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Tuesday, 16 February 2016

58th Grammys 2016: The Complete Winners List


Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd all came into the 58th annual Grammy Awards with strong chances of winning, with Lamar earning 11 nominations and Swift and the Weeknd up for seven each. But they were hardly the only nominees up for a Gramophone Monday. Here's a full rundown of all the Grammy winners. Rolling Stone will be updating this list as awards come in.

Album of the Year: Taylor Swift, 1989
Record of the Year: Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"
Song of the Year: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
Best New Artist: Meghan Trainor
Best Rock Performance: Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"
Best Country Album: Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
Best Musical Theatre Album: Hamilton
Best Pop Vocal Album: Taylor Swift, 1989
Best Instrumental Composition: Arturo O'Farrill, The Afro Latin Jazz Suite
Best Arrangement, Instrumental Or A Cappella: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"
Best Arrangement, Instruments And Vocals: Maria Schneider, "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)"
Best Recording PackageStill The King: Celebrating The Music Of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys
Best Album Notes: Joni Mitchell, 'Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced'
Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)
Best Historical Album: The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Shawn Everett, Bob Ludwig, Sound & Color
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: Dave Audé, "Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)"
Best Surround Sound Album: James Guthrie, Joel Plante, Amused To Death
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, Sylva
Best New Age Album: Paul Avgerinos, Grace
Best Improvised Jazz Solo: Christian McBride, "Cherokee"
Best Jazz Vocal Album: Cecile McLorin Salvent, For One To Love
Best Jazz Instrumental Album: John Scofield, Past Present
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields
Best Latin Jazz Album: Eliane Elias, Made In Brazil
Best Reggae Album: Morgan Heritage, Strictly Roots
Best World Music Album: Angelique Kidjo, Sings
Best Children’s Album: Tim Kubart, Home
Best Spoken Word Album: Jimmy Carter, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety
Best Comedy Album: Louis CK,  Live At Madison Square Garden
Best Latin Pop Album: Ricky Martin, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition)
Best Regional Mexican Music Album: Los Tigres Del Norte, Realidades - Deluxe Edition
Best Tropical Latin Album: Ruben Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orchestra, Son De Panamá
Best American Roots Performance: Mavis Staples, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean'
Best American Roots Song: Jason Isbell,"24 Frames"
Best Americana Album: Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free
Best Bluegrass Album: The SteelDrivers, The Muscle Shoals Recordings
Best Blues Album: Buddy Guy, Born To Play Guitar
Best Regional Roots Music Album: Jon Cleary, Go Go Juice
Producer Of The Year, Classical: Judith Sherman
Best Opera Recording: Seiji Ozawa, Isabel Leonard, Dominic Fyfe, "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade"
Best Choral Performance: Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Chorale, Kansas City Chorale, "Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil"
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance: Eighth Blackbird, "Filament"
Best Classical Instrumental Solo: Augustin Hadelich, Ludovic Morlot, "Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes"
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall
Best Contemporary Classical Composition: Stephen Paulus, "Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances"
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album: Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media: Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Antonio Sanchez, Birdman
Best Song Written For Visual Media: Common, Rhymefest, John Legend, "Glory"
Best Music Video: Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"
Best Music Film: Amy
Best Gospel Performance/Song: Kirk Franklin, "Wanna Be Happy?"
Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song: Francesca Battistelli, "Holy Spirit"
Best Gospel Album: Israel and Newbreed, Covered: Alive In Asia [Live]
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album: Toby Mac, This Is Not A Test
Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
Best Country Solo Performance: Chris Stapleton, Traveller
Best Country Duo/Group Performance: Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
Best Country Song: Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, "Girl Crush"
Best Dance Recording: Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber - "Where Are Ü Now"
Best Dance/Electronic Album: Skrillex and Diplo, Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Ü
Best R&B Performance: The Weeknd - "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)"
Best Traditional R&B Performance: Lalah Hathaway, "Little Ghetto Boy"
Best R&B Song: D'Angelo, Kendra Foster, "Really Love"
Best Urban Contemporary Album: The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
Best R&B Album: D'Angelo, Black Messiah
Best Metal Performance: Ghost, "Cirice"
Best Rock Song: Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"
Best Rock Album: Muse, Drones
Best Alternative Music Album: Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
Best Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat, 'These Walls'
Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar, Kawan Prather, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, "Alright"
Best Pop Solo Performance: Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars,"Uptown Funk"
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Jeff Bhasker

Monday, 11 January 2016

This New Year, Be the Change

What if, instead of asking myself, What do I want to do? I ask, Who do I want to be?

A hush descends on the earth when it snows. It's as if the fluffy white stuff that covers the ground and coats the trees and houses and cars also mutes the volume of the world. The rough edges are smoothed. The hard places soften. In the stillness, magic glitters. Untouched snow collects: fresh, like a blank canvas to be painted, like a story to be written, like a new year to be lived.

2016 sounded like science fiction when I was a child -- eons away. But in my 50s, the passage of time is accelerating at a spectacular pace. I am stunned to find myself, once again, on the brink of another year where change beckons and opportunities entice. Anything seems possible.

