HF Magazine Edition 1

HF

Hell In Heaven’s

GATE

CELEBRATING AFRICAN ENTERTAINMENT

VOLUME 1, EDITION 1.

ROCKERS vs FAKERS :

Oh No, You

SPOTTING THE DIFFERENCE

DIDN’T!!

BIG BROTHER AFRICA:

CHANGING

LIVES? STREET TRENDZ:

SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE

AFRICAN TOP

20 Gone With

THE WIND? The NTA Story

TheNse

& Ice Prince

INVASION

₦700 ₵9.19 $30.269 R44.099 £2.7650 $4.33

BEAUTY BEYOND THE EYES - FASHION LOOKS FOR FALL Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

AFRICAN BIG BRANDS & ENTERTAINMENT - THEHFCORRELATION!

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

Inside

Editorial EDITOR Akudo Abengowe PROJECT COORDINATOR Myke Pam SENIOR STAFF WRITER Patrick Chilaka STAFF WRITER Aisosa Okundaye PHOTOGRAPHY Ibraheem Tiamiyu

VOLUME 1, EDITION 1.

COVERS

18. Nse: Here comes the Quintessential

Diva

IT Tunde Ariyo-Mayowa GRAPHIC DESIGN Ubi Demus Odemaina

50. Ice Prince: The zamanic

BUSINESS DEV EXECUTIVE Chioma Udensi

Invasion

SUB COVERS 34. DJ Zeez: Poised To

p18

Music

p86 6

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTS Morenikeji Sadare ADMIN Bola Agbaje SOLICITOR TRLP Law

HF Magazine is published monthly by WPSL. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or part is prohibited.

86. Anne Emmanuel Ibrahim: Fusing Love &

p34

31. Reality TV Africa 77 - 83. HF Specials 41 - 44. E-Africa 12. Box Office 84. Gone With The Wind?

14. 30 Minutes With ....

30. Random Musings

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16. Brand New 90. Power Couples 92. Rockers vs Fakers: Spotting The Difference

SALES Bose Aruwajoye

HF MAGAZINE Plot 39, Block 81, Chief Collins Uchiduino, Off Fola Osibo St, Lekki Phase 1 Lagos, Nigeria.

Conquer

REGULARS

info@hfmagazineonline.com hf_magazine hfmagazine hfmagazine hfmagazine www.hfmagazineonline.com

p59

REVIEWS 37. Movie: The Single And Married 26. Music: Once Upon A Time 89. Soap: Kamson And Neighbours 45. TV: Video Boom And Cinema Doom

FASHION 28. HF Lifestyle 59. HF Insert

p16

94. Street trendz Africa

p50

96. African Super Brands And Entertainment: The Correlation

p28

p74 p90

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF

GUEST LIST

EDITORIAL TEAM OLUMIDE OGUNTIMEHIN Olumide Oguntimehin is a seasoned entertainment writer and artiste manager spanning years in the Nigerian media industry. He has worked with Splendor International Magazine etc. he likes to be addressed as ‘an entertainer’. Olumide has deep passion for writing especially entertainment related stories and continues to push the boundaries in the new genre of journalism. He totally loves music, movies and dancing.

MYKE PAM PROJECT COORDINATOR Myke Pam is a dreadlock Rasta man, Reggae musician, music producer and a creative visual director with years experience spanning movies, musical videos, documentaries, docu-dramas, television commercials, sitcoms, pageantry and biopics. A journalist of repute, and a 3 time national publicity secretary of the Performing Musicians’ Employers Association of NigeriaPMAN, he can be best described as an unassuming creative powerhouse, having worked directly or indirectly with most of the biggest names in the Nigerian entertainment and creative industries. A prolific reader, happliy married with two kids and

OKUNDAYE AISOSA STAFF WRITER Aisosa known as a ‘funny guy’, an international studies and diplomacy graduate, who is very passionate about journalism. He enjoys free-lance writing, a good hang-out, dancing and swimming.

Otherwise, he can be a sarcastic person and has low tolerance for lazy people. The love of his life is…yeah…keep reading HF magazine and you just might find out. #SHINES TEETH#

an unrepentant pan-Africanist.

AKUDO ABENGOWE EDITOR Akudo is a multiple award winning writer, who has tried her hands on scriptwriting, event planning and TV presenting.

Focused and determined to succeed in life, Akudo is spurned by any creative challenge. Believing in the HF dream, she is passionate about making a difference in entertainment journalism genre. Her biggest ambition is to become a published author. Her favorite quote is ‘life is full of surprises; you have to try and blend in at all times’

UBI DEMUS ODEMIANA CREATIVE ARTIST Demus is a strong minded creative artist with many creative designs to his credit. He encapsulates a humorous, dependable, selfless and caring personality not failing to mention an eccentric part of him mostly associated with artist/ creative minds. With a B. A. in Fine and Applied Arts, Demus believes that he is separate from most artists professionally by the quote “graphic art is very simple, that is why it is so complicated”. He loves to laugh and hates dis-honesty and lies. He is married and completely sold out in dedication to his loving wife and son.

8

MAYOWA TUNDE-ARIYO IT ADMINISTATOR Mayowa is a quiet outgoing person who is crazy about music, movies and all forms of entertainment. A graduate of Lagos State University, he likes fun people and reads a lot. His dislikes are boredom and lies.

PATRICK CHILAKA SENIOR STAFF WRITER Patrick is a masters degree wielding journalist with 11 years experience spanning three media houses. For him, work is fun and also a means of livelihood. His biggest dream is to make international fame with HF Magazine.

His favorite quote:’ Never stop believing’.

IBRAHIM TIAMIYU PHOTOGRAPHER Ibrahim is a professional photographer whose wealth of experience can be gleaned from his numerous celebrity and action orientated shots. As a freelance photographer, he has worked with St Eve’s Magazine as an in-house photographer and some events organizations. Ibrahim’s dedication and sense of duty remains his most endearing HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1. attributes. Nicknamed ‘Haykins’ by friends, Ibrahim loves playing football and reading.

TOKS FAHM-AJAYI Toks Ajayi is a US based Nigerian entrepreneur and owner of tressesbytoks, which provides authentic premium human hair for the sophisticated and chic African woman. This wife and mother of two educates us more on hair and hair extensions in her article.

ELOMIE OTOTOBOR Elomie Geraldine Otobor is a stylist and former style editor of Complete Fashion magazine. The Edo born happily married lady loves fashion with a passion and has styled many celebrities in Nigeria.

She also runs a personal business and can give you a great fashion tip even if woken from deep sleep.

Her article and styling for the celebrities and models in the magazine are testament to her vast knowledge of fashion.

SHAMSUDEEN ABDUL Shamsudeen Adeiza Abdul, a native of Okene, Kogi state, is a published author, program producer, editor and a one time deputy director of Nigeria Film Corporation Jos. He has social conscious books such as, The Wailing Masses, The Campus Freaks, The Extremists, The Cradle of Film, The El-Rufai Revolution in Abuja, Goodluck Nigeria and several television screenplays to his credit. Shamus as he is popularly called, has deep passion for writing and is always eager to put his creative energy to work. His articles for this issue of HF Magazine are educating but at same time reflective in its frankness. Shamus is married with children, wildly travelled and a very jolly good fellow.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF

HF

From The Editor

Africa,Africa

I

My

remember watching the movie 2012 featuring Nigeria’s Chiwetel Ejiofor two years ago, where the ship landed in Africa after the destruction of earth and Africa was called the New Civilization. I felt goose bumps on my body as it dawned on me that Africans are yet to realize our potentials, and how much the world needs our beam in their otherwise seeming darkness.

A peek into history shows that ancient Egypt was among the first civilizations in the world, and where is Egypt located, in Africa. This means that Africa has so much to offer the world and it’s about time we rose to the occasion. To each his own then, in our efforts to make a change, each individual will use what we have to achieve same goal. So for us who have strong interest in entertainment, we will use what we have to get what we want. It’s all about taking our place in the exalted committee of nations.

MAKING OF THE COVER

After series of meetings, months of planning and brainstorming sessions, the magazine that you have in your hands, High Flyers (HF) was born. Trust me, it wasn’t an easy feat, because the vision we have and the mission we intend to achieve is huge. And it’s gonna get more challenging as the months roll by, but I can assure you that, the HF team is ready to make the difference in African entertainment journalism and do it like it has never been done on this continent.

Why entertainment? You may ask. Entertainment is arguably one of the biggest export in Africa. We have African songs being remixed and danced to around the wold. We have international celebrities doing collabos with African music artistes and they even sign them to their record labels. We have Hollywood actors and directors adding their qouta to African movies. Needless to say entertainment personalities, are the biggest influencers and opinion makers and that is why major brands use them as their ambassadors, to win consumers interests and patronage.

Entertainers can also be called seers, as they foresee the future. A Fela Kuti, for example will be rolling in his grave today, because all his political forecasts of yester years has come to pass. I was at a concert recently where Daddy Showkey boasted that everything he ever predicted about Nigeria and some other African nations are happening currently and can you blame him. For my generation, I can do a head count of those who can recount the national anthems and pledges of their respective countries without a pause in-between to remember the lines. It is even worse for the younger generation, who practically know the names of all songs, movies and reality shows without much as remembering the names of the different countries in Africa, talk more of their capitals and heads of government.

Back to HF magazine before I bore you with African politics. HF Magazine is a pan African Magazine whose mission is to celebrate African entertainment and eventually bring positive international acclaim to this talent-filled continent. I don’t want to give too much away, I can only say flip through the pages and you will be amazed at our collection of African stories, interviews and articles. Our fashion and beauty pages are to die for. I daresay we are the first of its kind and we intend to remain so.

Let us celebrate Africa the High Flyers way. Keep a date with us next month.

Until then, I remain Akudo Abengowe.

Nuff said.

10 HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

Akudo Abengowe

info@hfmagazineonline.com hf_magazine hfmagazine hfmagazine hfmagazine www.hfmagazineonline.com

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF

BOX

HF

OFFICE

DAMAGE NAME OF MOVIE: Jombo-Rodriguez PRODUCER: Uc he July, 2011 PREMIERE DATE: DGET: Unknown PRODUCTION BU , 500 TICKET PRIZE: N1 e Not very impressiv SALES RETURNS:

AFRICA

Compiled By Aisosa Okundaye. Words By Myke Pam

NAME OF MOVIE: MR. AND MRS. PRODUCER: Chinwe Egwagwu PREMIERE DATE: December 2, 2011 PRODUCTION BUDGET: Unknown SALES OF TICKET: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: Well received

NAME OF MO VIE: I’LL TAKE M Y CHANCES PRODUCER: Em em Isong PREMIERE DATE : February 24, 2012 PRODUCTION BUDGET: Unknow n TICKET PRIZE: N 1, 500 SALES RETURN S: Impressive

is Africa’s premier movie Box Office directory. Working in association with reputable producers, film makers and cinemas around the continent, we aim to present the most authentic catalogue of standard feature films and home videos made in Africa or in the Diaspora by Africans. The criteria for adjudging these works are based on the stories/plots, picture and sound quality, directorial/acting proficiency as well as the financial returns from the cinemas where these films are screened. This first edition’s compilation looks at the records of two major Nigerian Cinemas, Silverbird and Genesis Deluxe.

HF Magazine Box Office

NAME OF MOVIE: ANCHOR BABY PRODUCER: Lonzo Nzekwe PREMIERE DATE: De cember 10, 2010 PRODUCTION BUDG ET: Unknown TICKET PRIZE: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: No t impressive

NAME OF MOVIE: THE FIG URINE PRODUCER: Kunle Afolan yan PREMIERE DATE: Febuary 6, 2009 PRODUCTION BUDGET: N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Mil lion Naira) TICKET PRIZE: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: financia lly rewarding (exact figure unknown)

12 HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

NAME OF MOVIE: LAST FLIGHT TO ABUJA PRODUCER: Obi Emelonye PREMIERE DATE: August 3, 2012 PRODUCTION BUDGET: Unknown TICKET PRIZE: N1,500 SALES RETURNS: Not Very impressive

NAME OF MOVIE: MY LIFE MY DAMAGE PRODUCER: Uche Jombo Rodriguez PREMIERE DATE: March 1, 2013 PRODUCTION BUDGET: Unknown TICKET PRIZE: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: Unimpressive

NAME OF MOVIE: A WEEKEND GETAWAY PRODUCER: Emem Isong PREMIERE DATE: April 23, 2013 PRODUCTION BUDGET: Unknown TICKET PRIZE: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: Financially rewarding (exact figure unknown)

NAME OF MOVIE: PHONE SWAP PRODUCER: Kunle Afolanyon PREMIERE DATE: March 17, 2012 PRODUCTION BUDGET: N60,000,000 .00 (exact figure unknown) estimated TICKET PRIZE: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: Financially rewarding

1) TERS (BOOK OVIE: CHEA M F O E M A N Arase Frank Rajah PRODUCER: th y 2013 ATE: 24 Ma PREMIERE D Unknown N BUDGET: PRODUCTIO E: N1, 500 TICKET PRIZ ive RNS: impress SALES RETU

NAME OF MOVIE: THE CONTACT PRODUCER: Yvonne Okoro PREMIERE DATE: December 28, 2012 PRODUCTION BUDGET: Unknown TICKET PRIZE: N1, 500 SALES RETURNS: Impressive

According to Mr. Bayo, a staff of Silverbird Cinemas, “It is the mentality of Nigerians to pick foreign based movies over Nigerian and African productions at the cinemas. Another factor responsible for the low patronage of Nollywood/African pictures at cinemas is the fact that Nigerians are willing to wait till such movies are aired on cable television or commercially released before they endeavor to see the works.

