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ISSN 2384-5635
9 772384 563006
00
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$1BILLION: PRICE OF A VIRTUOUS WOMAN?
Don’t judge me for the approach I have chosen to serve my intro;
obviously this is an entertainment magazine but oh yeah, I’m a
Christian! (A passive one though, at least I know a few bible verses).
Proverbs 31:10 says “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is
far above rubies.” A Ruby is said to be one of the four most precious
stones in the world (others being Emeralds, Sapphires and Diamonds).
It is also amongst the most expensive stones in the world with its
value being determined by its color, cut, clarity and carat weight. The
world’s record for the most expensive Ruby is placed at $2.2 million
(est. N341,000,000) for an 8-carat Ruby beating the previous record
of $3.6 million (est. N558,000,000) for a 15.7 carat Ruby. Being as
expensive as it is, the bible rates the value of a virtuous woman “far
above rubies”
I have never questioned why the value of a good woman has been
placed so high; rather I have always wondered, what exactly makes
them more valuable than their male counterparts. Some people say
it’s the fact that women are patient enough to carry children in their
wombs for 9 months or even more – this I agree with. Others say a
woman is capable/has the ability to make or mar an individual – this
I agree with also. Another school of thought says women consist of
a larger percentage of a population after children – this I also agree
with.
Yet with all these points stated and generally agreed upon, women
are still rarely celebrated mainly for the reason why they have been
tagged the weaker sex; a fact that holds no weight also with the
manner and rate at which women clinch successes in their respective
fields.
In the Nigeria entertainment world, more outstanding and
hardworking females are engagingly trying to take the industry to a
greater level and we are indeed proud of these women. There is no
other better issue than this to celebrate women, given that this is our
ninth issue - the number 9 indicating a major significance in the life
of nearly every woman.
Different from our norms of featuring males and females on our covers,
this issue is a template of our respect and admiration for females.
With interesting articles on outstanding female entrepreneurs and
other topics relating to and celebrating the female world I suggest
you grab a chilled bottle of coke and not only read through the
pages, but also enjoy reading Tush Magazine Issue 9.
Not forgetting, I have to appeal to you to be a brother’s keeper by
sharing this edition of Tush Magazine with a friend or neighbor.
God Bless!
Anslem Jon.
Editor-In-Chief
Anslem Jon
Sub Editor
Leonard Onwubuoya
Editorial Consultant
Joyce “LMK” Imiegha
Art Director
Edesiri Ukiri (@Graphixed)
Proof Read
Elite Resources CS.
Correspondents
Rufai Ahutu
Augustine Ogbonna
Jeffrey Onomoasor
Featured Writers
Oghomwen Toni-Osagie
Phidelia Imiegha
Winifred Ononikpo
Production/Research
Tush Kingdom Media
Tush magazine is a publication of Tush Kingdom
Media, a media outfit into magazine publishing
and events organizing/coverage. Tush Kingdom
Media possesses rights to all published articles,
interviews and pictures. No part of this publication
must be used without due permission from our
editor.
For comments, suggestions, criticisms or editorial
submissions, write us via:
[email protected]
in this issue
4. Editorial Lounge
6. Editorial Focus: Betwwen Sheyi Shay & Tiwa Savage
7. UnderGs - Caesar
8. A becoming lifestlye amongst ladies
10. Our new crush - Yun’Grey’C
11. The Jorge Mendes factor
13. Aristokrat Nation
16. LoudNProud Live: Dollars & Nyra Edition
18. Celebrity Hub: Ngozi
19. Fashion Zone
21. Screen Kings: Kemi Adetiba
22. Cover Story: Victoria Kimani
25. Cover Story: Cynthia Morgan
28. Cyber bullying
30. Linda Ikeji
32. ONE NIGHT LIVE
33. Our first... Date?
37. Olawale
38. LMK’s Diary
40. MIA: Nollywood Actors/Actresses gone missing!
43. Movie Review: A Place in the Stars
45. GRUMI
46. Get Familiar: Nike Fagbule
47. Club Novonia
Did Tiwa-Savage beget Seyi-Shay?
- Anslem Jon
The global music industry has from time immemorial been a male dominated industry. This situation is clearly observable as
well in the Nigeria music industry where for one female rapper there are 5 male rappers and for one female singer, you can
find 20 male singers.
Not to get you bored, this piece is actually not a comparison feature between male artistes and their female counterparts but
an insight as to how well Nigerian female artistes are thriving in spite of the strive amongst males. Tiwa Savage and Seyi Shay
happen to be just two of our celebrated female artistes whom we are confidently proud of.
In 2010, we all got introduced to Tiwa Savage when she released her first single under Flytime Entertainment headed by Cecil
Hammond; the song titled “Kele Kele” was produced by H-Money and ever since Tiwa has worked her way to becoming one
of Nigeria’s favorite female artistes.
Two years later, we were made to notice another Nigerian talented female artiste- Seyi Shay. Following the path of Tiwa, Seyi
Shay released her official singles “No Lele” and “Loving Ur Way” produced by H-Money and was also released under Cecil’s
Flytime Entertainment as well.
It struck me to observe that besides the fact that these two female artistes chose to work with the same producer on their
first singles which is based on their productive stay in England, there seems to be more similarities in their musical career.
After the release of her singles, Tiwa went on to take the lead role in Dr Sid’s “Over the Moon”; a move that subsequently
increased her followership. Seyi Shay also tried the same move by being the lead character in Ajebutter’s “Omo Pastor”, but
that move didn’t work out quite well compared to Tiwa’s.
Tiwa left Cecil joined Mavin and formed 323 Entertainment, a management company with her hubby. Seyi in the same vain
left Cecil and joined J-Management as an independent artiste.
Recently, Tiwa released a controversial video to “Wanted” and within 72 hours got millions of views on YouTube. Critics
attacked her for releasing a rather reveaing video considering the fact that she is married; This move strategically increased
her popularity and once again Mrs. Balogun became a winner once more. She also got featured by Patoranking, a rave of
the moment.
Seyi on the other hand also featured Patoranking in one of her singles “Murda” where she appealed with lots of sexy moves
in the visuals. Fusing different genres and talented artistes, the song became a hit. Presumably, the team at J-Management
decided to emphasize on the number of views the video got on Vevo.
Noticeably, Tiwa has always been the “first doer” with Seyi Shay following suit and I am beginning to wonder if Seyi actually
has a book on Tiwa which she abides by.
6
• TUSH • @TushMagazineNig
underg’s
set to blow
K
elly Imadegbelo also known
as Caesar is a performing artiste
and song writer from Edo state.
He started singing at the age of 12
and then later joined a music group
which he left after discovering his
talent.
Caesar’s unique style of music is
one that has been in him from his
tender age. His Genre of music
popularly known as reggae or
dancehall has gained more listeners
in Africa and the world at large over
the years. Caesar’s energetic and
authoritative style of performance
is one that is very rare and to watch
out for.
Caesar
Just as he calls himself the
Conqueror, Caesar promises to
be a unique brand that is going
to conquer the music industry
nationwide and internationally.
Watch out for the big moves which
will soon be shown to the world
soon.
Follow on Social Media accounts:
Twitter and Instagram @caesarudonno
7
A Becoming Lifestyle Among Ladies
- Oghomwen Toni-Osagie
The other night I was having drinks with friends and we were ‘innocently’ eavesdropping on a group of ladies having a
conversation. Well, they were quite upset and I bet the whole restaurant could hear them.
From what I gathered a lady at their table was upset! Let me rephrase that, she was raving mad! She said; “I am sick of him! So
sick! How can he claim to love me and still no ring? No introduction? Nothing! Does he think our life is a reality show? When
is he going to pop the question? When?”
So we gathered she has been with her ‘boo’ for a while now and she was getting tired of being a ‘Miss’ and not a Mrs.
Probably she wasn’t having it anymore, and the man was ignorant to this fact. So the next call for solutions of course were her
‘girls’. Have you ever noticed how we women (well most of us) find it easy telling our friends everything? Maybe it is because
they always proffer the best advice or because they often go through similar situations.
I come from a society where the greatest accomplishments of a woman is on her finger; her wedding ring. If you don’t have
a man at home no matter what other career moves or ambitious goals you might have attained over time it all sums up to
nothing! - Just because you don’t have a man.
So majority of the women you meet are desperately looking to be hitched. The minute they meet a man they already start
planning the wedding in their heads; from contemplating flower arrangements, to deciding if small chops will be served at
the wedding. Men on the other hand can smell desperation; they know when a woman is desperate or frustrated from being
single or from being a spinster.
