Sammy Brown releases new single

Chioma Emerges Miss Abuja

Chioma Ezenwa, an indigene of Imo state, is the reigning Miss Abuja, having emerged winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Abuja Beauty Pageant (MBGA).

Darey to releases Two New HAUSA and YORUBA Singles

Darey’s sophomore is titled ‘Double Dare’ (he would be playing with the four-letter word that makes up his first name again, His most popular pay-off line when he worked as an OAP at Cool FM was ‘How dare you dare Dare?’ And his last album, released in March 2009, was titled ‘UnDareyTed’.) Earlier in October, he released two singles – ‘The way you are’ and ‘Don’t let me know’. A video for the latter was released only last week.

‘We’re finally ready!’ he says excitedly. ‘I can’t wait to share what we’ve put together with my friends from all over the world’.

‘DOUBLE DARE’ is a two-part album – coming in two CDs (each CD is titled ‘HEART’ and ‘BEAT’ respectively – together read as HEARTBEAT)..

He released recently, two new singles – ‘Ba Ni Kidi’ and ‘Sisi Eko’ via his Twitter page (@darey). In an unexpected, unsual and funny twist, Darey delivers a song in Pidgin and largely in Hausa with ‘Ba Ni Kudi’. Assumably, In a bid to ‘double dare’, Ba Ni Kidi is distant from previous effort (any record released by Dare) – There would be alot of experimenting on the album.

‘There’s going to be a lot of love and romance on the album, as you’d expect of Darey. But there’s also going to be a lot of fun; even naughty and mischievous stuff’ a privileged source reportedly said. ‘There’s another song called ‘Belly’; you might want to watch out for that’, he added.

‘I recorded Ba Ni Kidi with the kind help of my friends’ Cobhams, eLDee and Bayo who speak very good Hausa’ says Darey. ‘We were just messing around really’.

‘‘Sisi Eko”, a ballad done in Yoruba is Produced by Cobhams and Darey himself.

DOUBLE DARE will be released in a matter of weeks into the Nigerian market, while a UK debut, tentatively titled ‘DAREY’ is expected to follow.

Screen acts may be good, but stage acts are better-Ignis Ekwe

Ignis Ekwe, a TV actor and scriptwriter, easily brings to viewers’ memory the rested soap operas like Behind The Clouds and CockCrow At Dawn. A native of Fuga in Edo State where he had both primary and secondary education, Ekwe proceeded to the University of Benin where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated in 1982. He had a stint at the NTA, Jos, before obtaining a Master’s degree from the University of Jos and worked as a Consultant for United Nations Children Educational Fund (UNICEF).

Ignis Ekwe finally left UNICEF and went into full-time acting, and recently told of how it all started:

Acting career
To be honest with you, my acting career started when I knew how to talk. I grew up to discover myself playing drums, leading masquerades, organising my peer groups for dancing and singing.
Currently, I can write songs with ease in any language and translate them into any language, particularly the ones I understand. I was the president of the debating and cultural society at St. John’s College, Fuga and I had a cultural group inside the town as well as at St. John’s. In all the cultural activities that took place in Benin, Auchi and Fuga, St. John was always coming first and I was the leader of the group.
So I was a cultural ambassador even before I gained admission to the university. My first play was titled The Son of Tradition and my school group went on tour with that play and made money for the school. As I grew up, I took interest in writing soap operas, some of which are Cock Crow At Dawn, Behind The Clouds and After The Storm, for NTA Jos.

Inspiration
My inspiration comes from God and my fellow man. As I talk to people on different issues, I get inspired and get ideas that tell me I should have done more for myself. I believe people should value you for what you are and not really advertising you.

Role model
Jesus Christ is my role model, but the people I learn more from are children when I look and listen to them talking.

Nigerian theatre
As far as I am concerned, the stage still remains the best test for performance for anybody because if you can perform on the stage before a live audience where you don’t have to refer to scripts or somebody prompting you, then you can perform before any audience.
I think it’s one of the best mediums of training and that is why you see most people who studied Theatre Arts emerging better professionals than those who are just mere screen artistes.

In TV productions, they can always stop the camera for you, re-taking and editing episodes but on stage there are no such opportunities. It’s either you know it or your audience will know when you are not giving them the right thing. Having said this, I am not saying that the film and home video are not good. There are very good men and women who despite lacking theatre training are equally good and I respect them a lot.

Entertainment industry
This industry is big business in any part of the world and it is not supposed to be any different here in Nigeria. The problem is that it is still a growing industry and it’s only a few individuals who are promoting the industry. Recently, PMAN had got them together and had put their arts together. I remember when I was very young that if we didn’t go to watch Indian films in a day, we would not be happy. Indians place their economy on films and until Nigerian government starts active participation in the film and entertainment industry, it will still remain at the level where it is now. The industry is a goldmine, but be so far, I think we have tried because this industry started just barely 10 years ago and we have reached this stage, but it would have been better off than this if not that those who put the money down, particularly the Ibo marketers want to get quick money in return.

Happiest moments
I have had several happy moments in my life and one of such was when my wife wanted to take our son to the clinic for six naira and I told her that I didn’t have six naira but that she should take him to the clinic the following week and she was upset. That evening, all the children that were taken to the clinic died of fake drugs given to them. I didn’t know whether I should be happy or sad but when I heard families crying, I was very sad. Again when I looked at my little son who was saved because I didn’t have six naira, I was so happy.

Actors worth
Rate me ten over ten if you like because I cannot rate myself. I always try to improve on what I have done the previous day. Each time I finish a role, I always want to look back and see how I could have done it better and what I would have done if I were given the same role to play again. Of course, if I am given the same role to play again, I’ll love to do it in a different way.

Future plans
My plans for the future is to continue acting and creating scripts and serve God much better than I am doing at the moment. To be of much service to my immediate community in Fuga where I come from and to Nigeria as a whole, though I don’t have any political ambitions.

