Photos: Actress Ebube Nwagbo Hangs Out Wit Lionel Messi & Cesc Fabregas

Nollywood actress, Ebube Nwagbo shared a photo on Instagram of her posing with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi & Cesc Fabregas. The meeting took place in London where she ran into Messi and Fabregas taking some time off.

It’s Africa Magic, come on! Where did the magic go? – Read Charles Novia’s critique of AMVCA 2015

Nollywood director / producer turned social media critic, Charles Novia Is back again. This time, he speaks about the just concluded African Magic Viewers Choice Awards. 

According to him, the much-talked event lacked thrills, glitters and glam.

Hear him:

”At 21:52 pm CAT, when IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai, hosts of the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, had signed off from the show and brought in P Square, I was left scratching my head a bit as I walked out slowly out of the hall with some of the invited guests.

I was puzzled. There was something about this year’s AMVCA which lacked the punch the last two editions had. I couldn’t place my finger on it and it kept nagging me all night as I played the event over and over in my mind.

You see, I have attended lots of high-profile events and the AMVCA is one I always look forward to attending, not just as a filmmaker but also as a reviewer and this year’s was no exception.

And the chaps at MNET have told me a number of times that my annual reviews are read sometimes in post-event meetings and no matter how scathing the reviews might be in some areas, they good-naturedly take the corrections and plan to plug loopholes for the next edition.

And so, I decided to understand more of the behind-the-scenes planning of the AMVCA this year. A day before the event, I silently sneaked into the hall at Eko Hotels and Suites, where I watched the professional crew rehearse both the presenters and the host and hostess, painstakingly. No one really noticed me in the hall and the attention to detail during the rehearsals was impressive.

I only spent thirty minutes in the hall but I appreciated the efforts put in by the crew. And so, the evening of the show came upon us all. And walking on the red carpet to the main hall, one had to appreciate the fashion sense on display. I can bet that the fashion  and make-up industry must have made a few millions in Nigeria yesterday because of the AMVCA. Everyone looked quite glam in their own estimation!

 Everyone? So, it seemed to me, even though I can safely say that the fashion on display was a combination of the outstanding, the outlandish and  the outrageous! Fashion wise, I think the irrepresible Denrele Edun flew over the cuckoo’s nest.  LMAOOOO

I noticed earlier a masked lady walking the red carpet and thought to myself that someone was perhaps doing an artistic Peter Cech of Chelsea on the red carpet. Imagine my surprise when the ‘lady’ walked up to me and called my name in Denrele’s voice! It was Denrele, dressed as a lady, with butt pads and all!

‘Uncle Charles, that’s the idea!’ He laughed as I took a picture with him, telling him in the process that he was crazy! Did I say he was doing a Cech? Change that to Bruce Jenner, maybe! I can safely say though, that Seyi Shay could take appropriate dress lessons from Denrele though, when next she’s performing for the President or top dignitaries!

But I digress.

The show started at 6.30pm CAT with an opening performance by an African dance troupe. An interesting monologue by Osas Ighodaro, dressed somewhat like an African queen, asked the niggling African question ‘What if I am African?’.

 I don’t know how the Shakira-styled hip shaking which Osas and a couple of female dancers did while that question was being asked, had to do with being African but I kinda thought those hips onstage lied a bit during the wriggle.

The opening performance was average, in my opinion. It seemed more like the kind of performance for a boring gala night for African Heads of states than for a top profile event like AMVCA. That flat opening skit set the tone for the drone first half of the show. The show dragged a bit and looking at some faces seated in the hall, behind the heavily caked make-up of some people in the hall, one saw a bit of irritation during the first thirty minutes of the show.

IK and Vimbai tried to spike up the show those first few minutes. However, I had the feeling that Vimbai’s sing-song voice wasn’t helping the nerves in the hall. IK and Vimbai tried a couple of banter which the audience received with polite laughter.

IK cracked a joke about make-up and how a white lady he shagged turned out to be Mercy Johnson the next morning! Now, that was…well..politically inappropriate…for lack of a better phrase. That joke was overboard and IK got away with it, perhaps. Anyway, I think IK and Vimbai found their presenting mojo later in the show though.

