Entertainment
Stevie Wonder: becoming Ghanaian on my birthday is amazing
Legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder is officially Ghanaian.
On Monday – the US musical icon’s 74th birthday – he was granted citizenship of Ghana by the nation’s president.
“This is it, congratulations!” Nana Akufo-Addo told a beaming Wonder, handing the Grammy winner a certificate at a ceremony in the presidential palace where he was also presented with a birthday cake with a Ghanaian flag iced on top.
Wonder told the BBC that gaining Ghanaian nationality on his birthday was an “amazing thing”.
The superstar was born and bred in the US state of Michigan but has long had an affinity for Ghana – a West African nation thousands of miles from home.
In 1975, with a string of hit albums behind him, Wonder openly expressed a desire to quit music and move to Ghana. He believed his ancestral lineage could be traced there, reports say.
Wonder stuck with singing and stayed stateside, but after headlining a Ghanaian music festival in the 1990s, he again expressed a desire to set up home there.
On a later trip to Ghana, Wonder wrote the entirety of his album Conversation Peace and in an interview just three years ago the star said he was moving to Ghana in order to escape racial injustice in the US.
Wonder’s love affair with the country was ignited by the people he met whilst there.
He told the BBC that one of these encounters was with late Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings, who in the 1990s hosted him at the presidential residence.
“I remember the late President Rawlings, who allowed me to be a co-pilot on a flight,” Wonder said.
“I was able to fly with him from one end of Ghana to the other end. The north to the south, and it was amazing.”
Stevie Wonder gains citizenship in Ghana
Flanked by his family and donning a scarf made of traditional kente cloth, Wonder was visibly delighted to have finally become Ghanaian.
Ghana has long prided itself on being a bastion of pan-Africanism – its founding leader, Kwame Nkrumah, called the West African state a “Black Mecca”.
Wonder is just the latest African-American icon to celebrate this message – writer W E B Du Bois moved to Ghana and was buried there in 1963, while Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali all paid high-profile visits to the country to reconnect with their African roots.
In 2001, Ghana became the first nation on the continent to give the descendants of Africans the right to stay.
Since then, Africans in the diaspora have been able to live and work in Ghana without renewing their visas or work permits.
And in 2019 the Ghanaian government launched the “year of return” initiative to encourage Africans in the diaspora to relocate there.
More than 300 Africans in diaspora have been granted Ghanaian citizenship since.
In a statement, Ghana’s interior ministry said Wonder becoming a citizen “marks a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to attract diasporan Africans and recognise outstanding contributions to the African diaspora”.
The man himself said he now plans to engage in initiatives that will create great job opportunities for Ghana’s youth, who make up roughly 38% of the population.
“The youngest generation is in Africa. We need to begin to think about how their greatness can shine,” he said.
By Francesca Hangeior
Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has shared his harrowing experience in the United States when a stray bullet pierced through the window of his hotel room.
He shared the terrifying encounter on his Instagram page, posting a video of the damaged window and bullet hole.
Seun, who expressed shock, questioned the perception of safety in America.
In the video, Seun Kuti said that he was in his hotel room, relaxing, when the bullet suddenly came through the window.
“I read somewhere that these are the civilised people. Tell me you are in America without telling me you are in America. I am in my hotel room just chilling and boom this happened”, he said.
By Francesca Hangeior
Actor and skit maker Kamo State has penned a heartfelt note to his senior colleague and godmother, Funke Akindele, expressing deepest gratitude for her unwavering support throughout his wife’s pregnancy and childbirth.
He described her as “an angel in human form” and highlighted her selfless acts, including securing one of Lagos’s best doctors for his wife’s care and covering all medical expenses.
According to Kamo, she also offered to fly Kamo State’s wife to the US for the baby’s birth when she found out about the pregnancy late.
He wrote: “AN ANGEL IN HUMAN FORM (Iyami Olufunke Mi Owon). To the woman who embodies love, strength, and unwavering support, my dearest godmother, Lafunky Omo Akindele. Where do I even begin to express the depth of my gratitude for all you do? You’ve always stood by me, a beacon of light in every storm, and a source of endless encouragement.
