Naija Talk Show & Gossip, Nigeria Nollywood

TGIF By JOSFYN UBA Fair skinned Tessy Oragwam’s dream as an actress is to put smiles on people’s faces, little wonder she plans to own a school for the deaf and dumb. This Nollywood upcoming actress is in a joyous mood because she has been nominated for Best New Actress of the year an award by City People Magazine.  Determined to succeed with all the challenges life has thrown her way, Tessy is not ready to pay any price to get to the peak of her career. She believes that hard work pays even if acting is not financially rewarding as expected.  In a recent chat with Daily Sun, Tessy bluntly states that she won’t stay in an abusive relationship no matter what is involved. She also spoke of other issues. Excerpts: When you started acting, what dreams did you have about your career?  When I started acting, I had dreams of putting smiles on people’s faces and also aimed at getting to the peak of my acting career. You have been nominated for City People Awards as Bes...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The story of Captain America is well covered in comic book lore: a scrawny, bullied orphan named Steve Rogers is chosen for a top secret government project during World War II in which he becomes a test subject for a super serum. The serum transforms him into a strong and able soldier named Captain America, and he leads the U.S. Army in its fight against the Nazis. Actor Chris Evans , who plays the title character in Friday's release of " Captain America: The First Avenger ," put on 15 lbs. of muscle to play the role. The problem: he got too big for Steve Rodgers. Solution: "Skinny Steve." Having literally built Evans into what the film's director Joe Johnston called "the perfect human specimen," the movie makers had to figure out how the 6 ft. tall actor with the muscled-up physique could convincingly portray the pre-serum Steve Rogers, a scrawny kid of a mere 90-something lbs. Hollywood has dealt with on sc...

Last week, Nigeria’s premier jazz and soul export Asa joined an exclusive league of musical greats, as she performed at the 44th edition of the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival. Since renowned Swiss Claude Nobs founded the event, it has become an annual gathering place for lovers of jazz from all over the world. Asa performing at 44th Montreux Jazz Festival Legends such as Quincy Jones, James Brown, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Wu Tang Clan and Nigerian legend Fela Kuti have all performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. “All the musical greats have been at Montreux,” Asa says, revealing that she has followed the festival closely and collected and studied videos from previous editions. “It’s exciting to join the list. This is huge!” she said. This year’s edition of the annual event held from 1 – 16 July. Apart from being one of the few Nigerians to have performed on the platform of the Montreux Jazz Festival, Asa was also one of the youngest this yea...

A group of schoolchildren hold a copy of the children's version of Nelson Mandela's "Long Walk to Freedom" during a symbolic handover on July 17, 2011 at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg to set the tone before the Mandela's 93rd birthday and Mandela Day on July 18, 2011. AFP PHOTO South Africa celebrates Mandela Day, marking the 93rd birthday of the country’s first black president, with each citizen urged to donate 67 minutes for volunteer work — a minute for every year he devoted himself to the anti-apartheid struggle. Celebrations kick off at 0605 GMT with some 12.4 million children in schools around the country singing “Happy Birthday” His foundation has urged people to do 67 minutes of voluntary work on the day – to represent the 67 years he devoted to South Africa’s political struggle. The anti-apartheid icon is expected to spend the day with family in his home village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape. Millions of school children have simu...

Ojomolami...a riddle for the womenfolk By SOLA BALOGUN National Troupers on stage It was a play with a large cast, yet it ended on the cinema hall stage in less than an hour and a half. Ojomolami, as directed by Josephine Igberaese at the National Theatre, Lagos, provided a new platform to address the plight of women. Although written by a man, Mr Martin Adaji, who incidentally is the Artistic Director and CEO of the National Troupe of Nigeria, the play, as interpreted by a female director, added another voice to the clarion call for the African society to accord women their rights.  The death of Onuche (Matthew O Osisanya), a 62-year-old Igala man, expectedly spurred the traditional search for his killers among his many wives. This is a customary practice in most parts of Africa, including Igalaland, home of the playwright. Some of Onuche’s kinsmen accuse his first wife, Mama (Anne Njemanze) of killing her husband and thus demand a confession.  Meanwhile, a flashback i...