Directors/Producers
Right now, our producers are still trying to survive on their own. A few of them are good and there are a good number of those too who are not good. In my own candid opinion, if you ask me, the problem is that everybody seems to be in a hurry to be everything in this industry all because of money. You’ll find out that someone who has no professional training from anywhere, immediately becomes a producer, and becomes a director, a cameraman and you’ll find them like that in almost all productions and there’s nobody to correct them.

Why they do this is to cut cost in their own productions. There are a good number of those who go under all sorts of funny names all in the name of being producers. A good number of them have never been to any school and you cannot blame them because it’s their money that they invest in the trade and this is working for them. That is why the industry is growing at a slow pace, but I believe it will soon pick up.

Advice for practitioners
As for the film industry, I would say there’s hope. Our young ones who are starting now should learn to go to school first because anything one wants to do and don’t have educational qualifications, it will not be seriously regarded.

A good number of them, especially the young boys and girls, now rush into the industry because they want to act and the moment they get money in one or two movies, they don’t want to go back to school. It is not good for their future and their family because if you have billions of naira, you are still an illiterate with your money. For those who are already there, they should try to improve on what they have already acquired, as there is no age limit to acquiring training.,

Like Picasso, I want to work till death – David Dale

By  OLIVER ONUOHA and PATRICIA ONYEKWERE

Master artist, David Hebert Dale, is among the few artists who explore beads as a medium of expression. Born in the U.K. in 1947 to an English father and a Nigerian mother, Dale studied Fine Arts and Arts History at the Ahmadu Bello University in 1971, specialising in Illustration and Graphics Design.

Unperturbed by the rosy future, which life in the U.K. holds for him, David Dale has remained in Nigeria practising his profession and contributing to the artistic development of the country.

Dale blazed the trail as the first person to hold a solo exhibition of Deep-etchings, Watercolour, Lino prints and Pencil Drawings in Lagos in 1972. Aside from that, he has participated in 58 exhibitions both locally and internationally and has numerous commissioned works at different locations.

A bookworm and a rare artist, who works proficiently in about 23 different media with equal dexterity, Dale told Daily Sun, “If I am going to die tomorrow, I want to work till one hour to the time I am going to die because that’s what Picasso did.” He spoke further on why he read arts, his philosophy and arts in Nigeria.

Background
My father is English, while my mother is a Nigerian. I went to school in England and at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where I read Fine Arts. I graduated from the school in 1971. Since then, I have been practicing.

Art school
I think that the issue is, people like to parade their schools instead of working hard.
All I do today is to conduct research; these are things I didn’t read at the university. If you don’t do that, nobody will call you a master.

Artistic media
I use 23 artistic media. I do paintings, beads and glass bead works, water colour, I do stain-glass in three different styles, I wrought iron works, etchings, mosaic and many others.

Collateral
I have not used any of my works as collateral, but I think that in the nearest future, some of these works can be deposited in bank to get some money. The type of art that I do is something that grows in value as the years go by. I don’t insure my works, it’s the buyers’ problem, mine is to create.

Arts in Nigeria
I think I have to come out very hard on this, government is not doing well for people who feed on creativity in this country. Right now, the materials that I work with have been banned. So, if I want to buy mosaic, I’ll have to cross over to Togo.

And when you buy it with CFA in Togo, when you get to Seme border, you’re going to pay the same amount you spent on the material to ‘settle’ them in Seme. The ban on art materials will affect the work of artists who now use oil paints as if they are using watercolour. It’s either you paint properly or you don’t paint at all. But can you blame them? Nigerian artists are good but the facilities are not there to enhance the quality of their works.

Exhibitions
I have featured in 58 exhibitions locally and internationally. I have exhibited in places like United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Eastern Europe, Sweden, France, Holland, Spain, Eastern Europe, Former U.S.S.R, Cuba, Japan, U.S.A, Canada and Australia. I have done so many commissioned works for both private and public collections within and outside Nigeria.

Art masters
Perhaps, you are referring to people like Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Grillo, Kolade Oshinowo and Isiaka Osunde. We’ve left the university and created our styles. Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya is known for what I call folk art. Everything he does is like going back to Urhobo culture. Oshinowo has not cut off from the northern landscapes and cultural events.

If you look at his works, you’ll still see the Durbar and the rest of it. Isiaka Osunde, who studied in the Soviet Union, still captures the European romanticism. Grillo has the elongated figuring. We’ve tried to say this is what we can do and what we can not do but unfortunately, most of these artists probably work in one, two, three or four media and this is where I probably have an edge over a lot of other artists because I make use of 23 media with equal dexterity.

Aim
I aim at the feeling that my work should end up in a very happy home and that is the first thing about me. People come in here to say I’ve been to Mr. A’s house, I’ve seen your works. But if you look at him, you’ll know that he’s a status symbol man, who wants to say I want to be like Mr. Obi, who has 10 of David Dale’s works and Obi is a man who collects genuinely. Now, he wants to beat Obi, saying I’m going to buy 15 of your works. But the way he talks, you’ll know that this fellow is just trying to show off and I don’t allow my works to go to such homes. I feel the works should be part of the home and not say its there and you start flaunting it, I hate people who flaunt.

Why art
I had always wanted to be an artist. When I gained admission to the university, my family could only sponsor six of us at the same time, so they told me straight, “ If its Fine Arts you are going to read, you’ve got to sponsor yourself” and I sponsored myself through the university actually.

Recycling collectors
For us to have more collectors, we need more exhibitions. If you are a collector and you are able to drag one or two other people along with you to art exhibitions, it will raise new followership for the artist and his works. Nevertheless, we have a few good collectors in the country today.

Philosophy
It can be summed up as ‘do unto others, as you would want others do unto you.’ Don’t shy away from the help you can render. If you are ably placed to do something, don’t tell the Lord, ‘I can’t do it.’

Legacy
I can’t see any legacy I want to leave behind for the young ones because a lot of people come in here as interns and youth corps members. I’ve stopped that now because most of them come here to steal. The idea is that, some of these young people don’t want to put down their first step before taking another.

