Actor, Femi Adebayo who was recently appointed Special Adviser on Arts and Culture to the Kwara State Governor, Abdul Fatai has given us a sneak peek of his office.
I have signed a five-year contract with Arsenal – Kelechi Nwakali announces
Nigerian midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali who has been working a move to the Emirates has signed a 5 year contract with the club. The 17-year-old impressed scouts at the Under-17 World Cup in Chile and in January, Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger confirmed he was on his radar. The move has now been finalized. The wonderkid took the above picture with assist maestro, Mesut Ozil in London recently.
He told the Mirror, “I just came back from London, I have signed a five-year contract with Arsenal. So many teams were interested in me but it has been my dream at a tender age to play for Arsenal.”
Assou-Ekotto reveals he buys his boots on eBay
Cameroon international, Benoit Assou-Ekotto has revealed he prefers to buy his football boots on eBay rather than take handouts from sponsors. Speaking recently to Canal+, the former Tottenham left-back equated taking boots from sponsors to prostitution.
‘I’d rather be free than to prostitute myself for a sponsor. In all honesty, when you’re an African player, it’s not that interesting to have a sponsor. When you’re European, it’s better because business is done in Europe. I buy shoes for €30 [£23]. It’s a good price for comfortable boots. You can find them on Ebay, and they’re not expensive. Being fashionable is expensive, but you’re more distinguished to be vintage.’
"Be Unapologetically You". Charly Boy writes
Eccentric musician, Charly Boy may not impress you with his looks but his reflective and spot on articles are going for him. Read his newest piece on being true to oneself.Your Beautiful SelfMy people, life ain’t easy but it’s beautiful when you’re true to yourself.When you walk around without a chip on your shoulders, life’s challenges and pressures become a bit lighter.When your ego is insignificantly low, the only reason would be because you’re true to yourself.When you make no apologies for who you are but at the same time stay meek and humble, you are your true self.My life’s journey so far has brought me face to face with the realization that my true self helps me deal with the painful boomeranging of some of my expectations when they fall flat.So if you’re looking for yourself and asking everyone except yourself the direction to your real self, well sorry my dear, you miss road. Most people are other people, their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.In being my TRUE SELF, I keep creating new chapters in my life journey, never stop re-inventing and perfecting myself even as I insist on remaining a student for and of life. Along the way I discover that there are many heavens on earth waiting for one to discover. So as difficult as it is most of the time, I keep seeking out people with beautiful souls, hearts and minds; not those with just beautiful style and bodies.Like all creatures in the wild, we were designed to keep moving.When a snake sheds its skin, it becomes a more refined creature. I have never ever stopped refining and re-defining myself, most times I am hard on me but have NEVER let who I have finally become go to my head.My people, we are all beautiful instruments of God.This wonderful Artiste called God, created many notes in music so we are not stuck playing the same song. This is why I have lived my life musically. Some times I have literally sang off key, but I keep changing the keys, tones, pitch, and volume of each of the songs I create along my journey and play on. Who born dem to stop me!!Make your own book of life a musical, never abandon obligations, but have fun leaving behind a colorful legacy. Never allow anybody to be the composer of your own destiny. Take control of your life, and never allow limitations (implanted by society) tell you how your music is supposed to sound — or how your book is supposed to be written.When in the dark, fear not, for light itself doesn’t always bring good!God has given us one face, now we should not go out and make ourselves another. All we need do is daily beautifying the lovely face we have been given, and that takes process. Let the world know you for who you are not who you think they want you to be.Can you feel me?
Arsenal to unveil Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala tomorrow
Com tomorrow March 9, 2016, Asisat Oshoala will be unveiled tomorrow by London side, Arsenal Ladies FC for the new Women’s Football League season. The BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award winner who recently acquired UK work permit is expected to leave Switzerland today for tomorrow’s ceremony in London. The 20 year-old becomes the first player from Africa to play in the Women’s Super League.
Sharapova: Nike, Porsche, TAG Heuer cut ties with the tennis star
Sports giants, Nike; Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and German sports car maker,Porsche AG have cut ties with Maria Sharapova following the tennis star’s startling revelation on Monday, March 7, 2016. The Russian had confessed to failing a drug test at this year’s Australian Open.
Tag Heuer announced that they have cancelled their partnership with the richest sportswoman in tennis.
“Until further details are released and we can analyze the situation, we have chosen to postpone planned activities”. Porsche said in a statement
“We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues,” Nike added.
