STARBOY, WIZKID RELEASES JAIYE JAIYE WITH AFRO LEGEND, FEMI KUTI

EME's star boy Wizkid, is back in full swing with a monster track titled Jaiye Jaiye featuring Africa's most celebrated icon, Femi Anikolapo Kuti.

The multi award winning Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti, gives the track a new school high-life mix as he puts his superb saxophone skills to its full capacity. Jaiye Jaiye produced by Sarz, shows Wizkid talking about his increasingly successful music career.

Apart from this historic collaboration, Wizkid has worked with some of the biggest names in the local and international music industry including Akon, The Game, Kardinal Official, Wale, Young Jeezy, M.I, Ice Prince among others.

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A NIGHT WITH THE JUDGES: NIGERIAN IDOL PREMIERES FIRST EPISODE

It was a night filled with a host of entertainment as the continent’s most entertaining music reality television show, Nigerian Idol, held a night with the judges on Tuesday, 11th December, 2012. Media and other invited guests were hosted at Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos to premiere the first episode of season three of the show.
 
Present on the evening were the judges, past competitors, and invited guests. Femi Kuti, the newest judge, spoke on the new season and how he felt about joining the show. “I am genuinely excited to be part such an amazing show. Nigerians have a deep and abiding love for music, and there is so much talent out there; I can’t help but be enthusiastic that we get to introduce them to the country,” said the three-time Grammy Award nominee.

The night started off with past competitors reminding us why Nigerian Idol is so successful; Steven Onoche, the second runner-up from season two, was first on stage and sang beautifully. He was followed by Joe Blue, the first runner-up from the same season. Not to be outdone, it was the turn of the judges to entertain, and Yinka Davies’ spectacular vocals was displayed beautifully by her soulful selection. Finally, Femi Kuti took to the stage, and brought the house down with his saxophone skills.

Now in its third season, guests were treated to a preview of the newest episode of Nigerian Idol, which will be aired on Sunday, 16th December, 2012. The room alternated between laughter and applause as a colourful range of vocals tried to win a coveted spot in the next round. Before the viewing, a question and answer session took place between the judges and the media. “I know that Nigerians are going to be excited about this season,” said
Tiwa Medubi, the project manager. “This Sunday is definitely going to showcase the amazing range of raw talent, and bring you voices like you’ve never heard before and I can also guarantee it is going to be lots of fun.”

Showing on weekend prime time television, catch Nigerian Idol on NTA Network at 4.00pm on Sundays, Sound city and ONTV : at 7pm on Sundays and Saturdays , STV at  8.00pm on Sundays and 6pm on Saturdays and TVC at  9.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The grand prize for this season is worth $100,000 which includes: N 7.5 million cash prize, a recording contract worth N7.5 million, and an SUV. The top ten finalists will also get prizes worth a total of N10 million.

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NIGERIAN IDOL UNVEILS FIRST EPISODE; HITS TV SCREENS ON DECEMBER 16TH!

They spent six weeks touring the country. Six weeks searching for that one person to light up the stage and Nigeria's heart to become the next Nigerian Idol. Nigeria’s biggest music reality show is back to give you even more; bigger, louder and better! Nigerians from every corner of the country came to show what they had to offer as the auditions traveled across the country-- starting with Abuja and working its way through Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, and finally, Lagos. Be prepared for what promises to be next-level entertainment as the first four episodes hit your televisions this December. 

You will not want to miss the captivating singers, hilarious attempts to impress, and truly inspired performers. Want to catch a sneak peek? The first episode on this season will be unveiled in an exclusive media and VIP event on Tuesday 11th of December at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island. It will also be an evening to catch up with the phenomenal judges: the trio of Grammy nominee and Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti; international performing artist Jeffery Daniel of Shalamar fame; and Nigeria’s Soul Diva, Yinka Davies.

Make sure to stay glued to your TV screens and catch all the banter and the drama as the contestants take a shot at being the next Nigerian Idol. Showing on weekend prime time television, catch Nigerian Idol on NTA Network at 4.00pm on Sundays, Sound city and ONTV : at 7pm on Sundays and Saturdays , STV at 8.00pm on Sundays and 6pm on Saturdays and TVC at 9.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The prize for this season is worth 100,000 USD and the elements are; N 7.5 million cash prize, a recording contract worth N7.5 million, and an SUV. Runner-ups and even the top ten finalists get several prizes to the tune of N10million. Visit the website http://www.Nigerianidol.com/ for juicy back story videos, behind the scene cuts and all the fun to get a taste of what is coming.

