Seun Kuti storm D'Yard

An entertainment hot spot in Lagos,
popularly known as , D'yard, will be hosting
Afrobeat prince, Seun Kuti tonight to mark
this year's Workers Day celebration.
Seun is expected to thrill the audience and
his fans alike with songs from both his old
and latest music albums, as well as from
some of his father's hit albums.
According to the outfit, the deal with Seun
was sealed recently, while preparations
have reached advanced stage in an effort
to host a successful show.
In a brief chat with the CEO of D'Yard,
Gbolahan Lawanson, the returnee Lagosian
said that the idea is to create an atmosphere
for workers to relax on a day set aside for
them.
"Lagosians, especially workers are used to
waking up very early in the morning and
rushing out to their work places. So, as the
nation observes Worker Day on May 1, we
decided to put together this show with the
aim of giving something that will help them
unwind."
On the choice of Seun for the gig, Lawanson
described the award-wining artiste as a
great performer, who is gradually stepping
into his late father's shoes.
It would be recalled that D'Yard had in the
past, hosted notable Nigerian entertainers,
such as D'Banj, Don Jazzy and the Mo Hits
crew, 9ice, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Emeka Smith
and DJ Zeez.

Angelina Jolie snubs Barack Obama

May 03,
2010
Angelina
Jolie has
always been
very active
in politics
and
humanitarian efforts, but she's
clearly not a fan of President
Barack Obama.
Jolie refused the President’s
invitation to spend this past
weekend at the White House
Correspondents Dinner, even
though her partner Brad Pitt is
a huge fan of Obama's.
“Angelina is always invited by
several media outlets to sit at
their table, but she always
refuses, ” a source told the
PopEater website.
“Angie is filming in Europe at the
moment, but that isn’t the
reason she didn’t attend. She
didn’t go because on her
weekends off she would rather
spend her time helping those
who really need it rather than
sitting, drinking champagne and
laughing bad at jokes in a fancy
DC ballroom.
The source added, “Angie
doesn’t judge other celebrities
for wanting to rub shoulders
with President Obama. It ’s just
she is just someone who thinks
your actions are more important
than words. ”
Every move Angelina takes is
calculated and every word she
says is thought out completely,
so we're sure she had her
reasons for not wanting to
attend, but who says no to the
President? Save us a seat next
time Barack, we ’ll happily come
over.

Mike Ezuronye weds Nkechi in may

Sunday, May 2, 2010
Come May 22, the dream will end
for most ladies who desire the
handsome actor, Mike Ezunronye
as hubby as he will be having
his traditional marriage on that
day. The lucky lady is a medical
psychologist called Nkechi.
Ezunronye who had promised us
last year that he would get
married soon made good his
promise as he will be
performing the traditional
wedding rites with his woman
who recently relocated from
Canada to Nigeria (Owerri, Imo
State). The dates for the white
wedding and other festivities
that will follow will be
announced later.
The actor who spoke with
Showbiznow on phone
concerning the wedding said he
does not want much noise on
the wedding because he’s a
quiet person. We hope Mike
hasn’t forgotten the age-long
saying that a golden fish has no
hiding place.
Born Michael Ezuruonye in Lagos
in the 70s, Mike attended
Archbishop Aggey Memorial
Secondary School before
proceeding to Nnamdi Azikiwe
University to obtain a degree in
Accounting.
Right from primary school,
Michael showed a keen interest
in television. He worked behind
the camera writing scripts on
Clapper Board Television as he
matured.
He was buying fuel at a gas
station when he was spotted by
Ruke Amata of the Amata
Dynasty and this happy
coincidence set him on track to
pursue his cherished dream of
becoming an actor.
Nicknamed Fair Mike, the
handsome actor quickly proved
his talent and capabilities to
convince some of the most
influential decision makers in
Nollywood, namely Director
Aquilla Njamah and Producer
Emem Isong to give him a
chance.
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May 03, 2010
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At 59:I'm ready to shock Nigerians

