Why I don’t have tattoos – Mercy Aigbe

Mercy Aigbe-Gentry keeps notching her fame higher. The amiable actress won the Yoruba Movie Personality of The Year at the City People Awards last week. Married to a hotelier and businessman Lanre Gentry, the mother of two has successfully managed both her career and the home front. In this chat with AJIBADE ALABI, the Osas and Komfo star speaks about her new work Victims, beauty secrets and other issues.

Congratulations on your new award. How did you feel winning it? I was very happy and excited winning the Yoruba Movie personality of the Year 2015 (smiles). That’s another feather to my cap, to God be the glory. And I just want to thank all my fans who voted for me; I was simply happy. There’s this thing about awards; it actually makes you sit back and think there is something one is doing right somewhere; I mean some people are noticing what I am doing, so it makes you want to put more effort.

Considering other nominees with you, did you feel you were going to win? Well, just being nominated alone was a great honour, it’s not easy. It was like fifty; if I won, fine; if I didn’t, just being nominated was just enough for me, and thank God I eventually won; everybody wants to win. 

What exactly is your movie ‘ Victims’ about?

‘Victims’ is about a young lady who has to go through a lot of things in life; things she didn’t call for. A lot of people experience things that it’s not like they brought it upon themselves. I would say it’s probably fate, providence or destiny. So she had to go through a lot of things and how she dealt with the issues. It’s a very emotional, intriguing movie; full of suspense. It’s a movie I belief once it eventually comes out and people get to see it, they are just going to love it. It’s a movie that teaches lots of morals, it talks to parents and also talks about marriage, because I believe that today, people don’t really respect the institution marriage, and people who are not patient enough to want bear so many things that come with being in union with another person. They forget that we are different individuals from different backgrounds with different upbringing, so they are not ready to compromise; so many things, they are just not ready. That’s why most marriages don’t work out. It also talks about domestic

violence, the home; it’s simply a bumper package and I’m sure people are just going to love it. 

Are you saying it is a life experience? No, it’s actually based on different people’s experiences; stories I heard from different people, so I decided to put all together in one package. And there’s this particular thing we talked about in the movie; that’s the baby factory issue; when you have fake doctors go on the streets to pick up teenagers, giving them the hope that they are going to get rehabilitated whereas they are going to use them for their own selfish needs; get them impregnated, sell the babies. So, those are part of the things you’re going to see in the movie. 

What informed bringing Saheed and Fathia Balogun together on that set? Both are fantastic actor and actress, they have been in the industry for a long time, they are both my senior colleagues; people I respect so much; each of them has carved a niche for themselves in the industry. So, when I was casting, I saw that these two individuals can actually play the roles I want them to play perfectly well in the movie, that was why I casted them. They are professionals and they actually gave me their best. If you were on that set, you would have gotten the better picture. Also the Ghanaian, Juliet Ibrahim, was excited playing that role. Learning a new language was thrilling for her. You know there’s something about it when you are doing something different from the usual; it’s always very exciting and adventurous. So she was very happy playing the role, and it was very good having her on set; she gave in her best and I was very happy working with her. 

You also got Lancelot Imaseun as your director? Oh my God (her face glowed), Lancelot! Okay I don’t want to sound tribalistic anyway, but he’s my big uncle because he is also from Benin which is my tribe. Besides that, we all know that he is someone to reckon with when it comes to directing in

Nollywood. He has paid his dues, he’s a fantastic director. Before the Victims, I was on set in Benin for a movie titled Two Sides of a Coin and it was a different experience for me because he is an artistic director who knows how to give you what you really want on set; brings out the best in you eventually. So after that set, I was like oh my next job, I’ll love this man to direct it; so when the script came I sent it to him, he read it and he said “oh this is a fantastic script, I want to do it.” And he was also excited because it was his first Yoruba job. ‘Victims’ is sixty percent Yoruba, forty percent English movie. And he was really excited because he was going to be working with different people. So it was very exciting to work with him. 

Your fashion sense, how did you create it? I’ve always loved looking good. I’ve always loved gett ing complements from people about my looks. I’m also a person who loves pictures; I love to dress up and take pictures

of myself. 

When you are stepping out, how long does it take to makeup? It doesn’t really take look. But obviously, event takes much time than my daily makeup.

Like how many hours does it take? Approximately two and a half hours, because makeup artists take so much time on your face, I really don’t know why! I think the fastest makeup artist that has worked on my face spent nothing less than an hour, thirty minutes; some actually take up to three hours and I’ll be like ‘I’m tired!’ That was why I said two-and-a-half hours. Dress for about an hour; make sure everything is fi xed in the right places; get the other ones too that are very important. But for my everyday look, I try as much as possible to pick up whatever I want to wear the night before. At times, my mood determines my dress. 

