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‘OSG’- On The Shoulders Of Giants Album: Tito Da.Fire Shares The Stories Behind Each Track To His Fans

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Tito Da.Fire

‘OSG’- On The Shoulders Of Giants Album: Tito Da.Fire Shares The Stories Behind Each Track To His Fans

Tito Da.Fire

In a couple of days, precisely Friday 23rd of September, 2022, the singer, composer, and lyricist, Tito Da.Fire will be introducing a new generation to his world of Global music with a touch of Afrobeats, and alternative, reggae and juju fusions through his intimate songwriting ability in his third album titled, “OSG” On The Shoulders Of Giants.

The talented artist shares the stories behind each song to the global audience.
Tito Da.Fire, who is known for his dexterity drew from his classically trained background to create a captivating symphony for all ages in the beautifully recorded 12-track album which is expected to drop on Friday.

 

 

In a track-by-track explanation, the music enthusiast takes his fans and listeners deep into his latest record with a concentrated breakdown of every song.

According to him, “This Album tells my compelling story of NIGHALI (Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia) through Music. I coined that name as a metaphor for non-violent Pan-African liberation through Music, Cultural, and Economic Empowerment. It is themed around rising on “On the Shoulders Of Giants”, which is my rising through the Liberian Civil war, to Nigeria (my father’s birth Country) some went to Ghana, some went on to become wealthy, some like me, became one of the most Consistent Voices out of Nigeria, impacting over the past 25years, reaching million weekly. Importantly, the album reminds the culture that, while we all call out the oppressors, and their oppression, are we ourselves guilty of oppressing those around us?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He continues, “That’s where “Elevation” comes in, that’s where the strength of the “African Woman”, comes to play. That’s where “Temple” speaks to our vanities, that’s how “I Come With Fire”, in the message, to put “Fire Inna Dancefloor, knowing that “One Day”, whether our birth was singly or under the drum rolls of “Abibeji” twins, nothing shall make us sing a “Breakup Anthem”, away from our dreams of victory and freedom, because we rest assured that our “Lifeguard” stands solidly, that no “Kokoro” can come close to “Me & U (winners)” in our generation, incited in spirit to move, positively, incited to the soles of our feet, to dance with the zest gathered from major thinkers who have left their marks, for us to rise – “On The Shoulders Of Giants – OSG!”

1. “African Woman”
‘“African Woman”, the first song off the album, with Bunmi Africa poetry, feels like Caramel toppings, and my son Ryan singing, is my kinda twilight, serenaded storytelling scene like I’m in “NTA Tales By Moonlight”. A honey-tongued tribute to where I came from, my mother, motherland, sisters, Africa, and beautiful and strong women globally, like Lupita Nyong’o, Queen mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa, Mother Victoria, Kamala Haris, Ngozi Chimamanda Adichie”, #AfricanWoman”.

 

 

 

 

 

2. “Elevation”
“The story of “Elevation” is about triumphs of the culture, of Afrobeats, about freedom from Neo-colonialism, it is also my call for peaceful revolution in “NIGHALI” (that’s Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia, which are metaphors for non-violent Pan-African liberation) through Music and empowerment. We were wealthy, got broken by Civil wars, in Liberia, to Nigeria, Ghana, as Refugees, some of us became wealthy again…but while we all call out the oppressors, are we guilty of oppressing those around us? That’s where Elevation comes in, it incites the spirit to move, positively, incites your feet, to dance!”

3. “Kokoro”
“This song is the first single off OSG Album, it was my comeback from a break-up, from a hot breakfast, betrayal, and I’m saying “the ant or insect that eats the leaf, is on the leaf”. Kokoro is a warning, like a popular Nigerian slang called “Frenemies”, with me saying “your best friend could be your worst enemy, so shine your eyes” be street smart.”

