The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Change of baton at Rotary

    Change of baton at Rotary

    The Best Westown Hotel on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos was agog when the Rotary Club of Ikeja inducted Mr Olagoke Olayinka as the 47th President and Directors of the club. AMIDU ARIJE reports.

    The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” These words of Dwight Eisenhower aptly captured the investiture of Mr Olagoke Olayinka as the 47th President and the induction of the 2013/2014 Board of Directors of Rotary Club of Ikeja.

    The event drew dignitaries from far and near.

    The Rotarians came with their family members for the once-in-a-year event.

    They looked resplendent in their attires.

    Olayinka, who was the cynosure of eyes, was dressed in black suit with bow tie to match.

    Pleasantrieswere exchanged as guests crept into the hall.

    The hall was beautifully decorated in various colours.

    The opening prayer was said and the club song was sang to kick-start the occasion. It was followed by the recitation of the National Anthem.

    The crème de la crème of the society were invited to the high table.

    Among them were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru; Chairman, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Babatunde Savage and the Paramount Ruler of Yewa Land, Ogun State, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle.

    Savage, who was the guest speaker presented a paper on Integrity in service.

    The paper focused on restating the core values of the Rotary Club and to challenge the leadership pattern in Nigeria to refocus its attention on values and ethics that guides leadership ideas.

    He reminded guests and well-wishers of the tripod that holds Rotary Club. Rotary Club, he said, represents the greatest potential for transforming Nigeria from poor to great.

    “I say this because Rotary, among other clubs in the world, represents great principles and great values,” he said.

    Savage added: “You have something that is very unique, which is the four-way test, which members are expected to apply in all situations. You are expected, no matter the type of situations you find yourself, to ask: is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? What a wonderful set of questions to ask for a decent person who wants to do a decent work. You have one of the greatest policy thrust of any civil organisation I have ever heard of”.

    He urged Rotary members to remain on track and extend their noble service and values of integrity and leadership in service into the fabric of society.

    This, he said, would begin to have positive impact and inspiration that brings excitement that invariably creates the power to change our society for good.

    The investiture was conducted after the lecture.

    Amid flashing of camera lights, the new president, Olayinka took the ‘staff of office’ from his predecessor, Niyi Osidele. It was followed with cheers.

    Olayinka promised to consolidate on the works on his predecessor and to better the lives of the less-privileged.He also promised to visit the schools in the area.

    He applauded the successes of his predecessor and further restate his readiness to work above board with every member of the club to deliver service that will benefit humanity and promote the ideal society that support equality and moral values.Some of the projects, he highlighted include education, health, environmental development as well as developing human capital to support economic growth.

    Guests were treated to choice food and drinks.

    They took to the dance floor till the light faded.

  • Types of Humour (2)

    Types of Humour (2)

    Last week, we discussed some types of humour you need to understand to make your speech interesting. Having stated that humour was indispensable to entertaining speech, we examined the following types of humour: pun, malapropism and parody. We also learnt that we should not conclude that being funny was not our thing; rather, we should work on ourselves to be funny.

    Now, I don’t suppose I’m writing this for professional comedians. I assume they are already good at it, such that I may have one or two things to learn from them. However, I believe I’m writing this for people who want to be better in their communication skills, and who want to interest their audience in an exciting speech. If I am correct, then you must understand that your audience does not expect you to be perfect. For instance, the guests at an investment practitioners’ luncheon cannot expect the MC, whom they know to be one of them, to make them laugh as a professional comedian would do. This is not to make you settle for a weak performance with the excuse, “They know I’m not a professional”; rather, it is to make you know that your listeners are ready to accept you. Forget about the tension, relax and enjoy it as much as everyone else. They are ready to appreciate your effort, no matter how little. If, however, you succeed in being quite funny, they will appreciate you even more by responding favourably.

    Ok, so let’s consider some other types of humour that you can use for your “funny” speech. This is a continuation from last week; so, permit me to continue the numbering from number four.

