Category: Entertainment

FirstBank of Nigeria has returned as a lead sponsor of Season four of the music talent reality TV show, The Voice Nigeria as the fourth season kicked off on Saturday, December 24 on StarTimes.

 Airing on ST Nollywood Plus and ST Nollywood, Waje returned as a coach. She’s joined by Niyola, Praiz, and Naeto C. Produced by FAME Studios, The Voice Nigeria Season 4 kicked off with the blind auditions that were hosted by Kate Henshaw and co-hosted by Zainab Balogun.

 From singing about the flood situation in his Bayelsa community, Clark McColl began a long list of performances with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s ‘Heal the World,’ where he had the coaches and audience in their emotions.

 As always, the judges gave a sterling performance led by Waje, Niyola, and Praiz before Naeto C ended the Unstoppable themed song with his rap verses. During the first episode, Waje performed a Xmas song to entertain the audience, talents, and other coaches.

 The first talent of the Blind auditions was 27-year-old Arite Monday whose rendition of James Brown’s Man’s World failed to move the coaches to turn in her favour. 25-year-old Emmanuel Elijah suffered the same fate as his efforts to replicate Bruno Mars’ When I was your man failed to make the needed impact for a coach to turn around. In the same vein, 31-year-old mother and wife, Jessica Ijeh failed to move the coaches even after giving her all to replicate White Houston and Mariah Carey’s powerful duet, When you believe.

Benjamin Ayamere became the first toast of the coaches as his rendition of Major’s Why I love you got all four coaches turning and seeking his favour. The 27-year-old went on to join Team Praiz. Jochebele Pepple’s rendition of Lagbaja’s Never far away also got accolades from the coaches before she joined Team Waje. Team Praiz got another talent after 29-year-old Peter Francis had to pick between Waje and Praiz.

Joy Chukwuma’s performance got her a spot on Team Niyola even as Team Naeto C tried swaying the 30-year-old multi-instrumentalist without luck. Tejiri Agbroko had all the coaches turning for her but decided to pitch her tent with Team Waje while 24-year-old Quindon Ogah got himself on Team Naeto C. Melody Thompson’s performance of Emily Sandy’s Read all about it got her a spot on Team Niyola.

 After the first episode, Team Praiz, Team Niyola, and Team Waje got two talents each while Team Naeto C settled for one talent.

 Speaking on the coaches and talents, Waje said, “Each of them is an industry veteran and has a record of a successful and thriving music career across different genres. Talents will be able to draw on their years of experience making excellent music, becoming superb performing artists, and connecting with people, especially Nigerians, through art.”

 The fourth edition of The Voice Nigeria is supported by First Bank, Airtel, Leadway Assurance, CocaCola, JAC Motors, and Zaron.

As part of the programme in the Eko Inspire Me by Ara project, celebrity talking drummer, Aralola Olumuyiwa aka Ara, and her team has extended their activities to Ketu garage for a free medical outreach for the king and queens of the streets.

 The doctors and other health workers attended to the various needs of street kings, queens, market men, and women. They were checked for high blood pressure, eye tests, diabetes, and malaria treatment.

 Ara, who was at the outreach session, explained the importance of the gesture. She said: “ This is a medical outreach for the street kings and queens that we have been working with. We are coming to the end of the year and some of them have health challenges that they have spoken to us about, so, we decided to take medical outreach to them. We are checking for eye tests, high blood pressure, diabetes, and treating malaria. Due to the living condition of a lot of them healthwise, they are prone to a lot of things. Even regular Nigerians who do not live in worse situations like them have health issues. Our prayer is that by this time next year, we would have commissioned our academy which would have 100-bed spaces among other facilities so that we can have the proper environment to run our events and stuff like that. We want to say a big thank you to the governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo – Olu for believing in this project and giving the go-ahead. When we wrote our letters two years ago we requested a partnership with about 10 ministries which the governor approved. Part of that is the ministry of health. We have a couple of various medical issues amongst our street kings and queens by virtue of the partnership between us and the ministry of health, we would have access to quick medical health and reach out to our other partners as well.”

The Oyo State Police Command has evacuated three mutilated bodies in Ibadan, the state capital.

One of the victims was beheaded, while vital organs were harvested from the other two.

They were said to have been murdered by yet-to-be-identified persons.

