The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Goldie’s costume for Unilag Art Department

    Goldie’s costume for Unilag Art Department

    The belongings of late hip hop star and Big Brother Africa Housemate was yesterday, May 1, auctioned at her residence, 30B, Ologunkutere Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The property of the singer, who passed on February 14, 2013 shortly after returning from the last Grammy Award, was displayed for sale and some of the items include her house fittings, a 72” Pioneer flat screen television set, camera, glass cups, personal effects some of which had not been worn such as clothes, shoes, jewelries among other things.

    However, Goldie’s costume, as ordered by her husband, Mr. Andrew Harvey, is to be sent to the University of Lagos Creative Arts Department. Also, Engineering Text books belonging to her husband are to be sent Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech). Other items for sale which are still left unsold include her 500 ML Mercedes Benz. Proceeds from the auction, according to information released by late Goldie’s family, will be sent to Project Alert, a charity organisation she was associated with when she was alive. To action the property for the family was Mrs. Akinkuotu and Deji Adetayo.

    Mrs. Akinkuotu gave reason for giving the proceeds to the NGO. She said the family are not interested in the proceeds are they are comfortable and do not the money.

    Among those who came to buy from the items is Engineer Isaac who showed interest in the artiste’s concrete hanger. Although, he wasn’t seen bargaining for the item, it wasn’t certain if he eventually left with it. Others present were not willing to talk to the press.

    Mr. Raymond Bola-Brown, Head of Highgroove Radio, a friend to Mr. Harvey who granted this reporter audience, also used the opportunity to clear the air on the late singer’s marriage. According to him, Mr. Harvey, the late singer husband was married but was divorced before he married the singer.

    On the story that the woman in question happens to be Goldie’s friend, Mr. Raymond dismissed the story. He said, “It’s not true that they are friends.”

  • ‘2Face’ to tour schools to inspire students

    ‘2Face’ to tour schools to inspire students

    A pop star, Innocent Idibia (a.k.a, 2Face), says he will do his best to influence the youth to be resourceful and self-reliant.

    Idibia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that he would tour some tertiary institutions to inspire students to develop their talents.

    He noted that education institutions were among the most important sections of any society.

    “It is the schools that produce the leaders of tomorrow; so, social development which are happening outside their walls should be taken to them.

    “The music industry in Nigeria is a very strong opinion shaper in the society; getting closer to students is a very good way of influencing their thoughts and inspiring them”.

    Idibia told NAN that the Nigerian music industry had become a force to reckon with, adding that the country was blessed with numerous talents.

    “We have successfully built a veritable industry that represents the country internationally, and many talents exist in the schools.

    “ I am a product of a school – the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu.

    “That is one of the major reasons IMT is on my tour list.

    “ It is a very emotional choice for me because the school was a very important part of my development.

    “That was where Plantashun Boiz began and I have very fond memories,” Idibia said.

    NAN reports that Idibia is set for a month-long tour of selected tertiary institutions in the country this month.

    The schools include the universities of Lagos, Benin, Port-Harcourt and Abuja.

    Idibia has practised as a solo artiste for almost a decade.

    One of his biggest hits is the “African Queen” which is the soundtrack of a Hollywood movie, “Phat Girls’’

  • Goldie’s belongings for sale on May 1

    Goldie’s belongings for sale on May 1

    The belongings of late Hip hop star and Big Brother Africa housemate, Goldie Susan Harvey are up for sale at her residence, 30B,  Ologunkutere Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    This was disclosed in a statement by her family representative, Deji Adetayo. Mr. Adetayo noted that the late artiste did not leave a will but agreed with her husband before her death to auction her belongings.

    In the statement, Mr. Adetayo said, “there will be a garage sale at Goldie’s house located at 30B, Ologunkutere Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos on May 1, 2013”. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to a charity organization, “Project Alert On Violence Against

    Women”.

    The artiste died on February 14, few hours after returning from the Grammy Awards.

     

  • Okonjo-Iweala rallies filmmakers over N3bn grant

    Okonjo-Iweala rallies filmmakers over N3bn grant

    One of the criticisms that has aroused on the N3 billion grant which President Goodluck Jonathan promised the Nigerian motion picture industry on March 2, 2013, was that the Ministries of Finance and Culture, that have been assigned to manage the process of disbursement did not consult wide enough before choosing some filmmakers into a committee.

