THE.FOLAKE! RETURNS WITH POIGNANT SELF-PRODUCED NEW SINGLE TITLED “EHEN EHEN OKAY OKAY”

After débuting at number one on the Afro Pop charts (CD Baby) with her self-titled debut single “The.Folake”, award-winning actress, model and musician THE.FOLAKE! returns with a more sombre and serious brand new single titled “Ehen Ehen Okay Okay”.
Drawing influences from her Spoken Word and Poetry roots, this self-produced single sees The.Folake! speaking candidly about the ills and “wahala” that her Nigerian people are forced to deal with and live through on a daily basis - bribery, corruption, lack of electricity and the recent fuel subsidy removal among other trials and tribulations.

Offered up as a free download to everyone willing to listen, “Ehen Ehen Okay Okay” speaks directly of the times we’re living in now, not only in Nigeria but in several parts of the world.


ABOUT THE.FOLAKE!

Growing up in Lagos as the youngest of 19 children, The.Folake! - real name Folake Olowofoyeku - always dreamt of delving into the arts as a musician but her now late parents however insisted on her becoming a lawyer. With the opportunity to move to New York City to study, Folake left Nigeria and while in NYC, focused her artistic endeavours on a BA (Hon) in Theatre and a Diploma in Audio Engineering. With a brief career competing in the NCAA league for her College’s Basketball team, Folake began her career as a versatile actress.

She earned a Best Actress Award for her lead role in When They Could Fly at the prestigious ReelHeART International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada and over the years, her acting career has flourished, from numerous stage productions to Film and Television, leading to her role in the Jodi Foster-directed The Beaver. Folake proceeded to make several appearances on the Law and Order franchise, 30-Rock and White Collar. Her voice has been utilized for voice-over campaigns with The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, Money Gram and Emirates Airline and her latest film - a 3D horror/comedy film - titled Hellbenders is due to be released in US Theatres in March 2012.

With a strong foot in the acting world, Folake changed the course of her career to pursue wholeheartedly her passion for Music. Musically inspired by Michael Jackson, M.I.A, Slash and Fela Kuti, The.Folake! is creating music that induces a party atmosphere and creates a voice to the realities faced day to day in Nigeria. The.Folake! describes her genre as Afro-Rock/Electro-House - fusion of her musical influences, combined with her own natural musical style.

The.Folake - Ehen Ehen Okay Okay

Read More

Last Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for the Year.

Just this year Breast and Cervical Cancer has killed more than 17,280 and 8,640 women respectively in Nigeria. We must continue to tackle this ever rising number of deaths, through screening and early detection


Stand Up To Cancer Naija is having the last Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening for the year.

Date: Saturday, 17th Dec 2011

Time: 12noon to 4pm

Venue: Limi Hospital Behind ICPC/NDIC Central Area Abuja, Nigeria, West Africa.

Amount:N2,000/$13

BB Pin: 220CDD58

For more info call 2348033626680 or email: standup2cancernaija@gmail.com

Invite your female friends and make sure you get screened before we enter the new year 2012.

Read More

FAST-RISING NIGERIAN FEMCEE EVA DROPS DEBUT EP - The GIGO E.P

Nigeria’s leading Female rapper at the moment, Eva Alordiah makes her debut with the much anticipated ‘GIGO EP’. The 9-track project which Eva stresses is not her debut album, has been well received by the fans and critics alike. The EP was stated for a 20:11:2011 release and was premiered online at exactly 20:11 hours. A very engaging release as she kept her EvaMusic hungry fans waiting till exactly 8:11pm Nigerian Time.

With the release of this pre-album project, the growing Eva fan base has obviously been on the increase. The hashtag #GIGO was trending on popular Social networking site Twitter and is still a tweet worthy topic, the fans can’t stop tweeting lyrics off songs on the E.P. Eva has done well for herself with the GIGO EP, released for FREE download online and soon to hit all radio stations across the nation and internationally.

Production credits on the EP go to Award winning producer of the year, Sossick and seasoned producers, Tintin, Gray Jon’z, and BigFoot of Mircwox. The EP also features collaborations with Saucekid, Basket Mouth, Ikechukwu, Shank and Chi Gurl.

From soft sultry music on Track 1 (Ehhh Ft. XVol) to Afro infused sounding dance tunes as heard in (Your Fada) on Track 9, Eva takes us on a mind blowing journey through sounds and music that she is/has been influenced by. GIGO – Garbage in Garbage out, she states, is her way of giving back in terms of her music what she has been influenced by.

A listener would be captivated by her jaw-dropping rap lines on ‘Crazy’ in which shefeatures top rapper, Saucekid who completely makes it an absolute must listen. This is one song off the EP which has gotten the best reviews so far since its release and has automatically become a fan favourite. With ‘High’ on Track 3, she slows her rap pace down, completely captivating your

attention as she drops her rap lines one bar at a time on a mellow sounding beat produced by ‘Gray Jon’z. This upcoming producer is also responsible for ‘Never Say Goodbye’ which takes the 7th track position just after ‘I Done Did it’. With live guitars and a baseline reminiscent of the Bob Marley era, Eva delivers the storyline well, switching up her flow and show us why we call her Versatile.

