The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Nigerian Rapper, Lyrikal, behind bars

    Nigerian Rapper, Lyrikal, behind bars

    30 year old rapper, Lyrikal(real name, Jesse James), has released some photos of himself behind prison bars.
    The concept driven photos are part of the rapper’s personal campaign to communicate the challenges of the average young person living in Nigeria
    today.

    According to Lyrikal; “Hip Hop is a form of self-expression that tries to challenge or merely evoke the mood of the circumstances of an environment.
    The bars are a metaphorical play on the musical jargon; where they represent a point in a verse which contains the punch line for a rap – this is why we used sixteen photos. But most importantly, the bars represent the physical oppression, mental captivity and creative limitations facing the
    Nigerian youth today”

    Lyrikal borrows quotes from William Glasser, Musiq Soulchild and Nelson Mandela in the expression of his call to freedom.

     

  • I’m not under pressure to get married -JJC

    I’m not under pressure to get married -JJC

    If you are one of those expecting London-based Nigerian songwriter, rapper and singer, AbdulRasheed Bello, alias JJC Skill, to bid bye to bachelorhood soon, you may be wrong.

    At the moment, JJC Skill, who is also a music and video producer, seems to be married only his music.

    In an exclusive interview with The Nation recently, JJC Skill, who claimed to be too busy building his brand, gave reasons why he cannot get married now.

    According to him, “At this present time, there is no room for that. Because I believe that if I work hard enough, I will create a very good life here in Nigeria that I can give to a woman. A woman without money is not a very happy woman. And I have been there before, so I do not want to repeat that lifestyle. At the moment, I want to take care of myself. And then, when I am able to settle down in a big house with a driver and all other kinds of luxury, my lady will have a comfortable life and love me forever more. By that time, I can involve them and then settle down on the work.”

    When asked if he is not under pressure to get married, he answered in the negative. His words: “I am so happy that there is no pressure. Everybody is telling me to just live my life. And I am very happy. I have had enough share of the experience. I’ve been the type to fall in love quickly and make it work. But no, it does not work.”

    He, however, advised the up and coming artistes to be original as possible. He warned them to eschew being copy cats. According to him, each person has a different tale to share with his or her fans. “Don’t be like me; be yourself. You don’t judge a book by its cover. You don’t know my story and what has happened in my life. My story is like this, because I have a different life; and you definitely have a different life. You can only be yourself; you can aspire to be successful like us or even more than us. That is something you should do: to be more successful than we are. For those who look at me and want to be like me, they don’t know how much work I have done to be who I am. Work hard and dream hard to be successful. Don’t think it’s going to come to you so easily because it didn’t come to me in that way. I am still in the game, working. I am practically working harder than they are because they are younger. And don’t think, ‘Why is he still successful?’ It is because I work hard,” he said.

  • Big Brother Season 9 to feature past housemates

    The organizers of the African reality TV show, Big Brother Africa, have announced, via the show’s Facebook page, that this year’s edition tagged “All Stars 2? will feature 28 participants from 14 different countries.

    This year’s edition, which is the ninth, is scheduled to start on August 10th and will involve countries like Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

    The Facebook post reads in part:

    “Rumours have it that 28 housemates from 14 participating countries will feature in this season’s edition of BBA9 tagged All Stars 2. There will be two housemates from each country. The participating countries are Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

    “The housemates for the season will be picked from Season 6 Amplified -8 The Chase. The housemates may include: Angola- seydou and Neyll; Botswana- Eve and Motamma; Ethiopia- Bimp and Hanni; Ghana- Keitta and Alex; Kenya- Huddah and Malonza; Malawi- Lomwe and Natasha; Namibia- Bernandina and Maria; Nigeria- Chris and Vina; Sierra Leone- Zainab and Bassey; South Africa- Lee and Koketso; Tanzania- Nando and Hilda; Uganda- Denxel and Kyle; Zambia- Tamara and Sulu, Zimbabwe- Hakeem and Maneta.”

  • Sossick survives auto crash

    Sossick survives auto crash

    Prolific music producer cum musician, Sossick, was recently involved in a ghastly motor accident when he was returning from an event in his Honda i-VTEC car.

    It was gathered that the artiste, who suffered a minor injury, was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

    His elder brother, Owen Gee, confirmed the incident, saying, “I can’t really give you much detail because I was actually out of the country when the incident occurred. The car is a total write- off, but he is doing fine now.”

    However, Sossick, who is in good condition, disclosed he might buy a new car soon. “I will probably get another one soon because the car was badly damaged,” he said.

  • AMAA to reward journalists with $10,000

    AMAA to reward journalists with $10,000

    As the 10th anniversary of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) draws near, the organizers have promised to reward African journalists who have covered their activities in the past nine years with $10,000.

    In a statement, the organizers said the award is open to print, broadcast and online journalists from Africa and in the Diaspora.

