The U.S. Embassy welcomes American violinist Chelsey Green and the Green Project, as the popular jazz band visits Egypt next week for the first time. Their historic concert tour, titled “Hakawatya,” will feature performances at the Citadel in Cairo on February 28 and at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria on March 3, and will include joint performances with renowned Egyptian musicians Dina El Wedidi and Fathy Salama.
“As we approach the end of Black History Month in the United States, we are thrilled to bring Chelsey to Egypt to share her amazingly diverse repertoire, and her message of peace”.
Chelsey’s music has been described in the American media as “vivacious” and “electrifying,” as she creates innovative jazz by fusing traditional, classical technique with Pop, Soul, Hip Hop and Gospel. Meanwhile, Egyptian music revivalist Dina El Wedidi captures elements of traditional Egyptian tones and lyrics from their original forms and re-contextualizes them. More information about the upcoming concerts is available at the event page and tickets are available through Ticketsmarché.
“The artistic collaboration of Ms. Green and her band with Dina El-Wedidi and Fathy Salama reminds us of the power and attraction of cross-cultural exchange and expression,” said Adnan Siddiqi, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy Cairo. “As we approach the end of Black History Month in the United States, we are thrilled to bring Chelsey to Egypt to share her amazingly diverse repertoire, and her message of peace and friendship.”
Ms. Green’s visit is being supported through the U.S. Department of State’s American Music Abroad (AMA) program, which sends talented musicians abroad as Cultural Ambassadors. Ever since famed trumpeter Louis Armstrong visited Egypt in 1961, the U.S. Embassy has highlighted American jazz and the contributions of African-Americans to the arts through various programs and activities.
AMA programs allow American musicians to go on month-long, multi-country tours around the world, during which they engage with international audiences through public concerts, interactive performances with local musicians, jam sessions, workshops, and media interviews.
Habeeb Okikiola popularly known as Portable. Photo: @portablebaeby/Instagram
The Lagos State Police Command has freed renowned street artist, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, following a night spent in police detention.
Portable was apprehended on Tuesday in Lagos’ Abule Egba vicinity for purportedly defaulting on the balance payment for a G-Wagon vehicle he had purchased from an auto dealer.
Reports suggest that although the ‘Zazoo Zeh’ maestro acquired the vehicle valued at ₦27 million, he only disbursed ₦13 million, leaving a ₦14 million outstanding balance.
In footage that went viral, Portable was observed scaling a gate as law enforcement officers approached him with an arrest warrant.
Subsequently, another video emerged depicting him being restrained, handcuffed, and conveyed by approximately four policemen into a waiting vehicle.
During the altercation, a female voice, purportedly that of the car dealer, was heard in the background, issuing profanities and recounting Portable’s alleged threats when confronted about settling the debt.
The Police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that Portable was released on bail on Wednesday after spending Tuesday night in police custody.
He further disclosed that both Portable and the car dealer are expected to reconvene at a later date.
“He (Portable) has been released; he was granted bail on Wednesday to come back with the complainant later,” Hundeyin stated, stressing that “the outcome of that meeting will determine our next line of action.”
This incident marks not the first encounter between the singer and law enforcement.
In April 2023, Portable was detained by the police in Ogun State and arraigned on five charges related to alleged assault and theft at the Ifo Magistrate Court, in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Subsequently, he was held at the Ilaro Correctional Centre before being released upon meeting bail conditions.
In a recent inquiry into the untimely demise of Nigerian musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad, held at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Sunday Osiyemi, a Forensic Scientist and Pathologist, revealed that the results of the autopsy conducted on the deceased failed to unveil the cause of death.
Speaking before Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, who presided over the coroner’s inquiry, Prof. Osiyemi cited various factors contributing to the inconclusive findings, notably the significant decomposition of the body due to the extended delay of 21 days before the autopsy was performed.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, representing Mohbad’s family, emphasised that according to the pathologist, the body should have been exhumed within 12 hours post-burial to prevent decomposition, a critical factor in determining the cause of death.
Shittu further elucidated that the pathologist referenced the administration of certain drugs to Mohbad before his demise, suggesting a potential correlation between the drugs and the difficulties encountered in pinpointing the cause of death.
“He also went further to say that it may be attributed to reactions to certain drugs administered on him before he died. Again he then qualified that to say he does not know whether it is those drugs that actually led to his death,” Shittu stated.
With the cause of death remaining elusive, the coroner adjourned the proceedings to June 11th for further examination and cross-examination of the pathologist’s findings, signaling a continuation in the quest for answers surrounding Mohbad’s untimely passing.
Renowned Nollywood actress, Shan George has raised an alarm, alleging that a person identified as Cecilia Chiagoziem Okoro has drained her Zenith Bank account of ₦3.6 million.
The distress call was made public by George herself via her Instagram account on Friday.
Alongside a screenshot of the debit alert, the actress expressed her desperation, stating, “I need help cos I’m dy!ng. This person has just cleared my account. Pls my pple, everyone pls help. Pls Zenith Bank, Reverse it. I can’t access my app. I’m De@D.”
In a video shared on her Instagram, George pleaded for assistance in recovering her lost funds, revealing the perpetrator’s identity and the transfer destination.
“Cecilia Chiagoziem Okoro, that is the name of the person that has just wiped all the money in my account, 3.6 million into an Opay account,” she exclaimed.
With palpable anguish, she implored various entities for intervention, including Zenith Bank, Opay, and law enforcement agencies like the EFCC and Nigerian police.
“I don’t have any kobo anywhere again, what will I eat? I no fit beg, I beg una, make una help me,” she lamented.
George emphasised the urgency of the situation, stressing that the incident occurred just hours before she made the plea.