I have never been married before or engaged, and I still play Beyoncé’s Single Ladies and dance “happily” along to the
groovy beat (emphasis on happily). But don’t underestimate these tips I am about to state here. The Wedding phenomenon
is becoming a rampant lifestyle amongst Nigerian ladies, So I am going to share with you the most outlandish things Nigerian
ladies do and go through as ‘potential wives’:
Playing the Wife, Father, Sister and Mother role.
You know these women who play ‘super heroes’? The ones who cook, clean, bake, and fetch water for their boyfriends just
because they want him to see how much of a multitasking wife they can be, hoping this will trigger his ‘Pop the question
button’. Those women who are always ready to prepare just any meal whatsoever for their boyfriends; if he says he wants
pounded yam, they will plant the yam, cultivate it, and pound it! If he wants palm-wine, they’ll climb the tree and tap the wine
by themselves for him.
8
These types of women are miracle workers; they move their clothes to the man’s house hoping to paint a picture of what
marriage to them might look like. These are the type of women that will have your family members on her BBM, Whatsapp,
and Facebook, constantly going as far as calling them and changing their names to ‘in law’.
Even when it is clear that the man will NEVER pop the question they ignore all the signs and continue their ‘12 years a slave’
sojourn hoping for a miracle someday.
Lord of the Rings. 1, 2 and 3.
There are the men who believe in ring sharing. These women don’t get the memo at all; they spend all their time and energy
selecting rings and collecting years. They can be in a relationship for 14 years without a wedding or marriage. They like to go
through three (3) stages first;
* The friendship ring: This one is the debut stage, this ring means you two have been friends for a while and he likes you
enough to think of you as a girlfriend or a potential girlfriend. This is not a promise of marriage or love, it simply means; “I
have decided to pursue a foreseeable liaison with you... So wait for me... I am coming”
* The promise ring: The ring is one of semi-commitment; the man is already in love with you and wants you exclusively. He
gives you the ring in the hope that in a couple years you two would be married or would be planning out a life together. It is
a promise of marriage.
* The engagement ring: It is the final bus-stop of the ring-giving series; there are no durations or expiration dates. This is a
get and wait ring; you get the ring finally, but you wait... And wait... And wait for a wedding date. Patience is pertinent here.
Baby mama Drama Supreme.
I have the most respect for single mothers; I believe they deserve the best of everything. I just have this mindset that single
mothers are extraordinary beings.
Having said all that, most women believe that getting pregnant for men is the ultimate ticket to a fairytale wedding. Well most
men want that, while some quite detest it! They see it as a ‘trap’ or a ‘set up’. They are not interested in being baby daddies
or having baby mamas.
Furthermore, bringing a child into that kind of trap is not healthy at all. Before you go on a fully laid out plan to tie your man
down with a pregnancy report, take a moment to rehash your long term future with a child and a cold husband.
Is all this worth it?
9
our new crush
YuN’GREY’C
Name: Grace YUN’GREY’C Edoja.
Age: 21
State of Origin: Delta State, Nigeria.
Affiliations: Naija Ninjas, Sound Sultan.
Discography: ‘CHUKWUMA’ (produced by DaPiano)
‘HOLLA AT ME’
‘GET DOWN’ (featuring Seyi Shay)
‘CLOSER’ (featuring Vector)
10
Familiar with football stories?? Then the name Jorge Mendes certainly
must ring a bell, not often the year round because he is neither a
footballer nor a coach. His name is always associated with transfer
deals, a period where he is most active. His record of brokering deals in
unprecedented manners makes him the real deal. From Cristiano Ronaldo
to Jose Mourinho to James Rodriquez and many other fantastic players,
his client list is one to be envied by other agents. Not just having a good
client list, Jorge Mendes takes full advantage of his valuables and that
has seen him broker the best of best deals in European football history.
The
“Jorge
Mendes”
Factor
Jorge Paulo Agostinho Mendes born 7th of January, 1966 in Lisbon,
Portugal became a super-agent by chance. Hoping to become a
footballer, Jorge Mendes displayed for a couple of Portuguese clubs but
he got rejected and instead he chose to work as a DJ and later went on
to opening a bar and a night club in Portugal.
As fate would have it; Jorge met Nuno, a goalkeeper and started a
conversation with him; a conversation that began his career as a football
agent. He brokered his move successfully from Vitoria to Deportivo La’
Coruna and from then onward he got attracted to more Portuguese
players seeking move to a better club.
Jorge Mendes’ mean attitude reflects in his method of striking deals. It’s
on report he physically fought Luis Figo’s agent publicly at an airport
in Lisbon. His reason for the attack being that the agent’s influence on
Luis Figo against his own interest. He has been on the bad books of
numerous associations whom alleges of his bad practices which involves
third party ownership; one of his many methods in which he use to his
advantage.
His super-agent abilities made him in 2009 seal a Euro record deal
purchase of Ronaldo from Manchester United to Real Madrid for 80
million pounds which only has been beaten by Gareth Bale’s 85 million
pounds.
In 2014, he brokered four out of the seven highest transfers in the world,
a feat that made him earn 30 million pounds as reported. Wanting to
expand his operation, in 2008 his company – Gestifute announced
a partnership with Creative Artiste Agency in US to create global
opportunities for current and future clients.
Like him or hate him for his guts, Jorge Mendes is amongst the best
placed and most influential football agent in the world.
11
The Aristokrat Nation
In recent times, Nigeria has witnessed the influx of new record labels either newly established or a break out from a previously
existing one. It is quite interesting to know that not many of these record labels are successful – literally. A quick glance at the
list would go to show that the distinctive different between the successful ones and the struggling ones is based on structure
and hardwork; sadly not many record labels own such.
Amongst the successful ones is: ARISTORKAT RECORDS – a label capable of selling ice commercially even in winter. Founded
in 2010, Aristokrat Records is a record label focused primarily on contemporary African music, operating as a part of The
960 Music Group, Nigeria’s premier diversified music and entertainment group. The Company is involved in the business of
producing, recording music, marketing music recorded by musicians, branding of artiste, and public relations.
Although they saw the exit of Burna Boy, it currently has Kamar, Mojeed, Ozone and Pucado signed on as Recording Artiste;
LeriQ as an In-house producer and DJ Consequence as In-house DJ.
Its executive team has: Kayode Anibaba [VP/ Head of A & R], Eneibimo Apulu [Executive Director, Services], Onochie Okoye
[Exec Director, Marketing Communications], Eric Utere [Head of Production], Vincent Nwobodo [General Manager] and Piriye
Isokrari [President/CEO].
Since its inception, Aristokrat records has successfully executed series of projects for its artistes which includes: Burna Boy Burn Notice (Mixtape) - April 2011, Burna Boy - Burn Identity (Mixtape) - November 2011, Burna Boy - L.I.F.E. - August 2013,
Pucado - Pukie The Great E.P. - April 2014, Kamar - The Audition E.P. - June 2014, Ozone - Superiority Complex - June 2014,
Mojeed - Westernized West African - July 2014 and yet to be released LeriQ - T.L.S.
We have a very close relationship with our artists. Each executive personally manages a particular artist and oversees their
projects. 960 Music group is an equity Partner in Aristokrat Records. It also provides marketing, PR, distribution and financial
support for the label.
MOJEED
Mojeed is a unique and talented hip-hop/alternative music
artiste/writer. Born Mojeed Amushan, he grew up in both Lagos
and New York before moving to London to further his education.
Mojeed started rapping in the latter days of Secondary School
after hooking up with other artistes like Lynxxx, Blink and other
members of the Syndik8 camp. They released an unofficial
Mixtape together in 2007. In 2009, Mojeed met Ola and GC and
together they formed a group called OMG (Ola, Mojeed, and
GC). The group released an E.P titled “Fingerprint Experience”
but split in 2012 when Mojeed moved to the United Kingdom
to further his education. Mojeed won the Eastern ‘Coors Light’
Hip-Hop music competition in the U.S.A. He beat 99 other
contestants to grace the stage with the likes of Pharell of N.E.R.D,
Pac Div and Pusha-T.
Back to Nigeria, he signed with Aristokrat Records in April
2013 and released his first single under Aristokrat Records
titled “Bosibi” on the 31st of August 2013. He recently featured
on Leriq’s single ‘Comment Tu’tappelle’ alongside Burna Boy,
Dammy Krane and Ozone and “Carpe Diem” with label mates
Ozone, Pucado and Kamar. Mojeed released his mixtape titled
“Westernized West African” in July 2014. His musical style is
influenced by Jay Z, Kanye West, N.E.R.D, 2Face, the late Biggie,
Fela Kuti, and Bob Marley.
13
MOJEED
A r i s t
LERIQ
Born Eric Isaac Utere, Leriq is a gifted 26 year old producer and
sound engineer from Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Leriq started
producing at age 13; his love for art and undoubted creativity in
his home also brought about his love for musical sounds.
