YIBO KOKO ENSURES LOVE, TEARS, ORIGINALITY ON NIGERIA’S GOT TALENT

It was all smiles, tears and joy for Patrick Mathias a.k.a. Password last Friday evening at the oriental hotel as he was crowned the ultimate prize winner of the MTN SongStar contest with Don Jazzy. For a moment, he was choked with emotions unable to sing even when he was asked to.
 
The gods really favoured Password for his name was added to the wild card a night before the event as an afterthought according to Don Jazzy.
 
Of all the five contestants who made it to the finals, Password won the coveted prize of the Digital Music Mobile App  competition not just  with his vocal chords but with his charisma. He endeared the crowd with his gentlemanly manners. He performed John Legend’s Ordinary people and Bruno Mars’  Just the way you are.
He was awarded with a brand new Porsche Cayenne and a recording deal with Don Jazzy.



Source: Thisday Entertainment News

Talents Emerge At Calabar Festival

In its continuous bid to galvanize the untapped energies of young persons in Cross River State state into useful ventures, the state government through the annual Calabar Festival has created another platform  to boost the entertainment industry.
 
Tagged, “Calabar Got Talent”, one of the many activities in the ongoing festival calendar, the event  targeted at discovering budding talents and nurturing same to stardom.
Not even the early down pour could stop the teeming crowd from identifying with the artistes in what has now become a ground for the discovery of new talents.
 
For these budding talents, the festival has become a springboard to stardom.
It also offers them opportunity to win scholarship.
A new comedian, rapper and dancer were discovered in a keenly contested show.. The delighted audience  at the Millennium Park, played the role of judges.
 
Established Nigerian home grown artistes like Teego, Uncle Eddie, Naughty Jay and another Calabar Festival discovery, Pikin added so much fun and laughter to the evening.



Source: Thisday Entertainment News

I don’t want to charm too many women – Sound Sultan

 

Lanre Fasasi a.k.a Sound Sultan discusses his career and also sheds light on his personality

You have been on stage for 12 years but you are not as aggressive as some of your colleagues.

It is not the aggression that matters but outliving one’s first performance.  I am happy that after 15 years, I have been able to remain relevant and I am still getting invites to perform at shows.    It is really important for us to bear in mind that humility sustains a successful career.  If you say I am not aggressive, that is because I am just being humble.

  

How was your tour of the United States of America?

  It is very hard to do concerts   internationally— there are lots of heavy-weights involved in the business. You need sponsors too. Right now, I’m trying to put a DVD together.

What inspires you when you are writing songs?

I look at my situation; I look at the immediate environment and try to talk about everything that has happened now and in the past.  I have a wonderful memory, I remember things easily.

You appear like an extremely shy person

Yes, every artiste has that, even the international ones, but I have come to realise that I cannot extend my shyness to making money.  I was an introvert but I am not that anymore. Now, I am an extrovert and I make money with aggression.

Do you sometimes feel intimidated?

No. There is no way I would feel intimidated because I always have something to say. But when I am alone and just being me, not Sound Sultan, I just want that privacy for a little while.  My approach is that if you don’t have anything to say, then keep quiet. People have made a lot of mistakes from talking without thinking.

What puts you off about people?

I can’t stand fake people.  Some youths feel they should behave like white people, it is so bad that  they cannot even identify with their parents sometimes, but I feel  people should  be proud of who they are.

What was your parents’ reaction when you opted for a career in music?

 My parents supported my brother and I 120 per cent. All they said was that we should make sure we go to school.

Apart from Baba Dee, who else was your role model when you were growing up?

When I was growing up, role models were very hard to come by, unlike now ,when there are so many players in the game, even though some people are still very stingy with their knowledge and experience. Back then, you could hardly come around a star, you would just be looking at them from afar.  But having Baba Dee  as my brother  was  a leverage,  he was already  several  steps  ahead of me  and he had already seen the game in different lights. He was going for competitions then and I was always backing him up.   I also had a lot of influence from Fela, Wyclef Jean, Tracy Chapman, Shade Adu and a few others. I never listened religiously to any artiste in those days but I always made sure I took a healthy dose of each artiste. I did not take too much so that the musician’s style would not reflect in my music.

What has fame done to you?

 I know a lot of young guys get carried away easily when they come into the scene newly. I giggle when I see that because sometimes you get tired of certain habits. I don’t know how long they can put up with such acts before getting tired.  I have related with international artistes and I have seen how wealthy they are and still, how grounded they are. I was level-headed before I met Wyclef Jean in 2010 but after that meeting, I became more level-headed. Whenever Wyclef, a multiple award-winning musician, calls me to inform me that he would be in Nigeria for my show, I am amazed at his modesty. Meanwhile, you would be begging Nigerian artistes to come to your show.

