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Sónar 2019 presents more than 80 premieres and unique experiences among 140 performances by artists from 36 countries

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Among dozens of premieres (exclusive worldwide or in Spain) and unique experiences are the new shows by Arca, Holly Herndon, Four Tet, Floating Points, BERLINIST presents GRIS Game Live, Bad Gyal,Hauschka & Francesco Donadello, Cecilio G and three back to back dj sets conceived exclusively for Sónar: Louie Vega & Honey Dijon, Peggy Gou & Palms Trax and Blawan & Dax J.

After its 25th anniversary, this year the festival reaffirms its vocation for diversity, with an important presence of creators who elaborate their artistic discourses from a radical point of view or on geographical, political, sonorous or gender fringes. K Á R Y Y Y N, Lotic, Jlin, Muqata’a, Hibotep or Sevdaliza stand out in this line.

This edition listens to the sounds from all the different corners of the world, with artists from 36 countries, and a special focus on the new sound of Africa such as Petite Noir, Deena Abdelwahed, Sho Madjozi, DJ Lag, Obongjayar, Faka, Slikback, and voices from Latin America, with Bad Bunny, Nicola Cruz, Dengue Dengue Dengue, LAO & Wasted Fates (N.A.A.F.I.), Jesse Baez, ha$lopablito, or La Diabla.

The national scene is also strongly represented by talents such as Bad Gyal, Dellafuente, Cecilio G, Territoire, Ylia, Virgen Maria, Tutu, Desert+Desilence, Hamill Industries, Mans O, Aleesha, La Diabla, Phran, $kyhook, Rrucculla or Alba G. Corral, among many others.

Faithful to its commitment to technological advances and with the will to connect Sónar’s programming with that of Sónar+D, the festival presents several shows that explore the relationship between music and the brain, the dialogue between light and sound and Artificial Intelligence; which for the first time in history makes the leap to the stage with Holly Herndon’s PROTO, Daito Manabe+Kamitani Lab: dissonant imaginary, Ouchhh+Za!: Superstrings, plus Actress+Young Paint Live AI/AV.

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SÓNAR 2019: 140 CONCERTS AND DJ SETS

The 26th edition of Sónar, which for one year only will take place in the middle of summer, on 18, 19 and 20 July, will present a total of 140 shows on 10 stages across Sónar by Day, at Fira Montjuïc in Barcelona, and Sónar by Night, at Fira Gran Via in L’Hospitalet. In 2020, the festival will return to its usual dates, 18, 19 and 20 JuneSónar 2019 will present 89 concerts and 51 DJ sets of global stars and emerging artists, many of which will be premieres or exclusive shows with an extensive audiovisual component. A total of 12 shows will use the latest technological innovations such as Artificial Intelligence, data visualization or live scientific experimentation.

A$AP Rocky – DOWNLOAD 
Bad Bunny – DOWNLOAD
Arca – DOWNLOAD
K Á R Y Y N – DOWNLOAD 
Muqata’a – DOWNLOAD
Body & Soul – DOWNLOAD
Amelie Lens – DOWNLOAD 
Peggy Gou – DOWLOAD
Theo Parris – DOWNLOAD
Daito Manabe – DOWNLOAD 
Ouchhh – DOWNLOAD
Holly Herndon – DOWNLOAD 
Kelly Moran Grand Piano AV Live – DOWNLOAD 
Murlo – DOWNLOAD
Caterina Barbieri – DOWNLOAD
Sho Madjozi – DOWNLOAD
Nicola Cruz – DOWNLOAD
Bad Gyal – DOWNLOAD
Dellafuente – DOWNLOAD
Virgen Maria – DOWNLOAD 
The main shows of Sónar 2019

Sónar 2019 will feature some of the most important players in hip hop and contemporary urban music such as New York MC and one of the top hip hop stars of the present millennium A$AP Rocky, British MC grime king Skepta, Puerto Rican hip hop and Latin music breaker, Bad Bunny; plus Kaytranada or Vince Staples, relevant names in the new music that brings hip hop closer to electronica.

In dance music, the kings of the British house, Disclosure; the live show of Paul Kalkbrenner‘s new album; the long-awaited emotional session of Four Tet playing in total darkness, with the SonarPub stage solely focused on sound; or Underworld, classics in the history of dance music, presenting their new project “Drift” of expansive and epic techno.