His dad is a renowned stage designer and artist while his
brothers are players in the entertainment industry with one
being a video director and the other a singer/dancer. Leriq on
the other hand decided his calling was making music. Signed
to 960 Music Group/Aristokrat Record, he has produced all
the works released on the label till date. His preference for
introducing alternative sounds stands him out from the crowd.
His signatory punchline: “It’s Leriq, call the paramedic” has
become a household catchphrase for sure hits.
KAMAR
Kamar is a multi-talented singer, guitarist, drummer and
keyboardist. He is the second of three boys and hails from
Kaduna State in Nigeria. Fluent is Hausa, English and Kagoro
languages, his influences range from international stars such as
Neyo, Michael Jackson, Boyz 2 Men, 112, Joe, Usher, Donell Jones
to Nigeria stars such as Asa, Jeremiah Gyang and 2Face Idibia.
LERIQ
Kamar was a top ten finalist at the West African Talent show,
Project Fame. He officially signed to Aristokrat Records after he
left the show and kicked off his solo career as a solo artiste in
August 2013.
A hearty R&B artiste, Kamar released his E.P titled THE AUDITION,
in June 2014. Kamar is a featured singer on singles, albums and
mixtapes by an impressive list of artistes.
Mechanical Engineering.
It was in Covenant University that he became known for his
hard spitting rhymes and musical ability. Prior to his signing to
Aristokrat Records, Ozone released three songs independently
namely: “All I know”, “Ashawo” and “Bad Ass” which made him
win The Beat FM’s “Night of the Living Dj’s” competition.
His first official single under Aristokrat was released in
September 2013 titled “All Night”. His musical influence includes
The Fugees, 2pac, Asa, Nate Dogg, Bob Marley and 50 cent.
Titled “Superiority Complex”, Ozone released his mixtape in
2014 under the Aristokrat imprint.
KAMAR
14
o k r a t
OZONE
Osayi Uzamere, born December 12, 1988 popularly known as
Ozone is a gifted musician, rapper and hip-hop artiste. Born and
raised in Port Harcourt although he is from Edo state, Ozone
is the last child of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Uzamere. He attended
Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Borokiri in Port Harcourt
before heding to Covenant University where he got degree in
Mechanical Engineering.
It was in Covenant University that he became known for his
hard spitting rhymes and musical ability. Prior to his signing to
Aristokrat Records, Ozone released three songs independently
namely: “All I know”, “Ashawo” and “Bad Ass” which made him
win The Beat FM’s “Night of the Living Dj’s” competition.
His first official single under Aristokrat was released in September
2013 titled “All Night”. His musical influence includes The
Fugees, 2pac, Asa, Nate Dogg, Bob Marley and 50 cent. Titled
“Superiority Complex”, Ozone released his mixtape in 2014 under
the Aristokrat imprint.
OZONE
PUCADO
Paul Orisakwe better known by his stage name Pucado is a
Nigerian indigenous hip-hop artiste, song writer and actor.
He began his career as a battle rapper while pursuing his
undergraduate degree at Imo State University. After graduating,
he moved to Port Harcourt where he signed with Aristokrat
Records. He officially kicked off his career as a solo artiste in
2012 with the release of Naija Soca. Pucado is noted as a
proficient lyricist and storyteller. He is considered as one of the
top indigenous rappers in Nigeria.
DJ CONSEQUENCE
Latest signee onto Aristokrat Records, DJ Consequence is a
well spoken, articulate and professional DJ with a clear voice,
excellent communication skills and a good sense of timing and
co-ordination.
Akeredolu Precious Pelumi born May 7th, 1991 is from Ondo
State in Nigeria. A graduate of English Language from University
of Lagos, DJ Consequence started his professional DJ career as
a club DJ in The Place, Ikeja GRA and he has gone on to play at
different clubs within Lagos.
He is presently the resident DJ of Club Quilox and Club Rumours
both in Lagos State. He signed with Aristokrat Records in 2014
as an In-House DJ.
PUCADO
15
LoudNProudLive: Dollars & NYra Edition
...with Emma Nyra, Selebobo, Slyde, Moses (Nigerian Idols 3) & OD Woods
2 5 t h N o v e m b e r, B u d d a h L o u n g e .
16
IN PI C TU R ES
17
Celebrity HUB
Ngozi Omambala
by Joyce Imiegha
She is the Founder/CEO of NMO Management & PR and
creator of the ‘LoudNProudLive Series’ and ‘ONE NITE
LIVE & UNPLUGGED’ premium solo artist platform - both
collectively promote Nigerian/African artists and have
become a live music platform & showcase for the Nigerian
entertainment industry.
The Beginning:
She is a seasoned promoter, having begun in UK as a club
promoter and entertainment Editor of Pride Magazine before
relocating to Lagos and establishing NMO Management- an
artist & event management/PR company with a diverse client
rosta (international & local) from music artists, actors, OAP’s
- with artists such as Hakeem Kae Kazim (Hotel Rwanda/
Pirates of Caribbean/24/Last Flight to Abuja), Madam Onyeka
Onwenu (Musician/actress), Vimbai Mutinhiri (TV presenter).
The LoudNProud series started when she was based in the
UK as a club promoter and entertainment editor for Pride
Magazine and Aspire Magazine. LoudNProud was a marketing
concept to promote to readers and a platform for artistes to
attend. Artistes were mainly international including the likes
of Alicia Keys, OutKast, Usher, Whitney Houston & Brian
Mcknight. These events also saw the likes of VIP guests such
as Basketball Legend Michael Jordan, Rio Ferdinand & Spice
Girls to name a few. She also worked with Record labels: Sony
BMG/ Motown to promote their artistes.
Moving back to Nigeria:
Ngozi Omambala moved to Lagos in 2007 after working in the music industry in London. According to her, the energy and
openness of the Nigerian music scene drew her home after years in London.
Soon after landing in Nigeria, Ngozi was headhunted for the position of Nigeria marketing representative for MTV Base Africa overseeing the first ever MTV MAMA Awards 2008 (Abuja, Nigeria).
Her finance background as a qualified Chartered accountant combined with her experience in Radio/TV and Entertainment
haven worked as a Record Label General Manager & also at radio station KISS FM London – have so far made her skills relevant
to a developing entertainment sector in a fast emerging African Market.
LoudNProud Live series:
She initially introduced the LoudNProud Live series in Nigeria in 2012 to give female musicians a platform, although the series has
evolved to accommodate both male and female musicians.
Her intention was to address the lack of female artistes in the industry and also give them a platform for live performances. It
developed as a female platform with a difference – live music (live bands only). The concept has expanded since with talented
male and female artists, however, the female focus remains intact. With the goal of elevating female artists to the platform, she
started in 2012 with artists such as Tiwa Savage, Omawumi, Waje, Efya (Ghana), Eva Alordiah – all hard working and determined
artistes who are now household names in the industry and are all receiving deserved recognitions.
Success stories of LoudNProud Live series:
The LoudNProud Live series celebrated its two year anniversary in January 2014 and it saw the likes of Ice Prince Zamani and
Sound Sultan headlining the event with powerful live band performances.
So far so good, the LoudNProud Live series and ‘One Nite Live & Unplugged’ have both become monthly affairs and a solace
for live band entertainments that music lovers and artistes always look forward to. They have hosted and celebrated established
and emerging acts from all genres of music in the industry including the likes of Patoranking, Vector, Mode 9, Jesse Jagz, Praiz,
Skales, Naeto C, Dammy Krane, Waje, Nneka & a host of others.
Ngozi Omambala is one of the few women who have enhanced and brought positive changes to the Nigerian entertainment
industry; hence she must be reckoned with.
18
How to become a Celebrity Stylist
Step 1: Take Fashion Styling Classes
1
Celebrity fashion stylists are responsible for outfitting and accessorizing celebrities, often in
conjunction with makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers and other creative professionals.
Although employers may not require these professionals to hold a certificate or degree,
completing some post-secondary education could provide stylists with specific career skills,
such as forecasting trends, identifying designers, and understanding clothing design and
textiles. Several colleges and universities offer fashion styling certificate programs. Courses
in these programs typically cover topics such as creating looks for specific types of media
and prepping merchandise. Other topics might include fashion forecasting, clothing and
accessory design, color theory and fashion business practices.
Individuals also might consider pursuing an undergraduate degree in an area such as fashion
design or fashion merchandising. Courses in these fields could include history of fashion,
trend forecasting, fashion show production, computer-aided fashion design, textiles and
fashion promotion. These courses can teach celebrity stylists important career skills, such
as researching design styles, blending fashions, selecting fabrics and marketing new looks.
