What do Madonna and
Ellen Degeneres have in
common? They’re
cousins!
According to
Ancestry.com, the two
performers are related
through a common 10th great-grandfather –
a Frenchman named Martin Aucoin. In the
early 1600s, Aucoin’s daughters Jeanne and
Michele left their native country of France to
settle in Nova Scotia, where both Madonna
and Ellen’s families remained for several
generations.
Madonna's Daughter Going to Acting School
“It’s not every day you discover two
celebrity icons are related, but it’s their
similarities that make the connection so
extraordinary,” said Anastasia Tyler, a
genealogist at Ancestry.com. “They were
born the same year, have both written
books and been on tour, are known for their
impressive dance moves – and with Ellen’s
latest gig on American Idol – are both
legendary figures on the music scene.”
Ellen Donates $30K to Gay Teen
The new-found family connection between
DeGeneres and Madonna is one of many
interesting discoveries uncovered by
Ancestry.com. In 2009, the family history
Web site connected financier Warren Buffett
to President Obama and also revealed that
Emma Watson, who plays Hermione in the
Harry Potter movie series, is related to a
16th-century woman accused of witchcraft.
Ancestry.com is a partner with NBC on the
new, hit television series “Who Do You Think
You Are?” The show will feature big
celebrities, like Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica
Parker and Susan Sarandon.
What an awesome idea for a show! It begins
on NBC April 20th.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Madonna's daughter going to acting school
Madonna’s daughter
Lourdes wants to be an
actress! The Material Girl’s
own little girl is all grown
up and is ready for the
limelight. She’s been
accepted into a top
performing arts school in
New York, though the name hasn’t been
revealed.
It seems Madge has finally warmed to the
idea of Lourdes performing, since the old her
would not have allowed this! As you may
recall, Lourdes lost out on the chance to
appear as a Hogwarts student in a Harry
Potter movie after being banned by her
mom.
Madonna: I Wish Lourdes Would Dress More
Conservatively
Madonna tells Us Weekly, "She just got into a
performing arts high school and is majoring
in drama. She wants to be an actress. I'm not
pushing her in any area. I just urge her to
take whatever she does seriously."
In addition, Madonna has cast Lourdes in a
small role in her upcoming movie about late
British royal King Edward VIII, which she
plans to direct.
Madonna Taking Adopted Kids Back to
Malawi
We wonder what prompted this change of
heart?! Perhaps her much younger
boyfriend Jesus Luz convinced her important
freedom of expression is at a young age!
Lourdes wants to be an
actress! The Material Girl’s
own little girl is all grown
up and is ready for the
limelight. She’s been
accepted into a top
performing arts school in
New York, though the name hasn’t been
revealed.
It seems Madge has finally warmed to the
idea of Lourdes performing, since the old her
would not have allowed this! As you may
recall, Lourdes lost out on the chance to
appear as a Hogwarts student in a Harry
Potter movie after being banned by her
mom.
Madonna: I Wish Lourdes Would Dress More
Conservatively
Madonna tells Us Weekly, "She just got into a
performing arts high school and is majoring
in drama. She wants to be an actress. I'm not
pushing her in any area. I just urge her to
take whatever she does seriously."
In addition, Madonna has cast Lourdes in a
small role in her upcoming movie about late
British royal King Edward VIII, which she
plans to direct.
Madonna Taking Adopted Kids Back to
Malawi
We wonder what prompted this change of
heart?! Perhaps her much younger
boyfriend Jesus Luz convinced her important
freedom of expression is at a young age!
Lindsay Lohan to appear on George Lopez
We suppose the war of
words is over between
Lindsay Lohan and
George Lopez! Just one
day after she tweeted and
angry message to him for
making fun of the
powdery substance on
her shoes, the two have made up!
Lindsay’s tweet to Lopez read: “thanks for
the childish comment regarding baby
powder in my shoes to loosen up the
leather* don’t you have kids? U wouldn’t
wanna hear that about them, or would you?
Act like a grown man, have some respect and
dignity for yourself.”
Michael Lohan on Lindsay's Pal: She's a
Parasite Destroying Her Life
So rather than let it go, Lopez wrote back,
“you want me to stop talking about you I
will .. Come and tell me .. To my face .. I’ll
stop !! Respectfully.”
And believe it or not, Lindsay has obliged!
She’s agreed to come on his late night show
Lopex Tonight to explain her mystery
powder! George proceeded to tweet the
news today, saying, “And Lindsay’s a great
sport… She’ll be on the show next week. It’s
all good!” he told his “Lopez Tonight”
audience.
Dina Lohan Says Michael is Evil for Talking
About Lindsay
We can’t wait to see this go down! Tune in
next Tuesday to see Lindsay give her
explanation.
words is over between
Lindsay Lohan and
George Lopez! Just one
day after she tweeted and
angry message to him for
making fun of the
powdery substance on
her shoes, the two have made up!
Lindsay’s tweet to Lopez read: “thanks for
the childish comment regarding baby
powder in my shoes to loosen up the
leather* don’t you have kids? U wouldn’t
wanna hear that about them, or would you?
Act like a grown man, have some respect and
dignity for yourself.”
Michael Lohan on Lindsay's Pal: She's a
Parasite Destroying Her Life
So rather than let it go, Lopez wrote back,
“you want me to stop talking about you I
will .. Come and tell me .. To my face .. I’ll
stop !! Respectfully.”
And believe it or not, Lindsay has obliged!
She’s agreed to come on his late night show
Lopex Tonight to explain her mystery
powder! George proceeded to tweet the
news today, saying, “And Lindsay’s a great
sport… She’ll be on the show next week. It’s
all good!” he told his “Lopez Tonight”
audience.
Dina Lohan Says Michael is Evil for Talking
About Lindsay
We can’t wait to see this go down! Tune in
next Tuesday to see Lindsay give her
explanation.
Report:Lady Gaga to record on Bond Theme
With the next James Bond
movie in pre-production,
it’s time for a new artist to
record the theme song!
And this time around, we
hear it’s going to be none
other than Lady Gaga!
Sources tell The Sun that movie executives
really want the hitmaker for the track. "Bond
bosses are all huge Gaga fans. Her sound and
sense of drama make her the top choice.
Lady Gaga: There's No Telephone Sequel
Gaga has the look as well as the voice to
tackle a thundering ballad. She's a great
songwriter too. This is perfect on every
level,” says one source.
Bond theme songs are always recorded by
huge artists, like Paul McCartney, Madonna,
Tina Turner, and more recently Jack White
and Alicia Keys. Gaga is the logical next artist
to do it!
movie in pre-production,
it’s time for a new artist to
record the theme song!
And this time around, we
hear it’s going to be none
other than Lady Gaga!
Sources tell The Sun that movie executives
really want the hitmaker for the track. "Bond
bosses are all huge Gaga fans. Her sound and
sense of drama make her the top choice.
Lady Gaga: There's No Telephone Sequel
Gaga has the look as well as the voice to
tackle a thundering ballad. She's a great
songwriter too. This is perfect on every
level,” says one source.
Bond theme songs are always recorded by
huge artists, like Paul McCartney, Madonna,
Tina Turner, and more recently Jack White
and Alicia Keys. Gaga is the logical next artist
to do it!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
I've been a victim of sexual harassment
Sultry damsel and fast rising Nollywood
actress, Titi Osinowo, is passionate about
the make-believe world despite the hurdles
in the industry. However, the talented
actress, who hails from Ogun State and
made her prominence on the scene after
her appearance on TV sitcom, Family Ties,
recently reiterated that sexual harassment is
rampant in the industry.
According to her, “I was once a victim of
sexually harassment in Nollywood and
those who say it doesn’t exist are liars
because almost all the actresses have at one
time or the other been harassed by some
randy producers or directors that are in the
industry. It’s so funny that some of these
randy producers or directors are popular
figures, however, there are directors and
producers, who direct and produce based
on your ability to interpret your roles.”
Continuing, this English Language
undergraduate of the Tai Solarin University
of Education, stated that it’s normal for men
to make advances at any girl of their choice
but when they make it a criterion for
getting a role instead of through audition
that is what is objectionable.
“It once happened to me when I was
invited by a producer to play a role and on
getting to the location, I was told that I must
sleep in his room before getting my role
and it was so annoying that I simply walked
out of the location.
“A director had also asked for a sexual
relationship with me in return for a role and
I rejected the offer because I’m not out to
cut corners. I have acted in flicks with
professional directors and producers, who
gave me roles without exchange for
anything, so why do I need to sleep around
just because I want to act?” She asked.
Titi has showed her acting skills in flicks like
Halimat, The Valley Between, This Time
Tomorrow, Asa, Omokehinde, Asiri Ojo kan,
Itan, Family Ties, Es Aimodi, Madaru and
Motaka Osi Danu.
The second child of a family of three, Titi
disclosed that growing up for her was fun,
though she had no time for frivolities or
social life, as she and her brothers were
constantly in the house.
“I’m the second child in a family of three
children. I attended St. Benedicts Primary
School, Abeokuta and later proceeded to Our
Lady of Apostles in Ijebu Ode before getting
a diploma in law from the Olabisi Onabanjo
University (OOU). But at the moment I am a
student of the Tai Solarin University of
Education, where I am studying English
language.
“Growing up was fun but was with so much
discipline. My father was a strict person and
my mum is the soft type, who had indulged
us in few things but while growing up, we
weren’t allowed to mix or have so much
friends like our mates, we were only left to
go to school and back home,” Titi said of
her growing up.
Speaking on her acting skills, Titi said she
has passion for the make believe world and
only developed the skill gradually.
“Acting is something I am passionate about,
I’ve got undiluted passion for the art and I
developed liking it while growing up. I
watched several flicks and knew I could do
it and when I was 17, I had fully developed
my courage to go into the acting world.
“I actually got into the industry through a
very good friend of mine, Biola Thompson,
who is also an actress and lives in Lagos
and has encouraged me by making me go
to locations with her. It was during one of
these visits that I met Funke Akindele,
through my friend and later met Toyin
Aihmakhu, who I had known in Ibadan and
that was it. Toyin started calling me up for
roles after seeing some of my works and
that has been my story into the world of
make-believe,” the dazzling actress said.
The one-time extrovert said these days, she
prefers to stay indoors and this is because
she wants to be viewed as a responsible
actress at all times.
“I used to be an extrovert but not anymore,
now I enjoy the company of my family and
my niece, who is just too funny. I stay
indoors with my family when I’m not on
location or away in school,” she said.
actress, Titi Osinowo, is passionate about
the make-believe world despite the hurdles
in the industry. However, the talented
actress, who hails from Ogun State and
made her prominence on the scene after
her appearance on TV sitcom, Family Ties,
recently reiterated that sexual harassment is
rampant in the industry.
According to her, “I was once a victim of
sexually harassment in Nollywood and
those who say it doesn’t exist are liars
because almost all the actresses have at one
time or the other been harassed by some
randy producers or directors that are in the
industry. It’s so funny that some of these
randy producers or directors are popular
figures, however, there are directors and
producers, who direct and produce based
on your ability to interpret your roles.”
Continuing, this English Language
undergraduate of the Tai Solarin University
of Education, stated that it’s normal for men
to make advances at any girl of their choice
but when they make it a criterion for
getting a role instead of through audition
that is what is objectionable.
“It once happened to me when I was
invited by a producer to play a role and on
getting to the location, I was told that I must
sleep in his room before getting my role
and it was so annoying that I simply walked
out of the location.
“A director had also asked for a sexual
relationship with me in return for a role and
I rejected the offer because I’m not out to
cut corners. I have acted in flicks with
professional directors and producers, who
gave me roles without exchange for
anything, so why do I need to sleep around
just because I want to act?” She asked.
Titi has showed her acting skills in flicks like
Halimat, The Valley Between, This Time
Tomorrow, Asa, Omokehinde, Asiri Ojo kan,
Itan, Family Ties, Es Aimodi, Madaru and
Motaka Osi Danu.
The second child of a family of three, Titi
disclosed that growing up for her was fun,
though she had no time for frivolities or
social life, as she and her brothers were
constantly in the house.
“I’m the second child in a family of three
children. I attended St. Benedicts Primary
School, Abeokuta and later proceeded to Our
Lady of Apostles in Ijebu Ode before getting
a diploma in law from the Olabisi Onabanjo
University (OOU). But at the moment I am a
student of the Tai Solarin University of
Education, where I am studying English
language.
“Growing up was fun but was with so much
discipline. My father was a strict person and
my mum is the soft type, who had indulged
us in few things but while growing up, we
weren’t allowed to mix or have so much
friends like our mates, we were only left to
go to school and back home,” Titi said of
her growing up.
Speaking on her acting skills, Titi said she
has passion for the make believe world and
only developed the skill gradually.
“Acting is something I am passionate about,
I’ve got undiluted passion for the art and I
developed liking it while growing up. I
watched several flicks and knew I could do
it and when I was 17, I had fully developed
my courage to go into the acting world.
“I actually got into the industry through a
very good friend of mine, Biola Thompson,
who is also an actress and lives in Lagos
and has encouraged me by making me go
to locations with her. It was during one of
these visits that I met Funke Akindele,
through my friend and later met Toyin
Aihmakhu, who I had known in Ibadan and
that was it. Toyin started calling me up for
roles after seeing some of my works and
that has been my story into the world of
make-believe,” the dazzling actress said.
The one-time extrovert said these days, she
prefers to stay indoors and this is because
she wants to be viewed as a responsible
actress at all times.
“I used to be an extrovert but not anymore,
now I enjoy the company of my family and
my niece, who is just too funny. I stay
indoors with my family when I’m not on
location or away in school,” she said.
Lagbaja,Hugh Masekela to thrill audience at world cup village
As the 2010 World Cup draws closer,
franchise owners - Infinity Events, South
Africa and Heartlink Events, Nigeria - are
putting finishing touches to the Sports and
Entertainment Village that is being set up for
that purpose.
According to the, Head Consultant, Heartlink
Events, Kemi Otegbade, Hugh Masekela, Femi
Kuti, Lagbaja and Kunle Ayo are some of the
artistes expected to perform at the village.
She said, "The Nigeria Sports and
Entertainment village is a new way of
rebranding Nigerian. It is part of the efforts
aimed at promoting Nigeria, protecting her
image and changing the strong negative
perception about the country."
She added, "The concerts will not revolve
around jazz music, but all genres. And
already, some local acts, who are going to
perform at the village have been contacted,
as some of them are part of the country's
brand ambassadors."
Otegbade added that villages would be
created in the three venues that Nigeria is
playing to give visitors from the country
opportunity to have homely feeling even
while away from home. "Already, some
Nigerians in South Africa are being
partnered to prepare Nigerian dishes for
those who will come for the concerts and
those, who might not get into the stadiums
to see some of the matches," she added.
franchise owners - Infinity Events, South
Africa and Heartlink Events, Nigeria - are
putting finishing touches to the Sports and
Entertainment Village that is being set up for
that purpose.
According to the, Head Consultant, Heartlink
Events, Kemi Otegbade, Hugh Masekela, Femi
Kuti, Lagbaja and Kunle Ayo are some of the
artistes expected to perform at the village.
She said, "The Nigeria Sports and
Entertainment village is a new way of
rebranding Nigerian. It is part of the efforts
aimed at promoting Nigeria, protecting her
image and changing the strong negative
perception about the country."
She added, "The concerts will not revolve
around jazz music, but all genres. And
already, some local acts, who are going to
perform at the village have been contacted,
as some of them are part of the country's
brand ambassadors."
Otegbade added that villages would be
created in the three venues that Nigeria is
playing to give visitors from the country
opportunity to have homely feeling even
while away from home. "Already, some
Nigerians in South Africa are being
partnered to prepare Nigerian dishes for
those who will come for the concerts and
those, who might not get into the stadiums
to see some of the matches," she added.
My love life-Basket Mouth
This is the concluding part of the Basket
Mouth interview which started from last
week. Enjoy it...
What role did Ali Baba play in your life?
Ali Baba played all the roles I needed as an
upcoming comedian at a point that I met
him. Ali was a friend, a colleague, a brother,
a teacher, he was the one that actually made
me start tilting towards anchoring events.
Before I was just a plain standup
comedian… I just go on stage and I was
really into jokes . Ali Baba was the one that
made me start creating materials and doing
more story telling because I have stories. So
he was like look, stop cracking jokes start
telling stories because that was my
strength.
Ali Baba cracked jokes but at a level he said
you know what, you tell stories, talk about
life, you’ve been through all these things
and that’s your style. So I said okay, and fed
on all that I had in my head and he guided
me and I would say I owe it to a lot of
people.I can’t start mentioning their names
now but Ali Baba was the first person. The
only reason why I always say I owe
everything to this man is that he was the
first person that brought me in without any
sense if insecurity. He was always saying
this boy is hot….
Where did you meet him?
We met at Benin. When he came to do a
show, I went as a fan to watch him perform
and I went back stage to greet him. The
next time we met I was practicing comedy
and when I finished he actually stood up to
give me a standing ovation and that was
the opportunity. So I went to meet him
afterwards and we hit it off from that point
and since that point he’s been very
supportive.
You worked for him as a P.A?
Yeah I worked for him as a P.A. (laughs) but
it’s unofficial. I worked with him for like
two years and while I was his P.A I was like
a dummy …like if he has two events he
would say “Bright come in and perform. I
have another event stand him for me”, he
would go and come back. I was always like
one of the guys that stay to guide the
event. He was training me at that point
because at that time I never thought I
would be able to stand before dignitaries to
hold a microphone. At that point he liked me
so it was never a problem for him to leave a
venue and come back only for people at the
event to be shouting at him or talking to
him recklessly.
They won’t even know he left for
somewhere else when he comes back. If
anyone asks, I just say bros go ease himself,
he dey come back, so you do this and you
do that and that was actually what he was
doing. So he introduced me to most of his
clients. That was why the growth was
faster. So apart from just being his P.A I was
always going to every event and he was
always giving me opportunities to perform
for top people and that was how the name
spread a little bit faster than it would have .
If I had not met Ali Baba, I might still be here
at the level I am right now or the growth
may be slower, who knows, but he was one
of the people that kick - started me.
One of the biggest challenges most
entrepreneurs in Nigeria face is that
committed workers are difficult to come by.
How would you react to this?
