The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • Mary Uranta bags UN Peace Ambassador honour

    Mary Uranta bags UN Peace Ambassador honour

    NOLLYWOOD actress Mary Data Uranta, has joined the league of United Nations celebrities’ Ambassador for Peace in Nollywood. She joined the likes of Omotola Jalade, Ini Edo, Chika Ike, to mention a few. Other recipients of the award which held last Sunday include J Martins, Sunny Neji, Zaaki Azzay, and Madam Modesty.

    The honour came at a Lecture/Award and Gala Nite of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) and Youth Federation for World Peace (YFWP) held in Lagos.

    Speaking on the award, the River State born actress who represented her State at the Abuja Carnival, consecutively in 2010 and 2011 said,” I feel humbled by this award. And I must say it’s quite timely, coming at a time when I’m working on a youth initiative programme for students with in the Niger Delta region which will come up by God’s grace second quarter of this year”.

  • FESPACO on my mind

    My reverie for FESPACO is twofold: the sight and sound of an African country shut down for eight days in the name of film, and the need for Nigeria to understand, get acquainted and play along the line of politics of the biggest and longest-running film festival in Africa

    I dream of FESPACO every passing day; my reverie is multifaceted and could be likened to that nostalgic feeling that keeps drawing one to his place of ancestry. Yes; my ancestry of African origin, especially when pitched against my expedition of the film cultures in Europe, UK and America. For FESPACO, a French acronym which when translated to English, means Pan African Film and Television Festival, I haven’t had enough.

    ‘Enough’? That is definitely overstretched, because I attended that film festival, just once. And for this gathering of filmmakers in Africa, holding every two years in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, my near-zero experience happened in 2007. We had flown late in the evening in a chartered jet, courtesy of the CEO of AMAA. And because of logistics, one of which was for us to land at the presidential wing of the country’s airport, our flight was delayed. Getting to Ouagadougou at dusk and getting back to other exigencies in Lagos the next morning, didn’t leave much for me to enjoy of that city, let alone activities of the festival.

    If FESPACO had shared any common ground with festivals like Cannes and Berlinale, it is on the fact that this former French colony, even though it’s among the world’s poorest countries, has traditionally placed a high value on culture and an official government policy that supports the arts. That culture, which is ultimately lacking in Nigeria, is only being enjoyed partially by filmmakers from foreign institutions like the French Cultural Attaché, British Council and Goethe Institute. It would be especially difficult to forget the contribution of Pierre Barrot, former head of the French Cultural Attaché to Nigeria.

    My reverie for FESPACO is twofold: the sight and sound of an African country shut down for eight days in the name of film, and the need for Nigeria to understand, get acquainted and play along the line of politics of the biggest and longest-running film festival in Africa.

    FESPACO, through its dusty environment and sometimes outdoor screening of films under the stars, presents an adorable memory of the old days of the Yoruba travelling theatre. This is what adds to the fun of an African film show- same which cannot be imagined in the modernised and cold climes of Cannes and the Berlinale. I recall that Cameron Bailey, a regular at the event once described the thrill of FESPACO as being about the intangible, and the dust giving the filmmaker an emotional and psychic value.

    But perhaps beyond this thrill for a tourism-freak journalist, is the need to follow the trend of the film business which has put Nigeria behind in several regards. Nollywood filmmakers have mooted the idea among themselves, of a possible boycott of FESPACO-they wonder why Nigerian entries cannot win the Etalon D’or, the festival’s golden prize, or even the condescending Video/TV category, since the highest prize calls for films shot on 35mm.

    But when in 2011, a Nigerian film, Champion of Our Time, directed by Mak Kusare, won the second place prize in the video category, it should have been clear to us, that the objective of FESPACO is not for films coated with glamour and merely treating subjects of social life. That film, directed by Kusare, a young filmmaker with the will to win, and who had gone ahead to do thematic campaign series for the BBC, was later to win a laurel at the Home Video Integrity Award (HOMEVIDA) in Nigeria. The reasons cannot be farfetched- apart from the film’s ability to thrive on technical grounds, it tells a heartwarming tale of a child in a wheelchair and her struggle to participate in a secondary school television quiz competition. Obviously, the film is a story of hope that further touches on the child, mother and the society at large.

