The Nation Newspaper

Tag: artiste

  • Artiste urges comedians on social ills

    A Lagos-based comedian, Chidi Uzoma, popularly called  “Baba De Baba” yesterday  advised other comedians to use their creative abilities to address society’s ills.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that comedy was a powerful tool used in passing messages across to the society in a funny way.

    “I will love comedians to come up with more serious comedies that can correct societal ills; talk about good leadership, corruption and what politicians are getting wrong in the country.

    “There are several other things such as teenage- pregnancy, drug abuse, child slavery, human trafficking, how to keep relationships and marriages that can be corrected through comedy.”

    Baba De Baba said that comedians could achieve this through good and strong messages they would be passing across in funny ways from their performances.

     

    “I am not saying that we have not been passing messages across to the society but we have tom intensify our efforts more,” he said.

     

    Baba De Baba noted that the power of comedy would be stronger when the message was passed in a lighter mood.

     

    “You say a lot of things in a funny way and it will sink in the minds of people,” he said.

     

    The entertainer said that the level of frustration among Nigerians was very high and as a result, people paid so much to watch comedy shows.

     

    He said that most people used gatherings, such as wedding receptions and church activities, to relax with others and invite comedians to make them laugh.

     

    He, however, said that the job of a comedian had its challenges, especially; creating jokes that could make people to laugh.

     

    Baba De Baba said that he drew inspiration from conversations with people, the environment, God and his imagination.

     

    He said that he had recorded some reasonable and informative jokes into no less than 50 videos and two audio compact disks (CDs).

     

    The comedian said that the CDs which were a collection of his performances on “Stand up Nigeria” comedy were running on television stations and the social media.

     

    NAN reports that Uzoma from Ahiazu Mbaise in Imo, studied Computer Science at the Ile-Ife Polytechnic.

     

    He also eceived his training in journalism at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Training School, Lagos.

     

     

     

     

  • Squeeze Records artiste, Atela drops ‘Jankara’

    Budding singer, Francis Atela, simply known as Atela in music circles, has released a new song titled ‘Jankara’ that lovers of good music can relate to.

    According to the Squeeze Records Entertainment act, the new song is produced by fast-rising producer, Fome Peters who combines well with the singer to deliver a tune that will excite music lovers. Ace Director, Clarence Peters gave the song a retro-themed touch to produce a colourful video which is now airing on major music video channels.

    He revealed that he started singing at the age of 14 in a Catholic Church choir where he developed his skills in music, song writing and entertainment. With the backing of Squeeze Records, he has previously released songs such as ‘Ojuju Calabar’, ‘Kekere’ and ‘My Life’.

    Describing his music, Atela said, “I will continue to bring fresh, quality and relatable sounds to the waiting ears of the people of the world who are tired of hearing the same old sounds. My style of music is aimed at easing pain and bringing love to weary souls.”

    According to the Benue State born singer, his early background as a Chorister at the age of 14 with his local Catholic Church Parish no doubts has been a great influence. He said, “It greatly helped in shaping my music and giving me a better sense of sound, tones and generally it made me a better version of myself in all aspects.”

    Also speaking Squeeze Records boss said, “Atela is a talented artist and I will like to add that everything he touches turns to Gold. We fascinated by his uniqueness and his artistry is second to none. Same can be said about his Love for music, his creativity and an undying passion to succeed which is inspiring.

  • Artiste donates to the less privileged

    Artiste donates to the less privileged

    gospel artiste, song writer, speaker and television host, Anu Akinlagun, has donated some items to the less privileged in the society.

    Akinlagun, Founder of Mulc Foundation, donated items worth thousands of naira to Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home in Akoka, Lagos.

    The items, including toiletries, cartons of Indomie Noddle’s, cartons of biscuits, detergents, drinks, cloths, books, sweets, snacks and Custard Powder, was her own way of giving back to the society.

    At the presentation of the items, many of the children at the Home hugged and shook hands with Akinlagun and other members of the foundation.

    MULC Foundation led the children into praises, which many of them sang and  danced to. The children at the Home could not hide their joy of receiving Mulc Foundation in their midst. Even though some of them could not talk, their smiles, expressions and gestures to members of the foundation said it all.

    The foundation also gave gifts to the head teacher and the assistant head teacher of the Home.