2
Step 2: Gain Industry Experience
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that most professionals in the fashion
design industry learn about the business through internships or entry-level positions (www.
bls.gov). Fashion styling certificate programs and undergraduate degree programs often
require students to complete work experiences or internships with professional stylists,
designers or fashion retailers. Entry-level positions can provide real-world training in
communicating with celebrities, designing new styles, coordinating with other industry
professionals and running a celebrity stylist business.
According to BLS statistics, the field of fashion design is not a growing field, with a 3%
decline in jobs for fashion designers expected during the 2012-2022 decade. In May 2012,
the BLS reported that fashion designers, including those who offered personalized design
services, earned a median annual salary of $62,860.
3
Step 3: Build a Portfolio
Information from the BLS shows that workers in the fashion design industry generally use
portfolios as a way to impress and attract potential clients. Celebrity stylist portfolios might
include pictures of past clients. In certificate and undergraduate degree programs, students
may learn about standards and practices for creating a portfolio.
Step 4: Keep Up With Style Trends
4
The celebrity fashion industry is highly influenced by changes in the economy, politics and
technology, and celebrity stylists must stay on top of these changing trends to dress clients
in the latest styles. To keep up with changes, professionals may have to conduct continual
research, which could include reading fashion-related articles, examining celebrity photos,
attending fashion shows and watching entertainment awards shows.
Culled from: www.education-portal.com
19
MUSIC FIZZERS
TOSYN BUCKNOR
Olutosyn Yetunde Bucknor popularly called Tosyn Bucknor or Area
Mama is a talented Nigeria female OAP, Writer, Singer and Event organizer. Her morning live show on Top Radio 90.9 every morning has so
much listeners that you would think she charmed them with voodoo,
well she did with her captivating and unique voice.
Tosyn didnt just start from nowhere, she has has so many radio shows to her credit some of which are: Nigerian Idol Season 2 &
3 Morning After show, Etisalat in Your Area, Tonyes Diary and many much more.
Her creative abilities has also earned her to be a judge on some talent shows including Glo Naija Sings Season 1, MTN Project
Fame West Africa Season 5, Locozade Boost Freestyle Reality Show Season 2 amongst others. Tosyn is also a fabulous writer
with her writings being used in different platforms, she is a columnist on with Guardian Newspaper where she writes on “Strictly
for the Young” as well as on NET (Tosyn;s ten 10s) being published weekly.
Tosyn exhibits her singing talent as an artiste under the name: CON.tra.diction and she specializes in Pop, Rock and Soul Music;
she has performed on numerous events including her own organized bi-monthly One Mic Naija event.
20
by Joyce Imiegha
Meet Cinematographer, Presenter and
former host for Maltina Dance All, Ms.
Kemi Adetiba; A woman who is an
undeniable icon in our entertainment
industry today.
KEMI ADETIBA
Background:
Kemi Adetiba was born on the 8th of
January 1980 to media guru Father Dele
Adetiba and her mother, a civil engineer
who happens to be the first female
president of the Association of Civil
Engineers of Nigeria.
Kemi studied Law at the University of
Lagos even though she knew she was
going to end up in the entertainment
industry. Being born of a father who ran
an advertising agency and also haven
had her first TV commercial for detergent
brand, OMO when she was just in Primary
5. I should say she was born, prepared
and destined for the entertainment.
Insatiable love for Music and Videography:
According to her, she had always been
interested in music. And if she wasn’t
doing what she was doing now, she said
she probably would be a music producer
or even a singer. The visual aspect of
her love for music grew out of her artistic
need to tell stories, visual or otherwise.
She tends to remind people that she is
not a music video director but a visual
artiste, a filmmaker as she makes films,
commercials, documentaries, and TV
content, anything that revolves around
telling stories with visuals. No limitations
whatsoever!
Her transmission:
Starting out as a radio personality with
Rhythm 93.7FM, Kemi soon became the
voice behind two nationally syndicated
hit shows: Soul’d Out and her signature,
Sunday at the Seaside, also frequently
helming other shows on the station.
Slowly, she began to transition from her
first love, radio, to focus on a budding
television career. Today, she is one of
Nigeria’s top television personalities and
producers, haven hosted hit shows on
MNet (Studio 53, Temptation Nigeria),
Soundcity (Lifestyle, Celebrity Profiles,
Chat Room, various red-carpet specials),
and the nationally syndicated reality
show, Maltina Dance All for some years.
Personal Accomplishments:
Thanks to her fun, affable personality,
Kemi was tapped to host numerous events
including Silverbird Entertainment’s 25th
Anniversary Gala, the Dance Theatre
of Harlem’s Year-End Celebration show
(alongside DTH founder, the great Arthur
Michelle), the launch of HAUTE fashion
magazine in New York, the 2008 Future
Nigeria Awards (with Nollywood actor Raz
Adoti), the 2009 Hip-Hop World Awards,
and MADE Magazine’s “Celebrities on the
Runway” show.
In 2007, after years of success in front of
the camera, her love of storytelling drew
her to enrol in the New York Film Academy.
Today, Kemi is an award-winning director,
producer and cinematographer. Her
body of work includes music videos,
commercials, television content and films.
Shortly after its release, her short film
‘Across a Bloodied Ocean’ was screened
at the Pan African Film Festival in Los
Angeles and the National Black Arts
Festival in Atlanta. That same year, her
21
production company, K-Alpha, produced
for DVD The 2009 ThisDay Music Festival
featuring headline act R.Kelly.
Music videos Accomplishments:
She has seen tremendous success as a
music video director. Her first, for the
song “Ekundayo” by singer/songwriter
TY Bello, was named Best Female Video
at the 2009 SoundCity Music Awards.
Omawumi’s “Today Na Today” video
won Best Female Video at the Nigerian
Entertainment Awards in New York and
was nominated for Best Music Video at
the 2010 SoundCity Awards. Her work on
Banky W’s “Lagos Party” also earned Best
Editing and Best Male Video nominations
at that year’s SoundCity Awards. Kemi’s
work on “More You” by singer/songwriter
Bez won her international critical acclaim,
with the most touching tribute coming in
the form of a write-up by her alma-mater,
the New York Film Academy.
Kemi Adetiba has carved a name for
herself in the entertainment industry
haven directed and shot award winning
and beautiful Music videos for ace
artistes, commercials, short films and
documentaries, and she’s definitely not
ready to back-down.
up next
VICTORIA KIMANI
Photo by Riri Belle
Makeup: Pradah
Stylist: Glam Official
Outfit: Melissa Black Boutique
22
victoria kimani
Easily a recognised queen
Photo by Riri Belle
Makeup: Pradah
Chocolate City is inarguably one of Nigeria’s most successful record labels
and indeed Africa’s so far. Headed by Audu Maikori, a seasoned lawyer
and entrepreneur, the label is home to top Nigerian artistes namely: MI,
Iceprince, Pryse, DJ Caise, Victoria Kimani, Nosa and their most recently
signed act - Dice Ailes. The label also housed the likes of Jesse Jagz and
Brymo for some years.
In 2013, Chocolate City expanded operations to Kenya by
launching “Chocolate City Kenya” and signed talented and
beautiful Victoria Kimani to floats its name in Kenya. Vikky
as she is fondly called is ready to unleash the talents in her
in a few months to come.
GROWING UP
Born in the late 80’s Victoria Kimani was born to Kenyan
parents based in the US as the last child and only daughter
of her parents’ three children. Having both parents as
pastors, Victoria and her elder brothers were brought up
in a very strict Christian setting. Her family also moved a lot
due to her parents’ missionary works and when she was 14
years old, they moved to Benin city, Nigeria where her father
ministered for 2 years before leaving for Kenya.
Schooling in different regions made Victoria exceptionally
advanced and when they got back to the US, she was instantly
given a High school Diploma certificate.
MUSIC FAMILY
Aside being born into a Christian home, Victoria was also
born into a music family. Her father was very good at playing
musical instruments such as the keyboard and guitar. He also
performed in local bars and clubs in Kenya. Her elder brothers
are veteran hip-hop lords in Kenya who are doing quite well
23
in the Kenyan music industry. Surrounded by
musicians, Victoria sang in the choir and was a
back-up singer for a popular Kenyan artiste.
CHOCOLATE CITY’S MEET
Victoria Kimani got introduced to Chocolate City
after recording a remix to Iceprince’s “Oleku”.
Not quite familiar with the Nigeria music industry
back then, a friend got her to listen to “Oleku” by
Iceprince, “Don’t Dull” by Wizkid and “E no Easy” by
Psquare. Amongst the three songs, she preferred
“Oleku” and even decided to do a cover on it – the
cover that got her noticed by Chocolate City. She
reached out to DJ Ecool, a DJ friend of hers who
gave her the instrumentals and also helped her in
sharing the song with other DJs and bloggers.
