The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • ITUAH IGHODALO: Why they think I’m glamorous

    ITUAH IGHODALO: Why they think I’m glamorous

    Pastor Ituah Ighodalo is the Senior Pastor of Trinity House. In this interview with PATIENCE SADUWA and PAUL UKPABIO, he speaks on his childhood days at Ibadan; life at the nation’s premier secondary school, Kings’ College; parents’ influence on his life; coping with pastoral work and accountancy business; life with his wife, Ibidun, and other issues. Excepts:

    HE’S the ‘poster boy’ of the set of wave-making pastors that have brought a lot of glamour and elan to the pulpit in the country in the past two decades or so. Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor, Trinity House, typifies this group who are smart, charismatic and intelligent with enough oratorical skills to sway any congregation.

    Over the years, Ighodalo and the other glamour men of the pulpit have enjoyed great visibility and popularity, especially in the media, enjoying the kind of fame and celebrity status that music and movie stars get. Being so much in the limelight has, however, not come without a price. Controversies, scandals and intrigues have trailed them, becoming so much at times so that it has even threatened to truncate their thriving careers and ministry.

    The Trinity House senior pastor and chartered accountant has had his fair share of such in his years in the ministry. For instance, his sudden and painful exit from The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in 2009 over his decision to remarry after being separated for 10 years from his former wife caused a lot of ripples in religious circles in the country. Trailed by a lot of criticisms, he left to found Trinity House, which moved to its permanent site on Victoria Island, Lagos, last year.

    Nearly five years after that incident, Ighodalo today cuts the image of a man who has weathered so many storms in life and come out a ‘survivor.’ He has put his travails at his former church behind him. “It’s all in the past now. It’s not something I want to go into in detail,” he told The Nation in his office in Lagos recently. But he added: “Let us just say it was a doctrinal issue and I had to leave. I still feel very much part of Redeemed Church. I still contribute, I am still on the board of one or two things in Redeemed Church. It is still one family and everything has worked out for good.”

    These days, he focuses on growing his ministry as well his accounting firm, SIAO. Indeed, the pastor is a man of different parts, heavily involved in ministry work, running a private firm, chairing various NGOs and also being on the board of several companies. Being so busy, the pastor has little time for leisure activities besides watching TV, especially football and his favourite team Liverpool.

    To him, this is not a problem; work is his relaxation, as he stated. “My work is my relaxation. I do not consider work to be work. Tiger Woods plays golf for a living. Is it work or pleasure? So, that is what my work is to me. I enjoy it. I live it. It makes me happy. I sleep in it. When I am fatigued, I blank out, sit in front of the TV and watch. I think of other things. Rest is important and as a pastor, quiet time is important. Time with God is therapeutic. I hear God. For me, life is in segments, an excitement that I keep doing. When I do, I rest too.”

    Stylish and dapper in his well-cut suits, Ighodalo has the kind of good looks and charming mien that have endeared him to the ladies for years, even before joining the pulpit. Indeed, during his days as the pastor of Christ Church parish of the RCCG, Gbagada, there were tales of some female members harassing him and scheming to marry him. His marriage in 2007 to ex-Lux girl, Ibidun Ajayi, though put paid to the dreams of such ladies to hook the handsome pastor.

    So how does he cope with attention from the ladies? “By His grace! It is indeed by His grace,” he declared, adding: “But I draw my boundaries. By now, I know that a lot of people know that boundary already. I have been through a lot of things. I have had enough of that in the past. I am really focused on what I have to do. I am friendly, I chat and talk but I draw my boundaries and I do not go beyond my boundaries or allow anyone to go beyond that boundary. And at my age, there is no amount of pressure by God’s grace, which anyone can put on me. Where is the time? God has been gracious and I pray a lot that God should keep me from evil and keep evil from me.”

    The pastor, who describes himself as a sociable person who made friends easily while growing up, noted that his outgoing personality has helped him in his ministry work. He likened this attribute to that of Christ who mixed with people from different strata of society and not just the rich and powerful alone.