    According to Akinlagun, the foundation is about caring for the less privilege children as well as the disabled. “We are here to let them know that they are loved and that they have not been abandoned. We aim to make the life of everyone count by impacting other people’s lives.

    “MULC Foundation is a nongovernmental organisation that was founded on the bedrock of love for the less privileged and children in particular. We initiate projects that provide children with educational support, health care and welfare.

    “Our mission is to ensure that every under privilege child we come across or that comes through our path gets that warmth of love and that reassuring comfort of belonging to a family. We aim to create a safe haven for the distressed child. Our vision is to build a home/shelter for abandoned, orphaned and abused children; to set up a legal team and system that defends and protects child rights and privileges.

    We also aim to train and build children’s mental capacity especially the less privileged and abused ones, to organise skill acquisition  and empowerment forums for them in order to move them from  dependability to becoming job providers,” she said.

    She added: “We chose to visit Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home, because it is not just a home for the underprivileged children, it is also a treatment home. We have been following them for some months and we appreciate their efforts in taking care of these children. We believe that children in the Home also deserve to be loved and happy. This is why we decided to visit them with food items, clothing’s, toiletries and drinks among other things.

    “Aside the children, we also gave gifts to the head teacher and her assistant for a job well done. “

    She urged all well-meaning Nigerians to visit the Home and see how the kids with different kinds of deformities ranging from cerebral palsy to other varying forms of mental challenges and physical challenges live; they are skilled, they need love and care, they need to be given a sense of hope and belonging,” she said.

    MULC Foundation Project Supervisor, Alexander Chude, said the gesture was to extend the love of Christ.

    “When Jesus Christ was in the world, he healed the sick and fed the poor. This is what MULC foundation is replicating today.  The significance of today’s gathering is to spread the love of Christ and the joy that comes with it.

    “These children have potentials in becoming great people in future. There is ability in disability because when there is life there is hope.”

    He urged the children to keep their faith alive.

    Head Teacher, Modupe Cole Child Care and Treatment Home, Mrs Rabiu Sherifat, thanked the foundation for the gesture.

    She called on other private institutions as well as the state government to be of assistance to the Home, noting that although the state government has put in efforts towards the Home, but government cannot do it alone and the Home needs more to cater for the children.

    “The Home, established by late Modupe Cole in 1960, now has over 450 children of which the oldest is 66 years,” she said.

     

     

  • O’Jez Music artiste, Krazee Legs drops album today

    O’Jez Music artiste, Krazee Legs drops album today

    Budding singer, Krazee Legs, is set to establish his presence in the Nigerian music scene with the release of his debut album titled ‘Another Level’, on the Ojez Music imprint.

    Speaking on the new album, the physically challenged musician, who won a bronze medal in Lawn Tennis at an international event for challenged sportsmen, expressed gladness, describing the new as a dream come true.

    “The album is titled ‘Another Level’ and it features songs like ‘Walangolo’ and ‘Shan Pepe’. I want to thank the management of O’Jez and my label CEO, Joseph Odobeatu for giving me this opportunity to express my music talent and excel. May God bless him,” he stated.

    Speaking on why his record label chose to return to the industry, Odobeatu said; “O’Jez Music has groomed big names like Sony Neji and Baba Fryo. However we decided to take a break but now we are back and better hence we decided to give Krazee Legs, a challenged singer an opportunity to be heard. This is just the beginning of greater things to come. Next year we are unveiling Nigeria’s first all-physically-challenged band in Nigeria.”

  • Gospel artiste Aditu Glorious drops new album

    Gospel artiste Aditu Glorious drops new album

    Rising gospel act Ebun Oloyede- Omidiora, has released her highly-anticipated fourth album titled Grace of the Cross.

    The message of the six-track album according to the up and coming act who is also known as Aditu Glorious, is about the importance of the cross for the remission of sins which she said is very essential to Christians.

    She however, added that songs on the album are a combination of contemporary and classical songs suitable to different categories of listeners, irrespective of their religion.

  • Nestcore music unveils new artiste

    Nestcore Music, a new player in the Nigerian music scene, has unveiled its first artiste, Peter Chigozie Edozie who goes by the stage name, Peejay.

    Speaking at the unveiling ceremony which held recently, Edozie Francis, CEO Nestcore Music said that the outfit is interested in discovering talents and grooming them. As a label, he said, Nestcore will do all it can to improve the Nigerian entertainment industry.

