MEET COURTNEY DIKE THE PATRIOTIC ANGEL

Courtney Dike

Let give a rousing applause for pretty Courtney Dike, the Super Falconets striker who rejected the $7,000 her country paid her for participating at the just concluded 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada. 

Courtney on national colour

For 19 year-old Oklahoma State Football team forward, $7,000 was a big money but she value the national honour of representing her country more than the quid. Her action has been described as ‘rare and un-Nigerian’ in a fast morally decadence society.

Courtney Dike

Dilichukwu Onyedinma, head of the Nigeria Women League board, said the player deserves a national award for her patriotic act. The Women’s league boss told Football live, a programme on Brila FM, that what Dike did was worth emulating by other players in the country.
Dilichukwu said: “She is a star and patriotic Nigerian who put service to her fatherland above money. The minister is aware and we will push the act before the NFF so it can inspire many others. Doing this with the backing of her parents, Courtney Dike should be applauded and perhaps celebrated.”

Courtney, the younger sister of Super Eagles forward Bright Dike, represented the country at the competition where she scored the fastest goal in the tournament’s history.

With big brother, Bright

She was born on 3 February 1995 to Vincent and Jacinta Dike. Apart from Bright, she has another brother, Daryl, and two sisters, Kimberly and Brittny.

Words by FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Photo Credits: Courtney's Facebook & Twitter

Harrysong Duets Toofan For Beta Pikin Remix

Award winning singer, songwriter and producer Harrysong teams up with Best Francophone MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 and Togolese duo, Toofan for the remix to his monstrous hit single 'Beta Pikin.'

The Five Star Music recording artiste and performer delivers a stellar cross border twist on his biggest dance record. Listen and see Harrysong get himself some core French fans, This remix is a smash hit-bound collaboration in Francophone countries in coming days/weeks.

This is a prelude to his upcoming new single and Kolombo remix to featured a renowned South African producer and act scheduled for release before the year 2014 ends.

Listen x Download: http://bit.ly/betapikinremix

Harrysong's remix artwork

Primé chanteur , compositeur et producteur équipes Harrysong aligne avec les meilleurs francophones MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 et duo togolais , Toofan pour le remix de son hit monstrueux unique » Beta Pikin . »

Le Star Music enregistrement artiste et interprète Cinq délivre une torsion transfrontalière stellaire sur son plus gros dossier de danse . Écouter et voir Harrysong obtenir lui-même certains fans français de base , ce remix est un smash hit- colaboration lié dans les pays francophones dans les prochains jours / semaines .

Ceci est un prélude à son prochain nouveau remix unique et Kolombo pour vedette un producteur sud-africain de renommée et d'agir prévue pour la libération avant l'année 2014 se termine.

Listen x Download: http://bit.ly/betapikinremix

NIGERIAN BARRED FROM WORK IN UK OVER EBOLA

Sam Ayodele Ogunnoiki, a Nigerian working as a security guard in Cornwall, London, United Kingdom has been banned from work because colleagues feared he could have contracted dreaded EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE while on holiday in his home country, Nigeria.

Sam Ayodele Ogunnoiki discriminated against over Ebola

Despite Nigeria being declared virus-free, Ogunnoiki, 46, from St Austell, Cornwall, and who works as a security officer at Pendennis Dockyard in Falmouth, according to DAILY MAIL, got the shock of his life after returning from a three-week holiday to visit his mother in Nigeria and find he had been banned from work because his employers feared he had Ebola. 

Ogunnoiki, who has worked for Stout Security LTD for eight years, on Saturday received a letter from his boss saying several members of staff had raised concerns about working with him following his trip. In the letter, he was told by director Trevor Mannell that he had to allay colleagues' fears that he was carrying the Ebola virus back with him and could not allow him to return to work until he had been back in the UK for at least three weeks. 

The letter to Ogunnoiki reads:

“You have been in my employ for several years and I have always done my very best to look after you, frequently helping you out when you called on me for assistance. With our friendship in mind, I have spoken to you and expressed my very deep concerns about your trip to Nigeria. Several members of staff have now voiced their concerns about the possibility of your carrying the Ebola virus back with you and have made it very clear that they are extremely reluctant to work with you on your return.

“One member of staff has even written a clear and concise letter stating the concerns of your work colleagues. In this case I have to support their concerns - especially as I have already voiced them personally to you. In order to allay any fears that you are a carrier for this deadly virus, I feel I cannot allow you to return to work until you have been back in the United Kingdom for three weeks - which is the incubation period.

“I must also request that you visit your doctor on your return and get a clean bill of health before you can start work with us. I am very sorry about this Sam but everyone works in close proximity together and I have to put the concerns of the majority first.” 

A bromide of letter barring Ogunnoiki

Ogunnoiki described his employers’ dramatic move as unbelievable and said he had been tested in Nigeria for the disease before leaving the country which had come back negative. He said his wife who is employed by the same company had been allowed to work despite having been in contact with him since he returned back from Nigeria, which made no sense.