Yet, year after year, my lofty New Year's resolutions set me up for disappointment.

I can't help feeling excited to welcome new adventures, to shed old habits and create new ones. Customarily, I recap the events of the past year, analyzing what worked and what didn't; what I want to repeat and what I definitely do not. Using these conclusions, I look forward and set goals. I make "plans." As the list making, Type-A, get-it-done-now kind of girl I've always been, this appeals to my sense of control in the universe. The thing is, the longer I'm a mother, the more I evolve into a spontaneous, go-with-the-flow, get-it-done-whenever kind of girl.

And the older I get, the more I learn control is an illusion.

I set my goals anyway -- not so much written down as voiced in conversation or even just in the back of my mind. Exercise and good nutrition, organization at home and work, time management, stress reduction, quality relationships with family and friends. You know, the usual.

Fortunately for me, exercise isn't just a daily habit; it's my job. A healthy diet, on the other hand, is a work in progress. I wage my own battles with food, but even when I'm eating healthy, getting the kids onboard is tough. And undoubtedly the biggest endeavor I pursue every blasted year is to organize my home. But, as Erma Bombeck said, "Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing."

On the home front, I'm grateful for all we have -- really, we are blessed beyond belief -- but our abundance can be overwhelming. We have too much stuff. Which goes hand-in-hand with too much responsibility, too much work, too much on-the-go, too much, TOO much, TOO MUCH! I'm caught between the visions in my head of a simplified, balanced life, all gears well oiled and running smoothly, and the reality of my cluttered home and frenetic schedule. I feel like a rat running on a wheel, going nowhere.

Inevitably, the enormity of my new year ambition weighs down my momentum and I'm left wanting a life that seems out of reach. I've got less time when I wanted more, more stress where I needed less. The time I want to spend with family and friends is greedily sucked up meeting endless expectations.

This year, I finally comprehend that I am the one imposing those expectations, often based on what others want.

What I want are dates with my husband and special mommy-time with my girls. I want time to myself, to write and reflect and be still. I want music and theatre and art and creativity and spirituality. I want to experience joy every single day. I want to laugh. And cry, too. Frequently. I want to engage in meaningful exchange. I want to embody the essence of love.

As I sort through the to-do list of my resolutions, it dawns on me I'm doing it backwards. My whole life, I've tried to shove a square peg in a round hole. Rather than forcing change by manipulating circumstances and driving myself -- hard, I can allow a natural unfolding of what I desire, simply by shifting my focus. By seeking joy.

Throughout her development, my daughter, Sydney has hit many plateaus, not uncommon for kids with Down syndrome. Progress toward milestones like walking and potty-training, feeding herself, tying her shoes and writing her name, stalled out. For a long, long time. We got discouraged and compared her, cajoled her. We pushed, did extra therapy and used charts and reward systems. Sometimes we gave up. But, honestly, it was all for naught. When she was ready, she made the leap, every time. She would just... change. Patiently, and without pressure, she let go of the past and emerged into the newest version of herself.

What if instead of asking myself What do I want to do? as I tabulate the multitude of things to undertake this year, I ask, Who do I want to be? What version of myself? Positing the question this way elicits a discernible shift in energy. Already I feel lighter.

In 1994 Dr. Masaru Emoto from Japan studied water molecules frozen into ice crystals and photographed under a high-powered microscope, expecting to see structures similar to snow flakes. The images captured revealed that each crystal bore a unique design; no two were the same. Water samples taken from pristine rivers and lakes created beautifully formed geometric crystals while those gathered from polluted sources yielded chaotic asymmetry with no patterns. The research went further, exposing the water to music, prayer, spoken words and even typed words taped to the containers. It appeared that positive thoughts and kind words generated intricate and magnificent shapes while exposure to negativity -- harsh words and emotions -- propagated results similar to those from the polluted water; misshapen and distorted without aesthetic beauty. What's more, after prayers were offered on behalf of water from the toxic sample, the crystals branched into crystalline symmetry, just as those from pure water sources and those exposed to music, prayer and words like gratitude, peace and love.

Dr. Emoto's work has been celebrated by many, but criticized, too, by skeptics who say his methods lack scientific controls and his claims are simply invalid. In answer to his critics, he has said, "the world is filled with wonders and mysteries ... there are so many incomprehensible things that we cannot understand it all." The photographing of crystals is neither science nor religion. He calls it art.

To me, their beauty is awe-inspiring and irrefutable, and the concept that human consciousness can have an effect on the molecular structure of water is not implausible. In fact, to me, it's downright fascinating to consider that every thought, feeling and intention carries its own signature and impact. Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics said, "Concerning matter, we have been all wrong. What we have called matter is energy, whose vibration has been so lowered as to be perceptible to the senses. There is no matter."

Einstein says we are living in an energy field, inextricably interwoven with everything around us, our cells taking in and letting off particles constantly. Everything is vibration: change the vibration and change the reality.

Based on this principal, if I change my thoughts and words, I change myself.

