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Julius Agwu debuts with Festival of Love

One of Nigeria’s most gifted comedians, Julius D’Genius Agwu will be giving couples resident in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja an opportunity to celebrate their valentine in a classy romantic gathering.

The show which is its first edition, will take place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. It will feature great acts like Darey, MI, Waje, Iyanya and veteran Onyeka Onwenu.

Speaking concerning the on-coming show, Julius revealed that the show, Festival of Love will be an avenue for couples to re-unite in love and emphasized the need for Nigerians to abide in peace and unity.

“Love is exactly what we need in Nigeria at the moment to put a final stop to the latest terrorist attacks threatening our existence as a nation. It is also love that can put an end to the religious attacks also threatening our unity as a nation. We came up with Festival of Love as an avenue to preach love as the only element that can save our nation at this point.

We also want the couples to come out and re-ignite their love life. Love is actually going to be celebrated in a festive manner. That is why we called it Festival of Love”, Julius said.

As a matter of fact, Julius Agwu is not new to this terrain. His popular comedy show, Crack Ya Ribs has been an exciting evening of music and comedy for fun lovers for the past ten years.

He has held Crack Ya Ribs in different part of the world including London and America.
His third album, D’Genius featuring acts like 2Face Idibia, MI, Jesse Jags and few others is still selling fast. The album was released on December 19, 2010.

Obiwon – Great Again (Ode to Nigeria)

As the elections draw nearer, Obiwon drops a little special track called “Great Again” that reminds us that Nigeria will be great again; We just need to elect those leaders right for our Nation.

He’s currently working on his 3rd album Great Again tentatively titled “T.R2011 ((The Rebirth2011)”

Remember to go Register; Nigeria needs your vote.

Go #RSVP & Get familiar!

Obiwon – “Great Again (Ode to Nigeria)”

Bracket unveils new album

The duo of Ozioko ‘Vast’ Nwachukwu and Ali ‘Smash’ Obumneme of the Bracket took a break in the last quarter of 2010 to work on their follow up album. It has been revealed that the album would contain 10 songs and collaboration with P Square and Flavor as well as the Yori yori remix featuring Tuface idibia.

Producers recruited are Phyno and the producer for their hit record – Yori yori, Decumzy. Foster Zino would also be mixed and mastered the album. The single and video would be released simultaneously – Clarence Peters would be shooting in South Africa.

The album as we are informed would have music to appeal to different classes of people ranging from the elderly to the younger generation.

Smash is in his final year studying psychology at the University of Nigeria, while Vast just finished his OND and has already proceeded with his pursuit for HND in Mass Communication at the Institute of Management and Technology.

Seyi Law set to Wed

Standup comedian, Aletile Idileoye Oluwaseyitan Lawrence popularly referred to as Seyi Law is on the verge of tying the knot with his long time partner.

After receiving the Comedian of the year award at the Future Awards ceremony held yesterday at the Landmark Events Center, Seyi dedicated the award to his fiancée.

‘I thank God for this award and also dedicate it to my fiancee whom I’ll be getting married to in March, 2011. When I met her, she said she loved my confidence and this had helped me all through my career’, an excited Seyi said.

The award winning comedian rose to fame after winning the first edition of renowned comedian, AY’s ‘Open Mic Comedy‘ and has remained a recognized comedian over the years.

Comedy Titans holds in Lagos

The best of Nigerian comedy will be showcased on Friday, Friday February 11, 2011 as the biggest comedians in Nigeria assemble for the Comedy Titans!

Organised by Flytime Promotions, the show which debuts at the Expo hall of Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos will see top class comedy acts like: Ali Baba, Basketmouth, I Go Die, Julius Agwu, Okey Bakassi, Gordons, Ay, Seyi Law, Bovi, Buchi, Tunde Ednut, I Go Save, CD John, Funny Bones, Dan D Humorous and others entertain the crowd with back-to-back jokes as each act will try to overdo the performance of the other.