The GIGO EP also includes chart topping singles ‘I Done Did it’ and ‘Down Low’ which were released earlier in the year and have done very well for the budding femcee.

The Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2011 ‘Best Rap Act’ nominee and winner of Exquisite Lady of the Year 2011 ‘Best Rap Female’ award has shown us diverse sides of her with the GIGO EP and we are loving the entire project. She has appeared on highly rated singles ‘Supersun remix’ with Bez, eLDee and Iceprince, and ‘Shake it’ on PSquare’s the Invasion album. She was also featured in the BET Hiphop awards Cypher for 2011. It is no wonder she is hailed Nigeria’s leading female rapper, churning out great tunes one after the other for us to enjoy.

Eva is currently unsigned to a record label but is exclusively Managed by 3UD (Thud Brand Management)

All Bookings and Communication should be directed to 3UD | ugo_izeogu@hotmail.com | +2348023529084

The GIGO EP is available for FREE Download HERE

Read More

Entrepreneur and Maritime Lawyer Mfon Ekpo Honoured With Golden Quill Award in Hollywood

Mfon Ekpo, entrepreneur, consultant and lawyer, received a Golden Quill Award from The National Academy of Best-Selling Authors™ at the Second Annual Best Seller’s Summit and Awards Gala.

Mfon Ekpo, Founder of Premier Pioneers Network, who has already achieved the impressive distinction of being the first African to co-author a book with global leadership expert Brian Tracy, was recognised at the Second Annual Best Seller’s Summit and Awards Gala hosted by National Academy of Best-Selling Authors™. The event took place on October 20-21, 2011 at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California.

Mfon Ekpo was honored for becoming a best seller of the book; Pushing To The Front: Front Line Strategies From The World’s Leading Entrepreneurs. The book features top advice from leading entrepreneurs and marketing experts from across the globe. It offers proven business strategies to help people adapt and thrive in the new economy. Pushing To The Front was released on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 by business book publisher CelebrityPress™. On the day of release, Pushing To The Front reached best-seller status in three separate Amazon.com categories, making Ms. Ekpo the first Nigerian to achieve this rate of bestselling sales on the first day of a book launch. The book reached #6 in the Direct Marketing category, and was a top seller in both the Communications and Entrepreneurship categories.

Mfon Ekpo is a maritime lawyer and an entrepreneur who also juggles multiple roles as a strategy consultant, professional negotiator and arbitrator, writer, speaker, singer and songwriter. She is the founder of Premier Pioneers Network (http://www.premierpioneers.org [9]), training people in the art of public speaking, writing, negotiation, ideas generation and implementation since 2006.

A staunch advocate of personal development and a firm believer in the limitless possibilities of the human capacity, she is a founding partner of the John Maxwell Team and a Member of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. She is currently the Director of Strategy at Red Media http://www.rednigeria.com [10]), a leading Media and Communications Development Company and trains young people on humanitarian issues as a school speaker for the British Red Cross. As a teacher, she enjoys expounding life lessons to her readers on her blog, The School Called Life (https://theschoolcalledlife.wordpress.com/[11])

This year at the Awards Gala, The National Academy of Bestselling Authors™ also recognised Brian Tracy, the author of more than 50 Best-Selling books and trainer of more than 2.5 Million people, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Last year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to renowned author of The E-Myth, Michael E. Gerber.

Read More

Wives of Delta State Leaders Ball Out as Part of Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

PINK Pearl Foundation continued its campaign to create awareness and enlighten the nation about Breast Cancer; after feeding over three thousand women and riding bicycles between two States in commemoration of the 25th World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it was time for another spectacular event, the ‘Ball Out’.

The day was 22nd October and the venue was Squash Club, Asaba. The wives of members of the Executive Council and the wives of members of the Legislative Council of Delta State slugged it out in a football match in support of the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. It was a rainy day but that didn’t deter the women from giving guests a day to remember whilst emphasizing the purpose of the event.

After a brief speech by the Founder of the Foundation, Orode Jade Okpu, the mood was set and the match kicked off at 4 p.m. The women came on with plenty of zeal and passion and gave their all, thrilling everyone with their performance on the field. At half-time, the foundation’s Doctor took spectators on a session to enlighten them about the disease and those interested were taken to the screening room to be checked and examined. Over 40 women signed up to be screened and 3 had lumps in their breast.

The match continued with lots of moments worthy of remembrance. With a two all score board, after such a pleasant display by the women, who were now tired but satisfied that they had supported a good cause. They were soon refreshed and joined in the rest of the activities outlined for that day.

The First Lady of Delta State, Mrs. Sheila Roli Uduaghan, was available amidst celebrations to give remarks about the day’s event, she said, “It’s been a wonderful experience and this novelty match shows the unity and love between Delta women and their concern for things that will improve their health and those of their families.”

