SHOWBIZ BITS with AZUH AMATUS

Mass murder on Xmas morning

2012-01-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

None of the over 50 (mostly worshippers) that lost their dear lives in the Christmas Day bombing by outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, saw their untimely and painful deaths coming.
Not even the many families that were trapped inside their cars and burnt beyond recognitions.
They had gone to Church, like most Christians around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, only to be killed by some cowards masquerading under the guise of religion to perpetrate evil and unleash terror on the land.
What on earth would make a right thinking man or group dare going to a sacred place like the Church to commit mass murder? Pure insanity!
Killing defenseless people, including children inside a Church, on a day the entire world is celebrating and showing love to one another, in the name of religion is the worst sin against God and humanity. Families and loved ones that joyfully went to Church on Christmas Day to pray, celebrate and thank the good Lord, for a wonderful year were turned into human barbeque after being roasted alive by the raging inferno ignited by the explosion.
They will never see their loved ones again; neither will they ever witness any Xmas on earth again.
They went to Church to thank God for a wonderful Xmas not knowing that death was lurking behind through the infamous sect that is currently threatening the peaceful co-existence of this entity called Nigeria.
God, please where are you? Father, rescue your vulnerable children before this madness devours our once peaceful nation? Please show us your face of love and mercy since our leaders can no longer protect us.
They are busy enjoying life to the hilt in their Abuja fortresses, while our nation burns and innocent souls are being killed and slaughtered like Sallah rams.
In the words of the great Cicero: “The welfare of the people is the highest law.” But for our greedy, edacious and rapacious leaders, reverse is the case. They cater for themselves alone. What a big shame!
With the incessant bombings by Boko Haram, our nation with its visionless and mission less leaders is fast plunging into a failed state.
Sincerely speaking, if we truly have leaders with guts and biceps (apologies to Prof. Tam David West), we would not be experiencing incessant bombings. In fact, with the spate of bombings and insecurity going on in Nigeria, war-torn nations like: Somalia, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Afghanistan and the rest of them are far better than us in terms of internal security arrangements.
Now, the US said they will help us fight Boko Haram, while waiting for Washington, can’t the government on its own do something about the lack of security in the country. We are tired of rhetoric and empty promises from Jonathan and his Service Chiefs. Will their usual cliché of: “we will fish out the perpetrators”, bring back the lives of the innocent citizens that were killed in the explosion? The explosion wiped out several families and loved ones. Will the boring and belated speeches of Mr. President and his confused Service Chiefs bring back the deaths? Do they know the agonies and pains those left behind by the victims of the evil blast are going through at the moment? No amount of words or material gifts can bring back the dead or assuage their families and feelings. Imagine an entire family being roasted alive inside their car on Christmas Day in a raging inferno that defied human solutions all because of poor security measures from those who are supposed to protect our lives and property at all times. With the current spate of bombings, it’s now obvious that the Service Chiefs are clueless and completely bereft of ideas. They should either shape in or shape out, because if this were to be a civilized clime, by now, all of them would have tendered their letters of resignation and covered their defeated faces in shame for failing the nation woefully. That can never happen in Nigeria; most public servants do not have shame and operate with impunity ably aided with tax payers’ money.
Sadly, security, which had been enjoying robust votes in previous budgets, also got the highest amount in the current budget presentation, yet that same security is now at its lowest ebb in our polity.
Jonathan and his team should be reminded that they cannot build their reputations on what they are going to do about our security challenge in the future. This is the time to act; they should hit the ground now and start running, because Boko Haram will definitely want to strike again, especially as we approach the New Year. The time is now Mr. President, Nigerians are tired of your crawling style of governance.
A government that cannot provide jobs should at least provide adequate security for its citizenry. Failure to do this means you are openly inviting anarchy, which is conspicuously looming in our polity today.
It’s quite sad that even the government is also playing politics with the issue of Boko Haram. But for how long will they continue to toe this inglorious path at the expense of ordinary and hapless Nigerians, whom Mr. President swore to protect with the constitution at his colourless inauguration? Visibly angry and despondent Nigerians need an urgent answer before the entire nation is consumed by the carnage and cowardly act of Boko Haram and their financiers.
As I end this article with tears in my eyes for the heroic Nigerians who lost their precious and priceless lives in the Boko Haram orchestrated Christmas Day bombing in Madalla, Niger State, I leave you with words of wisdom from the Holy Book: “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety.” (Proverbs 11: 14.).
Adieu the victims of Madallah bomb blast, may your souls find eternal rest and peace in the bosom of our Lord. Amen!

X-Project ready with new album

2012-01-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

Repackaged hip-hop group X-Project is set to drop their fifth studio album this New Year.
The duo now made of up Slez and Saal recently completed work on the loaded album produced by OJB Jezreel alongside other top-notch producers.
Already, one of the promo tracks in the forthcoming album from the stable of Sam Kargbo Productions (SKP) is entitled: Black Diamond.
Commenting on the forthcoming album, Saal, said Nigerians, especially their fans should expect the best from them with this new studio effort.
“Nigerians should expect the best from X Project, because this is just the best from us as a repackaged group. With the coming of this album they should expect something bigger than what they are used to in the past. They should expect a big surprise because this work is a surprise package for them and even us. Already, we have over 21 songs, which we would choose from when releasing the full album in the next couple of weeks.”
Slez, on his own part, insisted the absence of their former leader, Majeed, would not affect the lorile crooners. “His leaving has further strengthened and made us stronger. We are also working on most of the music videos for this album. We’ll shoot the videos within and outside Nigeria in collaboration with our label’s foreign partners”, he disclosed.

Star actress, Monalisa Chinda lands N30m endorsement deal

2012-01-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

Multi million Naira endorsement deals are currently flying left, right and centre in Nollywood with most of the stars involved smiling heavily to the banks with mouth watering offers.
Star actress and Glo ambassador, Monalisa Chinda recently landed a juicy endorsement deal as the face of Vita500, a new energy drink that recently stormed Nigeria and all the West African countries.
ACTION! exclusively gathered that sexy Chinda was paid a whopping N30 million, for her pretty and popular face to be associated with the wave making drink currently being marketed and distributed in the whole of West Africa by Mescon.
Chinda, who’s also the face of the ongoing Rivers State cultural fiesta, tagged CarniRiv 2011, happily confirmed the deal, but blatantly refused to disclose the amount involved.
“Yes, I’m the new face of Vita500 energy drink; we recently concluded all contractual agreements with both parties being very happy with the deal. I’m not denying the fact that I was handsomely paid, but the amount is what I cannot disclose, it’s personal. My job for them as an ambassador is to basically use my face and goodwill to help promote the brand in Nigeria and other West African countries. This involves a lot of traveling and strategic public appearances”, she disclosed.
The top actress who recently returned from Atlanta Georgia, US, where she shot a new film and equally participated in the annual new media Nollywood programme, which was hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology, said the outing was a huge eye opener for her and all those that attended.
“Now that I’m back, the next thing on my agenda is to conclude work on my soap, Catwalq, which I intend releasing early 2012. It is a soap that will change the face of programming on TV when it finally hits the airwaves. I have a lot to do and unveil in 2012 and my fans should be ready to see more of me, because I will be thrilling them nonstop.”
Meanwhile, the duo of Stephanie Okereke and Funke Akindele, both Nollywood stars also grabbed huge endorsement deals this year. The former inked a multi million contract with leading phones/electronics company as the face of their latest range of LG phones. She was also paid millions to be the brand ambassador for Kanekalon range of hair products by a Japanese conglomerate. While the latter, already a Glo ambassador, added detergent giant, Klin, on her list of clients, in a deal that further increased the millions in her bank accounts.

Pressure mounts on Pawpaw to marry

2012-01-17T09:26:00.000-08:00

Insiders, especially close friends of famous movie star and entertainer Osita Iheme globally known as Pawpaw are alleging and insinuating that there are pressures on him to marry soon.
This they concluded became pertinent following the recent star-studded and highly celebrated nuptial of his colleague and best friend, Chinedu Ikedieze famously known as Aki.
In fact, those very close to the Nollywood dynamites disclosed that the pressure on the Mbaitoli, Imo State-born star became much after he finished playing the role of Best Man to his soul mate on December 9 and 10 respectively, at his talk of the town wedding in Lagos to Nneoma Hope Nwaijah.
However, in a brief phone chat with ACTION!, Pawpaw, who once shared a flat with Aki, debunked the rumour, describing it as “false and laughable.”
“My brother, if I tell you I have not heard the false and laughable rumour that there is heavy pressure on me to marry, then I’m lying. There is no iota of truth in that rumour or report. There is no pressure on me to settle down from any quarter, not even my parents or loved ones. At the appropriate time, I will marry like my brother and friend, Aki did. But what I don’t like and will not accept is the rumour circulating that I’m under pressure to find a wife and settle down with in the next couple of months. It’s pure lies and fabrication from some unserious and jobless people.”
On whether there is a woman in his life already, the thespian that was recently decorated with the national honour of MFR, hesitantly said yes.
“I’m a human being and have special friends around me. And since you insist on knowing, yes, there is somebody in my life right now. But what I cannot tell you is the exact date we’ll be getting married. It could be next year or the year after. What is most important is that we both are happy being together. I won’t say more than this till the time comes.”
Meanwhile, during an interview with EE a couple of months ago, while on a courtesy visit to our Isolo, Lagos, corporate head office, we asked if he could marry an actress. Pawpaw who’s still pained by the early demise of his father, responded thus:
“Of course, I can marry an actress. I’m already thinking of marriage and it will happen very soon. I don’t know the person yet. I can only say that there are a couple of them in the picture whom I am considering. But as a young man I have somebody whom I confide in. It is not about the size or shape, but I believe that when I find that person I will know her. Yes, I’m still searching. In fact, I’m 100 percent still searching. The gist that somebody broke my heart sometime ago is untrue. Love has been kind to me,” he told a team of EE editors.
Interestingly, Aki and Pawpaw who lived, travelled and worked together for several years like doing things together as a team. But that bond was nearly broken last year when the late President, Umaru Yaradua honoured only the former with the national honour of MFR, with the latter being left behind. Due to public outcry, President Goodluck Jonathan looked the way of Pawpaw this year and also rewarded him with an MFR, at the recently held national honours decorations in Abuja.
Above all, now that Aki is married and looking forward to siring children with his wife, all eyes are now on Pawpaw, his acting twin-brother to toe same path of honour by settling down soon. But the big questions are: who is the lucky woman and when will they both walk down the aisle? Time will definitely tell.

2011 classy movie premieres

2012-01-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

No doubt, the out going year witnessed some classy and scintillating premieres from some of the top actresses/producers in Nollywood.
Sexy and stunning top actress cum producer Monalisa Chinda opened the floodgate of A-List premieres with her breezy and interesting movie, Kiss and Tell. The well attended event held amid glamour and razzmatazz, early in the year at the posh Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos. She recently returned from a US showing with the electrifying movie starring her, Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Joseph Benjamin and Nse Ikpe-Etim.
Effervescent actress and filmmaker Uche Jombo also followed suit with another classy and wondrous premiere in the third quarter of the year at the same upscale venue. Jombo premiered the first part of her gripping and captivating trilogy story, Damage, to a global audience amid ovations. With the huge success recorded, the amiable actress later embarked on a world tour with the movie in Europe and the US. Kalu Ikeagwu, Basorge Tariah, Tonto Dike and a host of others teamed up with Jombo to make the flick a must watch for movie buffs.
Funke Akindele’s The Return of Jenifa also premiered amid accolades this year at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos. Both serving and retired top government officials graced the world premiere, which is still being talked about.
Prior to Akindele’s premiere, mulatto actress and boss of Roll Tape Productions, Lilian Bach premiered her comedy movie-Eletan, at Silverbird. The event, which was hugely supported by corporate bodies in terms of substance and quality attendance, did not measure up to the above three. However, it was not a bad outing for the actress turned producer. Two Brides and A Baby and a few other movies also premiered this year.

Patience Edeh, Enugu-based actress dies few days to Xmas Death prone Nollywood recorded another painful exit in the last days of 2011. Patience Edeh,

2012-01-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

Death prone Nollywood recorded another painful exit in the last days of 2011.
Patience Edeh, an Enugu-based actress, we were told died in a ghastly motor accident on December 22, along Umuahia Expressway when a trailer rammed into their vehicle and instantly crushed her and other passengers to death.
The mother of one, from Umuahia, Abia State, married an Enugu State man, was 29 and also an undergraduate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), prior to her demise.
Confirming the ugly news, top Nollywood director, Theodore Anyanji, who worked closely with the deceased while alive, said she was traveling home to celebrate the Xmas with her family members in Umuahia, when the accident occurred.
“Patience and I worked very closely; in fact, she spoke with me few days before her death. We worked together on some of my movies, including Iran and Iraq. She will be greatly missed my all those that she worked with in Nollywood, especially me,” Anyanji lamented in a quaky voice.
The late Patience, whose fledging career was launched in Keziah, where she dazzled alongside Mercy Johnson, also thrilled movie buffs and her fans in other movies such as: Indian Doctor and Clash of Religion.

Death prone Nollywood recorded another painful exit in the last days of 2011.
Patience Edeh, an Enugu-based actress, we were told died in a ghastly motor accident on December 22, along Umuahia Expressway when a trailer rammed into their vehicle and instantly crushed her and other passengers to death.
The mother of one, from Umuahia, Abia State, married an Enugu State man, was 29 and also an undergraduate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), prior to her demise.
Confirming the ugly news, top Nollywood director, Theodore Anyanji, who worked closely with the deceased while alive, said she was traveling home to celebrate the Xmas with her family members in Umuahia, when the accident occurred.
“Patience and I worked very closely; in fact, she spoke with me few days before her death. We worked together on some of my movies, including Iran and Iraq. She will be greatly missed my all those that she worked with in Nollywood, especially me,” Anyanji lamented in a quaky voice.
The late Patience, whose fledging career was launched in Keziah, where she dazzled alongside Mercy Johnson, also thrilled movie buffs and her fans in other movies such as: Indian Doctor and Clash of Religion.

South-South Governor’s wife bars actress from Government House

2012-01-17T09:09:00.001-08:00

For daring to flaunt her alleged intimacy with one of the generous South-South Governors in public, a very controversial actress from that same region was publicly disgraced and barred from the State’s Government House, by the enraged First Lady.
The very embarrassing incident happened recently during a state function that held elaborately inside the banquet hall.
According to those who witnessed the ugly show of shame that is still being discussed openly in Nollywood, the actress would have been thrown out of the venue if not for urgent intervention from some top dignitaries present at the occasion.
We reliably gathered that the pretty, married and very controversial entertainer was invited by the State’s government alongside some of her colleagues. Upon arrival, she vehemently refused to sit at the place designated for them with her colleagues and kept perambulating the entire hall in her skimpy attire, for the Governor to notice her. And unknown to this actress who recently premiered her recent movie in this same state, the First Lady had been inundated with stories of her alleged secret romance with her husband, the Governor.
When the First Lady who had all these while been watching the actress walking aimlessly round the hall and distracting the attention of all the men, including her husband, could no longer take the insult, she decided to confront her.
She sent for her through one of her orderlies and publicly shouted at her to leave the vicinity and made it clear to her that she does not want to see her around the Government House again.
Immediately, our star actress, who was helpless and full of embarrassment hurriedly carried her bag and ran as fast as her legs could take.
We later learnt that the ban had been temporarily lifted after the disgraced actress apologized and swore that she didn’t have anything to do with the philanthropic and multiple awards winning Governor.

JKL launches Imperial Light in Malaysia

2012-01-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Nigerian-born international dancehall/ragga artiste Justin Kingland, famously known as JKL, recently launched his new music CD, ‘Imperial Light’ at the Ampang Water Front, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kingland, also the head honcho of 4Real Records and Entertainment did the very successful launching in collaboration with Ofu-Obi Nwanneamaka international club and Entertainment SDN/BHD.
Speaking at the well-attended gathering, Kingland disclosed that the launch of his CD was made possible by God and support from companies like: “Majestic Touch Concepts, Oceanic Acquisition and Hencobest. It was a joint initiative taken by all of us to launch a music CD for those who love music. I am very thankful to all of them and I also owe them a lot,” he gushed.

Kingland was also full of praises to God for giving him the inspiration to compose the songs in the CD, which he described as songs of Jah.
“I thank the King of Kings for the natural inspiration and the free gift of life that he gave me, thanks to my fans and friends, to people around me both those who love me and those who hate, because I gather lots of inspiration from them too. I am confident that even though it is my first solo album, the music will be loved by people of all ages and groups. I feel very much honoured and won’t let them down musically.”

Speaking further, the Anambra State-born crooner said: “When I was recording, I remembered my DREAM. I am very happy that I am playing a part in entertaining people and it makes me very proud to be associated with this project. The music is simply amazing because it was composed under the guidance of a natural inspiration. I don`t just write songs, I compose first then voice it as audio demo before I write them out and that is how I get all my songs, it’s reality. 4real”
The highpoint of the event was when JKL mounted the stage to perform a couple of tracks from
the Imperial Light album, which would be out in stores
soon.
“We are already working out modalities for some of the international videos with our foreign partners and artistes. But the video of Google Me is ready and creating waves on line, it will soon hit TV/cable stations soon. This is likely going to be my last Malaysian album”, disclosed the act who is about to sign a two year deal with an International label.
Meanwhile, JKL and his crew will soon be in Nigeria to officially launch the Imperial Light album as well as his foundation, before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Asu Ekiye wins gospel awards, launches 2 SUVs

2011-12-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Niger-Delta-born gospel star, Asu Ekiye is seriously living his dreams in the nation’s entertainment industry.
Few weeks after returning from a very successful tour of the US, UK and some parts of Europe, he is in the news again.
Ekiye’s new album, Eniye, was adjudged the best cultural song at the recently held Kingdom Gospel Awards in Lagos. The accountant-turned entertainer also smiled home with another plaque for the best cultural gospel artiste, at the well-attended ceremony.
Amazingly, the promo video of the award-winning Eniye, which full album is expected to hit shelves nationwide in the next couple of weeks on the stable of Ossy Affason Industries, is currently ruling the airwaves.
And to celebrate the double honour, well-traveled Ekiye, from Bayelsa State, quietly launched two brand new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV); for himself and darling wife. While Ekiye pampered himself with the latest edition of Avenza Cross Over, he specially chose a Hyundai Santafe for the mother of his children.
Speaking on the awards and cars, the amiable entertainer, who would soon embark on his annual Xmas tour, described it all as, “the goodness of God in my life.”
“It’s been a very wonderful and fulfilling year for me and my family. After the successful tours and recent awards, I decided to spoil myself and entire family with these two brand new cars. For me, it’s basically the prize for hard work, dedication and being focused.”

When Matse goofed on air

2011-12-05T06:37:00.001-08:00

Matse Uwatse, the ex on-air personality with Wazobia FM, now with Nigeria Info FM, a sister company of the former recently goofed while on air.
In fact, Uwatse’s sin was so embarrassing and unpardonable that most listeners that fateful day (last Friday night), angrily abandoned her station and migrated to other ones.
The award winning presenter that many listeners, especially youths look up to for direction and authentic information, went on air to say boldly that President Barack Obama of US and his wife, Mitchell, have three children, instead of two. And painfully, while being corrected by a male discussant on the programme, which had something to do with the issue of child spacing, Uwatse, who thinks she knows it all, refused to listen and insisted Obama’s wife just delivered their third baby. Maybe, the mysterious baby was sired somewhere in her village, in Delta State, South-south, Nigeria.
For Miss Uwatse’s information, the Obamas have two daughters, and not three, Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10. She even went as far as saying that the latest addition to the Obama’s family was delivered inside the White House. Haba Matse!
In fact, the last time a baby was sired inside the White House was during the era of the Kennedys in 1963.
As a serious and news oriented radio station, Uwatse and her team at Nigeria Info FM, should strive to be above board and desist from misleading the listening public on vital issues and information.

The Amatas’ matriarch goes home in a blaze of glory

2011-12-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

The matriarch of the famous Amata movie dynasty, the late Mrs. Joy Omotoyinbo, 81, who died recently, was recently interred in Oyede, Isoko LGA, Delta State.
Prior to the burial, a well-attended Celebration of Life Service held in her honour on Tuesday, November 22, at the Banquet Hall, National Theatre, Lagos.
In a chat with us, emotion-laden Fred, said his dear and great mum would be greatly missed by all her children and grand children.
“My mum was a great woman and a darling mum. All of us will miss her greatly. But my joy is that she has finally gone to meet her husband, who left her a long time ago.” Several friends, colleagues and associates of the Amatas are already in Delta State for the burial.

Obi Emelonye shoots new movie with foreign crew

2011-12-05T06:24:00.000-08:00

London-based Mirror Boy director, Oby Emelonye is in town lensing a new big budget movie entitled: The Last Flight To Abuja.
The lawyer turned filmmaker alongside his cast and crew members are currently in Lagos shooting after, which they would storm Tinapa, Cross River State and Abuja, for the concluding part of the action-packed movie.
According to Emelonye, who’s also working with some foreign cast and crew, the entire production would be shot on 3D format.
“The Last Flight To Abuja, is a proudly Nigerian movie and as the director I’m working with both Nollywood and foreign hands and that makes it an international movie project. After the huge success recorded with Mirror Boy, we have decided to take the game higher with this new project. Some of the cast in Hotel Rwanda and other foreign movies are working with me on this great work”, he disclosed.

Delta State Gov., Uduaghan snubs stroke-afflicted veteran actor, Enebeli Elebuwa

2011-12-05T06:21:00.001-08:00

Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uguaghan has come under heavy attack from some concerned actors and stakeholders in Nollywood, for snubbing and treating bed-ridden veteran actor, Enebeli Elebuwa with disdain during a weekend trip to Lagos.
An aggrieved insider, who divulged the ugly drama to EE, said Uduaghan was in Lagos over the weekend and had been scheduled to pay a visit to the hospital where Elebuwa, who is currently down with Stroke, was staying, but shelved the plan at the eleventh hour.
ACTION! gathered that due to security reasons from the Governor’s end, the actor was moved from his Yaba hospital to a more secured and closer one in Surulere, for Uduaghan’s visit to be stress-free, yet he went ahead to snub the actor.
“Even RMD, an actor and serving Commissioner in Delta State, was one of those that facilitated the transfer of Enebeli to the Surulere hospital. He also assured us that the Governor who was in Lagos throughout the weekend would come and see Enebeli, also a proud son of Delta State. We waited throughout the weekend, but Uduaghan did not deem it fit to come and see Enebeli neither did he send us any apology for not keeping to his promise. Enebeli, despite being ill, is an elder statesman and one of the most famous sons of Delta State and does not deserve such irrational treatment from his Governor, especially now that he’s down with Stroke,” lamented this concerned Nollywood veteran.
“All of us waited for the Governor, but he didn’t show up, after all the promises made by RMD, that Uduaghan was on his way to the hospital. It was not a fair treatment at all to Enebeli. This would not have happened if he was a politician or one of those wasting our resources at the corridors of power. As a revered entertainer Enebeli deserves some respect, even on his sick bed,” added another enraged stakeholder in Nollywood. We tried severally to speak with RMD, to ascertain what really went wrong with the proposed and over hyped visit of his principal to Enebeli’s sick bed, but could not reach the actor-turned-politician before going to bed.

TIT-BITS FROM AKI’S WEDDING

2011-12-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

-Crowd everywhere
An unprecedented crowd witnessed the wedding of Aki to his sweet heart, Nneoma. In fact, the mammoth crowd that came to catch a glimpse of the superstar, his wife and other Nollywood stars that graced the nuptials completely overwhelmed the combined team of security agencies at the venue. Some daring ones even climbed tree branches and roof tops in order to have a proper view of the talk of the town wedding ceremony. It was as if the whole Imo State emptied themselves into the open field venue of the event. Some guests also lost cash and other valuable items in the “crowd madness”, which completely left security personnel disorganized and frustrated.

-Three band stands
Three leading eastern-based musicians were contracted to perform live at the wedding ceremony. Among them were: legendary Maduka Morocco, Saro Wiwa and Koboko (Emeka Enyiocha’s younger brother). They all dished out melodious tunes to the admiration of the couple, guests and villagers. The overwhelmed couple later went round the three band stands to sweat it out with friends and well-wishers amid heavy security.

-Water tight security

A colleague of Aki who was in Mbano described the event as the wedding with the highest number of security operatives in the history of Nollywood. One of the policemen that spoke with EE, argued that some governors cannot boast of the security personnel present at Aki’s nuptials. From the regular police, to mobile officers, soldiers, plain clothe officers, SSS, even paramilitary establishments and local vigilante; they were all present at the wedding. Aki and his wife had over a dozen of these tough looking and gun-toting officers guarding them at all times, thus leaving no room for intruders.
-MC, Dauda, mobbed
Kingsley Ogbonna, famously known as Dauda who beautifully anchored proceedings at the grand wedding tasted the other side of stardom when fans mobbed him at the event. It took the timely intervention of security operatives for the comic star to be rescued from the firm grip of his die hard fans.

-Committee of Friends
A special committee of friends was set up for Aki’s wedding. The committee led by revered Nollywood producer and scriptwriter, Chidi Nwokeabia assisted immensely in the huge success recorded at the event. Other members of the group, who wore specially designed T-Shirts at the wedding venue, were: Charles Inojie, Steve Eboh, Sunny Mc Don and Emeka Enyiocha. They also ensured that their colleagues from Nollywood had a swell time at the nuptials.

-Only one Governor in attendance
Contrary to reports in some publications that three sitting governors would grace the wedding, only one of them eventually turned up at the event. Governor T.A Orji of Abia State was the only one that made it to Mbano. He was accompanied by his wife and some cabinet members. Edo and Imo Governors sent representatives to the wedding.

