Malian music star Salif Keïta has been appointed advisor to the head of the junta, Colonel Assimi Goïta, says a decree issued Monday, August 14, 2023.

The artist is part of a list of five people named “special advisers” to the Malian head of state, says the decree dated August 11. The text does not specify the role of Salif Keïta.

The great name of afropop and World Music, Salif Keïta, 73, also stands out for his political commitment and, since the advent of the colonels following a putsch in 2020, for his support of the junta.

He was appointed one week after the announcement of his resignation from an assembly set up by the military as a legislative body.

“I will always remain the undisputed friend of the military of my country,” he said in his letter of resignation read in the gallery.

Mr. Keïta publicly expressed his support for the sovereignty discourse of the authorities. He openly called a few months ago for the departure of the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA), since officially announced by the UN Security Council.

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by jihadist expansion and a deep multidimensional crisis. Violence from the north has spread to central Burkina Faso and neighbouring Niger.

The Senegalese head of state left Dakar for Abuja on Sunday, May 28, 2023. President Macky SALL will attend the inauguration of Nigerian President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Upon his departure, the President of the Republic was greeted by the Prime Minister and other civil and military authorities. The head of state will return to Dakar tomorrow Monday.

Born in Lagos eight years before independence, Bola Tinubu is a veteran of the capital. An influential politician, he was notably a senator and governor of the State of Lagos. Considered a unifying force within his party, but controversial outside because sometimes cited in corruption cases, Tinubu will have a major challenge, that of recovering the national economy.

With a population of more than 219.4 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and sixth in the world. The continent’s largest economy, however, is facing a slowdown exacerbated by recent global crises. Here inflation has risen above 20% in the second half of 2022, youth unemployment, recurrent shortages of nairas and fuel are all evils to be solved in a sustainable way.

Although Nigeria can count on a dynamic private sector with a large number of billionaires and millionaires, Bola Tinubu -whose inauguration will take place next May- will have to set the macroeconomic record straight.

Source : Ze-Africanews.com

On September 30, KoHndo, the French rapper of Benin origin, posted on his YouTube account the clip of a mix “17 souls adrift” from his next album “Plus haut que la tour Eiffel”. This clip recorded thousands of views and several encouraging comments. As one user says in comment: “Background and form as usual at the top! A clip and sound to see, listen and listen again!”

“Vest on your back, around your neck, something to whistle about/ Alerting our S.O.S Mediterranean rescuers/Mayday mayday Can anyone help us? /Waves slow us down, can someone help us? // The engine is down, can someone help us? / The boat has stopped, can anyone help us? / Little by little around us comes panic/ Should my path stop at the gates of Africa?” It is on these two verses that Kohndo finishes this new video full of promises. The rapper takes us by the hand to make us relive the calvary of migrants. For three minutes – clip duration – Kohndo plunges us into the hot, suffocating universe of these men and women who risk everything they have for a dream. All against “Intramuros” (2016).

Coming from a family of former Brazilian slaves returned to resettle in Benin, Kohndo, Kohndo Assogba in civil status, spent all his childhood in Saint-Cloud in France. He was born there, returned to Benin and left at the age of 6. During his early childhood in Benin, he was raised by his grandparents in Ouidah, Benin. Although he grew up far from his native land, Kohndo is deeply committed to the culture and history of Benin. He says in an interview: “Benin is therefore the relationship to my ancestors, to my history. I feel that a man is stronger when his roots are deep in his memory and heart.” Make no mistake when, however, we ask him where he comes from, he retorts: “I am French, I am from Paris”. Zemmour might be upset!

Bottle-fed since childhood to good old music, like that of Coltrane, Miles Davis,… He will cultivate this taste until 1984. Declic. Surge of the H.I.P. H.O.P. movement With friends of the city, they get together and it will give the group Coup d’État Phonique. A few years when other people join them, the group transmute to become “La Cliqua”. Kohndo calls himself Doc Odnok. The group will invest in the rap community. But over the years, the group eventually disintegrates. Everyone starts on their own. Also KoHn began a solo career in 2003 with the album “Tout Est Écrit”.

As usual, KoHndo is equal to himself in this clip: the strength of words, aesthetic intelligence, acoustics.