Delectable singer and culture
promoter Onyeka Onwenu (MFR)
is a household name in the
African showbiz circle. Fondly
called Elegant Stallion, the
musician has been able to
inspire many younger Nigerians.
Her popular hit-track One Love
Keep us Together released in the
early ’80s, which preached love,
peace, and broad-mindedness, is
still enjoying airplay in many
radio and TV stations.
After completing her education
in the United States, Onyeka
returned to Nigeria to serve as a
board member at the Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA)
before leaving for music career.
Her unique pattern of music
won her the Best Female Artiste
at the Nigeria Music Award in
1986 and Best Female Artiste in
1989.
Even at 59, this great mother,
songbird, politician, broadcaster
and an actress, still looks elegant
and young. A woman of many
parts, Onyeka ranked among the
best artistes that Nigeria has
ever produced.
In a recent television recently
interview, the singer recalled
how she joined some of her
colleagues to inaugurate the
Performing Musicians
Association of Nigeria (PMAN)
which she served as vice-
president. Onyeka equally gave
an insight into her love life, her
music career, why she joined
politics, aside reminiscing on her
father who died in a motor
accident while she was four
years old. She recalled
nostalgically, “I wish you knew
my father”
Off the stage
Music is not something that you
just wake up and start singing.
For me, I take time to do my
own thing, presently, I am
working on an album which is
very exhilarating.
African female artistes
I am always proud of people like
the late South African, Marian
Makeba. I also love our own
Asha, Sasha and the rest, they’ve
been promoting African
heritage. I just want them to
continue with what they are
doing
My love for politics
In 2003, I competed for the post
of Chairman, Ideato North Local
Government of Imo State. That
election really taught me lessons.
I contested for the post in order
to make my people enjoy the
dividends of democracy. I
belong to the ruling Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP). I am still
eyeing the seat.
What NTA should do
NTA needs to re-position itself.
The station should be
competitive and learn how to
treat indigenous artistes with
respect. The workers should
emulate what MNET and other
international stations are doing,
I think with that, our own
artistes would be encouraged.
My low-cut
I used to have long hair while
growing up, but when I was in
the US, I permed my hair and it
started chopping off, so, I
decided to lower it with
scissors. That was when I smelt
freedom, air could easily
penetrate into my head, and
ever since then, there was no
going back. Nevertheless, I use
to admire women, who visit the
salon, but I don’t think I still
have the patience for that any
longer.
As a mother
I must confess that God blessed
me with a wonderful family. I
have lovely children who are all
now in the university.
My father died in an auto crash
The memory of my father still
lingers in my brain, though I
was only four years old when
he died but I could remember
when he was a member of the
then House of Assembly. To me,
he was a very charismatic man.
He was extraordinarily honest
and I was very close to him such
that whenever he was going for
his political meetings, he would
carry me along. But funny
enough, when he died in an
auto crash, those whom he
helped were nowhere to be
found, especially those he gave
scholarships, and even people he
sent abroad. After the demise of
my dad, our mum turned us
closer to God
As chairman, Imo State Council
of Arts and Culture
This appointment gives us
collective respect. It’s not just
about me alone, but about the
people I represent. I started out
as a journalist on television here
in Nigeria, before I crossed into
music, so, I see myself
representing a whole group of
people who are coming after
me.
I see myself as belonging to
both journalism and theatre
because both genres work
together; they entertain, inform
and at the same time educate
the public. My appointment is
not about money but mainly
service to fatherland. But I’m
willing to continue to make that
sacrifice so that we can lay a
better foundation for the
unborn generation
My husband and I
When I was younger, I learnt
that love is a virtue that should
be celebrated and encouraged in
the society. My husband and I
have been living happily with
our children. I’m a very faithful
friend and mother to my
husband and children. I’ve come
to observe that, as a Christian,
one has to be very passionate
What people don’t know about
me
I have a lot of plans in stock for
Nigerian women, in order to
encourage them. I want to assist
them discover their latent
talents and that was why we
organised the Association of
Female Musicians (AFEM), which
centred on the less-privileged
and the physically-challenged
people in Nigeria.
Back in the days, women used
to make waves in the music
industry, but to my greatest
surprise; they all began to
relegate till I almost became the
only one behind. I felt
disappointed and I began to
approach some of them, we
later came together and
organized a concert for the
children of the Heart of Gold
Orphanage under the
management of Laja Adedoyin. I
remember, at the end of the
concert, we gave over N215,
000 and some gift items to the
Orphanage.
I’ll give Nigeria a shocker
My new album is almost ready;
Nigerians are yet to see the
other side of me, my best is yet
to come
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03, 2010
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Figurine:We've set the pace in Nollywood