    •Mixed Metaphor: this is a type of humour that permits the user to mix up a common saying in order to achieve a comic effect. Of course, the audience must be familiar with the saying that is being mixed. Here are a few examples: a car comes up behind you, flashing his horn (Aaron Colwick). We all know that you flash light and not horn, and that you don’t use “his” for a car! A leopard can’t change his stripes (Al Gore)- Leopards have spots, not stripes. Biting the hand that rocks the cradle (Sherri Barber)- this should be biting the hand that feeds you. There are many more. You can mix yours based on the occasion you want to use it for. For instance, you may ask a couple to kiss at their wedding reception, and then ask the guests to block their ears so that they don’t see it.

    •Irony: this involves making statements that imply the opposite of their literal meanings. This is a very effective way of generating humour. When you make such statements, your tone, mode of presentation and use of words will make it clear to the audience that you mean the opposite. For instance, if you are presenting an award to an unusually tall person, you may say to the audience, “Ladies and gentlemen, join me as I kneel to present this award.” Also, you may say this about your rich friend at a charity event, “My friend is a really poor man. He is so poor that he has donated five million naira to this orphanage without even writing a cheque!”

    • Understatement: here, you are deliberately reducing whatever you are talking about to a ridiculous size in order to create humour. Since your listeners know the real value or size of what you are talking about, they find your speech humourous. For instance, you may ask, “What’s wrong with holding a lion by its collar?” or “I don’t have a good appetite today, I’ve only been able to eat ten loaves of bread, a crate of eggs, fifty liter juice and three whole barbequed chicken.”

    •Overstatement: yes, you got that right! I can imagine you saying that it is the opposite of understatement. In this case, you deliberately maximize or exaggerate the size or value of a thing. For instance, you may say, “You can’t imagine how much it cost me to buy this dress; I practically closed up my account to buy it. In case you want it too, it costs N150. 00, VAT (value added tax) included.” You may also say this about a groom at a wedding reception, “When Mike first met Tina, he was really fat. He was so fat that she was scared…he stood on a weight and it read zero! Today, you can see that the story is different.”

    •Stating the Obvious: this is an interesting technique because it involves you telling your audience what they know already. It is the “ridiculousness” that makes the audience laugh. For instance, you may say, “I was shocked when I looked into the mirror this morning and realized that I’m a male!” or “Do you know that airplanes fly? I just discovered that today!”

    These are some of the types of humour that can serve your purpose. Like I usually say, there are several others that we cannot explore within the time and space available to us here. So, go right ahead and read further and I’m sure you will find more useful and interesting materials.

     

  • The other side of an Army General

    The other side of an Army General

    A dinner has been held for the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division Major General Obi Abel Umahi, for his posting to Lagos. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU was at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the event.

    It was an evening set aside to honour Major General Obi Abel Umahi, General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division turned the ceremony into a soul-winning gathering.

    The venue was the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was organised by the King’s Court Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Victoria Island.

    Although the event attracted the high and mighty within and outside Lagos, not many of the guests knew that aside being a brilliant officer, Umahi was also a dedicated pastor.

    The hall was decorated with glamorous décor; attendees were treated to a six-course meal with assorted non-alcoholic drinks, just as the Master of Ceremony (MC) ensured there was no dull moment.

    The event began on a prayer note. After which, there was rendition of the National Anthem.

    Devoid of the usual high table setting, guests were ushered into a circular table, full of various drinks, pepper soup and small chops.

    There were few jokes delivered by the emcee and a pictorial documentary of the celebrator was shown to the crowded hall.

    RCCG King’s Court Parish Senior Pastor Ben Akabueze. He admonished men of fame and power to cease from being arrogant as well as stop neglecting men of God.

    Using the biblical Naaman as an example, he said: “They (influential men) are always looking for the logical, sensible and high sounding solutions. Often times the solutions God provides sound too stupid and simplistic to men of fame and power-they always think themselves wise.

    “So many of them pretend like they have got it all right and have no need. God can send help through someone you least imagined. Do not be so arrogant that you miss the needed help.”

    He described Gen Umahi as a unique officer and a gentleman.

    “A dedicated Christian; someone who reveres God and blessed with a wonderful family,” he said.

    Ebonyi State Deputy Governor Dake Umahi, who is the celebrator’s younger brother said: “Ever since our father died, Obi has held the family with unity and love such that my boss, Elechi Amadi describes him as ‘My own General’.

    “Obi’s kindness and dedication to the family endeared him to all, especially our mother who blessed him; he has the best of family, I envy him.”

    He described him as a man of character and high integrity.