Role model
My school in England is my first role model. Then, the artist I refer to today, Picasso. I have the same attitude as he had for creativity. He didn’t create because he wanted to sell; he created because of the way he felt at that moment.

Future plan
If I am going to die tomorrow, I want to work till one hour to the time because that’s what Picasso did. He slept and did not wake up again. He worked till he died. He had a project at hand then. He held a party over night and said he was going to wake up at eleven o’clock to continue, but he never did.

Appreciation
I am a very serious artist. Anything I do, I put in a lot to it and for the fact that someone is going to buy it from me, I make sure that I put in my best. So, when he comes to spend two hundred thousand naira he doesn’t regard spending that much because I’ve put in all my best into the work.

Fraud is the bane of music industry

By AZUH AMATUS and ONUOHA OLIVER

With such artistes like Mamuzee, Freewindz, Bumpa Clash, Zhyon among others on his newly floated Myke Records, Evang. Mike Ikoku is really out to take the music industry to greater heights.

In this interview with Daily Sun, the showbiz impressario and image maker for All Seasons Hotel, explained his romance with entertainment, giving reasons for going into music and many more.

Myke Records
The aim is to contribute our own quota to the development of the Nigerian music industry. Also to discover and develop talents who find it difficult securing recording deals owing to one reason or the other. We also want to help export our music outside our shores. We also want those on our label to be part of the national cake, we have been in the entertainment business for long. This is our ninth year in the business of entertainment. We started with a nightclub in the East, after that we went into hotel business and also opened one of the best nightclubs in the South-East which is sited within the All Seasons Hotel and called N.V. Club

Artistes on Myke Records
We are trying first and foremost to ensure that some of them are signed on foreign labels and marketing companies. We are already discussing and negotiating with them. Once these deals are sealed, these outfits would help in the marketing of our products outside Nigeria. The works of all my artistes are of international standard and we are optimistic the deal would sail through soon. We also intend making the presence of our artistes felt here in Nigeria through the media and national tours.

Dreams
My dream is to build a good label with solid artistes who would be appreciated, celebrated and respected globally. We are talking of artistes who would be the richest in Nigeria and Africa. I’m also building a record label that would outlive me.

Myke Records and continuity
I have discovered why most record companies come and go, 90% of the people in the entertainment business are fraudulent. You daily meet people who are out to rip you off without giving you the assistance and mileage they claimed they would give. You will eventually back out when you are frustrated. The money I will make from my label is not what is driving me. It is the passion, because it supercedes the money and that is why Myke Records will continue to live and never die like others.

Rifts between record labels and artistes
The problem lies with the artistes and not the record labels. Nobody does business without making profit, some artistes like playing fast against their record labels. The truth is when a record label does not make money, so also is the artiste,and vice versa. But when one makes and the other is not making, that is when the problem comes in. Label owners take the first risk by investing in an artiste. Contracts are there, but sometimes our conscience has to over rule the contracts.

Difference between Myke Records and other labels?
The difference is that we are continually striving to prove a point and lead while others follow. We are new and making waves because we came in with a bang and lots of innovative ideas on how to better the lots of Nigerian artistes. We have also been able to change the face of musical videos in Nigeria with the laudable works of our artistes. My label produced the best video ever shot in Nigeria. It is on record. It came from Bumpa Clash and we don’t compromise on quality. Also, the video of Zhyon, Mamuzee and Freewindz, are all quality works that can compete favourably in any part of the world. In a year, we sign about five artistes. For example, we signed on five artistes in 2005, this 2006, we have signed on two more and few would join soon. And the newly signed artistes are in our studios cooking their works. We look out for artistes who can use their talents to tell the world that Nigeria is still good despite the many problems facing us. Nigeria is really good.

Artistes on Myke Records
As I speak with you, we have a total of seven artistes already signed on. Mamuzee, Freewindz, Zhyon and Bumper Clash already have their works released, while the others are still cooking.

Biggest problem
Piracy is the main problem and all hands must be on deck to reduce it to the barest minimum. When you report pirates and stop patronizing pirated works, it helps to push them out of the market. Intellectual property owners should reap from the fruits of their labour, we should not allow some faceless criminals to take from us the fruits of our labour. The government should assist us in fighting this scourge.

What Myke Records looks out for in artistes?
The artistes just like every good product, must have a hook. If they don’t, we are not interested. If you come to Myke Records, playing Ja Rule, R.Kelly, we will not look at your face, you must first-of-all, give us the R.Kelly of Nigeria because we are proud of Nigeria. You give us the Africanized R&B and we get you hooked on to our label.

Evangelist in music industry
Yes because music is the food of love, let’s play on and be happy. We preach happiness through music. We preach to people to be God fearing through music. We also preach people out of crime through music. So, in essence, music is the best form of evangelism and that is why as an evangelist of the most High, I’m preaching and reaching out to people through music via Myke Records.

One day is one day, poverty must go!

Most disgusting dress 2009

Comedian, Ali Baba buys N20m truck head as pleasure ride

Where is Mercy Johnson?

Sexy screen diva, Mercy Johnson, by choice or design, is not being seen in social circles these days.

Though she has had more than enough controversies surrounding her since she hit stardom, MJ, as she is also called, has always held her head high and has never been seen missing in action for so long, especially when there is great groove going on.

At the recent wedding of one of her colleagues, Mike Ezuronye, Johnson didn’t show up though some souvenirs she made for the couple were shared on her behalf.

Her critics according to Nigeria films, are saying Johnson is in hiding since her wedding, which she made so much noise about, is yet to hold.

Johnson, before now, had said she was going to get married last August. But August had come and gone and the wedding bell is yet to toll.

Some other sources tell us the diva is having a nice time holidaying in the US. And as for her relationship, the same sources say Johnson and her lover boy are still very much together.