I need only observe my life in action to see the truth in this theory. The days I'm rushed and harried, I inexorably get in line behind the slowest customer checking out with the rudest cashier. The days I'm especially exhausted are marathon days full of appointments and impossible deadlines, countless texts, emails and phone calls, with no time for rest. My frustration mounts, tension creeps in and my mood and attitude reflect it. Those are the days negative energy culminates at home, when the girls fight and misbehave, when unkind words are spoken, tempers are short and we're all pulled in a downward spiral. It is interactive and exponential.

Then there are the days I step outside and feel the early morning air on my face, and see the moon, and feel grateful to be alive and in this body of mine. When I have a bounce in my step after teaching to an amazing group of people, the energy in the room positively electric. When my daily dealings are pleasant. I have a smile for everyone I meet, and the smiles coming back at me are sweet and genuine. When the nurturing compassion of my best friend far away reaches through the phone line and encircles me. When peace through me when listening to music. When I'm met at the end of the day with squeals of delight from my girls, "Mommy's home!" and my husband wraps me in a bear hug. Those are the days we dance in the kitchen.

I don't need a microscope to know that something inside me is altered -- not just metaphorically, but literally. Externally, things may not appear much different, but internally, I'm living in another universe.

Sydney lives there nearly all the time. Last night she came looking for me, just to give me a hug. Laying her head on my chest, she was still and quiet. Her gentleness permeated every cell of my body as I bathed in her innocence. "I love kisses with you," she whispered. Placing my cheek next to hers, I closed my eyes. This child, from birth, has slowed me down and opened me up. I can breathe when she's near me. She resonates the serenity I'm chasing.

I think this year I'll resolve to become a beautiful ice crystal.

By exposing myself to magnificence and kindness and grace, negativity dissolves; what no longer serves me is released. The almost imperceptible shift brings into alignment the person I am with the person I am becoming. Which affects everyone around me.

I am unique and part of the collective. Just like the newly fallen snow; when the sun breaks through the clouds and bright light reflects off billions of glinting snowflakes. Together, they make up the expanse of vivid white blanketing the earth. The individual brilliance of each of us on the planet comprises the world's consciousness: we are one.

When I change myself, I change the world.
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Wednesday, 16 December 2015

KISS DANIEL DESCRIBES OLAMIDE AS ‘OVER TALENTED’

One of the fasted-rising artistes in Nigeria, Kiss Daniel, has hailed top Nigerian rapper, Olamide, who he says he pays respect to.
The G-Worldwide act said the rapper has music in his veins, which is why he drops hit singles on a regular basis.
According to Kiss Daniel, who gain prominence in the Nigerian music industry in 2014, “To say the fact, Olamide, is over talented; too much music in his vein. ‘EyanMayWeather’, my favourite, don’t stop.”

7 Skills You Should Master Before You Turn 30

Set yourself up for success later in life by getting good at these things early.

Invest money thoughtfully in your 20s and the miracle of compound interest means a modest amount saved early will yield a much larger payout later. The same can be said of skills. Learn to be a better conversationalist early, for instance, and you might meet and charm just the right person to land the entry-level job of your dreams, which could lead to a another great career break, and so on ...
So what are the skills most likely to pay the greatest dividends over time if you master them before you hit 30? Several threads on question-and-answer site Quora have asked just this, soliciting advice from the more experienced for young professionals hoping to set themselves up for success later on. An examination of a host of answers reveals a few common themes. According to the wisdom of Quora, these are the skills you'd really benefit from acquiring in your 20s:

1. Coping with uncertainty

You might think that as you get older, the chaos of your life will go away and you'll get to live with more certainty about the future. Maybe a little, but many respondents caution that uncertainty never goes away, so you should get comfortable with it now.
"Accept that you will never have anything figured out," writes copywriter Joe Choi, as "it's near impossible to plan where you'll be a few years." Respondent Ayushi Aswal agrees. She puts "how to manage uncontrollable situations" at the top of her list of most necessary skills.

2. Communicating with grace

You've been using words since you were a toddler, but that doesn't mean you will master the art of communication by the time you turn 20. Most of us don't. But don't let yourself enter your fourth decade without getting a handle on clear, compelling, and polite communication, insist a number of answers.
"Think about ways to challenge yourself, and tweak how you write an email or behave in a meeting," suggests one anonymous but extremely popular answer. It offers a few more specific ideas: "Don't hit 'send' immediately after composing a note. Instead, give yourself a beat or two, then reread the email, make edits, and then hit 'send.' Or, during your next team meeting, resist talking about your idea or opinion right off the bat. Instead, count to five, and if you still feel like you have something relevant to contribute, speak up."
Entrepreneur Brian Bain agrees. "How to communicate and interact professionally," tops his list of skills you should master in your 20s. "Look around and notice how the ability to freely and easily talk to people helps those who have already crossed their 20s, and how the lack thereof makes things unnecessarily difficult for some," cautions technologist Sugandha Banga. "No matter how knowledgeable you are, people are not going to take your work seriously unless you know at least the basics of holding up a decent conversation."