    Also speaking, Mrs Joyce Adebola, a family friend of 20 years, praised Umahi’s love for God.

    She said: “His (Umahi’s) advice to my family has kept us moving forward. He does not have questionable character. I wish him the best.”

    Guests were stunned and sober as Umahi spoke of his challenging moments.

    While many, who were touched, answered the ‘altar-call’, the audience could not help but salute the General with resounding applauses after his practical instances of the benefits of holding unto God. He stressed that the differences between Christians and Muslims were created by manipulation.

    One of such touching stories was Umahi’s testimony of how his mother was miraculously healed over 40 years ago, from the point of death, as well as his confession of how ‘juju’ failed him during his first ECOMOG operation in Liberia.

    Although he became ‘born-again’ while in primary school, Umahi said he backslided later in the years because he lacked counselling, especially because his father believed in ‘juju’.

    Although Umahi’s passion was to be a professor of international repute, fate had another plan for him as he went to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to teach but was commissioned into the army.

    “I went to Liberia for ECOMOG operation in 1989, but before I went, my father took me to a place to be fortified and given a ring, which I wore on my left finger. After that, he took me to another place and I was given an amulet, which I also put in my left pocket.

    “I was full of confidence that nothing will happen to me in Liberia but surprisingly, I was shot by rebels on my left side, the very side I had the charms. I returned to Nigeria in 1990 and kept wondering the essence of the black power that was not effective. I told myself there must be another way out.

    “Fortunately, on November 1, 1991, I came in contact with God. Divine partnership with God is the ultimate in life. I have had challenges in my career but God has seen me through. When God releases his finger to fight for you, no power can stop you. When he partners with you, he can use anybody to bless you,” he said.

    At the ceremony were the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Diamond Bank, Alex Otti; Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Wale Ahmed; Nolloywood stars, Stephanie Okereke and her husband, Linus Idahosa; Segun Arinze; Shan George; United State’s Consul-General, Jeffery Hawkins; Army Generals, A.A. Sangotade, Edward Nze; Mr. Shola Adebola, among others.

  • PMAN searches for new secretariat

    PMAN searches for new secretariat

    The National Secretary of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kenny George, said on Thursday that the association was now in need of a secretariat.

    George told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the association needed offices in Lagos and Abuja, to enable it function effectively.

    He said the former secretariat of the association in Ikeja had been taken over by the owners of the property.

    George was, however, silent on why the association was asked to vacate its former secretariat.

    He said: “I don’t have much to tell you now, but we are trying to put everything together and call the media to brief them on this and other issues.’’

     

  • STAR wows audience with ‘interactive experience on Trek’

    STAR wows audience with ‘interactive experience on Trek’

    STAR lager beer and its digital marketing agency Bytesize have extended the real time experiences of attendees at Nigeria’s biggest music tour “Star Music’s The Trek” to social media platforms with the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

    The 10-city concert tour which featured Nigeria’s best artistes warmed its way into the hearts of music lovers with the use of RFID-enabled devices and smart wrist tags that offered them a unique interactive experience where they shared pre-scripted and branded updates on both Facebook and Twitter.

    Obabiyi Fagade, Brand Manager STAR, Nigerian Breweries Plc., said in a statement made available to journalists that, “STAR continues to hold steady as a trailblazing brand by giving music lovers in this digital age the very first socially enabled concert in the country.

    “Concert goers in six cities on the trek enjoyed the fun experienced along with great music. We hope to improve this experience on subsequent activations on the Star Music platform, and also encourage our consumers and fans to stay close as they shine with us.”

    17 RFID devices were deployed in this year’s “Star Music Trek” which started on June 8 in Festac Town, Lagos and ended in style on August 10 in Surulere. These devices allowed users to automatically post pictures and messages on their social timelines.

    STAR’s social strategy for The Trek grows from the campaign objectives and the brand’s ubiquitous presence with a 250,000+ strong Facebook fan page, a verified Twitter account and other digital footprints. This integrated social campaign has driven impressive results.

    Bytesize CEO Bukola Akingbade believes that digital platforms offer the best solutions for brands seeking deeper connections with their consumers.

    “With the use of RFID technology, we have synchronized offline and digital platforms seamlessly in a way that enhances user experience and keeps the brand relevant to the consumer, “she said.

