Basketmouth accuses Jonathan’s govt of stealing

Basketmouth

Popular stand-up comedian, Basketmouth (real name Bright Okpocha), is in the news again. This time, it is because he has taken a swipe at the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Midway into his show, tagged BM Uncensored, which held in Houston, Texas in the United States, a few days ago, the comedian accused the Jonathan administration of doing nothing else other than “stealing” money during its six-year tenure.

A copy of the video posted on Youtube shows Basketmouth, who was dressed in a sleeveless top and dark trousers, speaking his mind about the high level of corruption that prevailed in the country under Jonathan’s watch.

In the video, the comedian said, “The funny thing is that Buhari is now in power and everyone is hating the guy under two months. I am normally into politics, but when I see some s..t I say it. Goodluck was there for six years and all they did was steal money.”

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The statement has since gone viral on social media, with many users openly chiding Basketmouth for opening his mouth ‘a little too loud’ and others rising in his defence.

On the same day, the comedian also threw playful barbs at Davido, who emerged winner of the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards in the Best Male Act category in South Africa last weekend.

Basketmouth had said,“Davido won above Wizkid? It’s quite strange, but it’s allowed… it’s allowed.”

Ever since the video appeared online, the comedian’s actions have been the subject of a debate among critics who are worried that he is becoming quite vocal about issues not related with comedy.

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Fans Attack Mercy Johnson, Nkem Owoh And Funke Akindele For Playing Roles Of School Children

Nollywood actors, Nkem Owoh of Osuofia fame, Funke Akindele of Jenifa and Mercy Johnson have been criticized by fans for playing the role of school children.

Funke and Nkem Owoh are currently on set shooting a yet to be released movie, named 'school children'.



Mercy Johnson is also on set of a movie “Dumebi Goes To School” which is a sequel to the hilarious “Dumebi The Dirty Girl’.



Fans not too pleased with the trend, criticized Nollywood for using adults for children roles.
See what they wrote below:

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I’m not a musician, I’m an entertainer -Dbanj

Dapo Oyebanji (popularly known as D’banj) has taken his music beyond the shores of Africa where he has become a reckoning force within his 10 years in the industry. In this interview with TUNDE AYANDA, the entertainer shares his dream for music and how he wants to celebrate his 10 years as an artiste.

How do you feel headlining the 2013 Hennessey Artistry?
A lot of things have happened in the last two years, and next year, 2014 will be the 10th year of my first official song, Tongolo. I did the song in 2004. So, next, year it’s going to be D’banj’s 10th year on stage. For me to have been a decade in the industry means a lot. I have been watching what Hennessey has been doing with the entertainment industry and I can say I was humbled when they called me. I won’t be the first artiste they have used. They have been doing Hennessey Artistry for the past four years now. They have been doing it every year where they pick two or three artistes together to do a song, shoot a video and then they showcase what they have in a way to reach out to their core fans and customers. When they called me for this year, everybody knows that when it comes to D’banj, I enjoy what I do and put all my heart inside and dive into it. I told them this year would be different; that I would do it more like a lifestyle. I will do it the way it should be done, and I think that’s what we’ve been doing since we started. And when a lot of my fans see me now, they say they now drink Hennessy just because of me. They even said they didn’t know of the Hennessy Artistry before; so this one is more pronounced and I tell them it’s by God’s grace. I feel very honoured. A lot of people love it; maybe they will even use me for next year again. Who knows?

You travelled to France where Hennessey is made. Has that in any way changed your perception of the brand?
Going there, for me – and I say this with all humility on behalf of everybody and myself – a lot of Nigerians and our friends that were here don’t know the difference between cognac and brandy. Hennessey is not a brandy but cognac. My going to France was an experience, as I found out that the Hennessey we drink is made from grape. It feels real in me because nobody would ever believe it’s made from a fruit like grape. I was expecting a mixture of a substance but I was showed the preview of how it’s made and how it has been maintained. I took pictures of some barrels that have the Hennessey content of 1901. It’s a life cell. I pray that God should let me build my brand to that stage like Hennessey. The drink is the name of a man called Richard Hennessey. He was the one who discovered the place and established himself there. Today, he is widely known all over the world, because everywhere in the word they drink Hennessey. I too would also like to do a drink that can be called Bangali drink or something in the future. Hennessey has really opened my eyes and, like the bible says, that ‘a man that’s diligent with what God has blessed him with would sit before king and not men’. It’s not as if they are doing anything extraordinary, but they keep the simple tradition that has been set from the onset, and till date, nothing has changed in the process and only five or six families were allowed to produce Hennessey. I was also allowed to produce my own Hennessey, starting from the grape, to the beam, to the mixing and I did my own drink. I was asked when I would want to start and I said in 10 years time from now. You know I’m 10 years in the industry now and in another 10 years, we can now sit and open it.