R BOY NAME OF MOVIE: MIRRO nye elo Em i Ob : PRODUCER 14, 2011 PREMIERE DATE: January £250,000 PRODUCTION BUDGET: 0 SALES OF TICKET: N1, 50 received ely rag Ave : NS UR SALES RET

Also speaking in the same vein, Mr. Sunday Godwin a staff of Genesis Deluxe Cinemas opined that “tickets of foreign movies sell more than indigenous ones here and a high percentage of the patronage comes from women and children.” He added that most times, the staffers have to convince people who come to the cinema to watch indigenous movies. He concluded by saying that out of every 100 cinema patrons, only 20 would see African movies.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF

HF

30 MINUTES WITH...

CHRIS UBOSI CEO MEGALETRICS LTD

STILL PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS FIRST

LOVE

bulk of its listenership. Of course, it can be distinguished by the kind of music that is played on the platform. Naija FM on its own part is a station that infuses comedy in their programming and presentation style, which is very unique. It is also a station for all Nigerian languages and slangs. It is a true Nigerian FM. We are indeed very happy with our modest achievements.

My Broadcast Media Challenges

Megalectrics primarily operates in the broadcast sector, running the Beat Fm, Classic Fm and Naija FM. All of them are specialized stations that cater for specific audience and interests. We are also consultants for other private broadcast stations, as well as for states and federal governments.

Because we ensured we did lots of researches before we started, we were able to fill the gaps we discovered in the market, which is one of the reasons why Classic FM is in a world of its own. Classic FM is the home of classic sounds of yester-years while Beat FM is the most popular amongst the youth who form the

Security is also another major challenge we face. We are very close to Obalende, and this is because we love being close to our people, but when a minor riot broke out some time ago some hoodlums broke into the station and vandalized our properties.

14 HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

The issue of multiple-taxation is another challenge that can never be over emphasized. We are being taxed by the state governments, federal government and some other agencies of the government, and there are no clear laws on how they operate.

My Passion

The major challenges that we experience are mostly the same issues affecting other sectors of the economy. We have challenges with power supply; we are running 24 hour stations and have to be on air for 24 hours daily, and of course we need electricity to achieve that. But that is nowhere to be found, so we depend on diesel to operate. If I add what I spend on diesel to my profit, I will indeed be very happy. Most times when I tell people how much we spend on diesel per annum, they find it very hard to believe. It is far more than what some companies earn as gross profit per annum.

The Radio And I

We in Megalectrics don’t believe we are competing only with people in Nigeria only but our international counterparts. We are very strong on the web; we have applications for IPods, Blackberry phones, I-phones and android phones. Half of our listeners are based abroad, we are trying to meet the international practice and standards. So we make sure our programs are world class. We have to spend a lot of money on training and equipments. Worse still, because of the labour crisis in Nigeria, you might invest heavily on a staff and he would decide to quit and go elsewhere at the end of the day.

I know Lagos needs a lot of money but that should not be at the expense of the people who live in the state. There should be a bit of give and take approach to it.

Words By Myke Pam

A tall hunk with a knack for perfection and an unassuming disposition which belies the many giant strides he has taken to complete a triple media lap, a truly tremendous feat and triumph in a saturated industry. With well over 20 years experience in broadcast media management, Chris Ubosi the head honcho of MegaLetrics Limited, the Operators of Beat 99.9 FM, Classic 97.3 FM and Naija FM 102.7, (three specialized indigenous radio stations in Nigeria) is honestly living it up and making his dreams come true. In this exclusive chat with HF’s Akudo Abengowe and Myke Pam, he lets us into his amazing world of opportunities.

We also spend a lot of money training and molding our staff to the level of competence needed to attain our set goals.

Broadcast media has always been my passion, so I am not here primarily for the money. What propels me is the fact that you are able to help mold and change opinions on the platform because when you are on radio, people listen to you. If you say anything on air, your phone rings immediately. In the midst of crisis we are able to connect opinions and people compare opinions too. Obviously, I can make more money doing something else, but unfortunately this has always been my first love. I don’t see myself leaving broadcasting.

I also run a construction company as well but this is where I sit every morning.

Because it gives me joy.

Relaxing My Way

I relax when I work because I find joy in what I do. I also believe that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

To me, work is not so much a stress that I have to step out to relax; I can do that while at work too. And I like music a lot, my choice of music depends on my mood at any moment.

Aside that, I love playing tennis a lot, that’s the only time work is out of my mind and I’m occupied with how best I can beat that man opposite me.

I always tell people to be the best they can in anything they do.

What Life Has Taught Me

I always tell people to be the best they can in anything they do.

When some people look at me, they can’t help but envy my position, forgetting the fact that I actually worked for someone for 23 years. My mates are managing directors in banks, senators and governors. You shouldn’t take a snap shot of the present situation because you don’t know what the person has passed through before getting to the present position.

The Ubosi Family

I am happily married to Ijeoma Ubosi with three wonderful kids. I have four brothers and a sister. We lost our dad 17years ago but my mum is still alive and healthy.

Music And I

My taste in music is eclectic; it all depends on my mood. I listen to all kinds of music. I can sing along to Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, Bennie man and so many others.

To me it’s all about the sound, even if I don’t understand the language. Music is a beautiful thing; it calms the nerves, soothes the soul and makes you happy. I just love music.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF

ARTISTE: DAVIDO

SONG TITLE: ROTATE

SONG TITLE: SKELEWU RECORD LABEL: TMZ COUNTRY: NIGERIA ‘Dami duro’ was the song that set the big ball, cash and recognition rolling for this tattoo loving songster. With unrelenting tenacity, Davido dropped the monster hit, ‘gobe’ which went on to establish the young man as a hit-maker to watch. ‘One of a kind’, a song modeled after the pulsating Jamaican reggae vibes finally cemented Davido’s claim to stardom. With it came endorsements, big stage shows and the works. This time, it is the heavy hitting party banger he aptly tagged “skelewu” that is burning up the dance floors everywhere you go. Any disk jockey that knows his game is busy slamming this jam right about now. Now, do you really wanna get rocking? Then listen up.

This is the bomb!

COUNTRY: NIGERIA

ARTISTE: ZAINA FEAT WAYNE

RECORD LABEL: MAVEN

WONDER

RECORDS

SONG TITLE: TOTALLY YOURS

This former MO HITS and MAVEN

COUNTRY: NIGERIA/JAMAICA

Records hit maker, the black boy

LABEL: SOUL MUZIK

with the voice, Wande Coal is kick-

This cross Atlantic musical marriages

ing up some dust after a musical

between Nigeria and Jamaica is coming

Compiled By Aisosa Okundaye, Words By Akudo Abengowe

ARTISTE: WANDE COAL

Compiled By Aisosa Okundaye, Words By Myke Pam

BRAND NEW MUSIC

HF HOUSE OF NELSON

GOLD

BY

YVONNE

FELIX, KING OF THE ROBERTA DURRANT

SAX;

BY

Ghanian actress Yvonne Nelson is flying high, she

Felix is a South African film with an all star cast. A

just released her third movie “House of Gold” which

story of dreams, betrayals and family, watching the

features a loaded cast of some of the best names

trailer made us thirst for more.

within the Nigerian film and music industry.

Starring Dame Janet Suzman (from Nuns on the Run), Linda Sokhulu (from Isidingo and Generations)

House of Gold is set against the background of Mr

in her feature debut; and newcomer Hlayani

Dab Ansah Williams life, a high flying entrepreneur/

Mabasa, its a film by Roberta Durrant.

14-year-old Felix Xaba dreams of becoming a jazz musician like his late father, Zweli, a famous

Brand New

Movies

saxophonist. His mother Lindiwe fears her son will indeed end up like his dad: a drunk who squandered

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN BY BIYI BANDELE

lacuna. And this one is for the ladies

on the heels of a few other successfully

like always. The song Rotate, a

consecrated marriage of similar leanings.

Nigerian novelist Chiamanda Adichie had cause

club-banger is vintage WC. Here is

The icing on this particularly tasty cake

to shine again months back when her book “Half

hoping that this racy song will give

is that the Jamaican Mr . W onder has

Of A Yellow Sun” was adapted into a film and

Wande the much needed push in

never done anything like this before with

his quest to rotate aplenty!

a Nigerian act. Totally Yours is a love song

business mogul, polygamist and socialite, who has

that is guaranteed to touch that sensually

cancer with only 6 weeks to live according to his

emotional part of you that is mostly

doctors. He embarks on a mission to bring all his

With a second version of the trailer from the same

untouchable. Listen up!

children back home – most of whom were born out

film appearing on YouTube again, its only a matter of

debuted with an official trailer online via the Toronto International Film Festival‘s website.

of wedlock with help from his legal representative.

The re-union proves a little more than everyone bargained for as each child returns with an agenda, setting the stage for the most hilarious and bizarre 7 days of their lives, at the end they realize that there is just too much for too many. Nigerian music stars Ice Prince, Omawunmi and Idol 2 winner Mercy

his money in the taverns before drinking himself

Chinwo act alongside Ghanaian actors Majid

to death. Lindiwe’s ambitions for her son exclude

ARTISTE: EEDRIS ABDULKAREEM

Michel and Eddie Watson. They all had high flying

jazz, which she bans from her home as ‘the devil’s

ARTISTE: DJ VETKUK VS

FT FEMI KUTI

roles in the movie. The movie is directed by Pascal

music.’ Felix gets scholarship at an elitist private

MAHOOTA FEAT DE MALINGA

SONG TITLE: TRIBUTE TO FELA

ARTISTE: D’PRINCE FT DON JAZZY AND

Amanfo.

school and defies his mother by turning to aging

time before the main film is released for the viewing

SONG TITLE: VIA ORLANDO

COUNTRY: NIGERIA

WANDE COAL

members of his father’s old band to help him

pleasure of fans who are waiting eagerly to see the

COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA

RECRD LABEL: KENNIS MUSIC

SONG TITLE: JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND

prepare for the school jazz concert.

movie.

LABEL:

This special tribute song from the

MILE

Repping the rainbow nation

lyrically hard hitting Lakreem egghead

COUNTRY: NIGERIA

He tries to give a jazz fundraiser to reclaim his dad’s

Half of a Yellow Sun” is directed by Biyi Bandele

where Madiba is still holding

and widely acclaimed Mister Hip

LABEL: MAVEN RECORDS

sax from a pawnshop. But his mother is appaled

and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika

sway are the irresistible duo

Hop, Eedris Abdulkareem is truly

True to his time tested ill production skills,

by his actions and refuses to attend his event.

Noni Rose, Nollywood stars Genevieve Nnaji, Gloria

of Dj Vetkuk and Mahoota. In

long overdue. A song featuring the

the don dada of the new generation Naija

TORN BY MOSES INWANG

She eventaully changes her mind and attends the

Young, Zach Orji, Onyeka Onwenu and Tina Mba.

this one featuring Malinga, the

king of Afrobeat, Femi Anikulapo Kuti

beats and the president of the defunct

Torn was written, directed and produced by Moses

concert. During the finale, Felix is overcome when

head bumpers are at it again,

celebrating the unforgettable originator

hit-making label Mo Hits, Don Jazzy lyrically

Inwang. The movie tells a psychological and

he sees his siblings dragging his mother into the

Half of a Yellow Sun has been selected as the

making the ladies go woozy in

of that universal genre of music can

teams up with his biological brother D’Prince

emotional story of Ovu

auditorium. He announces that there will be a

Opening Night Gala Film for the Trinidad & Tobago

the right places. A must listen

only be described as unputdownable.

and erstwhile label mate Wande Coal in this

and Nana who believe

“surprise encore” dedicated to his late father, Tata

Film Festival 2013.

for all the headies

Check this out!

journey of a thousand miles. This is hard

they are married to the

Zweli, and his mother Lindiwe, “who is only a little bit

grinding musical journey that is definitely on

same man, Olumide.

late.”

the lookout for more pilgrims. Are you game?

It appears that one of the two friends is lying,

A trumpet sounds offstage. Felix leads the Bozza

or possibly mentally

Boys onstage and they do a foot-stomping, show-

ill. A top psychologist

stopping number, which gets even Mr. Murray

begins

unraveling

and Mrs. Cartwright dancing in the aisle. When

the truth behind the

Felix does a star turn, Lindiwe ululates in the front

façade of a seemingly

row. She is at last a happy mama, and, like his father

ARTISTE: MAFIKIZOLO FT UHURU

happy young couple

before him, Felix has become “king of the sax.”

SOUTH AFRICA: KHONA

and their perfect family friend.

COUNTRY: SOUTH AFRICA LABEL: KALAWA RECORDS

A song that binds beautiful people with clearly divergent musical depth and style known as kwaito must definitely set the pulse of any musical curator racing, and this is exactly what is been served in the sumptuous musical buffet! Mafkizolo and Uhuru will keep you on your feet all night long with Khona. It is vintage South!

16 HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

Felix was shot in Cape Town, South Africa, written Torn is a story of friendship, love, and betrayal,

by Shirley Johnston and produced by Penguin

which takes a look at mental illnesses in Nigeria. It

Films. The trailer for this film is already on YouTube

stars actors like Iretilola Doyle, Joseph Benjamin,

with a launch date coming soonest.

