The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Shefiu Alao sings for dons

    A 2017 report put Shefiu Adekunle Alao as the seventh richest Fuji musician alive, but as I sat for about four hours under the sound of his voice this week, I saw a man whose wealth traverses monetary value.

    Alao, popularly called ‘Omo-Oko’ (Village Boy) came across as a studious, thoughtful, thought-provoking and creative engineer of lyrics which he combines fluidly with sounds that are devoid of the exuberances associated with some of today’s local music.

    Obviously, he is not the run of the mill musician; neither is he a new kid on the block. Schooling in Abeokuta, Ogun State back in the day, where I used to listen to some of his earlier songs, the pristine mien is still fresh in my mind. And, considering what usually happen to ambitious people with the passing of time, my recent live performance encounter with the musician was a testimony of a man with consistent musical ideology.

    The Shefiu Alao whose performance I witnessed Wednesday night in Ijebu-Ode combines the attributes of a cultural promoter, social educator, thought-provoker and modest entertainer, and this is the reason four university dons – Professor Olu Obafemi of the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, University of Ilorin; Professor Shola Fosudo of the Department of Theatre and Music, Lagos State University; Professor Rasaki Ojo-Bakare of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti; and Professor Tunji Azeez of the Department of Theatre and Music, Lagos State University – were motivated, not only to stay awake listening to his song, not only to be moved to dance to it, but also doling out cash to appreciate good music. Even Professor Ayo Akinwale of the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, University of Ilorin, who did not move to the stage was doing it seated. And as he sang their praise, Alao wondered too that professors could dance and ‘spray’ a musician. “I have never seen a professor dance like this… I have never seen a professor dance this well…” he sang and sang and sang into the night.

    But these men are not just professors; they are teachers of the art, culture promoters and men with a great sense of art appreciation. And how best could they live this appreciation than to dance and ‘spray’, or as the case was, ‘stick’ their donations on the singer.

    Thus, irrespective of the questionable image some Fuji musicians may have given the genre, here was an image maker who makes you see that a good music and good musician is not defined by genre.

    The uniqueness of Alao’s music is such that he picks the flow like one doing foundation for a building, lays the blocks, inserts rods where necessary, casts the concrete mix where applicable, and takes it to the roof in a befitting climax.

    When he mounted the stage, it was to pay homage to legends of music from the pre-Fuji era, calling such names as Ayinla Omowura, Dauda Epo-Akara, Kayode Fashola, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, etcetera. Next, it was some thought-provoking tales about life garnished in idioms and proverbs. He then dwelled on the power of music and films, singing around the subject of an earlier empowerment workshop facilitated by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the after-party for which he was invited to perform.

    Alao did not leave the youth empowerment talks to the dons alone, as he too had something to add, thereby taking the seminar further, albeit through entertainment. He had a word for parents on the importance of education. No doubt, his words sank in the people’s minds as it did mine.

    It was at this point that he moved to eulogizing the professors, not just for their feat in the academia, but also for the knowledge they impacted on the youths in Ijebu-Ode Central Federal Constituency, who were part of the empowerment workshop.

    Alao, who was not physically present at the seminar, had facilitated a video recording which he played back ahead of his performance. And with a musical rapporteur he rendered off the seminar, his show was mind blowing.

    Professor Obafemi who spoke on ‘Why Film is Key Aspect of Development’ advocated infrastructural and resource development of the industry, urging government to take seriously, its economic diversification agenda by enabling the creative industry to the degree of providing 30 percent of the country’s workforce.

    This was just as Professor Ojo-Bakare while speaking on ‘Exploring Dance and Music for a More Effective Film Industry in Nigeria,’ spoke on the need to use more kinetic energy to generate interest of film lovers, averring that verbal narratives, being a cultural attitude, is the problem of most Nigerian films. He decried situations whereby dialogues override actions, just as soundtracks also break suspense, adding that dance and music, could be injected to break unnecessary dialogues in our movies, using the Bollywood example.