Another highlight of the night will be the performances from top music artistes which include pop icon 2face, hit-maker Terry G, rising talent Mo’cheddah, ladies’ man Wizkid, King of the South Duncan Mighty and Next Rated acts Skuki.

Airtel One8 collaboration voted 2011 best bet by Billboard International

Airtel One8 collaboration voted 2011 best bet by Billboard International

The all-African group, Airtel One8, has been named “Best Bet of 2011” by Billboard International.

The Billboard ‘Best Bet List’ is an annual forecast for upcoming artists or groups that are destined for success in the new year. This year’s list includes American country pop singer and Grammy award-winner Taylor Swift.

Speaking on the endorsement, chief marketing officer, Airtel Africa, Andre Beyers said,

“This exciting recognition has demonstrated both the potential impact African music and local artists can have on the international music scene, as well as the benefits of diversity in music. The Airtel One8 super group is a living and breathing example of the diversity and cultural mix of Africa. It expresses the spirit, talent and rhythm of Africa.”

Airtel One8 made its debut in November 2010 with the global hit single “Hands Across the World”. Airtel One8 features eight of Africa’s top acts — Nigerian R&B singer 2Face, Tanzanian crooner Ali Kiba, singer Fally Ipupa of the Democratic Republic of Congo, hip hop trio 4X4 from Ghana, rapper Movazhaleine of Gabon,

Zambian singer JK, Ugandan rapper, Navio, and Kenyan R&B singer Amani and the hip-hop’s Pied Piper, R Kelly — who wrote and produced the debut single. According to Billboard, the group and R-Kelly connection, “no less, is poised to build a sustainable global audience for the continent’s music industry.”

With their single climbing the top 10 charts, the Airtel One8 album is due for release in the first quarter of this year.

Work begins on Dagrin movie

As a way of immortalizing the late award-winning rapper, Dagrin, Stingomania Records has decided to begin filming the a movie based on the late rapper’s life titled “Ghetto Dreamz”. Auditions for all roles have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 5 while shooting will commence on February 9 at the former Kingsize Restaurant, Ikeja, Lagos. The movie will feature the life and times of the rapper and is expected to hit the cinemas in April 2011 to celebrate Dagrin’s first anniversary memorial project.

“Ghetto Dreamz” will now be directed by Daniel Ademinokan. Revealing the reason behind the movie, the chief executive officer of Stingomania Records, Ope Banwo said, “Dagrin was an emerging star in the Nigerian music scene, it is only imperative for stakeholders in the industry to do something about memorializing his name in a constructive and enduring manner. There is need for something to be done to keep his hopes and dreams alive for the next generation of struggling and upcoming artistes.”

Retta - Kolo For You

The Future Awards announces winners

Winners of this year’s The Future Awards were announced yesterday at a well attended ceremony which took place at Landmark Village, Victoria Island, Lagos. The list covers 21 different categories.

Actor of the year

Mercy Johnson – Winner

Ini Edo

Uche Jumbo

Best use of advocacy

Muyideen Salau – Winner

Orode Uduaghan

Tola Sunmonu

Best use of science

Debo Olaosebikan – Winner

Otejiri Oghoghorie

Oluwatoyosi Owoeye

Best use of technology

Iruoye Tolulope – Winner

Mubarak Abdullahi

Saheed Adepoju

Business owner of the year

Bode Pedro – Winner

Toyosi Akerele

Karo Agono

Comedian of the year

Seyi Law – Winner

Jedidiah

Teju Babyface

Corporate professional of the year

Tokini Peterside – Winner

Adeniyi Olutayo

Oye Akindeinde

Oluwatoyosi Owoeye

Akintola Olufemi (Brand Manager, Milo)

