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South African new kid on the block, Tyla is crossing boundaries with her hit song ‘Water’.  The chart-topping song has achieved remarkable success globally, earning Platinum and Gold certifications in multiple countries.  The song has amassed global success in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil, the UK, France, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Greece, and Portugal. ‘Water’ has achieved Platinum status in the USA, reaching an impressive 1 million units sold. Similarly, in Canada, the song has earned Platinum recognition with 80,000 units sold. In Australia, the song boasts of 70,000 units sales, while New Zealand follows closely with 30,000 units. These achievements underscore the song's global appeal and widespread success. In South Africa, home country of Tyla, the song has exceeded expectations by attaining a remarkable 3x Platinum status with 40,000 units sold. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the song has achieved 2x...

Disney+ has collaborated with pan–African studio Kugali Media for a innovative animated series set in futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. The six-episode limited series introduces Tola and Kole navigating a divided society under gang leader Bode’s rule. The series which is expected to premiere globally on February 28 explores themes of class and defiance. The series comes in conjunction with the release of a mobile game, “Disney: Iwájú Rising Chef,” which will be available on Android and iOS, online news site, xtribeafrica.com reported. Iwájú’s casted Nigerian vocal talents Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and Siji Soetan as her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert. The duo explore the dangerous tapestry of a neo-futuristic Lagos filled with greed and corruption alongside voice actors Femi Branch, Dayo Okeniyi, and Weruche Opia. The soundtrack, out March 1st, will feature African-influenced music by renowned Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga. “I rarely bring m...

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) date has been announced. The continent’s biggest football tournament is set to take place in Morocco next year from July to August. This adjustment aims to prevent any overlap with the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup slated for June 2025. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announces the exact dates, an agreement between CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation for a summer AFCON in 2025. This wouldn't be the first time AFCON faced a postponement. The two previous editions were rescheduled, with AFCON 2021 taking place in January-February 2022 in Cameroon, and the recent AFCON 2023 commencing on January 13 in Côte d'Ivoire, concluding with the host nation emerging victorious a week ago. Interestingly, the qualification process for AFCON 2025 is yet to commence, with a preliminary round scheduled from March 18 to 26, as outlined in the CAF calendar. #689news #AFCON2025 #africanfootball #Morocco

Disney+ has collaborated with pan–African studio Kugali Media for a innovative animated series set in futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. The six-episode limited series introduces Tola and Kole navigating a divided society under gang leader Bode’s rule. The series which is expected to premiere globally on February 28 explores themes of class and defiance. The series comes in conjunction with the release of a mobile game, “Disney: Iwájú Rising Chef,” which will be available on Android and iOS, online news site, xtribeafrica.com reported. Iwájú’s casted Nigerian vocal talents Simisola Gbadamosi as Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and Siji Soetan as her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert. The duo explore the dangerous tapestry of a neo-futuristic Lagos filled with greed and corruption alongside voice actors Femi Branch, Dayo Okeniyi, and Weruche Opia. The soundtrack, out March 1st, will feature African-influenced music by renowned Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga. “I rarely bring m...

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) date has been announced. The continent’s biggest football tournament is set to take place in Morocco next year from July to August. This adjustment aims to prevent any overlap with the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup slated for June 2025. CAF President Patrice Motsepe announces the exact dates, an agreement between CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation for a summer AFCON in 2025. This wouldn't be the first time AFCON faced a postponement. The two previous editions were rescheduled, with AFCON 2021 taking place in January-February 2022 in Cameroon, and the recent AFCON 2023 commencing on January 13 in Côte d'Ivoire, concluding with the host nation emerging victorious a week ago. Interestingly, the qualification process for AFCON 2025 is yet to commence, with a preliminary round scheduled from March 18 to 26, as outlined in the CAF calendar. #689news #AFCON2025 #africanfootball #Morocco

South African new kid on the block, Tyla is crossing boundaries with her hit song ‘Water’.  The chart-topping song has achieved remarkable success globally, earning Platinum and Gold certifications in multiple countries.  The song has amassed global success in countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil, the UK, France, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Greece, and Portugal. ‘Water’ has achieved Platinum status in the USA, reaching an impressive 1 million units sold. Similarly, in Canada, the song has earned Platinum recognition with 80,000 units sold. In Australia, the song boasts of 70,000 units sales, while New Zealand follows closely with 30,000 units. These achievements underscore the song's global appeal and widespread success. In South Africa, home country of Tyla, the song has exceeded expectations by attaining a remarkable 3x Platinum status with 40,000 units sold. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the song has achieved 2x...

