Head Brand and Communications at Airtel Uganda, Noela Byuma(3rd R), one of the nominees of the 2025 Trace Africa Awards, Joshua Baraka(2nd R) with other representatives from Uganda Breweries Limited and Trace Africa at the partnership announcement between Airtel and Trace Africa in a strategic move to celebrate African Music excellence and digital empowerment ahead of the prestigious Africa Trace Awards in Zanzibar from February 24th-26th, 2025. Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Airtel Uganda, a leading telecommunications network in Uganda has partnered with Trace Africa in a strategic move to celebrate African Music excellence and digital empowerment ahead of the prestigious Africa Trace Awards in Zanzibar from February 24 th -26 th , 2025.

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has partnered with the iKon Awards 2025, to collaborate in expanding opportunities for Ugandan filmmakers and promoting local film content both nationally and internationally. An officials said the partnership underscores UCC’s commitment to enhancing the visibility of Ugandan films by leveraging platforms such as the iKon Awards to broaden distribution networks and provide filmmakers with greater exposure. The official added that the collaboration also serves as an endorsement of the highly anticipated 2025 iKon Awards, which will take place on March 29, 2025, at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Johnnie Walker, the iconic brand of celebration, hosted a vibrant event in Kampala on Thursday evening to honour rising star Joshua Baraka for his nomination in the prestigious Trace Awards & Summit. The event brought together Uganda’s entertainment elite for a toast to Baraka’s achievements. Airtel joined Johnnie Walker Uganda in celebrating the occasion, recognising Baraka’s musical journey, which was marked by hit singles, a growing continental presence, and well-deserved recognition from the Trace Awards. Guests at the exclusive event enjoyed a range of premium whisky cocktails, including the bold Ruby Walker and classic highballs, while engaging in insightful discussions about the Ugandan music scene, the global influence of African sounds, and the importance of supporting African creatives.

Malawian artist Lulu has kicked off 2025 on a high note with the release of his brand-new single titled ‘Khalidwe’. The song, which features artist Dremo, has been making waves on social media platforms, with many fans and music lovers praising its uplifting message. The ‘Khalidwe’ song explains the importance of integrity and moral values. Lulu’s powerful vocals bring the lyrics to life, while Dremo’s verse adds a unique flavor to the track.

Eso Slique, a hip-hop artist from Lilongwe, is set to launch the “HIV Free Generation Tour” this April. This exciting initiative, themed “Music as a Medium for Sensitizing HIV/AIDS Awareness,” aims to raise awareness about HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) across Lilongwe. Delving deeper, the tour is not just a series of events; it reflects the profound impact HIV has had on Slique’s life, particularly through the loss of family and friends. His personal experiences have ignited a passionate drive within him to advocate for this crucial cause. In his own words, Slique shared, “Reflecting on my experiences of losing family and friends to AIDS caused by HIV, I began to wonder why so many young people are still dying from this disease.”

Zanzibar. Kenyan musician and producer Bill Sellanga, better known as Blinky Bill, has expressed his admiration for the golden era of Bongo hip-hop, acknowledging it as a significant influence on his musical path. The artiste shares, "Old school hip-hop artistes like Professor Jay and others, they were so inspirational to me," recalling the impact of the era’s lyricism and storytelling, something he says is missing, “The new school hip-hop mixes a bit of pop, which is cool, and I enjoy it.” In a nostalgic moment, he sings a few lines from "Nikusaidiaje" and "Inaniuma Sana" by Juma Nature.

Zanzibar. Under the shimmering lights of Sauti za Busara 2025, Rapper Frida Amani took the stage and made history as the first female hip-hop artiste to ever perform at the festival. The crowd at Old Fort erupted as she delivered a powerful set, proving once again why she has earned the title Madam President. Her electrifying performance of Madam President, Anakudanganya, Mi Nawe, and Do You Wanna captivated the audience, blending storytelling with hard-hitting bars.

Nigerian disc jockey, Florence Otedola, aka DJ Cuppy, has offered a heartfelt prayer that this year's Valentine’s Day will be the last she celebrates as an unmarried woman. Cuppy shared the prayer via her X handle as she wished herself a happy Valentine’s Day. She wrote, “Happy #ValentinesDay to me! Manifesting that this is my last one unmarried. Lord, do your thing!” The 32-year-old billionaire heiress has had a rollercoaster love life. She’s been romantically involved with notable figures, including former Super Eagles striker Victor Anichebe, but their relationship ended in 2017 due to long-distance struggles. She later dated music executive Asa Asika, but their romance hit the wall around 2020. In 2022, she got engaged to British boxer Ryan Taylor, and the couple often shared affectionate moments online. However, by 2023, rumours of a split started circulating, and she later confirmed she was single again.