Monalisa Chinda, Bimbo Manuel, Julius Agwu and Femi Ogendengbe as some of the lead cast. The movie premiered on July 27th 2013.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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N S E

HERE COMES THE QUINTESSENTIAL

a v i D Words By Myke Pam, Hair Style By Nse, Makeup By House Of TARA,

Styled By Elomie Ototobor, Photogaphy By Moussa Moussa

18 HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

HF

W

atching her enter a room for the first time at close range, you are assailed with a figure so serene that you wonder if you are in a highly regulated corporate environment, instead of her homey abode which she shares with her equally creative siblings. She also comes across as a hardnosed, serious minded lady whose mien can be likened to the legendary British iron lady.

To your pleasant surprise, all these Meir Golda inspired pictures and thoughts slowly sprints away from your subconscious mind after a couple of minutes with her, because when this beautiful and classy thespian opens her mouth, the ironclad facade gives way to a fun loving, creative and appealingly laid back friend, listener and cheerleader.

Nse Ikpe Etim can be the life of a party anytime she so desires. And she can also be completely indifferent if the mood so swings. Her eloquently frank and incisive comportment in dissecting any topic or question thrown at her will leave even a highly decorated professor with a dint of envy. One wonders if the deceptive demeanor is a throwback from her days as a banker with the nation’s apex bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria.

A Theatre Arts graduate of famed University of Calabar, a renowned citadel of higher learning in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Nse kicked off the interview at the studio shoot session with some lighthearted banters, and of course, a dose of that disarming smiles you see in some of her movie scenes. Yes, that same charmer which has endeared her to a lot fans!

With the alluring smile still in place, Nse got down to business by recalling her first break in Nollywood; “I actually broke into the industry twice. The first time was in 1996, the year I graduated from the university, I did Venom of Justice (Part Two). After that of course, there was the issue that acting was not the job and the family and my mum were going on and on and I was like okay, let us go ahead and give you what you want and I got into banking, after all you guys have been here for me. So I tried my hands at banking, television, radio and fashion.

Then, in 2008, Emem Isong came around with the script of Reloaded, I guess I can say that when God wants you he sends people to you, because that is what it was”.

Asked if juggling all that jobs makes her a jack of all trades, Ikpe Etim retorts; “No, I am versatile. The truth is that you can do anything you want to do.

Let me say something, you were made in an image, right? God’s image, can God do all things? Yes! Then, you can do all things in Christ who strengthens you,

Neck-piece and earring- Playtime Jewellery Tank top- Total wrap boutique Leather and jersey pants- Total wrap Shoes –Hot stepper boutique

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HF so there is nothing you cannot do. You chose to do the things you want to do out of passion and out of the fact that you think they are better for you, but honestly I can sell pepper, it is still the same thing, isn’t it?.”

Tank top- Bejewelled Koncept Skirt –EBI House of fashion Shoes- Hot stepper boutique Ring – Playtime jewellery Earrings –Stylist’s wardrobe

Pursuing the versatility question a bit further, our guest was asked to explain how she pulls off such contrastingly demanding roles in different productions with the same ease and elegance that seems to stick to her like a second skin; “First of all, I don’t want to say the fact that I studied Theater Arts is core, but in the same vein, I think it was a good way to find out if I had any talent whatsoever.

But, I think I would say if you have got passion, you can find that which you believe is not there, and it is also helpful when you work with people who are willing to push you where you never would dare.

You’ve got your directors, your fellow actors, even the man who pulls the wire, and when everyone is in synergy, they all help you bring that which you think you did not have. So I don’t think it is an effort that I have been able to achieve on my own, it has been a collective effort of everyone that I have ever worked with.”

As the interview progresses, Nse begins to unfold more, she becomes enchantingly down to earth as she calmly takes on the question of her success secrets and the issue of a genderless movie industry akin to the legal profession; “There is no gender in the theatre. And when you say actress it means you are limiting me to what I can do and limiting the man too. The genderless situation started during the Italian Renaissance, because at that period we did not have women who got on stage, so men would act as women and be called actors, and when a woman tried it, she acted as a man all through, and so it stuck that everyone was an actor. And at the point when women started coming, really they were all actors. So, there is gender equality if you want to call it that (laughs). As for my success secrets, I would say that the key in been successful is not knowing that you are, and knowing that you have to try hard every time, you have to be better than your last job every time. So, I am constantly fighting to be better than the last movie I did. It is not easy because sometimes you get tired, sometimes you think the characters are similar, but it is left for you as an actor to bring something to the table. Your reactions can be different which is why the actors constantly assimilate, be good listeners and good watchers so as to learn from people’s mannerisms, actions and reactions.”

Warming up to the movie discuss, this respectable A-List actor of commendable poise who has featured in a lot of well received flicks like MR and MRS, Phone Swap, Inale, Black Gold and Kiss and Tell amongst so many others, recalls the initial challenges she encountered as a new kid on the block back in the days; “Coming up as a fresh face, a new face, you

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Dress – Total wrap Earrings – Playtime Jewellery Shoes –Total wrap boutique

are not seen as a commercial product, you are not marketable. One has to take risks. In taking risks, its either you are offered a sum, you look at it and say oh, should I really do this? But, who are you to even say no? If you’ve got passion, the money won’t matter at the time, but then as you grow, you make your talent known and people begin to appreciate you as a person. And when God graces you with favour, and you are somewhat okay commercially, then people will start seeking you out.”

This natural hair spotting, tank top and jeans wearing celebrity whose most expensive wardrobe purchase is a pair of shoes (either flats or heels), believes in using ‘more natural stuff’ on her skin and currently feels no qualms about her huge celebrity crush on trendy Pierce Brosnan and dainty Collin Farrel.

Here she narrates her relationship with the different roles she has played so far; “Every character I have played has deposited something in me, one thing or the other. It comes with the terrain, especially if you are a method actor. Sometimes you go out and someone calls a name that you have played, not addressing you, you turn and then you realize, oh!

And there are times when you react like the person would have reacted, and then you say, no, this is not me. So, you constantly have to search for you, so as to get a balance. Some actors say they leave a tiny space so they can connect back to themselves, but then, that tiny space can make you lose a scene”.

Continuing, she confesses that an opinion poll on her friends assessing her person would read something like this; “That Nse? You just have to love her to love her. You have to accept her for who she is. It is either you love her or you don’t love her. It is too extreme. You cannot be middle grounds with me as a friend. I don’t give a lot and I really do not expect a lot, but if we say we are friends, then that is the way it is going to be”.

A very good cook who got initiated into the art of kitchen mastery by totally messing up her father’s palate, Nse recalls “I was 13 the first time I ever cooked for my father, I made Egusi soup and it was horrible. The Melon was on one side, the Water was on one side (laughs). I pounded the yam and it had lumps in it. Yes, that was the worst meal I ever made. Cooking is one of the things I am very passionate about, because I like to feed people. It is also a way that I relax and let out tension, if I am

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Tank top – Stylist’s wardrobe Pants- Total wrap boutique Shoes-Hot stepper boutique Earrings and neck-piece- Playtime Jewellery Wristwatch and bracelet- Stylist wardrobe

In a downrightly witty description of herself, she avails that “I am very lazy, (laughs) yes I am, I am somewhat lazy. I don’t like to do anything. I don’t like to get out of bed. I am boyish-girlish, because I don’t like to dress up and I am not the make-up type. I just like to be natural, just chill, just be easy, basically. I crack a lot of jokes, I am very silly, I can be emotional and I can be horrible too, but I am fun to be with.”

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HF mad or angry, I just walk into a kitchen, be sure that I would cook up something. In the middle of the night when I cannot sleep, I go into the kitchen and cook up something. If I am hanging out with friends and we are having a few drinks and we get bored, the stories are getting interesting, I would just get up straight to the kitchen and rustle up something”.

A devout Catholic who gets Rosaries as gifts from some of her ardent Catholic fans, also avers that; “life is not full of roses, but when you achieve what it is that you plan to achieve, if you die along the line, then you lived well,” Nse is right now engrossed with two movies she has seen over and over again, The Gladiator and August Rush ‘because of their beautiful story lines’.

Jacket-EBI House of fashion Skirt – Hephzibah stores Earrings and neckpiece- Playtime Jewellery Shoes- Nykaysflo boutique Brooch- Stylist’s wardrobe

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Having warmed up totally to the HF crew and with the curtain about to be drawn on this exclusive interview, the questions now inevitably tilted towards her recently contracted marriage to a senior lecturer based in the United Kingdom; how they met, the grits, the chills and all the other juicy details that are inexorably entwined with such intimate affairs.

In her own words; “I met him 21 years ago when we were teenagers, we grew up together as friends and worked in the same bank which is the Central Bank, so we were young friends who dated and now we are married. You see, there is no excuse not to marry your friend (laughs) because there are a lot of bible teachings on marriage as a whole and what is most piercing is that you are ordered to love, and then in friendship there is love. In friendship there can be hurt, but love never goes, in friendship there is still love that will never doubt you. Your friend will never think that you did not call me, so I am pissed at you, your friend is going to make an excuse for you, your friend is going to constantly see the good even in your bad, so that is what it is like to get married to your friend”.

In conclusion, she expertly sieved out wanton materialism from true romance when she happily declared “I always say that for us, every day is valentine’s day, for us every day is Christmas, I think that is very romantic. It is not about him buying me stuff because in truth, money can buy you everything, but it is not going to buy you love, it is not going to buy you happiness, it is not going to buy you eternal joy. Yes, money is important in running your day to day activities, but I think just been himself, as loving and supportive as he has always been to me is more romantic than I can ever ask for”.

As we said our goodbyes, we felt elated and at same time more knowledgable about this talented actor.

That and her ‘easy like Sunday morning’ attitude effectively etched her in our minds’ eyes as a quintessential diva of no mean proportion.

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Dress – EBI House of fashion Bangle – Playtime jewellery Earrings – Stylist’s wardrobe Shoes- Nykaysflo boutique Dress – EBI House of fashion Bangle – Playtime jewellery Earrings – Stylist’s wardrobe Shoes- Nykaysflo boutique HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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MUSIC

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REVIEW

Once Upon A Time Artiste – Tiwa Savage Album – Once Upon A Time Features – Don Jazzy, Ice berg Slim, Sarkodie, Flavour & General Pype Producers – Don Jazzy, De l B, Gospel on de beat, Raydar Ellis, Sauce Wilso n, Spellz Magik Boi, Warren “Oak” Felder & Harmony Samuels Running Time – 01:18:41 Label – Maven Records, 323Entertainment Year – 2013

A

By Olumide Oguntimehin

fter a long awaited duration, Tiwatope Savage, a multi-talented Grammy award nominee, who became the soulful diva on the African scene in 2010, finally dropped her debut album Titled “Once Upon A time”. In this album, Tiwa Savage takes us on a fairy tale about love and other things.

Before the album, Tiwa has released music singles such as ‘Kelekele Love and Without my Heart’, these songs managed to steal our hearts and kept us anticipating and almost begging for a complete album from the songstress. After several changes in release-dates, the debut album finally came to light, with 21 tracks and different genres, from gospel to afro beat and even techno. The album was released under Mavin Records and 323Entertianment’ and features 7 producers and 5 artistes.

Here is the track-to-track review of the long awaited album; Track 1: “Once Upon A Time” this track enlightens us about the real “Tiwa Savage” and her journey into the music world.

Track 2: “Wanted” Tiwa amazes us with this second track.

Wanted is produced by western hit-maker ‘Warren “Oak” Felder’ who has worked with the likes of Rihanna, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Alicia Keys etc.

Track 3: “Ileke” this is an afro pop track dedicated to the ladies. And a pretty applause to every successful female in the Nigerian entertainment industry. This song easily gets the party started and will probably become a smash hit owing to its Gospel intoxicating drum dominated afro beat instrumentations; Tiwa gets her feminism started by urging females to shake their Ibadi (waist). She calls on prominent female figures (Linda Ikeji, Weird MC, Ita Giwa, Rita Dominic etc) to shake their waists.

Track 4: “Middle Passage” this song is international and very catchy. This track shows Tiwa’s vocal abilities in a new light, highlighting her lower register.

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Track 5: “Olorun Mi” is a sober track dedicated to the ones we’ve lost to the cold hands of death. Savage sings a narrative song with rhythmic verses.

Track 6: “Why Don’t You Love Me” A major mood swing as Tiwa Savage dares her man on ‘Why Don’t Love Me’? This song is well composed and I believe it will catch the attention of many ladies.

Track 7: “Fela Interlude” This skit samples Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s Lady. And Tiwa gave this track an R & B feel.

Track 8: “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” No doubt since the track was released as a single, the track easily gave Tiwa out as a diva who will soon rule the industry. ‘Love Me, Love Me, Love Me’ is heavy! There is no denying this diva the love and attention she demands. Credit to Harmony Samuels.

Track 9: “Eminado (feat. Don Jazzy)” Eminado is a real African song. A very good collaboration with Don Baba. I can’t wait to hear this song in major clubs and air stations.

Track 10: “Folarin” Tiwa Savage never disappoints when it comes to mid-tempo pop candies and ‘Folarin’ is another sweet from the Maven crew, we highly recommend. Spellz “Magik Boi” provides a groovy siren-filled instrumentation and Savage layers her soft voice in a wande coal vocal style.

Track 11: “Oh Yeah (feat. Don Jazzy)” produced by Don Jazzy, this song has a funky house feel. But I guess there is much on Tiwa Savage and Don Jazzy collaboration already.

