Trend’Tainment

HE may be dead but still remains one of the most popular musicians to come out from black Africa. 13 years after he died of complications from HIV/AIDS, Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti will resurrect in a new movie entitled, Fela Kuti-The movie.  The Film is currently in production and is scheduled for release by Fall 2011 by Focus Features, United States. The movie is being directed by Steve McQueen and written by Biyi Bandele, the Nigerian-UK based writer. Nigerian-British actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor who played President Thabo Mbeki in the Independence struggle film, Endgame (2009) would play the Nigerian icon on screen. Born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria to Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, Fela is also a cousin to Nobel Prize winner, Wole Soyinka. This film is most likely going to be one of the hits of 2011.

MICHAEL Douglas faces "an eight-week struggle" against throat cancer, he has told talk show host David Letterman. The Wall Street actor said a biopsy had revealed he had "stage four cancer", which, he said, was "intense and so they've had to go at it". Douglas, who was diagnosed three weeks ago, said on Letterman's Late Show that he had finished the first week of two months' radiation and chemotherapy. The cancer remained above the neck which meant "expectations are good", he said."I would hate to say, but right now, it looks like it should be 80 per cent and, with certain hospitals and everything, it does improve."Douglas said he had a series of tests in the early summer after complaining of a sore throat, but they revealed nothing. After a summer break, the actor - who has two young children with wife Catherine Zeta Jones - had a biopsy which revealed advanced cancer. He said he felt frustrated doctors had not found anything earlier "because I was on it early in the summer and started complaining about something, but they couldn't see it then".
(Source BBC)

SINCE after his infamous separation with his boo, Gongo Aso exponent, 9ice started having difficulty commanding the fame and popularity with which he shot into limelight some few years ago. But 9ice whose latest song Gbamu Gbamu is on top of the charts came alive in the Queensland during the 2010 Notting Hill Carnival as his performance was adjudged the best.  9ice was nice all through as he gave his best to the Nigerian crowd at Adela Street, W10 near Notthing hill Gate. It was really a star studded carnival this year as many top Nigerian celebrities also stepped out to show off the enjoyment tradition of the country. Celebs such as TEE A,Julius Agwu, Teju Baby Face,Kunle Afolayan,Banky W, Funke Akindele and others were all there. Dj Jimmy Jatt and DJ Abass were on the wheel on steel doing their thing and did not disappoint many Nigerians that came to identify with their fatherland. Even popular lawmaker, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa was there to make some law abiding dancesteps to the carnival.  Trendtaiment learnt that the Nigerian Corner which has for some time being a corner closelt monitored by the police was facilitated by Kennis Music and First Bank PLC who made sure every where was peaceful.

YQ, "the Authentic Street Soul- Soldier who had a massive underground smash breakthrough Efimile in 2008 with his late bosom buddy Dagrin" is out with his Debut Album 'I AM YQ' and he tells all who care to listen that he is just getting warmed up.“I have been around and now I am making my entrance and you know what, describing it as a tsunami is an understatement.” YQ is not a new name to the Nigerian music industry as he is a singer and songwriter who has been around for a while now, featuring in alot of songs like, Mr Incredible's Area. His collaboration with the late Dagrin on Efimile brought both artistes to the limelight. He is signed under Storm Records and some of his tracks include    EfiMiLe featuring DaGrin, Winney featuring Mr Ginjah Ginjah, Intellectual Swagger  and DaGrin, Dresscode featuring Naeto C and Ejay, I Like Girls and EfiMiLe Remix with Naeto C, Mr. Incredible, Banky W, Eldee tha Don and Ice Prince. His tribute track to Dagrin, We all Miss U is a track laden with emotions for a fallen friend.

ONE meeting The Katsina born Rekhia Sandra Olivia Osakuni, Stereo man's (Ekwe) beautiful wife would be surprised at the way she necks and cuddles him like a sixteen years old virgin who just fell in love meanwhile she doesn't care the way you look at it because she is perpetually in love with the music icon. How come she is so crazy about him? According to Rekhia, she had married Stereo man long before she met him. “I was so much in love with his songs in my school days that I could rap every line, people began to call me Ekwe and I loved that. When Stereo man came to perform at a show in Abuja where Rekhia resided, she quickly bought a ticket for the front seat. Stereo man confirmed that he could not fail to notice the excitement in her because as he performed, she danced and jumped more than everyone else and forever crying “Stereo man I love you” “she did not wait for the end of the show before rushing after me, throwing herself into my arm and declaring her love, I had to take her phone number and gave her mine and what followed was a very vibrant love relationship that resulted in the marriage”“I don't know, I love him too much and everybody can see that”, she declared.