You’ve been 10 years in the industry. Did you ever think you would come this far?
Oh yes, my career is just 10 years, but with the success I feel like three to four decades now. We are all doing the best we can do, but I believe with my 10 years as a musician, I have the biggest song in Africa right now and the best song of all time and most viewed videos of all time. I would just say that I’m humbled and we are getting ready for the world.

With Oliver Twist, have you achieved all you want as a musician?
I can never stop doing Oliver Twist; that is why I’m ‘Oliver Twist’. I’m just starting and I can’t be satisfied. It was the only song that ever got to the top ten chart in UK, Europe and other top places. I believe that Fela’s song only played in Europe but officially, we have accomplished a lot with Oliver Twist. So I want to continue with that momentum. I want two or three singles on the top chart and I want a video that would top the chart. I want to release an album that would compete with the albums on the international market and I will not rest until they see all of us as one; so they will not see us as Nigerian artistes or African musicians. I want them to hear a song around the world and identify that the song is from Nigeria, and that the singer is an international artiste. Nobody ever asks Jennifer Lopez where she comes from; everybody knows she is from America. Nobody ever asks Shakira where she comes from; nobody asks Wyclef if he was from Haiti. Until that is done in my own industry, I don’t think I will be satisfied. Like Kanye West always says that people have forgotten about racism; they are now on classism of colours, and I thank God because God is changing everything finally.

Starting from Tongolo to your latest song, Finally, how has it been?
I am very grateful to God. I’m not perfect but I’m happy and I’m satisfied to an extent that I always see myself as a person. Just before I did Tongolo, I had to force myself and everybody around me to believe in me. Don Jazzy never believed in me in the first place; I had to force him to believe in me. It’s not that I’m perfect or different from what I saw in Wande Cole in 2007 in UNILAG. I was about to go to a show, he sang for me and I told Don Jazzy we must sign him. But Don Jazzy asked me why. We signed him and everybody that was signed on Mo’Hits Records was brought in by me. But no one ever brought me into any record label; I started from the bottom. I started from nothing, then I was the only one who would play the mouth organ because we already had a singer here and there. Then we had singers and rappers, and when I had the mouth organ, I played it with passion and today, I’m on top of the world. So, if you ask me in a short time from Tongolo till now how life has treated me, I would say life has treated me very well and I’m on top of the world.

As big as your name is now, will you think of doing a movie story about yourself?
I would start by saying that I have never called myself a musician. I am an entertainer. Likewise some of my friends say if I carry a microphone, I can be a good stand-up comedian. But if you look at my videos, you will notice I spend a lot of money and time on the making of my music video. If you check the song Top of the World, you will see what I mean. It’s not ordinary. Every other video is like a movie, starting from Ogbona-Felifeli and Fall in Love where I had to go far to bring Genevieve in to make it a real movie. So, nobody should come and ask me if D’banj is still going into acting because they should already know that I’m an actor. By the time I’m getting into the movie industry, I believe it is going to be a replica of the same way. Who knows if in my first movie I’ll act like 50 Cent in his movie titled Get Rich or Die Trying, or maybe I’m going to do I’m D’banj in 2014, which is my 10th year on the stage – which I’m sure is not going to be a bad idea, or even with Genevieve.

The Fall in Love video still gets tongues wagging. Who really is Genevieve to you?
She is a friend of mine and she is also a very strong part of one of my most successful songs titled Fall in Love, and there is no way you are going to talk about Genevieve – even if you Google me, you will definitely find Genevieve attached to your search result.

Would you like to have her as your woman, and not just a friend?
Yes, I believe she is great and I don’t know what could happen to us in the future. I met her as a friend and I believe that anybody that has her as a wife, just like the Bible says that anybody that finds a woman has found himself a great treasure in life.

Do you miss your friend, Don Jazzy?
If I say anywhere that I don’t miss him, then I’m lying, because I’ll be 10 years old on stage by next year, and I spent eight and a half of those 10 years with him. I’m just married to him in a way that I miss everything. I miss the family, I miss his movement, I miss his jokes and argument in the studio and I miss him a lot. We can always do music with Don Jazzy. Now the song Top of the World was produced by a Grammy award-winning producer, while the song Finally and Don’t Tell Me Nonsense was produced by my producer, and Oliver Twist was produced by Don Jazzy; so why won’t I want Don Jazzy on my 10th anniversary album?

Tell us about your song Finally
For me, Finally is not just music; it’s like our story. I see us living in a jungle, where we are coming from as in Africa; where we are being ruled, and then now we are the ones that they want to look out for in the entertainment sector – not only in the oil and gas or the other sectors of the economy.