    You don’t find such films on the shelves of the typical filmmaker in Nigeria, let alone in the archive of film awards or festivals. This is why Nigeria; the world’s second-largest film producer, is relatively poorly represented in the competitive sections. However, efforts by filmmakers like Tunde Kelani and Kunle Afolayan, had fared well in the video film category of FESPACO, especially in 2011.

    Talking about the few Nigerian films that have made it to the FESPACO top prize category; they are films done by Nigerians in the Diaspora. For example, Restless City which competed in 2011 was done by Andrew Dosunmu, a Nigerian film-maker who lives between New York and Nigeria.

    However, the first time that a Nigerian film had won the Etalon D’or was in 2007, when Newton Aduaka’s film entitled Ezra clinched the prize. That victory by Nigeria also marked the third time that a film from Anglophone Africa had taken the festival’s grand prize since it was established in 1969. Aduaka’s success in 2007 followed that of Ghanaian Kwa Ansah’s Heritage Africa and South African Zola Maseko’s Drum in 1989 and 2005 respectively.

    But perhaps we need to encourage ourselves more because Newton Aduaka is back. His new film; One Man Show, shot on celluloid, has been shortlisted to compete for the grand prize. Also in competition from Nigeria, but in the video category, is Heroes and Zeroes by Niji Akanni.

    Next week, we shall take a look at the conservative nature of FESPACO and the seeming discrimination between works of filmmakers from Francophone and Anglophone African countries. But I urge us that we must remain in FESPACO to make FESPACO work. Cheers!

  • Jim Iyke in spat with Linda Ikeji

    Jim Iyke in spat with Linda Ikeji

    POPULAR blogger, Linda Ikeji perhaps got the reaction she expected from Jim Iyke, when recently, she published semi-nude picture of the actor on her blog.

    Linda’s post which was captioned ‘Jim Iyke Shows Off Six Pack’, reads: “Every time I write about this dude, he comes after me on Twitter, but I must do my job na. Nice body.”

    True to her premonition, the actor has hit back at her on Twitter.

    Apparently, Jim wasn’t happy with some of the comments Linda’s post elicited, which were harsh. He blamed the blogger for not taking them out. Moments later, Jim’s reply came: “It is my handle and my space. I do what I please with it. If that Hermaphrodite witch and her lame employees don’t like it, then let them go hug a transformer!”

  • Adepoju’s new album eulogises Fayemi

    Adepoju’s new album eulogises Fayemi

    RENOWNED Ewi exponent, Chief Olanrewaju Adepoju’s Fayemi N Dabira, which he waxed in honour of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi last December, is fast turning a toast of many households, especially across the South West.

    Released on the stable of Lanrad Records Limited, the album, a product of Olanrewaju’s trademark intellectual acumen, features thought-provoking tracks like: Fayemi N Dabira, 8-Point Agenda, Out of the Shadows and Awon Akoni Ekiti.

    Intellectually woven in the artiste’s characteristic idiomatic expressions, Fayemi N Dabira, like the 8-Point Agenda, comes with enlivening delivery, itemising the ground-breaking exploits of the governor within two years in the saddle. He urged Ekiti people to uphold their unshaking faith in his administration and work for its continuity.

    Out of the Shadows is the title of Fayemi’s new informative book where he recalls his experience the hellish days of the military days. Adepoju referred to the book and described it as a must-read for all.

    All lovers of history, especially of gladiators dead and alive in Ekiti land would appreciate the track, Awon Akoni Ekiti. With free-flowing delivery, he recalls the legendary exploits of warriors including the late Fabunmi Okemesi, Faboro of Ido, Balogun Okirikiri Bata of Efonland and Aduloju Ogbigboni Oran.

    The veteran poet who is in his 70s, also reeled off big names like the late Gen. Adekunle Fajuyi, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo; Adegoke Olubunmo, renowned Prof of Mathematics; Prof Bamitale Omole, US-based Dr. Funmi Falusi; ex-Ekiti Governors Adeniyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni.