    Professor Ayo Akinwale whose talk at the event was more of motivation spoke on: ‘Film and My Life.’ The veteran artiste who disclosed that his children and cousins are also doing well in the film industry, noted that he had maintained passion and self-discipline on the job. He urged beneficiaries of the NFVCB grant to utilize the fund judiciously.

    The seminar which had Professor Tunji Azeez as Master of Ceremonies was also attended by Mr. Adewale Elesho and president of Theatre Art and Movie Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Mr. Bolaji Amusan, aka Mr. Latin as rapporteur.

    Mr. Latin, who was full of praise for the Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, wanted the seminar extended to film associations, confessing that he learnt new things from the session, and that he was not ashamed to admit this despite his years of experience in the film industry.

    The summary of this session was what Shefiu Alao made the subject of his musical entertainment that night without losing the serious substance of the event.

    Lest I forget, Alao goes by another moniker: ‘Agbara Orin’ (Power of music)… I could not agree less.

  • Stop pricing talents like crayfish, says Ireti Doyle

    Nollywood actress, Ireti Doyle, who is presently on the set of Kasanova movie, produced by Faith Ojo, has said that middle-men should stop pricing talents like commodities in the open market.

    The accomplished writer, actor, producer and presenter complained of being asked to do things not included in the contract.

    In her words, “its 4.10am…I have stated categorically that I will not be shooting late into the night; it’s even captured in the contract”.

    “However there are times in a production where they begin to run out of things – time, money, or, like in this instance, there are conditions attached to using a certain location. So you bend, accommodate, sacrifice and dig deep into reserves you don’t even know you have and continue to give a stellar performance take after take while still maintaining a positive attitude.

    “Dear Sir/Madam Producer, when in negotiations and we begin to price talent like crayfish in the market it is nights like these we need to bear in mind,” she advised.

    Ireti Doyle’s career has spanned two decades in the Nigerian entertainment industry across stage, television and film. She currently stars as Sheila Ade-Williams in the MNET television series Tinsel.

  • Music is now capital intensive, says Slim Brown

    Popular musician Slim Brown has explained that the reason he was off the music scene was because “the music industry became capital intensive.”

    Slim Brown said that for a talent to thrive in the music industry of today it needs lots of funding, else the talent might die.

    “Well, I was away for some time before last year you know it was hard to keep up because the Nigeria music industry became very capital intensive and it was disturbing and I didn’t have label to stay up to the competition”, said Slim Brown.

    “Thanks be to God, OOJEE records came about last year and I got signed. Since I got signed less than a year, tell me which artiste in Nigeria history that has pulled out four songs and videos back to back with top directors. I’m back now and I mean business and you can see that if you follow my brand now.”

    The artiste however, returned to the music industry with a couple of songs and video last year, including major collaborations with Olamide, Kc, Zoro and most recently a new single Itetago featuring Phyno.

    “Itetago means have you woken up, it’s more like a wake-up call for the youths to get out there and hustle. Are you awake? Boys are getting up and making money so if you are still sleeping just get up and go hustle.

    “The song is really buzzing and Itetago like a slang right now on streets especially in Eastern Nigeria because the message in the song is actually encouraging to those hustling right now so I think that why I’m not so surprised that the streets have accepted it.”

    ‘Itetago’ was released towards the end of last year while the video dropped in January.

    He also disclosed that he is fully back to the industry with the support of his new record label, OOJEE Records and would be dishing out more good music as the years run.

    “I’m just going to be doing what I do best which is music. I will be dropping a lot of songs and videos. This year, I will concentrate more on myself. Of course, there would be collaborations but maybe one or two. I am presently working with Adasa Cookie on a video.”

  • Vimbai Mutinhiri: I admire ordinary women who beat the odds

    Vimbai Mutinhiri is a Zimbabwean actress, producer and TV personality. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the former model who contested in the Big Brother Africa Season 6 takes you into her world.

    What is life as a TV host and producer like? Describe your typical day.