The bodies were discovered in the early hours of Monday around the Office Bus Stop, close to the World Oil filling station along Ibadan-Oyo Expressway in Akinyele Local Government Area.

The police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, said the removal of the bodies was in the public interest.

“They were removed this morning (Tuesday). It was done in the public interest, and public safety and to prevent the spread of an epidemic.

“Investigation has already commenced and an update will be provided accordingly.”

Nigerian producer, director and cinematographer Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe has stated that the globalization of African movies must first start with localization.

 Nodash made the remarks on the sidelines of the just concluded Carte Blanche film festival staged in Côte d’Ivoire.

 The talented filmmaker further said that African movie-makers should cultivate local audiences.

 “Globalisation must first start with localization. This was one of my main messages to the Ivorian film industry. This is what the Nigerian film industry did right. We produced films that Nigerians could relate to and this acceptance in the local market is what carved a niche for us within the global film industry.

 ‘‘I think filmmakers in other parts of the continent should consider using the same model. Your local audience is your currency. Cultivate that audience so that when anyone wants access to that demographic, they will have to go through you.

 ‘‘This is how industries are built. And it’s what I think we need to do across Africa,’’ Nodash added.

 The movie producer who has announced a new series that will be released in 2023 also opened up on his experience speaking with other African filmmakers at the Carte Blanche film festival staged in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

 ‘‘It won’t be my first time interacting with the francophone film industry, if you’ll remember, I was a jury member at the FESPACO film festival in Burkina Faso last year and I was also invited to participate in the Carthage film festival in Tunisia a couple of years ago so, in some ways, it felt familiar.

 ‘‘But the Ivorian film industry definitely has its peculiarities which made this visit quite different from the others.’’

Destiny Mankwe and Phina Martins have emerged as the overall winner and title holders of the King and Queen of Dreams Models International.

 Both winners went home with two hundred thousand Naira cash prices.  The grand finale fiercely contested competition was held at Timeless Beach, Okun Ajah.

 All the models looked so cute in their different attire, they were all working out majestically, with so much confidence.

 The CEO of Dreams Model International, King Daniel Isong a.k.a King Model, thanked everyone for coming out to support his childhood dream.

 He said, “this is the 14th edition and I thank God Almighty for making this a success, today you will be seeing contestants contesting to be Awards, and inspired to be captured by companies for millions of modeling contracts with their Dreams Models Agency.”

Nollywood actress and model, Nancy Isime has pitched her brand value with newly launched energy drink, Rockstar.

Isime made this known when she was unveiled as the energy drink’s brand ambassador during the recently held Pepsi Rhythm Unplugged music concert at the Eko Hotel and Suites. At the event, the Rockstar energy drink was officially presented to a niche audience of varying demographics.

During her presentation of the brand, the media personality said the Rockstar energy drink is a drink with a difference for hardworking, passionate, and focused individual, who desire to reach the top of his or her career in good time.

Speaking on the new drink, which is produced and bottled in Nigeria by Seven-Up bottling company, the company’s General Manager, Segun Ogunleye expressed excitement saying, “We are excited to give our esteemed customers another premium energy drink following the huge acceptance of Supa Komando. Rockstar is a premium aspirational energy drink that gives a bold, refreshing boost for young hardworking individuals who want to maintain their energy levels as they strive to reach the zenith of their career.”

Zinoleesky has achieved a new milestone as his latest song, ‘Personal,” has reached the peak spot on Top 100 Nigeria Apple Music chart.

It automatically dethroned Ruger’s song, ‘Asiwaju’, to second place.

‘Asiwaju’ topped the music charts for four consecutive weeks.

The Marlian Music Records signee’s latest input began its ascension on December 24, with his “Grit & Lust” EP also sitting at the top of the album rankings.

“Personal” was released on December 16 as the lead single for Zinoleesky’s ‘Grit & Lust’ EP which was released on December 23 with visuals to “Personal” accompanying it.

Announcing his most recent accomplishment, the Marlian singer shared a screenshot from Top 100 Nigeria Apple Music chart showing his song on the number spot with the caption: “No. 1 song and No.1 album in Nigeria, ara nkami”.

Sharing the same post on Tuesday, the proud singer said: “Ekaro oo … Topboy dey greet una.”