JUNKIE rocker PETE DOHERTY has been
sent packing after trying to enter
America.
Potty Pete, 31 - who has a string of
drug convictions - flew into New York
for a gig with JOHN LENNON's son
SEAN.
The LIBERTINES singer was hoping
customs officials would turn a blind
eye to his wild past - but was put back
on a flight to London just hours later.
Doherty told pals he wanted to crack
the States despite its strict ban on drug
offenders. One said: "He thought he
could get away with it. He was wrong."
Sean, 34, spoke of his sadness at
Doherty not joining him for Thursday's
show. A fan said: "He stressed it wasn't
Pete's fault."
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Why I Left Infinity-Kore
The name Kehinde Akinbode
would hardly ring a bell. Maybe
the name K ’ore could, but Infinity
will surely and readily will. It’s
the name of the five man gospel
group whose hit album Olori Oko
ruled the airwaves in 2006 and
even subsequently. They were
the toast of most gospel music
lovers in Nigeria and abroad.
Churches also courted them to
bring in the crowd.
But alas, while the group basks in its
success and lapped up its newfound
fame and fortune, the lead vocalist of
the group, Kehinde Akinbode who has
some of the hit songs in the album,
Olori Oko and Aye o le to his credit
called it quits with the group. Recently,
Sunday Sun caught up with the young
man who is in his late twenties. He has
since moved on with his own music
and re-branded as K ’ore.
In this interview, he answered the
question that has most been thrown at
him since his exit from Infinity: Why
he left. He also opened up on his
humble beginnings, his musical career
which he considers his calling, fame,
women, money and his Christian faith.
Excerpts :
Born in Ajegunle, raised in Mushin
My family had been middle class all
along. My dad used to work for
Leventis Motors. He was brilliant at his
work and he traveled abroad for
training. He worked in different states
in Nigeria, as a mechanical engineer. I
was born in Ajegunle. We moved from
there to Isolo, and because it was quite
close to Mushin, my mum didn ’t allow
us to go out because she didn’t want
me to mix with the wrong crowd.
Until I was 11 or 12, my playmates
were just my sisters. I have three
sisters; a twin sister, an elder sister and
a younger one. Then I could tie
wrapper very well like a woman. In
fact my mother almost turned me into
a sissy. My dad was not always around.
In fact Jesus has done a lot for me,
because this was how I was saved from
that trap. I ’m a guy, I needed to ride a
bicycle, play football, do what other
guys are doing, but my mum was just
loving me all the while. She didn ’t
know any better.
Mum didn’t allow me to ride bicycle
Or even play football but she allowed
me to attend church.
However there was a fellowship just
behind our house, and though she
wouldn ’t allow me go and play
football and ride bicycle, she was okay
with me going to the church. We were
nominal Christians all the while. We
weren ’t going to church often, so I
became the first person that would
really become a serious Christian in the
family. In the sense of being born-
again at least. I remember my mum
came to look for me in the church, then
my sisters started following me, and
gave their lives there too with my
mum. Then they also started attending
the fellowship, and we started
attending church.
Subsequently, I became a member of
the choir. I was about twelve then and
I wrote songs and took lead roles in
the choir until my family moved to
Agege where my father has his house.
Then I changed school and became a
leader in the school’s fellowship.
When we started out and people
asked us for our album, we asked
ourselves if we were that good.
At that time we were thinking of doing
something to make the fellowship
more vibrant, because we were losing
young people to secular clubs. So we
started a group we called All for Christ
because we were four. However, a
friend later told us that name wasn ’t
original enough because it readily
reminds you of All for One, the R and B
sensation of the eighties. That we
should think of something else. So we
thought of different names and came
up with Infinity. That was how the
group came to be. From the excos of
the fellowship in school.
That was how we started getting
invitations from outside the school,
and people would ask us for our
album. At that point we began asking
ourselves if we were that good,
because we never saw ourselves as
good enough to do an album. We were
just having fun. The four of us, and
another person joined us. And at some
point we started adjusting to the vision
and Infinity ’s Olori Oko album was
launched in 2006, it became a hit and
the rest is history.
We couldn’t afford to translate the
first idea we had for Olori Oko
video. As a team what we did was sit
down and critique several musical
videos, because we wanted ours to be
the best. So we ’ll sit and play the songs
over and over, because we wanted
something very grand. The first idea
that came was like a Zulu movie,
depicting war, with the lord of the
army coming in.
An African man tall and regal, but that
was going to cost us a lot, and we
didn ’t have the money. So we thought
of how to streamline and still pass
across the message. Then Sunny
suggested we did a drum thing and
ideas started flowing. And we thought
Dayo Liadi whom we had met
previously could do the dance. So it
became a subjective idea, whereas
what we thought initially was to
literally depict a war scene, and a war
hero coming on the scene.
Before then, we had a few stints with
arts practitioners like Mr. Wale
Macaulay, grandson of Herbert
Macaulay. It was actually on the set of
his play, The Rape of Gidiolu, that we
met Dayo. It was a socio-political
drama and we handled the music
aspect while Dayo handled the dance.
We were camped on Snake Island for
the production for a month, after
which we did a presentation at the
National Arts Theatre, and it was
beautiful. For us, it was a taste of the
arts and the experience remains
memorable for me.
When I left Infinity
Some people said I was crazy, but I was
convinced it was the next thing for me
to do.
I was convinced it was the next thing
to do, we had been together for
eleven years. Having been together for
that long, we had set out to achieve
certain things, and I ’m the kind of
person that likes to take stock of what
I ’ve done. For example, after you’ve
gone I will take stock of things that I
did in the course of the day.
I do that a lot and I was convinced it
was the next thing to do. It wasn ’t easy
for me, because it was at a time the
group was at it ’s peak. We were
enjoying a lot of favour and goodwill.
We were traveling. We just came back
from the UK, things were rosy and
good. ill date I ’ve heard people say, I
was either really just courageous
obeying God or simply crazy to have
done what I did at that time.
It’s not true that I left the group
because the others were distracted
by the opposite sex.
If I may throw this back to you, if
perhaps there was any truth in that, do
you think I would be the one
spreading that about? Would it be my
job to squeal on them? Of course, you
would expect me to call them, and talk
to them. Even if I would leave on that
basis, it shouldn ’t be me spreading the
story. And I would say categorically
that my leaving the team was not on
that basis. I attribute all that to yellow
journalism.
I love them and I miss them. Oh God, I
miss them sometimes!
But for now we need to give space so
that people can differentiate Kenny
K ’ore from Infinity.
For now, I don’t perform with the
group. No, because that would be
confusing people. If you say you ’ve
left, let people see that you left,
instead of hanging around with them.
I ’m sure sometime in the future, we
may be doing things together but for
now, a lot of people are yet to accept
that I left, so we need to give that
space for people to really know that
this is Kenny K ’ore, and that is Infinity.
They’ve recorded an album but it’s not
out yet. I think they are shooting the
video. They ’ve been doing some
promo on Radio.
On my part, I’ve been promoting my
album titled Eledumare, that’s the one
that has Yannibo. I don’t know if you’re
familiar with folktales of the tortoise.
The tortoise will be a metaphor for a
greedy, sly, cunning and evil person.
Usually they say behind every great
man, there is a great woman. Behind
every bad man too, there is a bad
woman. So the tortoise has a wife and
usually in folklore, his wife ’s name is
Yannibo . So the idea came from there.
Basically she is the everyday woman,
who likes a guy who unfortunately is
married, and she didn ’t know how to
deal with that. And she wanted to
force the guy into a relationship.
The idea behind Yannibo is to erase
the notion that men can ’t resist
seduction.
The idea is not to paint women as
Yannibo , as bad people. I wanted to
fight the idea that almost every
woman out there has. That men cannot
resist seduction. The belief is that even
with the best of us, the pastors, “make
the woman just shake body, e go fall”.
