AFROBEAT LEGEND FEMI KUTI GRABS THIRD GRAMMY AWARD 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.

Femi has vowed not to attend the Grammys again after losing out the first time he was nominated. Femi disclosed then that he regret attending the prestigious event.

Last year, he said;

"When I arrived at the red carpet, nobody came for me, my record company didn't come, I felt stupid and so I knew I could not win. I sacked my manager, a French man, and they sacked me too. The journey back home was very long. I felt sad. Since then I vowed never to attend the Grammy Awards again.

My father never went for any awards, and where they presented him an award, he didn't go personally and when they brought the award to him, he would send them back with the award. One day, I was at the World Music Awards and I brought the awards, he said did I send you? You better take it back. As I grew older, I understood what he was saying then."

BOUNCING BABY BOY FOR COBHAMS ASUQUO

The latest father in town now is Cobhams Asuquo.

The wife of the ace music producer has just delivered a bouncing baby boy.

Odunola gave birth to the bundle of joy yesterday afternoon at a hospital in the US.

Cobhams tied the knot with Odunola on December 2, 2010 in a low-key affair that took place at the Redemption Camp of the Redeemed Christian Church of God on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Congratulations to the family!

YORUBA MOVIE STAR,WUNMI CAUSES STIR IN MECCA

It was indeed drama galore when popular Yoruba actress Hassanat Taiwo Akinwande popularly known as Wunmi,who years back was arrested for a drug-related offence by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) went for the Holy Hajj in the town of Medina,Saudi Arabia to beg for forgiveness for her much advertised drug related sin.

According to an eye witness who was at the scene,the actress drew a lot of attention to herself when she was spotted by some group of worshipers who also went on the holy pilgrimage from Nigeria.

The actress was said to have displayed a care free attitude as fans and other pilgrims stared at her in consternation.The drama took a turn from comedy to an epic story when the actress was set to perform the traditional rite of “stoning the devil” which is customary with the Muslim holy pilgrimage.

Our source revealed that the actress,who said she could not allow herself to be stoned to death by the millions of worshippers who had come from far and wide to perform the same rite,simply dropped the stones which were supposed to be used for the rites by her.

An onlooker,who was beside the actress,was later seen talking to a Nigerian pilgrim.According to the onlooker,Wunmi was heard saying in her traditional dialect(Yoruba)” Satan this is your stone,I live and eat by the rule of the street,let me continue to succeed”

Our source revealed that as soon as she uttered that line she turned her back and exited from the area.The whole drama was said to have elicited a lot of furrowed eyes and frowns to some extent that even Wunmi herself could not comprehend why she created such jeers.

Let’s hope she has finally learnt her lesson from this ablution of sins,since the holy pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam and this Wunmi has performed.

FRESH WAR BETWEEN GENEVIEVE NNAJI AND STEPHANIE OKEREKE

If information at our disposal is anything to write home about, then the relationship between two actresses Genevieve Nnaji and Stephanie Okereke has got messier.

It was reported that the two friends are in feud over access to the Presidency and presidential aides.

According to our impeccable source,the rift started during the President GEJ campaign period when Nollywood started its fever pitch romance with politics.

We gathered that Stephanie was the arrowhead of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s campaign contact group with the film industry.

At the height of the chummy relationship with the Presidency officials led by Presidential Adviser on Strategy and Documentation, Oronto Douglas, Genevieve and Stephanie were regular faces at Eko Hotel where meetings were held with film practitioners and at campaign rallies.

Along the line, Genevieve started seeing Oronto and other presidential aides at Raddison Blu Hotel, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos oftentimes without Stephanie’s knowledge.

Every other weekend at Raddison Blu Hotel, Genevieve is with Oronto and other girls at the presidential suites.

Findings revealed that the Presidential aides most especially Oronto Douglas who appears to be enjoying the company of Genevieve these days better than Stephanie, triggered the cold war as we learnt Stephanie is feeling being left out and she is not taking it lightly because she was the one who brought Genevieve into the presidency’s setting.

We shall keep you posted as events unfold.

DEATH AND BLINDNESS RUMOUR:MERCY JOHNSON IS ALRIGHT

Some days back, News of the People reported how mercy Johnson got blind in a movie. But from the looks of things, it seems people didn’t just take their time to read the full report, they only read the headlines and started spreading false rumors about charming Mercy Johnson.

