Twelve years after its first appearance at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, UK, the play, Jagunlabi, was staged again to educate global youths and help them to understand their purpose in life. The show aimed to inspire and awaken the giant within young people.
This time, Peekok Youth Arts Initiatives staged the drama at the Arthur Cotterell Theatre (ACT), Kingston Upon Thames, London, on Friday, June 28, 2024.
According to the initiatives visioner/ founder, Oyetunji Olu- Akinloye, “Jagunlabi will headline as the opening main show of the FUSE International Festival, UK.” He explained, “Jagunlabi (we birthed a warrior) is a full-fledged drama performance with many themes primarily focused on human purpose.
“In Africa, every child is born with specific and unique purpose. A child’s name often motivates what the future or destiny of the child is beloved to be. Jagunlabi performance will unravel that mystery.”
The play highlights themes of courage, selflessness, determination, eradication of social ills, violence against children and women, and significantly, bravery.
FUSE International Festival, Olu-Akinloye, observed, is the ideal platform to share and celebrate creative and talented artists from across UK, Nigeria and around the globe.
The FUSE Festival replaced the International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF), which has taken place every summer since 2009. Over 80 events across film, music, theatre, visual arts take place over the 10 days of the Festival, which is curated and presented by the Charity Creative Youth, UK.
Jagunlabi is expected to open the FUSE International Festival and further assist to strengthen the different artforms: dance, music, visual art and film show, between the age group 5- 30.
Gone are the days when we used to meticulously organise our CD collection or hunt down the perfect vinyl record to add to our stash. Now, streaming services like Spotify have ushered in a new era of music consumption. An era that is defined by convenience and unlimited access.
With just a few taps, one can explore an infinite library of music. This streaming era, with its explosion in accessibility, has fundamentally changed how we listen to music.
In this article, we shall explore the ten most streamed albums on Spotify. The data in this article are from Kworb, a website that analyses music data from around the world.
Prepare to be surprised by the number of streams some of these albums have. Figures that would have been unimaginable in the pre-streaming era.
1. Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny
Un Verano Sin Ti. Photo – Apple Music
Streams: 16,830,553,201
Released on May 6, 2022, Un Verano Sin Ti is Bad Bunny’s fifth studio album and his second album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. The album is a mix of Latin trap and reggaeton, with influences from merengue, bachata, and other Latin music genres.
Streams: 14,940,750,898
“÷” (pronounced “divide”) is Ed Sheeran’s third studio album and his second album to reach number one in the United States and the United Kingdom. The album features a mix of pop, folk, and hip-hop songs. It also features Sheeran’s signature emotional lyrics.
Additionally, Shape of You, the album’s lead single, became the best-selling song of 2017 worldwide and has been streamed over 3 billion times on Spotify.
3. Starboy – The Weeknd
Starboy album cover. Photo – Apple Music
Streams: 14,404,308,362
Starboy is The Weeknd’s third studio album. It features a mix of R&B, pop, and hip-hop songs, with The Weeknd’s signature dark and atmospheric sound.
The album’s title track, Starboy, has over 2 billion times on Spotify. Interestingly, The Weeknd is now Spotify’s most listened-to artiste with 106.2 million monthly listeners.
4. Hollywood’s Bleeding – Post Malone
Hollywood’s bleeding.
Streams: 12,845,501,217
A true country album, Hollywood’sBleeding explores the genres of hip-hop, pop, and country in its songs. Additionally, the album’s lead single, Sunflower, is in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It currently has over 3 billion streams on Spotify.
5. SOUR – Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR. Photo – Walmart
Streams: 12,615,174,669
Released when Olivia was just 18 years old, SOUR was released as her debut studio album. The album quickly climbed the charts and reached number one on the Billboard 200. The album is a mix of pop, alternative, and punk songs.
Furthermore, Drivers License, the album’s lead single, was a massive hit. It sold over twenty one million copies all over the world.