3. Respecting those who are different from you

"I think it's easy to judge people based on your own definitions of success and a meaningful life, without recognizing that everybody has their own definition," warns designer Francis Chen. "Everybody is different, and has different pathways to life. Respect that, and respect yourself."
Consultant Michael Hoffman concurs: "Put yourself in the other person's shoes," he instructs. "Think about how they will perceive what you are communicating or doing. Without understanding context and perspective, we run the risk of ... creating problems rather than solving them; and appearing blunt and unsympathetic." Several responses make a special point of noting the need to learn to respect the opposite sex.

4. Asking for what you want

You need to respect others, but you need to respect yourself and your own potential as well. To do that fully, you need to get comfortable asking for the things you want in life. "The ability to ask is the easiest, most underutilized skill to catapult your career," says the same much up-voted anonymous answer. "The old adage is true: 'If you don't ask, you don't receive.' Many careerists don't ask to pitch their idea, for a raise or promotion, a bigger sales deal, or to take on more responsibility. When this happens--or doesn't happen, rather--you're far less likely to find challenge, meaning, and reward in your work."
Copywriter Joe Cassandra writes something similar: "Learn to negotiate now. Earnings compound over time." How do you learn to ask? Start small, the anonymous answer suggests: "Try practicing in non-work related contexts. At the farmer's market, you could ask a vendor for a lower price on the asparagus; at home, you could ask your partner to attend dance lessons; on the street, you could ask a stranger, 'How are you?'"

5. Being resilient

No matter how smart, talented, and ambitious you are, things won't always go your way (especially once you've left the cocoon of school and your parents' protection). Learn how to cope with setbacks early and they'll discourage you less.
"Your 20s is a time when most are relatively free of the responsibilities that will increase into your 30s and 40s," writes recruiter Carolyn Cho. "This is a great time to experiment, fail, and bounce back. Learn how to ride out failure and persevere. Life is full of challenges. The 20s are a great time to toughen up and start teaching yourself how to be emotionally and mentally resilient enough to weather both the joys and hardships to come."

6. Spending your time and money wisely

You may be relatively footloose and fancy-free in your 20s, but that doesn't mean you should squander the decade. It's a truth that applies to both time and money. "Time is a precious commodity, and you start to realize that increasingly into your mid- to late 20s," Cho also writes. So learn to choose the people and activities you spend your time on carefully. "Focus your time and energy on things that will help you grow and give," agrees Chen.
Many respondents also noted that while spending on mind-expanding travel or education is great if you can swing it, you also need to at least start to get a handle on your finances. Bain includes "how to create and stick to a budget," on his list of most important skills for young people, for instance.

7. Cooking

Looking for something a little more focused and practical? You'd be surprised how many people suggested learning to cook. These respondents claim it's a great skill to master that will greatly improve your life for decades. (If you like to eat good food and don't have an unlimited budget, I personally can't agree with this one enough.)
"Most people live solo or away from families, so knowing how to cook becomes critical to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle," writes engineer Gurvinder Arora. "I have developed a lot of patience thanks to cooking. It also helps to impress the ladies."
What skills would you add to this list?

Wizkid share with Ebenezer Obey at this year’s Ovation Red Carol.

Wizkid will share the stage with Ebenezer Obey at this year’s Ovation Red Carol.

Another edition of the annual Ovation Christmas Carol is set to hold this weekend in Lagos.

The headlining acts for this year’s edition include pop star Wizkid, Omawumi and veteran musician Chief Ebenezer Obey.

The event will hold on Sunday, December 20, 2015 at the Eko Hotel Convention Center,Victoria Island,Lagos.

This will be the first time Wizkid will share the same stage with Ebenezer Obey. He has already shared a stage with his contemporary, King Sunny Ade and performed with the legend.

2face Idibia to perform at KADAMFEST 2015.

General Pype, KSB and 2face Idibia at KADAMFEST.

Over the weekend, the maiden edition of the Kaduna Music Festival (KADAMFEST) took place.

The two-day event was declared open by President Muhamadu Buhari on Saturday December 12, 2015 with Ebuka Obi and comedian, Chi Gurl as hosts.

The festival witnessed performances by top Nigerian pop stars including 2face Idibia, MI Abaga, Ice Prince, Reminisce, D’ija, KSB, General Pype and others.

Jay Z visited the St. Louis Rams in their locker room.

Jay Z visited the St. Louis Rams in their locker room.

Jay Z visited the St. Louis Rams in their locker room after the team won against the Detroit Lions.

According to HotNewHipHop.com, Jay Z joined the St. Louis Rams as they celebrated the end to their losing streak with the team’s win against the Detroit Lions.

The final score for the game was 21-14, with Roc Nation Sports signee Todd Gurley who played the running back scored two of the teams touchdowns.

During the locker room pow wow, the official Twitter account for the Rams shared a handful of photos with Jay Z and the team.

In addition to Gurley, other athletes on the Roc Nation Sports roster include Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, and Victor Cruz.

Thursday, 5 November 2015

Police invade Lil Wayne’s Miami Beach mansion

American superstar rapper, Lil Wayne’s Miami Beach mansion was invaded by the police on November 3 to seize properties in order to pay off debts he owes a private jet company.

Life & Style magazine reports that when the policemen arrived, Wayne’s security refused to let them in.