Scion of the ace film maker,
Adeyemi Afolayan, (Ade Love)
Kunle Afolayan is now the focus
in Nollywood today. This
international director, actor and
producer whose second feature
film, ‘Figurine cliched five
awards at this year’s African
Movie Academy Awards.
Afolayan believed that his
landslide victory was as a result
of his commitment to setting a
standard for African film
makers. In this concluding part
of our interview, Afolayan sets
an agenda for film makers in
Nigeria and Africa at large.
Benjamin NJOKU
As actor, producer and director,
where does your strength lie?
Among the three, one cannot be
said to be a master of all. The
fact that I studied Business
Administration and had worked
as a banker for several years
gave me the opportunity to
master the business aspect of
film making. Producing films is
very challenging.
As a producer, you are in charge
of the expenses, coordination
and administration. I have been
able to master all these tricks
because of the experiences I
acquired while working in the
banking sector as an
administrative and corporate
affair ’s officer.
And as a director, I attended a
film school abroad, where I was
able to acquire some of the
basics or ethics of film making.
And as an actor, I started way
back as a child.
Let’s just say, acting flows in the
blood. But in future, I’d stop
producing. When you are
producing, you are really
distracted because apart from
being on set, you are also meant
to shoulder other two key roles.
So, it ’s better you allow
someone else to handle that
aspect of production. But for
acting and directing, I want to
be a master of the two.
What does your late dad got to
do with your achievements?
A lot, because I guess I have
been influenced directly or
indirectly while growing up as a
child.
I developed a passion for film
making after my dad died, and
not when he was alive. While
dad lived, I wasn ’t even
interested in film making
because he wouldn ’t encourage
us to be part of that.
After his death, I developed a
strong interest in film making
and as a result, I had to go back
to school to study the rudiments
of film making.
I’m not the only son of Adeyemi
Afolayan that is into acting. My
three brothers are also into
acting. I think my works speak
for me because of what I have
been able to learn while
growing up.
What I learnt in the film school,
coupled with the experience I
have acquired over the years,
gave me that edge over every
other film maker in Nigeria and
Africa at large. But we can ’t rule
out the fact that being a son of
Adeyemi Afolayan played a vital
role in what I am today.
Figurine dwarfed other African
films. Why?
Figurine is my second feature
film. When I did “Irapada” it was
also an award winning movie. It
won the Best Indigenous movie
award at the 2007 AMAA. For
me, Figurine is a product of an
experiment.
I wanted to see what value I
could add to film making that
would give Nigerian film makers
an edge over other film makers
across Africa. After producing
“ Irapada,” I learnt a lot of
lessons. I tried to improve on a
whole lot of things, which I
didn ’t pay attention to, when I
was shooting “Irapada.” I didn’t
totally achieve what I wanted in
Figurine.
And it may have been better
than what it is today, because
of hitches and challenges here
and there. Thank God the film is
still a success.
Figurine would have been more
successful if those hitches were
not there. The film was
purposely produced in that class
to prove to my colleagues and
the entire African film makers
that if we take our time and add
a few things here and there to
our productions, we would be
able to stand side by side with
any film makers from Hollywood
or Bollywood.
How did you achieve Figurine?
Getting the scripts of Figurine
ready took us about three to
four months while the shooting
proper took three months. Post-
production took about four
months and pre-production
equally took about three
months. In all, it took more than
a year.
Compared to an average
Nollywood film, the budget was
quite huge. It cost more than
N50million. But that does not
mean that one cannot do a film
with a lower budget and still
achieve the same kind of
standard.
The budget was higher because
the set was also very huge.
I assembled a huge cast and
crew. And we moved from one
location to another location,
which really gulped a lot of
money, and the logistic
problems ….
Since the film hit foreign
cinemas, have you recouped
your fund?
We have recouped more than
half of the budget of the N50m.
The film is not yet released on
DVD. We are still in the cinemas
and private screening. We are
waiting for the right platform
to release the film on DVD. We
are looking for a platform
where we can sell more than a
million copies. Once that is in
place, I can assure you we will
not hesitate to release the film
on DVD. Figurine has got good
production values, pictures
quality that make it appeal to
international audience.
Still, you didn’t win the best
director awards?
I was surprised but what can
one do when the jury has their
own parameter? I don ’t know
what their reasons were but I
think it ’s because we have so
many other African countries
involved.
They wanted to ensure that the
awards went round. I don ’t
know why the film that won
the best cinematography, best
picture and best visual effect;
(these are the key categories in
film making)didn ’t win the best
director award. But I’m still glad
that we won at AMAA.
Why did you say Figurine is a
break from tradition?
Figurine has got good
production values. To me, it’s the
most important thing in any
production. What an
international audience looks out
for in any film is the production
value of that film, which are
picture and sound. Once they
see your film for 10 minutes,
they will be able to tell whether
the film would be interesting or