On the fringes of sound and art

This year features many artists working on and from the fringes of sound, politics, gender andgeography. The most futuristic and radical electronic music will come from the hand of Arca, pseudonym of shapeshifting Venezuelan artist, singer, DJ, performer, and experimental music composer Alejandra Ghersi, one of the most relevant electronic figures of our time. With brutal frankness and daring sincerity, her music and performative acts work to destabilise binaries and resist categorisation, instead proposing a third way that incorporates both playfulness and sensitivity. In this special 90 minute presentation conceived exclusively for Sónar, she debuts a new performance mode inspired by cabaret and speculative fiction, which features new material from her long-awaited new album and surprise guests.

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The American, Armenian and Syrian artist, K Á R Y Y N, will perfom from her celestial repertoire that unites ancestral Armenian spirits with digital glitches, while Lotic, the Texan producer based in Berlin, will premiere ‘Endless Power‘ from inside a reactive crown of prismatic light created by Emmanuel Biard. DJ and producer Jlin, who has managed to renovate the Chicago footwork and juke scene, will show off her new rhythmic arsenal; other outstanding talents include Palestine’s Muqata’a, Tunisia’s Deena Abdelwahed, introducing the new album ‘Khonnar’, Iranian-born singer Sevdaliza, with a new show, or Ugandan dj and cultural activist Hibotep.

The legacy and the future of clubbing

SonarCar is the circular stage at Sonar by Night that best represents clubbing’s contribution to the history of electronic music. the stage will host the exclusive 6-hour DJ seton Friday night by British producer and musician Floating Points in what will be his only date in Spain this year; and Body & Soul, on Saturday night, the iconic New York collective of spiritual house (with a luxury trio made up of NYC pioneers François Kevorkian, Danny Krivit and Joe Claussell).

The spirit of clubbing is spread across all the stages day and night with names that best define its legacy and future, such as the set of Belgian techno dj Amelie Lens; the special closing of the Germans Dj Koze -with his contemporary house and disco for Friday night-, and Dixon, considered one of the best DJs in the world and leader of the label Innervisions, for Saturday night. In addition, there will be three unprecedented collaborations exclusively for Sónar: Honey Dijon & Louie Vega, Peggy Gou & Palms Trax and Blawan & Dax J.

Sónar by Day features the live shows of the Israelis Red Axes, heavily influenced by their trips to Africa and Vietnam; the dance sets of Ross From Friends, Leon Vynehall and Maya Janes Coles; the new SonarHall show by French label Ed Banger’s SebastiAn; the textured sounds of Daphni, Artwork and Erol Alkan, who will respectively close the three daytime sets at SonarVillage, and the 3-hour set by Detroit legend Theo Parrish at SonarDôme.

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Tech shows powered by AI and sensorial staging. 

Faithful to its commitment to technological advances and with the will to connect Sónar’s programming with that of Sónar+D, the festival presents several shows that explore the relationship between music and the brain, the dialogue between light and sound and Artificial Intelligence, thus applying ideas explored in previous years in Sónar+D and which in this edition come to life on stages such as SonarHall and SonarComplex.

These shows include the world premieres of the technologist Daito Manabe together with the neuroscientist Yukiyasu Kamitani, in a pioneering audiovisual show that experiments with the live visualization of the brain states of the artist while he performs his music; and that of the Turkish creative studio Ouchhhwith the Barcelona band Za!, with a show inspired in the theory of super-strings in which the brain waves of the musicians will be screened. Or “PROTO“, Holly Herndon‘s new show that unites a chorus of human voices with the non-human ‘Spawn‘, a sophisticated AImachine for real-time sound generation.

Another light show with a stunning sensorial staging will be Kelly Moran Grand Piano AV Live. The composer and keyboardist from New York, recently signed by Warp Records, will perform her new album “Ultraviolet“, draws its influences from neoclassical to black metal, a sophisticated work with prepared pianosurrounded by synaesthetic projections creating a unique atmosphere.