-Nollywood, not heavily represented
Although, it was a Nollywood wedding, but some of the big names people expected at the wedding did not attend.
Flight delays from Lagos and improper arrangements were cited as reasons for the not too visible representation of Nollywood superstars and practitioners at the wedding. Some also claimed the wedding invitation got to them very late.

-All Seasons Hotel, where couple and Nollywood stars lodged
Evangelist Myke Ikoku’s five star hotel, All Seasons was the choice haven chosen by the couple for their accommodation and relaxation. It was also the choice of virtually all the stars that graced the wedding. According to Ikoku, the couple and stars opted for his luxury hotel because of the special services they offer, especially in the areas of relaxation, security and comfort.
-After wedding bash
The post wedding activities continued with an all night after wedding shindig that held inside the posh nite club of All Seasons Hotel. The party was well attended with victuals flowing from all corners of the club.

Imo glows for Chinedu Ikedieze’s (Aki) wedding

2011-12-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

The traditional wedding (Igba Nkwu) of Nollywood superstar Chinedu Ikedieze globally known as Aki, has come and gone, but the memory of the one day carnival-like ceremony will remain indelible in the minds of Imo State indigenes, especially the people of Mbano, where Aki’s wife, Nneoma hails from.
Originally billed for 12 noon, the star-studded event, which held elaborately at the expansive St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Field, Obolo Isiala Mbano, finally commenced around 3.p.m., when the bride and groom drove into the venue in a long convoy of high-end automobiles. The latest couple in Nollywood were chauffeur driven in a stretch and dark-coloured Magnum. The capacity filled venue erupted in cheers the moment Aki, who was swathed in an all Igbo attire with a matching black cap and walking stick alighted from the car with his darling wife, who also looked angelic and elegant in her traditional Igbo ensemble.
It took the timely intervention of a combined team of security operatives that included regular police, mobile police, soldiers, plain clothe officers and some para military establishments to calm and control the teeming crowd that surged forward to catch a glimpse of their star and his beau. In fact, controlling the mammoth crowd eventually turned out the biggest task of the day for the security agencies present at the talk-of-the-town wedding, because they later became helpless and totally confused towards the end of the very grand occasion.
Although, the arrival of Abia State Governor, Chief T.A. Orji and his wife alongside some members of his cabinet further revved up the ceremony, which was beautifully anchored by famous comic actor, Kingsley Ogbonna (Dauda) and chaired by Chief Kingsley Megwarah. However, the icing on the cake was the presence of over 20 Nollywood stars that came to felicitate with the couple in Mbano. And the villagers as well as those from the neighbouring communities came out in droves to see their favourite entertainers live.
Some even went as far as climbing trees, high fences and roof tops in order to have a clear view of the proceedings, which one of the village elders described as, “historic and memorable.”
Surprisingly, what would have amounted to a tragedy was miraculously averted when some young villagers fell from a tall tree after one of its weak and over loaded branches caved in. No casualty was recorded, except for minor bruises and injuries.
Interestingly, the high point of the turbo-charged event, which paraded three live bands, was when the visibly elated Mr. and Mrs. Ikedieze hit the crowded dance floor and rocked separately to the tripartite music of legendary Maduka Morocco, youthful Saro-Wiwa and ebullient Koboko.
The gyration reached a crescendo when Aki’s colleagues from Nollywood joined them on the dance floor and stylishly surrounded the newly wed by forming a ring around them, to the admiration of all. They also sprayed the couple with various denominations of Naira notes while performing this scintillating exercise amid cheers.
Meanwhile, prior to all these activities at the open field of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, a reliable insider squealed to EE, that both families had met and performed the traditional marriage rites behind closed doors at the bride’s family house.
The only rite they performed at the field was when Nneoma was given the palm wine to take to her husband, which she did romantically amid applause.
In his remarks, Governor Orji, who hailed Aki, for being a great ambassador of Abia State and Nigeria, urged the couple to put God first in whatever they do. Orji, who flew in from France specifically for the nuptials, also thanked all those that came from far and wide to rejoice with them, adding that the marriage was the will of God and must be fulfilled.
Top Nollywood actress and producer, Uche Jombo, in her goodwill message, wished the couple the best of marital bliss and many years of happiness. “As a sister and colleague, I’m wishing Nedu and Nneoma a happy married life alongside many years of happiness and long life. It was a great outing and I enjoyed and cherished every moment of it”, she says with a bold smile.
Aki’s soul mate and best man at the event, Osita Iheme, famously known as Pawpaw, was full of praises to God Almighty for making the wedding a huge success. He also hailed his colleague for taking the bold step, while praying God to bless the union with all the good things of life that comes with marriage.
The newest husband in Tinsel town, Aki, whose wife also read Mass Communication like him, in a chat with EE, said he was overwhelmed with the phenomenal success his wedding witnessed.
“My brother, sincerely, I’m still speechless and overwhelmed almost 24 hours after my wedding. I thank God, my wife, family, In-laws, my Governor, colleagues and all those that made my day grand at the wedding. God bless all of you immensely”, he prays in a cracked voice.
Meanwhile, Lagos State is already agog for Aki’s white wedding, which holds on December 10, at a yet-to-be fixed venue.

Stella Damasus denies NDLEA arrest

2011-11-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

Delectable Nollywood star actress Stella Damasus has denied the rumour making the rounds that she was arrested at Lagos airport by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for being in possession of narcotic substances.
The dazed and embittered mother of two who spoke with ACTION!, from Cameroun, where she was lensing a new movie- Unspoken (now back in Nigeria), said she nearly fainted when she read the “tissues of lies” on several internet sites.
“I’m an easy going entertainer and do not understand why somebody would want to run me down by tarnishing my image and hard-earned name. I got calls from several family members and fans all trying to find out if I was in the custody of the NDLEA. It was when I went online that I saw several screaming headlines saying that NDLEA arrested me on my way to Europe. Nothing of such happened to me, I only came to Cameroun to shoot an international movie. Why would some jobless people sit somewhere and fabricate falsehood and tissues of lies to feed the public about me. I’m discussing the whole case with my lawyers and we must get to the bottom of this whole mess,” she stated.

ENBUSPA prays for Nollywood

2011-11-18T10:27:00.000-08:00

With the incessant deaths currently being experienced in the nation’s motion picture industry globally known as Nollywood, some practitioners under the aegis of Entertainment Business Partners (ENBUSPA) are poised to organize a one-day praying and fasting session.
This move they averred would help cleanse the industry and drive the hovering spirit of death away.
Wisdom Nwankwo, leader of the nascent association disclosed that the programme is aimed at seeking the face of God concerning the many deaths being recorded in the industry since the beginning of the year.
“Our dear entertainment industry in recent times has been attacked by the evil hands of death leading to several losses of precious lives. And as stakeholders we do not want to fold our hands and watch this evil to continue ravaging our industry, which is why we have decided to seek the face of God. We would soon make official the date and venue for this special spiritual exercise”, he explained.
“ENBUSPA is made up of prominent stakeholders and practitioners with the sole aim of further developing the industry, promoting unity and creating enabling business opportunities,” added Ifeanyi Ekwem, the body’s scribe.

Azubuike Udensi for burial December 9

2011-11-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

The burial planning committee of late filmmaker and boss of Consolidated Fortunes, Azubuike Udensi in collaboration with his family have fixed December 9, for his interment in Ihiala, Anambra State.
A candle light procession/night of tributes in honour of the deceased will also hold at O’Jez, inside national stadium, in the evening of December 1.
Making this known to journalists recently was Mr. Dozie Eriobu, the head honcho of Infinity Merchants, who also doubles as the chairman of the burial committee.
Eriobu, who lamented the painful loss of Udensi, whom he described as a passionate and pacesetting filmmaker, called on their colleagues to support the burial by coming out en masse on the above dates.
Other members of the committee are: Paul Okoli, Emeka Ojiego, Ikenna Umeononuju, Norbert Ajaegbu, Richmond Ezihe, Chinasa Onyechere and yours sincerely.
The committee, under its umbrella body, Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), equally promised to raise funds that would be handed over to the deceased wife, for the education of her children.

National Honours: Entertainers boycott Jonathan’s event

2011-11-18T10:22:00.000-08:00

Just like Professor Chinua Achebe who disgraced and rubbished the The Presidency for the second time by blatantly rejecting the national honour of CFR bestowed on him, several top entertainers from both the music and movie sectors also boycotted the presentation ceremony, which held in Abuja, on Monday.
Unlike the previous editions, where colleagues and friends of the honourees usually accompany them to the event, this year’s outing was hugely boycotted by most of the colleagues and associates of the five Nollywood stars that were controversially honoured.
An angry top entertainer who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity said they decided to keep away from the ceremony because of the flawed nature of the list Mr. President drew for the entertainment industry.
“How can you come to a creative industry as big as Nigeria and decided to honour just one segment of that industry. Is Nollywood the only creative industry in Nigeria? What about musicians, painters and several others who are tirelessly working behind the scenes in the industry? National honours is not national jamboree, which is what Mr. President has turned it to and we do not want to associate ourselves with the charade that recently took place in Abuja, hence our collective decision to boycott it. Again, we expected Jonathan to honour more of veterans and pioneers in the industry and not those that danced and campaigned for him in the last presidential elections. It’s called national honours and not compensatory awards that you just dash out to friends and cronies. If this type of anomaly happens next year, we will stage a nationwide protest”, he threatened.
“And to further show how ill prepared Mr. President and his team are, they could not even get enough medals to present to all the awardees in Abuja. That tells you that the whole processes starting from selection to presentation were completely skewed,” submitted another enraged veteran in Nollywood.
While reacting, Emeka Rising Ibeh, the chairman, Lagos State Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), completely disagreed with the submission of his senior colleagues. He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for deeming it fit to honour his colleagues. “Why the unnecessary noise about the choice of most of the honourees. They richly deserved this honour, those angry should wait for their own time and stop complaining. All of us cannot be honoured at the same time, last year, it was Aki, this year, Pawpaw, it’s turn by turn,” he argued.
Five Nollywood stars, Olu Jacobs, Kanayo O Kanayo, Stephanie Okereke, Genevieve Nnaji and Osita Iheme were among the 365 Nigerians awarded national honours by Mr. President in Abuja.

COSON set to pay multi-million royalties

2011-11-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

The premises of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos will witness a beehive of activities on Tuesday, December 13, for the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). Expected to grace the event are Nigeria’s top songwriters, composers, publishers, owners of copyright in sound recordings and key music performers.
In keeping with promises made by COSON earlier in the year, the occasion will also mark the first general distribution of royalties by the society to stakeholders in the Nigerian music industry.
The decision to hold the AGM on December 13, according to COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, was taken following two full board meetings of the society held within one week on November 1 and November 8, 2011, in Lagos. The meeting of December 13, will also receive the report of the Directors while the members will have the opportunity to x-ray the activities of the society and chart a course for its future.
Speaking on the coming AGM, Okoroji says: “There are many who have expressed the view that collective management of copyright cannot work in Nigeria. They should come to the National Theatre on December 13 and see it at work. The distribution of twenty five million naira in one day, while an unprecedented event in Nigeria’s copyright history, is only a first step in what is a major breakthrough. I believe that working constructively together and remaining focused we have the capacity to do ten times or even a hundred times that amount in the very near future. Once the members agree to the distribution scheme, payment will begin immediately at the National Theatre. Our word is our bond”

Nkiru Sylvanus plans youths empowerment talent show

2011-11-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus is poised to unveil her latest pet project, tagged: I’ve Got Talent Show, disclosing that she intends giving back to the society with the initiative.
The evening unveiling being packaged by GeeRach Events and Entertainment, according to the Face of Hope ambassador, would equally celebrate noble courses and empower new faces coming into the entertainment industry as well as help them express their talents and actualize their dreams.
Shedding more light, Miss Sylvanus, now a Special Assistant to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said: “We are celebrating in style as part of the unveiling activities to give hope and support to hundreds of Nigerians with different talents”.

The unveiling proper holds on Sunday, December 4, 2011, at Welcome Centre Hotels, along International Airport Road, Lagos.

The unveiling of the talent hunt show will be a special event that will converge who is who in different works of life to support the initiator and unwind with the bests in Nollywood. ‘And this is a good avenue to promote Nigerians with unique talents’ disclosed Ifeoma Okeke, the CEO of GeeRach Events & Entertainment.

NDLEA’s inhuman treatment of Baba Suwe

2011-11-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

The recent inhuman treatment meted out to leading Yoruba actor, Babatunde Omidina popularly known as Baba Suwe during his 24-day ordeal inside the cell of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), was a huge violation of his fundamental human rights.
The entertainer who insisted he was set up, said that contrary to the earlier claim by NDLEA, that their scanner detected some substances suspected to be hard drugs in his stomach, maintained that nothing of such happened.
“Immediately, I approached the counter, a lady directed me to proceed to the NDLEA office. There was no check before I was directed. Afterwards, I was leg-chained like a common criminal. My system was flushed several times and at a time, I was forced to rummage my faeces in search of banned substances.”
Subjecting a defenceless man to such cruelty in this age and time was no doubt a crime against humanity and we totally condemn this inhuman treatment on one of the leading entertainment icons in Nigeria by NDLEA. The Nigerian constitution avers that a suspect remains innocent until proven guilty. The haste with which NDLEA rushed to the media to try and convict Omidina, when a court of competent jurisdiction had not yet pronounced the actor guilty of any wrong doing, still baffles many Nigerians till date.

Already, Bamidele Aturu, constitutional lawyer and the legal counsel to the traumatized and dehumanized actor has been talking tough and is set to commence a fresh multi-billion Naira suit against the agency. However, this will have to wait pending the final verdict of a N100 million case, before Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Ikeja Federal High Court, slated for November 24.
Aturu who revealed the above sordid details his client went through in the custody of NDLEA at a briefing attended by the actor and his friends recently at his chambers, said the agency must pay for their atrocities against an innocent man.
We once again agree with Aturu and urged him to fast track the process of extracting justice from the agency because justice delayed is justice denied.
Omidina’s ordeal in NDLEA custody began on October 12, when he was about to board an Air France flight to Paris. The comedian was due to anchor a child naming ceremony of a staff of the French national carrier.
The emaciated comedian who was making his first public appearance after his release on Friday, November 4, maintained a measured silence while his legal counsel addressed a cross-section of the media.
At the briefing, the 53 year-old actor also displayed scars from his manacled legs while in detention.
While calling for the resignation of both the Chairman and Director General of the anti-narcotics body, Aturu again reiterated that the battle against the NDLEA’s poor handling of suspects was not only for Baba Suwe, but for thousands of Nigerians who have been subjected to such inhuman treatments in the past.

We concur with Mr. Aturu and joined many Nigerians to condemn the NDLEA for its high-handedness and poor-handling of the case against the popular actor. We also find distasteful the comment attributed to Mitchell Ofoyeju, spokesperson of the agency that the way the actor was treated is the same way all its suspects had been treated. Arrant nonsense!

It is now clear to all that the agency goofed in its handling of the high-profile case involving Babatunde Omidina. Even the revered Justice Yetunde Idowu was not sparing in her harsh criticisms of NDLEA, while acceding to the request of unconditional release of the actor by his lawyer in pursuant to Order IV Rules 3 and 4 of the Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009.
The scenario has exposed an embarrassing flaw in the operations of the agency which has made it a laughing stock in the comity of anti-narcotics bodies across the globe. While this can be blamed on lack of adequate training for agency personnel as well as dearth of requisite equipments, we also recognised the fundamental loophole of poor funding.
NDLEA’s current budgetary allocation stands at N7, 823, 793, 322, an amount which is a far cry from the agency’s projection. In 2009, Chairman of the NDLEA, Mallam Ahmadu Giade, took the battle for funding to the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption.
Giade represented by the out-gone Director General of the agency, Otunba Lanre Ipinmisho, disclosed that whereas the NDLEA proposed to expend the sum of N13.469 billion on its operations, the Federal Government slashed the figure to N4.92billion.
Beyond the arithmetic and politics of budgetary allocation, for a Federal Government agency that has come under heavy criticisms for being sluggish and underperforming, an immediate inquiry into the handling of the Baba Suwe fiasco should commence now. The result of the exercise should be made public and adequate penalty meted out to erring staff that ridiculed and brought the agency into public disrepute.
Moreover, the agency should immediately embark on the re-training of her staff, discard incompetent ones and obsolete facilities, if it does not want to embarrass itself any further.
Finally, we suggest that Baba Suwe should be recommended for a national honour next year; this would further assuage his pains and erase the humiliation and ignominy the unwarranted arrest and detention had caused him and his entire family. Great nations do not treat their icons like piece of rags; rather they revere and honour them.
Baba Suwe as an icon has done great things for this nation more than most of those recently recognized and honoured with national awards by Mr. President in Abuja.

Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) finally finds a wife …Fixes Nov. 26 for traditional wedding

2011-11-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

After several years of searching for true love, Nollywood super star Chinedu Ikedieze globally known as Aki, has finally found it in the arms of one Miss Nneoma.
And on November 26, love struck Aki, his family members, colleagues, friends and well wishers will be storming his sweet heart’s home town in Mbano, Imo State, for the talk-of-the-town traditional marriage (Igba Nkwu).
Interestingly, the white wedding already dubbed, “a celebration of true and undying love” by the famous actor who has an HND in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu State, holds elaborately in Lagos on December 10.
To further affirm his seriousness about walking down the aisle in the next couple of weeks with the only woman that means the whole world to him, the Bende, Abia State-born Nollywood star sent us an exclusive sms saying:
“We humbly request your presence at our traditional wedding ceremony on November 26, 2011. Venue- St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Primary School Field, Obolo Isiala Mbano, Imo State. Nne/Nedu.”
Meanwhile, in an earlier chat with ACTION!, the elated thespian boasted that his wife-to-be was specially created for him by God.
“I have finally found true love in the arms of Nneoma and we getting married the traditional way first on November 26, after which we would solemnize it with a church wedding on December 10, in Lagos.”
When prodded further for more details, the visibly excited Cupid struck entertainer urged us to be patient and wait for more information about his fiancée and their forthcoming wedding plans, soon.
“Just relax, I will soon host you and my few other friends in the media to a luncheon and officially introduce Nne alongside our wedding details to all of you. Thank you for all the love and support so far,” he gushed.
Ikedieze, who was honoured with the national award of MFR last year, was born on December 12, 1977.
With over 100 movie roles to his acting credit, Aki became a household name within and outside Nollywood when he alongside his screen twin brother, Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) teamed up to dazzle in the blockbuster movie Aki na Ukwa in early 2000.
In 2007, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the organizers of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).

Jonathan’s National Honours List: Nollywood divided over choice of Genevieve, KOK, others

2011-11-03T08:56:00.001-07:00

Perennially troubled Nollywood is currently divided over President Goodluck Jonathan’s choice of hand picking few stars for this year’s national honours award.
While some are hailing Mr. President for deeming it fit to honour their colleagues, several others are angry and accusing Jonathan of being biased and too selective in his choice of awardees.
The listed names from Nollywood are: Olu Jacobs, Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke, Osita Iheme and Kanayo O Kanayo, all penciled down for the MFR award on November 14, in Abuja.
The angry stakeholders who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity berated Mr. President for selecting only a few names that campaigned vigorously for him during the last presidential election.
“With the exception of Olu Jacobs and Pawpaw, the other awardees were part of the campaign team of Mr. President during the last presidential election. We feel he’s using this opportunity to pay them back through their state governor. KOK, Genevieve, Stephanie and even Pawpaw are all from Imo State, are they the only stars in Nollywood. Nollywood is made of stars from all states of the federation and not just one state. By doing this, Mr. President is further fanning the embers of war in Nollywood and causing more trouble for the already crisis-prone industry. We are not against National Honours, but all we are saying is that it should be done judiciously and on merit, not through the back doors. What criteria did he use in choosing most of these people, if not for the fact that they were part of his campaign team? He keeps preaching about due process, which he failed to use in selecting the right people for this honour.”
Another angry top practitioner from the Yoruba movie industry also accused Mr. President of being tribalistic and insensitive in his choice of awardees.
“The Yoruba film industry has done a lot for Nigeria, yet Mr. President keeps treating us like third class citizens, despite all our contributions to the growth of this industry and nation. Look at the list of the awardees; we have only one Yoruba man on it. Why can’t Mr. President balance his list as a father figure and true Nigerian? This was exactly what he did during his campaign; he deliberately abandoned us and campaigned with only those from his part of the country. Instead of integrating, he keeps on disintegrating us. We just hope that he will change this ugly trend in 2012.”
Meanwhile, all the recipients are happy and looking forward to the D-Day in Abuja, despite the mounting criticisms about the choice of some of them.

Ejike Asiegbu battles Clarion Chukwurah over actors Insurance Scheme

2011-11-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

Popular actor and the immediate past national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Mr. Ejike Asiegbu is currently on a warpath with screen goddess Clarion Chukwurah, over what he called, “misguided statements and unfounded allegations.”
In fact, he has even threatened to drag the actress before a court of competent jurisdiction to prove her allegation or face the wrath of the law.
Asiegbu’s seething anger stems from a recent text message being circulated by Chukwurah, which accused and challenged the former to account for all the insurance monies paid by actors during his tenure as president.
Some parts of the now very controversial sms, which went round Nollywood stakeholders and practitioners read: “With continued avoidable deaths in Nollywood, I ask Ejike Asiegbu, what became of the health insurance scheme we paid for at the beginning of your first tenure as AGN president…”
While responding, Asiegbu who said he was thoroughly disappointed with Chukwurah’s ignorance and unwarranted attack, also warned her to desist from rubbishing his hard earned name.
Hear more from embittered Asiegbu:
Ordinarily, I don’t join issues with people. For sometimes now I have deliberately avoided Clarion Chukwurah.
I vividly remember that during my tenure as president of AGN there was a discussion between us about her intention to become AGN president. I encouraged her and gave her some advice which I believed was right. Unfortunately, she did not do what I asked her to do. So I was not surprised that during the last period of my tenure as AGN president that she joined evil forces against me. History will always bear me witness that my achievement during my tenure surpasses that of anyone that has been there. I find her sms very insulting. It is outrageous that even after two years that I have left office, Clarion Chukwurah is still sending text messages and falsehoods to a lot of artistes and Nigerians, even to the media and stupidly asking of what happened to the Insurance scheme that AGN members paid during my tenure as president of the AGN. In her statement, she alluded that the Insurance scheme should have been able to take away deaths that are currently occurring in AGN.
When I got the text message that she has been circulating, I did not only feel disappointed, but also saw her as someone displaying how ignorant she was about the workings of Insurance schemes. She has thrown caution to the wind and showed the world that she also lacks manners. She is not only ignorant; she lacks respect and has no knowledge of how associations are run.
For crying out loud, there was no death during my tenure and if there was any at all, I stand to be corrected, she should bring forth whoever that died and we will check records to ascertain if that person paid a particular amount of money for his or her insurance.
I want to educate her that insurance scheme lasts for one year and I believe she does not know this because she was busy collaborating with her cohorts to make sure that nothing worked during my tenure.”
Meanwhile, in a phone chat unperturbed Chukwurah said she stands by her words in the sms and insisted Asiegbu should urgently come out and explain what happened to the monies actors paid for Insurance during his reign.
“Whatever Ejike Asiegbu said about me is completely irrelevant to me. What matters however, is that actors are dying and there is need for him to explain what became of monies paid during his tenure as President for the life saving plan of a health Insurance Scheme. Mudslinging and threats will not solve the problem. Ejike should address the issue so that AGN can revisit this Scheme with some credibility through a fund raising event.”
We will definitely keep you posted as this stars war rages on.

Nollywood records two more deaths

2011-11-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

Barely a week after the painful death of pioneer filmmaker and marketer Azubuike Udensi of Consolidated Fortunes, in a ghastly road accident, two more practitioners were reported dead, over the weekend.
Franca Onanga, an Enugu-based actress recently died after a brief illness in the coal city. And while the industry was still crying and mourning her sudden exit, another young producer, Ifeanyi Udokwu, followed suit.
He was said to have slumped and died on location on Saturday, October 27, without any sign of being ill. Fear has gripped the entire Nollywood following the deaths of these three practitioners within a spate of one week.

Jazz maestro, Jimmy Dludlu to headline Smooth 98.1FM’S Luxury Concert

2011-11-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

The Smooth 98.1FM’s anticipated Love Music Love Life Luxury Concert, which holds tomorrow at Eko Hotel and Suites, will feature three international musicians and their bands with Jimmy Dludlu as the lead act.
The trio of Asa, Pamela Williams and Jimmy Dludlu are expected to thrill audiences with soulful, seductive pop and jazzy guitar riffs at the already sold out evening concert.
"All three performers will grace our stage for one night only, for a truly unforgettable and luxurious concert experience", hinted a member of the organizing committee.
Long before record companies became aware of Jimmy Dludlu, the media were already celebrating him as the hottest and most stylish talent among South Africa's new Jazz generation. He founded the highly successful music group “Loading Zone” in 1991 and toured with them across the continent opening for stars like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie and Sipho Mabuse.
Over the course of his career he has participated in the Johannesburg Arts Alive Festival, Cape Town Jazz Festival, Guinness Jazz Festival, Sun City production Sax Appeal and La Villette festival in Paris and has garnered many accolades including 2 FNB SAMA Awards for "Best Newcomer" and "Best Contemporary Jazz Album” with the release of his debut album Echoes From the Past on PolyGram records in 1997.
In May this year, he released the seventh album of his 14-year career entitled “Tonota”, named after a small village 15 minutes from Francistown in Botswana that gave him his roots and first music flight.
Jimmy will be performing tracks from this and past albums at tomorrow’s concert.
“So do not miss your chance to see him display his superior guitar skills live tomorrow, added this organizer.

