Dare Fasasi, popularly known as Baba Dee, is set to release his seventh studio album titled Boom Box.
The forthcoming album, according to him, will mark his resolveto dominate the music industry once again.
Already, a few of the tracks on the album, including Go Down, Park Well and Gun Body, have been enjoying impressive air play.
The album, which features his brother, Sound Sultan, is due for release after his ongoing tour of Europe.
Recently, fast-rising pop singer, Dammy Krane, donated biscuits and Caprisonne drinks to some primary school pupils in Lagos State, in line with his desire to give back to the society.
The young music act had shared the picture on his Instagram page.
However, a fan, Supersun, has given Krane a knock on the grounds that the pupils deserved much more than what he offered them.
Supersun, who was angry with Krane over the gesture, had written that “Caprisonne, sweets and biscuits… that’s not food. Wonder what’s in the wrapped carton. Anyway, nice try… But, please, does any other person think bags of rice or cartons of tomatoes would have been of way more use? Imagine you are hungry and you are given one biscuit and Caprisonne drinks. Except the food items are somewhere not in the picture. Other than that… Well… nice try.”
As at the time of filing in this report, the My Dear crooner had not responded to the criticism.
It was not a fun weekend for top rated comedian, Bright Okpocha, alias Basketmouth, as what started as a harmless joke has turned out to be a hot subject on the Internet.
Basketmouth had posted a joke at the weekend on his Facebook about the dating styles of white girls and African girls.
According to him, while a white girl’s date ends with sex on the third outing, a typical African girl’s date ends with rape on the ninth outing after heavy spending by the guy.
Irked by the piece, social media enthusiasts besieged the comedian’s wall, requesting a retraction.
Following the outburst of emotions by critics, the comedian issued what could best be described as an insulting apology: “Ok, guys, I’m sorry about the rape joke. I won’t crack such jokes again. I’ll just stick to jokes about men being able to marry underage girls in Nigeria,” he stated.
Unfortunately, this further fuelled the outrage, causing angry fans to besiege the Twitter handle of Globacom, his paymaster, with complaints.
Though it would appear that those for and against the joke were evenly split, it was Barbara Mhangami, a writer and blogger, who took Baskemouth to the cleaners.
According to Mhangami, “rape is a sick, vile and criminal act and making light of this scourge that has everyone of us who has a vagina living with fear is cruel and hateful.
“Would your joke be funny if your mother, your sister, your aunt or your daughter had been raped? If your daughter or your sister had come home with blood running down her legs because some brute had seen her, not as a human being with feelings and a physical body that hurts and bleeds, but as a vessel for his lust, his rage, his disrespect and his misogyny?” she asked.
Overwhelmed by the furore that greeted his post, the comedian became rather remorseful, saying: “I would never in a thousand lifetimes encourage rape. I broadcasted (sic) a joke that many clearly misunderstood and have found offensive and I sincerely apologise. The intention, however, was to highlight an unfortunate trend and the ridiculously flawed comparison between money and the worth of a woman.”
However, he has since pulled down the offensive post.
Popular soul singer Emmanuel Okose, last Thursday, got married to his Abuja-based lover of many years, Petula Delinda, in Delta State.
It will be recalled that the Abia State-born singer, famously known as Soul E, broke up with his ex-wife, Queen Ure, some years ago.
His marriage to Ure, an ex-banker, crashed over what the couple described as “irreconcilable differences.”
Interestingly, a few years ago when the story of his secret love affair and plans to walk down the aisle with Petula broke, Soul E denied ever knowing who the banker was.
It was also learnt the couple had, three weeks ago, been joined at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Lagos State.
In an attempt to put to rest the speculation that he was once married to Ure, who is considered to be much older than he is, Soul E reportedly said: “This is my first and final marriage.”
Top Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari recently premiered her first movie, titled: Diary of Imogen Brown, to wide acclaim.
The premiere, which held across three regions of Ghana, attracted a lot of dignitaries, including Collins Dauda, minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing.
The minister reportedly sent a congratulatory message to Nadia Buari and Nigerian-born actor Jim Iyke for what he described as “their wonderful performances in the movie.”
Dauda, after examining the theme of the movie, which talks about the effect of hard drugs consumption, assured Buari and Iyke of his presence at the premiere.
He stated that although he is not a fan of movie premieres, he did not regret attending the event because the movie ends on a didactic note.
Diary of Imogen Brown features Soraya Mensah, Heba Khaled, Kevin Boateng, Prince Mingles, Beatrice Dadson, Jim Iyke and Nadia Buari.
After many years of entertaining her fans on TV and in home movies, actress Susan Peters has now launched her musical career.
Consequently, the beautiful actress has swelled the ranks of top Nollywood actresses that have ventured into music.
Some of the screen queens, who delved into music, are Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde, Tonto Dikeh, Anita Joseph and Jennifer Eliogu.
