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Friday 30 August 2013

TOPE ALABI’S BOMBSHELL! I CAN’T BE GOING OUT SHABBILY BECAUSE I AM SINGING GOSPEL MUSIC


Patricia Temitope Alabi (nee Obayomi) is a household name in Nigeria gospel music scene. Born over forty years ago into a catholic family, her parents had received a prophecy when she was seven years old that she would be a “great minister of God”.

The actress-turned-singer had paid her dues in the entertainment industry before finally locating her divine call in music. Her decision to dump the profession of make believe for the microphone has earned her awards one of which is Best Gospel Musician in Nigeria.

However, as scandal seems to be synonymous with fame, large section of the growing fans of the talented singer are begin to get upset with controversies rocking the ‘Oore Ti O Common’ crooner.

After her fall out with her erstwhile spiritual father,Late Prophet Iretiola Ajanaku,the beautiful singer seems to be courting more controversies as the day goes by.

Her mode of dressing/flashy and reddish skin of late as a gospel artiste has been a major concern to many of her ardent fans.

They were of the opinion that indecent dressing is ungodly and inimical to the growth of the Christian faith.



They believed that dressing is part of the worship but these days gospel artistes say God looks to the heart. It is what the heart sees that the body says.

Others were of the opinion that the sonorous singer is looking much lighter these days; suggesting that she’s bleaching her skin.

But the highly revered gospel singer has remained unperturbed about uncomplimentary remarks flying around about her mode of dressing and color of her skin.

According to her “My current marketer (Galaxy) released a life performance, Amazing Grace, where City People gave me an award as The Best Gospel Singer For the Year. People started criticizing me from churches, telling me that the way I dressed in that video was inappropriate.

They even said because I now apply makeup that I would go to hell. And funny enough I have been putting on earrings since I came out with Oore Ti O Common, I have been putting on trousers to follow my husband wherever we go, except church programmes.But what about my husband, won’t I dress to satisfy him?

My husband does not complain. He actually complains whenever I put on something like ( Iro and Buba).

He prefers it when I wear western clothes. He will even come back home and tell me whatever he saw ladies put on outside that he will like me to wear.

I can’t be going out shabbily dressed because I am singing gospel music” she squealed

With her response, it seems she doesn’t care whose ox is gored.
More on this later!



@ Nigeriafilms.com

Omoni Oboli on Vacation...Still Keeping Mum

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Sexy mother of three and Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, you will recall, has been silent lately. The reason is not because of the fact that she is currently enjoying her vacation in the United States of America but that she has decided to keep a low profile after her name came up in the Gov Uduaghan's story the last time.

Well, virtually everybody knows about the story; there is point going into detail. The actress, as we learnt, left the shores of Nigeria several weeks back for a summer vacation in the US with her family

See their recent update of some of the pictures of them at the Disney land.

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@ Nigeriafilms.com

My Life After Project Fame -- Monica Ogah

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Monica a native of Benue State in Nigeria, recently shared her experience after Project Fame with BOLAOLORUNTITO ADEBOLA and talks about her new album. Excerpts...

How long have you been singing?
I started singing at Sunday school service in the church; my mum was the choir mistress, so singing is what has been part of my family because it has been in our vein.

Is music a career to you or what?

Music is my life, music is something I love doing, like I said earlier, I grow up in a family where music runs through us, music is my passion and it’s what I love doing, can’t stop doing music, I have to keep doing it because I love to do it and isn’t that I don’t have other things doing but basically I can’t leave music and music can’t leave me because it’s my passion and I love doing it.

How do compare your album to other artistes?

Monica Ogah’s album is different from others because of its originality, more so I don’t want to sound like anybody, I don’t want to look like anyone, I just want to be me and make the originality in me stand out from others.

What should be expected in your album?

Well, my fans and the music lovers should expect mix-feelings from my album because it is a total package album which contain dancing, inspiration and courageous songs, if you want to dance, you will find a danceable song, if you want to get inspired, there’s inspirational song as well, the album consist of different kinds of music in one album.

Which of your songs are you promoting for the album?

Most of the songs in the album but ‘Body Hug’ is my number one song followed by ‘Suddenly’ which featured Chidinma, ‘End of Story’ and ‘Tomorrow’ produced by TY MIX.

Your songs have been played across the broadcast stations, has response been encouraging?

Well, so far the response has been very encouraging and I’m very much happy with the feedback on the album.

Following the positive response, have you been receiving calls for shows?

Yes, I’m getting couple of calls for shows but it is a gradual process, you can’t just break into the market just like that, so I am still in that process and it is not as if I didn’t get calls for shows, they are calling but it’s a gradual process.

Your album title ‘Sometime in August’, what the secret behind it?

Well; Sometime in August is today, Sometime in August I launched the album and Sometime in August I was born while a lot of things happened to me in Sometime August.

Has the Project Fame platform really helped you musically?
Project Fame has really helped, it isn’t easy to start music from the very scratch, it’s a big platform for someone to start music career, they give you the name, people recognize you because of the long days you are being featured on different television station across the nation and people recognize you immediately they see you, so it is easier to ride on that platform to start the journey from the nowhere because it is really more difficult to start the journey afresh because before you register your face and name in the industry, so the platform MTN giving to the young ones is really a good platform.



How has life been after Project Fame?

Life after project fame hasn’t been easy, but I give thanks to almighty God for been with me throughout and also to my family for the continuous support to my music career. But life after project fame is totally different, because you are facing a whole lot of different people, you are competing with the entire world, it’s a different game entirely, the whole West Africa would be watching you and monitoring you and competing with a lot of people to claim your stand in the industry it isn’t easy task, but I think it’s just a process for you to get what you need.