Where did the name, Sound Sultan, emanate from?

Then, my brother and sister were making fun of my previous name.  I was doing everything then, I was a rapper and I was an instrumentalist. So, they asked me if I wanted to continue my career with my funny name. I told them to give me another name and they said since I wrote different styles of music,   they would call me Sound Sultan— King of sounds. It’s like being a jack of all trades, master of all.

What does style mean to you?

 If I was a new guy in the game, I would submit to the fashion craze that is currently going on in the industry.    Everybody is going around asking, ‘who are you wearing?’ If I were a new guy,  I would be worried about who or what I am wearing but as it is, anything that comes to mind and which  I want to define myself with, is what I come out with.  Style is not about being trendy or doing what is in vogue.

But you do like fez caps

I have always used fez caps to cover my face since I was in school because of my shy nature; I still use them to shield my face.

Why don’t you wear  sunglasses?

I don’t want to charm too many people again because I am married.

How did you meet your wife?

I just met her.

How did she scale through your female admirers?

It would have been hard for her to scale through them, she was not a part of that crowd, she grew up in my neighbourhood, and I watched her grow up.

She was not a fan who was all over you?

She was not, I was begging her to even hear my song.

So how did you eventually date her?

I did  not talk to her in the neighbourhood because I did not want people to start talking about the relationship. I always met her somewhere away from the neighbourhood.

What’s next for Sound Sultan?

My sixth album is dropping very soon, I am excited, and we are planning a tour with my management outside the country. My artistes are recording their album as well. I keep my fingers crossed, God is in control.

Source: The Punch Entertainment News

Ure Okezie ignores Soul E at album launch

A woman of many parts, the last child and only daughter of late frontline Second  Republic politician and medical practitioner, and Minister of Health, Dr. J.O.J Okezie, Ure Okezie is known for courting controversies. 

At a recent launch of her much anticipated album, Porpori, Okezie totally omitted her former husband, Emmanuel Ifechukwu Okose,  popularly called  Soul E, from her citation.  According to the citation, Okezie graduated from the University of Jos with a B.SC in Physics, she has worked in five commercial banks and one mortgage bank, she is a personal coach and trainer, she has established a church, a foundation and many more. But the reading had no mention of Ure’s marriage to Soul E, which packed up less than a year after it was contracted.

Towards the end of the programme, Okezie insisted on singing a gospel song before the main Porpori number, saying, “Una no know why I be pastor? I carry anointing, una no know?” Meanwhile,  Ure’s church, ‘Love Villa’ which she co-pastored with her ex-husband has been closed down as she launches into full-time  music.

Source: The Punch Entertainment News

I’m getting married soon —Benita Okojie

In the 90s, Benita Okojie, at the tender age of 12, was a sensation as a gospel music child artiste.  Now 24, the multiple award-winner relives the experience of stardom and adulthood

Child   stars face a lot of pressures while growing up, did you experience such?

 I did but the winning factor for me was the close relationship I had with God and my family.  I did not shut my loved ones out of my life. They are the ones who can tell me the truth about anything, no matter how big it is. I have a good relationship with my parents and I talk to them about everything. My mother, especially, was a pillar of strength for me and I was able to tell her a lot of things and she helped me through all the changes. I am a very spiritual being and I pray a lot.

How did you handle the superstar treatment in school?

The early stages of the job were very harsh on me. I had friends who just had issues with my person, not necessarily because I did anything wrong but because they felt that I was going around with a larger than life image. I do not think that was the situation but because I am out there, everybody wants to judge me based on what they don’t even know.  I thank God for my parents and my siblings who helped and supported me all the way. I made very good friends also. Now, I am a graduate. I have friends who I hook up with once in a while and we hang out and attend functions together.

What has changed about your career now as an adult?

The difference is not so significant because I will always do indigenous songs. It is a language which I am able to express myself in. But I am going to do a lot of English songs as well because I know my fan base extends to people who do not understand Edo songs. There are some foreigners too. Recently, I checked our facebook page and saw a lot of foreigners posting comments there.

What lessons have you learnt as an adult?

I have learnt about growth. As a young lady, boys will seek one’s attention but one should learn to have a great relationship with guys while setting boundaries with them at the same time. Your parents should always be people you respect, no matter how big you are and how much money you make. You would always need parental love and support. Mine have been there for me all the time. Sometimes, when the youthful exuberance in me crops up, my parents would always make sure that I stay grounded. They always remind me of where I am coming from, where I am going and what I have done. That has kept me balanced. Guys would come and go but your parents would always be there.