The last time, you said you are also launching your own hair line? Yes, now we have Magdiva Hair, which is going to be launched very soon. We have different types of hair. I have my own cosmetic line; it’s just about beauty. We guys in Nigeria have complained about some girls looking like impersonators too often; when you meet them, they will look like white, but when you get to know them properly, you discover they are actually black. 

You are into fashion, what do you have to say about this deceitful appearance? It depends on the individual, and I’ve always respected people’s opinion and how they choose to live their life. If you feel you are dark and you want to make yourself lighter; if that will earn you confidence and comfort, I’d say go for it, but do not damage your skin in the process. I keep telling my clients that my products are not chemical based, they are made of herbs, so you don’t need to exercise fear over my products. In the process of looking for comfort and confidence however, please do not get your life affected, because a lot of people have lost their lives because of this. And as for men who fall victim of the impersonators, I think the ladies are actually giving you what you want, so please appreciate people with dark, naturally looking girls. Therefore, guys are to blame for their actions. So on this note; we are going to go into men’s fashion in the nearest future. 

Are you a subscriber to waist trainer? Yes I am, because I believe it’s not damaging anything in my body; it only enhances my look. What won’t yoMaybe clothes that show all the parts of my body; I won’t like to wear that. 

How come you don’t have tattoos? A lot of your colleagues do. Maybe it’s because I dread pains. But seriously, I don’t like it on me, because I’m like an insatiable person when it comes to having things like that on my body; today I may like a bird, and the following day I’ll get tired of that and want to change it. And aside that, in my job, you’ll have to play different roles; so it automatically restricts the number of roles you can play in a movie, so I feel as a professional actress, you shouldn’t, maybe to an extent, have a permanent thing on your body.

What is your fashion weakness? The fact is, I actually like everything when it comes to fashion; I think I’m greedy when it comes to fashion; clothes, bags, shoes, everything. 

Which one of those items do you have more? Maybe shoes, but I’ve lost count; and I hardly sleep in my room now. This morning, a thought just crossed my mind that maybe I should do something for my die-hard followers, my fans, if they don’t mind, the clothes I’ve worn not more than once, very soon I’m going to be giving them out to them. 

What is your most expensive fashion item? That will be a wrist watch, which my husband gave me in 2010, I think. 

What is that item that will really drive you crazy? That will be a body con-dress, because my husband says it shows the beautiful part in my body. 

What is that fashion item you can never leave home without? That will be my purse, asides my bag. Is your contact lens medicated? Yes it is; and I really love sunshades. 

Are you long-sightedor short-sighted? I’m short-sighted. 

Do you think you can do a movie that surpasses Osas? Of course, I’m sure Victims surpassed Osas, is that not so? Osas is very close to my heart, because it’s actually the fi rst time I was playing a comic role in a movie, and actually the fi rst time I’d got to speak my indigenous language which is Benin. But I’m very sure Victims surpassed Osas. When you did Osas, everyone knew you were really hungry for fame, which might have made you to be very active in the movie. 

Now that you’ve become a stakeholder in the movie industry, can you play such role again in movies? The only role I can never play is to act nude. But asides that I will do anything. 

Do you still have a dream role? Yes, I’ve never played an imbecile role, and I look forward to playing it in any movie. A lot of your colleagues have ventured into music and politics, would you? For music, not at all, I restrict myself to my bathroom, singing every morning because I think I don’t have the voice. Then for politics, I think there’s a chance, because I have a serious passion for the less privileged; maybe later, not now, I will do politics. 

With several speculations on social media and for the record, is Mercy Pregnant? No, I wish I was.

Read More

Project Fame provided me platform to meet people –Ruky Olotu

Ruky Olotu is the first-runner-up Project Fame Season 7 ( 2014); the talented female artiste talks about her new video ‘Show Them’ released by her group R-CUBE and other vital issues in this interview  

Can you tell us more about your life after Project Fame?
It has been interesting, Project Fame provided me the platform to meet other people and really enter the music industry and because of that I was that, I was able to meet quite a number of celebrities and music stars. In all, it’s been good after Project Fame. For me, personally I’ve learned so much and become a bit comfortable. I’ve actually been happier after Project Fame and more confident and happier.

Was Project Fame instrumental to your singing career?
I did a couple of songs back in 2010 before the 2014 auditioning. Because I was still in school, I was not able to focus but I had already started singing but that also helped me because I was already doing music then I met people who now directed me to apply for Project Fame.

How many albums do you have to your credit?
I don’t have any album yet. We are still working on that. What we are trying to do is to at least bring a few singles that would circulate the market before we bring out the album. That is what we are doing at this level.

Could you tell us more about the group R-CUBE?
R-CUBE is a girl band group which consists of me, my sister and cousins Rouna and Rubunu, we just shot a video. I just released it last week and it is on promotional level and we are still trying to get more radio play. As soon as this single is out there in the market and people are hearing it, we may not even waste time before we will bring out more.