    Every day in my world is extremely diverse and unique. The joy of being in the creative space means that each day calls for something new and different from me. Some days I am up early to sit in hours of hair styling and make up in preparation to host on TV, or to host an event. My production company, Mambo Media, specialises in digital content for corporate; so other days see me spending hours planning shoots with clients and with my team or even sitting with editors to ensure our final content is of optimal quality. I love the dynamism of my roles.

    What gives you inspiration to do the things you do?

    I am undoubtedly driven by passion. I genuinely love what I am doing, and the harder I work and grow I have found that there are young girls who are now counting on me to be successful so they can have the confidence and faith to chase their own dreams. The fact that my life and my success can be a testimony for someone else to strive to be great is all the inspiration I need to keep doing what I do.

    Let’s talk about some memorable moments in your career. How did it all begin?

    I have had so many career highlights! My life was certainly never the same after Big Brother Africa. I also would not be where I am today if not for Multichoice. They saw the potential in me and gave me what I needed to build a solid continental brand by giving me the opportunity to host on platforms like Star Gist and AMVCA. Any time decision makers give me a stage to be great is memorable for me.

    What are some of the challenges you have encountered in your career?

    I think the toughest thing about the media space is learning to evolve as quickly as the trends do without losing yourself. A great challenge for me was mastering the balancing act between remaining relevant and being true to yourself and your values. You watch so many people cross lines that you know are against your principles, and you watch them get ahead – it is a true test of character to stand your ground and maintain your focus on the straight and narrow path even though you know it means it will take a little longer to get to where you need to go.

    How did you cope with them?

    I immerse myself in my work – I have learnt that people will always appreciate someone who is talented, disciplined and highly skilled. I have chosen to focus on that – on always being the best version of myself because I know that will never go out of style. I never stop learning; I never stop researching new opportunities and new ways to do things.

    Tell us about your women’s empowerment and advocacy work. What projects are you currently working on?

    I have always been informally active in empowering young women through mentorship and financial support. However, I realised that there are so many young women across Africa who are hungry for a better life, and have no idea where to begin. By 2035, half of the world’s youth population will be in Africa – this statistics made me realise that impacting individuals is important but that grooming young women for tomorrow on a large scale is the sustainable solution. TheVimbai.com is a platform where young women can consume positive and impactful content. Movies and TV shows today are not giving young women the tools they need to overcome their challenges. The big question here is who is raising our little sisters? It’s mainly the internet, and unfortunately most of what’s available out there is misleading. The platform is therefore a disruption of the bondage that most of our youths are currently tied to because of visuals and ideals on social media and online.

    What lessons have you learnt working in Nigeria?

    Nigeria undoubtedly teaches problem-solving and innovation. The environment is ripe with opportunity for those who are able to think on their feet and remain resilient. These are traits that I didn’t even know I had in me (that Nigeria has not only taught me but also refined in me).

    As a daughter of a diplomat, travelling around the world, what were the memorable moments you had while growing up?

    I think one of the greatest things any human being can ever do is to travel. Travelling to explore new places and experience different ways of doing things, to learn new languages and observe foreign cultures. The greatest blessing from having parents who had jobs that enabled our family to travel vastly across the world was this exposure that has shaped my thinking and my ability to adapt to different environments easily. Any time I got to try a new food, or pronounce a new word is very vivid in my memory books.

    Let’s compare when first you started your career and now; what has changed?

    So much has changed. I have changed so much as a person – I am more sure of myself, more intentional and more determined than ever. I think being new at something comes with its own insecurities and fears, but after having done it for so long there is a peaceful confidence that presides over everything. I don’t feel like I have a point to prove to anyone: I’m one of the best hosts in Africa, whether you book me or not. Before I always felt like I had to convince people, but now I know it’s a fact and that alone is joy to me.

    What are some of the changes that you would like to see in the sector?

    I would certainly like to see a lot more hosts take their craft more seriously and actually go through formal training. I am a little exhausted with seeing social media stars getting on stage and “winging it” – it’s disrespectful to both the audience and to those who have invested in making this a craft.