New Dallas series given go-ahead The new series will feature original cast members Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray A full series update of classic 1980s US soap opera Dallas has been given the go ahead, it has been announced. US network TNT said it had ordered 10 episodes of the programme, after it commissioned a pilot earlier this year. Original stars Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray reprise their roles in the new show, which will focus on the Ewing family offspring. The series is due to air in the US next summer. It is not yet known if it will be shown in the UK. "TNT has explored the possibility of an updated version of Dallas for several years, but it wasn't until we read Cynthia Cidre's outstanding pilot script that we knew we had the foundation for a great new series," said TNT's Michael Wright. "It is incredibly exciting to see both new and familiar characters in the hands of a dream cast. We couldn't be mo...

Petit married dancer Zizi Jeanmaire in 1954 French choreographer Roland Petit dies at 87 Petit created more than 100 ballets during his career French choreographer and dancer Roland Petit has died in Geneva at the age of 87, the Paris Opera Ballet has said. Petit helped set up dance company Les Ballets des Champs-Elysees in 1945 and is credited with revolutionising ballet for his theatrical choreography. France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand paid tribute to him, saying he was "one of the major choreographers of the 20th Century". Petit is credited with creating more than 100 ballets during his career. He married dancer Zizi Jeanmaire in 1954 and choreographed a number of pieces for her. "With his muse Zizi Jeanmaire, he wrote some of the most beautiful pages of contemporary music hall," Mr Mitterrand said. Born in 1924, Petit joined the Paris Opera Ballet when he was nine years old, but left when he was 20 to create and perform his own...

Eko International Film Festival begins at the Galleria THE 2nd Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF) started yesterday at the Silverbird Galleria, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island and will run through July 14. Faruk Lasaki’s spiritual thriller, Changing Faces, is to open the festival, which will run from 9am to 12 noon daily. This, is, however, the Nigerian premiere of the film that has been hailed as a metaphysical romantic thriller. The movie has been shown in a couple of international festivals abroad. A Nigerian filmmaker but not of the Nollywood stock, Lasaki is one of the filmmakers making Nigeria proud in the international arena. He is also an accomplished producer of award winning commercials and documentaries. Coming at the heels of Changing Faces will be the African premiere of Emmanuel Itier’s multiple award-winning movie, The Invocation, narrated by the famous Hollywood actress, Sharon Stone. The Invocation is a thought provoking film about God and World Peace. Also t...

Ara on humanitarian mission FEMALE drum sensation, Ara, may have taken a break from her talking drums to engage in a humanitarian mission (at list make the drums rest small). On her Facebook profile, Ara posted a picture of a young graduate who was allegedly shot in the face by armed robbers recently and who needs medical attention urgently. The picture is indeed gruesome and pathetic and would melt a rock-hardened heart. So, please visit Ara’s Facebook profile and give some help to Lara (the wounded girl). All information about the bank to pay money to and all you need to know are there. This is a good one by the drummer. No be only drum dis Ara girl sabi play be dat. To God be the glory.  Emeka Smith moves into Surulere ‘Mansion’, launches New Jeep COMEDIAN Emeka Smith but called Emeka ‘Cement’ by blind comic Kelly Blind, has finally moved into his Surulere, Lagos ‘mansion’. This piece of news is authoritative. The credible source who told T4T last week said the comedian ...

