Artists Adekunle Gold and Olamide channel 70s fashion, posing against a classic black Mercedes-Benz with a custom ‘YBNL’ plate to announce their joint single, ‘Formation.’ Photo Credit: Adekunle Gold/Instagram
Do you remember when we told you that Adekunle Gold and Olamide were cooking something in the studio right? Turns out that we were right! The wait is officially over as the duo has finally released their highly antici
Artists Adekunle Gold and Olamide channel 70s fashion, posing against a classic black Mercedes-Benz with a custom ‘YBNL’ plate to announce their joint single, ‘Formation.’ Photo Credit: Adekunle Gold/Instagram
Do you remember when we told you that Adekunle Gold and Olamide were cooking something in the studio right? Turns out that we were right! The wait is officially over as the duo has finally released their highly anticipated new single, “Formation.â€
This fresh collaboration sees AG Baby and Baddo reuniting to deliver a sleek, mid-tempo record that perfectly blends soulful high-life influences with modern Afrobeats. It is a sophisticated, “cool†track that focuses on staying in one’s lane and maintaining focus—a vibe that is already resonating with fans across the continent.
Whether you are a day-one supporter of their chemistry or just looking for a new anthem for your playlist, “Formation†is definitely the track to have on repeat this week.
Artists Adekunle Gold and Olamide channel 70s fashion, posing against a classic black Mercedes-Benz with a custom ‘YB NL’ plate to announce their joint single, ‘Formation.’ Photo Credit: Adekunle Gold/Instagram
In the world of Afrobeats, few stories are as poignant as the rise of the YBNL dynasty. This week, Adekunle Gold took us down memory lane while looking toward the future, announcing a new single with his mentor and f
Artists Adekunle Gold and Olamide channel 70s fashion, posing against a classic black Mercedes-Benz with a custom ‘YB NL’ plate to announce their joint single, ‘Formation.’ Photo Credit: Adekunle Gold/Instagram
In the world of Afrobeats, few stories are as poignant as the rise of the YBNL dynasty. This week, AdekunleGold took us down memory lane while looking toward the future, announcing a new single with his mentor and former label boss, Olamide.
Can we talk about the fashion for a second? The pair went full 70s-chic in a garage filled with vintage hubcaps and golden lighting. AG Baby gave us sophisticated “Boss†energy in an oversized brown blazer, while Olamide served a major look in mustard yellow and flared trousers. The car is a classic Mercedes with a custom “YBNL†plate. It’s giving “Rich Uncles,†and we are here for it.
Artists Adekunle Gold and Olamide channel 70s fashion, posing against a classic black Mercedes-Benz with a custom ‘YB NL’ plate to announce their joint single, ‘Formation.’ Photo Credit: Adekunle Gold/Instagram
But it’s not all just about the aesthetic. Adekunle Gold got real with his fans about how much Olamide means to him. He shared that back in 2014, Olamide was the one who gave him his big break, taking him from a dreamer in Lagos to a global star. If you remember singing “Sade†at the top of your lungs back in 2015, you know how huge this is.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just driving demand in networking, it is reshaping how connectivity is managed, maintained, operated and optimised...
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just driving demand in networking, it is reshaping how connectivity is managed, maintained, operated and optimised...
Across Africa, many people can no longer afford the cities and neighborhoods they've long called home. OkayAfrica is running This Place Called Home - a series exploring the housing crisis transforming African cities and communities, and what happens when basic shelter becomes a luxury commodity.If you were to land in Addis Ababa today after just a few months away, much of the city would feel unfamiliar.
Driving from Bole International Airport toward the center, you'll pass a light-filled, tree-
Across Africa, many people can no longer afford the cities and neighborhoods they've long called home. OkayAfrica is running This Place Called Home - a series exploring the housing crisis transforming African cities and communities, and what happens when basic shelter becomes a luxury commodity.
If you were to land in Addis Ababa today after just a few months away, much of the city would feel unfamiliar.
The message is clear: Addis Ababa, home of the African Union, is repositioning itself as a global city.
But for locals like Qal Fessehaye, a writer and filmmaker, the urbanization is a story of fading belonging. She grew up in Addis and has always called it home. The changes have been "discombobulating," especially given the breakneck speed of construction.
"You would wake up, go outside, and a road would be finished overnight," she says in an interview with OkayAfrica. "It is a feat construction-wise. But for somebody living in the city, it's very jolting. You would try to visit somewhere, and an entire neighborhood would just be gone within a few days!"
Much of this change is driven by a multibillion-dollar "City Corridor Project" by Addis Mayor Adanech Abebe and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to develop and modernize the city's infrastructure. It is part of a larger Corridor Development Project across at least 58 cities.
The project envisions a city of pedestrian boulevards, bike lanes, green spaces, libraries, and commercial corridors. The broader goal is to make Addis a more livable, investor- and foreigner-friendly destination and a model African capital.
They have built a national library and a new science museum. The National Palace, the former residence of Emperor Haile SelassieI, has undergone a new refurbishment. In some neighborhoods, streets are newly paved, and dark streets now have streetlights. Residents now walk freely through areas once considered unsafe after dark.
But could the price of progress be too high?
Thousands of residents have been displaced, many of whom were removed from homes they had lived in for decades with little notice and relocated to condominiums on the city's edge. Some were instructed to enter lotteries to determine their new housing assignments. Others have reported little to no compensation. These new locations are often far from familiar jobs, schools, and the support systems they once depended on.
In April, Amnesty International called for the Ethiopian government to pause the project and end forced evictions.
Some, like Fessehaye, were not evicted by bulldozers but pushed out by the rising cost of living. She had lived in her previous apartment for about three years when her landlord informed her that the rent would more than double, from 12,000 birr (USD$87) to 25,000 birr (USD$181).
When she questioned the legality of the increase, the landlord simply told her she could either find another place or pay the new rate. Despite the notice, she had no choice but to downsize.
The dislocation pushed Fessehaye to act. She reached out to friends, fellow creatives, and longtime residents to reflect on the changes reshaping their city. Few were speaking openly, and many artists were hesitant to voice their discomfort. For them, it was a tricky balance between enjoying the changes and feeling that it was unfair to complain.
The result was a Substack post that spoke volumes. Many described feeling alienated in their city. While they acknowledged the improved infrastructure, they mourned the loss of Addis Ababa's soul and community.
"When I was having conversations with my friends... they're like, 'Okay, we can walk on the roads now, but you know, what about our neighborhoods? What about our homes?" she explains.
According to Fikir Getaneh Haile, an Assistant Professor at Acadia University, the city has prioritized private investment while sidelining residents. She argues that political leaders have to balance economic ambition with protections for everyday citizens. She also stresses the need for meaningful consultation with the communities.
Fessehaye agrees. But for her, consultation is not enough. True inclusion means being part of the planning process from the beginning. She points to the construction of Entoto Park as a positive example, where creatives and local professionals had a say in shaping the space.
"That gave people a sense of ownership," she said. "But with the [current project], for example, we were not part of the plan. It just happened around us."
She adds that the changes around them are isolating: "Those of us who lived in the center of the city just felt like nobody wants us here anymore. Because we can't afford anything, we can't afford the houses, we can't afford the food."
Despite the changes, a fierce loyalty to the city remains, with many hoping they will not have to move to other parts of the country that are more affordable. However, Fessehaye admits that it is becoming a reality that many face daily. "I've heard this a few times where people are saying it's just easier to move to a different region and live there."
MTN Nigeria has officially launched the Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre, marking a monumental leap forward for West Africa’s digital infrastructure....
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