    The star winner, according to the release, will smile home with the sum of $5000, while the second and third prize winners will take away $3000 and $2000 respectively.

    To be nominated for the award, prospective contestants are expected to submit two original feature stories on the activities of AMAA within the past nine years and must be submitted on or before March 31.

    The statement further stated that “journalists who do not have published works or who want to submit two fresh stories are expected to submit such stories written between December 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 to media@ama-awards.com.”

    The winners will be announced and rewarded during this year’s edition of AMAA scheduled to hold in April.

  • Cobhams marks birthday in style

    Cobhams marks birthday in style

    Cobhams Asuquo, a celebrated Nigerian producer and musician, marked his 33rd birthday on Sunday in style.

    Asuquo and his wife treated their guests, who are largely big names in the entertainment industry, to a dinner at the upscale Primi Piatti in Lekki, Lagos.

    Among the top celebrities who honoured his invitation are Banky W., Waje, Omawumi, Timi Dakolo, Tosin Martins, Toolz, Oscar Oyinsan, Tosyn Bucknor, Buki Izeogu, Schulzz, Wana Udobang and others.

    While giving his toast, Asuquo thanked his guests for being part of his celebration, promising the best in his career in the New Year.

    He had released a single on the New Year’s Eve entitled: Ordinary People.

    The song, which is currently circulating online, is a testament to the latent power of the ordinary man.

    In the song, he calls everyone to do his or her best in the daily journey of life.

    “We are all ordinary people with ordinary desires, demands, strengths and expectations. But we are all capable of doing extra-ordinary things,” he said.

    Asuquo is a Nigerian-born musician with an enviable track record in music production, writing and singing.

    Asuquo, who was previously signed to Sony/ATV UK publishing as a songwriter, is the CEO of CAMP, a music label and production company that serves as a home to Bez and Stan Iyke.

    He has done some production works for numerous notable Christian and secular artistes in the past 12 years.

    Having been a music producer for some years, Cobhams started out as a musician in 2011 when he put some of his most loved songs into an inspiring and contemporary Christian album.

    The first single on the album is titled Ordinary People.

  • Who broke Waje’s heart?

    Who broke Waje’s heart?

    Sensational R n B singer, Aituaje Iruobe, popularly known as Waje, seems to be heavy-hearted at the moment.

    Indications that Waje, whose profile has been on a steady rise in the Nigerian music industry, is nursing a broken heart emerged recently when she tweeted about it.

    The Edo State-born singer and mother of one couldn’t conceal her pain, so she took to the social media to unburden her mind.

    According to her, “U say I love u be4 u leave, act so kind den leave me 2 grieve, let me stand der in disbelief, thinking it will give me some relief, you end me.”

    Her tweet has since been generating reactions, particularly from her fans.

    Waje is one of the very successful female artistes in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

    Not long ago, she released a song, I wish, which has received critical reviews. In the song, the hugely talented act sings about a woman’s vulnerability, especially in matter of love.

  • New Naomi strolls from hostel to catwalk

    New Naomi strolls from hostel to catwalk

    Ketty Adewole has been touted as the next Naomi Campbell, but the similarities run far deeper than their good looks and modelling prowess.

    Adewole, 21, who makes her first appearance in the British edition of Vogue this month, has faced poverty and racism.

    Like Campbell, who was brought up by her single mother in Streatham, South London, Adewole’s upbringing in Hackney, East London, was challenging.

    When she was 11, her Nigerian-born mother was evicted from their flat and took Betty and her elder brother to live in a hostel where they stayed for two years.

    “It wasn’t as damp as our old flat. The living conditions there were better. There were other families living there, so we always had company, but it was not home. You didn’t have much privacy. It was very unsettling,” Adewole said.

    Her mother wanted her to go to the university, but Adewole, a talented sportswoman, was spotted by a fashion scout while shopping on Tottenham Court Road, central London, at the age of 15.

    Campbell was also 15 when she was seen by a scout shopping, but in Covent Garden.

    Adewole’s career took off when she moved to IMG, a global management agency, last year and was advised to cut her waist-length hair and adopt a tomboy look. At the same time, Campbell was leading calls for fashion houses to feature more black and Asian models on catwalks.

    “Designers paid attention and made an effort…I have experienced racism in modelling. It’s kind of expected if you are an ethnic model in the industry,” said Adewole, who still lives with her mother.

    On one occasion during the London Fashion Week, Adewole was told to leave a casting because she was black. “I could have left and thought, ‘What’s wrong with me? I hate how I am. I want to have blue eyes and blonde hair’. But mum told me every day that I’m beautiful,” she said.

    Tom Ford, the designer who has made Adewole the face of his cosmetics range, said: “I love Betty. When she walked into my office for the first time, she exuded confidence.”