ONE of Nigeria’s comedy’s golden boys and multiple award-winning artiste, Ayo Richard Makun, popularly known as AY, is a cool dude who knows what good looks is all about. He always makes the ‘wow factor´ each time he graces the red carpet. A factor that has put him ahead of his contemporaries in style is his use of accessory; with which he has created his personal identity. “Style is really a blend of what you wear and how you carry yourself,” he says. Letting AY groove Look natural and distinct Try to look good in natural and distinctive way. Always look good when you are out of your home. Make it an attitude rather than a set of codes and with time, it defines your person. Define your style “Style is a combination of innovative ideas that must standout in the crowd,” he says.  “It’s the incorporation of well guided colours and trends that defines my personality.” Invest in shoes The first thing often noticed in a man is his shoes. It says a lot about how you pay...

BIMPE Adebambo of Beampeh Label will unveil her 2012 summer collection, Printsplosion-a-la-Berlin, on Saturday, July 16, by 3pm at the Goethe Institut, City Hall, on Catholic Mission Street, Lagos. The show, which is tagged Beyond Football- Shifting Interests and Identity, is a group affair, with nine other visual artists showcasing their works. “Ten girls will wear 20 looks from the collection and mingle with the exhibition viewers who will be able to see the clothes up close and personal as opposed to the normal runway format,” said Adebambo. The designer said garments made with Daviva cotton prints, Ernst and Bosch Austrian laces and some denims would be on display in an exhibition form.

TO ensure that the Nigeria fashion industry is of international standard and to create a platform for practitioners in that sector, MTN Nigeria, in partnership with Style House Files and the British Council Nigeria, has unveiled plans for the maiden edition of MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week in October 2011. The weeklong show will feature a combination of fashion and design-focused activities, talent hunt for international modeling contracts and Young Designer of the Year as well as exhibitions of creative works ranging from arts, interior designs, photography, and architecture to technology and others.  According to General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, the show is aimed at grooming young designers and entrepreneurs by injecting fresh ideas into the local fashion and style industry and facilitating their steady movement up the ranks to revolutionize the industry. Oyeyemi, who was represented by Cherry Eromosele, Senior Manager, Segment Marketin...

‘I’m for simple, comfy outfits’  He hails from Kwara State and stands at 6ft tall. Ayotunde Ajiboye has a physique set to perfection. This, perhaps, was one of the qualities that gave him the title of Mr. Ideal Nigeria 2011. Ayotunde beat 23 others to win the prize. He will be representing Nigeria at the Mr. United Nations, which holds in December. As part of his duties, he would be working on a project to support the Kanu Heart Foundation and also use the ONE9ja Club as a forum to educate young people more on entrepreneurship. With a degree in Computer Science from Babcock University, Ayotunde’s dream is to own an entertainment company. He tells DANIEL ANAZIA what fashion means to him. HOW does it feel to be crowned Mr. Ideal Nigeria?  I feel great and happy to have won the title especially now that I will opportunity to represent my country at the Mr. United Nations pageant holding in Tanzania in December. I’m proud of my accomplishment because I know it is going to lif...

THE Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was full to its capacity on Saturday, June 25, as Silverbird Group hosted the 24th edition of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant. The event, which featured 34 contestants from 33 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja, had three northern states — Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto — not participating. Dressed in their state’s native attires, the contestants strutted to the stage at 8.15pm to introduce themselves amidst traditional drum beats. Attracting guests from across the country, this edition was transmitted live, making millions of people to watch the show from the comfort of their homes. The colourful event saw Sylvia Nduka of Taraba State emerge winner, going home with the grand prize of a new Hyundai Accent 2011 sedan, N3 million cash aside from representing the country at the Miss World contest holding in England later in the year. Mo’Hits star, Wande Coal,  opened the night while the maid...

Produced by DJ Klem of Knighthouse comes the highly anticipated official single by Baron G . This banging track is titled “Day And Night” and it features D-Gates . What more can I say, sick beat (courtesy of DJ Klem ), catch hook and amazing bars.

