Sex trafficking: Appeal Court upholds R. Kelly’s 30-year prison sentence

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1 month ago

February 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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A federal appeal court in Manhattan has upheld singer R. Kelly’s 30-year prison sentence.

The court also upheld his racketeering and sex trafficking convictions.

Ekwutosblog reports that R. Kelly was convicted for racketeering and sex trafficking in 2021.

In 2022, the singer bagged another 20-year jail term for child sex charges, including charges of producing images of child sexual abuse in Chicago.

The Appeal Court, on Wednesday February 12, 2025, concluded that the 58-year-old musician used his fame to exploit and sexually abuse girls and young women

Also, the three-judge panel rejected his claim that prosecutors didn’t prove he established a racketeering scheme to recruit women and underage girls for sex.

The court held: “Enabled by a constellation of managers, assistants, and his other staff for over 25-years, Kelly exploited his fame to lure ladies and young women into his grasp.

“Evidence at trial proved that he would isolate victims from friends and family, control every aspect of their lives, and abuse them physically, sexually, and verbally.”

Reacting to the Appeal Court judgement in a statement, Kelly’s legal representative, Jennifer Bonjean, said she would appeal the case at the Supreme Court.

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SILVERBIRD INFLUENCER AWARDS: PELLER MAKES HISTORY AS YOUNGEST NIGERIAN WINNER

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5 hours ago

March 17, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Lagos, Nigeria – In a star-studded ceremony attended by industry heavyweights, including Don Jazzy, Peller has emerged as the youngest Nigerian to win the coveted Silverbird Influencer of the Year award.

Ekwutosblog gathered that this remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone in Peller’s career, who just a few years ago, could hardly imagine sharing the stage with the likes of Don Jazzy, let alone winning such a prestigious award.

Peller’s win serves as a testament to the power of uniqueness, consistency, and determination. As he takes home the coveted award, he leaves behind a message of inspiration for aspiring influencers and young Nigerians: “Be unique, stay consistent, and pray for grace.”

Congratulations to Peller on this groundbreaking achievement!

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Kathmandu bursts into colour as thousands celebrate Holi festival

Published

4 days ago

March 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A tourist has her face covered in colored powder during Holi, the Hindu festival of colors at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, March 13, 2025. © AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha

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Thousands gathered in Kathmandu on Thursday to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi, dancing to festive music, drumming, and smearing each other with vibrant colours.

Kathmandu bursts into colour as thousands celebrate Holi festival

Known as the festival of colours, Holi marks the arrival of spring in Nepal, India, and other South Asian countries.

The celebration honours the divine love between the Hindu god Krishna and his consort Radha, symbolising rebirth and renewal.

The festival, also called Faghu in Nepal, was joined by foreign tourists trekking the Himalayas.

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Nigerian artists generated ₦58 billion in royalties from Spotify in 2024

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4 days ago

March 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Nigerian artists generated ₦58 billion in royalties from Spotify in 2024

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Nigerian music has reached a monumental financial milestone, with royalties generated by Nigerian artists on Spotify alone exceeding ₦58 billion in 2024.

This staggering figure is more than double that of 2023 and five times greater than 2022 in what captures the impressive growth of Nigerian music.

This staggering figure headlines Spotify’s 2024 Loud & Clear report that revealed the platform paid out 10 billion USB in royalties in 2024 which marks a remarkable 100% increase from its pay out 10 years ago.

The report also reveals that the number of Nigerian artists generating ₦10 million in royalties from Spotify has more than doubled since 2023 and more than tripled compared to 2022 figures, underscoring the explosive commercial growth of Nigerian music globally.

“We remain committed to empowering Nigerian artists to earn from their art whilst maintaining transparency with artists and stakeholders,” says Jocelyne Muhutu-Remy, Spotify’s Sub-Saharan Africa Managing Director.

“The incredible growth of Nigerian music, both locally and globally, is a testament to the talent and creativity within Nigeria, and we are proud to support its continued rise.”

Key Financial Highlights from the 2024 Report:

Nigerian artists were discovered by first-time listeners over 1 billion times on Spotify in 2024
More than 1,900 Nigerian artists were added to Spotify editorial playlists—33% more than in 2023
A significant portion of the ₦58 billion in royalties earned by Nigerian artists came from listeners outside Nigeria.
The fact that a significant portion of the streaming revenue generated by Nigerian artists is from listeners outside the country captures the global spread of Nigerian music.
It also a reminder that Nigeria needs to do more in terms of internet infrastructure and a stronger economy to increase the country’s streaming capacity.
The report also highlights the broader cultural impact of Nigerian music.
- Global listeners on average spend over 1.1 million hours streaming Nigerian artists
- Users have created approximately 250 million playlists featuring Nigerian artists worldwide
- Nigerian artists have seen a 49% export growth over the past three years
- Local consumption of Nigerian content has grown 206% year-over-year, with a remarkable 782% increase over the past three years
This unprecedented financial success reflects the dynamic creativity emerging from Nigeria’s music scene and signals Spotify’s ongoing commitment to supporting artistic talent across the region.