“It's just discrimination. I have worked at Stout since moving to Cornwall in 2006 when I married my wife, who is English...There is this stigma surrounding me now. It's just ignorance and a nightmare because I cannot work. I'm a British citizen. My wife does the same job as me and I saw her at the weekend and she has been allowed to work, but if she has been in contact with me she would have Ebola too. There is no justification for this at all,” Ogunnoiki told DAILY MAIL.

He expressed doubt if the company would rehire him to work again at Pendennis Dockyard in Falmouth. He said he has now been put on a zero hour’s contract. 

A spokesman from Falmouth and Truro Port Health Authority confirmed that no restrictions had been placed on Ogunnoiki as Nigeria had been declared Ebola free last month.

Words by FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Photo Credits: Daily Mail

WHY I SETTLE FOR CHOCOLATE CITY -FEMI KUTI

Femi Kuti Now Choc Boi

Afrobeat king, Femi Kuti, has said he signed a management deal with Chocolate City because the organisation is dynamic and has great ideas. Kuti announced the new deal with Audu Maikori-led organisation via his twitter-handle on Tuesday evening.

“Signed a management deal with Chocolate City to manage me in Nigeria. Hopeful to do great things in Nigeria with CC...Yes I’ve been in business for a long time with a lot of international experience but what I love most about Chocolate City is that they are young and have great ideas too,” Femi said on Twitter.

Femi in relax mood

This signing is coming in the wake of Femi Kuti’s 7th studio album release- No Place for My Dream.

On same day, the label also released a press statement announcing its signing of four-time Grammy nominated Afrobeat superstar to an exclusive management deal.

Aibee Abidoye, Chocolate City’s General Manager, said; "We love good music here at Chocolate City and are big fans of Femi Kuti and his work- this deal marks another significant milestone in Chocolate City’s development as the leading entertainment company in and around Africa. 

"The Afrobeat genre has found new interpretation through Femi’s prolific body of work and we believe that through this partnership ,we will not only revive  the Afrobeat genre (distinct from Afrobeats) as a movement locally but also ensure that it is well positioned internationally and hopefully we can (finally) bring home that much deserved Grammy."

The record label which has rappers, M.I and Ice Prince under its management definitely took on an unexpected signing with the legend.

Words by FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Photo Credits: Funshakin’s World Library 

WIZKID IS MTV BASE ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Wizkid

EME/StarBoi chart buster Wizkid has been named MTV Base’s Artist Of The Month for November 2014. And as a reward for this honour, all through the month of November, the urban music authority, MTV Base, is backing Wizkid with a month of programmes dedicated to his rise and rise.

Things are getting rosy for Wizkid 

This is coming less than a month after the release of his sophomore album, AYO. 

The sleeve of his second album

Wizkid, who started out at age 11 singing in church in Lagos, came onto the music scene in 2010 with the hit “Tease Me”. His debut album, Superstar firmly cemented his place in the African music’ sphere, taking over dance floors and charts throughout Africa. This allows him to make his first major moves on the international music scene. In 2012, Wizkid sold out his headlining performance at London’s famed Hammersmith Apollo, before putting in an unforgettable live set at BBC Radio 1Xtra Live. More recently, he performed at this summer’s London’s Wireless Festival.

The recognition Wizkid has received over the past few years from both the industry and public alike has been nothing short of impressive: in 2011, he won the MOBO award for Best African Act, and took home a BET Award in 2012 for Best International Act: Africa. 

Wizkid with his mentor, Banky W

The Starboi has also notched three nominations for the MTV EMAs, and garnered two nominations for the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, for Best Male and Best Collaboration. Not one to sit on his laurels, 2014 sees Wizkid busier than ever, collaborating with American rapper Wale on a track called “Drop”, and recording with Ty Dolla $ign, Big Sean, Chris Brown and Rihanna.

Tracks from his new album feature Tyga and Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti.

As well as being a recording and performing artist, Wizkid owns his own record label, StarBoy. 

Wizkid with his StarBoy crew

He recently landed an exciting new management deal with Disturbing London that will help to raise his profile and expose him to an even broader audience in the UK and Europe.

Words by FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Photo Credits: BHM, Michael Tubes, Starboi

FAYOSE’s REAL FOOT SOLDIERS

Ayo Fayose

Yes, he’s naughty and niggling. But give it to Ayodele Fayose as a politician, he’s a real McCoy. Also as a family man, seems this daring governor of Ekiti State is a sharp shooter just as the pictures below suggest.

Fayose's boys

Yeah, these five 'swagger-ful' young guys are the real guys who ruled the household of the Ayodele Fayose. Wait a minute; they aren’t his goons but his biological sons from his prophetess wifey, Feyisetan.

Feyisetan, the five boys mom

In no particular order, Funshakin’s World presents to you the Fayose real foot soldiers: Rogba, Nigba, Boluwatife, Joju and Tomiwa.

Fayose's boys

 Words by FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Photo Credits: Kefytee Photography & Google

NIGERIA'S FIRST BEER & HEALTH SYMPOSIUM