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My Video Gave Me 300% Profit In 3 Months – Orezi

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Orezi is one of the emerging star artistes in the Nigerian music industry. The young artiste has been doing music professionally for four years and his effort is being recognised notable his nomination for the Channel O’ Ragga/Dancehall song of 2012.  Recently, the graduate of Urban and Regional Planning known as the ghen ghen guy released a new video, Rihanna and it has been the toast of music lovers even among his colleagues including being favourite on the twitter social media. In this chat with SAMUEL ABULUDE, amiable Orezi Allen Esioghene speaks about why he did a song on the pop diva Rihanna, his upcoming album and his most embarrassing moment

What have you been up to?

Always working, I’m working on making my music publicly known in Nigeria and across the shores of Nigeria. Basically, I’m just trying to expand my brand. I have a new video, Rihanna which is on airplay right now. I’m also working on my new songs which are coming out pretty soon. Also, my album is in the works. I’ve got two singles coming out,I don’t know yet whether it’s going to be together or separately. One is titled, ‘You’ve Got it’. It’s a word for everybody that is doing well in whatever endeavour. You’re a musician, you’re a fine girl, you’re a banker, you got it. As long as you’re doing well, you’ve got it.

Simply put in our own language, ‘Baba you get am’. My second song is a love song. It’s going to be the best wedding song for the year. I’m still working on the perfect title for it. It’s a love song, the best love song for the year. I hope to perform at Dangote’s daughter’s wedding, Adenuga’s son’s wedding, Fashola, all of them, dem dey owe me money so I’ve got to collect my money (Laughter). The little twist to the song is that for the first time, I’ll be shooting my local languages, Isoko from Delta State. I’m a confirmed Warri boy.

For how long have you been a singer?

I have been in the business since 2009, we’re talking of four years now. My first single, I no fit lie was out in August 2009. It was well accepted and that was the song that bought me to limelight. I was in and out of Nigeria then but came out fully in 2011 after completing my NYSC as a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning from University of Lagos. I normally go to South Africa to holiday and there was a particular time I stayed there for a while and a lot of people thought I grew up or stayed in South Africa though I have a large fan base there. A couple of months ago, I did a tour of Pretoria and Johannesburg.  My music is kind of diverse. I like to always experiment. I put myself to my sounds and whatever sound comes to my head, I plug into it. But basically, I am into different genre of music, it comes from R&B, Dance hall, hip hop but I call it ghen ghen music.

Your song was nominated as the Channel O’ Ragga/Dance Hall of the year 2012?

Yeah, Buddy Bounce was the song, my third official single. I was elated hearing that it was nominated as Ragga/Dance Hall of the year 2012. I felt great. A lot of people don’t notice your work, they don’t probably give you what you deserve. As at the time I dropped Buddy Bounce, I had dropped E Mo Ti video that was doing pretty well in Nigeria. It was topping the chart. I sang Ko Mi Je with Jimmy Jatt, it was doing pretty well and I now had Buddy bounce. I began to see Nigeria Awards then none of the songs was nominated. I didn’t feel good about that. As at that time I felt I was doing pretty well in the Industry. I had three songs and they were good. Ko Mi Je was along with Jimmy Jatt, Sauce Kid, Muna and those were the artistes doing well in Nigeria. I had E Mo Ti, a Dance all song and it was doing well. I hadBuddy Bounce and in nominations and categories in Nigeria, they were not there. I felt embittered and was questioning myself, Watz Up! because there were some that were not doing half of what I was doing. When I say did well, I mean how the public accepted it, from the clubs to radio to TV and all my songs had videos. And they had people in Nigeria that didn’t have videos and they were nominated. I felt bad and didn’t understand Nigeria but as at that time that I was feeling bad, I was nominated for an award that wasn’t Nigerian-based, in South Africa. I felt somebody, somewhere recognised my hard work even though those in Nigeria don’t which was sad and disappointing. In an environment where the people don’t embrace you and you now receive accolades from the outside. It’s awkward but I was in Zaria coming from a show, when I saw it on my phone, “Orezi nominated for Channel ‘O Awards”. I didn’t believe it, I called my manager and we checked it and it was true. I felt relieved. Dis award dey, dere and dem no nominate me and I have been around for a while.

I do good music by all standards. Before Buddy Bounce, I did two videos, I no Fit lie and High B.P. They were shot in South Africa. I was happy at long last though I didn’t win it. An artiste, Buffalo Shoulders from South Africa won it.

What inspired your Rihanna video?

Rihanna was a song I created for about a year. It’s a love song about a girl, a girl I met that looks like Rihanna. I’m a big Rihanna fan. She’s a pretty girl and is doing well, a young girl that has obviously attained a great height in life.

 You don’t mind being weird like Rihanna?