    The response by users has been both amazing and inspiring, as the concluded activations on The Trek saw crowds gathered around to interact with the devices while letting out delightful “oohs and aahs.”

    As these interactions were posted online, it was interesting to see the fans that were not on the Star Music Trek had joined the conversation around it with diverse comments ranging from the excited and the envious to the cynical and the downright hilarious.

     

  • I’ve tasted poverty before in Ajegunle—Limpopo King, KCEE

    I’ve tasted poverty before in Ajegunle—Limpopo King, KCEE

    If you haven’t heard about the song Limpopo, it’s either of two things; you’re not a music lover and have allowed the rave song pass you by or you are not a fan of Kcee and so don’t care whatever comes from this young man. But whichever side of the divide you fall into, the Limpopo King, as he prefers to be called sure deserves all the attention he is getting right now. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, better known as Kcee, opens up on his ‘hustle’. He’s not ashamed to say his success didn’t come easy, much hard work has earned him a place in the map of music titans in the industry.

     

    WHAT is it with KCee and white trousers?

    It means nothing but fashion to me, just a clean boy.

    How many of those white pants do you have?

    Too many, that I have lost count. I can’t deceive you.

    Honestly, you look rich from your head to your toe. How rich are you?

    Haaa, I wouldn’t want to say that. The truth is I’m a very simple young man. I work hard, trust me. I don’t like settling for less. And I don’t want to beg. Everyday of my life I work towards being successful. I don’t even have time to rest. I work so that I don’t get to beg because I have suffered. I have tasted both worlds. I have tasted poverty when I was in Ajegunle and right now, I’m out of poverty. I am where I am right now and I don’t want to go back down there. So every day of my life I work hard and I strategise to keep moving higher.

    It’s almost unbelievable that a clean boy like you has tasted poverty…

    I was born in Ajegunle. I was in Ajegunle when I won Star Quest. I left Ajegunle like twelve years ago. I grew up in AJ.

    What was it like growing up in AJ?

    In Ajegunle there is hustle. You need to fight for yourself. In the ghetto you need to hustle for yourself. My parents tried training me in school, but of course it was beyond that. I saw other young people hustling and I had to join the trend. It is either you hustle or you die in the ghetto and like I said I didn’t want to beg, so I had to hustle for myself and today it’s paying off.

    You sound like you were driven more by comfort than passion?

    Of course, it’s passion, that’s why I had to fight. And of course getting to where I am today, I don’t want to go back to where I’m coming from. If you ask me, what is your phobia? Or, what do you fear? I fear poverty. I have phobia for poverty. And what I do is what I do and I don’t want to take it for granted. In the cause of not taking it for granted, I’m making the best out of it. And I’m trying to do the best that I can do.

    If you were to choose between your years of being a group act and years of being a solo act, which is better?

    Honestly, if you ask me, I wouldn’t say my years of being a solo act pays better. I wouldn’t say that. If I say so it’s not going to be too fair because as a group we won Star Quest which took me out of AJ. As a group we made several hits. We made Siopon, Segemende, we made so much money. We made so much fame. We travelled far and wide. But I’m excited because I’ve been able to prove to Nigerians that I can stand as an individual. I’m excited. Each time I remember my journey, it gives me joy.

    Was it your desire to prove to your fans that you could stand alone that made you split with your half?

    Not really. It just happened. We never saw it coming and when it happened, the only thing you had to do was to fight and make sure you get your own ground.

    It was a major split in the industry. Did you take your fans into consideration at all before you decided to split?

    Yes, our fans may have liked us as a group but they didn’t know what God has in store for us. We all are young and God has plans for everybody. He has time and season. This season, we never saw it coming. Each time when they interviewed us we said we were going to be together forever. We said our children are going to take over from us but we never say it coming. One thing people should know, life is not about you, God has a plan for everybody and I think His plan is what has happened.

    So it is a blessing in disguise?

    Yes, it is a blessing in disguise. I wish and I pray for my partner too that he gets his feet back.

    But how do you feel that you are the one being ‘heard’ right now?

