Joeboy Takes Center Stage on Glo-Powered African Voices Easter Special
This week, the globally acclaimed Afro-pop star Joeboy has captured the spotlight on the Easter edition of African Voices, the popular CNN magazine program sponsored by telecommunications giant Globacom. The special episode, anchored by CNN's Larry Madowo, was filmed in Lagos, Nigeria, where Joeboy opened up about his remarkable rise in the music industry.
From University Dreamer to International Hit-Maker
During the interview, Joeboy, born Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus in 1997, recounted his journey from a starry-eyed university student to becoming one of Afrobeats' most beloved artists, often dubbed the genre's "lover boy." His career officially launched in 2017 with a viral cover of Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You," which marked his transition from rapping to singing and quickly garnered widespread attention.
Breakthrough with emPawa Africa and Warner Music
This early success caught the eye of Nigerian artist and entrepreneur Mr. Eazi, who invited Joeboy to join the emPawa Africa Talent Incubation initiative. This program is designed to support emerging African artists by providing essential resources to advance their careers. The collaboration led to the 2018 release of "Fààjí," featuring Mr. Eazi, which paved the way for Joeboy to sign with Warner Music Africa.
Under this partnership, he released the hit single "Baby" in 2019, followed by "Beginning," which amassed over 23 million views on YouTube. That same year, he dropped "Love & Light" and collaborated with Mayorkun on tracks like "Don’t Call Me" and "All for You."
Album Releases and Award Wins
Joeboy's debut album, "Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic," was released in February 2021, followed by his sophomore studio album, "Body & Soul," in 2023. His hard work and talent have been recognized with several prestigious awards, including:
- Best Artiste in African Pop at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards
- Best Pop at the 2020 Soundcity MVP Awards Festival
Broadcast Schedule for the Easter Edition
The Easter edition of African Voices featuring Joeboy will air on CNN with the following schedule:
- Saturday: 7:30 a.m. (initial airing) and 11 a.m. (repeat)
- Sunday: 3:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. (repeats)
- Monday: 3:00 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. (repeats)
- Tuesday: 5:45 p.m. (repeat)
This airtime schedule will be repeated the following week, concluding with a final broadcast at 3 a.m. on Monday. The episode offers viewers an intimate look at Joeboy's inspiring story and his contributions to the global music scene.