Being a singer do you prefer the digital recording than the live band?

Live band has always been part of me, I sing with the live band in my church before I started using studio and if you give me an option to pick between digital studio and live band, I would pick the live band because it gives me the opportunity to express myself, I won’t be restricted to sing the same way I sing in the album. With live band I have the ability to express myself, though there are other things I could do, it also help you as an artiste to show your diversity, like you are really an artiste, people that see you know this person can sing and I have always chose a live band.

Is any of your songs recorded with a live band in the studio?
In this part of the world it is hard to see a live band studio, but I make sure that some of songs sounded live; if you take time to listening to my songs, like ‘Tomorrow’ sounded as a live band production. But I would love to record in a live recording studio anytime.

What do you do apart from music?

Music is my number one priority; I would have different things doing, but won’t be doing just music, like my mum always said that it’s good when you have several things doing. So music is my number priority, music is my life and it’s my style and every other things I want to add up to it is just like I’m doing it with passion.

What is your relationship with other artiste?
I respect everybody and I have mutual relationship with them, I do respect them because it is not easy to be in the music industry and isn’t easy to be recognized, though we have a lot of artistes out there and the female artistes go through a lot of stress more than the men, so I really appreciate it whenever I see any female artiste, I respect them so much because I personally know it isn’t easy to be an artiste.

After project fame what has change in you?

Well, nothing really changes, you won’t believe it, it’s my normal Monica, I have to be free. I thank God its common from where I come from in Benue State, we all love to be simple with life, though nothing really change in me and the fame which project fame gave me hasn’t gotten into my head because I control it.

How have you been managing with your money and car?

Well, I thank God for my family, though we are not rich, but we are okay, I’m doing good with the money, managing it with my day-to-day activities and the car has been keeping one moving and I thank God for the life giving to me.

@ Nigeriafilms.com

Pastor Anselm Madubuko Holds Traditional Wedding In Kenya (Pictures)


The Senior Pastor of the Revival Assembly Church, Lagos, held his traditional wedding with his new Kenya bride, Emmy Kosgei yesterday amid pomp and pageantry. The lovebirds were both in a happy mood during and after the ceremony.

We gathered that friends and family members converged at the Kelelwa village in Kenya to felicitate with the new husband and wife to be.

Emmy is a gospel singer in Kenya. Their church wedding will come up in September at the Revival Miracle Cathedral in Lagos. Pastor Madubuko is getting married again after the death of his wife.



© 2013 Nigeriafilms.com

Chioma Toplis Finally Unveils White Husband’s Photos

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After much agitation on if the white-man husband of Nollywood actress, Chioma Toplis ever existed or a mere pronouncement to protect her children as being fathered by someone, she has finally come up with an answer which realistically is an end of discussion to such doubt. 

This runaway actress, Chioma Toplis whose face is scarce in most current Nollywood movies recently posted on her facebook wall page the pictures of her white-man husband and that of her children.

The pictures according to Nigeriafilms.com were discovered as being purposely uploaded by Chioma herself and were tagged on the pages of some renowned celebrity writers in the country.

Also monitoring comments and responses of the posted pictures from her fans and friends, busty Mrs. Toplis couldn’t control appreciating most comments personally directed to her, which most are compliments.
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@ Nigeriafilms.com

Femi Fani-Kayode Lands In ‘Hot Soup’ Over Comment On Bianca Ojukwu

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Following his controversial article on the alleged deportation of some Nigerians to Anambra State by Lagos State government some weeks ago, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode may have landed in a ‘hot soup’ as Bianca Ojukwu, wife of late Biafra warlord, Dim Ojukwu, has threatened to drag Femi to court.

Femi had alleged that he had a longstanding intimate relationship with Bianca while she was a spinster, which heated up the polity.
In a statement through her lawyers, Wall Street Attorneys, the Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain asked the former aide to ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo to within seven days, retract the publication or be ready to appear in court.

In a letter dated August 27, 2013 and signed by Mike Ugwuanyi, Esq, Bianca asked Femi to write an apology and retraction of the said libelous publication in The Sun and Thisday newspapers, as well as publish it in the online publication, its origin.

“We have been briefed and our services retained by Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain to demand from you an unreserved apology and a retraction of a false and malicious statement, which you published online and also caused to be published in the Leadership Newspaper of August 16, 2013,” the statement read.

Bianca also stated that, “In the said article entitled, ‘Neither a Tribalist nor a Hater,’ you recklessly alleged, as follows: ‘I was not a tribalist when I had a long standing and intimate relationship with Miss Bianca Onoh…’, a statement, which you know is untrue and unfounded, but only calculated to lower our client’s esteem and damage her national and international reputation.

“Our client has never met you, does not know you in person and has never had any official or private relationship with you how much more ‘a long-standing and intimate relationship.

“Our client is therefore, outraged by your bizarre and scandalous allegation and the numerous mails and telephone calls she has received from friends, relations and admirers who are equally embarrassed and who seek to confirm the veracity or otherwise of your false and reckless publication.

“Your apparent lame and half-hearted attempt, as published in the Leadership Newspaper of 17th August 2013, to clarify your false and malicious allegation falls far short of a retraction and does not sufficiently address the damage to our client arising from the widespread dissemination of your false publication and is therefore unacceptable to our client.

“In the circumstances, we demand, on the instruction of our client that you submit to her a clear and unqualified apology and retraction published in The Sun and Thisday newspapers in addition to having the retraction published online.

