Scorned Treats Rape Story With A Difference

Fast rising actress and producer Christiana Martins has said that the new movie, Scorned has a twisted story line and amazing talents which makes it a movie cinema lovers should watch out for.

Speaking in a chat with WEEKEND RENDEZVOUS, the sultry actress said the new flick is not the typical movie but its suspense would keep everyone on their toes.

“Each character gave it his or her all; from the laughter to the tears. You don't want to miss this one when it comes out in cinemas, trust me,” she said.

Scorned is the story of a rape victim who took her time to plan her revenge against a rapist who completely forgot about the damage he had done to a young innocent girl. It showcases the psychological damage she went through and the effects the rape still has on her as an adult. And how silence out of fear and shame can either make you or break you. 

The movie, which is in post-production, stars talented and fast rising stars including Daniel K. Daniel, Christiana Martin, Okey Uzoeshi, Chelsea Eze, Chigurl and Funny Bone.

Co-producer and director of the movie, Tokunbo Ahmed, said what prompted the idea of the movie was the need to address the prolonged and repeated silence of the victims of rape.

DStv Brings Catch Up to Compact, Compact Plus Subscribers

Multichoice Nigeria has announced that the DStv Catch Up will be available to both Compact and Compact Plus subscribers, with an active Explora and PVR subscription, offering them so much more great content.

DStv Catch Up is a video on demand service that allows subscribers catch up on series, sports highlights, movies, documentaries, kids’ shows that they have missed.

This service, which was previously exclusive to Premium, will now be available to subscribers on the Compact and Compact Plus bouquets. The content made available on DStv Catch Up are those contained in the bouquet the subscriber has selected. 

“As a company operating in a dynamic environment, we continually review our service offerings to introduce new technologies that provide value to our subscribers at all times,” said John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria.

“When we launched the Explora decoder a few years ago, we originally made its key features, Catch Up and Box Office, available to our Premium customers with active PVR subscriptions. Bringing Catch Up to our Compact and Compact Plus subscribers is a business decision that we know will resonate positively with our subscribers and further deepen our commitment to provide them with quality video entertainment experience,” he added. 

DStv Catch Up includes some amazing features such as series stacking which provides up to three episodes in case you forget to manually record; and box sets, which assembles complete seasons ready for you to watch.

Ooni To Olamide: Promote Cultural Tourism With Your Music

Ooni praying for Olamide

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi, has counseled rap music star Olamide, to boost the tunes of his music with traditional instruments and infuse traditional melodies that will promote the socio- cultural and tourism heritage of the Yoruba in particular and Nigeria in general.

Ooni said this while welcoming the YBNL leading man to his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Oba Ogunwusi told Olamide that rap music which is his forte urgently needed not only by the Yoruba race alone, but by Nigeria as a nation because of its being a  potent instrument of passing messages in the form of rhythmically intonated poetry in which words and language are frequently and exceptionally poetic.

“Your brand of music can be employed to help teenagers comprehend the Yoruba language, help in its application and development of our language skill. It is also an instrument to sell the cultural tourism heritage of the race for the teenager to embrace, cherish, appreciate and preserve,” the Ooni said.

Eulogising Olamide further, Oba Ogunwusi noted, “You are a pride of the Yoruba race. You have stylishly entered into the rap – hip hop music world and tilted its scale of balance by maintaining excellence benchmark which is not only plausible but enviable. You have in excellent form filled the vacuum which would have been left in place after the death of an older rapper.” 

The Ooni later prayed for Olamide.

Akiin Shuga Hosts Top Nigerians At His ‘Gifted and Talented’ Project

The Shuga Limb Foundation Empowerment Project tagged, The Gifted and Talented, was held amidst accolades and appreciation at The Social Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

An initiative of the lead singer of the popular Shuga Band and disability advocate, Akiin Shuga, it was organised to celebrate and empower people living with disabilities. The event witnessed an assemblage of accomplished personalities including Bimbo Asiru, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of the Minister ofWorks,Power and Housing; and Ms. Biodun Laja, Chairperson, Lekki British International School.