    But a Nollywood town hall meeting convened by Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and her counterpart in Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, at the weekend in Lagos, may have put this denigration to rest. About 200 filmmakers, representing various guilds and associations gathered at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Saturday, to jaw-jaw on the issue. The meeting also had the presence of officials of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) and members of the corporate sector.

    Speaking to journalists after the meeting with the filmmakers, Okonjo-Iweala said she was happy that the filmmakers felt satisfied that they were consulted for the process.

    The Minister, who noted that the essence of the N3 billion grant was to encourage the filmmakers to up their game in the industry, disclosed that Film Distribution was identified as a major bottleneck of the industry. She promised that a large chunk of the fund will be targeted at achieving effective distribution and exhibition framework.

    “We have been brain-storming on this amount that the president has put forward, and how best to use it. We have a town hall meeting of about 200 people in the industry to try and get some idea about which direction to go in terms of disbursement. Distribution was identified as the biggest bottleneck and if we can figure out how to get distribution right, we can then unleash the creative energy of the film industry.”

    She stated that apart from tackling distribution problems, the fund will also be used to build capacity, encourage creativity and support production of films.

    Asked if the N3 billion will be enough to take care of the four areas of problems being identified, the Minister said that discussions are still ongoing and that the filmmakers still have one week to forward their suggestions. She said their views will be collated and used as blueprint for the disbursement of the fund.

    “We are still discussing; should we use the money in all the four arms or should we just use one? Some people have the view that we should focus on production, others are of the view that we should spread it a little more. We have given them one week for additional comments, on the ideas that were put forward. We are sending all the ideas to all the guilds, they will return to us in one week and then we will see through. But no matter what happened, solving distribution will take a large chunk of the fund.” She stated.

    Okonjo-Iweala assured that the process of accessing the fund will be transparent. She said beneficiaries will have to apply through the web, and there will be an independent panel of judges who will decide who gets the fund. “We want a level playing field in accessing it. So we are coming out with the criteria, including inputs from the industry about what requirements they must meet in other to access the fund. If you are doing script writing, for which we had originally proposed N200 million, you will have people who will judge whether your script meets certain requirements, including having good content for the viewers. If it is for capacity building, we are looking at what aspect of capacity you want to build. If it is for distribution, we will look at the bottlenecks being encountered. So there will be criteria; all we want is fairness and merit worthiness at accessing the money.”

    She added that the fund will be used to support all aspects of Nollywood, including regional and local language areas.

    In the words of Edem Duke, support plans by the Federal Government for the film industry will not end with the N3 million grant. He said government is determined to touch all aspects of the film industry because of its viability. He noted that the sector has become a major pillar in government’s cultural diplomacy. “Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora have started to reconnect with their root. Nollywood has become a major factor for these people in redefining their origin and self esteem. It is therefore critical that the home industry must be strengthened and must be provided with support that is critical.”

    The filmmakers in their various remarks at the meeting expressed belief that there was clear intent on the side of the government to help the film industry. A member of the committee on Distribution, Mrs. Amaka Igwe praised the idea of involving the Finance Minister in the project. She described her as a woman whom she believes meant every word that she said.

    President Jonathan made the promise of N3 billion at a presidential dinner with filmmakers in Lagos. The largesse is a consolation for the effort of the filmmakers whom he said, have developed the industry in 20 years; starting from the release of Living in Bondage, the acclaimed first direct-to-VHS film phenomenon in the country.

  • NFVCB treats stakeholders to new opportunities

    NFVCB treats stakeholders to new opportunities

    TOMORROW, April 29, at the Musa Yar’adua Centre, Memorial Drive, Central Area Abuja, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) will hold a Consumer Forum. The Conference, according to the management of the body, is organised to help engage the consumers on a wide range of regulatory responsibilities of the NFVCB and to help distill some of the information available.

    Also serving to educate the general public of their responsibilities to the society and the film maker, acting Director General, Ms Patricia Bala, says that the forum will help transform the movie industry by proffering solutions and ideas which will add value to the making of any film in Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian movie industry with its rich cultural and academic tradition makes an attractive choice and great story line for producers but unfortunately we have found ourselves ‘swimming in the bottle ‘creating the same story line over and over again. The idea behind this parliament is to tickle the intellectual imagination of our producers and movie stakeholders to ‘think out of the box’ and create movies that will stand the test of time,” Bala says.

