Entertainment

Tiwa Savage, Lionel Richie To Perform At King Charles III’s Coronation Concert

Published

4 weeks ago

May 7, 2023

The BBC is holding a coronation concert for King Charles on the grounds of Windsor Castle at 8 o’clock tonight. It will be reminiscent of the Party at The Palace which was held at Buckingham Palace to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.

Activities to mark King Charles III’s coronation continue today with lunches and street parties all over the United Kingdom. American First Lady, Jill Biden, attended a lunch that was held on Downing Street outside the residence of the British Prime Minister. Members of the Royal Family are attending similar lunches all over the country.

The celebrations will climax with the concert tonight at which Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage will join a galaxy of stars to perform at Windsor Castle.

Coronation concert line-up: Who will be performing?

All the stars who will be appearing at the event

With just days to go until King Charles ascends to the throne, many want to know what the Coronation Concert line-up will look like.

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will celebrate their ascension to the throne with the Coronation Concert on 7 May, which promises to bring both global music icons and contemporary stars together. While February saw the public eager to know how to get Coronation Concert tickets(opens in new tab) and the Royal roles at King Charles’ coronation revealed(opens in new tab), now attention has turned to the line-up for the event.

The late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee(opens in new tab) saw a star-studded array of artists perform at the royal celebration – including Diana Ross, Sam Ryder, Elton John and Craig David – suggesting the upcoming Coronation Concert will be an equally unmissable affair.

Coronation Concert line-up

Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, Freya Ridings and Alexis Ffrench were all confirmed as the first performers for the Coronation Concert. Since then, Paloma Faith, Nicole Scherzinger and Olly Murs have also all been announced.

Appearing alongside them will be singer-songwriters Tiwa Savage and Steve Winwood, Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor, internationally renowned pianist Lang Lang, DJ Pete Tong, singer Vula, and emerging artist JERUB.

A number of famous faces will also be making an appearance in a number of pre-recorded segments revealing little-known facts about King Charles, and these include Tom Cruise, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Tom Jones, Bear Grylls OBE, Oti Mabuse and Disney’s Winnie the Pooh.

Alongside the star-studded line-up, Buckingham Palace has said that the Coronation Concert will see an exclusive appearance from The Coronation Choir – made up community choirs and amateur singers from across the UK – as well as The Virtual Choir, made up of singers from across the Commonwealth.

Take That

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have performed at many Royal Variety Performances over the years and supported The Prince’s Trust charity.

The band have said ahead of the concert: “This will be our first live show since the Odyssey Tour, four years ago in 2019, and what a stage to come back on! A huge live band and orchestra, a choir, military drummers, the backdrop of Windsor Castle and the celebration of a new King. We can’t wait.”

The coronation performance isn’t the only exciting thing for fans, as the new Take That movie Greatest Days(opens in new tab) is also coming out in June.

Lionel Richie

International superstar Lionel Richie was appointed as The Prince’s Trust’s first Global Ambassador and Chairman of the Global Ambassador Group in 2019.

He said: “To share the stage with the other performers at The Coronation Concert is a once-in-a-lifetime event and it will be an honor and a celebration.”

Katie Perry

Perry was appointed an ambassador of The British Asian Trust, a charity founded by The King when Prince of Wales, in 2020. She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and her own Firework Foundation, which empowers children through the arts.

Katy Perry has said ahead of the concert: “I am excited to be performing at the Coronation Concert, and helping to shine a further light on the British Asian Trust’s Children’s Protection Fund, whose work includes on-ground initiatives to fundraising, with the aim to find solutions to child trafficking.”

Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel

Maestro Andrea Bocelli and Sir Bryn Terfel will perform a duet for the concert.

Bocelli – who sponsors an annual scholarship programme at The Royal College of Music through the Andrea Bocelli Foundation – has said of the Coronation Concert: “I have had the great honour of singing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on several occasions. It is now another great honour to be asked to perform at the Coronation Concert of King Charles III. My joy and excitement is multiplied as I have the chance to duet with my dear friend and superb baritone, Sir Bryn Terfel, performing an iconic song of love and collective solidarity.”