Read More

New female sensation Jennik debuts with SOMETHING ABOUT YOU

Jennifer Azubuike A.K.A jennik is a singer, songwriter, dancer and model who was born on the 28th of october 1990 in the ancient city of benin, Nigeria. She started her journey in entertainment when she was about 6. She danced and choreographed in her primary school (Christ choosen group of schools) and her local church in benin. Singing took a better part of her when she was 17, and she recorded her first demo at the time.

Jennik often cites singers Asa, Brandy,Tuface as her role models. She is currently a student of the prestigous MUSON centre in lagos where she is studying to perfect the keyboards and also broaden her musical knowledge. She is also a student of the universtity of benin where she studies Agricultural science. With the release of her first official single titled SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, she hopes to win a place in the hearts of fans across the continent.

Jennik - Something about you

Read More

Introducing British Singer Songwriter - Lánre

After extensively touring as a member of the award winning contemporary gospel collective GK REAL, Lánre British singer/songwriter of Nigerian heritage embarks on her own personal musical journey with her acoustic guitar.

Lánre has spent the past eighteen months playing her songs in cafés, bars and various charity events all over London.

She was one of the eleven UK singers and songwriters selected to be part of the Prezzo live tour; performing at various UK restaurants of the Italian chain.

Her music can be best described as acoustic soul with influences from her Nigerian heritage of storytelling and folk music along with her background in gospel music.

Lánre has taken her Singing for Change acoustic tour to various venues and events like the Greenbelt Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival on the Royal Mile and Toronto Canada.

Her debut solo album Pen Voyage Chapter One: Singing for Change was officially released on the 30th September 2011

For more info on Lánre please visit www.lanreworld.com

Lanre - Inspiration

Read More

Introducing Lindsey | Neo-soul artist

Nigerian singer,songwriter and law graduate, Lindsey has been tagged as one of the most promising, fresh upcoming acts in the Nigerian music industry. Although a native of the Igbo Speaking part of Delta State she was born and bred in Jos by her choir member mum,a university Disc Jockey dad and a pianist grandfather. She calls the genre of her music Neo-soul/Alternative.

She is one of the members of the Loopy Crew alongside M.I(Jehovah), Jesse Jagz(Greatest, This Jagged Life),Iceprince, Ruby and Eve with whom she has worked with. She has also worked with the likes of Djinee(Thank You), Jeremiah Gyang, Sammy Sage(Spoken word).

Her music has been influenced by Roberta Flack,sade,Eva Cassidy,Sarah McLachlan,Norah Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae. Lindsey was a contestant of the MTN Project Fame West Africa Season 3.Shortly after,her first song 'Drift Away' was released.

This single "The 90's Song" was produced by IBK (winner of the "Enigma" competition by Don Jazzy).

Lindsey - The 90's song

Lindsey - Drift Away

Read More

THE NEW DEFINITION OF SOUL MUSIC

British born Bukola Damola (Ebisan) debuts with ‘Love Story’.

Ebisan first hit the airwaves with her 2006 single, What Women Want - A song which featured DM Squared and was on the UK Top 20 Gospel Charts. The song also received massive airplay from radio stations across the UK including the BBC radio stations and remained on the Cross Rhythms chart for a year.

Ebisan made her entry into the Nigerian entertainment industry with the title tracks for the critically acclaimed blockbuster movie, Tango with me. Her songs, ‘Suru’ and ‘Dance with Me’ were appraised as riveting soundtracks to the movie.

Now managed by Emem Ema’s ONE Management, Ebisan who just relocated to Nigeria, has a degree in Accounting and a Masters in International Business Management. Her love, however, has remained with music. “Music has always been part of me”, she says. “I have been performing since I was eight and I have taken opportunities in my life to tell stories through the art of music”.

She believes that growing up in the U.K, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria has helped her understand music internationally. Her focus however is to put her soul music in the heart of every Nigerian.

Ebisan - Love Story

Ebisan - Dance with me

Read More

Dencia - from Hollywood to Naija - Drops BERI BERI

The hottest new music sensation to hit Nigeria is California based recording artiste Dencia. Born to Cameroonian/Nigerian Parents on March 26, Dencia started indulging in her love for music and performance arts at the tender age if 5. Her African roots play a major role in her style of
music. In her early years she sang with her local church groups and schools but was later diagnosed with a deadly throat disease that affected her nose living her with doubts about her singing abilities.

Determined and certain music was her passion, she stayed close to her love for music by engaging herself in other fields in the entertainment industry like modeling, fashion, acting, and hosting music events. She has featured in several music videos such as 50cents feat Jeremiah "Down on me"' Chris Brown's "Yeah 3*", as well as videos of artists like Ludacris, Baby bash, Lady gaga and many more. While doing this she never stopped trying to reconnect with her music skills for the professional world.

In September 2008' Dencia took the ultimate decision to finally pursue her life long dream of being a musical sensation. Since then she has recorded several songs, some of which include her first official and current hit single "Beri Beri". She has performed on big stages worldwide and graced some of the hottest red carpets such as the Grammy awards,Emmy's,Oscars, BET, VMA's etc. Recently she performed at the Pre BET award event, in Los Angeles, hosted The Game's mix tape release party and has hosted parties worldwide.

