Eight years ago, I wrote a blog post on “Three Nigerian friends and their TEDx Talks worth sharing” little did I know that I will be gracing a TEDx stage myself under monumental circumstances. Monumental because this will be the first ever curated TEDx Women event in Atlanta. Usually for a TED or TEDx event, speakers and performers apply and go through a screening and selection process, so I consider it a divinely destined blessing because on the contrary, I was “discovered” through a social media post comment by TEDx Atlanta curator, Jacqui Chew (Thanks Mark Zuckerberg 🙂 ) and thankfully my brand presence and the work that I’d already put out (Consistency is key) contributed to a positive outcome.
So here I was, in a short time span, I was Jacqui’s answer to her last minute prayer. I joined a formidable and impressive speaker roster of 10, I became number 11, not as a Speaker or a Performing Speaker but as a Performer. Alongside these powerful group of female changemakers, I will inspire an audience through songs, to spread their wings to build a more inclusive and equitable world where girls and women can truly soar.
I chose a fan favorite , “Ile” (Home) and to inspire in line of the theme to “SOAR”, I would close out the event with a “grand finale” performance. I chose to specifically write a song for this purpose titled “Loke Loke” which means “Higher Higher” in my Yoruba language. The video is published here. Grateful to have the musical support of my ABiKE Music duo partner, legendary Bayo Bello on keys and steel pan, a unique addition. Here is our Ile (Home) Performance below, please like and drop a comment. My little intro speech that’s missing is here or scan the QR code below to listen
Thankful for the lovely women I met at this event, the very professional TEDx team and grateful and blessed to be part of making history. TEDxAtlanta is coming back to the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. When: Friday, Mar 17, 2023 Theme: We, rise. More info here
My music is inspirational. Genre wise, my style is African, roots, ethnic, folksy and soulful with a contemporary edge. I incorporate my native Yoruba language in my songs. I am from Ogun State Nigeria, West Africa, currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. … Tosinger Oluwatosin [in her native Yoruba language Tosin means God is worthy to […]
I wish you a year more fulfilling and in every way better than 2016. Stay focused, stay vigilant, stay positive.
Here’s a musical offering from me to you to set you on the right inspirational note for the year. It’s titled“Heaven Knows” , chorus inspired by Osibisa’s“We are going”1971 track. I heard the voice of Mr Brown, themale vocals you will hear on the song as a feature on Casey Ed’s song “Hear Me Now”, both of these talented young men are doing great things musically in Nigeria.
As soon as I heard Brown’s voice, I knew I had to get him on a track. We were able to work it out virtually within a few days despite a few challenges. So here I leave with you “Heaven Knows”, keep pushing, keep working hard, keep praying, God’s got your back, Heaven knows you will get there.
Stay blessed in 2017 and beyond! Download here and please do share. Merci Beaucoup!
Stream on SoundCloud
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Media Alert
New Music Release – Heaven Knows by ✿ TOSINGER ✿ ft Mr Brown
Atlanta based Singer/Songwriter & the Queen of afrosoulful nostalgia, Tosinger releases “Heaven Knows” ft the very soulful voice of Nigerian Producer/Singer/Songwriter ~ Mr Brown. A new song to usher in the new year for the goal setters, the dreamers and the world changers, ‘Heaven Knows’ is a song of faith and destiny. It features a sampled chorus of Ghana’s Osibisa’s Woyaa yaa (We are going) released in 1971. Tosinger is known for her inclination for afro~folklore and classics while incorporating lyrics with Yoruba proverbs and sayings on a contemporary musical platform. The song aims to set the tone right for 2017 on a positive, inspirational note, that all things are possible and freedom (in all sense of the word) is inevitable at the end, only if you believe. Connect with @Tosinger on all social media (Instagram, Twitter) and www.tosinger.com. Mr Brown can be found at @BrownSoul1 On InstagramDownload mp3 here
There are stories that need to be told over and over again. Havard Business School has just released an audio commentary of the story of the entrepreneurship and progressive success of the historical hair business icon and philanthropist, Madame C.J. Walker aptly titled The Amazing Life of One of America’s Earliest Black, Female Entrepreneurs
Madam C.J. Walker
Culled: Though not everyone may know her name, Madam C.J. Walker helped invent what have become staples of our modern country and economy: national sales forces, corporate social responsibility, and, yes, even basic hair care. Orphaned at age 8, married at 14, and widowed at 20 with a daughter to raise, Walker went on to become a millionaire entrepreneur in the Deep South at the turn of the century, against all odds. Professor Nancy Koehn describes Walker’s inspiring real life story of making good on her own unique American dream.