Meanwhile, Sir Bryn Terfel – who was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to Opera in 2003 and received a knighthood for his services to music in 2017 – said of the occasion: “Having sung at numerous events that were connected to the patronages King Charles held as the Prince of Wales, it is an incredible honour to be singing now at the Coronation of His Majesty The King, Charles III. I am also delighted to be performing at the celebratory concert in Windsor, another opportunity for me to sing with my great friend and colleague, the wonderful Italian tenor, Maestro Andrea Bocelli.”

Freya Ridings and Alexis Ffrench

Singer songwriter Freya Ridings will perform a duet with classical composer, producer and pianist Alexis Ffrench.

Ffrench is a passionate advocate for music education and he serves as a Governor and Trustee of the Royal Academy of Music. He said of the Coronation Concert: “To have been invited to perform in the Coronation Concert held in celebration of His Majesty King Charles III is an honour of the utmost magnitude. Such moments are unequivocally iconic and exceedingly rare, and I am delighted to share the stage with the wonderfully talented Freya Ridings on this momentous occasion.”

Frey Riding added, “I feel truly overwhelmed and in awe of the opportunity to sing at the Coronation of His Majesty Charles III – it feels like a “pinch me” once in a life time moment in history and I’m feeling very honoured to have been asked. Excited to be playing with a wonderful orchestra and alongside the incredible Alexis Ffrench on piano!”

Paloma Faith

Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor and TV personality Paloma Faith has released five critically acclaimed platinum-selling albums and collected dozens of awards, as well as appearing as a judge on The Voice UK and The Voice Kids.

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage is a Nigeria-born singer-songwriter whose blend of Afrobeats, R&B, pop and hip-hop earned her an MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act, making her the first woman to win in the category.

Speaking ahead of the coronation concert, she said: “It’s truly an honour to be representing Africa and the Commonwealth at such an historic event. I look forward to joining the celebrations and bringing Afrobeats to Windsor Castle for the first time!”

Steve Winwood

Singer-songwriter Steve Winwood has sold over 50 million records in the course of his five-decade career as a rock ‘n’ roll star. At the coronation concert, he will sing alongside the Commonwealth virtual choir.

Winwood has said: “I was alive and just about remember the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and I, together with millions and millions of other people all around the globe, am a lifelong monarchist. So to be included in the Coronation celebrations of Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla is for me a lifetime achievement for which I’m extremely humbled and honoured.”

Entertainment

Seun Kuti’s travel lawful, won’t jump bail – Counsel

Published

1 week ago

May 26, 2023

Fellow Press

Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Femi Falana and Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, who are both attorneys to Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, have said their client’s travel to Switzerland on Thursday amid his ongoing case with the police, is not unlawful or illegal.

The senior lawyers also noted that Kuti is currently not being prosecuted in court by the Nigeria Police Force or any other prosecuting authority.

The musician jetted out to Switzerland on Thursday to kick off his Europe tour in Zurich.

Mr Kuti confirmed this on his Instagram story on Thursday, while sharing a picture of himself on the plane with the caption, “Euro tour kicks off tonight in Zurich.”

This follows the singer’s release on bail on Tuesday night, following his nine days detention in police custody for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

Reacting to the development following an inquiry by our correspondent on Thursday, Falana said, “Seun Kuti will stand his trial. Also, the Magistrate has ordered the police to send the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution.

“Anytime he is required to stand his trial, he will appear in court. Seun Kuti is presumed innocent until the contrary is proven. As far as we’re concerned, once the state files a charge and a date is fixed for arraignment, he will be in court

“There’s nothing illegal about a person travelling out of the country while they’re on bail. The issue of depositing his passport was not one of the conditions for his bail. As far as we’re concerned, once the state files a charge and a date is fixed for arraignment.”

However, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, noted that Seun Kuti is currently not being prosecuted, adding that it was left to the DDP to make a decision on the matter once it receives the case file.

Olumide-Fusika said, “He will surely be in court on July 3, 2023, and on each day he’s required to appear. It should, however, be noted that Mr Seun Kuti is not being prosecuted in court whether by the NPF or any other prosecuting authority.

“The DPP, after receiving and studying the police investigation file will decide the offences Mr Kuti is to be charged with. It is after being charged with specific offences that Mr Kuti will be arraigned to take his plea. If he pleads not guilty, trial dates will be set, and the trial will take place. If he pleads guilty, he will be sentenced to appropriate punishment.”