6. After Hours – The Weeknd
After hours. Photo – Insidejamarifox
Streams: 12,530,549,140
Another honourable The Weeknd mention, AfterHours is his fourth studio album. Considered a dark and gory album, The Weeknd explores themes of addiction, isolation, and heartbreak in it coupled with the tough times that come with fame.
In addition, the album’s lead single, BlindingLights, is The Weeknd’s biggest hit till today. The song alone has over four billion streams on Spotify.
7. Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa deluxe album cover. Photo – Spotify
Streams: 12,457,258,221
Dua Lipa is Dua Lipa’s self-titled debut studio album. It is disco, dance-pop, and electropop album. And it peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart, with the title song, New Rules reaching number one on the prestigious chart.
8. Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
Future Nostalgia. Photo – Spotify
Streams: 12,435,138,445
Another record-breaking album from Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia is a futuristic pop album. It has nostalgic elements that take one back to 80s pop music, an ode to the album’s name. Don’t Start Now, the album’s lead single, has well over two billion streams.
9. Papercuts – Linkin Park
Linkin Park Vinyl. Photo – Del Bravo Record Shop
Streams: 11,923,019,421
Linkin Park released Papercuts, their eighth studio album and the first since the death of lead singer Chester Bennington in 2017, on July 22, 2022. Essentially, the album has elements of alternative rock and nu-metal songs.
The album’s lead single, Lost in the Echo, was released in 2012 and was originally intended to be on the band’s previous album, The Hunting Party.
10. beerbongs & bentleys – Post Malone
beerbongs and bentleys. Photo – MediaMarktSaturn
Streams: 11,834,719,755
Post Malone’s second album on this list, beerbongs and bentleys is a widely commercially successful album. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. Impressingly, it sold 461,000 units in its first week.
Rockstar, the album’s lead single featuring 21 Savage, was a massive hit.
The Chief Commerical Officer, Airtel Nigeria and partner of I-Scholar Initiative (iSI), Femi Oshinlaja, has urged the 2024 iSI awardees to ensure that they build resilience, prioritise risk management and disaster preparedness to minimise the impact of unexpected events and prioritize collaborations with partners.
This he said at the recently held iSI virtual award event which took place on June 22, 2024.
The not-for-profit organisation with a mission to mentoring and empowering young African students in fulfilling their dreams to pursue graduate studies via access to fully funded scholarships in world class foreign universities has recently released the names of 100 additional Nigerians who will benefit from its annual scholarship program.
Launched in 2019, iSI is a registered charitable organisation in USA and Nigeria and is completely run by volunteers and fully funded by partners.
Speaking on the topic: Sustaining Focus In An Uncertain World, an expert, Oshinlaja admonished the scholars to have a clear vision, stay true to their values, look for ways to improve themselves, don’t overstress while also keeping it simple.
He advised them to prioritise flexibility and adaptability in their journey to greatness and build processes that allow for rapid iteration and adjustments while also embracing new learning and emerging technology that can keep them ahead.
The President of iSI, Victor Ogunmola, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and donors who have over the years ensured that the vision of the organization stays alive.
He said, “Without them, we can’t do any of what we are doing. So, I won’t be mistaken to say that they are the engine that powers this organisation.”
Ogunmola revealed that over 3,362 applications were received in 2024 and only 100 successful applicants were awarded the scholarship overpowering last year’s record of 70.
He went further to note that in its five years of existence, a total of 8,500 applications were received while 1900 were the successful/eligible application and out of which only 13 percent were awarded, which is because of limited finance.
He seized the opportunity to plead for more partners and collaborators who are interested in partnering with the organisation so as to increase the numbers of applicants that can be accepted in subsequent years.
Victor noted that some of the vision of iSI is to sustain at least ten percent annual increase in scholarship awards, expand and secure sustained sources of funding, increase mentoring capacity, continue process optimization and also expand corporate partnership.