I see Yobo as a sports minister in future -Taribo West
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West who mentored Joseph Yobo when he joined Super Eagles forsees the latter as a sports minister. “You have crossed the limit. I see Yobo as a sports minister in future or even governor.” He made this statement today during the Yobo Testimonial press conference held at the Eko Hotel and Suites Lagos today. The event had the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in attendance. Roll Call of sports heavyweights at the event include Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Christian Chukwu, Fanny Amun, Amodu Shuaibu, Austin Eguavon, Ifeanyi Udeze , Peter Rufai etc. The testimonial match will take place on May 27 at the Adokiye Amiesiamaka stadium, Port harcourt.
“In 2002, I was just a schoolboy. When you see the likes of Okocha , kanu and Taribo, who are you to speak? The man of the moment said. Yobo also revealed his testimonial will be graced by former Manchester United manager, David Moyes.
Below are some of the comments made by guests at the event
Kanu Nwankwo: Not everyone can pull people like this to one room. Shows how much Yobo has done and respect he commands. Below are some of the comments made by guests at the event
Fanny Amun: I told Yobo in 2002 before the World Cup that I see him as captain of the Super Eagles
Amodu: Because of club schedule, Yobo flew to one game in a chartered flight and never asked for refund
Credit: Colin Udoh
AMVCA 2016: The bleh and the boom | By: Charles Novia
Nollywood director and film critic, Charles Novia has given a review of the just concludes AMVCA.
A motley crowd of influential Nollywood practitioners gathered in small groups, down at the Pool Bar at the Eko Hotels and Suites just a few minutes after the 2016 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards ended before 10 pm C.A.T. And as I mingled from one huddle to the other, what one could pick out was a linear shock at some of the twists the awards had thrown up earlier in the evening.
‘Ol’Boy, this award nor too pure this year’ said a top Nollywood Director to me pointedly as if he was a civil servant making a minority report. I shrugged, deciding to be silent just to hear opinions.
‘How on earth could a cooking show win in a category where there were drama series? What the hell was that? ‘asked another Nollywood Producer in anger to even the winner of that category who seemed undecided on what to say.
‘How can ‘small small’ kids in acting, the up and comers be winning the big prizes in acting every year at the AMVCAs consistently? Look am na! E nor pure! These guys just nominate the big names alongside the new ones and then disgrace the old and established actors by giving the awards to people we don’t even know!’ said another established Producer, shaking his head in disbelief.
‘But it is a viewers choice awards’ proferred one of the recognised Jurors in this year’s award. ‘The winners are chosen based on the number of votes they receive from the viewers. That’s how it works. If the old acts go to sleep and expect that their pedigree would win them the awards, then they have no one to blame but themselves when those who worked hard to get votes come out tops’
‘Like I said before, this award nor pure this year’ repeated the top Nollywood Director.
Whilst many established practitioners in Nollywood and other sectors present that night had their own reservations about the fairness of the awards in some categories, in other gatherings, those who won in their various categories were all smiles and busy getting hugs and handshakes as well wishers ( or those with daggers in their hearts too, who knows?) and friends celebrated with them. There were beaming smiles and polite laughter all over the grounds and as is wont in awards, everyone, no matter their differences identifies with a winner.
Let’s rewind a bit to the beginning of the show so we can have an idea of how the sighs and songs came about.
It’s become an annual tradition for me to review the AMVCAs and this fourth edition held much promise for the clear and undisputable fact that in just four years, with a gradual sense of purpose and media might as well as huge injection of funds, the AMVCAs is now arguably the biggest movie awards event in the continent. And with that perception comes much expectations.
There was the pre-show red carpet event as usual which had many of the guests and celebrities dressed by interesting fashion designers. From my mental calculation at the event, it is likely that nothing less than thirty million naira worth of clothes and accessories must have been made as income for the fashion and make up industry just for this event. Knowing that the scrutiny of the red carpet would be done by the nebulous fashion police we have locally, I always skip the red carpet as much as I can and head straight to the hall for the show every year.
With nominees, guests and celebrities seated in the hall, the show kicked off on the dot by 7.00pm Nigerian time with a performance by The Star Act Dance Company, a troupe which had dancers costumed in an impressive combination of white and gold sashes. The dancers put up a well choreographed piece which was quite good. I would say this was the best opening sequence so far in all the editions of the AMVCAs. Splendidly done.
IK Osakioduwa and Minnie Dlamini then came onstage as the hosts for the night. Minnie’s attempt to show that she has an understanding of Nigerians through the influence and impact of Nollywood movies got her some applause when she greeted with ‘Igbo Kwenu’.