Though it is not certain if Peters will dump acting for her new love, she is said to be recording at an undisclosed location.
Peters, according to close aides, has not only kicked off her music career, she would drop her debut single soon.
Fears that producers of the Fast and Furious series may replicate the agonising death of the film’s protagonist, Paul Walker, in the next instalment, has been allayed.
Production house Universal studios has announced that the character of police officer Brian O’Connor, played by the deceased, rather than being killed, will be retired in the seventh instalment.
Walker died in a tragic auto crash in November at the age of 40.
Fans of the popular actor have been worried over rumours that the producers of the street-racing movie franchise may want to re-enact the death of the actor to achieve a dramatic effect. But many believe that if that happens, it will offend the sensibility of Walker’s fans.
Since his fatal accident, writers, including Chris Morgan, have been busy revising the script for the new film and planning how to rework scenes already shot. Walker had filmed a considerable number of his scenes prior to his death, but many remain incomplete.
Although the sequel was planned for release this year, it has been put back to April 2015.
Hollywood Reporter claims that writer Chris Morgan is working on a script to incorporate a footage shot by Paul before his death into a coherent story.
A statement by Universal Studios says: “Paul Walker’s Fast and Furious character, Brian O’Conner, won’t be killed off for Fast and Furious 7. The plan is to “retire” O’Conner and give the character a proper send off in the wake of Walker’s tragic death on November 30.”
The statement added that director James Wan will use existing footage of Walker, who died in a car crash, while screenwriter Chris Morgan will add additional scenes to patch O’Conner’s exit over.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County coroner released a new autopsy report on January 3, detailing how speed was the main cause of the crash of the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, resulting in the deaths of Walker and his friend, Roger Rodas.
The vehicle travelled more than 100 mph before the vehicle lost control, hit a tree and a light post, spun around, hitting another tree before bursting into flames in Santa Clarita, California.
“It appeared the vehicle almost split in half,” the report said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Contrary to the widespread rumour that veteran actor, Olumide Bakare, is laid up with a life-threatening ailment abroad, there are indications that he is actually in good health.
A source revealed exclusively to The Nation that the actor is in good health and presently on holiday in New York.
It will be recalled that Chief Koko, as he is sometimes referred to, was said to have been down with a heart disease last year.
In a chat with Seyi Specialborn, a movie director, the respected actor was quoted to have said that “I had a brief illness in November, 2013 and I was admitted to one private hospital at Idi Ape in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. I was discharged a few days after. It was not even something serious and I have been doing fine since then. None of my family members was even informed because it was more or else like a routine medical check. At my age, going for a medical check, to me, is the best thing I can do to help myself.”
In an interview with The Nation, Specialborn said, “The news of Olumide Bakare’s illness came to me as a shock, as I had already billed him to play a role in the movie I was shooting in Maryland, United States, last December. I heard he was coming for holiday in America, so I contacted him. We reached a compromise about the production date and the necessary logistics. So, when I heard he was sick, I didn’t know what to think.”
The movie director further disclosed that he was still skeptical when Bakare appeared at his movie location accompanied by his first son, Pastor Bode Bakare, on Saturday, December 21, 2013.
According to him, “We had to suspend the shooting for about an hour, while many of his fans in Maryland couldn’t help but look in awe. The movie location was later turned into a photography session of sorts.”
Specialborn also recalled that Bakare left the movie set at approximately 11:00p.m. on Monday, December 23, after three days of shoot.
He added that he requested for a chat later on with the actor at his brother’s house in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “I met Olumide Bakare with one of his nieces, Titilola Bakare, in Harrisburg and I started the chat immediately, having exchanged pleasantries. It was Titilola who first reacted to the rumour,” he explained.
Titilola, according to Specialborn, had said, “Uncle Mide (Olumide Bakare) is fine and I wouldn’t understand why such a rumour would circulate in Nigeria without anyone taking time to find out the credibility of the story. The purpose of his trip to America is leisure. We have not seen him for a long time and we all miss him. The last time he visited was in 1986, and we felt he should come and spend some time with us (his nieces). Even his son and his grandchildren also wanted him around and we have been having great times together.
“And if anyone is in doubt, he or she should call him and talk to him rather than talking to the press about it. It’s deplorable trying to beg for money on his behalf when he is actually okay and fine. He is here to spend time with the family and nothing more.”
According to him, the crossover actor was also quoted to have said that “As you can see me, do I look like someone who is sick? At least, you saw the way I acted on your set. Can someone who is sick act like that? I am hale and hearty and I want to use this medium to tell my people in Nigeria and all over the world that Olumide Bakare is perfectly okay. Just look at me.
“My immediate elder brother, who is Titilayo’s father, is a surgeon. So, if it were a serious issue, I would have come for treatment abroad without any hassle and I don’t think I will need to solicit funds from anyone to actually do that. As you can see us here, do we look like people who lack anything? Why will we go out begging? I think those behind that are doing it for their own selfish reasons.”
