Category: Entertainment

FOREMOST female talking drummer Aralola Olumuyiwa aka Ara recently unveiled a reality television show for street urchins tagged, Eko Inspire Me By Ara. Ara, who explained that the initiative was born 10 years ago by her experience with street urchins, believed that the initiative would definitely bring real change to real lives. THE NATION’S SAM ANOKAM spoke with Ara who opened up on the birth of the project, her encounter with God and how she went from hero to zero.

HOW do you think the government can tackle the challenges in the industry?

I wouldn’t say the government is the problem in the entertainment industry.  Government can help in putting policies in place that would help our intellectual properties that would also help fund projects by our industry.

What actually brought about the Inspire Me project?

It was in Oshodi about 10 years ago when my car broke down. It was actually my younger brother’s car. I had to call for backup. These guys came at me. I was scared. At first I put my phone in my socks and all of that. Then I said guys help me guide my car, I am coming. I put them to work. I didn’t let them harass me. Then, I moved away and made a call then, I went back with my people. I then asked what they were doing on the streets, that they ought to be in school. They were talking and waving their handkerchief saying that they also wanted to go to school but didn’t have anyone to send them. I was like what happened? They said a whole lot. Some were orphans, some lost their mother – a lot of very touching stories. I asked them what inspires them or do they not feel that it is possible for them to travel and see other parts of the world. They looked at me strangely. I asked if they get harassed by the police? They said yes but whenever they pick them they will drop us. Na dem go tire. I asked one if he were not on the streets who would he want to be like? He said he wants to be like Wizkid, others said some other things but one said that he wants to be like Professor Wole Soyinka, I was like how come!  He said that baba speaks grammar, I want to also speak grammar like him. That touched me. There and then, Inspire Me was born. 10 years down the line, here we are. It is a vision, a project that God took me from up to down.

God took you from up to down, please explain how?

All of a sudden everything stopped working. People that would call for shows all of a sudden, everything stopped. Shows that I get paid N3m is what people would be pricing for N100,000. To cut the long story short, I became homeless, I couldn’t afford to feed, couldn’t pay my child’s school fees, I sold all of my cars, sold my hummer jeep, Hilux, things started going bad. It got to a stage where I said this must be the hand of God. Something is wrong. I went for prayers and I was told that nobody is fighting me, that this is God. Listen to him. He wants to use you for something but you are not listening to him. I said okay but you know we are stubborn. I started fighting God, I suffered the more. For almost one year, I lived in one room in a hotel. This is in 2019. But you see the day I cried like the prodigal son, I said, God this is me, whatever you want to do with me, you made me, you moulded me, please, forgive me, I have come back to you. What do you want me to do?

So, what happened next?

In 1999, a photographer to a family friend who was very close to us came running to my place one afternoon. Then I was still in my parent’s house at Ajao estate, he lived in Mafoluku. I was sleeping. My mother told them to wake me and that photo wants to see me. That he is from Bayelsa. I went. He said, Lola, I dey dream o. I dream and I see you this afternoon. God bring your picture come do am like this for my face, say go and look for my daughter, tell her to serve me, to seek me everything she wants, I will give her. If she does not serve me, if she does not seek me, she will see paper and call it money on the floor. And it happened to me. I thought it was a joke.

So, how did you find your way back to the initiative?

When things started happening to me, when I went through that process of from hero to zero, I remembered that dream. Meanwhile, I have dumped this project. I went back to God to say that the people that would help me is You. It is not how talented, connected or how popular I am now, it is You. If this is your hand God, bring the people. The day the governor called me, I nearly entered the gutter. I said this is God. Let me share something. The day I received the endorsement letter on December 22, I took that letter and I was going home to share with my younger brother. I got home, opened the envelope, there was no letter there. It disappeared. Till today, I don’t know where it disappeared to. I didn’t go anywhere. I called the ministry to ask if I left it, they said I didn’t because I folded it and kept it. We thoroughly searched for it. Meanwhile, I told the DG that it has taken almost 10 years to get the letter from Lagos state. He asked what happened, I told him it was spiritual that he cannot understand. When I didn’t find that letter I called him back and said sir, I can’t find that letter. He said that is the only original copy they did that they only have photocopies. I told him not to worry that I would work with it, that he should please give it to me. But before 11pm, he called me back. I had said to God if it is you, you would do something again. Before 11pm, they called me again to say they were able to get the honourable commissioner to sign another original. I got it back. Today the honourable commissioner is here. I did not meet him one on one until a few weeks ago in his office.