    What is your definition of style? How would you assess Nigerian designers?

    Style is what your clothes say about you before you even open your mouth when you walk into a room. I love the fact that Nigerian designers expertly capture this ethos. Nigerian designers speak to the nobility and elegance of an African woman – and that’s why their designs stand out anywhere in the world.

    What are some of the items that you treasure most in your wardrobe?

    Believe it or not – my sneakers! I love sneakers, and I would wear them with everything if I could. Apart from that, I am a perfume lover.

    How do you relax?

    I indulge in spa treatments, read a book or go for walks.

    Tell us about some of your awards and recognitions.

    I have won several awards – from leadership awards in my country Zimbabwe (Victor’s Award for Young Person of the Year 2012), to awards for being a top host in Africa. For some reason, I have never been one to fuss over accolades – I prefer for my work to speak for itself.

    Let’s talk about the people you admire and role models

    As I grow older, I have discovered that my role models are ordinary women who beat the odds – you hear about women who are able to take all their children through university whilst working at the market, or domestic workers (house helps) who manage to get degrees and upgrade their occupations. Those are the people I admire.

    If you had to advise young people, what would you tell them?

    I would tell them the winner of the race is the finisher, and not the beginner. In addition, I would say that it is important not to be obsessed about today’s situation. Instead, it is better to focus on where you are going, which is usually more important.

  • Danai Gurira: How to copy her look

    Actress and playwright Danai Gurira, these days, is considered one of best dressed celebrities in showbiz. Stylish and creative, you can be sure that she knows what works best for her and has created an identity for herself.

    For her outfit at a gathering recently, she wore a long fitted white skirt and feathery off-shoulder white blouse.

    Want her outfit? You might check out the different clothes of the same style below.

    You can opt for a knee-length if you like or if you want to look more romantic. Alternatively, you may just knock-off the look with a skater skirt! Next, you can complement it with silver accessories and stilettos heels. Pair it with a simple wrist watch and off you go!

  • Femi Odugbemi: Why MTF is investing in young filmmakers

    Nigerian filmmaker and former president of Independent Television Practitioners Association of Nigeria (ITPAN), Mr. Femi Odugbemi is the Academy Director, Multichoice Talent Factory (MTF) – West Africa. In a recent interview with the media, Odugbemi, a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences (AMPAS) discusses the need for talent development in the motion picture industry in Nigeria, and how Multichoice has risen to the occasion through the MTF Academy. By VICTOR AKANDE

    What is different about Multichoice Talent Factory?

    We promised three things and we plan to deliver on them. We promised a curriculum that is technically strong and functionally solid on international best practices. One of the things we look at in picking our students are their IQs. They make films; they shoot it, edit it and I have not been involved in whatever they do. They have an editing room; they all have laptops that have editing software on it. They are in groups where they make films, they pitch here regularly every week but beyond that, they are also required to read and we are building a library.

    We’ve got an e-library and we’ve got wonderful book donations from great people. We have about 500 books now. They read every week and they write a reflective essay, so it’s both theoretical and practical. But I think what makes a difference is they’ve also met people in the industry who I think are doing the real things not only as celebrities but as artistes. So, they’ve got to ask them about their process, not about their result. We’ve also taught them about banking and finance and I feel we’re on the right path, both here, in Kenya and Zambia. We’ve started our master classes and that series is expected to build what we want to call global brands to interface with people in our industry. A big difference that MTF has made is that a global player like Multichoice is putting its money to ensure that the intervention is not just about buying films but actually investing in the people who are going to make the difference and make better films.

    Multichoice took a step further with the MTF Masterclasses for professionals in the industry, how are the beneficiaries being selected?