 

 

 

 

 

4. “Lifeguard”
“You’re the angel God sent to me…when I was down you pull out of the waters, you’re my lifeguard”, those “Lifeguard” lyrics are very personal and spiritual to me, it’s me finding myself on a lone career and life ship at one time, and then connecting with Grammy winner Wouter Kellerman, just brought a timeless friendship, my love for South Africa grew with leaps, as we began to create timeless magic. After I produced “Lifeguard”, my producer Aizbag came to Lagos and we wrote the song. It is a symbol of our spiritual heritage with Jah, our Creator.

5. “Fire Inna Dancefloor”
“On this song, I drag you back onto the dance floor culture. I simply cannot drop a body of work where there aren’t tracks that demand you to shake your body, like fire on the dancefloor”, right in the middle range of the album.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. “One Day”
‘“One day the sun will rise for your end, one day you go make am”. That’s a street anthem, it’s me saying, take it from me, you can make it, regardless of what society throws at your feet, cos I’ve walked that road. I remind you of giants like Fela, 2baba, Don Jazzy, and others who paved the way for Afrobeats to rise on the international stage and with it, the rise of the culture.”

7. “I Come With Fire”
“I’m roaring on this song, literally if you like. Over the 2-year period I recorded this album, I’ve got burnt in many ways, with waves of lofty highs and deep lows like “tears and blood” Fela” sang about, so what else is left to be afraid of? I had Producer Sharnor coming from Ajah, Marshall Bryant Mixing in LA, Aizbag coming from Owerri to Lagos, Olumix Mixing in Germany, Wouter sending in the flutes from Johannesburg, and Bill Hare in California Mastering, those were the highs of the album “let my burns turn to Gold, who Baba God don bless, nobody fit stop am”, is Tito Da.Fire speaking the truths of many, from a place of sincerity”.

 

 

 

 

 

8. “Breakup Anthem”
‘“Breakup Anthem starts with the soulful “It’s like me against the world, in this thing called love”. The song tells how hard it is, to not go through a dish of Breakup, or “breakfast” as it’s the common slang in West Africa. Plenty of times we feel we’re in the right, but the pain doesn’t care. Selma sings her heart out with me.”

9. “Abibeji”
‘“Abibeji” is a song about love, a song for walking down the aisle, it’s a lover singing to the love of his life. “my baby will give birth to twins¸ if God wills”. On the conceptualization of the song, I remember my grandfather who had a set of twins and how much of an impact it had on him, and so it struck with his family that twins are double blessings from God, which I tap into”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. “Temple”
“Temple hits you differently, like Bob Marley singing “Redemption Song”, or Buju Banton belting his heart on “Destiny” and Wyclef on Diallo”. This time I sang about Solomon, his vanities, and his way with women, and metaphorically to myself, cos I was named “Jedidiah” at birth, and that translates to “Solomon according to Biblical canon. I find myself levitating to the rhythm in this only reggae/soul ballad on the album. You should never forget that your body is a temple of the Highest God”.

11. “Me & U (Winners) feat. Selma & Ryan E. Peters”
“This song unearths a wealth of emotions from me, with Selma and my son. Some traditional households hoard love and praise, like hoarding fuel during scarcity. But I believe somebody needs to let you know that you’re a star, a winner, Somebody like me”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. “Nighali”
“This song re-echos how the album tells the compelling story of NIGHALI (Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia) through Music. I coined that name as a metaphor for places my bloodline runs, having cultural significance to younger generations, to Nations. The music in the album calls for Global Empowering and Elevation through shared cultural knowledge and experiences gathered from major thinkers who have left their marks, for us to ride OSG (On The Shoulders Of Giants)”. This twelfth song on the album summarizes the message of Social Change, of freedom and of shared cultural knowledge that Tito Da.Fire stands for”.

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Top 5 Most Visited Countries in The World

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Top 10 Most Visited Countries in 2024

Top 5 Most Visited Countries in The World

 

International tourism has come a long way to returning back to pre-pandemic levels. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that international arrivals reached 80% of prior levels during the first quarter of 2023. That’s an estimated 235 million tourists traveling internationally in just three months, more than double the same period in 2022. The recovery has been robust across various regions, including Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East

Why has this happened? In addition to few (if any) restrictions on travel, the popularity of online travel and booking platforms makes it easy for jetsetters to buy flights from their phones. They can compare real-time prices, plan out personalized itineraries, and pay for bookings with a few button clicks.