This got Chocolate City’s attention and with their
visionary plans of expanding to other African
regions, Victoria Kimani became a bridge to
cutting across the entire Eastern Africa region;
Victoria Kimani got signed to Chocolate City
officially in 2013.
VICTORIA KIMANI’S PROJECT
Victoria Kimani dropped her first official
single titled “OYA” featuring MI and she has
gone on to release a couple other songs
with her latest being – PROKOTO where she
featured Diamondz and Ommy Dimpoz both
from Tanzania. Victoria claims to be the first
and only artiste to successfully put Diamondz
and Ommy Dimpoz on a track together,
bearing in mind the disgust they both have
for each other. The song got her more buzz
and showed her singing and dancing abilities.
Victoria Kimani was amongst the African
delegates that visited the White House for the
US Summit. She also participated in the ONE.
ORG campaign song with the likes of Dbanj,
Omawumni, Cohbams and others.
With more releases to come, Victoria Kimani
is working on her debut album which would
be released under Chocolate City Kenya and
would have featured artistes like Wizkid,
Emma Nyra, MI, Iceprince and other great
acts.
24
up Next
CYNTHIA
Morgan
Signature typography © Edesiri Ukiri
25
Cynthia
morgan
speaks about her musical career and relationship
Intro: Anslem Hon
Interview: Osayo Edokpayi
Beautiful and light-skinned Cynthia Morgan can be rated as one of the most
consistent and hardworking female artistes in Nigeria. After her introduction to
the music scene through her prowess which she exhibited on Jyhbo’s “Ejo Lo
Fe Ro” way back in 2010, Cynthia Morgan hasn’t relented in proving critics
that she is no gimmick. Bent on proving her worth and taking her career to
the next level, she signed a management deal with JTown Productions
headed by Joy Tongo and in 2013, Northside Inc also deemed it fit to
float her aboard its imprint; That move craved a path for Cynthia
Morgan as she got shot into limelight, although she had been
there for a while.
With singles like ‘Don’t Break My Heart’, ‘Lead Me On’
and ‘Taken’, which topped charts upon their releases
respectively, Cynthia Morgan indeed is a voice to reckon
with in this present day generation. Read below
questions she answered from our correspondent.
T.M: Who is Cynthia Morgan and how she
is different from every other artiste in the
Nigerian music industry?
C.M: Cynthia Morgan is a multitalented artist, who cannot be
placed in a box. I am different from
other artistes because I have
created a genre of music for
myself. I call it good music
with distinction, fusing
reggae / dancehall, rap
and Afro pop.
Signature illustration © Edesiri Ukiri
Photo by Riri Belle
Makeup: Pradah
26
T.M: How did it all begin for you; did
you always want to go into music or you
stumbled into it
C.M: I come from a musical background.
My mom is a top gospel artist in Benin
City, Edo State. She has a band called:
Gorgeous band. I started singing from
my mom’s womb and I was her backup
singer, playing the talking drum and
writer at the age of 13
T.M: You’ve had a massive 2014 so far,
officially now in the mainstream. Of
course, Jude Okoye has been behind
that for the most part. How did you
meet him?
C.M: I met Jude Okoye in Atlanta, USA
January 2013 through my manager Joy
Tongo
T.M: What is it like working with him?
C.M: It has been a great journey. I call
him big Daddy. Coming from such great
music mind, I am always on my music
grind to do greater things. He inspires
me a lot.
T.M: Your name is on the lips of most
Nigerians and your last 3 singles are still
getting massive airplay on radio and TV.
How have you been coping?
C.M: I still got lots of more work to
put in; to me I am just getting started.
Thanks to God, my great team and of
course my fans they make my work a
lot much easier
T.M: Do you think there’s added
pressure now for you to keep pushing
out hits?
C.M: Everyday is a new day to me.
I always want to be better than my
previous work/hits, as such I keep
working. I don’t call it pressure because
I love what I do.
T.M: Some people say the industry is
saturated, mostly because there are
lots of people doing similar stuff. Do
you think it’s hard to stand out in the
industry?
C.M: This really does not apply to me. I
am distinct in all I do. Vocally, lyrically,
Photo by Riri Belle
Makeup: Pradah
style. Basically brand in general. As
such, I stand out a lot!
T.M: Who are you currently feeling in
the industry and would like to work
with?
C.M: I am feeling Davido and would like
to work with him
T.M: So the rumours in the blogs about
you and Dammy Krane. Are you really
27
taken? Let’s hear from you Cynthia.
C.M: I AM TAKEN by the industry
T.M: Lay it on us. What project are you
working on? Album/mixtape? What
does the future hold?
C.M: Right now I am working on singles
with videos. Album would be out next
year. The future is here, now and all and
it is very bright.
CYBER BULLYING: An Observer’s Perspective
By Winifred Ononikpo @TheWinifred
A
Image Courtesy Chris Kasurak
ny form of innovation always comes with its pros and cons. Overtime, we have
witnessed or read about the evolution of the media from the traditional (newspaper,
radio and television) to the more sophisticated means (magazine, billboard, film,
fliers and posters) and the most recent of all, the new media popularly known as
the internet.
The internet is multimedia. It incorporates attributes of the other means of
communication – text, picture, music and video. In as much as the internet has
proved to be very useful in pedagogy, its downsides have not gone unnoticed. The
internet hosts many sites among which are social networking sites such as YouTube,
Flickr, Instagram, and the two most popular, Facebook and Twitter. Social media was
developed for keeping up with friends and family as well as share multimedia files
with the general public. But nowadays, people get cyber bullied on these platforms.
Cyber bulling is the use of information technology (the internet) to repeatedly harm
or harass other people in a deliberate manner. The keyword here is deliberate; the
perpetrator’s actions are carefully thought out in advance and meted out through
slander, mean words, insults, or they are just plain rude.
28
The keyword here
is “deliberate”;
the perpetrator’s
actions are
carefully thought
out in advance and
meted out through
slander, mean
words, insults, or
they are just plain
rude.
...continued from previous page
Cyber bullying has
no positive side.
It is bad enough
that people get
harassed physically
for whatever
reason, but taking
it to the web
where you mess
up a person’s
psychology is much
more damaging.
Cyber bullying
should be
discouraged!
It is a more understandable situation is if people with erratic egos lash out at each other.
But when people who have this aura of superiority lord it over their counterparts, it
becomes a problem; it’s a classic example of cyber bullying. People carelessly throw
words such as ugly and fat around. Recently, I witnessed a girl get called out because
she said she will not like to get married to a full time engineer. Someone posted a
picture of her and captioned it “Just look at the thing that doesn’t want to marry an
engineer. Like her body doesn’t need major repairs”. I mean, this is wrong on every
level; no one should be made to feel less than who they are.
People who are cyber bullied often end up with low self esteem or become bullies
themselves because there is the need to make others feel their torture. In more
serious cases, it may even lead to suicide. The more pitiable situations are the ones
where relationships go south and one partner goes as far as posting their significant
other’s nude pictures on social media while calling them names.
These days, people cannot even be plus sized in peace. They are called names such
as GP Tanks, planets and all manner of ridiculous stuff. It beats me because these are
people who signed up to have just as much fun on social media as other users turned
cyber bullies. I’m particularly appalled by the lot struggling to be tagged “demon” or
“devil” because apparently, mean is perceived as the new cool. People discover other
people’s weaknesses and strike them where it hurts the most.
Cyber bullying has no positive side. It is clear abuse of the purpose for which the
internet or even social media was created. It is bad enough that people get harassed
physically for whatever reason but taking it to the web where you mess up a person’s
psychology is much more damaging. A person is not within your physical radius but
can hurt you just as much or even worse than a person who is.
Cyber bullying in any ramification should be discouraged and those fueling the egos of
these cyber bullies are just as guilty and are part contributors to whatever becomes the
fate of cyber bully victims. Cyber bullying should be discouraged by either cautioning
the perpetrators or better still ignoring them so when they see they are not getting
any LOLs or LMAOs or RTs, they stop. By curbing cyber bullying, you may be protecting
someone’s life in the process.
29
Linda Ikeji
written by Joyce Imiegha
Meet Linda Ikeji, ex-model,
Entrepreneur, Motivational speaker,
popular blogger and owner of one of
the most visited blogs in Nigeria is one
woman to reckon with in the column.