    She stated that the consumer forum represents a new opportunity of sorts. “There is an overwhelming consensus within the public that the movie industry needs reform. Therefore, the aim of this forum is, of course, to work closely with the public and other stakeholders because we all share the common goal of getting this problem fixed,” the DG adds.

  • Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Ireti Doyle, others for V Monologues

    Taiwo Ajayi Lycett, Ireti Doyle, others for V Monologues

    THIS May, The Make it Happen Productions in collaboration with the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) brings the classic V-Monologues, (The Nigerian Story) back on stage.

    The V Monologues returns in May with Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Ireti Doyle, Dakore, Kemi Lala, Bimbo Akintola and others hitting the stage while also telling the story of Nigerian women and their fight against violence.

    “The strength of a woman is in her ability to speak up and refuse to be put down. Nigerian women are tired of the violence and we are using the theatre and performance tools to pass this message,” said the producer, Kemi Lala Akindoju. “The finest and best female actors in Nigeria have given themselves to this cause and will be performing on the 3rd and 4th of May.”

    Showing in Agip Recital Hall, The Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos on May 3 and 4, 2013 at 6pm on the 3rd and 3pm and 6pm on the 4th, The V Monologues is produced and directed by Kemi Lala Akindoju and Ifeoma Fafunwa respectively. The Command performance for the play will hold on the 4th of May.

  • My experience as a black immigrant —Chet Anekwe

    My experience as a black immigrant —Chet Anekwe

    New York-based Nollywood actor, Chet Anekwe, stole the hearts of Nigerian movie lovers playing the role of Ike in the flick, Unwanted Guest. Prior to that, he had starred alongside Jimmy Jean Louise in the Hollywood flick Mo’Nique, among other productions, both foreign and local. Born in Nigeria but raised in New York, the actor, screenwriter and movie director is among the star-studded cast of the yet-to-be-shot flick, Heaven’s Hell. He speaks to OVWE MEDEME on a blend of interesting topics including his battle with racism, life as an immigrant, movies and various other issues.

     

    THE movie Unwanted Guest put you in public glare. How popular would you say it made you?

    Interestingly, someone once asked me if I was popular and I said no. I think we ought to concentrate on the work like Unwanted Guest. Some movies are like that. It doesn’t matter if you are popular, if you are going to a premiere or you are wearing Armani, your work should be good. If they see you in a movie, they should know that it ought to be good. Slowly we are doing that kind of work.

    Unwanted Guest was good. If you think about it, I think I was the most known face there and it was in the Nigerian theatre because it was good. That is what we have to get. Someone like Ramsey is a very close friend of mine. In fact, I’ve gotten several jobs by him recommending me. But it is not always the face that should sell something. You should sell something because it is good, because you know it is coming from Nigeria so the quality has to be good and that is what this is.

    Do you prefer being introduced as the Nigerian actor based in New York or as the one who is right here?

    Basically, I think it is true. It is not like it is a lie. It is not like I’m based in Gambia and I’m claiming to be in New York. No, I don’t mind at all. Let me put it like this, to me, it is about the work. If 30 years from now, people see Unwanted Guest or Heaven’s Hell, they should still feel that the movie is good. They shouldn’t remember whether I was popular at the time or not or where I was based.

    It is always about making sure that whatever you do stands the test of time. That is what is more important to me. The moment I go on set and the director says ‘action’, I have to ensure that work between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ is excellent and that the audience will like it. That is what is most important to me.

    How busy have you been since you shot Unwanted Guest?

    Actually I haven’t been too busy because I have been a little more careful in picking films. The industry back home is far more mature. There is a small Nollywood/USA community, if I can call it that, coming up, but it is not as mature and they are still making the same mistakes people have made before, not casting correctly. So I try to hold back and try to take only projects that I know are good. I did a film that is actually out now with Mercy Johnson. It is titled Baby Awful. We did that in the US. I have had a lot more offers but I have been taking more time to pick the right ones.

    How many works have you done that are yet to hit the public space?

    I have done about five to six films right now. I have another one that I did with Emem Isong’s outfit, the Royal Art Academy, directed by Lancelot Imasuen. They are so professional; they are so great to work with. I worked alongside Chioma Akpotha. That should be coming out soon. Baby awful came out recently. It is a very funny film. Mercy Johnson is brilliant. I have a couple of other things in the works and I’m trying to see how it goes, but hopefully, I will come back here more.

