The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • I am living any musician’s dream life – ex Psquare guitarist

    I am living any musician’s dream life – ex Psquare guitarist

    After leaving the Psquare group to improve himself at the Berklee College of music, Victor Chukwunonso Nite more popularly called Clef Nite speaks with Adetorera Idowu on times with Psquare, why he left and the release of his single debut.

     

    When and why did you become an artist?

    Well I have always known since I was a kid that I will be a musician and that directed the choices I made while growing up in school. I never saw myself doing any other thing aside music. I have been working as far as 2004 as a Music producer but officially debuted as an artist sometime in 2009

     

    Describe your time with your former group Psquare?

    Being a music student back in the days at UNN, I would say playing with P Square was one of the realistic parts of my music career because I got to actually experience and practice everything I have been learning in school. That was a big opportunity for me as not so many people get to meet that practical chance in their career life time.

     

    Please tell me how you met the group and why you decided to leave?

    I have been friends with Peter of P Square and the crew a long time ago we only started doing business in 2009 right after their Danger album release. They decided to start performing with live instruments and Peter asked me if I was interested in playing for them and I said yes and that’s how we all started playing together.

    I left right after I got admitted to Berklee College of Music. I made a tough decision to leave the group because I was nowhere at expecting I would be admitted to such a high profile school. So I had the choice of playing for them touring round the whole world and going back to school to make the most of talent.

    Till today I never regretted any of the choices I made because I learnt from both experiences.

     

    How did living in Nigeria affect your music?

    Living Nigerian brought me closer to the act of performing good music the way it should be done. I am currently living any musician’s dream life right now.  Anyhow you might read or understand that, that’s ok too.

     

    Clef Nite and Nneka
    Clef Nite and Nneka

     

    Describe your style of music.

    A fusion between my traditional style and Pop. I would say AfroPop

     

    Who inspired your style of music?

    A lot of people inspired my style of music at some point in time. I have a long list. But God has ever been my major source of inspiration.

     

    Which famous artists do you admire? Why?

    Back in time, I have looked up to so many artists. But I will start with the ones closer to home P Square. Working with them has thought me so many techniques and how to live and act as a musician. What to do and how to carry yourself while performing on stage. I also learnt how to tackle or handle music for a business perspective. These few things has helped me lot in my career. I also admire other artists Tuface, Asa, Janelle Monae, Erica badu and others.

     

    Most memorable aspects of your career

    Well I do not think I have gotten there yet. I live my dream right now and i dream toward achieving a certain goal in my career and i know i am already on that path so every path of this process is quite memorable for me.

    Clef at 106&Park
    Clef and Nneka on 106&Park

    How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?

    Music is almost basically what I do for a living so there is really nothing much to balance it with.

     

    What should we expect from you in future after music school?

    Refined music

     

    Any plan to do music in Nigeria?

    Yes, I have always started here and will ever owe it to my country to give back to it. Will releasing my single debut in few weeks both in Nigeria and the US.

     

  • Adugbo Music Competition berths

    Adugbo Music Competition berths

    Oxygenjay Studios, in partnership with Almedia International and Lagos Television (LTV), is putting together the Adugbo Music Competition, a talent hunt initiative that will involve up-and-coming artistes and youths in general within and outside Lagos State.

    Speaking on the competition, CEO, OxygenJay Studio, Tosin Osibajo, said: “It has been observed that most of the existing highly desirable music talent hunt competitions tilt towards Western music, thereby shutting out a large number of talented youths with interest in African renditions and percussion.

    “Adugbo Music Competition will be all-embracing, as it will feature five categories of music, including Hip hop, Dancehall, Juju, Fuji and African rhythms. It has been designed to elicit the age-long spirit of communal (Adugbo) contest, engender curiosity, sense of belonging and quest for victory among the various adugbos (areas), such that viewership will cut across people of all ages and social status across the country.”