Though there is a level of truth in that,
but we need to fight that kind of
thinking. Our generation is formed by
ideas. And how do you fight an idea?
You fight it with another idea usually a
better one. What I ’m trying to do with
that song is that I want every man that
listens to that song to be able to say
“ Yes, I can do it! I will not yield to
temptation, I’ll be faithful to my wife”.
I’m normal like every other guy
The thing is I’m a very normal guy,
which means every normal weakness
that the average guy has, I have them
too. I ’m so like that. However I love
God, and I see that people perceive me
like that, “This one is a child of God”,
and that matters to me a lot. We don’t
have that a lot anymore. Our
generation is moving towards the
precipice, everyday our musical videos
are always about sex.
If they’re not about sex, it’s about
money, about greed, it’s about lust,
everything negative, everything anti-
Christ, anti-good nature and character.
It ’s out of character, out of custom, out
of tradition, it’s just crazy. The fact that
our government, music censors board
or whatever is allowing this
outrageous trend. is bad.
So if you have one guy, a lady out
there who can still be an embodiment
of light, embodiment of what we used
to be in terms of culture, respect,
character, in terms of everything that is
scriptural, why would you want to
trade that off for momentary pleasure
of sleeping around. It just doesn ’t
make sense to me.
I once lied to wriggle out of
temptation
At a time I was in a relationship with a
very good friend of mine. I think I still
care about her but we just realized
that we couldn ’t go on and we
amicably settled to just remain friends.
But while I was in a relationship with
her, I was in the UK and I met this lady.
She was very beautiful, and then we
went to this eatery which also doubles
as a library. It overlooks the city of
London. We sat at a table, we got
books, tea and small chops, and we
were talking. That moment was like a
dream come true for me.
It was a picture perfect scene but I was
already committed to someone. And
that dampened the whole atmosphere.
So while I and this lady were together,
I felt there was chemistry, and I didn ’t
like it, because I felt it was wrong. I
had somebody back here at home, that
I was committed to. So while I was
talking to the lady, I just said, “Ah! I
miss my girlfriend”, whereas it was a
lie. The last thing on my mind at that
time was missing her. I wasn ’t missing
her ; infact I was wishing she wasn’t in
my life(laughter). But I needed to do
that at that moment, and the magic
disappeared because I brought in my
girlfriend, and I felt bad.
Naturally she was already warming up
to it but of course now knowing that I
was attached, any self respecting lady
will ease out, which was what
happened. I saw all that and didn ’t like
it, but in the long run, I can sit with you
and talk about it and I ’m proud I was
able to do the right thing. That was
why I sang in Yannibo. You look at me
like I am cruel, but I ’m not an ordinary
man, I fear the Lord, I have a wife and a
son. I ’m going to do what is right,
though it seems so hard. Then I go, ‘so
hard baby’ like it’s painful.
Why I’m into music
We sang Olori Oko mainly in English
and Yoruba, then we spoke in tongues
a lot. Speaking in tongues is a
deliberate thing that I decided to do in
most of my projects because Jude said
in the Bible, “Building up yourselves
on your most holy faith, praying in the
Holy Ghost ”. Speaking in tongues is a
Christian reality, it is one of our most
holy faith, when we pray. I felt like we
should flaunt it. These other guys they
flaunt bling, bling, they even tell us
they smoke igbo. They show girls that
are shaking their backsides in their
videos. What are we proud of?
Americans flaunt their heritage
(culture). I ’m a Christian ; is there
anything in my heritage as a Christian
that I can just flaunt, and be proud of?
That’s why I do what I do.
Music is not what I’m doing to make a
name or just to put food on my table.
It ’s something I’m doing to make a
mark in my generation, so I have to do
research. I won ’t just get a catchy
phrase and just put a rhythm together
and put beats together, no. People still
refer to people like Bob Marley , Fela,
Ebenezer Obey, and Sunny Ade. Their
music is still relevant today. If it was
just something they were just
lackadaisical about, their songs won’t
be evergreen. They would have passed
with time.
There is a song I have, I got the lyrics,
the rhythm, melody in a dream. I woke
up, took my recorder and took
everything, however you still need to
work. Sometimes I want to say
something in Yoruba, I don ’t want to
use the Lagos dialect but the very deep
ones, so I consult with my mum or
other elderly persons. My mum is from
Ogbomoso in Oyo State while my dad
is from Abeokuta in Ogun State.
I chose the name K’ore because it
speaks to my destiny
K’ore simply means ‘Ku
orire’(Congratulations). I wanted
something artistic, something very
African that is meaningful and can
speak over my life, because I believe
there is something in a name.
Oftentimes people don ’t realize this
when they call themselves funny
names. Those names answer over their
lives. Call it my bias, but I ’m convinced
there’s something in a name. I thought
about several names, there’s one I love
so much, Theodore-it means lover of
God, but I decided against it because it
isn ’t African. and I wanted a name that
will reflect my heritage. I’m proudly
African, I’m proudly Nigerian, and I
want to flaunt it. So K’ore is a
shortened form of Ku orire. It’s a name
that is speaking over my life and
speaking over my destiny.
Three things convinced me that music
is my calling
One, because one is gifted . Two, being
passionate about it, and three because
you have the know-how. God will not
call you into an area in which you ’re
not gifted, or passionate about. If
someone ’s trying to find his area of
calling, the first thing he’ll be told is to
first find his area of passion, his gifts,
and to develop himself in that area.
And one wouldn ’t have strayed too far
from that calling. For me I’ve noticed
that I was gifted in this area. In fact, if I
had counsel earlier, I wouldn ’t have
done science. I could have just stayed
in the arts, because I can paint, write,
and of course play music.
Gospel is gift, it’s sacrifice…but there
should be a balance
I think whatever you are doing, the
motive should be beyond money. Even
if it ’s secular music and especially
when it’s gospel, it should definitely
not just be about you because gospel is
gift. It ’s sacrifice, it’s a ministry, but
there should be a balance. Oftentimes I
come to a point that I ’m thinking, any
form of extreme is bad, whether to the
left wing or the right wing. The Bible
itself is a book of balance such that
Jesus would say “do this, but do not
leave this undone”. Such that they
would say, do not muzzle the ox that
threads the corn, don ’t put money
ahead.
He said “seek ye first the kingdom…”.
Then He said after seeking the
kingdom, “all of these things would be
added to you”. He knows you need
them. That’s the point I want most of
our pastors and churches to realize.
When we put ministry first, like I ’m
doing, Paul said “I’ve ministered unto
you spiritual things, now you minister
to me …” You look at me, listened to
my project, looked at my life, see
where I may need help. Don ’t make
me ask you to do it, because I will not
charge you, I will minister to you
spiritual things.
The reason why we have issues now
with gospel artistes and churches on
charging fees or not is because a lot of
gospel artistes have realized that it ’s a
jungle out there, nobody cares. You
will spend money to do quality
production. I ’ve spent over N3.5
million and I’m still spending on my
project. You spend money to put
yourself on TV, do a great video,
promote videos but guess what
happens these days? I dare say
churches are not inviting you, because
you are anointed .
They are inviting you because you’re
the happening thing. You’re the rave
of the moment. If you come to church,
more people will troop after you, and
come. All of that costs money but then
you do it. And then they give you an
envelope containing N10,000,
N20,000 or N30,000. That ’s ridiculous .
You’re not singing any less than the
secular artiste. Infact, in most cases, the
gospel artistes are better vocally.
The average lifespan of a secular
album ranges from four to six months
whereas that of a gospel album ranges
between six to ten years and more.
Midnight Crew ’s Igwe is still selling,
Infinity’s Olori Oko is still selling, and I
think Asa is an evergreen. She will sell
forever. A lot of all these swagger,
ginger, just name them, their lifespan
is between four and six months. At the
end of the day when we look at it , one
is perhaps better than these guys, yet
they are raking in money in their
millions. And the church doesn ’t seem
to understand that. Gospel music is a
strong tool of evangelism. If you play it
down, you ’re pulling down the
salvation and the sanity in a lot of
churches.