Another stunning experience will be the immersion in video games of the Barcelona quartet Berlinist, the multidisciplinary digital showMembrane” by Push 1 Stop & Wiklow, the analogical visualization of the sound of Hamill Industries+Shelly, and the originallight, noisy and theatrical show by the ItalianQuiet Ensemble.

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At Sónar by Night, the French duo Acid Arab will present a new show featuring a mystical floating light installation, while the UK artist Murlo will bring his extraordinary performance based on projections of his own 3D illustrations on the SonarLab stage presented by Resident Advisor. On the same stage, the AV show of the Italian resident in Berlin, Caterina Barbieri is postulated as one of the most hypnotic and sensorial experiences of this year, introducing us to her own sonic universe from her experiments with modular synthesizers.

New sounds from Africa and Latin America.

The new African sounds stand out this year with South Africa’s Petite Noir, Sho Madjozi, DJ Lag (Durban leading exponent of gqom), and queer duo Faka; Nigeria’s magnetic soulman Obongjayar; Kenya’s emerging producer Slikback; and, from Uganda, DJ, filmmaker, rapper and producer Hibotep.

Global Latin beats and tribal percussions will also be present with performances by the revered Ecuadorian musician Nicola Cruz, the Peruvian duo Dengue Dengue Dengue, members of the Mexican collective of deconstructed club music LAO & Wasted Fates(N.A.A.F.I.), Latin r&b and trap shows by Jesse Baez and ha$lopablito, and sets by La Diabla and Branko, founder of Buraka Som Sistema.

The present and future of the National scene

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The diversity and maturity of the national scene will be represented by artists such as Bad Gyal, now definitively on the path to international stardom; referents of the trap and urban music here as Dellafuente, one of the greatest exponents of national rap, Cecilio G or Lil Moss, all of them with a wide range of collaborators.

The always outstanding Desert, previewing some synth pop pearls from their long-awaited new album, accompanied by the visuals of Desilence; the stunning Territoire – whose leader Oliver Arson has won the Goya (the Spanish version of the Oscar) for Best Original Soundtrack this year – with a live performance not suitable for sensitive souls; or the visual dj duo Los Voluble, with their new electronic project of political criticism  and flamencoentitled: “Flamenco is not a crime” created from audiovisual remixes. And there’s much more: Mans O bringing his new triple album to life; the radical sound and aesthetics ofVirgen María; Aleesha‘s urban pop; sessions at Sónar by Night by up and coming sound explorers such as Phran, RRUCCULLA or Tutu; Ylia‘s first live performance in SonarDôme; and three of the country’s most important beatmakers Enry-K, Fake Guido and $kyhook.

New expressions of contemporary classical

The new forms of contemporary classical music will have a starring role: the piano. Instrument and element that unites the performances of Bruce Brubaker & Max Cooper (presenting the show “Glassforms“), Kelly Moran, new rising star of Warp records, and the veteran Hauschka (both specialists in prepared pianos and the teachings of John Cage), and the special concert of “Investigations”, the most recent work by Christian Marclay, which will be performed by ten pianists in La Capella at MACBA on Friday 19th July.

SonarDôme presented by Red Bull

The SonarDôme stage, curated by Red Bull, will feature a total of 22 performances, including several shows co-produced by Red Bull that can be seen for the first time in Spain, such as that of Petite Noir; Lorenzo Senni, a great innovator of tranceand the most extreme sounds of rave music, with his band Stargate; or that of the Iranian avant-garde r&b singer Sevdaliza, presenting her powerful new show“The Great Hope Design”. You can also enjoy the popular and fantastic MC Dellafuente, one of the stars of national urban music, or Detroit dj and producer Theo Parrish, with a special 3-hour set.

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Living legends of electronica

As every year, Sónar presents a good number of timeless classics of electronica. With a career of more than 30 years, Underworld is one of the most important duos in the history of dance music. Karl Hyde and Rick Smith will unveil their new expansive and epic techno project “Drift” live. Figures such as Fennesz (presenting “Agora”, one of the best records of his respected career), the Japanese DJ Krush(master of scientific beat and instrumental hip hop) or Matthew Herbert, star of the Sónar 2019 Closing Concert at the Teatre Grec with his new Brexit focused project: The Matthew Herbert Brexit Big Band.