What is the song all about?
The song “Show Them” is basically a contract between me and the person that will wear the Versace dress that he bought from Aba market and the person who wears a Versace dress that he bought from a Versace shop. They will wear it and people might not even know the difference. They will wear it and will go to the same place and event and we were like, whatever you value and whatever you have, you should offer the world. You don’t have to go and kill but we should be content with what we have and show it out confidently. We highlighted everything like if I’m wearing a Brazilian hair or if I’m wearing a human hair, it doesn’t matter, it is your choice really. People are driving Mercedes Benz and you are entering Keke Napep, it doesn’t matter, Show Them.

What do think is unique in your songs that will make you create impact in the music industry?
First of all, we want to start by bringing our music with what people can see even if they are in primary school and we want to reach out to the younger group and to our age group as well. The thing that will make us stand out is because of the fusion in our music- how we mix the genres together because I’m more of the RnB, jazz and pop. People say I’m pop. My sister is RnB and Reggae and then my cousin is jazz and soul. Listening to our songs, you will hear the difference generally that we combine into one song to make it work.

What challenges are you confronted with and how do you intend to overcome them?
My present challenges right now is first of all circulation and getting my music to a wide range of listeners and viewers. Basically the marketing, I can say that is the biggest challenge and if I can get a setup that will really help push the songs out there, that would be really nice- people that have the right channel, big promoters, people that know what they are doing and have done it before.

What are your plans, do you want to go fully into music or you want to practice your profession?
My profession is still there and I intend to use what I studied in school to help me with some areas of what I’m doing but for now I want to focus on my music.

After Project Fame, have you had other performances?
Yes, we have performed in Freedom Park, Lagos, we have performed in Industry Line, we have performed in MTN Project Fame and a couple of other performances as a group.

Do you have plans of remaining as a group or as Ruky?
I’m Ruky in R-CUBE and we still want to express individuality so that when people are listening to us, they could differentiate who is who that is singing and also when we decide to do our singles people can choose anyone us they want to preferably listen to. In R-CUBE, we want to have dynamism- a particular way of handling things.

Where do you hope to see Ruky in the next three years?
MTV Award, BET Awards, Grammy Awards and others by God’s grace. I intend to have been able to gotten a name out there that when they hear a song, they will know I sang it and be able to reach very far even across Africa. I want my song to heard across, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana etc.

You are youth corps member, a musician and an artiste. How do you combine these three personalities?
That is not easy at all. Sometimes, I don’t even feel like I’m an artiste. Sometimes, I get uncomfortable and angry maybe if they just wake me up that I have to perform somewhere in a particular radio station and maybe I have my NYSC CDS the next morning; this is very annoying. It is not that easy to double that entire but I am hoping to be better and hoping to learn.

So far have you faced any form of harassment in the industry?
I’m very much aware of that and I don’t want to say that I’m dating but put myself in a situation whereby that wouldn’t happen or I might not come across that. So I’m that it wouldn’t happen to us and the fact that we are all girls, that may be a disadvantage but we want to dwell on the trend that we have as a group and see how we can build on that and avoid such.

Who is or are your role models in the music industry both in Nigeria and outside?
First of all, I have the Mary Mary Sisters. They had a huge influence on me while I was growing up and my younger sister. I have Grandy, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland, Mary Debrde. In Nigeria I would mention Eva, Waje and Omawumi.

Are you planning to go for any reality show again in the future?
No I don’t. Could you tell us more about yourself? I studied Business Information Systems at the University of East London. I love to dance, to sing, and to make new cool friends.

What advice do you have for the young ones who would like to tow your line?

You think about what you want to do and what kind of song you want to sing about and believe that is your calling and if it is, don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Don’t let anything discourage you and push forward and put everything in the hands of God. Be positive, do good and never lose faith. If you believe, then you would see.

Read More

Music market dynamic in Nigeria –Chics

A music producer, song writer and artiste, is presently working on a new genre of music which he calls electronic high life music. The graduate of Accounting talks about his passion for the arts in an interview 

You are a graduate of Accounting, would there be a specific reason behind opting for music as a career?

The music industry for me is very big, though it all started because of the love and passion I have for it. I considered it as a bit of the corporate world but with the knowledge I was able to acquire in school, I discovered I could channel it into the music industry to apply the principles I have learnt into showbiz. This is what our Lagos talents are doing we need to go beyond our love for the talent to applying economics and some accounting to break in.

When did you go into music?

Music started for me way back just like everyone of us would say but when I was in primary school I was the youngest member of a band. I mimed a lot back in secondary school in different groups then it developed from passion to a more focused direction. I had a lot of groups in the university and I have produced some of them also I have some industry friends that I have been working with in the background like Styl Plus who from way back I used to write and produce for. My official first single in 2009 was a song StylPlus featured me in ‘Jekasere Lo’ but they had a problem with the marketer which really affected the album and my coming out.