    “Jesus was a socialite. A lot of people do not realise that,” Ighodalo stated. “He had dinner in Zaccheus’s house as well as at the house of Mathew, the republican. He went and hung out and spent some good time with the woman by the well. He was with her. In fact, they used to call Him a wine imbiber, meaning that he enjoyed socialising. They used to ask Him, ‘Why aren’t you like John the Baptist, who spent his time in the wilderness? They used to call Him a glutton because they said that this man eats and eats and socialises too much. But what He was trying to do, was to meet everybody, at their various places of need.

    “And at some point in time, He had to tell them that this gospel is not for those that are well, it is for the sick: Those who need help. He was so social that He went to the tomb and He was hanging out with a mad man of Gadara. Jesus spent an afternoon with that mad man. The lepers that nobody could touch, Jesus went to play with them and touched them. He had time for blind Bartimeus. He stopped everything that He was doing to spend an afternoon with him. To preach the gospel, to be honest with you, you need to be sociable and social to a large extent. At funerals they will call you. At times of grief, you must be there to share God’s words with them. At marriages you marry them off.

    “If you are not social enough to talk to people and share their moments with them, you really cannot be an effective pastor. Pastoring is about feeling people, being there for them, carrying their burdens, impacting your lives upon them, understanding their feelings and being able to share, and through God offer hope, expectation and solution. So, my previous life prepared me for my present life. God does not waste anything. And God does not make any mistake.”

    On his ‘glamour boy’ image, he said: “I guess it is perception, maybe it is the way I speak, maybe it is the way I dress, and maybe it is the way they perceived me, even before I became a Pastor. So, it is information for me, whether I want to change from being that is what I don’t know. But I know that I am trying to be simple, I try not to dress too elaborately. Because it is not about what you wear but what it is in your heart. I try to wear what can be comfortable for me to enter anywhere. You know, sometimes, I find myself in the heart of Mushin, preaching a powerful gospel and the next thing is I am in the Lagos State Government office speaking to leaders. That is the way I have been operating. What I do is to make myself accessible to as many people who need God through me. I don’t know if that is glamorous or not, but I work hard.”

  • Glo Evergreen Series: KSA, D’banj,Yemi Sax excite Lagos elite

    Glo Evergreen Series: KSA, D’banj,Yemi Sax excite Lagos elite

    Beyond the typical Friday night fun, the much-publicised Glo Evergreen Series, at the weekend, delivered an elitist gig, befitting of the young and old. The show held at the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    It was an evening of class, as Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade (KSA), Dapo Oyebanjo a.k.a D’banj and Nigeria’s foremost saxophonist, Yemi Sax took turns, in enthralling sessions of music that cuts across generations. Expectedly, the show raved about the classics of Juju music from the repertoire of KSA, whose art, the concert set out to celebrate.

    At 67, the King of World Beat, as KSA is princely called, literarily shook the venue, as he rendered energetic performance that portrayed a never-say-die spirit.

    Although the concert started behind schedule, the master guitarist stormed the stage at 9:28 p.m., amid thunderous rhythms. This was followed by a swift assemblage of choreographers, whose boogies, hops and skips took the tempo a notch higher. That way, the ceremony kicked off in earnest.

    Typical of most traditional musicians, KSA’s voice rose with obeisance, as he sang: Me le se, kemi ma sai yin baba logo, ke mi ma shai jijo ope… off the album, Divine Shield.

    A skilled performer, the artiste led his band through a dramatic show, with rising and falling cadence, smooth fading of beats and lyrics, and a dramatic snapping of the fingers to create an amazing sound. To this, the crowd responded with loud applause.

    Sporting a green Kaftan with glitzy embroidery, KSA displayed dexterity on the guitar, even has he sang the most patronising song of the evening; ‘Call Me, That’s My Number’, one of the earliest promos for Glo mobile, sponsors of the concert.