Many of the secular artistes that are
singing dirty songs today were church
people, but I don ’t blame them in a
way, because when they were in the
church nobody reckoned with them.
But now, they do one hit track and
they are buying houses in Lekki, they
are riding Bentley, living large. My
project(album) was given to about
three secular labels and they were like
men …if this guy was only secular. I’d
probably be in money by now, getting
endorsements, maybe I ’ll get a Bentley
or something close. It’ll come in Jesus
name, it usually does. I’m not saying all
these, because I feel sorry for myself.
I ’m saying this, because it’s an issue
that should be addressed. In any case,
I ’ve always known that even if they
don’t do it, if you’re faithful to God
who called you, He will be faithful to
you.
Of course I miss having a ride
especially in Lagos
How it has been since I left Infinity? If
you ’re talking about shows, yes I still
have shows but can’t compare with
when I was with the group. I’m not
even trying to compare, I’m convinced
it was the next thing for me to do and I
have my peace. God has been faithful.
I gave out my car, a BMW Coupe but do
you know my prayer everyday,? Father
have your way, just have your way
with me. Even if it ’s going to be hard
for me, help me to obey you. I love God
more than my reputation. When the
scripture says, “the life I live, I live in
Christ, the life I have is not my own”,
I’ve often noticed in my life that
anytime I have a strong sense of God in
it, for whatever I might lose, I get
peace of mind.
Of course I miss having a ride
especially in Lagos but it ’s ok. I can live
with myself. I feel I obeyed God. You
know there was something God
wanted me to do, and I never did it?
And it still haunts me till today. I still
had that car then. God told me to drop
the car, enter a molue, carry Infinity CD
and just share my testimony, no
preaching. But I was too shy to do that
and it haunts me. Anytime God asks me
to do something and I don ’t, I lose my
peace.
would hardly ring a bell. Maybe
the name K ’ore could, but Infinity
will surely and readily will. It’s
the name of the five man gospel
group whose hit album Olori Oko
ruled the airwaves in 2006 and
even subsequently. They were
the toast of most gospel music
lovers in Nigeria and abroad.
Churches also courted them to
bring in the crowd.
But alas, while the group basks in its
success and lapped up its newfound
fame and fortune, the lead vocalist of
the group, Kehinde Akinbode who has
some of the hit songs in the album,
Olori Oko and Aye o le to his credit
called it quits with the group. Recently,
Sunday Sun caught up with the young
man who is in his late twenties. He has
since moved on with his own music
and re-branded as K ’ore.
In this interview, he answered the
question that has most been thrown at
him since his exit from Infinity: Why
he left. He also opened up on his
humble beginnings, his musical career
which he considers his calling, fame,
women, money and his Christian faith.
Excerpts :
Born in Ajegunle, raised in Mushin
My family had been middle class all
along. My dad used to work for
Leventis Motors. He was brilliant at his
work and he traveled abroad for
training. He worked in different states
in Nigeria, as a mechanical engineer. I
was born in Ajegunle. We moved from
there to Isolo, and because it was quite
close to Mushin, my mum didn ’t allow
us to go out because she didn’t want
me to mix with the wrong crowd.
Until I was 11 or 12, my playmates
were just my sisters. I have three
sisters; a twin sister, an elder sister and
a younger one. Then I could tie
wrapper very well like a woman. In
fact my mother almost turned me into
a sissy. My dad was not always around.
In fact Jesus has done a lot for me,
because this was how I was saved from
that trap. I ’m a guy, I needed to ride a
bicycle, play football, do what other
guys are doing, but my mum was just
loving me all the while. She didn ’t
know any better.
Mum didn’t allow me to ride bicycle
Or even play football but she allowed
me to attend church.
However there was a fellowship just
behind our house, and though she
wouldn ’t allow me go and play
football and ride bicycle, she was okay
with me going to the church. We were
nominal Christians all the while. We
weren ’t going to church often, so I
became the first person that would
really become a serious Christian in the
family. In the sense of being born-
again at least. I remember my mum
came to look for me in the church, then
my sisters started following me, and
gave their lives there too with my
mum. Then they also started attending
the fellowship, and we started
attending church.
Subsequently, I became a member of
the choir. I was about twelve then and
I wrote songs and took lead roles in
the choir until my family moved to
Agege where my father has his house.
Then I changed school and became a
leader in the school’s fellowship.
When we started out and people
asked us for our album, we asked
ourselves if we were that good.
At that time we were thinking of doing
something to make the fellowship
more vibrant, because we were losing
young people to secular clubs. So we
started a group we called All for Christ
because we were four. However, a
friend later told us that name wasn ’t
original enough because it readily
reminds you of All for One, the R and B
sensation of the eighties. That we
should think of something else. So we
thought of different names and came
up with Infinity. That was how the
group came to be. From the excos of
the fellowship in school.
That was how we started getting
invitations from outside the school,
and people would ask us for our
album. At that point we began asking
ourselves if we were that good,
because we never saw ourselves as
good enough to do an album. We were
just having fun. The four of us, and
another person joined us. And at some
point we started adjusting to the vision
and Infinity ’s Olori Oko album was
launched in 2006, it became a hit and
the rest is history.
We couldn’t afford to translate the
first idea we had for Olori Oko
video. As a team what we did was sit
down and critique several musical
videos, because we wanted ours to be
the best. So we ’ll sit and play the songs
over and over, because we wanted
something very grand. The first idea
that came was like a Zulu movie,
depicting war, with the lord of the
army coming in.
An African man tall and regal, but that
was going to cost us a lot, and we
didn ’t have the money. So we thought
of how to streamline and still pass
across the message. Then Sunny
suggested we did a drum thing and
ideas started flowing. And we thought
Dayo Liadi whom we had met
previously could do the dance. So it
became a subjective idea, whereas
what we thought initially was to
literally depict a war scene, and a war
hero coming on the scene.
Before then, we had a few stints with
arts practitioners like Mr. Wale
Macaulay, grandson of Herbert
Macaulay. It was actually on the set of
his play, The Rape of Gidiolu, that we
met Dayo. It was a socio-political
drama and we handled the music
aspect while Dayo handled the dance.
We were camped on Snake Island for
the production for a month, after
which we did a presentation at the
National Arts Theatre, and it was
beautiful. For us, it was a taste of the
arts and the experience remains
memorable for me.
When I left Infinity
Some people said I was crazy, but I was
convinced it was the next thing for me
to do.
I was convinced it was the next thing
to do, we had been together for
eleven years. Having been together for
that long, we had set out to achieve
certain things, and I ’m the kind of
person that likes to take stock of what
I ’ve done. For example, after you’ve
gone I will take stock of things that I
did in the course of the day.
I do that a lot and I was convinced it
was the next thing to do. It wasn ’t easy
for me, because it was at a time the
group was at it ’s peak. We were
enjoying a lot of favour and goodwill.
We were traveling. We just came back
from the UK, things were rosy and
good. ill date I ’ve heard people say, I
was either really just courageous
obeying God or simply crazy to have
done what I did at that time.
It’s not true that I left the group
because the others were distracted
by the opposite sex.
If I may throw this back to you, if
perhaps there was any truth in that, do
you think I would be the one
spreading that about? Would it be my
job to squeal on them? Of course, you
would expect me to call them, and talk
to them. Even if I would leave on that
basis, it shouldn ’t be me spreading the
story. And I would say categorically
that my leaving the team was not on
that basis. I attribute all that to yellow
journalism.
I love them and I miss them. Oh God, I
miss them sometimes!
But for now we need to give space so
that people can differentiate Kenny
K ’ore from Infinity.
