Lifestyle
MTV Reschedules Video Music Awards To Avoid Conflict With Presidential Debate

MTV has announced that the 2024 Video Music Awards (VMAs) will now take place on September 11, a day later than initially scheduled, to avoid conflicting with the highly anticipated presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The debate, currently the only one scheduled between the two candidates, will take place on September 10 and is expected to draw significant attention. By rescheduling the VMAs, MTV avoids a potential clash that could have negatively impacted viewership for both events.
The VMAs will now be held at 17:00 PT / 20:00 EST on September 11 (01:00 BST on September 12 for British viewers) at the UBS Arena in New York. Taylor Swift leads the nominations with 10 nods, including artist, video, and song of the year. Other notable nominees include Post Malone with nine nominations, and Ariana Grande, Eminem, and Sabrina Carpenter with six each. The presidential debate will be broadcast by ABC, with Trump proposing additional debates hosted by Fox News and NBC. Harris has expressed openness to more debates, though none are confirmed at this time.
Read also : The Potential Return of Donald Trump and Its Global Impact
MTV has a long history of encouraging voter engagement, dating back to the 1992 election. By rescheduling the VMAs, the network avoids a potential image issue and ensures that both events can be viewed by their respective audiences without conflict
Lifestyle
African Beauty Brands You Should Know

Many African beauty brands are striving to bring the perfect products for each person closer to them, both at home and in the diaspora. These brands celebrate indigenous ingredients and sustainable practices and their names are making waves across the globe. Offering products that blend tradition with innovation, each of them carves its unique space and thrives in it.
These brands are curated without using standard criteria.
Shea Moisture
As a global beauty brand, Shea Moisture has deep African roots. This company was founded in 1991 by Liberians Nyema Tubman and Richelieu Dennis. The establishment of the brand was inspired by Dennis’ grandmother who sold shea butter in Sierra Leone, the brand uses raw shea and other African ingredients to create hair and skincare products tailored for textured hair and melanin-rich skin. They offer skin cleansing products with naturally derived formula and their products are available for adults and children.
Arami Essentials
Founded in Lagos, Nigeria, Arami champions minimalist skincare using raw, natural ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and black soap. Their simple yet elegant packaging and effective formulations have earned them a cult following both in Africa and abroad. Arami Essentials was established when the owner, Ore Runsewe, arrived in Nigeria from the UK, where she could not access hair products that suited her.
LIHA Beauty
This is a British-Nigerian beauty brand that focuses on natural, sustainable and ethically sourced ingredients for their products. Merging Yoruba tradition with British chic, LIHA Beauty was created by friends Liha Okunniwa and Abi Oyepitan. They utilize ingredients like raw shea butter, coconut oil, and tuberose to produce top products. LIHA Beauty celebrates African wellness with a modern twist.
Nubian Heritage
Known for its use of culturally authentic ingredients like frankincense, myrrh, and African black soap, Nubian Heritage is beloved for fusing ancient beauty recipes with contemporary science to create nourishing body care products. Nubian Heritage is inspired by African healing traditions. Here, they use organic ingredients to revitalize the skin and hair of their customers.
Skin Gourmet
This Accra-based brand creates 100% natural, edible skincare using raw ingredients sourced directly from Ghanaian farmers. With products like baobab oil and cocoa butter scrubs, Skin Gourmet is redefining luxury with authenticity and sustainability at its core. They use meticulous methods to craft their products which are free from preservatives.
These brands are redefining beauty like never before. Using natural ingredients, effective formulations and appealing packaging, they are telling African stories in their own way. Also, in the little way they can, they are empowering local communities, and showing the world the richness of the continent’s natural and cultural resources.
Lifestyle
Wizkid and Ayra Starr Face Backlash Over ‘Gimme Dat’ Lyrics Referencing ‘Diallo’