The Miami Beach Police explained to reporters that they were there to seize certain assets inside the house because Wayne had not paid a $2 million judgment to Signature Group, a jet leasing company.

Wayne also owes the company $200k in lawyer’s fees.

According to the court order, obtained by the mag, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s deputies were allowed to break the locks of the house and doors if necessary to gain entry and confiscate sizable assets.

Reports say, Wayne wasn’t home, he was in Los Angeles to attend Ace of Diamonds strip club Monday night.

Wayne reportedly has $30 million worth of art in the mansion, and cops took some of the pieces.

Sources also say cops brought along someone who valued the items inside the house so they could figure out what to seize.

Deputies also seized several plaques but it’s unclear if they took a prized plaque he got for “Tha Carter” albums.

Flavour to get married soon.

Famous Highlife singer, Flavour has revealed that he will be getting married soon.

Flavour who has two children from two different beauty queens said this during an interview with Hip TV.

When asked about marriage, he said “I’m getting married soon” after laughing.

Flavour might be singing a different tune about marriage now, but only last month he explained why settling down now will be a bad idea for him.
“Marriage is a serious thing” he said, “it’s a decision that when you make it’s like you are in it or you are not so you don’t need to make the wrong decision. That’s the most important thing” he told My Joy Online.
“If you want to marry, for marrying sake then it doesn’t make sense. You are not defining marriage and because of the kind of job we do, I hardly stay at home so where am I going to have the time to give my family? So it is very difficult” he further stated.

I’m still always going to be a diva - Mariah Carey

Veteran R&B star, Mariah Carey has bragged that she won’t change her ways and that she’ll remain a diva just like she’s often associated with the word.

“I’m still always going to be a diva in certain ways, and I don’t mean that in the bad sense of the word,” the 45-year-old, who is directing and starring in the new Hallmark Channel Movie ‘A Christmas Melody’, told Entertainment Tonight.
“I just mean, like, if there’s a makeup artist there and they don’t mind touching me up while I’m directing,” she explained.

Although this may be her official directorial debut, the mother-of-two revealed, “I’ve been directing so much of my own work for a really long time. A lot of music videos that I didn’t take credit for.”

But though she’s often called out for being high-maintenance, Mariah doesn’t seem to care. “Why not just be yourself?” she told the site.

Monday, 26 October 2015

How to succeed in entertainment -Jenny O

Broadcaster and musician, Jenny O, has adviced entertainers who are yet to succeed on how to become success­ful.
When E-News asked her what she feels are the determinants that can make an artist successful in Nige­ria, she said, “First is the proper ap­proach to people. Some care little how they relate with people and tend to come off very annoying and rude. Well, it’s not a good idea if you wish to stay relevant and successful in the music industry.

“Another factor that should be considered also is what you’re putting out, whether a song or video. Ensure it’s something the audience would find appealing. Having faith and trusting God go a long way too.”

Sunday, 25 October 2015

‘I’ve not seen my husband for 10 years’

• My husband abandoned me and the children. He got a job in Owerri 12 years ago and stopped calling me since 10 years. All efforts to reach him proved abortive — Wife

A housewife, Bose Ayinde, on Tuesday told an Igando Customary Court, Lagos, that she had not seen nor heard from her husband for the past 10 years. Bose, a 39-year-old trader, told the court that her husband, Nureni, with whom she had three children in their 18-year-old marriage, abandoned her for 10 years. 

“My husband abandoned me and the children; he got a job in Owerri 12 years ago and stopped calling me since 10 years. All efforts to reach him proved abortive. “I always travel to Abeokuta in Ogun to see his parents and informed them that their son was no longer calling me. “They always tell me that I should be patience that he will call me that he used to communicate with them. “I used to beg them to give me his new phone number so that I can call him but they refused,’’ she said. The mother of three accused her husband who was not in court of lack of care.

 “I have been the one paying the house rent and paying the children school fees, he did not call to ask for the children nor visit home for once. “His parent never call nor ask for the children. Anytime I go to them for their assistance in their granddaughters school fees, they always tell me to wait that my husband will soon come.’’ Bose pleaded with the court to dissolve the 18-year-old marriage because she was no longer in love and wanted to move on with her life.


 “I am no longer in love with him and besides, I want to move on with my life, she said. The President of the court, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, has adjourned the case .

‘She is an unrepentant drunkard, smoker’


• She has since grown to be an unrepentant smoker and drunkard. They know her in all the beer parlours in Iseyin here. She does not have respect for her marital status or the integrity of our children. The situation has forced me to chase her out, but now I want the dissolution to be formalised —Husband

For being an unrepentant drunkard and smoker, a middle-aged man, Kunle Isalu, has urged a Grade “C” Customary Court in Iseyin, Oyo state, to dissolve his 10-year marriage with his wife. The wife, Lara, with whom he already has four children, developed the bad habits over the years, following her bad friends. The children are eight, six, four and two respectively. While explaining his ordeal, he said: “Lara has always been a very good wife until of recent when she started keeping a bad company of friends. 