    Beyond doing Nollywood films, what are you doing in the US?

    The interesting thing is that because I have been doing more work on the Nollywood side, I have done less work on Hollywood side. That is actually kind of normal. There are some other actors like Hakeem Kae Kazeem, Jimmy Jean Louise who are now doing more Nigerian films. I don’t think we are appreciated as much in Hollywood. We are typecast. We are all going for the same roles because they are so small in Hollywood, whereas, here, Jimmy and I would be opposite each other. We can be cast in the same film so I think we are looking to do more films here because this industry is the third largest film in the world.

    Before Unwanted Guest, what was it like?

    It was actually interesting. I was doing a lot of New York City theatre; I was doing some TV shows. In Hollywood, I did a couple of movies. I had done a Nollywood movie with Genevieve Nnaji that did not get wide release. It was titled 30 Days. We did that in 2005. It was directed by Mildred Okwho who did The Meeting. That was her first film. She cast me from New York. She was in LA at the time and that was the first film I flew back to Nigeria to do a film. It didn’t get a wide release but it was a very fine movie. I had also done a TV series with Amaka Igwe which featured Bimbo Akintola but I didn’t come back as often as I should. It was Unwanted Guest that put me in the eyes of the public.

    In terms of projection, what are you looking at for Heaven’s Hell?

    Again, to me, it is more about the work. I want to make sure I will do the work perfectly. And if I do my job properly and the other casts do the same, it will get a beautiful credit, and then whatever comes will come. I only worry about today and everything else falls into place.

    How did you end up in New York?

    Actually, I was born here but I grew up there. Overall, I have spent about 25 years in the United States. It just happens that I wound up being there and the opportunities came but home is always home.

    How much of your Nigerianesse is still in you?

    A lot; although people have accused me that my Nigerianesse is poor. I get accused a lot but it is there.

    How much of it reflects in your style of dressing?

    It never leaves you. It is interesting but I think it is the attitude that changes a little bit. As a culture, we have gotten a little more hip. When I was growing up we thought that, at a certain age, you should be putting on Agbada, you don’t wear canvass and stuff like that. Now as a society, we have gotten a little more hip. In the United States, it has always been like that, so I think I was like that already. I guess I kind of veered towards that a little. But as a society, we have also moved towards that direction. Even back when I was a little younger, I kind of leaned towards that.

    How true is the notion that the western society turns against successful immigrants?

    I think it is the same for every immigrant. Everybody who leaves their country to someone else’s country is not going there to fool around. They go there for a reason, so their work ethics is different. In fact, for the person that has done everything to get out of their country, whether it is Pakistan, India or wherever, when you get to your host country, you work hard. Even Indians who come to Nigeria work very hard to get something better.

    I think that is what happens to Africans who go abroad. They need to take care of the family so they work harder than the people there. The thing is not to lose the fact that you are still from somewhere else. Once you lose that fact, then you can get into a situation where you are completely lost and then you don’t get appreciated and then all the things you think you had, you don’t have. They don’t forget that you are really not from here.

    Have you ever been a victim of racism?

    Absolutely. I grew up in New England. I am not too sure, but historically, it is one of the more racist towns in the US. When I went to elementary school, myself and my brother were the only two black kids in the whole school. For the first and second grades, I fought physically almost every day. I would have to fight as many as five boys at a time and trust my naija mumsie, if I lost, she would beat me.

    For two years, I fought almost every day and I only lost once. You need to see the kind of beating my mum gave me. She said it doesn’t matter if they are 20; true story. In my third grade, there was a white teacher who was appalled at the level of racism in the school. She put an end to it and actually, some of those kids who were mean to me turned out to be my friends many years later.

    Where exactly is Chet from?

    I am from Anambra but I grew up in Lagos.

    Can you find your way home?

    I can find my way. I can get on Ekene Dili Chukwu and get there. I have done it before. In the States, you are from where you grew up; you are not from where your parents are from. You are from your hood. I was talking to my friends and I told them that if that were the case, I am from Surulere. I grew up in Surulere most of my life.

    Are you married?

    I am not married but I have a fiancée

    How soon do you hope to tie the knot?