Others are AIG Tunji Alapini (retd), Mr. Wole Okunfulure and artiste, Tosin Martins.

Having sponsored the Children’s Day celebration for People Living with Disability for four consecutive years, Shuga says SLF intends to chart a new course in line with the global focus to promote Inclusion, Access, and Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities.

Shuga, who was recently honored as one of the icons of ability in disability by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, said the objective of the “worthy cause is to empower, promote and create opportunities for sustainable livelihood and employment for People Living with Disabilities.”

According to him, “the plan includes a quarterly monitoring mechanism on sales, expenditures and profit margin for their ventures.”

He also narrated his own story. “I got my break in life when Alhaji O.K. Alli bought me my first set of airbrushes which I used in designing cards. I later got a direct link to the makers of International Cards back then in the 1990s. This was my source of living before I ventured into music business fully.”

Speaking at the event, Ashiru called on the government and stakeholders to empower enterprising Persons Living with Disabilities (PLDs) who lack the financial capacity to achieve their dreams and excel in their pursuits.

The high point of the event was the presentation of work tools to beneficiaries of the Shuga Limb Foundation Empowerment Project. They include a physically challenged cobbler, Matthew David; a physically challenged photographer, Olaitan Keshinro and a speech impaired fashion designer, Jamiu Fatai.

 Others are a physically challenged student, Tope Akinleye and a physically challenged Visual Artist, Toma Onu, who paints with her legs.

While Keshinro was handed a professional Canon camera and photo printer, Fatai was given a fully equipped tailoring set. Akinleye on the other hand, had her tuition and accommodation paid for, just as Onu went home with work tools and a three-month tutelage with a visual art instructor.

To round off the occasion, special recognition awards were handed out to Adenike Oyetunde, media personality; Engr. Idiat Amusu, art instructor; Michael Oluwatosin, a physically challenged cobbler, Olumide Adegbenro and the iconic music producer Cobhams Asuquo.

KCee Stages Real Deal Comeback In Umuahia

KCee

After a much-celebrated performance in Onitsha, Afro-pop singer, KCee will for the second time grace the Real Deal Experience stage in Umuahia on Sunday 5 June.

KCee’s presence at Legend’s Real Deal Experience would be in continuation of the tour which has seen Oritsefemi, Timaya and 9ice at the forefront in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Ibadan.

The Real Deal Experience, which is known for bringing Nigeria’s biggest music stars to teeming fans around the country, will also feature a full-sized rotating Legend bar, exciting onstage performances, the Taste, Tell and Win promotion and the Real Deal Experience game show where people get to win various prizes including electricity generators, TV sets, refrigerators, recharge cards and many more.

Speaking on KCee’s second Real Deal Experience appearance, Oluseun Lawal, Brand Manager, Legend, said the brand is glad to be having KCee on their stage for the second time as his performances are always energetic and exciting.

“The people of Umuahia are sure to have a great time as they have not only Kcee to look forward to but also our Taste, Tell and Win promo and the Real Deal Experience game show where they stand a chance to win huge prizes,” Lawal said.

KCee, in his remarks, said his last appearance on the Real Deal Experience stage was special to him as he got to meet a lot of his fans in Onitsha and really looking forward to connecting with the people of Umuahia.

The Real Deal Experience will visit other major cities in Nigeria in the coming weeks.

Yemi Blaq Gets Premium Celebration From Gulder

Top Nollywood actor and Gulder Ambassador, Yemi Blaq was recently hosted to an exclusive shindig by the premium lager beer from Nigerian Breweries Plc.

Blaq, who turned a year older on 19 May, was celebrated at the party held during the Nollywood Beer Academy sponsored by the brewery giant in its Ibadan, Oyo State factory.

Speaking at the party attended by Yemi’s colleagues, friends and officials of NB Plc, Edem Vindah, Corporate Media/Brand PR Manager, NB Plc, stated that the brand is proud of Yemi Blaq because he represents Gulder’s ideals of the “real man who is responsible, hardworking, demonstrates leadership and respect for others.”

“Gulder stands for the ultimate sign of achievement, masculinity, respect, self-assurance and success. It is also a premium quality beer for young success conscious men and women,” Vindah said.