I agree with you that getting the right team
to work with you is a difficult task but I
would say that so far I have been lucky. In
fact I can boldly say that so far in my career
if not for the people working with me I will
not be where I am today. Their dogged
commitment to the business is one of the
reasons for its growth. With Umeri Magnus
(legal adviser), Makun Dotun
(manager),Uwah Chichi (event booking
manager), Ariwayo Kayode (logistic
manager) and the rest who are contract
staffs, I would say that I have been
exempted from the staff challenge.
We heard your colleagues were not at your
father’s burial, what happened?
Not all of them. I go die , Don Jazzy ,
Gandoki, I go save, Sim Card, and Buchi
came . But Gandoki, Sim card and I go save
were actually on their way. They thought it
was going to be an all night thing not
knowing it was a day thing, so we met on
the way and we slept in Owerri. Some of
them couldn’t come because they had an
event, some didn’t come because they
didn’t feel like it because coming to my
village is quite a long journey. I understand
if anybody said look I can’t come I won’t be
able to make it and aside that they didn’t
come because they felt that in the past I
have not really be present at their own
event which I understand . So I don’t hold
any grudge against anybody. The reason
why you hardly see me around during
events organized by my colleagues or
friends is because I’m extremely busy. If I
can’t make it, I’ll tell you friend I can’t make
it but most people don’t understand.
Did you invite all of them?
I invited all of them. Some of them didn’t tell
me they won’t come and some of them
after the event didn’t even call to say how
did it go and I was like is this a sign to let
me know that guy “we are angry at you or
whatever”. But I don’t think so, because I
have been at most of their events …
wedding, birthdays whatever. That
shouldn’t be the reason it has to be
something else .Whatever their reasons I
don’t want to know. I’m not going to hold
any grudges against anybody.
But didn’t you feel bad?
I felt bad , because when I celebrated my
son’s 1st birthday everybody came.All my
comedian colleagues were there and when I
was now celebrating death most of them
didn’t come and I was like are we fair
weather friends or are we friends for real?
So that was the only thing that made me
feel bad.
Have you been able to get to any of them?
I got to a few of them. Those that I really
hold dear to me… I told them guys I don’t
like what you did… you should have called
me. Most of them I let go because it’s fine.
It’s just that I’m that kind of person…. if I
invite you to come eat and celebrate with
me and you come, and I later invite you to
come feel the pain that I’m facing right now
and you don’t come I will find it hard to
invite you to come and eat with me again.
So just in case I don’t invite some people to
my wedding they will probably understand.
So let’s come to this your son, how old is he
now?
My son is going to be two years in May.
When are you getting married?
I’m thinking of getting married this year. My
younger sister is getting married this year;
so I’m trying to give a little bit of space
because it will consume a lot of money.
Regarding my wedding we’re trying as
much as possible to make it very small and
at the same time very loud and so I don’t
want to rush, but definitely I’m getting
married this year.
You want to get married to the mother of
your son… is it as a result of necessity or as
a result of love?
Love really. I’ve known her for like six years
and apart from the fact that she’s the
mother of my son we are also friends and
it’s easier to live a happily married life with
someone that understands you and
someone that you really have a good
communication with. Mainly I’m not
particular about love itself .I’m particular
about communication, friendship, and
understanding which is what we have. I
can’t start a new relationship dealing with
anybody else.
The Lord of the Ribs is a new show
replacing Basket Mouth Uncensored. Before
you talk of the one that will take place in
Nigeria let’s talk about the one that took
place in U.K. The show attracted a lot of
accolades. What did you do right and how
do you feel?
Okay I didn’t know that it was going to be
another sell-out by a black comedian in the
UK. Eddie Kaddie was my M.C. What we did
right was actually the publicity. The
publicity was elaborate and the venue was
extremely perfect we couldn’t have made a
better choice. There was something about
the 02. The biggest concert has been held at
the 02. So we were like okay, we’re going to
do this because I didn’t want to get into a
mini show in London and just pick one
cheap venue.
The show is not registered, there is no work
permit, I am performing and scared of
immigration, you know all that. So we went
through the right sources and we applied
for work permit, paid tax, insured the show,
did everything right and because of what
we did there was no limitation to the
amount of publicity that we were going to
do. Talking about how it became a success, I
think apart from the fact that it was well
publicized, what we are selling was worth it.
A lot of people came there to watch me
perform and I gave them what they came
for. I tried my best to make sure that they
got what they wanted. And it was a good
show … it was extremely good, it wasn’t
just directed to us Nigerians, there were
Ghanaians, South Africans, Zimbabweans
even the British people we had a couple of
them there. I’m still hoping that I will still
repeat that event there because it was
something I never thought could happen
and after this one I might do one next year .
I don’t know yet but there was no other
way to start because I stopped doing
Basket mouth uncensored last year and I
wanted to bring up a new brand which was
the Lord of the Ribs and there was no other
way to start Lord of the Ribs than to start
the way it started. The platform we used,
the crowd and all that would make the next
edition which is in Lagos easier to achieve.
I’m also bringing in some comedians from
U.K to join me. They all said the show was
great thanks to all the people that came…
What should we expect from the Lord of the
Rib in Nigeria?
Lord of the Rib in Nigeria will be featuring
two U.K comedians and one South African
comedian. One of the U.K comedians is
white and he speaks Pigin English and
Yoruba. He’s extremely funny. His name is
Kevin J and he’s one of the biggest
comedians in the U.K right now. The other
comedian, Eddy Carle is a Congolese but he’s
also British. He was actually at the show at
the Old 02 arena the one with the 20,000
seating capacity. The C.Ds will be sold out
because since September the thing is almost
half gone.
The comedian from South Africa, David Cow
is extremely good also. He is black and he’s
one of the biggest comedians in South
Africa. I’ll also be featuring two or three
comedians from Nigeria like Bovi, Buchi,
and I go die. I won’t be able to feature more
Nigerian comedians because there would be
no time but I’m also trying to build a
platform, a new show that will give other
comedians an opportunity to also be on
stage but right for Lord of the Rib in Lagos
we are trying as much as possible to make
it extremely different because I’m not going
to be the only comedian.
We are trying to make it as big as possible
using the new venue at the new Expo
Center that has 25,000 seating capacity and
we are looking at making it a little bit
affordable unlike my previous shows that
tilted towardsN5000, and N10,000. This one
is going to be a little bit cheaper but
definitely we intend to make it one of the
biggest comedy events ever in the history
of comedy in Nigeria. That’s my plan. I
intend to do it to the point where even the
foreigners too will be part of it.
When will it take place?
We are looking at June. I heard that there
are a couple of events in May so I’m looking
at June and July but it won’t go beyond the
summer because a lot of the people will be
traveling. So it will be right before summer.
Will it be cheaper than N5, 000?
Yes, it might be. We are still looking at it.
N5,000
Give us a bit of yourself what did you do in
school?
I attended UNIBEN . I studied sociology and
I left in 2001. I didn’t do a BSc degree. I did
two diplomas, in sociology and
anthropology and also sociology on its
own. I was supposed to do my direct entry
and go further. I just felt the one I had
already don do, make I face comedy which
is my talent. For me it’s not about the
certificate but it’s about the talent. I
definitely don’t see myself using my
certificate to work. I cannot do the 9am –
5pm thing except I’m going to my own
company. I started professional comedy in
2000 so I’m supposed to be celebrating my
ten years on stage but I don’t believe in all
these celebrations because I feel like I’ve
not really done anything. So I’ll probably
wait till I am twenty years old on stage and
by then I’ll probably be in my early forties
so I will still be young in the industry.
What would you say of other comedians
that copy other people’s jokes …. have you
ever copied other people’s jokes?
I have not copied other people’s jokes but I
have copied their subject matters. So when
people talk about something and I like it, I’ll
elaborate on it. So it’s all about ideas. You
pick an idea on someone else’s jokes. It’s
natural . I’ve used Ali Baba’s joke before not
because I ran out of jokes but because I
liked it. I told him bros this joke I am seizing
it; it’s no more your joke. When it comes to
copying other people’s jokes, some
comedians do so due to laziness. It is also
an act of disrespect for the originators
because these people go through a lot in
getting a good joke and someone from
nowhere comes up and uses the joke.
Who are your top five upcoming
comedians?
I won’t call them upcoming comedians. I’ll
call them young comedians and they can’t
be five. I’ll have to mention ten. I like Seyi
law, D Don, Mr Patrick, Buchi, I like Bovy a
whole lot because his style is actually like
mine and the same thing with Buchi.He is
very, very spontaneous I like both of them.
I can take both of them out of the whole lot
and if I say I want to choose my first two I
will choose them. I don’t want to mention
names because they may feel bad if I don’t
mention their names .
There are other comedians like Ele nu, Mc
Shakara, then the lecturals. I admire their
work , because they have it in them
although I can’t really remember all their
names.
Let’s come to your own class, your top five
biggest comedians?
Hmmm number one is Oke bakasi, I go die,
Gandoki, Ali Baba and Basorge
Okay who are the five worse comedians?
I can’t say that … I can’t say that, I’m sorry.
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Afternoon! Tuesday March 30, 2010
advertisement
Services
Front Page
Back Page
Advert Rates
Subscription
News
Home
National
International
Business News
Abuja Reports
Sports
Politics
Sun Girl
Editorial
Editorial Issues
Letters
Opinion
Columnists
Community
Standard Guestbook
View Guestbook
Sun Chatroom
Features
Apettit
Arts
BlockBuster
CEO Magazine
Celebrity Fashion
City Sun
Crime Watch
Covert Choice
CyberSun
Enterprise
Everyday Heroes
Exquisite Property
Fashion & Celebrity
Fashion & Beauty
Favourite File
Health Magazine
How I write
Life Style
Living
Mafia Series
Man in the street
Man in the pulpit
Managing a Law Firm
Me & My God
Media People
Money
Motoring
Power Game
Romance
Romantic Faction
Senior Citizen
Showtime
Smoking Guns
Sun Splash
Sunlight of Islam
Travels
Window of the world
Window on widows
Woman of the Sun
Women in Business
Women & Me
Videoscope
Weekend Sun
Saturday Sun
Sunday Sun
Weekend Sports
Weekend Cartoons
Company Profile
About Us
Management
Contact Us
Mouth interview which started from last
week. Enjoy it...
What role did Ali Baba play in your life?
Ali Baba played all the roles I needed as an
upcoming comedian at a point that I met
him. Ali was a friend, a colleague, a brother,
a teacher, he was the one that actually made
me start tilting towards anchoring events.
Before I was just a plain standup
comedian… I just go on stage and I was
really into jokes . Ali Baba was the one that
made me start creating materials and doing
more story telling because I have stories. So
he was like look, stop cracking jokes start
telling stories because that was my
strength.
Ali Baba cracked jokes but at a level he said
you know what, you tell stories, talk about
life, you’ve been through all these things
and that’s your style. So I said okay, and fed
on all that I had in my head and he guided
me and I would say I owe it to a lot of
people.I can’t start mentioning their names
now but Ali Baba was the first person. The
only reason why I always say I owe
everything to this man is that he was the
first person that brought me in without any
sense if insecurity. He was always saying
this boy is hot….
Where did you meet him?
We met at Benin. When he came to do a
show, I went as a fan to watch him perform
and I went back stage to greet him. The
next time we met I was practicing comedy
and when I finished he actually stood up to
give me a standing ovation and that was
the opportunity. So I went to meet him
afterwards and we hit it off from that point
and since that point he’s been very
supportive.
You worked for him as a P.A?
Yeah I worked for him as a P.A. (laughs) but
it’s unofficial. I worked with him for like
two years and while I was his P.A I was like
a dummy …like if he has two events he
would say “Bright come in and perform. I
have another event stand him for me”, he
would go and come back. I was always like
one of the guys that stay to guide the
event. He was training me at that point
because at that time I never thought I
would be able to stand before dignitaries to
hold a microphone. At that point he liked me
so it was never a problem for him to leave a
venue and come back only for people at the
event to be shouting at him or talking to
him recklessly.
They won’t even know he left for
somewhere else when he comes back. If
anyone asks, I just say bros go ease himself,
he dey come back, so you do this and you
do that and that was actually what he was
doing. So he introduced me to most of his
clients. That was why the growth was
faster. So apart from just being his P.A I was
always going to every event and he was
always giving me opportunities to perform
for top people and that was how the name
spread a little bit faster than it would have .
If I had not met Ali Baba, I might still be here
at the level I am right now or the growth
may be slower, who knows, but he was one
of the people that kick - started me.
One of the biggest challenges most
entrepreneurs in Nigeria face is that
committed workers are difficult to come by.
How would you react to this?
I agree with you that getting the right team
to work with you is a difficult task but I
would say that so far I have been lucky. In
fact I can boldly say that so far in my career
if not for the people working with me I will
not be where I am today. Their dogged
commitment to the business is one of the
reasons for its growth. With Umeri Magnus
(legal adviser), Makun Dotun
(manager),Uwah Chichi (event booking
manager), Ariwayo Kayode (logistic
manager) and the rest who are contract
staffs, I would say that I have been
exempted from the staff challenge.
We heard your colleagues were not at your
father’s burial, what happened?
Not all of them. I go die , Don Jazzy ,
Gandoki, I go save, Sim Card, and Buchi
came . But Gandoki, Sim card and I go save
were actually on their way. They thought it
was going to be an all night thing not
knowing it was a day thing, so we met on
the way and we slept in Owerri. Some of
them couldn’t come because they had an
event, some didn’t come because they
didn’t feel like it because coming to my
village is quite a long journey. I understand
if anybody said look I can’t come I won’t be
able to make it and aside that they didn’t
come because they felt that in the past I
have not really be present at their own
event which I understand . So I don’t hold
any grudge against anybody. The reason
why you hardly see me around during
events organized by my colleagues or
friends is because I’m extremely busy. If I
can’t make it, I’ll tell you friend I can’t make
it but most people don’t understand.
Did you invite all of them?
I invited all of them. Some of them didn’t tell
me they won’t come and some of them
after the event didn’t even call to say how
did it go and I was like is this a sign to let
me know that guy “we are angry at you or
whatever”. But I don’t think so, because I
have been at most of their events …
wedding, birthdays whatever. That
shouldn’t be the reason it has to be
something else .Whatever their reasons I
don’t want to know. I’m not going to hold
any grudges against anybody.
But didn’t you feel bad?
I felt bad , because when I celebrated my
son’s 1st birthday everybody came.All my
comedian colleagues were there and when I
was now celebrating death most of them
didn’t come and I was like are we fair
weather friends or are we friends for real?
So that was the only thing that made me
feel bad.
Have you been able to get to any of them?
I got to a few of them. Those that I really
hold dear to me… I told them guys I don’t
like what you did… you should have called
me. Most of them I let go because it’s fine.
It’s just that I’m that kind of person…. if I
invite you to come eat and celebrate with
me and you come, and I later invite you to
come feel the pain that I’m facing right now
and you don’t come I will find it hard to
invite you to come and eat with me again.
So just in case I don’t invite some people to
my wedding they will probably understand.
So let’s come to this your son, how old is he
now?
My son is going to be two years in May.
When are you getting married?
I’m thinking of getting married this year. My
younger sister is getting married this year;
so I’m trying to give a little bit of space
because it will consume a lot of money.
Regarding my wedding we’re trying as
much as possible to make it very small and
at the same time very loud and so I don’t
want to rush, but definitely I’m getting
married this year.
You want to get married to the mother of
your son… is it as a result of necessity or as
a result of love?
Love really. I’ve known her for like six years
and apart from the fact that she’s the
mother of my son we are also friends and
it’s easier to live a happily married life with
someone that understands you and
someone that you really have a good
communication with. Mainly I’m not
particular about love itself .I’m particular
about communication, friendship, and
understanding which is what we have. I
can’t start a new relationship dealing with
anybody else.
The Lord of the Ribs is a new show
replacing Basket Mouth Uncensored. Before
you talk of the one that will take place in
Nigeria let’s talk about the one that took
place in U.K. The show attracted a lot of
accolades. What did you do right and how
do you feel?
Okay I didn’t know that it was going to be
another sell-out by a black comedian in the
UK. Eddie Kaddie was my M.C. What we did
right was actually the publicity. The
publicity was elaborate and the venue was
extremely perfect we couldn’t have made a
better choice. There was something about
the 02. The biggest concert has been held at
the 02. So we were like okay, we’re going to
do this because I didn’t want to get into a
mini show in London and just pick one
cheap venue.
The show is not registered, there is no work
permit, I am performing and scared of
immigration, you know all that. So we went
through the right sources and we applied
for work permit, paid tax, insured the show,
did everything right and because of what
we did there was no limitation to the
amount of publicity that we were going to
do. Talking about how it became a success, I
think apart from the fact that it was well
publicized, what we are selling was worth it.
A lot of people came there to watch me
perform and I gave them what they came
for. I tried my best to make sure that they
got what they wanted. And it was a good
show … it was extremely good, it wasn’t
just directed to us Nigerians, there were
Ghanaians, South Africans, Zimbabweans
even the British people we had a couple of
them there. I’m still hoping that I will still
repeat that event there because it was
something I never thought could happen
and after this one I might do one next year .
I don’t know yet but there was no other
way to start because I stopped doing
Basket mouth uncensored last year and I
wanted to bring up a new brand which was
the Lord of the Ribs and there was no other
way to start Lord of the Ribs than to start
the way it started. The platform we used,
the crowd and all that would make the next
edition which is in Lagos easier to achieve.
I’m also bringing in some comedians from
U.K to join me. They all said the show was
great thanks to all the people that came…
What should we expect from the Lord of the
Rib in Nigeria?
Lord of the Rib in Nigeria will be featuring
two U.K comedians and one South African
comedian. One of the U.K comedians is
white and he speaks Pigin English and
Yoruba. He’s extremely funny. His name is
Kevin J and he’s one of the biggest
comedians in the U.K right now. The other
comedian, Eddy Carle is a Congolese but he’s
also British. He was actually at the show at
the Old 02 arena the one with the 20,000
seating capacity. The C.Ds will be sold out
because since September the thing is almost
half gone.
The comedian from South Africa, David Cow
is extremely good also. He is black and he’s
one of the biggest comedians in South
Africa. I’ll also be featuring two or three
comedians from Nigeria like Bovi, Buchi,
and I go die. I won’t be able to feature more
Nigerian comedians because there would be
no time but I’m also trying to build a
platform, a new show that will give other
comedians an opportunity to also be on
stage but right for Lord of the Rib in Lagos
we are trying as much as possible to make
it extremely different because I’m not going
to be the only comedian.