So far, how well is that application working for you?

Nigeria is a very dynamic market, so many things are not predictable. It’s been good but it boils down to a good promo plan to have endorsements and I am still trying to be out there.

How many singles do you have now?

I dropped a single this year on the 26th of April, my birthday, I did one with Styl Plus, I write and produce for Tunde one of the members of the group as well and we dropped an RnB song ‘Omoge’ February last year. I also did a French song last November ‘Sele mama’ with a Cameroonian artiste Didibebe who I write and produce for as well and ‘Don come’.

You talked about having worked with other industry friends at the background?

The list is endless; X Project, Waje, OJB, Numero, Mecoyo, Mr Yaks, to mention a few. I have a project called cargo republic and we have recorded so many projects.

Being a musician, song writer, producer which is more challenging for you?

Combination of the whole of them because I need to keep up with the demands of the job. The problem of people accepting my ability to do numerous things has been challenging for me.

How would young rate entertainment generally in Nigeria?

With respect to how far we have gone in promoting peace, women empowerment and the educative, humanitarian part and entertainment part, we still have a lot of things to do so I would rate it seven stars over ten.

Three stars short means we have challenges, what are those challenges Abuja wise and generally?

The individuals who are in the industry and the market are the major challenges we are facing. Artistes in Abuja for example do not support each other, we don’t have people who are passionate and apart from the whole security issues, people in Abuja are very conservative though it doesn’t mean big shows don’t happen but artistes in Abuja are yet to benefit from these platforms because they have not been able to run promos like the Lagos people. We have a low level of sponsorship in Abuja, once you are not from a rich home it becomes difficult.

Unfortunately, Lagos which happens to be the hub of entertainment, piracy is the greatest challenge. The marketers are the pirates, you can imagine we do not have a choice to give them our CDs for peanuts but by the end of the day they would help you move your songs everywhere. I was happy when the Vice President came out to assure artistes that challenge would be dealt with in this government so there is hope and at the same time fear.

How can we get things right especially in Abuja?

The orientation in Abuja needs to change, we need to put our hearts into getting the songs out, go extra miles to get investors. We need to start a campaign to get people in Abuja channel some of their investments to artistes in Abuja, we need to unite to balance the equation. No matter how wack they want to make us feel we are, we should be given a chance to showcase what we have rather than always bring in only Lagos artistes to perform here in Abuja.

Do Abuja promoters not have a role to play in this?

We don’t really have promoters in Abuja. A few of them are trying to come up but they still need to learn so many things. A promoter is just one of the variables, most importantly we need investors.

How then can Abuja artistes get investors believe in what they have to offer?

Over the years we have been waiting for investors. It’s annoying to drive round Abuja and not see even one Abuja artiste endorsing any product. We need to meet the investors and talk to them to give us the respect we deserve. Lagos is exaggerated, the traffic situation alone want to make anybody go out from Monday to Monday so they prefer to wait till weekends but here in Abuja, Monday to Monday people are partying everywhere at one garden or the other to chill out and have fun.

How would you rate content in Nigerian music?

For now, I won’t say it’s bad even though all we hear is dance music. I am a writer I understand why people are writing the way they do. For example, there is fuel scarcity, there is always one problem or the other and the kind of songs we need to be listening to are not songs that should bring us down trying to remind us how bad things are but we need songs that would make us forget our troubles even though we are not exactly happy. People who market these music they all accept the songs we write but so many people do not know this part.

We have artistes who do not see the relevance of taking a step further academic wise?

If we have record labels that are willing to do what they are supposed to do to promote the songs and thinking of the economy of getting the songs out, the artiste wouldn’t have a lot of problem if he is educated enough but as an artiste, you need to acquire some form of knowledge. It mustn’t be that four year in the university, there are so many courses online. For example, I am undergoing an online programme and by the time I am done I would be a certified sound engineer. I was able to that as a result of a good friend who told me about it. It all boils down to all the individual bodies to organize workshops for their members because not everybody had the opportunity to go to school.

How deep was your involvement as the national PRO PMAN?

The problem with PMAN is priority. The guys who are in charge are so caught up with their own agenda and it’s wrong. No one has a problem if you are trying to chase a particular dream or philosophy but when you do it consider the general good of everybody. See little things like Abuja carnival, people who are in charge or people who are supposed to go for it they don’t go for it and now you see foreigners who come from Lagos and this is our carnival, even artistes in Abuja struggle to perform and even when they do they pay them peanuts. The name PMAN has been so bastardized they need to change the name, it is associated with failure. The cloud of the Abuja Governor who is working really hard cannot cover the darkness of PMAN.

Read More