“Take note that should you fail to tender the apology and publish a retraction of your false and malicious publication, seven days next after your receipt of this demand notice, our further instructions are to seek appropriate redress in court. And that shall be without further recourse to you. Be properly guided.”

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Drivers baffled by wallaby sighting


A bouncing wallaby has been making motorists jump, bounding along the leafy lanes of Last of the Summer Wine Country.

The latest sighting of the Australian exile was on Marsden Lane, outside the Pennine village of Slaithwaite, which is near Holmfirth, West Yorkshire - where the long-running BBC comedy used to be filmed.

One driver who managed to snap a picture of the marsupial said: "I got the shock of my life. It was just there in the road.

"I kept sounding my horn but it wouldn't move. Eventually it just skipped off."

Locals have been left wondering whether the wayward animal is Billy, a wallaby who went missing from his home at a nearby farm in 2010.

Then, Billy went on the run for a week before he was tracked down and reunited with is female companion, R Betty. In that incident, he escaped despite his compound being surrounded by a 2m fence.

West Yorkshire Police said they have had no reports of wallaby-related road incidents in that area.

Egg man connects to environment

An artist is to spend a year living in a floating wooden egg for a project designed to connect people with the environment
An artist is to spend a year living in a floating wooden egg for a project designed to connect people with the environment.

Stephen Turner will be nestled in a corner of the Beaulieu Estuary in Hampshire's New Forest until July next year to investigate the connection and disconnection people have with nature against the backdrop of climate change.

Armed only with a chemical toilet, a wood burning stove and electricity from solar panels, plus a small kitchen and living space, Mr Turner will document the landscape including marking litter that ends up in the estuary.

He has no fridge so food for the year will be dried, found on the estuary or tinned.

He is also aiming to swim in the water all year round as part of the connection with nature for the £140,000 project, funded by Arts Council England, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Hampshire County Council. Local businesses have donated a further £100,000 in materials.

The 58-year-old was approached to take part in the art project by the Winchester-based Spud (Space Placemaking and Urban Design) organisation, and his a ctivity outside the egg is being followed 24 hours a day by two webcams and blogs and question and answer sessions, as part of an educational initiative with schools

Mr Turner, who has degrees in art and studied the history and philosophy of science, said the project would draw on his interests in natural history, geology and geography as well as archaeology and human history.

"I am an artist who is very interested in how the natural world works and most of my work is about natural processes and materials," he said.

"There is no doubt that worldwide the climate is changing, whether that is man-made or not. I thought, there is a change here in Hampshire and so let's make a work in this particular landscape that will have relevance around the world.

"The seas are rising, the established salt marsh is eroding and the shore line is changing and that is happening around the world, and I think our emotional responses to these changes are interesting.

The sorry fate of R. Kelly's custom mansion

Back in the 1990s, when the putative King of R&B R. Kelly was still riding high on hits like "I Believe I Can Fly" and when his legal troubles mostly lay in the future, he bought himself a $1.5 million mansion in the Chicago suburb of Olympia Fields -- not to live in it, but to tear it down and build a new one.

The bizarre fate of that custom-built mansion, now badly rundown and bank-owned, in some ways holds up a cracked mirror to Kelly's own fortunes.

Once reportedly valued at more than $5 million, the home is now bank-owned -- and the price recently dropped to a staggeringly paltry $587,100.

Click through to slide 18 to see photos from 2011, before the bank took over the property. The labyrinthine story of the home begins in the caption on slide 4.


Friday 23 August 2013

Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo Of COZA In Sex Scandal

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A blogger by the name, Ese Walter has boldly come out to reveal her affair with Pastor 

Biodun Fatoyinbo of COZA (Common Wealth Of Zion Assembly) Abuja chapter.
According to her, her friend recommended the church but asked her not to join any workforce but to remain just a member.

After about 11 months of her attending the church the senior pastor (Biodun) sent for her. "I saw him at the end of the second service (they had two services at the time) and he said to me that he would like me to work with him. I knew I had no intentions of becoming a pastor so I had to ask in what capacity. He said he’d like for me to join a department, preferably the Pastoral Care Unit (PCU)," she said.
She later traveled to London for her masters but kept in touch with Pastor Biodun, who after some 

months paid a visit to London and asked to see her. "When I arrived his hotel, I called from the reception but he asked that I come upstairs.
"After a few minutes, he asked that we go to the roof of the hotel as his room was a pent suit and had a connecting door to the roof. While there, he sat on a reclining chair and asked me to come sit on his laps.

"He asked me to kiss him and all I could think about was seeing him preach on the pulpit back in COZA Abuja, Nigeria, which was my home church. He again said ‘feel free Ese.’ And asked again, that I kiss him.

"A few hours later, let’s just say, we were rolling under the sheets. It felt as though my mind had paused. I am not saying I was jazzed, (although it’s possible I was in some trancelike state and didn’t know it but I just was so afraid that I couldn’t say or think otherwise.) That was the beginning of this affair. A intimate affair that went on for a little over a week, daily," she said.

When she returned to Nigeria her church became uncomfortable. She felt shame anytime she sat in church and listened to Pastor Biodun preach and finally sent him a message saying she wasn’t comfortable anymore.

She is therefore calling the church to stand up for what it has been commissioned to do.

@news.naij.com

Thursday 22 August 2013

Angry Fans Reportedly Stone Wizkid, Damage His Porsche For Being Arrogant

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Sometimes being a celebrity star bring many responsibilities than one envisage, such as how you handle your fans. This situation happened to Ayodeji Balogun a.k.a Wizkid as angry fans stone his car at the VFS Global Services, Lekki phase 1 in Lagos.
According to the report Wizkid, dressed in White T-shirt and a Red Sofa Shoe came in a black Porshce Cayenne with covered number plates, already Wizkid have sneaked himself into the compound then came out into the hand of large crowd waiting to shake hand with him or snap photo with him and again the large crown was waiting for Wizkid to give them some money which Wizkid reluctant to do. But all effort for them to have Wizkid attention was in vain as Star Boy Wizkid drove his car out of the compound.

Unfortunately for Wizkid, one of the many stones caught his car side glass but the Pakurumo crooner did not wait a second. Then later they started to do comparison between Wizkid and Durosoke Crooner Olamide on the street level. They arguing that Durosoke Crooner Olamide will not ignore them..

Ailing OJB Jezreel Donates N200,000 To Hearts Of Gold Children Hospice



Ailing music producer OJB Jezreel a few days ago gave back to the society by donating N200, 000 to Hearts of Gold Children Hospice situated in Surulere, Lagos state. 

The money was part of the amount he raised for his kidney transplant.

The popular Nigerian producer, who has recently been in the news soliciting the sum of $100,000 to undergo a kidney surgery in India, also received a financial lifeline from the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

In an interview with Entertainment Rave Newspapers, the producer opened up on the lessons learnt and other issues.

Read excerpts from the interview below:

How do you see life now?

I see life more from a spiritual point of view, in the sense that I believe whether we like it or not, there are forces that are making things happen and I thank God that these forces have made it happen for me. I now see life from a bigger picture, I believe life is not about the Naira and Kobo, I see life from the strict sense.

What are the thoughts going through your mind during this period?

I was worried at the initial stage, I was worried about going public and raising the fund, but I believe it was all destined to be like this. A lot of things have come out of it also. Apart from the fact that we’ve been able to raise the fund, we’ve also been able to remind the people of the role OJB has played in the Nigerian music of today.

Do you think it achieved anything positive for you?

The major thing it has done for me is that the name OJB became popular. The name is now on everyone’s lips, even those that were not born at the time we were making music happen, that alone is a great score.

Out of the thoughts going through your mind before the money was raised, which one scares you most?

What scared me most during that time is death, not just personally but because you get worried about what you will leave behind, your children, family and all that. You don’t know what will happen to them and that gets me worried and also a lot of things you are yet to achieve, so all that gets you worried and scared.

How did you quench that thought of death?

The way I quench the thought of death was when I looked out and saw the amount of people praying for me that I should live, that was enough motivation to try and survive.

What were the best words of encouragement you got?

The best words of encouragement were when people were praying for me. Most of the time I read the messages, I tried as much as possible to reply them even from the sick bed. Those words encourage me a lot and the fact that the whole of Nigeria actually stood up for me was really encouraging. I don’t know what else can be as awesome as that, even a hit song is not as awesome as that. Nothing compares to that, so the people has really kept me going.

What lesson has this situation taught you?

What this situation has taught me is that don’t underestimate what God can do and don’t underestimate what can happen. I’m a very private person and have been trying to raise the money myself for two to three years. I have been battling with it until it came to a head. I was underestimating the reactions of people if I actually come out for help, but have learnt not to underestimate people now. You will be amazed to see how many people that truly love you and that is what I got to see.

What were the earliest signs?

It started with high blood pressure, loss of appetite and general weakness. Those were the major signs.

What would be your best line of advice now?

Whatever it is that you desire in your heart, you should never give up because I didn’t give up and God did it for me. And when I travel for my surgery, I will come back by God’s grace with good news. Nobody should give up on any situation.

@ Nigeriafilms.com

Yoruba Actress, Funke Adesiyan Denies Alleged Marriage Plans With Sati Ramon

Funke Adesiyan With Sati Ramon

Last week, the story of an impending wedding between Sati Ramon, the wealthy socialite and gorgeous actress, Funke Adesiyan was said to be in the pipeline. The story went viral even on the social media but Nigeriafilms.com can authoritatively reveal that the story is nothing close to the truth as Sati Ramon and his rumoured lover, Funke, have denied to have a thing like that in the offing.

Funke who is in Abuja at present shooting a movie responded that the story is fallacious, though, from the way we have viewed it, it may not be totally untrue that the two are having an affair but for marriage, we learnt, it’s nothing to be taken serious.

Report has it that Sati Rahmon was sighted at LTV 8 premises last week, he drove in with his 650 Benz Jeep while Funke rode in a Prado Jeep, left it behind and entered Sati’s Benz that conveyed them to an unknown place.

Whenever Sati Ramon, who is said to have already had two wives at different homes, calls up Funke, the actress, we gathered, is always in her best element, the reason is because, the lover boy hardly gives her the kind of attention she desires in a relationship.



@Nigeriafilms.com

Jazz Saxophonist Yemi Sax & Wife Expecting Baby


Award winning saxophonist Yemi Sax and his new wife Shola Durojaiye are expecting their first child shortly after their wedding just over a month ago.

Shola was glowing and pretty heavy at a birthday party throw for her a few days ago. Not sure how far along she is, but from the looks of it she’s not too far off. Congrats to her.



@ 2013 Nigeriafilms.com

Genevieve Nnaji Confesses: ‘I WANT GOD TO BLESS ME WITH THE RIGHT MAN AND A GOOD FAMILY’Genevieve Nnaji wants a husband

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Long before super stardom beckoned, I had this innocent but interesting interview with Genevieve Ifunanya Nnaji. I must, however, confess that I stumbled on the tape again only days back, and while wading through my archives. I’ve transcribed and extracted some of her candid thoughts which she shared with me. Particularly those I consider to still be relevant.

Born on May 3, 1979 into the family of Benedatte and Theophilus Nnaji, Genny, like I enjoy addressing her, hails from Umuebi – Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise, Imo State. The fourth of her parents’ eight children, she attended Kemstar Nursery and Primary School, Surulere, Lagos; Methodist Girls High School, Lagos and Girls Secondary School, Akwakuma, Owerri, Imo State. Dazzling and delectable, sumptuous and sexy, sweet and svelte, she is unarguably and indisputably the reigning pride of Africa in the make-believe world.

One of our biggest and richest, the single mother of one (Lily) who has in her kitty some of the most coveted award trophies and to her credit some of the most lucrative endorsement deals poured it all out to AZUH ARINZE. Trust me; you will definitely enjoy this…


How does it feel to have risen this far within so short a time?

(Smiles) I’m trying to handle it as much as I can. It feels fulfilling. I feel I’m having the best of my time. I feel the Lord is with me. I feel I have been able to make an impact on people and I have a lot of fans and I’m enjoying my life. It feels good.

To what or whom do you owe all that?

God’s gift, talent, determination, pride…

What do you mean by pride? They say it goes before a fall. And now you are saying it is responsible for your success?

You have to have pride to be able to stand the crowd, you have to have pride to be able to stand the intimidation and arrogance of people. Especially people who feel you have to pay dues to get to where you are going. You have to have the pride and stamina to tell them boldly you know what you are doing; they didn’t bring you to the industry, you will leave when you want to and you leave because you want to.

Where do you want to ogennyr hope to be in the next 10 years?

In the next 10 years, I know I will be married with kids. But I think it all depends on what God has fashioned out for me. I know I will still be in the entertainment industry or the fashion world or whatever.

What do you like most about stardom because it appears you don’t want to tell us about your love life?

The fact that it opens doors for you is what I like most about it. You walk into a place and every other person is queuing up for one thing or the other, they just start to recognize you. Oh! come in, come in…It’s actually a door opener for us or for me. It has brought respect, especially when you do what you are doing well. What I hate most about it is the price that we get to pay for stardom – negative publicity, the untrue scandals; actually, the only thing I hate about it is the bad press.

What will you say is the worst story ever written about you in the press?

So many bad things. But the one I hated most was the one of Fred Amata and I, which I don’t know where they got it from. It hurt me so much. It was not just fair.

How do you feel anytime you read negative things about your person in the media?

Certainly, I don’t feel good--



What if the stories are true, but maybe you were not expecting it to be published?

It’s rarely been the truth. Maybe a bit of it, but that’s not how it happened. The press never tells the story the way it is. It’s usually a bit from here and a bit from there. For a very long time, they have not written anything true about me…

How did you come into the movie industry?

I have been acting since I was eight in Ripples. That was how I got into acting. For movies, I think that should be 1998 in Most Wanted. I met Torino (Emeka Ojukwu) in a bus and to my greatest surprise, he recognized me, from Ripples, when I was about eight, nine. He asked why I left the industry. He later invited me to this audition – Most Wanted. I got a role, a ‘waka-pass’ and that was it.

But the story we heard was that Kunle Coker brought you in and that both of you even dated?

Yes, Kunle Coker was actually my boyfriend. But he did not bring me into the industry.

They said he was heartbroken when you deserted him. What led to the collapse of your relationship?

Well, relationships come and go.

Is it true that you dumped him for Fred Amata?

Fred Amata? I’ve never had anything to do with Fred Amata. In Ripples, I used to call Fred Amata uncle. So, I don’t see the reason why I should date Fred Amata. Fred Amata and I are just friends. I don’t have anything to do with him.

Are you now saying that apart from Kunle Coker, you have not dated any other person in the industry?

I will not say that and I will not say anything on the contrary either. I don’t think it is your business. It’s my personal life.

What do you find most attractive in a man?

The fact that a man will take me for who I am, not for what he hears or what he believes. I like people who take me for the me they see. That’s the most important thing. And have regard for me. And trust too.



What do you think is the biggest mistake that men make with women?

Everyone makes mistakes. But to me, I will not tolerate any man who hits women. To me, that’s evil.

Do you believe in love at first sight?

I believe in infatuation at first sight. Love is a very strong feeling. It does not just come. People think infatuation is being in love. They are two different things. You don’t know anything yet until you get to meet the person and you begin to fall in love. Not just physically, but externally with the person.

Can you recollect the first time you fell in love?

Yes!

Tell us about it.

I think we met at a show. This was when I was in secondary school and we shared a lot of things in common – singing. It was a case of two compatible people who were so much in love with each other and…

(Interruption) So, what eventually happened?

Like I said, relationships must come and go. You can’t help everything that happens. Some things just happen for no reason.

What’s your definition of love?

Love has to be understanding, caring. Love, to me, is being with somebody for 24 hours without being bored. Love is catching your breath every time you see whoever you are in love with. Love is friendship, love is understanding and love is trust.

Do you believe in being faithful in a relationship?

Yeah! I’m very faithful.



Can you date a fan?

I’ve never dated a fan. And I don’t know if I can. But people come around to toast as per fans. But it’s a matter of nicely telling them off. There are different reasons why fans like or love artistes. So, it actually depends on why my fan loves me. It depends. Althogenevieve1[1]ugh, I don’t think it is advisable to date a fan. The reason being that people are in love with what they see on the screen, not the real you.

What’s your idea of a sensual treat?

Quiet time in a place surrounded by nature, water, trees…less talk, more of feelings, let the feelings show instead.

What part of a man’s body do you like most?

What kind of questions are these?

Must I answer that?

Okay, a man’s chest, from the belly up.

What part of your own body do you like most?

I guess it’s my eyes. I think I like my eyes.

What’s your greatest wish?

That God continues to bless me. Especially with the right man and a good family.

It’s like you are too eager to get married?

No, no, no. The thing is just that there comes a time in your life where everything is going fine. And all you say to yourself is after this, what next? After everything, you have to get married as far as you are a woman.

What’s your favourite colour?

Blue.

What are your hobbies?

Singing, dancing…



Let’s have your bio-data. People don’t seem to know much about you?

I’m from Aboh-Mbaise in Imo State. I went to Kemistar Nursery and Primary School, Surulere; Methodist Girls High School, followed by one in Ikeja. I kept on moving. But ended up at Girls Secondary School, Akwakuma in Owerri, Imo State.

Why have you not furthered your education?

Life is not the same for everybody. Some people are so lucky, they come out of secondary school and they go straight to university because they have the back-up of people and it’s so easy. It looks simple…mine was different. But I’m determined. Definitely, I’m gonna go back to school. I wanted to make money, I love my money, I cherish my own money. So, I will go back when I’ve made enough. But even while I’m there, I won’t stop working.

Tell us about your parents, what do they do?

My parents are there. My mum is a teacher and my dad is retired.

What was your dad into before his retirement?

He was a bank manager with African Continental Bank (ACB)…I’m the fourth of eight children, the third girl. We are four girls, four boys. I come from a very strong Christian family. And I think that has been able to have an effect on my life, especially since I came into the industry. You see, even when people go out to say all sorts, my mother knows the kind of daughter she has. She knows the limit that I can go.

She must have been devastated when you took in, in your teens?

Well, well…I think so.

What was your childhood like?

My childhood was fun. It was fun. You don’t get to get all that these days.

What’s the greatest complement that has ever come your way?

My complexion.

Courtesy: AZUH ARINZE



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3 nabbed after attempt to abduct ex-Miss Nigeria




Three fake security operatives were arrested in Abeokuta, yesterday, after attempting to kidnap former Miss Nigeria, Feyi Sodipo.

The suspects who were two men and a woman were said to have claimed to be security operatives working for the organisers of Miss Nigeria beauty pageant.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects who had been arrested by policemen attached to the governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta reportedly took ex-Miss Nigeria in their car from Lagos to Abeokuta.

It was further gathered that the suspects, who rode in a Honda Shuttle car with number plate LAGOS, KA 35 EKY were said to have ordered the former beauty queen to enter their car from Lagos to Abeokuta to retrieve her car gift, Hyundai with number plate LAGOS GGE 354 AJ where she parked it.

Attempt by the suspects to take the car away from the Arcade ground of the Ogun State secretariat complex in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, however, met stiff resistance as the mother of the ex-beauty queen raised the alarm that attracted people to the scene.

The suspects who reportedly claimed to be police officers, however, failed to identify themselves when security operatives attached to the office of the state governor intervened.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s security attaché with instruction from the command’s Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, consequently arrested the suspects and took them to the Ibara Police Divisional headquarters in Abeokuta.



Speaking with newsmen over the development, former Miss Nigeria, said the people had been chasing her round the place, asking her to surrender the car gift she got from the Akwa Ibom State government.

Narrating her ordeal, Feyi said: “Organisers of the programme made many promises that they didn’t keep and now they want to collect the car given to me by Akwa Ibom State government.

“They want to collect this gift from me because Ogun State government has given me another car so I must surrender the one given to me by the Akwa Ibom State governmet.”

Feyi further told newsmen that there was no part of the contract she signed with the organisers that they will retrieve the car from her, stressing that the Hyundai car was registered in her name.

Feyi’s mother, Mrs. Mary Sodipo, told newsmen that she decided to raise alarm so that the suspects who had coerced her daughter to take them to where she was keeping the car would not harm her.

At press time, the three suspects were being detained at Ibara police station for onwards transfer to the command’s headquarters in Eleweran.

@Vanguard

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Ethiopian reggae singer Eyob Mekonnen dies at 37

Eyob Mekonnen
Eyob Mekonnen toured the US, Canada, the UK and Holland in June

Popular Ethiopian reggae singer Eyob Mekonnen has died.

Fans of the 37-year-old singer helped raise money for his treatment after he had a stroke last Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

He was flown to Kenya on Saturday, but he died in hospital on Sunday.

"He has made such a mark on the Ethiopian music scene, bringing a unique and poetic voice with thoughtful lyrics and a beautiful reggae vibe," a posting on his Facebook fan site said.
The page was set up on the social networking site last week called Let Us Pray for Eyob Mekonnen.

Its postings kept fans up-to-date on his condition and appealed for financial help to organise his transfer from hospital in Addis Ababa to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

"He was one of a kind... humble and extremely loyal," his close friend and manager Eyob Alemayehu, from the music promoter Yisakal Entertainment, told BBC Africa.

"A man of his word, reliable, caring, a strong believer, very up front, talented and much much more," he said.

Born 1975 in the small town of Jijiga, in eastern Ethiopia, Eyob set up a five-man group called Zion Band, which offered a "reggae beat with a distinctive Ethiopian cast", Yisakal Entertainment said.

His anthems "promote morality, love, peace and social consciousness", the promoter said.

Eyob's debut album Kal came out in 2007 to great national acclaim and he had recently started his international career, touring the US, Canada and Europe in 2010, the company said.

A message on the Let Us Pray for Eyob Mekonnen page posted on Monday afternoon said the singer's body would be returned to Ethiopia on Tuesday and his funeral would be held on Wednesday.