Background:
She was born on September 19, 1980, a native of Nkwerre
LGA, Imo State, Nigeria. It should be noted that this blogger
turned millionaire was born into a struggling family, the
second of seven children. At a tender age of 10, Linda started
writing as a hobby. Unlike many teenagers her age, Linda
loved watching newscasters and interviews and by the time
the opportunity presented to attend university in Lagos, her
course choice was decided: Mass Communication.
Education:
She was admitted to study English Language in the university
to her disappointment, but she decided to make the best of
it. To support herself and her family through school, Linda
began working at the age of 17, doing everything from being
a waitress and ushering to modelling and bar-tending; she
did mention that she worked in a hotel just so she could
survive. According to her, she’d leave lectures, go to a hotel
and sell beer from 1 pm till 10 pm. None of which paid a lot in
the late 90’s. She started modelling in 1998 and quit in 2005.
intensive and time-consuming magazine publishing was, only
two more editions made it to print.
Blogging career:
The blogging bug bit her in 2006. Blogging had all the charm:
it was free except for the cost of internet connections, easy to
handle and it gave you access to millions of readers instantly.
Linda Ikeji started blogging officially in 2007 with the intention of
sharing information that she was interested in with her readers.
Fast forward seven years later, www.lindaikeji.blogspot.com has
grown to be one of the most visited sites in the country which
serves as a regular source for news, entertainment, celebrity
gossips and what not! Her blog continues to attract thousands
of visitors on a daily basis.
She recalls getting 200 visits a day and for her then, it was a big
deal. Now it’s estimated that she gets over 200,000 page views
a day from up to 180 countries.
Blogger turned Millionaire:
Modelling career:
She began her advent into entertainment as a striving model
while in UNILAG. She modelled for several brands, including
the ‘Rose of Sharon’ label owned by former President of
the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) and
Nigerian billionaire and oil tycoon, Folorunsho Alakija. She
took to modelling at the age of 17 featuring in some of the
most glamorous fashion shows in the country.
Becoming a graduate:
In 2004 after she completed her university education, she
worked hard to break into the journalism trade, launching her
media company - Black dove Communications, a modelling
agency and events management outfit.
Black dove communications was an agency that specialized
in recruiting models, training models and getting jobs for
models.
She also started what she describes in her first ever blog post
as her “true passion”, her magazine called, FM & B. The first
issue was released in 2006 and after discovering how capital-
She’s the proud owner of a 2014 Range Rover Sport rumoured
to cost a whopping sum of N24m [$153,000], a 2011 Infiniti FX
35 [N8m] and a 2008 Toyota Camry. She also bought a multimillion 5-bedroom duplex in Surulere for her parents. I can say
that her she has changed the lives of her family.
At a point, Linda averaged about 1 million unique visitors each
month to her blog. And with that came the much-needed
recognition and substantial earnings. In August 2012, Forbes
Africa described her as a success and a case study for the
business of blogging.
Linda’s blog reportedly rakes in an average of N5m per month
from adverts from various brands and online ad networks,
which makes her the highest earning blogger in Nigeria.
Blogging has brought her the fame, power and comfortability
she could have wished for.
Now sitting comfortably in the millionaires’ lounge, she is one
of the youngest millionaires in Nigeria. Her Grass to Grace Story
is an inspiration to many people aspiring to make something
out of nothing.
30
July 24th 2014, 960 Music Group and MTV BASE threw an official launch
party for 2Face’s sixth studio album - “The Ascension”. The party also
marked the official launch of 960 Music Group.
Questions have been asked on what 960 Music Group is all about, what
they do and who they are; notably having its logo appear on musical
videos especially from Aristokrat and Hypertek’s artistes.
Mark Redguard, CEO 960 Music Group explains “960 Music Group is a
master label to other subsidiary labels in which we provide funds, promotion,
distribution and consultation in return for equity”
Read more excerpts from the interview our Editor had with CEO of 960
Music Group [Mark Redguard] in our next issue.
ONE NITE: LIVE & UNPLUGGED
WITH OMAWUMI
Multi-award winning artist, Omawumi, thrilled &
conquered at her live & unplugged edition.
Her performance was nothing short of epic
performing all her hits including a rap rendition on
lauryn hill’s ‘(doo wop) that thing’...fantastic!!!
Waje also present took to the stage for a dance
off with Omawumi. The live band was on point
performing back to back hits...
Venue: Avenue Suites V.I.
Date: Saturday 1st November
Omawumi proved effortlessly she is the African
queen of live music, interacting with the audience,
exchanging jokes and inviting guests to the dance
for a group dance - off.
Amazing show... awesome artist. Omawumi was on
top of her music game as always.
32
Our first... date?
By Phidelia ImIegha
I was twenty-one, single, and not even searching when I met my husband.
It was the year when I was serving my country. One Friday in April, I had a lazy
morning, and therefore decided to skip work. I worked at a government school
where my presence was barely registered, and my absence made just as difference.
It was the period of the social media craze and so I had me a BlackBerry, complete
with BBM, Whatsapp, and Twitter. As I lay in bed that morning, generally fiddling
around with my phone, I got a Whatsapp message from an unknown number. I
would usually ignore such texts and block the number, but I decided to indulge
the texter this day, as I was rather bored. He introduced himself as David. He
claimed he’d found my name and number on his phone and had no idea how
they got there and so decided to find out who I was. Obviously, his story annoyed
me a bit, and I didn’t for one moment buy it; but he was good-looking and so we
kept chatting. And he turned out to be quite interesting.
We texted the whole day and by the next morning he requested to meet with
me, seeing as we were in the same town. I was nervous and excited at the idea
of meeting a strange guy less than twenty-four hours after first talking to him.
Being rather conservative, I initially considered declining. But I called my friend,
Boma, whose birthday happened to be that same day, and she convinced me it
would be fun to do something that was adventurous and slightly dangerous for
once. Therefore, I reluctantly invited David to Boma’s party.
Boma’s party began at about 2, and David called at 2:15 to tell me he was on
his way. About an hour later, he still hadn’t shown up. I was already beginning
to doubt he’d show, when my phone started ringing. It was a strange number.
Guessing it was him, I grabbed it off the table immediately, but waited a moment
before answering, to avoid seeming desperate. It was him, calling with his friend’s
number. His phone had died, so he’d lost the directions—I’d given him earlier—
to the venue. I gave the directions once more, and he confirmed he was on track.
33
We texted the
whole day
and by the
next morning
he requested
to meet with
me, seeing
as we were
in the same
town.
Our first... date? By Phidelia Imeghia
David finally showed up at 4 with a friend tailing along. I took them to a free table
where he introduced his friend as Ayo. Boma came along to say hi and David gave
her a package he’d got for her. I was impressed. As I sat opposite them, I studied
their features. While David was chubby, light-skinned and very attractive, Ayo was
tall, dark-skinned and had really dark eyes. He was handsome but more in an
artsy way than in a showoff-y way. Ayo looked like he deserved to be studied in
a school of arts.
We all shared drinks and joked and talked about abstract things. About an hour
in, David excused himself to talk to a friend he’d spotted. I sat there in silence with
Ayo for five full minutes, feeling very self-conscious. He had such sharply chiseled
features, and those dark mysterious eyes looked like you could drown in them
and never get to the bottom. I caught myself sipping my drink nervously.
“You have beautiful eyes.”
Even though I heard him clearly and I knew he was talking to me, I replied,
“Sorry, what?”
He smiled and repeated himself clearly.
“You have such beautiful eyes, Nina.”
I smiled back and replied, “Thank you, yours are … interesting.”
“Interesting? How so?”
He was staring at me intently.
My mouth felt dry as I struggled for words to describe eyes that threatened to
swallow me.
“Uhm … They’re … they’re dark. Like your irises are really big and so dark. Like an
abyss. Does that make sense?”
He silently swirled his drink around in his cup for a moment, staring down at it as
if deep in thought. I was beginning to wonder if he took offence when he replied,
“Well, that’s the most poetic description my eyes have ever got. I like it.”
I smiled, he smiled back at me and asked all the while looking right into my eyes,
“Do you like poetry?”
“Why, yes, I love poetry. I breathe poetry.”
“You write?”
“Occasionally.”
“Me too. I would love to read your work.”
“I’d love that too.”
There was an awkward silence so I said the next thing that came to mind.
34
“Do you have any of your work here?”
Smiling he replied,
“No, Nina, I write in a notebook. I’m somewhat old fashioned.”
“Oh … I type on my laptop.”
I shrugged weirdly, feeling inferior to him.
The atmosphere around us suddenly felt so charged, I had to excuse myself.
I went outside to get some air. By the time I returned, David was back, with
another girl who was sat between David and Ayo and was obviously into Ayo.
David tried to indulge me in a conversation but I could
hardly concentrate; in-between stealing glances at Ayo
and the girl who were having what seemed to be a lively
chat, and berating myself for the sting of jealousy I was
feeling.