    The overall winner, he revealed, would be crowned the Asiwaju of Nigerian Music for the year running at a colourful prize-giving ceremony to be attended by dignitaries from all over the country.

    The overall winner will walk away with a branded Kia Magentis salon car, while the first, second and third runners-up will get a recording deal.

    According to the organisers, entry will close on September 30, as the car prize is already secured and on display at LTV Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Grace Egbagbe’s daughter on the roll

    Grace Egbagbe’s daughter on the roll

    One thing about people who have fame thrust on them is their tendency to overshadow other people around them even when they do not deliberately set out to do so. Where has Zemayi Okedije been all these years? Why has the beautiful daughter of Egbagbe chosen to embrace life away from the glitz and glamour for which her mother is a reference point?

    Celeb Watch took time to find answers to the questions. Zemayi is fast maturing and is doing all within her power to take the world by storm. In her mid-20s and as a graduate of the University of Maryland, Zemaye has been making waves in her chosen careerphotography.

    She has taken the art to a new level with a state-of-the-art studio from which she churns out beautiful photographs with her sophisticated cameras. She, along her partner, was first runner-up in the National Art Competition held last December.

    Zemaye had a stint at EMG where she was a junior project manager. She them moved to General Electric as an analyst in the United States. After one year, the leggy beauty relocated home and floated her own photography company, Exwhyzee, with her as the creative director.

  • Toyin Alakiu relishes new marriage

    Toyin Alakiu relishes new marriage

    Behind every cloud, they say, lies a silver lining. That much is true with Toyin Alakiu, popular Lagos socialite and owner Fresh Look Beauty Parlour. She should by now be addressed as Toyin Collins, having tied the nuptial knot with another popular sociate, Debo Colins last year. She has since been savouring the bliss of holy matrimony.

    Toyin, who allegedly endured all sorts of emotional trauma in her earlier marriage, threw in the towel in 2010 when she could no longer contain the heartaches. Worse still, the said marriage was said to have lasted about two decades without a child. The pressure on her was said to have been so much that she opted out.

    Today, she is a happy woman once again as all her blue feelings have been consigned to the dustbin of history.

  • Take Ibori, Omosede Igbinedion bank on fathers’ influence

    Take Ibori, Omosede Igbinedion bank on fathers’ influence

    The political scene is becoming more and more interesting as the general elections year draws nearer and nearer. A trend that is playing out is the influx of silver spoon kids into the murky game of politics. They are now embracing politics, using their fathers’ names as pedestals to actualise their aspirations.

    Joining the ranks of children of prominent politicians and businessmen are Omosede Igbinedion and Take Ibori. Omosede, one of the daughters of Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, has joined the race for a seat in the House of Representatives in Edo State. The mother of one is said to be vying for the seat of Ovie Federal Constituency. What is not yet certain is the political platform on which she intends to actualise her dream.

    On her part, Take Ibori, the lovely daughter of former Delta State governor, James Onanefe Ibori, who is currently serving a jail term for corruption, is planning to contest for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Sources close to the corridors of power in Delta State told Celeb Watch that Take stands a very good chance picking the ticket because she enjoys the support of most of the stakeholders on account of her father’s influence in spite of his incarceration.

    The duo has no political experience except having fathers who ahd functioned as godfathers at one time or the other in the political affairs of their respective states.

  • All set for Gabriel Igbinedion’s 80th birthday

    All set for Gabriel Igbinedion’s 80th birthday

    If the frenzy around the preparation for the 80th birthday of one of Benin’s most flamboyant high chiefs is anything to go by, no form of geriatric frailty would stop the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, from doing a gig when he joins the enviable club of octogenarians on September 11.

    With the day still about two weeks away, his children and grandchildren are said to be working round the clock to throw a lavish party in celebration of their patriarch. Celeb Watch gathered that the of man of means will be celebrated in a month-long series of events that will be observed around three continents, beginning from his magnificent home in G R A, Benin City, Edo State.

