At the Young Africans Leadership Initiative
10th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, DC
This week's Out & About features a wonderful What's In-Store Music artist known as Lamboginny with an amazing story. This photo was taken during his performance at the U.S Department of State virtual event in celebration of "Young Africans Leadership Initiative", YALI, celebrating its 10yr Anniversary in Washington DC. This was a very special event and once you read a little bit of his back story, you can understand why he was invited to perform.
Yinka Lawanson was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Yinka is an Afro-Dancehall recording artist and humanitarian performing under the stage name Lamboginny. With a passion for prison reform, he began performing live music in prisons and juvenile correctional facilities in Nigeria and eventually worldwide. His nonprofit, S.A.L.T. (Saving All Lives Together), raises money to bring music therapy programs to youth prisons, as well as cover fines and legal fees for people who have been wrongfully convicted.
After a trip to the U.S. he met his future wife Taccara, they fell in love, got married, and started a YouTube channel about adjusting to life in America. With over 6 million social media followers, they are now recognized around the world as the social media duo @LingAndLamb. (He's Lamb, she's Ling)… In 2022 Lamboginny released the single "Count Your Blessings" which has clocked over 1 million streams and counting. In February of 2023, Lamboginny released a remix of "Count Your Blessings" with Grammy award Jamaican Dancehall music legend Beenie Man. Their joint video was released on March 9, 2023, with more than 135,000 views in the first 24 hours!!! Make sure to keep an ear out and SHAZAM handy as "Count Your Blessings" plays overhead in stores everywhere.