Nigeria-born Afro-pop star, Joeboy, who is making waves globally, takes the spotlight this week on the Easter edition of African Voices, Globacom-sponsored CNN magazine programme.
Show anchor, Larry Madowo, engages the musician and songwriter in Lagos where he regales viewers with the story of his rise from a mere starry-eyed university dreamer to a global hitmaker.
Born Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus in 1997, Joeboy, who is also known as Afrobeats’ “lover boy,” launched his music career in 2017 with a viral cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”, marking his shift from rapping to singing.
This leap caught the attention of Nigerian artiste and entrepreneur, Mr. Eazi, who invited him to join the emPawa Africa Talent Incubation initiative designed to support budding African artistes by providing them with resources to advance their music careers.
The alliance birthed “Fààjí” which featured Mr. Eazi in 2018, consequent upon which he was signed to Warner Music Africa. Under this partnership, Joeboy released his hit single “Baby” in 2019, followed by “Beginning” which grossed 23 million views on YouTube. He also released “Love & Light” the same year, and featured Mayorkun in the tracks, “Don’t Call Me” and “All for You”.
Joeboy released his debut album, Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic, in February, 2021, and his sophomore studio album, Body & Soul, in 2023. His efforts paid dividend as he won Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards, and Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival.
The edition will begin airing at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday, with repeats the same day at 11 a.m.; on Sunday at 3.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. The repeats continue on Monday at 3 a.m. and 5.45 p.m. and on Tuesday at 5.45 p.m. The schedule of airtime will be repeated next week until 3 a.m. on Monday