What has been happening to your music career?

I am working on a couple of singles and a talk show but while I am still waiting for all of that, I am having as much fun as I can have.

What about marketing your songs?

I don’t think I can handle that but I have put friends and family members in place to assist me, they are also learning in the process. My sister is my personal assistant and my mother works with the board of my management and that helps a lot. It is easier to communicate with family. Whenever outsiders are brought in, they are made to understand that I am more of a family girl and we always like to do things together. This helps us to be focused. I don’t allow business to becloud what I do. Most importantly, I am a gospel artiste and my job is to win souls for Christ. If money comes, it will help facilitate what I do well but it should not be the basis for doing what I do.

Are you limiting yourself to gospel?

I do inspirational songs. Whenever I go for concerts and they tell me they have a mixed crowd and would like me to mix songs that are not purely gospel, I would get songs like Whitney Houston’s Greatest Love of All, Mariah Carey’s Hero. These are songs that inspire and motivate. The most important thing is that you pass a positive message across to people.

What does style mean to you?

It is what I am comfortable in. Anything is suitable for me but I just like to look my age, I don’t like to dress older than my age.

How old are you now?

I am in my 20s.  I am sure you know that women have an issue with revealing their age. I am enjoying my 20s.

What are your favorite accessories?

I love rings a lot. They are very fashionable to wear. I like wearing them until the real ring comes.

When?

Very soon. You should get an invitation when the time comes.

Is the man also a musician?

No.

What does he do?

No comment!

What is your favorite food?

It is amala, I like eating it with ewedu and turkey soup. It is my favorite and I have also learnt to prepare it.

What is a typical day like for you?

I wake up, pray and blog, but I have not blogged for a long time now because I have been investing money in a song we are working on. Sometimes, I rehearse. I am learning to play the guitar and I check how far I have gone in perfecting my guitar playing skills.  Then, I go on social network to see what impact my project is making in the lives of people.  I also try to answer as many messages as possible.  I do house chores. My parents don’t let me go out without doing my portion of the house chores. I clean my room and wash the plates. I have to do all the things that I should do in the house because I will become a wife some day.

How do you handle pressure?

There is no particular way of handling pressure but when I am pressurised, I pray.

What is your advice to young girls, who see you as a role model?

Pray and continually follow your dreams. Be sure it is what God wants for you, then pursue it wholeheartedly. Let God be the winning factor in your life. Also, make sure you have a great family who supports what you do. Remain steadfast; start and follow through with the project or you will fail.

Have you ever had sad moments in life?

When there are challenging moments, I always look at the positive side.


Source: The Punch Entertainment News

I always date the wrong guys – Funmi Fiberesima

She is a film producer, an actress and an entrepreneur in entertainment. Known as Funmi Fiberesima, she premiered her first movie recently. She talks about her life and career in this interview

 Who is Funmi Fiberesima?

I am a producer and actress but I like to refer to myself as entertainment entrepreneur because I handle the business of entertainment.

  

What do you mean by that?

I am in the business of movie production. Apart from producing my first film, I am also involved in drama productions for the Nigerian Reproductive Health Association and I have also been doing production consultancy for the African Drama Association.

 What is the title of your film?

 The movie is titled: Onikola.  It is a Yoruba film about female circumcision.

  

As a member of the Fiberesima clan, how was growing up in the family?

Our family is a very large one.  The Fiberesimas are scattered all over United Kingdom and other parts of the world.  We come back many generations, even within the Fiberesima family, there are different households. I met one of my cousins last year for the first time in my life. My mom is from Ogun State and I was born in Lagos where I spent my childhood with my mother’s relative. I did not get to visit Rivers State until much later when she died.

  

What in your background prepared you for the job of movie production?

I come from an entertainment family.  The Fiberesima family has been in entertainment right from when I was a kid. I remember that part of the syllabus that I had to study for my music exams had my uncle’s name, Adam Fiberesima in it.

 What did you study in school?

I did a certificate course in Theatre Arts and then moved over to Communications Studies at the University of Port Harcourt.

 How profitable has the entertainment business been for your family?

Nobody comes into the industry looking for money or profit; we all come in with a passion.  One has to be willing to work even though they are not going to be paid. If you come into the industry with the mindset of making profit, you are going to be frustrated pretty quickly. But you will make money eventually if you remain with your passion and if you don’t get discouraged along the way.

 Is the business all rosy for you?

