2015: 9ice storms Ogbomosho

Musician turned politician, 9ice, stormed the ancient city of Og­bomosho with a galaxy of stars last weekend. In his entourage were the likes of Lord of Ajasa, Osaniyi and Olalekan Tunde ‘LKT’ Olayade.

The event, which took place at Lautech Main Campus, Ogbomosho, also had Alapomeji Records newly signed ar­tistes, Outrageous Damilare Abdulganiu and Tunde Fasasi on the bill.

Commenting, the President of the Stu­dents’ Union Government, Areo Ajibola Oyegoke said that it is time a youthful person contested for an elective position in Ogbomosho..

Ogbomosho Youth Leader, Fagbemi Abiola added that the students are behind 9ice because he has proved that he has the charisma to lead the youths of Ogbo­mosho to the Promised land. The singer is gunning for the House of Representa­tives, Ogbomosho South/North and Orire Federal Constituency.

Kunle Afolayan lauds Censors Board

The efforts of Nigeria’s apex movie industry regulator, the National Film and Video Cen­sors’ Board, (NFCVB), to redefine the movie sector of the nation’s economy, are not going un-noticed by key industry players.

One of the latest endorsements is coming from multiple award winning film-maker, Kunle Afolayan, who gave kudos to the regulatory agency for the strides being made.

In a letter to the parastatal’s DG, Patricia Bala, Afolayan said: “Your strict enforcement of the Code of Ethics govern­ing film and video production in Nigeria is highly commend­able and this has culminated in improvement in the quality of moral values.”

The leading film-maker, who just premiered his latest work, a psychological thriller titled, Oc­tober 1, underscored the impact the regulatory agency is making on the movie industry and by extension, the promotion of arts, culture and traditions of the Nigerian people and the entire black race.

Sexual harassment: Why I’m not yet famous in Nollywood –BANKE ADEWUNMI

Banke Adewunmi, a Nol­lywood actress and a graduate of Microbiology from Ogun State Univer­sity started acting four years ago. The pretty ac­tress recently spoke to The Entertainer, opening up on her four-year sojourn in the movie industry and the issue of sexual harassment.


Why did you decide to take acting as a career?

I have been in love with acting since my secondary school days. I usually did funny stuff back then among my peers. Though, I did other businesses aside acting, after my university education, I decided to take the plunge into acting since I have passion for it; I just had to go back to my first love.

Why did you study Microbiology and not Theatre Arts?

I decided to study Microbiology because my parents did not want me to act at all. All they were interested in was for me to study a science oriented course and so I had to comply but my heart remained with acting.

Which Nigerian actors or actresses inspire you most?

Omotola Jalade and Genevieve Nnaji; they are both fabulous and I draw a lot of inspiration from them.

How did you hook up with the Odunfa Caucus?

I joined through the assistance of Alhaji Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) who is also from my homestown.

When was the first time you acted and how was the experience like?

Wow! That was in 2010. Acting for me then was a different ball game en­tirely because I fidgeted a bit. However, because I have always had the passion to act, I quickly adjusted. I was like, ‘Banke, you’re here for business so there is no going back!’

You have acted in English films, why did you dump English for Yo­ruba despite the fact that English movie producers pay more money?

I decided to move to Yoruba mov­ies because of my business. Most of the English films are done outside of Lagos which is the reverse for Yoruba movies. Consequently, I decided to stick with the Yoruba sector. However, I will be doing more of English soon. The real reason why I am sticking with the Yoruba sec­tor now is that I am Yoruba. However, I prefer English movies.

Why are you not close to some of your colleagues in the Yoruba film industry?

That is because I prefer keeping to myself and operating as a one-man-mopol instead of just gossiping about others.

But some of your friends believe that you are proud. Are you?

No, I’m not a proud person or what do you think? You see, I love doing things my own way. Despite keeping to myself, I still maintain a good relationship with them.

Despite spending over four years in the Yoruba film industry, you are not so prominent. Why is this so? 

I know that I’m good but I cannot force myself on producers. That’s the problem I’m facing but despite the odds, I’m not desperate to be popular. However, I’m planning to do my own thing personally.

Is it because you don’t have a god-father or boy-friend among the producers? 

Yes, I don’t have and I don’t intend having one either.

There is this allegation of sexual harrassment in the movie industry, have you been a victim? 

Yes, it is very rampant and that is why I have not been prominent because I always turn their offers down.

So, you have never dated anybody in the movie industry? 

Yes, and I don’t intend to date any.

So, you can’t date an actor? 

Yes.

You are not growing any younger, when do you intend to get married? 

Very soon.

Do you have somebody you are dating? 

Yes.

Who is he? 

That’s personal. When the time comes you will know him.

Despite the fact that you are not prominent and people are of the opinion that there is no money in the movie business, yet you are so comfortable, how do you make your money? 

I am a business woman; I buy and sell. I travel out of the country to buy stuff a lot. I am also into cosmetics and I do clothing as well.

You are very flashy and comfortable; don’t you think that such could scare men away? 

Like I told you earlier, I have a man in my life already and he is not scared.

Is he the man behind your success? 

I have always been comfortable because my business is doing well but it was not easy when I started because people owed me money and some never paid up.

What are you doing now? 

I’m working on my own movie entitled Atole. 

Acting is make belief; could you pose or act nude for $1billion? 

