Category: Entertainment

MTN Foundation and the MUSON School of Music have graduated 29 music scholars from the Diploma in Music scholarship program.

 The two-day graduation event, which featured a concert and the ceremony, saw the introduction of the 29 music talents into the Nigerian music scene.

 The graduation concert also featured interesting musical and instrumental performances from the graduating students.  They performed covers of foreign and Nigerian songs.

 However, the highlight of the evening was the excellent performance of a medley of ABBA songs by the MUSON choir, which had guests singing along and cheering across the hall. 

Alebiowu Ayomide, Oluwarotimi Samuel and Abisola Edun won the MTN Foundation Awards for exceptional scholars that exemplify the MTN core values, and they each received gifts from the MTN Foundation. Flora Fasan, Olaitan Israel and Eze Victor also got awards from Frank Edwards and Chief Femi Adeniyi-Williams in different categories.

 The MTNF- MUSON Scholars’ Diploma Programme was launched in 2006, and to date, the Foundation has fully funded over 400 music scholars to study at the prestigious Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) School of Music.

Amazon Prime Video has unveiled 10 contenders for the unscripted comedy show, Last One Laughing (LOL) Naija.

 The show is being viewed  on the streaming platform from Friday July 14.

 To be hosted by Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth, the 10 talented contenders for the show are Okey Bakkasi, Senator, I Go Save, Sabinus, Taaoma, Dat Warri Girl, Buchi, Kiekie, Gandoki and Acapella.

 The concept, according to Prime Video is to have 10 content creators in an apartment for six hours and try to outwit one another to laugh with jokes until it will remain the last person that would not laugh. That person would then win N40m but to be donated to a charity of his or her choice.

 In a recent media screening, Head of Originals, Africa and Middle East, Prime Video, Ned Mitchell reiterated the uniqueness of the streaming platform saying that the show is a big deal for comedy especially comedy in Nigeria and that Prime video is committed to assisting Nigerian comedians realise their dreams.

 In addition, Head of Originals, Nigeria, Prime Video, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “It is the first unscripted show as it is the first of its kind in Nigeria and we intend to keep it that way. We implore everyone across the globe to watch the show.”

Nigerian events expert Olasunkanmi Olanrewaju aka Asiwaju Ola, has launched his multimedia firm, Signal Media Links International, in the United States of America.

 Asiwaju Ola expressed that the move is to boost the multimedia industry in the African-American community in the U.S.

 The firm was launched ahead of the maiden edition of the All African Festival U.S.A. scheduled for 2024.

 The launch had practitioners, friends and associates of the multimedia expert in attendance.

 Speaking about the launch, Olasunkanmi took a retrospective look at the journey while counting the cost in achieving such grandeur vision.

 In his speech, he said, “the company is not just for event merriment or media relations alone, but to align Africans in America and to bridge the gaps of inequality in urban and rural areas of the United States of America.”

 Olanrewaju also hinted plans to launch the Pan African Diaspora (PADI) Magazine as well as the Pan African Diaspora (PADI) television channel on cable and internet television in October 2023.

Before his sojourn to the U.S., Olanrewaju was a popular face on the scene with his involvement in top events in Nigeria including the Face of Tourism Reality Contest Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states, Oyo Festival 2009, Miss Tourism Oyo and Ogun states, Ibadan Youth Mega Carnival, Remo Empire Carnival and many more.

Talented Nollywood actor, Adeniyi Johnson has inked an ambassadorial deal with real estate firm, Ilu -Oba International Limited.

 Johnson was announced as the new face of the real estate firm’s newly acquired estate, ‘Passant Estate’.

 Reacting to the new deal, Adeniyi lauded the initiative while noting that the journey has been over three years.

 “Having been a face of some real estate firms in past years and judging by my experience, I can attest 100% to the fact that Ilu-Oba international are not dubious and their allocation process comes just right immediately after payment. Their integrity is second to none and I urge Nigerian most especially youths of the need to invest in real estate,” Adeniyi said.

 Speaking on the choice of Adeniyi as the face of the brand, the CEO of Ilu-Oba International Limited, Adepoju Adeyemi disclosed that the actor was chosen based on his large number of fan base both offline and online; his impeccable character and above all his youthful zeal towards the brands he represents.

 He said ‘After much deliberation about the choice of face for the brand; the team decided to pick Adeniyi Johnson as a result of his youthful contribution towards society change and Adeniyi is a true representation of what we represent’.