Wizkid and Ayra Starr Face Backlash Over ‘Gimme Dat’ Lyrics Referencing ‘Diallo’
Nigerian music stars Wizkid and Ayra Starr are under scrutiny following the release of their latest collaboration, “Gimme Dat.” The track has sparked controversy due to its chorus, which repeatedly mentions the name “Diallo” in a romantic context. Some listeners interpret this as a reference to Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old Guinean immigrant fatally shot by New York City police in 1999.
The contentious lyrics—“Diallo, Diallo / If I give you my love, oh / Make you no disappoint, oh…”—have been deemed by some as insensitive, suggesting they trivialize a significant historical tragedy.
Following the song’s release, Ayra Starr promoted the accompanying music video on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a snapshot and inviting fans to watch. However, the post quickly attracted criticism. A user, @Catchoris, expressed disapproval in a tweet that has since garnered over 2.5 million impressions:
“Ayra Starr & Wizkid are so ignorant. Wyclef sang ‘Diallo’ about the US police killing an unarmed African in 2000. 25 years later, 2 African stars turn that sad tune about police brutality into a stupid song about sex, repeatedly calling the murdered man’s name in the silly chorus.”
While some fans echoed these sentiments, accusing the artists of cultural insensitivity, others offered a different perspective. User @menlotanna argued:
“I get your point but you’re wrong bro. Ayra’s song samples Wyclef Jean’s ft Mary J. Blige ‘911’ which is actually a love song. And the ‘Diallo’ in Ayra’s chorus doesn’t reference the song you’re referring to because the notes in these songs are totally different.”
Indeed, “Gimme Dat” samples Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige’s 2000 hit “911,” a song depicting star-crossed lovers entangled in drama, with the male narrator evading police while the female narrator expresses concern. The original “911” does not reference Amadou Diallo. However, Wyclef Jean did release a separate track titled “Diallo,” directly addressing the 1999 police shooting of Amadou Diallo and criticizing systemic racism and police brutality.(en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org)
The confusion may stem from the similarity in names and Wyclef Jean’s involvement in both songs. While “911” is a romantic narrative, “Diallo” serves as a protest song memorializing Amadou Diallo’s tragic death.
As debates continue, neither Wizkid nor Ayra Starr have publicly addressed the controversy. Meanwhile, “Gimme Dat” has achieved commercial success, amassing over 1 million Spotify streams within 12 hours of its release. The song’s popularity underscores the global reach of Afrobeats, even as discussions about cultural sensitivity and artistic responsibility persist.(Inside Port Harcourt)
Lifestyle
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 42
Dive into the 42nd Edition of Diaspora Watch!
Explore the intersection of global politics, entertainment, and lifestyle with our latest edition.
Diaspora Watch FREE Digital View: https://diasporawatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/flipbookvol42/index.html
Subscribe to Diaspora Watch now on the below link!!!
https://diasporawatch.com/subscribe-to-diaspora-watch-newspaper/
The big question on everyone’s mind is Trump’s Tariffs: A Threat to American Jobs or a Boost to Automation? Meanwhile, sports fans will be thrilled to know that Cristiano Ronaldo is making his Hollywood debut with an action-packed film studio venture.
In a heartwarming story, a Nigerian nurse who had been working in the US has made the bold decision to return home in search of a more fulfilling life.
This edition also shines a spotlight on Nigeria’s Diaspora Commission Chairman, who has been honoured in Saudi Arabia for his outstanding contributions.
Other highlights include an in-depth analysis of the US-China trade war, which has intensified with Trump slapping a 104% tariff on Chinese goods.
You won’t want to miss the Diaspora Watch editorial on the need for ambassadors, followed by a report on the Nigerian government’s commencement of screening for ambassadors.
In sports, Aston Villa is hoping to lure Ademola Lookman with Champions League qualification. The back page is dedicated to this exciting development.
Grab your copy of the 42nd edition of Diaspora Watch today and stay up-to-date on all the latest news and trends.
-
News7 days ago
Ukraine Conducts Bold Operation on Russian Soil, Inflicting Major Damage
-
News7 days ago
Eight Injured as Man Throw Firebombs into Colorado Crowd
-
News6 days ago
Bill Gates to Donate Majority of Wealth to Africa
-
News4 days ago
African Union Condemns Trump Administration’s Travel Ban
-
News5 days ago
Mokwa Flooding Death Toll Rises to 200, Over 500 Still Missing
-
Diaspora2 days ago
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 49