Like the page on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Nigerian-Idol and win fabulous prizes and follow the handle on Twitter on www.Twitter.com/NigerianIdol. This handle gives you current information about the show and drives so many competitions to win several prizes from the sponsors including an opportunity to be live in the studio to watch the show before it gets on TV. Etisalat brings Nigerian Idol to you in association with Pepsi. Supported by Megalectrics.

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FEMI KUTI TO PERFORM AT THE HEADIES 2012

Afro beat maestro and one of Africa’s greatest music exports, Femi Kuti, is set to perform at Nigeria’s most prestigious music awards, The Headies, scheduled for October 20, 2012 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This is the first time an Afrobeat musician of Femi Kuti’s clout will be aligning with a Nigerian contemporary music award scheme. No doubt, The Headies, also known as Hip Hop World Awards, is fast becoming a blend of generational genres of music.

The Afrobeat legend and Grammy nominee, Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Femi Kuti, began his international career in 1988 when he was invited by the French Cultural Centre in Lagos and Christian Mousset to perform at the Festival d'Angoulême (France), the New Morning Club in Paris and the Moers Festival in Germany.
Femi Kuti, in the course of his music career, has shown strong commitment to social and political causes. In 2001, Femi collaborated on his album Fight to Win with a number of U.S. musicians, including Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright. He created his own band, Positive Force in the late 1980s with Dele Sosimi (Gbedu Resurrection), former key-board player of Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

“My career is not based on awards. I sincerely mean what I sing about. My music is truly fighting for electricity, good healthcare service, good roads, equal education for my people and African unity. It’s neither a love song, nor commercial and it still gets headlines and good reviews.  I’m especially touched when young people appreciate what I am doing,” Femi Kuti says.

This will be the first time Femi Kuti will be honoured on Nigerian soil as he will be inducted into The Headies Hall Of Fame. The Afrobeat legend says “It’s a kind of privilege, its good. I mean I would drink a bottle of champagne when I get it, we will celebrate here.”

Ayo Animashaun, executive producers of The Headies is extremely excited over this year’s line-up of artistes. “Every year, our target is to surpass our very best efforts. With notable artistes such as Femi Kuti and many more gracing The Headies this year, our fans should expect to watch the most exciting awards ceremony to be held in recent times.”

The full list of artistes scheduled to perform at the award ceremony will be announced in due course  by the organisers. Other Hall Of Fame Inductees includes Dayo D1 Adeneye, Kenny Ogungbe, Phillip Trimmel, Olisa Adibua, Obi Asika, Femi Akintunde Johnson, Sir Shina Peters and DJ Jimmy Jatt.
 
Femi Kuti’s Bio
He was born on June 16,1962 in London, United Kingdom. In 2002, Femi's mother, who had played an influential role in Femi's life, died at the age of 60. Femi's son,,Made, currently appears as part of his act, playing alto saxophone.


Also in 2002, Femi contributed a remake of his father's classic song, "Water No Get Enemy", to Red Hot & Riot, a compilation CD in tribute to Fela Kuti that was released by the Red Hot Organization and MCA. His track was created in collaboration with hip hop and R&B artists, D'Angelo, Macy Gray, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, and Roy Hargrove, and all proceeds from the CD were donated to charities dedicated to raising AIDS awareness and fighting the disease.
Femi Kuti's voice is featured in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV, where he is the host of radio station IF 99 (International Funk 99, described as "playing a great selection of classics from West Africa, the US and elsewhere"). In similar fashion as his father, there have been complaints of Kuti's criticism of his homeland Nigeria, specifically in the song Sorry Sorry.
 
Femi’s discography
1.     FEMI ANIKULAPO-KUTI & POSITIVE FORCE - ‘No Cause For Alarm’ (LP, Album) Polygram, 1989      
2.     FEMI ANIKULAPO KUTI & POSITIVE FORCE - M.Y.O.B. (LP) Kalakuta Records, 1991                
3.     FEMI KUTI - Tabu Records, 1995    
4.     SHOKI SHOKI - Sound Of Barclay, 1998                
5.     SHOKI (REMIXED) - Sound Of Barclay         , 1999
6.     TRUTH DON DIE - Sound Of Barclay, 1999                     
7.     SHOKI (REMIXED) - Nuphonic         , 2000
8.     FIGHT TO WIN - MCA Records, 2001                     
9.    AFRICA SHRINE - MK2 Music, UWe, 2004            
10.  LIVE AT THE SHRINE - MK2 Music, UWe, Palm, 2004                  
11.  DAY BY DAY - Wrasse Records, 2008        
12.  AFRICA FOR AFRICA - Wrasse Records, 2010
 
 

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Femi Kuti gets a "Grammy" cake

After being nominated three times for the prestigious Grammy Awards, Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti was honored with the cake version of the awards on his birthday. The cake which was presented to him by Total Consults, is to take his mind off the Grammy he missed out on. Yeni Kuti, Femi’s sister said “This cake will represent the grammy my brother did not win in February”.