    The Masterclasses were conceived for those who are working and leading the different technical lines in our industry. We’ve got 60 of them at the event center already doing the Sound Masterclass with Dolby and every one of them were selected from major players in the industry. There are senior NTA audio producers, audio personnel from LTV, Silverbird, independent production companies and Nollywood. The real reason we are doing the Masterclass is to actually try to touch all the areas in the industry. There’s a lot we’ve done experimenting; there’s a lot you can do on Google and there’s a lot you can do with your own passion. But the world is an amazing technological space, things are changing at an alarming rate that when you think you know it, everything has changed.

    So we’re not talking about the fundamentals only, we’re talking about how to bring knowledge to the table that is current, that is global, that is best practice because that’s the only way we’re going to change the future and the only way to calculate that is to find whoever is already the best that we have and put information at their disposal so that we can be the best and compete internationally. We’re doing a lot in our country, simply by passion but the only way to make our filmmakers prosperous is to ensure that their work can travel. And by travel, it means Netflix will not have to spend a million dollars to re-do everything again in order to have it ready for an international audience. It’s about time our filmmakers are empowered; not the guy whose name is in the papers; I’m talking about the heads of department for the sound, camera, production and design. These guys are the ones that really make films look the way they look and empowering them is the goal, that’s the process.

    I started out in NTA in 1986 but there are people I left in NTA who have not attended one course since they’ve been in NTA and guess what, they produce every day. The people on our social media, the stars of our industry don’t make a film once every six months. They are on the road every day and I feel when we give, we must give across board. Multichoice is an independent company but it’s a leader in an industry, it owes that industry something and that’s the argument.

    So whether it’s Silverbird, NTA or Channels, we will collaborate with all and hopefully try to build this, simply by putting something in. The whole goal is this, no more time for complaining and it’s easy to cut things down and say this is not good enough but I hope it’s a season when we all do something. I do believe that our next goal should be that our work is best practiced across the globe. It’s not just about whether the sound is good or not but of course we know technically our challenge has been that the sound has to be clearer. But there are also many things we don’t know about sound that I think we’re also eager to know.

    The creative type of sound, the use of silences, the way we use music scores are part of it. A few of us are getting better at it but we need that knowledge to reach all of us. If we started out with the knowledge of recording cleanly, we will spend less. But can they afford the courses? That’s why an industry leader like Multichoice must show leadership. They must be ready to bring to the table the enablement they need because it comes back to them. The same films they are going to make are the contents Multichoice needs. In that sense, I think both training the kids that will start from scratch and training those who are already there becomes a mid-term and long-term strategy. Meanwhile, we must make our people better in the technical beats and in the long-term, we must grow those who start out with an empty hard drive by loading them with the right kind of information.

    What do you say to self-taught people who believe they don’t need this kind of platform to stay relevant?

    It depends on how high you wish to fly in this industry. I’m not keen on forcing anyone to grow but you know growing is an economic thing. The better you are the more you can earn. Regardless of how good you are at anything in the world, there’s always a way to be better and the only way to be better is to get more information. We need our media to push the films that are important to grow.

    Nobody invites us to do film festivals just so we see a Nollywood person live. We now have young Nollywood filmmakers who are getting up to it. So, if you are a mediocre, your chances of making it in this industry are so slim. The two Nollywood actors that were invited to the Oscars have always been in England, so your nationality has nothing to do with your capacity. So, for those who are happy with what they are now, our training wouldn’t be for them because the first qualification is to be passionate and hungry to look for excellence. If we’re bringing the courses to the table, you should bring some measure of hunger too because nobody can be forced to learn something new.

    For the MTF Academy trainees, how soon do you think they would be ripe enough to “take over” the movie industry?

    I don’t want them to take over; they are not a revolutionary influence. We believe in them and I don’t want them to take over individually so to say. I want them to form cells, teams to work together, to recreate the passion into something structurally strong, not to work as individual filmmakers but to create production companies. We want 20 of them to hire another 100 people; we want them to become game changers in the economy of the creative industry, not to just show how to make films but to expand opportunities for other people. We want them to come with an exposed mindset that is digitally driven.