I don’t like to do the same normal things like her, if that can be said to be being weird. So, I’m a big fan of her music. Being called weird has a lot of connotation and depends on which aspect of weird you’re talking about. When somebody does something abstract or something different, you could address it also as being weird. To an extent, my music could be described as something different from the norm. I’m a big fan of Rihanna and I love her music and when I did the song, it was because I met a girl that looks like Rihanna, a love song that describes me liking a beautiful girl and proclaiming my love for her. I wrote the song. I got the chorus, I got the hook and I got the verse. When I wanted to shoot the video, there was a great need to look for a Rihanna look alike. It was challenging getting it right. A lot of girls came with pictures of themselves and a couple of them don’t even have the look, they just wanted to be in the video. I wanted to use this girl in Tinsel, Damilola Adegbite who looks like Rihanna but she was in Banky W’s video. So we now had to look for somebody else. Since we wanted a global look for the video, we decided shooting it in South Africa and sent a word out there to get a Rihanna look alike. Currently my video has gotten over 90,000 views on you tube and it’s barely a month since it was released. Judging by that, it’s my most successful. And two days after I did the video early in September, I got verified on twitter.  So far, I’ve shot two videos in South Africa and one in Nigeria.

Definitely this has made people to reckon with Orezi?

Yeah, Orezi- Rihanna- the song just brought me a little bit out there. The song really has announced me because people that didn’t know me before, they talk about it. People and a lot of artistes find a way to reach me and say they love that song: Banky W, Sound Sultan and others by twitter. So it means the song got to a lot of people. A certain time, Banky W twitted that Orezi’s Rihanna is a jam. I was surprised. I felt good because they make me feel this guy is talented but I’m yet to prove myself. I think my newest work will show them how much of a talent God has blessed me with. It’s always a movement and it’s a never ending story. You don’t prove yourself in one day. There are so many emerging artistes doing well and it only shows that music business is a great business. Nobodi wan run enta biznes wey no go do well (Nobody wants to deal in a business that does not do well in pidgin). For artistes to be coming out every day, it shows that there’s a lot in Nigeria music industry. Music is the only thing that puts food on my table at the moment. Currently, I’m not even using what I studied in the university. Music is just Plan A for me, there is a Plan B. I’m rich enough to fend for myself and take my friends out.

One wonders how young artistes break even after spending so much on a video?

Yes we spend so much on a quality video because we have to compete. I give you an example; on my Buddy Bounce video; I spent about N2 million. Within three months after the video release, I didn’t really make any money, I was waiting but exactly three months after, I made double the money I used to shoot the video. I did a lot of shows last year -2012, between Augusts to December, making over triple the budget. It’s like mathematics, music is a give and take certain business, I’ll say. You put in this amount of money; It’s almost 100% that you are going to make the money back given that you meet all the external factors that deserve that product. When you do your promotions very well, then it’s almost sure that you make your money back. Given the population that we have in Nigeria, there is no business that can’t thrive. Trust me, all you need is about 100,000 that will key into what you are doing. I make my money through online downloads since I don’t have an album yet. The Alaba boys also have it on their mix tapes only that I don’t see the money. If your song is doing well it gets to the Alaba-mix automatically. For us, it’s always a competitive market.

- See more at: http://leadership.ng/news/061013/my-video-gave-me-300-profit-3-months-orezi#sthash.mNslHU6m.dpuf

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‘My wish was to be Michael Jackson’s wife’

 

Oma Iyasara is a fast rising actress who got into limelight in the award-winning movie, ‘Last Flight to Abuja’.  In this interview with JOAN OMIONAWELE, she speaks about her career, relationship and other issues. Excerpts

TELL us about the time you spent in the Royal Arts Academy.
My experience in the Royal Arts Academy was awesome. I learnt a whole lot about movie making and acting, and it was a stepping stone to Nollywood. 

How did you get to feature in Uche Jombo’s movie False?  
I actually got to feature in False through my first movie, which was Damage, featuring Uche Jombo and Kalu Ikeagwu. So, it built a relationship for me with the Uche Jumbo Studio.

What has been your most challenging movie so far?
Desperate House Girls. I had to scream and be angry – which I’m not used to. I also had to act as a village girl (laughs). 

How well would you say you have fared in your acting career? 
In life we learn everyday. I’m still learning and discovering I can do certain things, especially acting. I am proud of how far I have come and I hope to go further, God willing.

What’s your relationship with Emem Isong and Uche Jombo? 
Emem Isong is a lady I truly admire and I look up to her as a mentor. Uche Jombo is like a sister to me. She is always willing to advise me and boost my morale. I have a good and wonderful relationship with both of them, and I won’t trade it for anything.

What is your level of education? 
I studied Mass Communication at the Imo State University and I also have a diploma in Law from the University of Abuja. But I will love to go back to school soon. 

Who was the first person you had a crush on as a pretty young girl? 
(Laughs) I am still a pretty young girl. Well, Michael Jackson. I really wanted to marry him.