Track 12: “Shout out (feat. Iceberg Slim & Sarkodie)” She enlists the rap services of Ghana’s finest Sarkodie and Iceberg Slim on the ultra cool and classy party track, a smooth track with a hip hop infusion.

Track 13: “Written All Over Your Face” A sexy and romantic track for the mature mind, this song is about…ahem…SEX, going down south to be precise. But I keep wondering what inspired her to write such amorous song.

Track 14: “Get Low” Apparently this song is dedicated to her man, TJ Billz. She sings about giving her man a pleasure that he had never enjoyed before; this track delivers a glittering atmosphere that is almost like laying under the stars beside a tree, just thinking.

Track 15: “Ife Wa Gbona (Leo Wonder)” Ife Wa Gbona, an indisputably romantic song. It’s a good combination from Tiwa and Leo and an amazing production from SoSick. If this is

what love sounds like, I would not mind falling into it.

Track 16: Eji Ma Fia (feat. Trafic): The Makosa tune shows the melodious side of Tiwa’s voice. This is one of the best tracks in this album. It ends with a radio skit.

Track 17: Baby Mo (feat. Flavour): is an Eastern-centric highlife track that gets people to the dance floor. Tiwa and Flavour bring their magic to the scene once again.

Track 18: “Stand as one (feat. General Pype)” this inspirational reggae song is a‘Spellz’ production. A motivational song that renews hope for the hopeless. I will classify it as reggae gospel.

Track 19: “Thank You” a dedicated track to thank the Lord and those who contributed to her success. Plunging deeper into the gospel genre is ‘Thank You’, Tiwa Savage is appreciative for God’s blessing and shows it in a ‘praise’ ‘style.

The album ends with 2 bonus tracks; “Without My Heart (feat. Don Jazzy)” and KeleKele: (Tiwa Savage, Harmony Samuels) Tiwa’s signature song which catapulted the songbird to the top of the musical chain; ‘Kele Kele’ is timeless.

Despite the slight release delay of the album, Tiwa Savage’s debut effort in the Nigerian market was worth the wait. On ‘Once Upon A Time’ she strays from her traditional R&B roots and tries her hands on new sounds.

pass mark for this wonderful and entertaining album. She has proved it to everybody that she has come to stay, win and conquer the entertainment world. Kudos also goes to all the featured artistes and producers on the album. Throughout one of her most vulnerable songs, Tiwa shows off her pitch perfect tone and vocal range. With hints of bluesy horns and sweeping drums, this album will strike you through the heart. And, as the final chorus ends, you will melt as Tiwa belts out, “And if it ain’t you, then it’s just not worth it.”

“Tiwa’s ode to love is stripped down and a perfect reminder of the sincerity that defined R&B songs in the 1990s.”

With the combination of different music genre, she has been able to produce an album that accommodates her song writing and her pop ambitions.

While anyone with a heart could blast this album without skipping a beat, “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” is the obvious standout track of “Once Upon A Time.” Tiwa’s ode to love is stripped down and a perfect reminder of the sincerity that defined R&B songs in the 1990s. The lyrics are simple enough to let the emotion spill out of the speakers and stand on their own. I will give Tiwa a HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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G N I D N E TR FASHION Words by Akudo Abengo we

PANTY HOSE

COLOUR SOCKS

Pantyhose is a sheer, close-fitting legwear, covering a girl’s body from the waist

Who would have thought a time would come when men would be very

to the feet. It appeared in the 1960s, and was a great replacement for stock-

interested in colours to even incorporate it in their outfits? Well, that

ings. It is a hot fashion item now and something I would love to see African

time is now and men are rocking colours, particularly the colour socks.

women wear more often than the regular tights or leggings.

Bright purple, red, orange, yellow, Kelly green, turquoise, and royal blue

Pantyhose helps you to:

are huge right now. Also light blue, light pink, and lilac fit the mood for

1.

Look attractive

most guys. You say socks, I say colours, dear men, enjoy the colours..

2.

Ease chafing between the thighs, foot and the footwear

3.

Keep the legs and feet warm

4.

Hide blemishes, bruises, scars, hair, or varicose veins

Like it or not, this 1960’s urban fashion piece is hot as can be now. Try it and up your style.

CROP TOP When I first heard that crop top was coming back into style, I put my gym shoes on and initiated a work out session, so I can rock this trend. But for those who don’t have flat abs, don’t panic. When worn correctly,

SUSPENDERS

crop tops can be cute and quite becoming. Especially

Suspenders are fabric or leather straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers, the straps may be elastic or an

if you follow some ground rules.

attachment. Another name for suspenders is garter belt. They are as old as the year 1820 and have undergone several

DO: Rock crop tops with high-waist bottoms.

changes since. Screen icon Larry King is one suspender wearing dude and has continually made bold statements with

DONT: Wear crop tops with low-rise bottoms.

this aged yet modern fashion piece. Suspender trousers can also be used for a modern day androgynous look, creating a

DO: Find the right crop top for your body.

soft blend of Micheal Jackson and Chris Brown. With a suspender, a waist belt is not needed to complete the outfit.

DON’T: Bras are not crop tops. They’re just not.

Enough said.

DO: Wear crop tops to the beach, dinner with your boyfriend, or a night out on the town.

DON’T: Wear crop tops to work.

DO: Be confident while wearing the crop top.

TURBAN The retro look is the new cool and so is the

LOAFERS

turban. The Turban became famous through Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of Sikhs,

“Loafer” as this low lace-shoe is called, is a must-have for

who wore it specifically to care for the hair,

any fashion forward man now. The loafer first appeared

promote equality, and preserve the Sikh

in fashion in mid-1930, but has greatly increased in

identity.

popularity. It is now worn for a casual look with variants in cut, design and colours. It creates a classic yet refined

Turban is used as a head covering by many

look for the male who wants to wow admiring ladies.

cultures and religions around the world. But

Though originally men’s shoes, some loafers are also worn

the Turban is gaining grounds as a fashion

by women.

piece, as women now wear it with various outfits. Suits, jackets, jeans and casual outfits are used to pull off a trendy yet chic look with the Turban. Try one for yourself. The choice of colours is totally yours.

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REALITY TV AFRICA HF

RANDOM MUSINGS OF AN ENTERTAINMENT

JUNKIE

S With Myke Pam

tanding quietly by the entrance of a popular hangout on the island, with a half burnt stick of my favorite cigarette hanging loosely from my lips while waiting for my fellow sojourners and hardcore night crawlers, Chappy and Dozzy to join me on our quest to seek out the latest fun-spot in town.

I wasn’t actually eavesdropping, but I scooped the info when I overheard another legendary night crawler whisper the name and location of this ‘best thingy around’ as he called it, to a very beautiful girl sitting across my table inside the club earlier.

What really caught my attention was how he conspiratorially informed her that this new joint is where a beautiful girl like her should hang out as the place is supposed to be the favorite haunt of rich guys.

Trust me to seek out this hip rendezvous of happening guys. So, in order not to be left out of any serious groove happening in my neighborhood, I signaled to my friends to follow me outside. So there I was, waiting for my men this glorious Friday night, with flash bulbs bouncing off my brain as I contemplated the fun filled shindig that was about to go down in this new joint, when this sleek wonder on wheels rolled into the parking space right in front of me, narrowly missing my legs. Chagrined and feeling somewhat violated, I resolved to confront whoever was behind those wheels.

Before the occupants could disembark from the vehicle, my two friends strolled out of the club with their respective ‘handbags’ in tow. They saw me and walked over to where I was standing, hailing my name repeatedly. When I failed to reciprocate in kind, Chappy who was still 50% sober unlike Dozzy, who was about 70% off his marks asked; “what’s popping bro?”

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Seeing my friends around, in spite of their noticeable wobbly steps occasioned by the enormous quantity of alcohol in their systems emboldened me, by boosting my confidence and adding some tons of invincible muscles to my otherwise lean biceps and torsos. Fuelled on by this newfound intensified vigor, I was too charged up to answer my friends; and so, four pairs of eyes belonging to my two friends and their female consorts followed my own, staring unflinchingly at the now immobile car.

Obviously, the guys in the car must have seen the spectacle unfolding in front of the car, and in my mind’s eye were also getting ready for an inevitable showdown. So primed was I for the impending showdown that when the four doors of the car flung open, seemingly at the same time, I made ready to fly off my saddle to draw the first blood a la John Rambo in First Blood.

And then, I heard the familiar rancorous high pitched laughter followed by a specialized funkified version of my name, a corruption of my name which only three people were licensed to invoke, one of them dead and the other two domiciled abroad. That was when it dawned on me. Coming straight at me with outstretched arms and a beaming smile, dressed in what seemed like dazzling million dollar attire was my bossom friend, one of Africa’s most decorated and loved sports men ever!

Walking behind him was another friend of mine, a popular rapper and two stunningly beautiful mulatto chicks who completed this awesomely intimidating ensemble. Needless to say, the anger fled as the impending brouhaha was shelved for a frolicking night out, because after the pleasantries and back slapping, I took everybody including my drunken friends down to the aforementioned new joint for a swell time. While popping some vintage wines and generally having a good time, my wobbly friend Dozzy started hustling one of the mulatto babes who seemed unruffled by his antics.

brooding over his perceived rejection, a group of girls and boys recognized Anuk, the accomplished sporting hero and dashed in droves to mob him or something. Before you could say Anuk Nkwonwa, about 6 of the fans were lying on the floor with the 2 mulatto girls standing over them. It happened so fast that none of us apart from the sports star could properly explain what just transpired.

After they were revived, we hurriedly left the place.

My friend later confided in us that the girls are highly trained body guards with specialized skills imported from Israel! That piece of info and the action film we witnessed firsthand effectively sobered my guy Dozzy, who pointedly made it a point of duty to avoid the girls for the duration of our time together.

Every year, Africans wait in anticipation for the next season of Big Brother Africa. We follow the lives of the contestants in their 91 days stay in the reality show. We watch them bathe, eat, have sex, fight, get drunk, laugh and cry. But deep inside we wonder, what they actually hope to achieve by participating in the reality show and seemingly washing their dirty linen in public. What would make a young promising adult, have sex in front of a whole continent without much remorse and dismiss it all as ‘a game’. Is the fame really worth

WE ARE AFRICANS;

THE REALITY SHO W THAT CHANGES L IVES

it? Does BBA really change people’s lives? Well, guess this special feature on

SEASON 1 Premiered: 25 May 2003 Finale: 7 September 2003 : 106 Days

the contestants and their lives after the BBA answers our questions.

B “That was when

it dawned on me.

Coming straight at me with outstretched arms and a beaming smile, dressed in what seemed like dazzling million dollar attire was my bossom friend, one of Africa’s most decorated and loved sports men ever! “

ig Brother Africa is an African reality television competition based on the international format Big Brother and produced by Endemol South Africa. It is sponsored by M-NET Dstv, and berthed on Sunday May 25, 2003. The first contestants for season one where twelve from twelve African countries, but the number has greatly increased to twenty six contestants from fourteen African countries. The contestants live together under 24-hour camera surveillance for 91 days, and are voted out weekly by viewers until one person is crowned the winner and receives a substantial cash prize, which is currently $300,000.

The participating African countries are: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Day to day Synopsis of Big Brother Africa It can be called a mini-vacation as the contestants get off work for three and a half months, while participating in the reality show.

Their daily activities include, lounging in the Jacuzzi endlessly, achieving fifteen minutes of notoriety with their sometimes very vulgar display of affection, and the possibility of winning a huge amount of dollars. This is Big Brother Africa. The only form of ground rules are the ones dished out by Big brother, a faceless individual with an authoritative voice.

Every season has an intrigue and one of such was a swap of housemates between Africa and the Uk. This only happened in season one and Gaetano Kagwa (known as Gae) got swapped with Big Brother UK contestant Cameron Stout.

Every week, some contestants get nominated for eviction. The only people who can determine their fates are, the head of house, who can swap a nominee for another contestant and the audience, who would vote via SMS, social media and electronic media. The contestant who gets the highest votes stays in the house, while the contestant with the least vote goes back to his/her country, albeit with some celebration and a guaranteed prospect in their home country. Popularity and entertainment are key or else the viewers will eat you alive.

ABBY Abigail Brigette Plaatjies from Johannesburg & Durban, South Africa.

ALEX Alexander Kasembeli Holi from Nairobi, Kenya.

BAYO Alexander Adebayo Adetomiwa from Oturkpo, Nigeria.

BRUNA Bruna Tatiana Estivão from Luanda, Angola.

CHERISE Cherise Makubale from Kitwe, Zambia.

GAETANO Gaetano Juko Kagwa from Kampala, Uganda.

MWISHO Mwisho Mwampamba from Morogoro, Tanzania.

SAMMI Samuel Kwame Bampoe from Akropong Akwapim, Ghana.

STEFAN Stefan Ludik from Windhoek, Namibia.

TAPUWA Tapuwa Mhere from Harare, Zimbabwe.

WARONA Warona Setshwaelo from Gaborone, Botswana.

Zein Zein Dudha from Blantyre, Malawi.

SEASON ONE WINNER Full/Real Name: Cherise Makabale, Known As: Cherise Makubale, Gender: Female Status: Married, Country; Zambia, Occupation; Property Developer, NGO activist Cherise Makubale was a 24-year procurement officer from Kitwe, Zambia, when she entered the BBA house and emerged the winner three and half months later.

Her life definitely changed after winning the show. She went from a small town girl job-hunting in

The one who manages to avoid eviction until the end and garners the most audience support wins a big cash prize.