We are trying to make it as big as possible
using the new venue at the new Expo
Center that has 25,000 seating capacity and
we are looking at making it a little bit
affordable unlike my previous shows that
tilted towardsN5000, and N10,000. This one
is going to be a little bit cheaper but
definitely we intend to make it one of the
biggest comedy events ever in the history
of comedy in Nigeria. That’s my plan. I
intend to do it to the point where even the
foreigners too will be part of it.
When will it take place?
We are looking at June. I heard that there
are a couple of events in May so I’m looking
at June and July but it won’t go beyond the
summer because a lot of the people will be
traveling. So it will be right before summer.
Will it be cheaper than N5, 000?
Yes, it might be. We are still looking at it.
N5,000
Give us a bit of yourself what did you do in
school?
I attended UNIBEN . I studied sociology and
I left in 2001. I didn’t do a BSc degree. I did
two diplomas, in sociology and
anthropology and also sociology on its
own. I was supposed to do my direct entry
and go further. I just felt the one I had
already don do, make I face comedy which
is my talent. For me it’s not about the
certificate but it’s about the talent. I
definitely don’t see myself using my
certificate to work. I cannot do the 9am –
5pm thing except I’m going to my own
company. I started professional comedy in
2000 so I’m supposed to be celebrating my
ten years on stage but I don’t believe in all
these celebrations because I feel like I’ve
not really done anything. So I’ll probably
wait till I am twenty years old on stage and
by then I’ll probably be in my early forties
so I will still be young in the industry.
What would you say of other comedians
that copy other people’s jokes …. have you
ever copied other people’s jokes?
I have not copied other people’s jokes but I
have copied their subject matters. So when
people talk about something and I like it, I’ll
elaborate on it. So it’s all about ideas. You
pick an idea on someone else’s jokes. It’s
natural . I’ve used Ali Baba’s joke before not
because I ran out of jokes but because I
liked it. I told him bros this joke I am seizing
it; it’s no more your joke. When it comes to
copying other people’s jokes, some
comedians do so due to laziness. It is also
an act of disrespect for the originators
because these people go through a lot in
getting a good joke and someone from
nowhere comes up and uses the joke.
Who are your top five upcoming
comedians?
I won’t call them upcoming comedians. I’ll
call them young comedians and they can’t
be five. I’ll have to mention ten. I like Seyi
law, D Don, Mr Patrick, Buchi, I like Bovy a
whole lot because his style is actually like
mine and the same thing with Buchi.He is
very, very spontaneous I like both of them.
I can take both of them out of the whole lot
and if I say I want to choose my first two I
will choose them. I don’t want to mention
names because they may feel bad if I don’t
mention their names .
There are other comedians like Ele nu, Mc
Shakara, then the lecturals. I admire their
work , because they have it in them
although I can’t really remember all their
names.
Let’s come to your own class, your top five
biggest comedians?
Hmmm number one is Oke bakasi, I go die,
Gandoki, Ali Baba and Basorge
Okay who are the five worse comedians?
I can’t say that … I can’t say that, I’m sorry.
NIGERIAWORLD | NIGERIAWEB | MESSAGEBOARD | ANNOUNCE STORY | NAIJANET | STATE NEWS | SEARCH
Good Afternoon! Tuesday March 30, 2010
advertisement
Services
Front Page
Back Page
Advert Rates
Subscription
News
Home
National
International
Business News
Abuja Reports
Sports
Politics
Sun Girl
Editorial
Editorial Issues
Letters
Opinion
Columnists
Community
Standard Guestbook
View Guestbook
Sun Chatroom
Features
Apettit
Arts
BlockBuster
CEO Magazine
Celebrity Fashion
City Sun
Crime Watch
Covert Choice
CyberSun
Enterprise
Everyday Heroes
Exquisite Property
Fashion & Celebrity
Fashion & Beauty
Favourite File
Health Magazine
How I write
Life Style
Living
Mafia Series
Man in the street
Man in the pulpit
Managing a Law Firm
Me & My God
Media People
Money
Motoring
Power Game
Romance
Romantic Faction
Senior Citizen
Showtime
Smoking Guns
Sun Splash
Sunlight of Islam
Travels
Window of the world
Window on widows
Woman of the Sun
Women in Business
Women & Me
Videoscope
Weekend Sun
Saturday Sun
Sunday Sun
Weekend Sports
Weekend Cartoons
Company Profile
About Us
Management
Contact Us
Courtney Love dating Uma Thurman's Ex
Courtney Love is
reportedly dating Uma
Thurman's ex-fiance,
hotelier Andre Balazs. This
is one matching we will
never understand! The
man is a classy guy so
why in the world would
he date a hot mess like Courtney Love?
She wrote in an email to a friend: "I’m in
lurve. It’s nice. Scary. I’m a great catch and he
can be a bad boy but he loves me. He is the
sweetest thing and he actually totally does
respect me. His manners are impeccable but
he is funny too (sic).”
Courtney has been staying at the Mercer
Hotel in New York which her new boyfriend
happens to own.
She said: “He has properties everywhere and
has given me the key to his apartment, but
what is better than living in his hotel?"
Love has denied the relationship in public
saying, “He is just an old friend and my
sometime landlord."
Maybe she was having one of those
infamous crazy days when she wrote that
email? Courtney Love's own daughter
doesn't even wanna be associated with her,
how in the world would someone like Andre
Balasz date her? We're hoping this whole
thing was just created by Love's
imagination!
reportedly dating Uma
Thurman's ex-fiance,
hotelier Andre Balazs. This
is one matching we will
never understand! The
man is a classy guy so
why in the world would
he date a hot mess like Courtney Love?
She wrote in an email to a friend: "I’m in
lurve. It’s nice. Scary. I’m a great catch and he
can be a bad boy but he loves me. He is the
sweetest thing and he actually totally does
respect me. His manners are impeccable but
he is funny too (sic).”
Courtney has been staying at the Mercer
Hotel in New York which her new boyfriend
happens to own.
She said: “He has properties everywhere and
has given me the key to his apartment, but
what is better than living in his hotel?"
Love has denied the relationship in public
saying, “He is just an old friend and my
sometime landlord."
Maybe she was having one of those
infamous crazy days when she wrote that
email? Courtney Love's own daughter
doesn't even wanna be associated with her,
how in the world would someone like Andre
Balasz date her? We're hoping this whole
thing was just created by Love's
imagination!
Ricky Martin comes out of the closet
The cats out of the bag!
Ricky Martin has finally
confessed to what was
the world's worst kept
secret--that he is gay.
Ricky posted the
following blog on his
website:
"Today is my day, this is my time, and this is
my moment ... These years in silence and
reflection made me stronger and reminded
me that acceptance has to come from within
and that this kind of truth gives me the
power to conquer emotions I didn't even
know existed."
He ends his post with, "I am proud to say
that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am
very blessed to be who I am."
Earlier this month during Barbara Walters
final Oscar special she admitted that one
interview she most regretted in her lifetime
was outing Ricky Martin.
Did Barbara Walters Destroy Ricky Martin's
Career?
"In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to
admit if he was gay or not, and the way he
refused to do it made everyone decide that
he was," she said. "A lot of people say that
destroyed his career, and when I think back
on it now I feel it was an inappropriate
question."
In the past Ricky stated he was in love with
Mexican TV host Rebecca de Alba. They dated
on and off for over 14 years. They even
talked of starting a family together. In
December 2008 Ricky became a father to
twin boys via a surrogate.
It's about time he came out. We've all known
for years. Congrats to Ricky for finally
embracing who he is!
Ricky Martin has finally
confessed to what was
the world's worst kept
secret--that he is gay.
Ricky posted the
following blog on his
website:
"Today is my day, this is my time, and this is
my moment ... These years in silence and
reflection made me stronger and reminded
me that acceptance has to come from within
and that this kind of truth gives me the
power to conquer emotions I didn't even
know existed."
He ends his post with, "I am proud to say
that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am
very blessed to be who I am."
Earlier this month during Barbara Walters
final Oscar special she admitted that one
interview she most regretted in her lifetime
was outing Ricky Martin.
Did Barbara Walters Destroy Ricky Martin's
Career?
"In 2000, I pushed Ricky Martin very hard to
admit if he was gay or not, and the way he
refused to do it made everyone decide that
he was," she said. "A lot of people say that
destroyed his career, and when I think back
on it now I feel it was an inappropriate
question."
In the past Ricky stated he was in love with
Mexican TV host Rebecca de Alba. They dated
on and off for over 14 years. They even
talked of starting a family together. In
December 2008 Ricky became a father to
twin boys via a surrogate.
It's about time he came out. We've all known
for years. Congrats to Ricky for finally
embracing who he is!
24 movie gets the green light
Jack Bauer will live on to
save the world! 24 may
be ending, but it’s not the
last time we’ll see our
favorite action star. It’s
being reported that 24 is
being turned into a movie.
According to the New Hollywood Reporter,
the show’s producer Howard Gordon has
given the film script the go ahead. It’ll be
written by the same screenwriter who did
State of Play and Shattered Glass, and could
be out as soon "as early as next year,
depending on how things come together,”
said Gordon.
And the film is trying something completely
different from the show by taking out the
“real time” aspect. Gordon says over the
years, that’s what has made the show so
predictable.
"We've done everything we feel we can do
with that character in this format," Gordon
said. "The opportunity [of a movie] is not to
use the real-time aspect and also to do it on a
scale the TV show never allowed."
The only other thing we know about the flick
is that it will not be a prequel. So that means
Jack will likely live through the rest of this
final season. But did we expect any less?! It’s
Jack Bauer!
save the world! 24 may
be ending, but it’s not the
last time we’ll see our
favorite action star. It’s
being reported that 24 is
being turned into a movie.
According to the New Hollywood Reporter,
the show’s producer Howard Gordon has
given the film script the go ahead. It’ll be
written by the same screenwriter who did
State of Play and Shattered Glass, and could
be out as soon "as early as next year,
depending on how things come together,”
said Gordon.
And the film is trying something completely
different from the show by taking out the
“real time” aspect. Gordon says over the
years, that’s what has made the show so
predictable.
"We've done everything we feel we can do
with that character in this format," Gordon
said. "The opportunity [of a movie] is not to
use the real-time aspect and also to do it on a
scale the TV show never allowed."
The only other thing we know about the flick
is that it will not be a prequel. So that means
Jack will likely live through the rest of this
final season. But did we expect any less?! It’s
Jack Bauer!
Monday, March 29, 2010
madonna taking adopted kids back to malawi
Madonna has decided to
bring her daughter Mercy
and her son David back to
Malawi where they’re
from. But don’t worry, it’s
just for a visit!
The Material Girl feels it’s
important for her children to be reunited
with their Malawian families, and be properly
introduced now that they’re older.
Mercy spent four years at an orphanage
before being adopted last year. And
according to The Sun, this will be her first
trip back since being scooped up by the
Queen of Pop.
Madonna's Boyfriend: I Consider Myself
Married to Her
A source tells the publication, "She promised
to take them back to their homeland. She
sees it as vital they understand their roots.
Mercy's meeting with her family will be
particularly emotional as it's the first time
she's seen them since last summer."
During the trip, Madonna will also start laying
bricks to mark the start of building her girls’
academy. Good for her! This should prove to
the families that Madonna is making an
effort for the biological families to have a
role in her childrens’ lives!
bring her daughter Mercy
and her son David back to
Malawi where they’re
from. But don’t worry, it’s
just for a visit!
The Material Girl feels it’s
important for her children to be reunited
with their Malawian families, and be properly
introduced now that they’re older.
Mercy spent four years at an orphanage
before being adopted last year. And
according to The Sun, this will be her first
trip back since being scooped up by the
Queen of Pop.
Madonna's Boyfriend: I Consider Myself
Married to Her
A source tells the publication, "She promised
to take them back to their homeland. She
sees it as vital they understand their roots.
Mercy's meeting with her family will be
particularly emotional as it's the first time
she's seen them since last summer."
During the trip, Madonna will also start laying
bricks to mark the start of building her girls’
academy. Good for her! This should prove to
the families that Madonna is making an
effort for the biological families to have a
role in her childrens’ lives!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Nollywood actor accused of beating wife silly
A Nollywood actor, Fredrick
Akpowene Aseroma, was on
Friday, March 26, 2010, arrested
and detained at the Ojodu-
Abiodun Police Division, Ogun
State Command, over allegations
of beating his wife, Blessing
Aseroma, who he has been
married to for 10 years.
Mr. Aseroma, 40, along with his
younger brother, Temotighe, 30,
was detained after they both
allegedly tried to strangle Mrs.
Aseroma, 38, bruised her arm
and almost stripped her naked
because she reported them to a
non-governmental women ’s
rights organisation, Project Alert.
Can’t take it anymore
“I went to Project Alert on
Wednesday (March 24) because
that same morning, they both
beat me until the neighbours
intervened. What caused it then
was that our children have been
out of school because of non-
payment of school fees,” Mrs.
Aseroma said.
The wife, who has three
children for Mr. Aserome,
claimed that the husband has
always been abusive right from
the University of Lagos, where
they both schooled.
“Even in school, he had been
beating me. But I thought that it
would stop and things would
change. I don ’t know why I
tolerated it. I guess because of
love I overlooked everything, ”
said Mrs. Aseroma, a graduate of
History.
State of shock
The executive director of Project
Alert, Josephine Effah-
Chukwuma, said Mrs. Aseroma
came to the NGO in a state of
shock. She said it was evident
that, over the years, the lady
had lost her self-esteem, as a
result of the physical and
psychological abuse suffered.
“We invited her husband to try
and resolve the issue, but he
refused to come. We have now
taken the case up with the
police. Her case is a very sad one,
and a reminder that women are
being abused at an alarming
rate. So now it’s about naming
and shaming people who violate
women, ” Mrs. Effah-Chukwuma
said.
When NEXT called Mr. Aseroma’s
phone number, he picked up, but
immediately cut off when asked
for his reaction to the
allegations of wife battery.
Akpowene Aseroma, was on
Friday, March 26, 2010, arrested
and detained at the Ojodu-
Abiodun Police Division, Ogun
State Command, over allegations
of beating his wife, Blessing
Aseroma, who he has been
married to for 10 years.
Mr. Aseroma, 40, along with his
younger brother, Temotighe, 30,
was detained after they both
allegedly tried to strangle Mrs.
Aseroma, 38, bruised her arm
and almost stripped her naked
because she reported them to a
non-governmental women ’s
rights organisation, Project Alert.
Can’t take it anymore
“I went to Project Alert on
Wednesday (March 24) because
that same morning, they both
beat me until the neighbours
intervened. What caused it then
was that our children have been
out of school because of non-
payment of school fees,” Mrs.
Aseroma said.
The wife, who has three
children for Mr. Aserome,
claimed that the husband has
always been abusive right from
the University of Lagos, where
they both schooled.
“Even in school, he had been
beating me. But I thought that it
would stop and things would
change. I don ’t know why I
tolerated it. I guess because of
love I overlooked everything, ”
said Mrs. Aseroma, a graduate of
History.
State of shock
The executive director of Project
Alert, Josephine Effah-
Chukwuma, said Mrs. Aseroma
came to the NGO in a state of
shock. She said it was evident
that, over the years, the lady
had lost her self-esteem, as a
result of the physical and
psychological abuse suffered.
“We invited her husband to try
and resolve the issue, but he
refused to come. We have now
taken the case up with the
police. Her case is a very sad one,
and a reminder that women are
being abused at an alarming
rate. So now it’s about naming
and shaming people who violate
women, ” Mrs. Effah-Chukwuma
said.
When NEXT called Mr. Aseroma’s
phone number, he picked up, but
immediately cut off when asked
for his reaction to the
allegations of wife battery.
Onyeka Onwenu returns as the Legend
Were you paid for the Imo
State endorsement?
No, I wasn’t. It was my
Governor’s idea. He is a man of
vision. Today, everybody says a
new face of this …new face of
that. But truly, the New face
concept started off in Imo
state. Governor Ohakim came up
with the concept, and I was
approached to execute the
project. And honestly, I didn ’t
know it would be so well
accepted that I should be
identified with all that is good
about Imo state.
I really like to thank him for the
honour because it is one thing
for you to have done well, and it
is another thing for the people
to recognise your effort, and
want to identify with the image
that you have created. So I did
it. I wasn ’t paid for it. Although,
there was an honorarium for
my clothes and the likes. Not
that I would have wanted to be
paid. There are things that you
do for the sake of community or
society and it was really my
honour to be able to do that.
And how does that make you
feel?
The fact that my picture adorns
the concept means much to me.
It says this is our daughter in
whom we are well pleased. So,
to have her image welcome you
into Imo state means we
approve and love her, we
equally love what she is doing-
that ’s the acceptance I am
talking about.
Relocating to Imo state from
Lagos to serve your people
on a political platform. Was it
what you bargained for?
I have always been involved
with anything my people are
doing back home. My input in
my community has been very
strong. I keep it on the low side
because there is one thing I
learnt from my upbringing- if
you are doing charity work, it is
your commitment. The world
does not need to know about it.
The only time they should know
is if you need publicity to do
more. If you go back to my
village, you ’ll feel my impact. God
chose to put me for his own
reason in a small town in Aro
Ndizuogu.
In politics, I have asked Him
(God), what do you want me to
do? I never felt I would come
out (to do politics) even though
I was born to a man who was a
high flyer in politics. It never
occurred to me until the time
came and God put it in my mind
that this is where I want you to
go. It didn ’t make sense to me
initially- this local government
thing. A lot of people would ask
me, why local government? It
didn ’t make sense to me too. If I
was the one who came up with
the idea (participating in
politics), I wouldn ’t have
thought about local
government.
Where would you have
considered?
Possibly, the senate,
governorship or even the
presidency. I am good for it. You
are good for it too. God said,I
am sending you to the local
government because that is the
closest to the people and that is
where you can make a mark
very quickly and sow. It is not
about Onyeka Onwenu really. It
is about doing what I can at
that level. I insist that if you can
get it right at that level, you
have got it right.
How many times have you
contested?
It is my second time. I wanted
to quit after the first time
because I saw a lot and I wasn’t
happy. Imagine that my party
said, you are the flag bearer and
some people said , No, she can ’t
be. We won’t let her. These are
high flyer people and because
they were scared that this
woman was going to perform
and then she ’ d show us off as
incompetent. And once you set a
precedence, anybody coming
after you will have to meet that
standard, if he can ’t do better.
This was the fear. They
appreciate and understand that
the people want me and that I
am in a position to change
things, given my commitment. I
don ’t have any other magic,
except that my heart is in there
100 per cent.
Maybe, the first time you
tried wasn ’t the right time?