We tried to reach Johnson but none of her phone lines went through

Wole Soyinka receives first Lifetime Achievement

Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Saturday charged Nigerian lawyers to accept the responsibility for reforming the country’s judiciary, stating that this was an indispensable ingredient for the vibrancy of democracy.
Soyinka, who has held distinguished chairs at numerous universities, including Harvard, Duke, Nevada and Emory, issued the challenge at Crowne Plaza Hotel in New York City where he received the first Lifetime Achievement Award by the Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA).

Wole Soyinka honored by the Nigerian Lawyers Association (NLA)

The NLA established the award to “recognize a Nigerian of any professional discipline who has, at least for 30 years, consistently attained distinguished achievements in his/her field of endeavor and during the same period has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to the development of Nigeria, and has made significant and outstanding contributions that have positively impacted Nigeria and Nigerians.”

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Gospel billionaire Bishop David Oyedepo

Dr. David O.Oyedepo of Winners Chapel, Africa is the richest Preacher in Africa.

The richest Pastor in the world is the President and Founder of the world's largest Church Building according to the 2008 Guiness Book of Records - Bishop David O.Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, A.K.A. Winners Chapel, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

Nigerian making us proud

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Yes, I can act nude- John Njamah

By ONYEKABA CORNEL-BEST and OLIVER ONUOHA



John Njama is one of the quiet young achievers in the Nigeria show business industry. He has his hands in almost all the pies of the industry having trained as a theatre artiste at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

He cut his personal teeth with Chuck Mike’s Collective Artistes before he was advised by the late Professor Ola Rotimi to go into the university and study Theatre Arts. Recently he spoke to Daily Sun about his career and future plans:
Beginning
I am the first born child in a family of five. I had my elementary education at Nigerian Navy Primary School in Lagos before I moved to Methodist College Nzeakoli. From there I went to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to study Dramatic Arts. I hail from Njaaba in Oru local Government of Imo State. I am an actor and artiste and my work cuts across movie and television. I have equally done some stage productions, which by the way, is my first love because that is where I started.
I started acting at a very tender age, the profundity of the stage is my major attraction. I must confess that I was very lucky to have grown up in an environment where people were genuinely interested in the future of children. People saw the talent in me and encouraged me to go all out to explore the gift in me and went the full hog chasing the goal of realising the dream. I started with a local group called MONIDEX. After a brief stay with the group, I went to Chuck Mike’s Collective Artistes. It was from here we had major productions and went on tours. I was more of an artiste in training and within that period, I was shuttling between stage and television and after a while, I joined the University to study Drama.
My first television production was a children adventure series on the NTA Network belt. It was around 1989 and 1991 during one of my television shows that Amaka Igwe saw me and invited me to be part of Checkmate and after that, she has never failed to use me in most of her projects.

My view of theatre
I see theatre as a mirror to correct societal ills or proffer solutions to problems. It is probably the strongest medium of human communication, be it tragedy or comedy.
I always tell people that life is a tragedy for those who think. I am a lover of tragedy because I think that we constantly need to reflect on our lives to appreciate how tough it has been for us to find the true path for happiness. Comedy is not even really meant to make people laugh. Behind every comedy, there ought to be some pedagogical values, but that is not what is presently obtainable in our society today. Entertainment is good but I insist that comedy should always carry a serious message with it.

Parental support
It was quite tedious back then between me and my parents. Several times I was grounded by parental orders of ‘Don’t go here, don’t go there! Stay at home’ and all that, but after a while, I started winning awards and my parents from that point started understanding the fact that this was where I am going and they sort of softened their hold on me.

Ola Rotimi stopped me from studying Insurance
I gained admission to study Insurance at University of Lagos and after I saw my name on the board, I went to the late Professor Ola Rotimi for advice and he said to me, ‘Hey my son, come over to Ife’. I have met him several times before but I think why he wanted me to come to Ife was because he saw me at an audition and was highly impressed with my performance and he said ‘Look boy, come over to Ife and let’s shape you.’

Role models
I see myself as a role model because I have been able to play very impacting roles on television, stage and movies. People tell me how well I am doing and how my activities affect their lives positively. I don’t snob people because for anyone to pick up his or her phone to call you shows how much you are appreciated and I believe it is only polite to show compassion to your fans. In my hometown, I am treated with a lot of respect and much is expected of me and I believe that I been doing my best.

Me and Chuck Mike:
I started my professional theatre career effectively under his tutelage around 1991. He is a wonderful teacher, a psychologist and great director, one who is more like a fountain of knowledge and if you pay attention, you are bound to tap immensely from him.
Fuji House of Commotion
I don’t think that several pages in a newspaper will be enough to describe the experience of being part of Fuji House; it is a wonderful experience; it is like a family away from my family. We are so close as a team that we can claim to be a family - each person in the production can easily predict the other, we know what to do as individuals as well as a group to the point of near perfection.
Chief Fuji, our father in the play, is a very wonderful person and the controversy surrounding his having so many wives is what helps keep the comic heat on in our house. You should appreciate that to manage the number of children my father has is not in anyway easy but behind all the strictness of Chief Fuji, you still see that he is a very responsible man that takes good care of his children and wives. Our father is very educated and responsible. The play is not necessarily promoting polygamy; it is a controversy in the first place to marry three wives but for the fact that you have three wives does not mean things cannot go well with you

Choice roles
I love playing highly challenging roles, roles that no one wants to touch; I have a large heart so I go for whatever has the potentials of tasking me to the limit.

Directing productions:
I have directed several stage plays like, Moremi, The Militant Preacher, Behold My Redeemer and others too numerous to remember right now. I am currently unit director of Fuji House Of Commotion and director of Laugh Patterns. I am also a line director for so many other productions and for home videos. I have done quite a sizeable number of movies too, like Wicked Contact, Blast from the past, Dusty love and others.