    Adewole deflects comparisons to Campbell: “She’s an amazing model, but I’m very different. I’m Betty Adewole.”

     

    Culled from The Sunday times

     

  • Kaffy proves critics wrong

    Kaffy proves critics wrong

    Kafayat Shafau-Ameh, an award-winning dancer and honcho of Imagneto Dance Company, was last Saturday delivered of a baby girl at County Hospital, Lagos.

    But until the news of her safe delivery broke, many of her fans had expressed mixed reactions that her laborious stagecraft, while she was pregnant, could be dangerous to her health.

    Her husband, Joseph Adakole Ameh, shared the good news on Instagram, with a photo caption: “You all know what this means, I guess. Say hello to my princess…”

    Their first child, Sean Oluwatosin, a boy, was born in 2011.

    Interestingly, the couple has named their new child Eliana Ameh.

    The fears expressed by her fans might not be unconnected with the way she threw her body around during the grand finale of ‘MTN Project Fame’, which saw diminutive Olawale Ojo lifting the laurel.

    At that time, she was said to be carrying a five-month-old pregnancy.

    From Makossa to Soukus, Fuji and the highly revered Michael Jackson’s dance steps, she led her group in an enthralling choreographic display that earned them thunderous applause.

    In her reaction to the criticisms generated by her performance at the show, she said, “Apart from being a dancer, I am a fitness consultant. So, I will not do anything to harm my child. Apart from being a dancer, I am a healthy person, so people should get that clear and not jump into conclusion, thinking I just want to go and dance, because it is my job. Pregnancy is not a disease neither is it cancer. Some women even go to the farms with their pregnancies in the villages and they give birth without medical help. Maria Carey performed on stage dancing with twin pregnancy. It is not a new thing. It is just in this part of the world that whenever a woman is pregnant, they treat her like an egg. And that can be detrimental to her and the baby. A child whose mother is active during pregnancy is always active with less fat and at normal size.”

    Her group, Masta Blasta, won the competition at the last Calabar Carnival.

    During her first pregnancy, Kaffy had performed on the Project Fame stage exactly 10 days to the delivery of her baby boy.

    “Everything is according to pace. I will not do more than my body can take. There are a lot of techniques to dancing, which somebody who is not trained might not know. You see me winding, but you don’t know the technique I am using to wind in a way that it doesn’t disturb my baby. You see me dancing and you don’t know how I am able to land on my face that it doesn’t make me get abdominal pain. That is why I am a professional at what I do,” she added.

  • 12 Years a Slave wins at Golden Globes

    12 Years a Slave wins at Golden Globes

    Crime caper, American Hustle , on Sunday, emerged the highest recipient at the Golden Globes, capturing three major awards, including the Best Comedy.

    But voters favoured the much-anticipated film of 2013, 12 Years a Slave, which stars British-Nigerian actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, with the Best Drama slot, while Alfonso Cuarón went home with Best Director laurel for Gravity.

    The two female stars of American Hustle, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence, both picked up acting awards.

    Ms. Lawrence beat Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave, who was viewed as the leading contender in the supporting actress category. Thereafter, Ms. Adams was announced as Best Actress.

    Ejiofor, however, who has been predicted as an Oscar-hopeful, will be taking his next chance, having been nominated as Best Actor in the British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) for 12 Years a Slave.

    The awards ceremony is billed for Sunday, February 16, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

    Ejiofor starred prominently in two movies in 2013, including Half of a Yellow Sun, an adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s novel under the same title, but was touted more for 12 Years a Slave, a British-American epic and an adaptation of the eponymous 1853 autobiography by Solomon Northup.

    Also at the Golden Globes, Dallas Buyers Club received two acting prizes for Jared Leto as Supporting Actor and for the heavily campaigned Matthew McConaughey as Best Actor in a drama.

    Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine won a Best Actress award for Cate Blanchett and Mr. Allen took home the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award, though he was predictably absent from the ceremony.

    Also favoured by voters was Leonardo DiCaprio, who won the Best Actor in a comedy slot for his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.

    In the TV categories, Andy Samberg won Best Comedic Actor for the Fox series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, while the show also emerged as winner of Best TV Comedy, besting HBO’s Girls.

    Amy Poehler, returning as co-host along with Tina Fey, was Best Actress in a comedy for Parks and Recreation.

    Breaking Bad made back-to-back trips to the stage, winning trophies for Best Drama and Best Actor for Bryan Cranston.

    Cranston, who was nominated four times for his role as a teacher and a crystal meth dealer, received a raucous standing ovation for his first victory.

    The prizes were a double defeat for Netflix, whose House of Cards was a hot competitor in the categories. But Netflix series appeared to be compensated by Robin Wright’s win as Best Actress in a TV drama.

    For flicks like Nebraska, Philomena, August: Osage County and Captain Phillips, it was a bad outing.