Copperbelt to an instant celebrity. She got married to her British boyfriend in October 2008 and lives in UK with her kids. She also went back to school.

Cherise is still actively involved in charity projects, such as, Awareness on HIV/AIDS, through

Claiming to be a horrible dancer, she politely declined his request for a dance. As Dozzy was

The eight season of big brother called ‘The Chase’ is ongoing, as this special feature is being written and the contestants are living up to the Chase.

UNICEF. She also raises funds for orphanages and for her Skill Centre the Cherise Makubale Resource Centre for the Disabled in Chipata and her educational park- The Cherise Kids Park. And is involved in real estate. Did BBA change her life? Oh yes it did!

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SEASON 2 Premiered: 5 August 2007, Finale: 11 November 2007: 98 Days SEASON TWO HOUSEMATES BERTHA Bertha Zakeyo from Harare, Zimbabwe.

CODE Code Sangala from Blantyre, Malawi.

JEFF Jeff Anthony Omondi Kariaga from Kisumu, Kenya.

JUSTICE Justice Motlhabani from Serowe, Botswana.

KWAKU Kwaku Asamoah Tutu from Kumawu, Ghana.

LERATO Lerato Sengadi from Soweto, South Africa.

MAUREEN Maureen Namatovu from Entebbe, Uganda.

MAXWELL Maxwell Chongu from Lusaka, Zambia.

MERYL Meryl Shikwambane from Namibia.

OFUNNEKA Ofunneka Malokwu from Nigeria.

RICHARD Richard Dyle Bezuidenhout from Ilala, Tanzania.

TATIANA Tatiana Durão from Luanda, Angola

SEASON TWO WINNER RICHARD BEZUIDENHOUT Birth Date: Tuesday, August 10, 1982 Gender: Male Status; Married 31 March (2007) Country; Tanzania Occupation; Film Maker Richard Bezuidenhout was a Tanzanian film student when he won season two of BBA reality competition, in November 2007. He was passionate about film making and considers filmmaker Peter Jackson his personal inspiration.

Richard was controversial in the house due to his romance with Angolan housemate Tatiana. Because he was married and Tatiana was engaged.

He had promised to show the viewers what ‘a committed married man looks like’ and ended up doing the opposite. Fortunately, he is still married to his wife Ricki, and they have a child now. He definitely loves his dread locks. And has fulfilled his dream of having his film company.

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SEASON 3 Premiered: 24 August 2008, Finale: 23 November 2008: 91 Days SEASON THREE HOUSE MATES HAZEL Hazel Warren, from Malawi LATOYA Latoya Lyakurwa, from Tanzania LUCILLE Lucille Naobes, from Namibia.

MIMI Wihelmina (Mimi) Abu-Andani, from Ghana MORRIS Morris Mugisha, from Uganda.

MUNYA Munyaradzi (Munya) Chidzonga, from Zimbabwe.

RICCO Ricardo (Ricco) Venancio, from Angola.

SHEILA Sheila Kwamboka, from Kenya TAKONDWA Takondwa Nkonjera, from Zambia TAWANA Tawana Lebale, from Botswana.

THAMI Thamsanqa (Thami) Prusent, from South Africa.

UTI Uti Nwachukwu, from Nigeria.

JOHAN Johan, from Finland was swapped with Munya.

SEASON 3 WINNER RICARDO DAVID FERREIRA VENANCIO Gender: Male Country; Angola Occupation; Bank Employee Ricco Venancio was 21 and an Angolan bank employee from Luanda when he went for BBA reality show in 2008.

Venancio has lived in four countries, on two continents and is always on the go. He returned to Angola from Johannesburg before entering BBA and currently lives and works in Angola.

Passionate about his family, Ricco considers them his heroes and promised to use his prize money on his mom’s project. Did he do that? Let’s find out. Ricco still works as a bank employee and is not associated with any charity project.

The Angolan desires a violence-free world and encourages Africans to show that our culture is embedded in respect, education and wisdom.

Asked how he relaxes by watching football and supports Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Atletico Sport Aviacao and Manchester United. Ricco confesses to being disorganized and lazy.

SEASON 4 THE REVOLUTION Premiered: 6 September 2009, Finale: 6 December 2009: 91 Days SEASON FOUR MALE HOUSEMATES TEDDY Edward “Teddy” Muthusi from Kenya.

WAYOE George Wayoe from Ghana.

YACOB Yacob Yehdego from Ethiopia EDWARD from Namibia ERASTUS Erastus Moongo, Edward’s 33-year-old twin from Namibia HANNINGTON Hannington Kuteesa from Uganda.

ITAI Itai Makumbe from Zimbabwe.

JEREMY Jeremy Ndirangu from Kenya KAONE Kaone Ramontshonyana from Botswana.

KEVIN Kevin Chuwang Pam from Nigeria.

LEONEL Leonel Estevao from Mozambique PHIL Filbert Okure from Uganda.

QUINN Quinn Sieber from South Africa

SEASON FOUR FEMALE HOUSEMATES ELIZABETH Elizabeth Gupta from Tanzania EDNA Edna Alfredo from Angola EMMA Emma da Rocha from Angola.

JENNIFER Jennifer Mussanhane from Mozambique.

KRISTAL Kristal Culverwell from Zimbabwe LIZIWE Liziwe Coka from South Africa MZAMO Mzamo Chibambo from Malawi.

PALOMA Paloma Manda from Zambia.

MAGGIE Maggie Mungalu from Zambia GERALDINE Geraldine Iheme from Nigeria.

NKENNA Nkenna Iwuagwu from Nigeria.

SEASON FOUR WINNER KEVIN CHUWANG PAM Gender; male Status; Married Country; Nigeria Occupation; CEO Down2Earth Ent/President Naija Pikin/Anchor/Actor/Presenter 29 year-old Kevin was not new to reality shows before he contested for BBA in 2009. He had previously contested in the Next Movie Star Reality TV show after NYSC and emerged 1stRunner Up. He followed it up with the MTN/MTV VJ search and then BBA. He emerged the 1st Nigerian winner of BBA. Kevin immediately expediated his dreams, he started a music production studio and married his love interest in the BBA, former housemate Elizabeth Gupta from Tanzania. They had their daughter in 2011. He is a peace ambassador and also the founder of “Naija Pikin” – a youth development NGO.

To be concluded in the next issue HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF

HE CAME AND GOT US ALL DANCING WITH HIS HIT SONG, FOKASIBE. OH HOW WE DANCED! SOON AFTER THAT CAME SINGLES LIKE ‘BOBBY EEH’ AND THEN DJ ZEEZ DISAPPEARED FROM THE SCENE. HF MAGAZINE HOOKED UP WITH THE GOOD LOOKING DUDE AND HE REALLY LOOKED FABULOUS. KINGSLEY ELIKPO AKA DJ ZEEZ TELLS US WHAT HE HAS BEEN UP TO LATELY, HE ALSO DELVES INTO THE PAST AND RECOUNTS HIS EXPERIENCES AS AN ARTISTE. THE IBO/YORUBA BORN ARTISTE ALSO SPEAKS ABOUT HIS LATE BUDDY, DAGRIN, BLESS HIS SOUL. DEAR AUDIENCE, WE GIVE YOU DJ ZEEZ… HF: How would you narrate your journey so far?

DZ: It’s been adventurous and challenging. The ups and downs which come along the line is what keeps you going, especially being that I started as a DJ and evolved to the artiste I am today. I started from a DJ, to producing beats and then rapping, before singing. It has been fun all the way, it has been really cool.

Dj Zeez POISED TO CONQUER

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Interview By Patrick Chilaka, Makeup By House Of TARA, Clothes And Accessories Dj Zeez’s Wardrobe, Photography By Moussa Moussa

HF: How has the transformation shaped you?

DZ: It has given me a wonderful experience, there is nothing that happens within the music industry that would come as a surprise. I have groomed myself to expect the unexpected. The transformation has made me very stable mentally and psychologically.

HF: What’s the story of your artistic name DJ ZEEZ? DZ: The Dj was obviously because I was a DJ, ZEEZ is not a short form of Azeez as most people would confuse it for, my name is not Azeez. It is actually an urban word from the urban English dictionary which means simply cool.

HF: As a performing artist name some of the people you looked up to?

DZ: Back then, I looked up to the likes of DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Humility and Bamija. These were the guys that made you wish to be a music personality. I met Freestyle later and admired his ability to make awesome beats. Instead of reading my books, I just stayed with my system making beats. Timberland, Pharel Williams and Dr. Dre inspired me to rap. I am a rap fan, though my recent songs don’t display it. You have to balance the kind of music you love with the kind of music that is commercial. I wanted my songs to appeal to the streets.

HF: While your career blossomed, where you solo?

DZ: I was in a group of four for two years before we split up. My career bloomed as a solo artist with my second single ‘Same Me’. The song got me a nomination for Channel O Music Video Award, this fired up my zeal to be a successful music act.

HF: How do you manage stardom?

DZ: It’s neither hard nor easy, I balance my personality with my profession. I always remember in my head that Kinsley is different from Dj Zeez and this keeps me in check.

HF: Female fans can overwhelm an artist with love, how do you cope?

DZ: I am glad you said that. As a male artist your prayer should be to have lots of fans from kids to women. If these two categories love you, you are good to go because the guys do not have a choice (laughs).

I manage it by treating fans as fans and treating family and friends as same.

HF: The marriage bug seem to be catching up in the industry, do you have any plans for marriage?

DZ: Yeah, you know I am beginning to feel like I am the only person that has not caught it (laughs). I do not know, I dey wonder because even celebrities are more open with their relationships, children and baby mamas. Everybody seems to have kids these days, I am the only one left. bros you go help me out o (laughs).

HF: Is it that you don’t have a relationship or you have difficulty making a choice?

“My career bloomed as a solo artist with my second single ‘Same Me’. The song got me a nomination for Channel O Music Video Award”

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MOVIE REVIEW

DZ: I am a very private person, despite being a music artiste. I am trying to do more on my profession than my personal life. You can say I am patiently waiting for the right relationship.

I want marriage to happen because I found someone to spend the rest of my life with and not because the society needs me to. But I have a girlfriend, who I hope to do that with very soon.

MOVIE:

HF: You were DAGRIN’s closest pal, do you still miss him?

DZ: Yes, every day, that’s partly why I haven’t been visible. It took me a while to recover from the shock. I have a song we did together which I haven’t released, but it will be out pretty soon.

HF: Recount how growing up was for you?

DZ: Growing up was fun, I grew up in Lagos with two other siblings, a brother and sister. I was an inquisitive child and more inclined to technical stuff. I remember trying to loosen the TV set because I thought I would see Tom and Jerry inside. I had a bit of street and home experience.

HF: We all have very memorable experiences, what is yours?

DZ: That would be the first time I did a stage performance in 2005, during the first JJC concert.

D’Banj was with them, I got very encouraging cheers from the audience. It was very memorable for me. I feel comfortable with the crowd when I am performing and after that I retreat to my shell.

HF: What should your fans look forward to?

DZ: My album should drop much later this year, but I will have two singles and videos out very soon. I also have a franchise coming up through my entertainment outfit Vanilla. I am merging music and the business to achieve a lot more.

“Back then, I looked up to the likes of DJ Jimmy Jatt, DJ Humility and Bamija.

These were the guys that made you wish to be a music personality. I met Freestyle later and admired his ability to make awesome beats.”

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HF: What is your favorite quote in life?

DZ: Life goes on. A lot of things happen in life either good or bad, so we should always remember that life would always go on.

THE SINGLE AND MARRIED

THEME: Love, Relationship and Marriage SCREENPLAY: Pascal Amanfo PRODUCER: Yvonne Nelson

HF: Do you have any awards in your cart?

DZ: I have picked up a few nominations, but it’s hard to remember them all except I go through my plaque collections. The biggest for me was The Headies Award, where my song Fokasibe won the Best Street Hop. HF: You have been absent from the scene, what have you been up to?

DZ: I have been busy with other things, but I have been working on my next album. It’s almost complete.

HF

CAST: Yvonne Nelson, Nadia Buari, Chris Attoh, Kofi Adjorlolo, Jane ‘Efya’ Awindor, Tana Adelana, Kweku Elliot, Tiffany Eddy Watson.

COUNTRY: Ghana RUNNING TIME: 2 hrs 40 minutes YEAR: 2013

T

he movie centres on three friends and their husbands. They are Jay and Kimora, Ray and Paula and of course Vida and Ranesh.

The first couple, Jay and Kimora have a good marriage, but Kimora thinks a ‘blow job’ is abnormal and disgusting, while Paula neglects her husband Ray and even starved him of sex for 5 months and 2 weeks. Vida is almost thirty years younger than her 59 yr old husband Ranesh who can’t satisfy her in bed in spite of all his energetic sexual promises. The others, Judith, Andy, and Ruby the narrator are extras who add vibe to the story.

The movie starts with Kimora’s surprise birthday party thrown by Jay her boyfriend, who proposes to her at the same party, to the amazement and happiness of all, except for his friend Andy who thinks he is making a mistake.

Andy tries to convince Jay against getting married, but Ray supports Jay. They ended up having a very beautiful wedding ceremony, set in a fantastic scenery.

By Akudo Abengowe

With the narrator keeping us glued to the movie with titbits of what might happen in the near future, all things eventually comes to a head. Paula confronts Ray and tells him she knew about his affair with her friend. Jay confesses his relationship with Judith to Kimora who moves out of the house, and Ranesh catches Vida and Andy in a hot sex romp in his sitting room. Vida runs away, while Andy jumps from the balcony and breaks his leg.