“I’ll never forget the nights you spent by my side at the hospital, your presence, a soothing balm, your vigilance, a testament to your love. Even when I told you about the pregnancy late, you were ready to fly my wife to the US for the baby’s birth, showing the lengths you’d go to for us. We were supposed to go to Dubai together when I told you my wife’s expected delivery date is close,you insisted I stay with her while you’re in Dubai with your kids, and you called my wife every single day, just to check up on her and make sure she was doing well any day I didn’t pick call like this you’ll fight me ni ooo that you must talk to ESTHER to check her, you told your driver and security details to follow us to the hospital even if we call them in the midnight, ensuring we were safe and sound. You secured one of the best doctors in Lagos for my wife and took care of every single bill, showing your selfless generosity. You prayed for my wife in our prayer group every single time, and you forced me to pray countless times, always reminding me of the power of faith. And now, as we shall be christening our baby this Tuesday, you’ve once again stepped forward, sponsoring the naming from the food to the beautiful outfits for my wife and me, you’re taking care of everything, ensuring that this celebration is as special as possible.
“IYAMI IYAMI, your generosity knows no bounds, and your love is a gift I cherish every single day. I wanted to write more, but I’m honestly short of words to express how much you mean to me. I pray that God blesses you abundantly, showering you with health, happiness, and all the good things life offers. Thank you for being the amazing woman you are, and for showing me the true meaning of family. I owe you so much, and I’ll spend a lifetime trying to repay the kindness you’ve shown me. I love you dearly!”.
*Deeone backs police as Davido, Seun Kuti, others demand his release
By Francesca Hangeior
Social media has erupted into a storm of opposing views following the arrest of controversial online activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), with Nigerian influencers and celebrities publicly clashing over the issue.
VeryDarkMan, known for his outspoken commentary on social media, was reportedly arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday.
A source within the EFCC confirms that he was arrested on allegations of cyberstalking.
While comedian Deeone has openly defended the police action, others including Davido, Peter Okoye of P-Square, Seun Kuti, and Tunde Ednut have voiced strong disapproval, calling for his immediate release.
Comedian Deeone stirred controversy after he took to social media to support the arrest of VeryDarkMan, stating that the content creator had long crossed the line with his repeated “attacks and unfounded allegations” against public figures. Deeone accused VeryDarkMan of using activism as a cover for clout-chasing and personal vendettas.
In stark contrast, music superstar Davido shared a cryptic message perceived to be in support of VeryDarkMan.
Davido, lending his voice to the cause in a post on X, expressed appreciation for the support VeryDarkMan has received.
He wrote, “Outside all the noise it’s good to see that the good one does actually impacts lives and people actually appreciate! The support I’m seeing for VDM everywhere is encouraging, makes one want to do more for the masses. FREE MY GUY.”
Similarly, Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, also lent his support in a post on Instagram. He posted three photos of VDM with the caption, #FreeVDM #FreeVeryDarkMan @verydarkblackman.
Afrobeat artist Seun Kuti has also called for the release of social critic VeryDarkMan (VDM), alleging that influential religious leaders and certain financial institutions are behind his ordeal. He accused them of using their power to silence voices that challenge the status quo.
“As Federal government is running our country, all these big pastors dey run Nigeria. The people of God are the ones fighting VDM for speaking the truth,” he said.
Popular blogger and influencer Tunde Ednut amplified support for the detained figure by resharing clips of VeryDarkMan’s past advocacy work, portraying him as a necessary, if controversial, voice in Nigeria’s socio-political space.
Meanwhile, skitmaker Saidaboj, who was once publicly criticised by VeryDarkMan, has remained indifferent, neither supporting nor condemning the arrest.
The polarised reactions underscore the widening fault lines within Nigeria’s influencer community, with growing debates over freedom of speech, defamation, and the limits of online activism.
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