The media has been hailed for being instrumental and playing a pivotal role in promoting ties between China and African countries.

This is according to the deputy director of China International Communication Group and Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training (CICG IISAT) Fan Feng.

Feng said that with the development of China – Africa relations, the changes in communication among media is playing a more and more important role.

She was speaking during the closing ceremony of a seminar for heads of the international departments of major media outlets from African countries in China.

“The China – Africa relations have a long history and our friendship remains strong, during the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial fight we have forged an unbreakable friendship and we have placed a distinctive path of cooperation during the course of development and revitalization” she said.

Adding "We have written wonderful chapters in the midst of the complicated changes and we have also set shining examples of building new types of international relations,” said Feng.

The media she said, can serve as a bridge to disseminate information, conduct exchanges and promote mutual understanding and friendship of the people from China and African countries.

She said that the seminar was aimed to create a platform for exchanges in communication to act as a bridge of building communication among media and to deepen China – Africa mutual understanding and trust.

The seminar, she added, also aimed to have more mutual support on the part of development, and to build a genuine and cordial partnership on the basis of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity.

“The close economic activities between China and Africa and the people-to-people exchanges of knowledge are more coming up,” she said.

The seminar organised by the China Interational Communications group institute of international studies and advanced training brought together journalists from Kenya, Burundi, Angola, Mauritius, Tunisia, Nigeria and Ghana.

The establishment of the China – Africa relations also referred to as Sino – African relations dates back to late 1950s when China signed bilateral trade agreements with Egypt, Algeria, Guinea, South Africa and Sudan.

The relations have grown over the years with China keen on fostering bilateral and development ties with Africa.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Kenya Sunday, the country of his father's birth, his first visit to this East African country since leaving office. Mr. Obama is in Kenya to help launch the sports and training center founded by his half-sister, Auma Obama, through her foundation Sauti Kuu.

In Nairobi, Mr. Obama met President Uhuru Kenyatta at the official residence, according to Kenyatta's twitter account. Mr. Obama is also expected to meet Raila Odinga, the opposition leader now working with Kenyatta's government. Odinga and Kenyatta on March 9 pledged to work together, ending months of turmoil following a disputed presidential election that was nullified by the Supreme Court and a rerun which the opposition boycotted.

Mr. Obama's visit to Kenya is low key, unlike his previous visits where he electrified thousands of Kenyans who lined the streets to see him when he was a senator in 2006 and then as president in 2015.

Many Kenyans consider Mr. Obama native to this country -- a local kid made good -- and bask in the glory of his success, despite the fact that he never lived in Africa. He was born in Hawaii, where he spent most of his childhood raised by his mother, a white American from Kansas. He barely knew his late father for whom he was named, Barack Obama, an economist.

Large crowds are however expected in Kisumu, Kenya's third largest city, where Mr. Obama will fly on Monday before driving to his father's home village of Kogelo in Siaya County, a journey of about 43.5 miles. Big screens will be set up in towns in Siaya County to show the launch of the vocational center and prevent overcrowding at the venue, said Siaya County Governor Cornell Rasanga on Nation Television.

"We are upbeat about the coming of the President Barak Obama," said Rasango, who added he is not expecting much in terms of any announcements of aid. Rasanga said he will ask Mr. Obama to help develop a university to be called President Barack Obama University.

After his two-day stay in Kenya Mr. Obama will go to South Africa where he will give a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and meet with 200 young Africans in the Obama Foundation's leadership program.

’NO SHARING’ & ‘CREW LIT’

TELLAMAN has released two brand new songs, namely NO SHARING and CREW LIT, with NO SHARING being his latest radio single, and the first offering from his new album, set for release later in 2018.

NO SHARING

“NO SHARING” was written and produced in March 2018. The inspiration for the song came from a lot of different things which TELLAMAN was going through, as well as what he was listening to at the time.

As he was finishing the beat of the song, he received a text from a friend, and only after he finished the instrumental and recording, he realized he was talking about a text in the song.

“If you love to dance, then this song is what you need on your playlist. I’m all about positive vibes as my fans know, so you can expect a lot of love and good energy. It's definitely something you haven't heard in African music.”

CREW LIT

“CREW LIT” was written by TELLAMAN just when he thought he was done with his new album. He was sent the instrumental of the song by producer duo Noble (Bubele Booi & David Balshaw), and immediately knew that it would be a single for the new album.

“CREW LIT is a party song. It talks about how lit myself and my friend or crew or gang are. Basically, I have never seen people who can party like my crew and who are as cool as my crew. But I guess that's how everyone feel about their friends, or I hope they do!” If you are open minded and always looking for interesting and cool things, then TELLAMAN’s new releases are definitely for you.

Describing the single as youthful, TELLAMAN continues to bridge the gap between different styles of music combining the normal lines one would expect from a rapper with melodies from a R&B singer.

“My new material is different from my previous mixtapes and EP; lyrically and musically it shows more growth. For this project I have gone the extra mile in terms of the quality of the sound; the way I programmed, wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered is completely different. I have grown as a musician and a human being. I have learnt from my previous mistakes and I am confident that my fans will hear that in the music.”

Buy / Stream CREW LIT & NO SHARING here:

TELLAMAN also recently signed to Universal Music South Africa: “I am excited to see what we'll do together. The whole team has shown me nothing but love and support and they allow me to express myself the way I want to. I believe we'll do amazing things together.”

TELLAMAN’s brand new album, ‘GOD DECIDES’ is set for release later in 2018. TELLAMAN Contact:

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