The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • How Banna emerged Most Beautiful Girl winner

    How Banna emerged Most Beautiful Girl winner

    With elegant display of contemporary traditional costumes, depicting the peculiar symbol of each state in Nigeria, erotic see-through dress parade and the dreaded IQ test, a personality quest session for 32 young girls  in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, 18-year-old Anna Ebiri Banna was Saturday night crowned the queen.
    Coincidentally, Banna, who was crested Miss Bayelsa, after her home state, stunned the crowd in the banquet hall of the Bayelsa State Government House with poise each time she appeared on stage. The State was hosting  the contest for the first time.

    Close to Banna’s success as 1st Runner Up was Okwu Stephanie, representing Imo State.
    Banna who also won the best traditional costume award at the show got an addition from Governor Henry Dickson, who immediately announced her as Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism.
    The new queen who took over the reigns from MBGN 2012 winner, Isabele Ayuk, will be representing Nigeria at the Miss World pageant, holding later in the year in Takarta, Indonesia, while the 1st Runner Up will be representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe contest holding in Moscow, Russia in November.
    As usual, Banna’s crown goes with an undisclosed  cash prize and  a  brand new  car.
    The governor praised the dedication of contestants who brought fanfare to the State having lived in Bayelsa for two weeks during the pre-event activities, visiting beautiful tourist sites.

    ” Only one winner will emerge, but having seen these young girls earlier, I am convinced that they are all winners already,” he said before the verdict.

    The governor noted that Silverbird Group has produced several beauties, including Agbani Darego who hails from the South-South and had represented Nigeria as Miss World.
    He said his aspiration as governor is that every quarter, there will be major tourism event of international reputation in the State. ‘The new Bayeslsa’ he said, is safe and that he is looking forward to hosting the MBGN pageant every year. He announced that in September, a similar initiative: the Centenary Beauty Pageant will take place in Bayelsa.
    MBGN in Bayelsa took place four months after the State hosted the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
    “For us, playing host to these historic events within a space of just four months gives credence to the fact that Bayelsa is fast growing to become the next tourism hub of the country. It also speaks volume of the restoration of government unwavering commitments to the promotion of gender equality as illustrated in the national gender policy of our great country.” He said.
    Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, Chairman of Silverbird Group, organisers of the pageant said the essence of the competition is to bring about unity among ladies with different cultural and social backgrounds.
    “In over 25 years, we have produced beautiful ambassador who have represented Nigeria at various international events.”
    Star actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was among the seven judges of the competition. Adding pep to the show were sterling performances by ‘Limpopo’ crooner;KCee of former Kcee and Presh group and Project Fame star, Timi Dakolo

  • My pains as a celebrity — Juliet Ibrahim

    My pains as a celebrity — Juliet Ibrahim

    One of the hottest chics in the Ghanaian movie industry, curvy actress Juliet Ibrahim’s profile has taken a new turn. No doubt, the actress has a lot going for her at the moment. First it was her movie, The Number One Fan, which attracted a lot of buzz both in Ghana and Nigeria. And quite unexpectedly, the actress became controversial over her statement on OJB’s health issue.

    JIB, as she is popularly called, was recently in the country for the City People’s Award where she picked the award for Best Showbiz Celebrity Foundation. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, she talks about her career, family, amongst other issues.

     

    IN your own opinion, why do you think you won the award for the Best Showbiz Celebrity Foundation among other nominees on the list?

    Thanks for the support. I believe the award was based on merit and opened to the public to vote. My team had several voting campaigns online that enabled my fans vote for me in the four categories I was nominated in.

    My foundation won that category because my fans who voted know and have been following the foundation’s work closely since we were launched in 2010. I give God the glory and I thank all my fans and colleagues who have supported my foundation from the outset. We are here to try our best and put smiles on the faces of the less fortunate ones suffering from kidney cancer and kidney-related diseases.

    In recent times, your profile has soared obviously because of the controversy that followed your comment on the OJB health issue. It would seem like the whole episode is a blessing in disguise after all. What’s your take on this?

