On Saturday, February 23, 2019, Nigerians will file out en masse for the presidential elections. The election was earlier scheduled to hold on the February 16 but was shifted for logistic reasons. The election will mark another milestone in the country’s democracy. Previous elections have witnessed pockets of violence that are often fatal. However, popular musicians want this time around to be different.

One of the musicians that have consistently led the campaign for violence-free election is Innocent Idibia, popularly called 2Baba. 2Baba started the “Vote Not Fight” campaign and in the past and has enjoyed the support of fellow musicians in the past. This time around, the multiple-award-winning superstar is collaborating with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). The musician in the company of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, appealed for calmness. In a video posted on NPF official Twitter handle the superstar can be heard saying,

“Vote not fight. Election no be war.”

#VoteNotFight pic.twitter.com/spYj2njAYT

— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) February 14, 2019

Wizkid joins other celebrities to sensitize electorates

Sensational music star, Wizkid has also joined the growing number of celebrities calling for a peaceful election. He took to his Snapchat story to ask fans to reject any attempt by anyone to influence their votes. He said,

“Don’t let anybody wey don collect (that has taken) money influence your vote. Vote who you like. Vote wisely. If you’re old enough to get a PVC, you’re old enough to think. Don’t sell your vote. Your vote can make a difference. Go out and vote.”

The unguarded utterances of politicians

Part of the reasons for the tense atmosphere is the insensitive utterances of some politicians. Nigerian politicians are often accused of name-calling rather than issue-based campaigns. On Wednesday 13th February 2019, the presidential candidates were at the International Conference Center (ICC) to sign a peace accord. Sadly, some politicians in the past have failed to keep to similar agreements. Therefore, Wizkid also sent out a message to politicians to act right. He said,

“And politicians wey dey enter (that will win) stop joking with people lives! U’re responsible for the lives of millions of people and your decisions affect all. Help us make Naija a better place. Make una use una head! One love!”

The Candidates

There are a total of 72 presidential candidates. However, the front runners are candidates of the All Progressive Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party PDP), Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).

All Progressive Congress

Muhammadu Buhari (Incumbent)

The presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress is incumbent Muhammadu Buhari. President Buhari is the current democratically elected president of Nigeria. He came into office on May 29, 2015. However, he is also a retired major general in the Nigerian Army. He was the military head of state from December 31 1983 to August 27 1985. Before becoming the democratic president he had unsucessfully ran for the office in 2003,2007, and 2011.

Peoples Democratic Party

Atiku Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. He has also served the nation as the vice president from 1999 to 2007. Before becoming the vice president, he was the elected governor of Adamawa State. Atiku is the founder of the American University of Nigeria and Adama Beverages Limited.

Young Progressive Party

Kingsley Moghalu

Professor Kingsley Moghalu is new to the political scene but will hope to cause a major upset come February 23, 2019 as the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party. Kingsley founded the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation in 2016.

Alliance for New Nigeria

Fela Durotoye

is also a new name in Nigerian politics. However, he is famous as the president of the GEMSTONE Nation Builders Foundation. Fela is also a motivational speaker and a leadership expert. On February 23 polls, Fela as the presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria will hope to become the next president of Nigeria.

Not for sale

Late January 2019, 2Baba teamed up superstars including Chidinma Ekile, MI Abaga, Teni, Waje, Cobhams Asuquo, and Umar Shareef for a song titled “Not for Sale”. The main idea of the song is to discourage vote-buying, a practice that is gradually becoming a norm. Part of the lyrics read, “The power to change the nation for the better is in everyone of us.”

You can watch the video below.

Valentine’s Day in many countries has become synonymous with the day of Love. We are often curious about how some of our favorite celebrities showcase their love.

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David Adeleke aka Davido seized the opportunity to show off his romantic side. The music star shared a video of himself surprising his long-time girlfriend, Chioma Rowland, on Instagram. In the short video, there were cakes, saxophone, boxes of chocolate, a bottle of wine, and cameras to the delight of his girlfriend. Short of words, the surprised lover hugged the superstar as music played on. The caption of the video read,

“I get time sha 😂😂😂 Happy Valentines @thechefchi IT IS THE CHI THERE!! ❤️ u said bring dollars they brought Bounty 🙄 still her fave tho 😂”

View this post on Instagram

I get time sha 😂😂😂 Happy Valentines @thechefchi IT IS THE CHI THERE!! ❤️ u said bring dollars they brought Bounty 🙄 still her fave tho 😂

A post shared by Davido Adeleke (@davidoofficial) on Feb 14, 2019 at 2:22am PST

A Long, Public Love Affair

Davido met Chioma at Babcock University when she was a 300 level student of Economics. Ever since, the couple has never made their love affair a secret. In 2018, the musician threw her a lavish birthday party and gifted her a Porsche car. However, the height of the celebration was the release of the music, “Assurance”, dedicated to her. As of 15th February 2019, the song has over 35 million views on YouTube. Many celebrities can only wish for such a lasting and public display of love.

