M. Famous Set To Organise Beads And Catalogue For Nollywood Actresses
For the second year running; foremost publisher, Mrs Maria Omojiade-Osoh is organizing a seminar for Nigerian artistes, especially the Nollywood stars. The Edo State born publisher, who had in one of her many publications have Moji Olaiya, Aishat Abimbola, Rita Dominic, Uche Jombo and Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde on her cover, says this year’s edition will be solely on how to make beads.
“This is my second year that I am doing this. Last year when I did it, a lot of artistes were present. But this year, it will be different as I will be organizing a five-day seminar on beads making, event decoration, make-up, ‘gele’ and ankara. I have received a lot of encouragement from some of the Nollywood stars who have made a pledge to grace the event”.
Showbiz was also told that the event will take place at Ikeja Club between the 4th and 8th December, 2013. Meanwhile, one of the Nollywood stars, Moji Olaiya has given her words to be present there. “I hope to be there, it’s another way to show the creativity among us, actresses, and kudos to M-Famous Beads Catalogue who is organizing the event”, Moji said.
Prince John Thompson Drags Nollywood Stars To Abuja
Come December, 11th, 2013, at the National Merit Awards house, Maitama in Abuja, the who is who in Nollywood, will converge there for the second edition of African Royal Majesty Award. The event, according to Prince John Thompson, the C.E.O of the event, will be different from the other ones as he intends to add the flavour of entertainment to it. He said. “Last year when we organized this event, it was beautiful no doubt. But this time around, we want to add spice to it by inviting Nollywood stars to the event. And so far, we have received positive response from them”. According to Prince Thompson, those to be honoured on that day are HRM. Alhaji Shehu Usman Abubakar, Emir of Gombe. H.R.M Eze E.F.N. I, Akano Duru Gbarakatam of Isu Imo State and H.R.M. Alhaji Najib Hussaim Adamu, Emir of Kazaure. “This year award will be a mix of Nollywood stars and African Royal”, Prince said. We will be there in Abuja to bring you the full details of the award that is already the talk of town in Abuja.
Another War Looms In Nollywood
…As Susan Maxwell Declares War On Ayo Adesanya
If what Susan Maxwell said is anything to rely on, then there is another war looming in Nollywood. In the interview, Susan Maxwell claimed that Ayo Adesanya after collecting appearance fee from her, she failed to conclude the job she was paid to do. “She absconded after collecting a huge amount of money for my movie after just a day in location, she is not a worthy actress.” Susan fumes.
When showbiz called Ayo Adesanya; she declined to speak on the controversial matter. “See, I don’t want to speak on any matter. Please, no comment”, hope the authorities in Nollywood are reading this?”
Izamoje’s Court Action On COSON Backfires?
Dr. Larry Izamoje, Chairman Brilla Broadcasting Services, a few days ago published a press release in which he announced that he had filed an action in court against Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) for defamation.
The purported defamation, according to Izamoje is contained in a press release issued by COSON, announcing the N1.3 Billion copyright infringement suit filed by COSON against Brilla Broadcasting Services and Larry Izamoje.
The action by Izamoje may have backfired because less than 48 hours after Izamoje’s announcement, renowned COSON lawyer, Mr. Justin Ige wrote to Dr. Izamoje giving him five days to retract part of the statement published by him or face fresh legal action. The following is the text of Mr. Ige’s letter to Larry Izamoje:
‘We refer to the press release issued by you with the above caption, published on your website, www.brilafm.net and several other websites wherein you made statements to the effect that our Client arbitrarily and unilaterally imposes royalty fees on broadcast stations.
‘By this publication, you have falsely represented our client as unreasonable and disorganized, unfair and unjust, dubious and manipulative in its determination of license fees payable by broadcast organizations. You made this false and injurious publication knowing the truth to be that the tariff of our client is approved by the government regulatory agency, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), and that broadcast organizations that have been licensed by our Client paid negotiated fees. You are also aware that our client cannot impose royalty fees on anyone since by the provisions of the Copyright (Collective Management Organization) Regulations 2007 issued by the NCC, anyone in disagreement with any royalties demanded by our client may request the NCC to set up a panel to review such a demand and the decision of the panel is binding.
‘It is clear that you made this publication with a malicious intent to damage the hard earned reputation of our client in retaliation for the copyright infringement suit our Client filed against you and Brila Broadcasting Services Ltd. By the referenced false publication, you have gravely injured our client and lowered its estimation in the eyes of right thinking members of society.