AFRIFF announces 2011 jury members

2011-11-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

The organizers of the 2011 edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), has announced members of the jury awarding prizes at the forthcoming festival holding between November 30 and December 4.
The jury members, according to the organizers are comprised of six individuals who are well-grounded in the global arts community.
They include, Eriq Ebouaney, a France based Cameroonian actor, British-born Nigerian playwright, Oladipo Agboluaje and Heidi Lobato, a Dutch-born film and TV expert.
Others are Femi Odugbemi, the award-winning filmmaker and scriptwriter, Mahen Bonetti, the boss of African Film Festival and Gambian-born Mbye Cham, who’s currently Chairman of the Department of African Studies at Howard University in Washington, D. C.
AFRIFF is a platform for the world to zoom in on the talent and beauty of Africa through film. Started in December 2010, it holds yearly hosting both local and international filmmakers, celebrities, actors, directors, film buyers, distributors, visual artists, film students, amateurs, film lovers and the press.

The AFRIFF theme for this year is, Africa unites. It draws on the principle that being African is a bond that goes beyond geography, birth or lineage; as people of African origin are spread across the globe and Africa is also a proud home to many non-Africans. The vision is to reflect a common true African identity and re-establish Africa as an original home to all.

Azuh Amatus wins ZAFAA Award in UK

2011-10-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

Youthful editor of Entertainment Express, Mr. Azuh Amatus scored another big one recently in faraway London, United Kingdom when he won the best Entertainment Editor Award at this year’s edition of the prestigious Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA).
Azuh, according to the judges was awarded the keenly contested trophy, the first since the award started five years ago, for his in-depth knowledge and insightful analysis/reportorial of the Nigerian motion picture industry globally known as Nollywood.
The organizers also hailed his immense contributions to the growth of Nollywood within and outside Nigeria, adding that he richly deserved the plaque.
The multiple award-winning journalist was last week selected by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), as one of the honourees to be inducted into its revered club of Celebrity Special Marshals (CSM). The investiture holds at Thisday Dome on November 20.

Nollywood shines at ZAFAA 2011

2011-10-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Nollywood films and stars completely floored their counterparts from all other African countries at this year’s edition of the Zulu African Film Academy Awards (ZAFAA), which held at the expansive Troxy Hall, Central London, on Friday, October 21.
Among the stars and stakeholders who flew into London for the fifth edition of the annual award proudly organized by Sam Anwuzia-led Nollywood Entertainment Limited, UK, were: Jennifer Eliogu, Ayo Mogaji, Dauda, Uche Ogbodo, Chinyere Winifred and O’Jez boss, Anayo Odobeatu.
Others included: Emem Isong, Ali Nuhu, Uduak Oguamanam, AY, Elenu, MC Shakara, Mamuzee Twins, Uchenna Nnanna and Prince Chukwudi Uzochukwu, who alongside Odobeatu are directors of the award body.

Genevieve Nnaji missing in action

Nollywood poster girl and darling of movie buffs, Genevieve Nnaji, who defeated Jackie Appiah, Ini Edo, Rita Dominic and Martha Ankomah to cart home the award of Best Lead Actress, for her wondrous role in Obi Emelonye’s Mirror Boy, was conspicuously absent at the event. A crew member of the production received the award on her behalf. An insider later hinted us that Miss Nnaji swore never to attend the award again after an unresolved issue with the organizers during last year’s edition.
Another top entertainer missing in action at the awards night was rub-a-dub master Ras Kimono. As the special guest artiste for ZAFAA 2011, the dreadlocks-donning Reggae star was no where near the venue of the event, let alone storming London. Several of his fans who thronged the venue with the intention of seeing him perform live on stage were thoroughly disappointed with the organizers for not making adequate arrangements to fly him in.

Jackie Appiah’s calm disposition

Sexy Jackie Appiah was the only Ghollywood star at this year’s ZAFAA. In fact, a lot of her fans in the hall were angry when she did not win the Best Lead Actress Award and even expected her to react angrily. But to their consternation, the happily married thespian, who flew in from Milan for the awards night maintained a very calm disposition. When the award ended, she quietly entered the stretch limo that brought the stars and headed back to her room at Queens Hotel.

Naija comedy rules at ZAFAA

As usual, an overdose of Naija comedy was unleashed at the grand gathering by the duo of AY and MC Shakara, who were specially flown in from Nigeria for the awards night. While AY was the official comedian for ZAFAA 2011, the duo of MC Shakara and Elenu were brought in to support him. But unfortunately only Shakara was able to mount the stage, Elenu could not due to lack of time. This drew the ire of most guests who openly lampooned the organizers for wasting time on several non important segments at the awards night.

Femi Segun, Tony Monjaro were anchors

This year’s ZAFAA dubbed the biggest film event outside Africa was jointly anchored by veteran compere Femi Segun and UK based top actor, Tony Monjaro. They both did a fantastic job anchoring the award, which unfortunately dragged into the wee hours of the following morning.

Entertainment Express wins at ZAFAA

Aside being the only Nigerian newspaper supporting the event as a media partner, your soar away paper was equally fully represented at this year’s ZAFAA. Yours sincerely who was live at the event and was fully recognized by the comperes and organizers also walked home with ZAFAA Best Entertainment Editor Award. The first since the award began five years ago.

Mirror Boy, movie of the night

Obi Emelonye’s Mirror Boy, which was shot in London, Nigeria and Gambia respectively emerged the overall movie of the night with awards in six main categories. It won in the best lead actress, best supporting actress, best cinematography, best child performance, best film and best editing. Painfully, Emelonye was not around to savour his night of glory. He was on set outside UK, lensing a new movie.

Dame Goodluck, Gov. Akpabio honoured

The organizers of ZAFAA also honoured Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck and Governor Godswill Akpabio of AkwaIbom State with special recognition plaques, for what it termed “their immense contributions and support to entertainment within and outside Nigeria.”
The awards were received on their behalf by representatives.

ZAFAA Award holds in London

2011-10-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

Nollywood, the pride of Africa and Nigeria’s biggest export to the entertainment world sparkled, sizzled and serenaded the city of London as another edition of the prestigious Zulu African Film Academy Award (ZAFAA), held amid glitz and grandeur over the weekend.
Unarguably the biggest gathering of Nigeria and African film stars and stakeholders in the UK, the award scheme, which seeks to recognize and reward Africans who have contributed to the growth of the film industry kicked-off with a seminar on October 19, at the Odeon Cinema in Surrey Quays.
The award proper held at the Troxy Hall in Central London and attracted several stars and celebs.
Sam Anwuzia, the prime mover and founder of ZAFAA, in a chat with EE at the awards night, disclosed that this year’s outing primarily rewarded Nollywood practitioners, Africans and bodies that had played outstanding roles in the promotion of the film industry.
“Our major awards went to quality films released between 2010 and 2011. Aside recognizing and rewarding deserving practitioners and stakeholders, ZAFAA is also out to rebrand Nigeria and indeed, the entire Africa through entertainment.”
Meanwhile, Yours Sincerely was recognized and rewarded with the award of Best Entertainment Editor at the grand gathering, for his immense contributions to the growth of Nigerian entertainment industry.

Facebook impersonation: Oby Edozieh cries out

2011-10-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

Nollywood star actress, Oby Gold Edozieh has warned those impersonating and using her hard earned name and reputation to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians, especially her fans on popular social networking site, Facebook, to desist from the wicked and devilish act.
Embittered Edozieh who cried out to EE, said she and her team recently discovered three persons using her full name and pictures on Facebook, to perpetrate evil and criminal activities.
Narrating her shocking experience, the actress-turned- producer of wave making Save Our Soul, disclosed that one of those impersonating her went as far as writing on her ‘supposed’ wall that she was engaged.
She denied being engaged to the said name on the wall of the spurious Oby Edozieh, adding that she had already reported the ugly incident to the management of Facebook.
“I became suspicious and totally embarrassed when my colleagues and friends started calling to congratulate me on being engaged. I told them I was not engaged to anybody and that was when they referred me to “my fb posting”.
Further search led to the discovery of two more Oby Edoziehs with my pictures boldly displayed. These ones were using my name and pictures to solicit for financial assistance from my fans and the unsuspecting public. I have put a disclaimer on all of them and also using this medium to cry out to Nigerians by urging them to beware of these fraudsters trying to feed fat with my name.”

Meanwhile, early this year, top actor Pat Attah, who now resides in Germany also cried out and warned Nigerians to beware of some internet crooks using his name to milk unsuspecting fans and friends. The fraudsters even went as far as opening a fictitious orphanage in the name of the star’s late father and pleaded for financial assistance from Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora.
“I’m not going to take this lightly, I have also reported these criminals to my lawyer and Nigerian police and I must follow it to the end by ensuring that these criminals are caught and punished accordingly,” Edozieh threatens.

How sexy singer, Waje survived appendicitis operation

2011-10-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

While Nigerians were busy celebrating our 51st independence anniversary, one of her most promising acts, Waje, was lying critically ill at the hospital and waiting to be operated upon for appendicitis.
The sexy crooner in an exclusive chat with EE, confirmed the operation was success, but added she went through hell while it lasted.
Still recuperating Waje, also disclosed that her case was further complicated when her doctor later discovered she had chronic Ulcer.
“Thank God I’m back on my feet again. It was a terrible and painful experience for me. The operation went well, but after that it was discovered that I also had chronic Ulcer, because I could not eat. I have now been placed on special diet and I eat a lot these days. I’m also leading a campaign for people to eat regularly in order to avoid Ulcer”, she warned.
Waje (meaning, words Aint Just Enough), who was recently nominated for the forthcoming Channel O Awards, is also looking forward to performing at the October 22, Hip Hop Awards.
“I can’t wait to hit the stage and do my stuffs again.”

Nollywood in tears for Donald Okoli at night of tributes

2011-10-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Tears flowed endlessly at last Sunday’s solemn night of tributes organized for late actor/producer, Donald Nzubechukwu Okoli, at the national stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Hugely attended by several of his colleagues in the industry, including A-list stars as well as his family members and well wishers, the gathering lasted late into the night.
The sombre gathering, which started with a turbo charged praise and worship session, also afforded some men of God the opportunity to pray ceaselessly for the embattled industry that has been plagued by deaths in recent times.
The tears continued when it was time to pay tributes to their departed colleague, whom many described in superlative terms. This was immediately followed by the well-coordinated candle light procession/observation.
In fact, several of the stars, especially the quartet of Stephanie Okereke, Oby Edozieh, Ngozi Ezeonu and Chioma Toplis, could not hold back their tears while paying tributes to the deceased who died on Friday, September 23, at the Yaba Military Hospital, Lagos, after a brief illness, at the age of 38.
With tears in her eyes, heart broken Miss Okereke, one of those that provided the funds for the event said she would always miss Donald. “It’s still very hard for me to believe that my good friend Donald is gone… God knows best and Donald will always be remembered by all of us that worked closely with him.”

In an emotion-laden voice, Miss Edozieh, one of the organizers of the night of tributes, who described the late entertainer as a, “brother and close friend”, said his untimely death was a big blow to the entire Nollywood.
“We must immortalize Donald in Nollywood; he was a selfless man and did his best to assist his colleagues whenever called upon. I still cannot believe he’s dead.”
Meanwhile, the remains of the late thespian who was survived by an aged mother and six siblings, was interred this Wednesday, at their Eziama, Amichi, Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State compound amid tears and wailings.

Julius Agwu’s Laff 4 Christ Sake returns

2011-10-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

Musi-comedian Julius Agwu is bringing back one of his popular comedy brands, Laff 4 Christ Sake, an evening of gospel rhythms and jokes.
The popular show which started in 1994, but was rested after its sixth edition in 2009, will take place at the Muson Centre on October 23.
Ribs-crackers expected to thrill alongside Agwu at the event are: Basketmouth, Bovi, Gordons, Buchi, Dan D’Humorous, Senator and Funny Bone. Musicians penciled down include: KSB, Frank Edwards, Eben, Onos and Tim Godfrey, while DJ Gosporella will be on the wheels of steel.

Rivers State unveils CarniRiv committee

2011-10-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Towards hosting a successful event this year, the Rotimi Amaechi-led Rivers State Government recently inaugurated the Media and Publicity Committee for the 2011 cultural festival, CARNIRIV.
The Committee is headed by a two time Commissioner for Information and Culture and Women Affairs in Rivers State, Ms. Medline Tador.
Inaugurating the committee in Port Harcourt, the state’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr, Nabbs Imegwu charged the new members to dedicate their time and energy toward providing world class publicity and awareness for the event.
Dr. Imegwu, who spoke passionately about the state government’s interest in ensuring that the values of the people of the state were preserved, said that the choice of members of the committee was informed by their track records, in organizing great events and urged them to make the state proud.
“The strength of the 2011 Carnival rests in the ability of the media to make our people participate in the carnival” he added.
He further urged the committee members to spare no efforts in making the people of the state and residents enjoy the 2011 edition of the carnival.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Ms Medline Tador, who is the General Manager of the state’s Broadcasting Corporation (RSBC) and chairman of the committee, assured that members of the committee would discharge its duties effectively and efficiently.
“We will ensure that CARNIRIV becomes a stamp of quality and excellence that would endear itself to the people.”
The seven member committee has; Paulinus Nsirim, Oberenachi Ekeke, Gloria Ogan, Freddy Ndigbara, Ikechukwu Nwanze and Chris Fynebone as members.

Owerri agog for Imo Carnival

2011-10-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

The Imo State Government in collaboration with Touching Lives International are poised to host this year’s Imo State Carnival, in Owerri, the state’s capital.
They have equally fixed October 29, for the launch/unveil of the logo and other activities lined up for the carnival proper.
The event, which holds at the Concorde Hotel, Owerri, would be graced by Rochas Okorocha, the state’s Chief Executive as well as other dignitaries drawn from both the public and private sectors.
Interestingly, the entire city is already agog and anticipating the forthcoming gathering, which the organizers further promised would add glamour and colour to the landscape.
In the words of Emeka Jonathan and Francis Nwachukwu, both executives of Touching Lives International, during a recent courtesy visit to the Isolo corporate head office of EE, the need to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Imo State and further reposition her on the world map were some of the factors that brought about the concept.
Meanwhile, the Lagos unveil of the carnival holds at Terra Kulture on October 22, after which the train would move to Imo State, for the final leg of the event.

Balogun, Edochie, Adesiyan, Majid, others make nominees list for Afro Hollywood Awards 2011

2011-10-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Several big names in Nollywood, Ghollywood and other African countries will battle for glory and honour at this year’s edition of Afro Hollywood Awards, holding on Sunday, November 6, at Stratford Hall, London.

The African Voice Newspaper UK, organizers of the revered event recently released its shortlist of nominees for the forthcoming rendezvous also known as African Film Awards.
Interestingly, the African Actor of the Year will be contested by one of South Africa’s leading actors, Presley Chweneyagae (famed for his lead role in Tsotsi), he will slug it out with Saheed Balogun of Nigeria and Majid Michael of Ghana.
Other award categories that will be keenly contested feature heavyweights such as: Tonto Dike, Halima Abubakar, Toyin Aimaku, Jamila Umar Nagudu, Funke Adesiyan, Lekan Oladiipo and Peter Edochie.
Winners in each award category, who will be attending the prestigious annual awards in London, will be announced at a special ceremony on Sunday, October 9, in Osogbo, Osun State.

The award has helped to make Nollywood popular and opened an array of opportunities for past recipients.
This year’s edition, the 16 in the series, has the theme: “Tourism in Africa and The Film Industry”.

Commenting on the award and its theme, Prince Mike Abiola, publisher of African Voice Newspaper UK, said: “Our aim is to create a synergy between filmmakers and government tourism boards; to ensure films are used to promote investment in tourism. Osogbo has been chosen as the special place to announce the winners of this year’s awards because the state is blessed with natural scenery ideal for film making. There is no reason the government should not designate the state as a film friendly state with incentives for filmmakers.”

Meanwhile, a distinguished and independent panel of film critics, respected for their expertise in the film industry, will decide the eventual winners of each award.

This year’s awards, celebrating excellence in African film and tourism, will be an opportunity to highlight the tourism development plans of African states, as the event coincides with the World Tourism Market, the leading global event for the tourism industry.

Fuji House of Commotion star (Alika), down with stroke

2011-10-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

This is certainly sad news for the teeming fans of Victor Eze, the famous Alika in Amaka Igwe’s TV sitcom, Fuji House of Commotion.
Authentic and exclusive information reaching us has it that the Delta State born actor cum scriptwriter is currently down with severe stroke for over a year.
And to further compound his pitiable state, the current Secretary of the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria (SWGN), has been completely abandoned by his colleagues and fans.
In a telephone chat with ACTION!, from his new abode in Ikorodu, an outskirt of Lagos State, the father of one painfully told us that since he was hit by stroke, none of his colleagues and friends in Nollywood have deemed it fit to reach out to him.
“Instead, they have been avoiding me. You’re the first person from Nollywood to call and sympathize with me. Not even the president and members of my association, SWGN, where I’m the Secretary, or even the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), where I was actively involved before the stroke.”
In an emotion–laden voice, Alika, who equally called on well-meaning Nigerians to assist him financially and otherwise, painfully revealed that even the producer of Fuji House of Commotion, Amaka Igwe also abandoned him to his fate, despite his immense contributions to the growth of the sitcom.
“Such is life but I’m not bothered. Please, I want kind hearted Nigerians to come to my aid because I don’t want to die and this cross is too heavy for only me to carry. My wife has been the only one taking care of me and our family since the stroke hit me. I urgently need financial help to be able to treat myself and go back to work,” he pleaded.
While reacting, Mr. Tony Anih, the President of SWGN, confirmed receiving the news of Alika’s stroke, and stated that their association was already discussing ways of assisting him get better.

Stephnora Okere returns with The Lounge

2011-10-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

With over eight quality movies to her credit as a producer, leading Nollywood actress, Stephnora Okere, is poised to dazzle viewers, especially her teeming fans with her latest project- The Lounge.
The new and forthcoming TV talk show, according to the effervescent thespian, during a recent courtesy visit to the corporate head office of Entertainment Express, in Okota, Lagos, would definitely change the direction of programmes on TV when it begins airing.
“The Lounge is a carefully planned and researched talk show on TV, aimed primarily at celebrating idols and role models from all walks of life. The reason is to help give our youths, who are fast derailing, a sense of direction and belonging. Nigerians who have achieved greatly in their various fields would be brought on the programme to speak and motivate our youths. This is my own little way of giving back to the society”, hinted the heroine of several hit Nollywood movies.
Meanwhile, Miss Okere, who’s currently working on her maiden feature length film, Down The Tunnel, is also in the studios adding finishing touches to her debut musical effort-a yet-to-be titled single that would soon be rocking the airwaves.
“I’ve been quiet for so long silently strategizing. I’m now ready to come out with full force for my fans because I’m loaded with surprises for them this time…” she gushed.

Real Reasons top Nollywood actress, Chika Ike’s marriage crumbled

2011-10-06T11:44:00.001-07:00

Unknown to many, especially her teeming fans, the troubled marriage of pretty actress, Chika Nancy Ike, started showing signs of cracks over a year ago, until it finally crashed recently.
ACTION!, went the extra mile to uncover some of the reasons that led to the collapse of the union between the Mirror of Beauty star and her estranged hubby, Mr. Ebireri, which was solemnized on November 18, 2006.
A reliable insider who spoke with us disclosed that the embattled screen diva with over 40 hit movies to her credit, did her best in order to ensure her marriage worked, but finally gave up when it dawned on her that the union was doomed.
According to this insider, the failure of Ike to give her husband a child was the dominant crisis in their short-lived union. “It was not as if Chika was barren, no, she conceived twice but could not deliver due to miscarriages, which were no fault of hers.”
Continuing, our source revealed that Ike, who runs TREJ Classics, restaurant and bar, was already under heavy pressure in her marriage and had to call it quits, the moment her husband allegedly impregnated a female undergraduate at the Lagos State University (LASU).
And painfully for the easy going star, the already volatile situation in their matrimonial home became messier, when the pregnancy tale hit the Internet and turned into a public discussion, thus shattering her once very private world.
Gathered that the curvaceous beauty who was nominated for the best upcoming actress category at the 2005 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), cried all day when the ugly story of her failed marriage hit several Internet sites and gossip magazines.
Another close pal of the 5’’10’’ tall thespian, hinted that Ike has vowed to carry on with her life and career despite the failure of her barely five-year-old marriage.
From a family of eight, Ike hails from Anambra State but was raised in Lagos State. She started acting at age six in her local Church and secondary school respectively, where she was also the Senior Prefect, but went professional in 2004, after scaling a Nollywood audition. Ike’s career took a giant leap in 2008, when she co-produced and starred as lead in an African epic, Mirror of Beauty, from the stable of Mr. Andrien Gbinigie-led Atlantic Overseas. Shot on 35mm, the movie was premiered in the UK, and shown in seven cinemas in London, including Odeon and Cineworld, respectively. The big budget movie which stormed Cannes Film Festival, France that same year, also clinched an award at the AMAA.
ACTION!, tried severally to speak with the sexy actress via phone calls and sms, but met a brick wall. When we eventually got her, she claimed to be very busy on set and promised to return our calls, but never did.

Who hates who in Nollywood!

2011-10-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

No doubt, Nollywood is full of haters and secret enemies, an ugly trend that is fast turning the entire industry into a battle field. EE exclusively brings you the shocking list of who hates who in Nollywood as well as reasons for the unending animosity.
The duo of Emeka Ike and Segun Arinze, will forever top the list of warring gladiators in Nollywood. Their age-long beef was further fuelled by the battle for the control of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN). Ike has never accepted Arinze as the national president of the troubled guild. He even went to the court to contest the former’s victory, which he claimed was illegal and fraudulent. The war took another dimension when Ike declared himself the factional president of AGN. Several concerted efforts at reconciling both famous entertainers have always failed with their animosity still raging like a volcanic eruption.
Nollywood star actresses, Oby Edozieh and Tricia Esieigbe are leading the pack of the female gladiators in Nollywood. The former best pals are now sworn enemies with visible anger and hatred for each other. They have equally taken their never-ending war severally to the pages of newspapers and magazines. After resting for a few years, they recently commenced their war of words a couple of weeks ago, with accusations and counter accusations.
Unknown to many of their teeming fans, sexy and stylish screen divas, Monalisa Chinda and Rita Dominic are currently engaged in a fierce cold war. The war of the former best pals dates back to when Monalisa was still married. An insider hinted EE that they now avoid each other like a plague whenever their paths crossed in public places, especially locations and corporate events.
Veteran Nollywood actors Ejike Asiegbu and Kanayo O. Kanayo are currently co-habiting in Nollywood like cat and mouse. In fact, authentic information at our disposal has it that they hardly see face-to-face at any Nollywood event. Their cold war became open when the former accused the latter of conniving with some unscrupulous elements to remove him from office as the then national president of AGN. A move that later failed. All efforts from concerned friends and colleagues of the duo to sheathe their swords proved abortive. Surprisingly, the latter was the former’s best man during his wedding.
London-based Nollywood actress Chioma Toplis and Oge Okoye have not stopped washing their dirty linens in public since their “special friendship” collapsed like packs of poorly arranged cards.
Their war became messier when Toplis accused Oge of damaging appliances and messing up her London apartment whenever she comes visiting and warned her to stop invading her privacy with the choking visits.
Nollywood bad boy, Jim Iyke and Emeka Ike are still threatening fire and brimstone over an age-long altercation that nearly turned fatal on set, if not for some divine intervention.
About-to-wed actress Mercy Johnson has recently added comic star Victor Osuagwu to her long list of enemies. Mercy transferred the hate syndrome to Victor for advising her on the controversial union holding tomorrow. Now, they no longer see eyeball-to-eyeball.
Famous Yoruba actress Iyabo Ojo is currently locked in a battle with emerging star, Lizzy Anjorin. Iyabo has allegedly vowed to teach Lizzy the lesson of her life for daring to disrespect and call her by name in public. For peace to reign supreme, she wants ‘recalcitrant’ Lizzy to always address her as “Auntie mi.”
Last on our warring long list is the duo Vivian Ejike and Emem Isong. Both leading film producers were former best friends and business partners until the centre could no longer hold and things started falling apart. Jealousy and greed were mentioned as the root cause of their open animosity.

AMP election holds tomorrow

2011-10-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

After several postponements, the long awaited election of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) will finally hold tomorrow at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The election which is coming few weeks after that of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) has also polarized Nollywood into factions with a lot of horse trading and arm twisting secretly going on in different camps.
However, unlike that of DGN, where four gladiators battled for the plum office of the president, cerebral and revered filmmaker, Zik Zulu-Okafor, is the only candidate contesting. The other contestants, Ralph Nwadike and Victor Okhai, chickened out for reasons best known to them, very early in the race. With this development, Okafor, in the estimation of keen followers of events in the industry will coast home to victory today without any stiff challenge.
Also contesting for the post of Treasurer, is famous sound tracker, Mike Nliam. He will slug it out with busy producer Kingsley Okereke at today’s polls.
Lawyer-turned filmmaker, Neville Ossai, is the sole candidate for the post of Public Relations Officer, while perennial executive member of the body, Chinasa Onyechere, a former Treasurer, wants to take a shot at the post of Financial Secretary.
Commenting on the election, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezekwe, a member of the Zik Zulu Tink Tank, said they have worked very hard for Zulu and other members in their camp to coast home to victory.
Leading filmmaker and chairman of the Electoral Commission, Chidi Nwokeabia, assured that today’s election will be free and free, adding that only duly registered and financially up-to-date members would be allowed to vote.