What are your plans for this project?

We would be having a reality television show but we are starting with auditions across Lagos for them. Once we pick them based on talent, Nigerians would vote for the top 20 that would go in the house. When they are in that academy, we would have our registrar, rector and deans of talent factory, deans of education, deans of IT, deans of sports and deans of skills and vocation. We will task them based on these. Most of the activities are out of the house. 60 per cent would be out of the house unlike big brother, that is inside. This is real life, real changes. Most of their tasks could be out there which is reintegration. Few weeks ago, I invited 10 of them to lunch, they didn’t want them to enter the eatery. And Baba Obasanjo has told me to bring them for mentoring. When I told them that they are going to meet the former president of the country, immediately I saw the transformation in them. The joy for me is seeing their lives being transformed, see the joy in their eyes and know that they are not useless. It is an ongoing project as long as God permits us. The academy will run throughout the year, the reality TV show would be once a year. We are hoping our real estate moguls would dash us one building for it. We are still praying. I don’t have any fears, I know that God would do it. it is not me. I am on auto drive.

With all of these including your previous experience, are you going to give love a chance again?

I intend to when the right person comes. I definitely will. They have been coming but I am a very careful person, I don’t want to get married again and get out of it. Of course, I have had my heart broken again but because I am being too careful now that I am letting God take control, I believe that God wants this project to settle, that is my belief, once this project is settled, other things can fall in place. It is all in God’s hands.

Have you stopped singing for this project?

I am still singing. I released two musical videos in the last two months and they are thriving. We are shooting another one soon. This is my gift back.

Do you intend to open a church, now that you are fully into God?

No, the guy that gave us light was not a pastor. I want to say something. There is a man of God that I have never met but his messages transformed my life. Joshua Salman. I have never met him. I stumbled on his youtube page and and from the day that I started watching and joining prayers, my life has never been the same again. I want to also say a big thank you to him, God bless him and I hope to meet him soon.

Any other passion you intend to exhibit?

In music and entertainment there are stuff I am doing that will be unveiled later but this one is my gift back, my passion project, my CSR.

SEYI Vibez has consolidated his enduring efforts with his newly released debut album ‘Billion Dollar Baby.’

In the 11-track album, Seyi Vibes collectively self-affirms his prosperity, refusing to give up on his dreams or settle for less.

Seyi Vibes employs Mayorkun on the track, “Ten,” and Simi on the track “Darling,” to amplify his ‘ghetto gospel’ narrative on his debut album.

It is easy to see why Seyi Vibez, born Balogun Afolabi Oluwaseyi, has captured the hearts of the ‘streets,’ since his induction into the industry.

Other songs on the album include +234, Bullion Van, Bank of America, Saro, Gangsta, Chance, and BD Baby.

Seyi Vibez started pursuing his passion for singing, by making covers of his favorite African songs at the time, before he abandoned a corporate career for a life behind the microphone as a radio presenter.

THE U.S. Mission in Nigeria has lauded the collaboration between the Nigerian and American film industries.

This is coming after the mission revealed support for Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in the seventh consecutive year.

Building on 2021’s successes, AFRIFF with the support of the U.S. Mission, is billed to award a $25,000 grant to five emerging animators, who produce works in broad areas of climate change, elections and good governance, women’s empowerment, youth engagement, and countering disinformation.

Delivering remarks at a reception for representatives from the Nigerian and American entertainment industries, U.S. Consul General hailed the growing U.S.-Nigeria cultural ties. He explained that AFRIFF provides an incredible platform for artists to explore new ideas, promote dialogue, and foster valuable business connections.

“Since 2015, the U.S. Mission has partnered with AFRIFF to bring together American and Nigerian screenwriters, directors, and film experts to share ideas, network, and collaborate.  Our long-standing partnership with AFRIFF help to further strengthen the Nigerian creative industry as well as our strategic partnership. This year’s event highlights the Nigerian movie industry’s creativity and growing global reach,” Stevens said.

This year, Disney and Amazon are leading American creative industry participation at the festival. The two organizations premiered a movie each for the opening night including the participation of some of the cast. Disney hosted the African premier of ‘Black Panther II’ while Amazon screened ‘The Nanny.’

NIGERIAN model, photographer, and filmmaker Uche Odoh has made her directorial debut with a full-length feature film entitled, ‘Hell Ride.’

This is coming following her 2019’s  web series entitled ‘Life As It Is.’

