Category: Entertainment

Columbus, Ohio-based journalist and singer, Deba Uwadiae has slated the release of a fifth single and 10th recorded song ‘Rescue’ for Monday, May 22, 2023.

 ‘Rescue’ is inspirational music, a song of promise, and the lyrics appeal to all age groups and music lovers,” said Deba Uwadiae.

 “There is no better time to enjoy and meditate on ‘Rescue’ than this time. So much is happening after the world recovered from COVID and this is the time for a rescue.”

 Uwadie also said the new single can be accessed on all digital platforms including Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Tik Tok, Media Net, YouTube Music and YouTube video.

 Uwadiae is also the publisher of the New Americans magazine and author of “Coming to America: Early Life in America and Citizenship”. He oversees activities at the New American Community Information Center in Columbus, Ohio.

On Sunday, April 30, family, associates, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, and fans shower encomiums on Nigerian iconic humourist and broadcaster, Gbenga Adeboye to mark the 20th remembrance of his demise.

 Adeboye, a man with several monikers including ‘Funwontan’ hailed from Ode Omu, Osun State, and died of kidney-related diseases on April 30, 2003 at the age 44.

 Heralding his artistry, friends and family shared his music clips, videos and memories of the all-rounder entertainer on social media with many describing him as a genius, prophet, and inspiration to the new generation of comedians of today.

 One of his sisters, Princess Adeboye had an emotional eulogy to remember the late Adeboye saying, “My late brother is a great inspiration to the generations that came after and ones that are yet to come. It’s 20 years after his demise, and many comedians of today can’t meet up with him. They even extract from his records and his messages. He is just like a book for everyone to study.”

 Adeboye’s two children, Damilola and Igwe Adeboye plan to immortalise their father’s legacy.

“Yes, we have a plan of organising an annual event to celebrate my father’s legacy,” Damilola, his first daughter disclosed.

 In the same vein, popular comedian Gbenga Adeyinka 1st honoured Adeboye, whom he referred to as one of his inspirations, in death. At the Osogbo edition of his Laffmattazz show, which coincidentally took place at the late Adeboye’s home state, Adeyinka took his time to eulogise the memories and fondness of Adeboye to the delight of attendees.

Despite being an entertainer, Adeboye was famous for being a blunt rights activist and he constantly used the Bible, Quran, and Ifa knowledge to promote peace and unity.

 “He sang to penetrate the soul and revive conscience and consciousness and not entirely for pleasure or blind alignment with vogue,” a social media commentator, Legendary Joe, expressed. “In his ‘Discovery Album’, he awakened the decomposing humanity in children who upon attaining success abandon their procreator to affliction.”

 Continuing Joe said, “As the ‘Oluaye Sorosoro’, the One man Batallion as he was hailed at the time delivered his rendition like none other. His mastery of the Quran, Bible, and Yoruba language had no equal which gave his deliveries a unique touch of class and excellence never seen before then, still not seen now, and maybe never be seen.

 “As a comedian, before what we now know as skits, Gbenga Adeboye pioneered comedic series on the radio with legendary fictional characters like ‘Itu Baba Ita,’ and ‘Lasisi Abesupinle’, etc.

 “It’s been 20 years, Gbenga Adeboye, the large shoes you left had not been filled, the position of King of Talk had not been occupied, and your unique style of comedy had not been replaced. Say, continue to rest well in peace and quiet knowing your man Asiwaju is now president-elect as you would have wanted.”

 In the same vein, Segun Awosanya aka Segalink penned a tribute for Adebaoye on his remembrance . “May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace. His program back then, including the Ìròyìn Kàyéfì with Abbey Fagboro that follows as an interstitial, kept us enthralled as a family. It was more like a call to prayer for us every Saturday morning. His albums and subsequent releases through his media/production outfit brought so much joy to most families.

 “We love him but God Almighty loves him more. He’s a great influence to me personally and I believe he will continue to live on in our hearts.”

The Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) has congratulated President Buhari for the new Copyright Act 2022.

In a letter, the CEO of the society, Mayo Ayilaran thanked Buhari for deeming it fit to give to the creative industry a parting gift in the form of a new copyright law.

“We have received with joy and heart filled with gratitude the new Copyright Act 2022, which you recently signed for the creative industry in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We most sincerely thank you for this, as a parting from Your Excellency.”

The Society also thanked Buhari for the great impact of his administration on the creative sector in the last seven years during which hard decisions were taken, all of which have repositioned our creative industries to be coming up as a virile economic sector in Nigeria.

“Nigerian music, movies, literary works and artworks among others, are now ranked among the best across the world and yielding multimillion dollars for our creators” Mr. Ayilaran stated

He further stated that: “Your administration has enabled the of viable and sustainable structures upon which our creators can rely on to reap the benefits and dividends from their intellectual labour. The MCSN, is one of such structures licensed and approved as a collecting society/collective management organisation and which has within the last two years distributed various sums of money of N400 million to music creators in Nigeria and around the world for which many of our creators are able to solve certain of their basic problems.”

StarTimes has announced Tolaram group as the headline sponsor of the season two of dating show, Hello Mr. Right.

In the same vein, three other organisations Colgate, Indomie, and Lush Hair were announced as sponsors of the dating show.

Already, the regional auditions for the dating show have been held in Abuja, Port-Harcourt, and Ibadan with a ‘grand audition’ scheduled to be held Lagos on May 9.

Hello Mr Right is a dating reality show featuring single and searching female contestants and male suitors competing for dating, love and romance opportunities.

A statement by PR Manager, Startimes Nigeria, Lazarus Ibeabuchi also revealed that the show’s host will be unveiled ahead of the show’s launch on StarTimes in June.