One year after: Entertainment Industry yet to get Jonathan’s $200m largesse

2011-10-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

The entertainment and creative industries are still battling and struggling to access the $200 million intervention funds granted them by President Goodluck Jonathan, one year after he publicly made the pledge.
With the numerous controversies and delays trailing the elusive grant, many stakeholders now view it as a mere political statement, which Mr. President used to curry favours from them while campaigning last year.
Several stakeholders and practitioners that spoke with ACTION! on the condition of anonymity, lampooned Mr. President and the relevant authorities for playing unnecessary politics with the funds, which they are also scared would soon disappear into private pockets.
“Last year, we were all happy when Mr. President made the pledge at the 30th anniversary of Silverbird. Since then, we’ve held several meetings with the banks that will help disburse the funds to all the relevant stakeholders and one year after, nothing has come out of it. They keep giving us conditions that are out of this world. We are filmmakers and not politicians who have choice property to give as collateral,” explained one of the angry stakeholders.
Another chafed top practitioner wants Jonathan to come out and openly tell them if the grant was meant for them or not. “Too much politics has entered this grant. When it was announced last year October, we were all happy and looked forward to accessing it without these unnecessary bottle necks. It’s painful that after one year, non of the leading names in the nation’s entertainment and creative sectors have been able to access these funds. What it then means is that either Mr. President or those entrusted with the money are playing politics with it and also not telling us the whole truth about it. We’ve done all they told us to do, yet the funds are still hanging and would soon develop wings.”
Without any hope of accessing the controversial funds in sight, another galled stakeholders who told us he was sick and tired of attending meetings, said they have decided to stage a protest march in Abuja and Lagos, respectively over the issue, in the next couple of weeks.
“With these planned protests we would be able to draw the attention of Mr. President to the challenges we are currently facing in accessing the funds he willingly pledged to us since last year. And when that option fails, we will now agree with the general notion that it was just a mere political statement used in winning over our support during the last election exercise.”
However, Paul Obazele, the about-to-go president of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), is optimistic the funds would soon be made available to the entire industry.
Obazele assured his incensed colleagues to be patient with the relevant financial institutions processing the funds, adding that they were following due process in order to avoid making mistakes.

Gov. Akpabio battles Thisday Newspapers

2011-10-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

All is currently not well between Governor Godswill Akpabio and the management of the Nduka Obaigbena-led Thisday Newspapers.
And the cause of this bitter war of words between the erstwhile good friends ACTION!, reliably gathered had to do with an editorial the former carried recently and thoroughly lambasted the choice of the former, as one of the recipients of a honourary award from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Since publishing the editorial, which the government of Akwa Ibom described as, “damaging, malicious unfair and ill-conceived, the large-hearted Governor that doles out money as if it is going out of fashion, has equally unleashed his media aides on Thisday, through several critical and combustive rejoinders.
In one of the rejoinders written by Usoro I. Usoro, a Senior Special Assistant on Media (Print and Research), to embittered Akpabio, he said Thisday shot itself in the foot, by hitting hard on his principal, in an editorial entitled: “The Abuse of Honourary Degrees”, published on Sunday, September 25.
“…In a piece bereft of solid facts or deeper analytical insights, the paper turned logic on its head and rambled to a ridiculous end… Last year, Thisday gave Gov. Akpabio an award as an Emerging Tiger… Why is Thisday trying to dance naked? Why speak from both sides of the mouth?” While further lampooning Thisday for taking on his boss, Usoro wrote: “Does it mean that Akpabio did enough to deserve Thisday honour, but less to merit an award from another institution? Or is Thisday saying its own awards come too cheap and does not measure up to those from other institutions? Is Thisday questioning its own credibility…?”
Also taking a further swipe at Thisday, in defencee of his principal in another national newspaper, Anietie Ekong, a Special Assistant on Media to Akpabio, maintained that the now very controversial editorial presents a good case study in self negation, contradiction and double-speak. “Indeed, with the ill informed editorial, Thisday has elevated its editorial inconsistency to high level and has fallen victim of the Nigerian malaise of double standard, which should not plague a respected media institution...”
We will definitely keep you posted as these two big masquerades continue to fire and fight dirty in public, over what many are alleging had its root in a business deal gone sour.

Randy South East Governor impregnates wife younger sister

2011-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

A sex scandal of monumental proportion is currently tearing apart the home front of one of the south east governors (names withheld) who allegedly impregnated his beautiful wife’s younger sister in government house.
The unholy liaison, which began between the silver spoon governor and his first lady’s younger sister in 2008, the same year he married madam, had equally produced a love child (boy).
According to government house sources, the heart-broken and shattered First Lady has been threatening fire and brimstone since the painful news of her husband’s betrayal reached her.
Another source hinted that the First Lady unknowingly invited trouble into her home, by bringing her younger sister to live with them in her matrimonial home immediately after marriage.
“Before you could say Jack, the randy governor and the Abia State University graduate started dating under the same roof without her elder sister’s knowledge. This continued until she became pregnant and had the audacity to inform her sister and mentor she was carrying her husband’s baby.”
ACTION! gathered that the First Lady’s pleas and subsequent threats on her younger sibling to abort the pregnancy fell on deaf ears. She even sent thugs after her and the unperturbed governor made arrangements for special security to protect his lover round the clock.
“Our shameless governor eventually sent his mistress to the US to deliver their love child when the threat from his legally married wife was becoming unbearable.
“Her whereabouts till date remains unknown”, hinted this insider working at the government house, where the ugly story is now an open secret.
The scandal, seen as a taboo in Igbo land, had forced the embattled First Lady, who’s State is famous for producing a popular mineral resource, out of public engagements and functions.
“Madam is now an emotional wreck and her heartless husband is grooving and showing no sign of remorse,” squealed another insider.

Nollywood still mourning Donald Okoli

2011-10-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

Nollywood practitioners and colleagues are still mourning and lamenting the recent demise of Donald Okoli, the passionate film producer who died at the Yaba Military Hospital in the morning of Friday, September 23.

Okoli, in his mid 30’s, hailed from Amichi, Anambra State, and was still trying to formalize the union with his fiancée before the evil hands of death wickedly snatched him from his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Reacting on the painful death of the prolific producer with over 50 movies to his credit, Segun Arinze, the national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), lamented that Okoli’s painful exit had further thrown the industry into another mourning period.
“Donald and I were very close and till date, I’m yet to come to terms with the painful news of his death. During the last elections, he was my campaign manager and stood firmly with me through out that period. When I made enquiries, I was told he complained of stomach pain and was rushed to the hospital, where he eventually died. He will be greatly missed by all of us. AGN is planning something big for him.”

For top actress and filmmaker, Stephanie Okereke, who worked closely with the deceased, the shock that accompanied the sad news was too much for her to bear.
“Donald and I were like brother and sister and worked closely on several productions. We were together at the recently concluded NYFA/Delyork training programme. He was a workaholic and very professional and passionate with his job. I won’t say much because God alone knows best,” cried Miss Okereke.

Another top actress and producer, Oby Edozieh, still weeps and curses death, for snatching one of her closest pals in Nollywood. In an emotion-laden voice, Miss Edozieh, who also worked regularly with the deceased said he died barely 24-hour after they finished interacting on BlackBerry phone.
“I initially thought it was one of those phone rumours when the news got to me. I did not believe it until I drove down to his Isolo home that was when it dawned on me that Donald my good friend was no more. If tears could bring back the dead, mine would have brought back Donald Okoli. May his soul rest in peace,” Edozieh prayed in a quaky voice.

Meanwhile, during a recent visit to the deceased Isolo home, a family member told ACTION!, Okoli’s body had been moved to his home town and deposited in a mortuary.
The grieving family member added that they would soon fix a date for the burial.
Also, Okoli’s colleagues in Nollywood are planning a special night of tributes in his honour. The gathering, which date is yet-to-be fixed would be jointly organized by Nollywood and the deceased family members.
A condolence register had since been opened for the departed producer and occasional actor from a family of six, at his Isolo home.

Presidency angry with leadership of Actors Guild

2011-09-26T03:40:00.000-07:00

Goodluck Jonathan, the nation’s entertainment-loving President is at the moment not happy with the leadership of the Segun Arinze-led Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
His anger with the body he loves so much has nothing to do with their lingering battles on the pages of newspapers, neither does it have to do with the way they portray the battered image of the country in various Nollywood movies.
Mr. President’s anger and disappointment, we reliably gathered from an insider, had to do with ingratitude and lack of appreciation on the part of Arinze, his executives and Board of Trustees (BOT).
According to a very senior aide at the Presidency, Mr. President is pissed and thoroughly disappointed with the leadership of AGN, for treating his kind gesture with disdain and levity.

“You won’t believe that Mr. President signed and approved over N6 million to AGN, when they came begging for financial support to aid the treatment of their BOT Chairman, Ifeanyi Dike, in India. Being a friend of Nollywood, Mr. President ensured the prompt approval of the funds that was used for the successful operation. But painfully, till date, not a word of this kind gesture was mentioned in the media by AGN. Not even an official thank you letter from them to Mr. President. With this kind of non-challent attitude, how do you expect Mr. President to come to their aid again?” explained this angry insider.
All efforts to speak with Mr. Arinze on the issue proved abortive, as his phones were switched off.
Meanwhile, the BOT Chairman, Mr. Ifeanyi Dike, who traveled to India, for his Kidney transplant, recently returned home after a successful operation. In a chat with ACTION!, Dike, who is still recuperating, was full of thanks to all those that supported him financially and otherwise.

Shan George survives fatal accident

2011-09-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

What would have amounted to another tragedy in Nollywood was avoided recently when star actress Shan George, miraculously survived a fatal domestic accident.
The life-threatening mishap that kept the bubbly entertainer bed-ridden for over two months was eventually taken care of the traditional way when succour was not forthcoming from orthodox treatment.
Speaking exclusively to ACTION! on why she had been out of circulation, especially in the make-believe world, the mulatto mother of two, disclosed that a domestic disaster kept her indoors for several months.
In the words of the actress turned singer, her being alive today was by the grace of God.
“Sincerely, some months ago, if somebody had told me I would be alive and still move freely with my two legs and whole body, I would have objected. I was home alone at my Ikeja, Lagos residence early this year and slipped off in my bathroom after a cold shower and immediately passed out for five hours. When I finally woke up, I discovered that I could not move any part of my body again. In fact, I thought I was paralyzed. I eventually summoned courage and crawled to my sitting room, picked my phone and alerted my neighbours, who came to my rescue.”
Miss George, further disclosed that her male neighbours that eventually rescued and rushed her to the hospital, actually met her stark naked. “That was to tell you the impact of what happened to me,” she added.
The former controversial actress, who has now fully recovered said she was moved from a specialist hospital after some weeks, to a traditional bone-setters home, when her condition seemed to be deteriorating.
“Thank God, I’m fully back on my feet again and decided to volunteer myself for the Christy Essien’s memorial and other activities leading to her recent burial. As a sign of respect, her event was the first I would be attending since recovering from my domestic accident,” she explained.

Dumdum drops Omeworonya video

2011-09-26T03:34:00.000-07:00

Few months after releasing his debut gospel album, Omeworonya, Elder Stephen Chukwudi Amaeze better known as Dumdum, has equally gone ahead to drop the musical videos of the wave making effort.
The crooner who shuttles between Spain and Nigeria, in a recent chat disclosed that the new videos were shot in Spain, where the post production work also began before its completion here.
From the stable of D-Vista and Chista Records, the beautifully shot videos, including the hit track, Omeworonya are currently ruling the airwaves and eliciting reactions from different quarters.
Speaking on the success of the videos currently being marketed and distributed by Afrobest Production Limited, Obosi, Anambra State-born Dumdum, maintained that the work was divinely inspired, adding that it took him ten years to finish.
“I’m happy so far with the success recorded with the audio and video of my debut work as a gospel artiste. I’m also grateful to all those that were part of this success story.”

The Amatas’ matriarch dies at 81

2011-09-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Madam Joy Omotoyinbo, the matriarch of the famous Amata family is dead. She died in Abuja on Monday, September 12, at the age of 81.
Confirming the sad news, one of her sons and famous Nollywood actor/director, Fred Amata said his late mother would be greatly missed by all her children, grand children and great-grand children.
Emotion-laden Amata, who refused to comment further, insisted the entire family would soon make an official statement and equally announce her burial plans. He however, thanked friends, colleagues and well-wishers that had been calling and commiserating with the Amatas’ since the painful news of his mother’s demise was made public.
“My brother, thanks for calling. My loving and caring mum died this Monday in Abuja. The family would soon make an official statement to that effect. That is all I can say for now, just bear with us,” he pleaded.
Meanwhile, Fred, who recently contested and lost the presidency of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), to Andy Amenechi, is not the only famous thespian from what has now come to be known as the Amata acting dynasty in the nation’s motion picture industry.
His elder brothers, Zack and Ruke are known names in the industry. While the former’s name once ruled TV stations, the latter is still making waves as a professional film director.
Their late father, pioneered filmmaking in Africa with one of the earliest celluloid works that came out of Africa in 1956, Freedom.
Also, Zack’s son, Jeta, is a force to reckon with in Nollywood, where he had produced and directed several blockbusters, including Amazing Grace and of recent, Black Gold.

Mercy Johnson, Mike Ezuruonye renew rivalry

2011-09-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Now married actress Mercy Johnson and Mike Ezuruonye recently renewed their bitter war of words in Nollywood, surprisingly not in real life this time, but in a new Nollywood flick where both stars played antagonistic characters.
Entitled The Feast and from the stable of Sea-World Movies, the duo who once had a real life altercation on set and avoided each other for months before finally settling amicably acted alongside Jibola Dabor, Akeem Rahman, Beverly Nayah and a few others in the fast-selling movie.
Produced by youthful Uchenna Nwankwo and directed by Michael Jaja, the suspense-filled make believe work of art thematically dwells on a Prince’s insatiable appetite for power and mundane cravings as well as the unwholesome end result.
On whether he deliberately featured both Johnson and Ezuruonye, in order to further fuel their “cold war,” Nwankwo, the producer of the controversial flick, currently topping Nollywood charts, said an emphatic no.
“We chose both Mercy and Mike because they were the most qualified for the role while we were casting and suggesting possible names. Again, I’m also happy that the role has further bridged the existing friction between them. No doubt, they were sworn enemies in this movie based on their characters, which I must commend based on their professionalism, but that aside, they were the best of friends while filming lasted,” he explained. The Feast, we equally gathered was one of the last movies Mercy featured in before embarking on her controversial wedding to Mr. Odianose Okojie, an already married father of two.

High Blood Pressure hits shelves

2010-08-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

This is definitely cheering news for movie buffs. After a very successfully premiere/showings at some of the major cinemas in Nigeria, High Blood Pressure, the political thriller directed by top filmmaker Teco Benson, has finally hit shelves nationwide, with a bang.

Parading some of the biggest names in Nollywood, the big budget blockbuster, has been topping charts since its release on DVD, a fortnight ago.

Leading the pack of tested and trusted thespians that thrilled movie buffs in the suspense filled film are the duo of Kanayo O. Kanayo and Clarion Chukwurah. Others on the star-studded bill include: Yemi Blaq, Lilian Bach, Jibola Daboh, Jim Roach and a host of others.

The well-scripted plot of the movie revolves around a greedy politician, his ruthless god-father and an adulterous and scheming wife, all having their eyes on the governorship slot of a troubled state.

In a brief chat with us, Mr. Benson, whose name is synonymous with action thrillers in Nollywood, stated that the theme of the film captures the current mood of the nation, especially now that the race for 2011, is currently heating up the polity.

Also speaking, the executive producer cum marketer of the 2010 AMAA nominated movie, Mr. John Darlington Okonkwo, corroborated Benson’s claim that High Blood Pressure was all about the dirty and evil scheming of irresponsible and power-drunk politicians pretending to be agents of change in the polity.

“We are appealing to movie buffs to buy only the original copies and ignore pirated one’s Okonkwo added. The flick is being marketed and distributed by Good Life productions in collaboration with other video marts.

Nollywood guilds set conditions for foreign productions

2010-08-02T10:03:00.001-07:00

Henceforth, any foreigner coming into Nigeria for movie related productions must be duly cleared by all the guilds in Nollywood as well as the relevant government agencies before being allowed to work.
Aside the necessary clearance, they will equally pay certain amount of levies to the relevant guilds before proceeding to work in Nollywood.
Making the new guidelines known at a recent parley with movie journalists was Mr. Bond Emeruwa, the Chairman of Coalition of Nollywood Guilds and Associations (CONGA). According to him, the move became necessary, because the time has come to protect the Nigerian film industry, with a view to enabling it grow bigger and better.
Emeruwa further argued that the growth will equally increase its capacity to assist other emerging film industries globally.
He said CONGA, has resolved that any film practitioner wishing to work on a project in Nigeria must fulfill the following conditions.
“Obtain a clearance from the Interpol in his country of origin attesting to his criminal status. Apply for and obtain a written permission from the Nigerian Film Corporation. Apply for and obtain a written approval from CONGA, through the appropriate guild or association that best represents the practitioner’s area of practice. Any film practitioner or production company coming into Nigeria is doing so because of the conducive atmosphere. To ensure the continued existence of this atmosphere, there is need for those coming to practice in Nollywood to contribute financially, hence, the need for mandatory levies,” posited Emeruwa.
For foreign actors, producers, directors and screen writers, the sum of $2,500, will be paid respectively, for any job they are embarking on in Nigeria, while production companies are levied $10,000. Creative Designers, Production Managers, Assistant Directors and others will pay between $1,500 and $1,000, respectively. CONGA, also made it clear that any foreign film that seeks to be distributed in Nigeria, must first be censored by the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board as well as registered with the Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria.
It added that a non refundable fee of $10,000, a censorship certificate from the country of origin, a copyright certificate from the country of origin and from the Nigerian Copyright Commission, as well as proof of censorship in Nigeria, must be produced before any foreign film will be distributed.
CONGA, also said that any film produced in Nigeria that parades one or two foreign artistes shall be treated as a foreign film, at the point of distribution, except otherwise stated. It also resolved that any foreign production sited within the geographical area of Nigeria, must have at least 80 percent of its cast and crew as Nigerians.
Speaking further, Emeruwa, also the president of Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) insisted that the new policies, without prejudice, were put in place as parts of the concerted efforts aimed at protecting and inculcating laudable ethics in the Nigerian film industry.
“However, CONGA, reserves the right to modify all these as it pertains to individual countries. And will also consider specific applications for waivers from foreign production companies,” Emeruwa explained.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that the Ghana film industry, known as Ghollywood recently levied the sum of $1,000 and $5,000, respectively on Nigerian actors and producers coming to work in Ghana. Many now see the new initiative from CONGA, as a retaliatory measure against their Ghanaian counterparts that fired the first salvo.

Chico Ejiro opens Nollywood Plantation Bar

2010-08-02T10:00:00.001-07:00

Prolific filmmaker, Chico Ejiro is poised to rock tinsel town with another laudable initiative soon.

The Delta State born movie mogul has concluded plans to officially open his one-stop Nollywood Plantation Bar, to exclusively cater for stars, celebrities, patrons and selected friends of the industry.

According to elated Ejiro, aside choice drinks and specially prepared African cuisines, there will also be big screens to help lovers of football and quality movies relax and network whenever they saunter in.

“We are ready to serve stars and celebs the best of drinks and African cuisines in a very relaxed and nature-friendly environment. Segun Arinze and Shan George will be the Chief bar men on the day of the opening, which is next week Saturday. On a daily basis, we are going to be having different stars as the Chief bar man or women, whose job is to specially serve our high-end guests, while I will be coordinating as the overall officer in charge,” he disclosed.

Ejiro said his reason for setting up the bar was to help stars and celebrities relax in a place that they can call theirs, adding that Nollywood was long over due for a place like the new hang-out. The new joint is situated within the premises of Ejiro’s Grand Touch Pictures office, in the heart of Surulere, Lagos.

Omowunmi Akinnifesi distances self from affair with Naeto C

2010-08-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Lagos State Environmental Ambassador and erstwhile Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Omowunmi Akinnifesi, has condemned the rumour alleging an impending wedding between her and Kini Big Deal crooner, Naeto C. In a recent encounter, the delectable and sexy ex-beauty queen maintained that nothing could be further from the truth. Denying having anything intimate with Naeto C, who is the son of former Aviation Minister, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Wunmi, like her friends call her, wondered why some funny characters now take delight in weaving unpleasant stories around her and her love life. She was first linked with one Dele Fasan, which later turned out to be a ruse. And now, this weird one with Naeto C.
On how the rumour came to her knowledge, the Geography and Regional Planning graduate of the University of Lagos said: “It came to my attention on Twitter, because I don't read magazines that don't have credibility and that can't be sued. My friends and I laughed about it and my first reaction was to ignore it, but then other media houses, big and small, continued to carry the false rumour without confirming from me first”.
Admitting knowing the crooner like all those that listen to his music, she, however, insisted that she doesn't have any relationship whatsoever with Mrs. Chikwe whom the mischief makers alleged is in the know of the non-existent affair, and as a matter of fact hasn't even met her physically.
Visibly embittered Wunmi, urged the wicked tale bearers to get off her back as she's busy working on some special projects and focusing on her newest academic endeavours and ambassadorial work for Lagos State. “As anxious as they are to see me walk down the aisle, let them wait until there is indeed a suitor and I make that person's identity known to the public, not some jobless people imposing somebody on me”.

National Awards: AGN to host Aki, Mama G

2010-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

For making the Nigerian motion picture industry proud, especially Nollywood, the famous duo of Chinedu Ikedieze (MFR), popularly known as Aki and Patience Ozokwo (MON), affectionately called Mama G, by fans will soon be hosted to a lavish reception by the leadership of (Actors Guild of Nigeria AGN). The reception, we reliably gathered is part of the activities lined up for them by AGN, for receiving this year’s edition of the National Honour Awards. “For the duo being singled out this year in the whole of Nigerian motion picture industry, for national awards by Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is a big plus for the entire Nollywood”, enthused AGN national president, Mr. Segun Arinze.

Continuing, the popular actor, who was full of praises for Mr. President, further disclosed that a special committee to be headed by star actress, Stella Damasus, had already been set up, in order to ensure a befitting reception for the duo soon.

“On behalf of AGN, let me also use this opportunity to heartily congratulate Chinedu and Patience on their well-deserved national awards honour by the federal government. In fact, the entire AGN members and Nollywood community are happy for the awards. Our national secretariat was agog with celebrations the day the awards were presented to them. We equally thanked the federal government for this kind gesture and urge them to honour more Nollywood practitioners, for we have really done great to launder the battered image of this great nation through our laudable productions. Thank you Mr. President”, Arinze concluded.

Also speaking, top actress and filmmaker, Stephanie Okereke said the news of the national awards gladdens her heart, adding that the recognition would definitely spur Nollywood practitioners to do more for fatherland. She equally thanked the federal government for further elevating Nollywood with the recent awards, maintaining that the awards were a step in the right direction for the industry. In her words: “Sincerely, I was so happy when the sweet news reached me. Nollywood has really done great for this country and recognizing us with such honours will ever make us go to the next level with our creativity. I’ve stood side by side with world leaders because of this great industry, which has really repositioned our battered image. It is an industry that has brought joy, happiness, employment, fame and fortune to most homes. It has also created great role models for this nation. We sincerely thank Mr. President for the honour and equally look forward to more recognition from his government,” she posited.

According to the spokesman of AGN, Mr. Abu Yakubu, the reception’s date and venue would be made public soon and equally communicated to all the expected special guests. Meanwhile, in a recent chat, the newly decorated star actor, maintained that the award was fulfilling, adding that it was also a thing of joy to be singled out in the whole of Nigeria for the honour.

Black and White Ball rules Lagos

2010-08-02T09:51:00.001-07:00

Lagos, the centre of excellence rocked and roared endlessly penultimate Sunday evening when Encomium, the magazine and awards company hosted its high-octane, all glitz and all glamour six-hour soiree. Stylishly christened The Black and White Ball, the series two of the grand gathering, which incorporated the Elegance and Style awards alongside a spectacular and scintillating fashion show, was well attended by stars, celebs and the glitterati.
Held elaborately at the upscale and enchanting Darlington Hall, situated in the heart of Ilupeju, the fun filled and memorable evening was sensationally anchored by A-list actor and man of style, Chidi Mokeme, whom many of his colleagues from Nollywood also attended.
With colours black and white visible in all corners of the well-decorated and lavishly-lit hall, the breath-taking bash officially began with a fashion show. Amazingly, some of the reigning and revered couturiers that showcased the best of Nigerian fashion with eclectic designs, mostly for soignées present at the graceful outing that afforded high-net-worth guests the opportunity and time to relax, chit-chat and network included chiseled models from JD7 and Zizi. Others that dazzled on the runway include: Vigold, Imol, Shakara, House of Nwocha, Nobel Afrik, Adu, Rouge and Design for Love. Unarguably, one of Nigeria’s most colourful and glamourous assemble of celebs, stars, glamozons, fashionistas and stylish professionals, The Black and White Ball, truly lived up to its pre event media hypes and hailing. Aside hosting and serenading all with good music and enchanting fashion parade in a conducive environment, the organizers equally made provisions for surplus victuals. The choice drinks and assorted cuisines kept pouring in for those with large appetites to keep devouring and savouring. Of course, the availability of small chops and canapés gave room for more jollifications and munching.
The rendezvous climaxed with the special presentations of the Elegance and Style Awards 2010, where well-deserving awards were presented to awardees in 18 different categories. This year’s affair, which is still a topic of discussion on the lips of many, especially those privileged to grace, was themed: Elegance is ennobling, and as expected, the few that refused to comply with the dress code of black and white, all black or all white plush ensembles were thoroughly bounced at the entrance gate. While the good, great, gorgeous and glamourous that conformed to the rules and regulations were specially ushered into the enthralling event that began with a photo-session, outside the main hall.
Commenting on the prom, the elated head honcho of Encomium Ventures, Mr. Olakunle Bakare, a meticulous and respected man of style, thanked all those that made the ball possible and successful, adding that another spell-binding edition is already being planned for 2011.