It was evening already, the party was ending and the crowd had thinned out so
David offered to drop me off at home. I hugged Boma and a few other friends
and walked out with Ayo, David and the other girl whose name I never bothered
to learn. The ride home was awkward. Ayo cracked jokes and asked me random
questions while David drove in silence. I was at the back with the other girl who
was strangely quiet as well, although she laughed a few times. We got to my
place and David came down, walked me to my flat and hugged me. He said
something about seeing again sometime and I just nodded.
I stepped in, locked the door behind me, and just sank to the floor right there.
My throat felt dry and lumpy. I had an admittedly huge crush on Ayo and I felt
terribly guilty because this was supposed to be a date with his friend. A first date.
How could David do that to me? How could he just bring
along the most appealing man I’ve ever seen, and then act
like nothing would happen?
I wanted so badly to see him—Ayo—again but I didn’t
want to seem pushy so I deleted his number from my call
logs to avoid calling him.
I woke up the next day to two text messages.
The first one read,
“I still think you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.”
35
T he first one
read,
“I still
think you
have the most
beautiful
eyes I’ve ever
seen.”
I smiled, knowing who the texter was already. The second read,
“Text me back. Please?”
I laughed, amused at his politeness. I typed into the reply box,
“I think your eyes are a work of art.”
I lay there for a moment, rethinking it, trying to talk myself
out of this silly nonsense. Heh. I just closed my eyes, took a
deep breath, and hit send.
Less than a minute later he replied,
“You are a work of art.”
I blushed so hard!
Throughout the next week, Ayo and I texted and called
each other endlessly. We talked about any and everything.
We asked questions, told stories, made jokes, and read
poems to each other.
Our first real date was a couple weeks later. It involved proper lunch at some
expensive restaurant, after which we drove to the beach and took a long walk in
the sand. We shared our first kiss right there under a beautiful sunset, and two
months later we started dating exclusively.
When we got married a year later, David was our best man.
Written by Phidelia Imeghia. Follow on twitter via @delia_maraj
36
Winner of
M T N Project
Fame Season 6,
Olawale Ojo,
released his
debut album on
September 26th,
2014.
The gifted musician teamed up with established and fast rising producers as well as artistes
to create a unique fusion of R&B, Fuji and Pop Music, which we got accustomed to from his
performances on the show and since the release of his first single “Is Nothin”.
Titled “Almost Famous”, Olawale’s first album is comprised of great songs and amazing
collaborations with multi-talented artistes like: Lil Kesh, Skales and the queen herself, Tiwa
Savage.
“I’m really excited about my debut album because it shows all of me right now. It tells my story
in music – from Is Nothin to Almost Famous, the album. I hope everyone enjoys it. I am back in
the studio working on a new project already. The plan is to keep going until I’m famous and I am
giving it my heart and all” - Olawale says.
Ever since he won the sixth season of Project Fame, Olawale Ayodeji Ojo has caught the attention
of many with the release of singles – Is Nothin, Jupa and Follow My Lead.
Olawale collaborates with producers such as Master Kraft, Spellz, DJ Klem, Sagzy, Kenny Wonder,
DJ Coublon, Philkeyz and Que Beats to create a fresh sound on the Almost Famous Album.
TRACKLIST
1. Agogo ( Prod. by Philkeyz and Kenny Wonder)
2. Is Nothin (Prod. by DJ Klem)
3. Get It ft. Skales (Prod. by Master Kraft)
4. Bamijo (Prod. by DJ Klem)
5. Follow My Lead ft. Lil Kesh (Prod. by DJ Coublon)
6. Jupa (Prod. by Spellz)
7. Love Me ft. Tiwa Savage (Prod. by Spellz)
8. Gra Gra ( Prod. by Que Beats)
9. Take Home (Prod. by Sagzy)
10. Celebrate (Prod. by Kenny Wonder)
37
lmk’s
diary
Commitments:
T he Quiet Leeches of Life.
Commitments Affect Every Aspect of Life.
Commitments take more than your time though; they quietly invade your conscious mind.
Commitments don’t just deal with people however. The worst kinds of commitments are those that you aren’t even
aware of actually being commitments. These can come as small promises you make to yourself, such as improving
in a certain area of life.
Almost always, they become a weight on your conscious mind saying that something has been left unresolved.
These every day commitments also begin to affect your emotions. Remember the times when you promised to
yourself that you’d achieve a lot, and you didn’t? Your self-worth instantly lowered a notch.
The thing is, our minds never find solace from their to-do lists. They always need to be resolved and if not, it’s as
though we’re carrying a dark mass of tension around with us that we always know is there. There’s an emotional
commitment on some level that we’re not fully dealing with.
You can never truly become aware of how much mental and emotional space a commitment takes up in your mind
until it’s not there anymore. Just think of the relief you feel when you finish a dry book you found extremely hard
to read. I realized this a few years ago when I continued to write for a blog that I no longer had any passion for.
The day I decided to stop, my mind lightened, feeling free from the painful dutiful mental leech I was carrying.
38
Be a Quitter!
Quitting commitments is getting the maximum quality of life, without wasting energy on promises you can’t keep.
It forced me to re-evaluate every commitment I have in life, and to choose whether I’m completely willing to deal
with them or want to be completely free from them.
Society has taught us that “quitting” is wrong; that only losers quit. But the problem with this concept is that not all
quitting is the same. You can quit things that matter, and quit things that don’t. We assume that all commitments
are: A) Of equal value and, B) that we never outgrow them. If I had persisted with all the commitments of my
childhood right now I’d be the White Power Ranger working as the bouncer of the Playboy Mansion.
Less Is More.
The more commitments on your to-do list, the more paralyzed and afraid you are of attempting to fulfill any one
of them. Without apology or explanation make a decision to be done with them. The leech won’t stop sucking on
your conscious until you burn it.
As I mentioned in a previous article multi-tasking and commitments only results in many half-hearted attempts of
living life. The neglect of these commitments can take a toll on your self-confidence as well. But with a bit more
patience and a lot more selectivity, you can dedicate yourself to more rewarding and meaningful pursuits.
That’s why I’m not your social type. I don’t like to lukewarmly bond with a person over similar interests and
common ground, in order to have a relationship of stimulation. If I put my commitment to use I make it my concern
to explore the depths and roots of a person, not just the shallow leaves of stimulation that are so temporary with
season.
True relationships for the solitary person take undivided commitment, and in a sense, these relationships are a lot
more profound and long-lasting.
39
M.I.A.
FIVE NOLLYWOOD ACTORS/ACTRESSES WHO HAVE BEEN
MISSING IN ACTION
- Oghomwen Toni-Osagie
It is hard to be known as a Jack/Jane of one trade. Let me rephrase that, it is hard to be African and be known for just one
trade (occupation). In this country where being in the limelight is very profitable in respect of diverse job opportunities, our
celebrities find it hard sticking to one trade. Various offers are always being thrown at them, probably because their fans see
them as mini ‘gods’ and believe they have the power to delve into many fields. Examples are artistes delving into Nollywood,
Fashion designers moving into the music industry, and the list goes on...
This might stunt consistency in their given career path, It might make them take a break from the acting scene or whatever
career path they are on. Take for example Uche Jombo, known actress has for the past 11 years been producing movies. Other
notable actors have had little ‘MIAs’ in their known professions. Tonto Dike who was recently announced as a new signee
to D’banj’s record label is another example. The fans are not complaining, so long as they churn out the right kind of works.
I want to draw our attentions to a list of Nollywood actors that have been missing on our TV screens for a while now, not
because they are lacking job offers, but because they have been busy with other projects. They are still relevant, but they have
not graced our screens in a long while.
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde.
With over 300 movies to her name and a beautiful family
unit, one can inarguably say Omotola Jalade Ekeinde
is living a dream life. She is probably the most loved
Nollywood actress, with fans as loyal to her. Omotola was
the first African celebrity to have over 1 million page likes
on Facebook.
When she is not busy gracing our Television screens with
her beguiling acting skills, she is touring countries receiving
numerous high profile awards, or amassing ambassadorial
deals like: “Face of Diaper Brand, Pampers (P&G),
“Ambassador for Amnesty International”, “Ambassador
Ghandour Cosmetics (Ghana)”. She recently signed an
advertising deal with one of the leading online retail stores
in Lagos, konga.com
With her overly impressive off-the-screen accomplishments,
it is vividly clear to her fans why she has been missing in
action in their cinema houses.
40
M.I.A.
Jim Iyke.
