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How Nigerian Stowaways Survived 14 Days At Sea

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Two of the four stowaways from Nigeria who were rescued have detailed their survival strategy during their 14-day ordeal on a ship’s rudder.

 

The men shared how they managed to endure the journey of 3,500 miles from Lagos, Nigeria, to Vitória, Brazil.

 

Escaping the harsh economic conditions and political turmoil in Nigeria, the group had concealed themselves above the ship’s rudder, hopeful of reaching Europe.

 

Struggling with dwindling supplies, they ultimately resorted to drinking their own urine and seawater as the ship continued its course towards South America.

 

Describing the hardships encountered during their voyage, Thankgod Yeye, aged 38, recounted the distressing incident in a Daily Mail report, emphasizing the severity of the situation. “It was a terrible experience for me. On board, it is not easy. I was shaking, so scared. But I’m here,” he expressed.

 

Similarly, Roman Friday, 35, shared his perspective, noting that they devised a makeshift net around the rudder to prevent themselves from falling into the ocean.

 

He also mentioned witnessing the presence of “big fish like whales and sharks” in the open waters.

 

According to The Daily Mail, the survivors were interviewed at a shelter in Sao Paolo after the ordeal.

 

They were rescued by Brazilian federal police in the port of Vitória, located in the southeastern region, two weeks after embarking on their journey on June 27th.

 

Due to the confined spaces and the continuous noise of the engine, sleep was a rare and risky occurrence during their journey.

 

Friday expressed his relief upon being rescued, stating, “I was very happy when we got rescued. I pray the government of Brazil will pity me.”

 

It was revealed that while two of the rescued individuals returned to Nigeria as per their request, Yeye and Friday decided to seek asylum in Brazil.

 

They cited economic challenges, political instability, and rising crime rates in Nigeria as their motivations for leaving.

 

Yeye, identified as a Pentecostal minister from Lagos state, shared that his peanut and palm oil farm had been devastated by floods this year, leaving his family homeless, as reported by the Daily Mail.

 

Friday shared that his voyage to Brazil commenced on June 27th. A friend who was a fisherman rowed him to the rear of the Liberian-flagged vessel named Ken Wave, which was docked in Lagos.

 

At the rudder, he joined three other men who were also waiting for the ship’s departure.

 

Father Paolo Parise, a priest at the Sao Paulo shelter, noted that while he had encountered instances of stowaways before, this particular case was notably perilous.

 

People do unimaginable and deeply dangerous things,” he said

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Music Icon Quincy Jones Passes Away At 91

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Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer, composer, and cultural icon whose career spanned over seven decades, has passed away at the age of 91.

Jones died peacefully on Sunday night at his Bel Air home, surrounded by family, according to his publicist, Arnold Robinson.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Renowned for his unmatched versatility, Jones collaborated with some of the greatest musical talents of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Will Smith. He played an integral role in producing Jackson’s groundbreaking albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, which catapulted the pop star to global superstardom and earned Jones worldwide acclaim.

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Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones’ journey into music began early. His childhood introduction came from a neighbor’s piano playing and his mother’s singing. After moving to Washington state following his parents’ divorce, he honed his skills in his high school band and began playing with a young Ray Charles in Seattle’s vibrant club scene.

Jones’ career took off in New York, where he played trumpet in Elvis Presley’s early TV performances and worked with bebop legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. By 1958, he was working with Frank Sinatra, arranging for the singer’s band at the request of Princess Grace Kelly. Their partnership flourished, spanning several projects including Sinatra’s final album LA Is My Lady in 1984.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Jones’ talents extended into film and television scores, composing music for films such as The Italian Job, In the Heat of the Night, and the acclaimed The Color Purple, for which he earned three Oscar nominations. He also scored hit TV shows including The Bill Cosby Show and Roots.

In 1985, Jones produced and co-conducted the charity anthem “We Are the World” alongside Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raising millions for Ethiopian famine relief. Despite personal and professional challenges—including surviving a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1974—Jones’s career continued to thrive.

Jones’ influence wasn’t limited to music. In 1990, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, the company behind the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which launched the career of Will Smith. His media ventures also included the creation of Qwest TV, an on-demand music streaming service, and the magazine Vibe, which celebrated Black music and culture.

Over his career, Jones earned 80 Grammy nominations, winning 28—making him one of the most decorated artists in the award’s history. Tributes poured in following news of his death. Actor Michael Caine, who shared Jones’ birthdate, called him “a wonderful and unique human being.” Music artists such as LL Cool J expressed gratitude, saying, “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed one. Music would not be music without you.”

Jones is survived by his seven children, leaving behind an indelible legacy that will resonate through generations to come. His life’s work transformed music, television, and culture, proving that there truly was no limit to what Quincy Jones could accomplish.

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Prayers Won’t Build Roads, Fund Children’s Education – Jesse Jagz To Nigerians

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Singer and rapper Jesse Jagz has called on Nigerians to rethink their approach to religion.

Jagz suggested that African traditional religious gods have become ineffective, attributing this to the excessive alcohol given to them during rituals, which, according to him, has made them obese, diabetic, and unable to aid their worshipers.

Speaking on the ‘Big Talk’ podcast, the rapper also criticized followers of foreign religions for relying solely on prayer and expecting miracles without putting in the necessary effort. He stressed that prayers alone cannot provide essential social services or infrastructure.

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“When you go to a shrine and you see the priest pouring gin on the gods, Google how much a bottle of gin was in slavery. 40 slaves.

“Our gods are drunk on alcohol and meat. They are obese and diabetic.

“They can’t help us do anything. Prayers do not build roads or buy books for children. We have forgotten humanity,” he said.

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Presidents Invite Me To Dinner Wherever I Go – Davido Boasts

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Renowned Nigerian singer, David Adeleke, known by his stage name Davido, has stated that he receives special treatment globally due to his celebrity status.

The Afrobeats sensation mentioned that he is frequently invited to presidential dinners in nearly every country he visits, with the exception of the United States and the United Kingdom.

In a recent interview with Kiss Fresh London, Davido confidently shared that his fanbase includes influential figures such as the World Bank president, presidents of powerful nations, and other notable personalities.

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“Every country we go to, the President invites us for dinner except London [United Kingdom] and the United States of America.

“It’s beautiful to see. I mean, leaving my country, Nigeria, and people welcoming me like the president in other countries, shows how well Nigeria is doing around the world in terms of music and cultural impacts,” he said.

Davido has expressed that he feels most respected in Africa, which is why he cherishes his African tours more than those in Europe and America, even though the latter bring him greater financial rewards.

He shared that his Jamaican collaborator, YG Marley, was astonished by the immense admiration from fans when he visited Nigeria for the video shoot of their joint hit, ‘Awuke.’

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