For now, I don’t perform with the
group. No, because that would be
confusing people. If you say you ’ve
left, let people see that you left,
instead of hanging around with them.
I ’m sure sometime in the future, we
may be doing things together but for
now, a lot of people are yet to accept
that I left, so we need to give that
space for people to really know that
this is Kenny K ’ore, and that is Infinity.
They’ve recorded an album but it’s not
out yet. I think they are shooting the
video. They ’ve been doing some
promo on Radio.
On my part, I’ve been promoting my
album titled Eledumare, that’s the one
that has Yannibo. I don’t know if you’re
familiar with folktales of the tortoise.
The tortoise will be a metaphor for a
greedy, sly, cunning and evil person.
Usually they say behind every great
man, there is a great woman. Behind
every bad man too, there is a bad
woman. So the tortoise has a wife and
usually in folklore, his wife ’s name is
Yannibo . So the idea came from there.
Basically she is the everyday woman,
who likes a guy who unfortunately is
married, and she didn ’t know how to
deal with that. And she wanted to
force the guy into a relationship.
The idea behind Yannibo is to erase
the notion that men can ’t resist
seduction.
The idea is not to paint women as
Yannibo , as bad people. I wanted to
fight the idea that almost every
woman out there has. That men cannot
resist seduction. The belief is that even
with the best of us, the pastors, “make
the woman just shake body, e go fall”.
Though there is a level of truth in that,
but we need to fight that kind of
thinking. Our generation is formed by
ideas. And how do you fight an idea?
You fight it with another idea usually a
better one. What I ’m trying to do with
that song is that I want every man that
listens to that song to be able to say
“ Yes, I can do it! I will not yield to
temptation, I’ll be faithful to my wife”.
I’m normal like every other guy
The thing is I’m a very normal guy,
which means every normal weakness
that the average guy has, I have them
too. I ’m so like that. However I love
God, and I see that people perceive me
like that, “This one is a child of God”,
and that matters to me a lot. We don’t
have that a lot anymore. Our
generation is moving towards the
precipice, everyday our musical videos
are always about sex.
If they’re not about sex, it’s about
money, about greed, it’s about lust,
everything negative, everything anti-
Christ, anti-good nature and character.
It ’s out of character, out of custom, out
of tradition, it’s just crazy. The fact that
our government, music censors board
or whatever is allowing this
outrageous trend. is bad.
So if you have one guy, a lady out
there who can still be an embodiment
of light, embodiment of what we used
to be in terms of culture, respect,
character, in terms of everything that is
scriptural, why would you want to
trade that off for momentary pleasure
of sleeping around. It just doesn ’t
make sense to me.
I once lied to wriggle out of
temptation
At a time I was in a relationship with a
very good friend of mine. I think I still
care about her but we just realized
that we couldn ’t go on and we
amicably settled to just remain friends.
But while I was in a relationship with
her, I was in the UK and I met this lady.
She was very beautiful, and then we
went to this eatery which also doubles
as a library. It overlooks the city of
London. We sat at a table, we got
books, tea and small chops, and we
were talking. That moment was like a
dream come true for me.
It was a picture perfect scene but I was
already committed to someone. And
that dampened the whole atmosphere.
So while I and this lady were together,
I felt there was chemistry, and I didn ’t
like it, because I felt it was wrong. I
had somebody back here at home, that
I was committed to. So while I was
talking to the lady, I just said, “Ah! I
miss my girlfriend”, whereas it was a
lie. The last thing on my mind at that
time was missing her. I wasn ’t missing
her ; infact I was wishing she wasn’t in
my life(laughter). But I needed to do
that at that moment, and the magic
disappeared because I brought in my
girlfriend, and I felt bad.
Naturally she was already warming up
to it but of course now knowing that I
was attached, any self respecting lady
will ease out, which was what
happened. I saw all that and didn ’t like
it, but in the long run, I can sit with you
and talk about it and I ’m proud I was
able to do the right thing. That was
why I sang in Yannibo. You look at me
like I am cruel, but I ’m not an ordinary
man, I fear the Lord, I have a wife and a
son. I ’m going to do what is right,
though it seems so hard. Then I go, ‘so
hard baby’ like it’s painful.
Why I’m into music
We sang Olori Oko mainly in English
and Yoruba, then we spoke in tongues
a lot. Speaking in tongues is a
deliberate thing that I decided to do in
most of my projects because Jude said
in the Bible, “Building up yourselves
on your most holy faith, praying in the
Holy Ghost ”. Speaking in tongues is a
Christian reality, it is one of our most
holy faith, when we pray. I felt like we
should flaunt it. These other guys they
flaunt bling, bling, they even tell us
they smoke igbo. They show girls that
are shaking their backsides in their
videos. What are we proud of?
Americans flaunt their heritage
(culture). I ’m a Christian ; is there
anything in my heritage as a Christian
that I can just flaunt, and be proud of?
That’s why I do what I do.
Music is not what I’m doing to make a
name or just to put food on my table.
It ’s something I’m doing to make a
mark in my generation, so I have to do
research. I won ’t just get a catchy
phrase and just put a rhythm together
and put beats together, no. People still
refer to people like Bob Marley , Fela,
Ebenezer Obey, and Sunny Ade. Their
music is still relevant today. If it was
just something they were just
lackadaisical about, their songs won’t
be evergreen. They would have passed
with time.
There is a song I have, I got the lyrics,
the rhythm, melody in a dream. I woke
up, took my recorder and took
everything, however you still need to
work. Sometimes I want to say
something in Yoruba, I don ’t want to
use the Lagos dialect but the very deep
ones, so I consult with my mum or
other elderly persons. My mum is from
Ogbomoso in Oyo State while my dad
is from Abeokuta in Ogun State.
I chose the name K’ore because it
speaks to my destiny
K’ore simply means ‘Ku
orire’(Congratulations). I wanted
something artistic, something very
African that is meaningful and can
speak over my life, because I believe
there is something in a name.
Oftentimes people don ’t realize this
when they call themselves funny
names. Those names answer over their
lives. Call it my bias, but I ’m convinced
there’s something in a name. I thought
about several names, there’s one I love
so much, Theodore-it means lover of
God, but I decided against it because it
isn ’t African. and I wanted a name that
will reflect my heritage. I’m proudly
African, I’m proudly Nigerian, and I
want to flaunt it. So K’ore is a
shortened form of Ku orire. It’s a name
that is speaking over my life and
speaking over my destiny.
Three things convinced me that music
is my calling
One, because one is gifted . Two, being
passionate about it, and three because
you have the know-how. God will not
call you into an area in which you ’re
not gifted, or passionate about. If
someone ’s trying to find his area of
calling, the first thing he’ll be told is to
first find his area of passion, his gifts,
and to develop himself in that area.
And one wouldn ’t have strayed too far
from that calling. For me I’ve noticed
that I was gifted in this area. In fact, if I
had counsel earlier, I wouldn ’t have
done science. I could have just stayed
in the arts, because I can paint, write,
and of course play music.
Gospel is gift, it’s sacrifice…but there
should be a balance
I think whatever you are doing, the
motive should be beyond money. Even
if it ’s secular music and especially
when it’s gospel, it should definitely
not just be about you because gospel is
gift. It ’s sacrifice, it’s a ministry, but
there should be a balance. Oftentimes I
come to a point that I ’m thinking, any
form of extreme is bad, whether to the
left wing or the right wing. The Bible
itself is a book of balance such that
Jesus would say “do this, but do not
leave this undone”. Such that they
would say, do not muzzle the ox that
threads the corn, don ’t put money
ahead.
He said “seek ye first the kingdom…”.
Then He said after seeking the
kingdom, “all of these things would be
added to you”. He knows you need
them. That’s the point I want most of
our pastors and churches to realize.
When we put ministry first, like I ’m
doing, Paul said “I’ve ministered unto
you spiritual things, now you minister
to me …” You look at me, listened to
my project, looked at my life, see
where I may need help. Don ’t make
me ask you to do it, because I will not
charge you, I will minister to you
spiritual things.