Emem Isong serenades with two-in-one premiere

2010-08-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

Few months after the grand opening of her acting school, Royal Arts Academy, leading female film producer, Emem Isong is poised to dazzle Nollywood again with double world premieres under one roof. This Sunday evening, Isong and the duo of Uche Jombo and Desmond Elliot will be storming the posh Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos, with Bursting Out and Holding Hope. While Isong, single handedly produced the former flick, she collaborated with Jombo and Elliot, on the latter. According to her, Bursting Out, is a romantic comedy that sensationally treats contemporary issues, on a lighter note, while Holding Hope, dwells on the dreaded disease, cancer. “The former is a romantic story that will make you laugh and laugh, while the latter is a very serious story that treated painfully, the issue of cancer. In fact, it’s a tragic story about the vicissitudes of life and a dying mother’s love for her only son. Both movies will make you laugh and cry, meaning there is a balance for our entire invited guests coming for the premieres,” she maintained.

Bursting Out, starred Genevieve Nnaji, Majid Michael, Omoni Oboli, Susan Peters and Uti of the Big Brother fame. The quartet of Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Nadia Buari and Ngozi Nwosu thrilled in Holding Hope, which was shot in both Lagos and New York, respectively. The anticipated evening of fun, relaxation and high-level networking, which is strictly by invitation, will begin with a Red Carpet at exactly 4.30pm. The premieres proper, will kick off at 7pm, with Bursting Out, jointly directed by Daniel Ademinokhai and Desmond Elliot. Shedding more light on the premieres being proudly powered by her Royal Arts Academy, Isong, with over 20 blockbusters to her credit, disclosed that they have concluded plans to embark on a seven-city tour with both movies immediately after the Sunday outing. “We have concluding arrangements with our foreign partners to storm London, Houston, New York, Toronto and Accra with these movies between now and early 2011. We also want to have follow up premieres in Abuja and Port-Harcourt soon. The aim of all these is to create the much needed awareness for these films before releasing them on DVD, courtesy of Royal Arts Academy. It is always good to promote good and exceptional productions and that is what we have decided to do with these two movies. Nollywood is now a global force and institution that the world looks up to and we must keep sustaining that tempo with great works and special premieres,” she hinted.

On why she and her partners are premiering two films same day, under one roof, the Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Calabar, reminded us that this outing will not be the first time they would be embarking on such projects. “Remember that last year, Desmond, Uche and I, premiered two blockbusters, Guilty Pleasures and Nollywood Hustlers same day, under one roof and same venue. And it was a huge success, we decided to leverage on that success for another great outing this Sunday. It’s our style and we want to keep leveraging on it because it works effectively for us”, she disclosed.

Meanwhile, VIP tickets for the two-in-one premiere that is currently serenading Tinsel town are also available on special requests. The dress code for the event is glamourous.

AY storms Abuja, opens comedy club, gets new website

2010-08-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

Multi-talented entertainer Ayo Richard Makun and his team are poised to storm Abuja on Sunday, August 29, for the second edition of his popular comedy and music concert, AY LIVE. Tagged: Implication 2010, Makun, has boasted that residents of the Federal Capital Territory would definitely have the greatest fun of their lives as he invades Abuja on the D-Day with his entourage.
The concert which is expected to hold at the prestigious This Day Dome would be parading some of the biggest names in the Nigerian entertainment industry. Some of the stars on the bill include: Tuface, Wande Coal, MI, Dr. Sid and a host of other top rated musical acts. Stand up comics to perform are: Gordons, I Go Dye, Seyi Law, Mc Abbey, Buchi and more. Also co-hosting the show alongside Makun is Nollywood top actress, Genevieve Nnaji.
Shedding more light on the forthcoming show, Makun also the CEO of AY TV, called on all residents in Abuja to keep Sunday, August 29, in their hearts, as the show promises to be fun filled and memorable.
In a related development, AY as he’s affectionately called, has equally declared open his long awaited comedy club dubbed: AY’s Open Mic Comedy Club. Speaking on the rationale behind the new and laudable initiative, the Ondo State born comedian disclosed that his burning desire to promote comedy and the entertainment business in general necessitated the move. “It’s basically a monthly comedy and variety show intended to entertain a distinct audience of high class, polished taste, decision makers and socially responsible individuals. It is designed to hold every second Saturday of the month at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel and Casino, Victoria Island Lagos, Nigeria”.
While unveiling the new project, the Theatre Arts graduate of the Delta State University, revealed that over the years he had observed a reduction in the attendance of decision makers and audience of high class partaking in comedy and entertainment events. “In view of this, AY in collaboration with Sun International, operators of the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino teamed up to painstakingly put the monthly show.”
On the bill for the debut edition were a host of popular comedians and musicians including, Gordons, Klint D Drunk, Seyi Law, Banky W, Yemi Sax, Godbless and his Ebony band among others.
In line with his pledge to always discover new talents, all editions of the monthly show would begin with a comedy challenge featuring five contestants. The winner goes home with a prize and an automatic ticket to take part in all “AY LIVE” comedy concerts nationwide. Emerging names like: Seyi Law, Elenu, Emeka Smith, MC Shakara and a host of others were discovered through this same medium.
Meanwhile, to further connect with his teeming fans as well as maintain a global appeal, the presenter/producer of the famous AY Show, recently launched his new website.
“Here, you can find almost everything about AY’s profile, biography, photo galleries, and clips of his live shows, his awards and more. The site aims to provide his up to date news and views together with many links to sites with information on local and national interests. In addition, the website aims to provide an effective service between AY and his fans through other applications such as Face book, twitter, YouTube and more. It’s simply www.ayshow.tv,” added one of his aides.

More tears for Toun Oni in Nollywood

2010-07-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

Ahead of her forthcoming burial , more Nollywood stars and stakeholders are still wailing and lamenting the irreparable loss of veteran actress, Toun Oni.

In an emotion-laden chat with us, top actress and producer, Stephanie Okereke said the sad news came to her as a rude shock, adding that she wept all day. “The sad news spoilt my whole day and completely devastated me. I’m not trying to question God for his actions, but why must it be her?” She queried. Miss Okereke, equally prayed God to give the Oni family, the fortitude to bear the loss.

Also speaking, the immediate past national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Mr. Ejike Asiegbu, who’s currently in Australia for a movie related engagement, told us he read the news online and became emotionally shattered through out that day. “Just like I got the bad news of the fire incident that ravaged The Sun online, I also read the sad news of Mama T’’s death online here in Australia. On behalf of myself and family, I sincerely commiserate with the entire family and pray they find solace in the bosom of our God, for He alone gives and takes. The deceased was a fantastic actress and would remain so even in death. The entire Nigerian motion picture industry will miss her immense talent. Adieu Mama T,” Asiegbu lamented.

With a painful voice, the head honcho of O’Jez Entertainment Centre, Mr. Anayo Odobeatu, said his monthly Entertainment Forum, had penciled down the deceased for hosting, before the sad news shattered the wonderful plan. He regretted the fact that Oni would no longer be hosted by the forum. “The news of Toun Oni’s death was a big loss to the nation’s entertainment industry, especially the motion picture sector. We had already concluded plans to host her before the end of this year, for her giant contributions to the industry. In fact, the letter was ready; we were about sending it to her when the sad news reached us. Maybe, we might decide to honour her post humously in a very special way. With tears in my eyes, I sincerely sympathize with her entire family and pray that her soul rests in peace, because she was a role model that inspired many with her career,” Odobeatu posited.

Meanwhile, reliable information reaching us has it that the AGN, under the current leadership of Segun Arinze, said they would join the family in giving the deceased a befitting burial. In the words of Arinze, Toun Oni, lived a good and exemplary life as an outstanding actress and deserved to be celebrated, even in death. “We’ll do our best in collaboration with her family to ensure that Mama T, gets a befitting burial.”

Top producer, Donald Okoli, while lamenting regretted that the talented actress, would no longer be part of a production, he had earlier drafted her into, adding that she would be greatly missed by all.

It would be recalled that the first wife of Chief Fuji, in the hit comedy series, Fuji House of Commotion, died last Wednesday, after complaining of severe headache. As an accomplished thespian, she traversed both the stage and screen, in a memorable career that spanned close to four decades.

Meanwhile, in a related development, several Nollywood practitioners are raising concerns over the state of health of actor, Prince James Uche. Confirmed information at our disposal has it that the thespian, who once contested the presidency of AGN, is lying critically ill at a hospital in Surulere, Lagos, and has been on admission there for over a week.

Nigerians in Indonesia, other parts of the world cry out over extra-judicial killings

2010-07-03T23:15:00.000-07:00

Incessant reports of how Nigerian immigrants and businessmen are usually hounded and in most cases, killed or executed like common criminals in most parts of the world without regard to the rule of law, is increasing at an alarming rate.

And painfully, the silence or lukewarm attitude of the Nigerian government to the plight of these ‘unfortunate’ Nigerians, either dead or languishing in prisons abroad (most on death row), is quite disturbing, heartbreaking and urgently calls for national concern.
In fact, following the recent brutal killing of three Nigerian men who were on business trip to Jakarta, Indonesia, by security operatives, a pressure group, Save Nigerians Living Abroad (SNLA), has called on the Jonathan government to immediately put an end to the rampant extra-judicial killings and illegal detentions of innocent Nigerians residing or doing businesses in Indonesia and other parts of the world.

Daily Sun exclusively gathered that the three Nigerians, Oliver Uchechukwu Osondu, Chinedu Joseph Chukwurah and Onyebuchi Richard Maduakor, were randomly picked on the streets of Jakarta, while going for business meetings and killed, for simply being blacks and proudly carrying the Nigerian passports with pride.

Regrettably, the gruesome killings of Osondu and Chukwurah in broad day light were very pathetic and smacks of wickedness and hate, for Nigerians residing in Indonesia. Narrating the dastard act to Daily Sun, Mr. Okechi Chukwudi, the national coordinator of (SNLA), in an emotion-laden voice disclosed that a fellow Nigerian, who was arrested while eating in a restaurant, sent an SOS to Osondu. “Upon Osondu’s arrival, he was immediately arrested, killed and buried in the presence of the fellow he came to rescue, by security operatives.”

While Maduakor from Imo State, we were told was brutally killed because the security operatives scrolled and saw his phone number, which was the last dialed, in the handset of a fellow Nigerian that had earlier been picked on the street, while going for a business meeting with his papers intact.

In the case of Chukwurah, he was arrested on the street and shot at close range like a common criminal, after being tortured like the two others.

The brutality and bestiality of the Indonesian Police and other security agencies are the fears of all Nigerians living or coming regularly to transact business in the Asia country.

Daily Sun reliably gathered that out of the 20 Nigerians currently on death rows awaiting the hangman’s noose, two had already been executed, without fair trials, despite pleas from several Nigerians and Rights Groups. They were: Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye and Tony Hassan.

Daily Sun further gathered that all the condemned men were hurriedly tried and sentenced to death in Kangaroo courts where only Indonesian language was used in passing judgments, thereby denying them the right to fair trials.

According to Chukwudi, the Jonathan government should help put an end to the wicked and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians, especially vulnerable businessmen in Indonesia. It’s also a pity that in 2009, this issue was brought to the notice of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Maduekwe, but he could not do anything. “In fact, the Yar’Adua administration sent him to Indonesia over these incessant killings last year, but he achieved nothing. On behalf of SNLA, we are appealing with the new minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia to quickly revisit this matter and help save the lives of these 18 Nigerians already condemned to death in Indonesia. All these men condemned to death are bread winners of their respective families and the Nigerian government should not allow or watch them die like chickens or common criminals. Something must be done now to save these precious lives. We also have Indonesians living freely and doing businesses in Nigeria. Our security agencies have never illegally arrested or killed them for coming to Nigerian. So, why is our case different? It’s a shame that the world over Nigerians are being hounded and killed like common criminals, because they are always proud carrying the Nigerian passport. We have started the campaign that will help save the precious lives of Nigerians living or traveling abroad for works and businesses, and we are appealing to the government to support us in this campaign. An average Nigerian is hard-working, obedient, respectful and not a criminal?”

Meanwhile, a couple of weeks ago, the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora headed by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Eruwa, demanded for justice on the murder of a Nigerian in Warsaw, Poland, by the Polish Police on May 23. Lamenting the death Eruwa said that as a nation, we must always demand fair and better treatment of our citizens abroad. “The death of another Nigerian in Poland indicates the pathetic treatment meted out to Nigerians abroad. We must take a holistic look at the incessant cases of deaths of Nigerians abroad and demand better treatment. The last time a Nigerian was killed by the Swiss Police, their ambassador in Nigeria only apologized and that was it”, she recalled bitterly.

Also speaking recently with journalists during the inauguration of a book entitled: Nigeria’s 50 Legislative Icons: The Story of a Transformative Legislature (1999 -2009) Hon. Eruwa raised another alarm on the fate of Nigerians residing abroad.

The former broadcaster turned lawmaker posited that except stringent steps were taken, many more Nigerians stand the risks of being executed abroad.

At the event, the lawmaker also faulted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its worrisome silence over the tragic matter, claiming that she receives text messages every-two hours from Nigerians languishing in foreign prisons.

She also kicked against the lukewarm attitude of the former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Maduekwe, to the plight of Nigerians in prisons abroad.

Hon. Eruwa also joined the Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP), in condemning the recent execution of Nigerians in Libya, by the Ghaddafi government. Hear her again: “We raised an alarm that Nigerians were about to be executed in Liberia, the Foreign Affairs Minister then said it was not true ,but we persisted and got them back…So, this is another batch that has been executed and another batch would be executed. It’s like a quarterly thing if we do not do something. We need to bring back our Charge d’ Affairs in Libya, we need to go there and make strong presentations, because if we keep quiet more Nigerians will be executed.”
Still condemning the executions, SERAP also called on President Jonathan to put in place measures to help investigate the reported executions of Nigerians living abroad, especially those residents in Indonesia and Libya.

SERAP particularly urged Jonathan to call for an extraordinary session of the African Union Assembly to deliberate on the executions of Nigerians and nationals of other African countries in Libya, as a strategic way of addressing the recurring and very ugly incident.
“How can you hurriedly condemn to death, a man who do not have access to lawyers and do not understand the trials proceedings because they are not translated in the language he understands?” asked embittered Chukwudi.

Human rights campaign group, Amnesty International has also strongly condemned the reported execution of 18 foreigners, including some Nigerians in Libya recently. “Libya executes a disproportional large number of foreigners every year,” said Amnesty International.

Shockingly, the recent revelation by Mr. Fola Rahman, a UK based Legal Practitioner and immigration consultant that 20,000 Nigerians are currently languishing in various UK prisons, is another embarrassment and ugly tale that the Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should try and tackle urgently.

Fans lambast Mercy Johnson

2010-06-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Movie buffs, especially mothers and wives are currently pissed and thoroughly disappointed with Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson. And the reason for their seething anger, we reliably gathered has to do with Miss Johnson’s new-found passion of garbing in skimpy attires and deliberate flaunting of her boobs in movies and social engagements.

In fact, one of these women that attended a recent Nollywood wedding with her husband and two children, told us she hurriedly left the venue with her family, the moment Johnson ‘invaded’ with her near-nude attire. “We thought her cleavages will pop out of her skimpy attire that revealed so much from her upper region. When my family and I could no longer bear the ugly sight, we hurriedly and angrily left the very colourful wedding. My kids that used to see her as their role model immediately discarded her. How can she come to a social event garbed like that, knowing very well that she’s also a role model to several youths in the society, who equally look up to her. In fact, in my household, we’ve also stopped watching her movies, because of the skimpy things she’s fond of donning.”

Also speaking, another angry female fan of the Kogi State-born actress accused Johnson of deliberately donning skimpy attires on/off locations without regard for the womenfolk. “Are Genevieve, Omotola, Monalisa, Oge, Funke and the rest of them not top actresses, did we ever see them donning skimpy attires or overtly flaunting and exposing their boobs, why is Mercy Johnson’s case very different”, asked this bitter lady. Fuming further, she raged: “We are tired of Johnson’s ways of dressing. She’s not representing us well as a role model. Enough of this her boobs flaunting and skimpy attires, it’s now very disgusting and debasing us.”

Meanwhile, a recent sms from another pissed fan, pleaded with the controversial and still single thespian to desist from disgracing the womenfolk with her new-found passion for skimpy wears. “We are tired of Mercy Johnson’s new dress sense. If you watch her in movies, meet her at events or even buy papers to read, you keep seeing her flaunting her boobs and deliberately revealing parts of her body. We are tired of her insulting our sensibilities. Is she the only Nigerian actress? Well, my family and I have started boycotting any film that features her, in our home. My kids are even complaining and that makes it more disturbing. Please, help us beg her to stop now. If she wants to go nude, let her do that within the confines of her bedroom, and not in movies, social events or the pages of magazines. Some of us have husbands and we do not want them to begin to think otherwise because of Mercy Johnson. Enough of this her madness,” lambasted this mother, who incidentally reached us from Johnson’s State, Kogi.

A mischievous guy, who called from London, pointed out that Johnson might end up baring -it-all in movies with the way she is currently going. “I will be happy to see Mercy bare-it-all in movies, since that is what she enjoys doing these days in movies and real life.”

Painfully too, a top filmmaker that spoke with us on the condition of anonymity pooh-poohed Johnson, for disgracing them with her near-nude wears and constant exposure of her cleavages in movies and events, within and outside Nollywood. “Mercy’s case is giving us a big concern in Nollywood. We still cannot fathom what she wants to achieve with this constant and irresponsible exposures. When she joined Nollywood a few years ago, she was not like this... Very shy and humble, stardom has completely changed her. But is she the first or only female star in Nollywood? She should watch it before it backfires on her...”

EKOIFF unveiled at Cannes, gets KODAK support

2010-05-31T09:57:00.000-07:00

Hope Obioma Opara, the president and co founder of the forthcoming Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF), just returned from the recently held 63rd edition of the annual Cannes International Film Festival, France. He shared his experience with us and further spoke on his plans and preparations for EKOIFF, which he also unwrapped at the global film gathering. “I attended this year’s Cannes in my capacities as the president of EKOIFF and also as the publisher of Supple magazine. But unlike last year’s, Nigeria did not have a pavilion and
only a few Nigerian journalists were there.

The Lagos state government sent the Permanent Secretary for
Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs and the Censors Board. Also Mr.
and Mrs. Fashola, the amiable parents of Governor Babatunde Raji
Fashola of Lagos State were there. The Lagos state delegation came to Cannes to promote the Lagos Film
City project, which is to be located in Badagry. The Lagos Film City will be the
Hollywood of Nigeria when completed. And we met with top executives of KODAK at an
exclusive party on a luxury yacht, where the Lagos state delegation
publicized the Lagos Film City project and I also informed the international
guests about the EKOIFF, coming up in Lagos this
July. I had a very important meeting with KODAK executives on how we can improve the quality of Nollywood cinematography.

We also talked about them supporting EKOIFF.”
Speaking on the major attractions at Cannes, Opara said Senegal and
South Africa competed for the top prizes and one of the most moving and
touching films was “Life, Above All", a movie on the stigma and trauma of
AIDS in South Africa. “Many of the viewers left the theatre in tears after
seeing it. But the big question at the festival was where is Nollywood? We need to work harder to compete with the best in the film world. I am very confident that we have all it takes in terms of ambitious directors, daring producers, outstanding actors and actresses to pitch in every film festival in the world. And that is why we want to use EKOIFF to bring the film world to Lagos every
July and attract thousands of tourists to Nigeria.”

On the number of films that had been submitted so far for EKOIFF, Opara further disclosed thus: “We have received over 33 films so far and 21 of them are by
filmmakers from Europe and other parts of the world, including a Spanish
film that has won over 100 awards, and one film called “Made in Japan”. We
are excited that many foreign filmmakers are willing to come to Nigeria
for EKOIFF.

We are doing our best with able members of the Organizing Committee
and our European media partners who have publicized EKOIFF to over 4,000 filmmakers and over 77, 000 film festival media
agencies in the world.

We need the cooperation and support of the Lagos state government since
this is the host state, the federal government, the local and
multinational companies and everyone to do their best to join us to make
the inaugural outing a success. Nigerian filmmakers and others should go to our website for accreditation details.”

EKOIFF unveiled at Cannes, gets KODAK support

2010-05-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

Hope Obioma Opara, the president and co founder of the forthcoming Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF), just returned from the recently held 63rd edition of the annual Cannes International Film Festival, France. He shared his experience with us and further spoke on his plans and preparations for EKOIFF, which he also unwrapped at the global film gathering. “I attended this year’s Cannes in my capacities as the president of EKOIFF and also as the publisher of Supple magazine. But unlike last year’s, Nigeria did not have a pavilion and
only a few Nigerian journalists were there.
The Lagos state government sent the Permanent Secretary for
Tourism and Inter-Governmental Affairs and the Censors Board. Also Mr.
and Mrs. Fashola, the amiable parents of Governor Babatunde Raji
Fashola of Lagos State were there. The Lagos state delegation came to Cannes to promote the Lagos Film
City project, which is to be located in Badagry. The Lagos Film City will be the
Hollywood of Nigeria when completed. And we met with top executives of KODAK at an
exclusive party on a luxury yacht, where the Lagos state delegation
publicized the Lagos Film City project and I also informed the international
guests about the EKOIFF, coming up in Lagos this
July. I had a very
important meeting with KODAK executives on how we can improve the quality
of Nollywood cinematography. We also talked about them supporting EKOIFF.”
Speaking on the major attractions at Cannes, Opara said Senegal and
South Africa competed for the top prizes and one of the most moving and
touching films was “Life, Above All", a movie on the stigma and trauma of
AIDS in South Africa. “Many of the viewers left the theatre in tears after
seeing it. But the big question at the festival was where is Nollywood? We need to work harder to compete with the best in the
film world. I am very confident that we have all it takes in terms of
ambitious directors, daring producers, outstanding actors and actresses to
pitch in every film festival in the world. And that is why we want to use
EKOIFF to bring the film world to Lagos every
July and attract thousands of tourists to Nigeria.”
On the number of films that had been submitted so far for EKOIFF, Opara further disclosed thus:
“We have received over 33 films so far and 21 of them are by
filmmakers from Europe and other parts of the world, including a Spanish
film that has won over 100 awards, and one film called “Made in Japan”. We
are excited that many foreign filmmakers are willing to come to Nigeria
for EKOIFF.
We are doing our best with able members of the Organizing Committee
and our European media partners who have publicized EKOIFF to over 4,000 filmmakers and over 77, 000 film festival media
agencies in the world.
We need the cooperation and support of the Lagos state government since
this is the host state, the federal government, the local and
multinational companies and everyone to do their best to join us to make
the inaugural outing a success. Nigerian filmmakers and others should go to our website for accreditation details.”

Vivian Ejike’s Private Storm shocks Nollywood

2010-05-31T09:39:00.001-07:00

Following the huge success recorded with her last movie, Silent Scandal, which equally snatched a joint plaque at this year’s AMAA, sexy, stylish and meticulous female film producer, Vivian Ejike, is poised to drop another bombshell for Nollywood, movie buffs and her teeming fans and followers very soon.
The former top banker who cherishes rare and exotic titles for her numerous works, calls this one- A Private Storm. Can you beat that? Written, passionately produced and funded by Miss Ejike, a French graduate from the University of Port-Harcourt, the star-studded flick has an admixture of leading thespians drawn from both Nollywood and the emerging Ghana film industry also known as Gollywood. Leading the galaxy of stars that dazzled in the movie, which thematically centres on domestic violence and abuse are the duo of Ramsey Noah and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde. Also on board the big budget movie are popular names such as: Ngozi Ezeonu, Ufuoma Ejenabor , Ghanaian import, John Dumelo and a host of others. Shot and directed on several choice locations within and outside the Lagos metropolis by the duo of Lancelot Imasuen and Ikechukwu Onyeka, A Private Storm, promises to be a generational change for Nollywood when eventually released.
“In fact, A Private Storm is a movie that is bound to take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. It will make you laugh, cry, sad, mad, happy, love, hate, and then.... you’ll want to love all over again,” said Ejike.

The movie which was shot with the best technical equipments, courtesy of Ejike’s Purple Pine Production studios, is an expose on domestic abuse and violence, an unspoken evil, which ravages our society today and the silent acceptance by victims.

Speaking further, widely-traveled Ejike, from Nri, Anambra State disclosed that A Private Storm will be premiered in major cities around the world before finally being released on DVD. “I can assure you that fans and movie lovers are in for a thrill with A Private Storm,” she added.

A quick glance at the synopsis of the coming blockbuster further reveals this exciting scenario. “Handsome, young, suave and successful, Alex is a total package.... with a massive grudge!! On the other hand, pretty, young and sassy Gina is living every girl’s dream. Engaged to the most eligible bachelor, she does seem to have it all.....However, beyond the picture-perfect lives of Alex and Gina, lie a huge ego, a massive insecurity, a monstrous rage, a fierce passion, an unconditional love and a determination beyond reasonable limits, all of which set in motion, the rapid wheels of an impending storm, whose rage could destroy all in its path.”
Also gathered that Miss Ejike and her crew intend to storm some major international film festivals with this great make –believe work of art this year. All these are aimed towards giving the film the international appeal and attention that it truly deserves, before releasing it on shelves.