Nudity in Movies:
I don’t see anything wrong with nudity in movies as long as it is used in context to the story. There are stories that require nudity for the message to be effective. I am against people using nudity out of context, if I am faced with a nude scene, I "ll use what I call suggestive realism to tease the audience. I have used it a couple of times and it worked for me. The purpose of censorship is not to axe movies but to rate them for their appropriate audience.

Censorship Board:
The film industry in Nigeria is run by individuals who risk their hard-earned money to keep the industry going. It is sad that people spend so much to come up with a movie and some few individuals come up and axe the movie. When in actual fact the government they are working for has no investment in the industry. If the government is investing in the industry, then the censorship Board can then be said to be relevant. We are so helpless because the board has government backing and we don’t. Check and balance is good but it should not be done with vendetta.

Limelight:
For me there is a progression towards limelight after every production. It is difficult for me to say that any particular production shot me to limelight, but I think all my works put together served as the pedestal for my rise. The road to stardom is hardly immediate. Each production, if well done, opens new vistas and with God on your side, you may find yourself at the top of the ladder.

Awards:
My first professional award was a Hubert Ogunde Foundation Award for the best young actor, then in Port-Harcourt. I was given the Most Dynamic Actor Award, I got nominated for the Best Supporting Actor severally and even for Best director and so on. Way back in the university, I have won both best actor and best director respectively.

Being a role model:
I see myself as a role model because I have been able to play very impacting roles both on television, stage and in movies. People tell me how well I am doing and how my activities is affecting their own lives positively. I don’t snob people because for anyone to pick up his or her phone to call you shows how much you are appreciated and I believe it is only polite to show compassion to your fans. In my hometown, I am treated with a lot of respect and much is expected of me and I believe that I have been doing my best.

Ambitions:
I have a lot of things up my sleeves that I hope to accomplish in this short life. I hope to be one the best known hands in this industry.

We don't have problems marrying twins-Mamuzee

Their kind of music and energetic dance is one that will thrill you and set you in the right mood. They are never caught in different wears and when they appear in public, you marvel how God created two individuals with so much look alike. As married men, Anthonio Akpos and Andre Andos Dixon live together with their wives, a set of identical twins. In a chat recently, Mamuzee say they are expecting a set of twin babies.

Where have you been?

Basically we are working and you all should know that. If you are very conversant with CNN and BBC, there’s currently an advert running on the biggest reality show in Nigeria and Nigeria, is organized by us. We’ve done a bit of traveling to some Europe countries like Canada and other African countries, trying to make sure that this show becomes the best reality show in the world. So far that’s what has been keeping us busy and we are trying to release our album as well in July. Show we are all choked up.

What’s the reality show about?

The show is a surprise, it’s called twin Africa, show you guys should watch out for it; it’s about twins all over Africa.

The Album

We’ve released a single called sweet Gbedu; it was on UK and the Caribbean chart number one for about six weeks. It was a new song by Akon that knocked it out. So far the comments about the video are okay, we are trying to experiment, and we are trying to be modernized and move with time. Our song is African music and if you look back whether you like it or not, African music is dying, we want to do our music a little bit of hip hop so that it can appeal to the youths as well and that’s what we are doing right now.

Why hip hop?

Whether you like it or not, hip hop is here to stay because of the youthful appeal to it. So what we are trying to do is to mix hip hop with African music, make it a contemporary African song, as even as you dance to it, it’s still part of African that you can relate with it.

Challenges

Well, we are working on four projects and we want to make sure that we unveil them before the end of the year so, it been pressure here and there but we are just praying that God will give us the strength and make this dream come true.

What has kept you both together?

It’s been grace, God’s grace, honesty and love.

Are you guys married?

Yes to the most beautiful set of identical twins and we are expecting twins.

Dating before marriage

When we were quite younger, we used to date different girls. Can you imagine, you are in the room with a girl and she is looking at you, asking if you are sure you are Akpos or Andos? It was crazy. Later, we actually wanted to get married to one girl, but it didn't work out and we then opted for twins. That is the fun of it, and in our house, there is no sadness. Two sisters from the same house, there is no quarrel, no problem. We are both expectant fathers and we pray that when the children come, they will not be asking who their father is between us.

Life in Ajegunle
Growing up in Ajegunle (AJ) was a struggle. Ultimately, what we experienced in Ajegunle “opened” our eyes and we then released an album entitled, “Born to Reign”
“Life in Ajegunle was a do-or-die affair. Most people would be surprised that we grew up with the likes of Daddy Showkey, Baba Fryo and Daddy Fresh. We grew up in the same neighborhood. They were always in our house, we all hoped and dreamt together because in Ajegunle it was either you became a thief or you do something meaningful with your life. For us, we decide to go into music and never looked back and today we are celebrated. We remember a lot of other young men, many of them our bosom friends, who choose to live on the other side of the law and were mauled down in their youth by the law enforcers; many were also killed through jungle justice. For those of us that are successful today, we deeply thank God for his mercies because we saw so many things in AJ that opened our eyes to wickedness but God refrained us from the way that led to destruction and granted us his great wisdom to get to where we are today”.
Oppositions
After secondary school, we were determined to become entertainers despite ours parent’s insistence that we studied Law or Medicine. Our parents pushed us to a private Law school and later to a Para-medical school and when they saw that we were not ready to budge, they forced us into the NDA in Kaduna, but somehow we found ourselves in Ogoja. And in 1999, we came out with our first single entitled, Bobo followed by a gospel track, Abi you no know say Jesus na God’.

Back to school
With the success that came with our first effort, we went back to school - College of Film and Broadcasting in South Africa - for three years.
We returned in 2003 with another single titled Awigiri, the African Esan dance.

Miracle tour of Europe
We went abroad, with Africosa, a blend of Afro-beat, Makosa and African jazz, and we toured Europe recently and returned to call it a miracle. It was indeed a big miracle, there was this show called the Nigeria Fashion Show. As God would have it we played during the show and the Nigerian Ambassador to France loved our music and spoke to the organizer of the show”. Immediately, we were invited to Europe. “It was a dream of a life time.