Asked what his reaction was when he first heard the rumour, Bakare was also quoted to have said that “it was one ANTP members who called me that he read on the Facebook that I am sick. But I told him I am fine. Not long after, lots of friends and colleagues began to call to confirm and I kept telling them the same thing.”
On why he didn’t formally refute the rumour, the actor said, “I was already preparing for my trip to the US and I never knew the news would go this far. As a celebrity, you cannot be reacting to everything that is written about you always. That is one of the prices we pay for being famous.”
With Hunger Games: Catching Fire gallantly close behind, Iron Man 3 tops the year-end box office of Hollywood’s record-setting revenues.
Reports from Rentrak Corp., an entertainment industry’s global media measurement and research company, indicate an impressive financial year for Hollywood, putting the box office revenues at over $10.9 billion, a new annual record and about $90 million more than the total in 2012.
Rentrak reports revealed that the most lucrative were the franchise sequels that were released during last summer.
The feat by these flicks is heightened by the fact that within a short period of exposure, they were able to gross more than the films that started airing much earlier in the year.
Iron Man 3 is a Disney’s Marvel Studios unit said to have led the pack over the calendar year with a domestic gross of $409 million.
But The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, from Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, even though staggering behind, has the potential to surpass this record.
Rentrak’s review indicated that the movie is on track to become the top-grossing release of 2013.
According to the survey, the movie, starring Jennifer Lawrence as warrior Katniss Everdeen, has already collected more than $395 million and remains in wide release.
The top 10 movies of the year, most of which were summer releases with production budgets exceeding $100 million, were said to have accounted for about 27 percent of the total year gross.
These films, with the exception of Frozen and Gravity, were not sequels or franchise reboots.
Findings also revealed that there was a saturation point for the big-budget movies often based on comic books or older franchises.
Two of the most high-profile duds in 2013 -Walt Disney Co.’s The Lone Ranger and After Earth from Sony Pictures Entertainment, flopped on arrival, despite huge budgets and prime summer release slots.
Disney released four of the year’s top 10 movies, including Monsters University and Oz the Great and Powerful, while Warner Bros., the studio behind hits like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and We’re the Millers, collected more revenues than any other major Hollywood studio.
Warner Bros. released 19 movies this year, the second-highest of any studio behind Lions Gate, according to Box Office Mojo.
There is no doubt that one of the highly sought-after filmmakers in Nigeria is Kunle Afolayan, whose movies have been used to define what many refer to as the new Nollywood.
The actor cum director, who spoke to the BBC news in Lagos, touched on a sensitive subject that most Nigerian filmmakers hate to hear.
According to him, “20 years of Nollywood is 20 years of low quality movies.”
Nigeria’s film industry, known as Nollywood, started just over 20 years ago and is now the third largest in the world.
As a background to the interview, the British channel had used the description of the popularised Nigerian home video format, stating that “many of its (Nigeria) low-budget films follow well-tried formulas with huge doses of love, betrayal and witchcraft.
“However, some Nigerian filmmakers are working outside the Nollywood genre, hoping to succeed internationally. Kunle Afolayan is one of them. He studied film in New York and October 1 is his first big-budget movie.”
In the media chat, which is currently trending on YouTube, Afolayan stated that his film, October 1, is in post-production stage, while he is still struggling to get more funds to complete it.
The filmmaker said that the $2 million, which is said to be the budget for the historical flick, is just for production and that marketing the movie would require another 20 percent of the total budget.
According to him, his major drive, in spite of the odds, is passion.
“Some of us live, sleep and dream movies,” he said to the BBC on January 2, 2014.
Afolayan is the son of legendary filmmaker, the late Ade Afolayan, aka Ade Love, who passed on 17 years ago.
Young Afolayan, a multiple-award winning filmmaker, dumped his banking job to pick up his father’s profession.
“I was privileged to visit a few movie sets while growing up. Professionally, I started in 1998. In 2004, I resigned from the bank and went to the New York Film Academy. 20 years of Nollywood is 20 years of low quality films,” he said as footages of his films and his late father’s were streamed in the interview.
“Films were shot from ‘60s and ‘70s in this country and I happened to witness the making of these films. My father happened to be one of those who made these films and the films travelled throughout the world. The Nigerian film industry started as far back as the 60s and that is what I will celebrate. I don’t want to limit myself to the glory I get around the continent or Nigeria. I want to be able to compete outside the continent. I want my films to travel to Cannes (Cannes International Film Festival) and bigger film festivals around the world. I want my works to compete with the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Stephen Spielberg and the rest of them. I want to be seen as Kunle Afolayan, the filmmaker, and not as someone who operates only within his territory,” he said.
Afoloyan has produced a number of critically acclaimed films, including The Figurine: Araromire, Phone Swap and Irapada.
He also disclosed that October 1 would be released this year.