    That’s quite humorous how you put it. I haven’t seen any soaring difference in my profile after the minor incident I had with the public in which I was misconstrued. I believe I explained and clarified myself on the Sugar and Spice show with Rose on NTA, hence I will like to reserve all further comments on such a sensitive matter. We are all focused now on the speedy recovery of our very own OJB and I plead with the media to please let bygone be bygone.

    How true is it that you are planning on relocating to Nigeria, and why?

    I don’t really need to relocate to Nigeria because since 2006 I have been in and out of Nigeria like it’s just at the back of my house. It’s just 45 minutes away by flight.

    Whenever I am needed for a job, an event attendance and whichever business that is beneficial to my brand, I am always a flight away. I have a Nigerian management and I can always be contacted through them. I recently issued a statement about some Facebook scammers who have been using my name to scam people online.

    Are you going to be relocating with your family?

    I own businesses in Ghana and I am not ready to just opt out and leave all of that behind. My son is in school in Ghana as well as my entire family and it is my home. I really do not have plans of relocating forever to Nigeria.

    I could relocate partially if my job requires that of me but will always fly back home to be with my family and check on my House of Glamour boutique in Accra, as well as my foundation and production house called Jewelz Productions.

    What was the attraction? What made you say “Yes, I do” to your spouse?

    We dated for sometime before he proposed. So we already knew ourselves very well and what we wanted and how we felt in each other’s company.

    Why is it that you are never spotted rolling with your other top actress colleagues in Ghana? What is the relationship like between you and them?

    I’m not quite sure what you mean because I am known to always be rolling with my colleagues both in Ghana and Nigeria whenever I have the chance to step out or hang with them at events. My Instagram page is full of photos that can prove how much of a socialite I am and how much I love hanging out with my colleagues whenever we meet.

    Married with a kid, how does your husband react to your constant absence from home?

    He is busier than I am. If anyone should ask that question it should be me. He understands and I am very understanding so we live a stress-free life.

    What is motherhood like for you?

    Motherhood is the best experience a woman can ever have. My son, Jayden, is the greatest thing that has happened in my life. I am loving motherhood more and more every day.

    Acting wise, what are the things in the pipeline for you?

    I recently produced my first movie called The Number One Fan and I am set to premiere it in September in Lagos. It stars AY the comedian, Yemi Blaq, Emmanuel Mensah , Kofi Adjorlolo, Zainab, Keitta, Selly of BBA fame, Prince David Osei , KC Ejelonu and so many more. I can’t wait for it to be out.

    Acting definitely is not what puts food on your table. How have you been able to be there financially for your relations or others who seek your assistance one way or the other?

    I have had a beauty parlour since 2003, way before I started acting. Now I run a boutique which is your one-stop shop for everything trendy and fashionable, a modelling agency and my production business. You can say I am an all-round business woman.

    How daring are you when it comes to playing romantic roles?

    I am an actress, hence I am versatile but I still know where to draw the line.

    How did you come into acting?

    I was called up for an audition in 2004 after I had recently won a beauty pageant, Queen of Languages. I went for the audition and I got the lead role. My first movie was Crime to Christ.

    Can you share some of the pains and gains of being a celebrity?

    Pains; you have no privacy. The public always have an opinion on your very own life and how you live it. There is unnecessary envy and hatred from people who do not have the slightest clue of who you are and the real you.

    Gains; making people happy all the time by doing what you do best, opportunities that come along once in a while and being a leader that so many look up to.

    Where do you have the most fans, Nigeria or Ghana?

    I can’t really compare now, but when I started acting back then in 2005 till 2009 my fan base was more Nigerian.

    With your complexion and body structure, are you a full-blown Ghanaian or half-caste?

    I am mixed race. My father is Lebanese.

    Tell us about your growing up

    My childhood was a rollercoaster ride. I was born in Ghana on the 3rd of March 1986 to a Lebanese father, Mr. Hussein Ibrahim, and a half Liberian/Ghanaian mother, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Ibrahim. I am the eldest of three siblings: Sonia, Nabil and Nadia. I was raised in Ivory Coast and Lebanon.