    What I’m trying to create is a filmmaker who, 10-years from now won’t just be carrying cameras but will be making contents that will make a difference. We’re looking forward to having filmmakers who understand the impact platforms like Facebook, Instagram and the rest, because content will no longer be extremely personal in the next five years and we need to prepare those who will own that place at that time now. So there is a lot of technological interface in what we are doing and they already know how to manipulate these devices.

    So the question is how to tell the stories that are also customized for these devices. The African story will never die but technology will ask questions that will be directed at the filmmaker who cannot come to the table an illiterate or a novice or without the ability to explain the kind of story he is telling. Essentially, that’s the goal and in five years they should be able to form production teams and create digital platforms not just carrying cameras because for me, carrying cameras will end in another five years, technology will guarantee it.

    What are the challenges you encountered while putting this together?

    The biggest challenge in the industry is that everyone questions everyone’s motive and my response is always to let the result speak for itself. I’ve never really been keen to prove anything to anyone. My commitment has always been on training. For me, it is a challenge because it simply means that transparency is a very key part of what we are doing. I was very keen that we are transparent in the selection process, we made it digital. What would have been a challenge would have been that if this level of support will be sustainable. Initially, my worry was that it’s often easy to create a public relations thing.

  • Lara George: Why I wanted to quit gospel for secular music

    Lara George came into limelight as a member of the defunct musical group KUSH. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA OLASUNKANMI, the gospel artiste, who has since gone solo and now based in the US, talks about her music, relationship with her husband/manager and her entrepreneurial adventure. Excerpts

    What are your plans as the year has kicked off?

    I have been busy promoting my most recent album titled ‘A Slice of Heaven’. I recently released two videos off of that album for the songs ‘Eyin L’Oba’ and ‘Jesus You Reign. I am also currently working on new music.

    What is it like being a gospel artiste?

    It’s a very rewarding experience to put songs out there that actually go on to impact people’s lives positively. People experience hope, restoration, deliverance, healing and so many,  many awesome encounters as a result of the music of a gospel artiste and that is an invaluable thing. I have had people tell me stories of how my songs have created atmospheres of healing. One person told me of how her mother came out of a coma after she played my song to her, another wrote to me about a wrongly positioned  baby turning into correct position in the womb as my song played in the labour room. There was a lady who the doctors had told she would not likely walk again after suffering from stroke. She told me that she listened to my music and felt God telling  her to get up and try to walk. I sang at her birthday party as she danced unaided to my songs. What huge testimonies! These are simply priceless.

    What has been your staying power?

    I truly believe that it’s having a child-like approach to life and the art of music. First of all, I am my only competitor. If you spend your time trying to outdo other people, it is easy to become consumed with envy, and once that happens (at least for the gospel artiste), it taints your music. I believe there is a certain purity that being in gospel requires, and in order to have that purity, one needs to look first and only to God.

    Do you see yourself retiring soon?

    I don’t think it would be possible if I even try to. I hope to, like Mariam Makeba, stay on the stage and in music till my very last breath. I love, love, love music that much.

    How do you feel when people sing praises of the song ‘Ijoba Orun’?

    I feel honoured.  It’s a beautiful thing when people appreciate your work. The song ‘Ijoba Orun’ was one that was in popular domain which I then I re-wrote and did a re-make of. It’s an honour that people love my version of it so much.

    Which would you say is your best song, among all you have released?

    Well I personally don’t have a ‘best song’ out of all of my releases, but I know I certainly have a most popular one and that is currently the song ‘Dansaki (I’m acknowledging You).

    And which is your most challenging?

    Well, I wouldn’t really say I have a ‘most challenging’ song. All my songs are self-written and I totally love every single one.

    Has there ever been a time you felt like going secular?

    Yes, I have, actually. Every time I was disrespected by a pastor or even another gospel artiste (unfortunately that tends to happen quite a bit), in the past, I would ask myself if I had made a good decision by being in the gospel music sector. That was initially though. I long ago discarded those sorts of thought and I am fully convinced that I am right where God needs me to be.