Nonso Diobi and Linda Ejiofor came onstage to present the first award of the night. Nonso seemed to like the sound of his voice as he went on a bit about how it was a tough category and how every nominee bla bla bla.Next time, keep it straight and simple, please!

Next duo of Presenters were Akin Lewis and Oge Okoye. Oge Okoye got quite some appreciative applause from the audience for her outfit. By the way, I think her character in ‘Hotel Majestic’ is one of my favourite characters in the serial and she interprets that role quite well.

During the commercial breaks in the hall, the audience was a bit restless. Last year, there was a Disc Jockey who spinned some vibes which kept the audience all hyped up by the time the cameras returned to the live event.

I wonder why that was not the case this year? Africa needs to see excited faces all thrilled and happy at the end of such breaks. Little details such as those help the overall tempo of the event. And what was wrong with the cooling system in the hall? The temperature was quite humid in most areas inside the hall and not a few people were fanning themselves.

Tunde Babalola won two awards in the writing categories and gave kudos to both Kunle Afolayan and Mildred Okwo, the Producers of the films which won him both awards in separate categories. Tola Odunsi of ‘Tinsel’ and the dread-locked actor in ‘Hotel Majestic’ presented the ‘Best Editor’ award to Victoria Akujobi, a young lady. She kept giggling shyly in her acceptance speech like a village virgin and her gush got the audience laughing  too. It was heartwarming though to see that a woman won in that category, which is usually male dominated.

One of the disappointments of the event was the performance by the Mavins. It was below par. I do not know how it looked to those who watched it live on television but to us in the hall, it didn’t do jack. They performed their hit song ‘Dorobucci’ and I must say that maybe the audience was ‘Doro-weary’ because the performance lacked excitement.

 The artistes kept singing over each other’s lines in an ‘I-too-know’ kind of way. Dija sang ( or rather mimed) for Tiwa Savage who was absent probably for obvious reasons-pregnancy or another engagement? The performance was sluggish and received just some polite applause.

I wonder why they didn’t move the audience much. I can only believe that it must be because their appearance in the awards was massively overhyped and people really didn’t have anything to look forward to. It was a bit too much of MTN to have hyped their performance so much before the awards that when they came up and we all expected a bomb (oops..no apologies to Boko Haram!)all we got was a firecracker!

Funlola Aifoyebi and Ali Nuhu had quite a good banter on stage as they presented the ‘Best Indigenous Language-Hausa’ awards. And when Fathia Balogun won in the Yoruba category, she identified with her roots by revealing that she’s just an Urhobo Babe who speaks Yoruba fluently, even though she had a couple of her Yoruba ‘supporters club’ members with  her onstage.

Obi Emelonye, who won in the Igbo category, commendably spiked the audience with his Igbo acceptance speech, after Mike Ezuronye had gingered the category with his ‘Igbo Kwenu’ greetings.

Comedians, Eddie Kadi and Basketmouth gave good account of themselves in their stand-up segments.

Tuface Idibia also performed. I felt it was an average performance. Maybe it had to do with the din from his live band or his raunchy-looking dancers onstage, which seemed unlike Tuface. I’m wondering if he’s trying hard at this period in his career to show us he too can do the lewd background dancers stuff too? I think he’s too much of a superstar to fall for that.

Ivie Okujaye, another actress who has impressed me in her outing on ‘Hotel Majestic’, presented The Trailblazer Award which was won by CJ Obasi. Obasi climbed up the stage and seemed to snatch the microphone from Ivie! LMAO!

The late Amaka Igwe got a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award which was presented by Richard Mofe-Damijo, whose voice broke in pain when he called up Charles Igwe to receive the award on her behalf. The whole hall gave a standing ovation in her honour. Rest in peace, Amaka. It was heartwarming to note that she was remembered and honoured. Before that category, the names of the departed artistes in the past year scrolled across the screen, most poignantly was Muna Obiekwe’s.