Nigerian filmmaker shines with Hollywood-bound movie, Legacy

2010-05-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

Nigerian-born-London-based writer and director Thomas Ikimi recently made history and attracted global attention, especially from Hollywood and other serious filmmaking nations, when he held the world premiere of his new movie, Legacy. The well-publicized event took place at the closing gala of the Glasgow international film festival, Scotland. The highly commendable feat, alongside the film, are still enjoying rave reviews among some leading Western media organizations, especially those based in Hollywood. Legacy, a psychological thriller produced by Scotland-based Black Camel Pictures in collaborations with Deal Real, Nigeria, stars international actor and one of Britain’s brightest acting talents, Idris Elba.
Legacy, which revolves around a traumatized US black soldier that went AWOL after an assignment in Eastern Europe, is the second feature film from Ikimi, which he equally co-produced. According to elated Ikimi, all the funding for Legacy, came from Nigerian corporations and individuals. Speaking further, he said: “Without a doubt, this film couldn’t have been made without the support I got when I came to Nigeria to raise capital. None of the investors had been involved with financing films before, but they wanted to support me because they believed in the idea of a young Nigerian making a mark on the international motion picture scene as a creator, not as an actor.”
Elba, who’s fondly remembered for his role in The Wire, portrays the character of Malcolm Gray in Legacy. Other international thespians that supported Elba in the film are: Clark Peters, Eamonn Walker, Richard Brake, Monique Curnen and Julian Wadham. Commenting on the movie, Elba had this to say: “The script was phenomenal and halfway through reading it; I was convinced I wanted to do the film…” Also, with an executive producer role in the movie, Elba was very involved with the project. “There are many themes in the film, but you are allowed to walk away at the end with your own idea of what you have seen… It was a very complex film for me to make as an actor,” he added.
Interestingly, Ikimi’s first feature film, Limbo, was made in 2005, while he was still a student at the Columbia University, New York. It was financed on his student’s credit card. According to Amrit Walia of Deal Real Entertainment who partnered with Ikimi on Legacy, they were delighted working with Ikimi on the first ever movie of its kind, written, produced and directed from Africa for Hollywood and the global film audience. Legacy was made on a budget of fewer than one million Dollars, and Ikimi believes that was a proof that developing a more robust media production studio representing Nigeria, West Africa and Africa as a whole, is possible. Ikimi hinted that he intends to develop films and media linked more directly to Nigeria and African stories and themes. He also believes that it won’t be long before Nigeria can produce films that regularly compete for top honours and acclaim at the international box offices, awards and festivals.
In a telephone chat with us, Mr. Paris Harcourt, the media consultant to the producers of Legacy, disclosed that a world premiere of the movie would hold in Nigeria, towards the last quarter of 2010, adding that it vividly tells the psychological story of two brothers in conflict.

A2Z shoots Igbo action movie… sets new car ablaze

2010-05-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Ndi-nto (Kidnappers), a new action packed Igbo language movie is poised to thrill and serenade movie buffs within and outside Nollywood soon. From the award winning stable of Arinze Ezeanyaeche-led A2Z Production, the forthcoming flick would definitely revolutionize Nollywood in terms of storyline, costumes and high-end props. Shedding more light on the big budget movie currently being shot on locations in Delta, Anambra, Edo and Lagos States respectively, youthful Ezeanyaeche further revealed that his brand new Peugeot 406 car, was equally set ablaze and burnt beyond recognition, while shooting a dangerous scene in Asaba. On why he’s returning to movie making, after a five-year hiatus from Nollywood, Ezeanyaeche, whose stable churned out acclaimed movies such as: End of Money, Jadon, Desperate Billionaire, Awilo, Goodbye New York and several others, disclosed that he decided to stage a big come back, because of his love and undying passion for Nollywood and movie buffs. “My love for Nollywood is unrivalled. Having watched Nollywood drifting apart for so long and moving without direction, I decided to help balance and stable the industry with this new movie. At least, it’s an action packed and well scripted Igbo language movie, which I’m optimistic will help revive Nollywood as well as the already dead Igbo language movies in Nollywood. It took me five years to research on this project, which I’m very sure would take Nollywood to the next level. Our dream at A2Z Production is to always give Nollywood the best. And I can assure you that Ndi-nto, which mirrors the current insecurity in Nigeria, is a blockbuster with a global appeal and message…”
Directed by Arinze Ezeanyaeche with hi-tech production equipment; the fast paced non-stop thriller equally parade names like: Ernest Asuzu, Gentle Jack, David Nwajei and a host of others in tough-talking roles and well-directed stunts.
“Although, it was not easy, but I burnt my glittering Peugeot 406, to bring out the best in this movie. In a nutshell, it’s the story of a crooked Governor who abandoned the thugs that helped him get into office… The consequences are better imagined than experienced… Expect full action when the movie comes out later this year”, said Ezeanyaeche whose outfit discovered the singing duo of J-Matins and Duncan Mighty.

International endorsements for Eko film festival

2010-05-12T11:54:00.001-07:00

With experiences and ideas gathered over the years while attending film festivals around the globe, Hope Opara is poised to host the first ever Eko international film festival between July 7 and 12, 2010. His passion and journey into the world of film festivals began in November 2008, when he attended the 30th edition of the Nantes film festival in France.

He later raised the stakes when he attended the 62nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and had a memorable encounter with super star actress, Angelina Jolie. He happily documented the life changing meeting in Supple magazine, which he started publishing and editing since August 2008, after six years experience as a successful printer.

Hope returned home with the motivation to launch a new film festival buoyed by the much publicized report of Nigeria as having the largest movie-making industry in Africa and the second largest in the world.

“A close associate of mine came up with the name: Eko International Film Festival. He posted it online in August 2009. By the following month, it was duly registered by me. Both of us had never undertaken any film festival project before now and knew definitely that we would be needing help.”

He eventually found a mentor in the person of Bruno Chatelin, co-founder of filmfestivals.com, a web portal launched in 1995. Bruno was in charge of the launch of over 250 films during his tenure as Marketing Director and Managing Director for Columbia TriStar Films and Twentieth Century Fox.

After meeting Bruno in Paris, they sealed a deal that makes filmfestivals.com a media partner to Eko international film festival, a feat Opara described as an unprecedented morale booster that would help realize his dream of turning his festival into a world-class gathering of movie people.

To network and gather more experience for his forthcoming festival, Opara returned again to Europe for the Rotterdam International Film Festival in the Netherlands, as well as the 60th edition of the Berlinale, in Germany. “I now feel convinced that I could put together a successful world-class film festival.”

Hardworking Opara had this to say on funding: “We are making sacrifice towards raising the needed funds for Eko International film festival, and what we need most is money to host the filmmakers and accredited journalists and enough to rent the halls we would need to screen selected films.
We need over a million dollars to make this dream of a mega film festival a reality.
We have started the fund-raising drive. We are seeking the cooperation and support of local and international sponsors. We have attracted the interest of some Nigerian banks and we expect to close deals with some prospective sponsors shortly,” he explained.
Interestingly, news of the forthcoming festival is currently spreading within and outside Nollywood, especially on the internet and Hope Opara is upbeat. “Eko international film festival will provide exciting new business and tourism opportunities. It’s going to be great fun for filmmakers and lovers of films in Nigeria and many thousands of film aficionados coming from outside our shores. The festival will definitely be a plus for Nollywood and Nigeria… For more info, kindly visit our site, www.ekoiff.com"

Chima Okoroji returns with Lost Soul

2010-05-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

Handsome Chima Okoroji, the youthful brain behind Nollywood hit movies such as: Coming to Africa, Blind Fury, Tears of a Mother, Dying to Live, Joy of a Mother, D-8 and a host of others, is poised to make another daring move in the nation’s motion picture industry.
Okoroji is currently on locations lensing his long-awaited soap-opera-Lost Soul with some established and up and coming thespians from Nigeria and other West African countries.
According to the soft spoken filmmaker, Lost Soul is a youth-oriented project that was inspired by the many daunting challenges facing them in a society that is fast neglecting them. “At the end of the day, what we want to achieve with Lost Soul is to help the youths in our society regain and reclaim their rightful positions in the scheme of things. The older generation has dealt our youths a heavy blow and will continue to do so, until we fight back by claiming what is ours. By the time this soap hits the airwaves, it will expose the many challenges and sins of our youths. The dirty things the society has pushed them into doing, just to survive. With this project, the orientation of an average Nigeria youth would begin to change for the better. Imagine IBB, saying that the youths cannot be trusted with leadership positions, that is an insult on us. How old was Gowon when he ruled us and completely changed the face of Nigeria?”
On when the soap would hit the air, embittered Okoroji, lamented the dearth of funds for the project. “It boils down to what I was saying earlier about youths’ like me not being encouraged or supported by the society or government. This is a self sponsored project and I have spent several millions of my own money prosecuting this laudable project. All efforts to get corporate bodies to be part of this project, has failed woefully. In fact, as I’m talking to you, we’ve called off shoot, because of paucity of funds. So, as soon as proper funding comes our way, we would complete the soap and put it on air for Nigerians and the rest of the world to watch and applaud. It’s painful that a lot of youths with good ideas and projects to execute cannot find support from corporate bodies and well meaning individuals. Our youths are daily suffering and smiling’’.
Meanwhile, the twisted story of Lost Soul, revolves around a young graduate who left school and couldn’t secure a a paying job several years after leaving the university. He eventually fell in ‘lust’ with a married woman, because of her fat purse and comfortable life style “It’s a complicated and twisted storyline about how our harsh and unfair society drives youths into unhealthy ideas and behaviours’’.

The Woman of Calabar rocks the airwaves

2010-05-10T09:27:00.001-07:00

TV buffs are currently having a swell time watching and applauding The Woman of Calabar, which recently hit the airwaves, courtesy of Kaymouzo media productions. The Woman of Calabar, is the TV adaption of the highly successful play written by renowned playwright, Elechi Amadi. It finally hit the big screens in Lagos and Rivers States stations respectively with a bang. The 30–minute serial, which occupies the 5.30pm belt on Galaxy TV, Lagos, on Mondays and prime time, every Thursday on RSTV, was adapted and produced by pretty Victoria Ajayi, the head honcho of Kaymouzo media productions (KMP) and directed by Jide Alli. The 13-episode drama, seethes with romance and ethnic bigotry essentially. It further highlights the erroneous beliefs and misconceptions about efik maidens.
Parading popular faces like; Tina Mbah, Ngozi Nwosu, Toyin Osinaike, Ombogogo Ombo and promising acts such as: Emnanuel Ozzi and Ify Omalicha, the story revolves around the over-protective Debo Akrika, who would not allow her only son, Eme to marry a Calabar girl. Mrs Akrika’s anxieties are not unconnected with the age-long myth that Calabar women often cast spell on their men in order to keep them. Worse still, the sad memory of Debo’s brother who suffered a cruel fate allegedly in the hands of his lover, incidentally, an Efik woman, lingers.
Meanwhile, two botched attempts by Debo to separate the love-birds set the stage for a final face off between Adia and her would-be-mother-in-law. Filled with suspense and display of wits, the eventual confrontation between Debo and Adia culminates in a great revelation that fosters quick resolution of the conflict. The resolution however, reaffirms the imperative of love and unity in a multi-ethnic, multi-racial society like Nigeria.

When will Genevieve Nnaji stop posing?

2010-05-10T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sincerely, the way and manner our so called stars respond and react to simple questions thrown at them could be so annoying, amateurish and grossly unprofessional.
Most of these stars that are media creations are usually the first to accuse entertainment journalists of writing false and unconfirmed stories about their private lives. Meanwhile, they are quick to bungle their chances, whenever you reach out to them for clarifications, which will further help to balance the ‘usual’ unconfirmed stories about them.
A good example is the on-going Genevieve Nnaji and D’banj’s love story.
The Koko Master a couple of weeks ago granted an interview to a respected soft sell magazine and openly declared that he is currently enjoying a sizzling romance with Miss Nnaji. In fact, love struck D’banj said they are madly in love with each other and that he decided to make it public because he was tired of playing hide and seek with Genevieve, his Juliet. In his words: “Genevieve is more than my girlfriend, she is my baby… Right now, Genevieve is the only woman in my life…We want to be together and we don’t want to hide it anymore…”

The following week a very senior female editor from the same magazine went after Genevieve, to ascertain her side of the story. And surprisingly, the dodgy actress neither confirmed nor denied the story. Instead of a simple yes or no, Genevieve kept playing the artful dodger, thus cheapening her status and embarrassing D’banj, who had earlier told the world they are hot as an item. What an insult to the Koko Master turned lover boy. Hear Genevieve’s response on the public interview D’banj granted over their love story: “I can only say that I would like to keep my private life private and I really don’t have anything to say… D’banj is an adult and he has said something… let’s just leave it at that…”
Till date, observers are yet to fathom what Genevieve was trying to avoid or achieve by refusing to say a simple yes or no, to a harmless question.
By dodging the question, she has further created rooms for more speculations and insinuations in the minds of her fans and even the media.
Most of the so-called stars in Nollywood claim to follow Hollywood trends, but end up disgracing and rubbishing those they are supposed to be emulating.
In Hollywood standards, serious and professional stars, always come out bold to either accept or deny speculative or unconfirmed stories, especially those bordering on their private lives. This is one of the qualities of a star that people look up to as a role model. Most stars over there do it themselves or through their publicists, thus helping to clear the air over innuendos or imaginary tales being bandied around, especially in the media. Who knows, maybe, with the above quote from Genevieve, she does not want to be associated with D’banj or even seen hanging out with him publicly. Poor D’banj.
Her dazed fans still can’t fathom why she is not proud of admitting publicly that they are dating, despite the way and manner D’banj wholeheartedly told the whole world about their love story.
Genevieve, please stop disgracing and downgrading D’banj and quickly accept or deny whether the two of you are dating or not. Act like a true Nollywood star now and stop posing (forming).

AMAA 2010: Nigeria leads the rest of Africa

2010-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Nigeria’s Nollywood, which suffered a devastating blow at last year’s annual African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), in the hands of other African movie makers, gloriously bounced back to the front rows at this year’s grand gathering tagged: African Dreams. In fact, a total of 53 countries slugged it out in the 24 available categories, thus making the recently held sixth edition, a tension-soaked event.

The glamourous and unarguably, the biggest award and reward system for film stars and practitioners on the African continent, held over the weekend in Yenogoa, the capital of oil rich Bayelsa State. Amazingly, some Nigerian filmmakers and stars went home with most of the biggest and most prized awards in different major categories.

Nigerian-born emerging filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, was the star of the long and memorable night. The Figurine, his latest movie, carted home five awards, the highest for the night. The Figurine won in the following categories: Heart of Africa award for best film from Nigeria, best visual effect, best performance by an actor in a leading role, which went to star actor, Ramsey Noah, best cinematography and finally, the keenly contested award for best picture.

Interestingly, another movie that made Nollywood proud at the awards night, which was beautifully anchored by the duo of Basorge Tariah and Rita Dominic with support from a Kenyan colleague, was The Child. The Amstel Malta powered movie grabbed two awards in the categories of best editing and makeup, respectively. Also, top producer, Vivian Ejike’s Silent Scandal, got a joint award in the most promising actress category with Imani, a Ugandan flick. Chelsea Eze, the joint winner, was however absent at the event.

Femi Odugbemi’s work, Bariga Boys, as well as Fulani from Ifeanyi Onyeabor, further helped to raise the bar of the Nigerian motion picture industry, with plaques in the best documentary and art direction categories separately.

Even outside our shores, The Tenant, a heart wrenching movie painstakingly shot by Nigerian filmmakers living in Canada, won in the best screenplay category, while Soul Diaspora, another good film shot by a group of Nigerians residing in the US, smiled home with a trophy in the best film by an African filmmaker in Diaspora category.

The fast evolving Ghana film industry (Gollywood), was also not left out at this year’s AMAA. Three of their quality films collectively carted home a total of seven awards, in various categories.
While, The Perfect Picture clinched awards in the categories of best actress, best supporting actor and best director, another Ghanaian flick, I Sing of a Well, was victorious in the categories of best sound, costume and special jury prize.

They rounded off their memorable night with another diadem in the best original soundtrack category, courtesy of the movie, A sting in a Tale.

Surprisingly, the Kenyans, who were the stars of last year’s awards, only managed to grab two trophies, in the 26 shortlisted feature films that made it to the grand finale.

Togetherness Supreme, Kenyans only movie that made it to the finals, won awards in the categories of: best child and most promising actor categories.

Countries like: Malawi, Egypt and South Africa, also got an award each in the categories of best supporting role, animation and short film in that order.

Aside the awards presentations, musical performances from some notable acts like : Omawunmi, J- Martins, the Bayelsa cultural troupe alongside some foreign acts, further helped to add verve and vim to the event, which was well- attended.

The night climaxed with the coming on stage of the two notable Hollywood stars specially invited by the organizers, Glynn Turman and CCH Pounder. While on stage, both black US stars, paid glowing tributes to AMAA, for bringing them home to motherland, adding that it was good to be home and congregating with their black brothers and sisters.

In her extempore address, elated but visibly tired Peace Anyiam Osigwe, the CEO AMAA, immensely thanked Bayelsa State, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and all those that had hugely supported AMAA, since inception six years ago. She also urged African filmmakers to continue telling the true African stories in their productions as well as turning their dreams into realities for the world to watch and applaud. “I want African filmmakers to continue telling our own stories, because nobody can tell it better than us. We must also strive to always turn our dreams into realities; AMAA is a good example of a dream that was later turned into reality...”

Governor Sylva Timipre of Bayelsa State, who was accompanied to the awards by his wife and several top government officials, was full of praises to the organizers of AMAA, for continually placing Bayelsa on the global map, in the last six years. He further pledged his State’s continued support for AMAA. Timipre, who was swathed in all black traditional attire with a matching bowler hat, concluded by urging all to return to the riverine State next year, for another scintillating and bumper edition of AMAA.
The event, which many described as another plus for Nollywood and indeed, the African continent, also honoured King Boama Darko Ampaw, from Ghana, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, for his immense contributions to the growth of the African film and cinema industries, in the last 40 years.

All these notwithstanding, some practitioners and guests also queried the rationale behind giving three actresses with different roles in the same movie, the award for best actress. “I’ve never seen or heard that before, how can you lump three actresses together and give them a joint award?” queried a dazed guest at the event.

AMAA 2010 winners at a glance:

-Best Documentary, Bariga Boys (Nigeria), Femi Odugbemi.
-Best Short Film- The Abyss Boys (South Africa), Jan Hendrik Beetge .
-Best Animation- Hanayns shoe (Egypt).
-Best Film by an African Filmmaker in Diaspora, Soul Diaspora (US/Nigeria).
-Best Film in Africa Language –Imani (Uganda).
-Heart of Africa Award for best Film from Nigeria, Figurine- Kunle Afolayan ( Nigeria).
-AMAA Achievement in Sound- I Sing of a Well (Ghana).
-AMAA Achievement in Art Direction- Fulani (Nigeria), Ifeanyi Onyeabor.
-AMAA Achievement in Editing-The Child (Nigeria).
AMAA Achievement in Costume – I Sing of a Well (Ghana).
AMAA Achievement in Visual Effects-Figurine (Nigeria), Soji Ogunaike.
Best Original Soundtrack – A sting in a Tale (Ghana).
Best Performance by a Child – Togetherness Supreme, (Kenya).
Most Promising Actress – Silent Scandal and Imani (Nigeria and Uganda), Chelsea Eze and Rehama Nanfuka.
Most Promising Actor-Togetherness Supreme (Kenya), Wilson Maina.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role-Perfect Picture (Ghana), Adjatey Anang.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role- Seasons of a Life (Malawi), Tapiwa Gwaza.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role,
Perfect Picture (Ghana), Jackie Appiah, Lydia Forson and Naa Ashoku Mensa-Doku.
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Figurine (Nigeria) Ramsey Noah.
Best Screenplay – The Tenant – (Nigeria).
AMAA Achievement in Cinematography, Figurine, (Nigeria), Yinka Edwards.
Best Picture – Figure (Nigeria).
Best Director – The Perfect Picture (Ghana) Shirley Frimpong Manso.
Special Jury Prize- I Sing of a Well (Ghana).
Life Time Achievement Award – King Ampaw (Ghana).

Dry Waters for world premiere

2010-03-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Nollywood practitioners, stakeholders, associates as well as dignitaries from both the public and private sectors are set to storm the forthcoming world premiere of Dry Waters.
The anticipated evening of fun, relaxation and networking holds on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the upscale Terrakulture, Victoria Island, Lagos; amid cheers and banters.
Elaborating more on the premiere, which is already serenading Nollywood, the producer cum financier of Dry Waters, Miss Chinasa Joy Onyechere, disclosed that she and her team have already stepped up plans and preparations for the D-day.
Onyechere, who’s the current Treasurer of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), further promised to make the event grand and memorable for all the specially invited guests coming, adding that the premiere would further reposition Kech Production Studios, her outfit, within and outside Nollywood.
Directed by Kelvin Ibanichuka, the suspense- filled two-hour movie, also boasts of some leading names plying their trade in Nollywood. Among them are: Monalisa Chinda, Kenneth Okonkwo, Paul Obazele, Chidi Ihezie- Okafor, Remy Ohajianya and a host of others.
Screen-played by Adim Williams, Dry Waters is thematically woven around critical family issues and how such issues could affect the larger society, if not properly handled from the foundation stages. “I have produced and funded over a dozen films in Nollywood, but decided to premiere this one elaborately, because it’s a story very dear to my heart. Dry Waters, was painstakingly shot over a period of six months, We intend to immediately begin the cinema showings after the world premiere, so that movie buffs can come out to watch and applaud what we are offering them. We look forward to welcoming and entertaining all at the premiere …” Onyechere declared.
Surprisingly, Nollywood, which was on the verge of collapsing last year, due to several internal and external crises is fast opening up to world class premieres, such as this one. The premieres are also gradually helping to revive and reposition the industry for greater challenges and prospects.
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that the premiere of Dry Waters, is following in the footsteps of Jungle Ride, which held a couple of weeks ago, at the posh Silverbird Galleria.

Street Champz raises the bar in reality shows

2010-03-29T10:43:00.001-07:00

Street Champz, a brand new talent hunt cum reality TV show that will proactively advance creative entertainment and generously reward talents in the categories of music, drama, comedy and entertainment variety act, has berthed with so many mouth-watering prizes and benefits for interested Nigerians. Interestingly, Kevin Pam, the Jos, Plateau State born emerging entertainer/celebrity, who won the fourth season of the popular reality TV show-Big Brother Africa; is the face of the project. Hugely powered by Street Champz UK, a United Kingdom based entertainment and artiste Management Company founded by some Nigerian born but UK based entertainment personalities. Mr. Pam also doubles as the project’s Public Relations Officer.
While speaking at the unveiling ceremony Mr. Pam, also known as Jostified disclosed that he signed up to work on the project because it aligns with his ambition of giving up and coming entertainers the opportunities to showcase their talents. He further described the Street Champz project as different and unique, adding that the show represents a determination on the part of some well meaning and reputable Nigerians to improve the lot of the talents that abound in Nigeria. “Nigerian is blessed with talents. We have not even discovered one percent of the talents that we have in this country”. He also posited that Street Champz as a unique project has been designed to bring a new experience to the viewing public in Nigeria, the moment it goes on air soon.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the project’s management team, Prince Emman-Stanford Amgbaduba maintained that Street Champz was founded to discover raw talents in entertainment and arts from the streets. Prince Amgbaduba further stated that the board of Street Champz was propelled to introduce the project because of the need to nurture, promote and manage such talents to their full potentials and stardom as well as providing the unique platform. Street Champz, he maintained provides the platform for the talents to contest in four categories that include; music, drama, comedy and variety act. ‘This is why the project is unique. We are looking at talents in four different areas and not just in an area, which is the trend. Our recurring theme in this project shall be excellence at all levels at all time and to achieve this, we are bringing in foreign experts and companies to partner with us on this project. We have also signed on the best of
Nollywood and the entertainment industry in the country to be judges, consultants, mentors, presenters and project managers for this project. Some of our judges include: Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Alex Usifo and Oritz Williki”.
Veteran musician and entertainer, Oritz Wiliki who attended the unveiling ceremony commended the organizers for bringing in a new dimension in talent hunt shows to Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the project and Chairman of the UK chapter of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Mr. Chucks Mordi stated that winners in each category of the reality show would receive five million naira in cash, an SUV and a two-year career development programme in the United Kingdom. While, the runner up in each category will receive one million naira in cash, in addition to a two year career development contract, while the second runner up in each category will each receive seven hundred and fifty thousand in cash and a two year career development contract. Mordi further explained that the career development angle became necessary in order to avoid the issue of dumping the winning talents soon after the project, as it has become the practice with most reality shows. “A career development scheme that will expose the talents to the industry through mentorship and grooming. Apart from ensuring that they receive their
winnings, the artiste management arm of the company will work with the winners to ensure that the winners produce at least two professional works during this period” he submitted. The Administrative and Finance Director of the project, Mr. Olaniyi Ogun maintained that as a global entertainment and artiste management company, they have put in place a high performance business modules that will further expose the talents after the show.
Shedding more light on the level of technical input, Mr. Kingsley Kerry, the Technical Director of Street Champz assured that they will deliver a reality show of international standard whose recurring theme will be excellence at all levels and all times. “We shall be deploying the latest in technology as never seen before. We have contracted experts in lighting and graphic designs. It will interest you to know that the foreign experts that have been contracted are the same ones behind X-factor, one of Britain’s hottest talent shows.” Soft spoken Kerry who has been working in both television and film for over a decade disclosed that the company has contracted Bold Faces presenter, Tricia Eseigbe Kerry and Veronica Edafe among other presenters to anchor the show, which will begin soon with a nationwide audition where 39 finalists will emerge from the boot camp for the live broadcast of the competition. The boot camp as Kerry explained will be the
sifting point for all winners recruited from the States and from each category.
Tricia Esiegbe Kerry who was present at the ceremony said she was glad to be part of the project, adding that the organizers are definitely going to change the concept of reality shows in Nigeria.

