Nigeria Entertainment Scene: Tit Bits

Doris Simon, Others Honour Abbey Lanre At 50

Top movie director, Abiodun Olanrewaju, famously known as Abbey Lanre, held a lavish 50th birthday bash on 29  December at the KOGA Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos. The party, organised by City People Entertainment, a subsidiary of City People group, attracted an all-star cast.

In attendance were Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Yinka Quadri, Nike Peller, Yomi Fabiyi and wife, Monsuru Falana, Yetunde Wunmi, Queen Oluwa, Sunny Alli, Olarenwaju Omiyinka (Baba Ijesha) and Odunlade Adekola.

Others were Kelvin Ikeduba, Babtunde Omidina, Remy Shitta Bay, Ronke Odusanya, Murphy Afolabi, Lola Idije, Olawale Afonja (Sanyeri), Adekola Tijani, Yomi Gold, Saidi Balogun, Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Thomas, Doris Simeon, Mercy Aigbe and Adunni Bankole.

Wasiu Alabi Pasuma thrilled guests, while Niyi Afonja (Sanyeri ) and Yomi Mate, better known as Ifankalelluyah, were the anchors.

–Kayode Aponmade

Bez And Friends Thrill At Supersun Live In Concert

It was a mind-blowing experience at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotels and Suites on 29 December 2012 as alternative soul music artiste, Bez, hosted his debut Super Sun concert.

At the concert put together by Cecil Hammond’s Flytime Entertainment in partnership with Cobhams Asuquo Music Production, C.A.M.P, some of Nigeria’s biggest names in music were on hand to perform and support the host, Bez.  Among those who performed were Cobhams Asuquo, Waje, Omawumi, Tiwa Savage, Timi Dakolo, Praiz and Seyi Shay. They performed with the support of a live band.

The highlight of the event was when the headliner, Bez, took to the stage performing songs from his album, ‘Super Sun’, which the Boston Globe named one of the World’s Top 10 Music Albums of 2011. His unique performance which has seen him tour the world in 2012 climaxed with  rock star-like guitar-smashing which sent the audience into ecstacy.

In attendance were major players in business, the government and music including Odein Ajumogobia, former Foreign Affairs Minister; Nicholas Okoye, Don Jazzy, Audu Maikori, M.I, Banky W, Segun Demuren and others.

–Funsho Arogundade

The Marshals Rock Lagos

Fuji superstar, Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe, otherwise known as K1 the Ultimate, will remember  28 December 2012 forever. It was the day that five of his children took to the stage to entertain guests.

The show, tagged K1 and The Marshals, held at  R&A Hotel, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos. It featured Sultan, Femi, Farook, Honey B and Musty, all children of K1.

Taking turns to entertain guests, they played a variety of music forms. Farook played the jazz, Sultan, Afro hip-hop, Musty, hip-hop; Honey B, a blend of Afro and RnB; while Femi played fuji.

After individual performances, K1 invited his children to the stage and prayed for them. He enjoined them to  eschew abusive lyrics. “I waited for them to complete their education before going public. I make bold to say that they are all graduates. Now, the competition has started,’’ said a proud K1.

AMAA  Film Screening Winds Up

It was a gathering of Nollywood bigwigs in Abuja, when the curtains finally fell on this year’s edition of the nationwide screening tour of 2012 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) winning movies sponsored by Airtel Nigeria.

With an exclusive all-stars After Party at the TKlez Lounge, Hotel De Bently, the Abuja film screening was an occasion for class entertainment, fun, social networking and reunion for members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) led by the Chairman of the Abuja Chapter, Chief Onwurah Ifeanyi and the Chapter’s Sole Administrator and veteran actor, Sidney Diala.

At the Silverbird Galleria, Abuja, venue of the screening exercise, celebrities as well as other select members of the public and followers of Nollywood got the chance to view AMAA 2012 Best Film, Adesuwa, produced by renowned film director, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, and another movie, Man on Ground, written and Directed by Akin Omotosho.