Yemi Ogundeji, the show’s coordinator, said, “We are excited to bring back Hello Mr Right, the sensational dating reality show on StarTimes. This show will keep you glued to your screens as you witness the sparks and drama of the female contestants and their male suitors who compete for love and romance. Thanks to our headline sponsors, Colgate, Indomie, and Lush Hair, viewers will also have the chance to win amazing prizes and giveaways throughout the show. So don’t miss the opportunity to join the fun and find your own Mr Right or Ms Right along the way.”

Lady Laide Films and Shutter Speed Projects’s joint venture ‘Hotel Labamba’ has been screened to an exclusive audience ahead of its global release slated for June 2023.

 The film, which has Laide Daramola as the executive producer and Biodun Stephens as director, left selected audiences wowed with its crime, comedy and drama twists.

 With a mysterious storyline and stellar cast which features Lateef Adedimeji, Bimbo Ademoye, Lilian Afegbai, Bolaji Ogunmola, Kachi Nnochiri, Etinosa Idemudia, Femi Adebayo and more, Daramola is confident that her latest Nollywood flick is set to project Africa as a good place to be, to the world.

 Daramola also announced that ‘Hotel Labamba’ will premiere on the global streaming service in June 2023.

 On her part, Stephen says the film is very relatable as it was as a result of a conversation with a friend on recent and current happenings in Nigeria.

 “My experiences shape the storyline of my movies, which is what makes them very relatable and exciting to watch. The story of Hotel Lambaba, started from a conversation with a friend about Slay queens and Yahoo boys, and I’m happy to have been a part of this movie,” Stephens said.

Hillcross records boss Tolulope Ogunleye aka Drtonez has shared tips for success amidst the challenges emerging record labels and artists face in the Nigerian music industry.

In a recent interview, Drtonez addressed the issue of dealing with different personalities stating that label bosses and artists must create a balance and draw lines where necessary to stay ahead.

He said, “one of the basic challenges you will have as a person in business is dealing with another person’s personality. Record and music business is centered around people and their  personalities. To stay ahead, one must consciously work to create a balance and above all, know when and where to draw the line and call the shots.”

 Continuing, he said, “Every industry has a market process and challenges which covers product and consumption. When our label was emerging into the music industry we came with our priorities, clear goals, proper product description and a clearly processed plan. We knew the kind of artist we wanted to sign and we saw him in Zed1st.”

According to the music boss, independent artistes struggle a lot in Nigeria and across Africa due to the unavailability of a structure to sustain the musical sector as an art or business.

“We need corporate and government support to drive our industry. Most emerging brands face this challenge I don’t know about other parts of Africa but here in Nigeria, I know we do. Although music tech and digitalization is gradually opening up opportunities, creating economic revolution for independent artists but more involvement, partnership and investment is still needed.

“Though the risk in talent investment is high, thanks to technology, I can project what a certain number of traffic driven to my channel or streaming platform will give me as an actual return today, which was not so some years ago. Now music lovers with interest to invest can come in, evaluate a talent or label, draw their financial projection, good marketing plan, quality project and take calculated risk.”

Season five of MTV Shuga Naija series recently premiered with a star-studded event that had some of the cast and leading entertainment stars in attendance.

Spotted at the exclusive event include BBTitans star Kanaga Jr., Susan Pwajok,  Tomiwa Tegbe, Maggie Osuome, Okey Uzoeshi, Gbubemi Ejeye, Genoveva Umeh, Ilooise Omohimin, and Bolaji Ogunmola.

The highly anticipated series produced by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation premiered with a focus on the issues addressed in the series.

“This season, we have partnered with Unitaid, Global Innovation Fund, and Paramount to address issues on gender-based violence, COVID-19 vaccine confidence, women empowerment, modern contraception, as well as generate demand for the HIV self-testing kits now available in Nigeria,” remarked Anita Adesiyan, Country Manager, MTV Staying Alive Foundation.

The new season combines an exciting ensemble of established on-screen legends and rising stars including Adesua Etomi-Wellington, John Njamah, Tomiwa Tegbe, Maggie Osuome, Okey Uzoeshi, Gbubemi Ejeye, Genoveva Umeh, Ilooise Omohimin, Sharon Jatto, Lexan Peters, Bolaji Ogunmola, and Susan Pwajok.

Big Brother Titans star, Kanaga Jnr. Eme, and Chioma Edak will be playing lead and supporting acts respectively, having come through the MTV Shuga Naija public auditions last year.

 The eight-part series, produced in partnership with 1Pod Pictures, is set for a May 7 African premiere on MTV Base while all episodes of the season will also be available on Netflix and YouTube.

Popular comedian Omobaba has hosted the doyen of standup comedy, Alibaba and seven other comedians to a fresh season of Unknot your tie comedy zone, which debuted at The Zone.

 The event, which has heralded a long list of upcoming performances at The Zone in Gbagada area of Lagos, had several attendees expressing delight at the event.

 While Kojah Kaze, a regular collaborator with Omobaba held his own at the event, other standup talents including a leading light, Koffi Da Guru, joined five others to treat the audience to a fine evening.  Thrilling guests at the maiden edition of the ‘Unknot your tie’ comedy zone are SLK, Deeone, David Makinde, Ebube, and Shytalkative.

 On the rise of his comedy club, Omobaba said: “Comedy clubs are actually a hub for comedians to hone and perfect their skills. More like a platform where you can test the waters, test your jokes and feel the reaction of the people before going to the main stage.”

 On how he began the comedy club, the lanky MC and standup comedian said, “I began with my late friend, Nomoreloss. He was doing a live band and I will just come in to do a few jokes but as time went by, I decided to start a comedy gig every Wednesday at Rodizzo in Ikeja GRA while he maintained his Saturday live band. From there, I moved to another venue before Sidewalk on Victoria Island, and now The Zone in Gbagada.”