How did you discover your acting talent?
I have always loved the camera actually, and ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) went on strike then. Instead of sitting at home doing nothing, I decided to go to an acting school and that was the beginning. I didn’t really have many issues, because I had people guiding me through. And I want to use this medium to say a big ‘thank you’ to all of them. God bless you all for me. 

You’re also the CEO of Tataz Hair. How did that come about?
I have a thing for hair and I always know how to source for good hair. My friends wanted my hair, so I decided to go into buying and selling of weaves, and today, I have Tataz Hair. 

What’s your greatest indulgence?
Hmm. That would be hair and books.

What attracts you to a man? 
A good conversation with good looks; and someone who has respect for women.

What’s your favourite outfit? 
Boyfriend tops, tights and high tops. 

There was this story about your friend snatching your boyfriend and you crying in public. What was that about?
It was a lie; no such thing happened.

You have such a beautiful skin. If you are asked to bare it all for a whopping sum of money in a movie, would you mind?
I can’t go full naked for a movie, no matter what. 
  
As a young and vibrant lady, what are your favourite hangout spots?
I love Karaoke and Sailors. 
           
People say that Oma is wild. Who is the real Oma Iyasara?
What you see is what you get; no dual personality, no alter ego.

Who is the lucky man in your life?
There is no one at the moment. I am currently focusing on building my career.

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Olamide takes D’Banj’s place on stage -Sean Tizzle, Phyno dazzle @ Hennessy Tour

 

Rave of the moment, Olamide, was the center of attraction at the Hennessy Artistry club tours which held early this week at Rhapsody’s Lounge in Victoria Island and Road Runners Nightclub in Yaba, Lagos, simultaneously.

He took the place of the tours headliner, D’Banj.

D’Banj had been stranded in UK, while Olamide was featured as a replacement on popular demand.

Olamide literally brought the roof down with his stunning performance.

He later moved down to Road Runners nightclub to join Phyno on stage same night.

Phyno, who had already started thrilling fans with the song, “Man of the Year”, and had started performing “Ghost Mode” when Olamide climbed the stage to perform the track with him, was caught up by surprise as his friend joined him on stage.

Olamide also performed to most of his current hit songs before he finally left the stage.

Other acts who equally lived up to billing were Sean Tizzle and Kay Switch. Both also delivered energetic performances, to the thrill of their fans.

Divas were not left out of the fun as Seyi Shay, who made her debut appearance on Hennessy Artistry, put fans in high spirit as she performed the tracks “Irawo”, “Loving You”, “Killing Me Softly” and a track from her forthcoming album.

Show Dem Camp (SDC) also gave a pulsating performance blending their  singles, “Farabale”, “Feel Alright” to the delight of fans.

D’banj, who was in London at the time, was scheduled to perform alongside Shay and SDC.

Olamide praised the organiser for a great tour and the fans for their support.

“I am pleased to be part of the tours. It has been a swell night in Lagos”, he later told R.

Meanwhile, this year’s Hennessy Artistry video for the theme song entitled “Raise Your Glasses”, will be released next month.

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I’ll get pregnant when God decides –Stephanie Okereke -Linus

 

Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke Linus (MFR) speaks with TADE MAKINDE in this interview about her marriage and career. Excerpts:

How has life been as a wife?
Beautiful.  Life has been beautiful, good and fun

Fun how?
Fun because you are happy with someone you really love and looking forward to share the rest of your life with. It makes it interesting because it’s a long journey. 

You took your time before you eventually got married. There must have been some pressures while single from many. How did you handle it?
In the Nigerian context, there can be pressures maybe when you get to a certain age or stage, you know what is knocking on your door. I was talking to someone recently and she was like no one is coming, but it is not a race. When you understand marriage is not a race and that when your time comes, it is your time. Some people can marry early and live 10 years of misery and pain and then you just get married in one year and you are having so much bliss in your life and that person that had married for a long time is even wishing that she could just have this moment with this man that I am staying with. One of the biggest trap that the enemy has is to pressurise you and put you in a corner so you can make a wrong decision, especially in marriage. That is the biggest thing and when you make that wrong decision, then you are in for it. It is so good that you take your time and ask God for the actual direction. You know He gives you the endurance, patience and everything to stay in that marriage. 

In your case did you experience that kind of pressure?
Not really.  I could have been married a long time if I wanted, but I had a vision for what I want for my life. Even for man. It is good for man to mentally decide that he wants to get married. It is also good for us, women, to be mentally committed when we are ready for it. I am going into this not because of the way the society has formed it to be, that one is ripe for marriage within the age of 23-27, but it is good for one to mentally decide that she wants to be in a marriage so that it won’t be a burden when you enter into it. You are entering with your eyes wide open and whatever comes out of it you must have made up your mind and be prepared that this is what you want.

