Mike A. and Yolanda Brown

Mike Aremu is ready to serenade us once again at the second edition of sax appeal.

The ever-growing entertainer who has been with us since 1999 will be on stage with his band at the Shell hall of Muson Centre on July 24 2010 to perform to an audience that cuts across different walks of life.

Mike Aremu has been an advocate of the saxophone from his childhood days. His journey to mainstream performance saw him signed up by Kennis music in 1999 where he released his early albums ‘Dance’ and ‘No shaking’. It was a first of its kind for an artiste in Nigeria to deliver a well- executed jazz album, at a time when the industry was consumed with affection for pop music. His success was a revelation that jazz music, just like pop and hip hop, has a loyal fan base in Nigeria too. This revelation got him described as an “Ace saxophonist” by the Nigerian Guardian.

Today Aremu remains one of the few Nigerian acts who hold on to performing live, bringing out the real essence off his art and music.

He presently has a listening audience that cuts across international boundaries and was described as a “higher powered saxophonist by the Washington post.

Come July 24, 2010, Aremu will join acts like British born two time MOBO award winner Yolanda Brown, Bez and Kunle Ayo on stage to deliver a performance he has tagged ‘Unadulterated’.

Yolanda Brown, a British Saxophone player is a two time MOBO award winner. Born to Jamaican parents, 28 year old performed at the debut edition of sax appeal in 2009.

Bez Idakula a talented singer with Cobhams Asuquo Music Production is one act pundits have penciled as one of Nigeria’s acts to watch out for. They are also joined by South African based Nigerian Kunle Ayo who is regarded as one of the most gifted guitarists on the continent.

Cynthia Okpala

Come July 2010, MTV VJ, Cynthia Okpala will kick off a new show on MTV base!

Titled MTV base.IQ Sweetened by Buttermint, the new Programme is a quiz show aimed at setting musicians, DJs, sports stars and celebrities against die- hard music fans. The project according to MTV base spokesperson “will be the ultimate trial of Nigerian youths’ music know-how and the latest ‘street’ culture

Recorded in various campuses, neighborhoods and local spots around Lagos, Base IQ’s major aim is to give young Nigerians the chance to represent where they come from by putting their musical knowledge to test how well do they know their favourite music stars? How well can they rock the mic and work the stages? How well do they even understand the music scene?

“I can’t wait to get out on the road with Base IQ,’’ Cynthia says. ‘’ Seeing celebrities compete with music fans in a test of their music knowledge will be riveting television entertainment. Can you beat your music heroes at their own game? – that will be a sweet victory indeed!” she concluded.

Cynthia ‘C-Von’ Okpala is MTV’s only Nigerian VJ. The 24-year old computer science graduate from Ebonyi State University first came to public attention after winning the MTV & MTN VJ Search in Nigeria in November 2007.

Although these days, Cynthia’s contract with MTV base has taken her all over the continent including recent trips to Nairobi and South Africa, Miss Okpala is always keen on applying her talents in new directions. She currently combines her MTV duties with high profile gigs as a radio DJ and actress, co-hosting the ‘MTN Yellow Top 10 Countdown’ which is syndicated on 40 radio stations across Nigeria and starring on the MNET series ‘Tinsel’ as “Ify”

Base IQ will kick off on August 18, 2010. Divided into two series, Series 1 will run for 13 fast paced episodes, while series 2 will roll out in January 2011.

The show will be supported by Trebor Buttermint and fans will be able to participate by logging on to MTV Base official website www.mtvbase.com.

Lloyd

I knew there was more to this story…While most of you went back and forth about whether Chris Brown’s tears were heartfelt or just a publicity stunt, R&B singer Lloyd says he told the controversial singer that he had “to really show his heart out to the world” and cry.

“He’s back with a vengeance….I think that they’re gonna find a place in their heart for him again….I told him man, you gotta get up there. You gotta CRY, you gotta really show your heart to the world.”

Check out the video of Lloyd making the statement to Rap-Up at the 3:19 mark:

Trey Songz

I guess you gotta get it in whenever you can…Trey Songz is rumored to have had sex in the bathroom at a after party at the BET Awards over the weekend. A couple of party goers saw Trey and a female by the name of Charity walk into the restroom together. When they returned she was looking clearly disheveled. I’m also hearing that this Charity chick has been making the rounds with different athletes and celebrities including Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks Brandon Jennings.

I wonder if Lauren London knows about this little rendezvous?

Drizzee Rascal.

Drizzy rascal was awarded the Best international artiste at the recent BET awards – He beat acts like Sade, K’naan, M.I., P Square, . His music is a mixture of UK Garage and hip-hop beats – His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with extremely eclectic samples and more exotic styles.