    “Peejay has been on the scene for the past nine years and we’ve been with him all the way. We’ve seen his versatility, determination and humility. We were with him throughout his studies and we always kept in touch. We know that the sky is the beginning for him,” Edozie said.

    Peejay describes his style of music as Afrofusion.

    “By afrofusion, I mean I’m a Nigerian artiste that adds the afro vibe to every genre of music. I started music officially in 2009 and it’s been a bumpy and stressful ride. I’m a graduate of English literature from the University of Nigeria, Nnsuka (UNN),” he said.

    The singer, who is also an actor and model, says that he has a whole lot to offer the Nigerian music scene.

    “As an artiste I have recorded over a hundred songs and I’ve released just two because for me, music is not try-your-luck. Music is life and it’s so spiritual that when it actually possesses you, you lose touch with every other form of reality. I don’t see myself doing anything else apart from music,” he added.

  • Artiste remembers Gani Fawehinmi in ‘Our Hero’

    Artiste remembers Gani Fawehinmi in ‘Our Hero’

    A musician and radio presenter, Taoreed Yekeen, has unveiled a work titled ‘Our Hero’, in remembrance of the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN). The two-in-one work, Yekeen said, was produced to appreciate the impact made by the late activist.
    The second part of the work titled ‘Storm’, is dedicated to the memory of the late founder of Alariya Oodua magazine, Lanre Dodo-Balogun. The work was unveiled at a ceremony held at YMC Event Centre in Agege area of Lagos.
    Yekeen, whose stage name is Irawolomo 1, said Fawehinmi was a hero to all Nigerians, noting that the late lawyer left unparalleled legacies and impacts.
    He said: “The impacts of the late Fawehimni on the lives of Nigerians can still be felt, years after his death. He fought for justice on behalf of the poor masses and the downtrodden. He also left lasting impacts on the lives of students through scholarship.
    “He remains our hero, because he sacrificed his personal comfort to fight for the rights of the oppressed. He suffered so that we can live in better country. This is why I launched the work to recognise his efforts and impacts.”
    Yekeen said the ‘Storm’ was to give hope to people living with physical disabilities, with the aim to encourage them in keeping focus on their dreams. The work was formally unveiled by the special guest at the event, Hon. Rabiu Kazeem, Chief Executive Officer of Kay Benny’s International.

  • YBNL signs first female artiste

    YBNL signs first female artiste

    Just few days after YBNL and its protégés Lil Kesh and Viktoh parted ways after the expiration of their contracts, YBNL boss Olamide has unveiled the labels first female artiste Temmie Ovwasa.

    Along with her unveiling, Temmie has a new song under the YBNL imprint titled Jabole which was released on Wednesday. The song which was released on iTunes already got to the number one position within hours of release beating Drake’s One dance.

    Speaking on Cool FM about his new signing, Olamide said, ‘I saw her videos on Instagram and I liked them so I followed her and sent her a message like ‘will you like to work with us?’’

    I don’t know if it will be easy or difficult but one thing I’m sure of is that she will be great.

    Temmie is a final year student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

  • Family demands justice over artiste’s ‘illegal’ arrest

    Family demands justice over artiste’s ‘illegal’ arrest

    •Police: we acted on petition

    Were the police used to intimidate an artiste, Adekunle Balogun, aka Dragnet, and his family at Oke-Afa in Isolo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State last Friday?

    Residents of Low Cost Housing Estate at Oke-Afa are accusing the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) operatives of inhuman treatment of Dragnet while arresting him last Friday.

    The two men in FSARS outfit reportedly stormed the Baloguns’ Block 435 Flat 5 home, to arrest Dragnet based on a petition by a neighbour, Adeyemi Bello.

    The FSARS men allegedly pounced on Dragnet, who was washing his brother’s car,  before confirming his identity.

    “After attacking me from behind, I asked ‘what happened? What did I do? They said ‘are you Adekunle Balogun? I replied ‘yes.’ The next thing was they handcuffed my legs and started dragging me on the floor as if I am a hardened criminal,” Dragnet told The Nation.

    The Nation learnt that the police action infuriated his neighbours, who wondered why he was being “maltreated”.