Her signature African curls and distinct accent has caught the eye of a lot of Hollywood industry big wings, some of whom have remained very good friends with her. Dencia is not only a talented musician, she is also a gifted fashion designer with some of her designs being worn by Niki Minaj, Christina Milian, lil Mama,Rihanna and many more. A talented asset to the African music industry, her personal style is her design from clothes to shoes to earrings name it. Dencia sponsors 5 girls to African schools and is also an ambassador for Susan G. Komen Cancer Research Foundation. Although she has strong ties to Hollywood she is a strong believer in Pan Africanism and she plans to rep Africa for as long as she lives.

Read More

INTRODUCING MS M.Y.M NIGERIA'S NEW FIRST LADY OF ELECTRO MUSIC

BIOSU PR IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE REPRESENTATION OF A NEW CLIENT M.Y.M THE MULTI TALENTED SINGER FOR 2011/2012 ROOSTER

Newcomer and multi-talented singer/songwriter M.Y.M has been dubbed as a mix between Shingai (The Noisettes) and Adele. M.Y.M has mixed pop, Afro beats, indie and electro to create her signature

British based Maryam Shofowa also know as M.Y.M debuted her first video for the single "Hold Me Down" at the beginning of June and is eager to break boundaries within the music scene. Interested in touching the hearts of her listeners rather than just rising to the top of the charts. A graduate in Drama from the University of Brunel. M.Y.M stage performances are more like a theatrical one man show as they leave you with more than just song but also a message.

M.Y.M is preparing to write for her debut album 'Changing Rooms', marking a huge development for the woman with an eccentric nature and a memorable voice. She is a much needed addition to the ever changing music industry and is determined to put Nigeria on the world map.

Read More

Breast sucking prevents breast cancer?

"Doctors recommend that women reduce the risk of getting breast cancer by having their breasts sucked. It is said that regular sucking of the breast lowers the risk level that tends to build up breast cancer. The breast must be sucked as often as possible, help women fight breast cancer today. Men, please do your part, and suck a breast now and women please let your body free!

This message is from the Ministry of Health in the Fight Against Breast Cancer."

"A BBC report suggesting that breast sucking by men and women can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer for both sexes is generating mixed reactions from the public. The report published by the BBC indicates that breast sucking has the tendency of reducing the incidence of breast cancer in men and women who engage in the practice. Most men find pleasure in sucking women's nipples and in some cases; women also suck men's nipples during love making."

Have you received a copy of this message(s) in your inbox? Is it just a rave or is it real? You might find this broadcast amusing, but it is not to be taken lightly

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among black women, and among women nationwide. Studies have shown that when black women follow the same preventive measures as white women, their death rates from breast cancer are very similar. Although black women are less likely than whites to develop breast cancer, they are more likely to die from it, doctors have long known. Black women also are diagnosed at younger ages and at later stages of disease.

It is said that thousands of women might be spared the agony of breast cancer if they extended the period for which they suckle their babies. A study was carried out by a group of researchers in the UK. Although it indicated a relationship between breastfeeding and a lower risk of cancer, more research is necessary to clearly establish a causal link.

Breastfeeding (baby) and Breastsucking (men) are two different things.

According to James Klosky (UK researcher): Breastfeeding, in addition to diet and exercise, avoiding tobacco use, and engaging in safe sexual behaviour, is one more behaviour that can potentially ameliorate adverse late effects of cancer treatment”

Breastfeeding has been found to provide a measure of protection against uterine, cervical and ovarian cancers as well as breast cancer. A study by Yale University researchers showed that women who breastfed for two years or longer reduced their risk of breast cancer by 50 percent.

Should I suck her breast to help her reduce the risk?

Breastfeeding is what's been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer. The researchers compared the rate at which women breastfeed babies back in the days to present days; the rate has reduced over the years. Women are encouraged to breastfeed their babies longer now because it's good for the baby's health and good for them (woman). We have not seen any report that shows that you will help your wife/girl reduce the risk by sucking her breast.

If studies show that breast sucking (by men or babies) would reduce the risk, the man who is doing the sucking will not be at any risk. His chances of getting cancer will not increase just because he is sucking the woman's breast.

Read More

WIFTI Nigeria launches & celebrates 100 years of existence with International body.

Women in Film and Television launched its Nigerian chapter yesterday, at the Get Arena Lekki.

The event had in attendance, Gbemi Olateru as the master of ceremonies, and sits on the board of WIFTIN as a Director, and several members of the WIFTIN board, journalists from all the major newspapers in the country.

Ebi Akpeti, author of “The perfect church” a book which has been adapted into an award winning block buster by the prolific entertainment guru Wale Adenuga Productions, spoke at the event, encouraging people to follow their passion as an organization like WIFTIN would help nurture that dream and provide platforms for them to be exposed internationally. She went further to tell us about her other books and how she started writing, as a she has a 9-5 job as a banker and still finds time to do what she loves doing

Women in Film and Television, Nigeria [WIFT-N], is a membership based non-profit organization borne out of the need for capacity building for the female youth and to recognize and support the women working in Nigerian screen-based and other media.