    Legal luminaries Chief Afe Babalola; Chief Wole Olanipekun and Femi Falana are not left out of the roll of honour. So are: Chief Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, a foremost industrialist; Profs Moses Akinola Makinde and Akinjide Osuntokun; Chief Ayo Ogunlade, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Dele Alake and Michael Omoleye, all journalists, among others.

    A musical analyst, Dr. Remi Omolade said of the album: “I have taken the pain to listen to it many times over; it is a pure intellectual and award-winning work by the artiste who, to me, has long deserved a national honour.”

  • Waje, Nse, Doyle in the Tunnel

    Waje, Nse, Doyle in the Tunnel

    FOR musician, Iruobe Waje the New Year comes with a new love; acting. Simply known as Waje in entertainment circles, the songstress is starring alongside Patrick Doyle, Femi Jacobs, Nse Ikpe-Etim in a new movie with the working title Tunnel.

    Due for an April release, Tunnel is directed by Stanley Ohikhuare and is said to be the debut movie of Waje. The movie tells the story of a young pastor, Lade (Femi Jacobs), and his wife, Shade (Waje) who has a daughter who falls ill, but must try all they can to battle and save her as well as their troubled marriage.

  • Laffmatazz gets Oyo State First Lady backing

    Laffmatazz gets Oyo State First Lady backing

    FOR ace comedian Gbenga Adeyinka, 2013 definitely holds better things. Only a couple of days ago, news went to town that the Oyo State First Lady, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has endorsed his popular comedy brand and one of the biggest concert in the city of Ibadan; LaffMatazz with Gbenga and Friends coming up this Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013.

    Report says that, the endorsement came during Gbenga Adeyinka’s courtesy visit to Her Excellency in company with his Laffmatazz crew.

    The concert which is billed for March will hold at the popular Jogor Center in Ibadan it is said will feature the best of music, comedy and dance. The GCON (Grand Comedian of the Niger) it is said has promised to do the unusual with this year’s event judging by the roll call of guests expected.

    Speaking on what to expect with this year’s Laffmatazz with Gbenga and Friends, his Publicist, Seun Oyedele says “This year’s concert will be better than the rest as we plan to do the unusual this time around. We are keeping the guest artistes to our chest for now, its deliberate but in the coming days we will reveal them”.

    Speaking on why the First Lady gave her support, Oyedele said “One of her most striking features is her love and respect for family and strong moral values, attributes she sees in the Comedian. Mrs. Florence Ajimobi has very strong family values which help drive her passions and to a large extent, define who and what she is about.”

  • Are the Idol hopefuls Falling Apart?

    Are the Idol hopefuls Falling Apart?

    THERE were some harsh words from the judges’ table on Sunday night, as Nigerian Idols went into the second round of the top 30, and saw some high-flying audience favourites come crashing down to earth after a series of disappointing performances throughout the night.

    After a stellar group performance of Bill Wither’s Lean on me, the second round of 10 failed to sparkle, and even the easygoing judges Yinka Davies and Jeffrey Daniel joined guest judge Naeto C in criticising the lacklustre performances that occurred on performance night.

    Immaculate Victoria, was the first on the chopping block for the evening, performing Blame it on the Boogie by The Jackson 5. “You lacked connection with the audience,” said Jeffery, as he told the young contestant off. Unfortunately, Kemi’s performance of Usher’s There Goes my Baby, followed along in the same vein, failing to impress the judges. Mr. Richie’s take on Bruno Mars’ Lazy Song failed to pass muster with the tough judges as well, and a bewildered Yinka had to tell the contestants to “calm down” backstage.

    The two strongest performers of the evening came from two unlikely sources. The bespectacled, Dani Angusnicknamed “the accountant” by Jeffreytried a diva song choice, and it worked! His choice of Mariah Carey’s ‘We Belong Together’, was surprising, however, Dani was able to eke out a few words of praise from the high table. Moses Adigwe gave the strongest performance of the night, tackling Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’ and pulling it off with aplomb. The judges agreed: his performance signalled that the competition was back in business. “What you have done today is what we have been looking for all night. The Nigerian Idol material is back!” said Jeffrey Daniels

  • Doctor Bello goes to cinema

    Doctor Bello goes to cinema

    AFTER a successful premiere in New York, London, Johannesburg and Lagos, the much publicised Nigerian fiction on cancer cure, Doctor Bello has hit the cinemas.