The Golden Jubilee celebration took place at the new African Shrine on Saturday, June 16, 2012 and had dignitaries in attendance. Notable faces at the star studded event include; Nollywood actress, Nike Pella and Yemi Shodimu.

Source: HHWM

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RHYTHM, RHYME AND DANCE! AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK AT THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED HIT VIDEO, ILLRYMZ FT FEMI KUTI ; TEACHER, TEACHER

What do you get when you mix Nigeria’s coolest urban personality with Nigeria’s biggest living afro-beat legend? DYNAMITE! Here is a thrilling peek at what to expect from the banging, highly anticipated video. Ladies and gentlemen, it is the irresistibly cool Illrymz featuring the legendary Femi Kuti on Teacher, Teacher! Produced and directed by the Lagos based Contagious Collective, the groundbreaking video will make its TV and online debut at the end of June.

For more of Ill’s infectious coolness, follow @illrymz on twitter and send a birthday shout-out to the legend, Femi Kuti who just turned 50.

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TRACE Urban takes a look at Fela Kuti's creation of Afrobeat and its influences today

In this week's Guest Star, TRACE Urban takes a look at Fela Kuti's creation of Afrobeat and its influences today.

"Fela Kuti was one of the most important African artists of his generation. He was a committed musical genius and a provocateur. His discography is over 50 albums strong! His life story was recently made into a musical backed by Jay-Z and Will Smith. We look back at his exceptional career with his two sons, musicians Femi and Seun, as well as several specialists.

TRACE Urban interviews Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, D'Banj, and P-Square about their thoughts on Fela and the genre.

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Femi Kuti turns 50

Afrobeat king, multi-Grammy award nominee, and arguably one of Africa’s greatest music exports, Femi Kuti will hit the jubilee age of fifty on June 16, 2012. To pay tribute and celebrate with this Nigerian icon at the premises of the New African Shrine, Agidingbi, Lagos at 4pm on June 16 will be his family, friends, a long list of invited music artistes and celebrities, industry personalities and his fans and well-wishers.

The New African Shrine is expected to be filled to capacity, as Yeni Kuti, the organizer and sister to the celebrant apologies for not specifically inviting everybody, but still wishes everyone comes out make the day a memorable one for Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti.

Source: HHWM

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AFRO-BEAT, HIP-HOP AND EXOTIC DANCERS! BEHIND THE SCENES AS NIGERIAN IDOL’S ILLRYMZ AND GRAMMY NOMINATED FEMI KUTI DEBUT ‘TEACHER, TEACHER’ IN GRAND STYLE

AFRO-BEAT, HIP-HOP AND EXOTIC DANCERS! BEHIND THE SCENES AS NIGERIAN IDOL’S ILLRYMZ AND GRAMMY NOMINATED FEMI KUTI DEBUT ‘TEACHER, TEACHER’ IN GRAND STYLE

The venue is the famed New Afrika Shrine and the stars of the day are one of Nigeria’s most sought after on-air personalities Illrymz and Afrobeat Legend Femi Kuti with the exciting ‘Teacher, Teacher’. The music video, which was directed by Contagious Pictures, features the vocal stylings of the Grammy nominated Femi Kuti and the lyrics of the dynamic Ilrymz.

What to look out for? Illrymz like you have never seen or heard before, exotic dancing females, dressing rooms, exciting live performances and Femi Kuti in full joke-mode and for the biggest surprise, you will have to look out for the epic video premiere in June. Meanwhile take a sneak peek at what to expect from the banging video.

click to enlarge image(s)

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Femi Kuti to celebrate Grammy nomination at TOP 1OMICS concert

…Organizers assure tight security at concert venue

…Swe Bar to host pre-concert party

A-list hangout joint, Swe Bar, Lagos will be
playing host to the TOP10 MICS pre-concert party with all the 10 headliners of the concert on parade, the likes of 2face, MI, Eldee, P square, Mocheddah, Duncan mighty, Sir Shina Peters, Femi Kuti, Wizkid and Abass Akande Obesere.

The pre-concert party will also be playing host to many industry people, media partners, associates and lucky winners on twitter and radio platforms in attendance. Other super stars are also expected to throng the Swe bar venue; the partners will also be present.