WIFT-N aims to empower women interested and involved in the Media and recognizes the women whose efforts have impacted positively to the growth of the Nigerian media industry. As a growing economy, there are great opportunities and talents to be tapped into for the continued success of our local media practitioners, in Nigeria, Africa and around the world. By this, WIFT-N has stepped in to be better prepared and sensitize our women on the need for professionalism, persistence, dedication and resilience in working for and in the media.

The Nigerian entertainment industry has attained global recognition primarily due to the daily turn out of movies and musical videos through the broadcast of same on diverse national and international television networks. The inadvertent exposure massively given to local entertainers, actors, film directors or producers, etc. presupposes the necessity for the existence of a body to create awareness on measures adopted by fellow practitioners in more developed countries, and especially the women, in breaking new grounds and achieving greater professional successes and accolades.

WIFT-N enjoys recognition

by the global organization, Women In Film and Television International [WIFTI], which provides the foundation for global cooperation and integration with other WIFT chapters. Furthermore, it strives to be a voice for Nigerian women in the industry, providing them also with the opportunity to interface directly with women media practitioners from other nations of the world.

With these possibilities open to women in Nigeria, it would open up new possibilities and milestones for the country and subsequently the continent.

History of WIFTIN (International)

The first women in Film Chapter began in Los Angeles in 1973. Today, Women in Film and Television International [WIFTI] has experienced tremendous growth in its ten [10] years of existence with over forty [40] member chapters and 10,000 members worldwide.

It is a global network made up of ‘Women In Film and Television’ in chapters worldwide. These chapters are dedicated to advancing professional development, achievement and capacity building for women with careers in all areas of the media. Its operations are national in outlook. In other words, individuals seeking the benefits of membership are affiliated with the WIFT chapter in their respective countries

Muna Iyanam sits as The President, of WIFTIN, a seasoned broadcaster, who sits on the board of several organizations, intends to explore and provide a platform with which women in the entertainment industry would benefit from. With an MSC in communication from the Pan African University, Muna has the expertise and technical knowhow to actualize the vision and mission for WIFTIN.

On the advisory board, Engr Vincent Maduka, sits on the advisory board. Who has been conferred with the Nigerian National honor of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) 2003 steers WIFTIN to achieve it’s said goals and objectives. As a former Director General to NTA, the entertainment industry is not new to him, as during the course of his career, he has had the privilege of interfacing with all the various levels of the entertainment industry and has positively contributed to it’s growth through the various capacities he has worked in.

The event which was a media parley ended with question and answers by the members of the press. WIFTIN has set a standard in the Nigerian entertainment industry and a platform to bring out the best that will be at par with our foreign counterparts, with its current team, there is no doubt in mind that it will be achievable.

click to enlarge image(s)

Read More

Mercy Johnson Emerges Best Actress In Future Awards

Days after star actress, Mercy Johnson declared her determination to better her crafts and move to greater heights in 2011, her determination is beginning to yield fruits as she was awarded the best actress in the Future Awards 2011 ahead of her two equally respectable actresses, Uche Jombo and Ini Edo.

Stating how she felt after winning the award, she said,

I’m happy I won the award, that means people appreciate what I do, it is good to know that you are loved by a lot of people and for that reason, I am so elated.

The Kogi-born actress was also full of thanks to her numerous fans who voted for her she revealed that she couldn’t have won the award without her fans who have always stood by her.

The actress however revealed that winning the award does not mean she will be resting on her oars as she disclosed that all she is after for the year is to become the best actress she can be.
Nominated alongside established actresses like Ufuoma Ejenobor, Uche Jumbo, Ini Edo, Gideon Okeke, Matilda Obaseki, Tonto Dike and Gbenro Ajibade, the ebony skinned thespian emerged winner of the number one youth’s awards after months of voting by youths across Nigeria. The
award further proves MJ as she is fondly called as youths’ favourites in Nigeria and across Africa.

Lending credence to this is her recent invitation to Liberia. Mercy will be in Liberia for Valentine concert after the youths of that country voted her as their favourite star. Her acting prowess and large fan base has never been in doubt as the actress has continuously garner fans across board since she got into people’s conscientiousness for her role in the movie, The Maid 2002 though her first movie role was in Moving Train in 2000.

Though not personally at the event to receive her award due to busy work schedule in Enugu, a senior colleague, Genevieve Nnaji received the award on her behalf, Genevieve said ‘Mercy deserves the award and more will come her way’. Future Awards is an annual event that seeks to reward young men and women under the age of 31 that have made marks in different facets of life. Mercy Johnson’s Future Awards has added her to the rank of personalities like Chimamanda Adichie, Asa, D’banj and Tuface all who have won the award.

Read More

Adaobi Nwaubani reacts to The Sun interview on Feminism

Our attention has been drawn to an interview published in The Sun newspaper of Saturday, January 22, 2011, which quotes our client, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, as saying, "...feminism is when a woman wants to be a man." Whilst Ms. Nwaubani declines from public engagement even when errors of facts are made regarding her person or her work, we find it necessary to clarify this particular statement.