“The first day I came home from a month’s journey was when I first noticed that her mouth smelled of alcohol and cigarette. “She has since grown to be an unrepentant smoker and drunk; she now drinks at will to the extent that they know her in all the beer parlours in Iseyin here. “She does not even have respect for her marital status or the integrity of our children; the situation has forced me to chase her out, but now I want the dissolution to be formalized. 

“All our children are still with me and I’m sure they don’t want to go with her. I really can’t explain what the problem is. “We have summoned various family meetings to make her change, but all was to no avail. “I want her to drop my name after this dissolution, my lord.” The President of the court, Raimi Oyegbenle, while reacting to the appeal, expressed his displeasure with the woman’s absence in court, in spite of series of court summons. 

After serving a fresh summon on Lara, compelling her to appear in court on the next adjourned date, he adjourned further hearing on the matter

How to curb nudity in our films –Ali Nuhu

Talented Kannywood star, Ali Nuhu, had attracted millions of fans long before he started featuring in Nollywood movies. He talks about his principles, the importance of cinema and the role of NFVCB in addressing piracy and nudity in this interview 
You are a versatile actor; we’ve seen you assume roles from various cultures. How challenging can that be?
I have done a lot of roles either as an Igbo prince or Benin prince. As an actor if you are given a script and you intend to deliver, what is expected of you is to carry out an extensive research to be sure of what you are getting into and also, get someone from that tribe to put you through.
You could even get some words that you can slip in while you are acting so you can convince the person watching you are from that part and that is what I normally do. When I came into Nollywood, a lot of the actors, the producers and directors were very friendly, they really embraced me and that made things easier for me because they always put me through and that is why you see me interpret those roles like that.
What was the reaction of your Kannywood fans when you decided to expand your coast to Nollywoood?
Initially when I started out, there were complaints here and there because people didn’t know what they will really see before the movies are released but along the line, the movies started coming and there were some negative comments especially when it comes to kissing and bedroom scenes because of the diverse cultures and traditions that we have.
The first thing I take into consideration is that I am a Muslim and Islamic actions are being judged according to intentions, this is a profession, we are only acting, it is not like it is the real thing we do it is a make believe thing so anybody who thinks we are going extra mile in the kissing or bedroom scenes should understand that there are people there and certainly nothing will happen.
When it comes to choice of roles, I am very sensitive because I take some things into consideration. I don’t go to the extreme but then at the same time I don’t just play every role that is offered to me, I try to control that and what I try to make my fans understand is that for an actor, you are supposed to act in whatever language that you can speak or you can communicate in.
If you are given a role to play in whatever language you should branch out and do that because this is what shows that you are a versatile actor. For most of my fans they were able to understand these things and from my own part I was able to control some things so that they don’t go out of hand.
There is a lot going on in the industry right now, there seem to be a shift in the quality of productions compared to when we first started, but there is still much work to be done. How can the industry be better improved?
A lot of things have to be put in place in the entire industry that includes Nollywood and Kannywood. I am talking about putting up things like good marketing structures. When these good marketing structures are put in place, I am very sure these movies will make more money than they already have and when they make more money, you won’t have to tell a film maker go and perfect your job, the person on his or her own accord would go ahead to make sure he masters his job because we have the talents.
If you take a look at when the industry started out, it was more or less a trial and error venture but with time, we now have graduates from various fields of film making in Nigeria. This means people have accepted film making and its various field as a profession and they are ready to go for it.
All we need is capital and talking about this capital, you wouldn’t say the government or an organisation must lend you money for you to do quality movie, all that is required is when you have a good marketing structure, the movies will surely turn in money and when they turn in money you will be able to perfect and make your craft better.
Are you saying the distribution framework of the Censors Board is not delivering on its mandate as it should?
Yes, indeed the censorship board did present a pattern of marketing but then if there are no structures to carry it out then it won’t be effective. For instance, you say the marketers are going to buy sales from the Censors Board, fine they pay money, you buy sales. As you are buying the sales, what guarantees are you going to give them that their jobs are not going to be pirated or if they are pirated you will stand up for them? If there is no security like that who goes for it that is the first problem.
Secondly, the movies we sell where do we go to get them from? We need to have shops or sale outlets across the country where these movies can be sold, where people can access them but if we don’t have this why will somebody go and spend their money buying sales from you and you don’t do these things for them. I think this is where issues came up and the whole thing just crashed.