The United States is one country most Nigerians will do anything to get into and for Chukwudi Anunobi a.k.a Rock Dee, when the opportunity came he took it and since then have remained there not knowing when to return. In this chat with Ahaoma Kanu, he talks about his experience so far.

You have been in the US for some time, can you tell me what your perception of living abroad was before you left and what did you find out when you arrived?
I've always known that going abroad was going to be the best thing for me to do, so have to leave a better life for me and my family. I came to the States to make money to take care of the family but living here really grooms you and gives you a lot of exposure to different things in life.

MULTIPLE award winning singer, Tuface Idibia showed that he is still on top of the game recently when he hosted his album autograph signing session at the Siverbird Galleria in Abuja. The African Queen crooner signed copies of his Unstoppable-The International edition for friends and fans that thronged to the event. The album has been in the works for sometime now as Tuface got a mouthwatering offer from a music label in London for the album.

JUST as she had promised her fans that she will never let them down, Wonderwoman, Omawumi, added another feather to her cap as she held a live concert at the SWE Bar and Lounge at the City Mall, Onikan in Lagos. The event also saw the premier of the new music video of Wonderwoman. An energetic Omawumi took the crowd thought a rollercoaster of songs and dances before unveiling the video which will definitely become the thing to watch in days to come.

American socialite Paris Hilton has been arrested in the US for alleged possession of cocaine, police say. Ms Hilton was arrested by Las Vegas police when they stopped a car in which she was a passenger. Officers found some suspicious powder in the car, which later proved to be cocaine. She was booked into the county jail before being charged and released, police said. Police spokesman Marcus Martin said Ms Hilton was being driven by a friend when they were stopped by police at 2330 local time.” Officers noticed a vehicle leaving smoke trail of a controlled substance [and] made a stop based on that," he said.

FANS of Temitayo George, the singing daughter of the founder of Little Saints Orphanage and second runner up at the Idols West Africa reality TV show, are already giving the Hi-fives and thumbs up to their star as her new video new video Love Revealed is already causing some attraction in Nigeria, West African and cable stations. The music video shows the talent in the artiste she will soon be unleashing in months to come.

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FOLLOWING the Palme d'Or success of the World Cinema Fund (WCF) film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, now two WCF-funded films will also screen at the Venice Film Festival (September 1-11, 2010): Post Mortem, by Chilean director Pablo Larrain (Tony Manero) will be shown in the Competition section. The film was produced by Fabula ( Chile ) and German partner Autentika Films. The Dominican film Jean Gentil, by Laura Amelia Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas (Cochochi) will screen in the section Orizzonti. Producers are Aurora Dominicana ( Dominican Republic ) and the German production company Bärbel Mauch Film. The WCF Jury had recommended funding for both films in July 2009.

You cannot talk about Fuji House of Commotion, the Nigerian family comedy series,  without mentioning Jumoke, starred by Chika Chukwu, the hilarious elder daughter of the Fujis whose plumpness gives her an edge in the show. She tells AMARA OSAJIUBA  why she is so healthy and fresh-looking.

Favourite food
Am not very finicky about food. I love vegetables. So long as am making it, with chicken or fish. I eat it with yam, maybe a slice or two, or rice-
Condiments needed.

MAYBE if you recite the lyrics of his song, Gone Till Novenber, he would appreciate you as a fan but Haitian hip-hop star Wyclef Jean had his presidential ambition cut down when he was   told he is not allowed to run in the country's presidential election. The 40-year-old singer, who lives in the US, formally registered to stand earlier this month. But the Haitian constitution requires candidates to have lived in the country for five years prior to an election. The electoral council, which ruled against Mr. Jean's candidacy, has also been deliberating on the applications of other potential candidates. The country is still recovering from January's earthquake, which killed an estimated 230,000 people and left more than one million homeless. Electoral council spokesman Richard Dumel said officials had accepted 19 candidacies and rejected 15 others. Following the ruling, Mr Jean issued a statement saying he respectfully disagreed with the council's decision but accepted it and urged his supporters to do the same.

WHEN Dat Nigga Raw came into the scene with Obodo, many were skeptical about how he would fare in an industry rapping in his native Igbo language. That now is history as the rapper has gone ahead and proved a point with his albums and exploits within a short time. What nobody ever gave a thought that would come to haunt him was his name-Dat Nigga Raw. Having done extensive tours at home and abroad, Nigga Raw discovered that his name could not be used by some enlightened people that still see the name as being offensive to the black people as its history and origin was not very worthwhile.So Dat Nigga Raw has announced that he would be rebranding his name from the offensive N-word to Mr. Raw Nwanne and the rebranding of his new name will coincide with what is been rumoured as his last album entitled End of Discussion.