    What is your take on gospel artistes featuring secular artistes on their songs?

    I think it’s a beautiful thing as long as the songbeing collaborated on is one that celebrates God or any kind of positive theme.

    You are currently abroad, any plans to stay?

    I am now permanently based in the United States. I visit Nigeria and other parts of the world very frequently for events still, just like I have always done. Only my origination point has changed.

    And how do you intend to connect with your fans at home?

    The world is now a global village. It’s a great timeto be alive and doing one’s work, and for an independent artiste like myself, social media brings it all together. I am very active on Instagram, Facebook , Twitter and YouTube.  All my friends can connect with me via any of those platforms.

    Having been married to your manager for a while, what is the secret?

    Well, my husband was my husband before he became my manager actually. If you are asking the secret to being married for the 14+years that we have, I would say it’s having a sense of commitment and constantly being forgiving of each other.

    It is believed that being married to a colleague is a no-go area, why was yours different?

    Like I said earlier, we were already married before my husband became my manager. It just made more sense to have someone as close as that to me handle the management aspect of things. We had always worked together (in real estate), he is a trained lawyer called to the bar in Nigeria, and he has a good understanding of the legal side of things. It’s true that things can get a bit complicated when one is working with one’s spouse but we have had to learn and are still learning too to constantly take a minute away from the work so we can see each other and just be with each other without letting the work get in the way. I think that helps.

    Has there ever been fear of failing?

    Do you mean failing musically? The thing is that music is a work of art. Every artiste’s prayer is that one’s songs will be loved by the listeners. No matter how many hits you have as an artiste, I think that every single time one releases a new song or album, it is with a huge prayer that it will be well-received.

    So without doubt, the question is always there: ‘will they love this one as much as they loved the last?’ One thing I need for a lot of people to understand is that artistes are probably one set of people who have the highest levels of self-doubt. I know it sounds unbelievable, but often times, behind all the show of bravado, there are so many questions beneath the veneer. It’s the reason why comedians encounter depression and popular people often have no or very few true friends. The fear of failure is always there.

    Tell us, how is Soforte faring?

    For those who do not know, let me say that Soforte Entertainment Ltd is West-Africa’s first structured home-grown entertainment distribution company. Our mission was to achieve the distribution of CDs, DVDs and other physical music and film products first across Nigeria and subsequently in other locations, in order to ensure proper tracking and eventual remuneration to the owners of the intellectual property in question.

    We managed to achieve excellent synergy with Alaba Market, and by partnering with a major courier company as well as UAC’s Mr Biggs outlets all across the nation, we set out on the massive mission to achieve this great feat. Unfortunately, Nigeria is not a nation that very much encourages her entrepreneurs, and we encountered obstacles too numerous to mention, not least of which was funding. The project is currently at rest, but I am most proud to have been part of such a venture on the landscape of the Nigerian entertainment sector.

    Do you have artistes signing in?

    Not at the moment.

    Tell us about your glowing beauty?

    First let me say thank you for the compliment. Maybe it’s a reflection of my state of mind. I like to be happy and perhaps that makes a person glow.

    Is any of your kids showing traits of being a singer?

    Both my children love music actually. My son Adeoba (first child) really loves to sing though. Let me just say we are giving him room and space to decide what his true interests are. No pressure at all!

    Do you guys, KUSH still keep in touch?

    Yes, we do on occasion.

    Do we see you having a comeback with your mates?

    Many people reading this article probably don’t even have a clue what the group KUSH was or is.

    What do you miss about the group?

    I wonder when I will stop getting KUSH questions. It’s a distant memory now, but I remember when it was all still fresh, I missed the friendship that I thought we all had. That’s probably what I missed the most in the early days after we went our separate ways.

    Would you say being a solo artiste is better off?

    Being a solo artiste has been wonderful for me.  God has blessed me with a great career and the joy of being able to express my own musical sound whilst discovering myself along the way. I have been able to pace myself as a wife, mother and artiste, without necessarily being under pressure to go in any direction I didn’t want to go in or within a schedule I couldn’t fit myself into. It’s been an amazing journey and I am so thankful to God for every single day of it that I am experiencing.

