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Bethlehem Resumes Christmas Celebrations Amid COVID Curbs
Christmas celebrations in the town where Jesus Christ was born had been cancelled last year due to a coronavirus lockdown.
Christmas celebrations have resumed this year in the biblical town of Bethlehem, albeit dampened by restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Bethlehem returned to its traditional marching band parades and street celebrations, with scout bands banging drums and holding flags in Manger Square.
A midnight Mass celebrated by Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, was also scheduled at the Church of the Nativity, which houses the grotto where Jesus was born.
As he left Jerusalem for Bethlehem on Friday, Pizzaballa said he hoped the pandemic would subside.
“We need pilgrims to bring us the life in our communities,” he said. “We need to find this balance and we are all working for this because it’s very sad to see the Old City [of Jerusalem] almost empty.”
Bethlehem’s mayor, Anton Salman, said he was optimistic that 2021 celebrations would be better than last year’s Christmas, when even local residents stayed home due to lockdown restrictions.
“Last year, our festival was virtual, but this year it will be face to face with popular participation,” Salman said.
The biblical town of Bethlehem is gearing up for its second straight Christmas Eve hit by the coronavirus A ban on nearly all incoming air traffic by Israel, however, has kept international tourists
away for a second consecutive year. The ban is meant to slow the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, which has shaken Christmas celebrations around the world.
Israel lifted a year and a half ban that had kept most foreign tourists out in November, but it was forced to reimpose it after only a few weeks as the Omicron variant began to spread worldwide.
Tourism is one of the main lifelines for Bethlehem’s economy, and the lack of visitors has hit residents especially hard.
Ibrahim Salameh, a local tour guide, told Al Jazeera he has been unemployed for the past two years.
“We have lost trust in the tourism industry, nobody has enough trust to stay,” Salameh said, adding that many acquaintances in the tourism industry had quit in favour of other sectors including agriculture.
Salameh said he “was lucky” to get a tour at the beginning of November, in the brief time frame when Israel allowed tourism to resume. “We just started breathing a little bit again, and then everything was gone.”
He added that, while the crowd gathered in the main square was perhaps one-tenth of what it used to be, the Christmas celebration this year looked livelier than in 2020, when shops and venues had remained shut.
“This gives me a little bit of hope that things will get better,” Salameh said.
Josh2Funny’s Album Has Fans Talking — But Should He Stick To Music Or Skits? 😂🎶
Nigerian comedian and content creator Josh2Funny has taken his comedy game into music, and Nigerians are definitely having something to say about it.
The comedian released his 15-track album, “On Behalf of Josh,” on July 10, 2026, but instead of fading away after release, the project has continued to generate conversations on X.
And the big question now is:
Should Josh2Funny continue with music or go back to skits? 😂
Fans have been divided. While some listeners openly criticized the album and told him to return to comedy, others found songs they genuinely enjoyed.
One X user joked:
“Josh2Funny stopped doing skits and started music, Everybody wan chop this music money 😂”
Another simply said:
“This Josh2Funny Album no enter make he just go back skit abeg 😂”
But then came “Lembe.” 🔥
The track caught fire on X and eventually became a trending topic in Nigeria. The #LembeChallenge also gained momentum as creators began jumping on the song.
Josh2Funny later announced ₦1 million for winners of the challenge, giving the song another major push.
And it didn’t stop there.
‘INTERNATIONAL’ FT. ICE PRINCE ALSO TRENDED
On another day, “International” featuring Ice Prince generated its own buzz on X.
One fan even called it their favourite song from the album, while praising the collaboration. The post itself pulled thousands of views, showing that people weren’t only talking about Lembe.
From album criticism to trending songs and challenges, “On Behalf of Josh” has kept Josh2Funny’s name in the conversation.
Whether you love the album or think he should return to skits, one thing is clear:
Josh2Funny has succeeded in getting Nigerians talking. 😂🔥
So, let’s settle this once and for all:
Should Josh2Funny continue with MUSIC 🎶 or return to SKITS 😂?
Music or Skits? Drop your answer! 👇
East Ham, East London — 8 August 2026: The vibrant Igbo community in the UK came together for an unforgettable evening of entertainment, culture and social connection at Igbotic Game Night, one of the biggest social gatherings celebrating the Igbo community in the United Kingdom.
Among the night’s standout moments was an electrifying performance by Afrobeats artist Obeena, who took the stage and immediately captured the attention of the crowd.
Obeena delivered performances of two of his hit songs, “Wara Wara” and “Banging,” bringing his energetic sound and distinctive stage presence to the event. From the opening moments of his set, fans responded with excitement, singing along, dancing and enthusiastically supporting the artist.
His performance of “Wara Wara” created an instant connection with the audience, while “Banging” took the energy to another level. Obeena’s ability to engage the crowd transformed his set into one of the most memorable entertainment moments of the evening.
Held in East Ham, East London, on 8 August 2026, Igbotic Game Night provided a unique platform for members of the Igbo community to celebrate their heritage while enjoying music, games and social interaction. Events such as this continue to play an important role in bringing together Nigerians and the wider African diaspora in the UK.
For Obeena, the performance was another opportunity to showcase his growing artistry and connect directly with fans. His energetic delivery, stage confidence and ability to command the audience demonstrated why his live performances continue to attract attention.
By the end of his set, Obeena had left the crowd amazed and added another memorable chapter to his journey as an Afrobeats artist. His appearance at Igbotic Game Night was not simply a performance—it was a celebration of Nigerian music, culture and community.
With performances like this, Obeena continues to demonstrate his ambition to take his sound beyond the studio and onto major stages, connecting with audiences through music, energy and an unmistakable African identity.
Igbotic Game Night brought the Igbo community together. Obeena gave them a performance to remember.
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