News Update: Wizkid’s Made in Lagos crosses 150m streams on Audiomack, MTN achieves 89% national coverage

Hello guys. I believe you’re already in the weekend mood so let’s make it even cosier for you with some updates from around Nigeria and the rest of the world. Let’s go.

Wizkid surpasses 150 million streams on Audiomack

When Nigerian Afro-pop singer, Wizkid released his latest album, Made in Lagos back in October 2020, it was received with mixed feelings. While his fanbase thought it was the coolest thing since Jesus converted water into wine, others thought it was just there.

Eight months down the line, whether due to its sheer brilliance or through the fondness that familiarity usually breeds in music, opinions appear to be changing as more people took to listening to the album until it finally crossed 150 million streams on Audiomack alone.

This comes nearly a week after the Starboy celebrated 10 years since the drop of his Superstar album. In those 10 years, Wizkid has grown to become arguably the biggest name in Nigerian music as well as one of its biggest exports.

Made in Lagos is still the Nigerian album with the most streams on Spotify with 109.4 million. Burna Boy’s Twice as Tall released on August 12, 2020is second with 108.3 million. Davido’s A Better Time released November 13 is third with 33.5 million.

Zimbabwean startup launches virtual keypad for African languages

A Zimbabwean startup, Bhala has launched a mobile virtual keyboard that applies machine learning and state-of-the-art deep learning models to improve the experience of writing in African languages.

According to Disrupt Africa, the keyboard currently supports word auto-complete, spellcheck, and word prediction in ChiShona, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, KiSwahili, Sepedi, Sesotho and SiSwati. The company says more is coming soon.

“Too often Africans have to tolerate technology not designed for them or their needs. Bhala is different. It’s built by Africans, for Africans, and for African needs, while respecting privacy and ethical considerations through research-based methods

Director of operations Njabulo Sandawana

Director of operations Njabulo Sandawana said the keyboard currently has more than 10,000 downloads, and has already become one of the top free apps in Zimbabwe and eSwatini.

MTN achieves 88.9% nationwide coverage

‘Everywhere you Go’ is certainly more than just an expression for MTN as Nigeria’s biggest telecom operator has achieved 88.9% extensive nationwide coverage of its network.

This is an impressive feat considering the sheer size of the country and considering that not every region is profitable for its business. According to Nairameteics, MTN now boasts 80.4% coverage of its 3G population. 60.1% of its target population now has access to its 4G network across the country.

This development which comes even as its chairman debunked rumours of network collapse, reinforces MTN’s commitment to develop and provide Nigerians with access to high performing technological and digital services.