OC Ukeje won the ‘Best Actor in a drama’  category, making it the second time he would be winning an AMVCA. He was gracious enough to recognise Peace Anyiam-Osigwe of AMAA who gave him his big break, according to him. His award was presented to him by Genevieve Nnaji , who really looked good in her evening gown. Genevieve though, made a slip when she extolled Amstel Malta. She announced that the winner in that category gets a million naira and six months of Amstel Malta, a brand which she endorses as a brand ambassador.

She ended her speech by cheekily saying ‘Get fat!’. Huh? I thought Amstel Malta projects itself as a low sugar, healthy, low fat beverage? Why would a brand ambassador quip on international television that it has fat, even if it was light-hearted? If I talk now, una go say….anyway. Lef matter.

Kunle Afolayan won the ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Movie’ categories and I think it was well deserved. ‘October 1′ is quite a formidable movie. Congrats, Kunle. The show ended with a performance by P Square, which was more for the watching viewers as most of the guests trooped out of the hall.

Having observed a bit of the rehearsals a day before, I must commend the organisers for planning an event which had less mistakes this year. Everyone seemed guarded and one could not really point to any bloopers during the awards. However, in my honest opinion, I think the event lacked the full punch.

Perhaps the show had been over-hyped and one expected more? Or what? Let me put it this way; the show scores full marks for glamour.  I am yet to see a more glamourous entertainment event like the AMVCA. But the excitement for the show itself was damp. My thoughts? Next year, give us a surprise guest appearance or something. I can bet that current raves like Kiss Daniels could have spiked that crowd.

Give us better entertainment value. A movie award show should leave the audience and viewers gasping. This year, people are going to talk more about who wore what ( or is it who wore who as those sneer-inducing Naija red carpet presenters would ask!)than who won which. Perhaps a Bovi could join next year as host or even Eddie Kadi or Basketmouth? Perhaps something not expected could be added to the show? It’s Africa Magic, come on! Where did the magic go?

And something has to be upgraded about the writers who scripted the show? I didn’t feel the jokes, if any. The Presenters mostly improvised unlike last year which had a good script prompt. This year was quite bland. The 2015 AMVCA had the best of glamour and much guts. I just didn’t see the glitter in the event”.

Ezekwesili Promises To Dance After Chibok Girls Rescue

Obiageli Ezekwesili, the former Minister of Education and the chief campaigner of #BringBackOurGirls took to her Twitter with a message regarding the abducted Chibok girls.

The children have been missing since April 14, 2014, when they were kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents.

After months of controversies and uncertainties, the activist continues drawing attention of the public and authorities to the tragedy saying that the innocent Chibok girls should be freed.

Earlier today, the official used Twitter to speak on the issue. The message accompanied by a photo reads: 

“When the news of the RESCUE of OUR Girls shall break someday soon, my legendary dance steps shall evolve.:) “

Photos from Sammie Okposo wife’s 40th birthday party

Gospel singer, Sammie Okposo on Saturday, threw a birthday party for his wife Ozioma who recently turned 40. The party held at Grace Gardens, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

RMD, Julius Agwu, Duncan Mighty, Bovi and a host of others were there to celebrate with her. 

Continue to see more pics after the cut...

Prof Osinbajo celebrates 58th birthday [PHOTOS]

APC vice-presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo yesterday, marked his 58th birthday. 

A birthday party was organized for him by his friends and family. After the party, he visited the disabled home with his wife. 

Continue to see more pics after the cut.....

South African rapper, Flabba, stabbed to death

Well-known South African rapper, Nkululeko Habedi, who goes by the stage name ‘Flabba’, was stabbed to death at his Alexandria home early Monday morning. 

According to the South African police service, the 38-year-old rapper was involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend before he was killed at 2am in the morning. The police also confirmed that the woman had been arrested for questioning on the murder. 

Flabba’s younger brother told reporters that he was woken by a noise and rushed to his brother’s bedroom, where he witnessed Flabba live the last moments of his life.

He was a member of popular Soweto hip hop group Skwatta Camp derived from ‘Squatter Camp’, which is a reference to South Africa’s shanty towns. He was also famously known for his solo track Isbhamu somdoko off his debut album Nkuli vs Flabba, which earned him a South African Music Award for best Rap Album in 2007. 

