Burna Boy's Magnificient Mansion in Lagos

 Grammy-winning musician Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, also known as Burna Boy, has provided a sneak peek of his Lekki, Lagos, mansion. Burnaboy gave Architectural Digest a tour of his Lagos residence, revealing that he recorded his Grammy-winning album 'Twice as Tall' there.

Architectural Digest, a monthly American publication founded in 1920 that focuses primarily on interior design and landscaping, has also featured the homes of Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Diddy.

Burna Boy's home is a two-story structure situated on 13,000 square feet of land in Lekki. Burna Boy's architect, Akose Enebeli, designed the two-story Lekki home where he could be himself.

"...but the story of this home and how it came to begin in 2017, when Enebeli was in the midst of constructing a 10-bedroom mansion for former Manchester United striker Jude Ighalo (@ighalojude) and received a call from an unknown number," AD wrote in an Instagram post.

In addition, there is ample garage space and tall windows. The 3,700-square-foot, two-part structure was designed by Enebeli and his colleagues to maximise natural light.

"One area contains a recording studio, a gym, and guest bedrooms. The second is a more personal space for Burna. AD reports that this is where he entertains his closest friends and where his primary bedroom suite and private terrace are located.

"The downstairs rooms form a continuous, doorless space, with one interior leading directly into the next. Notable is the main living room, which features a large window overlooking the meticulously maintained gardens. Overall, the compound evokes the tranquillity of the lagoons, creeks, and vegetation of the Port Harcourt region, where Burna was born 384 miles away in the Rivers State of Nigeria. Burna says, "I've got a lot of Rivers material and water sounds." "[It is] simply very water-inspired. It is tranquil. The natural world speaks to me."

How Burna Boy Started

Burna Boy was born in Lagos in 1991 as Damini Ogulu. 

A Classmate gave him a copy of the production software Fruity loops when he was just ten years old. 

This allowed him to begin making music at a very young age.

Armed with these resources, he started producing his own beats on an old computer.

 

Sokoto govt declares 24-hr curfew as protesters demand release of Deborah’s killers

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, on Saturday afternoon, declared a 24-hour curfew in Sokoto metropolis after a protest had rocked the city.

According to a post on the verified Facebook page of the Sokoto State governor, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor, Muhammad Bello, said the decision was “in pursuance of peace and order in Sokoto metropolis and the entire state.”

This newspaper earlier reported that there was pandemonium and palpable fear in Sokoto metropolis as protesters in their hundreds trooped into the streets to express their displeasure over the detention of two suspects arrested by the Police over the killing of Deborah Yakubu, a 200-level Home Economics student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over alleged blasphemy.

Major streets such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Kano Road, where banks are located and Emir Yahaya Road, are currently deserted with business places and shops closed.

The grouse of the protesters, according to a report by Leadership, was Sultan Abubakar’s condemnation of the dastard killing of the late Deborah Yakubu. Unperturbed by the presence of security personnel in some strategic areas within the state capital, the protesters in their large numbers stormed the Ahmadu Bello Way church line, where Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, ECWA and C&S churches are located.

Attempts by the protesters to set the St. Mary Catholic Church ablaze were also resisted by armed security personnel drafted to the area, who fired several canisters of tear gas to disperse the irate protesters.

The protesters, however, succeeded in burning down a car around St. Mary Catholic Church.

Atiku deletes posts on Deborah’s killing after Islamic fanatics threaten to withhold votes

 

Atiku Abubakar has deleted a post he made syndicated on his Facebook and Twitter pages about slain Deborah Samuel after coming under a barrage of threats from fanatics of northern origin who asked him to forget his 2023 presidential ambition.

Mr Atiku’s posts around 10:20 p.m. Thursday were deleted less than an hour later. Both had garnered thousands of reactions within minutes, according to a screenshot taken by Peoples Gazette. 

Most of the comments were from fundamentalists who warned the politician to stay away from condemning the murder of the Christian student.

“There can not be a justification for such gruesome murder. Deborah Yakubu was murdered, and all those behind her death must be brought to justice,” Mr Atiku said. “My condolences to her family and friends.”