No I can’t act nude no matter the prize at stake.

Why I embarked on Vote Not Fight Campaign –Tuface Idibia

Afro reggae singer, Tuface Idibia, has opened up on the reasons why he chose to embark on his Vote Not Fight campaign.

In a chat with The Entertainer, Tuface, who also has a foundation, the T
uface Idibia Foundation, said that the bottom line for him is that the project is all about Nigeria: “This is all about Nigeria, it’s about our future as a country. In less than six months, Nigeria will embark on the 2015 General Elections so we need to reach out to the youths who are the cannon fodder for politi­cians during elections; we need to enlighten them that election is not war.

“I decided to embark on this as part of initiatives to ensure a hitch-free electoral process in 2015. Tuface Foundation, in partnership with Young Stars Foundation, National Democratic Institute (NDI) and other partner organisations, have flagged off the Vote Not Fight, Election No Be War campaign.

“The youths are brimming with so much energy and passion and if they are not guided, they could be used as political tools to detabilise our nation. I am calling on all youths to heed this call,” Idibia added.

Commenting, Efe Omorogbe, CEO of Now Muzik said the vision is to raise one million signatures in support of the cam­paign: “We are taking this message across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Come 2015, we must have peaceful elections in Nigeria.”

The climax of the launch was the signing of the pledge by Tuface Idibia, K Slim, Ms. Ransome-Kuti and Yemi Adamolekun among others. Other partners are Enough Is Enough (EIE) Coalition, Isa Wali Empow­erment Initiative, Development Initiative For African Women and The Bridge Youth Development Foundation.

Malala and Nabila; Two worlds apart.

Malala Yousafzai

Nabila Rehman

On October 24, 2012 a Predator drone flying over North Waziristan came upon eight-year-old Nabila Rehman, her siblings, and their grandmother as they worked in a field beside their village home. Her grandmother, Momina Bibi, was teaching the children how to pick okra as the family prepared for the coming Eid holiday. However on this day the terrible event would occur that would forever alter the course of this family's life. In the sky the children suddenly heard the distinctive buzzing sound emitted by the CIA-operated drones - a familiar sound to those in the rural Pakistani villages which are stalked by them 24 hours a day - followed by two loud clicks. The unmanned aircraft released its deadly payload onto the Rehman family, and in an instant the lives of these children were transformed into a nightmare of pain, confusion and terror. Seven children were wounded, and Nabila's grandmother was killed before her eyes, an act for which no apology, explanation or justification has ever been given.
This past week Nabila, her schoolteacher father, and her 12-year-old brothertravelled to Washington DC to tell their story and to seek answers about the events of that day. However, despite overcoming incredible obstacles in order to travel from their remote village to the United States, Nabila and her family were roundly ignored. At the congressional hearing where they gave testimony, only five out of 430 representatives showed up. In the words of Nabila's fatherto those few who did attend: "My daughter does not have the face of a terrorist and neither did my mother. It just doesn't make sense to me, why this happened… as a teacher, I wanted to educate Americans and let them know my children have been injured."

The translator broke down in tears while recounting their story, but the government made it a point to snub this family and ignore the tragedy it had caused to them. Nabila, a slight girl of nine with striking hazel eyes, asked a simple question in her testimony: "What did my grandmother do wrong?" There was no one to answer this question, and few who cared to even listen. Symbolic of the utter contempt in which the government holds the people it claims to be liberating, while the Rehmans recounted their plight, Barack Obama was spending the same timemeeting with the CEO of weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Selective memory

It is useful to contrast the American response to Nabila Rehman with that of Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who was nearly assassinated by the Pakistani Taliban. While Malala was feted by Western media figures, politicians and civic leaders for her heroism, Nabila has become simply another one of the millions of nameless, faceless people who have had their lives destroyed over the past decade of American wars. The reason for this glaring discrepancy is obvious. Since Malala was a victim of the Taliban, she, despite her protestations, was seen as a potential tool of political propaganda to be utilised by war advocates. She could be used as the human face of their effort, a symbol of the purported decency of their cause, the type of little girl on behalf of whom the United States and its allies can say they have been unleashing such incredible bloodshed. Tellingly, many of those who took up her name and image as a symbol of the justness of American military action in the Muslim worlddid not even care enough to listen to her own words or feelings about the subject.


As described by theWashington Post'sMax Fisher:
Western fawning over Malala has become less about her efforts to improve conditions for girls in Pakistan, or certainly about the struggles of millions of girls in Pakistan, and more about our own desire to make ourselves feel warm and fuzzy with a celebrity and an easy message. It's a way of letting ourselves off the hook, convincing ourselves that it's simple matter of good guys vs bad guys, that we're on the right side and that everything is okay.

But where does Nabila fit into this picture? If extrajudicial killings, drone strikes and torture are in fact all part of a just-cause associated with the liberation of the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere, where is the sympathy or even simple recognition for the devastation this war has caused to countless little girls such as her? The answer is clear: The only people to be recognized for their suffering in this conflict are those who fall victim to the enemy. Malala for her struggles was to be made the face of the American war effort - against her own will if necessary - while innumerable little girls such as Nabila will continue to be terrorized and murdered as part of this war without end. There will be no celebrity appearances or awards ceremonies for Nabila. At her testimony almost no one even bothered to attend.