    Probably later this year

    What was the attraction?

    She is fine

    Is she Nigerian?

    No, she’s not. She is from the United States.

  • Dagrin ‘resurrects’

    Dagrin ‘resurrects’

    APRIL 22, 2013 marked the third year since Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun, better known as Dagrin, passed on. Known for his indigenous Yoruba rap, he started rapping at the age of 14, crashing almost every Hip-Hop show in Lagos, trying to get a three-minute spot on stage as he struggled for years, hopping from one studio to the other, in a quest to record a music album. It took a few years for the dream to be realised due to his search for financial support and quest to seal a record deal, but in 2006 he released his debut Still on the Matter under LEO Entertainment which was mildly received.

    The rapper, allegedly had a strained relationship with his father, Comrade Olaniyi Abolaji Olanipekun. who was never in support of his career choice until later in his life, but he was very close to his mother, Mrs. Olanipekun. Before his death, he had also broken ties with his girlfriend, Chichi. The couple had dated for seven years but she kept pressuring for more commitment, which the rapper was not ready for.

    Dagrin died at 6:00PM on 22 April, 2010, exactly eight days after he was involved in a ghastly accident in front of Alakara Police Station, off Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Lagos. The late rapper’s car, a Nissan Maxima 2008 model, ran into a parked lorry in front of the police station. He was initially admitted at Tai Solarin Hospital, Mushin before he was transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi Araba where doctors made serious efforts to save his life. He was admitted at the Intensive Care Unit and operated upon, and later moved to the private wing of the hospital where he died! Doctors at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital LUTH said he survived nine seizures before he finally gave up to the 10th.

    Cashing in on three years after his death, things seem to have changed. Dagrin’s death suddenly inspired a whole lot of rappers to hit the studio rapping in the Yoruba language. In April 2012, video director, GINI, released a documentary, ‘Remembering Dagrin’, to mark the second anniversary of the rapper’s death. The one-hour plus clip featured never-before-seen clips and images of Dagrin. It also contained interviews with individuals that crossed the path of the young man and contributed to his rise to fame in the Nigerian music industry.

    Following his demise, a couple of artistes picked the baton from where he dropped it. However, in a move to immortalise the artiste, entertainment lawyer, Ope Banwo, chronicled the life and times of Dagrin in the movie Ghetto Dreams, directed by Daniel Ademonikan, featuring Doris Simeon who played the role of Chichi.

    After three years since his demise, the rapper is still greatly remembered and this year his remembrance was greatly celebrated through various media; the radio and television stations, online platforms and other media outlets seized the opportunity to dedicate shows, pages and basically the whole of 22 April, 2013 to the late rapper, showing their undying love for him, with more tribute songs being released in his honour. The late rapper may have died an untimely death but his legacy obviously still lives on, with his style of music still greatly imitated and even improved on with the likes of Olamide, BaseOne, Dharsaw, Tipsy, Jyhbo, Seriki obviously inspired by the general himself, Barrack O’grin.

  • President Jonathan shows love to Aki and Pawpaw

    President Jonathan shows love to Aki and Pawpaw

    IF there were two movie characters that would be taken as President Jonathan’s favourite in Nollywood, they are the duo of Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme popularly known as Aki and Pawpaw.

    Only last year, one half of the two comic actors, Pawpaw was conferred with a National Honours award. Ever since, he has been on the convoy of Mr. President on several occasions to some foreign countries.

    The most recent show of affection for the duo by the President was revealed recently, when during the AMAAs, the President asked the actors, through Governor Dickson of Bayelsa State to prepare to come with him on a trip to South Africa.

    President Jonathan, who was said to be watching the award ceremonies on TV, noted that his pastime is Nollywood movies.

  • Chika Ike shaves hair new movie

    Chika Ike shaves hair new movie

    ACTRESS Chika Ike is in the news again; the sultry actress who hails from Ekwuluobia, Umuchiana village in Anambra State got N5 million to shave her hair in a new movie titled Moments of Tears.

    The actress shaved her hair on the set of the movie and she was pictured earlier showing off a cheque which revealed she had been paid a 7-figure sum to shave off her precious hair for a role in the new movie.

    It could be recalled that the actress recently refuted rumours linking her with a relationship with a certain politician. She claimed not to have even met the man in question.