‘We have the instruction of our client to demand from you an immediate retraction of the false and malicious statement and an unreserved apology to be published in at least two national dailies for five consecutive days, and the sum of N10Million only, being compensation for the injury you have caused our Client. If you fail, refuse or neglect to meet the foregoing demands within Five days of service of this letter on you, we shall perfect our Client’s instructions by instituting a fresh legal action against you’.
Reacting to recent developments, the COSON General Manager, Chinedu Chukwuji said, “The decision of our Board is clear. Anyone who throws COSON one blow will receive five blows.”
Mr. Omorogbe, CEO of Nowmuzik and manager of several top Nigerian artistes such as 2Face Idibia, J. Martins, Sheyi Shay, Tunde & Wunmi Obe, Sunny Neji, etc., had earlier said: “those who are ready to work with COSON will find out that we are very reasonable and friendly. I, however, assure those who want a fight that they will badly regret the day they decided to engage COSON in a fight.”
COSON Board member, Azeezat Allen said, ‘the Board has identified some in the broadcast industry who believe that they can employ divide and rule tactics and break the unity of the music industry. They obviously do not understand that this is a revolution. COSON has revealed to Nigerian musicians what is possible. The rapid growth of COSON has shown that we can successfully run a positive, professional, transparent and accountable organization in our industry. I know some musicians who have received over a million naira each as royalty from COSON in the last six months. Before COSON, they were getting nothing. This is therefore personal. Nobody wants to go back to the days of old. Those who may have decided to fight COSON surely miscalculated.”
CAPTIONS:
0325:
Ace comedian, Bash on stage at the Abakaliki edition of Glo Laffta Fest.
0552:
L-R: Popular comedian, Gandoki, Julius Agwu, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Chike Onwe, Basketmouth and a guest at the Abakaliki edition of Glo Laffta Fest.
0593:
Glo ambassador, Basketmouth and ace comedian, Bovi at the Glo Laffta Fest show held in Abakaliki.
Glo Lafftafest: Uganda’s Salvador, Basketmouth, Bovi, others electrify Abakaliki
Globacom last Sunday invaded Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital with its Laffta Fest “Invasion LOL” where East Africa’s most-celebrated comedian, Salvador, from Uganda, sent the crowd reeling with laughter as he related the peculiar ways of life of his native Ugbokolo village.
Salvador was the cynosure of all eyes as he brilliantly narrated the notorious tendencies of the village rascal, named Ladeja in his home place.
To complement Salvador’s act, one of Nigeria’s most brilliant stand-up comedians, Bovi tingled the excited audience with his classic joke that juxtaposed a typical Nigerian political rally with that of the United States of America. His flawless parody of Barack Obama at a political rally was the clincher. He got the crowd cheering endlessly and wondering if Bovi was playing a pre-recorded Obama rhetoric.
The Abakaliki edition of Glo Lafftafest was the loudest bang the city has ever witnessed on the social scene as Glo lined up popular Nigerian comedians and musicians to thrill the city’s residents to a potpourri of the best comedy and music at the show.
The crowd roared in unison that the show was the most thrilling they had ever witnessed in the city. Basketmouth, the show’s anchorman had stirred the roaring response when he asked in the thick of the fun-filled show that, “Seriously speaking, has any brand given the people of Abakaliki such a loaded show like this before featuring an international comedian, Nigeria’s biggest and best comedians and Nigeria’s music superstars”, to which the thousands of people inside and outside the Nkweagu Ugbala Convention Centre chorused a deafening “no.”
Impressed by the response, Basketmouth, who led 12 other merchants of jokes and three Nigerian music sensations, to the show, said that “besides Globacom, no other corporate organization rewards its customers like this.” The crowd, among whom was the State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Chike Onwe, students and various professionals, concurred.
The show kicked off with the sonorous voice of Vinissi, Abakaliki’s best female vocalist and swiftly dovetailed into a series of comedy sessions with 2CanTalk, Parrotmouth, SIM Card, Bash, Gandoki, Julius Agwu, Bovi, Akpororo and Okey Bakassi dishing out spontaneous and contemporary jokes to the delight of the people.
The trio of Nigerian music stars, Chee The Voice, Burna Boy and Mr. Incredible, MI, kept the people on their feet during their different sessions with their superlative renditions. Chee the Voice was the most improved act of the night with her refined beats, delicious voice and superb utilisation of space. Burna Boy’s energetic performance was electrifying while MI was simply incredible. The crowd loved him and passionately sang every song along with him.