Mercy’s publicist, Bigsam Media has finally opened about the death and blindness rumours.

"As at the time of writing this, blogosphere and entertainment industry is awashed with rumour that star actress, Mercy Johnson suffered blindness and experienced a terrible accident that led to her death.

This rumor has no resemblance or iota of truth. Mercy is on a movie location in Lagos and getting set for her trip to Australia in a matter of days.

After diligent investigation, we discovered the rumour started as a result of a publicity stunt initiated by producer of a movie where Mercy's character lost an eye. Another part of the rumor was started by detractor whose only goal is pull MJ down by all means.

It is despicable to note that these rumors were strengthened by writers who did not crosscheck before posting on their blogs, platforms or newspapers. We decry this act of insensitivity and irresponsibility especially as it affects family, friends and fans.

We appreciate family, friends and fans that have taken time to call out of concern and love and we wish to let them know that mercy is hale and hearty.

We implore bloggers and writers to kindly cross check reports on mercy with us to avoid using their platforms to promote falsehood and abate inappropriate ''PR stunts'' by those who want to sell their movies or those whose goal is to pull others down at all costs.

Our lines are always opened for enquiries.

Thanks for your understanding .

Bigsam media

Abeg my people make una learn to read and understand before spreading false rumors.

STAR ACTRESS BIMBO AKINSANYA ATTEMPTED MURDER CASE ADJOURNED

Nollywood actress,bimbo Akinsanya is standing trial for alleged conspiracy to murder one Reverend Pat Ogechi Dennah.

The Yoruba movie actress was alleged to have on 28 October, 2011 at 20, Samuel Street, Akowonjo, Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, conspired to commit felony by wounding Reverend Dennah.
One of the charges reads:

“That you, Bimbo Akinsanya and others now at large on 28 October, 2011 at about 2030hrs at No. 20, Samuel Street, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district, did point Rev. Pat Ogechi Dennah to a boy yet to be identified, to kill her and the said boy shot her with a gun and wounded her on her left shoulder and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 338 of the criminal code cap C17 Vol. 11 laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.”

At the court yesterday 30th November,2011, the prosecutor told the court that the victim was still receiving treatment from the wounds he sustained from the gunshot.

He prayed for a short adjournment to enable the victim recover from her wounds.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to 21 December, 2011 for mention.Bimbo pleaded not guilty to the charges.She was granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Mr A.O. Isaac in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties who must be residing in Lagos.

ACTRESS RUKY SANDA TALKS TOUGH ABOUT HER MANY SCANDALS

She is one of the most controversial acts in Nollywood but still walks head high as a popular Nollywood actress-cum-producer.

Although her popularity may not be on account of her acting prowess but she has just remained in the news over time.That she is an adventurous and outgoing actress,coupled with her beauty,makes her a name that keeps popping up on the scene.

In a recent interview,she opens up like never before.

Those saying that no actress can make headway without having a man behind her are insane.I don’t think they have any brain at all.As far as I am concerned,Iam single and people that know me will tell you I work very hard.I don’t care about the impression any one may have,I don’t care about what anybody says.They can tag actresses whatever they like,I am not bothered.

I think I have reached a stage in my career that nothing bothers me again.It was when I just started that such things used to bother me.At times,I would start contemplating throwing in the towel but now I have passed that stage.

Nothing could be written about me that moves me again.Even in most cases I don’t get to see them,and no one ever had the gut to say it to my face that I am this,I am that.

It’s amazing these scandals or gossip don’t bother me.It’s amazing how some people want to die over such.What bothers me is how I am going to move forward in my career,move to the next level.

I have a plan of what I do every year but one thing that is certain is that I do business which brings me money.I am a business minded person apart from acting.

I buy and sell.I sell clothes,I don’t just sell to everybody,I have a class of people that I buy clothes for.I sell in bulk.I sell other things so far they bring me money.

Acting has done a lot for me.I have the voice that so many people don’t have.I can say something I consider stupid now but it will matter to some people,that it may eventually have impact on their lives.So,I realized acting has given me a voice,it’s a rare opportunity.Having a voice means that people love to hear what you want to say.

People see you as role model,some people love you,some may hate you for no just cause,some people are jealous of you and all that.It makes me realize that oh!This is what I have and I am going to make use of it.I thank God I am moving on with my career,especially now that I am more involved in production.