Respected entertainer and one of Africa’s leading talking drummers, Ara, has issued a statement, saying she’s parting with her husband Prince Nurudeen Olalekan Saliu. The couple exchanged wedding vows on June 4, 2009. The pair will remain friends, Ara says. And they will continue to jointly support their child. “We’ve been separated since January’, the musician says. ‘But because I do not want rumours to start flying, and I think, out of respect, all my friends and fans need to know what’s happening to me, I think it’s right to set the records straight once and for all on this. We’re no longer together and we’re both happy. We’ve both moved on’. ‘I’m single again. But I will not be searching for now’. ‘I’ve taken this decision very painfully; and it’s particularly atough and sensitive time for me and my son. And I plead with my friends and fans to put us in their prayers at this period’. The musician who is working to release her new materials, while also dedicating...

Peep the new video to the single Tomorrow released by one of Nigeria’s female vocalists – Retta. She’s also nominated for the Most Promising Act in this years Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) and I can see why. Clarence Peters who shot and directed the video in Washington, DC created captivating visuals to match the song perfectly.

As many of you may have heard Amber Rose, famously known as Kanye West‘s ex girlfriend has been heavily promoted as the host for this weekend’s Music Meets Runway fashion show slated to take place on 9th July 2011 at Eko Hotel in Lagos. Well it looks like she isn’t going to be in Nigeria for anything after all as she was never booked! Hey my Nigerian Rosebuds I am NOT booked for anything in Nigeria at all…

Check this out....

Tha Suspect’s back again with another video to I No Send You this time with the MCs. The line up includes Sound Sultan, iLLBliss, Ghetto P, Mi-Fliss, M.I, Vector, Naeto C …and they all came hard on this joint.

According to Linda Ikeji’s blog the organisers of the Music Meets Runway show which Amber Rose was billed to host this weekend 9th July have released a statement reacting to yesterday’s tweet by the model/personality saying she hasn’t been booked for ANY event in Nigeria. This is what they had to say: Due to recent developments of Amber Rose’s nude photos that surfaced on the internet last week, we were in discussion as to what to do about the situation with some of our sponsors who had understandably shown some concern. We were still in discussions with our sponsors to accommodate Amber when we read Amber Roses tweet about her not being booked to host Music Meets Runway. Amber has indeed been booked and paid for through a reputable international booking agent and we were as surprised as anyone to see the tweet. This situation is under investigation and details will be passed as more information comes. The show, Music Meets Runway will still hold come Saturday,...

It’s another double cover for this month’s edition of Complete Fashion with actress Kate Henshaw-Nuttal & J-Martins. Kate Henshaw-Nuttal glams it up in a one shoulder purple and white dress for her cover while J-Martins keeps it casual in a simple black tee. Kate’s body rocks die! But is it me or does she look kinda pissed? Or is that her fierce face? What say u lovvies? Feeling it or not?

Check out footage from EME artist WizKid‘s album launch Superstar in Lagos, Nigeria about 3 weeks ago. The 20 year old artiste did his thing on stage with label mates Banky W & Skales, performing tracks like Tease Me, Holla at ur Boy & more. I wasn’t really into him before seeing these performance videos (well except for Don’t Dull) but I now have new found respect for him, Not bad the kid actually brings the energy to his stage performances! Love It! His colleagues were also there to show support, check out what D’Banj, Wande Coal & loads more had to say about the kid after the video of Wizzy performing.

 Written by Kayode Ekundayo, Lagos  Friday, 01 July 2011 00:00  Lady of Songs and one of Nigeria’s foremost female musician/song writers, Christy Essien Igbokwe is dead. She died yesterday evening after a brief illness at the age of 51. Her death was confirmed by her husband Mr. Igbokwe at around 6.30 pm yesterday. Speaking on Mrs Igbokwe’s death, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi described her death as shocking adding that the music industry which she had played a vital role would surely miss her. Obey said the late singer who would have turned 51 in November, would be missed for her humility and gentleness.The singer who also acts, had her last major outing at the finale of Nigerian Idol in March, 2011. She was the first female President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and was also the chairman and managing director of Soul Train Entertainment Limited. Born on 11th November 1960, in Akwa Ibom state, Christy lost her mother at the age o...