Shaboozey and SZA excel at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, Nigeria’s Samuel Nwajagu becomes first African to win Mr International, Man City announce record-breaking revenue. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
1. Shaboozey and SZA excel at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards
Cheers to @ShaboozeysJeans for winning 3️⃣ #BBMAs!
🏆 Top Song Sales Artist
🏆 Top Selling Song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
🏆 Top Country Song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” pic.twitter.com/0PHDST73C8— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) December 13, 2024
The 2024 Billboard Music Awards were a night of celebration for Black artists, including Shaboozey and SZA, who dominated many of the evening’s major categories. Country sensation Shaboozey secured a win, cementing his rising star status. Meanwhile, R&B powerhouse SZA continued her reign, taking home top honors and solidifying her position as one of the most influential artists in contemporary music. Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott also stood out, with Kendrick earning the coveted Top Rap Song award for his hit “Not Like Us” and Travis being crowned Top Rap Touring Artist.
Afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Tyla were among the global icons recognized for their massive influence, highlighting the genre’s ongoing international ascent. Their wins signified the growing impact of African music on the global stage. With such diverse and talented artists being celebrated, the awards underscored the vibrant creativity and cultural influence of Black musicians across genres.
2. Nigeria’s Samuel Nwajagu becomes the first African to win Mr International
Nwajagu Samuel from Nigeria just won Mr International 2024 held in Thailand, beating the contestants from Vietnam and Indonesia. This is another big win for Nigeria and Africa
NO DNA JUST NGA pic.twitter.com/AInjc5rAEt
— Thuso van Zyl🇿🇦🇵🇸 (@Thuso1Africa) December 14, 2024
Samuel Nwajagu, a 23-year-old Nigerian model from Anambra State, has made history as the first African to win the prestigious Mister International title. The event, now in its 16th edition, was held in Bangkok, Thailand, featuring contestants from 47 countries, including debutant nations like Cameroon, Benin Republic, and Mali. Nwajagu emerged victorious after impressing judges in the rigorous preliminary stages that highlighted physical fitness, cultural representation, and formal elegance. The competition also tested participants’ intellect and charisma through questions on contemporary issues.
The win marks a groundbreaking achievement for Africa in one of the world’s largest male pageants, second only to Mister World. Nwajagu bested Nguyễn Mạnh Lân of Vietnam and Glenn Victor Sutanto of Indonesia in the final round to clinch the title. Outgoing titleholder Kim Thitisan Goodburn crowned Nwajagu, whose triumph coincides with the pageant’s newly inclusive rules allowing fathers, married, and divorced men to compete.
3. Tyla wins Top Afrobeats Artist at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards
Bringing an Amapiano party to the BBMA stage whilst winning two awards in one night >>>>
Tyla is who she thinks she is
🥇 Best Afrobeats Artist
🥇Best Afrobeats Song (Water)South Africa to the world 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/7sMSAl8kdd
— Horde (@wearehorde_) December 13, 2024
South African singer Tyla made history at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards, claiming the prestigious Top Afrobeats Artist award over heavyweights like Burna Boy, Rema, Tems, and Asake. Her breakthrough hit single, “Water,” also won the Top Afrobeats Song award, cementing her place as a rising force in the global Afrobeats scene.
Tyla’s double win marks a pivotal shift in the genre, which has long been led by Nigerian artists. Her success highlights South Africa’s growing influence in Afrobeats and paves the way for more diverse representation in the global market. The Billboard Music Awards celebrates excellence across music, with Tyla’s wins as one of the night’s standout moments.
4. Jay-Z calls for rape case against him to be dismissed after accuser acknowledges inconsistencies
EXCLUSIVE: Jay-Z rape accuser comes forward to NBC News; acknowledges inconsistencies in her allegations. pic.twitter.com/tzk8qIKSFJ
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 14, 2024
Jay-Z has called for the dismissal of a rape lawsuit filed against him, following the accuser’s admission of inconsistencies in her allegations. The woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” claims Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards when she was 13. While she maintains the allegations, discrepancies in her account have surfaced, including her father’s denial of driving her home and a celebrity she named as a witness stating they were not present. Professional images reviewed by NBC suggest Jay-Z and Combs were at a different location than the one described. Both rappers have denied the allegations, calling the claims baseless.
Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, labeled the case as “frivolous” and criticized the accuser’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, for filing without proper vetting. Jay-Z echoed the sentiment in a post on X, asserting the complaint was false and motivated by “money and fame.” He also reiterated his call for the woman’s identity to be revealed. Buzbee, who represents 120 accusers in similar cases against Combs, has yet to address the mounting inconsistencies in this lawsuit. With evidence raising doubts about the claims, Jay-Z’s legal team is pressing the court to dismiss the case immediately.
5. Manchester City announces record-breaking revenue
𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂: Manchester City have announced club-record revenues of £715million in their latest annual accounts, alongside profits of £73.8m.
[@SamLee] pic.twitter.com/nXxnJ1R57y
— Transfer Sector (@TransferSector) December 13, 2024
Manchester City has reported a record-breaking revenue of £715 million ($903 million) for the 2023-24 financial year, further cementing their dominance in football both on and off the pitch. The reigning Premier League champions, who secured a historic fourth consecutive league title, posted a £2.2 million increase in revenue compared to the previous year. Despite slightly reduced profits of £73.8 million, the club’s financial growth was fueled by £139 million ($176 million) from player sales and a massive global following that makes them the most-watched team in the world.
City also retained its position as the Premier League’s most valuable brand, with the Brand Finance Football 50 Report valuing the club at £1.33 billion ($1.68 billion). This places them ahead of their arch-rivals Manchester United, who are valued at £1.16 billion ($1.46 billion) and have not recorded a profit since 2019. While City continues to celebrate commercial success, the shadow of Financial Fair Play (FFP) charges looms over the Etihad Stadium as the club awaits a verdict.
Featured Image: @shaboozey @sza/Instagram
Our Weekday News Digest summarizes five of the hottest news topics worldwide–including celebrity news from Hollywood to Nollywood, the latest trending global headlines from American reports to top African news today, and the best sports stories in 2024.
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