    Produced and directed by Tony Abulu, the first Nigerian filmmaker to access the federal government’s intervention fund for the entertainment industry, will be showing on cinemas across the country, says co-producer, Tunde MacAlabi.

    “I’m glad to announce that we have finally released the movie on cinema, which means that Nigerians, who could not be at the Lagos premiere, can now go to any of the cinemas across the country and watch the movie. Doctor Bello has been a successful story for us; from New York to London, Johannesburg and back home in Lagos, people have continued to comment on the quality of work we’ve done. I hope you would find time to go watch the movie and see for yourself,” he said.

    Elated by what he considers a success story, Abulu said that it’s high time Nigerian filmmakers shun the tradition of indiscriminate production of movies, and focus more on quality movies that would stand the test of time.

    “The Nigerian government is saying: “Can somebody make a movie that will go to global mainstream theaters? Can you make a film where someone in New York will go watch it and not walk out disgusted? They say I’m the one who can do it.”

    Abulu believes that Doctor Bello has the potential to chart a new direction for the booming Nigerian film industry. On the importance of the collaboration between Hollywood and Nollywood, Vivica Fox, who also starred in the movie said, “Well, you know how we’ve got Bollywood. Now, we’ve got Nollywood. And it’s huge. Because you know what, they want to see their people. They don’t want to go to a movie and see just a little sprinkle of us. They want to see us live and go through adventures. So, we were very happy to have that opportunity with the director, Abulu.”

    The story of Doctor Bello is weaved around America’s Isaiah Washington, who stars as Michael Durrant, a medical doctor, whose inquisition into the potency of African traditional medicine drives him across the Atlantics to Oke-Idanre, Ondo State, Nigeria, in pursuit of the cure for cancer.

    A brilliant cancer specialist, Durant is emotionally troubled, wrestling with the traumatic loss of his 10-year-old daughter from Cancer. Immersing himself in his work in the hospital, away from his wife, who blames him for their child’s death, he forms an unlikely bond with a sick, loving, but rambunctious seven-year old boy Sam, the son of a rich Jewish couple, who are major contributors to the Hospital’s Cancer Research Fund.

    Unfortunately, Sam’s health deteriorates drastically, and soon, he slips into a coma, with only a few days to live. Dr. Durant becomes desperate, willing to risk anything to save the child’s life. A surreptitious Nigerian Nurse convinces him to seek the help of Dr. Bello, an uncertified Nigerian Doctor, known in the Brooklyn-African underground as a miracle worker. Dr. Bello, an introvert with a controversial past, secretly visits the child at night and administers a strange African potion, replete with incantations and by the next morning, miraculously, the child begins to recover, the Cancer speeding into remission. The Hospital Medical Board immediately orders an investigation and soon the secret is revealed and Dr. Durant is suspended.

    Dr. Bello is arrested and charged with medical malpractice. Dr. Durant soon falls into depression after his wife leaves him. Meanwhile, Dr. Bello has fallen critically ill in jail and can only be saved by the ingestion of the same potion that can only be found in the mysterious “Garden of Life,” nestled on the peak of Nigeria’s sky mountains.

    Other actors in the film include: Jimmy Jean Louis, Nigeria’s Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke-Linus and Rachael Oniga.

  • ‘My wife and I are still together’

    ‘My wife and I are still together’

    In the Yoruba movie industry, the name and the man Femi Adebayo has become a strong force. In this interview with DANIEL POPOOLA, Femi talks about the year 2012 and plans for 2013 as well as his success as an actor/producer, the influence of his thespian father on his career

    HOW was the year 2012 for you?  To God be the glory the year 2012 was a wonderful year for me and I hope 2013 will surpass the previous years, for me, my family and my career.

    What made it standout?