    Me, I can’t be comfortable if I’m not making my own impact. I can’t be comfortable. And for the records, my success today didn’t come easy. I dropped eight singles before Limpopo. Limpopo was the number eight and it was the sixth video I did. Some came out and some didn’t come out. I’ve been hustling. I’ve been working. At a point I had to go look for fund. I ran out of funds. I wasn’t comfortable. I needed a breakthrough. Sometimes, it is about the individual, it is about your hustle, your dedication, your passion. So for me, this is my life. This is what I love to do. This is what I pray to do every other day. So my success story is about dedication, passion and commitment.

    Did you ever envisage Limpopo was going to be the ‘highpoint’?

    No, but like I said I have been working. One thing about Limpopo is, it’s a sweet music. When I recorded Limpopo, it took me less than 40minutes.When we were done with the beat and the song, I started partying in the studio with my crew. We popped champagne. I gave everybody food and all.

    You said you didn’t know it was going to be a hit, so why were you merrying after you did the song?

    As an individual I felt the song. It sounded different and immediately I finished it I travelled. I sent the song to my brother, E-money, who is the president of Five Star Music. When he heard the song he was like hmm, we need to start travelling to shoot the video. We went to SA and we shot the video. In less than four days we came back and we released the song. The song blew up like two days after the release and before we knew what was happening, it became an anthem.

    Tell us about the gains of Limpopo

    Limpopo has proved itself as a good song and for me Kcee, one thing I know is Limpopo is one of those successful songs because I remember I’ve performed in the Villa like four times. And I will be performing in the Villa on Thursday for the President and the First Lady. I’ve done wedding for about four governors’ children, I’ve done big events in and out of the country. It’s amazing. It shows the song is good, people love the song. I did a show on Saturday in Port-Harcourt, a very big one with some Makossa troupes that came in from different parts of Africa. I did Limpopo twice, everybody was on their feet. They didn’t want me to leave. I did it over and over with my band, it was massive. Even the Makossa troupe, they were all like who are you? They even know the song. When we boarded the flight to Port-Harcourt, they were singing Limpopo and these are people who don’t speak English. And I was like wow! This song has travelled far and wide. When I got on stage, it was a ‘statement’. Every show I do right now the love is massive. They want me to do Limpopo over and over and I give praise to God.

    What inspired the song? And what is the meaning of Limpopo?

    It is divine. I say that everywhere; I can’t explain it. I just say it means ‘let’s have fun’ because that was what I meant when I was singing the song, “baby make we go Limpopo”, “let’s go have fun”. It’s about fun, let’s have fun. But away from the fun thing, when that word dropped into my heart, when it came in, I was recording in the studio, it just came, it sounded very nice. I put it on the song and that was just it and the title of the song became a hook.

    Most of your titles are very unique and different. Is it deliberate?

    Yes, it is deliberate. That is the way I want people to perceive me, the way I want people to see me. I love my culture, I love Africa, I don’t want to be like every other person. Most titles here are mostly English and that is not me. More is definitely coming after Limpopo. Already there is Okoso which I dropped last week.

    Tell us about Okoso

    Yeah, that’s the single I dropped last week. Okoso is what we played with then, if you remember. It is about winding and dancing.

    So, what is it about you and winding your waist?

    I’m doing what I know how to do.

    How do you handle your female admirers?

    Well, I’ve been able to handle it. I’ve been handling it for so many years, I’m still handling it the way I can. But the truth is this people show you love. They get excited when they see you, so the least I can do is to show them love and make sure they are happy anyway I can.

    Now that the love is massive, what more can you ask from God?

    What else can I ask for? I’m just praying for long life, prosperity and more songs to come that will make people dance. I just pray that God gives me more inspiration that will take me to a higher level. As far as I’m concerned I’m just starting and I will never relent. I will never stop playing good music by the grace of God. I just pray that God should just take me from one level to another.

    How is the home front?

    Yeah well, most times I like to keep the home front away from business because they are two different things. I’m exposed already, so I need my privacy.

    Do you believe in the maxim ’till death do us part’?

    Of course I do, and having a partner is important. You need to share your life with someone and share ideas together and grow together. It is important.

    When was the first time you fell in love?

    Haa, e don tey. I remember then when I fell in love I used to buy a lot of short bread. I tried to make sure she was happy. You know, it feels good to be in love. Everybody knows when you are in love. It feels good. Sometimes some people don’t know when they are in love. Some people don’t know who loves them. Some people take love for granted. Some people love you deeply but you don’t know because you are carried away and that is because you have specie of the kind of girl or guy you want. You need a guy with big car that has all the money and you forget that that guy can cheat on you, do anything to you and get married to ten other women. But there is the other guy who loves you, maybe he doesn’t have that big car but he can give you happiness for the rest of your life and you guys can be happy together. Sometimes people misunderstand love for lust. They don’t know their left from their right.