The new film screened at the 11th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

“I wanted to show the daily life of a typical Lagosian and how we navigate the challenges that get thrown our way daily,” Odoh elaborated on the film’s plot set in Lagos. “Another message I wanted to pass was one of kindness and bearing in mind that we often don’t know what others are going through. Friendships start most unusually sometimes, this film helps one keep an open mind.”

The film features Chioma Akpotha, Enyinna Nwigwe, Femi Adebayo, Shalewa Ashafa, Keppy Ekpeyong, Bolaji ‘Mr Latin’ Amusan, Adedayo Davies, Yomi King, Ogbolor, and Lolo 1.

Udoh, a contestant of the rested Amstel Malta Box Office, revealed that ‘Hell Ride’ was the perfect canvas to express her artistic direction in full capacity. The film is released under Propa Studios.

‘Hell Ride’ chronicles a day in the life of a female taxi driver Chimdi Abiodun, who is overwhelmed by the ill health of her daughter, constantly putting up with her irresponsible husband while playing the role of breadwinner after losing her job at a Chinese company.

OLUWATOSIN Ajibade aka Mr Eazi has expressed how excited he was to have performed at his fiancee’s father, Femi Otedola’s 60th birthday.

An elated Mr Eazi also said the birthday ceremony that was held on an expensive yacht has given him an idea for his next birthday location.

“Just realised I performed on a legendary yacht, in the south of France, for an intimate celebration of a great man and his family with my fiancé by my side whilst wearing my new Patek! Chai!”

He went further to note, “It’s been a lovely trip full of Patek’ing, new Inspo for my next birthday. Coming back here next year Insha Allah.”

In a viral video that surfaced online, Mr Eazi was seen with the Otedola family, while singing one of his hit songs, Legalize, a record dedicated to his fiancée, Temi who sat around her family members.

He thanked the Otedola dynasty for giving their blessings to his proposed wedding to Temi after the performance.

FAST rising singer Obi Onyedikachukwu aka Vegas has concluded plans to release his new single entitled Wavy.

The song, according to Vegas, is produced by Kulboy Vibez.

The 25-year-old Vegas started his music career in his early age and officially took it as a career in 2021.

He released his first single, ‘Mr Lecturer,’ which featured Zlatan lbile.

Vegas, a song writer and humanitarian obtained an OND in Business Administration from Yaba college of technology and further went to Anambra state university where he obtained a Bachelors’ degree in Banking and Finance from Anambra state University.

NIGERIAN Idol 2022 winner Progress Chukwuyem has released a new single entitled ‘Jo.’

Progress’ new single is a hard reset on all that has come before as the singer flings himself into the territory of afropop with an afrobeats-inspired track that channels euphoric joy.

Produced by Dreybeatz, Progress summons his listeners to the dancefloor with his stylish voice and dulcet flow, while reasserting his presence as a bonafide breakout star.

The singer, according to those close to him, mulls the idea of releasing a debut project in 2023.

In the last six months since emerging as the winner of the seventh season of Nigerian Idol, the 21-year-old singer has been performing at shows following the release of his debut single entitled ‘Lift me up.’

“PART of the reason we are here is to represent and project us all in the best possible way through how we communicate with the rest of the world, in terms of film, music, and the entire creative industry. It is difficult to separate entertainment, sports, and tourism. I refer to them as triplets. As a matter of fact, sports is defined as entertainment in some places,” says Idris Olorunnimbe, the Group Chief Executive Officer at Temple group and Ogidi studios.

A consummate strategist and a Law graduate of the University of Lagos, at 44, Olorunnimbe stands tall with a wealth of experience that span the private and public sector.

His name precedes him at different fora – entertainment, sports, tourism, business, public sector, and politics – yet his unassuming mien remains one of his lucky charms.

It’s no news that his passion for public service got him campaigning and eventually working as a Personal Assistant and Senior Special Assistant to Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, ex-Governor of Lagos state and current Minister for Works and Housing between 2007 and 2015.

However, unknown to many, Olorunnimbe, who is one of the sons of retired Justice Ishola Olorunnimbe, had co-written a policy paper on driver reorientation in Lagos which led to the introduction of Drivers’ Institutes in the state, before getting the opportunity to work with Fashola.

The Temple

For Olorunnimbe, the challenges posed by the entertainment, tourism, and sports sectors spurred his decision to build The Temple Company with its head office on Victoria Island.

In an interview, he said, “When His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN left office in 2015, I thought of what next to do. I wanted a challenge. We looked at the country’s economy in a bid to identify areas that had great potential and were not saturated. We wanted a place where we could cause a ‘disruption’ and leave a legacy. We then chose the entertainment and sports sectors which dovetail into tourism. There are quite a few players there but they are not enough. And, there was a space for us. That is basically the abridged version of how The Temple Company was founded.”