It’s God’s time. I did go down in
prayers. I grew up in a Christian
home and we seek God ’s face in
everything that we do. I have
no apologies about that and I
am not ashamed of it. When I
sought the face of the Lord and
asked,were you not the one
who sent me? He said, yes. I
said, why didn’t I win? He said, I
didn’t say you would win the
first time. I said, Come out and
you came out. Now go back
again. Surprisingly, I didn ’t want
to, but he said Go back and here
I am.
Beyond the council level
now, you are involved in
service to the people of Imo
state at another level. Tell us
about it.
Yes, indeed. The appointment I
got was to be the chairman of
the board of Imo State Council
for Arts and Culture. When my
governor sent me there, he
called me and said, Look, there is
nothing there. It has been so run
down that what is happening
there is really bad. That is why I
am sending you because I know
you are capable of rescuing that
place. And in six months, we did
it to the point that he bragged
with us (the council).
Can we talk about the council
that you met, what you have
done so far and how you
were able to change it.
There was nothing there. The
grass was so overgrown. No
morale, nothing. When I got in
there, I nearly cried because all
that I could see was potential.
Imo people are very vibrant. In
terms of culture, it is us. We are
the heartland. I cried because I
saw the beauty, talent and all
but no motivation. The council
didn ’t even have a bank account.
So, how was it operating?
I don’t know. And when we
came in, there was opposition.
But little by little, they could see
our commitment. I am the
chairman but the board was
willing to work. Sometimes,
when we go for cultural fiestas,
I would lead the troupe in front
– dancing and wearing the
traditional outfit. I mobilise
everyone and when we get into
the arena, you will know that
something is happening.
Everything started to turn
around. So, after fighting
initially, they (oppositions) now
accepted and we began to work
together. Then, we started
refurbishing and putting up a
building based on our
subvention and the money we
were making at the side. Now
we are asking for accountability
where there wasn ’t any. They
didn’t see a board which was
coming to chop money. We
were spending our money. They
don ’t pay me any salary. They
just pay me sitting allowance
which is not even enough to
cover my expenses. So, this was
the example that we set but we
can even do more and we are
striving to do more. And now
that the governor has agreed
that we should go on 100
percent, we have new ideas and
if I am there for another six
months, we are going to do
more to make him proud.
What happens to your local
government intentions if
your governor offers you a
commissionership post?
(Laughter) I think he knows that
I will prefer to go to my local
government and he is very
sensitive to such things. He
knows that anywhere you put
me, I will give it my best but I
am sent for a purpose.
What if there is an offer?
We will cross that bridge when
we get there. He won ’t do that
because he knows how
passionate I am about the local
government, even before he
became governor. We have had
opportunity to talk. What he has
come to do is to provide an
enabling environment, creating
the proverbial level playing
ground and let the people put
me there. That is the mandate
by which I should be there- the
peoples. Don ’t put me there
because I have money to share
because I won ’t share. I don’t
give or take bribes. If I bribe
you today to work for you, I am
not going to work. I am going to
steal your money and make back
what I have given out. I won ’t
bribe anybody. When I was
saying this, they said, she is
naive. I said, I am not. I told
God when I was going there
that, If I get in there, I will do it
your way. If I can ’t do it your
way, don’t let me get in there .
Because, what is it? You go and
make that money, you lose your
pride, the name you have
laboured to make, your father
and mother ’s name, all because
of money you can make
elsewhere and even make more.
What is it about the local
government that so attracts
you?
It is very simple. Get it right at
that level and you have saved
this country. It is closest to the
people. I will be the president
that they see; the governor
closest to them and that is why
you have 774 local governments
in Nigeria. If they are
functioning, let the state do its
job too. By serving at the local
government level, you can
execute policies and see directly
if they are working or not. It is
very important. We have left it
for the wrong people and that is
why we are suffering. But I can
do it excellently because I have a
sense of integrity and
everything I have done has
been done passionately.
And what about your
opposition?
We have the best relationships
now. We are friends now. They
are my supporters.
So you might run
unopposed?
No. You will always have
contenders and its good to have
people that will keep you on
your toes. I don ’t want an
unopposed scene.
And what happens to your
music?
Music and entertainment are
going to drive development in
my politics because it is a huge
sector. Entertainment is the
biggest employer of labour in
the world. Why can ’t we use it?
So, what plans do you have
for the local government?
First of all, the monthly
allocation will be used to
develop the place. An enabling
environment for education will
be created. I have a foundation
– the DK Onwenu Foundation,
giving out scholarships right
now. Teachers will be taken care
of. You might be wondering,
æwhere will she get the money
to do all these? We are not even
going to rely on the subvention
that will be coming on a
monthly basis. We are relying on
galvanizing the people of Ideato
to come together and help
themselves. There are agencies
all over the world that when
they bring money to work in
Nigeria because the
environment is not so good,
they take the money back. They
will bring their money this time,
get their money ’s worth and
attract world-wide attention.
Back to your music.
I am just coming out with a CD.
The introduction had been done,
last week. I am still entertaining.
How is it coping with
politics, music, motherhood
and all that.
If I tell you it has been easy, I
will be lying about handling
motherhood and all that. I am a
care-giver. I live with a 91-year-
old woman – very strong,
capable and smart upstairs. She
engages me, believe me. I have
got people at home in Aro
Ndizogu to take care of. Same in
Obosi – my mother’s village. So,
you can do all things through
Christ who strengthens because
it is not by might.
How is it working with
young producers when in
the past, you were involved
in your own production?
I am the executive producer and
all the producers are young
people just like I am a young
lady (laughter). They were all
excited. They had a good time. I
didn ’t know that God had a
reason for it (the album) taking
so long. Some of these songs
had been bubbling in my heart
from way back. Some I had done
before, like Nso Nso for the
Christians. We also did a remake
of the Peace song which is now
called Maryam ’s Peace. That song
is for Maryam Babangida. She
asked me to write it to celebrate
peace in 1988. And before her
death, I was canvassing the idea
of remaking a modern version
of it and then using her in the
video as lead role because it is
her song. And then she passed
away. The lines that used to
say,May our lives be filled with
love. May our days be long and
happy is now when you came,
you filled us with love. You
made our days so o o lovely
(goes silent in sobs and tears). I
will want to present it to the
family because we need to
remember Maryam Babangida.
She showed us how women
should hold their head up. We
(women) came into our own
because of Maryam and she
took a lot of knocks for it. She
took them (the knocks) with
grace and dignity. I know it is
not a popular idea, what I am
canvassing but good or not, it
was when they started wearing
ankara that we started
patronising our designers and
the industry has changed for
the better. It was Maryam that
we saw wearing the ankara, so
we wore it.
The album
It is called The Legend. It is two
CDs in one pack. Each contains
seven songs. When you hear
what ID Cabassa did on
Maryam ’s Peace song, it is one
track that will make you flip. It
speaks to your inner self such
that when I listen to it, I am
inspired. Many of the songs
were not written. I would come
in with an idea of maybe just
two lines and within 30
minutes, I have the whole song.
As for Cobhams, he forced me to
write about my father. We did
the song together. The back up
vocalist broke down twice. We
were all crying. The girls (back
up vocalist) father wasn ’t dead
but she said, I want to go home
and hug my dad. When my
mother heard, she said, ehn,ehn,
you wrote a song for your
father. I said, Yes. Remember, I
sang for you first. So don ’t go
there. We owe the fathers. Even
if your father is dead, give to
charity in his memorial. Do
something in their honour.
There is another song, Kosi. You
won ’t be able to sit down
listening to it. If you ask
everybody who worked with
me, from ID Cabassa, Cobhams,
Wole Oni, Yemi, they ’ll tell you.
Even the ones I re-mixed, I didn’t
write them down. We will be
there and sometimes, the
presence of the Holy Spirit will
be strong and we will just have
to stop and start praising God. If
you listen to the song Nso Nso,
it will get to a point and you’ll
hear me speaking in tongues in
the background.
I was doing the lead when he
(the Holy Spirit) just took me
over.
So, I feel like an outsider
standing by and appreciating
what God has done in this
recording. When He said to me
that I am going to do something
that hasn ’t been done before, I
didn’t understand. He did it not
to glorify anybody but himself.
On motherhood
I have three boys, including my
nephew. TC is three years older
than my nephew who is also
three years older than my last
boy. But the last one will always
want to hang out as one of the
boys while the elder ones insist
he is still young. So, there is
always that quarrel.
In my family, there is something
so clear that is ours – a lot of
love. My father set the example
for me. My mother is not
demonstrative. You have got to
accept her that way. So, in my
home there is a law that you
can get hugged anytime. All you
need to say is I need a hug. Even
I say I need a hug and I am
surrounded. I was a busy
mother in their early years, but
it was either I took them with
me or brief them from time to
time. They knew everything. I
would call them on the phone,
telling them what is happening
and if there was a situation,
they ll even have their input.
They could talk to me. They
could come into my room at
anytime. They could ask me
anything and get answers.
State endorsement?
No, I wasn’t. It was my
Governor’s idea. He is a man of
vision. Today, everybody says a
new face of this …new face of
that. But truly, the New face
concept started off in Imo
state. Governor Ohakim came up
with the concept, and I was
approached to execute the
project. And honestly, I didn ’t
know it would be so well
accepted that I should be
identified with all that is good
about Imo state.
I really like to thank him for the
honour because it is one thing
for you to have done well, and it
is another thing for the people
to recognise your effort, and
want to identify with the image
that you have created. So I did
it. I wasn ’t paid for it. Although,
there was an honorarium for
my clothes and the likes. Not
that I would have wanted to be
paid. There are things that you
do for the sake of community or
society and it was really my
honour to be able to do that.
And how does that make you
feel?
The fact that my picture adorns
the concept means much to me.
It says this is our daughter in
whom we are well pleased. So,
to have her image welcome you
into Imo state means we
approve and love her, we
equally love what she is doing-
that ’s the acceptance I am
talking about.
Relocating to Imo state from
Lagos to serve your people
on a political platform. Was it
what you bargained for?
I have always been involved
with anything my people are
doing back home. My input in
my community has been very
strong. I keep it on the low side
because there is one thing I
learnt from my upbringing- if
you are doing charity work, it is
your commitment. The world
does not need to know about it.
The only time they should know
is if you need publicity to do
more. If you go back to my
village, you ’ll feel my impact. God
chose to put me for his own
reason in a small town in Aro
Ndizuogu.
In politics, I have asked Him
(God), what do you want me to
do? I never felt I would come
out (to do politics) even though
I was born to a man who was a
high flyer in politics. It never
occurred to me until the time
came and God put it in my mind
that this is where I want you to
go. It didn ’t make sense to me
initially- this local government
thing. A lot of people would ask
me, why local government? It
didn ’t make sense to me too. If I
was the one who came up with
the idea (participating in
politics), I wouldn ’t have
thought about local
government.
Where would you have
considered?
Possibly, the senate,
governorship or even the
presidency. I am good for it. You
are good for it too. God said,I
am sending you to the local
government because that is the
closest to the people and that is
where you can make a mark
very quickly and sow. It is not
about Onyeka Onwenu really. It
is about doing what I can at
that level. I insist that if you can
get it right at that level, you
have got it right.
How many times have you
contested?
It is my second time. I wanted
to quit after the first time
because I saw a lot and I wasn’t
happy. Imagine that my party
said, you are the flag bearer and
some people said , No, she can ’t
be. We won’t let her. These are
high flyer people and because
they were scared that this
woman was going to perform
and then she ’ d show us off as
incompetent. And once you set a
precedence, anybody coming
after you will have to meet that
standard, if he can ’t do better.
This was the fear. They
appreciate and understand that
the people want me and that I
am in a position to change
things, given my commitment. I
don ’t have any other magic,
except that my heart is in there
100 per cent.
Maybe, the first time you
tried wasn ’t the right time?
It’s God’s time. I did go down in
prayers. I grew up in a Christian
home and we seek God ’s face in
everything that we do. I have
no apologies about that and I
am not ashamed of it. When I
sought the face of the Lord and
asked,were you not the one
who sent me? He said, yes. I
said, why didn’t I win? He said, I
didn’t say you would win the
first time. I said, Come out and
you came out. Now go back
again. Surprisingly, I didn ’t want
to, but he said Go back and here
I am.
Beyond the council level
now, you are involved in
service to the people of Imo
state at another level. Tell us
about it.
Yes, indeed. The appointment I
got was to be the chairman of
the board of Imo State Council
for Arts and Culture. When my
governor sent me there, he
called me and said, Look, there is
nothing there. It has been so run
down that what is happening
there is really bad. That is why I
am sending you because I know
you are capable of rescuing that
place. And in six months, we did
it to the point that he bragged
with us (the council).
Can we talk about the council
that you met, what you have
done so far and how you
were able to change it.
There was nothing there. The
grass was so overgrown. No
morale, nothing. When I got in
there, I nearly cried because all
that I could see was potential.
Imo people are very vibrant. In
terms of culture, it is us. We are
the heartland. I cried because I
saw the beauty, talent and all
but no motivation. The council
didn ’t even have a bank account.
So, how was it operating?
I don’t know. And when we
came in, there was opposition.
But little by little, they could see
our commitment. I am the
chairman but the board was
willing to work. Sometimes,
when we go for cultural fiestas,
I would lead the troupe in front
– dancing and wearing the
traditional outfit. I mobilise
everyone and when we get into
the arena, you will know that
something is happening.
Everything started to turn
around. So, after fighting
initially, they (oppositions) now
accepted and we began to work
together. Then, we started
refurbishing and putting up a
building based on our
subvention and the money we
were making at the side. Now
we are asking for accountability
where there wasn ’t any. They
didn’t see a board which was
coming to chop money. We
were spending our money. They
don ’t pay me any salary. They
just pay me sitting allowance
which is not even enough to
cover my expenses. So, this was
the example that we set but we
can even do more and we are
striving to do more. And now
that the governor has agreed
that we should go on 100
percent, we have new ideas and
if I am there for another six
months, we are going to do
more to make him proud.
What happens to your local
government intentions if
your governor offers you a
commissionership post?
(Laughter) I think he knows that
I will prefer to go to my local
government and he is very
sensitive to such things. He
knows that anywhere you put
me, I will give it my best but I
am sent for a purpose.
What if there is an offer?
We will cross that bridge when
we get there. He won ’t do that
because he knows how
passionate I am about the local
government, even before he
became governor. We have had
opportunity to talk. What he has
come to do is to provide an
enabling environment, creating
the proverbial level playing
ground and let the people put
me there. That is the mandate
by which I should be there- the
peoples. Don ’t put me there
because I have money to share
because I won ’t share. I don’t
give or take bribes. If I bribe
you today to work for you, I am
not going to work. I am going to
steal your money and make back
what I have given out. I won ’t
bribe anybody. When I was
saying this, they said, she is
naive. I said, I am not. I told
God when I was going there
that, If I get in there, I will do it
your way. If I can ’t do it your
way, don’t let me get in there .
Because, what is it? You go and
make that money, you lose your
pride, the name you have
laboured to make, your father
and mother ’s name, all because
of money you can make
elsewhere and even make more.
What is it about the local
government that so attracts
you?
It is very simple. Get it right at
that level and you have saved
this country. It is closest to the
people. I will be the president
that they see; the governor
closest to them and that is why
you have 774 local governments
in Nigeria. If they are
functioning, let the state do its
job too. By serving at the local
government level, you can
execute policies and see directly
if they are working or not. It is
very important. We have left it
for the wrong people and that is
why we are suffering. But I can
do it excellently because I have a
sense of integrity and
everything I have done has
been done passionately.
And what about your
opposition?
We have the best relationships
now. We are friends now. They
are my supporters.
So you might run
unopposed?
No. You will always have
contenders and its good to have
people that will keep you on
your toes. I don ’t want an
unopposed scene.
And what happens to your
music?
Music and entertainment are
going to drive development in
my politics because it is a huge
sector. Entertainment is the
biggest employer of labour in
the world. Why can ’t we use it?
So, what plans do you have
for the local government?
First of all, the monthly
allocation will be used to
develop the place. An enabling
environment for education will
be created. I have a foundation
– the DK Onwenu Foundation,
giving out scholarships right
now. Teachers will be taken care
of. You might be wondering,
æwhere will she get the money
to do all these? We are not even
going to rely on the subvention
that will be coming on a
monthly basis. We are relying on
galvanizing the people of Ideato
to come together and help
themselves. There are agencies
all over the world that when
they bring money to work in
Nigeria because the
environment is not so good,
they take the money back. They
will bring their money this time,
get their money ’s worth and
attract world-wide attention.
Back to your music.
I am just coming out with a CD.
The introduction had been done,
last week. I am still entertaining.
How is it coping with
politics, music, motherhood
and all that.
If I tell you it has been easy, I
will be lying about handling
motherhood and all that. I am a
care-giver. I live with a 91-year-
old woman – very strong,
capable and smart upstairs. She
engages me, believe me. I have
got people at home in Aro
Ndizogu to take care of. Same in
Obosi – my mother’s village. So,
you can do all things through
Christ who strengthens because
it is not by might.
How is it working with
young producers when in
the past, you were involved
in your own production?
I am the executive producer and
all the producers are young
people just like I am a young
lady (laughter). They were all
excited. They had a good time. I
didn ’t know that God had a
reason for it (the album) taking
so long. Some of these songs
had been bubbling in my heart
from way back. Some I had done
before, like Nso Nso for the
Christians. We also did a remake
of the Peace song which is now
called Maryam ’s Peace. That song
is for Maryam Babangida. She
asked me to write it to celebrate
peace in 1988. And before her
death, I was canvassing the idea
of remaking a modern version
of it and then using her in the
video as lead role because it is
her song. And then she passed
away. The lines that used to
say,May our lives be filled with
love. May our days be long and
happy is now when you came,
you filled us with love. You
made our days so o o lovely
(goes silent in sobs and tears). I
will want to present it to the
family because we need to
remember Maryam Babangida.
She showed us how women
should hold their head up. We
(women) came into our own
because of Maryam and she
took a lot of knocks for it. She
took them (the knocks) with
grace and dignity. I know it is
not a popular idea, what I am
canvassing but good or not, it
was when they started wearing
ankara that we started
patronising our designers and
the industry has changed for
the better. It was Maryam that
we saw wearing the ankara, so
we wore it.