When you met your husband, how did you know he was Mr. Right?
 (Laugh…) I think it started when I came back. My head was all over the place and I wasn’t in the mood for any kind of relationship. It eventually got to a point that I told God I was ready. It was like a journey for me at one time and I did not want to be in that space. I told God that I wanted to be in a serious relationship now. It was like a conversation between God and I. He said okay, are you ready, and I replied Him in the affirmative. It’s funny. It wasn’t like I was looking for a husband but I was ready to be in a serious relationship and have a courtship. That was why I said you have to be in a mental state because it is not good for you to end up dating the wrong person. I met him. Initially we didn’t have the mindset to date. It started with a business arrangement.  He said he had an idea that could help my career. Of course he got my attention and we started seeing. I think it was the third, fourth meeting we started adjusting.  He asked me out on my birthday and we dated for a year

When did you make up your mind to accept him?
It was in the course of the journey that I started realising he was all I wanted in a man and I knew in my spirit. You just know these things and it just happened. He must have known earlier that I dug him, but he was just waiting for a special moment to make it happen where I will always remember. Maybe that was why he decided to tell me on my birthday.

Do you think women should get worked up on the issue of marriage?
It is not at all costs. People have different reasons for getting married, but at the long run you need to really check what the major reason of getting married is.

Why did you take your wedding abroad?
Imagine my wedding taking place in Nigeria? It would be a carnival and I didn’t want a carnival for my wedding. He didn’t want that too. We are very alike and we wanted something really special. It was not that we couldn’t do it here, but we had travelled wide a lot during the course of our relationship and we really wanted something special for ourselves and our families. We weren’t thinking about the people, it was about us trying to make that moment special. It wasn’t what we decided, we also asked God. It was not like we chose where to get married. It was something spiritual for us to do and God also confirmed to us that we should go there and get married.

How did you receive the confirmation?
During the wedding arrangement in Nigeria, we were thinking on where to do it, either in Nigeria or elsewhere. So we were thinking of Paris, but we wanted to be sure and we needed a confirmation on where to go. It was like you wanted something and you also needed a confirmation because it is going to take a lot. All the people that went came back safely. My husband and I met with the chairman of an airline. He donated a plane to move all our guests. What better confirmation do you need than that? 

Your wedding took place abroad. Are you guys also planning to raise your kids in Nigeria or abroad?
The world is becoming global; it’s going to be both Nigeria and abroad.

Have you guys decided on the numbers of kids to have?
Am I supposed to tell you that?

Just asking...
Okay.  As many as possible.

When will you start because I expect you to have been pregnant by now?
Are you God that is going to decide on that? This kind of thing, you don’t decide it yourself.

Since you got married, you have not featured in movies?
I have appeared in lots of them. It depends on how many you have watched yourself. I am working on the ones I produced myself.  Its entitled ‘Dry’.  It has to do with the challenges women go through during child birth. That will be my first project since I’ve been married. The first phase was shot in Nigeria while I am taking the second phase abroad.

Why abroad?
It was because of how the story was written. 

The selected locations in Nigeria...
Ogoja in Cross River State and Abakaliki. Also in Abuja and a little in Sokoto.

How long have you been working on it?
Since I was in the university.  I started it when I was in my second year.

That would be when?
 About 12,15 years ago. It’s been a burden to me that I needed to do this project. Every time I tried to turn away from it, I found myself coming back to it, so I needed to get it over with.

The federal government’s support for the entertainment industry started with a N200 million largesse, but there had been lots of complaints on it. Suddenly, another N3 billion has come. Do you think it’s okay to be doling out money like that or to address infrastructural problems?
The money is good. I commend this government because it is the first to show interest in the Nigerian entertainment industry. It is actually the first government to give money to the industry. It is good because we need it, but what we need most is not even infrastructure, it is the policies that will help the structures stand.

The issue of copyright and other policies surrounding piracy and distributions are there to be addressed. If we get this, the industry will drive itself because we have been driving ourselves with this massive piracy. We need to put data in place. You know it’s like an open market and there is no control. It has got to the stage where your works are being pirated to your face and there is nothing you can do about it. There are no laws there to protect our works. Those who want to invest are not coming because they are not sure of getting returns on their stake. Though the copyright commission has been making some arrests, it should be on a larger scale. We should set out laws that will put an end to all these. 
  
Before acting, what career did you pursue?
Taqwando and high jump, but I stopped because the bar always hit my legs. I did that when I was in school. 

The tenure of Ibinabo Fiberesima will end sometime. Would you consider leading your own generation?
(Laughs…) She is doing a good job. She can rerun.

You don’t like to lead people?
 I do lead people every day. It’s not like I can’t lead people in the open or public, that I am not scared of, but it depends. Even as it may, leading AGM is not on my radar for now. I have different things and projects that I am working on right now. Don’t forget we are supporting Ibinabo to come out with good things.

