Entertainment

Entertainment

1976: 40 years after, the movie surfaces‎

‎

 

The streets of Nollywood were lit up few days ago with the movers and shakers of the industry attending the first private screening of Prince Tonye Princewill’s latest movie production, 76′. The Private screening was the first time the cast and crew alongside leaders of the business community; saw the finished product of six years of intense work. Linus Idausa, Uti Nwachukwu‎, Omoye Ozamere and many other celebrities joined the cast and crew for this event. 

The satisfaction of the viewers was glaring as the movie brought tears to everyone in the hall including one of the star acts, Rita Dominic. Set six years after the Nigerian civil war, ’76’ tells the story of a young military officer from Nigeria’s Middle Belt region who gets entangled in a romantic relationship and eventually marries a beautiful student from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Their budding romance is threatened by endless military postings, and they face the ultimate test when news of the soldier’s involvement in a botched coup attempt hits the headlines.‎

Directed by award winning director, Izu Ojukwu, 76 is inspired by events which led up to and followed the botched 1976 coup d’etat, and features real life, archived, actual footage that contributes to the movie’s overall authenticity. The execution of the movie was also done with the explicit approval and support from the Nigerian Army.
The director of the movie, Izu Ojukwu, described it as a tale of love in a time post war. “The movie deals with a range of issues including the plight of the African woman, and the usually invisible pain of a soldier’s wife,” he said. “76 highlights the enduring Nigerian cultural values of courage, resilience, patience, loyalty, faith and family and the nation’s ability to surmount all challenges.”


The release of 76 comes four decades to the date after the actual events, and follows several years of work by the director and the production duo of Adonis Productions and Princewill’s Trust. 76, stars renowned Nollywood names including Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Ibinabo Fiberesinma, Memry Savanhu, Ada Ofoegbu, Daniel K. Daniel and a host of others.

On his part, the Executive Producer and a patron of the Nigerian Association of Movie Producers, Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill, said: “76 is a deeply emotional movie, and it resonated deeply with me as I am sure it will do for viewers not just in Nigeria, but around the world.

 “The movie’s message presents a number of questions including how we got here, amongst many other issues. 76 is the first movie to be shot on film and was thus a very expensive project. We are however very satisfied with the finished work and we know viewers will thoroughly enjoy the experience.” 
Thanking the Nigerian Army, M-Net and other sponsors for their support, Princewill added: “None of this would be possible without the support we have received and continue to receive. The cast and crew have been phenomenal, and they gave their all to make this movie the success that it is. I’d also like to thank my partners Adonis Production led by Adonijah for showing me one of the most powerful ways to touch lives – by making movies.”


76 premieres in 2016 in cinemas across the world starting in Nigeria, thereafter it will hopefully come to TV screens across the continent courtesy of DSTv Box office, Netflix & MNET/Africa Magic.
Speaking on the Nigerian Army’s involvement in the movie, the Head Civil-Military Affairs Army Head Quarters, Major General Nicholas Rogers, representing the Chief of Army staff said “inevitably a lot has changed since 1976. As the world has evolved, so have we,” 


“The relationship between the army and the people is now even more critical. Our true strength comes from collaboration, and nowhere is it better illustrated than in partnerships such as these.” He also reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army Leadership to anything positive that tells their true story.‎

‎
0 250
Entertainment

From a bread seller to a model. TY Bello tells the compelling story of Jumoke Orisaguna.

Few weeks back, celebrity photographer and singer, TY Bello was taking shots of singer, Tinie Tempah for his ThisDay Style cover when a bread seller walked into the session. She was photographed alongside Tinie and the shot turned out beautiful. The picture went viral after it was shared on instagram, with many asking TY if the lady was a real model. The singer stated that she would really like to meet her and help her build a (modelling) portfolio if she’s really interested and added that she will find a way to track her down. Eventually she was led to her  by a person who saw the picture on Facebook….. She wasn’t only given a makeover, she’s on this week’s cover of Thisday Stylemagazine. Can you beat that?  Read excerpts from her chat with TY Bello. 

“Olajumoke a bread hawker from the Sabo market bakery , walked entirely by coincidence unto our set of our Thisday style shoot for @tiniegram The moment didn’t  look special at all. If anything she stood there a little confused .. Some people asking her to leave the set and others asking her to stay . I signaled if it was ok to take her photograph and she agreed and I pressed on my shutter so she could move ahead . My main subject of interest was the Okada driver that had slowed down just before she arrived .Okada riders have that cool lagos vibe and always happen to add a bit of swag to street portraits. 
I was wrong to have paid her such little attention. Ever frame with her in it was perfect .. I had found a second subject in the Tinnie’s story .. A young beautiful hawker who could have served as a love interest of some sort .Digitally I  made the red in her dress match @tiniegram sleeves to create a connection between them .

