@korrineskyy

Thank you so much for all your kind words and congratulations. I’m actually a very shy person and don’t do too well with lots of praise ? I just love doing the work, that’s where my joy comes from. Still, I’m deeply grateful. Today my baby girl Zeya said, “Thank you mummy Koko for dedicating your award to me and my sisters.” Then she asked me, “what does influential mean?” I told her, “it’s someone who inspires people to do good things.” She smiled and said, “you’re very good at inspiring people mummy Koko.” My heart is full. Here’s to all the rule breakers, the ones rewriting what influence looks like ??

2025-09-07

@babaharare_ is back. After a year-long gospel journey under his alter ego King David, the undisputed king of Jiti is returning to the stage and to the sound that made him a household name. In an exclusive with @thesouthernafricantimes , he opened up about faith, artistry, and why stepping away gave him greater depth as a performer. ? New project dropping this October ? Headlining @doek_and_slay | 14 Dec, Alex Sports Club Reinvention isn’t weakness, it’s resilience. ✨ Full story now live on @thesouthernafricantimes

2025-09-07

Tonight, as I accept this Brand & Influence award, I want to begin with gratitude. To my mum, the first person who taught me resilience and grace. To my bosses, Dr. King SMADE (@iamsmade) and Farai (@faraimuvutofficial) and @iamdexterlasswell , thank you for your belief and mentorship. To @officialvcandy , our incredible host and organiser, and to the entire team behind these awards, thank you for creating this platform to celebrate us. And to every single person who has trusted me, supported me, or spoken my name in rooms I wasn’t in, this moment is as much yours as it is mine. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Korrine Sky. I am the Managing Director of SMADE Entertainment Group, Editor-at-Large at Southern African Times, a cultural brand strategist, a storyteller, and above all, a mother. Across my 13-year journey, the thread that has carried me is resilience and reinvention. I have had to start again more than once. I have faced moments of loss and uncertainty. But I have also witnessed the extraordinary power of getting back up, of choosing to rebuild, and of turning adversity into purpose. And that, to me, is the true meaning of influence. Influence is not about platforms or numbers. It is about the impact you leave on people’s lives. I have been blessed to use my influence to save lives, to amplify silenced voices, and to help others see their vision more clearly. Influence is not what you hold, it is what you give. I dedicate this award to my three beautiful daughters: Isaiah, Jojo, and Shiloh. Everything I do, every step I take, is ultimately for you. May you grow up knowing that resilience is your inheritance, and that reinvention is your right. To everyone here tonight, I want to leave you with this: you are allowed to fall, you are allowed to pause, you are allowed to begin again. What matters is that you rise, stronger each time, with your vision intact. Thank you.

2025-09-06

4 months as Managing Director at @smadegroup / @smadeentertainment and not a single day have I taken for granted. People often ask how I met my boss. It was 11 years ago when I was just a baby journalist. He gave me a chance to cover his Davido show and since then he has continued to open doors not only for me but for so many others. Today I want to celebrate Dr. King SMADE, the first Doctor of Afrobeats. Under his mentorship I have learnt that leadership is not just about vision but about generosity, service and building something bigger than yourself. His Pan-Africanism has reshaped the way I lead, teaching me that culture is diplomacy, collaboration is power and legacy is the true measure of success. From Portugal to Ethiopia and now Algeria, I have had the privilege of organising and facilitating cultural missions that show what it means to use Afrobeats not only as music but as a bridge between nations, economies and people. This is my second mission in service of his vision and each one reminds me that we are carrying more than afrobeats, we are carrying history. Congratulations once again Dr. King SMADE. Mentor, leader, cultural architect. The doctorate is not just your honour, it is a recognition of the movement you have built and the lives you continue to shape. Forever proud of you @iamsmade ?

2025-09-05

✨ Your favourite duo are back on the airwaves today! Catch myself & @officialdjwardy live every Friday from 2PM on @radio2funky tune in on 95.0 FM, scroll to Radio2Funky on DAB, or listen online. 1. @fuseodg SUNDIATA 2. @temsbaby x @asakemusic GET IT RIGHT 3. @oritsemusic x @officialstylog @ivoriandoll BAD GIRL ANTHEM 4. @heisrema KELEBU 5. @youngjonn x @wizkidayo CASHFLOW 6. @folapondis YOU 7. @kizzdaniel TO BE A MAN 8. @officialdonel x @bees.n.honeyyy SHINE 9. @tiwasavage ON THE LOW We will be live from 2PM-4PM can’t wait to kick it with you ?

2025-09-05

With @nehandaatelier we’ve been figuring out our vision and what makes us different. We kept coming back to Nehanda. In Zimbabwean history she represents resilience and a kind of strength that refuses to disappear. Her words “my bones shall rise again” have always felt like a reminder that the past still lives in us and shapes what comes next. That’s why Afrofuturism feels like the right language for what we’re building. It’s about taking what we inherit and reimagining it forward. The collection pulls from warrior energy, ancestral references, and futuristic silhouettes to create something that feels protective but also aspirational. For us it’s about creating pieces that carry memory into the future. That’s the heart of Nehanda Atelier. Thoughts on our recent looks ??

2025-09-05

From grassroots London events to shaping a $6B global industry, Dr. King SMADE (@iamsmade) has spent 21 years building bridges through Afrobeats. This week, @thesouthernafricantimes recognises his journey with a feature on his Honorary Doctorate from @mylesuniversity celebrating his cultural missions across Africa, his role as visionary creator of Afro Nation, and his impact in shaping the journeys of Wizkid, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy and more. As Dr. King SMADE prepares to speak at CANEX (Algeria, Sept 4–10), UNGA Week in New York, and Columbia Business School, this milestone is a reminder that African culture is not just entertainment, it is diplomacy, economy, and identity. ? ? Read the full story: https://southernafricantimes.com/dr-king-smade-honoured-with-doctorate-for-21-years-of-afrobeats-and-cultural-diplomacy/ ✍? @korrineskyy ? @the.femi_

2025-09-04

Birmingham became the capital of Black British music over the Bank Holiday, @nsg_music , @backroadgee , and @officialstylog lit up the main stage, while DJs and hosts like @mr_terminal_4 , @dj_larni , @dj_dennyhus.dancehall , and @lamar.gg proved the artistry of DJing is a culture in itself. Founded by @buxley__ , @boxoutfest is a statement: Black British artists deserve visibility, respect, and the main stage. From Afrobeats to dancehall to R&B, Boxout showed what Black British identity truly is a melting pot of our diasporas, reshaped into something powerful, world-class, and entirely our own. Shot by @the.femi_ Written by @korrineskyy for @southernafricantimes full feature now live.

2025-09-03

@boxoutfest with my superstar friends and the @smadeentertainment family ??? ? @the.femi_ the sharpest shooter ??

2025-09-03