Following a review of the transcribed recordings of the interview, we would like to confirm that Ms. Nwaubani was grossly misquoted.

In response to the reporter's query on why she wrote a book about 419 instead of dealing with feminist issues, Ms. Nwaubani explained that she did not feel constrained by her being a woman to write only about women issues. She then went on to comment on the various expectations some people in Nigeria tend to have about women: "...the impression I get from people when they talk about feminism is that they expect you to be a woman who is angry or who wants to be like a man or who wants to grow a beard."


Ms. Nwaubani's debut novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance in fact had a male character who expressed this ignorant view point. This is not her view point.

In an interview for www.books.co.za, Liesl Jobson stated: "In an interview with a Soweto radio station that morning, (Nwaubani) had been asked whether she wrote romance or chick-lit. She found the limitations frustrating. She's also experienced the other extreme, specifically in Nigeria, where if you call yourself a feminist, the expectation is that you are a 'very angry woman; a man-hater'." That was the same sentiment Ms. Nwaubani was communicating to The Sun’s reporter. Unfortunately, it got presented way out of context.

The Sun has informed us that they will delete the misquote from their online version. We appreciate their cooperation with this. This embarrassing situation was apparently not a result of mischief on the reporter's part. It was simply a case of editing gone very bad – however, we believe it is necessary that Ms. Nwaubani’s correct sentiments are shared with the public.

Read More

A young female is unsuccessful without a man in Nigeria?

"...I am infuriated by the assumption that to be youngish and female means you are unable to earn your own living without a man" - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A humid night two years ago, sitting beside a male friend in his car, and I roll down my window to tip a young man, one of the thousands of unemployed young men in Lagos who hang around, humorous and resourceful, and help you park your car with the expectation of a tip. I brought the money from my bag. He took it with a grateful smile. Then he looked at my friend and said, “Thank you, sir!”

The Nigerian writer, 33, won major literary awards in 2005 and 2007

This is what it is to be youngish (early thirties) and female in urban Nigeria. You are driving and a policeman stops you and either he is leering and saying “fine aunty, I will marry you,” or he is sneering, with a taunt in his demeanour and the question so heavy in the air that it need not be asked: “which man bought this car for you and what did you have to do to get him to?” You are reduced to two options; to play angry and tough and to thereby offend his masculinity and have him keep you parked by the roadside, demanding document after document. Or to play the Young Simpering Female and massage his masculinity, a masculinity already fragile from poor pay and various other indignities of the Nigerian state. I am infuriated by these options. I am infuriated by the assumption that to be youngish and female means you are unable to earn your own living without a man. And yet. Sometimes I have taken on the simpering and smiling, because I am late or I am hot or I am simply not dedicated enough to my feminist principle.

I have a friend who is, on the surface, a cliché. An aspirational cliché. She has a beautiful face, two degrees from an American Ivy League college, a handsome husband with a similar educational pedigree and two children who started to read at the age of two; she is always at the top of Nigerian women achievers lists in magazines; has worked, in the past 10 years, in consulting, hedge funds and non-governmental organisations; mentors young girls on how to succeed in a male-dominated world; recites statistics about anything from trade deficits to export revenue. And yet.

One day she told me she had stopped giving interviews because her husband did not like her photo in the newspaper, and she had also decided to take her husband’s surname because it upset him that she continued to use hers professionally. Expressions such as “honour him” and “for peace in my marriage” tumbled out of her mouth, forming what I thought of as a smouldering log of self-conquest.

Another friend is very attractive, very educated, sits on boards of companies and does the sort of management work that is Greek to me. She is single. She is a few years older than I am but looks much younger. The first board meeting she attended, a man asked her, after being introduced, “So whose wife or daughter are you?” Because to him, it was the only way she would be on that board. She was, it turned out, a chief executive. And yet. She lives in a city where her friends dream not of becoming the CEO but of marrying the CEO, a city where her singleness is seen as an affront, where marriage carries more social and political cachet than it should.

Another friend is a talented writer, a forthright woman who makes people nervous when she speaks bluntly about sex, a woman who describes herself as a feminist, and who talks a lot about gender equality and changing the system. And yet. She earns more than her husband does but once told me that he had to pay the rent, always, because it was the man’s duty to do so. “Even if he is broke and I have money, he will have to go and borrow and pay the rent.” She paused, rolling this contradiction around her tongue, and then she added, “Maybe it is because of our culture. It is what they taught us.”

There is, of course, always that “they”. Two years ago, we were slumped on sofas in his Lagos living room, my brother-in-law and I, talking about politics as we usually did.

“I think I’ll run for governor in a few years,” I said in the musing manner of a person who only half-means what they say.

“You would never be governor,” he said promptly. “You could be a senator but not governor. They won’t let a woman be governor.”

What he meant was that a governor had too much power, and was in control of too much money, none of which could be left to a woman by that invisible “they”. And yet. I realise that 15 years ago he would not have said, “you could be a senator.” Civilian rule brought greater participation of women in politics and the most popular and most effective ministers in the past 10 years have been women. In the next decade, my brother-in-law could be proved wrong. In the next three decades, he will certainly be proved wrong. But she would have to be married, the woman who would be governor.