The police had earlier prevailed on the court to grant it the right to prosecute Kuti, stating that Section 23 of the Police Act gives the police the right to not only arrest but also prosecute suspects.

On Wednesday, the police prosecuting team led by Morufu Animashaun applied to vacate the remand application presented in court on May 16 and arraign the defendant properly in order to focus on his prosecution.

However, the Yaba Magistrates Court of Adeola Olatunbosun on Wednesday ruled that the police cannot be the complainant and also the prosecutor at the same time.

Olatubosun said, “I need the advice of the DPP to know whether he should be prosecuted or not.”

She thus adjourned the case till July 3, 2023, for the DPP’s advice.

When contacted for comments, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“I am not authorised to speak on Seun Kuti’s matter, please. Kindly contact the Head of Chambers, Nigeria Police Force, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, SAN,” Hundeyin said.

However, DCP Lough didn’t respond to phone calls and text messages by our correspondent on Thursday.

Entertainment

Why Islam forbids praying for late Murphy Afolabi – Cleric

Published

2 weeks ago

May 20, 2023

Fellow Press

An Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yelma’e said Islam forbids him from praying for the late popular actor, Murphy Afolabi because he mostly used his roles in movies to promote actions that are contrary to the values of Islam.

The cleric stated this in a video clip posted on YouTube on Thursday.

He said he would never pray for Afolabi because he usually acted as herbalist, among other roles forbidden in Islam.

The cleric noted that there was a need for religious teachers and students to start reflecting on the portrayal of actions against Islamic teachings.

According to him, praying for Afolabi’s departed soul especially when most of his roles in films contravened Islamic practice would amount to hypocrisy.

He said, “What we posted yesterday was that we cannot pray for (late) Murphy Afolabi because in the movies he usually acts, and particularly Yoruba movies, it has a lot of forbidden things including traditional sacrifices and it is rare for the actors not to be involved in such traditional sacrifices.

“They might be acting that way with the thinking that they are joking but anything that has to do with Almighty Allah should not be joked with. Acting like herbalist, witch, or wizard, is against Islamic teachings and Islam is against such actions.

“What will make a Muslim start using what nonbelievers do to make people laugh? It is common in Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo films, but mostly in Yoruba films. I feel it is time for religious teachers and students to start looking into these issues.

“When any of these actors with a Muslim name acts like herbalist in Yoruba movies and later dies, it becomes hypocritical for people to expect us to pray for them. As for Murphy Afolabi, I won’t pray for him, and neither will I curse him because he might not know.”

Meanwhile, a lecturer in Film and Media Arts, Department of Theatre Arts and Music, Lagos State University, Dr Femi Olugboji, said scholars have argued that Islam forbids the portrayal of images of human beings whether through television, photography or the creation of statues.

He said they also argued about the importance of information whether through entertainment or news stories or other means.

He said, “They (scholars) said Islam does not forbid education through the portrayal of human images but what Islam forbids is the way human beings, especially women, are portrayed through their mode of dressing, and as well as the content that misleads the public.

“What is the intent of Murphy Afolabi’s acting roles in line with what the cleric mentioned? Is it to correct society? Were his actions in those films to correct the ills in society or was it to mislead the society? We need to be very objective by taking a deep look at his works to see what he was trying to achieve or achieved through the actions he displayed in his films.

“The cleric to some extent may be wrong; if for example I assume a role of an herbalist and through that role I used it to correct something wrong in society, does it mean I have committed a sin? What exactly does the cleric know about the media and media content? He is looking at the issue from his personal belief and not Islamic religion.”

Olugboji said there was a need for movie practitioners to understand the audience and what they want from the media, adding that entertainers and performers would want to satisfy the needs of the audience.

He said, “If the audience felt that Murphy Afolabi’s works during his lifetime were misleading, he wouldn’t have been as popular as he was when he was alive. This means that to a large extent, he achieved a goal in society through his works.

“We should understand that every individual in the society evolves from a socio-cultural and religious background and based on the background that we evolve from; we have enough that can build media literacy that can help us to judge or decide between what is good or bad in the media.”

Recall that the Nollywood industry was thrown into mourning over the death of the Osun-born actor, who died at the age of 49.