A spokesman for Mr Abubkar did not return a request seeking comments about why he took down the post on Facebook. The former vice-president didn’t delete a similar message that he posted on Twitter until much later, indicating that he might have seen a difference between Facebook and Twitter users on the sensitive development. Ms Samuel was murdered at Shehu Shagari College of Education on Thursday morning for allegedly posting comments that blasphemed Prophet Mohammed. The violence has elicited widespread uproar and condemnation, with Catholic priest Matthew Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto calling on authorities to immediately bring the killers to book.

Mr Abubakar is from the northern Adamawa state but continues to receive support across the country, especially amongst southern Christians who see him as a moderate statesman.

2023: Contesting For Nigerian President Is Demotion For Me – Bishop Oyedepo

The presiding Bishop of the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will not be contesting for the presidency in the 2023 elections.

Oyedepo said vying to be Nigeria’s president is a demotion to him, adding that he’s called for a global impact.

He said this during a leadership summit transmitted worldwide.

According to him, although he believes in Nigeria, it’s too late for him to contest the highest political position in the nation.

Oyedepo said, “I believe in Nigeria and that’s why I am still here, and still praying for Nigeria. But I consider it a demotion if I am invited to become the president of Nigeria. I am called for a global impact. I saw this in 1984. Even the devil knows that you can’t be genuinely sold-out to serving God, and not stand out in life.”

A number of pastors have come out to obtain presidential nomination forms in a bid to become the country’s number one citizen – notable among them are Pastor Tunde Bakare, and current Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Lai Mohammed gives tourism credits to Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Tiwa Savage

 

They have shown the world that Nigeria is a hub of the creative industry – Lai Mohammed. 

The Federal Government acknowledged the contribution of Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, and Tiwa Savage, to cultural tourism, while declaring that the country is safe to host the first Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry scheduled for November 14 to 17 in Lagos. 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this when he featured on a phone-in programme of the Radio Nigeria monitored by newsmen in Abuja.

Newsmen report that Nigeria was given the hosting right for the maiden global event by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at a meeting held at the organisation’s headquarters in Madrid Spain on April 19.

“The Wiz Kid of this world, the Burna Boy, Davido and Tiwa Savage have really shown the world that Nigeria is a hub of the creative industry", he said. Mohammed said the insinuation in certain quarters that participants and tourists would not attend the conference because of stories of killings and kidnappings in the country are erroneous.

“The security challenges Nigeria is facing did not start today and I must say the Federal Government is rising very stoutly to it.

“We cannot say just because we have insecurity challenge, other sectors of the economy should not be developed.

“The entire world is aware of the challenges we are facing, yet we were singled out for the hosting of the very first global conference and that speaks volumes.

“That is why Nigerians should get out the negativity and look at the positive aspect of it,’’ he said. The minister said that insecurity is a global challenge and countries with worse situations than Nigeria were developing their tourism potential.

“During our meeting in Spain, there was no issue raised on insecurity in Nigeria as a barrier.

“That is why Nigerians should get out the negativity and look at the positive aspect of it,’’ he said. The minister said that insecurity is a global challenge and countries with worse situations than Nigeria were developing their tourism potential.

“Britain for instance, for more than 40 years, was in the grip of the IRA and that did not prevent the country from hosting global events.

“I recalled that even before the call for a peace process in June 1997, Britain bided for the world cup 1996 which, though they lost.

“During our meeting in Spain, there was no issue raised on insecurity in Nigeria as a barrier.

“On the contrary, the UNWTO was even expanding the scope of the conference and they did not make a mistake in choosing Nigeria to host the maiden conference,’’ he said.

https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/lai-mohammed-gives-tourism-credits-to-wizkid-burna-boy-davido-tiwa-savage/kqxzekr

Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow) on Trial

 

Johnny Depp’s United States defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard started on April 16. The trial is supposed to last six weeks and, just like a movie, is already full of twists, turns, suspense and drama.