Listen here
ROOTS, The MiniSeries
I remember watching and re-watching Roots in the earlier years on Nigerian TV, truly drawn in and deeply empathetic and affected by the horrific experiences of the primary character Kunta Kinte(played by LeVar Burton) and his kin.
Roots: The Saga of an American Family is a novel written by Alex Haley and first published in 1976. It tells the story of Kunta Kinte, an 18th-century African, captured as an adolescent and sold into slavery in the United States, and follows his life and the lives of his descendants in the U.S. down to Haley (via Wiki).
“Roots opened up the minds of Americans of all colors and faiths to one of the darkest and most painful parts of America’s past.” – Publisher’s Weekly
PBS states that Roots is one of the most-watched miniseries of all time, Roots captivated its audience over eight consecutive nights in January 1977. The award winning series followed the multi-generational account of author Alex Haley’s family line from enslavement to liberaton. For the first time, America witnessed on film the horrors of slave ships, the mistreatment of slaves and human cost of slavery. Roots has since become a part of American cinematic history and cultural consciousness.
Fast forward to 2016, Roots has been remade. IT PROVES SOME STORIES ARE WORTH TELLING AGAIN, ISTORY® premieres “Roots” on Memorial Day 2016, airing over four consecutive nights at 9 p.m. beginning Monday, May 30, 2016. The four-night, eight-hour event series developed by HISTORY, from A+E Studios, is a historical portrait of American slavery recounting the journey of one family and their will to survive and ultimately carry on their legacy despite hardship.
“Roots” will be simulcast on A&E and Lifetime, in addition to HISTORY. The stellar cast includes Academy Award® winners Forest Whitaker (“Fiddler”) and Anna Paquin (“Nancy Holt”); Academy Award® nominee and Emmy Award® winner Laurence Fishburne (“Alex Haley”); Golden Globe Award® winning and Emmy Award® nominated actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“Tom Lea”); Tony Award® winner Anika Noni Rose (“Kizzy”); Grammy Award® winner Tip “T.I.” Harris (“Cyrus”); Emayatzy Corinealdi (“Belle”); Matthew Goode (“Dr. William Waller”); Mekhi Phifer (“Jerusalem”); James Purefoy (“John Waller”) and introduces Regé-Jean Page (“Chicken George”) and Malachi Kirby (“Kunta Kinte”).
As you celebrate the miracle of this special season, may your heart be filled with joy and peace. May Jesus, the reason of the season and the blessing of Christmas, guide your heart always.
I thank you for joining me on my journey this year. 2015 has been full of valleys and mountains. I thank God for all. Notable musical/artistic milestones for me include the release of my debut album ‘Organically Singing’ in July and being an opening act for ‘Lagbaja’ at the Variety Playhouse in May.
To God, I’m grateful. To you, my family and friends, I say thank you for your continued support. Let us look forward to new connections, new horizons, new projects in 2016. It has been a very blessed year and I am very grateful. Here is a token of my appreciation, my Christmas gift to you; it is a free download of ‘Olugbala’ – a Christmas single I wrote a little while back. Download here and feel free to share.
I hope 2015 was good for you too and I pray in faith that 2016 will be better. It is my hope that in 2016, you will absolutely dominate your unique space of inspiration and influence.