A fellow group member Siyabonga ‘Slikour’ Metane also confirmed his death to reporters, saying: 

“I just got a call from his family. I will be on my way to his family’s home. “Everything about him is genuine, whether he was angry, whether he was he was happy. He generally had a big heart; he was a good guy. In Skwatta Kamp, he was the most independent thinker and he just got a big heart. He had a big heart”. 

Fans and friends have been expressing shock and posting condolence messages for the fallen rapper on social media. 

Madonna Believes Kanye West Is the Black Version of Herself

It isn't exactly a secret to know that Kanye West has his share of admirers and critics.

After all, the outspoken rapper has been known to say some pretty harsh comments to a few famous musicians like Taylor Swift and Beck.

But if you ask the one and only Madonna, the man behind "Stronger" and "Gold Digger" deserves plenty of praise for his work both on and off the stage.

"Kanye is the new Madonna," she told the New York Daily News while promoting her new albumRebel Heart. "Kanye is the black Madonna."

She continued, "We know, and recognize, that we have that in common. We're comrades in the envelope-pushing genre."

Buhari takes Patience Jonathan to court over alleged hate message

APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is to report First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan to the International Criminal Court, ICC for allegedly mobilising a hate campaign against him.

According to Vanguard, Buhari in the petition to the criminal court claimed that Mrs. Jonathan, whose husband is the presidential candidate of PDP asked supporters of her husband “stone” anyone who chants the APC’s change mantra.

The call by Mrs. Jonathan was reportedly made at a rally in Calabar, Cross River State during a PDP political rally last week.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council, APCPCO in a statement issued yesterday said the letter of complaint against the First Lady was signed by the Director General of APCPCO, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi, will be formerly dispatched to the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police (IG) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), among relevant authorities today.

A statement by the campaign organization yesterday quoted Amaechi as saying that 

“Change, as the entire country must know by now, is the slogan of the APC – the rallying cry of a political party that wishes to bring hope of greater and better things to come for Nigeria and Nigerians. By her statement, Mrs. Jonathan was clearly calling on PDP supporters in Calabar to attack supporters and campaigners of the APC in the state.”

 APCPCO said that Mrs. Jonathan does not occupy any formal office in the Nigerian government, adding that the position of First Lady is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution.

“Jonathan’s incontrovertible hate speech not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also goes completely against the Abuja Peace Accord jointly signed by the two presidential candidates, General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan as a gesture aimed at forestalling violence before, during and after the 2015 elections.

“PDP supporters in the state who may not know better could easily yield themselves to the First Lady’s admonition and embark on a process of wanton stoning and other attacks against APC members”, it quoted Ameachi as saying.

I Didn't Know My Husband Well Before Getting Pregnant For Him - Omawunmi

Popular Singer, Omawunmi Megbele has talked about her man, being married and why it took long for her to finally get hooked to her husband.

The Globacom, Konga.com, and Malta Guinness ambassador revealed that she did not know her husband quite well before getting pregnant for him. While talking about herself, career, being pregnant and being a wife all combined together, she made it known also that she enjoyed gossips until she became a victim. 

Read excerpts from the Punch interview below:

Why don’t you like posting pictures of your daughter on social media as some of your colleagues do?

I believe that when she is ready to start posting pictures online, it should be her choice. The fact that I post pictures of myself is my choice. My daughter is lovely, beautiful, intelligent, and it takes the grace of God for me not to show her off. But I believe she should be the one posting her pictures if she wants to. That is why you do not see her anywhere. Her father also shares that opinion that it should be her choice. If she wants to take pictures or ride on her mother’s name, it has to be her choice. It would not be fair to put her out there whether she wants such or not. It might seem strange but the same goes for her dad. Her father does not like being in the public glare. He loves me so much and has accepted my career. When I observed the way he kept to himself, I had to respect that. He has a choice to either be in the limelight with me or be at the background cheering me and he has made his decision.

Is that why it took you so long to show the public his face?

Did I even show his face? I did not do it deliberately. It was not something I thought about before doing. Yes, he is a very private person.

Why did it take you so long before you and your husband tied the knot?