At the rate at which things are going in the industry, we seem not to be able to separate marketing from piracy, wherever marketing is mentioned the next word you hear is piracy. In your assessment what do you think could be done to cut down the menace? In almost every country where movies are produced, pirates are there but there is a way to cut it down.
If we have enough cinemas where all our movies can run in, I am sure this whole piracy saga can be cut down. Before the movies go out and gets pirated or before people go to the theatre to dub, a lot of people must have watched these movies in the cinema and when they watch these movies in the cinema, the distributors get their profits, they get royalties, they pay the producers and everything is settled but when you don’t have sufficient cinemas because presently these movies run In just a few cinemas, they will be forced to be taken out of the cinema before everybody goes to watch it why, because other movies are on the pipeline waiting. When you take the movie out of the cinema before you know it you want to put it on DVD and putting it on that DVD is giving room to the pirates; that is the problem.
If there is any organisation that is interested in undertaking marketing of Nigerian movies generally, I am talking about Nollywood, Kannywood, I think what they should put in place is cinemas. For instance we have in-house cinemas there is Ozone, there is Silverbird but we need to build more structures at different places. When you talk about northern Nigeria, Kano is the only place that has just one cinema. A multiplex with about six halls is not enough for northern Nigeria because people of the north have had the cinema culture even before now so I think we need more cinemas. Not until we get more cinemas we will not be able to talk about tackling this piracy issue.
But with the issue of insecurity and people trying to avoid crowded places, the cinema culture seems to be dwindling especially in the North or don’t you think so?
Security wise everybody is conscious and everybody is careful about where to go and what to do but when we talk about multiplexes, multiplexes are mostly located in malls and these malls are highly secured, there is a very good security system there so I don’t think we have a problem going to the cinema in Nigeria. If you take a look at our cultural norms in the industry and the age-long stance of the Censors Board, there seems to be a defect. Recently, there have been some Indian Hausa translations and those films contain some unprintable scenes.
As a professional, does it in any way affect your mode of distribution?
Those Indian movies that are translated in Hausa, they are dubbed in Hausa. I wouldn’t really say they affect us directly but talking about the Kano state censorship board, there is a new executive secretary which I think is going to make things better. It is a thing of worry that your own home made movies come you don’t pass them because a lady is wearing a jean trouser but when an Indian movie is brought that is translated in Hausa and the lady wears a bikini, it passes. What were you shying away from, nakedness, nakedness is right there so why don’t you take that into consideration but when you talk they will tell you they are Indians that is their tradition.
That is not Indian tradition, tell them to do Indian tradition and bring to you, that is what I think should happen. It is really a problem when it comes to that, it is like you are not encouraging your own people, for instance people produce 100 movies and then you decide to cut it into 50 movies then the industry begins to face a problem because people go out of work, secondly when these movies are dubbed, go into the market people buy them and the rate at which they buy them affects the quantities of our own home-made movies people buy. So the question is, are you promoting your own or are you trying to demote their own?
What advice would you proffer?
Ask these people to get a permit from the owners of these jobs because I know what it takes to get the rightful ownership of a movie, sound dubbing it and releasing it. If they do the normal thing they do, you won’t get more than ten or five of such films in a year released into the market.
Nudity has become a big issue in the Nigerian film industry, even from the posters we see indecent exposure yet children watch these films. How best can this issue be addressed?
There are no quality movies where you have such things but you see, the industry is dissected in its own way. When you watch such kind of movies, look at the faces in the movies they are not the faces you want to see in movies. What I will advise the National Film and Video Censors Board to do is to really take that into consideration because take it or leave it, movies influence what the society does.
The way people dress; they look at what actors wear in movies and they say they want to copy from them so automatically even little kids will tell you I have seen this person praying in this film I want to pray so if that person makes love in that film they will tell like to make love because they want to have a taste of what that person has done. Honestly it is a thing of worry the Censors Board should do something about it.
At some point, most Nigerians especially ladies, preferred Gollywood movies to Nigerian films, would you say that is still the case?
They used to but I don’t think that it is existing presently because the advantage Gollywood movies had was that they started out the new pattern of movies, movies we make for cinema before Nigerians picked up but presently, Nigerians are into serious cinema kind of movies, for instance we have October 1, 30 Days in Atlanta, The Meeting and a host of other movies.
These are movies that are good for consumption for anybody, any home, you can take your family to the theatre to watch because they are the right kind of movies we should be making. Maybe if you go to the cinema frequently you will testify that the preference for Gollywood movies is no longer in existence; it used to be.
How do you manage scandals?