The Presentation of the awards began with Chris Attoh presenting the Best Art Director award to Frank Rajah who seemed better prepared this year for his speech than his famous ‘Yvonne Nelson, I give you the glory’ stutter of the year before. Frank won it for ‘Refugees’.
After a couple of award presentation by Ireti Doyle and Gideon, then Ozzy Agu and and Stella Obinwa, there was a musical performance by a Tanzanian singer, Alikiba. He gave a good performance which many in the hall seemed to love as I saw pockets of dancing going on by some guests, possibly those from the Eastern part of Africa.
In introducing Osas and Gbenro Ajibade as the next set of presenters , Minnie called them ‘The Newly Weds’. I did wonder then if Minnie was reading a prepared script or just gushed out her own personal introduction because it’s been months since the couple got married. That wouldn’t qualify for being Newly Weds, if it comes to that.
And that brings me to something I noticed all through. I should think that in a bid to avoid wasting of time and off-scripted monologues, the AMVCAs this year jettisoned the script prompters or any form of scripted cues for the Awards Presenters. Almost all the Presenters came on and went straight to the job at hand. Not a bad idea.
In between the commercial breaks, one which the viewers at home would have been watching the Sponsors messages, a couple of stand up comedians were brought in to thrill the audience before the show went back to the post-commercial segments. Seeing that I always have commented that this should be done in my past reviews, one must commend the organisers for this. The stand up acts kept the audience all smiling and ready when the cameras came back to the show.
And talking about comedians, there were two onscreen stand up comedians for the night, one Thomas Gumede and the other Ugandan called Salvador. Gemede was boring to me and out of place with his jokes. The audience gave him some polite reactions but most times he seemed quite forward with his jokes and was just average. But his Ugandan counterpart, Salvador? Now, that is a funny guy! Without sounding condescending, I actually thought he was going to be as tepid as Gemede when he was introduced but the dude is a natural! He was so on point and had the audience in stitches. He was one of the major highlights of the night.
When Director Stanlee Ohikuare came up onstage to pick up his award for Best Lighting Designer and was giving a speech, he was rudely cut off by the sound guys. I use the term ‘rudely cut off’ because it seemed to be in bad taste at that point, especially as none of the nominees were told by the Producers of the show to keep their acceptance speech short and within a time frame. I stand to be corrected if they were. It’s not so much that he was cut off that was my problem but the abrupt cease of sound on his microphone to the audience in the hall ( and perhaps to the viewers at home) which seemed impolite. What happened to the music cues?
Everything seemed to be going on relatively well from there and sitting near the irrepressible Chi Gurl, the comedienne who was having me in stitches with her funny interjections and off-beat lampoon of the goings-on onstage, was quite an experience. Of course, when she went up onstage with John ‘Mr Ibu’ Okafor to present the Best Actor in a comedy Award, she and Okafor were very much in their elements with their banter. Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, won that award. Being that he has had a good couple of years so far with his near-nasalized mode of talking which has earned him fame and fans, his getting the award is not in dispute.
Sam Nzeribe won the award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ and he gave a moving speech about how his career was enhanced by the Catholic Church which sponsored his study of the Creative Arts. The audience warmed up to that.
Yemi Alade came up and performed two songs. Her performance was complemented by back up dancers which gave it an aesthetic slant but I couldn’t help thinking that Yemi would need to work on a new hit very soon. It’s inevitable that she would.
There was a glaring omission in the Roll of Honor list which scrolled pictures and names of the artistic departed in the past year. One of the veterans in the television industry in Nigeria and basically among the first five pioneers of the film industry in the seventies as a Producer as well, Jab Adu, was poignantly missing in the list. That is unforgivable, if you ask me. The popular Bassey Okon of ‘Village Headmaster’way back and Mr Adio in ‘Adio’s Family’passed on a few days ago and the best the research team could have done was to add him to the roll call. He died a day or two after Mike Odiachi, who was in the list mercifully. May his soul rest in peace, as with the others.
The Trailblazer Award went to Kemi Lala Akindoju, a hardworking young lady who has so much to give, after giving so much too, to the industry. She won a car with the prize and gave a good speech which recognised all she was grateful to, including the Directors she has worked with, except one who took a chance too on her years ago, in my opinion. In any case, she deserves the award. No doubt.