Eye opener
We met a lot of Nigerians in Europe that were mere loafers out there; we saw a lot of girls who were into prostitution, involving themselves in all kinds of acts that is totally degrading to the African dignity. We met a set of Nigerians at the Metro and their palms were scarred red - burnt from washing of plates in steam water - we were compelled to give some of them money.
In Europe it is every man to himself, unlike here where you can see someone to give you garri to smoke no matter what, out there if you go hungry, you die. Many Nigerians living there are not doing anything but they are just too ashamed to come back home”.

Promoting African music
One thing we can’t get over is the way music promoters in Nigeria idolize foreign artistes to the detriment of the local ones. The idea of bringing in musicians from US or Europe and pay them so much and give Nigerians peanuts is bad. The big question is who really owns the money paid out to these foreign artistes?
When Sean Paul came here he was paid so much .But we met the same Sean Paul, playing in a Gay club in Paris and the audience was less than 20 people.
When Kofi Olomide met us in Paris, he requested that he would like to do something with us soon. Our artistes deserve more respect.
There are some radio stations in Nigeria that would frustrate you because you play African music. Some of them don’t like African music. We don’t let them frustrate us, we just keep doing what we believe in and now the world is taking note of us.

I have given so much to my country but received peanuts in return – Segun Remi, Kanran

Foremost movie actor, Kehinde Segun Remi a.k.a Kanran says that the most awkward role he has ever played in a film was when he acted as the leader of an armed robbery gang.


The filmmaker confessed that acting is not a lucrative business in Nigeria, stressing, “if you want to be an actor because you want to make money, then you must be a joker”. Segun Remi also spoke on his challenges as an actor, his constraints, films, motivations, among others.


Childhood
I am the last born of a family of six from Pa Samuel Akiremi and Mrs. Sabahina Adewunmi Akiremi. I am from a Christian and highly disciplined home. Out of the six children in my family, three of us are Theatre Arts graduates. Initially, our parents kicked against the idea but they later agreed to our wishes.


First salary
I got it from acting. I was being paid per production. So, my fees varied.


Jobs outside acting?
I minister as a priest.


How I started?
I started acting in 1975. My elder brother,Yemi Akiremi, happened to have motivated me because he is also an actor, a dancer and fine drummer.


Idols/Role models
They are late Pa Orlando Martins, Chief (Dr.) Hubert Adedeji Ogunde, Chief Duro Ladipo, Jab Adu (Bassey Okon) of Village Headmaster, Jimmy Solanke, Elder Moses Olaiya Adejumo (Baba Sala) among others.


First role on stage, TV or Movies?
On stage I played the role of Kurunmi in a play of the same title written by Prof. Ola Rotimi. On T.V., I played the role of a businessman in a soap opera titled Images.


Breakthrough
It was on stage when I acted in Langbodo, Nigeria’s drama entry to Festac' 77 at the National Arts Theatre Iganmu, Lagos. On television I acted as Alaafin Kanran in a drama shown on Lagos Television, October 1, 1988.


Constraints and challenges
In Nigeria then, there was no money in acting. So, if you wanted to be an actor because of money, you would have been a serious joker. People went into acting because they craved for it. To be a good actor then, you had to be ready to make a lot of sacrifices, meaning that you have to forego every other things and face the theatre. You need to attend rehearsals, engage in exercises, get your lines off-hand, your blockings and movements.


Films acted?
Some of the films I have starred in are Vigilante - by A Productions, Ose- Sango also by A Productions, Eri Okan by Awada Kerikeri Organisation, Itunnu, Bayowa Films, Eewo also by Bayowa Films, Golden Heritage, Idunnu by Alade Aromire, Orire by Alade Aromire, Ofa Oro by Express Fisheries, Ajaka Oko by Suntab, Ayanmo by Ogunde Films, Great Bird of Enternity by Ben Tomoloju, Sharttered Bridge by Dr. Bode Osanyin, Oba Oluaiye by Chief Wale Ogunyemi, Bibi Ire by Prince Jide Kosoko, Ilu le by Otunba Adebayo Salami, I50 Million by Yinka Quadri, to mention but a few.


Internalising roles
In the first instance, an actor must understand the script, interprete and then put himself in the character. Above all, he must enjoy the role.


Most awkward role
It was when I acted as the leader of a robbery gang. The producer and director of the film wanted me to play the role even though it was challenging.


Memorable roles
In each of the following shows, Mega Fortune, The Golden Heritage, Things fall Apart, Ovoramwen - Nogbaisi, The Gods are not to Blame, Alaafin-Kanran and Super Story, the roles I played were challenging and the quality of the artistes was high.


Quiting acting
Yes! For several reasons and they are because Nigerian Federal Government refused to encourage us by pumping money into our industry like they do in sports. Banks, corporate bodies and well- to- do individuals have also refused to fund the industry the way it should be funded. Some of them did not know that it's another avenue to make cool money.


I have given so much to my country as an actor but I receive peanut in return.


Motivations
The joy of being an artiste. They make people happy; they make them think; they solve peoples problems. Honestly, it makes me happy everyday but if I should wake up broke (financially), my brother that one go get as e be o!


Being a producer, director and filmmaker
You see, it’s because of shortage of funds that compels some of our people to become producers, directors, actors and film makers all at the same time. Honestly, it is unprofessional because they are of different offices. The job of a film producer is different from that of a film director. And a good artiste will hadly be able to handle both together.


He is going to remain an actor for life but that is if he is well paid. But if you are short of money, you may not have any choice than to be a foreman. But we thank God that these days, things have really changed for the better.


Current projects
Some of them include: The Black Card, Alaafin Aganju, Omo Ela, Election Fever, Behind the Mask and Abenilori.


Future plans
In the next five years, I want to see myself as an international actor, a good script writer, A man of the people both home and abroad, A successful man in my own career and a happy and peaceful husband and run a happy home. I also want to be an intelligent producer that can produce good films in several other languages.