(a paraphrase of words used by MsUdoak, loved the expression)
Enjoy a happy holiday season full of family quality time, friends and fun! As we prepare to enter into the new year, I wish you all a restful break and a successful 2016.
Enjoy these two simple videos I did recently for 2 songs off the album – ‘Te Amo’ and “Jiji Moji’
Jiji Moji (I’m awake) is a song to start the day off right, thanking God for life. Take time during the rush of the holidays to enjoy the things in life that really matter.
Te Amo (I love you) – Let the message and power of love latch on to your heart and soul.
Love, Peace and Beautiful Afro Music,
Tosinger.
P.S — ✿CHRISTMAS SALE SPECIAL✿ Full Digital Discography On Sale Get all 4 ✿ TOSINGER ✿ releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%. Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Organically Singing, Aeroplane, Ile, Ise Oluwa & Aye, and One Day. Buy Now $9 USD or more (25% OFF) https://tosinger.bandcamp.com
Happy ThanksGiving to friends and fans in the U S of A.
Give Thanks!
This special song is my way of saying “Thank You” to you all for your support and love..download ‘Merci Beaucoup’ from my recently launched album ‘Organically Singing’; just enter 0.00 at checkout. For a limited time only. Click HERE to download
Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. Brian Tracy
Introducing to some and presenting to others two Nigerians that are reaching for the heights, literally.
fReeMaN OsoNugA
Freeman Osonuga is one of Africa’s leading voices on poverty alleviation, advocacy and care for people with disabilities, orphans and the less privileged. Freeman is a One Young World Ambassador, one of the 2013 Ten Outstanding Young Persons In Nigeria, and Founder and Executive Director of Heal The World Foundation Nigeria. In 2014, at the Peak of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, he worked as a volunteer and worked with the African Union team of Ebola responders for 6 months in Sierra Leone.
Freeman Osonuga @freeman_osonuga On My Way To Space| @WiredUK Innovation Fellow | Associate Fellow, Royal Commonwealth Society @theRCSlondon | Ambassador @OneYoungWorld | Founder @htwfnigeria |
Freeman, a Medicine and Surgery graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University, has been selected (through the Rising Star programme, which launched at the One Young World Summit 2014 in Dublin) toembark on a once in a lifetime flight to space and also offered a three year management contract. The programme invites both One Young World Ambassadors and outstanding members of the public aged 18-35 to be nominated to take on the trip of a lifetime.
If selected for the program, he will be the first Nigerian and First
black African to fly to space!
Osonuga is a 2015 WIRED Innovation Fellow. He will be speaking live on the London stage at the WIRED 2015 conference in October.
View Freeman’s profile here on the Kruger Cowne website and watch video below.
kIMberLy AnyaDike
Kimberly Anyadike is a young pilot who learned to fly from an after school program focused on helping at-risk youth realize dreams — Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum in Compton, CA.
Kimberly photo via Getty Images
Inspired by the Tuskeegee Airmen, then 15-year-old (now 21) US based Kimberly Anyadike of Nigerian descent flew a single-engine Cessna cross-country from her hometown of Compton, Calif., to Newport News, Va. Anyadike is said to be the youngest female pilot to complete the journey, which took 13 days.
“I set a record flying the plane in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen! The plane is named after Tuskegee Airman, Levi Thornhill, and I was accompanied by Major Thornhill during the trip. I am now the youngest African American female to pilot a flight across the country. After the flight, I was ready for my close-up. It took a lot of courage for me to speak in front of an audience!” – Seventeen.com
Born in Los Angeles in 1994, Kimberly Anyadike never remembers a time in her fifteen years she wasn’t interested in flying. Her passion for aviation began with a 20-minute demo flight at Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum, a flight school and youth mentoring center in Compton, CA. Kimberly washed airplanes and did other tasks to earn “museum dollars” that she traded in for flight lessons. Among the mentors available to kids in the program are several Tuskegee Airmen, who Kimberly has been immensely inspired by.