The album
It is called The Legend. It is two
CDs in one pack. Each contains
seven songs. When you hear
what ID Cabassa did on
Maryam ’s Peace song, it is one
track that will make you flip. It
speaks to your inner self such
that when I listen to it, I am
inspired. Many of the songs
were not written. I would come
in with an idea of maybe just
two lines and within 30
minutes, I have the whole song.
As for Cobhams, he forced me to
write about my father. We did
the song together. The back up
vocalist broke down twice. We
were all crying. The girls (back
up vocalist) father wasn ’t dead
but she said, I want to go home
and hug my dad. When my
mother heard, she said, ehn,ehn,
you wrote a song for your
father. I said, Yes. Remember, I
sang for you first. So don ’t go
there. We owe the fathers. Even
if your father is dead, give to
charity in his memorial. Do
something in their honour.
There is another song, Kosi. You
won ’t be able to sit down
listening to it. If you ask
everybody who worked with
me, from ID Cabassa, Cobhams,
Wole Oni, Yemi, they ’ll tell you.
Even the ones I re-mixed, I didn’t
write them down. We will be
there and sometimes, the
presence of the Holy Spirit will
be strong and we will just have
to stop and start praising God. If
you listen to the song Nso Nso,
it will get to a point and you’ll
hear me speaking in tongues in
the background.
I was doing the lead when he
(the Holy Spirit) just took me
over.
So, I feel like an outsider
standing by and appreciating
what God has done in this
recording. When He said to me
that I am going to do something
that hasn ’t been done before, I
didn’t understand. He did it not
to glorify anybody but himself.
On motherhood
I have three boys, including my
nephew. TC is three years older
than my nephew who is also
three years older than my last
boy. But the last one will always
want to hang out as one of the
boys while the elder ones insist
he is still young. So, there is
always that quarrel.
In my family, there is something
so clear that is ours – a lot of
love. My father set the example
for me. My mother is not
demonstrative. You have got to
accept her that way. So, in my
home there is a law that you
can get hugged anytime. All you
need to say is I need a hug. Even
I say I need a hug and I am
surrounded. I was a busy
mother in their early years, but
it was either I took them with
me or brief them from time to
time. They knew everything. I
would call them on the phone,
telling them what is happening
and if there was a situation,
they ll even have their input.
They could talk to me. They
could come into my room at
anytime. They could ask me
anything and get answers.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wonderman!Varsity student plays guitars without fingers
The world is full of mysteries.
All testifying to the creator ’s
unfathomable creativity. We
have read about the Barmuda
Triangle, a spot around the
Caribbean where airplanes
which try to fly over a particular
area disappear without a trace.
Back home in Nigeria, there are
mysteries too, and De-Pub Night
Club is where you can get some
of them. Owned by Mr. Andrew
Aganbi, a PDP chieftain, this club
hides beneath its swanky
exterior another mystery that
will make anyone gasp in
wonder at God ’s sublime sense
of humour.
On the clubs bandstand, on any
good day stands a young man
who has no fingers dazzles the
club ’s clientele with funky guitar
whoops and thumps as his
Radiant Band dishes out vibes
and vibes of the old and new
schools of music.
This is the world of Simeon
Djaigbo, Nigeria ’s version of
Steve Wonder, who slaps and
picks the bass guitar as if he
were born with the instrument.
He tantalizes his audiences with
deep throbbing bass riffs.
How he does it? Well, his display
at Warri defeats the
imagination.
Simeon Djaigbo is a bona fide
final year student of Library and
Information Science at the Delta
State University, Abraka. He is
also a drummer and keyboardist
in whose life, according to him,
music is a running thread.
On how he writes without
fingers? one would ask. For the
reporter, the musician ’s life is a
lesson to the disadvantaged
youths who are content to
wallow in self-pity, or taking to
crime.
Yaw returns with Private
Lies
After staging PO – a two- cast
play, successfully at the MUSON
Centre last year, the award
winning broadcaster, Steve Onu,
popularly known as Yaw is back
on stage with another play
titled Private Lies- a play written
by Tyrone E. Terrence.
The OAP who is trying to
contribute his own quota to
revive live theatre in the
country believes live theatre
cannot die, because it has been
there for ages and so will
continue to live. Private Lies, he
says, is pregnant with meanings.
The media consultant for the
event, Olujuwon Bukunola
Philips, said the play is a four-
cast unlike PO. It will feature
Yaw, Jude Orioha aka (deaf)
Gbenro of Fuji House of
Commotion fame and two other
talented upcoming artistes who
were discovered at an audition
which held last month. Their
names are Sontonye Green, and
Kaybee Emokpaire.
Private Lies is a dynamic story
of love told via an intricate web
of lies, hatred and betrayal. Two
couples, Jeff and Barbara on one
side and Sam and Rose on the
other find themselves locked in
a familiar but yet complicated
situation that will see them
sacrifice years of friendship as
well as nuptial vows to satisfy
their most pedestal passion,
what happens next? Well, you
have to see the play, as directed
by Emma Uduma, to find out.
The play will be staged in two
shows, 4pm and 7.30pm
respectively on the 28th of
March, 2010, at the Muson
Centre, Lagos. Musical
performances from Ruggedman,
Jay Martins, Dagrin Banky W and
Obiwon, to mention a few, are
expected to spice up the show
alongside comedy from
Basketmouth, Koffi and Klint D
Drunk and Emeka Smith, among
others, said Bukunola Phillips.
Ego steps in
Coming off the Question mark
Entertainment label, Jennifer
Nwakaego Oduah – stage name
Ego – is about to take her career
in the entertainment sector to
another level after pursuing a
career in pageantry, contesting
in competitions like the Most
Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN)
and modelling for fashion
outfits Zizi Cardow and Modella,
in addition to singing and
miming at gigs.
The fair skinned 24-year-old is
ready with a first single as she
intends to follow her initial
dream of attaining stardom
now using music as a medium.
Her first single, Omalicha Nwa
translates to a beautiful child.
The single, which features an
appearance from fellow label
mate Harrisong, has drawn
favourable comments from
industry watchers, thus
encouraging Ego and the
Questionmark label to speed up
work on her forthcoming album.
Admitting that she loves
cameras, Ego ’s list of musical
inspirations include namesake
Jennifer Lopez, and Toni
Braxton. Little wonder then that
she plans to be the best while
also preaching love and
motivating people with her
music.
Drawing from her experiences
in modelling and fashion, and
armed with a degree in the
Creative Arts, the odds of Ego
making it big in the Nigerian
entertainment scene appear
short.
All testifying to the creator ’s
unfathomable creativity. We
have read about the Barmuda
Triangle, a spot around the
Caribbean where airplanes
which try to fly over a particular
area disappear without a trace.
Back home in Nigeria, there are
mysteries too, and De-Pub Night
Club is where you can get some
of them. Owned by Mr. Andrew
Aganbi, a PDP chieftain, this club
hides beneath its swanky
exterior another mystery that
will make anyone gasp in
wonder at God ’s sublime sense
of humour.
On the clubs bandstand, on any
good day stands a young man
who has no fingers dazzles the
club ’s clientele with funky guitar
whoops and thumps as his
Radiant Band dishes out vibes
and vibes of the old and new
schools of music.
This is the world of Simeon
Djaigbo, Nigeria ’s version of
Steve Wonder, who slaps and
picks the bass guitar as if he
were born with the instrument.
He tantalizes his audiences with
deep throbbing bass riffs.
How he does it? Well, his display
at Warri defeats the
imagination.
Simeon Djaigbo is a bona fide
final year student of Library and
Information Science at the Delta
State University, Abraka. He is
also a drummer and keyboardist
in whose life, according to him,
music is a running thread.
On how he writes without
fingers? one would ask. For the
reporter, the musician ’s life is a
lesson to the disadvantaged
youths who are content to
wallow in self-pity, or taking to
crime.
Yaw returns with Private
Lies
After staging PO – a two- cast
play, successfully at the MUSON
Centre last year, the award
winning broadcaster, Steve Onu,
popularly known as Yaw is back
on stage with another play
titled Private Lies- a play written
by Tyrone E. Terrence.
The OAP who is trying to
contribute his own quota to
revive live theatre in the
country believes live theatre
cannot die, because it has been
there for ages and so will
continue to live. Private Lies, he
says, is pregnant with meanings.
The media consultant for the
event, Olujuwon Bukunola
Philips, said the play is a four-
cast unlike PO. It will feature
Yaw, Jude Orioha aka (deaf)
Gbenro of Fuji House of
Commotion fame and two other
talented upcoming artistes who
were discovered at an audition
which held last month. Their
names are Sontonye Green, and
Kaybee Emokpaire.
Private Lies is a dynamic story
of love told via an intricate web
of lies, hatred and betrayal. Two
couples, Jeff and Barbara on one
side and Sam and Rose on the
other find themselves locked in
a familiar but yet complicated
situation that will see them
sacrifice years of friendship as
well as nuptial vows to satisfy
their most pedestal passion,
what happens next? Well, you
have to see the play, as directed
by Emma Uduma, to find out.
The play will be staged in two
shows, 4pm and 7.30pm
respectively on the 28th of
March, 2010, at the Muson
Centre, Lagos. Musical
performances from Ruggedman,
Jay Martins, Dagrin Banky W and
Obiwon, to mention a few, are
expected to spice up the show
alongside comedy from
Basketmouth, Koffi and Klint D
Drunk and Emeka Smith, among
others, said Bukunola Phillips.
Ego steps in
Coming off the Question mark
Entertainment label, Jennifer
Nwakaego Oduah – stage name
Ego – is about to take her career
in the entertainment sector to
another level after pursuing a
career in pageantry, contesting
in competitions like the Most
Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN)
and modelling for fashion
outfits Zizi Cardow and Modella,
in addition to singing and
miming at gigs.
The fair skinned 24-year-old is
ready with a first single as she
intends to follow her initial
dream of attaining stardom
now using music as a medium.
Her first single, Omalicha Nwa
translates to a beautiful child.
The single, which features an
appearance from fellow label
mate Harrisong, has drawn
favourable comments from
industry watchers, thus
encouraging Ego and the
Questionmark label to speed up
work on her forthcoming album.
Admitting that she loves
cameras, Ego ’s list of musical
inspirations include namesake
Jennifer Lopez, and Toni
Braxton. Little wonder then that
she plans to be the best while
also preaching love and
motivating people with her
music.
Drawing from her experiences
in modelling and fashion, and
armed with a degree in the
Creative Arts, the odds of Ego
making it big in the Nigerian
entertainment scene appear
short.
Truly,I have never felt a love like this-Femi Adeyinka
The R N B music genre is one
that is dared only by true
talents. In Nigeria, and
perhaps all Africa, it ’s held
firmly by soul singer Darey
Art Alade. In this interview
with yet-to-debut Nigerian-
born Boston raised R N B
singer, Femi Adeyinka, he
talks about himself and his
love for R N B.
This Westminister College
graduate of Business
Management ’s promo single,
Never Felt a Love, playing on
radio and TV, is one of the
highly rated, very promising,
R N B attempts made by an
upcoming act. Femi is signed
to Kennis Music. Enjoy your
read.
My full name is Olufemi
Oladipupo Adeyinka. My artiste
name is Femi. I grew up in
Nigeria till I was aged 11, 12.
Then I went to the States. I have
been there ever since. I grew up
in Boston area and got into
singing in my second year in
high school. Later, I joined a
group in the University and that
was it.
Has it always been R N B?
It’s always been R N B music for
me. I love Hip Hop and others
but R N B is what I connect to. I
grew up listening to a lot of
people, including Stevie Wonder,
Al Green, Sam Cook, Bon Jovi,
Daniel Jones, Joe and a lot of
others.
Why just Femi for a stage
name?
I think Femi speaks for itself.
One, it is my name and two, it is
what I think makes sense to me.
I have thought about other
names but I want people to
know where I come from. I am
Nigerian to the core. Femi just
fits.
What is your relationship with
the comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka
the 1st?
Gbenga Adeyinka is a big
brother to me. He is my first
cousin and has always been a
big brother since I was younger.
I remember our grandma would
send us both to the market
while growing up and he would
go and play football and buy me
something to keep quiet
(laughs). If I were to come back
to this world and pick a big
brother, I ‘d pick him.
Is there music in your
family?
I am the only one in the family
doing music. It must have come
from God. I started off as a
dancer. I always loved music as
a child. I was one of those kids
that couldn ’t wait to go to a
birthday party and win first
prize in dancing. I don ’t have
any form of training
whatsoever in music. My singing
is a gift from God and I have
also picked different things
from different artistes that I
have worked with along the
way.
Did it ever cross your mind
while growing up that you
may end up a singer?
No, I remember when they’d
lined us up as kids every
Christmas and ask us what we’d
like to be when we grew up. I
used to say, a lawyer or doctor.
God just has his way of making
things happen. I just know
music has been a blessing to me
ever since.
Have you relocated to
Nigeria now?
Yes.
So, tell me what exactly
brought you home?
Actually, I haven’t been home in
a while, so I came to see my
family. Then my big brother,
Gbenga Adeyinka, heard my
music about a year and half ago
and couldn ’t believe it was me.
So, he said I should come down
here and check out the music. I
came with Never felt a love but
a lot of people said I was too
foreign. So, I recorded a song
with Ego of Lagbaja. It is called
Mapami. I thought that would be
my first single release but then I
met with Kennis Music and they
loved Never felt a love. So, they
released it. I have been around
for about 4-5 months now and
the song is well accepted.
What’s next?
The next single is dropping this
week. It is titled Baby I got it
(money). It features a home-
based artiste which I am not
telling .
Where was the Never felt a
love video shot?
It was shot in the States by
Corrigon Smokehouse
production. It was shot two
days after the song was
recorded, because we loved the
song.
Did you write the song?
Actually, the song was written
for me. I was in the studio with
Mandy, a song-writer back in the
States, and I said I was looking
for a song that could express
love beyond the word L-O-V-E. I
was going to write the song but
he presented his song to me and
I liked it.
Is the song more fictional
than real?
For me it is both. When the song
was written, my ideas were
incorporated. It was one time
that I felt something for
someone-a very deep
connection. I could barely wait
to be in her presence, just like
the song says. So, I could relate
with the song, although the
situation has since changed.
Who first moved on?
Both of us. We had a mutual
agreement to move on because
it was a time when we were
both focused on our careers.
That was about four years ago.
Is the song that old?
No, the song was written last
year but the experience was
years ago. Sometimes, you write
in the moment, other times in
the past.
Are there plans for an album
release soon?
I am recording right now. We
are looking at an April release,
God willing. But we are dropping
the second single first. I am
looking at 12 or 13 tracks. It is
an R&B album, no doubt, but
there will be a couple of pop
songs too. I have a catalogue of
60 songs but I am still recording
because we are trying to find
the best songs that define Femi
as an artiste and will at the same
time appeal to the market.
Do you speak Yoruba at all?
Yes, I do. Mo gbo Yoruba (I
understand Yoruba).
that is dared only by true
talents. In Nigeria, and
perhaps all Africa, it ’s held
firmly by soul singer Darey
Art Alade. In this interview
with yet-to-debut Nigerian-
born Boston raised R N B
singer, Femi Adeyinka, he
talks about himself and his
love for R N B.
This Westminister College
graduate of Business
Management ’s promo single,
Never Felt a Love, playing on
radio and TV, is one of the
highly rated, very promising,
R N B attempts made by an
upcoming act. Femi is signed
to Kennis Music. Enjoy your
read.
My full name is Olufemi
Oladipupo Adeyinka. My artiste
name is Femi. I grew up in
Nigeria till I was aged 11, 12.
Then I went to the States. I have
been there ever since. I grew up
in Boston area and got into
singing in my second year in
high school. Later, I joined a
group in the University and that
was it.
Has it always been R N B?
It’s always been R N B music for
me. I love Hip Hop and others
but R N B is what I connect to. I
grew up listening to a lot of
people, including Stevie Wonder,
Al Green, Sam Cook, Bon Jovi,
Daniel Jones, Joe and a lot of
others.
Why just Femi for a stage
name?
I think Femi speaks for itself.
One, it is my name and two, it is
what I think makes sense to me.
I have thought about other
names but I want people to
know where I come from. I am
Nigerian to the core. Femi just
fits.
What is your relationship with
the comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka
the 1st?
Gbenga Adeyinka is a big
brother to me. He is my first
cousin and has always been a
big brother since I was younger.
I remember our grandma would
send us both to the market
while growing up and he would
go and play football and buy me
something to keep quiet
(laughs). If I were to come back
to this world and pick a big
brother, I ‘d pick him.
Is there music in your
family?
I am the only one in the family
doing music. It must have come
from God. I started off as a
dancer. I always loved music as
a child. I was one of those kids
that couldn ’t wait to go to a
birthday party and win first
prize in dancing. I don ’t have
any form of training
whatsoever in music. My singing
is a gift from God and I have
also picked different things
from different artistes that I
have worked with along the
way.
Did it ever cross your mind
while growing up that you
may end up a singer?
No, I remember when they’d
lined us up as kids every
Christmas and ask us what we’d
like to be when we grew up. I
used to say, a lawyer or doctor.
God just has his way of making
things happen. I just know
music has been a blessing to me
ever since.
Have you relocated to
Nigeria now?
Yes.
So, tell me what exactly
brought you home?
Actually, I haven’t been home in
a while, so I came to see my
family. Then my big brother,
Gbenga Adeyinka, heard my
music about a year and half ago
and couldn ’t believe it was me.
So, he said I should come down
here and check out the music. I
came with Never felt a love but
a lot of people said I was too
foreign. So, I recorded a song
with Ego of Lagbaja. It is called
Mapami. I thought that would be
my first single release but then I
met with Kennis Music and they
loved Never felt a love. So, they
released it. I have been around
for about 4-5 months now and
the song is well accepted.
What’s next?
The next single is dropping this
week. It is titled Baby I got it
(money). It features a home-
based artiste which I am not
telling .
Where was the Never felt a
love video shot?
It was shot in the States by
Corrigon Smokehouse
production. It was shot two
days after the song was
recorded, because we loved the
song.
Did you write the song?
Actually, the song was written
for me. I was in the studio with
Mandy, a song-writer back in the
States, and I said I was looking
for a song that could express
love beyond the word L-O-V-E. I
was going to write the song but
he presented his song to me and
I liked it.
Is the song more fictional
than real?
For me it is both. When the song
was written, my ideas were
incorporated. It was one time
that I felt something for
someone-a very deep
connection. I could barely wait
to be in her presence, just like
the song says. So, I could relate
with the song, although the
situation has since changed.
Who first moved on?