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People & Lifestyle

Rebecca Osam: A Champion for Women’s Empowerment in Africa

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In a heartfelt social media post, Rebecca Osam, Managing Director of Reflo Company Limited, Reflo’s TV, and Femme Fatale Productions Limited, has pledged her full commitment to empowering young women.

Rebecca expressed her desire to move beyond mere inspiration and instead build a deeper connection with young women, offering guidance and support to help them achieve their goals.

Her passion for women’s empowerment stems from her experiences growing up in Africa, where she witnessed firsthand the oppression and lack of opportunities faced by women. This drove her to co-found The Florence Mensah Foundation with her mother, aiming to empower African women and girls, and encourage them to recognise their worth, strength, and potential.

Through her foundation and personal endeavors, Rebecca seeks to provide a supportive platform for young women to thrive. She aims to be a relatable figure, offering mentorship and encouragement to help them overcome challenges and achieve success on their own terms.

Rebecca’s dedication to empowering young women proves her leadership and commitment to creating positive change in her community. Her efforts serve as an inspiration to others, highlighting the impact one person can have in driving gender equality and women’s empowerment.

As Rebecca continues her work, her message resonates with young women across Africa: “Anything is possible, and I am here to support and cheer you on every step of the way.”

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Caradise Ghana Car Rental Facilitates Transportation for Global Christian Forum held in Accra

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Caradise Ghana Car Rental has once again successfully facilitated the transportation of over 240 participants from 60 countries across the globe for the recently ended Global Christian Forum in Accra, Ghana.

Numerous buses hauled the various participants from the Airport to their designated hotels from the 12th to 15th of April, 2024. Participants were then transported from their hotels to the conference grounds daily for the gathering of devoted Christians from the 16th to the 19th of April, 2024.

The forum began with a vibrant, joyful worship service held at Accra Ridge Church. The Rev. Dr. Casely Essamuah welcomed participants to Ghana and to the Fourth Global Gathering, and participants spent the day sharing their faith stories with one another across the litany of differences represented. 

The forum was climaxed with a dinner and 25th anniversary celebration at the Action Chapel Internation Church hosted by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams.

After the forum, the participants took the opportunity to visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Mausoleum where they learnt about the great Pan-Africanist, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Ghana’s journey to inpendence.

The participants also spent a day in Cape Coast where they learnt about the millions of enslaved, dehumanised African men, women, and children at the Cape Coast Castle. Witnessing first hand how Africans were forcibly taken captive to the Americas, Caribbean, and Europe as objects of lucrative trade.

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DJ Khaled Announces Second Annual We The Best Foundation Golf Classic On June 12 & 13 in Miami Beach !

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GRAMMY® Award-winning, global megastar DJ Khaled proudly announces the return of his annual WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC for the second year in a row.

For 2024, the mega-popular charity event expands to two days on Wednesday June 12 and Thursday June 13 in Miami, FL. Given the demand by countless superstar artists, A-list athletes, and entertainers to participate, he needed to stretch the proceedings over two days!

Once again, the event will be sponsored by Jordan Brand, and all proceeds support the We The Best Foundationand its numerous efforts to bolster education. Stay tuned for the multitude of exciting confirmed guests, and more.

Khaled created a cultural groundswell and personally appeared on ESPN’s SPORTSCENTER to break the news of the second installment of the WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC today. Watch HERE.

Regarding the return of the WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC, he commented, “Last year, the WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC brought out so many friends and family to make a difference, play some great golf, and have an incredible day for a great cause. This year, we’re going even bigger, and we thank everyone for their continued support. TEE UP AND BLESS UP!”

Last year, the inaugural WE THE BEST FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC hosted Serena Williams, pro golfers Michael Block and Bubba Watson, Odell Beckham, JR., Shannon Sharpe, Victor Cruz, Jalen Rose, Terrell Owens, Marcus Jordan, Jeezy, Quavo, The-Dream, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Fat Joe, Cedric The Entertainer, Joey Fatone, and more. The foundation raised over $500,000 which benefited the enrichment of children and youth through educational programming, scholarships, and extracurricular activities.

More guests and partners for 2024 will be unveiled soon.

