Author: The Nation

Hip hop sensation Cosmas Okechukwu Nnotum has hinted he is working on a collaboration with Grammy winners Burna Boy and Wizkid as well as Tu Face.

He said: “I have a great collaboration with my business and musical partner Riosoundz called Zodiac which was my first single released on January 15th at the beginning of the year of which the song performed admirably with great reviews.

“I would love to collaborate with anyone that is talented enough to flow with me whilst creating a musical masterpiece. Lil Wayne, Drake, wizkid, Burna, Davido, Tuface, Don jazzy, Headie one, are names that my fans should anticipate on the collaboration.”

READ ALSO:How God inspires me to make music, by Cosmas Nnotum 

Nnotum, on his Instagram handle, @Supaakos, expressed joy on the several reviews from fans across the globe.

“This is not going to be a Nigerian project, it will be a major hit in the entertainment industry and it’s one event everyone who loves music should look forward to,” Nnotum said.

Singer Tiwa Savage is set to be conferred with an honorary doctorate degree from her alma Mata, Kent University.

The Afrobeat singer will receive the award based on outstanding and inspirational performances in the music industry.

According to the university, the event holds at Canterbury from 11-15 July and Rochester on 20 July where ten individuals will be awarded.

Kent University wrote: “The University of Kent is looking forward to awarding honorary degrees to ten inspirational individuals during its congregation ceremonies at Canterbury and Rochester cathedral during July 2022

“Among those to receive awards will be singer-songwriter and Afrobeat star Tiwa Savage, and the 2021 Nobel Laureate for literature and Kent emeritus professor, Abdulrazak Gurnah

‘The ceremonies will take place at Canterbury from 11-15 July and Rochester on 20 July.Kent alumni Tiwa Savage will be made Doctor of Music in recognition of her inspiration and international career..”

Tiwa Savage bagged a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of Kent.

Actor-cum-comedian, Imeh Bishop Umoh, popularly known as Okon Lagos has made a case in support of Igbo presidency ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Okon Lagos, in an Instagram post, explained the Igbos have never in history been at the apex of leadership.

According to the humour merchant, the closest they’ve come to be at the helm of the country’s affairs is second.

Citing Nnamdi Azikiwe, the country’s President in the First Republic and Tafawa Balewa who was the Prime Minister, the movie star explained since it was a parliamentary system of Government that was in practice at the time, the Prime Minister had more powers than the President, who was merely a ceremonial head that could be likened to a Vice President in a Presidential system of Government.

So, Okon Lagos noted Azikiwe wasn’t Nigeria’s head in the real sense but Balewa.

Okon Lagos argued any attempt to acknowledge this fact and deny the Igbos the seat of power in the coming elections will be termed, a ‘function of political mischief and a deliberate clog in the wheel of progress to prospective national healing!’

He wrote: “In the history of Nigeria’s democracy and civil rule, an Igbo man has NEVER been at the apex Nigeria’s leadership. The closest they have come is second.

“The case and argument for Igbo presidency is just and moral. Refusal to acknowledge and uphold this truism is a function of political mischief and a deliberate clog in the wheel of progress to prospective national healing.”

READ ALSO: Why your children should undergo DNA- Destiny Amaka

Okon continued: “Before you mention Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, President of Nigeria in the first Republic, please note that Zik was president in a Parliamentary system of Government.

“In a parliamentary system of Government, the Prime Minister is the real deal…..the head of government while the President is merely a ceremonial head.

“His position and powers are likened to a Vice President in a Presidential system of government.”

“Zik wasn’t at Nigeria’s leadership apex. Balewa was!” the actor added.

Media personality-cum-actress Destiny Amaka has advised married men to allow their children to undergo Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) regardless of the resemblance between fathers and children.

Hammering on the importance of having DNA, Amaka maintained that most children from side chicks are often more related to the man compared to children from the legally married wife.

She wrote: “My brothers and uncles and cousins all know how I deal with this. Fuck emotions and sentiments oh MEN! I don’t care how long you’ve been married I know why I’m saying this oooo unless you don’t care. Nigga go do dna test for all your children period.! Even if you feel the child looks like you, my friend will you go and do DNA! Look kwa! Hmmm let me not talk too much but after a while, they will start saying the child looks like a distant relative blah blah blah

“Better to have peace of mind than to doubt and if child ain’t yours if your heart can handle it biko continue to be a good parent to that child

READ ALSO: Simi named Spotify EQUAL Africa artiste for July

“Sometimes that side chick that born for you and you do DNA test for but abandon the child because you don’t want to break your marriage biko that child is probably more related to you than the ones born in your house. Dear Men, go do DNA for ALL your children. E get why! Hmm.”

Amaka urged women to open up as regards the rightful father of a child even if who seems to be a father might actually not be.

She added: “And women I ain’t against you ohh but honestly the truth sets you free… Holding lies this big can age you real fast.. Don’t be deceived ooo not all men will send you packing, plenty of men are living knowing some of his children aint his. Not all men leave when you cheat. Biko I know too many that have not left pls let the truth give y’all peace of mind.”
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A global streaming platform, Spotify, says Nigerian singer and songwriter, Simi Ogunleye, popularly known as “Simi”, has been selected as Spotify EQUAL Africa music programme ambassador for July.
Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

This announcement followed the release of her latest album, “TBH (To Be Honest)”, which came out in June.

