Afrobeat is a way of life-Dede Mabiaku

Dede Mabiaku, the versatile musician and a judge on the Nigerian idol reality show has described Afrobeat as a way of life and not just another genre of music. Citing the legendary Afrobeat king Fela Anikulapo-Kuti as an example, the late Fela protege urged the new generation afrobeat musicians to see afrobeat as music for the people.

He lauded the late Fela for his immense contribution to the way Nigerian music is perceived outside the country. "Fela played music live, he never used synthesised sounds, Fela scored his music and his lyrics came along. Fela groomed his band with the sounds he has called, so ethically he has cultured a sound and build it with a band. After that, he now performed these songs over a period of time before going to the studio."

He continued "That is why people still listen to his songs so many years after his physical exit. He is the most regarded Nigerian musician ever. He is the most regarded African celebrated in Broadway. That's because he was doing it the live way. These kids have to go back to basics, go and learn instruments, go and culture bands, culture yourself."


He also urged the contemporary musicians to leave the realm of synthesised sounds and work on live bands. According to him, learning the culture of live bands will take Nigerian music to the next level. Though he stated that these artistes have tried in their own way to promote Nigerian music through their packaging and vocal rendition but he insisted that a lot need to be done to make the Nigerian music better. He commended artistes like Flavour, Davido, Tuface for their input in the Nigerian music industry through the fusion of pure natural African sounds in their music.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Mutiu Adepoju-Why I'm a Teetotaller

The moment we were introduced, my eyes unconsciously settled on his head. perhaps because he was popularly known as the headmaster during his heydays on the soccer pitch. In this interview, the former Super Eagles player revealed the other side of his persona.

He never headed a school before but he knew how to use his head (literally and otherwise) to score goals that left his counterparts in awe. This fetched him the unique nickname, ‘headmaster’. Nigeria’s ex-international Mutiu Adepoju is one of the best players the country has ever produced. His performance at the FIFA 1989 World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia seemed to have earned him a place in the football hall of fame. Now living in retirement, Adepoju, however, misses those days etched in evergreen memories when he was active on the field.

CITYPEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES INSPIRO/NAIJAZZ BOSS, AYOOLA SADARE

THE BOSS-AYOOLA SADARE

Citypeople Entertainment recently celebrated Inspiro productions CEO and NAIJAZZ (Nigerian Jazz Project) Founder Ayoola Sadare in recognition of his contribution in the Jazz, Entertainment and Arts/Culture sector. The event tagged ‘An Exclusive Evening with Ayoola Sadare and His friends' was an eclectic time of live Jazz, Spoken Word, Comedy, Art and more at one of the Nation’s  rave culture hotspots Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

From Koko Master to Banger Lee, Breaking up with Don Jazzy: The Right Thing To Do.

There is always something new about Nigeria's international pop artiste, D'banj. My editor (Nseobong Okon-Ekong) and I recently caught up with him few days before his birthday and discovered his hilarious side.

 There was no air of a celebrity about him as he mixed freely with the small gathering of journalists and friends of the media. The camaradie was magnetic with Nigeria’s international super artiste, Dapo Oyebanjo, better known as, D'banj, personally doing a bear hug with everyone and backslapping them with amazing familiarity. Even if it was an effected emotion, it was well executed as he had a joke for each person. And because he never repeated a joke, this betrayed a little known side of the entertainer who took Nigeria (first and later the world) by storm about one decade ago.

Hafiz Oyetoro aka Saka I Don Port Unveiled

Is Hafiz Oyetoro aka Saka unhappy at his newfound fame? Or is he acting a script prompted by his controversial switch of loyalty? Nseobong Okon-Ekong and Vanessa Obioha took the question to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos where Saka is employed as a lecturer. Oyetoro declines comments on all of that, but speaks about himself as he has never done before…

I'M BACK!!!

YAY!!!! Finally i kicked the laziness bug out of my system. Hello everyone, it's been a minute I updated this blog last...like when i was still a toddler???? 

It feels good to get back here. I guess you were wondering what I've been up to lately.  Let's just say I have been getting the real taste of life in the real world as a journalist and I promise to give you a peek of my latest adventures. From celebrity interviews to features, I will endeavour to give you the latest juice. To start off my return from Venus, here is an interview I did with my editor on  Hafiz Oyetoro popularly known as Saka. it was published a fortnight ago on Thisday newspaper, Sunday edition.

ever since he started the corporate way between MTN and Etisalat, the comic actor had maintained a reserved disposition towards the issue of his loyalty to his corporate masters. We decided to trail him down to Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Educatio, Ijanikin where  where he lectures. 

ANOTHER PIECE OF METAL???

I've always wondered why my former employer never wore his wedding ring. Throughout my short stay in his company, I never saw that piece of metal on his finger. Once or twice, I confronted him but his response was always automated: "What for? It's just a piece of metal!"
Recently, I encountered a married woman who works as a marketing personnel in an oil company. I noticed also that the symbolic finger of marital bond was also not adorned with a ring. Being the curious cat, I asked her if she was divorced or separated and she gave me a surprising look before replying excitedly that she is happily married. "Where is the wedding ring?" I inquired.
She gave me a sly grin and said in a low tone "it's not good for my career"