From veteran rapper Busta Rhymes to SZA, H.E.R, Jorja Smith, and Santan Dave, several American artists had the time of their lives at Burna Boy‘s CitiField Stadium concert in New York, America.

 Before going on stage, Burna Boy’s mum and manager, Bose Ogulu, and sister Ronami Ogulu were seen praying for the ‘African Giant’ singer before his performance.

 Performances at the event saw the singer’s sister, Nissi Ogulu mesmerised the audience with her solo performance while British rapper, Dave surprised fans as special guest to play their 2019 song titled, ‘Location.’

 The Grammy award-winning artiste took over to serenade the crowd of 41,000 fans with his highly spirited performance, blasting through songs from his old and newest albums.

 Fans went wild as the 32-year-old singer showcased the influence of African music on a grand scale.

 Born Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy registered himself in history as the first Nigerian artist to headline Madison Square Garden last year and CitiField Stadium.

In recent times, there have been conversations around the creation of indigenous content with a focus on telling authentic African stories.

 In the same vein, young and intending filmmakers have yearned for platforms to engage for capacity building and continental collaborations in their quest for the creation of authentic indigenous content. These conversations have been ongoing for some time and various film agencies and bodies have contributed in different quotas.

 In 2018, MultiChoice Africa joined other stakeholders in creating an enabling platform for young creatives and intending filmmakers by launching the MultiChoice Talent Factory, MTF, a shared-value initiative that provides a platform for the creative industries to develop their talent and engage with one another through their shared passions.

 The MTF, an initiative with a multi-tiered approach, namely; the MTF Portal, the MTF Academy and MTF Industry Masterclasses, is equally an education programme that develops emerging TV and film talent in Africa, through an accredited 12-month immersion programme including theory and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling.

 While the MTF Portal is an interactive on-line portal profiling and connecting Africa’s film industry, bringing talent and opportunities together on one platform, in one place, the MTF Academy is the first academy of its kind offering fully funded training in three regions and 13 countries across Africa. Accredited regional MTF Academies are based in Kenya (for East Africa), Nigeria (for West Africa) and Zambia (for Southern Africa) in partnership with respected local academic institutions. And the MTF Masterclasses are “Best in Class” workshops which are open to industry professionals and facilitated by industry experts.

 With a keen interest to train, equip, and empower, young storytellers to tell more of our local stories, the MTF has, in five years, disrupted the status quo with the emergence of young, brilliant and talented creatives, who are collaborating with the veteran creatives, inculcating their teachings and adding new tricks that have helped them carry the torch of telling authentic and indigenous African stories.

 MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy Director, Atinuke Babatunde opined that the initiative is encouraging young talents to embrace their unique African perspective to storytelling, as our diverse and rich cultures provide a viewpoint that is different from the rest of the world.

 On the importance of MTF in shaping creators of authentic African stories in local languages, Executive Head of Content & West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, Dr Busola Tejumola explained that it was essential to have these discussions about creating more indigenous content.

 “In Nigeria alone, we have over 250 tribes and ways of living, and stories for days. We can tell 250,000 stories in a year, and you won’t repeat any of them. There is just uniqueness and diversity in our stories. As a brand, we are believers that no one can tell our stories like we can. We’ve told these stories for years through our Africa Magic channels.”

 Since the launch of MTF, the MTF Academy has honed the skills of many emerging filmmakers across 13 countries on the continent, with many of its graduates already economically active in the television and film industry.

 The best-graduating students of the MTF Academy West Africa are rewarded with further training and global exposure. The best-graduating student of the 2022 alumni, Adedamola Akapo, received an all-expense paid two-month scholarship to the New York Film Academy, NYFA, while Abisola Aboaba, the top-performing graduate of 2020 alumni won the NYFA 8-week scholarship in the United States of America.

 Alumni of MTF West Africa have been showcasing their abilities following their graduation. They include Allen Onyige and Adeniyi Joseph-Omobulejo, the Series Producers for an acclaimed African Magic original, ‘Irora Iya.’ The series is currently running on an Africa Magic channel. MTF alumni also bagged nominations at the recently concluded 9th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCAs.

 Just as hundreds of students across Africa have benefitted from the programme, another set of students are set to benefit with ongoing submission of entry for the class of 2024, which is scheduled to close at midnight on July 14.