    Anchored by ace comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, whose jokes gave pep to the evening, KSA held everybody spellbound, with popular thanksgiving song, such as Mafowo Yin e Logo, Great To Serve The Lord, and I Have a Very Big God among others, before striking the cord of nostalgia, by gliding into songs of the ‘70s and ‘80s.

    Yemi Sax mounted the stage during dinner. As usual, classic tunes from his saxophone serenaded fun seekers during the show’s interval.

    Highpoint of the show was the duet by KSA and D’banj. The latter climbed the stage with his youthful vigour, but it was obvious he chose to start with language songs –Perhaps too, songs that are popular across the age divide. He kicked off with Olurun Maje, followed by Mobolowo Won, a hit from his first album, titled: No Long Thing. It was the song that best portrays his skill with the harmonica. It was at this point that KSA joined the Kokomaster, as he is fondly called, in a remix of the connotative song; Mo Bo Lowo Won, meant to celebrate escape from imaginary enemies.

    Though Chief Mike Adenuga, Chairman of Globacom was conspicuously absent at the concert, notable celebrities, including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Commissioner of Culture in Delta State, actor and TV producer Teju Babyface, filmmaker Ola Balogun, and Sammy Okposo were among guests at the show.

     

  • Oscar 2014: Africa’s treasured moment

    Oscar 2014: Africa’s treasured moment

    It was a night of surprises at this year’s Academy Awards show on Sunday, March 2.

    The ceremony, which took place at The Dolde Theatre, Los Angeles, featured an engaging struggle for supremacy.

    In a fierce contest for the best picture category, Steve McQueen’s flick, 12 Years a Slave, locked horns with Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity and David O. Russell’s American Hustle. But it was McQueen’s day of glory as he clinched the coveted award. This makes it the first time the honour would be conferred on a black director.

    “I’d like to thank this amazing story,” said Steve McQueen, the British-born filmmaker, who grasped a prize that has eluded African-American directors since 1929 when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences started giving Oscars.

    “Everyone deserves not just to survive, but to live,” said Mr. McQueen, who dedicated the film to those who had endured slavery, both in the past and in the present.

    Cuarón’s Gravity, a 3-D blockbuster won the directing award.

    The 86th edition of the Oscar Awards also saw Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o emerging Best Supporting Actress for her role as Patsy in 12 Years a Slave.

    “When I look down at this golden statuette, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid,” Lupita said in her acceptance speech.

    12 Years a Slave, a story about a 19th century man, Solomon Northup, who was kidnapped into slavery, won three awards, including Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. Gravity won seven, the most of any film.

    The Best Actress award went to Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine, despite a late season challenge by Dylan Farrow, who publicly wrote that its director, Woody Allen and his films should be shunned because he had, by her account, sexually molested her as a child.

    Mr. Allen, her adopted father, has strongly challenged the charge.

    Despite 10 nominations, American Hustle failed to win any award. But it is a box office hit, with about $146 million in ticket sales.

    At the halfway mark, TV show host Ellen Degeneres broke a record for retweets with a “selfie” that found her stacked with movie stars, including Ms. Lawrence, Ms. Streep and Kevin Spacey.

    Twitter’s website went down soon afterwards, with early reports indicating that it failed to handle the traffic. Later reports said Ms. DeGeneres’s “selfie” was retweeted more than one million times, breaking the site’s previous record, which was set by President Barack Obama after his re-election.

     

  • Bayray McNwizu Caged

    Bayray McNwizu Caged

    Have you seen Caged, the latest series of Tales of Eve premiered recently? If yes, your mind should not run riot seeing this headline.

    In it, prolific actress and AMBO winner, Bayray McNwizu, played Tosan Eboh, the character who, in the fictional work, is behind bars.