The Glo Laffta Fest which kicked off in Lagos six weeks ago has toured Abuja, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Benin and Abakaliki. The show will be held in Enugu this Sunday while Asaba, Uyo and Ibadan will take their turn in subsequent weeks. It is rated as Africa’s biggest comedy show and it is organised by Globacom to thank its subscribers for their massive support in the past 10 years.
Olabisi Okanlawon grows two flying-wigs
The stunning and appealing Omo Dudu crooner, Olabisi Okanlawon we were vouchsafed has grown two flying-wigs at a time to fly above the sky in the entertainment circuit. As you are reading this piece, the fledgling actress cum singer, Olabisi has poised to compete with Nigerian high-profile female singers as she has just released her debut singles, titled ‘Turaka’ and ‘Omo Dudu’.
Beyond this, Olabisi who is best known by her colleagues in the motion picture industry as Olabisi Oloyinbo just put a finishing touch to her new blockbuster flick entitled ‘Olabisi Oloyinbo’. The movie which was directed by wave-making movie director, Barrywhite is didactic filled with intrigue, suspense, love, betrayal, penitence and endurance. The music on the other side, particularly Omo Dudu track preaches the gospel of the quality associated with dark skin. Olabisi uses the song to illustrate the beauty of her skin as a black girl. However, the shinning and sexy Abeokuta, Ogun State-born multitalented script writer said she has come to hold the bull by the horn in Nigerian entertainment industry.
Alibaba, Yaw, Harrysong and others set for “UZO GOES TO SCHOOL” 3
Lagos based On Air Personality, Uzo Margaret Isinguzo, popularly known as UZO in WAZOBIAFM, is set for the third edition of her pet project, UZO GOES TO SCHOOL, “an Individual Social Responsibility Project” designed with the aim to improve both the learning and working conditions of the pupils and teachers in government-owned schools. The maiden edition and launch of this wonderful project “UZO GOES TO SCHOOL” was held on the first day of December 2012 at Oore Ofe Primary School, Idimu-Ikotun Egbe, Alimosho LGA, Lagos. This happens to be the primary school this talented broadcaster attended, this was followed by the second edition which was held at NEW ROAD NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL, Ajegunle. In her words, putting the show together has not been an easy one because it involved a whole lots of money. “I had earlier gone to the school to make enquiries about what the needs of the school are. I was almost discouraged when they told me their need, the question I asked myself was “Where do I get the money to help meet all these needs? but thank God for my family, friends and a passionate Team who gave me the much needed support, she further revealed that the major purposes of the project are: to help create a better learning environment in government owned schools, encourage the parents to be more participatory in school activities, secondly to help build better future leaders, a better society and to promote basic healthcare and proper hygiene within the school environment, this is my own way of giving back to the society , “I can’t do this alone. I need support in every way possible morally, physically, spiritually and most of all, financially every support will be well appreciated because I intend to take it round the city of Lagos and other parts of the country, she submitted. According to UZO’s publicist, Olujuwon Bukunola- Philips, UZO GOES TO SCHOOL next port of call will be Amuwo Odofin Senior Secondary School, otherwise known as Only Boys, Close to Jakande Bus Stop under Amuwo Odofin Local Government. The school, he further revealed needs fluorescent lights, wires, mattress for sick bay, ceiling fans, floor tiles among others.
The event which is powered by STRONG VOICE MEDIA is slated for Saturday 7th Dec. 2013, beginning from 10am and will feature comedy and dance and there will be presentation of the following items by UZO and her team, Marker boards and markers, Furniture (tables and chairs for both teachers and pupils), toilet renovation(tiles, paint, toilet seats, etc), and electricity, first Aid box, drugs, toiletries among others. The event will be attended by some Festac breed stars like Sound Sultan, Harrysong, other guests included Alibaba, Blackky, Kcee, all On Air personalities, from Wazobia FM, CoolFM and many popular Nigerian entertainers are expected to grace the occasion. ’UZO GOES TO SCHOOL’ is an educational project and more like a charity project from the stable of STRONG VOICE MEDIA owned by Uzo. This project is targeted at pupils in government-owned schools. In Nigeria, large percentage of parents would rather enrol their wards in private schools than public schools especially kindergarten, nursery, primary and secondary public schools because of reasons like lack of infrastructure, lack of teachers, lack of facilities, poor hygiene, and poor learning environment etc.