Speaking on the eventful conclusion of the awards, Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Olu Akanmu expressed satisfaction over the partnership which he described as significantly natural given the vision and commitment of the operator to bringing smiles to the faces of Africans.

The 2012 AMA Awards sponsored by Airtel Nigeria held on April 22 in Lagos and featured 60 nominations in 26 categories out of the initial 134 film entries submitted.

Other stars at the event were the national financial secretary of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Sunny Stclement, Iyke Ezeani, Samantha Nkiru and Akwandaye Agatha among others.

–Edwin Usoboh

Queen Ure Returns

Queen Ure, the estranged lover of R&B singer, Soul E, has returned to music. The ex-banker has dumped her church ministry to release an album, Porpori.

Porpori was recently launched at The Cave Bar, Ikeja G.R.A, Lagos.  The event had music critics and friends of Ure in attendance. Wearing a gold and black gown, she performed songs like Porpori, Only You, I Cherish This Moment, Nkem O, You Do It Right, Naija Rocks, Ndegele and Get Down, featuring Dude Testsola, to the delight of guests.

Ure said that the need to express herself is what has seen her return to music, an industry she claims to understand very well.  Porpori was produced by the trio of George Nathaniel, Dude Tetsola and Cashson.

“I actually started singing from my days in the higher institution, but stopped because I had the calling to be a minister of God. Right now, I’m back to music,” she hinted.

— Bayo Adetu

Kelani Shoots New Movie

Accomplished filmmaker, Tunde Kelani, has started shooting a new film, Dazzling Mirage. He has also returned to location to film some missing parts of Ma’ami, starring star actress, Funke Akindele.

The decision to shoot the missing scenes, according to Kelani is because the film has not been released. Dazzling Mirage written is by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, according to Kelani is a story that will touch the nerve of a nation and our approach to sufferers of sickle cell anaemia and the myths. “It is an interesting love story because all of us are connected directly or indirectly to the sufferers of this ailment.  I’m intrigued by the writer’s approach to weave a love story with it and that to me, is an attraction. I have also had personal relationship with sufferers of this ailment and I consider it my responsibility to bring their story to fore,’’ he explained.

Egbokhare’s Dazzling Mirage, published by Loud Books, is a narrative about the adoptive daughter of the Adebayos. It is a story of her travails and triumphs against the odds of physical pains and psychological traumas she experienced in her journey towards self-fulfilment.

Globacom Salutes P-Square On ‘Channel O’ Award

Leading telecoms operator, Globacom, has congratulated pop music giants and Glo ambassadors, P-Square, on winning the 2012 ‘Channel O’ Music Video Award for Most Gifted Duo.

At the 2012 ‘Channel O’ Music Awards ceremony held in Kliptown, Soweto, South Africa, P-Square won the Most Gifted Group/Duo award for their collaboration with Akon and May D on Chop my Money.

Globacom’s Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohamed Jameel, said the award is an honour to the Nigerian music industry and Globacom in particular, as PSquare have been worthy ambassadors of the company.

He said the award is a testimony to the huge strides P-Square have in Africa and the world.

“We are happy to note your steady climb to the top over the years. Indeed, we are proud of your achievements and of our association with you. You have shown with the many awards you have won that you are great ambassadors of our brand and of the country as a whole,” he stated.

Jameel observed that the musical group epitomises Globacom’s  dedication to the pursuit of excellence and pledged the company’s continued support to the promotion of Nigerian arts and culture.

Other honours won by P-Square include the 2012 Headies Award for Best RnB/Pop Album.

— Daniels Ekugo

Sammy Michael Drops Erujeje

Gospel juju musician, Samuel Olakunle Michael, better known as Sammy Michael, has released his debut album.

Titled Erujeje, the five-track album featured Ayo Ewebiyi popularly called Mama Oriki, on the title track.