The reason why we have issues now
with gospel artistes and churches on
charging fees or not is because a lot of
gospel artistes have realized that it ’s a
jungle out there, nobody cares. You
will spend money to do quality
production. I ’ve spent over N3.5
million and I’m still spending on my
project. You spend money to put
yourself on TV, do a great video,
promote videos but guess what
happens these days? I dare say
churches are not inviting you, because
you are anointed .
They are inviting you because you’re
the happening thing. You’re the rave
of the moment. If you come to church,
more people will troop after you, and
come. All of that costs money but then
you do it. And then they give you an
envelope containing N10,000,
N20,000 or N30,000. That ’s ridiculous .
You’re not singing any less than the
secular artiste. Infact, in most cases, the
gospel artistes are better vocally.
The average lifespan of a secular
album ranges from four to six months
whereas that of a gospel album ranges
between six to ten years and more.
Midnight Crew ’s Igwe is still selling,
Infinity’s Olori Oko is still selling, and I
think Asa is an evergreen. She will sell
forever. A lot of all these swagger,
ginger, just name them, their lifespan
is between four and six months. At the
end of the day when we look at it , one
is perhaps better than these guys, yet
they are raking in money in their
millions. And the church doesn ’t seem
to understand that. Gospel music is a
strong tool of evangelism. If you play it
down, you ’re pulling down the
salvation and the sanity in a lot of
churches.
Many of the secular artistes that are
singing dirty songs today were church
people, but I don ’t blame them in a
way, because when they were in the
church nobody reckoned with them.
But now, they do one hit track and
they are buying houses in Lekki, they
are riding Bentley, living large. My
project(album) was given to about
three secular labels and they were like
men …if this guy was only secular. I’d
probably be in money by now, getting
endorsements, maybe I ’ll get a Bentley
or something close. It’ll come in Jesus
name, it usually does. I’m not saying all
these, because I feel sorry for myself.
I ’m saying this, because it’s an issue
that should be addressed. In any case,
I ’ve always known that even if they
don’t do it, if you’re faithful to God
who called you, He will be faithful to
you.
Of course I miss having a ride
especially in Lagos
How it has been since I left Infinity? If
you ’re talking about shows, yes I still
have shows but can’t compare with
when I was with the group. I’m not
even trying to compare, I’m convinced
it was the next thing for me to do and I
have my peace. God has been faithful.
I gave out my car, a BMW Coupe but do
you know my prayer everyday,? Father
have your way, just have your way
with me. Even if it ’s going to be hard
for me, help me to obey you. I love God
more than my reputation. When the
scripture says, “the life I live, I live in
Christ, the life I have is not my own”,
I’ve often noticed in my life that
anytime I have a strong sense of God in
it, for whatever I might lose, I get
peace of mind.
Of course I miss having a ride
especially in Lagos but it ’s ok. I can live
with myself. I feel I obeyed God. You
know there was something God
wanted me to do, and I never did it?
And it still haunts me till today. I still
had that car then. God told me to drop
the car, enter a molue, carry Infinity CD
and just share my testimony, no
preaching. But I was too shy to do that
and it haunts me. Anytime God asks me
to do something and I don ’t, I lose my
peace.
What i found wasn't true love-Rukky Sandas
She is one of the emerging faces
and if you like forces in
Nollywood. She is gradually
etching a place for herself in an
industry where stars and
wannabes get lost by the second.
Rukky Sanda in this interview
bares it all about her experience
and how close she is to
controversial actress, Mercy
Johnson.
What have you been up to
lately?
I’ve been working as usual. I’m trying
to finish up a script and start work on
Thursday.
After Lethal Woman have you
produced any other?
Yes I have. I have done Obscure motive
and In her shoes
How did Obsure motive and In her
shoes fair in the market?
In her shoes is yet to be released.
Obscure motives is really doing well in
the market. Jackie Appiah, Yemi Blaq,
Ngozi Ezeonu and others starred in the
movie.
Who are the guys in In her shoes?
Van Vicker, Yemi Black, Uche Jombo,
and others.
Why are you always working with
Uche Jombo?
That is the only film Uche did for me.
But in other production, you always
get to work with her. Why?
We’ve not really worked together that
much. Just a couple of other people’s
film and her film… the one she
produced. She is my friend, why
wouldn ’t I work with her? More so, she
is a professional. I don’t see anything
wrong in working with her.
You performance in Guilty Pleasure
was much better than that of Lethal
Woman. What happened?
They are two different characters.
Does it have anything to do with the
directing?
It has nothing to do with the directing.
It was the role, the character that I was
interpreting and that was all it was all
about.
Which would you consider your most
lively character in a film?
Well, I like to play any role. I don’t look
forward to the liveliness of a character,
everything is a challenge. So I try to
face new challenges in every role I
play. But I try to avoid being
stereotyped ,because there was a
particular time that I was always
playing a particular role. For now, I
would rather not play the role than
repeat .
How often do you get engaged in
other people ’s production?
Well, I work for other people, but I
don ’t just work for anybody. This year, I
have featured in nine films
.
Which ones?
I do not know. I have done one with
Uche, Desmond and others.
But, which of them did you play lead
role?
It is not about playing the lead role. It’s
about your role having meaning. You
can play a lead role and yet, it is
someone that played a minor role that
people will remember. I look at the
role , though, I have played lead roles
in about five of them.
What happened last year… you were
not that busy on movie sets?
I was busy doing some other things.
You were busy or the producers were
frustrating you?
Nobody can frustrate me. I do what I
want when I want. I have other jobs
that I do other than acting.
Since I ’ve known you, you are good in
commerce…
To make more money, you have to
invest. You can ’t keep working,
earning salary and spending money
and still expect to make more money.
You have to invest. Since my first year
in college, I have been travelling and
buying goods to sell.
Is that one of the things you learnt
from your mom?
Not exactly, I am just a commerce
oriented person. I believe you have to
invest to make more money. So, that is
the way I see it.
Do you think your decision to stick to
the English genre of movies despite
being Yoruba has paid off?
Yes. It is what I want to do. It is not
what anybody thinks and wants me to
do. I ’m being what exactly I want to
be, I’m exactly where I want to be.
Moreover, I don’t see anything wrong
with a Yoruba or an English film. The
most important thing is for me to have
interest in either . If I don ’t have
interest, I won’t do it.
How easy has it been for you as a
Yoruba actress?
I don’t think it has anything to do with
tribe. From my own point of view, I
don ’t think it has anything to do with
you being Yoruba, or Igbo. If they see
you are good and they want to employ
you, they will .
But people complain of prejudice all
the time?
Fine, it doesn’t mean they are
discriminated against or something. I
think it is just the idea people have
about it. There are lots of people that
have made it today, they didn ’t just
come into the industry and just made
the award. You have to work hard. You
have to be persistent.
So those complaining about prejudice
don ’t know what they are talking
about?
I don’t think they try hard enough. I
don’t think anybody should tell you
what you want to be, who you want to
be and where you want to be. I think,
if you want something you have to go
and get it, you can not settle for less.
So not settling for less means, if a
producer asks you out you will not
oblige him?
I don’t know. I’ve seen it happen. I
have see some couple of girls calling
the producer and he didn ’t even have a
job for them. He was like, if you want
this, you should do this. It ’s how you
throw it at them, it’s how they see you,
how you present yourself. I think you
should let your work speak for you and
if you have the opportunity, try to
make the best out of it. Don ’t appear
desperate.
How did you do your own without
coming across as desperate?
I just do my job and get out. Again I let
my work speak for me.
Did you not work for Chico Ejiro
before?
It was Chico Ejiro’s office but it was
Sunny Mccdon’s production. That was
where I got my first role.
Tell me your period of trying hard,
what were those things that you
went through?