Exposed to a wide range of activities, Kim was a junior lifeguard at Venice Beach for five years, where she also learned how to surf. She attended the Lula Washington Dance Academy, taking ballet, hip-hop and tap dance classes. Kimberly is a youth member at her church where she learned how to read music, and is now learning how to play piano, violin and guitar.
Most recently she has completed college courses at Los Angeles Trade Technical College, the Saturday Science Academy at Charles Drew University and is taking a range of art courses at the Plaza De La Raza. She volunteers to feed the homeless in downtown Los Angeles and is very active in her church, while maintaining her G.P.A Kimberly’s career goal is to become a cardio-vascular surgeon with a pilot’s license. Like her FB page here
Kimberly Anyadike (born c. 1994) is known as the first Nigerian American teen to fly across the United States. Her Dad is from Nigeria, and Anyadike means (Eye of a Warrior). She flew from Compton, California to Newport News, Virginia in 2009. It took her 13 days to complete the flight The miles flown were 2,342. The plane used was a Cessna C-172. She was accompanied by safety pilot Ronnell Norman, a certified commercial pilot and Major Levi H. Thornhill, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who at age 87, is a member of the elite Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II.
Anyadike is from Compton, California. She paid for her flight lesson by working many regular jobs around the compton airport — via wiki
Wishing these two “reach for the skies” trailblazers all the best!
Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing
Tosinger
Organically Singing the album is not out, get yours here
My music is inspirational. Genre wise, my style is African, roots, ethnic, folksy and soulful with a contemporary edge. I incorporate my native Yoruba language in my songs. I am from Ogun State Nigeria, West Africa, currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
… Tosinger
Oluwatosin [in her native Yoruba language Tosin means God is worthy to be worshiped]. Those who have heard her new CD, are obliged to say that her careful attention to lyrics and musical groundations signal her out as a rising star among Naija performers and vocalists within the global community.
Nigerian born, Atlanta domiciled, Tosinger ushers in a brand new heavy generation of 21st century Diasporic Africans destined for greatness and poised to take their rightful place among musicians, dancers, dramatists, cinematographers and entrepreneurs in the USA and Canada. In setting forth her goals as a twenty first century singer…
Seyi Voice, a Nigerian Gospel Music Artist releases two new singles today titled ‘Champion’ and ‘He’s Able‘ in anticipation of his upcoming album ‘Sound Of Victory’. Produced by ‘Dr Groove’ and recorded at G-Zone Studios, ‘Champion’ has an African highlife swing to it, a danceable rhythm with inspirational lyrics for everyone from all walks of life, to let them know that they can make it and to be assured that God is not a respecter of persons; “if you believe that you are a champion (in Christ), you are on your journey to success”
Listen and download here
About Seyi Voice
Seyi Voice is a dynamic worshiper, music director, singer/songwriter and a music producer. All his life he has been all about good music. He owns God’s Zone recording studio. Presently, he runs an outreach program called “Unusual Worship” which comprises of a collective of powerful anointed song ministers . His upcoming album is titled Sound of Victory due to be released at a date yet to be announced. He travels nationwide to minister in churches and events.
Seyi Voice says:
“Having gone through a lot and seen a lot, I discovered that pain is inevitable when birth is about to take place in one’s life. God’s people, I want you to know that in every situation, God shall always remain God”
Nobel Prize Winner, Wole Soyinka of Nigeria, makes the role of women like Funmilayo clear when he states, “I have always insisted that American or European feminism has little to teach most other societies —- here is proof [For Women and The Nation: Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti] in this portrait of a remarkable woman in remarkable times, brought vividly to life in a work that explores the often neglected crevices of history.”
Fela Remembers Being Introduced To His Excellency Kwame Nkrumah By His Mother
There are many who see Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti as not only the mother of Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Afrobeat Musical Movement but also as the mother of the modern African women’s resistance movements in the 20th century. Scholarship on the crucial roles played by women in their independence movements and in anti-colonial movements in Africa is still underexplored. What do we know about the relationship of a Nigerian leader like Mme. Ransome-Kuti…
TOSINGER'S BLOG 