How do you manage to look cute?
At a point after my marriage, I discovered that I had added weight, but I had to shake it up. I engaged in some exercises, watched what I ate and also cut down on so many things. I also cook. I like cooking. 

Do you consider having a food outlet?
I don’t know about that.  I just love cooking because I love to try new things and my cooking is fun. It is like inventing things. You come out with your recipe and people’s recipe and adjust to the things that work for you. 

What project are you working on?
We are trying to bring maternal issues to fore. We had have cases of lots of women in Nigeria that died during child birth. It is even higher than people who die of HIV or on our roads every day. Unlike women when pregnant, it is a 50/50 chance. Being someone who has been advocating that our health care system needs to be better because when you fall sick in Nigeria, it is always between you and God. I have been there when I broke my leg and it was just the mercy of God because there are certain things that happened that can just make you go crazy in the hospital. It is to encourage people. There are certain things I am passionate about though, it’s just that I am taking it one step at a time.

What’s the budget for the movie?
Don’t worry about that. I am not giving you the budget for now until when I finish the job. It has a lot of cost. My next plan is to complete the shooting abroad and I am working towards its premiere at the end of this year and I am going to do the premiere almost everywhere. I am working on a new strategy for everything, including the distribution.

Are you not scared that this work might be pirated?
Everybody is pretty having a nightmare, but that has not stopped us from bringing out contents; that is why we are pressurising that certain policies are being declared before the end of the year to help protect our works and that is what we are advocating for those policies to happen. But the producers have been working out plans. The government needs to come in with these policies and with enough machinery and enforcement to make these things to happen. 

What was your growing up like?
My parents were a little bit flexible. It was not that they were not comfortable with my being an actress. Because I have always been bigger than my age, my father always said I was growing like a tolo tolo (Turkey). He said I should ensure my brain grew with me. To them, you just had to know the reason you wanted to do anything. Like me, coming into this industry, I keep asking myself and asking God every day the purpose I am in this industry because life is all about growth. Over time, people will say you have impacted, but it has to be more than that. You have to also find a way of reaching to the people and affect their lives.  We are eight in number. I am the sixth and the third girl. I am not the only one in the showbiz. I don’t know what happened to my elder brother, he was supposed to be a big time producer in Nollywood, but it seems he is more interested in show promotions and other things. Also, my younger sister, who is an up-and-coming gospel singer, also has another sister who is also into presenting and online stuff. We are all virtually more or less into showbiz.

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Those who killed Awoonor are cowards – Soyinka

Professor Wole Soyinka
 

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Friday condemned last Saturday’s terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.

The attack led to the death of prominent Ghanaian writer and diplomat, Prof. Kofi Awoonor.

In a meeting with journalists at the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos, Soyinka described those who led the assault on the mall, killing the writer and scores of other victims, as “human aberrations”.

He said they are carriers of a lethal virus that corrupts the human soul and spirit.

“As for their claims to faith, they invoke divine authority solely as a hypocritical cover for innate psychopathic tendencies. Their deeds and utterances profane the very name of God,” he said.

Soyinka said that he was supposed to be in Nairobi for the same festival that Awoonor had gone to attend. He noted that not since the Apartheid era, Africa had been plunged into a crisis of the same magnitude as foisted by Islamic insurgents.

He added that recent events across the continent had shown that history re-asserts itself.

“A murdering minority pronounce themselves a superior class of beings to all others, assume powers to decide the mode of existence of others, of association, decide who shall live and who shall die, who shall shake hands with whom, even as daily colleagues, who shall dictate and who shall submit,” he said.

Soyinka called on the United Nations to compel its member countries to act against those whose actions negated its founding principles.

He said that the true divide was not between believers and unbelievers, but between those who violated the rights of others to believe, or not believe.

He described late Awoonor as a passionate African, who gave primacy of place to values derived from his Ewe heritage.

“We mourn our colleague and brother, but first we denounce his killers, the virulent sub-species of humanity who bathe their hands in innocent blood. Only cowards turn deadly weapons against the unarmed, only the depraved glorify in, or justify the act. True warriors do not wage wars against the innocent.

“We call on those who claim to exercise the authority of a fatwa to pronounce that very doom, with all its moral weight, upon those who engage in this serial violation of the right to life; life as a god-given possession that only the blasphemous dare contradict, and the godless wantonly curtail,” he said.

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Wande Coal for Gulder Ultimate Search party

Singer Wande Coal has been billed to perform at the final selection party for Gulder Ultimate Search 10. He is expected thrill the audience to hit songs from his last and forthcoming albums, such as Been long you saw me, The Kick and Rotate.