I think I’m totally different.I am not
that kind of person that wants to die , if
I don ’t get the job. I will always have
something to do. At a time I used to
have a big problem leaving Lagos to
work. That was my major issue until
recently.
You have your hands in so many other
things. Are you not taking on so much
at a time?
I create time for everything I want to
do. I said I ’m a business person. If I see
a business that I can do and it’s
profitable for me, I will sit down and
say I ’m an actress by profession, this is
what I should do. No, I will not do that.
I will create time and work towards it
and I will achieve what I want.
How profitable has it been, being a
producer in the English genre?
I’m blessed, thank God.
They say it is very expensive to
produce a movie?
Yes it is and that is why you have to
take your time to do something that is
good, so as to make your money back.
Have you always made your money
back?
Not really . The first movie I did, people
were selling it behind my back. Piracy
denied me my rewards.
What film was that?
Lethal Woman. It was my first film and
I regarded it as a trial. I had issues with
actors in the film and that was because
of my lack of experience. I won ’t say
the movie was unsuccessful; at least I
made my money back.
What about Obscure Motives?
Obscure Motives is still selling very
well in the market though I have not
put on TV stations yet.
How was it with Van Vicker because
some people believe that Ghanians are
very rude on set. What is your take?
That’s is a big lie. Whoever said that is
not a good person. It’s not true at all.
When are you getting married?
Not any time soon.
How would you describe true love?
It’s caring for someone unconditionally
and being happy.
So, have you ever found true love ?
Yes.
What happened ?
It didn’t work out.
But someone said, true love is
supposed to last forever?
So I heard o. Maybe I should say what I
had wasn ’t true love , but when I do
find true love, you will know.
Some people say you are one of the
big girls in the industry. You change
cars and live big. What ’s your take on
that?
I thank God for my life and for blessing
me. I work very hard. That is why you
see me using ten phones at the same
time.
Are you a friend of Mercy Johnson’s ?
She’s not my friend. I have never had a
conversation with her in my life.
We ’ve only worked on the same set.
Can you invite Mercy Johnson to one
of your movies?
If she fits in, why not?
and if you like forces in
Nollywood. She is gradually
etching a place for herself in an
industry where stars and
wannabes get lost by the second.
Rukky Sanda in this interview
bares it all about her experience
and how close she is to
controversial actress, Mercy
Johnson.
What have you been up to
lately?
I’ve been working as usual. I’m trying
to finish up a script and start work on
Thursday.
After Lethal Woman have you
produced any other?
Yes I have. I have done Obscure motive
and In her shoes
How did Obsure motive and In her
shoes fair in the market?
In her shoes is yet to be released.
Obscure motives is really doing well in
the market. Jackie Appiah, Yemi Blaq,
Ngozi Ezeonu and others starred in the
movie.
Who are the guys in In her shoes?
Van Vicker, Yemi Black, Uche Jombo,
and others.
Why are you always working with
Uche Jombo?
That is the only film Uche did for me.
But in other production, you always
get to work with her. Why?
We’ve not really worked together that
much. Just a couple of other people’s
film and her film… the one she
produced. She is my friend, why
wouldn ’t I work with her? More so, she
is a professional. I don’t see anything
wrong in working with her.
You performance in Guilty Pleasure
was much better than that of Lethal
Woman. What happened?
They are two different characters.
Does it have anything to do with the
directing?
It has nothing to do with the directing.
It was the role, the character that I was
interpreting and that was all it was all
about.
Which would you consider your most
lively character in a film?
Well, I like to play any role. I don’t look
forward to the liveliness of a character,
everything is a challenge. So I try to
face new challenges in every role I
play. But I try to avoid being
stereotyped ,because there was a
particular time that I was always
playing a particular role. For now, I
would rather not play the role than
repeat .
How often do you get engaged in
other people ’s production?
Well, I work for other people, but I
don ’t just work for anybody. This year, I
have featured in nine films
.
Which ones?
I do not know. I have done one with
Uche, Desmond and others.
But, which of them did you play lead
role?
It is not about playing the lead role. It’s
about your role having meaning. You
can play a lead role and yet, it is
someone that played a minor role that
people will remember. I look at the
role , though, I have played lead roles
in about five of them.
What happened last year… you were
not that busy on movie sets?
I was busy doing some other things.
You were busy or the producers were
frustrating you?
Nobody can frustrate me. I do what I
want when I want. I have other jobs
that I do other than acting.
Since I ’ve known you, you are good in
commerce…
To make more money, you have to
invest. You can ’t keep working,
earning salary and spending money
and still expect to make more money.
You have to invest. Since my first year
in college, I have been travelling and
buying goods to sell.
Is that one of the things you learnt
from your mom?
Not exactly, I am just a commerce
oriented person. I believe you have to
invest to make more money. So, that is
the way I see it.
Do you think your decision to stick to
the English genre of movies despite
being Yoruba has paid off?
Yes. It is what I want to do. It is not
what anybody thinks and wants me to
do. I ’m being what exactly I want to
be, I’m exactly where I want to be.
Moreover, I don’t see anything wrong
with a Yoruba or an English film. The
most important thing is for me to have
interest in either . If I don ’t have
interest, I won’t do it.
How easy has it been for you as a
Yoruba actress?
I don’t think it has anything to do with
tribe. From my own point of view, I
don ’t think it has anything to do with
you being Yoruba, or Igbo. If they see
you are good and they want to employ
you, they will .
But people complain of prejudice all
the time?
Fine, it doesn’t mean they are
discriminated against or something. I
think it is just the idea people have
about it. There are lots of people that
have made it today, they didn ’t just
come into the industry and just made
the award. You have to work hard. You
have to be persistent.
So those complaining about prejudice
don ’t know what they are talking
about?
I don’t think they try hard enough. I
don’t think anybody should tell you
what you want to be, who you want to
be and where you want to be. I think,
if you want something you have to go
and get it, you can not settle for less.
So not settling for less means, if a
producer asks you out you will not
oblige him?
I don’t know. I’ve seen it happen. I
have see some couple of girls calling
the producer and he didn ’t even have a
job for them. He was like, if you want
this, you should do this. It ’s how you
throw it at them, it’s how they see you,
how you present yourself. I think you
should let your work speak for you and
if you have the opportunity, try to
make the best out of it. Don ’t appear
desperate.
How did you do your own without
coming across as desperate?
I just do my job and get out. Again I let
my work speak for me.
Did you not work for Chico Ejiro
before?
It was Chico Ejiro’s office but it was
Sunny Mccdon’s production. That was
where I got my first role.
Tell me your period of trying hard,
what were those things that you
went through?
I think I’m totally different.I am not
that kind of person that wants to die , if
I don ’t get the job. I will always have
something to do. At a time I used to
have a big problem leaving Lagos to
work. That was my major issue until
recently.
You have your hands in so many other
things. Are you not taking on so much
at a time?
I create time for everything I want to
do. I said I ’m a business person. If I see
a business that I can do and it’s
profitable for me, I will sit down and
say I ’m an actress by profession, this is
what I should do. No, I will not do that.
I will create time and work towards it
and I will achieve what I want.
How profitable has it been, being a
producer in the English genre?
I’m blessed, thank God.
They say it is very expensive to
produce a movie?
Yes it is and that is why you have to
take your time to do something that is
good, so as to make your money back.
Have you always made your money
back?
Not really . The first movie I did, people
were selling it behind my back. Piracy
denied me my rewards.
What film was that?
Lethal Woman. It was my first film and
I regarded it as a trial. I had issues with
actors in the film and that was because
of my lack of experience. I won ’t say
the movie was unsuccessful; at least I
made my money back.
What about Obscure Motives?
Obscure Motives is still selling very
well in the market though I have not
put on TV stations yet.
How was it with Van Vicker because
some people believe that Ghanians are
very rude on set. What is your take?