“I can rap over opera music if you gave it to me,” London-bred rapper Dizzee Rascal once boasted.  His government names are Dylan Kwabena Mills, He is a British rapper, songwriter and record producer of Nigerian and Ghanaian descent.

If you still need proof, here are five reasons why Drizzy deserve his BET plaque:

1. Flex

2. Bonkers

3. Dance Wiv Me

4. Holiday

5. Dirty Cash

NEWS reading in South Africa will never be the same again. Internet TV news channel Naked News made its debut in the country recently.

Presented by women who undress while they read top quality international news and sports reports, the channel’s Africa spokesperson Quintine Yiwombe said the service is “the thinking man’s answer to adult entertainment”.

The channel was launched in Canada more than 10 years ago. Viewers log onto the Internet or their mobile phones and get real news broadcasts daily as well as a whole range of other entertainment content including movie reviews, techno advice and even tips on successful Internet dating.

The channel has over 14million viewers worldwide.

Yiwombe said yesterday that the international version has been such a success in South Africa that in recent months, the African rights owners have launched a search for presenters of Naked News Africa.

“The Africa version will be made available alongside the international version for viewers in Africa and will have local sports news as well as reportage of events of African interests and features covering local events.

“We have had a phenomenal response since the pilot was placed on the site ,” Yiwombe said.

The international version of Naked News features a range of presenters and producers.

Yiwombe said they were looking for local presenters to ensure that Naked News Africa reflects the diversity of Africa’s beauty.

Discussions were also ongoing with local TV stations to broadcast Naked News reports in late night slots but this has not been confirmed yet.

A few miles from the soccer stadiums and tourist-packed hotels, Caroline Misavas is spending the World Cup selling her body.

She stands among clusters of a half-dozen girls in the heart of Johannesburg’s decaying Central Business District. Sex costs as little as $5. A night is $50. Ms. Misavas wears a female condom to protect against HIV.

The prediction that 40,000 prostitutes would move to South Africa for the World Cup has been widely discredited by statisticians and activists. Even if the numbers aren’t as high as projected, some have still come.

Their stories show how the razzle-dazzle of international sports can spark big dreams in the minds of a few people who are down on their luck, especially in a place as poor as Africa.

Established prostitutes who live in a city full-time no longer need a sidewalk. They have newspaper ads, websites and a network of cell-phone contacts. But foreign women who don’t know their way around South Africa have no choice but to walk the streets.

Ms. Misavas, a 28-year-old grade school teacher, fled a violent husband and Zimbabwe’s wrecked economy. Her friend told her about the World Cup. She got on a bus.

Prostitute

A car passes a prostitute standing on a curb in April in the city of Durban in South Africa.

“It was the situation that forced me to do this,” she said on a recent night, over a dinner of chicken burgers and fries. “I had never done this before.”

She hopes to earn enough money, around $10,000, to go back home and open a clothing store, she said. A man she called her boyfriend pays her rent of $45 a week. Her take so far: around $2,000.

She has three kids, two who live with her mother in Zimbabwe, one who stays with her in Johannesburg. She isn’t sure yet what she’ll do when the World Cup is over.

Once in a while, the police come to arrest some of the girls. They fine them $30. Ms. Misavas hasn’t yet been arrested. Activists say prostitution should be legal in South Africa, so they can work with women to prevent the spread of HIV and help some escape prostitution.

Lirato Nare, a friend of Ms. Misavas who moved here from Zimbabwe in 2006, said immigrant prostitutes represent many African countries. “There’s a block for the Tanzanians, a block for the Congolese, a block for the Zimbabweans,” she said.

Business on the streets has been up since visitors started arriving for the World Cup, but only a little bit. During games, Ms. Misavas noted, “there are fewer customers.”

Write to John W. Miller at john.miller@dowjones.com

First published at TWSJ

Emeka

The Gulder Ultimate Celebrity Show has ended and in addition to news of Emeka Ike emerging the ultimate man, there was rumour of carnal relation between Emeka Ike and Muma Gee. They were both accused by fellow celeb participants  Chioma Chukwuka, Funke Akindele and comedianne Princess – and they have both denied their allegations.

The rumour caused Emeka Ike no friction in his marriage as his wife Suzanne Rero Ike says she had a hand in all that transpired between her husband and Muma Gee, She was called and informed about the stunt..