We’ve also seen a blending of business and personal travel into longer, more flexible trips. Termed “bleisure” by travel fans, the concept gives business travelers an excuse to book a few extra days to see the sites and even bring friends or family along. It’s not surprising to see some of these trips lean toward the more exotic, with luxury accommodations and excursions becoming the norm for trips of all lengths.

So, where are people traveling? The Global Tourism Data of inbound tourists from the UNWTO gives a peek into the most popular destinations across the globe from data collected in 2023.

1. France

100 million visitors ($68.6 billion USD in receipts)

Tourism in France took a big jump in 2023, with Forbes reporting a 12.3% increase in just the first quarter. France currently has around 29,000 tourist accommodations for travelers to stay, with hotels making up 17,600 of those locations. Luxury hotels alone saw a jump in occupancies, an incredible 31.4% increase from the year before.

The region with the most hotels is the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, followed by Île-de-France, where Paris can be found.

2. Spain

85.17 million visitors ($92 billion USD in receipts)

Spain has seen phenomenal growth in its popularity as a tourist spot, with the Spanish Statistical Office reporting 5.2 million international tourists in December. This was an increase of 26.2% from the previous December and represented part of the total 18.7% increase for the entire year.

Where were visitors from? The United Kingdom sent the most tourists (907,752 million), followed by France (819,405 million) and Germany (561,521 million). All three countries had more tourists in 2023, with increases of 18% to 23% over 2022.

Spain is known for its lovely year-round weather, which may be why so many flock to its warm temps when other places turn cold. More visitors came in January than other months, and June was the least popular.

3. United States of America

66.48 million visitors ($175.9 USD in receipts)

While the U.S. is at number three on this list, the post-pandemic recovery it’s seeing lags a bit behind other countries. The U.S. Travel Association reports international travel volumes at 84% of 2019 levels, with a full recovery expected by 2025.

Visitors to the U.S. spend around $4,000 per visit and add $155 billion to the U.S. economy each year.

Of the countries that send the most tourists, many have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. These include the Caribbean and other countries in the Americas, as well as Europe. Visitors from China and Japan have been reluctant to return after COVID. Both send around half of the tourists they used to, leaving the U.S. economy with four million fewer shoppers to spend their vacation dollars.

4. Italy

57.25 million visitors ($55.9 billion USD in receipts)

Reuters reports that Italy broke records in 2023 with more international tourists visiting the country than domestic travelers. This hadn’t happened since the pandemic.

The influx of visitors created a boon for the hospitality industry, and Italy saw a 13.4% increase in hotel stays. The 134 million registered guests was an all-time high, with 10% more total nights booked in 2023 than in 2022.

However, all the buzz about Italy caused the country to rethink its hottest tourist spots, even limiting the number of hours vacationers could visit and charging for the most popular sites. Venice, for example, has instituted a fee system to move about the city during peak hours; Capri, Linosa, and other locales created an outright ban on cars for everyone but the locals.

5. Turkey

55.16 million visitors ($49.5 billion USD in receipts)

Turkey is known for its amazing scenery and year-round popularity, and over 550 of the country’s beaches were awarded blue flag status in 2023. The voluntary award recognizes beaches and marinas based on several “environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility” standards.

Its geographic location helps it attract tourists from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Of all the places people come to see, Istanbul tops the list. In fact, the city was ranked as the most visited city in the world in 2023.

Each visitor spends around $952 per trip to Turkey, a 27% increase over 2019 (the last year tracked at pre-pandemic levels).

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Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others

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Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others

 

Legendary comedian Gbenga Adeyinka is set to host the much-anticipated third edition of his comedy show, Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming on November 17, 2024. The event will take place at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, promising an unforgettable night of laughter and entertainment.