not. I don ’t want to be seen as a
local champion.
I want to keep doing something
that will not only appeal to
Nigerians and Africans in
general but also to the
international audience.
Lancelot Imasuen and yourself
aspire for the global stage. How
has it been so far?
Internationally, we are doing
very well. Figurine is currently
touring major film festivals
across the world. Come next
month, I will be travelling to
Canada, Korea and Tokyo to
attend film festivals. Figurine is
the only Nigerian film that will
be touring international
festivals in recent times. It ’s
good for us, because of the
exposure. It would also provide
us the opportunity to sign on
such international distributors
for our films.
That’s why I say to my
colleagues, if they dare put in
efforts into what they are
doing, their films will definitely
stand a better chance of getting
international exposure. This is
the beginning of a better thing
to come to Nollywood. Right
now, I ’ll soon begin work on
something bigger.
Internationally, where is
Nollywood weak?
Well, Nollywood is highly
accepted in blacks communities
in Europe and America. But
having said that, our films are
hardly shown in the theatre
outside the shores of the
country. At home, how many of
our films are released in the
cinemas?
Internationally, there are
structures in place. A film must
be made to go round the normal
distribution circle, which is from
the theatre to the preview and
then onto DVD. But here in
Nigeria, we intend to release
straight on DVD, which limits
what the investor gets in return.
Yes, Nigerian films are doing
well internationally. But the
producers are not gaining as
much as they ought to, because
of piracy.
Do you advertise in your
movies?
My films speak volumes in the
area of advert placement. I do a
lot of product placement in my
films, meaning that to complete
my production, I ensure that I
involve multinational companies
in my films. I sell the idea to
them and they in return pay for
it.
That way, one can subsidise
one ’s budget and it’s a common
practice all over the world. I did
that in “Irapada,” where I got
Dangote, MTN and other
corporate bodies involved. Also,
in Figurine, I got NICON Hotels
and Resort, Unilever and some
banks to place adverts. This is
the way to go for Nollywood
producers. That way, they can
subsidise their budgets, no
matter how huge the budget is.
So, how do you create time for
your family?
I’m sure one of the reasons my
wife married me was because
she realised I have got some
potentials. My wife realised that
I ’m always working and in the
future, I would be able to put
food on the table for her.
But I always try to balance it by
creating time for both my
family and my work. I try as
much as possible not to allow
my work to affect my
relationship with my family.
Are you satisfied with today’s
Nollywood?
Yes, because an average
Nigerian man have got the zeal
to make things happen. This, in a
way has helped the industry to
grow. I believe that come next
year, most of the films you will
be seeing in AMAA from the
stable of Nigerian film makers
will be great and better movies.
A lot of film makers are now
challenged to do better movies.
Somebody needs to kick-start
the revolution and every other
film makers will follow suit.
And, if we continue in that
spirit, Nollywood would have no
choice at some point to step
aside for us to thrive. What we
need now is to learn to master
the technical quality. Already,
we have got great stories, we
need to engage a few more
trained directors who really
understand how films should be
made. Believe me, sincerely, if all
these things are put in place, the
industry will be recognised
positively in the internationally.
On set, do you foresee the
quality you refer to?
Of course, the kind of persons
you are working with,
sometimes determine your
character or attitude on set. I
work with a couple of these
actors and actresses. I make
them work as well as I try to
take good care of them while on
set.
How true is it that producers
and marketers take undue
advantage of female actresses
for roles.
I think it’s the other way round
because most of these actresses
will do anything to be famous. A
lot of them will offer to sleep
with the producers or marketers
to get roles. Worse still, most of
them are not trained actresses
but the fact remains that they
want to be popular at all cost. I
think it ’s something that
happens all over the world, not
only in the film industry but
also. I see it as an individual
thing.
If you are a director or a
producer who allows himself to
fall for such cheap temptation,
so be it. But mostly, it is the
fault of these ladies who would
do anything to entice or seduce
them in order to secure a role in
their films.
Have you experienced such
temptation before?
I’m a professional to the core. I
can’t be tempted with such
cheap enticement.
What’s the way forward?
Shun tribal sentiments. We
wouldn ’t move forward as long
as we continue to allow
language differences to serve as
a deterrent to partnering
together. Nigeria is such a
complex country. And I believe
that if all of us come together
and leave our language barriers,
we will definitely make the
difference. In the first place ,
film does not have a language.
This issue of Kaniwood, Yoruba
film industry and the Igbo
movies should not undermining
the growth of our movie sector.
We must partner together and
do good movies. Then, the sky
will be our limit.
How did Figurine come about?
The story of Figurine was a
collective effort of myself, Joe
Obi and Ken Adesoye. There are
a lot of Nigerians there who are
superstitious and who try to
give a lot of names to the gods.
I felt it’s unfair of them because
most often, we have our own
predicaments. In that sense, we
tried to put all that together.
That was how we came up with
the story of Figurine.