  • Teco Benson out with Red Hot

    Teco Benson out with Red Hot

    COME Friday, August 23, Teco Benson’s directed flick, Red Hot, will hit cinemas across Nigeria. The movie, a suspense thriller, produced by Pleasant Pictures, was written by Sinmisola Ogunyinka, an Abuja-based author.

    According to Ogunyinka, Red Hot was birthed as the first feature film by Pleasant Pictures to infuse excitement into the experiences by movie lovers in Nigeria. She described the movie as an eye opener concerning the depths of desperation human beings can be led to because of greed.

    She described Red Hot as an action-packed thriller which tells the story of a woman’s desperate moves to get out of a childless marriage: “To achieve her aim, she decides to end it all in one day in her supposed perfect crime. It starts like romance in the afternoon and ends as a tragedy close to midnight because of undoing actions by the unseen hand of fate which leads to red hot desperation to survive.”

    Director of the flick, Teco Benson, did not mince words in rating the movie high. “Good plot. Great Script; all events one day, almost at the same place; Good and dangerous imagination, breath-taking suspense, and it is a timely lesson for our playboys and sugar mummies,” he stated.

    The movie parades a mix of established and rising Nollywood stars including Bukky Wright, Bimbo Manuel, TV personality Uti Nwachukwu of the Big Brother Africa fame and Akin Lewis and creates a particular aesthetic appeal with qualitative production, good storyline and sublime acting from this mix of talented actors.

  • Kwam 1: 20 years after the Fuji crown

    Kwam 1: 20 years after the Fuji crown

    FUJI music refiner, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, who on July 2, 1993 was crowned by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Ibadan, as King of Fuji Music, is set to celebrate 20 years of that honour. The gesture to the Fuji icon, it would be recalled, was done by the management of NTA in collaboration with National Association of Promoters and Artistes Managers (NAPAM) through a consensus polls rating and ranking among several musicians listed for the kingship of Fuji music.

    Organising an anniversary celebration, friends and music buffs, led by Mr. Gbenga Olotu and Prince Femi Akinrinwa, have scheduled programmes of activities to celebrate the artiste. They say the events will kick-start with an interdenominational prayers at the artiste’s country home, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and will be followed by musical shows to be held in Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Osun states and FCT Abuja.

    “Also, later in the year, the celebration will hold in Germany and London. Sponsors are daily pouring in and we are also discussing with artistes from all genres, most of whom have signified their intentions to participate,” Olotu stated.

  • Aki and Pawpaw lookalike seeks elective post

    Aki and Pawpaw lookalike seeks elective post

    LIKE the midget frame twin character in Nollywood movies, Aki & Pawpaw, Sunday Owoche, popularly called Skoto, is also an actor, who seeks an elective post, not as executive of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), but to represent, Yahe Ward, in Yala Local Government Council of Cross River State.

    Reports say the actor has taken a break from acting, and does so, like American Arnold Schwarzenegger, by daring politics as councillorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Skoto who is about the same height with Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme, was until his current aspiration the vice chairman of AGN, Cross River State chapter.

    When asked why he chose to go into politics, he said it is to make impact on humanity beyond the big screen.

    Notable among the films Skoto has featured in include Cross and Tinapa, When Tomorrow Comes, 72 Hours, Calabar Girls, A Dance with Shan George, Vein Source and Unen Iban, Ekerete.

  • Olo Omidan Bata: First female Nigerian ‘Bata’ performer set for the top

    Olo Omidan Bata: First female Nigerian ‘Bata’ performer set for the top

    YOUNG and slimly built as well as charming, she comes across as a young and sapling model waiting for a break on the rump. But you are wrong! Ibukun Bisola Ayoola is the youngest and latest artiste from the stable of popular entertainment group, Atunda Entertainment, making waves in the entertainment scene with her sights trained on the height.

    Her tuft is not just drumming but Bata drum and she does it with so much flair and dexterity that you think she has done this all her life, whereas it is something that she has recently taken to. She has been on it now for about six months, but her stage presence and command of the intricate small drum pieces dangling on her neck is compelling.