    I grew up travelling a lot with my family and, being raised in different countries, I am multilingual. I speak French, Spanish and English. After my pre-education in Lebanon, I had my senior high school education in Ivory Coast before returning to Ghana where I attended the Ghana Institute of Languages to perfect my English and Spanish. After that, I enrolled into the Ghana Institute of Journalism to study Marketing and Advertising. I still have plans of furthering my education at Gimpa University.

    Regarding your career, where do you see yourself in the next five years?

    In five years time? My name would be on the lips of everyone and I would have expanded my acting career to the international acting industry.

    What’s your take on the Ghanaian movie industry?

    We are growing and improving by the day. We still have a long way to go but we learn everyday and we will surely get there.

    How do you handle male admirers?

    I’m a married woman and I tell them just that.

    What are your likes and dislikes?

    Likes; I love it when people around me are happy, I love to impact life positively and to help others if it is my capacity to do so. I also love travelling, love working and love calm and serene environments. For my dislikes, I totally abhor liars and fake people. I also hate disappointments.

    What’s your favourite vacation spot?

    That would be Paris and Miami

    What is your beauty routine like?

    That’s easy. There is no magic to it; I drink a lot of water, try not to eat after 6pm to maintain a great figure. I also try to be happy always and try not to dwell on trivial and petty things. I use makeup only when on set or when attending events and I try as much as possible to keep my skin as healthy as I can. But I can’t do without my Mac feline eyeliner and a lipstick or lip-gloss daily.

  • I am here to reposition PMAN—Hajia Amina Dangaji

    I am here to reposition PMAN—Hajia Amina Dangaji

    FACTIONAL president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Hajia Amina Dangaji Oluremi, has promised to reposition the body in order to make sure that performing artistes are carried along.

    She made the disclosure in Abuja at the weekend when she paid a courtesy visit to former PMAN president, Charly Boy.

    Dangaji noted that her aim of visiting the former PMAN boss was to tap from his wealth of experience.

    “We are planning on moving the PMAN office to Abuja. I want Abuja to become our head office. Lagos should be our liaison office,” she said.

    On the crisis of leadership rocking the body, she said: “As far as I am concerned, there is no crisis in PMAN. Because somebody cannot just come through the back door and say ‘I am the PMAN president.’ You have to follow the constitution and due process that will qualify you to be the PMAN president.

    “The only problem we have in PMAN is Tee Mac. He is the one holding PMAN to ransom. He wants to turn PMAN into his personal business. His pictures are still on the website of PMAN as the president. He is supposed to call for an election according to the constitution of PMAN after two years.

    “Kelvin Luciamo does not know what PMAN is. I was the first vice president of the state chapter. After my tenure I will go.”

    On repositioning the body, Amina said: “I am an administrator through and through. I am here to carry people along and reposition the body. We have had too many issues. Now I just want to carry everybody along, because PMAN is my baby and I intend to run it very well.”

  • GUS: Its dual champions for The 10th Symbol

    GUS: Its dual champions for The 10th Symbol

    …search returns to Akwa Ibom again

    IT has been a decade of jungle escapades for the Gulder Ultimate Search reality competition and its organisers say that they are leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that this year’s edition turns out the most memorable since it was first beamed to TV audiences in 2004.

    Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Walter Drenth, says that for the first time in the history of Gulder Ultimate Search, consumers at home will have the opportunity to partake in the programme. Speaking on the novel development, Drenth stated that participation in the virtual search would be via mobile phones and would involve two stages.

    For the first stage, he said, all a consumer has to do is to buy a bottle of Gulder, check under the crown cork for a code and send the code to a designated shortcode to stand a chance of winning recharge cards. Mr. Drenth added that the second stage would involve consumers providing correct answers to questions from clues related to the Gulder Ultimate Search 10 transmitted on TV.

    “At the end of these interactions with the brand, and when the final anchor challenge is cracked, 12 contestants would be shortlisted for a one-day final search and the winner of the virtual search would be presented with a brand new Mitsubishi Pajoero 3.0L GLX MT courtesy of our official automotive partners, CFAO Motors Nigeria,” Drenth added.