Afro beat icon and Grammy nominee, Femi Kuti has promised to celebrate his nomination with the teeming fans at the TOP10 MICS concert at the TBS, Lagos. Fans will get the chance to listen live to the album (Africa for Africa) that earned him that exclusive Grammy nomination

There will be a very strong media presence as journalists from all walks of the media will be there to further lend credence to the exquisite event; other industry pundits are also expected to storm the venue.

Ace humorist Alibaba will be on hand to anchor the event and thrill the audience with his rib cracking jokes alongside Chioma of STV. It promises to be a night of spectacular glitz and glamour as there won’t be any dull moments.

TOP10 MICS has been slated for the 23rd December at the famous Tafawa Balewa Square featuring the artistes mentioned above. The gate fee for the December 23 concert is two thousand naira (N2000) before the concert, three thousand naira (N3000) at the gate and ten thousand naira (N10, 000) for VIP.

Ticket sales point have been released, they are KOGA entertainment, Shakara clothing, KFC outlets (Adeola Odeku, Apapa, CityMall, Ogba& Surulere), Ozone cinemas, Genesis (the Palms), Unilag FM, Swe bar, ASCON filling station, Ogba.

The organizers of the most sought after concert which is enjoying loads of previews and highlights in the newspapers, blogs and social networking platforms have once again assured the public by insisting that they have absolutely nothing to worry about as the date of the concert draws near.

To further shed more light on the issue of security, a top official of KOGA, Anu Awoseyi reiterated that ‘’KOGA is doing everything possible to make this concert a spectacular success in all ramifications as the security of life and property at the TBS that day is nothing to worry about. We are also x-raying the EXPERIENCE model so as to get it right in terms of security, we are working closely with top security outfits in the land and also partnering with the state agencies too on the subject matter’’.

The show is supported by Beat FM, Cool FM, Naija FM, Hip on TV, Bellanaija, Lindaikeji, Kennis music, LASAA, Thenetng, Shakara clothing, Ozone cinema, Soarnaija, Lagbus, Gabrielz360, Ynaija, Nigerianfilms, Hibuzz, and others.

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Femi Kuti gets 3rd grammy nomination

Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti has been nominated at the 54th edition of the prestigious Grammy Awards.

Femi picked up his third ever nomination in the World Music Category for his ‘Africa for Africa‘ album last night Wednesday, November 30, 2011 when the list was unveiled at the ‘Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!‘ in Los Angeles, US.

In 2003, Femi, eldest son of late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti picked up his first ever Grammy Award nomination but lost out to Panamanian salsa singer Rubén Blades. He similarly lost in 2010 when he was nominated in the same category. US banjo player Bela Fleck walked away with the award.

His recent nomination sees him up against Latin/Roots music band AfroCubism, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Malian band Tinariwen. The awards ceremony is billed to hold on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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Femi Kuti warms up Scotland

If the snow in the capital’s Lothian Road started to melt ever so slightly around 9pm on Wednesday, that would have been due to the arrival onstage of the band Femi Kuti calls the Positive Force.

The son of Fela Kuti, the legendary Nigerian musician, Afrobeat founder and political activist, Kuti sent his band out first to warm things up, and with a five-piece horn section specialising in

rapid fire fanfares, three spectacularly gyrating backing vocalists and an industrious rhythm section including a drummer whose kick drum comes from the wrecking-ball school of emphasis, the force was felt immediately.

Kuti himself entered looking cooler than cool but this impression didn’t last. With a performance style that can only be described as wholehearted, he launched into songs from his latest album, Africa for Africa, with vehemence, his free hand beating the air impatiently, and he was soon reaching for his towel.

In a set that ran to almost two hours, including a generous encore section, Kuti only stood still to play his Hammond keyboard or tilt his trumpet and alto saxophone into the mic while he played imprecatory lines and improbably long notes through circular breathing.

His aim is to serve up strong medicine – diatribes on poverty in Africa and corruption and greed in the continent’s politicians – in a sweet drink and in case the message got over-diluted, he delivered a rambling lecture that rather broke the spell.

The music itself, however, as it paused, faded and erupted to Kuti’s James Brown-like conducting methods, was impressive and for those two hours Lothian Road might have been in Lagos.

Source: HeraldScotland

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JJC - We are Africans (9ja remix)

We are Africans - JJC ft. Femi Kuti, Da Grin, Eldee, DJ Zeez, Kel, and Ay.com
We are Africans
We are Africans
We are Africans
AFRICANS awoooo!!

This is the 3rd remix of this song and the video should be released next week.

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