Both of us. We had a mutual
agreement to move on because
it was a time when we were
both focused on our careers.
That was about four years ago.
Is the song that old?
No, the song was written last
year but the experience was
years ago. Sometimes, you write
in the moment, other times in
the past.
Are there plans for an album
release soon?
I am recording right now. We
are looking at an April release,
God willing. But we are dropping
the second single first. I am
looking at 12 or 13 tracks. It is
an R&B album, no doubt, but
there will be a couple of pop
songs too. I have a catalogue of
60 songs but I am still recording
because we are trying to find
the best songs that define Femi
as an artiste and will at the same
time appeal to the market.
Do you speak Yoruba at all?
Yes, I do. Mo gbo Yoruba (I
understand Yoruba).
Sex scandal won't affect Muma Gee-Cerutti
South African based business
entertainment consultant and
celebrity publicist, Mike Osagie
Cerutti, has boasted that the
recent scandal attached on his
friend and cleint, Muma Gee at
the gulder ultimate search will
not affect her image as she sets
to launch her latest work this
weekend
All over the world scandals is
part of the entertainment
business, all top stars have been
linked to one for of scandal or
the other, so the recent
rumoured scandal or Muma Gee
will not affect her that I can
assure, Mike the Cerutti posited
Meanwhile,TOP Ghanaian and
South African artists will be
show casing their talents big
time in Lagos this weekend at
the nations number one
celebrity hang out, Nite shift
Coliseum when Muma Gee hosts
the world as she launches her
new album titled Woman in
Question
Billed to take place at the
gigantic Nite Shift Coliseum on
Sunday 28th March 2010, the
reappraisal of womanhood is a
pet project by Muma Gee aimed
at highlighting and tackling the
issues and problems affecting
women in Africa, hence the
special presence of Yvonne
Chaka Chaka-the true African
princess
Muma Gee who is rated as one
of Nigeria ’s hottest traditional
singers and show biz exponent
is said not to be set to spare
anything to make the night an
international night to remember
as she will be appearing in
concert with top Ghanaian stars
like VIP, Batman (SaminiI) and
Terry G alongside many others
No doubt,.Muma Gee will be gave
the discerning elites invited a lot
of reasons to salivate not only
about her pair of hot legs, but
also her talent and creative
abilities.
P-Square dazzles Abidjan
fans
Nigerian born music stars, Paul
and Peter Okoye, famously
known as P-Square, dazzled their
fans at Abidjan, the capital city
of Cote D ’voire on Friday last
week at a musical concert
organized by Moov, the biggest
telecommunication company in
the French speaking country.
Tagged P-square Live in Abidjan ,
the concert was held at Palais De
La Culture, Abidjan , and over
25,000 fans trooped in to watch
the Nigerian stars perform. P-
square actually performed for
about three hours on stage,
entertaining the audience, who
were singing along with hit
albums, including Senorita.
P-square, who stormed Abidjan
with its 10-man band, received a
warm welcome from the event
organizers, fans and the
Nigerian ambassador to Cote
D ’voire, Albert Olakunle
Oluyombo.
However, the twin brothers
decided to reciprocate the love
shown to them by people as
they donated computers, food
stuffs and other household
items to an orphanage in the
country.
entertainment consultant and
celebrity publicist, Mike Osagie
Cerutti, has boasted that the
recent scandal attached on his
friend and cleint, Muma Gee at
the gulder ultimate search will
not affect her image as she sets
to launch her latest work this
weekend
All over the world scandals is
part of the entertainment
business, all top stars have been
linked to one for of scandal or
the other, so the recent
rumoured scandal or Muma Gee
will not affect her that I can
assure, Mike the Cerutti posited
Meanwhile,TOP Ghanaian and
South African artists will be
show casing their talents big
time in Lagos this weekend at
the nations number one
celebrity hang out, Nite shift
Coliseum when Muma Gee hosts
the world as she launches her
new album titled Woman in
Question
Billed to take place at the
gigantic Nite Shift Coliseum on
Sunday 28th March 2010, the
reappraisal of womanhood is a
pet project by Muma Gee aimed
at highlighting and tackling the
issues and problems affecting
women in Africa, hence the
special presence of Yvonne
Chaka Chaka-the true African
princess
Muma Gee who is rated as one
of Nigeria ’s hottest traditional
singers and show biz exponent
is said not to be set to spare
anything to make the night an
international night to remember
as she will be appearing in
concert with top Ghanaian stars
like VIP, Batman (SaminiI) and
Terry G alongside many others
No doubt,.Muma Gee will be gave
the discerning elites invited a lot
of reasons to salivate not only
about her pair of hot legs, but
also her talent and creative
abilities.
P-Square dazzles Abidjan
fans
Nigerian born music stars, Paul
and Peter Okoye, famously
known as P-Square, dazzled their
fans at Abidjan, the capital city
of Cote D ’voire on Friday last
week at a musical concert
organized by Moov, the biggest
telecommunication company in
the French speaking country.
Tagged P-square Live in Abidjan ,
the concert was held at Palais De
La Culture, Abidjan , and over
25,000 fans trooped in to watch
the Nigerian stars perform. P-
square actually performed for
about three hours on stage,
entertaining the audience, who
were singing along with hit
albums, including Senorita.
P-square, who stormed Abidjan
with its 10-man band, received a
warm welcome from the event
organizers, fans and the
Nigerian ambassador to Cote
D ’voire, Albert Olakunle
Oluyombo.
However, the twin brothers
decided to reciprocate the love
shown to them by people as
they donated computers, food
stuffs and other household
items to an orphanage in the
country.
Sex scandal won't affect Muma Gee-Cerutti
South African based business
entertainment consultant and
celebrity publicist, Mike Osagie
Cerutti, has boasted that the
recent scandal attached on his
friend and cleint, Muma Gee at
the gulder ultimate search will
not affect her image as she sets
to launch her latest work this
weekend
All over the world scandals is
part of the entertainment
business, all top stars have been
linked to one for of scandal or
the other, so the recent
rumoured scandal or Muma Gee
will not affect her that I can
assure, Mike the Cerutti posited
Meanwhile,TOP Ghanaian and
South African artists will be
show casing their talents big
time in Lagos this weekend at
the nations number one
celebrity hang out, Nite shift
Coliseum when Muma Gee hosts
the world as she launches her
new album titled Woman in
Question
Billed to take place at the
gigantic Nite Shift Coliseum on
Sunday 28th March 2010, the
reappraisal of womanhood is a
pet project by Muma Gee aimed
at highlighting and tackling the
issues and problems affecting
women in Africa, hence the
special presence of Yvonne
Chaka Chaka-the true African
princess
Muma Gee who is rated as one
of Nigeria ’s hottest traditional
singers and show biz exponent
is said not to be set to spare
anything to make the night an
international night to remember
as she will be appearing in
concert with top Ghanaian stars
like VIP, Batman (SaminiI) and
Terry G alongside many others
No doubt,.Muma Gee will be gave
the discerning elites invited a lot
of reasons to salivate not only
about her pair of hot legs, but
also her talent and creative
abilities.
P-Square dazzles Abidjan
fans
Nigerian born music stars, Paul
and Peter Okoye, famously
known as P-Square, dazzled their
fans at Abidjan, the capital city
of Cote D ’voire on Friday last
week at a musical concert
organized by Moov, the biggest
telecommunication company in
the French speaking country.
Tagged P-square Live in Abidjan ,
the concert was held at Palais De
La Culture, Abidjan , and over
25,000 fans trooped in to watch
the Nigerian stars perform. P-
square actually performed for
about three hours on stage,
entertaining the audience, who
were singing along with hit
albums, including Senorita.
P-square, who stormed Abidjan
with its 10-man band, received a
warm welcome from the event
organizers, fans and the
Nigerian ambassador to Cote
D ’voire, Albert Olakunle
Oluyombo.
However, the twin brothers
decided to reciprocate the love
shown to them by people as
they donated computers, food
stuffs and other household
items to an orphanage in the
country.
entertainment consultant and
celebrity publicist, Mike Osagie
Cerutti, has boasted that the
recent scandal attached on his
friend and cleint, Muma Gee at
the gulder ultimate search will
not affect her image as she sets
to launch her latest work this
weekend
All over the world scandals is
part of the entertainment
business, all top stars have been
linked to one for of scandal or
the other, so the recent
rumoured scandal or Muma Gee
will not affect her that I can
assure, Mike the Cerutti posited
Meanwhile,TOP Ghanaian and
South African artists will be
show casing their talents big
time in Lagos this weekend at
the nations number one
celebrity hang out, Nite shift
Coliseum when Muma Gee hosts
the world as she launches her
new album titled Woman in
Question
Billed to take place at the
gigantic Nite Shift Coliseum on
Sunday 28th March 2010, the
reappraisal of womanhood is a
pet project by Muma Gee aimed
at highlighting and tackling the
issues and problems affecting
women in Africa, hence the
special presence of Yvonne
Chaka Chaka-the true African
princess
Muma Gee who is rated as one
of Nigeria ’s hottest traditional
singers and show biz exponent
is said not to be set to spare
anything to make the night an
international night to remember
as she will be appearing in
concert with top Ghanaian stars
like VIP, Batman (SaminiI) and
Terry G alongside many others
No doubt,.Muma Gee will be gave
the discerning elites invited a lot
of reasons to salivate not only
about her pair of hot legs, but
also her talent and creative
abilities.
P-Square dazzles Abidjan
fans
Nigerian born music stars, Paul
and Peter Okoye, famously
known as P-Square, dazzled their
fans at Abidjan, the capital city
of Cote D ’voire on Friday last
week at a musical concert
organized by Moov, the biggest
telecommunication company in
the French speaking country.
Tagged P-square Live in Abidjan ,
the concert was held at Palais De
La Culture, Abidjan , and over
25,000 fans trooped in to watch
the Nigerian stars perform. P-
square actually performed for
about three hours on stage,
entertaining the audience, who
were singing along with hit
albums, including Senorita.
P-square, who stormed Abidjan
with its 10-man band, received a
warm welcome from the event
organizers, fans and the
Nigerian ambassador to Cote
D ’voire, Albert Olakunle
Oluyombo.
However, the twin brothers
decided to reciprocate the love
shown to them by people as
they donated computers, food
stuffs and other household
items to an orphanage in the
country.
Lady Gaga:There's no telephone sequel
The music
video for
Lady Gaga’s
“Telephone”
featuring
Beyonce is
so hot, that
it ’s left
everyone
wanting more. And word on the
street is that the ladies were
going to begin working on a
sequel to the iconic video.
The buzz started after the video
premiered, and the last shot
says, “To Be Continued” on the
screen. But Gaga spoke with MTV
and cleared up the rumor. While
she is going to begin working on
the video for her next single
“ Alejandro,” Gaga says that it
won’t be a follow-up to
“Telephone.”
Lady Gaga Telephone Video
She said, "I'm so excited about
the Alejandro video. Actually,
we're shooting it very soon and
I don't want to say who the
director is yet because it's going
to give a lot away. I would be
more likely to lie through my
teeth to you what the video's
about so that you could all be
surprised. But I will tell you it's
not the sequel to the Telephone
video."
Lady Gaga Announces 2010
North American Tour
Gaga is always so secretive! But
that ’s what keeps us all guessing
about her. Just today it was
announced that her music
videos have had over a billion
views online, making her the
most clicked-on celebrity. And
this is only the beginning!
video for
Lady Gaga’s
“Telephone”
featuring
Beyonce is
so hot, that
it ’s left
everyone
wanting more. And word on the
street is that the ladies were
going to begin working on a
sequel to the iconic video.
The buzz started after the video
premiered, and the last shot
says, “To Be Continued” on the
screen. But Gaga spoke with MTV
and cleared up the rumor. While
she is going to begin working on
the video for her next single
“ Alejandro,” Gaga says that it
won’t be a follow-up to
“Telephone.”
Lady Gaga Telephone Video
She said, "I'm so excited about
the Alejandro video. Actually,
we're shooting it very soon and
I don't want to say who the
director is yet because it's going
to give a lot away. I would be
more likely to lie through my
teeth to you what the video's
about so that you could all be
surprised. But I will tell you it's
not the sequel to the Telephone
video."
Lady Gaga Announces 2010
North American Tour
Gaga is always so secretive! But
that ’s what keeps us all guessing
about her. Just today it was
announced that her music
videos have had over a billion
views online, making her the
most clicked-on celebrity. And
this is only the beginning!
Robin Hood to show cannes
Director
Ridley
Scott ’s new
movie
Robin Hood
is headed to
Cannes Film
Festival. The
film has
been chosen to open the entire
event which begins on May
12th. It will not compete for any
prizes during the festival
however.
But that will give the movie a lot
of press right before it opens in
theaters on May 14th. Cannes
delegate general Thierry
Fremaux told Variety, “From
Wednesday at Cannes through
Friday in the States, the film
goes worldwide. I like that.
Everybody can have their own
opening night. ”
The film stars Russell Crowe
and Cate Blanchett, who took
over for Sienna Miller to play the
leading lady. Check out the trailer
below!
Ridley
Scott ’s new
movie
Robin Hood
is headed to
Cannes Film
Festival. The
film has
been chosen to open the entire
event which begins on May
12th. It will not compete for any
prizes during the festival
however.
But that will give the movie a lot
of press right before it opens in
theaters on May 14th. Cannes
delegate general Thierry
Fremaux told Variety, “From
Wednesday at Cannes through
Friday in the States, the film
goes worldwide. I like that.
Everybody can have their own
opening night. ”
The film stars Russell Crowe
and Cate Blanchett, who took
over for Sienna Miller to play the
leading lady. Check out the trailer
below!
Robin Hood to show cannes
Director
Ridley
Scott ’s new
movie
Robin Hood
is headed to
Cannes Film
Festival. The
film has
been chosen to open the entire
event which begins on May
12th. It will not compete for any
prizes during the festival
however.
But that will give the movie a lot
of press right before it opens in
theaters on May 14th. Cannes
delegate general Thierry
Fremaux told Variety, “From
Wednesday at Cannes through
Friday in the States, the film
goes worldwide. I like that.
Everybody can have their own
opening night. ”
The film stars Russell Crowe
and Cate Blanchett, who took
over for Sienna Miller to play the
leading lady. Check out the trailer
below!
Ridley
Scott ’s new
movie
Robin Hood
is headed to
Cannes Film
Festival. The
film has
been chosen to open the entire
event which begins on May
12th. It will not compete for any
prizes during the festival
however.
But that will give the movie a lot
of press right before it opens in
theaters on May 14th. Cannes
delegate general Thierry
Fremaux told Variety, “From
Wednesday at Cannes through
Friday in the States, the film
goes worldwide. I like that.
Everybody can have their own
opening night. ”
The film stars Russell Crowe
and Cate Blanchett, who took
over for Sienna Miller to play the
leading lady. Check out the trailer
below!
Report:Rihanna and Matt Kemp to move in together
Things seem
to be
moving fast
between
Rihanna
and her
Dodger
player
boyfriend
Matt Kemp! We hear a little
rumor that the two may be
playing house very soon!
According to Star magazine,
Rihanna and Matt are ready to
take that next step, even though
they ’ve only been dating for
four months. Rihanna has
reportedly asked her boyfriend
to move into her Hollywood
mansion. Matt has already
brought a box of his stuff over
to Rihanna ’s and will be staying
at the pad full-time once spring
training is over.
Rihanna Has Met Her
Boyfriends Family
A friend says, “Matt is very
happy to be moving in with
Rihanna. He knew it was only a
matter of time before Ri moved
him in. He wants to make her
happy. He ’s keeping his house, to
see how things go, but the are
so in love. ”
And we also hear Rihanna has
met Matt ’s family! He reportedly
introduced them when she
attended an Ante Up for Autism
charity fundraiser he was
involved with.
“Matt was happy she came,” a
source said. “It was an awesome
show of support. Rihanna fit
right in as if they all knew each
other. It was comfortable. ”
Rihanna and Matt were first
romantically-linked in January,
after they were spotted on
vacation together in Mexico.
Seems like things are moving
along nicely! And it ’s so like
Rihanna to not talk about her
relationship. If you remember,
she didn ’t even admit to dating
Chris Brown until he beat her up!
to be
moving fast
between
Rihanna
and her
Dodger
player
boyfriend
Matt Kemp! We hear a little
rumor that the two may be
playing house very soon!
According to Star magazine,
Rihanna and Matt are ready to
take that next step, even though
they ’ve only been dating for
four months. Rihanna has
reportedly asked her boyfriend
to move into her Hollywood
mansion. Matt has already
brought a box of his stuff over
to Rihanna ’s and will be staying
at the pad full-time once spring
training is over.
Rihanna Has Met Her
Boyfriends Family
A friend says, “Matt is very
happy to be moving in with
Rihanna. He knew it was only a
matter of time before Ri moved
him in. He wants to make her
happy. He ’s keeping his house, to
see how things go, but the are
so in love. ”
And we also hear Rihanna has
met Matt ’s family! He reportedly
introduced them when she
attended an Ante Up for Autism
charity fundraiser he was
involved with.
“Matt was happy she came,” a
source said. “It was an awesome
show of support. Rihanna fit
right in as if they all knew each
other. It was comfortable. ”
Rihanna and Matt were first
romantically-linked in January,
after they were spotted on
vacation together in Mexico.
Seems like things are moving
along nicely! And it ’s so like
Rihanna to not talk about her
relationship. If you remember,
she didn ’t even admit to dating
Chris Brown until he beat her up!
My affair with Lagbaja
Music Diva, Yinka Davies is
blessed with a great vocal
prowess that can be likened to
that of a nightingale. She has
churned out great melodies
from her highly creative musical
gift and remains one of the best
singers of her generation,
despite her petite.
Although she won Voice of the
Decade Award at Nigeria Music
Award (NMA) in 2007, many
people wonder why she has not
hit it big with her eclectic voice.
She possesses every quality to
make money, record sales and
top the charts which seemed
not to be happening. But Yinka
simply insisted that she is just
emerging even after her over a
decade’s experience in the
industry.
Davies who was once a back-up
singer for the masked one,
Lagbaja, told Daily Sun recently
that her new album Black
Chiffon which is due for release
soon will show the world a new
Yinka Davis. She confirmed that
the album would be a departure
from the past as a result of her
re-emergence. She also spoke on
the automobile accident which
put a hold on her career, noting
she emerged stronger and
better after the ordeal to
continue her journey so far in
the music industry. Excerpts:
How I started
I stumbled on Zubby’s producer,
Sam Uquah, who insisted I
joined him in touring with Alex
O in 1990. I was a back-up
musician to Alex O then. By
1992, I had done an album with
Lagbaja and colours (a group
under the management of
Bisade Ologunde). I did another
album called the Colour of
Rhythm and after these, we
recorded Side by Side again with
Lagbaja. From then on, things
started flowing for me
musically. Apart from Alex O, I
did a rap for Sir Shina Peters; I
also did back-up for Blackky,
Esse Agesse, Mike Okri and quite
a number of people.