    According to Drenth, the consolation prizes for the virtual Gulder Ultimate Search are: Gulder gift packs, DSTV Walkas, Android phones, tablet PCs and recharge cards worth millions of naira. He also announced that Gulder Ultimate Search would be staged at the Usaka Forest, located in Obot Akara Local Government, Akwa Ibom State. The Usaka jungle also played host to the ninth edition in 2013.

    The 10th edition is themed The 10th Symbol and Drenth says that this year’s ‘jungle’ experience would linger in the memories of viewers for years to come. “This year, 12 contestants would lock horns for the grand prize of N10 million and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero GLS AT (full option) jeep, also courtesy of CFAO motors. The second, third and fourth placed contestants will go home with the sums of N3 million, N2.5 million and N1.8 million respectively. The fifth to 12th placed contestants will cart home various cash sums ranging from N1.7 million to N1 million, while the last female contestant standing will win N1 million, in addition to her cash prize,” Drenth explains.

    While the virtual phase of Gulder Ultimate Search would hold from September 26 to October 23, the jungle escapades of this year’s contestants would be beamed on national terrestrial and satellite TV stations from October 4 to October 31, 2013.

  • P.R.E’s symphony

    P.R.E’s symphony

    BURGEONING artiste, David Kusowei Etete, aka P.R.E (Pretty, Rude and Entertaining), who hails from Bayelsa State in the South-South region of Nigeria, brings his own brand of Afro-infused rap to the Nigerian and international music scene hoping to make an indelible mark.

    Formerly one half of the duo Twisted Minds, P.R.E strikes out on his own as a confident and outspoken artiste. The fair-skinned lyricist has lived in the UK and Nigeria, and spent some years mastering his craft on the underground hip-hop scene in the UK before moving back to Nigeria some years back.

    The video of his first hit single Tatashe (an up-tempo track that caters to the young, music-conscious fans) was premiered on August 13, 2012 at a private 3-D screening at the White Space Event Centre, Ikoyi, and it turned out to be a tastefully simple affair.

    P.R.E who is currently promoting his latest single titled Take It Up which features 2face Idibia is upbeat about his latest track while also expressing hope that his other song titled Take It Down gets the needed attention.

    “I like to call the genre of songs I do Afro hip hop and R&B with a mixture of reggae infusion. I like to do music that people can relate with. I do music with rich content and not just music that makes people dance; I have been doing music professionally for four years and music started for me as a young boy especially when Harlem World was the in-thing. I was in secondary school then and I can remember drumming the table alongside my friends in class way back and it was evident then that I had great passion for music,” he said.

  • French Montana, Wale for Ice Prince’s next album

    French Montana, Wale for Ice Prince’s next album

    CHOCOLATE City rapper and Oleku crooner, Ice Prince, continues to break bounds, refusing respite even after his latest feat; winning the coveted award for Best African Act at the 2013 edition of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.

    The awards ceremony which was held in June at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles saw Ice Prince becoming the fourth Nigerian artiste to win the award since 2face and D’banj jointly won it in 2011 then Wizkid and Sarkodie (Ghana) in 2012. The rapper beat fellow Nigerian 2face Idibia, Toya Delazy (South Africa), Donald (South Africa), R2Bees (Ghana) and Radio and Weasel (Uganda) to become winner.

    The artiste who had earlier released the intended title of his second album; Fire of Zamani to be released on September 7, also recently unveiled some of the foreign acts to be featured on the album. His management confirmed that Bad Boy/ Maybach Music artiste, French Montana, and Maybach Music rapper, Wale, will definitely feature on the album. The track with Wale will be his first collaboration with a Nigerian artiste, though there had been rumours of a possible collaboration with Wizkid which is yet to be released.

  • I wish I knew my father —Shan George

    I wish I knew my father —Shan George

    KNOWN for her down-to-earth and unpretentious persona, sultry actress Shan George in a recent interview, without mincing words, opened up on the pain of not knowing her father. The actress while trying to relive some of her childhood memories became quite emotional. She said, “It was quite enjoyable. It’s just that I wish I knew my father. I’m the only child of my mother, and my father was a white man. My mum is a very wonderful person, but I guess there is always going to be that part of me that keeps wondering who my father is. I tried several years to trace his whereabouts to no avail. While in search of him, I once travelled to where he used to work then, Turner’s Asbestos in Enugu.