When the magazine came out last week and the images hit social media , I was proven right this girl split the limelight with the main subject effortlessly ..questions and comments started to fly : Was she a model ? How did we convince the model to balance all that bread on her head . The buzz about her multiplied when I clarified that she indeed wasn’t a model at all but simply stumbled on our set. I immediately begone my search for her .If so many felt she was beautiful enough to be a model.. Then maybe she was mean to be one .I was going to find a way to make it happen .I had assistants leave word with people in the area we shot her and to my delight the very next day , she showed up at my studio ..


Aso kan na ni mo wo kiri Lana ‘.. Jumoke the ‘model’ the Internet had been searching for speaks almost no English. She explained how she had worn the exact outfit in our photograph the day before and someone showed her her own photograph on his phone from face book. A mallam led her to my studio that morning . 
She narrated her journey to lagos …A hair stylist from Ire  in Osun state but not making enough profit between she and her husband , a sliding door installer  in from same village ,to care for their two young children .
At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery , she relocated lagos with her 14 month old daughter to give bread hawking a try , leaving her husband and older 5 year old  behind .


As I listened to her I wandered if the beauty I had seen on my screen as I edited my image was a fluke ..well until she smiled ., I realized that I was wrong ., I had in fact ,underestimated the beauty of this 27 year old woman. As always ., it was her eyes and of course her perfectly chiseled features that jumped out at you when she chuckled .This lady belonged in front of my camera .After a conversation with her husband telling him the story of our meeting I decided I was going to photograph her that very afternoon..Within an hour ..Bimpe Onakoya , one of Nigeria’s leading makeup artist and Zubby one of my favourite hairstylist  were at my studio to work magic. They had both followed the story online and were more than happy to put in their very best for her.
Olajumoke .., with curly extensions out ,revealed a short natural Afro that beautifully hugged her face.@Bimpeonakoya also had decided to keep the make up minimal… She stepped in front of my camera and I almost couldn’t recognize her . She moved different too.Jumoke looked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life …. I knew we had found a star


During the course of the day, @emaedosio who was making a short documentary about the process had asked her what she really wanted to do .
‘Ka ma kiri Buredi ko suwon ‘ she explained that bread hawking wasn’t the most profitable business but put enough food on her table . It also put a roof over a head .. Howbeit a roof she shared with scores of other hawkers . 
She was a trained hairdresser back in Osun state but her family could not afford the necessarily ‘freedom ‘ ceremony ; a passing out ritual that gives a trainee a sometimes unwritten permission to start a full fledged salon .
We all decided that the make over  would be incomplete if it ended at the studio . Every one started to reach out to their contacts  and through  Bimpe we were able to get her a meeting with Ugo the pioneer of Make-me salon . 
As a result of the buzz she generated from the Thisday cover Our model is now close to starting an internship at @makemesalon and  has been offered a additional internship with @sarisignature  a famous Lebanese owned salon on the island island . 
To pay Jumoke her model fee  from her first job in front of the camera we called @_ujumarshall one of Nigeria’s And matched her fees .She’s been offered a modelling contract with the help of @godsonukaegbu  from a  @fewmodels .She’s also had @payporte reach out to her to be model on their next billboard campaign . 
This is clearly only the beginning of  another chapter in Jumoke’s story . Though it seems accidental it s clearly  Devine .
Just this morning ,mentor of mine offered to foot the bill for her accommodation ,education as well as her child’s .. This finally makes it possible to be finally reunited with her husband and older child. 
3 311
Entertainment

Full Text Of The Letter Of Apology Written By DAAR Communications To Tinubu

Further to the terms of settlement in Suit No: ID/196GCMW/2015 between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Daar Communications Plc filed as a result of the broadcast of a documentary titled ‘Lion of Bourdilon’ and which terms were adopted at the High Court of Lagos State on 5th February, 2016 as the judgment of the court, the defendant, Daar Communication Plc, hereby retract and apologise to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as follows:

1. Daar Communications Plc, acknowledges that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is an outstanding political leader of unblemished character and integrity, as well as a leading public figure and opinion moulder who has made and continues to make immense, colossal and gargantuan contributions to the progress and development of the nation in general. And Lagos State in particular.

2. Daar Communications Plc admits that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention whatsoever to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which it respects and attests to.

3. Daar Communications Plc hereby makes a public and unequivocal retraction of the said documentary titled ‘Lion of Bourdilon’, which was broadcast on its television station, AIT.