Narrate your artistic journey
into the Nigerian music industry
so far
One word best describes my
journey-Glorious!
What does music mean to
you?
Music for me is fun. It is
something I love doing because
it gives my soul a great lift.
Music makes me feel on top of
the world. It gratifies my spirit
and I enjoy being in a musical
frame of mind so much.
Inspiration
I get inspiration from every
design and handiwork of God;
everything God created inspires
me. I get inspired by anything
beautiful and everyone who’s
beautiful. Refreshing beauty
inspires me a lot.
Kind of music
There is no single name for my
kind of music. In reality, I fuse all
sorts of ideas together to get an
original one to satisfy my
spiritual gratification. So, I call
my music Sound. Although it is
more of blues for now, I infuse
it with a lot of emotions and
feelings, it is a soul-stirring kind
of music.
Messages
I deliver many messages
through my sound. They are
based on morals, self
examination, love, self
correction and so on.
My Album
I have released one. It was well
promoted on the airwaves, but
commercially it has not really
made waves, because of limited
funds.
Five and Six
My band men are always
together, drinking garri, gisting
on the floor, and always doing
things that are unusual. So, my
younger sister just looked at
them one day and made a
comment in Yoruba; Ogbonyin
rin papo gbogbo yin. Five and
six i.e. (Birds of the same
feather, Five/Six) And so, the
name struck me like a thunder
bolt and today, we have Five
and Six; just like that. The band
started with me on April 1st,
2000 and we recorded in 2005
and I will soon release my new
album, Black Chiffon. It
comments on the pains one
went through at that time, the
uncertainty, and the torment of
not knowing what the future
holds from then on. It is all
about holding out a flash of
silver lining behind every cloud
of whatever hue.
Lagbaja and I
I was with Bisade Ologunde and
the Colours Band at Jazz et all in
1992 on Opebi road, Ikeja. I
didn’t leave the band, I went on
to further my studies. I didn’t
break up with Lagbaja because
we were not dating, how do
you date a “no face man.” It
was the accident that drifted us
apart. I didn’t just leave
Lagbaja’s music like that. Due to
that accident, I was out of the
music scene for a year and half.
Work had to go on because no
one can allow the main source
of his income and livelihood to
be on hold because of me. A lot
of work was on ground and I
didn’t get back to work after
the accident until four years
after. So, he had to move on
without me. We are both
professionals and we
understand the rules of the
game quite well.
What are you doing
presently?
Getting ready for the fanfare. I
am going to take people by
surprise through my music.
Where do you perform now?
Everywhere I’m needed for
now.
Is your music of this age,
does it appeal to all ages?
Music is ageless. You choose
what you desire to listen or
hear. My melodies are ageless.
Have you had any
heartbreaks?
Yes!
Accident that almost crippled my
career
I had an automobile accident in
1994 that left me with a
fractured leg and this
shortchanged my aspiration. It
almost brought my budding
career to an end. It was fatal but
I thank God I am alive today.
Reaction to the accident
I am a positive minded person
and I always look at the positive
side of things. When people are
healthy, and all seem to be going
well, they live it up. The same
thing is applicable to me, my life
was fun, I was partying
everyday. My house was always
lively with music and people
always come and dance and we
made merry. It was celebration
all the way. So when the
accident came, it made me
reflect on so many divine gifts
that I had taken for granted;
that I had treated so casually,
with levity. It humbled me,but
with my fractured leg, I was still
having fun. The experience
made me a grown up and I now
view life differently from
different perspectives of
unending games of music,
dances, laughter and fun.
Coming back to music
I went to Abuja to relieve
myself of all the stress I was
going through at that moment. I
was there for two years and
eight months. It was during that
time that I was able to bring up
a band in Lagos called Five and
Six.
Nigerian music industry
The music industry is growing.
And artistes are doing well,
except that the new set of
singers don’t have serious
mentors. And I don’t blame
them. Fuji and Juju music are
now being relegated to the
background for Gospel music,
which in most cases, are
produced by foreign artistes. So,
the only people who can
influence them right now, are
the foreign artistes, so you
cannot blame them for singing
music that are western-oriented.
Mentor
God is the only one I can think
of. Apart from Him, there is no
one that can compete with Him
for that singular role in my life.
My children
I have two fantastic sons - Dayo
and Niyi, but Dayo is older. I
adopted my late sister’s
son.They are very dear to me
and part of my self-discovery. If
the truth be told, they are my
life. Whatever the case, I try to
be a good mother and to me,
that is the most important thing.
Background
My name is Elfeda Oluwabukola
Olayinka Davies. I hail from
Lagos State, Ebute-Meta to be
precise. I am a performing
artiste.
Do you have any future
plans?
We all have future plans and I
have mine. I am sure you have
one too. I am yet to unveil my
creativity, I am still working at
that. I intend to blow the minds
of a lot of people including my
ardent fans. I hope to reveal my
personality completely.
How to Get Any Woman You
Want. Click Here!
Make N450,000 Online Monthly.
Click Here
Good Morning! Friday March
26, 3910
Services
Back Page
Advert Rates
Online Advert Rates
Subscription
News
Home
National
Business News
Abuja Reports
Sports
Politics
Sun Girl
Editorial
Editorial Issues
Letters
Opinion
Columnists
Community
Standard Guestbook
View Guestbook
Sun Chatroom
Features
Apettit
Arts
BlockBuster
CEO Magazine
Celebrity Fashion
City Sun
Crime Watch
Covert Choice
CyberSun
Education
Enterprise
Everyday Heroes
Exquisite Property
Fashion & Celebrity
Fashion & Beauty
Favourite File
Good Health
Health Magazine
How I write
Literari
Life Style
Living
Mafia Series
Man in the street
Man in the pulpit
Managing a Law Firm
Me & My God
Media People
Money
Motoring
Power Game
Romance
Romantic Faction
Senior Citizen
Showtime
Smoking Guns
Sun Splash
Sunlight of Islam
Travels
Wiveslives
Window of the
world
Window on widows
Woman of the Sun
Women in Business
Women & Me
Videoscope
Young Ones
Weekend Sun
Saturday Sun
Sunday Sun
Company Profile
About Us
Contact Us
blessed with a great vocal
prowess that can be likened to
that of a nightingale. She has
churned out great melodies
from her highly creative musical
gift and remains one of the best
singers of her generation,
despite her petite.
Although she won Voice of the
Decade Award at Nigeria Music
Award (NMA) in 2007, many
people wonder why she has not
hit it big with her eclectic voice.
She possesses every quality to
make money, record sales and
top the charts which seemed
not to be happening. But Yinka
simply insisted that she is just
emerging even after her over a
decade’s experience in the
industry.
Davies who was once a back-up
singer for the masked one,
Lagbaja, told Daily Sun recently
that her new album Black
Chiffon which is due for release
soon will show the world a new
Yinka Davis. She confirmed that
the album would be a departure
from the past as a result of her
re-emergence. She also spoke on
the automobile accident which
put a hold on her career, noting
she emerged stronger and
better after the ordeal to
continue her journey so far in
the music industry. Excerpts:
How I started
I stumbled on Zubby’s producer,
Sam Uquah, who insisted I
joined him in touring with Alex
O in 1990. I was a back-up
musician to Alex O then. By
1992, I had done an album with
Lagbaja and colours (a group
under the management of
Bisade Ologunde). I did another
album called the Colour of
Rhythm and after these, we
recorded Side by Side again with
Lagbaja. From then on, things
started flowing for me
musically. Apart from Alex O, I
did a rap for Sir Shina Peters; I
also did back-up for Blackky,
Esse Agesse, Mike Okri and quite
a number of people.
Narrate your artistic journey
into the Nigerian music industry
so far
One word best describes my
journey-Glorious!
What does music mean to
you?
Music for me is fun. It is
something I love doing because
it gives my soul a great lift.
Music makes me feel on top of
the world. It gratifies my spirit
and I enjoy being in a musical
frame of mind so much.
Inspiration
I get inspiration from every
design and handiwork of God;
everything God created inspires
me. I get inspired by anything
beautiful and everyone who’s
beautiful. Refreshing beauty
inspires me a lot.
Kind of music
There is no single name for my
kind of music. In reality, I fuse all
sorts of ideas together to get an
original one to satisfy my
spiritual gratification. So, I call
my music Sound. Although it is
more of blues for now, I infuse
it with a lot of emotions and
feelings, it is a soul-stirring kind
of music.
Messages
I deliver many messages
through my sound. They are
based on morals, self
examination, love, self
correction and so on.
My Album
I have released one. It was well
promoted on the airwaves, but
commercially it has not really
made waves, because of limited
funds.
Five and Six
My band men are always
together, drinking garri, gisting
on the floor, and always doing
things that are unusual. So, my
younger sister just looked at
them one day and made a
comment in Yoruba; Ogbonyin
rin papo gbogbo yin. Five and
six i.e. (Birds of the same
feather, Five/Six) And so, the
name struck me like a thunder
bolt and today, we have Five
and Six; just like that. The band
started with me on April 1st,
2000 and we recorded in 2005
and I will soon release my new
album, Black Chiffon. It
comments on the pains one
went through at that time, the
uncertainty, and the torment of
not knowing what the future
holds from then on. It is all
about holding out a flash of
silver lining behind every cloud
of whatever hue.
Lagbaja and I
I was with Bisade Ologunde and
the Colours Band at Jazz et all in
1992 on Opebi road, Ikeja. I
didn’t leave the band, I went on
to further my studies. I didn’t
break up with Lagbaja because
we were not dating, how do
you date a “no face man.” It
was the accident that drifted us
apart. I didn’t just leave
Lagbaja’s music like that. Due to
that accident, I was out of the
music scene for a year and half.
Work had to go on because no
one can allow the main source
of his income and livelihood to
be on hold because of me. A lot
of work was on ground and I
didn’t get back to work after
the accident until four years
after. So, he had to move on
without me. We are both
professionals and we
understand the rules of the
game quite well.
What are you doing
presently?
Getting ready for the fanfare. I
am going to take people by
surprise through my music.
Where do you perform now?
Everywhere I’m needed for
now.
Is your music of this age,
does it appeal to all ages?
Music is ageless. You choose
what you desire to listen or
hear. My melodies are ageless.
Have you had any
heartbreaks?
Yes!
Accident that almost crippled my
career
I had an automobile accident in
1994 that left me with a
fractured leg and this
shortchanged my aspiration. It
almost brought my budding
career to an end. It was fatal but
I thank God I am alive today.
Reaction to the accident
I am a positive minded person
and I always look at the positive
side of things. When people are
healthy, and all seem to be going
well, they live it up. The same
thing is applicable to me, my life
was fun, I was partying
everyday. My house was always
lively with music and people
always come and dance and we
made merry. It was celebration
all the way. So when the
accident came, it made me
reflect on so many divine gifts
that I had taken for granted;
that I had treated so casually,
with levity. It humbled me,but
with my fractured leg, I was still
having fun. The experience
made me a grown up and I now
view life differently from
different perspectives of
unending games of music,
dances, laughter and fun.
Coming back to music
I went to Abuja to relieve
myself of all the stress I was
going through at that moment. I
was there for two years and
eight months. It was during that
time that I was able to bring up
a band in Lagos called Five and
Six.
Nigerian music industry
The music industry is growing.
And artistes are doing well,
except that the new set of
singers don’t have serious
mentors. And I don’t blame
them. Fuji and Juju music are
now being relegated to the
background for Gospel music,
which in most cases, are
produced by foreign artistes. So,
the only people who can
influence them right now, are
the foreign artistes, so you
cannot blame them for singing
music that are western-oriented.
Mentor
God is the only one I can think
of. Apart from Him, there is no
one that can compete with Him
for that singular role in my life.
My children
I have two fantastic sons - Dayo
and Niyi, but Dayo is older. I
adopted my late sister’s
son.They are very dear to me
and part of my self-discovery. If
the truth be told, they are my
life. Whatever the case, I try to
be a good mother and to me,
that is the most important thing.
Background
My name is Elfeda Oluwabukola
Olayinka Davies. I hail from
Lagos State, Ebute-Meta to be
precise. I am a performing
artiste.
Do you have any future
plans?
We all have future plans and I
have mine. I am sure you have
one too. I am yet to unveil my
creativity, I am still working at
that. I intend to blow the minds
of a lot of people including my
ardent fans. I hope to reveal my
personality completely.
How to Get Any Woman You
Want. Click Here!
Make N450,000 Online Monthly.
Click Here
Good Morning! Friday March
26, 3910
Services
Back Page
Advert Rates
Online Advert Rates
Subscription
News
Home
National
Business News
Abuja Reports
Sports
Politics
Sun Girl
Editorial
Editorial Issues
Letters
Opinion
Columnists
Community
Standard Guestbook
View Guestbook
Sun Chatroom
Features
Apettit
Arts
BlockBuster
CEO Magazine
Celebrity Fashion
City Sun
Crime Watch
Covert Choice
CyberSun
Education
Enterprise
Everyday Heroes
Exquisite Property
Fashion & Celebrity
Fashion & Beauty
Favourite File
Good Health
Health Magazine
How I write
Literari
Life Style
Living
Mafia Series
Man in the street
Man in the pulpit
Managing a Law Firm
Me & My God
Media People
Money
Motoring
Power Game
Romance
Romantic Faction
Senior Citizen
Showtime
Smoking Guns
Sun Splash
Sunlight of Islam
Travels
Wiveslives
Window of the
world
Window on widows
Woman of the Sun
Women in Business
Women & Me
Videoscope
Young Ones
Weekend Sun
Saturday Sun
Sunday Sun
Company Profile
About Us
Contact Us
Thursday, March 25, 2010
I Spy star Culp died @ 79
Bill Cosby's former I Spy co-star
Robert Culp has died in Los
Angeles, aged 79.
The actor reportedly fell and
banged his head outside his
Hollywood home and was
pronounced dead upon arrival
at hospital on Wednesday
(24Mar10).
Culp began acting in the early
1950s and went on to become
a prolific TV star, appearing in
hit shows like Bonanza, The Man
from U.n.c.l.e., The Greatest
American Hero and Police Story.
As well as I Spy, he'll be best
known for playing comedian
Ray Romano's father in
Everybody Loves Raymond.
Culp also enjoyed success as a
movie star, appearing in films
like Spy Hard and The Pelican
Brief, opposite Julia Roberts.
He was working right up to his
death - his final film, The
Assignment, is currently in post-
production.
Robert Culp has died in Los
Angeles, aged 79.
The actor reportedly fell and
banged his head outside his
Hollywood home and was
pronounced dead upon arrival
at hospital on Wednesday
(24Mar10).
Culp began acting in the early
1950s and went on to become
a prolific TV star, appearing in
hit shows like Bonanza, The Man
from U.n.c.l.e., The Greatest
American Hero and Police Story.
As well as I Spy, he'll be best
known for playing comedian
Ray Romano's father in
Everybody Loves Raymond.
Culp also enjoyed success as a
movie star, appearing in films
like Spy Hard and The Pelican
Brief, opposite Julia Roberts.
He was working right up to his
death - his final film, The
Assignment, is currently in post-
production.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Blackky cherishes KORA award nomination
DANCEHALL music
artiste, Edward
Inyang (Blackky)
is upbeat about
his nomination
for this year ’s
continental music honours, the
KORA Awards. Blackky is one of
the acts competing in the Best
Ragga Artiste category.
Honours night for KORA Awards
2010 is scheduled for April 4 in
Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina
Faso.
Blackky who burst into frontline
of Nigerian mainstream music in
1991 with his chart-bursting
album, About Tyme, is one of
the earliest dancehall exponents
in the continent. The skin head
artiste who within the past
decade has performed fewer
shows and not made the kind of
hits he made in the early 1990s
is happy that his recent outputs
are getting back the bounce for
him. He said he felt very
honoured and glad to know that
his brand of dancehall music is
being recognised not only by
Nigerians but by Africans. “It
also further confirmed that I
have been consistent in my
brand of music from 1991 when
my career started till date. Also
this was the first time in my 19
year career that I have ever
entered for the KORA,” he said.
Blackky is competing with such
artistes as Chronik 2H (Senegal),
Ischam Morrahd (Democratic
Republic of Congo), Jusa
(Zimbabwe) and Lex T (Nigeria)
and Redsan (Kenya) in his
category of the award.
Blackky who got his break in
1990 by winning the Lekki
Sunsplash Talent Hunt Contest
(which gave him his first
recording deal) is asking his fans
to vote for him by going to
KORA website. “I expect all my
supporters to go to KORA
website and vote massively for
their Blackman as it would be
impossible for me to bring the
Award back to Nigeria without
the votes. ”
Many would remember Blackky
for fluidly ragga raps and dance-
marked hit songs of the early
1990s. Such his numbers as,
Rosie, Girlfriend and perhaps the
most popular of all, Blackky ’s
Skank, had catchy pop tunes
that were street songs of the
era. Through his music videos
and then plenty, concert
performances he basically
demonstrated how to do his
dance. His 1991 debut album,
About Tyme contained such hit
tracks as Sugar Stick and others.
Between 1991 and 2005, he put
out six albums that won several
awards. But he described the
KORA Awards as one of the
most important platform of
honouring musicians in Africa.
“ To us in Africa, KORA is seen as
Africa’s Grammy. So, a
nomination is a huge honour for
me, ” he said.
The singer told the Nigerian
Compass that in as much as hip
hop, rhythm and blues and
similar pop music genres are
dominating the Nigerian music
space, his well-preferred reggae
lives forever. “Reggae music can
never die. The reason is because
it preaches reality, truth and
justice. If you listen to the beats
that are used by over 90
percent of our artistes in
Nigeria, you will hear outright
ragga, dancehall beats which
they rap over. All we need are
bold artistes who will not be
scared to say that they play
reggae music so that they can
grow and develop in it. What we
have now are artistes who play
every genre without identifying
with one particular style of
music, ” he reasoned.
He also dropped hint that he is
working on a new album which
will be on the airwaves soon.
“ Blackky is still working on his
next album and one other
surprise due to be revealed
soon, ” he revealed.