    “The company consulted their files and brought out his old address in Manchester. Consequently, I travelled to Manchester in search of the man that fathered me. But my mission was not accomplished. I even had to cross-check phone books and called about 100 phone numbers, all in the bid to trace his whereabouts. One question I asked each time I called any of the numbers was whether any member of his family ever visited Africa or Nigeria in particular. I gave up hope of meeting my father at the age of 35.”

    The star actress also spoke on her movie roles and how they are far from the real Shan George.

  • Stella Damasus finds new love

    Stella Damasus finds new love

    NOLLYWOOD actress Stella Damasus has officially announced that she will be lending her voice to champion a ‘Smoke-free Nigeria’. She made this known recently via her blog. In her words, “I am officially announcing that I have decided to lend my voice, face and personality as a celebrity to support the Tobacco Control Cause which was started by Titilayo Soremi, a social entrepreneur running a non-profit organisation, Social Responsibility Managers (SRM), with the vision of building a ‘Smoke-free Nigeria.”

    Narrating how she got involved in the movement with SRM, “a few weeks back, I was going through my twitter and I saw a mention that caught my attention. I was curious, I wanted to know more so I sent the lady my email address and almost immediately I received a mail from her,” she said. The actress said she was requested to be part of the worthy cause.

    “After going through her blog I knew that this was something I would like to be a part of because I know a few people that I have so far successfully been able to wean off this addiction.”

  • P Square, 8 others make TFA’s Africa Young Person of the Year list

    P Square, 8 others make TFA’s Africa Young Person of the Year list

    THE long list for the biggest youth award on the continent, the Young Person of the Year – The Africa Prize, has been unveiled by the Central Working Committee (CWC) of The Future Awards Africa with P Square and eight others listed.

    The Future Awards Africa which has been described by the World Bank as ‘The Nobel Prize for Young Africans’, partners with the African Union (AU) this year.

    The winner of this award will be announced at the awards ceremony to hold in August 2013, in addition, all the honourees will be given plaques.

    “We are extremely pleased with our honourees and the entire list presented by The Future Project this year, at every turn, these young African stars inspire us,” said Tonye Cole, Managing Director of Sahara Energy, who is a member of the Audit Committee for The Future Awards. “We are also extremely grateful to the African Union Commission for partnering with us this year.”

    The seventy-five (75) nominees for the other 15 categories of The Future Awards Africa 2013 were announced on the 10th of July, 2013.

  • Del-York International brings 3rd NYFA training

    Del-York International brings 3rd NYFA training

    DEL-YORK International is set to, for the third time, bring an intensive hands-on film making training programme courtesy of the New York Film Academy in Africa.

    NYFA confirmed its readiness to return to Nigeria this year for another training programme with a renewed commitment towards empowering young creative Nigerians and Africans with the passion and skill requisite to birthing a more robust film industry.

    The training project, which has been slated for the last quarter of the year, will feature an array of courses ranging from Acting, Directing, Set design, Production, Film making, Final Cut Pro, 3D animation, Screen writing, Cinematography, Digital photography, Music Video production, Costume & Make-Up, Graphics & Special effects as well as Broadcast Journalism, according to the organisers.

    Andrea Manuela Giaccaglia, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications of Del York, says that measures are in place to admit up to a thousand applicants to enable more participants benefit from the training. Also, Andrea says, key players in the nation’s corporate and industrial sectors are gearing up to provide sponsorship packages for the project.

    On its part, the NYFA has expressed delight at the prospect of training more Nigerians to become professionals in film making, multi-media and entertainment. Del-York International is building on the success it recorded with the two previous trainings held in Lagos and Abuja, which saw 650 aspiring film makers and media professionals trained, by 60 Hollywood’s top tutors from the Los Angeles and New York campuses of the NYFA.