Mahansa returns with Da Statement

2010-03-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Although, Chukwudi Ugwu better known as Mahansa studied Estate Management at the Enugu State University of Technology; but his body and soul have always been with music. A passion he has spent two decades practicing within and outside our shores.
For Ugwu, Mahansa means a swan bird when translated; and music to him should be rendered without inhibitions, just like the birds in the air caress and criss cross the open skies without hindrances.
With two existing albums to his credit, his latest effort entitled: Da Statement, is currently enjoying massive rotation on the airwaves. And he hopes to embark on a global tour with the very deep work with 15 tracks, soon.
According to the Ngwo, Enugu State born artiste, “I have been in and out of music during my days in the university because of my academics and I have performed at Shell Club, Rotary Club, among other places mainly because of the nature of my music.
I created a kind of music genre, which I called Afrociori. It’s a fusion of African, Occidental and Oriental cultural musical elements. I can travel to Brazil and add their musical pattern to my songs. Song is universal. My kind of music is not the popular kind. It is deep. The messages are mainly about serious issues like corruption, epidemics, hunger, among others. My previous two albums, “Entrapment” and “This Pain Must Go”, were products I did to support Rotary Club International in its polio eradication programme. They are there to attest to the kind of messages in my songs.”
The widely traveled crooner who has performed in many parts of the world like: Jo’burg, India and several other places, however, lamented that his major challenge is funding and the right platform for his kind of music to evolve.
Commenting on music in Nigeria, Mahansa said, “It is time for people to open their ears to new things. They should listen to something more reflective and stand on serious issues. We need to know where we are in the scheme of things.
Everybody operates at his or her own level. Some musicians here are making money, getting commercial breakthroughs but they don’t have depth. We do music that would last overtime, music that would outlive us. These are the things I stand for as a very deep musician.”

Worship for Change reaches out

2010-03-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Fountain of Praise, a Christian oriented organization that is heavily involved in Christian worship, music production, concerts, music workshops, entertainment, philanthropy and social entrepreneurship recently empowered orphans and specially challenged children and organizations catering for their daily needs.
It formally presented cheques and gift items to lucky beneficiaries from the proceeds of its 2009 edition of Worship for Change concert, an annual gospel music fiesta that began in 2006. The very colourful event was witnessed by the media and some dignitaries drawn from different walks of life.
While making the presentations to the six beneficiaries drawn from the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, Society for the Safety of the Insane and the Destitute, Jakin NGO, Temitayo Awosika Health Foundation and the Ikorodu and Badagry sickle cell clubs respectively, Pastor Wale Adenuga , said he was optimistic the gifts would help the inmates of the above homes live more fulfilling lives.
Speaking further, Adenuga, who’s the head honcho of Fountain of Praise maintained that their goal was basically to use their influence in partnership with individuals and organizations, who believe strongly in their vision of empowering orphans and specially challenged children to live more fulfilling lives in the society.
“Hopelessness does not reside far from each of us. We see it in the eyes of both the young and old. While we cannot solve every problem, we have got to do something about the ones we can,” Adenuga explained.
Amazingly, since inception in 2006, they had organized five star-studded and well attended concerts and also raised almost N10million collectively from these events.
Past beneficiaries include: Downs Syndrome Association of Nigeria, Hearts of Gold Children Hospice, Arrows of God Orphanage, Patrick’s Speech and Language Centre and Hepzibah Orphanage.
For the current beneficiaries, a cheque of N550,000, was presented to the Leprosy Mission Nigeria, while the Society for the Safety of the Insane and the Destitute and JAKIN NGO, got cheques of N450,000 and half a million respectively. The Temitayo Awosika Health Foundation got a surprise N443, 000, worth of drugs. The life changing organization also used the sums of N167,000 and N212,000, respectively to buy drugs for the Ikorodu and Badagry Sickle cell Clubs.
The dazed beneficiaries separately thanked the organization immensely, for remembering and donating generously to their needs.

Home in Exile now showing @ the Cinemas

2010-03-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

Home in Exile, the big budget film directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen has berthed at the Cinemas nationwide, after a very colourful and well-attended premiere. Speaking on the success of the premiere and why he decided to storm cinemas with the film, Imasuen, with over 100 Nollywood movies to his credit, as a director, said the premiere was a pointer to the fact that Nollywood has fully bounced back. He further explained that by hitting the cinemas, movie buffs will have the opportunity of watching and applauding a true Nigerian story based on hard work and perseverance.

“Home in Exile, was shot last year and premiered first at the Odeon Cinema, London. The world premiere was graced by both Nollywood and Hollywood stars. We just had another well attended and star-studded premiere in Nigeria recently. The essence of the premiere was to allow Nigerians see this movie and know that there is no place like home. It’s our own little way of helping to rebrand and reposition the battered image of Nigeria. Parents and their children, especially those living abroad, have a lot to learn from this interesting movie”, he posited.

Speaking further, Imasuen declared that the film is now showing at major upscale cinemas nationwide. “We are already showing at Silverbird and Genesis Deluxe Cinemas nationwide and the response from the movie loving public has been exceptional. This is a new era and we are following global best practices inherent in the film world. We want to change a lot of bad practices in Nollywood with Home in Exile and that we have already started this 2010. We are redefining standards in Nollywood that I can assure you”.

Produced by Lancewealth Image in collaboration with JJ Barry Entertainment, Home in Exile, a heart wrenching story of the excruciating pains and untold hardship and harassments that Nigerians living abroad go through as well as the challenges they face at home, aptly tells the true Nigerian story. Notable Nollywood stars in the movie include: Justus Esiri, Desmond Elliot, Uche Jombo, Chimwetalu Agu and several others.

2010-02-10T11:23:00.001-08:00

Nigerian born Sophie Okonedo thrills in South African movie, Skin

Sophie Okonedo, the Nigerian born international film star is currently making waves in South Africa with her latest feature length film, Skin.

Okonedo, 41, alongside the heart-wrenching movie, have been enjoying rave reviews from critics and pundits since the film hit South African cinemas over the weekend.

The biopic film vividly captures the traumatic and agonizing story of Sandra Laing, which was beautiful interpreted by Okonedo on various locations in South Africa.

According to Anthony Fabian, the director of Skin, Okonedo was chosen for the role ahead of other equally good stars because she truly fits into the character of Laing, with her colour and curly black hair.

“The Story of Sandra Laing is a true life incident that was so bizarre. The child of a white Afrikaner couple, Laing was born with a dark skin and curly hair, the result of a polygenic inheritance, or a throwback to distant black ancestry. Kicked out of her all white boarding school, she was reclassified coloured and then, after a widely publicised court battle, she was reclassified white again. While struggling to fit in with African society, Laing, the teenager eloped with a black man, thus leaving behind her white family and troubled identity.”

Laing eventually began what Fabian, painfully described as a “journey into colour.”

Speaking recently on Skin, in an interview with the Mail and Guardian newspapers of South Africa, Fabian, argued that what makes the story so powerful and unique was the bizarreness of the genetic element, adding that it highlights the irrationality of racism.

Surprisingly, Fabian first heard of the touching story in 2000, when Laing was being interviewed on BBC4.

Soon afterwards, Fabian met Laing and was deeply moved and concerned after hearing her story and interacting with her at close range.

Apart from Okonedo, whose father is a Nigerian and mother, a Jewish settler in London, the rest of the cast are South Africans. Even, the crew was mostly South Africans too.

Sensational Skin, which is Hollywood bound in the next couple of weeks, covers more than 30 years and, in telling Laing’s personal story, it also tells the greater story about apartheid.

With Okonedo, the Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee on board, Skin has consistently received positive reviews within and outside South Africa and might even open the floodgates for more international awards for the sassy star, including the elusive Oscar.

Aside Skin, Okonedo, a single mother of one, had also starred in several other globally acclaimed hit films like: Hotel Rwanda, The Jackal, Dirty Pretty Things, Sweet Revenge, Tsunami and a host of others.

2010-02-10T11:23:00.000-08:00

Nigerian outfit, Godfather, rules South Africa’s showbiz scene

Godfather Productions, which is owned by Nigerian born Mike Uchenna Ogoke, is unarguably the best and biggest entertainment company owned by a single individual, in the whole of Johannesburg, South Africa.

In a chat with us at Woodmead, Sandton, Johannesburg, Ogoke, who has lived in
South Africa for 14 years and is happily married to a pretty South African woman, for over a decade now, said he single handedly took entertainment to the next level in Mandela’s country.

As a reputable and well-sought-after entertainment guru, Ogoke has directed over 160 music videos for both Nigerian and South African leading musicians.

Although, his first music video for a Nigerian artiste living in South Africa, was in 2005, when he masterfully directed the work of Stella Igwe. However, his big break came a few years later when he directed the monster hit music video, “Do Me”, for P-Square, ever since, he has not looked back.

His intimidating credit list include: Faze, Tuface, D’banj, X-Project, Styl Plus, Bigiano, Nigga Raw, Weird Mc, Sasha, Inyanya and Tony Tetuila.
Other popular acts on his hit list are: KC Presh, Azadus, MI, Naeto C, J-Martins, John Ogar and a host of others.

Ogoke, equally directed the costliest video in the annals of South African music for HHP, the country’s leading Hip-Hop singer. The work gulped a whopping 100,000 Dollars.

Ogoke, who is highly respected in South Africa, also consults and works for Channel O, MTV and other blue chip companies over there.

Currently the in-house music video director for P-Square, aside “Do Me”, he equally directed other hit numbers like: Danger, Ifunanya, Roll It, No One Like You and several other of their videos. Ogoke and his crew equally did the lovely videos of D’banj’s, Booty Call, Wanna Be Close to You and Fall in Love.

As a thorough-bred-professional, Ogoke, whose work does not come cheap, shoots on both digital and celluloid formats, depending on the one an artiste can afford.

He came to Nigerian for the very first time last year with his full crew, to lense ten music videos at a stretch, for X-project, on the invitation of Sam Kargbo, the group’s label owner. He’s also setting up a multi million Naira music/movie studio in Nigeria; and hopes to declare it open in the next couple of months.

Ogoke, who likes investing heavily in hi-tech equipment, as a parting shot, disclosed to us that several Nigerian acts still owe his outfit, over 100,000 Dollars, for the quality jobs, he did for them. He however, refused to mention the names of the debtors.

Mr. Ibu, the most popular Nollywood film in South Africa

Our dear Nollywood has no doubt become a global phenomenon. Despite the several criticisms and bashings from some armchair critics, Nollywood keeps breaking new grounds outside our shores.

While in South Africa, all the places Showbiz Bits visited, movie buffs kept asking questions about Nollywood. The bulk of these movie buffs, were constantly demanding for the copies of Mr. Ibu, a comic Nollywood film starring John Okafor and some other popular names.

They happily squealed that the hilarious movie makes them laugh a lot, after which they tend to forget their sorrows and troubled moments. Whoa!

In fact, a South African couple painfully narrated to us, how some hoodlums broke into their home and carted away the Mr. Ibu DVD, they bought the very month it was released. “Ever since, it’s been difficult getting another original copy of the exhilarating flick," they said.

Moreover, the trio of John Okafor aka Mr. Ibu, alongside Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze, better known as Aki and Pawpaw, are unarguably the most popular and well-loved Nollywood stars in South Africa.

During our brief visit, several of their fans and admirers, mostly females, kept asking about them. One even confessed that she would not mind sharing a bed with the famous trio and possibly having babies for them separately. Can you beat that?

Adaora thrills on SABC

One of the most cheering news we unearthed while in South Africa, was that a yet-to-be-released Nollywood epic, Adaora, was the first Nigerian movie to be aired on SABC; the apex broadcast station in Zuma’s country.

Adaora, starring big names like: Stephanie Okereke, Zack Orji, Rachael Oniga alongside some popular South African stars was shot over there, by Godfather productions in 2002.

Upon completion, SABC immediately bought the movie’s right for three-years and serialised it on air for 36 months, to the admiration of movie loving South Africans.

The movie also won several awards in South Africa, while on air and equally enjoyed rave reviews from major print and electronic media over there.

Commenting on why such a successful movie is yet to be released in Nigeria, Ogoke, who produced and directed it for Godfather productions, disclosed that plans are on to release it in Nigeria this 2010.

The movie was also aired in some neighboring Southern African countries, thus further helping to spread the message of Nollywood around African and the rest of the world.

A world premiere is expected to help usher in the release of the movie in Nigeria soon.

P-Square, Tuface, D’banj, Naeto C reign supreme

Aside being in love with the Nigerian movie scene, which is globally known as Nollywood, the entertainment loving people of South Africa are also in love with our music and music stars.

In Johannesburg, the locals do not joke with the songs of P-Square, Tuface, D’banj and Naeto C. In fact, for most of them, P-Square’s “Do Me” is a daily anthem, while Danger, the duo’s latest release, is fast catching up with the locals and wannabes.

Even their radio and TV stations are not left out in this love and frenzy for Nigerian music.

And we gathered that each time these stars come to South African to shoot their videos, a large number of the indigenes usually troop out to catch a glimpse of them while on set.

And as a proof that they are daily becoming too famous in South Africa, the labels managing these acts have equally set up corporate offices over there. Storm Records, Mo’Hits and North Side records, now have offices in Johannesburg.

Interestingly, Godfather productions, is the one helping these labels to network and monitor activities in South Africa.

The recent opening of Storm’s office over there was hugely attended by both Nigerian and their South African counterparts.

So, when next you visit this beautiful country, which is ready to host the FIFA World Cup between June and July, 2010, and see any of their indigenes singing some popular Naija hit numbers, do not be dazed.
They are fast catching the bug and buzz of Naija entertainment scene

2010-02-10T11:06:00.000-08:00

Yours sincerely, was recently in Johannesburg, South Africa, to get first hand information on the booming Nigerian entertainment industry, especially the music sector. Enjoy the exclusive and juicy reports of the three-day visit.

Asa set to rock @ Naira.Com’s concert

2010-01-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

This definitely cheering news for the teeming fans of Nigerian born international songbird, Asa. Naira.com, a transactional portal powered by Chams.net is sensationally poised to bring the delectable crooner home for her first show this 2010.

According to the organizers, the event is fittingly tagged: Asa on the Green, and its being packaged in collaboration with Quirk & Glee. It holds at the upscale and fast growing entertainment fun spot, Coral Reef, located at 10A Ikoya Avenue, off McPherson road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, January 22, 2010.

For those willing to attend the anticipated evening of good music laced with fun, relaxation and networking, tickets for the show can be purchased online at www.naira.com, at affordable prices.
Interestingly, early birds will get autographed and original copies of Asa’s Live in Paris CD/DVD, alongside free tickets.

”The night will begin with a cocktail reception from 7 to 8pm, after which soul singers, Bez and Dipo, who represent the future of Nigerian soul and R n B would kick start the event proper,” hinted one of the organizers.

Naira.com, which was launched in December 2009, is a one-stop transactional portal where you can buy an endless variety of items as well as concert bookings or air tickets. You can also order food and pay for airtime and other
services rendered.

Viewers await You Can’t Spell Jack on TV

2010-01-17T13:21:00.001-08:00

Nigerian viewers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of You Can’t Spell Jack (YCSJ), the newest game show on TV this 2010, with so much excitement and happiness. As one of the big things happening on TV this New Year, a lucky and intelligent participant can win N30 million, on the show. Unlike most game shows in Nigeria today, YCSJ is wholly conceived and produced by Nigerians. Precisely, the arresting TV game show was conceived and developed by Eloka Anyafulu, the Chief Executive of Ski-Hi Production Company Nig Ltd, and is being produced by Nollywood icon and multiple award winning journalist, Zik Zulu Okafor, the Managing Director of Zulu Films.

However, You Can’t Spell Jack would have remained a mere grand idea but for the intervention of fast growing micro finance organization, Satelite Micro Finance Bank Limited, under the headship of a seasoned banker, Tony Ubogu.

According to the MD/CEO of Satelite Micro Finance Bank, his organization was attracted and convinced to invest in the game show because it is a wholly Nigerian brand founded on professionalism and excellence, ideals that his organization shares.

Ubogu, a founding management staff of Bank PHB, adds that the idea that YSCJ can change the life of people with even small incomes by turning them into millionaires appealed to his organization because they thrive on little earnings that grow over time just like they started with only a branch in Ikota, near Victoria Garden City (VGC) Lagos and in 18 months have increased to eight branches.

According to the creator of YCSJ, Eloka, he was inspired to develop the game show because of his desire to encourage learning among Nigerians, especially the youths and also because of the dearth of wholly Nigerian TV game shows in our local television stations. The show he adds is all about spelling and aimed at helping to test and task our intellectual capacity while making people millionaires as a participant stands a chance to win N30 million.

The former president of the Association of Movie Producers, Zik Zulu Okafor added that there are other fantastic monetary prizes to be won by participants. “The purpose, for us, is to produce a most exciting and professional programme while at the same time making people millionaires”.

YCSJ is a family oriented TV game show designed for families to sit together, watch and have fun as they participate in the game. It is both entertaining and educative.

Ubogu assures prospective participants and viewers that Satelite Micro Finance Bank Ltd is financially equipped and well positioned to meet all the financial obligations of YCSJ. He states matter of factly, that his organization is a responsible corporate citizen that will always play by the rules. He stressed further that his firm believes strongly in empowering ordinary people and helping small businesses to grow, even as he is convinced that YCSJ will empower many Nigerians. “That’s why we embraced this partnership. That’s why we are happy to do this business because we know we will realize our philosophy of helping people and little businesses to take a leap”, Ubogu concluded.

You Can’t Spell Jack is an incredible TV game show, full of suspense and ecstatic moments.

The programme is scheduled to make its debut on NTA network and Silverbird television in April (Second quarter), 2010.

Silent Scandals rocks shelves

2010-01-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

Effervescent female filmmaker and the honcho of Purple Pine Productions, Vivian Ejike, has hit the national and international movie scenes with her long awaited blockbuster-Silent Scandals.

The heart-wrenching flick, according to cerebral Miss Ejike, was recently released on VCD and DVD in Nigeria, US and the rest of Africa, and its currently topping the charts.

While leading us into the synopsis of the big budget movie, Ejike revealed thus: “Jessy, a pretty, young and very successful but uptight lady struggles with life as a career woman and single mother to a wild and free-spirited teenage daughter. Just as she learns to enjoy the new but fragile peace with her daughter who finally sobers up, a dark shadow rears its ugly head, threatening to destroy everything in its path. Jessy suddenly finds herself locked in the battle of her life...a silent battle against her daughter... for a common purpose. She must fight with everything she has, to protect the things that matter most to her.”
Speaking further, pretty Ejike, disclosed that Silent Scandals, was painstakingly shot with hi-tech production equipment and thoroughly manned by tested professionals from within and outside Nigeria.

The movie, which was directed by a Nigerian filmmaker based in Los Angeles, US, also featured a live Fashion Show by award winning designer, Zizi Cardow and her leggy models.

Aside writing, producing and financing the movie, Miss Ejike, with over 13 years experience in Nollywood, also screen played the fast selling flick.

Silent Scandals; is being distributed and marketed globally by Nollywood Distributions Company Limited, in collaboration with other major video outlets and marts globally. It stars the best of Nollywood and Gollywood [Ghana movie industry] like: Genevieve Nnaji, Majid Michel, Uche Jombo, Ebele Okaro and a host of others. It was shot in choice locations in and around Lagos metropolis.
Fans and movie buffs should be ready for the thrill of their lives as Vivian Ejike is poised to rewrite the story of movie making in Nigeria. In less than two weeks of release, Silent Scandals, has sold over 100,000 copies and its still selling”, Ejike gushes.

Who owns Yori -Yori?

2009-12-15T02:49:00.005-08:00

After a long silence, Amobi Clem Igwebuike, better known as Bistop, the sidelined and former leader of wave making Yori-yori crooners, Bracket, has finally opened up on how he was betrayed by his colleagues and record label owner.

According to Bistop, who’s currently promoting his latest single, Celebrate, he was unjustly kicked out, after helping to nurture and groom the group-Bracket, which he founded and led until he was schemed out early last year.

In a chat with us recently, embittered Bistop, from Anambra State, maintained his supposed brothers betrayed him, after ten solid years of a very strong relationship. “A lot has been said about my willingly quitting the group, it pains because my colleagues never painted the real picture of how I was dumped and betrayed to the world. How can I just quit like that after toiling day and night to nurture and build the group Bracket? I wrote and arranged the beats of virtually all the songs, including the Yori-yori track and other tracks in the album. But painfully, I was schemed out when we were about to release the album, which is our second, as a group. Till date, my colleagues and the boss of our label, Ape Planet, Nwachukwu Mamah, one of the sons of Ifesinachi Mass Transit boss, have not told me why they meted out this wicked act to me. They later told me our record label owner dumped me because I was too outspoken. I don’t know when fighting for one’s right has become a crime?”

Speaking further, Bistop, who is currently promoting his new work round the country, disclosed that he personally took the group to Ape Planet, to sign them on and eventually release their debut album – Happy Day. “I’m not saying all these now to elicit pity, but I want to set the records straight by telling Nigerians how I was badly treated by my supposed brothers. I nearly died, but it took the grace of God for me to be alive till this moment and talking to you. Truth is that I have been to hell and back”.

“Imagine, I went to the market to buy my own work and sweat, when they eventually released the album and to my shock, no credit was given to me and that further killed my spirit. But thank God, I have moved on.”

Bistop, a final year student of Electrical Electronics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, further disclosed that the current stage names of the Bracket duo (Smash and Vast), was given to them by him, at the early stage of their careers.

On what he wants from the group and Ape Planet, Bistop, who maintained he’s yet to recover fully from the psychological/mental trauma and torture, insisted that he wants to be adequately compensated for all his efforts while with the group, adding that he has moved on with his blossoming solo career and life.

I’m now out to celebrate, just like my single says, the worst is over. We look forward to hearing from Bracket and Ape Planet, whom we could not reach before filing this report.

Nollywood boycotts ION film festival

2009-12-15T02:49:00.004-08:00

The recently held ION international film festival in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, suffered a heavy setback, due to massive boycott, from virtually all the major guilds in Nollywood, the Nigerian motion picture industry.

We reliably gathered that aside boycotting the festival, which they openly described as “a huge insult on Nollywood and its professionals”, these major guilds are also angry and disappointed with network giant Zain, for investing millions in the festival without regard and concern for Nollywood and its growth.

And as a prove of their seething anger, these guilds, according to a reliable source, are secretly sensitizing and mobilizing their members to begin a mass boycott on anything that has to do with Zain.

In the words of one of the major players in Nollywood, who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity, “we are currently mobilizing our members in all the guilds in Nollywood to stop using the Zain network. Since they can give a nomadic festival that is not resident here in Nigeria millions of Naira, to organize a colourless film festival that was of no importance to Nollywood and the entire Nigerian motion picture industry, we will also boycott and blacklist them. Zain, should tell us one major thing they have done for Nollywood? Each time, we take our proposals to them for sponsorships, its usually cock and bull stories. We have AMAA, the Abuja and Lagos international film festivals and the recently held AMP/Eko international film festival, which one did they support? Its appalling the way they treat us here. Collectively, our members are almost a million and the bulk of us use Zain, right now, we want to mobilize them to stop using or patronizing Zain, because we have gained nothing from them as professional bodies working for the growth of the nation through Nollywood. Enough is enough.
Now that we have boycotted the festival, Zain should now tell us the importance of their sponsorship?” While speaking with us, another angry top player in Nollywood queried the rationale behind spending so much millions on ION, which has no structure or any major development plan for the Nigerian motion picture industry.

“In fact, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi should tell us his reasons for wasting several millions of Rivers State tax payers money on the so called festival? How many Rivers State born filmmakers has he empowered and how many true Nollywood projects has he supported or hosted in Rivers State. All the billions he wasted on this festival would have been used to kick start a film village project in Rivers State, which at the end of the day will be beneficial to both Nollywood and the State. We see all these people as those stunting the growth of Nollywood”.

Aside the conspicuous absence of the leaders and key officers of guilds such as the: Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), several leading practitioners and stakeholders in Nollywood also shunned the festival, thus making it a poorly attended event. Meanwhile, a joint press conference to address the issue of ION, the boycott and Zain’s apathy towards Nollywood and its core practitioners holds very soon, at a yet to be fixed venue.

Film and Broadcast Academy berths

2009-12-15T02:49:00.003-08:00

After a very long wait, a government-approved institute that will professionally train and empower both aspiring movie and media practitioners has berthed in Ozoro, Delta State, with so much promises and prospects for intending students.

Approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and known as The Film and Broadcast Academy (FABA), it sits on over 30 hectares of land and is expected to begin academic and vocationally work fully in January 2010, with over 2000 students.

According to Chief Charles Akeni, the Chairman of FABA, applications are invited from qualified candidates for admission to read the new practical oriented NBTC driven two-year National Innovation Diploma (NID) and the National Vocational Certificate (NVC), courses beginning from the maiden academic session, early 2010.

“FABA is basically set up to train movie practitioners and media people. Already in place are: schools of Performing and Media Arts, Film and TV Production, Arts and Design, Business Studies and Computer and Information Technology,” Akeni explained.

On how the academy would be funded, Akeni, a PR expert and the former PR Manager, Shell, explained that they had already mapped out over 30 streams of income, adding that it is a private enterprise that would be funded privately.

Elaborating more on the importance of FABA in helping to mould future film and media experts for the nation, its Vice President and renowned filmmaker, Zeb Ejiro, argued that the school, which is already being applauded within and outside Nollywood, would groom and nurture young men and women into super stars as well as help groom them in other arts and entertainment related endeavours. He further called on all, especially his colleagues to support FABA and its laudable initiatives, most especially, those aspiring to get its valued certificates.

While hailing the FABA team for coming up with such a great idea, filmmaker and the national president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Mr. Bond Emeruwa, opined that the academy would further propagate the ideals of Nollywood as well as help give voice and direction to millions of Nigerians aspiring to be part of the nation’s money spinning entertainment industry. “On behalf of DGN, we sincerely commend FABA for this wonderful achievement,” he submitted.

Also speaking, Mr. Paul Obazele, the president of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), maintained that FABA, would definitely help to redefine standards in Nollywood, adding that he looks forward to more of such meaningful initiatives and collaborations within and outside Nollywood.