Kim and Paula go for counselling to save their marriage and eventually make up with their husbands. Andy is caught by an ex-girlfriend Nancy who tells him she is pregnant for him, he runs away. Nothing is heard of Vida and Ranesh again.

According to Ruby the narrator, these are five (5) rules you must observe in a marriage;

Enter Ruby, the narrator, who introduces herself in frenzy. She convinces the audience that ‘a man must cheat because it’s in his DNA’ and no matter how good a woman is or her efforts to make her marriage work, her man must cheat. She is proven right. Fast forward to two years into the marriage, Jay is seen kissing another woman named Judith, played by Efya. After continuous arguments with Judith on the limited time he spends with her, Jay goes home to meet his angry pregnant wife. She almost caught him in a lie as she confronts him, but being a smart player, Jay cooks up an accident story and gains the sympathy of his wife, while he struggles with his conscience.

The narrator tells us that ‘marriage is a game everyone plays’ and we see Kimora, Paula and Vida discussing men and their cheating ways. Kimora says confidently that her husband has never and will never cheat on her. Paula is not big on the cheating issue as she concentrates all her energy on her law practice, not minding what her husband does. I personally feel her character over played her nonchalant attitude towards her marriage. You better pay the man some attention girl!

Ray and Judith had another argument in which he tells her “Judith, you have a place in my heart, but I love my wife” and walks out. He meets his friend Andy in same hotel with another woman and they faced up the reality of their unfaithfulness. Though Andy tries to justify their cheating, both friends are filled with guilt.

Jay continues with his extra marital affair, Paula sets a trap for Ray with her friend and he falls deeply into the trap, while Vida keeps having erotic fantasies about her new neighbour Andy.

Paula gives her husband a timetable for sex; he retaliates by asking for a divorce. Vida bluntly asks Andy for sex, calling herself ‘a sexually frustrated suicidal woman’, Andy replies her that he spends an average of two hours in bed. They start an amorous affair. While Kimora invites Judith (who coincidentally is her friend) into her house for a month. This does not go down well with her husband because Judith is his mistress.

1.

Never introduce an unmarried girlfriend to your husband

2.

Never let a girl with bigger boobs walk in front of your husband

3.

Never leave your wife unsatisfied

4.

If a hot unmarried neighbour moves into your neighbourhood, you must do any of these three things. (1) Move to a new location (2) get a divorce (3) check the paternity of your last child or (4) kill your wife.

5.

Never walk around town without this DVD

MY VERDICT

I

t’s a nice story, very humorous. The massage scene, the toast scene between Ray and his friends, the love making scene between Vida and her husband, the scene where Ray chokes on his tea as Judith confesses she’s dating a married man and the ‘arse analysis’ proffered by Ray to Andy. These scenes were very funny and entertaining. Some plots in the script are unrealistic. I can’t believe Paula, Vida and Kimora can be very good friends and not know each other’s husbands, especially as the men are friends with the exception of Ranesh.

Also how can Kimora not have known Vida’s husband? Didn’t she attend her wedding? Also the part where Kimora recounts Ray’s proposal to her friends in the boutique and they ooohhed and aahhhed was very unrealistic since they were all present at her birthday where jay proposed to her. AND, whatever happened to Kimora’s pregnancy? The only mention of it was when Ray told her not to fret because of the baby, afterwards, nothing was heard of the pregnancy and Kimora never dressed nor acted like a pregnant woman. The acting was well done, with amazing raunchy scenes, but that is Ghana movies for you. The quality of the pictures is very impressive and beautiful locations which show the tourist value of Ghana were used in the movie. The story relates more to everyday life, but its best to have parental guidance when watching the movie, especially with kids around because strong erotic languages were used in it. It’s a movie i can watch again and again and this doesn’t happen often for me. Good job Yvonne Nelson.

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HF

BEHIND THE SCENE

N O H S R E P R CO s h t r e B a r e p O p Soa a

rick Chilak

at Words By P

Words By Myke Pam

C

orper shon a new television drama series satirizing the lives, dreams, relationships and challenges of Nigerian graduates engaged in the one year compulsory service to the fatherland is finally ready to hit the screens.

EEDRIS ABDULKAREEM FT V-TEC WOOZE YOU The indefatigable Mr. Hip Hop is at it again. In a lyrically charged song titled Wooze You, Eedris Abdulkareem replies some critics of hip hop music, especially Don Jazzy who reportedly said that rappers are irresponsible and that their fathers would not be proud of them. He went ahead to lyrically attack some other industry misadventures’ who are engaged in the acts of feeding fat on ignorant practitioners. The song produced by fire-balled young beat maker, V-Tec who also featured on the joint is vintage Mr. Lecturer. Your number one African entertainment mouth piece, HF Magazine was at the video shoot held penultimate week, and here we serve you exclusive pics from this sure banger. The video is a must see for all true hip-hop heads.

Holla!

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0 2 9 1 8 1 7 1 6 1 5 1 4 1 3 1 2 1 0 1 9 0 8 0 7 0 6 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 01 02 HF

Compiled By Patrick

aye Chilaka And Aisosa Okund

TOP TWENTY

AFRICAN SONGS & MUSIC VIDEOS AUDIO

VISUAL

Mafikizolo ft uhuru khona (SOUTH AFRICA)

1.

Flavor- Ada (NIGERIA)

Flavour – Ada (NIGERIA)

2.

P Square- Personally (NIGERIA)

Psquare- personally (NIGERIA)

3.

Mafikizolo ft Uhuru- Khona (SOUTH AFRICA)

Dj. Vetkuk vs mahota ft. malinga- via Orlando (SOUTH AFRICA)

4.

Kcee- Limpopo (NIGERIA)

Kcee- Limpopo (NIGERIA)

5.

Dj Vetkuk vs Mahota ft. Malinga- Via Orlando (SOUTH AFRICA)

Dj. Sbu ft. zahara-lengoma (SOUTH AFRICA)

6.

Becca ft King Ayisoba and Trigmatic – Push (GHANA)

Sarkodie- Elijah (GHANA)

7.

Dj Sbu ft. Zahara- Lengoma (SOUTH AFRICA)

Efya- weather for two (GHANA)

8.

Waje- I wish (NIGERIA)

Becca- da kee da (GHANA)

9.

Obrafour- This life (GHANA)

P.unit ft alicios – mobimba (KENYA)

10.

Ali kiba ft Spince - Cinderella

Obrafour- this life (GHANA)

11.

Jk- Soul Survivor (ZAMBIA)

Mary n’diaye-yengal (GAMBIA)

12.

Da fugitivz- Its all Good (GAMBIA)

Ali kiba-black monalisa (TANZANIA)

13.

P. Unit Ft. Alicious- Mobimba (KENYA)

Da fugitivz- its all good (GAMBIA)

14.

Jaguar – Nimetoka Mbali (TANZANIA)

Beatrice katema byakika- asande (UGANDA)

15.

Ali kiba- Black Monalisa (TANZANI)

Radio and weasel- dudu (UGANDA)

16.

Mary N’diaye- Yengal (GAMBIA)

Sage ft octopizzo- so alive ((KENYA)

17.

Sage Ft. Octopizzo- So Alive (KENYA)

Jaguar – nimetoka mbali (TANZANIA)

18.

Blaq Sam ft. Praye – Esi ne Vera (GHANA)

Jk – soul survivor (ZAMBIA)

19.

Radio and Weavel- Dudu (UGANDA)

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Yellow man- mutime (ZAMBIA)

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20.

Urban Boyz- Take it Off (UGANDA)

HF

E- AFRICA Compiled by Akudo Abengowe and Patrick Chilaka

Annual African Nite Berths In Lusaka

The annual African night going forward will be one event most Lusaka residents will look forward to. The African night’s maiden event held at Suwilanji Gardens in Kalundu area, in Zambia. Organisers of the event Mwaka and Manase Phiri promised that the event will be an annual event. Seasoned Afro-centric musician Maureen Lupo Lilanda provided entertainment with her timeless classics and renditions of old jazz songs.

Other Zambian acts such as, Cactus Agony, Nomakanjani Dance Troupe thrilled the audience including Maranda, who gave an un-amateurish performance despite being a new comer in the Zambian music scene. Her soulful music and sultry vocals had everyone applauding, there was a jam band session which had guests at the African Night dancing.

There were sumptuous varieties in continental dishes from Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia and Malawi. And also fashion displays by designer Xtina, who showed her Afrocentric attires and Nchimunya whose bead designs ranged from key holders, waist beads, bracelets and bead plates. It was a wonderful night that left many calling for a repeat of the event.

Skeffa Shines in Come Back Concert

After a great performance on the eve of the Ncwala ceremony in Chipata town earlier this year, Malawian Skeffa Chimoto returned to Zambia and staged shows in Lusaka. The music icon treated fans to his afro-reggae music. The Ndife Amozi singer who has four albums to his name gave a resounding performance despite the slight technical hitches. His fans, which included nursing mothers who strapped their babies on their backs sang along to his songs, some fans who couldn’t pay the entry fee, scaled the walls just to be part of the action. Skeffa also promoted his CDs and DVDs which some people gladly bought.

Earlier, veteran afro singer, Chris Aka performed his all-time favourite songs Musizani and Kuzionesa alongside his band. He performed some new singles as well, and the performer disclosed that his forthcoming album ‘Freedom’ will soon hit the streets. He was impressed with the huge turnout, saying despite the city having hosted numerous musical shows last weekend, the attendance was overwhelming.

Tonga Music Festival the Biggest Music Festival Yet

The Tonga Music Festival is coming up in September 5th and 8th in Monze Town, the festival organised by Chikuni Community Radio Station has 90 bands competing in various categories. The festival, is arguably the biggest event in the South African region and has been on for 12 years.

Organisers of the festival need about K175, 000 to meet this year’s expenses such as accommodation, meals, prizes, trainings, publicity, live broadcast, professional fees and hire of equipment. The festival’s am is to revive, promote and preserve Tonga traditional music and dance, and many traditional bands, corporate institutions and business houses have contributed to its successful hosting.

Ex- BBA House-Mate Sulu is Zambia’s Newest Celebrity

Big Brother Chase Housemate Sulu has indeed become a celebrity in his home country. Sulu’s eviction party at the Hollywood City Night Club attracted a huge crowd that could not be accommodated in the club and on Panganani Road.

The party was free because it coincided with the famous Sunday street party, though the security personnel managed to keep underage teens at bay.

The former Chasemate has become a favourite of the ladies in Zambia as they struggled to get a sight of him and probably a photo op with the new celebrity.

Sulu who came with former BBA housemate JJ, danced to some Reggae beats from the VIP section to the audience delight. Sulu left by 05; 00 hours after mingling with his fans in the exclusive VIP area of the club.

Ode For The ‘Simple Superstar’

As we prepared to go to press, we received with heavy hearts the destabilizing news of the death of the internationally acclaimed Ethiopian Reggae artiste, Eyob Mekonnen whose fans affectionately nicknamed the ‘Simple Superstar’ The dreadlock Rasta man died a few days after a sudden stroke that kept him in comma for a couple of days more. Cause of death was said to be Ischemic Stroke (the blockage of artery of the neck), quite unusual for a young man of his age. Fans of the 37-year-old singer helped raise money for his treatment after the stroke last Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. He was subsequently flown to Kenya on Saturday, but he died at the hospital on Sunday 18th of August 2013.

Born in the small eastern town of jijiga in 1975 and largely influenced by music of the legendary Bob Nesta Marley and Ethiopia’s Ali Birra, Eyob has been hailed as Ethiopia’s version of South African Reggae icon Lucky Dube.

The festival initially exhibited 12 categories of traditional music, but this has increased due to the interest and value people have placed in the festival.

The categories are Kalumbu, Kankobela, Kuyabila, Seesa, Ndikiti, Chigome, Chikakaambe-Kaambe, Kalindula, Bukonkoolo, Ma guitar and Freestyle.

According to Jyde Hamoonga, programmes manager at Chikuni Radio, ‘it is a sign of ownership and the people have come to appreciate the role of the station in bringing back a way of life that adds value to the people’s daily living.

Musicians no longer just come to perform, but are trained on the cultural and musical values of the Tonga as well as their general lifestyles’. The Sakala Brothers (Levy and Moses) and Makanzubo Kalinda Research Institute has trained the musicians which led to improvement in their performances.

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HF Namibian Model Flies High

Oshakati-born Salmi Nambinga will represent Namibia at the prestigious Miss Supranatural, to be held on 6th September at the Sports palace of Minski Eastern European country in Belarus.

She will also represent Namibia at the Face of the World Pageant that will be held in Cape Town in November. Salmi said she used to doubt her talents but knew she needed to change in order to boost her confidence and talent. That was why the 1,75m tall beauty queen took her modelling career seriously last year.

Salmi however, is more than just a long-legged pretty face.

She holds an accounting degree and a diploma in local government studies from the University of Namibia (Unam).

She applied for Miss Supranatural through a Facebook advert and was delighted to represent Namibia at the pageant. According to the pageant’s website, Miss Supranatural is an international beauty pageant run by the World Beauty Association based in Panama and was founded in 2009. Salmi believes the pageant’s platform represents an extraordinary opportunity for Namibian brands and companies to be exposed.

