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vonne Orji is developing a series based on Yaa Gyasi’s “Transcendent Kingdom,” Burna Boy announced as headliner for Sunny Hill festival, Unai Emery agrees to Aston Villa contract extension until 2027. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
1. Yvonne Orji is developing a series based on Yaa Gyasi’s ‘Transcendent Kingdom’
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Nigerian-American actress Yvonne Orji is taking the lead in developing a series based on the novel “Transcendent Kingdom” by Ghanaian writer Yaa Gyasi for Sony Pictures Television. This comes after Orji signed a two-year first-look agreement with Sony Pictures Television, during which she will develop scripted shows for streaming and cable. Orji gained widespread recognition for her performance as Molly in the HBO Max series “Insecure,” for which she was nominated for an Emmy in 2020 for Best Supporting Actress.
“Transcendent Kingdom,” the second novel by Gyasi, delves into the complex life of Gifty, a neuroscientist in training studying the behavior patterns in mice as they relate to depression and addiction. Bouncing back and forth between her present-day life in the Bay Area and her childhood as a first-generation Ghanaian growing up in rural Alabama, Gifty is on both a methodical and a spiritual journey to make sense of the suffering she’s seen all around her.
2. Burna Boy announced as headliner for Sunny Hill festival
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Grammy Award-winning artist Burna Boy has been revealed as the inaugural headliner for the 2024 Sunny Hill Festival. Scheduled to run from July 25 to July 28, the festival will take place in Prishtina, Kosovo. Sunny Hill Festival holds the distinction of being the largest music festival in Kosovo. It is widely regarded as one of the premier events in Southeast Europe. Renowned for its stellar lineup and high production standards, the festival has firmly established Prishtina as a cultural hotspot and draws music enthusiasts from far and wide.
Organizers lauded Burna Boy’s unparalleled ability to fill arenas and stadiums. He was cited as the foremost figure in the Afrobeat genre. In a statement, festival organizers expressed their excitement about securing Burna Boy for the event.
3. Tyla credits Tems for opening doors of international recognition for African Women in music
“I’m so honored to have worked with Tems. She has opened so many doors” – Tyla pic.twitter.com/DsrEyBgvJP
— BWE TV (@bwetv_ng) April 20, 2024
Grammy Award winner Tyla has credited Tems for pioneering the path to international recognition for African female artists. The South African songstress attributes the global recognition of young African female artists to her Nigerian counterpart, Tems. She praised Tems’ exceptional talent and expressed delight in collaborating with her on her self-titled debut album, as revealed in a recent interview with Kiss Fresh, UK. Their collaboration, “Jump,” has now gained 30 million streams on Spotify.
During her interview with Henrie Kwushue, she said, “Working with Tems is amazing. She is so talented. She is literally a force. I’m so honored to have worked with her. She has opened so many doors for us [young African female artists]. We made such a beautiful song with such a beautiful message. It is a song for the girls and it is made by the girls.”
4. Future becomes the fifth rapper to earn 10 Billboard No. 1 albums
Future becomes the fifth rapper in history to earn 10 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 🐐 pic.twitter.com/hIpBH6pd7Z
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) April 21, 2024
On Sunday, April 21, Billboard revealed that Future and Metro Boomin’s second joint album, “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 127,500 album-equivalent units sold. The project arrived mere weeks after “WE DON’T TRUST YOU,” which landed atop the same chart with 251,000 album-equivalent units and currently sits at No. 3. WE DON’T TRUST YOU’s biggest standout, the Kendrick Lamar-assisted “Like That,” also earned the duo a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU” became Future’s 10th No. 1 on the Billboard 200 overall, tying him with Eminem. The only other hip-hop artists who reached (and eventually surpassed) that number are Kanye West, Drake, and JAY-Z, putting the Atlanta star in an exclusive club with the culture’s elite.
5. Unai Emery agrees to Aston Villa contract extension until 2027
Aston Villa are thrilled to announce head coach Unai Emery has agreed to a contract extension until 2027. ✍️
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 23, 2024
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has extended his contract until 2027, the club said Tuesday. Emery has overseen an impressive turnaround at the Premier League club, who were in danger of being relegated when he took charge last season. Under the Spanish coach, Villa are now fourth in England’s top flight and in contention for Champions League qualification. Emery has also led his team into the semifinals of the Europa Conference League.
In a summer when Liverpool, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich are all looking to appoint a new coach, Emery has signed an extension to the deal he agreed to in October 2022. “We are enjoying our way together with Villa fans, the club owners, management, and this great group of players that we are proud of,” Emery said. “Me and the football management… we share the vision of the owners.”
Featured Image: @joshua_dwain via @yvonneorji/Instagram
Our Weekday News Digest summarizes five of the hottest news topics worldwide–including celebrity news from Hollywood to Nollywood, the latest trending global headlines from American reports to top African news today, and the best sports stories in 2024.
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