That’s is a big lie. Whoever said that is
not a good person. It’s not true at all.
When are you getting married?
Not any time soon.
How would you describe true love?
It’s caring for someone unconditionally
and being happy.
So, have you ever found true love ?
Yes.
What happened ?
It didn’t work out.
But someone said, true love is
supposed to last forever?
So I heard o. Maybe I should say what I
had wasn ’t true love , but when I do
find true love, you will know.
Some people say you are one of the
big girls in the industry. You change
cars and live big. What ’s your take on
that?
I thank God for my life and for blessing
me. I work very hard. That is why you
see me using ten phones at the same
time.
Are you a friend of Mercy Johnson’s ?
She’s not my friend. I have never had a
conversation with her in my life.
We ’ve only worked on the same set.
Can you invite Mercy Johnson to one
of your movies?
If she fits in, why not?
Fatia Balogun fights Ashaye,Akindele,Filani
Fathia Balogun is in the news again.
Yes, the ex-wife of Saidi Balogun is
the hottest topic in Nollywood. She
is not in the news for her separation,
neither is she in for her alleged
peace overtures to her ex-hubby.
She is not making headlines for her
movies either. She is in the news for
allegedly picking fights with fellow
actresses.
First Fathia fought Peju Ashaye.
She accused her of dating Alhaji
Abdulahi Lateef, CEO of Corporate
Pictures, the man she is allegedly
dating. Fathia called Peju on phone
and warned her to stay off her man.
Peju who is seen as a ‘junior’ to Fathia
was shocked that Fathia could descend
so low and threaten her on phone.
In response to her threat, Peju granted
an interview to an online publication
saying Fathia does not have the right
to tell her who to date or not. Said she :
“ Anyway I don’t step down for
anybody. I don’t believe anyone can
threaten me and she has not
confronted me physically.
Though I hear several stories but I am
not convinced she was referring to me.
It is a free world and everyone has the
freedom to do anything at his or her
own particular time. I don ’t owe
anybody an explanation on who I am
dating. If you believe me fine and if
not it is just too bad. I am trying as
much as possible to be professional
and I am a lone ranger. I can be close
to Corporate Pictures boss for any
reason. Moreover the man is not her
husband. He is not Saidi Balogun.
Fathia is not his wife.
So she has no right to attack me over
issues concerning him. She has no right
to harass me. Everyone is doing
business with the man. He is marketing
my movies and nothing else is
between us but I would not be cowed
by anyone based on stories that I am
dating the man. Fathia would not
choose who would market my movies
for me. It is absolutely my prerogative.
Corporate Pictures has been there for a
very long time even before she joined
the industry. It will continue to market
my movies and nothing will take me
away from the company ”.
Not yet done, she moved on to Mosun
Filani who is fast gaining prominence
in the industry. She accused Mosun of
telling tales of how she used to borrow
shoes from Flakky Idiowio, another
actress. Despite the assurance of
another actress that Mosun never did
that, Fathia was said to have quarelled
with Mosun on Muyiwa Ademola ’s set.
Now, she is spoiling for war with Funke
Akindele for an undisclosed offence.
She is said to have gathered fellow
actresses in the war against the Jenifa
producer. A source even told us she
vowed to snatch Femi Adebayo from
Funke when the talk was rife that they
were dating. Now that it is clear they
are dating, Fathia is planning on ways
to instigate younger actresses against
Funke.
SBN called Fathia twice, but her PA
picked the call and promised to get
back to us. He never did.
Fathia is said to be antagonising these
actresses because she sees them as
threats to her career and despises
them because they don’t defer to her
like other actresses that call her Igwe.
Yes, the ex-wife of Saidi Balogun is
the hottest topic in Nollywood. She
is not in the news for her separation,
neither is she in for her alleged
peace overtures to her ex-hubby.
She is not making headlines for her
movies either. She is in the news for
allegedly picking fights with fellow
actresses.
First Fathia fought Peju Ashaye.
She accused her of dating Alhaji
Abdulahi Lateef, CEO of Corporate
Pictures, the man she is allegedly
dating. Fathia called Peju on phone
and warned her to stay off her man.
Peju who is seen as a ‘junior’ to Fathia
was shocked that Fathia could descend
so low and threaten her on phone.
In response to her threat, Peju granted
an interview to an online publication
saying Fathia does not have the right
to tell her who to date or not. Said she :
“ Anyway I don’t step down for
anybody. I don’t believe anyone can
threaten me and she has not
confronted me physically.
Though I hear several stories but I am
not convinced she was referring to me.
It is a free world and everyone has the
freedom to do anything at his or her
own particular time. I don ’t owe
anybody an explanation on who I am
dating. If you believe me fine and if
not it is just too bad. I am trying as
much as possible to be professional
and I am a lone ranger. I can be close
to Corporate Pictures boss for any
reason. Moreover the man is not her
husband. He is not Saidi Balogun.
Fathia is not his wife.
So she has no right to attack me over
issues concerning him. She has no right
to harass me. Everyone is doing
business with the man. He is marketing
my movies and nothing else is
between us but I would not be cowed
by anyone based on stories that I am
dating the man. Fathia would not
choose who would market my movies
for me. It is absolutely my prerogative.
Corporate Pictures has been there for a
very long time even before she joined
the industry. It will continue to market
my movies and nothing will take me
away from the company ”.
Not yet done, she moved on to Mosun
Filani who is fast gaining prominence
in the industry. She accused Mosun of
telling tales of how she used to borrow
shoes from Flakky Idiowio, another
actress. Despite the assurance of
another actress that Mosun never did
that, Fathia was said to have quarelled
with Mosun on Muyiwa Ademola ’s set.
Now, she is spoiling for war with Funke
Akindele for an undisclosed offence.
She is said to have gathered fellow
actresses in the war against the Jenifa
producer. A source even told us she
vowed to snatch Femi Adebayo from
Funke when the talk was rife that they
were dating. Now that it is clear they
are dating, Fathia is planning on ways
to instigate younger actresses against
Funke.
SBN called Fathia twice, but her PA
picked the call and promised to get
back to us. He never did.
Fathia is said to be antagonising these
actresses because she sees them as
threats to her career and despises
them because they don’t defer to her
like other actresses that call her Igwe.
MTV endorses Mo'cheddah
Just few weeks after releasing her first video
“ If you want me”, and few months before
dropping her debut album “Franchise
Celebrity”, MTV Networks Africa has
announced Mo’cheddah, the first Nigerian
artist to benefit from MTV base’s new
initiative.
Tagged “Brand New”, the new initiative is
designed to promote promising and
emerging artistes across the African
continent.
Mo'Cheddah
“Nigeria has produced so many exciting
artistes and we are thrilled that a talented
newcomer like Mo ’Cheddah will be the first
Nigerian artiste to benefit from Brand: New,”
Alex Okosi Senior Vice President and
Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa
says.
Born Modupe Oreoluwa Oyeyemi, upon her
emergence in the Nigerian Music scene in
2009, Mo ’cheddah was immediately penciled
down as one of the acts to watch out for,
and even though it looks like things are
going fast for the new comer, there is no
doubt that MTV is of the notion that she has
paid her dues.
“MTV handpicked Mo’Cheddah to debut the
Brand: New initiative after the buzz
surrounding her solo single. Mo ’Cheddah
first came to the attention of MTV base when
she featured on three videos by a
Knighthouse including “Purple”, “The Finest”
and “Capital Drama” an MTV spokesperson
said this week.
The accolade comes after a fantastic year for
the gifted hip hop princess. “If You Want Me”
is getting amazing airplay on Nigerian TV
and radio. In 2009, she came second at the
Hennessy Artistry 2009 concert tour and in
2010 she will be the youngest female artiste
to feature in the upcoming Girl Power Tour.
“ If you want me”, and few months before
dropping her debut album “Franchise
Celebrity”, MTV Networks Africa has
announced Mo’cheddah, the first Nigerian
artist to benefit from MTV base’s new
initiative.