Meanwhile, the Gulder brand team at Nigerian Breweries Plc. is doing its best to ensure that GUS 10 lingers in the memories of viewers and fans for a long time to come. The registration and regional selection exercises a few weeks ago, thus paving the way for the next stage, which is the final selection party.

The final selection party for this year’s Gulder Ultimate Search will  hold at the Oriental Hotel, on Friday, September 20.

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PHOTO: Check Out Actress, Kate Henshaw's N170,000 Shoe She Wore To Her Book Launch

Nollywood star actress, Kate Henshaw rocked a N170,000 Charlotte Olympia shoe to her book launch which held on Tuesday 17th September 2013 in Lagos.



According to her rep, the autobiography will introduce readers to Kate’s world, from her childhood to the present day.

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Nollywood Actress Gets Beaten By Movie Director’s Wife For Having Sex With Her Hubby

It has been reported that a well-known Nollywood actress was given the beating of her life by the wife of a top Nollywood director for allegedly having an affair with her husband.
According to Nigeriafilms.com:

There is no doubt that Asaba, the Delta State capital has become a home for movie productions in Nigeria. It still baffles many why producers have decided to pitch their tent in Asaba.

Investigations by Gists from Edo/Delta have revealed that production is cheaper in Asaba and that is why producers are thronging there to make their movies, but the height of immoralities being practised in Asaba is really giving the people there cause.

The latest is that a top Nollywood Director’s wife fought an A-List actress on a movie set in the capital town for sharing her hubby with her.

The director is Lagos based but was contracted to do the movie in Asaba. He is a top shot in Nollywood and hails from one of the South-Eastern states. Gists from Edo/Delta learnt that this notable film director, was having a fling with the actress who was playing the lead role in the movie.

This actress is fair complexioned also from South East. Sources said the duo were staying in the same hotel in the heart of Asaba.

It was gathered that the director had been dating the actress for a while now and his wife was suspicious of it. It was learnt that one of the crew members, who is a close friend of the director’s wife leaked the romance between the actress and the director to the director’s wife.

Luck ran out on the actress as she was caught red handed on the bed of the director by his wife. The director’s wife was said to have dragged the actress out of the room after beating her to a pulp and tore her clothes with her upper region jumping out.

This keeps one guessing doesn't it? Who do you think the actress and director are?

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CELEBRITY FASHION OF ENTERTAINERS: What's Wrong With These Outfits? (PHOTOS) AND WHAT IS YOUR TAKES

Every lady loves to look good that when walks into a room or steps out for an event, she becomes the center of attraction.

Well maybe not every lady but at least most.

When it comes to fashion these days, sexy is the new cool but when you take it to the extreme, you just take away the sexiness and you are left with...oh well.

The craze for fashion these days is now something else that sometimes when you see some outfit worn by some people you ask yourself  a question "like seriously did she just wear that?".

Anyways we've compiled a list of some of our favorite Nigerian celebs that probably revealed too much or something was just 'OFF' in their outfit.

1) Tonto Dikeh: Oh-oh... The actress definitely did not expect she would fall off but it that happened anyway and there's no denying she revealed enough boobs for our viewing pleasures. Well that's what you get for wearing a very revealing cleavage dress.



2) Genevieve Nnaji: Yes the dress no doubt looks lovely on this beautiful/talented actress but hmm...the upper part showed way too much cleavage. While some of her fans think there was nothing wrong, others felt she shouldn't have shown too much.



3) Ini Edo: She came under heavy criticism for wearing this opened dress that showed off part of her tummy as well as her chest, the dress did her no justice as it just separated her boobs in a not too sexy kind of way.



4) Yvonne Jegede: The actress looks like she saying I got it, so let me flaunt it. Well that's what the picture looks like. While we are not against her flaunting what you has but sometimes less does it better.



5) Toke Makinwa: No doubt the dress fits this Petite On-Air-Personality but she showed us way too much, with her showing off her side boobs and nipples. This is way too much distraction for the guys of course. Don't you think?

6) Anita Joseph: When it comes to showing off one's assets, this actress is one person that doesn't fail to do so but it looks like she's not giving her body breathing space, that jacket says it.



7) Toni Tones: Like seriously... you leave you house to go for an event all dressed up like this. Not everyone is really interested in seeing your belly button... Its a No No!!



8) Emmy Nyra: Is one singer that has not denied the fact that she loves wearing sexy clothes. Yes, it's ok to look sexy but hey she showed more than just her laps. We don't want to know what goes down there.


9) Rukky Sanda: Okay so this actress wore this cleavage revealing dress that literally showed her nipple. What happened to showing less and still looking good?


10) Opeyemi Awoyemi: This model wore this transparent dress with a small piece of cloth covering only her boobs and the down part of her body. Well maybe she was trying to show off her flat tummy. One can only wonder what she was thinking.



So there you have it, what is your take on these celebrities, OR do you think should be fined by Fashion Police?

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