I see Nigerian movie industry in another five years crossing our international borders. I also see Nigerian movie industry next to oil


Social life
I fast, pray and travel to meet friends. Aside from that, I stay in Church to minister as a priest. I listen to music ranging from different artistes like Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, King KWAM 1, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, Blues music, Christian gospel music, High Life, Victor Olaiya, Lagbaja, Orlando Owoh

Comedy is serious business-Koffi Nuel Idowu

Top comedian, Koffi Idowu Nuel has over the years, registered his trade mark as a force to be reckoned with in the business of comedy. The singer and actor, a Chemistry graduate of the University of Lagos, speaks on how he veered into comedy in school, his views about comedians who recycle their jokes as well as plans for the future.

Everybody knows you as Koffi, the comedian. Give us an insight into your background?
I was born Koffi Idowu Nuel and my mother is from Togo while my father is from Ibeju Lekki, Lagos. I am a comedian, actor and singer.

Take us back to your early days in comedy?
Well.... I started out from Theatre 15 at the University of Lagos when I was studying Chemistry. Prior to that, I went to Adrao Nursery School and Kuramo Primary School in Victoria Island. I also went to Moriti College, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

What inspired you to go into comedy?
Like I said, I started out as a stage actor at the University of Lagos and while I was a stage actor, my comical side gradually took over the serious part of me. So, it just metamorphosed into being who I am today - a comic character. I used to be a very naughty boy when I was young so it was just natural for me.

How would you describe Koffi?
Well... Koffi is an intellect who likes to portray himself in different areas of the arts. I have the talent so I don’t let it go to waste. I express myself through music, comedy or acting. I think I am a very simple person. Besides the job, I am an introvert and I like to keep to myself a lot except when I am on the job. I think I am a 100% Nigerian and proudly Nigerian too.

How long have you been in the comedy business and what has been your challenges?
I have been in comedy for the fun of it since 1997/98 but financially, since the year 2000 and professionally, since 2001. By the grace of God, there has been no challenges for me because I see everything as it is written by God. So, it is not exactly a challenge. You know, sometimes, we don’t always wait for God’s time as the best time. We always want to rush things but for me, I take it nice and slow, take things the way it comes and flow with the tide. So, everything that happens to me is the way God has ordained it to be. That is how I see it.

So, what is Koffi working on now?
Right now, it is Koffi and the worker man movement, I am promoting new music and my new movie, Mumu is going to be out very soon. It premiered recently. The brand, Koffi right now is all about production; music, movies and every other forms of production. It is not just about cracking jokes anymore. That is what I am working on now.

Why do you think comedians re-cycle their jokes?
It is not wrong for a comedian to say his own jokes over and over again. What is wrong is when others pilfer the jokes and make it their own and they all crack the jokes at the same time. It is wrong. It is not bad for a comedian to get to an event and find a relevant material from another comedian’s joke and use it but it is very wrong for comedians to gather together at a public concert and three or four of them will crack the same jokes. It makes no sense and I find that difficult to comprehend. I am fighting against people who pilfer other peoples’ jokes. I am really against it.

What are you doing in that regard? Are you doing anything specific?
Yes, I have been calling everybody to order. Recently, I spoke to two upcoming talents that the best way forward is to get original and serious. If people don’t take us serious, then, our industry is going to crumble and we are going to address the issue at the right forum. We don’t need to fight about it and create a mess. We will call ourselves to order, talk about it and make sense out of it.

What are the problems comedians face in the industry? Are there any peculiar ones?
For me, the way I see things, it is not exactly a problem, it is just the way society sees things. Comedians have been so stereotyped to be just stand-up comedians; people don’t try to see the other aspect of what you can do like music-comedy or acting comedy and take them serious. It is just a few people that have been able to break those barriers. For me, I have been able to veer into music production so that people can see that as a comedian, you have other talents and people can recognise those talents in you. There is a Jamie Fox in America that started from a sitcom, became a comedian and still sings beautifully. So, it can also be done here if you have the ability.

Tell us about the musical side of you?
Regarding music, I am into so many things. Right now, me and my crew would be releasing an album on December 1st and it is called All eyes open and we are trying to show that we can still do serious music. What we are doing is a full time job and should be treated as such. The same doctor that treats malaria treats cancer and also assists in giving birth to a baby. Those are different areas a doctor performs his duties. In the same vein, as a comedian, why can’t I do every other thing that I can do? As long as I don’t try to take another person’s piece of cake. I just try to express myself the best way that I can.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Basically, from the environment. When I look around, I see things that inspire me. Then, God is the ultimate inspiration and he talks to me all the time. As far as I am concerned, God is the ultimate comedian. He has it in abundance, that is why he has handed it over to us. So, God is my number one inspiration.

(Cuts in) Well... I am married and I have a baby but usually, I don’t discuss my family. Family and business are totally different.

What are your future plans?
I hope to keep blazing the trail for comedy movies. We have started the process, we have done Two black birds and Mumu and very soon, we are doing a new one called Funny movie. I hope to do a whole lot of things. Like I said earlier, I am into production. I am basically becoming a producer that would be pushing things. I will use the brand name to push out other things.

What is your parting shot to your fans?
If you want to be like me, you can’t. Just be you, put God first and and work very hard. You will get to your pinnacle and no matter how hard it is, you will get there.

I need a man in my life

Ace actress, Eucharia Anunobi speaks.

How’s your divorce case going?
We are still in court, but I am sure judgment would be passed soon. So, we take it from there.

Have you found another love?
I can’t think of another man until the first one is all over.

Have you reviewed the qualities of your man?
He’s got to be God-fearing, It is not about being handsome, tall or hardworking. All those ones are necessary but the foundation, the background, when a man has got the fear of God, then he would understand what it means to truly love a woman. That means he will cherish her. And that means he will be by her side through thick and thin; when she grows old, when she grows fat, when she’s sick. So, when a man knows God, he’s a better man. But on the other hand, one needs a man who’s got a job. It’s not about being a millionaire, he must have something he’s doing, so that he can have a sense of belonging, a sense of individuality.

