Celebrity News

Beyoncé has helped usher in a renaissance for African artists

 Beyoncé has released her seventh solo studio album, titled “Renaissance” (2022). The album, an event in global popular culture, is the first of a three-part project by the US artist. Her previous outing, the visual album “Black is King” (2020), collaborated with a host of African artists.

“Renaissance” pays tribute to black dance music and again features African artists, including Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems, who is having a global moment of her own.

In history, the renaissance era (from the 1400s) was characterised by the rebirth and renewal of culture and scholarship in Europe following a period of stagnation. Today, still, art – paintings, music, fashion – contributes to how people dress and behave, what they choose to post and talk about and how they perceive themselves and society.

For the last three decades, Beyoncé has played a major role in shaping global popular culture. She has continuously empowered listeners and sparked debate and her lyrics have often been quoted in discussions on societal issues.

Her views on monogamy on the album “Dangerously in Love” (2003), for example, offer a counter narrative to the patriarchal depiction of hypers.e.xuality in black women.

On “Lemonade” (2016), Beyoncé uses music genres beyond those expected of a black female artist. In the process she challenges the discrimination she faces. On “Black is King” she reflects a renaissance of African art forms in a time when cultural norms dominated by western thinking are on the decline and Africa’s star is rising in popular culture.

In this article, I argue that throughout her career, Beyoncé has contributed to a renewal of various narratives in popular music and has in so doing engaged meaningfully with African culture and music.

Source: IOL

In other news –  Nellie Tembe death: Police give update on investigations

The police in the Western Cape have wrapped up an investigation into the passing of Anele “Nellie” Tembe, the fiancée of rapper AKA, the whose given name is Kiernan Forbes.

AKA and girlfriend Nellie Tembe

However, the Tembe family and Forbes said they had not been made aware of the conclusion of the investigation. Learn more