My first novel is on the West African secondary school curriculum. My second novel is taught in universities. One question I am almost always certain of getting during media interviews is a variation of this: we appreciate the work you are doing and your novels are important but when are you getting married? I refuse to accept that the institution of marriage is what gives me my true value, and I refuse to come across as silly or coy or both. The balance is a precarious one.

“Would you ask that question to a male writer my age?” I once asked a journalist in Lagos.

“No,” he said, looking at me as though I were foolish. “But you are not a man.”

Source: FT Magazine

Read More

Nigerian Born Jazz-Soul Artist, Douye re-releases album

Nigerian Born Jazz-Soul Artist, Douye’ Re-Releases her Critically Acclaimed Album “Journey”

Already being compared to music’s greats Anita Baker and Sade, Douye’ steps back
on the scene with the re-release of her debut album, JOURNEY. Because of the worldwide attention Douye’s debut album is receiving, a worldwide distribution deal was established to re-release in November, 2010. Journey was recorded in Los Angeles and features the stunning and smooth hit single “Fly Away” which has already garnered much critical acclaim from both the press as well as her loyal fans.

While working towards her ultimate goal of becoming a recording artist, she hit it off creatively with Terry Shaddick, a renowned pop songwriter and producer well known for co-writing Olivia Newton John’s era defining smash “Physical.”
Coming to share a singular vision, Douye and Shaddick penned the songs that would launch Douye’s recording career on the newly released album. The title, JOURNEY, is a perfect reflection of Douye’s musical and life experiences leading up to her exciting emergence as an independent singer/songwriter.

Douye’ continues to broaden her base of appreciative and passionate fans all over the world. To this day, she complements her music making with deep passions for writing. Skope Magazine featured her and said, “Her clear, smoky voice helps you overlook a few pedestrian lines about destiny and shining stars and just hum along
.” Lewis Deans Alternative coined her album as “Dance Album of the Month.” But the accolades don’t stop there. Smooth Jazz Therapy raved “Journey by Douye represents a highly accomplished debut and is well worth checking out.”

In addition to the re-release, Douye’ will launch and unveil her promotional ad campaign showing her new and fresh look. Embracing her Nigerian culture in these photos, Douye will be wearing styles by Nigerian designers: Bukky Are’ with House of Versatile Styles and Chichi Anaele with Kachi Designs.

About Douye’
Douye’ is a Nigerian-born singer/songwriter, whose sound is full of rhythm and soul with a touch of jazz. Beautifully texturing her pure, sultry and smoky vocals, her sensual voice is free and smooth and flows like a melancholy breeze.

Douye who is based in Los Angeles, CA was influenced by such jazz and R&B legends as Peggy Lee, Ray Charles, Billie Holliday, Stevie Wonder and Sade; the multi-faceted performer began singing in church at the age of seven and quickly began focusing on her future as a professional singer. By age ten, she was expressing her innermost emotions in poetry, which led naturally to her development as a compelling songwriter. For more information: www.douyetheartist.com

Read More

Pink Pearl pushes the cancer message

On October 1, 2010, it was another day to drive home the message for women to take their health seriously. This was courtesy of the one-day seminar on breast and cervical cancer organized by the Pink Pearl Foundation (PPF) at the Winners Chapel Asaba, Delta State.

Addressing the women, the founder of PPF, Orode Jade Uduaghan, said the seminar was organised to help women master their bodies. “Cancer is a silent killer,” she said. “It has brought pain to so many families as they have lost their loved ones and people very dear to them,” reminding the audience that early detection and regular check ups would help reduce the scourge.

She reminded the women that it was important to take the lecture seriously and make themselves available for the free breast screening.

The chief resource person for the seminar, Dr. Anne Ojimba, emphasized in her lecture said the only remedy in the fight against cancer is early detection. She gave major symptoms of cervical cancer as abnormal vaginal bleeding and discharge and symptoms of breast cancer as dimpling of the nipples, irregular swell, and a lump around the breast. However she noted that not all lumps are cancerous and women should make an effort to go check themselves if any of these symptoms are noticed.

Dr. Gloria Patrick Ferife in her talk asked women to undertake Pap smear examination to check for cervical cancer as well as mammogram screening to help detect breast cancer.

Another medical doctor, Yinka Ebikagboro, guided participants through a practical session of Breast Self Examination (BSE) and the high point of the seminar was the free breast screening where over one hundred women were screened: five were discovered with lumps and immediately advised on how to get help.

Present at the occasion were the wife of the Executive Governor of Delta State, Mrs. Roli Sheila Uduaghan and other government personnel.

Read More

Irresistibly fresh - LAYORI

It was on a Valentine´s day that Layori discovered her love – her love for great performances. She stood on the stage of the “Mayflower School”-auditorium in her domestic Nigeria to sing for three thousand of her fellow students and their relatives. “It was just overwhelming. It felt totally natural for me to stand up there on stage and perform.”