    Unarguably, the sultry actress, who is anxiously looking forward to the premiere of another star-studded movie, The Visit, shines in this new series. Like in Cindy’s Note, the actress dazzled playing Tosan Eboh. However, she admitted that it was quite challenging. “I had to be a 13-year-old year and a believable one at that. The behavioural change was tasking, but I enjoyed it; and till today, I’m still trying to get rid of the overdose of some child-like characteristics,” she said.

    Caged tells the story of Tosan Eboh, a young lady who has been awaiting trial in a Nigerian prison for murder and Olaitan Akinlotan, an ambitious state counsel with a troubled marriage, who ensures that she gets a death sentence.

    It explores the lives of two women with very different backgrounds and very different stories who find themselves trapped in their individual cages of pride, hate and distrust for life, as well as contempt for one another. It doesn’t take long before they realize that they have a mutual enemy -and that enemy isn’t each other.

    Described as one the most popular TV series, Tales of Eve is a collection of moving stories that accurately portray the lives and experiences of Nigerian women as they live through the trials and triumphs of womanhood.

    Caged stars other notable Nollywood actors, including Tana Adelana, Okey Uzoeshi, Jaiye Kuti, Jide Kosoko, Bukky Odunote, Toyin Osinaike, among others.

  • Pa Kasumu’s son, Olatunde weds

    Pa Kasumu’s son, Olatunde weds

    •Nollywood stars absent at wedding

    It was apparently a moment of bliss for ailing Yoruba actor, Kayode Odumosu, alias Pa Kasumu, during the traditional wedding of his son, Olatunde Odumosu and Mojisola Adamolekun on Saturday, March 1, at Blessed International School, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.

    The colourful ceremony took place two days after the court wedding on Thursday, February 27, at the Ikoyi Registry, Lagos, a ceremony attended strictly by family members.

    The Saturday’s traditional wedding, which was relatively elaborate, kicked off at about 1p.m. under a drizzle. The 37-year-old groom, who was dressed in a lace material cut in buba and sokoto with a red cap, was all smiles, while the proceedings lasted. The Ekiti State-born bride, with graceful steps and beatific smiles, complemented the groom in all imaginable way. As the engagement ceremony glided from the introduction, prayers for the couple by their parents, exchange of rings to the cutting of the wedding cake, the two alaga iduro as well the two masters of ceremonies, in their characteristic vivaciousness, added colour and panache to the ceremony. And then, the live band further enlivened the venue with an electrifying performance.

    Interestingly, like a sub-drama, several eyes kept stealing a glance at the groom’s father at intervals. There was no mistaking the suspicious look on some faces, especially as one of the masters of ceremonies, Ben Cash, repeatedly debunked the death rumour about the respected actor. Unknowingly, he seemed to echo the murmurs in the minds of some anxious guests who wanted to know whether the various media reports about Pa Kasumu’s ill health had been sensationalised or not in anyway. But it was obvious for all to see: wobbly steps, almost inaudible voice and occasional blank look. Nevertheless, the actor, who donned a blue agbada with a pair of matching shoes and an ash-coloured cap, dutiful played his fatherly role on the occasion to the admiration of all, thereby rubbishing the claim that he is already in a vegetative state.

    Interestingly, in the midst of the ceremony, many wondered why Pa Kasumu’s colleagues in the movie industry were conspicuously absent to share in his joy. The pertinent question asked in hushed tone was: where are the stars? Even when Pa Kasumu was dancing, though not energetically, with the couple, he was only supported by family members, while he ‘sprayed’ the excited couple with some crisp notes. In the opinions of some, it could only be proof of a frosty relationship between him and his colleagues.

    However, some hours after the ceremony, the actor, in a telephone interview with The Nation, gave a hint on why his colleagues were not in attendance. Contrary to the insinuation in some quarters, Pa Kasumu, who initially expressed shock that our correspondent got wind of the event in spite of the strategic plans to shut out media coverage, said, “I actually didn’t invite them because my son didn’t want any publicity. Although I invited Iya Rainbow, Iya Awero, Jide Kosoko and Ngozi Nwosu, none of them could make it. Ngozu later called me in the evening that she was held up in traffic around Iyana Ipaja, so I told her not to bother because it was almost over. Iya Rainbow couldn’t come for reasons I won’t like to disclose, but neither Jide Kosoko nor Iya Awero called me to explain why they didn’t come. The truth is, if they had come, my son wouldn’t have been happy with me because he would know that I invited them. Really, their presence would have generated some publicity, which might have angered him. So, he wanted a low-key ceremony.”

