28th December, 2012
Rhythms Of EME Baddest Concert
On 21 December, some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars took turns to thrill fans at the first ever EME concert tagged Baddest Concert. Held at the Oceanview Ground, Victoria Island, Lagos,
the concert delivered fun aplenty, as fans were thrilled by performances by the EME All-Stars and some of their friends. They were backed by a live band.
The show, which was preceded by a black carpet reception, kicked off with the trio of Wizkid, Niyola and Shaydee, who sang the national anthem. Their rendition was followed by an EME All-Stars performance of their popular track, The Baddest from their Empire State of Mind album. Each act on the label later took turns to perform individually.
Next up were Banky, Wizkid and Skales, who performed alongside guest artistes like Cobhams, D’Prince, Wande Coal, Ice Prince, Olu Maintain, Samklef, Waje and Iceberg Slim. Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy also made a cameo appearance on stage to introduce Skales.
One of the many highlights of the concert was when Wizkid introduced and welcomed on stage his perceived rival, Davido. The youngsters first dispelled the insinuations that there is a beef between them, before launching into the performance of Davido’s hit track All of You.
Produced by R28, an events company, the gig had stand-up comedian Basketmouth.
EME has recorded numerous achievements this year, including sold-out concerts in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Phone Swap Back In Cinemas
Phone Swap, Kunle Afolayan’s latest film, is back in the cinemas. It is currently showing at the Obasanjo Presidential Library/Theatre, Abeokuta.
Phone Swap made its official cinema debut on 30 March.
The film has attracted rave reviews in New York Times, on Al- Jazeera TV and wowed judges at the African Movie Academy Awards.
Phone Swap is being awarded more cinema slots for the pleasure of movie lovers and brand agencies are clamouring for private screening for their clients. Genesis Cinemas had six showings of the film a day. It was also shown at Ozone and Silverbird cinemas nationwide.
Music Stars Celebrate Abidap Boss
The swimming pool side of Abidap Hotel, Ipaja, Lagos, will today host Sir Shina Peters, Lanre Teriba aka Atorise and other music stars. The event is the 58th birthday of the President, Abidap Hotels Group, Chief Tony Adenubi.
A member of the organising committee told Entertainment Café that Adenubi is unaware of the plan of the singers to honour him on his birthday.
Ufoma Drops Go Hard Video
US-based Nigerian singer, Ufuoma, has finally released the long-awaited music video of her 2011 single, Go Hard.
The song, which has been a fixture on various radio playlists, is widely viewed as Ufoma’s ladder to the upper reaches of the domestic music scene.
Shot on locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the video features fight scenes with echoes of Fight Club, the hit movie starring Brad Pitt, as well as energetic performance from Ufoma supported by her electrifying live band. “This music video is just what you need to get you up and going through the final few days of 2012, and roaring well into 2013,” said Ufoma.
Esther Drops 10th Album
Gospel singer, Esther Igbekele, has released a new album. Titled Everlasting God, the five-tracker is her 10th album. The album contains a praise medley and tracks like We Give You Praise, Olorun Ayeraye, Bi Ina Njo as well as Edidi.
The Duchess of Gospel music, as Esther is popularly called, said the new album is her Christmas and New Year gift to her fans.
Nollywood Xmas With The Stars
On 20 December, Nigerian movie stars celebrated Christmas at a show tagged Nollywood Xmas With The Stars, which held at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The show was organised by Grand Touch Pictures, a production company owned by Chico Ejiro. The idea, according to the organiser, was to host movie stars, captains of industry and fans under one umbrella to celebrate Christmas with carols, comedy, drama, music and dance.
Proceeds from the show, Ejiro added, will be used to feed the poor and the less privileged throughout the festive season.
Celebrities at the show included Bukky Wright, Okey Bakassi, Segun Arinze and wife, Ngozi Ezeonu and Kate Henshaw
DJ Silver Set For Big Street Jamz
Wave-making Disc Jockey, DJ Silver, is set to thrill fun seekers during the annual Big Street Jamz scheduled to hold on 1 January. The carnival is organised by the youths of Sule Abore Street, Ojodu, Lagos.
Other entertainers that will perform during the event include 2Slim and Klever Jay. President of the Sule Abore youths, Moruf Akinyemi, told Entertainment Cafe that there are other side attractions aimed at making the event an educative one.
DJ Silver, who recently launched new equipment, said: “This is the first time that I will perform in Ojodu and it is going to be a memorable one.”
Silver, who is currently one of the most sought-after disc jockeys, also anchored this year’s Gbogbo Ede Carnival, held on 24 December at Capitol Road, Agege.
Tope Makanaki Goes On Tour
Top female fuji act, Tope Asake Makanaki, will soon embark on a musical tour of some European countries, it has been gathered.
The self-styled African Missy Elliot has almost concluded arrangement on the proposed tour with a Germany-based Nigerian music promoter.