No, it is not all rosy. I have made sacrifices but for now, I think I am comfortable. I am not desperate to make money.  I am in it for the passion and I believe that I will get to a point where I will be able to make money that will cover all the years of sacrifices.   Till then, I will continue to make sacrifices.

 Who financed your first movie?

 I came into the industry with my money. Nobody financed my first movie.

How much did you spend producing the movie?

I spent close to N12m and that was because I ran into a lot of people that were thieves but my production was protected because of my background. I have learnt that if I have to give somebody any money, the person has to sign a written agreement. It got to a point, one of my directors attempted to hijack my production, claiming that it was his intellectual property! I bought the rights from the script writer and I paid for everything, but he was telling me it was his intellectual property because he directed the project.   I may be new in the industry but I am not new in business,   nobody can swindle me.

  

The money must have come from your boyfriend

I don’t have a boyfriend.

Why is that?

I seem to make all the wrong choices. The cliché that good girls like bad boys applies to my situation because I have a tendency to run into the wrong kind of guys.

  

Did you fall for a bad boy?

Yes.  I fell for a couple of them.  I seem to have a track record in that area. The fact is that if one person does something bad to you and the second person does the same thing, you begin to ask if you have a problem.   I am currently going through rehabilitation process in church so that I can spot a good guy when he comes.

What happened with the last guy you dated?

He is married now. We actually got engaged, he was a good guy but a boring one.

 What is his profession?

He is an Information Technology expert.

  

Would you have preferred an actor to him?

No, I would not prefer an actor because I am not sure I would be able to endure the sight of my husband kissing another woman in a movie.

  

But that is your profession…

I know. Our profession is the type that can drive a woman crazy.   I know there are some actors that do all that and are still committed to their homes but I don’t think I am secure enough to be an actor’s wife.

  

How do your male colleagues react to the idea of a rich female producer?

 The men feel intimidated and they try to write me off, but I don’t care, if I make returns of just N1m from that film, I would be happy because it dealt with female genital mutilation, something that most people are no longer talking about. I have always been passionate about women and children.

 It is interesting to see a woman that is financially independent.

Fiberesima women are strong; my sister is doing a pretty good job with the African Movie Academy Awards and Ibinabo has a track record with the Actors Guild of Nigeria. I am glad to be toeing their paths and I hope that I will not put my family name to shame.

  

What does style mean to you?

My style is exceptionally moody; when I am happy, my style is happy; when I am sad, my style is sad. You find me wearing black and navy blue when I am not happy.  Also, I like to look sexy when I feel sexy.

What is your favourite food?

I don’t have a favourite food; the reason is that I like experimenting. I like travelling and trying out local dishes. The last time I was in New Delhi, India, I was hospitalised twice because of the pepper in their food.

  

Do you believe in cosmetic surgery?

Yes I do, I am even considering doing one, and I am still doing research on it at the moment.

  

Which one do you want to go for, breasts or face?

I won’t say much on that but Toolz has looks that I admire and you might see me looking like her very soon.

 That means you are considering buttocks and hip enhancement..

(Laughter) No comment on that.

 What would you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for following my passion and staying true to it.

Source: The Punch Entertainment news

Power situation in Nigeria has worsened – Report

Electricity supply in Nigeria has worsened considerably, declining drastically to an 11-month low, a report by NOIPolls Limited – an indigenous survey agency, has said.

According to the report, power supply ratings dropped by 13 points to an all-time low of 26 per cent for 2013.

It stated that the decline in power supply was highly pronounced in the month of November, adding that many Nigerians complained of poor electricity supply in the period under review.

The report reads in part, “The power situation has worsened considerably with a 13-point decline in the proportion of Nigerians that experienced improvement from October (39 per cent) to November (26 per cent). This represents the lowest power rating in 11 months.

“These were the key findings from the Governance Snap Poll conducted in the third week of November 2013.”

The report said the findings showed a general degenerated situation in power supply across Nigeria in spite of the recent privatisation drive.

It further stated that 50 per cent of the Nigerian adult population, which is about 43.7 million, approved of President Goodluck Jonathan’s performance in the past one month.

It said, “This represents a five-point decline in the proportion of Nigerians that approved of the President’s performance from October (55 per cent) to November (50 per cent).

“More findings reveal that the majority (45 per cent) are of the opinion that the current administration comprising the executive cabinet and state governors performed averagely and the proportion that gave a positive rating of the current administration experienced a three-point decline from October (33 per cent).”

According to the report, the results presented were the eleventh in the monthly series of governance polls conducted by NOIPolls to gauge the opinions and perceptions of Nigerians regarding three crucial elements – the approval rating of the President, the performance of the current administration, and the situation of power supply in the country.

Source: Punch