Gambian Singer Chess Set To Drop New Album

Tamala, a Mandinka single is the latest song coming from United States based Gambian singer, Chess. Tamala means traveller in the Gambian local parlance and chess being a hard core local rapper will put his artistry finesse to it. The forthcoming single is already gathering sublime raves online and on music platforms. With the song, the US based artiste is setting the pace as a music power house within Gambian music circles.

Born Kansaikou Numukunda Darboe, aka Chess, into a family of intellectuals, he is the only child who took music as a career. And his genre of music is gaining momentum within the growing number of music enthusiasts. He speaks several Gambian languages, Mandinka, Wollof, Fula, Sarahuleh and Jola fluently and uses it to add vibe to his music.

Chess didn’t get the support of his family initially, but he succeeded in winning a scholarship and persevered in his music journey until his family decided to support him. He moved to US in 1990 and has travelled widely to promote his music. The songs in his forthcoming album can be accessed on youtube, by typing the name of his record label Asikoi Records

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Renowned Jamaican Star Set For Gambia Concert

Foremost Jamaican reggae dancehall star-Jah Turban, will storm Gambia in November 2013, to show some of his music based projects. During his stay in Gambia, Jah Turban will perform alongside well-known Jamaican music acts.

The Jamaican reggae super star is passionate about Africa and has promised to help Gambian artistes climb the ladder of success in the best possible way. He is currently working with Gambia’s upcoming reggae artist Jah Lion, who is connected with the Sky Juice Musical Movement.

Jah Turban is set to take the budding reggae star to the pinnacle of world music. It is in this regard that Jah Turban did a collaboration song with Jah Lion, calling it “Leaders of the World’ which is doing good in the music world.

His Gambian representatives disclosed that he will continue to portray the good image of Gambia, promoting the country as a potential tourist destination.

He added that the Jamaican star’s love for the ‘Smiling Coast’ cannot be overemphasized. All necessary preparations for his Gambian concert has been sealed, they only need the support of Gambian promoters and music enthusiasts in general.

Reggae Music Artiste Singateh Plans Debut International Album

There is no doubt that music sensation Singateh is one of the most celebrated Gambian artistes now. The Bansang born has carried his trade to the international music scene where he currently works with IDub Music in Germany and Hit City Records in Atlanta, Georgia. The Germanbased record label will also distribute the album. “The album will feature international Jamaican artists Naptali and Tony Anthony. I will also work with Lady Flame, a US based Jamaican singer,” Singateh revealed.

Singateh wants to feature Gambian artistes like Jali Madi, he is also interested in a European musical tour. The hot stage act is very excited at his latest project, he has shot two new music videos in Norway and is also learning about music production which he hopes to share with fellow Gambian artistes. You can learn more about Singateh’s album on www.singatehrise.com.

Kwabena Okyere Darko Plans December Retirement from Hip life Music

Popular Ghanaian hip life artiste Kwabena Okyere Darko is now a changed man after he announced his new found Christianity. The Rapper who has been on hiatus for the past three years eventually disclosed that he will release his last secular album in December 2013.

According to him, “I’ve always said that at this point in life there is nothing spiritually fulfilling or self-satisfying to me than to work on my salvation and the salvation of

others as the goal of Christendom is to win souls for Christ.”

“I have been contemplating that for so long, I will leave it to God. It is my prayer and He knows what my heart desires. I have said severally that I would want to do the work of God,” the Asem Sebe hit singer added.’

Preceding the album release in December will be a new single Kruse (Salute) featuring rapper Sarkodie. He stressed that the song attests to the fact that, “they still salute me” and “there can never be another” Obrafour disclosed to the media.

HF Magazine can only wish him well as he seeks the face of God in his future career.

Deborah Anaman Set to Drop Fourth Album in December

Deborah Anaman, an Inspirational gospel artiste has just disclosed that her fourth album will drop in December 2013. Debbie as she is fondly called by her Ghanaian fans is poised to take her career to the next level.

Most of the songs on the eight-track inspirational album have good rhythms, drum beats and instrumentation which make the album good for public consumption. She works tirelessly to change the face of Ghana gospel music and her latest album is a fulfilment of her cherished career. With her wealth of experience, Deborah is no novice in the music industry, having had stints with very notable musicians. She is the general secretary of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and is always mindful of using decent words and making a lasting impression in public places and her music delivery.

Angola’s Nadir Tati Shines in Kenya Fashion Week 2013 The Kenya Fashion Week, a first of its kind which held on August 24th 2013 brought fourteen designers from across the world to Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi, Kenya. One of the celebrated designers who showed their creativity at the fashion week is Nadir Tati, an Angolan designer known for her finesse in conceiving her clothes and their genuine African character, which is her signature. Nadir Tati is a fashion designer, stylist and image consultant.

She was formerly a successful model who understands the Angolan fashion industry.

Meet Ghana’s Youngest Married Celebrity

She is Mrs Lousika Sarpong, and happens to be the youngest married celeb in Ghana. A successful music artiste no doubt, this 2131record artiste Lousika, made history in Ghana when she married Kojo Sarpong at Ahodwo in Kumasi, despite the raised eyebrows her relationship with her executive producer Jay Foley caused in the industry. However, Jay Foley and Jeremie Van-Garshong attended the high profile royal engagement in Kumasi.

She took a bold step by getting married at twenty, just as her music career is booming in Ghana. Lousika has been nominated for Best Female Video of the Year and Best Discovery of the Year at the 4syte Music Video Awards. She has six singles including ‘Need Your Love’ which featured Sarkodie, ‘Hands Up and Take Over’, ‘Knockout’ Ft Mr Eazi among others. And all her songs have been nominated in several awards.

Her music is influenced by Missy Elliot, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and she blends Hip-hop and Afro-Pop music, whilst singing and rapping in French, Twi, English and Spanish.

Her Record Label 2131records has assured her fans of a brand new Lousika this festive season. It will be her first appearance after her engagement and expectations are high. Lousika has done collaborations with Obrafour, 4x4 and Tonto Dikeh.

Open Letter to Nonini Asking Him To Get Saved

The gospel music genre is set for a big takeover in the music industry, as the gospel acts are not relenting their efforts to convert renowned secular music artistes to God. Their efforts may have yielded results as secular music heavyweights like Princess Faridah, Lady Bee and Size 8, have crossed to gospel music. The latest convertee is popular event organiser Buddha Blaze.

Now upcoming gospel artiste Mteule Cantonato has urged ‘Genge Godfather’ Nonini to turn to Christ. Nonini is greatly involved in charity projects such as Colour Kwa Face, a campaign against discrimination of people living with albinism. And also Pamoja Conje, a program meant to assist boxer Conjestina Achieng back to her feet.

Mteule in an open letter to Nonini confessed that Nonini’s song ‘Genge’ influenced him to become an artiste as he started rapping while he was in school and his commitments to the church led him to gospel music. So his utmost desire is to see his music idol get saved and turn to Christ. He also cited Nonini’s various charity projects and exalted his good heart and also added that he is earnestly praying for Nonini to get saved. We hope Nonini will heed the call.

Nadir Tati’s collections are elegant, stylish and glamorous and she combines light fabrics and prints for every modern, sensual cuts. She won the ‘Best Designer of the Year’ Award of the Angolan fashion event Moda Luanda for three consecutive years.

And was honored as the Fashion Diva in 2011. She also designs clothes for the Angolan First Lady, Ana Paula dos Santos for official events.

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HF Idris Elba Plays Nelson Mandela In Biopic

Acting as Nelson Mandela in a movie would be awesome for any actor, but to portray the inspirational South African leader as a young man is an added challenge and that is the role Idris Elba gets. Lucky chap! Idris was particularly happy that Nelson Mandela got to see the preview portrayal of his haunting life before his health took a downward decline.

The forty year old Idris was able to clinch the role in the authorized biopic because of his height and acting prowess.

The film based on Mandela’s 1995 autobiography ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’ is already garnering Oscar buzz. Idris describes being picked to play the biopic as humbling and assures that he doesn’t take the opportunity to play such a huge world figure for granted. He describes the role as the biggest challenge of his life. But he has very little to worry about as both Nelson Mandela and his former wife Winnie have watched the Hollywood star in movies such as, The Wire Box and Daddy’s Little Girls. Well, guess we have an amazing film to look forward to.

World Azonto Festival To Hold In Accra

The maiden World Azonto Festival which will be launched in Accra will be something to look forward to. The interest and support of major government organizations towards the festival is overwhelming as expressed by a representative of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts. The Chief Executive Officer of Flash Mob Ghana, organizers of the event opined that the Azonto dance which is being enjoyed all over the world should be linked to its Ghanaian identity and use the medium to promote Ghanaian brands”. World Azonto Festival will hold in mid-September 2013.

Lady Skeet Taking The Liberian Rap Scene By Storm

Hip-Hop /Rap music have not gained huge following in Liberia compared to the local Hip-Co vernacular tracks that are more popular on Liberian airwaves.

Some Liberian female rapper’s such as Queen V, Lady Skeet, Lady Cash and Peaches have tried to push female rap music into the lime light with their boyish lyrics and hit songs, yet rap music and mostly female rappers are still dire in the industry. However, a young female rapper has vowed to change the story of feminine rap music in the country. Skeeter Roberts, aka Lady Skeet is a Brewersville born artist. Lady Skeet believes so much in her creativity and passion for music that she is set to become the biggest female rapper in Liberia and Africa in the near future.

Having a great fan, manager and supporter in her mother, lady skeet is ever grateful for her mother’s support, she also helps her out with her three year old child. Lady Skeet admires Missy Elliot and started rapping at ten years old in the kiddies’ choir. She is however, not miffed at the hypocrisy in the church against rappers and entertainment personalities like her, but is pushing the envelope through her songs and lyrics.

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David Mell Gets All Africa Music Awards Nomination David (Melody Maker) aka Mell has been nominated for the prestigious All Africa Music Annual Awards (AAMA), which is to hold on November 9 2013 at San Diego, California. He is a nominee for the Best Male Vocal of The Year for the song ‘In Love’.

This information was released by his manager via his social media page. The live event will be aired by 8 pm (ET) on FOX Television Network. Other nominees are 2Face, 9ice, Dare ft Chamillionaire, Kwabena Kwabena, J.Martins, De Prince Joenez. Here is a full list of the nominees.

AFRIYIE -LOVE OF MY LIFE (Ghana) J.MARTINS--GOOD LIFE (Nigeria) FLAVOUR -- BABY OKU (Nigeria) KWABENA KWABENA --BYE BYE (Ghana) DEPRINCE JOENEZ ---THROWING MONEY (Nigeria) MI ---BEEF (Nigeria) 9ICE ---3310 (Nigeria) CHASE –LONELY (Ghana) R2BEES ---ODO (Ghana) 2FACE----RAIN DROPS (Nigeria) BANKY W ----FIND YOU (Nigeria) DARE FT CHAMILLIONAIRE ---THE WAY YOU ARE (Nigeria) DAVID MELL---- IM IN LOVE (Liberia) The All Africa Music Awards is an annual event celebrating African Musicians, Producers, Song writers, Music promoters, Record label owners, Music marketers, DJ, Music Video Producers, Radio and T.V stations, Entertainment Journalists and Contemporary African cultural musicians etc.

Coincidentally, J Martins, a popular African musician is the Host for the November 9th event, whose theme is ‘’Â Mercy World Concert” dedicated to the forgotten children of Africa. Voting for any nominee can be done through http://www. allafricamusicawards.org/vote.php).

Catherine Wamuyu And Her Low Budget Tv Soaps Catherine Wamuyu looks more like a typical headmistress than the stereotyped cigarette-smoking, scruffy jean-clad, obscenity-hurling idea of a director. Yet Synovate ratings, have consistently shown Tahidi High and Mother-In-Law to be the most watched in their TV slots. The soaps have been running for seven and eight years respectively and have won several awards and has proven Catherine as the best in her field. The 48yrs old producer actually started with a social conscious program on TV called ‘In Search of an Answer’ and when that didn’t give her the expected results, she opted for drama which has proven to be more effective. Recounting how members of the drama used to contribute SH250 for miscellaneous expenses and how they would bring items from their homes due to difficulty in procuring items. She is ever grateful for what they have been able to achieve, in spite of their initial hurdles. Wamuyu is presently a masters degree student of Theatre Arts in Kenyatta University.

She has several hit racks to her credit and recently featured David Mell in a single she dedicated to her mother Ms Kemah Martin. Lady Skeet believes that music saves a nation, citing countries like Ghana and Nigeria and how entertainment has helped them. She hopes to start an acting career, if her music fails to reach its expected peak.

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can safely say the video boom in Nigeria began with the release of ‘Living in Bondage’ by Kenneth Nnebue in 1992. And since then, the word Cinema has almost fizzled out, except for the new move to return to the Cinemas by this generation of film makers. Ask our young ones today what the Cinema is and you’d be surprised to see them dumbfounded.

Save for the children of the rich and super-rich who can afford to go to the few remaining high-brow cinema houses in the cities today, such as the Silverbird Cinemas, most people in the present generation are contented with watching movies in their homes. But this was not always the case.

The film culture in Nigeria can be traced to the British colonial masters, who exhibited the first film in August, 1903 at Glover Hall Lagos. In 1914, the British established the Colonial Film Unit to nurture the film industry in Nigeria. They used film as a formidable propaganda weapon during the 1st and 2nd World Wars, to justify the war against Germany. Films were also made to depict government and missionary activities, and health and education as public enlightenment. Mobile cinema vans were used to exhibit these films in the towns and villages. Most of these films were documentaries, but feature films also held the interest of public viewers.