We wanted to make sure that we were getting married for the right reasons. That is the best way I can explain it. We were in love before we had a child together and we were still seeing each other after I gave birth to my first child. We wanted to be sure that we were truly in love because we really did not have time to get to know each other before I got pregnant. When I got pregnant, he did the manly thing by standing by me and supporting me. We did not want to get married until we were very sure that it was what we wanted. I would have felt bad if we got married because we have a child together and end up hating each other eventually. We had to be sure it would work out and I am very happy that it worked out.

So are you expecting a boy or a girl?

It does not concern anybody. But I don’t even know myself.

It was rumoured that you had an affair with the Delta State Governor, is it true?

Whoever started that must be an idiot. I have answered the question before I got married and I am being asked again. If my husband’s people decided to read your newspaper and see this, do you think they would be happy and feel good to read such about their daughter- in-law? It is not nice for journalists to write on things like this especially when you know that the person is an honourable and decent person. had no affair with the governor and he has always been a father figure to me. Bringing such up in the position that I am right now is callous.

How do you feel when you read such stories about yourself?

Before I got into the industry, I read soft sell magazines a lot and I liked the gossips too. And whenever I read or heard something about an entertainer, I easily believed until I became a victim myself. The first time I read a scandalous article about myself, I wanted to run mad. I did not know who to fight with. I am not the kind of person that hides behind ‘anonymity’ to fight somebody. I am from Warri and we are not wired that way. We would say what is in our mind and if you do not like it, we would fight over the issue. When I got into the industry and it happened to me, I did not know who to fight with. It really hurt me but later on, I spoke to people who had worst things said about them and one of them told me that if I dwelt on what people have said about me, I would kill myself. It is so sad that some people just sit down and concoct lies. I don’t know if it makes them feel good that somebody that they admire and watch on television is miserable due to their lies. Does it mean that we are not also human? It is something that I have been pondering on but pending the time I find an answer, those lies do not bother me. But God would punish whoever starts a rumour about me and I find out who the person is. I will hurt the person; I will make sure that I dedicate a section of my life just to hurt the person.

Are you a violent person?

I am not a violent person but I am a physical person. I am an expressive person. It goes both ways because I am very dramatic in my expressions, I hug people, and so it would not be fair to say that I am a violent person. I am very dramatic in all my expressions. The way I am quick to hug someone is the same way I am fast to slap anyone who messes up.

How has married life been?

It has been wonderfully sweet. I don’t know how people expect it to be but I feel like I have been married for more than two years. We just did the ceremony so that people would not raise eyebrow at my second baby. I have technically been in a relationship that seemed like marriage for more than two years. I am blessed with a good and wise man. He is very caring and sensible. He is somebody that can behave like a baby today and a wise man tomorrow. He is a total package. He is very content and easy going. He does not say much.

How does he cope with your ‘craziness’?

My craziness knows its boundaries. It knows where to start and where to end. He loves me the way I am and knows how to manage me very well. I am very homely, I am funny, I am the life of the party most times and whenever I am not around, everybody would be gloomy. I think the question should be how can he do without me and not how does he cope with me.

Fire Guts AIT Studio In Alagbado, Lagos

According to a Breaking news report by AIT’s Official Twitter Handle, the African Independent Television (AIT) premises is said to be on fire at the moment.

The studio is Located at AIT Road, Off Lagos/Abeokuta Express Way, Ilapo Village, Alagbado Lagos State. Fire service officials are urgently needed there.

Details to come...

Fans Shades Ini Edo For Recreating Lupita Nyong’o Dress

Nollywood actress, Ini Edo pulled a bold one by wearing a recreation of the exact dress Hollywood actress, Lupita Nyong'o wore to the 2014 Golden Globes. Ini wore her to the just concluded 2015 AMVCA 

As a result  of her outfit to the well attended ceremony, a fan on Twitter only saw the funny side of Ini Edo’s outfit, shading the actress by jokingly tweeting: ‘When you order a Lupita from Jumia.’

After several backlash, the user explained that he meant no harm, adding: ‘I wasn’t even trying to shade Ini Edo *smfh* you people are blowing this outta proportion.’

See tweets below…