Creative artist of the year

Aisha Augie-Kuta – Winner

Ogunnubi Babadeji

Chibundu Onuzo

Creative professional of the year

Janet Nwose - Winner

Emem Ema

Nike Fagbule

Dimeji Alara

Godwin Tom

Excellence in public service

Emmanuel Etim – Winner

Dr. Momoh Rabiu

Oladayo Afolabi

Journalist of the year

Tolu Ogunlesi – Winner

Toyosi Akinseye

Yinka Ibukun

Magazine of the year

FAB – Winner

Wow

Vibez

Musician of the year

Banky W – Winner

Naeto C

DaGrin

Music producer of the year

Sosick – Winner

Jmartins

Sazzy

On-air personality of the year (radio)


Matse Uwatse (Wazobia FM) – Winner

Tolu Oniru-Toolz (Beat FM)

Tosyn Bucknor-Area Mama (Top Radio)

On-air personality of the year (TV)

Tana Adelana (Peak Talent Show) – Winner

Kemi Adetiba (Maltina Dance-All)

Yvonne Ekwere-Vixen (Silverbird TV)

Screen producer of the year

Clarence Peters – Winner

Kemi Adetiba

Chineze Anyaene

Sportsperson of the year

Enyiama Vincent – Winner

Mobolaji Akiode

Christiana Nwoye

Designer of the year

Bridget Awosika – Winner

Ugoma Adegoke

Yvonne

Team of the year

The Falconets – Winner

Notjustok.com

Jobberman.com


Young person of the year

Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu (28) – Advocate – Winner

Don Jazzy (29) – Entrepreneur

Genevieve Nnaji (31) – Actor

Psquare (30) – Artiste

Uche Eze (26) – Entrepreneur

Nneka (Egbuna) (29) – Artiste

Makinde Adeagbo (25) – Innovator

Ojoma Ochai (29) – Intrapreneur

Debo Olaosebikan (25) – Scientist

Blessing Okaragbe (22)– Athlete

Inspiration 92.3 FM Boss quits.

Popular On-air personality and CEO of M54, Wale Ewedemi has apparently quit his job at 92.3 Inspiration FM.

Wale who was the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer at the radio station before his resignation was a pioneer staff and one of the brains behind the radio station’s success.

The 2008 British Council Music Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner tells us he’ll be venturing other projects as he feels his work there has been done.

A Graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ewedemi earlier worked at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria and at Cool FM where he was the General Manager for the Abuja Station.

There are speculations his departure from the station is premature, and that he may have been asked to quit, but NET cannot confirm this at this time.

Jazzman Olofin drops new album- Ready to Go

The Nigerian entertainment industry is well known for graduating artistes, who come into the limelight and fade out after a few hits; only a few are able to stay grounded and maintain a relationship with their fans in what is tagged: “the comeback” and if a comeback is anything to go by then Afro hip hop crooner Jazzman Olofin’s efforts should set him right back where he used to belong, atop the charts as he released his album “READY TO GO” on January 18, 2011.

The album, which produced a single “Erekere” featuring the late Rapper DaGrin has enjoyed airplay across radio stations while the video has been aired on local and international TV networks in Nigeria.

Jazzman Olofin, known for his smooth fusion of R&B and Hip Hop first introduced himself to the Nigerian audience in a group called X-APPEAL alongside fellow artiste Lexzy Doo who is featured in his current effort “READY TO GO”.

Describing his music as “original flavored Nigerian Hip Hop”, this album will appeal to the musical needs of fans that are aware of the gap his break from the industry created.

The 13-track album features notable names like M.I and OJB Jezreel.

Will Smith and Jay-Z's Broadway Musical Fela! Heading to Nigeria

The Broadway musical FELA! co-produced by Jay Z and Will Smith is coming to Nigeria, native home of the famed musician and activist FELA KUTI.

Now Edward Tyler Nahem, who co-produced the Broadway run with Jay-Z and Will Smith, is taking the production to the Nigerian capital of Lagos after proving its draw by bringing big names to its audience.

Nahem tells the New York Post, Fela Kuti was to the music of the last 40 years what Picasso was to art in the 20th century.