FOR those spreading the news that ace standup comedian, Basketmouth will be anchoring this year2s Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) billed to hold in New York next month, they may be giving false information as a statement from the comedian recently contradicted the claim. Basketmouth, who is the second best comedian in Africa according to MNET, made it known that the organizers of the event has not closed any deal with him yet. He assured his teaming fans not to be deceived into believing he is to anchor the show but instead they should get ready for a nationwide show that will really let them understand he is the Lord of the Ribs.

GODWON, a Nigerian born artiste formally based in the US is back home to make a mark in the entertainment industry.Signed under a new record company, Serengeti Music, Godwon  is currently in the studio putting finishing touches to his album, which he says will storm the world. Speaking during the launch of the record company, Mrs Ngozi Ezeala, the CEO of Serengeti Music said that  Music label believes that Gowon will not only thrill music lovers in Nigeria but will rock the entertainment industry.

PARALLEL to cameras rolling for the current round, the call for entries has been launched for the Berlin Today Award 2012, with the theme "Every step you take". Does the flap of butterfly wings in Thailand set off a tornado in Texas? Small decisions we take in everyday life intrinsically influence our near future. What is a harmless accessory in one part of the world might be a major statement in another that leads to a chain of reactions. Whether political or private, it is these moments of taking a step and being aware of it, that the Berlin Today Award looks for when inviting young filmmakers to send in their film ideas for the Berlin Today Award short film competition 2012. Directors from all over the world and producers from the Berlin - Brandenburg region may apply until October 6, 2010. 15 Talents and 10 production companies will be pre-selected and invited to attend a producers' meeting during the Berlinale Talent Campus 2011. The five finalist teams will be announced at the end of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival. More information and the online application can be found at: www.berlinale-talencampus.de.

NOT having enough votes from fans and viewers of the show led to the eviction of Shehu and Monica from the MTN Project Fame West Africa during last Saturday's show.
The two contestants along with three others  Debola, Rhoda and Vwede, all Nigerians  were up for eviction after finishing the week with the least number of votes as announced by the representative of Alexander Forbes, Ms Nonye Ogunle. Judges once again saved Rhoda based on her vocal dexterity; Adebola was rescued by the Faculty for exhibiting a remarkable improvement while the other contestants not on probation voted for Vwede, leaving Shehu and Monica out of the competition.

GODWON, a Nigerian born artiste formally based in the US is back home to make a mark in the entertainment industry.Signed under a new record company, Serengeti Music, Godwon  is currently in the studio putting finishing touches to his album, which he says will storm the world.Speaking during the launch of the record company, Mrs Ngozi Ezeala, the CEO of Serengeti Music said that  Music label believes that Gowon will not only thrill music lovers in Nigeria but will rock the entertainment industry. “Godwon already has a single titled Naija 4 Life that is receiving massive rotation by the radio stations and getting exceptional reviews and accolades by the Nigerian music public,” Ezeala disclosed. Speaking more about the record label, Ezeala who is also the CEO of Serengeti Network, a TV production company, said that the idea of a record company was conceived in order to radically change the face of the music industry in Nigeria. “We have already opened an office at Ajah, Lagos with a state of the art Audio and Video studio which is unrivaled in Nigeria right now. We want to revolutionise the music industry as such, we have also teamed up with the legendary Houston USA based music producer Jarrod Lacy aka Lacemode for a mutually beneficial relationship,” she said. 

ONE of the Nigerian rappers who have really taken the rap scene to a whole new level, MI, recently rocked the world out of so many people when Redstrat, a leading strategic engagement company  with emphasis on media relations, digital media and youth marketing, launched the much anticipated magazine aptly named Y.   It was a full house at the event which took place at the Rehab club in Victoria Island, Lagos as many artistes and celebrities were present. Among the guests were   Soul Snatcher of Roof Top MCs, Kaine Agary, Alu Azege of K.fm Abuja, M.I, Jesse Jagz, Terry da Rapman, Gideon Okeke of Big Brother Nigeria/Tinsel fame, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Tosin Bucknor, Ohimai Atafo of MAI and others too numerous to mention. The magazine was launched amidst fireworks and popping champagne corks by popular writer/poet Toni Kan  and it revealed a stunning cover of a scowling Omotola with the caption, 'Omotola is Angry!' The real fun began when M.I took over with his kid bruv, Jesse Jagz. They rocked the house with a couple of songs then stepped down for other activities to go on.