4. Daar Communications Plc hereby tenders unreserved apology to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the broadcast of the documentary on its television station, AIT.

5. Daar Communications Plc prays that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will live long to make more enormous contributions to the advancement of our nation, Nigeria, Lagos State and the world at large.Below is the letter of apology accompanied with the terms of settlement written to Bola Tinubu over a documentary.

0 242
Entertainment

Kenyan athlete emerges winner of the Lagos City Marathon

Abraham Kipton, a Kenyan athlete has emerged winner of the Lagos City Marathon, hosted by the state government. He crossed the finish line at 2hours 16mins & 21 seconds. Halima Huseen Kayo of Ethiopia emerged winner in the female category of the competition, while Emmanuel Gyan was the first Nigerian to cross the finish line, but came in 7th place. Kenya’s Hossei and Ethiopia’s Debebe Ethosa came in second and third respectively. 
About 20,000 participants started the race from the National Stadium, Surulere but only a few of them made it to the finish line – Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island. The winner will walk home with  $50,000 while the Nigerian will receive N1 million .
0 238
Entertainment

Kenyan athlete emerges winner of the Lagos City Marathon

Abraham Kipton, a Kenyan athlete has emerged winner of the Lagos City Marathon, hosted by the state government. He crossed the finish line at 2hours 16mins & 21 seconds. Halima Huseen Kayo of Ethiopia emerged winner in the female category of the competition, while Emmanuel Gyan was the first Nigerian to cross the finish line, but came in 7th place. Kenya’s Hossei and Ethiopia’s Debebe Ethosa came in second and third respectively.
About 20,000 participants started the race from the National Stadium, Surulere but only a few of them made it to the finish line – Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island. The winner will walk home with  $50,000 while the Nigerian will receive N1 million .

0 227
Entertainment

Ini Edo gets political appointment.

Nollywood actress Ini edo has been appointed the Special Assistant on Tourism and Development to Akwa Ibom state Governor, Emmanuel Udom. She shared the good news on her Instagram page

“To be called to serve is an honour. I give God all the glory. Am grateful to my state, my Governor, everyone of you with your constant prayers and support… God bless u” She wrote. 

0 257
Entertainment

Three key games to look forward to this weekend

Another weekend of football is here and with the excitement comes the dilemma of which game(s) to settle for amid the flurry of crunchy ties up for grabs.

There are key games to watch everywhere you look – even China, these days – but here are five you can’t afford to miss.
Manchester City Vs Leicester City
Leicester City, even if told by the most powerful seer, would never have believed that they would be sitting pretty on top of the Premier League in February after 24 games but hey, that’s exactly where they are. The likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Nkolo Kante have been outstanding and they have another chance to showcase their impressive form with a visit to the Eithad where they would be facing Manchester City.
By sheer quality, Manchester City have the best squad in the League but they have not been able to find consistency especially at the back where their defenders have become Sambo Dasuki to strikers. Their resolve would be tested hugely and how they come out of this one will portray their intentions to win the League.
Chelsea Vs Manchester United

Life is transient. And it is a pot of beans. Who would have thought that a League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United would have no bearing on the title race?? It is rather a continued survival fight for Chelsea who seem to have found form under interim boss, Guus Hiddink and for Manchester United, it is a chance to further strengthen their likelihood of making it to Europe.
The fans of both clubs have endured so much this season. At the Old Trafford, it’s a slippery season with their consistent dropping of points and a rather sleepy affair, thanks to Van Gaal’s remarkable philosophy. For Chelsea, the bridge cracked, fell and Jose Mourinho was carried away by the cold strong flow of water.
Both clubs, though, are re-surging. And that’s what makes this tie a must-watch.
Bayer Leverkusen Vs Bayern Munich

Before you scream at me, relax and let me talk. It is the ‘Bayern always win League’, I know but this particular tie have a lot written into it. First off, it is a ground where Bayern don’t exactly like playing. They’ve only managed one victory at Leverkusen in their last six visits. And also, they (Bayern) may have settled the little matter of who wins the League but the likes of Leverkusen are in another battle entirely and it is for a Champions League place.
Leverkusen will be looking to halt the impressive run of Bayern and their new striker, Javier Hernandez will also like to show more reasons why Van Gaal was wrong to let him go. How will Bayern respond? Especially with all the negative stories hovering around their camp following the announcement of Pep.
You really have to watch this.
Special mention to the Le Classique in France between Marseille and PSG. Would have made it to the list but we all know that the only contest we would see in that game is – “How many goals will PSG put past them?”

By: Adeshina Peter – @Shina_Pitta

0 251
Open chat