The Tony Award-winning show closed on the Broadway on the 2nd of January 2011 after thirteen months in the Big Apple and famed veteran singer Patti LaBelle played the role of Fela’s mother.

Superstars including Oprah Winfrey, Sting, Madonna, Beyonce, Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Prince and Denzel Washington were seen at the Big Apple for the musical.

Sneak Peek: Design of Naeto C's " Super C Season" + Tracklist

1 – Super C Season

2 – True ( Dem No Fit Do Am ) Feat Omawunmi

3 – Ako Mi Ti Poju ( Extended Mix ) Feat Da Grin

4 – Carry Your Shoulder

5 – Ex-Girlfriend Feat Dr Frabs

6 – Skimpololo Feat Terry G and YQ

7 – Duro Feat YQ

8 – Afurum Gi Na Anya ( I Love You ) Feat Waje

9 – 5 and 6

10 – Ten Over Ten

11 – De Ja Vu ( Our Drinks )

12 – Share My Blessings Feat Asa

13 – Voodoo

14 – See Me Finish

BONUS TRACKS

15 – Ride With Me Feat Sway and Lukie D

16 – Ride With Me Feat Sossick

17 – Gidi Is Mine

Omawumi out with new single

Nigerian Pop music singer and first runner up at the 2007 Idol West Africa, Omawumi will release a new single, ‘If You Ask Me’, today Monday, 10 January 2011. The song “deals with child sexual abuse and takes a musical journey through that painful experience,” a release from her Public Relation company reads.

According to the release, the track which was produced by ace music producer Cobhams Asuquo, is the first off her upcoming sophomore album. Omawumi released her debut album, ‘Wonder Woman’, in 2009 to commercial success. The album included monster hits, ‘Today Na Today’ and ‘In The Music’.

Rick Ross to return to Nigeria

Maybach Music head honcho, Rick Ross would be making a return to Nigeria for a concert organized by Kilimanjaro and Storm 360. He was in Lagos for the MTV Africa Music Awards that took place on the 4th of December.

The show tagged Lagos Shut Down Concert also has M.I., Naeto C, Dr Sid, Ice Prince, YQ, WIzkid and Iyanya.

Kilimanjaro Entertainment, the outfit responsible for a number of top level concerts in the earlier part of the decade, with Boys 2 Men, Joe, Sean Paul being just some of the major talents they successfully delivered in major concerts return to the game with this show which is destined to be one of the best shows this season in Nigeria.

Jahbless’ album (Overground) drops Dec 23rd. Sneak Peek + Tracklist

1. Moving too fast
2. Bere mole ft. Reminisce
3. Tete lo bere
4. Rock da party ft. Svee
5. No one knows
6. Muzzing muzz (radio skit)
7. Joor (remix) ft. Iceprince, Reminisce, Durella, Ruggedman & Eldee
8. Layemi
9. Panya panya ft. Don Tom
10. Hangover ft. ID Cabasa
11. Di dada ft. Reminisce
12. The one ft. Banky W
13. Rock my world
14. Far away ft. J.O.H.N & Jospo
15. Waving drag

Fuji musician, Ayinde Barrister, is dead

FUJI music exponent, Alhaji (Dr) Sikiru Ayinde Balogun, popularly known as Barrister, is dead. He died on Thursday morning at St Mary’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom, after developing complications as a result of surgery he underwent recently to

extract excess fat from his body. He was 62. His death was confimed by one of his sons, Wale, popularly known as Barry Showkey, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune from London.



About three months ago, Barrister was admitted to a German hospital where about 32kg of fat was extracted from his body. Before this, he had undergone surgery at an Indian hospital, but on his return to Nigeria, he developed some complications, and he travelled to Germany for further medical treatment.

While in Germany, news filtered through that Barrister had died. That news shook his fans and artistes who looked up to him for guidance, but he quickly came out to debunk the death rumour.