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Ghanaian activist hugs over 1,100 trees in an hour to set record

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An environmental activist and forestry student from Ghana has set a new world record for the most trees hugged in one hour. (more…)

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BEING A JUDGE FOR THE MODEL INTERNATIONAL IS A BIG PORTFOLIO – EX MP BARBARA AYISI ASHER

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Honorable Barbara Asher Ayisi

Former Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North constituency in the Central Region, Barbara Ayisi Asher, took on the prestigious role of judging the Cape Coast Audition for The Model International, adding yet another feather to her cap of accomplishments. Not only did she oversee the audition, but she also secured her place as a guest judge on the show itself, solidifying her position as not just a politician but a prominent figure in the world of fashion and entertainment.

The Cape Coast Audition, which served as a gateway for aspiring models in the region, marked the beginning of an exciting journey towards discovering West Africa’s next top talents in modeling. However, the spotlight now shifts to the bustling city of Accra, where the next round of auditions is set to take place.

Scheduled for Saturday, the 4th of May 2024, the Accra audition will be hosted at the prestigious Gold Coast Restaurant, conveniently located near Rockstone’s Office, Cantonments. Doors will open at 10 am, welcoming female West Africans between the ages of 18-26, residing or schooling in Ghana, to showcase their flair and passion for the runway, the camera and the screens.

Registration for the audition comes at a nominal fee of GHS100.00, providing participants with a chance to compete for the coveted title of The Model International, mouth-watering contracts and $2000.00 cash prize. To secure a spot in the audition line-up, aspiring models can register online at www.themodelinternational.com/register or seek assistance by contacting Esther, via call or WhatsApp on +233 50 890 6222.

The Model International promises to be a spectacle of talent, elegance, and glamour, captivating audiences across the nation. Set to premiere on Metro TV from the 1st of June 2024, viewers can tune in every Saturday at 8 pm to witness the unfolding drama and excitement of the competition.

As the anticipation mounts and the countdown to the grand premiere begins, the stage is set for an exhilarating journey towards declaring the next face of West African modelling and fashion. With Barbara Ayisi Asher involved, The Model International is poised to redefine standards of cat walking with grace, elegance in front of the camera and shaping the future of the fashion industry one runway at a time.

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African Development Bank appoints Ambassador Jalel Trabelsi as Special Envoy for Middle East and North Africa and Gulf Region

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The President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi Adesina  has appointed career diplomat Ambassador Jalel Trabelsi as his Special Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Region.

Ambassador Trabelsi brings to the role over 30 years of experience as a highly accomplished and distinguished diplomat.

As Special Envoy for MENA and the Gulf Region, Ambassador Trabelsi will help to foster diplomatic and strategic engagements within the MENA and Gulf Region, focusing on the Bank’s strategic priorities, strengthening partnerships and mobilizing public and private sector resources at scale to deliver transformational projects in Africa.

A Tunisian citizen, Ambassador Trabelsi’s diplomatic career is marked by significant roles and contributions. He served as Minister Plenipotentiary for African Affairs, and was the Ambassador of Tunisia to Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, and the Economic Community of West Africa (Ecowas). He also served as the Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors and in other roles as an Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of the National Commission for Tunisia’s candidacy to the Presidency of the African Development Bank.

He is also a specialist in international law and taught Diplomatic International Law at university level.

Ambassador Trabelsi holds an Advanced Master in Maritime and Aviation Law from Belgium’s Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he undertook his undergraduate degree in political science and international relations and passed with the highest honors. He also holds a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Tunis. He is multilingual with fluency in English, French, and Arabic.

Commenting on his appointment, Ambassador Trabelsi said: “I am extremely honoured to be appointed by Dr. Adesina to this role. As an African, I am motivated to continue to serve our continent and to contribute to the African Development Bank’s transformational work under the visionary leadership of Dr. Adesina. I will work to ensure the Bank maintains and further strengthens its excellent and fruitful cooperation and partnership with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Region.”

Dr. Adesina said: “I am delighted to have Ambassador Trabelsi as my Special Envoy for a region that holds a lot of promise for the Bank’s and Africa’s economic transformation. He has a strong track record and expertise in international relations and cooperation as well as international negotiation. He brings extensive knowledge in African, Arab, and European affairs and a deep understanding of the activities of the Bank, as well as other regional and international financial banking institutions.”

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