Organisers of the yearly KORA
Awards for African pop music
inform that the 2010 edition
will be a tribute to the late King
of Pop, Michael Jackson who
died in June, 2009. According to
a statement signed by the
chairman of the organising
committee, Mr. Ernest Coovi
Adjovi, many globally renowned
American artistes are expected
to be in Burkina Faso to
participate in the KORA Awards
2010 celebration of Jackson. “As
we did in Benin for another
lady, Miriam Makeba to whom
we paid homage during a big
concert in Cotonou because she
is a lady who honoured and
supported us... this is the time
for us to show that we have
respect (for music, musicians
and the heroes of the field) and
that we are not here to show
artistes ’ performances but to
promote them” he noted.
artiste, Edward
Inyang (Blackky)
is upbeat about
his nomination
for this year ’s
continental music honours, the
KORA Awards. Blackky is one of
the acts competing in the Best
Ragga Artiste category.
Honours night for KORA Awards
2010 is scheduled for April 4 in
Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina
Faso.
Blackky who burst into frontline
of Nigerian mainstream music in
1991 with his chart-bursting
album, About Tyme, is one of
the earliest dancehall exponents
in the continent. The skin head
artiste who within the past
decade has performed fewer
shows and not made the kind of
hits he made in the early 1990s
is happy that his recent outputs
are getting back the bounce for
him. He said he felt very
honoured and glad to know that
his brand of dancehall music is
being recognised not only by
Nigerians but by Africans. “It
also further confirmed that I
have been consistent in my
brand of music from 1991 when
my career started till date. Also
this was the first time in my 19
year career that I have ever
entered for the KORA,” he said.
Blackky is competing with such
artistes as Chronik 2H (Senegal),
Ischam Morrahd (Democratic
Republic of Congo), Jusa
(Zimbabwe) and Lex T (Nigeria)
and Redsan (Kenya) in his
category of the award.
Blackky who got his break in
1990 by winning the Lekki
Sunsplash Talent Hunt Contest
(which gave him his first
recording deal) is asking his fans
to vote for him by going to
KORA website. “I expect all my
supporters to go to KORA
website and vote massively for
their Blackman as it would be
impossible for me to bring the
Award back to Nigeria without
the votes. ”
Many would remember Blackky
for fluidly ragga raps and dance-
marked hit songs of the early
1990s. Such his numbers as,
Rosie, Girlfriend and perhaps the
most popular of all, Blackky ’s
Skank, had catchy pop tunes
that were street songs of the
era. Through his music videos
and then plenty, concert
performances he basically
demonstrated how to do his
dance. His 1991 debut album,
About Tyme contained such hit
tracks as Sugar Stick and others.
Between 1991 and 2005, he put
out six albums that won several
awards. But he described the
KORA Awards as one of the
most important platform of
honouring musicians in Africa.
“ To us in Africa, KORA is seen as
Africa’s Grammy. So, a
nomination is a huge honour for
me, ” he said.
The singer told the Nigerian
Compass that in as much as hip
hop, rhythm and blues and
similar pop music genres are
dominating the Nigerian music
space, his well-preferred reggae
lives forever. “Reggae music can
never die. The reason is because
it preaches reality, truth and
justice. If you listen to the beats
that are used by over 90
percent of our artistes in
Nigeria, you will hear outright
ragga, dancehall beats which
they rap over. All we need are
bold artistes who will not be
scared to say that they play
reggae music so that they can
grow and develop in it. What we
have now are artistes who play
every genre without identifying
with one particular style of
music, ” he reasoned.
He also dropped hint that he is
working on a new album which
will be on the airwaves soon.
“ Blackky is still working on his
next album and one other
surprise due to be revealed
soon, ” he revealed.
Organisers of the yearly KORA
Awards for African pop music
inform that the 2010 edition
will be a tribute to the late King
of Pop, Michael Jackson who
died in June, 2009. According to
a statement signed by the
chairman of the organising
committee, Mr. Ernest Coovi
Adjovi, many globally renowned
American artistes are expected
to be in Burkina Faso to
participate in the KORA Awards
2010 celebration of Jackson. “As
we did in Benin for another
lady, Miriam Makeba to whom
we paid homage during a big
concert in Cotonou because she
is a lady who honoured and
supported us... this is the time
for us to show that we have
respect (for music, musicians
and the heroes of the field) and
that we are not here to show
artistes ’ performances but to
promote them” he noted.
Lady Gaga defends passing out on stage
Lady Gaga
came under
fire recently
after she
appeared to
have passed
out during
one of her
concerts in
New Zealand. But she's broken
her silence on the issue, blaming
it on all the traveling she's been
doing for her tour.
"I was so jet lagged," she told an
Australian radio show. "I passed
out about three times on stage
that night but I got myself to
the floor. I'd rather die on stage
than walk off because I was
going to pass out."
Despite the explanation, many
worry that Gaga has become
overworked and
undernourished in recent
months. She looks drastically
thinner than she did at the start
of her career, and has been
busier than ever. A source close
to her tells People, "She's on the
verge of tipping," says the
source. "She's only human."
But in true Gaga form, her
fatigue hasn't stopped her one
bit. She told reporters she was
feeling "completely rejuvenated
and excited."
We suppose that's the price A-
list stars pay for beig so famous!
But it does worry us that more
and more stars are having to
check into rehab facilities for
"exhaustion."
We hope after this world tour,
Gaga gives herself a little break!
came under
fire recently
after she
appeared to
have passed
out during
one of her
concerts in
New Zealand. But she's broken
her silence on the issue, blaming
it on all the traveling she's been
doing for her tour.
"I was so jet lagged," she told an
Australian radio show. "I passed
out about three times on stage
that night but I got myself to
the floor. I'd rather die on stage
than walk off because I was
going to pass out."
Despite the explanation, many
worry that Gaga has become
overworked and
undernourished in recent
months. She looks drastically
thinner than she did at the start
of her career, and has been
busier than ever. A source close
to her tells People, "She's on the
verge of tipping," says the
source. "She's only human."
But in true Gaga form, her
fatigue hasn't stopped her one
bit. She told reporters she was
feeling "completely rejuvenated
and excited."
We suppose that's the price A-
list stars pay for beig so famous!
But it does worry us that more
and more stars are having to
check into rehab facilities for
"exhaustion."
We hope after this world tour,
Gaga gives herself a little break!
Sandra returns to Los Angeles
Sandra
Bullock has
been
spotted! The
actress has
reportedly
returned to
Los Angeles
after having
jetted off to Austin, Texas to be
with her close friends and
family. Sandra owns two houses
there as well.
According to X17 Online, Sandra
was on board an American
Airlines flight that landed in LA
Tuesday night at 11PM.
According to the report, Bullock
made her way through the
terminal next to American
Airlines and jumped into a
waiting black Escalade.
Second Jesse James Mistress
Comes Forward
According to an eyewitness,
Sandra did not want to be seen
or photographed. The source
says, "Sandra did NOT want to be
seen, much less photographed.
"She was not her usual smiley
self. Normally she's great with us
and let's us takes pictures but
this was a different story. This
was a woman who didn't want
attention."
She did not return to the
Huntington Beach home she
shared with husband Jesse
James. More details to come …
Bullock has
been
spotted! The
actress has
reportedly
returned to
Los Angeles
after having
jetted off to Austin, Texas to be
with her close friends and
family. Sandra owns two houses
there as well.
According to X17 Online, Sandra
was on board an American
Airlines flight that landed in LA
Tuesday night at 11PM.
According to the report, Bullock
made her way through the
terminal next to American
Airlines and jumped into a
waiting black Escalade.
Second Jesse James Mistress
Comes Forward
According to an eyewitness,
Sandra did not want to be seen
or photographed. The source
says, "Sandra did NOT want to be
seen, much less photographed.
"She was not her usual smiley
self. Normally she's great with us
and let's us takes pictures but
this was a different story. This
was a woman who didn't want
attention."
She did not return to the
Huntington Beach home she
shared with husband Jesse
James. More details to come …
Whitney Port gets sued
Whitney
Port ’s
success in
the fashion
industry has
taken off
since she
left The Hills
and got her
own show The City. She’s even
launched her own line—Whitney
Eve—that’s been a decent hit!
But Whitney just ran into a little
setback. She ’s being sued by
fellow designer Adrienne
Baravetto, who says she aided in
the launch of Whitney ’s line in
2007, when it was called Eve and
A. Accoriding to court papers
obtained by TMZ, Baravetto says
she had an oral agreement with
Port and her father, including a
$80,000 yearly salary plus a 25
percent stake in the company.
Baravetto also alleges that she
did the majority of the design
work and that the Ports haven’t
paid her anything! Baravetto’s
attorney Peter Maretz says, “Ms.
Baravetto did the heavy lifting
for these designs and she just
wants to get paid fairly. ”
But Whit’s lawyer Michael A.
Taitelman tells People, “The
lawsuit that Adrienne Baravetto
filed on March 19, 2010 against
Whitney Eve, Inc., Whitney Port
and others regarding the
Whitney Eve clothing line is
baseless and without merit.
Whitney Port is, and always has
been, the designer of Whitney
Eve. Baravetto worked for
Whitney Eve for a short period
of time ending in early 2008. For
more than two years, she has
been silent. For reasons that we
will uncover, she has decided to
make these unsubstantiated
allegations at this time. The
defendants will vigorously
defend themselves, and upon
the successful conclusion of this
lawsuit in their favor, they
intend to hold Baravetto and her
counsel accountable for their
reckless conduct. ”
This seems a tad fishy, especially
because Whitney ’s brand is
called something completely
different now! We certainly
hope she ’s not the type of
person to screw the underdog.
Whitney was lucky enough to
land a gig on The Hills, which
made her famous in the first
place!
Port ’s
success in
the fashion
industry has
taken off
since she
left The Hills
and got her
own show The City. She’s even
launched her own line—Whitney
Eve—that’s been a decent hit!
But Whitney just ran into a little
setback. She ’s being sued by
fellow designer Adrienne
Baravetto, who says she aided in
the launch of Whitney ’s line in
2007, when it was called Eve and
A. Accoriding to court papers
obtained by TMZ, Baravetto says
she had an oral agreement with
Port and her father, including a
$80,000 yearly salary plus a 25
percent stake in the company.
Baravetto also alleges that she
did the majority of the design
work and that the Ports haven’t
paid her anything! Baravetto’s
attorney Peter Maretz says, “Ms.
Baravetto did the heavy lifting
for these designs and she just
wants to get paid fairly. ”
But Whit’s lawyer Michael A.
Taitelman tells People, “The
lawsuit that Adrienne Baravetto
filed on March 19, 2010 against
Whitney Eve, Inc., Whitney Port
and others regarding the
Whitney Eve clothing line is
baseless and without merit.
Whitney Port is, and always has
been, the designer of Whitney
Eve. Baravetto worked for
Whitney Eve for a short period
of time ending in early 2008. For
more than two years, she has
been silent. For reasons that we
will uncover, she has decided to
make these unsubstantiated
allegations at this time. The
defendants will vigorously
defend themselves, and upon
the successful conclusion of this
lawsuit in their favor, they
intend to hold Baravetto and her
counsel accountable for their
reckless conduct. ”
This seems a tad fishy, especially
because Whitney ’s brand is
called something completely
different now! We certainly
hope she ’s not the type of
person to screw the underdog.
Whitney was lucky enough to
land a gig on The Hills, which
made her famous in the first
place!
Tiger Woods dated Leann Rimes
Tiger
Woods
clearly has a
thing for
home
wreckers...because he once
dated LeAnn Rimes.
LeAnn hooked up with Tiger
before she was married to her
ex husband Dean Sheremet, and
apparently things got hot and
heavy!
"They hooked up and
everything," the source tells Us
Weekly. "Tiger was really into
her. He likes those blondes!"
Apparently they split because
LeAnn's father was against her
dating Tiger. He thought she was
wayyyy too young for him. "Her
dad almost had a heart attack,"
the source adds. "And he made
her stop seeing Tiger."
Tiger and LeAnn would have
made a great couple. They both
have a talent for ruining
marriages. It's too bad it didn't
work out for these two.
Woods
clearly has a
thing for
home
wreckers...because he once
dated LeAnn Rimes.
LeAnn hooked up with Tiger
before she was married to her
ex husband Dean Sheremet, and
apparently things got hot and
heavy!
"They hooked up and
everything," the source tells Us
Weekly. "Tiger was really into
her. He likes those blondes!"
Apparently they split because
LeAnn's father was against her
dating Tiger. He thought she was
wayyyy too young for him. "Her
dad almost had a heart attack,"
the source adds. "And he made
her stop seeing Tiger."
Tiger and LeAnn would have
made a great couple. They both
have a talent for ruining
marriages. It's too bad it didn't
work out for these two.
Sandra Bullock has told friends that her marriage is over
Sandra
Bullock is so
devastated
by
allegations
that her
husband
Jesse James
cheated on
her, she's reportedly told friends
that their marriage is now
broken and can't be saved.
A friend told the Chicago Sun
Times newspaper: "Sandy has
decided there's no way their
relationship can be fixed. Once
the trust is gone, there's nothing
left."
She's also said to be distraught
over potentially losing Jesse's
six-year-old daughter Sunny. As
Hollyscoop had previously
reported, Sandra won't be able
to file for custody of little
Sunny, but can ask for visitation
rights.
Sunny has lived with Jesse and
Sandra since her biological
mother, former porn star Janine
Lindemulder, was sentenced to
prison in December 2008 for tax
evasion. Janine has since
unsuccessfully battled to regain
custody of Sunny.
Do you think Sandra should go
through with the divorce? Or
should she consider giving him
another chance? Tell us your
thoughts!
Bullock is so
devastated
by
allegations
that her
husband
Jesse James
cheated on
her, she's reportedly told friends
that their marriage is now
broken and can't be saved.
A friend told the Chicago Sun
Times newspaper: "Sandy has
decided there's no way their
relationship can be fixed. Once
the trust is gone, there's nothing
left."
She's also said to be distraught
over potentially losing Jesse's
six-year-old daughter Sunny. As
Hollyscoop had previously
reported, Sandra won't be able
to file for custody of little
Sunny, but can ask for visitation
rights.
Sunny has lived with Jesse and
Sandra since her biological
mother, former porn star Janine
Lindemulder, was sentenced to
prison in December 2008 for tax
evasion. Janine has since
unsuccessfully battled to regain
custody of Sunny.
Do you think Sandra should go
through with the divorce? Or
should she consider giving him
another chance? Tell us your
thoughts!
Matt Damon's a big Tipper
Matt
Damon is
one of the
nicest most
down-to-
earth actors
around.
While out in
New York
with his wife and friends, Matt
picked up a huge dinner tab and
even an even bigger tip.
Matt and his group were eating
at Stanton Social on Saturday
when he left a $400 tip for the
waiter. Needless to say, the
server was absolutely thrilled.
A source told the New York Daily
News newspaper: "Matt ordered
nine chilled lobsters, which
aren't even on the menu. But the
restaurant made it happen."
Adds the spy: "Not only was he
extremely polite, he left a $400
tip on top of the added
gratuity."
What a genuinely nice guy! Wish
there were more Matt's in the
world.
Damon is
one of the
nicest most
down-to-
earth actors
around.
While out in
New York
with his wife and friends, Matt
picked up a huge dinner tab and
even an even bigger tip.
Matt and his group were eating
at Stanton Social on Saturday
when he left a $400 tip for the
waiter. Needless to say, the
server was absolutely thrilled.
A source told the New York Daily
News newspaper: "Matt ordered
nine chilled lobsters, which
aren't even on the menu. But the
restaurant made it happen."
Adds the spy: "Not only was he
extremely polite, he left a $400
tip on top of the added
gratuity."
What a genuinely nice guy! Wish
there were more Matt's in the
world.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Sandra's co-star react with affair
Sandra
Bullock may
be nowhere
to be found
right now,
but her co-
stars have
come
forward to
express their heartfelt sadness
on her husband Jesse James ’
affair with stripper Michelle
McGee.
Sources tell People Sandra was
the picture of happiness during
filming of The Blind Side. Actor
Quinton Aaron, who played her
footballer son in the film, says,
"Sandy was the picture-perfect
professional while filming The
Blind Side. I learned so much
from working with her. I don't
think she was aware of any
alleged marital problems and
always spoke highly of her
relationship with Jesse. My heart
goes out to her in this trying
time, and I know she will
overcome."
Even the production crew
noticed Sandy ’s positive attitude
on set. "She was really focused
on the part," says one source. "It
was a hard part, and it took all
of her attention. She was always
very sweet to everyone. But
that is Sandra: always kind,
always professional."
Adds another source: "She was
upbeat and working, and I didn't
notice anything that was odd."
Bullock’s co-star in her other
movie this year The Proposal
Betty White has also come
forward. She told ET, "We're all
deeply, deeply saddened. At such
a high point in her life, it's
tough, but I think the less other
people have to say about it and
let her work it out ... the better."
I love her with all my heart,"
White says. "[She's] one of the
greatest human beings on the
planet."
It’s obvious Sandra is a well-liked
person wherever she goes. It’s a
shame her own husband
couldn ’t see that.
Bullock may
be nowhere
to be found
right now,
but her co-
stars have
come
forward to
express their heartfelt sadness
on her husband Jesse James ’
affair with stripper Michelle
McGee.
Sources tell People Sandra was
the picture of happiness during
filming of The Blind Side. Actor
Quinton Aaron, who played her
footballer son in the film, says,
"Sandy was the picture-perfect
professional while filming The
Blind Side. I learned so much
from working with her. I don't
think she was aware of any
alleged marital problems and
always spoke highly of her
relationship with Jesse. My heart
goes out to her in this trying
time, and I know she will
overcome."
Even the production crew
noticed Sandy ’s positive attitude
on set. "She was really focused
on the part," says one source. "It
was a hard part, and it took all
of her attention. She was always
very sweet to everyone. But
that is Sandra: always kind,
always professional."
Adds another source: "She was
upbeat and working, and I didn't
notice anything that was odd."
Bullock’s co-star in her other
movie this year The Proposal
Betty White has also come
forward. She told ET, "We're all
deeply, deeply saddened. At such
a high point in her life, it's
tough, but I think the less other
people have to say about it and
let her work it out ... the better."
I love her with all my heart,"
White says. "[She's] one of the
greatest human beings on the
planet."
It’s obvious Sandra is a well-liked
person wherever she goes. It’s a
shame her own husband
couldn ’t see that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)