The organisation’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Fajolu, noted that the release of the list followed a rigorous selection process coordinated by iSI’s operations Vice President, Mrs. Hanatu Banjoko and the scholarship scheme covers a predetermined amount of graduate school application fees and most importantly, an end-to-end mentoring program.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and other relevant stakeholders to fight drug trafficking and abuse in the country.
The Apapa Commander of NDLEA, Mr Noah Ndutong, made the call yesterday in Apapa during the grand finale of the 2024 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Ndutong said strengthening collaboration is important, especially as smugglers utilise the seaports to bring in hard drugs under false declaration of consignments.
Recall that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, last week, said ongoing collaborative efforts between the NCS and the NDLEA yielded positive results. This came in the interception, within one month, of illicit drugs worth over N4.1 billion imported from Canada and India, at Tin Can Island Port.
According to Ndutong, the theme of this year’s Day, ‘The evidence is clear, invest in prevention’, calls for increased collaboration to tackle the menace.
He said with joint efforts from other stakeholders and sister agencies, the work of NDLEA would be easier.
The NDLEA boss warned that the chances of coming overcoming drug abuse are slim; hence Nigerians should invest more in prevention.
He vowed that the agency would drive drug dealers out of business, adding that hard drugs are a major contributor to crimes and criminality in the country.
Speaking earlier, the Apapa Area Commander of the NCS, Babatunde Olomu, noted that drug abuse hinders national development.
He assured that the command was on same page with NDLEA and other stakeholders in the fight against drug abuse in the country, which had been evident in massive seizures at the ports.
He said drug abuse fuels insecurity and urged all agencies and stakeholders to fight the menace. He also called for all hands to be on deck to achieve total elimination of the menace.
The domestic equities market reversed losses to reopen upbeat, yesterday, as market capitalisation appreciated by N95 billion, buoyed by gains in Unilever Nigeria Plc and 34 others.
At the close of transactions, the all-share index (ASI) gained 167.84 points, representing a gain of 0.17 per cent to close at 99,385.44 points.
Also, market capitalisation rose by N95 billion to close at N56.221 trillion.
The upturn was driven by price depreciation in large and medium capitalised stocks amongst which are Unilever Nigeria, Oando, FBN Holdings (FBNH), CWG and Dangote Sugar Refinery.
On what will shape the market in the next trading session, analysts at Vetiva Dealings and Brokerage said: “Investors have taken a ‘wait-and-see’ approach to the market, as bargain-hunting sentiment dictates activity throughout this week. We expect to see a similar session in the market tomorrow, as investors continue to favor fundamentally sound names.”
As measured by market breadth, market sentiment was positive, as 35 stocks gained relative to 13 losers. FTN Cocoa Processors, Oando and CWG emerged the highest price gainer of 10 per cent each to close at N1.54 kobo, N13.75 kobo and 60 kobo, respectively.
C & I Leasing followed with a gain of 9.33 per cent to close at N3.28 kobo, while Veritas Kapital Assurance advanced by 9.09 per cent to close at 96 kobo.
On the other side, Secure Electronic Technology led others on the losers’ chart with 10 per cent to close at 54 kobo. Cornerstone Insurance followed with a decline of 8.64 per cent to close at N2.01, kobo while Royal Exchange shed 7.58 per cent to close at 61 kobo.
Tantalizer lost 4.17 per cent to close at 46 kobo, while Universal Insurance depreciated by 2.78 per cent to close at 35 kobo.
The total volume of trades dipped by 23.6 per cent to 276.364 million units, valued at N4.120 billion, and exchanged in 7,597 deals.
Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings led the activity with 45.336 million shares worth N859.399 million. AIICO Insurance followed with account of 23.955 million shares valued at N22.906 million, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) traded 13.850 million shares valued at N608.119 million.
Fidelity Bank traded 13.231 million shares worth N133.746 million, while Skyway Aviation Handling Company traded 12.000 million shares worth N244.804 million.