Suzanne informed she pressurized the actor to participate in the show. She said when he was called to be a part of it – he declined and still didn’t make up his mind till the very day they left for camp. “Everything he did had my blessings. It was all drama.” , she said. The wife, graduate of English language. and school proprietress claims Emeka was her first boyfriend and doesn’t bother herself with thoughts of Emeka Ike cheating on her or not.

Emeka and Suzanne are parents to three boys. Emeka and Suzanne met at an audition at Tade Ogidan’s office where they spoke and exchanged home address then going to ask her to marry him just after she finished from secondary school, Suzanne turned him down but right after wards she got the keys to his place and never had to announce her intentions when she was coming over for visit.
About the alleged affair between Emeka Ike and Muma Gee in the camp, she said: “They called me when I was at a friend’s place and told me this is what they want to do, just to give people the impression that something was going on, as if they have something together and I said, ‘You can go ahead, but don’t go all the way. Don’t do things that will be silly and all that.’ I spoke with Muma Gee. I still speak with her fiancé as well. So, they just did it so that people can speculate about something, not that I don’t know what was going on. They did it with my full blessing and support.”

Pres. Gooluck On FB.

President Goodluck Jonathan has kept his promise to create a page on Facebook which he made on the 15th of May at the University Of Port Harcourt’s convocation ceremony.

The Facebook fan page was created on the 28th of June. He also assured that he would personally manage the account.

The Fan grew to over 5,000 within 24 hours and the Page has a total of 7,373 fans as at 11:30Pm, Tuesday June 29,2010 and Nigerians are getting very active on his page as his first status had feedback from 1388 fans.

“My life has always been about service. I am focused on serving my Creator, family and my country to the best of my ability and with your help I aim to be better at doing that”, He wrote about himself.

What do you think of President Goodluck Jonathan on Facebook?

Clarence Peters.

Clarence Abiodun Peters, the man behind the famous Capital Dreams Pictures got his imprint on the Naija music industry. Clarence is not the new wave in the industry, he is the wave and every artistes wants to go for him – the music industry is under his influence. The 28 year old director’s video is the bedrock of visual interpretation of audio recordings by Nigerian musician. If one had not really known Clarence Peters and been seeing the name at the start or end of many music videos, one would go so far as to call Clarence Peters a conglomeration of 10 directors. I mean, the talented and restless Clarence must have been doing 10 men’s job considering the large amount of videos released under his film every month. Clarence must have directed 3 videos out of every 5 videos shown on TV, that’s a clue. Its so obvious that Clarence is restless, no doubt, he loves it. Clarence Peters is the outcome of the whirlwind romance between the afrojuju master, sir Shina Peters and the legendary nollywood actress, Clarion Chukwurah.

While he has clawed his way up, Clarence, a connoisseur of quality music videos has achieved more than some legends in the industry. While Clarence was 18 years old, he has directed 40 episodes of the TV series “Everyday People”. He later gained admission into City Versity film and Television Academy, Capetown in South Africa for his 3 years programme. He then returned to home to put his learning into practice when he directed his first music video, Fuji by Darey Art Alade. He later met with his secondary school mate and old friend, Tha Suspect who is music producter and both founded Capital Hill, a popular record label that has got artistes like Kel and Tha Suspect.

Clarence enjoyed working behind the scene. The fact that he’s not in his parents’ line who are widely seen on big screen has confounded critics. Clarence, the man behind the music has transformed his vast knowledge of hiphop into a world of stylistic images. Not only did his videos complement the songs, but also, he makes songs larger than life, improved many artists’ image because they trust his professional judgement about image making. This whizkid can create the craziest images that seem to come out of nowhere. The much-sought after and widely imitated director has given us visual interpretation of most Naija hiphop artists with his fancy camera work, charming and following rhythmic beat as well as painting with variety of catchy colours, cheap but of high quality. This means, one can’t define Naija hiphop without considering Clarence Peters’ products. His vision definitely gave more texture to the way Nigerian music is felt. The hardworking and easy going young lad who makes the daunting task look easy will surely capture your attention for 4 minutes. He has got these special effects, bold and dramatic lighting. No one understands the light better than Clarence. With his strong contrast, he has this futuristic effect. Using his easy-to-use camera, he has wide range of styles which he experiments using techniques like abstract art and many more, he adds interesting storyline to music videos and compute wonderful graphics.

In Nigeria, its now a catch-22 situation, you get a clarence, then you get the best video and vice versa. In spite of his heavy workload which makes him a workaholic, never underrate the ability of Clarence. Calling the best video director might be an understatement, let’s call him the best revelation so far. If he keeps going like this, wont be surprised to see a Clarence award in his honour in the future, just as TONY awards was named after Antoinette Perry.

By Sonde Jimmy