The most moving part of the show was the Industry Merit Award presented to Veteran Actress and a sterling ‘Elder Stateswoman’ of the industry, Bukky Zainab Ajayi who was wheeled on to the stage to a standing ovation. She was obviously overwhelmed and gave a tear-jerking speech. There were a many moved people in the hall that night and most eyes were moist when she wept and asked for forgiveness if she has offended anyone in the course of her career. She was so real and natural, wondering if the whole hall was actually standing for her! It was such a beautiful aspect of the night and one which will be unforgettable for a long time.
The surprises of the night were in the Best Actor and Best Actress diadems. A shocked and teary Adesua Etomi won the Best Actress award, flooring the other heavyweights in that category. That set the hall in murmurs and behind the smiles and claps, there was wonder and incomprehensibility. Personally, I have no qualms with Adesua winning that award. I think she is one of the most focused actresses in her generation at present and gives unbelievable attention to her roles. And being a trained thespian, she has range and depth. So, she deserves the award.
The other surprise too was in Daniel K Daniel winning the Best Actor Award, also flooring other heavyweights in that category. I think Daniel is a good actor and that is where I will leave it because I am yet to watch the movie which earned him a nomination and a win. However, there were many in the audience who did not agree with the result. I will come to these aspects in a bit.
Flavour performed and gingered the audience with his two songs. And after that Akin Omotosho won the Best Director award for the movie ‘Tell me something’
The last award of the night was won by Stephanie Linus; the Best Overall movie for ‘Dry’, her movie on VVF. Stephanie won an SUV too with the award and gave a good speech about the Girl Child and even chipped in the Ese Oruru angle in highlighting the problems bedevilling the Girl Child. I think ‘Dry’ is a good movie and Stephanie deserves the award. Any of the movies in that category deserved it though.
The show ended and as the guests moved out of the hall, the little post mortems by a few practitioners began in lobbies and open spaces before the after party.
Here is what I really think.
In areas of organisation, event planning and stage management for this year’s AMVCA, the organisers score an A minus, which is a marked improvement from other editions. However, there is a lot to be desired.
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> It is about time, in my honest opinion, that AMVCA transmutes from being a Viewers Choice Awards to a REAL juror or Academy driven awards which should enhance the credibility of the voting process. It is all well and good to give the power of choice to the audience which votes for the winners but public voting is populist and not popular in awards such as this. Come on! This is art we are talking about. Elevated art and artistry. A jury of excellent professionals and perhaps other past winners would suffice here to assess the future categories and pass their judgement without fear or favour. When such happens, even if some may not agree with most of the winners, there would be no groundswell of discontent when the areas of scoring are used. Viewers Choice categories can be retained in a couple of categories though but not the whole gamut of a growing prestigious event like the AMVCA.
It is possible that if the awards become a jury determined award, a rebranding of the name would be inevitable. It is better to start the process now when the award is growing on people than to let it ride for awhile. There’s nothing strange or wrong in rebranding. Hip Hop Awards in Nigeria was rebranded to The Headies and a few other awards too. It is a process of garnering more credibility and sidestepping the collective ‘Bleh’ exclamations now usual in the awards but making sure that the ‘Boom’ of appreciation resonates.
A lot of work and planning obviously went into AMVCA 2016 and congratulations to to everyone. Everyone.
Because the film industry won in the end.
.
Nigerian killed in India over Cristiano/Messi argument.
According to the Hindustan Times, a 34-year-old Nigerian Obinna Michael Durumchukwa was killed by his friend on his birthday party after a heated argument over Leo Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo .The incident happened in Nala Sopara, in Mumbai, India around 9:30- 10 am. Below is a report on the it.
Police said the man who was killed, Obinna Michael Durumchukwa, 34, was celebrating his birthday with his friend Nwabu Chukwuma, 22, at a rented flat, when they started to argue over who the better player was — the Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo or his counterpart at Barcelona, Lionel Messi.
Durumchukwa flung a glass at Chukwuma, which missed him and broke against the wall. Chukwuma then picked up a shard of glass and cut his friend’s throat in a fit of rage, said police inspector, Kiran Kabadi of Tulinj station.
Title Race Not Yet Over- Wenger
Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger insists the title race isn’t over despite dropping points last weekend in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
“The Premier League is far from being over. Just to remind you, we have beaten Leicester twice so we have done our job against them. People have to look at other teams more, not just us on that front. We will not give up the Premier League, we will fight until the end.
“We had a performance [at Tottenham] where we took only one point and the three were possible. [But] we have shown the mental response that everyone wanted from us.
“When people question the spirit it doesn’t mean they are right. Our spirit was questioned after Swansea… we can only go on the pitch and do our job, no matter what people say.
“What people say should not influence us. They have to be influenced by our desire to win the game and by giving our best.”