With the Temple Group, Olorunnimbe and his team continue to pilot one of Africa’s fastest-growing creative firms to break boundaries and position itself as the go-to team in the industry. The group continues to offer a 360-degree service in entertainment, sports, arts, and media with a solid footprint across Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. From music to films, concerts, and conferences, the Temple Group continues to make giant strides. Not resting on his oars, Olorunnimbe and his team joined other partners of Lagos State to embark on training and human capacity building. Olorunnimbe joined Mo Abudu, Linus Idahosa, and Peace Anyiam-Osigwe to partner with Lagos State in empowering youths in the creative industry under the project, Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI.

Enters Ogidi

Poetically, Ogidi Studios, West Africa’s premiere multipurpose creative cum audio-visual studio by the Temple group was once just a landed property waiting to be converted into a private residence. Situated on three plots of land on Ogidi crescent in the highbrow Lekki area of Lagos, the story of the studio is one that continues to amaze Olorunnimbe and which he describes as divine.

“So, Ogidi has different but similar meanings in Yoruba and Igbo. Interestingly, Ogidi is also a community in Anambra state and that is where the man, who named the street comes from. We had deliberations over what the studio should be named for a long time and I just came up with Ogidi, which was the name of the street where the studio is situated,” he said.

From the outside, it’s a hard piece of real estate to be excited about. It’s sandwiched between two private residences in a neighborhood that houses rows of luxurious homes, some spiffed up with bright landscaping, most with exotic appeal.

Inside the gates, though, is a paradise no one enjoys more than Olorunnimbe, who has an office in the studio. During a recent visit, Olorunnimbe and his team revealed the latest cutting-edge technology in audio recording and video production. Little wonder that the producers of ‘Black Panther II’ decided to work in Ogidi studios for the African themed sequel. Inside Ogidi studio, a soundtrack album featuring Nigerian A-list artists was recorded while the movie score and sound design were created and perfected at Ogidi Studios in Lagos, Nigeria.

From the infamous Neve Genesys Black console, a multi-functional device for sound production and engineering to a standard green screen measuring 17 by 11-foot, a globally accepted music booth, and more, Olorunnimbe has consolidated his seven-year-long achievements with a temple for creatives, not only in Nigeria but West Africa.

OMOWUNMI Dada has said that it is imperative that Africans do not wait for foreigners to tell their original stories and history.

The actress made this known in a chat with The Nation on the sidelines of the 11th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos, Nigeria saying ‘it is very important for filmmakers to produce more African original stories.’

“I believe that it’s about time we told our own African stories to the world by ourselves. When you watch ‘Elesin Oba: King’s Horseman,’ you will get to appreciate and see the Yoruba culture, tradition, music, dance, food, wedding ceremony, death ceremony, beliefs and so many things like that,” said Dada.

“We cannot give what we do not have if we do not appreciate ourselves from here, how would the people out there appreciate us? So, it is important that that story was told and I am humbled that I am part of it.”

Speaking about her role in the Netflix original, the AMVCA Award winner revealed that she performed the play several times on stage before the role came calling.

She said: “It’s really beautiful, it is a play that I read in secondary school and performed many times on stage at the university because I studied creative art and I have also played Iyaloja many times on stage. So, now that it’s a cinematic adaptation of it, it is something that is really interesting and humbling to me. Also, because this is not just a regular kind of film, this is a classical piece, it’s non fictional, it is something that happened when the Alaafin of Oyo died many years ago

and it was written into play by Professor Wole Soyinka.”

Nigerian music sensation, Oluwatobiloba Daniel aka Kizz Daniel has been announced as one of the performing artistes at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA announced the five official performing artistes for the event on its official Instagram page.

A few months ago, when Vado D Great tweeted that he would love to perform his hit single ‘Buga’ at the World Cup, little did he know that the universe would grant him this fervent wish.

The performance, which is a continuation of FIFA Sound, is a kind of entertainment aimed at strengthening the bonds between music and the beautiful game of football.

In FIFA’s list, Kizz Daniel is the only African artiste performing alongside five international award-winning singers.

For the lineup, American DJ and Music Producer, Diplo, will perform on November 22 while Kizz Daniel’s performance is slated for November 23.

Canadian crooner, Nora Fatehi, will perform on November 29; American singer, Trinidad Cardona, on December 1 and Scotland’s Calvin Harris on December 10.