In 2012, Depp, who acted as Jack Sparrow in the famous movie, Pirates of the Carribean and started dating actress Heard. In 2014 they were engaged, and in 2015 were married. But by 2016, Heard filed for divorce stating irreconcilable differences. Soon after, Heard filed an order of protection saying Depp emotionally, verbally and physically abused her. Heard wrote an op-ed for “The Washington Post” speaking out against violence against women and the price they pay for speaking up against men. Depp claims these allegations led to Depp being dropped by Disney from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and axed from Warner Brothers’ “Fantastic Beasts” franchise.

The Trial Goes On

After 13 days of testimony, attorneys for Johnny Depp rested their case in their defamation trial against Amber Heard on Tuesday.

Depp is suing Heard, his ex-wife, alleging that a 2018 op-ed she penned defamed him and caused him to lose work in Hollywood.

Jurors have heard from more than two dozen witnesses called by Depp's attorneys, including Depp himself. Many testified about explosive fights between the two.

Minutes after Depp's legal team rested its case, Heard's attorneys presented a motion to strike the entire case, arguing that Depp did not prove his defamation case. The motion to strike is a common tactic and asked the judge to make a summary judgment.

Judge Penny Azcarate partially denied the motion based on two arguments but said she would continue to consider one other argument if the evidence is presented relating to it when Heard's team presents its case.

Heard's legal team began presenting its case on Tuesday with testimony from psychologist Dawn Hughes.

Who is Johnny Depp?

John Christopher Depp II was born on June 9, 1963. He is an American actor, producer, and musician. He is the recipient of multiple accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards and two British Academy Film Awards.

Burna Boy Brings Nigeria to New York at Sold-Out Madison Square Garden Show

 

Over the last decade, Afrobeat has blossomed from a continental staple into a global sound, with artists such as Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and even Ed Sheeran incorporating the genre into their music and cosigning the culture. The genre reached a new peak with Burna Boy’s concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Thursday, which certified him as the first Nigerian artist to headline a concert at the legendary arena.

The show opened with a small welcoming speech by legendary rapper Busta Rhymes, who thanked the crowd — which was overwhelmingly West African — for their rich culture and warm embrace when he visited Nigeria. He spoke of Burna Boy’s connection to New York and why the show was more than just a standard concert, but rather an indicator of a new era in music. With elaborate lighting and an array of dancers, Burna Boy was joined by his band The Outsiders, along with longtime collaborator, Senegalese singer, Youssou N’Dour. They performed “Level Up”, from the 2020 album “Twice as Tall,” as the African drums resounded into every corner of the arena.The crowd got wilder as Burna went deeper into the set, shouting the lyrics and even throwing several bras at him onstage — which he did not discourage, asking for more after the first landed onstage.

Later in the show, Burna Boy, born Damini Ogulu, announced his forthcoming sixth studio album “Love, Damini,” due on his birthday, July 2, to screams from the audience. He then transitioned into a new song from the album, which samples Toni Braxton’s “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me.”

As his 2019 smash “On the Low” began, many fans left their seats and began dancing in the aisles. At various points throughout night, small mosh pits bubbled in general admission, showing a polite balance of carefree emotion and respect for others’ personal space.

While Nigeria is renowned for its influential musicians and cultural leaders, it has also faced decades of inequality and police brutality. That was highlighted as Burna performed “Collateral Damage,” which speaks of the economic and social struggles many Nigerians face. The song had a resurgence during the 2020 #EndSARS movement, which aimed to disband a controversial police unit targeting young Nigerians and immigrants. As he sang “My people suffer, well well/ Police dey slap here, well well/ Hungry dey wire dem, well well,” images of police abuse were projected behind him.

That statement made, the concert returned to a celebratory vibe, as Burna ripped his shirt off and smashed a guitar before sprinting around the stage. After a brief pause, the lights dimmed and he began his signature hit and final song of the night, “Ye,” from his breakthrough album “Outside.” As the song wound down, Burna thanked the audience for staying with him through the years and promised much more to come. https://variety.com/2022/music/reviews/burna-boy-madison-square-garden-concert-review-1235254974/

Burna Boy at Sold-Out Madison Square Garden Show