Last week, Priscilla and her husband, Juma Jux, a Tanzanian singer, tied the knot in a traditional ceremony according to the groom’s customs and traditions. Announcing the wedding date in an Instagram post, actress Iyabo Ojo also penned a heartfelt gratitude for the love she received during the traditional wedding. The post which included beautiful photos of Iyabo, Priscilla, and Juma Jux taken from their civil wedding was titled ‘A Heartfelt Thank You’. The actress thanked everyone who turned up for her daughter’s wedding as she appreciated God and attributed the success of the event to him. An excited Iyabo Ojo announced that the couple’s white and traditional weddings will hold in April while the grand finale party will be held in Tanzania in May.

Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has opened up about her emergency surgery, expressing thanks that she is alive. The actress took to her verified Instagram page to share her experience with her fans in an emotional video. Omotola showed off the scars she got from the surgery as she lifted her top to show what her stomach now looks like. Speaking about the emergency surgery she had late last year, the mother of four admitted that showing off her scar during her Valentine’s Day shoot was a slip, but one she eventually embraced. Omotola urged her fans to be unshaken by physical and emotional scars, insisting that they look great regardless.

Controversial reality television personality Deeone has made a remarkable admission, disclosing that he intentionally orchestrated his participation in the Honest Bunch podcast, utilizing Nedu as a means to confront social media commentator Verydarkman (VDM). This revelation follows a public dispute between Verydarkman and Deeone, which centered around allegations regarding Verydarkman’s sexual relationships with men. This controversy ultimately resulted in Nedu’s departure from the show.

She shared a touching video of herself visiting a mother who had shared a freestyle of her new song, Money. Teni explained that she came across the woman’s video on Elon Musk’s platform X. The woman’s emotional performance inspired her to reach out and show her support. Once she connected with the woman’s kids on social media, Teni and her team arranged a surprise visit. The video featured Teni’s visit to the woman’s place, where the woman was obviously shocked and filled with joy to meet the artist. The clips caught their emotional exchanges right before Teni handed her some gifts. Additionally, Teni supported the mom’s bead-making business and motivated her fans to get involved too. In her caption, she wrote:

Drummer, singer, arranger and composer, Rim Akandoh Jnr and his Amamere Band have over the last few weeks, been spending several hours daily in a rehearsal studio at Cape Coast in the Central Region, preparing for an album release concert on February 22, 2025 at the +233 Jazz Bar & Grill in Accra. The album is Akandoh Jnr’s eight-track Man Shall Be Free collection. It primarily takes inspiration from the guitar band Highlife style of the 1960s and 1970s but rejuvenated to resonate with contemporary audiences. “I know there’s so much music being made and people are ascribing all kinds of names to what they are doing. I’m not ashamed to put it plainly that I’m a Highlife musician. That’s where my roots lie,” says Akandoh Jnr, a former drummer with well-known Highlife giant, Ebo Taylor’s Saltpond City band.

Shatta Wale’s 'love life' has always been a subject of discussion among fans and critics, with many questioning his ability to stay with one partner. However, according to his manager, Sammy Flex, the musician owes no one an explanation for his personal choices. Sammy Flex explained that while Shatta Wale is a romantic man, he chooses to keep certain aspects of his love life private. “With what we do, especially in my position, there are things I consider private for Shatta. His relationships, children, and home life are his matters. I don’t even have to ask him about them,” Sammy Flex stated in an interview on Joy Prime monitored by MyNewsGh. He also addressed the backlash Shatta usually receives whenever he showcases affection for his partner online.

Ghanaian musician B4Bonah, known for his breakout hits like ‘Dear God’ and ‘Kpeme,’ is making powerful moves behind the music scene. In his resurgence, he continues to bridge the gap between music and visual artistry, solidifying his reputation as a multidisciplinary creative. His latest achievement sees his song ‘Stratagem’ featured in a film project called “AMERIGHANA,” by celebrated Ghanaian designer Papa Oppong for his SS25 collection, who was also recently announced as Nike’s new color designer. This collaboration highlights B4Bonah’s deep-rooted connections within the creative industry, fusing fashion, visual storytelling, and music.