    The city of Benin is said to be in frenzy already. There are nine assorted invitation cards currently in circulation among the high and mighty, notifying them of the imminent party to usher the Benin high chief into the league of octogenarians. Besides a veteran highlife musician whose service has been enlisted to cap the event, many other entertainers have been invited to grace some of the activities lined up. A prominent Benin cultural group has also been contracted to add colour to the event.

  • Oba Akinruntan adds another feather

    Oba Akinruntan adds another feather

    One traditional ruler who has attracted attention no matter how hard he tries to shy away from the klieglights is the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan. Last Sunday, he was again honoured with his designation as the Most Stylish Monarch in Nigeria. The event was the Encomium Black and White Ball Season 5, where 25 personalities who have distinguished themselves in different fields of human endeavours were honoured.

    Held at Ruby Gardens, Lekki, Lagos, the organisers described the chairman and founder of Obat Petroleum as an epitome of royalty, refinement and class, who is blessed with assorted objects of desire. Oba Akinruntan is in a class of his own in terms of style. When he and others traditional rulers paid a visit to Aso Rock recently, he was the cynosure of all eyes as the only one allowed to be driven in his customised Rolls Royce while others were conveyed to the venue of the meeting in a costal bus.

    Oba Akinruntan is blessed with massive earthly possessions about which he makes no pretence. His garage parades top of the range wonders on wheels.

  • Bola Shagaya not keen on governorship

    Bola Shagaya not keen on governorship

    When the news came from the blue that one of Nigeria’s wealthiest women, Hajia Bola Shagaya, would be testing her popularity as a governorship aspirant in Kwara State in 2015, not a few people expressed surprise. Permutations and analyses of her chance in the race immediately attended the report.

    But contrary to the widely circulated rumour, which was said to have caused a stir in some quarters , Celeb Watch has authoritatively gathered that the billionaire businesswoman would not be throwing her hat in the ring. Shagaya is said not to be keen on neglecting the business through which she rakes in the billions for any other vocation, particularly politics.

    A source close to her said her name was only being bandied by some politicians who are desperate to make some political gains with her name. One of her close friends said although she (Shagaya) is the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, she will not be vying for any elective office in 2015. The friend said Shagaya had accepted her role as care giver in the ruling party and that is all she would be doing for the party’s candidates in 2015.

  • Bishop Bola Odeleke celebrates

    Bishop Bola Odeleke celebrates

    It is going to be a week-long series of celebration for one of Nigeria’s most acclaimed tele-evangelist, Bishop Bola Odeleke. The General Overseer of Power Pentecostal Ministry, Okota, Lagos will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of her ministry. The week stretching through November 16 to 23, 2014 will see Bishop Odeleke welcome well wishers from across the nation to celebrate her ministry. Men of God like Anslem Madubuko, Matthew Ashimolowo and others are said to have indicated their readiness to participate in one or two of the activities lined up for the event. The history of tele-evangelism in Nigeria would not be complete without a mention of Bishop Bola Odeleke. She carved a niche for herself long before today’s male evangelists started jostling for space on the air waves. The fiery preacher has not been without scandals. She has been linked with a few men and had two marriages broken in controversial circumstances.

  • Concerns over Funke Kuku’s marriage

    Concerns over Funke Kuku’s marriage

    Funke Kuku, the dark and beautiful wife of Abi Kuku, turned a year older some days ago and invited a handful of well wishers for a mini get-together. Funke, daughter of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) boss, Tunde Fowler, hosted friends and family in an event spiced with tasteful dishes and mild entertainment.

    But while every item of merriment was at the beck and call of the guests, one thing was conspicuously missing, Abi Kuku, Funke’s husband, was nowhere in sight. And Funke’s silence about his absence only succeeded in arousing curiosity among the guests, many of whom were abreast of the rumour that Funke’s marriage may have  hit the rocks.

    Some of them could not help wondering aloud what had happened to the marriage that was consummated only a few years ago. Curiously, the couple has maintained sealed lips on the true status of their union, fuelling further speculations in the process.