    When asked to clarify the rumour that the bulk of the money donated towards his treatment went into the planning of the wedding of his first son, he raised his voice, saying, “Anyone who said that must be stupid! My son is gainfully employed and I am sure you saw some of his expatriate bosses at the event. So, why won’t he be able to sponsor his wedding? It was a thing of joy to me, and that was why I danced excitedly. Oh, I love to dance! If not that I was weak, you would have been pleasantly surprised.”

  • African Fashion Week comes to Nigeria

    African Fashion Week comes to Nigeria

    COME Saturday, May 7, all roads will literally lead to Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, as this year’s edition of the African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) kicks off.

    The two-day event, which will be rounded off on Sunday, May 8, will showcase fashion from an African point of view.

    According to the organisers, the event will give an equal opportunity and priority to top fashion designers alongside new and emerging ones to celebrate our culture and styles, while increasing their passion for fashion.

    The event will offer the practitioners a free platform to showcase their brands and network; it will also create a portal for new designers to integrate into the international fashion system and it will showcase the African textile industry to a global audience.

    Expected at the coming event are fashion designers, fabric manufacturers and printers, jewelers, photographers, make-up artists, models, media houses, buyers and anyone that has any link with African fashion, especially with an African interest.

  • Why I date older men–Queen Blessing Ebiegieson

    Why I date older men–Queen Blessing Ebiegieson

    Beautiful Nollywood actress, Queen Blessing Ebigieson, means many things to many people: actress, model, TV host, producer and scriptwriter. The mother of one, who hails from Edo State, has managed to be out of scandal since she came into the industry. In this interview with DUPE AYINLA-OLASUKANMI, she talks about her passion and love life, among other interesting issues.

    YOU celebrated the last Valentine’s Day with widows in Lagos State. Could you tell me what inspired your action?

    I carried out the programme with the aim of showing love to widows, thereby putting smiles on their faces. It was done in collaboration with the Olukoga Support Foundation and was held at the Ikorodu West LCDA. Apart from making the day a fulfilled one for the widows, over 200 wrappers, sewing machines, cash and other gifts were showered on the widows who described the gestures as rare.

    I set up the Queen Blessing Foundation about five years ago. I see it as a means to extend a hand of fellowship to widows and the less privileged in the society. The Foundation is all about widows and I know that as I have chosen the widows, I’m automatically getting to the children. Last year’s edition held in Edo State and it was a huge success. This year’s edition is bigger, considering the fact that it’s a team effort. The Foundation also presented awards of excellence to some distinguished Nigerians, including Jimi Agbaje, OON, Prof. Pat Utomi and Hon. Fatai Olukoga, among others.

    So, at the moment, what are you working on?

    I just concluded shooting two Yoruba movies, TNK (Temi Ni Kan) and Ejo mi ko. The movies will soon be premiered and released into the market any moment from now. Temi Ni Kan features Mercy Aigbe, Akin Lewis and me, among others. Another of my movie, Lori Ere, is still doing well in the market.

    We know you more as an actress and TV host, so when did you drift towards movie production?

    If you have followed my career in the past 12 years, you will know that Queen is someone who believes so much in herself. I love money and all the good things of life. Because of this, I always diversify and work hard towards anything I want in life. You can’t sit in the house and wait for good things to come. And I’m not the type that waits for men to do things for me. I work to get all I want.