Okumu said that Simi joined other Nigerian artistes like Tiwa Savage, Ayra Starr, Asa, and FAVE to be part of EQUAL Africa, which aims to spotlight and amplify the voices of talented African female artists making waves in the music scene.

She said Simi had also become the second African artiste after Tiwa Savage, to be named as an EQUAL global and EQUAL Africa artiste.

“Spotify welcomes Simi to the EQUAL programme which aims to foster gender equality and provide a platform to celebrate influential female artistes.

“She joins a list of talented African women who are driving the culture and breaking through barriers in the music industry.

“We are proud to welcome Simi to the EQUAL programme, and we are so excited to see where her talent continues to take her from strength to strength,” she said.

Okumu said that the Nigerian musician, sound engineer and actress, started her musical journey as a chorister in church.

She said Simi started her musical career as a gospel singer, who released her debut studio album ‘Ogaju’ in 2008 before switching genres to Afro-pop.

READ ALSO: ‘Producers, songwriters, others deserve more credits’

“She came onto the public’s radar in 2014 after the release of the single, “TIFF”, which was nominated for Best Alternative Song at The Headies in 2015.

“Her 2016 single, “Jamb Question”, was a massive hit, topping music charts for weeks. In 2020, Simi garnered even more buzz in the industry after she released her famous song, ‘Duduke’, which celebrated the birth of her daughter.

“Duduke was one of the most played songs of the year in Nigeria, a further testament to Simi’s musical prowess,” she said.

Reacting, Simi said: “Striving and thriving as a woman in a male dominated industry has taken years of practice to master.

“You go from being scared of it, to being intimidated by it, to being brave enough for it and then finally, to conquering it.

“I have almost always had to do way more than my male peers to prove myself but because of my love for music, I have been relentless and proud to do this work.

“I certainly hope, with all my heart, that the women who continue to come after me find it easier to shine in the way they deserve.”

The EQUAL programme spans seven categories, which include the EQUAL artistes of the month and the EQUAL local playlists.

The latest artiste to join the EQUAL Africa and Global Music Programs, Simi, will be featured on the EQUAL Africa and the EQUAL Global playlists.

(NAN)

Talent manager-cum-artist PR, Okanlawon Taiwo Alabi has said music producers, songwriters and others involved in the creative process of songs deserve more credit than they receive.

According to the talent manager, a song will be a fruitless effort without the contributions of producers, songwriters, and engineers.

“A lot of people fail to realise that without the instrumental, there would not be a song.

“It’s just like filling your car with petrol for you to drive it. The artist is the petrol and the producer is the car itself. I blame the listeners, artistes, awards organizers for not doing enough to accredit the producers,” he noted.

Alabi further urged stakeholders and his colleagues in the industry to step up their game a little bit more.

“The royalty system is not working as it should in the country and it is a significant challenge that needs to be looked into. We need to sort out how these guys are paid their dues, and how they are recognized in terms of royalties.”

READ ALSO: I look like old retired ‘prostitute’ on Android phones- Bobrisky

“Songwriters and producers would gain much more recognition if artists start mentioning them more in their interviews or whatever and put them in the front and not in the background.

“Also, songwriters and producers need to not rely on artists for their publicity, we need to have our own brand and create one strong enough that we can be mentioned in a separate sentence and conversation without the artist’s name mentioned,” he added.

Taiwo Alabi is also a journalist, writer, digital media strategist, and music enthusiast.

He co-founded HO2Media, a digital media and public relations company dedicated to promoting people, brands, products, artistes and events.

Afrobeats sensation J’ray believes the globally celebrated African music genre, Afrobeats, has room for expansion, especially to South America.

South America is predominantly occupied by about 17 Spanish, Portuguese and French-speaking countries and independent territories such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Paraguay among others.

The Latin American continent has popularised music cultures such as Salsa, Tango and Samba. It has also been influenced by American pop culture, which has given rise to latin pop, rock, hip hop, jazz and reggaeton among others.

Reflecting on the expansion of the wave-making genre, the singer whose real name is Morojuoluwa Oke said: “Afrobeats gets even bigger day by day to no surprise. I am actually surprised it took this long for the whole world to catch up on it to be honest.

“We have done a lot of good things, you know, featuring some artistes out here in the US, touring different continents, and gaining some airplay in different parts of the world.”

READ ALSO: How God inspires me to make music, by Cosmas Nnotum

J’ray continued: “I believe if we keep going with everything we have done so far, the sky is the limit. I’d definitely love to see more collaborations from artistes in the South Americas, I think this is a big market to tap further into.”

Still riding on the success of ‘Dance,’ his last release, the music-cum-tech whizz believes he can upend the status quo with his upcoming release to deliver what may turn out to be the summer hit of the year.

“There is always something cooking in J’ray’s studio, literally.

“Whenever I am not coding my life away, I am making beats or at least recording on one.

“After the release of Dance video, I will be putting out one of the biggest songs of the summer so definitely look forward to that,” he added.