A young man who is a funeral DJ has given in-depth knowledge about the amount of money he makes from playing music at funerals. Speaking in an interview sighted by Gh Page, the young man disclosed that even though he is still new in this business, he makes a lot of money from it. He stated that when he started the work, his friends and family members mocked him as they labeled his work as a “stupid” one. However, he claims he is happy he did not listen to them and quit, revealing that he has not regretted it. According to him, he has never gone broke or begged for money ever since he started the work because it is very lucrative.

Dancehall enigma, Shatta Wale has rekindled his long beef with his colleague Stonebwoy. Shatta Wale has turned into a motivational speaker as he took to social media to advise all his fans and Ghanaians at large. However, even in his quest to motivate and inspire people, Shatta Wale still used it as a yardstick to fire shots at Stonebwoy. Shatta Wale has stated that he is a diamond, claiming he is very precious and rare to find. He went on to advise all and sundry to emulate him and not a stone.

The music video for Kanda and Abdiel Abdizzy 's latest song is now available , a work that brings together talent and dedication in every detail. With musical production by Mestre Freddy (MF) and mastering by Michel Laurence , the track promises to win over listeners with its captivating sound and refined arrangements. The song also features the collaboration of Josélmo , responsible for bass and keyboard, while Mestre Freddy takes over the guitar. The main vocals are by Kanda , with backing vocals by Kanda and Daiana . The recording took place at Studio B Rádio Vial , with mixing and final mastering under the care of André Tavares, in Lisbon . The music video, which accompanies this powerful musical production, was directed and edited by Sininada and produced by Wil Celeste , delivering a visual aesthetic that perfectly complements the song's melody and message.

“Our Sophia was a wonderful project… a wish that almost came true. What I have to tell you is that our little girl will no longer arrive in the world where her parents and siblings would welcome her with open arms. Sophia was a dream… a dream that continues and I am sure that she will return. Yes, she will return, because Fredy and I still want to have our little girl. And we believe a lot in spirituality, so I know that Sophia will be among us in the next attempt. I am already the mother of three boys and I know that a little girl will arrive. It was almost, this time… but I know that God saved the just reward for this family for later. Our little girl will arrive. And we will be waiting for her, because we will not stop trying. We love you very much, daughter. Note: but, next time we will not say anything. They will only scare people and Sophia will be on your screen.

Ednardo Soares brought the aforementioned reflection through a publication shared in the stories of his official Instagram profile. “Making video cuts and explaining a certain subject on the internet is easy and everyone can do it! However, debating with sustainable facts and convincing arguments is not for everyone,” he said.

Swazi-born Amapiano DJ and music producer Uncle Waffles recently made headlines once again after netizens were concerned about her weight gain. The 24-year-old star earlier made history as the very first female artist to grace the magazine cover of Rolling Stone Africa. This happened after the Tanzania hitmaker, whose real name is Lungelihle Zwane, 's dragged for a picture of her posing with an older man in a sultry outfit, In a statement shared with Briefly News, it was stated that the magazine wanted a talent that represented an African success story.

Did Minnie Dlamini's new man just gift her a new car? That's what fans think, and social media is going crazy! Mzansi's new it couple, Minnie Dlamini and Dr Brian Monaisa's relationship is the hot topic, and they keep giving peeps something to talk about. After going public about their controversial romance and seemingly rubbing it in the face of Monaisa's ex, it looks like Minnie has more news to share. She shared a Valentine's Day post on her Instagram page, gushing over her man for "loving her loudly," and posted their photo together, while in another slide, the media personality posed beside a brand new Porsche.

Social media has been buzzing with excitement as Mzansi Magic shared an announcement regarding one of their drama series. Recently, Mzansi Magic shared on their social media pages that the series that made history by winning a total of 12 awards, Shaka iLembe, will be making its comeback to our small screen for another season.

Rosette Ncwana got real about joining the new cast of The Mommy Club and what viewers can expect from the new season. The Mommy Club fans are in for an electrifying new season as the show introduces some new faces, and famed supermodel and entrepreneur, Rosette Ncwana, has joined the cast! Known for her decades-long career in the industry, not to mention her alleged run-in with the law, Rosette told Briefly News that joining the show was an opportunity for her to share another side of herself: