Funke Akindele

Funke Akindele is an A list actress and Movie Producer.

I am FOREVER grateful to God for the grace and privilege to emerge as one of the celebrated entertainers in Nigeria. What I didn’t expect was the pressure and heartbreaks that often go hand in hand with so many blessings! Since the mega success of ‘Jenifa’ Movie brought me into the international limelight and opened some great doors for me, I have come to understand what mega stars have to deal with. The bad rumours, the misunderstandings, the second-guessing and the constant, and sometimes unrealistic, expectations from people sometimes just make me burst into tears.

There are times I dread reading some rag magazines/newspapers because I don’t know what new lies or rumours they are going to start about me. Yet, my managers insist that there is no need to challenge the bad press or take anyone to court. According to them, all this come with the territory since the press are also very instrumental in bringing me to stardom, it is not wise to fight them unless I really really have to. As mentioned, one of the most painful by-products of my stardom is that I have become fair target for many reporters, some of them very responsible, and some not so responsible, in their coverage of my life and career. I have read some unfair stuff about me in the newspapers that want to make me throw up with anger/disgust while I have also read some coverages that made me smile and laugh.

So, over time, I have learnt to take the good with the bad and just hope that somehow the more vicious reporters will get to be more merciful as time progresses, while I continue to appreciate and pray for the ones who report good things about me. I have experienced some serious sadness and discomfort in many areas as a star, while I have also had some pure joy and meaningful relationships and cooperation from places that I never thought I would be able to influence. For instance I have enjoyed enormous support from some First Ladies like the first Lady of Lagos who have who have been gracious enough to allow me to contribute to their charitable causes and programs.

The joy of contributing to my community makes all the other unpleasant aspects of stardom worth it! I loved working on the AIDS and the Homeless Projects with the government and hope for more opportunities to be relevant in my generation All in all, I have come to appreciate the goodness of God in my life, take the good with the bad and just enjoy it all. Regardless of the negative sides of it all, it is always much better and more fulfilling to be an international star making a positive change in society than a struggling actress!

…Funke Akindele

Adam Oshiomole

The former labour leader and Governor of Edo state was a model of responsibility and emulated by all. So it was shocking when news were confirmed a while back that he was having problems with his wife. An aide of his informs that he suffers from sexual addiction with a preference for teenage girls. His addiction has become a means for blackmailers where he had to part with flower decoration of the road project contract.

The governor had a NYSC corp member posted to his office and they have both grewn close and form very intimate alliance spending time in and outside his office in Edo state together served as the instrument for the blackmailers.

The governor who was the successor of corrupt Lucky Igbinedion as governor allegedly had an orgy with three teenage girls and he also had an intimate affair with a very young lady where she fainted after she climaxed under him but he only got to discover after he ejaculated.

He is also said to be very protective of his teenage lovers and vents when a colleague or politician makes a pass at them which was almost the case between him and Presidential aspirant IBB.

Lami Philips

After a series of performances by upcoming artistes. The host who the audience never got to see announced Goldie as the opening act 4 hours after the event was meant to kick off. Goldie performed songs like ‘nothing has changed’, recently released ‘You know it’. Comedian Jedi came next to announce Terry Tha Rapman as the winner of the Best Rap single. Before Bantu, who presented the plaque for the best RnB to Banky W, Big Lo and 2Shot came on stage. “I think we have a mix up here maybe we just clap and do the whole thing again” Bantu suggested when the nominees for rap single were announced instead of RnB. Banky W arrived the stage with Wizkid and Skales to receive his plaque. “I dedicate this to the best record label in the world, EME. no disrespect to Mo hits and the rest”, Banky said just before he ‘introduced’ his entourage.

Jesse Jagz who couldn’t memorize his speech came on stage with a sheet where it was written, he has a great sense of honour and the audience thought likewise. He then announced Sound Sultan and Omawunmi, whose sense of humour cannot be said to be same as her jokes didn’t work with the crowd. Sound Sultan and Omawunmi anounced Timi Dakolo as winner for the Best Recording Of The Year for ‘Heaven Please’. Rooftop MCs announced Ifeoma Williams who presented Kefee her plaque for Best Collaboration for her song ‘kokoroko’ with Timaya. Kefee didn’t appear several minutes after she was announced winner, she later did only to be seen fitting her hand glove.

The official sponsor’s ambassador, Dizzy gave a prep talk before a video from the sponsor was played to the audience. It was then D’Prince’s time to perform. Dayo Adeneye and Azuka Agujiuba came on to present the Best Rap album category.  Da Grin’s parent came on to receive the plaque for Best Rap album with the late rapper’s dad reciting lyrics for ‘pon pon pon’ just before he said ‘Thank you, Nigeria’.

Then the tribute to Late rap artiste Da Grin began. DJ Zeez appeared first with a lit candle.The best tribute to Da Grin came, Sage Has.son came next performing a brilliant tribute spoken word performance over Da Grin’s If I die track. Sage Has.son performed with snippets from various interviews by Da Grin.

Kel performed ‘pon pon pon’ with Slim T. Skales and Omawunmi performed ‘thank you’ which was originally done by Da Grin, next was YQ and Dark Poet before Mai Atafo presented Wande Coal with the plaque for Revolution Of The Year. Terry Tha Rapman was called to announce Modenine as the Lyricist on the roll for the fifth time. “Thank you very much, peace” was all Mode9 said

Jazzman Olofin and Pasuma Wonder presented street hop plaque to Terry G for Free madness 2. Guy Murray Bruce and Funmi Iyanda announced the first inductee of the night – Femi Akintunde Johnson [FAJ]. The veteran writer, FAJ challenged the young bunch of entertainer/showbiz writers. Tosyn Bucknor announced KC Presh to present the award for the best pop single to Wande Coal.

Lara George won the plaque for female lead vocal performance just after Darey was presented with his plaque for male lead vocal performance by Dane and Dorisha George. Dane sang Dorisha a song, looked like it was rehearsed still the crowd loved it. Mo Abudu arrived the stage with her partner to announce Clarence Peters as Best Music Video director which was received by Illbliss.

YQ came on stage with three dancers to perform ‘I like girls’. GT the guitarman was announced but Dayo Adeneye and Alex Obosi came on stage instead to present Don Jazzy with the award for Producer Of The Year. Since D’banj was absent, Dr. Sid spoke on his behalf.

Steve Ayorinde announced the induction of Femi Lasode into the hall of fame. A rep for KIA and MTN announced and present Skuki with the plaque, blackberry [which every winner on that night received] and KIA rio car key. Another tribute to the Late rap artiste Da Grin was televised.

Julius Agwu, Dele Momodu....

General Pype drove into the venue in a tricycle for his performance. TY Bello announced Bracket as winners of the Song Of The Year just before Wande coal was presented with the plaque for RnB/Pop album of the year by Djinee and Remi. Artquake came next with an earth-chattering performance and energetic kid dancer.

It was star studded. Then a DJ session featuring Jimmy Jatt, Mix Master Tee, Humility and Neptune.

D’banj was absent, while Audu Maikori and Jesse Jagz were seen – M.I. was absent and so was Bracket as previous reported. Steel [of taka sufe, omoge and south african girl fame] was seen dragging Funke Akindele into the award arena from the yellow carpet actress. She couldn’t stay till the end of the event as she was coming from the set of a movie. “Never believed we would win”  brothers Skuki said when asked if they saw a win coming against acts like Jesse Jagz and Mo’Cheeda for the next rated category. A few celebs were spotted at the regular section of the audience and VVIP guest were delivered to the venue in a white limousine.

The Sex Trader

Located conspicuously at the heart of Ibadan, capital city of Oyo State, Bodija market is a sight to behold – crowded and noisy. It is the delight of every wife, cooks and others who need to shop to save some money. Here, foodstuffs come cheapest in the city, and in Nigeria as some argue. Hence foodstuffs buyers happily troop there to bring back bulk food items ranging from rice garri, elubo, fish, meat, tuwo, lafun, vegetable and many others.
In Bodija, while the food buyers have their good bargain, there are other attractions at the market. Services also abide in the domain of immorality.

Bodija market wakes up as early as the cock crows, and never goes to sleep. This is not because trading lasts that long but a different transaction, heinous in nature, replaces buying and selling.
Prostitution, pornographic film shows and petty robbery take over in Bodija when buyers and sellers of food items quit.

Saturday Sun spent days observing what happens between 6pm and midnight and the discovery is simply incredible.

From the Total Filling Station at the other side of the road into the market, following the railway line that runs down into the market, sex workers in different shapes, sizes and colours would call on male passers-by, asking and even begging for patronage. “Come it is sweet, come fine man, I will do you well, na just N100. E no cost, come , make we do am sharp sharp!”. Some of them would chorus, swinging their hips to entice buyers.

Their ramshackle shelters stand facing the rail line. Some are built within the market. In most of the shelters, humble Hausa families also live as neigbhours to the sex workers. Amid the sex workers’ shelters is a mosque made of wood. As the sex worker or her patron ply the trade, they are harangued by the blaring of the public address system announcing prayers from this holy place.

Another walk through the area offers you greater embarrassment. They hoot, call and even drag you: “Come now, na me call you first, you no no me again? Come, I go do you well, come and enjoy yourself.” If you are casually dressed, they call you student, otherwise, they call you oga or fine man.”
To know more on how the sex workers carry out their business, Saturday Sun spoke to a few of them under the pretence of patronage.

Cynthia, who hails from Delta State said for short time meaning a round of sex with her, she would accept as low as N100. “But if you want enjoy yourself well, well, touch br***t, smoosh body, you go make am N500.” We haggled and she brought it down to N300. Spending a night with Cynthia will take nothing less than N800. “That mean say, you go enjoy till day break”, she said patronizingly, blinking her amorous eyes.

The other sex worker refused to give her name. She just revealed that she is from the North. She wanted business not friendship. “Na work I dey do, I no get time for friends now. I beg follow me talk business”, she snapped. The anonymous sex worker also accepted N100 for a quick one but advised that it would not be as interesting and enjoyable as a longer session that costs N500. “Na that one you go enjoy pass, I no say you fit pay am” said the unidentified sex worker. She got a bottle of beer as parting gift with a promise to see her later.

Porn mart
Take a long walk down to the side of the market near the butchers’ place. Here stands a wooden long hall. The interior smells heavily of alcohol, cigarette and marijuana. But for some bitter kola one chewed, the mixture of the strong stench would cause one to throw up. In front of this wooden hall are small pornographic posters mounted on flat wooden boards. The fee to watch a pornographic film that could last an hour is N30. Most of the people who patronize the cinema hall are traders, touts, and motorists in Bodija market and the neigbhourhood. Pornographic films are shown from 8pm till mid-night.
Most of the porn watchers, from Saturday Sun checks, first go there to get excited and whet their appetite for a session with the sex worker near-by.

“One hour for the cinema go wake you up so you go quick go do am with Ashawo,” Ibrahim, a mallam and regular patron of the cinema confessed.

A man who said he is an Ibadan indigene explained that: “Most of us come here to unwind. Some of us who have two wives do come here to discharge when our wives are fighting and the home becomes too hot. Or if your girl friend refused to give you the thing and e de worry you, na here you release yourself.”
Don’t the police attack them sometimes? Musa, another regular, speaking in pidgin English said “ The police dey come but the film man (cinema attendant) know them well, and him know how to settle them.”
Taju, another trader in Bodija, has actually patronized the sex workers on several occasions. He spoke to Saturday Sun about his encounter: “I once had a session with a young girl who said she is from Edo. I like her so much I promised to marry her.

After sometime she was no longer collecting money from me whenever I wanted to do it. The only thing was that she complained that the way I do it is painful. Meanwhile, I usually enjoy it that way because I take some dose of magani burantashi (traditional libido enhancer) which improves my performance. One night, Stella drove me out of her room shouting and cursing me for failing to marry her as promised. That was about three months into our relationship. Since then, I no longer go near her. I have shifted base. We still see each other but even when I try to avoid her she rained curses at me.”

- The Sun Newspaper

GUS

Actor Emeka Ike is the ultimate man as he won the celebrity edition of the Gulder Ultimate search. The last three celebrities standing were Darey, Daddy Showkey and Emeka Ike.  Emeka Ike received the sum of N7.5M cash prize over the weekend at a ceremony he attended with his wife. The comedian, Princess who was also a contestant was on hand to crack the rib of those present.

Questionmarkmag.com was informed that Darey and Emeka were on the same spot digging for the treasure but Darey yielded to the director’s advise to back out after Emeka Ike was getting violent.

Emeka eventually dug to the treasure alone and found it.

Wande Coal.

2010 Hiphopworld awards that took place last night at the New Expo hall at EKo Hotels and Suites which reportedly gulped 300 Million naira from sponsors was a star studded event with the only noticeably missing star were the Bracket duo who didn’t for show up to receive their plaque. Click here to read Details of what happen on the night but here is the full list of winners for the night.

Femi Akintunde Johnson and Femi Lasode were inducted into the Hiphopworld Hall Of Fame. Wande coal won big and Skuki won the Next rated and the KIA automobile prize attached in addition to the Blackberry phone every winner got.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

MUSHIN 2 MO’HITS  by WANDE COAL

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

WANDE COAL

SONG OF THE YEAR

“YORI YORI” by  BRACKET

RECORDING OF THE YEAR

“HEAVEN PLEASE”  by Timi Dakolo

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

DON JAZZY – “Banana”, “U Bad” performed by Wande Coal

BEST MUSIC VIDEO (AWARD GOES TO DIRECTOR)

CLARENCE PETERS for  Knight House Ft. Sauce Kid & Teeto “Finest” video

BEST R ‘N’ B SINGLE

“STRONG TING” by  Banky W

BEST POP SINGLE

“U BAD” by Wande Coal.

BEST R ‘N’ B/ POP ALBUM

MUSHIN 2 MO’HITS by  Wande Coal.

BEST RAP SINGLE

“SAMPLE Remix” by  Terry Tha Rapman Ft. Stereo Man & Pherowshuz

BEST RAP ALBUM

CEO by Dagrin

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

MODENINE -  Bad Man

BEST COLLABO

“KOKOROKO” by Kefee Ft. Timaya

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

DARE ART ALADE  “NO STARS”

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

LARA GEORGE “KEEPER OF MY DREAMS”

BEST STREET HOP

“FREE MADNESS Pt. 2” by  Terry G

NEXT RATED

SKUKI “BANGER”

HIPHOP WORLD REVELATION OF THE YEAR

WANDE COAL.

2010 HHWA

Nigerian Copyright Commission has confirmed COSON as the only organization which by law is permitted to carry on collective management of righhts in music and sound recordings in Nigeria and every other body which claims to do so like PMRS (now rested) and MCSN is committing a criminal offence.

Below is a notice from the Director General of NCC:

PUBLIC NOTICE COSON NIGERIA SOLE MUSIC CMO

Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman, the child star of the smash 1970s TV sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” whose later career was marred by medical and legal problems, died Friday after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 42.

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Janet Frank said life support was terminated and Coleman died at 12:05 p.m. MDT.

Coleman, with his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, became a star after “Diff’rent Strokes” debuted in 1978. He played younger brother Arnold Jackson a pair of African-American siblings adopted by a wealthy white man.

His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on NBC and two on ABC.

Coleman suffered continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and had a host of legal problems in recent years.

Coleman suffered the brain hemorrhage Wednesday at his Santaquin home, 55 miles south of Salt Lake City.

A statement from the family said he was conscious and lucid until midday Thursday, when his condition worsened and he slipped into unconsciousness. Coleman was then placed on life support.

Diff’rent Strokes” debuted on NBC in 1978 drew most of its laughs from the tiny, 10-year-old Coleman.

Race and class relations became topics on the show as much as the typical trials of growing up.

Coleman was an immediate star, and his skeptical “Whatchu talkin’ ’bout?” — usually aimed at his brother, Willis — became a catchphrase.

In a 1979 Los Angeles Times profile, his mother, Edmonia Sue Coleman, said her son had always been a ham as a small child. He acted in some commercials before he was signed by T.A.T., the production company that created “Diff’rent Strokes.”

“Gary remembers everything. EVERYTHING,” co-producer and director Herb Kenwith told the newspaper. “His power of concentration is unlike any adult’s I know.”

Asked by Ebony magazine in 1979 how he learned his lines so easily, young Gary replied, “It’s easy!”

But the attention his starring role brought him could be a burden as well as a pleasure. Coleman told The Associated Press in 2001 that he would do a TV series again, but “only under the absolute condition that it be an ensemble cast and that everybody gets a chance to shine.”

“I certainly am not going to be the only person on the show working,” he said. “I’ve done that. I didn’t like it.”

The series lasted six seasons on NBC and two on ABC and lives on thanks to DVDs and YouTube. But its equally enduring legacy became the former child stars’ troubles in adulthood, including the 1999 suicide of Dana Plato, who played the boys’ white, teenage sister.

Todd Bridges, who played Coleman’s brother, was tried and acquitted of attempted murder.

Coleman had financial and legal problems in addition to continuing ill health from the kidney disease that required dialysis and at least two transplants. As an adult, his height reached only 4 feet 8 inches.

He continued to get credits for TV guest shots and other small roles over the years. But he told the AP in 2001 that he preferred earning money from celebrity endorsements. “Now that I’m 33, I can call the shots. … And if anybody has a problem with that, I guess they don’t have to work with me.”

Coleman was among 135 candidates who ran in California’s bizarre 2003 recall election to replace then-Gov. Gray Davis, whom voters ousted in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Coleman, who advocated drastic steps for California’s faltering economy such as lowering income taxes and raising sales tax, came in eighth place with 12,488 votes, or 0.2 percent, just behind Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt.

Running for office gave him a chance to show another side of himself, he told The Associated Press at the time.

“This is really interesting and cool, and I’ve been enjoying the heck out of it because I get to be intelligent, which is something I don’t get to do very often,” he said.

Coleman told The New York Times at the time that “I want to escape that legacy of Arnold Jackson. I’m someone more. It would be nice if the world thought of me as something more.”

But legal disputes dogged him repeatedly. In 1989, when Coleman was 21, his mother filed a court request trying to gain control of her son’s $6 million fortune, saying he was incapable of handling his affairs. He said the move “obviously stems from her frustration at not being able to control my life.”

In a 1993 television interview, he said he had twice tried to kill himself by overdosing on pills.

He moved to Utah in fall 2005, and according to a tally in early 2010, officers were called to assist or intervene with Coleman more than 20 times in the following years. They included a call where Coleman said he had taken dozens of Oxycontin pills and “wanted to die.” Some of the disputes involved his wife, Shannon Price, whom he met on the set of the 2006 comedy “Church Ball” and married in 2007.

In September 2008, a dustup with a fan at a Utah bowling alley led Coleman to plead no contest to disorderly conduct. The fan also sued him, claiming the actor punched him and ran into him with his truck.

Coleman was born Feb. 8, 1968, in Zion, Ill., near Chicago. His mother told Ebony his kidney disease was diagnosed when he was 2. He underwent his first transplant at age 5.

He attracted attention when he took part in some local fashion shows and people suggested he should get work performing in commercials, which he then did, she said.

- Newsone

Note2note

The Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), an international non-profit
organisation and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network has
announced the premiere of its Notes2Note video for youths.

NLI was founded in 2006 by Olusegun Aganga (who is presently Nigeria’s
Minister of Finance & Chairman of the Board of the Bretton-Woods
Institutes, the World Bank & the International Monetary Fund (IMF)) and Dr
Christopher Kolade CON (Pro-Chancellor, Pan African University & former
Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK).

NLI has become popular for its Future Leaders Seminar, which is a
values-based leadership seminar for young leaders who explore the modern
challenge of leading in societies; especially a society where people share
different and sometimes opposing values or goals.

The Notes2Note video is animated and features the following narrators: MI,
Kate Henshaw-Nuttall, Sasha, BOUQUI, Omawumi, Aisha Augie-Kuta, TY Bello,
Chioma Omeruah and the RoofTop Mcs. It tells the story of Nigeria’s rich
history using Naira notes and illustrates the core values of the country’s
founding fathers. The early sixties were an exciting and exhilarating time
to be Nigerian, says Tunde Olanrewaju, Co-Chair of the NLI Management
Board. We had gained independence and Nigerian youth exhibited an
insatiable thirst for education and innovation in different spheres of
life. During this time, strong values and a sense of community were the
fabric of Nigerian society and Nigerians upheld values in their everyday
activities. Today, this is just not the
case.

NLI believes that one step to getting the country back on track is to
reach out to young people during their formative years to start
reinforcing values necessary to rebuild a good society. This was the
driving impetus for the conception of Notes2Note. This initiative
incorporates and promotes 10 values that were identified by Nigerians in a
National Essay Competition as important for building a good society,
explains Yinka Odeleye, an NLI Associate. The values are Integrity,
Industry, Compassion, Justice & Equity, Tolerance, Discipline, Family
Values, Contentment, Spirituality and Patriotism.

A global premiere event will hold on Wednesday, May 26 at the Genesis
Deluxe Cinemas. The video will also be broadcast on TV and radio stations
on Children’s Day, May 27, 2010 at 8pm on Silverbird TV and Inspiration
FM. It will also be available for free download at www.nli-global.org.

The Notes2Note project is under NLI’s CLEVER initiative, which includes
other projects like the Wordslam competition where youth can write the
lyrics to a potential award winning song and international poetry book.
There’s also a Clever Club, which gives students an opportunity to take
responsibility for transforming the country by developing a sense of civic
responsibility.

It is NLI’s goal that by the third year of implementation, the CLEVER
initiative will be institutionalised and self sustaining through a
combination of private sector support, and partnership with the Federal &
State Governments.

About the Nigeria Leadership Initiative

The Nigeria leadership Initiative (NLI) was established in 2006 as an
international non-profit, non-partisan organisation. The mission of NLI is
to mobilise the energy, talent and resources of credible and accomplished
Nigerians in Nigeria and the Diaspora to tackle the challenges that
confront Nigeria. NLI provides a platform for highly accomplished,
uniquely qualified Nigerian Leaders (Fellows) and emerging leaders (Future
Leaders) to develop and express their values-based leadership skills and
to assume a transformative role in the development of Nigeria. NLI is registered as a Charity in
Nigeria, United Kingdom and the United States and is a member of the Aspen
Global Leadership Network.

SDC

Show Dem Camp Rap Duo ‘Ghost’ and ‘Tec-1′ have released two interview videos.? They speak of their introduction to the music industry, their plans and ambitions and their new single “The Dreamer” feat M.I, who was recently nominated for a BET award.and Abasa Asake, American Idol Finalist.

Video 1:

Video 2