Among the Nollywood stars present at the unveiling, who also extolled the good ideals of FABA, include: Sunny MC Don, Fidelis Duker, Mike Nliam, Emeka Rollas, Frank Dallas, Peter Red Ejiro and a host of others. For more info on how to register; visit: www. fabaportal.com.ng

Uche Ogbuagu returns, gets busy

2009-12-15T02:49:00.002-08:00

Eastern-based leading comedian cum entertainer extraordinaire, Uche Ogbuagu, recently breezed in from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he successfully organized the first edition of Dubai Must Laugh comedy and music concert.

The well-attended show, which was powered under the auspices of Ogbuagu’s Talkinson Entertainment Ideas, also featured comic star, Nkem Owoh, veteran entertainer, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), alongside several Aba, Abia State based rising comedians.

While in Dubai, the trio of Ogbuagu, Owoh and Okpala were honoured with special recognition awards, for their immense contributions to the development and growth of entertainment in Nigeria and the African continent.

While Ogbuagu, from Ikeduru, Imo State got a well-deserved plaque as the Best Standup Entertainer; the duo of Owoh and Okpala was honoured with the Best TV Comedian and Living Legend awards respectively.

Speaking on the significance of the show as well as the awards, exhilarated Ogbuagu who recently stormed Lagos, for an entertainment related engagement, disclosed that both were well deserved and also came at the appropriate time.

“Our Dubai Must Laugh outing was very successful, and we thank God and our sponsors for its success. The entire Dubai was agog; in fact, the city witnessed the finest form of entertainment, throughout our stay. We are looking forward to next year’s outing with so much enthusiasm. As for the awards, especially mine, it was well deserved and really overwhelmed me. We can’t thank them enough for deeming it fit to honour us with the great awards. It’s a pointer to the fact that even those outside our shores are also appreciating us alongside the great works we are doing for this great country, as her arts and entertainment ambassadors. I have been honoured with several awards, but this one is very dear to my heart and entire career,” he gushed.

Speaking further, Ogbuagu, the honcho of Ideal Ideas and Ideal Media Point as well as the organizer of the annual Aba Made comedy and music concert, maintained that the time has come for entertainers to unite and export comedy beyond our borders, adding that it would further create room for healthy rivalry in the industry.

The Mass Communication graduate who is widely traveled, and works very closely with the Abia State Government, said he has concluded arrangements to bring Governor Theodore Orji, to the third edition of Aba Made, in 2010, saying that the amiable Governor has assured him of his esteemed presence.

Interestingly too, hilarious Ogbuagu, is due to officially open and dedicate his recently completed country home, situated in his Akabo area of Imo State, this Xmas.

He promised to make the event grand and memorable for all those coming to felicitate with him and his household.

You Can’t Spell Jack ready for TV

2009-12-15T02:49:00.001-08:00

A riveting new game show on TV is poised to wow viewers and financially empower lucky participants on a weekly basis.

Tagged: You Can’t Spell Jack (YCSJ), its creator and co-producer Mr. Eloka Anyafulu, disclosed that the laudable project was inspired by his desire to encourage learning among Nigerians, especially the youths.

Speaking at the recent unveiling, visibly elated Anyafulu, said “YCSJ, has been designed in such a way that viewers as well as participants will find it very interesting, exciting, entertaining and above all, very educational too. It’s a TV game show that took me years to conceive and conceptualize. My joy is that it’s a proudly and wholly Nigerian initiative. We intend exporting it to other parts of the globe, because of its unique nature, thus further helping to rebrand our great nation”.

Speaking further, Mr. Zik Zulu-Okafor, the co-producer of the game show, which is billed to hit network TV stations in early April 2010, promised that participants would win big money on the show when it eventually begins.

Okafor, a foremost filmmaker in Nollywood, further assured that YCSJ had been designed to run successfully the moment it takes off, adding that they were very capable of sustaining the programme on air, as well as redeeming prize money to lucky winners without hiccups. “YCSJ, is a totally different TV game show created by Nigerians, for Nigerians too. I can assure you that by the time we take off fully in the first quarter of next year, the whole Nigeria especially core TV viewers will be very proud of us. A whole lot of research has gone into this project and we have a very strong, reliable and highly focused team working on this project. It will further encourage learning on air as well as help families and their loved ones to properly relax, while watching it,” he posited.
Commenting on why his fast growing financial institution decided to solely sponsor the forthcoming show, Mr. Tony Ubogu, the CEO, Satelite Micro Finance Bank Limited, maintained that they saw a whole lots of potentials in the project, adding that he’s outfit would further help to empower millions of Nigerians by investing in the game show.

When prodded further on how strong his company is financially, towards powering the game show, especially in cases of multiple high-end winnings, Ubogu, confidentially assured that they took all these areas into considerations before accepting to embark on the sponsorship journey “At Satelite microfinance bank, we believe so much in empowering people, so when these great and intelligent young men approached us to sponsor this laudable project, we agreed to do it after going through its content with our board. For us, it’s a partnership and friendship that will last long and benefit both parties immensely.”
At the colourful unveiling, which held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, all those present unanimously hailed the producers for a job well done, after watching the pilot episode, which the producers, stated was just a tip of the iceberg.

Silent Scandals premieres amid glitz and grandeur

2009-12-15T02:49:00.000-08:00

For all the Nollywood stars, celebrities and other VIPs that gracefully attended the world premiere of Silent Scandals, the big budget movie, penultimate Sunday, at the upscale Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, one fact they unanimously agreed, was that it was painstakingly put together.

In fact, pretty Vivian Ejike and her very courteous team, paid attention to details while putting the glamorous and one stop premiere that wowed all, together.

Aside the expansive and beautifully decorated hall, purple, the colour of the lovely and memorable event, was conspicuously visible within and outside the venue.

Invited guests, who were splendidly garbed, also obeyed the dress code, by adding a touch of purple to their trendy attires.

Cocktails, canapés and champagnes flowed ceaselessly at the colourful premiere professionally anchored by leading actor and entertainer, Basorge Tariah Jar. Tariah, the honcho of Solid Stars Records, kept the guests reeling in unending laughter with his rich and mature jokes. He was later joined on stage by emerging comedienne, Helen Paul, who cracked many ribs with her bagful of jokes and jibes.

Diva Omawunmi and still recuperating Pop star, Paul Play Dairo, further propelled the fun-filled event to another level, with their electrifying performances, which were well-applauded by all. Obviously, the highpoint of the evening; was the fashion show put together by Zizi Cardow, where all the stars in the movie, cat-walked to the admiration of the thrilled guests.

In her brief welcome address, Vivian Ejike, thanked all for coming, promising that the evening would be a memorable one. And it was.

She further explained that Silent Scandals addresses the issues of love; loyalty and societal pressure as it negatively affects the lives of various individuals. “This movie is a true family drama, which critically mirrors the above issues as they affect the lives of everyday character in our society today”.

Also present at the premiere to support and felicitate with one of their own are: the national presidents of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers and the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Segun Arinze, Paul Obazele and Bond Emeruwa respectively.

The duo of Genevieve Nnaji, and Ghanaian import, Michel Majid, led the pack of stars in the riveting movie, due to begin daily showings at the Silverbird cinemas nationwide soon. Other acts include: Uche Jombo, Ebele Okaro, Christy Okonkwo and a host of others.

It would be recalled that the movie had earlier premiered in Ghana, to a packed audience, which included the who-is–who in that country’s entertainment circuit. According to an excited guest who graced the Lagos event. “This is the movie premiere of the year”.

Brila FM takes the lead again

2009-12-15T02:33:00.000-08:00

Celebration has not ceased at Brila FM, the sports and entertainment radio station. In fact, its owner and renowned sportscaster, Larry Izamoje, is very, very happy and proudly leading the celebration train.
Three of his ‘boys’ did him proud at the recently held Facebook Sports Presenters Awards.
Babafemi Raji, the presenter of the popular sports programme, Sports Machine on 88.9 Brila FM, was adjudged The Presenter of the Year. The young man, who joined Brila FM about a year ago and has sensationally copied Mr. Izamoje’s style of presentation very well, polled a total of 4007 votes, to smile home with the ultimate crown.
Osondu Ngwude, also of Brila FM, the presenter of Tomtom Players Scorecard, came third, with 2203 votes, at the tension-soaked event.
Interestingly, Bimbo Adeola, who clinched the second position, with a total of 2996 votes, also used to be with Brila FM until 2008, when he left.
We gathered that it’s been non-stop celebration at Brila FM, since the announcement was made public. The chairman of the pacesetting company, Mr. Larry Izamoje, was very up beat when we called him.
According to him, “we thank God for everything. Brila FM has come to stay and we will keep improving and improvising new ideas that will meet the demands of our teeming and daily increasing listeners."

Nkem Owoh, Ogbuagu, storm Dubai, Madrid

2009-11-17T23:55:00.003-08:00

Recently kidnapped and released actor, Nkem Owoh, as you’re perusing this is already in Dubai and Madrid, Spain, thrilling his fans in a double show fittingly tagged: Dubai and Madrid Must Laugh. Farcical Owoh, who paid his abductors the sum of N1.4m, to regain his freedom, did not embark on the trip alone. He went alongside leading eastern-based comedian and entertainer, Uche Ogbuagu, Chief Zebrudaya, AB Cowboy (prince of Gyration), the comic duo of Two Can Talk, Bom Shoko and hilarious Uncle O.
Speaking on the trip, Ogbuagu, who’s also the creator of the very famous comedy show-Aba Made, said the trip was by popular demand and the prompting of their teeming fans in the Diaspora. “This is our own little way of telling the world that something good can still come out of Aba. With the exception of Nkem, although, he started from Aba, before hitting it big and relocating, all of us going for this trip are all Aba, Abia State based comedians and entertainers. Dubai and Madrid are already agog and waiting for us to land and thrill them with original Aba made comedy. We will spend one week in Dubai and another one week in Madrid. We intend making this an annual ritual.
We decided to take Nkem Owoh along so that the world will know that he has been freed and no longer dining and wining with his abductors. We would have stayed longer, but cannot, because of the several engagements lined up for us at home in Aba, this Xmas season”, Ogbuagu explained before boarding.
The self sponsored trip, which was made possible by Ogbuagu, under his Talkinson entertainment outfit, was also applauded by all the other members of the group, who vowed to crack ribs in both countries before returning.

HiTV woos viewers with Correct Bouquet

2009-11-17T23:55:00.002-08:00

With the sole aim of ensuring that Pay TV is available in all Nigerian homes, irrespective of their class, has again spurred HiTV to introduce another masses friendly bouquet.
Tagged: Correct Bouquet, the new introduction is in addition to the already existing HiTV Premium and Classic bouquets. Mrs. Kemi Fashina, Hi Media’s Brand/Marketing Head, revealed what informed the decision of HiTV to introduce the Correct Bouquet. “We came into the market with N4, 000 monthly subscriptions. Recently with the acquisition of some Premium contents like the UEFA Champions League and the EUROPA League and the rising cost of running business, subscription changed to N6, 000. We however, realized that there are some subscribers who are not necessarily soccer lovers but want to stay faithful to our brand, so to be fair to this class of people, we introduced the Classic bouquet, which has all our channels except sports at N3, 500 monthly. We have again realized that there is a class of people who want to own a Pay TV, but do not have the financial muscle. At HiTV, our position has always been that Pay TV should not be a luxury and this is what
has informed our decision to carve out the Correct Bouquet at N1, 900 monthly.”
Correct Bouquet according to Fashina, has 24 channels. “20 TV channels and four radio channels. At N1, 900 monthly subscriptions, the subscriber has access to 24 world-class channels, thereby getting unrivalled value for his money. There are four news channels, four movie channels, four music and lifestyle channels, two kids’ channels, two sports channels, two indigenous channels, two religion channels and four radio channels. We also offer the lowest cost of entry in the market; N16, 900 for a decoder, smart card, dish and one month
free subscription.”

AMBO 5 kicks off

2009-11-17T23:55:00.001-08:00

After several months of elaborate planning and networking, the fifth edition of the Amstel Malta Box Office, AMBO, reality TV show, finally made a debut on several television stations across the country with rousing ovation and glitz. And from the first episode, it was obvious that teeming followers of the reality television show, the sponsorship platform of Amstel Malta, the non-alcoholic drink from Nigerian Breweries Plc, are in for another season of compelling television experience.
Committed to giving uncut acting talents in Nigeria a template to achieve their dreams, viewers were ushered into the world of tens of thousands of wannabes who had applied for the popular show across the country, as they shouted, sweated, hollered and murmured and in many cases, whimpered and cried to impress the judges that they deserved to be in the highly competitive AMBO house. For many of them, winning the N2.5million prize money, brand new car and a lead role in a major box office movie is secondary compared to the boundless opportunities and template AMBO has been offering unsung Nigerian youths to harness and market their latent acting talents. From Lagos to Imo, Enugu, Owerri and Benin, starry-eyed youths thronged the different audition venues to have a shot at fame and fortune as has become the tradition of AMBO. While many, as would be seen in subsequent episodes, put up mediocre performances at the auditions, many came well prepared to be part of the AMBO
Hall of Fame. This is understandable.
Since 2005, AMBO, aside other laudable objectives, has been at the forefront of the vanguard to inject fresh talents into the homegrown movie industry now popularly known as Nollywood. Azizat Sadiq, an Ordinary National Diploma, OND, holder from the Lagos State Polytechnic, was another acting hopeful who became an overnight sensation in Nollywood after winning the first edition of AMBO and making a strong claim for the top spot with her debut movie, Sitanda. But it was O.C Ukeje, winner of the second edition whose role in White Waters, also an AMBO movie that helped to drum home that the show’s alumni came well groomed to compete for a space in the roll call of A-list actors. He was adjudged the best up and coming actor at the continent’s most prestigious movie awards ceremony, the Africa Movie Academy Awards, AMAA. While Bhaira Mcwizu, winner of the 2008 AMBO, is already making industry stakeholders ponder where she had been all along for her methodical
portrayal of a feisty but determined young lady in the AMBO-sponsored Cindy’s Notes, Adewole Ojo, last year’s winner, is currently on location shooting his own movie.
With this in mind, it did not come as a surprise that some of this year’s entrants almost bent double to convince the judges of their preparedness to be in the AMBO House. But for tested thespians like: Norbert Young, Uche Sam Anyamele, Ofia Mbaka and Uche Ogbodo among other regional judges, it takes more than a pretty face and brawns to be in the house. Some of those who convinced them beyond doubts are already in the house, but those who could not raise their game beyond the mediocre level, are back home, lamenting over what they did wrong and what they did not do right. For the ten lucky housemates, the battle for the most talented and perhaps, luckiest person to breast the tape of victory on December 5, has begun.

MTN Nigerian Music Fest begins

2009-11-17T23:55:00.000-08:00

No doubt, the city of Lagos and its environs will experience endless funfair this weekend as residents will be treated to a night of thrills and excitement by artistes of the older and younger generations at the MTN Nigerian Music Fest holding tomorrow, Saturday, November 21, 2009, at the Ocean View, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The festival, which will witness a large convergence of artistes, producers and stakeholders in the entertainment industry as well as tourists from various parts of the world and music lovers across the city, will be one of the largest single musical concerts in the history of the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Preparation is in top gear and all arrangements, including venue, security, ticket sales outlets, crowd control and other logistics have been perfected for the much anticipated musical fiesta, which will mark a celebration of Nigerian music legends of the last four decades.

Kola Oyeyemi, General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, explained that the company’s sponsorship of the fiesta was informed by its passion for quality delivery in whatever it chooses to associate with. He said: “We have never relented in our efforts to ensure that Nigerians are happy at all times. As you all know MTN is not just a telecommunications company, we are enablers of good lives and we are committed to affecting the lives of Nigerian in various positive ways, including music and entertainment. So come Saturday, November 21, Nigerians will be treated to an exciting musical experience that they will never forget in a hurry, courtesy of MTN Nigeria.”

Mr Soni Irabor, Chief Executive Officer, Ruyi Communication Limited, the organiser of the event, said that artistes from various genres of music in Nigeria, including those of the older and younger generations have since engaged in preparations and rehearsals in other to ensure the delivery of scintillating musical performances to the satisfaction of thousands of music-loving Nigerians.

Some of the artistes expected to hit the stage are: Sir Victor Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Fatai Rolling Dollar, Christy Essien-Igbokwe and Ras Kimono. Others include: Wande Coal, African China, Faze, Timaya, DJ Zeez, Olu Maintain, Obesere, Terry G, MI, Weird MC and Iyanya.

Info-Bits:
-Ovation Red Carol set to rock Lagos.
-DBS Media to hit airwaves with Living in Lagos, soon.
-Nollywood stars/stakeholders prepare for Best of Nollywood awards.

Nkem Owoh freed, Nollywood rejoices

2009-11-15T05:29:00.002-08:00

Popular Nollywood actor and comic star, Nkem Owoh, who was abducted last weekend along the busy Enugu/ Port-Harcourt Road, has regained his freedom.
Daily Sun gathered that Owoh, famously known as Osuofia, was released on Friday night, after his family members allegedly paid a ransom fee of N1.4m, to his kidnappers. Although, the family members did not see Owoh until the following day, when the kidnappers, having confirmed their ransom fee, stealthily dropped him off at an obscure location. The abductors initially demanded for N15m ransom and later reduced it to N2m, when it dawned on them that the family could not raise the initial amount.
Confirming the good news, Mr. Segun Arinze, the national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), happily told us that Nkem had been released.
When prodded further on the amount paid for Owoh’s release, he declined to comment on that, insisting that what was paramount to AGN was Nkem being released hale and hearty. “ We at AGN are very happy that Nkem Owoh has been released. We thank his family, especially his wife and all those that helped in securing his release. We also thank the Enugu State chapter chairman of the AGN. I cannot comment on whether money was paid or not. The most important thing is that Nkem is now a free man and we are happy and very grateful that he has been re-united with his agonized family members. In fact, the whole of AGN is celebrating and rejoicing over this good news”, Arinze said elatedly.
Meanwhile, all our efforts to reach the farcical entertainer or any member of his family since his release, proved abortive.
Also speaking, Zack Orji, a former national president of the AGN, hailed Owoh’s release, describing it as a plus for Nollywood and their teeming fans globally.
Garrulous Nkem Owoh from Enugu State gained prominence in acting with his superb role in Kingsley Ogoro’s blockbuster, Osuofia in London, a scintillating comic movie that has grossed over a million copies. He has dazzled as an actor in over 1000 Nollywood movies, in a successful career spanning over two decades.

Nkem Owoh’s kidnap: Abductors reduce ransom to N2m

2009-11-15T05:29:00.001-08:00

The kidnappers of popular Nollywood actor and comic star, Nkem Owoh, who was abducted over the weekend along the busy Enugu/Port Harcourt road, are now mounting pressures on his family members to quickly raise the new ransom fee, which they have brought down to N2m, as against the initial N15m, earlier demanded. According to a source close to the actor, some family members of Owoh, who became famous for his wondrous role in the movie, Osuofia in London, thus earning him the famous sobriquet- Osuofia, visited the Enugu office of the State Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), yesterday. “They had a very fruitful discussion with the officers at SARS, before leaving. I can assure you that efforts are being intensified to track the kidnappers and release Owoh unhurt.”
Speaking on the new ransom fee, the national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Mr. Segun Arinze, who has publicly condemned Owoh’s abduction, insisted that AGN would not pay a dime to have the actor released. “We won’t pay any ransom money to anybody or bunch of kidnappers, they should immediately release Owoh to us unconditionally. We are actors and not moneybags. I insist, we won’t give them any money either from the coffers of AGN or the pockets of our individual members. Enough of this madness, we are just like every other Nigerians helping to reposition and re-brand our great nation, through entertainment as Nollywood practitioners. Please, kidnappers should desist from kidnapping and harassing our members, except they want us to stop making Nigerians happy and proud with our great works”.
Mr. Arinze, also told Daily Sun, that he had personally sent a passionate letter of appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, over Owoh’s abduction and the safety of all his other members, adding that the IG, had assured him of their maximum cooperation.
Another source told us that the Enugu State government, where Owoh hails from, had also intensified efforts to ensure that the actor gets his freedom soon.
Also commenting on the ugly issue, two leading actors in Nollywood, Victor Osuagwu and Chioma Toplis, strongly condemned Owoh’s abduction, describing it as shameful and uncalled for. According to Osuagwu: I’m still shocked and do not know who’s next. “I have ordered for wigs and Mary Kay products to disguise myself with when traveling home this Xmas.” For Toplis, who just returned from her base in the UK, she’s sad, speechless and confused at the moment.

Royal Arts Academy berths in Nollywood

2009-11-15T05:29:00.000-08:00

Royal Arts academy (RAA), a training institution that seeks to provide continuing education in the arts, has berthed in Nollywood with so many promises for intending students.

According to Emem Isong, a leading female filmmaker and the founder of the academy, they offer qualitative courses in the various aspects of the film industry with emphasis on scriptwriting, acting, directing, dance and children’s theatre.

Shedding more light on why the Surulere, Lagos based academy was established, Isong, a Theatre Arts graduate of the university of Calabar, argued that it had become necessary to improve and develop skills in order to meet the international standards of filmmaking. “At Royal Arts Academy, we are committed to enabling all our students to profit from a culture of learning and aligning with our teaching ethos. We also aim to support students, so that they can achieve their full academic potentials, while also equipping them for the demands of continuous learning and self-reliance. We want learning at Royal Arts Academy to be challenging, rewarding and fun, “elated Isong explained.

Speaking on their vision, top actress Monalisa Chinda, a consultant to the academy, said they are basically out to provide a conducive environment for learning and training people in the art of filmmaking, as well as providing a platform for interaction between like minds, by discovering and developing new and emerging talents.

With registrations already in progress and only 500-limited spaces available for interested students, Isong, maintained that full classes would begin early next year.

Commenting on the unique things that stands the academy out, Uduak Oguamanam, a founding member of the management team of the institution, disclosed that they would definitely raise the bar in Nollywood. In her words: “ We will produce a movie / soap opera series, at the end of every session, solely written by the screen writers class. We’ll use actors from the acting class and it will be directed by the best directing students with a supervising industry professional, each screen writing student will be guided to write a short/feature script, while directing students will each make a short film, which will be entered for an RAA competition at the end of the year. The winner will be given funds to make a feature film that will be entered for other international competitions. We will also act as artiste managers, casting agency, script and production consultants and many more.”

As part of efforts geared towards making the academy compete favourably with its counterparts around the world, the duo of Emem Isong and Monalisa Chinda, are already in the UK, networking and interfacing with some foreign bodies on how best to run the academy, using all the ingredients of global best practices.

For more info, visit: www.royalartsacademy.com or reach them at: info@royalartsacademy.com

X Project completes work on new album/videos

2009-11-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

This is definitely cheering news to the teeming fans and admirers of X-Project; the unstoppable Hip-hop singing group with an international appeal.
After several months in the studios, in both Abuja and Lagos, the highly focused trio, finally completed work on their latest and forthcoming album. Sensationally entitled: Turn it up. They also recently finished shoot on 11 scintillating music videos from the 14-tracker album.

Gathered that Barrister Sam Kargbo, the amiable honcho of SKP, their record label/management outfit, recently flew in from South Africa into Abuja, the entire crew of Godfather Productions, to lense the multi million Naira worth musical videos.

Elated Kargbo, in a brief chat with us, revealed that the album would be hitting both the national and international shelves this November, with a bang. He further promised to immediately follow suit with the videos, before Xmas.

Speaking on why he spent so much money flying in a whole production crew from South Africa, when the country is blessed with so many gifted music video directors, Kargbo, argued that competition was now becoming very stiff in the music industry. “At SKP, we believe in always being a distant ahead of the game. This is the only way we can checkmate the stiff competition in the music industry. I can beat my chest and tell you that this album alongside the never-seen-before-kind-of-videos, are the works to beat and copy this year. We have already lined up several activities to help usher in the album and the videos into the markets. We have also signed on Azadus, on our label.”

Also speaking, the X –Project trio of Majeed, Saal and Slez, promised to give there fans the very best of entertainment with the new album. “Turn it up, is for our teeming fans who have been yearning for something new from us. We are not giving them only what is new and soothing, but also a special Xmas and New Year gifts, because we love them from the bottom of hour hearts. We are turning up the entire music scene once again with this special work.”

Amata, others, battle for Celebrity Takes2 crown

2009-11-12T11:52:00.000-08:00

In the next couple of days, viewers, especially fans and admirers will have the opportunity of watching and voting in or out, their best and worst dancers at the season two of Celebrity Takes2.

Proudly brought to the world by Spirit of David, one of the leading dance academies in Nigeria, a total of ten movie and music stars, has been carefully selected to partake in this year’s bumper edition.

Leading the pack of dancers, in this season’s show, which the organizers, promised would be riveting, arresting and exhilarating, is famous actor and top filmmaker, Fred Amata, who is also unarguably the oldest dancer in the house. Others from his Nollywood constituency are: sexy actresses, Stella Damasus – Nzeribe and Dakore Egbuson, as well as Fathia Balogun and Yemi Blaq.

Headlining the five dancers from the music domain is the originality crooner, Faze, others include: Yinka Davies, Zaaky Adzay Obiwon and Kel.

They will all be contesting for honour and the mouth-watering star prize, at the grand final.

According to Pastor Segun Lawal, the dreadlocks donning honcho of Spirit of David, Celebrity Takes2, has come to change the face of entertainment on TV in Nigeria and indeed, the whole of Africa. He further promised to make this year’s edition bigger and better, adding that they are fully set to thrill and wow viewers with various dance steps, styles and dramas.

Speaking on his chances at the competition Amata, who’s currently rehearsing with the other contestants, insisted he’s in the competition to thrill and win, adding that it had not been easy going through rigorous dance trainings. “It’s not been easy dancing at rehearsals everyday, but the truth is that I’m in this competition to thrill and win”. Skye Bank is powering the strictly dance competition.