The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Femi Kuti

  • Femi Kuti, Tuface perform at concert

    Femi Kuti, Tuface perform at concert

    IF the maxim that says ‘a young man who washes his hands well will eat with elders’ is anything to go by, then the much publicised concert to be headlined by Afrobeat maestro, Femi Kuti and hip hop sensation, Tuface Idibia is a glaring testimony of the latter’s doggedness, despite being a contemporary musician.

    Tagged 2 Kings Concert, the show which is touted as one of the biggest concert in recent times, holds tomorrow at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, with a Red Carpet appearance that begins at 5pm.

    Put together by Scoale Entertainment in conjunction with Too Much Music, the 2 Kings Concert, according to Mr. Scott Oritsejemineyin Igbene, Executive Producer of the show is the mother of all concerts.

    Igbene however expressed his fears: “The only snag at the moment is the lack of sponsorship, which is sad for a show like this. We have been in talks with many multinational companies in the last couple of months when the idea was muted, but the response has not been encouraging. But we have not given up hope yet as we are still in talks with a multinational alcoholic beverage company and a mobile telecommunication giant. We hope they come around very soon as we have less than a week to the show. However, this has not deterred us; we have practically done everything with monies we can garner from friends and family as well as personal savings.”

    The promoter, while appealing for corporate support for the project, said the show is meant to promote Nigerian music and arts.

    He noted that his company; Scoale Entertainment is staging the concert in partnership with Too Much Music, to launch what he called Music against Hunger (MAH). “The MAH project will create a volunteer platform for music icons to encourage every youth to pursue personal excellence and use their capacities for the sake of others by promoting a life of service, dedicated to creating a hunger free nation with harmony in all aspects of life,” he said.

    Like his late father, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi has shown a strong commitment to social and political causes throughout his career. His songs have been sampled by different international artistes while featuring international acts in his work like in 2001, when he collaborated on his album “Fight to Win” with a number of U.S. musicians, including Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright.

    In addition to several award for musical excellence, Femi Kuti has been nominated for a Grammy award three times in the world Music Category in 2003, 2010 and 2012.

    On the other hand, Idibia is unarguably one of the most successful hip pop artists in Nigeria. Tuface has received five Headies Awards, four Channel O Music Awards, one BET Award, MTV Europe Music Award, MTV Africa Music Award for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations.

  • Uwaifo, Femi Kuti win COSON awards

    Uwaifo, Femi Kuti win COSON awards

    The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has celebrated music artistes whose works have helped to make the industry a force to reckon with at the international stage.

    Musicians, songwriters and composers who had written and sang great songs from 1960s till date were awarded the COSON Song Award at an event that ended on Saturday morning.

    Victor Uwaifo’s “Joromi,” was chosen as the best song of the 1960s while Prince Nico Mbarga’s “Sweet Mother” won the 1970s category.

    “Send Down the Rain” by Majek Fashek was picked as the best song of the 1980s, while Femi Kuti’s “Wonder Wonder” emerged the best song of the 1990s.

    For the new millennium (2000), Kehinde Akinbode’s “Olorioko” was awarded the best contemporary Afro song, while contemporary pop song was awarded to Tu Face Idibia with “African Queen.”

    Sunny Nneji won contemporary highlife category with “Oruka.” Idibia won contemporary afro with “heneme,” while P2 were honoured for their hit song “Chop My Money” and the best song for contemporary highlife of the new era was awarded to Jude Okoye for “Baby Oku.”

    Uwaifo commended COSON for the initiative to celebrate artistes, saying it had never been done before in the industry.

    “COSON has brought back the glory of music in Nigeria; this is the only time artistes have benefited publicly in terms of receiving royalties,” he said.

    Earlier, Frank Edoho the presenter of “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire,” said the awards were meant to celebrate song writers and composers who sang and wrote great songs that Nigerians “have been dancing to for a long time.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ceremony was part of activities marking the COSON Week.

    The event was attended by artistes, Nollywood stars and other personalities in the entertainment industry.

     

  • Femi Kuti, Tiwa Savage for AMVCA 2013

    AFRO-BEAT King, Femi Kuti, will be joined by his full band as he takes to the stage today, Saturday March 9 when the first-ever AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards will be screened live. Described as a night of glamour, the event kicks off at 6pm with an exciting, live, one-hour red carpet pre-show to be hosted by television personality Denrele Edun, alongside AfricaMagic hosts Helen Paul and Uti Nwachukwu (Jara), Dolapo Oni and Eku Edewor (53 Extra), Lawrence Maleka (StarGist) plus NicWang’ondu and Sarah Hassan (Mashariki Mix).

    The award ceremony proper kicks off at 7:00 PM and, according to the organisers, will treat guests to a two-hour and 30-minute gala. Held in association with MultiChoice and headline sponsors, Amstel Malta, gorgeous vocalist Tiwa Savage and award-winning Kenyan Afro-pop group, Sauti Sol will join Femi Kuti in entertaining guests at the event.

    Stars such as Chinedu Ikedieze, Desmond Elliot, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Gideon Okeke, Genevieve Nnaji, Ireti Doyle, Jim Iyke, Joseph Benjamin, LizzNjagah, Majid Michel, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Osas Ighodaro, Richard Mofe Damijo, Rita Dominic and Stephanie Okereke are all expected to take to the stage to present awards.

    M-Net Africa’s Managing Director, Biola Alabi says that the AfricaMagic team has been working hard to make it an unforgettable, inspiring celebration of African film success and TV talent. “It’s our way of showing just how much we value what our artistes, both in front of and behind the scenes, contribute to our lives and the lives of our audiences. Now, together with our generous partners MultiChoice and Amstel Malta, what was first a dream is now a reality,” she says.

  • Femi Kuti endorses The Headies

    IN a bid that confirms the popularity of the Hip-hop World Award otherwise called The Headies, frontline Afro Beat star, Femi Kuti has been announced as a leading performer at the awards night on October 20, 2012.

    Holding at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Femi Kuti, who is undoubtedly one of Africa’s greatest music exports, will make an unusual performance for a Nigerian contemporary music award scheme. The feat for The Headies is that, it is blazing the trail as a new generation scheme that has the endorsement and partnership of veterans.

    The award-winning artiste and multiple Grammy-nominee began his career in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian Mousset to perform at the Festival d’Angoulême (France), the New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany.

    The son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo- Kuti, has shown strong commitment to social and political causes in the course of his career. “My career is not based on awards. I sincerely mean what I sing about. My music is truly fighting for electricity, good healthcare service, good roads, equal education for my people and African unity.

    It’s neither a love song, nor commercial and it still gets headlines and good reviews. I’m especially touched when young people appreciate what I am doing,” the artiste said.

    Organisers say that Femi Kuti will be inducted into The Headies Hall Of Fame. “It’s a kind of privilege, its good. I mean I would drink a bottle of champagne when I get it, we will celebrate here,” says the Afrobeat legend.

    According to Ayo Animashaun, Executive Producers of The Headies, the feat is extremely exciting. “Every year, our target is to surpass our very best efforts. With notable artistes such as Femi Kuti and many more gracing The Headies this year, our fans should expect to watch the most exciting awards ceremony to be held in recent times.”