Are men not disturbing you with calls since you are single again?
I haven’t seen them o. Please tell them to come o. Tell them to come very fast, I want them because my God said a woman should not be alone. And a man should not be alone too.

You still look stunning at your age, what has sustained you?
My faith in God. I have absolute faith in God. And when you have faith in God, He will just give you glory all the way.

Apart from God?
I love dancing and I take a lot of water. I am also crazy about fruits. Anybody who knows me will know I love fruits and water.

But some say sex is also good?
There are lots of other things that keep one younger and stronger.

Not sex?
That’s one. It’s a form of exercise. That’s what we know. It is one of the recipes for looking youthful, younger and a great shape for those who can get it.

What’s the hardest part of your job?
It’s when people attribute the role you have done in a movie to your personal life, forgetting that we are doing a make-believe job, that somebody wrote out the story and we are just chosen to act it. On the other hand, I will take it as a credit because it means you’ve done your job very, very well.

What’s the worst thing that has been written about you?
I don’t really put this in mind because I just consider the fact that being in the public eye, whether you like it or not, people would want to write good or bad. As they say, bad news is news and good news is no news.

When you look back, would you say you are living your dream?
Let me put it this way, I won’t say I came into Nollywood to be noticed. I just had the innate desire to do my job. I just found out that when I was small, I loved acting. So, for me, it wasn’t to be known or for material benefit but to make people happy. I remember I used to do comic stuff with my siblings.

I would wear my father’s coat and shoes to act like him or sometimes I would tie my mummy’s headgear and act like her. For now, you can say I am living my dream of entertaining people and being a role model. Then, I haven’t got to the height of my career. So, I am not living my dream completely until we shoot movies that would be accepted internationally more than what we have already.

I am also looking at movies shot with hightech equipment and a lot of money involved. It may be a kind of collaboration of international artistes in Hollywood, only then will I say I am living my dream.

What is the good thing about being an actress?
The fact that it opens doors for you, people appreciate you, you stand above the crowd.

What to you is the greatest problem of Nollywood?
We don’t have the kind of money we need to make the kind of movies we need. I give kudos to those who started the industry out of nothing. Now it has gone beyond them. We need billionaires to come into the industry to do better movies.

The industry will fall if these investors don’t come. It will fall because a lot of criticisms are coming up. People are now looking at scriptwriting, acting, directing and all other aspects of production.

So, you need money to meet up with these challenges. It is no longer what we used to produce. We have international exposure and people are expecting more.

A lot of your colleagues and even younger actresses are going into movies production, what’s delaying you?
Not everybody can be a producer. We are all cut out to do different things. Kudos to those who ventured into some other things. I have other things I am also doing. I have always been into private enterprise, which I don’t have to go about showcasing or talk about so much. For my colleagues, I watch their movies and I am happy for them.

How is your son, Joshua doing?
I thank God. It’s been hectic moving from one hospital to the other. That is why one needs a man to assist.

We want to set a reputation for safety in hospitality industry Jeffery Fischer- Sales and Marketing Director

Welcome Centre and Hotels, Lagos.

By Oliver Onuoha

 The Welcome Centre and Hotels, is designed to be not just a hotel but an events venue and conference centre. The gigantic edifice located on Muritala Mohammed Airport Road opened recently and now, prides itself to be one of the best hotels in the country. It’s a place to go to with that special person, have a business-oriented retreat, family holiday or need to take time off your busy schedule to relax.

 In an exclusive interview, Jeffery Fischer, Sales and Marketing Director opened up to Lagos Weekend that the Welcome Centre opened on the 1^st of October and barely three months, is getting quite busy by the day. “We don’t intend to run a nightclub here but in going forward we will have live music at our large out-door garden, people will have some small chops in a relaxed environment. There will be live shows, trade fairs and there are so many different facilities that will cater for different events like weddings or parties, it’s more than just a hotel. We want to convey a special meaning to the name, to be more than just a hotel but a place that people should always have a friendly reception when they come.”

On his opinion, about hospitality business in the country, Jeffery said “for most Nigerian businesses, reputation sometimes counts for nothing and lots of the other hotels that we have here, the only ones that are reputable are those who trade on their big brands and names. They have international names but here, we want to create not just the international but a global brand that any international firm coming to Nigeria, will recognize (Welcome Centre) as a truly active place that asserts high standards and hopefully a place where they will always want to come back to.

He reveals that there would be different source of memberships as the Welcome Centre houses a fully equipped air-conditioned gymnasium and squash court, pool and business centre.” We’ll have the tennis court, basket ball court and places people could book for night-outs. There will be membership for the health and fitness facilities and also for corporations as well, where people can have training, events and buy our products at discounted prices”. On safety measures, the sales and marketing director says “we take security very seriously; we have really reputable customers coming here and want them to feel safe as we want to set a reputation for safety in the industry. We have several features like in-door security, people can’t access the premises unless they sign in like in any other company, and we have fully equipped guards outside the front entrance gate, high-fence with barb-wires and we also have consultants who advise us on security issues.

Welcome Centre also has 80 tastefully furnished bedrooms with firm spring super-king sized mattresses, colour cable TV in rooms, in-room safes, and extra telephones in bathroom and hair dryers in toilets. There’s the Otto’s bar at the roof terrace for BBQs, private parties, karaoke as you can also catch all the sporting excitements too at the main bar. You could also enjoy our Wi-Fi connectivity and car hire service as the parking lot can accommodate 200 cars and more. The restaurant serves local and continental meals too.

Jeffery Fischer also told Lagos Weekend that the Welcome Centre aspires to be a five-star hotel not just by African standards but by international standards as they are looking for high value, high networked individuals and the biggest corporations. “We price our rooms to fit into every level, budget and taste. People who desire luxury, great location, who want to be active and want fun, those are the people want.