    Yeah, when you are talking in term of award, I could term 2012 as my year of awards because I received a lot of awards. Jelili, Sonto Alapata, Ayekoto, a story by Sharafa Deen Olabode, are some of movie which earned me most of the awards. Others were based on my performance generally. The reason why I tag it my year of awards is, knowing that there other wonderful actors who can perform the same roles better than I do, yet I was chosen to be honoured. The basis of the award I cannot tell but this has challenged me more knowing that a lot of people out there are watching me. It has become a source of motivation for me in the sense that if am called upon to act any role, I will go for it.

    How do you intend to maintain the tempo having raised the bar for yourself last year?

    It is a very big challenge really but with God I will surmount any challenge that comes my way as far as interpreting movie roles is concern. I promise not to disappoint my fans who have continued to support my career.

    What should we be expecting from you this year?

    2013, I have a lot in the pipeline. J15 media network will continue to advance in so many areas, my outfit, under which I have J-15 School of Performing Art. I also have three projects this year, of which one of them I’ve been shot already. Presently I’m working on is Ila (tribal marks). I want to make a research on the reason why we have tribal mark. Ila is one movie which news is all over town. People are ready to see it. Also there is Sonto Alapata which has been to the cinema and there was a wonderful turn-up and it’s going to be out by the end of January.

    What inspired Sonto Alapata?

    Sonto Alapata is not a comedy. It is a story based on the life of a butcher. From the research I was able to carry out, 80percent of uneducated people are butcher while 20 percent of the butcher are educated. In the course of my research, I met a butcher who had a master’s degree. When I went further, I discovered that most of these butchers are very rich. Like where we shot the movie, the chairman of the butchers drive an expensive car, a Toyota Camry and a Land Cruiser and most of them even live in mansions and are landlord of their own; and that is to tell you that these people are very comfortable but many people look down on them in the society. I found it very interesting.

    During the festive periods, I called on butchers to come and kill our ram for us but in the process when these guys came, we started interacting, I got to know that most of all these butchers are graduates and they are very sensible. And I also found out that they are very well organized. Before you can be allowed to kill a cow, you must have obtained a license to do. Honestly, it was a shock to find out some of these things which was why I decided that I must let the entire world know about it. Sonto Alapata is out to teach a lot of butcher lessons and a lot of people outside there so that they will know how to relate with this set of people and not to even look down on them.

    With all the works you have done, how many awards have you won?

    I have won so many awards, both in Nigeria and internationally and I cannot remember all of them

    Back to the Jelili project, how will you describe the reception?

    The Jelili movie will remain ever green. I see it as ever-green because in different homes, they still watch it and they still continue to laugh. Now, what makes Jelili different? It is different because even the birth of the idea is very unique. I was with my friends and one of them farted and everybody started laughing. I then paused for a while to wonder why these guys were laughing. I said to myself there must be something about this farting issue and then I went to work. Another reason I went to work on this movie is because I was tired of being a lover boy. This story gave me the opportunity to show my fans another side of me and when they saw the movie, they were all happy.

    How challenging was it at the onset?

    Given my background, I can say I was born to do this. I knew a lot about the world of make believe, all I had to do was study every character I am given and then interpret it properly. Then I had to get myself mentally ready to draw a line between my character and my real life. Playing a lover boy should not affect my real life because if you allow your character to affect your real life it means you are not an actor. For instance, I met a colleague of mine who said he was waiting for the movie Jelili to come out so that he will criticize me negatively; but according to him when the movie came out I shocked him. So the biggest challenge I have come across is the pressure of playing every role differently.

    How many movies have you produced so far?

    To the glory of God I have produced eight movies.

    Another movie you performed perfectly well in is Ile Alayo, how challenging was it?

    I did Ile Alayo after Jelili, you know we have promoters and we have marketers, because Jelili was a huge success, there was so much pressure to produced another one and I made them understand that I can produce a comedy without acting in it and that is why I experimented with in Ile-alayo, in Ile Alayo I did just a scene. It is another fantastic comedy. The lead characters there included Adebayo Salami, Bayo Bankole, Olaiya, Odulade Adekola, Dorris Simon, Mercy Aigbe, Ayanfe Adekunle, and Wale Akorede.