Blaq became a Gulder brand ambassador last year. He came into the movie industry in 2005 and has featured in over 250 films. He is seen as a hard working movie producer and one of the most famous in Nollywood.

Blaq was born Yemi Olatunji in a family of four siblings in Ondo State Nigeria and grew up knowing he was going into the arts.

From his primary school days, he got a lot of encouragement and support. After he played the role of the incorruptible judge in Olu Olagoke’s ‘The Incorruptible Judge’, his teacher came home and said to his mom, “oh this one is going to become an actor”. Since then he has nurtured it.

“I always wanted to act, I always loved acting. I used to act back in my days in school. I studied theatre arts in school. I travelled and after I came back I joined the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN),” he said.

Blaq believes he was one of the lucky ones because he got into the industry when everyone said it was a bit tough. He was in it for about five or six months auditioning for roles, and talking to people for opportunities. Then he ran into a really large big audition which turned out to be a grand encounter.

“My first experience on set was with Obi Osotule and Mathias Agbo in Benin City. They were shooting this movie, ‘The Unseen Eyes’ and I had gone there to just flex my acting muscles. I got on set with the rest of the people who came for the audition and we started reading,” Blaq said.

‘Lost to Lust’ was the movie that gave him a breakthrough, being his first lead role movie with Mercy Johnson.

"It came out successful and since then every director and producer want me to work for them. In the industry, if you are good, people tend to look for you, to utilize your talent,” he said.

After his breakthrough with ‘Lost to Lust’, directors and filmmakers started calling him to feature in movies.

Femi Odugbemi, Africa Magic Premiere Gidi Blues

Femi Odugbemi

Ace Nigerian filmmaker Femi Odugbemi and Africa Magic, the continent’s leading provider of premium entertainment content, will on 4 June premiere Gidi Blues, an unusual love story filled with intrigue and suspense told with a ‘Lagos-state-of-mind.’ 

Gidi Blues features a stellar cast which includes Gideon Okeke, Bukky Wright, Tina Mba, Lepacious Bose, Nancy Isime, Banky W and others.

The movie which dwells on the unpredictability of Lagos city where anything can and often does happen, promises high-quality entertainment with humour, music and drama.

Filmed in iconic Lagos locations such as Idumota market, Makoko, Victoria Island, Isale Eko, Lekki, Freedom Park and Broad Street, Gidi Blues showcases Lagos city and the unique energy of its people.

Akin, played by Gideon Okeke, is an indulged playboy from an affluent family who accidentally meets an interesting beauty, Nkem, in an unpredictable place. Nkem is a beautiful, confident but an unusual young lady who devotes herself to her work as a community volunteer in the belly of the city’s worst ghettoes. Their encounter drags Akin into a whirlwind experience that unravels his world.

Speaking on the movie, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, said, “Gidi Blues is the result of inspiring creativity, innovative filmmaking and exciting storytelling. At Africa Magic we take pride in bringing to life the best of film and television content out of Africa through partnerships with some of the best talents on the continent and Femi Odugbemi’s work as a filmmaker is very well renowned. We are indeed excited to premiere Gidi Blues and cannot wait for movie lovers in Nigeria and indeed the rest of the world to see it.” 

The movie also stars Hauwa Allahbura, widely regarded as one of Nollywood’s most exciting new talents, in the lead role as Nkem. 

Hauwa currently features on sub-Saharan Africa’s most successful soap-opera, Tinsel.

Also commenting on the new flick, Odugbemi, the Producer and Director, said: “Gidi Blues was exciting as it was challenging and we are extremely delighted with the finished work. The movie deals with the famous spirit of Lagos, the resolve within every Lagosian that confronts every challenge with the belief that all is surmountable.  

"Gidi Blues is also a love story which seeks to inspire young people to give back through community volunteer work. For example, Makoko, the fishing slum under the Third Mainland Bridge, is where the lead characters find meaning in their lives as they volunteer as teachers and also start initiatives that support and empower the disadvantaged in the community.”

Gidi Blues premieres on Saturday 4 June at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.