Your memories of Eyob Mekonnen:
I have had a chance to meet this talented singer when one of my good friend promoted his work in Dallas, TX and brought him for a concert back in Sept 2007. Eyob was then on a rise as his new album "Kal" meaning WORD was hit album and he was recognised as new singer who brought new style of Ethio-Reggae music to Ethiopia and specially for the Ethiopian Diaspora. His message in the lyrics was very captive than just the melody itself. He preached about LOVE, RESPECT and HUMBLENESS in his music. Eyob will be missed as he will forever be remembered for his greatness in Ethiopian Music and his humbleness behavior. RIP

Danny, Washington DC, the US
I had the opportunity to attend one of Eyob's concerts in New York city 2 years ago. Eyob became a legend with his first and only album and really unfortunate that he is gone too soon.

Benyam Gizachew, the US
Even though I had not been his particular close friend, he has been liked much by most of people including me, for sure Ethiopia has lost again a young popular reggae singer. I Pray to God to Put his soul in the Heaven and condolence for his families...

Lemma Gebremariam, Ethiopia

He was such heart moving performer. I used to attend his concerts and night clubs when i was in Addis. I will never forget those nights with Eyob rocking the stage with his extraordinary voice specially at club H2O and faranight in Addis Ababa. It will be great lose specially for Ethiopian music. We all were expecting his new releases not his death. It is just shocking news.

Alemayehu Chebude, Kuwait
I used to attend his concerts and night clubs in Addis. In addition to this, I hear his songs in my car, home and office. I was so obsessed with his songs .I also do physical exercise at the gym, talk with him in steam after exercise and He was really a nice person to talk and be a friend with. We all miss him... his loss is also a big loss for all of us!

Biruk Ethio, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I'm still in shock over this news. Eyob and I had become friends on Facebook after I discovered his music through a chance meeting with some world travellers that had his CD and let me borrow it. My band, All Night Pressure, were going to be his backing band when he came to California recently. Unfortunately, it never came to be as we had to finish our second record and time was pressed. The few times I spoke to Eyob, I could tell he was a genuine soul and extremely kind. His vocals are beautiful and haunting, though I know little to nothing what the lyrics mean. Another example of music transcending boundaries and borders. I'm extremely sad right now and I wish the best for his wife and family and offer my prayers in this tragic time. R.I.P. Brother.

Facebook's Internet.org aims to get billions online


The Facebook founder said he wants to give people the "power to connect"

An initiative to bring internet access to the "next five billion" people has been launched by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The social network has teamed up with Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung, among others, to lower the cost of mobile data.

The group said it wanted to help those in developing countries to become part of the internet community.

But one expert said those nations had "other priorities" to deal with first.

Mr Zuckerberg said the goal was to make "internet access available to those who cannot currently afford it".

The group's statement said only 2.7 billion people - just over one-third of the world's population - had access to the internet. Adoption was growing by less than 9% a year, which was not fast enough.

Central to the group's plans is to be more "data efficient" by researching ways to use less data to load websites or load apps.

The statement said: "Potential projects include developing data compression tools, enhancing network capabilities to more efficiently handle data, building systems to cache data efficiently and creating frameworks for apps to reduce data usage."

Dr Michael Jennings, chair of African studies at Soas, University of London, said he welcomed the firms' efforts, but that priority must be given to other pressing needs such as providing power to keep devices up and running.

"It's something of a misnomer that the five billion aren't connected," he told the BBC.

"Most people have made a call or used a mobile phone, and the success of things like mobile money service M-Pesa has shown just how many people are using these things."

Last mile connectivity has been a problem that has been battled in Africa for a long long time”Tom JacksonHumanIPO'Final frontier'

Tom Jackson, managing editor of African technology news site HumanIPO, said interest in the area was encouraging but that the pledge lacked important specifics.

"In terms of being able to reach people, they've never actually said how," he told the BBC.

"Last mile connectivity has been a problem that has been battled in Africa for a long long time."

Earlier this month, analyst Gartner said smartphones outsold "feature" phones for the first time, but many people in the developing world still rely on slow connections and very basic handsets.

Other companies are stepping up their interest in this area, all eager to position themselves as a major player in a market that analysts predict could be highly lucrative as technology adoption increases.

"Africa is almost like the final frontier these days," said Mr Jackson, "the final place now where there's penetration to be increased and there's money to be made."

Google recently launched Project Loon - balloons that will beam the internet from near-space. Fifty people are currently testing the technology, which gives speeds equivalent to 3G, in New Zealand.

If successful, it would be likely to provide a cheaper alternative to satellite connections, currently one of the main ways people in the developing world connect to the web.

Monday 19 August 2013

I could not sacrifice my wife for Nollywood babes – Victor Osuagwu


Nollywood actor, Victor Osuagwu , got married to his longtime lover Roseline 16 years ago. But he only wedded her last year at the bride’s home town in Choba, Port-Harcourt, amid surprises. The marriage has produced four children: two boys and two girls. Their fist son will be 15 years come next month. Osuagwu, currently the chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Lagos chapter describes his wife as a replica of what he wanted in life. He reveals that trust and understanding have been the stronghold of his marriage.

Hunter mistakes colleague for antelope, kills him

ADO EKITI — THE Police have arrested a middle aged man, Musibau Mustapha, for killing his colleague during a hunting expedition.