According to Michael, the album is a testimony of God’s faithfulness in his life. The singer has performed with top gospel music acts like Mega 99, Seyi Akins, Lanre Teriba (Atorise) and Esther Igbekele among others.

Tracks on the album, produced by Karem Gabriel, are Ile Aanu Oluwa, Erujeje, Olorun Mi, Awa Ti De and Baba Mimo.

Michael attended Lagos State Polytechnic, where studied Mass Communication. He holds an Ordinary National Diploma.

— Kayode Aponmade 

What’s Gwan Between AY And Basketmouth?

Many initially took it as a joke. But when on 25 December, one of Nigeria’s finest comedians, Ayo ‘AY’ Makun, fired series of mudslinging jibes via Twitter at his colleague, Basketmouth, the fans were taken aback.

AY had started the internet snide when he posted on Twitter a reaction on the insinuations that he was bragging over a car he bought for his own use and claimed it was a wedding anniversary gift to his wife, Mabel. An unidentified person with a twitter handle @SkyHigh had tagged AY’s tweet as ‘mere bragging’.

“Basketmouth, you are my favourite Naija comedian, I know you spoil Elsie but biko (please) don’t pull an AY & brag about buying wifey a car you actually bought for yourself.”

This tweet really got AY fuming. He assumed Basketmouth had hid under the anonymous @skyhigh to through a jibe at him. “Golden225 (Sky High’s twitter handle) Basketmouth, you obviously created this twitter account for this mission. When you are done, let me know. I wish you all the best,” AY reacted.

Though Basketmouth has not come out to confirm or deny the ownership of the purported Twitter handle, many fans have been wondering why AY would conclude that Basketmouth was behind the post.

When Cossy Begged For A Seat

Controversial entertainer, Cossy Orjiakor, would not like the treatment she got at the Lagos Crossover Festival held on New Year Eve at the Eko Atlantic City.

The wannabe singer, who came into the venue late with three friends, didn’t find it easy getting into the VIP section at the concert ground. But as if that was not humiliating enough, she got a shocker as she could not get any seat. With many guests looking the other way and ignoring her celebrity status, Cossy had to beg for a space.

After being on her feet for close to 20 minutes, one of the ushers had to look for some seats where she perched with her entourage.

Ibinabo Fiberesima Back To Night Crawling

Ibinabo Fiberesima used to be a night cat until a couple of years ago. The president of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN, even ran a discotheque, Pyramid Night Club, on the Island, till she ran into some troubles. But it seems this former beauty queen is back to her favourite pastime, which is night crawling.

Some weeks ago, Whispers ran into Ibinabo at 2Face Idibia’s Playas Ball Party held at the Auto Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos. She was in her groovy element while the party lasted. In what looked like an encore, Ibinabo was sighted again as one of the many celebrity guests at the opening of music producer Don Jazzy’s Club PoP a fortnight ago. On that occasion, the AGN leader also partied hard until she left the club at about 4 a.m.

Is Nse Ikpe-Etim Engaged?

Could it be that actress Nse Ikpe Etim has entrapped a Prince Charming who has made her change her mind about tying the knot? That is the big question as streets have been buzzing with stories of the star actress getting engaged.

Whispers learnt that Nse got engaged during the Christmas holidays, but kept the name of her fiancé under wraps for now. The love birds are said to be working on a wedding date, possibly during the Easter period.

Nse, a lead star in Kunle Afolayan’s latest movie, Phone Swap, recently said in an interview that she was not desperate to get married as it wasn’t mandatory that every woman should be married. She also featured in another popular movie, Kiss And Tell, in which she acted along with Desmond Elliot and Monalisa Chinda.

If her wedding plans come into fruition, she will join the league of Nollywood stars who found love in the last one year.

“A lot of people ask me. When are you getting married? Time is not on your side. For me, I don’t know. It is whatever God wishes. I wasn’t born to get married, so I don’t need to rush,” she saidl.