  • Ghanaian dancehall Queen Eyes Nigeria

    Self-acclaimed godmother of Ghanaian Dancehall, Shegee Styla, who recently re-branded as Shegah has disclosed her intentions to penetrate the Nigerian music industry, following a successful career in UK.

    The artiste is storming the country with a new single titled ‘Murder’, featuring Samini and Jupitar.

    Shegah who recently signed a major record deal with top record label Magic Records, gained mainstream attention when, with her girl group Triple M, she released the popular track “KOTI”.

    She broke away from the group later, and began a solo career, working with most of the hit making artistes at that time like Praye, Tony Harmony, Castro, Mzbel, Reggie Zippy, Yaa Pono, and many others.

    With the change of music trends in Ghana which affected most pioneer musicians, Shegah decided to hibernate and re-brand her genre from hip-life to reggae/dancehall, a trending genre in Ghana.

    Born to the late highlife legend and founder of the Ramblers International Band and the first MUSIGA president, Mr Jerry Mark Hansen, Shegah’s hit “Dem Marking Time” went straight in to the UK Reggae Charts at No.6 in 2018 and won Best Music video of The Year at NELAS 2018. Her hit song ‘Big It Up’ won Best song of the year at DBE Music Awards UK and Shegah was honoured with Outstanding Achievement In Music at Panache 2018 in UK.

    Shegah is the first African Artist to hold a promotional party in UK, a promotional party that celebrated her life in music with other top entertainers from the UK and thanks to a very successful 2018 Shegah has been dubbed by the name SHEGAH TO THE WORLD.

  • Johnny Drille celebrates 10m streams, drops two singles

    Mavin Records artiste, Johnny Drille has dropped new singles titled ‘Shine’ and ‘Forever.’

    On Thursday, the artiste who was born John Ighodaro in 1990, shared a collage of his videos, tagging it ‘10000000 cumulative streams milestone.’

    It featured his videos on Apple Music, Boomplay Music, Spotify and YouTube. He also posted alongside the video: ‘Thank you guys, every of you who’ve listened to my music and told people around you about Johnny Drille.

    We’ve hit 10 MILLION cumulative streams and I owe all that to you the amazing fans. Many more milestones to reach, there’s so much more to come.

    Please stay with me.’

    Johnny Drille joined Mavins family in February 2017. In October and November last year, he held his show, ‘Johnny’s Room Live’ in Lagos and Abuja respectively.

    Last year, the artiste whose unique style stands him out among other Nigerian artistes did a duet, ‘Halleluya’ with Simi.

    Though he is yet to release an album, over the years, Johnny Drille has released time-tested songs like ‘My Beautiful Love’, ‘Wait For Me’ and ‘Love Don’t Lie.’

    He also did a duet, ‘Start All Over’ with Niniola.

  • Halita drama series berths on Africa Magic

    DSTV and GOtv viewers across Africa will, from February 4, 2019, be treated to a new drama series, Halita, on Africa Magic Family (DStv channel 154 and GOtv channel 2).

    The series which will be showing every weeknight at 7pm WAT, is set in Northern Nigeria and tells the story of a young woman who is forced to flee the village and a crooked suitor, only to face the intrigue and drama of a new life in the city with a powerful family.

    According to Channel Director, Africa Magic, Wangi Mba Uzoukwu, “Halita demonstrates yet again our commitment to telling the best stories out of Africa for Africa. It is a tale of family, fortune and fate, and is guaranteed to provide the exciting entertaining content that the Africa Magic channels are renowned for. The production values are stellar, and the performances are worthy of critical acclaim. Lovers of exciting African entertainment content would do well to tune in and watch the show.”

    The cast of the new series includes a blend of established and up and coming acts such as Ummi Baba Ahmed, Boma Elamiena, Eddy Madaki and Chisom Gabriella in the lead role as Halita.