Scandals are always a part of the profession whether you are a footballer musician, athlete or an actor; it is a part of the whole thing. What you should try to do is keep your head low, let your job do the talking. Do a good job leave and the audience to decide for you, you don’t have to go into twitter or Instagram war with your colleagues to make your presence felt. That is what I will advise celebrities to do, that is what I normally adopt

15 invaluable dressing tips


  1. 1. Fit is king – The most dramatic im­provement you can make in your style is to make sure everything fits impeccably. Most guys wear clothes that are too large. Make sure everything you wear is almost hugging the shape of your body – without being tight. Bad fit is an epidemic. The Kinowear Bible shows you how to avoid the “bad fit disease”.
  2. Keep it simple – You want a ward­robe that looks great on you, but don’t over­do it. Don’t wear more than three pieces of jewelry or more than three colors. Don’t dress like a rock star unless you’re in a band. If you want to be flashy, a simpler but stylish look would be sporting a black striped dress shirt with a white blazer, a dark pair of jeans, a dressy belt, and your sharpest dress shoes. You could also add a flashy watch or a simple accessory like an interesting necklace, but nothing more.
  3. Change the way you see casual – Casual doesn’t have to be boring. Have fun with collared shirts, or take some inspira­tion from those who approach casual a bit differently.
  4. Pay attention to your supporting pieces – Some sweaters are lean and others are big and chunky. The first rule of thumb is that your top and bottom halves need to match. If you’re wearing a big, chunky, rugged fisherman knit sweater, your bot­tom needs to be rugged, too. Don’t wear a fisherman’s sweater with a beautiful silk-and-wool suit pant. Instead, wear it with something as casual as cargos or jeans, or dress it up with a Harris tweed blazer.
  5. Never go shopping alone – Most of the time, it’s tough to trust the sales people because they usually work for commission. Shop with a friend who will give you their honest opinion.
  6. Stay a notch above – Don’t overdo it to a fault, but dare to take some risks. It’s always better to be a little bit overdressed than underdressed in any setting. All you have to do is think about where and who you’re going to be with and just step it up one notch. But make sure you’re not bet­ter dressed than someone who is more im­portant in a certain setting, like your boss.
  7. Never underestimate the power of details – The last thing on is usually the first thing noticed. So mind the details instead of throwing together the main parts of your outfit. “Details” can include a scarf, a subtle pocket square, or the way you tie your tie knot.
  8. Invest in a superb pair of shoes – If it’s one thing that women will notice, it’s your shoes. Especially how clean and sharp they look. It’s easy to wash and press the rest of your clothes to keep them looking new, but most guys disregard their shoes. Show that you’re a man of taste by getting a great pair of shoes and keeping them in pristine condition.
  9. Fashion Tees with logos – When you’re going around with a big logo on your shirt, you risk looking like a walking billboard. Lose the lame Coca-Cola shirt and go for a classic v-neck tee or some­thing artsy.
  10. Disregard trends – Beware of buy­ing something just because it’s “in” right now – stick to what you truly like. A lot of people rush to get in on the latest trend and end up with a bunch of clothes they don’t wear. It’s better to learn to build a versatile and timeless wardrobe first – then bring in your own twists with some of the new fashion. This one tip will save you so much money
  11. Don’t be a sucker for brand names – Don’t be a Patrick Bateman. Be­fore you decide to purchase an item, ask yourself if you are buying it simply be­cause of the brand name or because you love the quality and style. Ask yourself, “Would I buy this if there was no logo on it?”
  12. Continually cultivate your image – Invest more time and money into your image. Cultivate your fashion sense. Your style is a huge mode of communication, and is worth caring for as much as your education, career, and relationships. Sign up for our free crash course on knowing your own style. Oscar Schoffler, longtime fashion editor of Esquire once said, “Never underestimate the power of what you wear. After all, there’s just a small bit of yourself sticking out at the collar and cuff. The rest of the world sees what you drape on your frame.”
  13. Ask for real feedback – Most of your friends and family aren’t going to go out of their way to tell you what looks bad. You have to ask for it. In fact, ask anyone and everyone you trust to tell you the truth. Ask your hairstylist, ask your best friend, ask your mother!
  14. Upgrade your shave – Even if your fashion is golden, an unkempt beard can be an attraction killer. Achieve a perfect shave by trying a shave brush and old-fashioned double-edged razor.
  15. Experiment with style – The only way you’ll really learn, is if you go out there and try new things. I make an effort to try something completely out of my comfort zone whenever I’m at a store – many times you’ll end up lov­ing something you never thought you would. If you make mistakes, life goes on. So many guys are afraid to express themselves through their style, don’t be one of them.

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

‘She sends thugs to beat me’

• My wife always sends thugs to lay ambush and beat me anytime we fight at home. I’m afraid they might kill me one of these days —Husband

• You don’t divorce a pregnant woman because you do not know what will happen to the baby. The court will continue with the hearing of the case after the delivery of the baby —Court

A trader, Benjamin Orjika, has dragged his pregnant wife to an Igando Customary Court in Lagos, Lagos State, accusing her of threatening his life. Forty-five-year-old Benjamin, who is seeking the dissolution of his 14-year-old marriage, told the court that his wife, Patience, wanted to kill him by sending thugs to beat him. “My wife always sends thugs to lay ambush and beat me anytime we fight at home. “I’m afraid they might kill me one of these days,” he alleged. The petitioner described his wife as a troublesome woman, who always made his life miserable by fighting and raining curses on him. “My wife is a troublemaker; she doesn’t have respect for me and is fond of slapping me anytime we have a misunderstanding. “She doesn’t regard me as her husband and he loves commanding me as if I am her son or younger brother,” Orjika said. Orjika, however, begged the court to dissolve their marriage, adding that he was no longer in love with his wife. The respondent, 40-year-old Patience, also a trader, consented to the dissolution of the marriage, saying she was also fed up with the marriage. “In 2007, I came to this court asking for the dissolution of our marriage, but the court called our family members and they settled our differences. “But since then, our marriage has not worked out well. It’s been hell on earth as my husband made our home uncomfortable for me,” she said. Patience, a mother of two, denied sending thugs to beat her husband, saying she could not do such a thing. The court president, Mr R.I. Adeyeri, told the petitioner to wait for his wife to put to bed before continuing hearing on the case. “You don’t divorce a pregnant woman because you do not know what will happen to the baby. “The court will continue with the hearing of the case after the delivery of the baby,” he said. Adeyeri, however, urged the couple to maintain peace