it would exactly work. Joining the event is Oprah with other A-list celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Momoa, Steven Spielberg, among others.
“They’re in a billion pockets, y’all. A billion pockets,” Oprah pointed out referring to the number of iPhones being used around the world where the new Apple TV Plus will come pre-installed. That’s aside from the other Apple devices as well as third-party devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV where it will also be available.
In line with that, Oprah announced she has two exclusive documentaries set to be launched on Apple TV Plus. One is entitled Toxic Labor which will tackle the effects of sexual harassment in the workplace and the other one yet untitled multi-part documentary will be about mental health.
Oprah is also planning to start a new version of her book club where Apple users around the world can watch her interviews with authors. She claims it will be “the biggest, most vibrant, the most stimulating book club on the planet.”
“I am proud to be a part of this platform where I can connect with people around the world to create positive change,” Oprah said.
According to TMZ, Wendy Williams has served her husband, Kelvin Hunter, divorce papers at the studio they both run together. They also report that divorce papers were served under tight security just in case the situation got out of control which didn’t actually happen.
Wendy Williams is living her marriage of 22 years over “irreconcilable differences” which according to the divorce documents is the reason behind her decision. The documents state a “breakdown” of the marriage over a period of at least 6 months. She wants the court to determine an “appropriate amount” of child support even though their son, Kevin Jr., is over 18.
Over the last couple of months, there have been speculations that the marriage between Wendy Williams and Kelvin Hunter was about to hit the rocks. However, Wendy Williams had come out at several occasions to deny the rumours…well it was only a matter of time.W
According to PageSix, the TV show star has been struggling to keep up with her marriage to Kelvin Hunter which has been embroiled with infidelity accusations. There have been reports of Kelvin Hunter’s relationship with his mistress, Sharina Hudson and there have been the rumours of the two welcoming a child together.
Kelvin Hunter and Sharina Hudson have been alleged to be in a relationship which has spanned over 10 years. This relationship has affected Wendy Williams to the point where it has gotten a better part of her health, says PageSix.
According to PageSix, Williams and Hunter are exploring what separation would look like, even though he remains her long-time manager. They are both partners in Wendy Williams Productions, the company that produces her popular daytime show.
Credit: Pulse
Reality tv star and beauty entrepreneur Kim Kardashian West, while speaking with Jonathan Van Meter for her Vogue Magazine May Cover, revealed that she’s studying to become a lawyer and is hoping to take the bar in 2022.
Kim had been instrumental in the release of Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old woman who’d been in an Alabama prison on a nonviolent drug charge since 1996. She was released after she visited Donald Trump at the Oval Office to discuss prison reforms.
“And last summer, she made the unlikely decision—one she knew would be met with an eye roll for the ages—to begin a four-year apprenticeship with a law firm in San Francisco, with the goal of taking the bar in 2022,” Meter wrote.
She was inspired to embark on the journey after “seeing a really good result” with Alice Marie Johnson. She said:
The White House called me to advise to help change the system of clemency… and I’m sitting in the Roosevelt Room with, like, a judge who had sentenced criminals and a lot of really powerful people and I just sat there, like, Oh, shit. I need to know more.
I would say what I had to say, about the human side and why this is so unfair. But I had attorneys with me who could back that up with all the facts of the case.
It’s never one person who gets things done; it’s always a collective of people, and I’ve always known my role, but I just felt like I wanted to be able to fight for people who have paid their dues to society. I just felt like the system could be so different, and I wanted to fight to fix it, and if I knew more, I could do more.
Photo Credit: Mikael Jansson, Vogue, May 2019
Credit: Bella Naija
Media Mogul, Mo Abudu was given the 2019 Médailles d’Honneur in Cannes at MIPTV last night.
She was one of the 4 recipients of the award and she says:
“Basking in the glory of receiving my award. I share this award with the EbonyLife Team, I thank all our partners, sponsors, my family, my dearest mother, my darling Temidee and Koko and of course my bestos that have helped and supported us on our journey. Much love always”
She added:
“Sharing the stage with 3 other incredible people honoured with this award tonight – US writer, showrunner and producer, Ilene Chaiken, chairperson of the Banijay Group in France, Stéphane Courbit, and UK managing director of Sky Vision, Jane Millichip.
Camille Bidermann, Executive Director of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, presented me with my award last night. Thank you so much Camille for your words of inspiration. Much love ❤❤❤ ___
A major part of my acceptance speech was dedicated to the creative business leaders in the room and the need for a partnership between our respective continents, so that our stories can be told with authenticity and produced to the best international standards. If these stories are told from both our perspectives there is a captive audience on both sides of the Atlantic waiting to be entertained as never before and with creative business leaders adding significantly to their bottom line!”
The Ebony Life boss makes history as the first African and Nigerian recipient of this prestigious award, given to senior executives who have made their mark in the global television industry, as well as contributed to the development of the international television community.
See the photos below:
ICCR is involved in India’s external cultural relations, through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples. It was founded on 9 April 1950.
Credit: LIB
African Wrestling Championships
(Photo: Guardian Nigeria)
This year’s edition just concluded in Hammamet, Tunisia, and not only did she keep up with her impressive energy by defending her title, but she was also named the most outstanding female wrestler in the competition.
Nigeria had 10 female wrestlers at the championships, but Adekuoroye outshined all of them by beating Senegal’s Jeannette Sambou and Algeria’s Chaimaa Aouissi to make it into the semifinals. She then went on to crush Tunisia’s Dorssaf Gharssi before taking out Cameroon’s Essone Tiako in just 29 seconds.
According to TheGuardian, her accomplishment helped Nigeria to finish tops at the championships with an impressive five gold, two silver and two bronze medals. She will also represent the country at the World Championships in Kazakhstan this September.
(Photo: Making of Champs via Twitter)
Credit: konbini.com
Credit: konbini.com
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is set to receive an honorary degree from American University in Washington, DC and deliver the commencement address for the university’s College of Arts and Sciences in May.
The writer will be honored as “one of the world’s most powerful voices in fiction”.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the College of Arts and Sciences commencement.
Credit: Bella Naija
The Coding for Employment program was launched in Covenant University under the theme Think equal, Build smart, Innovate for Change. Academics, women leaders in technology and tech start up founders all advocated for a level playing ground for women in tech.
The special all-female training kicked off its pilot phase in Covenant University and Gombe State University on the 11th of March. The crash course will include topics such as digital literacy, introduction to word processing and spreadsheets. The training program will also include a Life Skills component where notable role models in the technology and digital skills space will share their stories with the cohort and act as mentors for the students throughout the program.
Notable participants at the event included the Vice Chancellor of Covenant University – Professor Aderemi Atayero; Partner Technology Lead, Microsoft, Olatomiwa Williams, Expansion Strategy Manager at Andela, Jackie Ugokwe and Cofounder/COO, Piggyvest, Odunayo Eweniyi.
The program is being piloted in 5 countries – Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal and will run in shift sessions to allow flexibility for those who have other commitments.
Photo Credit: Mohini Ufeli/Andela
Credit: Bella Naija
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