    She started out a couple of months ago as one of the singers and back-up artistes for Anu, another of Atunda Entertainment emerging act on the block. ”I never thought of drumming bata in my life. I came here as a back – up singer for Anu but in one of our rehearsals, Baba (referring to the founder of Atunda Entertainment) just gave me the bata drum and said ‘Ibukun you are going to be playing the drum,’ and that was how I started drumming,” she reveals.

    Since then, Ibukun who bears the stage name of Olo Omidan Bata, a coinage by the founder of the group to reflect her symmetric facial look and the bata drum that has become part of her life – she wears a miniature of the drum on her neck – has never looked back. Rather she has continued to dazzle her growing clan of fans whenever she steps on stage either with Anu or other artistes national and international.

    Historically, Olo is from Oyo, where the people are renowned for their prowess and magic feat with the bata drum, which traditionally is their ancestral and cultural symbolism when it comes to entertainment. Somehow, fate has put her on the path of destiny, a destiny which she seems to have fully embraced and looking forward to carving a niche for herself as Nigeria’s first female bata performer.

    Still in her youthful age, Olo certainly dreams big for her age and she is quick to tell you that her talent will take her places with Atunda Entertainment where she seems to be a perfect fit with the right instructors and mentors who have since taken her as their protégé and are more than ready to conquer the world of entertainment with her.

    Watching her drum and sing at the same time you are amazed by her passion, the flow and magic that she exudes on stage. Her sonorous renditions, especially when she goes folkloric and poetic, are somewhat contagious and elicit spontaneous reactions from the audience.

    The fact is, Olo simply glows on the stage and she attributes her electric performance to the happiness and joy she derives from drumming and entertaining the audience. ”I am happy playing it (bata) because from childhood I loved singing and I am dreaming of becoming a star. I was surprised back then when the bata drum was trust to mine hands but now I am really happy playing it.

    At her age, just a little over 21, you expect her to display some elements of stage freight but not for Olo who has grown accustomed to the stage and her craft. ”I don’t have any fears,” she says, adding that ”I can play it anywhere and I am happy playing the bata, it is in me.” Her rigorous mentoring and rehearsals are parts of what had toughened her and instilled confidence in her as well as honed her otherwise raw and hidden talent.

    Olo reminiscences on one of her earliest performances, which was when she played at the birthday party of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Easter&More Concert with Jay King and Club Noveau. ”My first performance was at OBJ birthday party at Abeokuta and I was not shy playing alongside other artistes because I was already used to big occasions. I was very happy and I told my mum and everybody about it.”

    The emerging female bata drummer, who was born in Kaduna and attended Blessed Academy, Kaduna for her nursery and primary education before proceeding to Topgrade High School in Ogun State for her secondary education, says she dreams of a university education as well and that her youthful years are not on hold because of music as she still finds time to relive her youth just like any youth of her age.

    ”I am not missing on my youthful years because I feel happy doing what I am doing now and it is what I want to do and not what anyone is imposing on me,” she says, insisting that ”I feel blessed doing it because I have always loved music and music is my life and I am happy about what I am doing today and hoping to become a big star in the music industry tomorrow.

    Anu, a singing sensation from Atunda Entertainment, the artiste she performs with some of the time, describes her as a very powerful and impactful singer with a mix of cosmopolitan and Africentric songs in her repertoire. ”She has a nice voice and sings appealingly to Nigerians, Africans and Europeans, she says, adding that ”she is living for today and believes for a bigger break tomorrow.”

    Furthermore, Anu says of her protégé as ”a very confident entertainer, drumming and singing her two powerful interplay with her… Music comes naturally to her and she comes across with her contemporary and traditional performances. She is on the right track and with the right set of people and if she persists and keeps her head, she certainly will go places.”

    One thing that Olo has going for her is that she enjoys the support of her parents all the way, as her mum and father take time off to watch her at rehearsals and also go to performance venues with her. A development everyone around her say has helped in no small measure to stabilise her act and boost her confidence level.

    Poised to study music in the university, Olo reveals that she is inspired by her environment and that she likes to sing about life. She also reveals that she derives inspiration from her passion and likeness for the bata drum as well as her desire to make people happy.