Jimmy Jatt,9ice raise excitement on G-Bam

Globacom’s exciting television
showbiz entertainment and
lifestyle programme, The Glo G-
Bam show, goes on the streets
of Lagos, Nigeria ’s bubbly
metropolis, this weekend to
find out what youths are up to
in their leisure moments.
Ace Disc Jockey, Jimmy Jatt and
award winning rap merchant,
9ice, will also raise the roof on
the show on the NTA network,
between 8 and 9p.m this
Saturday.
Show presenter, Illrymz, took
the cameras to the back streets
of Lagos to touch base with
the young population on their
turf and discovered a world rich
in choreography, freestyle rap
and the beautiful dribbles of
street basketball.
The show will bring to viewers,
clips of deft and expert moves
by boys and girls on
neighbourhood basketball
courts, amazing dance troupes
who practice on the streets but
go on international shows, and
rappers who, though yet
unknown, have all the trappings
of future stars.
However, the big ones on this
Saturday ’s G-Bam Glo show are
Jimmy Jatt, 9ice and Terry the
Rapper.
On the show, Jimmy Jatt will
speak exclusively to G-Bam on
his private life, his beginnings
and the full meaning of his
acronym stage alias – Jatt.
Hip hop star, 9ice closes the
show with a studio
performance reflective of his
rating as one of Africa ’s best,
but the curtains will not drop
on this weekend ’s show until
viewers have taken through the
5 top karaokes of all time .