Mustapha, 30, was said to have mistaken his fellow hunter, Sunday Ijasa, for an antelope and released the bullet which instantly claimed his life a couple of days ago at Igbara Odo Ekiti in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of the state

Victimisation of Nigerians in S-Africa

SOUTH African-born wives of Nigerians living in South Africa are set for a major nationwide protest against their increasing stigmatisation by their fellow countrymen and women.

According to the Chairperson of the United Nigerian Wives in South Africa (UNWISA), Mrs Lindale Uche, fellow South Africans discriminate against them, their spouses and children.

'Once we are married, my body is for his eyes only': Glamour model to cover up and convert to Islam after falling for Tunisian lifeguard

  • Carley Watts, 24, is to marry Tunisian lifeguard Mohammed Salah, 25
  • Carley will move to Tunisia in October and convert to Islam
  • His parents will not be told about her career as they 'wouldn't understand'
  • Carley's two-year-old daughter Alanah will also move to Monastir
She used to spend her days posing in her underwear but now glamour model Carley Watts, 24, is to cover up after falling in love with Tunisian lifeguard, Mohammed Salah, 25.

The model, from Dearham in Norfolk, met Salah during a holiday in Tunisia in April and says she is so serious about the lifeguard she is set to Islam to become his wife.

From October, Carley and her daughter Alannah, two, will live close to his family in the city of Monastir, where she will spend six months learning about the faith - and planning their wedding.

Convert: Carley Watts will convert to Islam ahead of her marriage to Tunisian lifeguard Mohammed Salah
Convert: Carley Watts will convert to Islam ahead of her marriage to Tunisian lifeguard Mohammed Salah
Convert: Carley Watts will convert to Islam ahead of her marriage to Tunisian lifeguard Mohammed Salah
Husband to be: Carley met her fiance Mohammed during a holiday in the Tunisian city of Monastir
Husband to be: Carley met her fiance Mohammed during a holiday in the Tunisian city of Monastir

The real life Rapunzel: World record holder says her 55ft long dreadlocks could paralyse her but she will never cut them


  • Asha Mandela said she would be a 'zombie' if she cut her hair 
  • Has grown dreadlocks for 25 years and they now weigh three stone 
  • Doctors said her hair has given her a curvature of the spine
She is the real life Rapunzel with 55ft long dreadlocks that are longer than a bus. Despite being warned by doctors that her hair that weighs three stone could paralyse her, Asha Mandela said she will never cut them. 
The mother-of-one from Atlanta, Georgia, said: 'My hair has become part of me. It is my life. I will never cut it.

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Record Breaking: Asha Mandela started growing her hair 25 years ago following a 'spiritual calling'



Rapunzel: Mrs Mandela's hair is over 19ft long but one dread lock is more than 55ft long 



Dangerous: Doctors have warned Mrs Mandela that her three stone hair could paralyse her
'Cutting it would be equivalent to suicide. It would be like being a zombie.'

Mrs Mandela, 47, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest dreadlocks.
She calls her hair 'her baby' and credits them with helping her overcome cancer, two strokes and two heart-attacks. 
VIDEO: 'Dreadlock Rapunzel' unleashes her 25 YEAR old hair growth



Her incredible hair has also brought her fans across the world and she has launched her own secret hair formula on the back of her success.

It takes two days to wash and dry her hair, which weighs the same as a reception-age child, and is even heavier when wet.

It can also get easily trapped in doors or snag on bushes.

She has to wind it up into a baby sling when she leaves the house which gives her a greater degree of freedom.

But Mrs Mandela worries that 'someone with a hair fetish' will cut off a lock of her hair when she is not looking.



Family affair: Asha Mandela's son Zion, 11, (second from right) holds up her dreadlocks alongside friends Alexis and Egypt Rose



Heavy: Medics said her hair has caused a curvature of the spine and for her neck to collapse at the back



Freedom: She carries her dreadlocks in a baby sling so it is easier for her to walk around



Helping hand: Friend Egypt Rose Crooks holds the dreadlocks as Mrs Mandela walks through a park
Doctors have also asked her to consider cutting her hair for health reasons, including the risk of bacterial infection.

But their main concern is the weight.

She said: 'The doctors seem to think I have a curvature of my spine and that it's the length and the weight of my hair that's making me curve.

'Some have said my neck has collapsed at the back and that I need to be careful because I could start having spasms in my spine and probably be paralysed.'
Mrs Mandela, who has a 11-year-old son, Zion, with her second husband, said her hair has helped her love life. 
She said: 'My hair has never caused a problem with intimacy. I think it adds a little spice on top.' 
Mrs Mandela, who is happily married to her third husband, was born in Trinidad and Tobago.

She began growing her hair 25 years ago following a 'spiritual calling'.



Her baby: Despite the weight of the dreadlocks, Mrs Mandela said she would feel like a 'zombie' without them




On display: Mrs Mandela stands on a ladder (left) and at the top of the stairs (right) to show off her World Record-breaking dreadlocks


Part of her: Mrs Mandela credits her dreadlocks with helping her battle cancer
Her mother did not want her to because she thought it would make her daughter more likely to start smoking cannabis. 

She even carried on growing her hair while undergoing chemotherapy.
Eventually a friend suggested she speak to Guinness and in 2009 they crowned her with the title of world's longest dreadlocks.

They officially measured 19ft 6in but an unofficial measurement this week put one strand of her hair at an incredible 55ft 7in long - almost three times the official length.

Hairdresser Angela Davis of Natural Hair and Holistics who helps style Asha's hair on special occasions.

She said: 'I was amazed when she first walked through the door. My first thought was - "God, how much am I gonna have to charge her".

'Now I see it as an honour to work with someone with so much hair and to be able to do something good with it.'


@By DAILY MAIL REPORTER