    If I have a man to support me, fine; otherwise, I live my life. I started with dancing and later went into modelling and acting. At a point, I dropped dancing. I also stopped modelling professionally when I had my son, though I still do runways, fashion shows and adverts, etc. When I dropped some of those things, I decided to act, while producing my own movies. Entertainment, generally, is my area of interest. I have a strong passion for it. To me, I think I get paid for just doing what I like doing. In the aspect of production, I also decided to do more of Yoruba films.

    Why the choice of Yoruba movies?

    For the past 12 years, I have done English movies. They discriminate a lot in the English movie industry. If, for instance, you approach an English movie star and tell him or her to feature in your production, the fee he or she will mention to you might almost be more than your entire budget for the movie.

    When I got into the Yoruba industry, I saw a different world entirely. They are friendly and welcoming. The only problem you will have with them is when you don’t address the ones older than you as ‘aunty’. But I don’t have a problem with that. It doesn’t take anything away from me. I’m still the Black Queen. I love them; they treat you like their own.

    How did your acting career start?

    I was in Niger State when I took the decision to go into acting. Before then, a lot of people were telling me that I look like an actress and that I walk like models and all that. Besides, things were so bad that I had to sell pepper and onions, in order to go to school. When I got tired of that life, I decided that since people have been commending my good looks and all that, I should try my hand in acting. That was how it all started. From there, I made some contacts, went for audition and succeeded in featuring in Ashes. Then, I was studying Mass Communications at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State. I went back to school after that movie and returned fully into the industry in 2002.

    Your career has been scandal-free over the years. What will you say is responsible for this?

    I think my background did the magic. I came from a Christian home. My mum taught us the way to live our lives. She taught me morals and how to live right. Also, the fact that I’m not a greedy person has helped me a lot. Though I’m not a saint, you can’t associate me with any scandal, except if you want to cook up your own stories. I live a good life, at least, to an extent. I am not even the club type. I am not the type you will catch with one man or the other.

    Doesn’t the breakup of your relationship with the father of your son confirm the insinuation that Nollywood stars hardly have stable homes?

    That is a false view. We actresses are just like every other person. As a woman, you would always want your relationship to remain intact. But when you are in a relationship and you are experiencing 70% pains, I will tell the person to quit. It’s not by force. But if it’s 30 % pains and 70 % happiness, it’s worth staying because you can never get 100% satisfaction -no man is perfect. So, I disagree with that opinion. Besides, we weren’t married.

    Considering the fact that you loved this man, why did you finally back out of the relationship?

    You can love somebody; but sometimes, love is not just enough. If your life is threatened and you end up dying, will you go to heaven and show love to that person? You have to live in order to love.

    Considering the age bracket between you and your ex, it’s widely believed that you dated him because of his money. How will you react to this?

    Love has nothing to do with age, especially when it comes to true love. But we really don’t have true love here in Nigeria. A lot of women go for fancy things. Even the first man in my life was 30 years old when I was 20. He was 10 years older. That was how I started my life. I have never dated my mates or younger men. You don’t expect me to get entangled with someone who is still in school. What if I get pregnant, who will take care of my child? Where will we live? I’m a realist. That is why I fall in love with someone whom I know can take care of my children. The wrong thing for any woman to do is to get married to anybody who can’t take care of her and her children-that is when you will start thinking of cheating.

    Why this unusual obsession for older men?

    I think that is me. Younger men don’t turn me on. If you are 25 or 30 years old and you are toasting me, then, you are just wasting your time. Maybe because I don’t really like sex and I always think they are after sex. Or maybe they don’t think the way I do. So, it’s bull s..t for anybody to think I date older men because of money. That is the person’s business and I don’t give a damn.

    Do you intend walking down the aisle with your current date?

    I can’t say now. To me, marriage is just a formality. I see lots of people dating for 10 years and once they get married, trouble will start coming from different angles. Maybe one day, I might decide to get married. But I am not desperate now.

    As a single mother, what challenges do you face?