Although details of the deal are still sketchy, the mother of two, however, confirmed that the tour will take her Germany, Austria, Italy and Sweden after two performances in the United Kingdom.
She also disclosed that work on her new album is at an advanced stage. She hopes to present the album to her fans before leaving on the tour, which is expected to run for about four months.
Superface Set For Album Launch
Singer, Yusuf Superface Olobodo is set to launch an album. Titled From Tribulation To Jubilation, the album launch is slated for a date in January at the Royal Treat Event Centre, Igando, Lagos.
The album has 10 tracks and features artistes like K-Solo and Flavour.
Superface’s debut single, I want to Know, was produced by K-Solo.
–Bayo Adetu
Juju Music Has Come To Stay
The president of Association of Juju Musicians of Nigeria (AJUMN), Queen Ayotunde Balogun, has declared that Juju music will endure till the end of time.
She made the declaration recently at the end of year prayer session organised by the Lagos State chapter of the association, which held at Goddis Bar, Oregun, Lagos.
“The attendance here today is very impressive and it indicates that members are dedicated and passionate about juju music. I am excited, considering the massive turnout and support, which heighten my belief that juju music has come to stay to stay forever,” she said.
She expressed hope in the next five years, juju music will attract an influx of young musicians.
In attendance at the event were luminaries like Prince Adekunle, Folly Peperenpe, King David better known as Sound Millionaire, and Champion Kunle Opio. Others were Oluwajoba Ojatunwase (Apple Spinners), Yinka Best, Tunde Samson, Mega 99 and Yaboskan.
S & J Studio Launched
Alapere in Ketu, a Lagos suburb, recently became the location of a new state of the art audio-visual studio, S&J Studio. Managing Director, S&J Mediaplus Studio, Mrs. Joy Okpebri, said: “Establishing a multimedia studio is a dream come true, as this is the realisation of a missing part of my life.’’ She added that she would make all efforts to reach out to talents, especially in the Ogudu-Ketu axis of Lagos State, with the intention of delivering world class music production.
S&J Mediaplus offers services in the areas of audio music production, chroma studio and video editing as well as CD mass duplication.
Some of the artistes that graced the studio launch include Born Bizzy, LKT and Soso Beat, a producer. They expressed delight at the choice of Ketu-Alapere as the location for a studio like S&J, noting that affordable and quality production has been brought to the doorstep of artistes in the Lagos suburb.
Halleluyah Set For Debut
Upcoming highlife musician, Ola Joshua, also known as Halleluya, has begun work on his debut album. Joshua told Entertainment Café after an impressive performance at De Palace Guest Inn on Boxing Day that he is influenced by Ibadan-based highlife musician, Dele Bravo.
He stated that he grew up in music, as his mother is equally a musician. Halleluyah hails from Isanlu Isin, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State and holds an ordinary diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State.
Eniola Badmus And Cognac
Movie roles are hardly the only thing Yoruba actress, Eniola Badmus, is good at.
She is also adept at swigging cognac. Last Friday, Whispers sighted her at the Hennessy Corner within the VIP section of EME’s Baddest Concert in Lagos, where, with aplomb, she downed four full glasses of cognac before the concert ended at around 2 a.m. Of course, we waited for her steps to be unsteady, but that was in vain. She held the drink well.
Banky W Bags New Title
In any language these must spell success: Successful tours of America and Europe, a hit album by all the artistes on the label and a Pepsi endorsement deal for the label’s star turn, Wizkid.
Add all that to a sold out Baddest Concert in Lagos and you will understand why stand-up comedian, Basketmouth, is thrilled by Banky W, Chairman, Empire Mates Entertainment, EME. Basketmouth, who anchored the Baddest Concert, expressed his thrill by awarding Banky W the title, “Emperor”. Deserved? You bet.
When Davido, Olu Maintain Caused Money Rain
Nobody goes to a concert and expect to be paid for doing so. But last Friday, some music fans at the Oceanview Ground, venue of EME Baddest Concert in Lagos, somehow got paid.
While performing his hit track, Big Boy, alongside Banky W, Olu Maintain responded to the cheers he got from the crowd by throwing naira and dollar bills in the air.
There are no garlands for guessing the reaction it provoked. But there was more, not exactly from where that came from.
The other source was Davido who, when he performed, brought out a bale of N1000, tore off the wrapper and flung the notes in the air.
Waje Turns Manager To Driver
Manager of Afro-pop singer, Waje, appears to have been given additional responsibility.
The chap, who is known as Michael, drove a wine-coloured Honda CRV car to the venue of the Baddest Concert–with Waje seated at what is known locally as “owner’s corner.”
And when security men at the entrance of Oceanview Restaurant insisted that he could not take the car in, Michael had to plead with them that passenger at the back was a celebrity that should not be seen strolling into the venue. Their boss came to identify her and the car was allowed in. Those who witnessed the scene could not help but ask if Michael also doubles as a chaffeur.
-Compiled by Funsho Arogundade, Bayo Adetu, Kayode Aponmade & Edwin Usoboh