Tagged “Brand New”, the new initiative is
designed to promote promising and
emerging artistes across the African
continent.
Mo'Cheddah
“Nigeria has produced so many exciting
artistes and we are thrilled that a talented
newcomer like Mo ’Cheddah will be the first
Nigerian artiste to benefit from Brand: New,”
Alex Okosi Senior Vice President and
Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa
says.
Born Modupe Oreoluwa Oyeyemi, upon her
emergence in the Nigerian Music scene in
2009, Mo ’cheddah was immediately penciled
down as one of the acts to watch out for,
and even though it looks like things are
going fast for the new comer, there is no
doubt that MTV is of the notion that she has
paid her dues.
“MTV handpicked Mo’Cheddah to debut the
Brand: New initiative after the buzz
surrounding her solo single. Mo ’Cheddah
first came to the attention of MTV base when
she featured on three videos by a
Knighthouse including “Purple”, “The Finest”
and “Capital Drama” an MTV spokesperson
said this week.
The accolade comes after a fantastic year for
the gifted hip hop princess. “If You Want Me”
is getting amazing airplay on Nigerian TV
and radio. In 2009, she came second at the
Hennessy Artistry 2009 concert tour and in
2010 she will be the youngest female artiste
to feature in the upcoming Girl Power Tour.
How star Trek ended in Kwale
It was meant to draw the curtains this year
on Star Trek, Nigeria ’s longest running music
concert tour. Expectations were high, given
the huge celebration recorded at nine
previous towns, and especially as theirs was
meant to hold few weeks back but was
unfortunately postponed.
There were fears whether the show would
hold this time around. But the show held and
as was expected, Kwale turned out to be an
unexpected befitting wrap up for Star Trek
2010.
Signs of what to expect emerged early
Saturday evening when there was a heavy
movement of youths to the centre of town
where the Stadium is located. The town folk
trooped out in their thousands. As usual in
recent Star Trek performances, some
upcoming acts were given opportunity to
shine but the first big act to perform in the
night was Jukebox, Star Quest 2010 winning
band who came in singing their hit tract
“ Omalicha Nwa”.
They did some stunts and a special song for
Da Grin. When the crowd thought it was
over, the group returned with special a
Thank You song. To them, it was their own
way of appreciating all those who voted for
them during the talent hunt programme
which ended early April.
They were closely followed by D’accord,
another Star Quest winning band who came
with their energetic dance style. Bracket also
performed their popular song Yori Yori
asking some spectators to prove their
knowledge of the song.
The high point of their performance was a
dramatic performance of Ada Owerri, where
some ladies were picked up from the crowd
to dance. It was an interesting night and the
second half of the night was even more
entertaining with performances from Faze,
Bracket, Wande Coal and P-Square.
The last weekend of Star Trek 2010 was not
only outstanding but, a befitting ending to
the national music tour which has so far
lived up to expectations as the longest
running music concert tour in Nigeria.
on Star Trek, Nigeria ’s longest running music
concert tour. Expectations were high, given
the huge celebration recorded at nine
previous towns, and especially as theirs was
meant to hold few weeks back but was
unfortunately postponed.
There were fears whether the show would
hold this time around. But the show held and
as was expected, Kwale turned out to be an
unexpected befitting wrap up for Star Trek
2010.
Signs of what to expect emerged early
Saturday evening when there was a heavy
movement of youths to the centre of town
where the Stadium is located. The town folk
trooped out in their thousands. As usual in
recent Star Trek performances, some
upcoming acts were given opportunity to
shine but the first big act to perform in the
night was Jukebox, Star Quest 2010 winning
band who came in singing their hit tract
“ Omalicha Nwa”.
They did some stunts and a special song for
Da Grin. When the crowd thought it was
over, the group returned with special a
Thank You song. To them, it was their own
way of appreciating all those who voted for
them during the talent hunt programme
which ended early April.
They were closely followed by D’accord,
another Star Quest winning band who came
with their energetic dance style. Bracket also
performed their popular song Yori Yori
asking some spectators to prove their
knowledge of the song.
The high point of their performance was a
dramatic performance of Ada Owerri, where
some ladies were picked up from the crowd
to dance. It was an interesting night and the
second half of the night was even more
entertaining with performances from Faze,
Bracket, Wande Coal and P-Square.
The last weekend of Star Trek 2010 was not
only outstanding but, a befitting ending to
the national music tour which has so far
lived up to expectations as the longest
running music concert tour in Nigeria.
Timaya's is not born again
It’s almost mid year and the albums are
beginning to drop, excluding the very
anticipated ones though. Following 2face’s
Unstoppable cue released last month, Timaya
is in an early lead too, showing off his brand
new self and style in a creative environment
that is not K-Solo ’s. It would be safe to
assume that a divine transaction took place
involving Timaya and that ’s why his new
album is titled De Rebirth.
Since lying low after his well publicised
strings of misbehaviour which he capped
with a romance-related Church tantrum
landing him in the police station, Timaya has
soft-pedaled, but not on his trade.
Timaya
His album cover image and title strengthens
the ‘repentance’ assumption but his content
don’t quite testify. Although now less militant
and self asserting, De Rebirth is not exactly
expressed in ‘the Lord is good’ or ‘see what
the Lord has done’ terms. Rather, his lyrics
seem to say, ‘Don’t be deceived by the title
because I’m not turned born again and a
braggart I will always be’.
To prevent the monotonous, however
successful, effect that his last album-
exclusively produced by K-Solo had, the
Bayelsa rebel engaged nine young
production talents including K-Solo to churn
out his new work.
They are Akeem D Beat, Fair Face, Flux, J.Sleek,
Jiggi Jego, K. Solo, M Yice, N.D and Pheeno.
Also, he carries along his Dem Mama Soldiers:
2Solo, Allenian, T.J and Wrecoba; a bunch of
boys he ’s grooming. For professional
synergy, he equally teams up with rapper M.I
and Nigerian pop king, 2Face.
Tracks on the album include his lead single,
Plantain Boy, About that time ft 2Face, Life
Anaga ft M.I, Happy Birthday, Who born You,
and his 4-minute dedication to the Nigerian
media- Press.
beginning to drop, excluding the very
anticipated ones though. Following 2face’s
Unstoppable cue released last month, Timaya
is in an early lead too, showing off his brand
new self and style in a creative environment
that is not K-Solo ’s. It would be safe to
assume that a divine transaction took place
involving Timaya and that ’s why his new
album is titled De Rebirth.
Since lying low after his well publicised
strings of misbehaviour which he capped
with a romance-related Church tantrum
landing him in the police station, Timaya has
soft-pedaled, but not on his trade.
Timaya
His album cover image and title strengthens
the ‘repentance’ assumption but his content
don’t quite testify. Although now less militant
and self asserting, De Rebirth is not exactly
expressed in ‘the Lord is good’ or ‘see what
the Lord has done’ terms. Rather, his lyrics
seem to say, ‘Don’t be deceived by the title
because I’m not turned born again and a
braggart I will always be’.
To prevent the monotonous, however
successful, effect that his last album-
exclusively produced by K-Solo had, the
Bayelsa rebel engaged nine young
production talents including K-Solo to churn
out his new work.
They are Akeem D Beat, Fair Face, Flux, J.Sleek,
Jiggi Jego, K. Solo, M Yice, N.D and Pheeno.
Also, he carries along his Dem Mama Soldiers:
2Solo, Allenian, T.J and Wrecoba; a bunch of
boys he ’s grooming. For professional
synergy, he equally teams up with rapper M.I
and Nigerian pop king, 2Face.
Tracks on the album include his lead single,
Plantain Boy, About that time ft 2Face, Life
Anaga ft M.I, Happy Birthday, Who born You,
and his 4-minute dedication to the Nigerian
media- Press.
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