Says it was a ploy to instigate state of emergency
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has accused supporters of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for the failed attempt in bombing a five-star hotel, the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.
The governor said that the move was a deliberate ploy to strengthen the call for a state of emergency by haters who want to undermine the state to achieve their evil plans.
Fubara stated this when a delegation of the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation led by its chairman, Orji Uzor Kalu, paid him a courtesy visit in the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The governor, at the meeting, also clarified that he is not fighting anybody, but defending the state against predators, as well as protecting supporters of the interest of the state against those who feel that they own the life of others.
Fubara explained that some youths were hired to engage in a protest to demand for tenure extension of former local council chairmen who have served out their statutory three-year tenure.
The governor said that the protesters and their sponsors were aware that some members of the National Assembly were guests at the Hotel Presidential, which is why they attempted to detonate an explosive device near the facility to give reason to support the call for state of emergency when the matter is raised at plenary but they failed.
He said: “As a matter of fact, let me tell you, I know everything that is happening. Yesterday (Tuesday), they (protesters) were aware that you are in the state. So, there was an attempt to create serious problem.
“The idea was that as you were hearing state of emergency, when you return to have your sitting tomorrow, somebody who is from this state, will start the debate. He will now raise issue of state of emergency, and say that after all, distinguished colleagues saw it happen.”
In his address, Uzor Kalu said that they were in the state to carry out oversight duties on some projects under their purview.
The Senator, representing Abia North Senatorial District, commended Fubara for his love for peace, determination to offer quality governance and his ability to keep pace with the right climate to engender economic growth to all residents in the state.
After the release of his amazing hit single titled “No Pressure”, super talented vocalist, song writer and performer, Valentiiano @iamvalentiiano is here with a trailblazing extended play titled “Valentiiano”. This EP hits differently and it’s totally worth the hype because it has a remarkable infusion of afrobeats, afropop, afrosoul, RnB.
Trust me, Valentiiano @iamvalentiiano is definitely going to change the face of the music industry in Nigeria and globally like he said in his recent interview with The Punch Newspaper and other newspaper outlets.
Valentiiano @iamvalentiiano has a feel of all your favourites in the music industry. Talking about the likes of Wizkid, Kizz Daniel, Omah Lay, Rema, Joeboy, Fireboy DML, Ruger.
As we all know Valentiiano @iamvalentiiano is signed to Pollux Records @polluxrecords which is owned by BBNaija Allstar House mate, Prince Nelson @princenelsonenwerem
Track List: Track 1 - Letter To Myself Track 2 - Anabella Track 3 - Outside Track 4 - Stuck On You Track 5 - On Fire Track 6 - Dimension
![[GIST] At FUSE Festival, Peekok arts stages Jagunlabi](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ltyYh4ysBHI/U04MKlHc6pI/AAAAAAAADQo/PFxXaGZu9PQ/w100-h100-c/no-image.png "[GIST] At FUSE Festival, Peekok arts stages Jagunlabi")
![[GIST] Full List: 10 Most Streamed Albums on Spotify](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sBEvQxIWfjoEBNHVQN0mcvjkXXeZi2kwyh3dZyndrDjOlf2fPR9d-aoFoe61XKtnmGG5D0Jso3s8EcX229aK19BC3QpyY_0Wcw0C2p9gL1vRGoHZ0pferAuPGX9h-UTo_3D7LJptk=s0-d "[GIST] Full List: 10 Most Streamed Albums on Spotify")
![[GIST] Nigerian students urged to build resilience, prioritise risk management](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uEm_kb30jPUgyG1d6YkEeH35r6XdlMpS1pM4s3FctEEGv1bb1xr7Eqz6vRc1zw_CB7AszcktCcdkyrDuvTixwLtnOGcJfFErpfBXibSc5h3fTWSMV6YkmFl17pXynse82YJejBMaNgXO_sjStPsLY1uGjC3P5IpQ=s0-d "[GIST] Nigerian students urged to build resilience, prioritise risk management")