Barrister’s brand of music (Fuji), was initially believed to be for touts and bus drivers, but today, fans cut across all classes of the society, due to the modernisation of the music by Barrister and youthful artistes who now dominate the Fuji scene.

While Barrister was active on the music scene, there was great rivalry between him and Alhaji (‘General’) Ayinla Kollington, another veteran Fuji artiste.

Before becoming a full-time musician, Barrister was a soldier and he fought in the Nigerian Civil War. He so much cherished the memories of the war that he sang often about it in his albums.

In one of his albums, he sang that he feared nothing in life because he had been to the war front and nothing could be more terrible than that.

Also, Barrister loved his mother so much that he mentioned her struggles to bring him up in almost all his albums.

Barrister, also known as Alhaji Agba, touched the lives of his fans in one way or the other through his music.

His music is also very philosophical. In his lifetime, he was the subject of various rumours, innuendoes and distortions, but always came out stronger after each time.

Brief History
Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Balogun was born in Lagos on February 9, 1948. After creating a genre of music, he named it Fuji, which he got from Mount Fuji, the Japanese Mountain of love. Fuji is a combination of the Were beat, Juju, Apala and traditional Yoruba praise poems.

Upon his discharge from the army, where he fought in the Nigerian civil war, Barrister formed his musical group, The Supreme Fuji Commanders.

He has his fan clubs spread across the country, especially in the northern part like Kano, Kaduna, Zaria, Jos, among other states.

Meanwhile Nigerians have started reacting to his death.
According to Yinka Ayefele, “the death of Sikiru Ayinde Barrister is still a shock to me. He was a great man and he created the Fuji music that is waxing stronger by the day. May God grant him eternal rest.

Former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, described his death as a big loss to the country.

Oyinlola, in a statement, on Thursday, said, the death of Barrister had left the nation poorer, just as it had robbed the entertainment industry of one of its pillars.

The Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, said the late Sikiru Ayinde would be missed for the message of his lyrics.
In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Public Commu-nications, Dotun Oyelade, the governor said the deceased was a world class entertainer when he was alive.

Tha Suspect drops I Am Music.. The Producer Album

Capital Hill music producer/ recording artist Tha Suspect drops his debut cd I Am Music…the producer album on December 14th.

“It is called a Producer album because it show cases Tha Suspect much more as a producer than as vocalist and features a heavy collage of various artistes (notable and upcoming) of different sounds and styles with Tha suspect only on the hook on some of the songs”, says his management..

Tha Suspect produced Kel’s “The Investment album”, Rooftop Mcs “for my life”, Teeto Ceemos “oshamo” and more… Finally the musical Crase man is set to drop a collection of his own works.

Dem Don Dey Move, Tuaile, Mugu, I Go Make Am are some of the cuts that have been released as singles and songs like For My Life remix with Rooftop Mcs, Mike Anyasodo & Kefee, I No Send You with Wyclef Jean and various artistes which received a lot of rave reviews on the internet are some of the tracks that made the album.

Collaborating artistes include Blak Twang, Ill bliss, Pasuma Wonder, Timaya, Terry G, MI, Jaywon, Sasha, Muna(Munachi Abi), Vector, Shank, Zee and more.

I Am Music is an eclectic album and is to be distributed nationwide by Sammyvibes entertainment.

Tha Suspect and his Capital hill music family are to celebrate the album release on December 16th at club Volar by Vuitton, VI with fans, the featured artistes and other entertainment industry heads.

Also there will be an autograph signing session for fans on the December 18th at The Hub, Palms, Lekki, Lagos.

MI sells MI 2's distribution rights for N 20 million

For the first time, a Nigerian artiste came clean on the financial value of his album.

"This is not to prove any point, it's only to inspire someone that we are doing this. Mr Abhu can you step up please" said M.I, and with that intro, CEO Abhu ventures, a strong force in the Alaba 'conglomerate' presented a N20million cheque to M.I in exchange for distribution rights to his MI2 album through out West Africa.