    Without the influence of your father, do you think you would have come this far?

    Why? Destiny will surely take its place but my dad being an actor has been a plus to my career. But my success has nothing to do with my father. I got my first movie role during an audition and the title of that movie was Owo Blow, produced by Tade Ogidan in 1995. I got the role even when Tade Ogidan didn’t know that am the son of Adebayo Salami. There is no doubt that daddy has been instrumental in my career because I have ran to him time with number. I go to him severally in handling some press issues. So dad been in the same industry with me has been a plus.

    Did you find it difficult, switching from law into acting profession?

    You know, if God says yes, nobody can say no. Being an actor and a lawyer is God’s design. I am a lawyer by training. I am an actor by inheritance. It is divine and that makes it very easy for me. If you give me any role at anytime, I don’t think there is any role I can’t interpret. I was called to bar in the year 2003, I went further to bag my masters in law in 2006. Although it’s two different professions, I believe that with God all things are possible. Being a lawyer, it’s a profession have been trained to do. I have been trained for that and I know it well enough. What I’ve been called to do by God should be different from my profession and that is divine.

    Is true that you want to abandoned theater for politics?

    I cannot quit acting for politic. Acting is a call from God. But talking about politics, it is a wish because within me I see the qualities of a good leader. If I have the opportunity of serving the people I will serve the people in my own capacity. It is not a do or die affair. I have two lucrative professions already; entertainment and law are very lucrative professions. Why I want to go into politics is that I just see it has an opportunity to render service to humanity.

    Are you a Nollywood actor?

    That is the general names for actors in Nigeria.

    But some Yoruba actors separate claim they are not Nollywood actors. Why?

    Anybody can say he is this or that; it is a matter of choice. I can stand up tomorrow to say that I am a Chollyhood actor, it is a choice. Nollywood or any name, I don’t think any of it is registered with the Nigerian government. The only recognized association is the Association of Nigerian Theatre Art Practitioner which is the only registered body but when you look at the name of the association, the name should accommodate all the tribes we have in Nigeria. But when we talk about the English, it is been dominated by the Ibo’s. Irrespective of the names we call ourselves, we still falls under one umbrella.

    How will you access the industry when you started and now?

    As far back as when I started it wasn’t as good as this. There was no endorsement then, and the standard of living of the actors then cannot not be compared what we have now. Our production was not as good as now. As time goes on our story line has become something interesting so we are getting there gradually.

    Are you still with your wife?

    Do you want to come to my house to confirm? I said it that I don’t want to answer any question concerning this again. If anybody reads any material on the internet and believe it, that is stupidity. So before anybody can believe any story, you have to come to my house to confirm. I have no privacy, when you come to my house in Ibadan; you will find me and my wife together.

  • Oluseyi drops Bamijo

    Oluseyi drops Bamijo

    MUSIC act, Oluseyi Solagbade, has finally dropped his much awaited album, Bamijo (Dance with Me). The Afro Gospel album, released after his USA tour in December 2012, is a 12 tracker with heavy percussive idioms presented under free style wind and string instrumentation.

    “The new album is a result of God’s intervention in my life. It is simply an invitation for people to come rejoice with me because I was once blind and now can see,” says the artiste who is also the leader of the Black Face band

    Bamijo is the fourth album from the easy going artiste, coming after Matuwo, Black face and No King as God. Oluseyi revealed that he is working diligently on the video for the title track, Bamijo, even as he had shot some of it in his just concluded USA tour.

    “My music is a fusion of different genre of music in Africa. I can conveniently say it is what we call pandiatonism, a combination of chords. So am just using that idea to create new kind of music style. To me, originality is a basic phenomenon; when your music is original your art will definitely be a futuristic one,” he further explains.

    Also, his monthly gig, ‘Art Café with Oluseyi’, is billed to resume very soon in collaboration the French Cultural Centre. The inspirational groove that will serve as ‘hypnotherapy’ to everyone is a platform to promote authentic music in all artistic forms, the artiste says.