    The residents were seen in a video footage, asking: “What has he done?”; “Where is the arrest warrant?”; “You will kill somebody here;” “You are on inhuman errand;” “You can’t take him away;” “Whoever sent you to do this should fear God;” “God will punish you for this maltreatment;” “He is not going anywhere;” “You are going to kill everybody here;”

    Dragnet’s mother, Mrs Balogun, who strapped a baby on her back, was also seen in the video crying and beckoning on people to help save her son. “My son is not a robber. He has not stolen anybody’s thing. How come he is being treated in this manner? Help me! He didn’t do anything. Don’t let these people kill my son.”

    Dragnet was taken to Ejigbo Police Station and transferred to SARS Headquarters in Ikeja.

    According to his elder brother, Tajudeen Balogun, whose car he was washing, all efforts to get him released on Friday failed.

    He said Dragnet was released on Saturday after the police found out that Bello’s petition was false.

    “He petitioned the police that my brother broke his car side glass and stole N500,000 inside his car. Can you imagine that? When we got to the station on Saturday, they didn’t mention the false allegation again only for the officers to say that the matter be settled and everybody left Ikeja after my brother was released. Does that mean my brother will just suffer for nothing? What about the stress Bello put other family members and neighbours into since Friday? This is a big slap on our face and it is injustice,” he said.

    Dragnet told The Nation that the officers came to do a hatchet job, describing their action as unprofessional.

    The artiste said: “On Friday morning, I was upstairs, washing the plates before my brother asked me to go and clean his car. When I got downstairs around 7:30 am, I was pouring water on the car when I just felt someone clearing me off my feet from behind and asking me who I am. I was explaining myself to him and before I could say anything again, he had put an handcuff on my legs without him mentioning the offence I committed. I saw another man who was dressed in a police uniform instructing the other officer to handcuff me.

    “I said to him, what is the meaning of all this that I am not that kind of person,  that I am an artiste and that even if he wants to do anything,  he should take it easy with me and that he should look at how he is molesting me.

    “At this time, they have already handcuffed my legs; the thing was tight and it was paining me. People rushed to call my family members and people came out with their cameras and were asking what is happening? Who are they?

    “They asked them to lose the handcuff on my legs but they didn’t. The officers told them that if they want to confirm anything they should follow them to Ejigbo Police Station. As we were on our way to the station, they did not say anything to us neither did we say anything to them.  On getting to the police station, they went through a register to confirm the names on the register and as they were going through it, one of the policemen just shouted ‘arrest this man’. From there, I was taken to Ikeja.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), told The Nation that there was a petition against Dragnet.

    Badmos accused Dragnet of resisting arrest, asking: “Is that proper? It is high time that our people recognised that police is police and have the right to arrest anyone deemed fit. Let’s start respecting our own police but I am glad that when they got there (headquarters) the Officer-in-Charge looked into the matter and found out that it was a neighbourhood issue and urged them to resolve it amicably.”

    She urged the Baloguns to petition the Commissioner of Police if they believed that their rights have been trampled upon.

    Some of their neighbours told The Nation that Bello “is fond of using policemen from Ejigbo Police Station to harass us. We need Commissioner of Police to look into the activities of his men at Ejigbo.”

    Contacted, Bello yelled at our reporter, saying: “Why are you disturbing me? Don’t call my number again. Are you mad? What is your business with me? You must be mad.”

    He later called the reporter with another line, raining abuses on him.

    Bello also threatened the reporter, saying: “I am going to make an official report on you for your jungle journalism.”

  • ARTISTE SEEKS GOVERNOR’S ASSISTANCE

    BUDDING Nigerian artiste, Oluwaseun Makanjuola, who composed a thanksgiving song for the All Progressive Congress (APC) on their victory at the last general election, is not satisfied with the state of things.

    In a letter addressed to Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, and made available to The Nation, Makanjuola said that he is seeking financial assistance in order to help promote his latest song. He is also seeking assistance to help him get his children back to school.

    According to the artiste, he has spent so much money on the song from recording to promotion and all effort to meet with the APC dignitaries proved abortive. Oluwaseun is pleading with Governor Ambode and the All Progressive Congress dignitaries to come to his aid.

    “I have spent so much on the song, production-wise, booking appointments with the APC dignitaries and also spent much trying to see you, which seems impossible. But sir, I believe this letter would get to you through this means.

    “Sir, I really need your help concerning this song; it is a song that the party would be proud of because it is evergreen. Please sir, in your mercy help me get my children back to school and regain my integrity amidst my families and loved ones and above all put me on the track in the music industry,” he wrote.