    I might want to pay the school fee for my son and it could be that the business I did is yet to generate money… When you see a single mother, single-handedly taking care of her child, she should be praised. Nobody will say a helping hand is bad…

    What do you regret in your failed relationship?

    I have no regrets in that relationship because I love my son. God has been wonderful; and as you can see, I’m very happy. I’m doing all I can to take care of my son whom I love so much.

    What has life taught you over the years?

    Life has taught me that if you are up, don’t think that the people who are down are cabbage, because you don’t know who you will meet on your way down.

  • Shanielle Sunshine’ Haye to Davido: YOU’RE A BOY

    Shanielle Sunshine’ Haye to Davido: YOU’RE A BOY

    THE end to the controversy between Davido and his alleged ‘baby mama’, Shanielle ‘Sunshine’ Haye, seems not to be in sight.

    Several hours after the UK-based model posted a picture of her baby bump, confirming the rumours she is expecting a set of twins, Miss Haye said she had nothing to do with Davido.

    The past few days have seen the pop singer and the pretty model go back and forth on social media, throwing more confusion into the ‘baby mama’ brouhaha.

    Over the weekend, Davido (who has denied he is expecting a set of twins) posted a screenshot of an online chat with Shanielle Haye and himself. The message was interpreted in two different ways by fans. The more general assumption, however, is that the model might have lost the twins.,

    But two days later, Miss Haye posted a picture showing off her baby bump. It is, however, unclear when the picture was taken.

    Haye doesn’t seem to be bothered about photo time stamps, as she has categorically stated that she had nothing with the pop singer.

    According to her, “Every day, people want to tell more lies about me. I’m so sick and tired of all this. I do not have anything to do with that boy. I don’t understand why all of this is headline news, when so many people in the world are dying of chronic diseases.”

    Davido is not the only one facing ‘baby mama’ drama in recent times. Sensational singer, Tuface Idibia, is also getting his fair share, as a Lagos-based banker is alleged to be pregnant for him.

  • Oge Okoye in US for new movie

    Oge Okoye in US for new movie

    SEXY Nollywood actress, Oge Okoye, has finally landed in Washington DC, US for her new movie.

    She announced this recently, when she said, “It’s what it is: doing what I know best… filming in the States (DC) with this amazing bunch.”

    Okoye had developed interest in acting from her undergraduate days at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where she studied Theatre Arts.

  • Splash returns with sophomore

    Splash returns with sophomore

    THOSE who may not recognize her by name would certainly remember the petit lady whose rap lyrics and mannerism rivals Olamide and Phyno with similar ‘craze’.

    Interestingly too, she sings their style of the local language hip hop, and like Phyno, mostly in Igbo language.

    The young lady, whose debut single was Church Agbasa is out with another effort she calls“Ego Uwa”.

    Church Agbasa which brought her to critical acclaim, recorded so much downloads with iROKO TV as one of its vendors. Industry watchers had predicted that with consistency, the young girl has the prospect of taking the lead as Nigeria’s female emcee.

    Those who understand the Igbo language say her lyrics are deep, and with the English language, it is easy to acknowledge that the code-mix is well blended. Expectedly, Ego Uwa may just ride on the success of Church Agbasa for a start.

    “I stepped off the scene a bit to work on myself,” Splash stated. “Now I’m back to give my fans something fresh, deep and of course good music as usual.”

    While away briefly, the artiste was said to have taken some time to re-strategise, moving base from her former label, the HMan-led August Pee Entertainment to join Brodock Music Group, home to the young talented kid, Vito.

    “Splash is a brilliantly talented artiste, and we’re excited to have her with us at BMG,” says Smart, Chairman of Brodock Music Group.

    “Ego Uwa which literally means ‘the world’s money’ is a feel good music, with a socially relevant message, lyrically deep, with the entire recipe that makes a good hip-hop music,” added the Brodock Music boss.

    Planned for release on March 6, promoters say a video will follow in another two weeks. The video is said to have been shot on location in South Africa by Godfather Production.