Asides from his high profile romance with his ‘on and
off’ girlfriend Nadia Buari, Jim Iyke keeps busy and news
worthy. With over 150 movies to his belt and a successful
movie production company, ‘Untamed’ and a record label
to this effect called, ‘Untamed Records’, We can say he is
a very hard working and enterprising actor/ businessman.
Jim Iyke also makes a record of being one of the first
Nollywood actors to launch his own reality series, titled,
‘Unscripted’.
This show has fans tongue wagging, doubting the
authentic value of the said ‘script’. From an engagement
to his girlfriend, to his luxurious lifestyle and high class
travels. It is indeed a viewer’s pleaser.
M.I.A.
Jim Iyke is also a philanthropist, with a foundation for
kids with special disabilities; it is clear to many why he
has been away from our screens as an actor. His constant
reappearance on the news is also worthy of perusal. With
his recent contact with Liberia and the deadly Ebola virus,
Jim Iyke is always on the tip of our tongues.
Kate Henshaw.
This is one forever young lady. She is an ideal ‘21st
century Mum’. With her YouTube videos on the ‘Skelewu’
and ‘Azonto’ dances going viral on the internet. She is
arguably a teenager.
Apparently she also makes cameo appearances in videos,
leaving her mark in whatever field she sets on. But we
haven’t seen Kate Henshaw a lot on our movie screens in
a while, and she has been greatly missed.
Sadly, by her most recent declaration of an 8-year- stint
into politics. It is now clear to her fans that she’s going to
be away for a very long time.
With her ever smiling face on billboards across the country,
with her ‘Onga’ deal and her middle chair as a judge in
‘Nigeria’s Got Talent’ we’re hoping these appearances will
satisfy her fans as she purses her political aspirations.
41
M.I.A.
Dakore Akande.
The pretty and uncontroversial Dakore left our screens
a little after she married her lover Olumide Akande. The
beautiful couple is so in love, with absence of scandals
front lining their name; all we are given are pictures of
her attending A-list events or on holidays at some exotic
places.
M.I.A.
With over 50 movies to her credit, Dakore left us on the
edge of our seats. We are still yearning for more of her
eloquence and grace on our screens, but it seems she is
on a long hiatus.
Keep in mind, she remains quite relevant, with various
ambassadorial titles, from; “Amstel Malta, Pampers,
Amnesty International and Oxfam of America” amongst
others. This lady knows how to remain relevant and loved;
she keeps it 100% professional. It is all business for Dakore.
Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD)
The ladies love him, guys envy his ageless swag and grace
and his fans can’t get enough of movies. With reruns of
his past movies still in many Nigerians archives, RMD is
greatly missed, and it is obvious that he would not be
returning to our screens as an actor (sadly), at least not
any time soon.
With his deep involvement in politics and his society,
RMD as fans love to call him is the Commissioner for
culture and tourism in Delta State, Nigeria. Any little
hope of seeing him on the screen is pretty futile for the
foreseeable future.
42
M.I.A.
MOVIE REVIEW
TITLE: A PLACE IN THE STARS
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Segun Arinze
Gideon Okeke
Yemi Blaq
Matilda Obaseki
Dejumo Lewis.
PRODUCER: STEVE GUKAS.
This happens to be one of the very few movie screening/premieres I’ve had to attend,
mainly because I’m not a huge fan of movies. Initially after receiving the invitation, I
intended sending someone to represent me but on a second thought, I decided to
honour it myself; a decision I didn’t regret!
Clearly, Nigerian movie producers have improved greatly in the quality of movies
being churned out compared to the ones released in the past. This has gone to show
how open-minded they are to the opinions of many Nigerians.
“A Place in the Stars” is one of such movies that can be termed a perfect piece. From
the clarity of the picture to the choice of sound tracks being used, “A Place in the
Stars” is a movie that beats all characteristics of average.
SYNOPSIS
Kim Dakim (Gideon Okeke), a young lawyer gets a client with a case that leaves him
conflicted. He has information that can save many lives if he passes it on, but he also
stands to make millions if he doesn’t. In a very corrupt country where everyone loves
money and no one cares how you make it, Kim sees this as his chance to make it big.
Problem is, Diokpa Okonkwo (Segun Arinze) the kingpin of the counterfeit medical
drug trade who his case is against, doesn’t play nice. He kills at will to protect his
multi-million dollar trade and is not pulling punches against Kim and his client. He has
Kim’s client in jail and assassins out to silence Kim.
Suddenly Kim is at war on two fronts; one to stay alive and the other against his
conscience and everything he has been raised to believe is right.
43
GRUMI : JOINING THE DIGITAL HEMISPHERE.
“Grooming upcoming
talent in the coolest
colony of musicians and
fans, through sharing of
music and views within
our social interaction
platform”
www.grumi.com.ng
44
In December 13th, 2013 we witnessed another additional platform to the Nigeria digital world. Being
a tricky zone with much potential, lots of brands are taking bold steps in launching their respective
platforms. One of such platform is grumi.com.ng, a web based entertainment platform that focuses
on music.
As described by one its founders, Dapo Salami, “The ultimate aim is to offer a previously deficient avenue for musicians,
especially the independent/unsigned upcoming artistes to share their music with fans at very little cost and extreme
ease, a discussion platform for users to interact with each other and also a free stream internet radio.
We will be introducing extra features to that which currently exists on the platform as well as many other premium
features for those who wish to monetize their accounts and their music.
Our target audiences are the upcoming talents who need a platform to freely share their music with their soon-tobe fans, the youth and young at heart who yearn for seamless access to new/old music and their desire to meet and
interact with people daily.
We at GRUMI expect to grow along with our users. All these and many more are expected to be rolled out within a few
months with the launch of our mobile application.”
DAPO SALAMI
Oladapo Salami, also known as QD Salami is a social media
practitioner with a little over 5 years experience in the new
media scene. As a lover of the arts and music, he doubles
as a photographer and a new media consultant.
Having worked with the likes of Gidilounge, 360nobs,
he set up Grumi alongside longtime business partner
Kofoworola Bhadmus in 2013, with the aim of building a
platform which makes Nigerian music easily distributed
and creating a level playing field for both established and
upcoming artistes.
KOFOWOROLA BHADMUS
Born August 2nd, 1991, Kofoworola Bhadmus is a young
extrovert and free mind whose imaginations and creativity
have no limits. His love for music led him to the art of
entertainment. Starting off as a “Facebook guy” for SKUKI/
Daphella Entertainment in 2010 before joining Siren
Entertainment in 2011 and Grumi in 2013.
With brief stints in PR as well as several aspects of the
entertainment business A&R, artist management and
Kazebleek as he known is enjoying the experiences
45
Get familiar
Nike Fagbule
Nike Fagbule, publicist, writer and music business consultant presently heads the PR team at Zebra
Stripes Networks. In her role, Fagbule is responsible for running the company’s day to day activities and
manages all account officers assigned to each clients. In 2010, Nike Fagbule was nominated in the creative
professional of the year category at The Future Awards.
These days, she is responsible for the strategic direction of Zebra Stripes Networks an emerging Public Relations company.
Championing Nigerian music and movies are close to Nike’s heart, when she’s not giving music business consultation, she is
busy listening, critiquing and saluting music and movies from this part of the world.
She has also worked in Black House Media as the Senior Manager: Strategy and Execution, A.Y.E.NI Entertainment as a PR
Assistant and as a content provider for HipTV.
www.tushmagazine.com.ng
Club Novonia:
set to re-ignite nite life in Benin to a new level.
Club Novonia is an ultra-modern lounge located in the heart of Benin City, Edo State.
Since it official opening in December 2013, the clubbing experience in Benin has been on a different level.
The only club who successfully open with coverage from Soundcity, Club Novonia has been home to the
luxurious lifestyled and classy gentlemen & beautiful ladies.
CLUB
HOUSE OF FAME
Redefining, Club Novonia shut down operations in August for an upgrade and rebranding. Collins Ibadin,
MD of Club Novonia says “We are on a different level now, we have no competitions anymore so we are
upgrading our services to appreciate our loyal customers and also keep off riff-raffs from coming to
disturb; we are launching a new policy - A guest list - which is first of its kind in Benin”.
Club Novonia has hosted the elites of the social circle in Benin & has also hosted big events like Remy
Martins’ Club Tour with DJ Jimmy Jatt, Startrek after party with Davido and others. Other notable
personalities who have visited Club Novonia include: Denrele, Timaya, Oritsefemi, Bank W, WizKid,
KCEE, Bred, Sheyman, Runtown and many others.
Visiting Benin City and need to catch the best of fun? Club Novonia serves you the best option with it
centralized location in GRA with close proximity to standard hotels, your safety is guaranteed.
Visit them on www.clubnovonia.com, twitter @clubnovonia, IG: ClubNovonia
47
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