Micho Ade relaunches with Turning Point

The popular Juju Maestro, Chief Michael Adedayo, popularly
known as “Micho Ade” has come out with a big bang after a long
lull in the musical world.
Music lovers who thought it had ended for juju music had it
pleasant on Easter Monday when Juju Micho Ade, attracted
personalities and other musicians to the grand launch of his new
work entitled, Turning Point.
It was a swell moments at the White House, Toyin Street, Ikeja,
Lagos where the 11-tracker which is rich in edifying lyrics and
irresistible drum beat was launched, both audio and video.
Among the Juju musicians who graced the show which was
organised by City People Entertainment included PMAN president
Dele Abiodun, Wale Thompson and Mega 99.
It was excitement galore as Micho Ade mounted the stage to give
a good account of himself as he dished out numbers from the
new album.
From the first to the last track, the album seems poised to make a
statement loudly: That the genre is not only alive, but that lovers
of soul-inspiring and sensible musical compositions still have
them to enjoy.
Micho Ade, started his career in 1977 with his Micho Ade and the
Golden Stars of Africa band.
Lolo 1 plans Song outbreak
Plans are in advanced stage for the final presentation of Song
Outbreak season 1, a talent hunt show designed to discover
young talents and nurture them to do great exploit in the music
industry.
According to the initiator of the project Omotunde Adebowale-
David aka Lolo 1 of Wazobia Fm, “the aim of the talent hunt is to
give young upcoming artistes in Isolo Local Government Area,
the opportunity to express themselves and earn a living in what
they believe in ”.
The Ogun State born talented broadcaster, further stated that
Song Outbreak is her own little way of giving back to the society
as “there are many young people who are talented but do not
know how to go about it. With this project, I believe that
superstars will emerge from Isolo ” she submitted .
At the beginning of the competition over one hundred youth
registered. After series of performances and audition, ten
outstanding artistes made it to the final. They are Theophilus
Sunday, Anumele Stanley, Olugbenro Bernard, Christiana
Williams, Jenifa Soko, Da bless, Twimzzay, Okeydoye David,
Young Master , Mc Flow among others.
The first, second and third place winners will go home with N100,
000, N50,000 and N25,000 naira respectively with a recording
deal from Thumbs up Entertainment- a Lagos based music
promotion company with interest in talent development.
STAR rek begins
This year’s edition of Star Trek, the exciting national music concert
tour sponsored by Star lager, the nation’s number one lager
brand takes off this Friday at Ikotun Egbe, a major suburb on the
outskirts of Lagos. The stars are expected to move to Ilesha on
Saturday to continue what promises to be the best Star Trek ever.
On parade is the best of Nigeria’s music stars. The list includes the
latest Dollar millionaires in town, the singing twins Peter and Paul
aka P-Square who have just returned to the country with their
$1miilion dollar winning prize from the last KORA Awards.
Also on the Bill is the koko master himself, D’banj and another
popular member of the Mo Hits crew Wande Coal, Bracket,
Timaya and Obesere are some of the artistes to thrill Nigerians in
this year ’s edition of Star Trek, the music concert tour sponsored
by Star, Nigeria’s favourite lager brand. The list also includes rave
of the moment, Banky W, Terry G, MI, Sound Sultan, Djinee, KAS,
Black Trybe, KC Presh and Jukebox, the 2010 winners of Star
Quest, the music talent show concluded early April.