The lineup features a mix of iconic comedians and musicians, including Omobaba No.1, Gandoki, Dr. Smile, Bash, Queen Salawa Abeni, Reminisce, and a host of surprise acts, with D’Banj headlining the show.

Gbenga Adeyinka remarked, “Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming will be the biggest comedy show of the year! We’ve curated an incredible roster of iconic headliners, and I’m excited to bring this level of entertainment to Lagos.”

Laffmattazz has cemented its place as a leading comedy brand, showcasing Nigeria’s finest comedic talent. This year’s event is poised to outdo its predecessors, featuring performances from Akpororo, Forever, Seriki Dariya, Princephelar, Dee One, Taooma, Baba Alariya, Madiba of Comedy, ATM, and more.

The night will also include musical performances by Tee Famous, The Countryman, Dami Cruz, and others, with DJ Wiki spinning on the decks.

Event Details:
– Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
– Time: Red Carpet (3:00 PM), Show Start (5:00 PM)
– Venue: Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos

Ticket Information:
– Regular: ₦7,000
– VIP: ₦20,000
– Table of 8 Gold: ₦1.5 million
– Table of 8 Platinum: ₦3 million

Purchase Tickets at:
1. Ile Iyan by PODs, GRA Ikeja
2. Ofada Boy, Surulere
3. Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki

Online Tickets Available at:
1. Ariiyatickets.com
2. Grandtickets.ng
3. Laffmattazz.ng

For ticket purchases, sponsorships, inquiries, and collaboration opportunities, please contact: (+234) 08156111111.

Brought to you by: Maltina, Goldberg, Ace Roots, Goldberg Black
Supported by: Parralex Bank, Enclave Green Homes, FIRS, Lagos State Government
Media Partners: African Magic, Royal Roots Cinema, Hip TV, Views Channel, Vybz FM, Ibrand TV, Rapid Broadcasting Network, City FM, Jordan FM, Rainbow FM, Mainland FM, Boom Radio, TVC, Kennis FM, Beat FM
Outdoor Partners: Nimbus Media, FPL Media, Folham, Media Crush, Elev8 Media

Stay updated by following Laffmattazz on social media @laffmattazz_ga1st for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content.

Don’t miss this epic comedy event! Secure your tickets now and join the conversation online using #LaffmattazzLagos3rdComing #GbengaAdeyinka.

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We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

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We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

 

 

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, counselled members of the House to strengthen the legislative arm of government ahead of the future.

Dr. Obasa gave the advice in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the opening of a three-day budget retreat for lawmakers and staff of the House with the theme: ‘Optimising the legislature’s power of the Purse’ for effective service delivery in Lagos State’.

The Speaker challenged the lawmakers to be committed in their legislative duties as they must leave lasting legacies for the future, strengthen governance, responsibility and accountability.

He charged the lawmakers on improved and effective legislative oversight functions being one of the responsibilities of the legislature.

“What we do now is really not about us; it is for the totality of the system.

“I appreciate this budget retreat. Each one of us must be responsible in carrying out the assignments we are tasked with. This is very essential.

“We carry out budget scrutiny based on what is presented by the executive. Once we give a go-ahead, it means the executive must comply and treat it accordingly because it has become a law.

“Going forward, all the reports of each committee must be presented at the floor of the House. This will help us decide on how to act for the sake of transparency and accountability,” the Speaker said.

He advised the lawmakers against docility in the task of ensuring that Lagos continues to weather economic storms.

“We all have roles to play and, in doing that, sentiments and self-benefits must be removed. The day you start with self-benefit, you have become a failure.

“If you do your job the way you should do it, you will earn your respect and will be held in high esteem by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are here today again to look at how we can improve on the laws we make at the House of Assembly as well as our oversight functions.

‘Let’s continue to be dedicated and loyal and I am sure we will get there. Let’s always straighten the path for Lagosians and those coming behind us,” he urged.

In his opening remark, the Clerk and Head of Service of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, described the retreat as an avenue to have insights into the state’s budget.

While commending the Speaker, he urged the participants to “be attentive and take home fresh ideas and knowledge.”

 

We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

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