D’banj Also Pulls Off a Creative Romantic Stunt

Another music icon, Oladapo Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj successfully pulled off a romantic Valentine treat. He arrived at the door of their house like a delivery man carrying a bouquet of flower. His wife Lineo Didi Kilgrow obviously didn’t see that coming. He shared the video on his Instagram page. The caption read,

“SURPRISE; She thought it was the Delivery Man 😂 … Happy Valentine’s Day Guys make sure you show love especially to yourself ❤️❤️❤️. Love you boo and will always do 💯😍 @lineo_dd #baecation … thanks, @may8gallery for the Gifts she loved them 🎁”

View this post on Instagram

SURPRISE; She thought it was the Delivery Man 😂 … Happy Valentine’s Day Guys make sure you show love especially to yourself ❤️❤️❤️. Love you boo and will always do 💯😍 @lineo_dd #baecation … thanks @may8gallery for the Gifts she loved them 🎁

A post shared by D'banj D Kokomaster (@iambangalee) on Feb 13, 2019 at 11:59pm PST

In 2018, D’banj shared a photo suggesting the couple were on a vacation in Dubai. D’banj is also good with romantic gestures. On September 6, 2018, he shared a picture of himself feeding his wife.

D’banj and wife on vacation

The annual Grammy Award is a celebration of music achievements in over 80 categories. Of all the categories, the Best World Music Album is reserved for international performers exhibiting “non-European, indigenous traditions”. Four African Albums were nominated for this category in the 61st Grammy Award. This includes;

However, it was the Soweto Gospel Choir that took home the award for their album, Freedom.

ALSO READ: The Africans That Took Home A Grammy at The 60th Grammy Awards

The annual celebration for the coveted award took place on Sunday 10th February 2019. However, this is not the first time that the group will be taking home the award. In fact, it is their third win in five nominations. The album ‘Freedom’ is a rendition of popular South African liberation struggle songs. Mulalo and Mary Mulovhedzi, and album producer Diniloxolo Ndlakuse Shimmy Jiyane were on stage to receive the award on behalf of the group.

poses in the press room during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

Interesting details about the album

The Choir recorded the album in June 2018 as a tribute to Nelson Mandela’s 100 Years celebration. Nelson Mandela died in 2013 at the age of 95. The album is a collection of famous South African struggle songs. A worthy inclusion in the album is a brilliant version of ‘Asimbonanga’ by Johnny Clegg. The album release happened in the United States in 2018. The group also completed a three-month tour in the United States. The group will perform songs from the album in Cape Town Jazz Festival coming up in March. Soweto Gospel Choir also plans Australasia album tour from July to September 2019.

History and previous awards

David Mulovhedsi co-founded the group with Beverly Bryer, a producer, and director 17 years ago. The group won the Grammy in ‘Best Traditional World Music Album’ category in 2007. In 2008 they also took home the award in the same category for their album ‘African Spirit’. The win at the just-concluded 61st Grammy Award makes it their third. The group has also won the Metro FM Music Award and four South African Music Awards. Soweto Gospel Choir’s collaboration with pop icon U2 also won the Emmy.

ALSO READ: Davido Is Second Nigerian Artist To Sell Out The 20000 Seat London O2 Arena

The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa took to Twitter to congratulate the group for their win. He wrote,

“Congratulations to the Soweto Gospel Choir for being awarded the Best World Music album for ‘Freedom’ at the #Grammys. This is the choir’s third Grammy award and we thank them for telling our story to the world and flying the flag high.”

Congratulations to the Soweto Gospel Choir for being awarded the Best World Music album for ‘Freedom’ at the #GRAMMYs. This is the choir’s third Grammy award and we thank them for telling our story to the world and flying the flag high. pic.twitter.com/03QH3YZ8ZU

— President Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 11, 2019