Would 15 members be too big a number for a single group? But that is exactly the number of people in Matsosangwao Traditional Dance Troupe, who recently released the much-talked about Moruti ka Lefitshwana album.

Celebrated local music writer/singer Sylvester Kyagulanyi was on Saturday declared this year's Victoria Gospel Music Awards (VIGA) 'artiste of the year' at a colourful function at the Kampala Serena Hotel.

American pop star, Jay Z, and British supermodel, Naomi Campbell, will spend a day with the underprivileged children in Abuja, as the build-up to the 2008 edition of THISDAY Music and Fashion Festival continues.

At last, the remains of the late Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, a musical icon, have eventually arrived Lagos despite the initial problems encountered by the family.

Tanzanian songstress Nakaaya has been making a splash on the East African music scene of late. Her remake of the classic “Malaika” and her controversial yet honest criticism of corrupt politicians in “Mr. Politician” have been creating a lot of buzz around the hot new artist.*

Cameroonian popular musician, Pierre Roger Lambo Sandjo aka Lapiro de Mbanga, is reportedly sick at the Nkongsamba principal prison.

If I were a poet, I would say an ode to the latest victim of the dreaded axe at Pop Star, Elizabeth Ramaeba and the opening line would be Elizabeth, Oh Elizabeth.

Could you introduce yourself? I am called Jean Claude Yamuremye, a.k.a. Dr. Claude. I was born in Bujumbura to a Rwandan mother and a Burundian father.

5FM has secured MTV base VJ, Fikile "Fix" Moeti, as the Sunday night host of The Best of 5 with Fix. Fix made MTV history back in 2006 when she became the first-ever female video jockey on MTV base after winning a nationwide competition to become MTV base's newest VJ.

Angolan popular musician, Bangão, was the main focus of the monthly "Musongue da Tradição" music show at Kilamba recreational centre, with the best hits of his repertoire.

I have been to Entebbe International Airport quite a few times of recent. Not because I have been on a globe-trotting spree. Rather, to witness the home-coming of budding musical celebrities-in-the-making, fresh from a musical expedition in a neighbouring capital.

UPCOMING Zimbabwean reggae musician Itai Mawisire is currently rocking the airwaves with his new album, Its been A Long Time.

If you enjoy Jamaican music, you've probably heard of the dancehall duo Chaka Demus and Pliers. The two artists are set to visit Kampala, where they will bless the launch of Henry Tigan's album Muzudde in September.

Kenya's musician Amani has teamed up with Tanzania's AY for a new song that they have dubbed Usiwe Mbali. The two have already aired the video of the song.

Uganda's Bebe Cool was among the 50,000 people who attended Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday in London's Hyde Park a fortnight ago. Bebe Cool, who sang his latest track Born in Africa, performed in the last minutes before the close down of the concert.

The three Tanzania Gospel artists, Emmanuel Mgase, Atufigwegwe Mwakunga and Solomon Mwaigwisya, who call themselves Waalikwa, meaning "the invited", wowed gospel lovers on July 6 in concert at the Metropole Hall, Arusha.

For the third year running, THISDAY Newspapers, one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria has brought Nigeria close to the world through its annual music festival, which is today, adjudged the best in the African Continent. And between July 11 and October 14, Nigerians and the entire world would watch international artistes, and cultural icons performing alongside their Nigerian counterparts in a musical carnival billed to take place in Lagos, Abuja, Washington DC with grand finale in London. This year's festival is designed to revolutionise global perspectives on African issues, shifting focus from the problems to the opportunities and from treating the "symptoms" to curing the "diseases" and projecting positive images of Africa by showcasing the renaissance of Africa's music, fashion and the arts. FUNKE OLAODE profiles some of these renowned artistes and coutoriers who are expected to put up a superlative performances at the events.

THE thick line between secular and gospel music is increasingly becoming blurred, with most gospel artistes borrowing heavily from sungura, and vice versa. Pastor Charles Charamba has done it with success, and people seem to love it, a development that has inspired other gospel musicians to follow suit.

We were getting used to seeing him as the bonafide hooks man - the kinda singer whose cameo appearance on a song automatically catapults it into 'hit-dom'. And many were scared on his behalf: will he end up like Pasto Goody Goody (who comes correct, featuring on other artistes' songs, but never pulls it off with his own solo projects)? Or will he become like Akon (who comes correct all times - either on his own offering, or on others')?

9Nice the Gonga Aso singer opened up to Entertainment Editor, Ogbonna Amadi on his travails as a man driven by a compassion to survive hunger and to succeed life.