Introduction: Ethiopia Embraces Blockchain and AI In a surprising pivot towards technology, Ethiopia is investing a colossal $250 million into bitcoin mining infrastructure and AI technology training. This move, facilitated by a partnership with Hong Kong-based Data Center Service, is part of a broader initiative by the Ethiopian government to modernize its data analysis and AI capabilities. The Deal with Data Center Service Ethiopian Investment Holdings, a state-owned firm, is the financial backbone of this ambitious project. It aims to position Ethiopia at the forefront of the AI and blockchain revolution. A Focus on AI and Blockchain While the public statement from Ethiopian Investment Holdings does not explicitly mention cryptocurrency mining, it emphasizes the development of advanced infrastructure for data analytics and AI operations within Ethiopia. Confirmation from Industry Insiders Kal Kassa, CEO of Hashlabs Mining, confirmed the venture into bitcoin mining via social media p...

Nigerian fashion model, Bad-Kimmy K has affirmed that popular Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke professionally known as Davido, is badly behaved because he is wealthy. This revelation comes amidst a publicized conflict between Davido and fellow artist Tiwa Savage. According to Kimmy K, Davido's immense wealth serves as a shield behind which he engages in objectionable behavior.  Despite this, she acknowledges that Davido enjoys genuine love and appreciation from his fans due to his vibrant personality and generous giveaways, which often deter criticism. The interview also touched upon the recent conflict between Davido and Tiwa Savage, which unfolded on social media.  Kimmy K expresses her belief that such disputes, especially those involving children, should remain within the confines of the celebrities' circle.  She deems the public exposure of such matters, coupled with police involvement, as an unfortunate failure within their social sphere. In concluding remarks, ...

Intellectual Property for Content Creators Intellectual Property (IP) plays a vital role in all fields equipped with creativity, including those surfacing in the digital realm.  Content creators and promoters on the internet have recently grown exponentially in reputation to the extent that the influencer marketing industry is expected to account for $15 billion by the end of 2023. At present, it accounts for about 15% of the total revenue spent on advertising globally. Understanding the Essentials of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  A content creator is any person who contributes information to any kind of media in a specific context. The act of generating content or information could range from any digital platform being a personalized blog or a social media platform like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. It is pertinent to take shelter under the law dealing with IP to safeguard such creativity from unauthorized use. The IP vested in a subject matter gives the ...

Nigeria Takes Bold Steps to Boost eNaira Adoption and Usage Nigeria is making significant strides in promoting the adoption of its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the eNaira. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Acting Governor, Folashodun Shonubi, announced that the country is revamping its eNaira model to encourage more widespread usage of the digital currency. The move comes as Nigeria seeks to accelerate the integration of digital financial services into its economy. Since its introduction in October 2021, the eNaira has made notable progress in terms of user base. The number of eNaira wallets has surged remarkably. This growth reflects the growing interest in digital financial solutions in Nigeria. However, given the country's sizable population of nearly 224 million, there is still considerable potential for further expansion. Enhancing User Experience with Contactless Payments The Central Bank of Nigeria has taken proactive measures to make the eNaira even more user-frien...

Ukraine and World Intellectual Property Organization Strengthen Ties Ukraine has taken a significant step in promoting intellectual property (IP) development and innovation. In a positive move, Ukraine's First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), cementing a strong collaboration between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the specialized UN agency. The signing ceremony was held during a meeting with WIPO Director General, Mr. Daren Tang, where both parties agreed on the terms of the Memorandum. Supporting Ukraine's Economy and Creative Potential With this crucial partnership in place, Ukraine aims to strengthen its economy and contribute significantly to overcoming the challenges posed by the war. The focus is on nurturing the scientific and creative talents of the Ukrainian people, while simultaneously opening doors for new cooperative venture...