She had trained her voice from her early childhood on, but she found out in that very moment that music would play the leading role in her life from now on. With the first few bars of the blues-colored, folkloristic title “Dada”, sung in her mother tongue Yoruba, Layori pulls the listener into a sound universe where Afro, Pop, Soul and Jazz can communicate the easy way. What we hear is an airy, almost completely acoustic, calm music, that is simple, catchy but multilayered – music that is never dominant but always electrifying.

It is sung by a woman that loves transparency as much as mystery, a woman that shows a surprising maturity for her age, a woman that is obviously in balance with herself. With her sensuous alto voice the singer is aiming directly at the hearts and souls of those who listen to her. In Wally Warning the singer and songwriter had an important and experienced partner on her side while creating her debut album Origin. He and Layori agreed, that the title Origin contained the message that the music should remain as natural, pure and genuine as possible. Two guitars, bass, percussion, background vocals, occasional horns and strings set the right frame for Layori's voice. She sings in three languages (besides Yoruba it´s English and Spanish).

One can´t resist her, whether she´s intonating the mantra-like “What Is Love” or she´s playing with the many shades of her splendid organ.

Its astounding how powerful and fragile she can sound at the same time. “Both comes from the challenges that you have to face when you travel the world constantly. The fragile has maybe to do with me being homesick, missing the protection and love of my family.” “In a certain way Origin is like coming home. In all the years that I spent in different countries in the world, my African soul was always present. Never ever would I do something that is against my culture, my pride, my believes, my roots. With Origin I can now show my family: look, I've made something out of my life.

Layori - Dada

Read More

A Beautiful Mystery _ Introducing Eva D'Diva

EVA D’DIVA a.k.a EVAEZI OGORO, niece to one of Nigeria’s most celebrated movie producers and directors- KINGSLEY OGORO, was born on the 13^th of July to Engr. and Mrs. C.E Ogoro. She is the 4^th of 5 children and hails from the Isoko speaking part of Delta State.

EVA began her journey from a very tender age, spurred on by her undying admiration for the likes of Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Mary J. Blige. She was soon enrolled into her father’s gospel family band called EMONENA GOSPELLERS as the alto singer in 1996; an act that was soon cut short in 1997 following a car accident she was involved in that crushed her voice box, narrowed her trachea and fractured a number of cervical bones in her spinal cord, leaving her both dumb and paralysed.

Her speedy recovery was nothing short of a miracle as she once again ventured into music during her undergraduate days at the University of Lagos. Her completion of the program which earned her a B.A in English Language in 2006 saw her birth one of her strongest and proudest tracks, which is still being celebrated today – ‘NO CRY’.

EVA has been nominated for numerous awards like:

· BEST CONTEMPORARY VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Nigerian Music Video Awards 2007 & 2008)

· BEST FEMALE VOCAL PERFORMANCE (HipHop World Awards 2010)

· BEST SOUL / NEO SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR (Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2010)

· MOST PROMISING ACT TO WATCH (Nigerian Entertainment Awards 2010) among others.

EVA is also the voice and brains of a number of radio jingles we have heard over time on the radio. Some of the brands include:

- VMOBILE - O’NOODLES

- STARCOMMS STARTUNZ - VIJU MILK

- FCMB 2007 CHRISTMAS JINGLE - DIAMOND BANK

- SKYE BANK S.K.Y.E CAMPAIGN

EVA is a writer at heart. She has done some writing for a couple of Magazines and was at some point asked to be the Editor in Chief of one of them. She dabbles into Event Management and currently runs AN EVENT and PRODUCTIONS Company called VAE HOFE LIMITED; A company which specializes in Event Management, Consultancy, and Outsourcing as well as jingle and advert productions among other things.

The uncommon mix of the murky nature and yet strength of her vocals as well as the uniqueness of her stage craftsmanship has landed her on the stage of some of Nigeria’s most prestigious events, awarding her standing ovations from the likes of the current Governor of Delta State – Governor Uduaghan at his boxing day event held in Warri 2009 which was also attended by his cabinet, including Commissioner of Tourism and Culture – Honourable Richard Mofe Damijo. Other dignitaries include Her Excellency, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola at the 500 Women for Children fundraiser, which was held in her honour. It was also an event sub-contracted to Vae Hofe Limited to manage amongst others.

EVA is also becoming quite popular with her rather distinctive version of The Nigerian National Anthem which has earned her riotous ovations at THE PREMIERE OF ‘ACROSS THE NIGER’- A movie by Kinglsey Ogoro in Leicester Square, London 2007, THE NIGERIA MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2009, THE GREEN BALL 2010 and countless others as she captures both the old and new glories of Nigeria.

EVA is highly creative and is a hard worker. She applies herself 110% into what she sets out to do. She is currently considering a major role in a movie by yet another of Nigeria’s most celebrated directors and producer, which she was recently presented with. She is also working on her 2nd album.

EVA loves children and is a humanitarian who constantly thinks of ways to contribute to the young generation. In 2006, she was a freelance Guidance Counsellor in Queens College; helping out with the children with no form of payment and was also a counsellor as well as a teacher in her place of NYSC posting in Zamfara State.

Eva - Kilode

Eva - Akanchawa

Read More