With Nigerian Independence in 1960, the focus of the Nigerian film industry changed. Federal and State film units took over from the colonial film units, individuals also ventured into film production; this birthed indigenous fictional feature film production in Nigeria, such as ‘Kongi’s Harvest’ in 1970, an adaptation of a play of the same title by Wole Soyinka, who also played the lead role. It was a political film, an allegory of African despotism, but its intellectual content held no appeal to the audience. Pioneer film makers, like Eddie Ugbomah, Dr. Ola Balogun, Hubbert Ogunde and Ladi Ladebo, later produced films that had popular appeal. Eddie Ugbomah’s films, ‘The Rise and Fall of Dr. Oyenusi (1976), The Mask (1979), Oil Doom (1981), Bolus (1982), The Boy is Good (1982) and Death of a Black President (1983)’, were influenced by American action films with urban settings. But Ola Balogun’s films took another direction, working with artists of the Yoruba Traveling Theater. He came up with Ajani Ogun (1977), with Duro Ladipo and his troupe, and starring the late Adeyemi Folayan (Ade Love); Aiye (1978), Jaiyesimi (1980), Aropin N’ Tenia (1982) and Ayanmo (1988), all were based on the late Hubbert Ogunde’s traveling theatre, in which the legend himself starred. A host of other films were made with such popular artists like Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala).

THE FILM CULTURE IN NIGERIA CAN BE TRACED TO THE BRITISH COLONIAL MASTERS, WHO EXHIBITED THE FIRST FILM IN AUGUST, 1903 AT GLOVER HALL LAGOS. IN 1914, THE BRITISH ESTABLISHED THE COLONIAL FILM UNIT TO NURTURE THE FILM INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA. THEY USED FILM AS A FORMIDABLE PROPAGANDA WEAPON DURING THE 1ST AND 2ND WORLD WARS, TO JUSTIFY THE WAR AGAINST GERMANY.

The principal genre of Yoruba films is the costume drama, which recaptures the vanished splendour of traditional Yoruba culture in all its metaphysical, social and aesthetic splendour, relying heavily on dance, music and recreated festivals to do so. By the release of Jimoh Aliu’s Fopomoyo (1991), Afolabi Adesanya’s Ose Sango (1991) and Brendan Shehu’s Kulba na Barna (1992), it was obvious that the days of celluloid film production in Nigeria, were numbered.

In fact, since the video phenomenon took Nigeria by storm in the early 1990s, no significant celluloid film has been made by Nigerians. Even when the cinema-going culture still thrived, the distribution and exhibition of the mostly American and Indian films, was dominated by Lebanese and Indians.

It appeared as if Nigerians were anxious to boycott this foreign domination when they suddenly began to buy their video films to play at home. Most of the Cinema halls in the cities and towns have either turned to churches, town-halls or warehouses, today. Thanks to the birth of Nollywood, Nigeria’s equivalent of Hollywood, that employs thousands of people and makes an annual income of over N10billion, as recent statistics reveal. But, today, Nigeria’s video films, in their thousands, cannot compete in international film festivals, where only celluloid films are recognized, when smaller countries like Burkina Faso and Senegal are still participating fully in these festival; and this is the major handicap of Nollywood films. So, more efforts need to be made by Nigerian film makers to up their game and reintroduce feature films to Nigeria and the world, for only then, can our cinemas be really revived.

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VIDEO BOOM AND CINEMA DOOM:

THE NIGERIAN

STORY

By Shamsudeen Adeiza

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EVENT

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DOTUN OLANIYI’S LAST NIGHT OF

BACHELORHOOD

It is no longer news that Dotun Olaniyi of Cool Fm got married to Taiwo, D’banj’s younger sister on 3rd August 2013. What most people didn’t know was that a bachelor’s night was held for the groom on Thursday 1st August at Road Runners Lounge, Sabo Yaba. It was a crazy night as all attendees had fun and danced to hit songs of artistes like, Vector, MI, Kollertunez among others. The highlight of the night was when a bottle of Champagne was poured on the soon-tobe groom Dotun. Of course, he enjoyed all the attention. Lucky groom.

Words by Akudo Abengowe, Photography by Ibraheem Tiamiyu

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n unrepentant Choc Boy who is blissfully addicted to his craft, endowed with an unassuming disposition complete with a generous spirit, Ice Prince is truly a writer’s delight. Christened Panshak Henry Zamani at birth, this Plateau State born fire spitting rapper has really gotten on top of his game by refusing to succumb to the vicissitudes of life which made him an orphan at a young age. In spite of all the bricks life threw his way as a youngster he never allowed anything to derail him from his vision.

ICE PRINCE

THE ZAMANIC INVASION

It was also at this period of their collective musical wilderness that MI took him under his wings, inculcating into the young eager student all the tenets of rap and hip hop as he (MI) knew it.

In attesting to his long standing bond with the aforementioned brothers, which according to him transcends their Chocolate City label kinship, Ice Prince jocularly remarked “we are brothers, we inspire each other, we advise and talk to each other, we look out for each other, we know where our dreams are and we will keep on pushing, together”.

On MI’s immense contributions to the eventual germination, nurturing and harvest of his bountiful career, our guest in this maiden edition who obviously displays a lot of respect, loyalty and unalloyed love towards the ‘Short Black Boy’ from Jos, enthusiastically explains “Mr. Incredible (MI) is my mentor. Everything I know about music today, from rapping to singing, I learnt from him. With him the kudos never ends. I have told him before and I will use your platform to say it again, MI, you will live longer than Mandela, in fact, you will live as long as you want to live. Yes! I mean it. He has always been there for me”.

The type of guy who seems to be in constant touch with reality, Panshak took us down the memory lane of his mind, the buzzing and the thoughts, he reminiscences; “when my debut

“Yeah, we are getting there.

Very soon you will see Nigerians and Africans winning Grammy Awards easily. I guarantee you that, and that’s what’s up!”

Jacket – JP Matador Tee -shirt - Bandit urban clothing Pocket square – Effeci clothing Pants – Cross colours boutique Shoes – Cross colours boutique Chain, ring and watch – Ice prince’s own

Tunic and pants- Kimono Shoes – cross colours boutique

The young Panshak wisely took a leap of faith by tapping into the then vibrant creative lifeline of a group of young heads aspiring for the big break in the capital city of Jos, where he grew up. A circle parading hitherto unknown future eggheads like the Abaga brothers, MI and Jesse Jagz. It was this musical comradeship that actually directed Zamani’s steps in the right directions.

Words By Myke Pam, Makeup By House Of TARA, Styled By Elomie Ototobor, Photography By Moussa Moussa

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HF single Oleku blew, it was like a dream come true, because we never saw that happening, we never saw it blowing up. We just thought we made an ok song between me, Jesse and Brymo, you know? But, the song went as far as it did, it was a blessing, I did not see it coming (laughs), I remember in my early stages I was learning how to be a star, I was like okay, now wey I don get big song, wetin people wey get big songs dey do? Dem dey smile? Dem dey take pictures? Dem dey wear glasses? I had to learn some of these things, but along the line I realized it is just best to be yourself and I am being myself right now” Waxing philosophical in his unbiased assessment of the Nigerian Music Industry, its potentials and viability, production quality and international acceptability, this 27 year old club banger, who also doubles as a business oriented Estate developer and manager proclaimed in a trancelike, inspired prophetic stance; “Much love to the Nigerian music industry, we are big right now, we are major right now, we are international, the world is starting to look at us, the United Kingdom is starting to pay attention to us, the United States is paying attention to our music. It is just a matter of time before we actually get there, which will bring full recognition and respect.

It is all respect and all love to all the people that paved the way from day one, I remember from Plantation Boys to Style Plus, the people that have been grinding this for years, they opened doors for a lot of us, and some of us are still here now opening more doors for the ones that will come behind . Yeah, we are getting there. Very soon you will see Nigerians and Africans winning Grammy Awards easily.

You will see us performing on the big stages.

It might take time, but it is not impossible, it is not far-fetched, it will happen. I guarantee you that, and that’s what’s up!”

“It was also at this period of their collective musical wilderness that MI took him under his wings, inculcating into the young eager student all the tenets of rap and hip hop as he (MI) knew it” 52

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“I do not speak the best English, I have a big head that is shapeless which make girls not like me, I have a pot belly and I am from Jos”

In the course of this exclusive interview which held simultaneously with a model heads up photo-shoot that is currently evolving as a hallmark of HF Magazine at the hippy stateof the -art Moussa Moussa studios in Lagos, Ice quipped; “If you run into me and call me Henry, I will know that you know me very well.

Henry is my English name, I don’t like it but it is there on my passport. I do not like it as a name but when I was in secondary school that was all they used to call me Henry, Henry, Henry.”

Continuing in the same vein, this recently crowned Best African Act at the just concluded prestigious BET Awards 2013 held in the United States of America, threw the HF team a little off guard when he introduced his self deprecating side into the discuss.

Asked about his advice to aspiring Heads in the game, his answer came in a coated juxtaposition of his nonchalant description of his physical attributes and present standing, in his own words; “I tell them to always look at me as an example, just take my life as an example. I do not speak the best English, I have a big head that is shapeless which make girls not like me, I have a pot belly and I am from Jos, Jos is not known for entertainment.

What people know about Jos is war, bombings and all that. And I am able to get to this level of success with all these imperfections. So if I can, nobody has anything to tell me, you do not have an excuse. All I am saying is that I am the opposite of a star; I do not have a 6 pack.

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God has been good. So, I always say if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

For this exceptional youth whose creative ingenuity is not in doubt, stardom, he says can never get into his head as he remains steadfastly the grateful boy he has always been.

He opined without mincing words that; “Recently I became a very reserved person and I am always in my shell, let me put it that way. I am always at home in the studio. I have a studio in my house.

I am always there, if I am in Lagos. When I come out to make appearances or for photo-shoots like this one or I go to perform somewhere, those are the only times I leave my house. So, I think that is how I am able to manage my success because staying that way, keeps me away from a lot of unpleasant stuff that is out there. I don’t miss the regular things that guys miss because on a normal day, I am not that kind of a person. I was never the type to go to movies or clubs. I no dey do am before I blow sef, I do not miss none of those.

There is nothing I cannot do, if I want to buy akara today, I will go out and buy akara. There is nothing I cannot do really.”

Moving forward, Panshak whose beau Bimbo blessed with a bouncing baby boy named Jamal Zamani over a year now, affirmed that marriage is not in his plans presently. Also, he threw some light into his upcoming project thus; “I am working on Fire on Zamani, my second album right now.

It is a piece of art that I am excited about right now. I keep calling it a piece of art because I have spent a lot of time and energy on this album. I have some big names on this album, I have some surprises on the album, I have some styles of music which I am going to be doing and people are going to be like woooo, you know what I mean?

And some producers that I am working with that I have never worked with before are going to be on this album as well. And apart from that, I have my Zamani Foundation that is going to kick off soon.

Immediately after the album, that is going to get serious, it looks out for orphans, people that are like me in the society. I am not trying to build up something big and pour all the money into it, but I feel like the little that I have, I can pay somebody’s school fees, buy somebody’s text books and we would see how it goes. The day I became an orphan was when I thought and said to myself, I have to look out for people like me. When I lost my mom, my eyes opened in a different direction and I started seeing things differently.”

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Ice Prince Zamani definitely has a story to tell. A story which touches the main cord of indefatigable tenacity and sincerity of purpose, a story of a true role model and inspiration for today’s African youth.

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“ I remember in my early stages I was learning how to be a star, I was like okay, now wey I don get big song, wetin people wey get big songs dey do? Dem dey smile?

Dem dey take pictures? Dem dey wear glasses? I had to learn some of these things, but along the line I realized it is just best to be yourself and I am being myself right now �

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Colours, Prints And Trends For Fall

Words By Elomie Ototobor, Hair By Jerryplus, Makeup By House Of TARA, Styled By Elomie Models By Isis Agency, Photography By Moussa Moussa

HF FASHION

This fall is about attitude and being daring- from the mix of masculine/feminine dressing to the quirky playful looks, and let’s not forget, a touch of our fav fabric, Ankara.

It’s a season of looking back just as much as it is about looking ahead. Designers riffle through fashion archives, finding greatest hits like pearls, monochrome and my favourite, the shift-dress, and reworking them for today.

Here are a variety of looks you should look forward to this fall.

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Words by Akudo Abengowe, Makeup by House of Tara, Hair by Jerryplus, Models by Isis Models, Photography by Mouss Moussa.

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SEQUINS Sequins are definitely for everyone and can be worn anytime of the day. You can rock it with just a hint of sparkle like an embellished purse in the day, or a high impact piece like an all-over sequined jacket or dress at night.

Sequined top- stylist’s wardrobe Jeans- G500 boutique Ankara hair band- Bejewelled koncept Ankara purse- stylist’s wardrobe Neck-piece- G500 boutique Shoes –stylist’s wardrobe

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SUBDUED FLORAL Don’t let go of the floral trend just yet. Swap the pretty, bright flowers for a darker tone. Vivid blues and rich reds set against black or navy are perfect for fall.

(Yes! You can wear pantyhose in our weather. Works on a cool night or rainy day) Floral Dress-G500 boutique Neck-piece- G500 boutique Ankara comb- Bejewelled koncept Pantyhose- stylist’s wardrobe Bangles-G500 boutique Shoes- Davoneski shoes

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LACE Go crazy with lace this fall with the delicate fabric landing on anything from flirty tops, trendy gowns to sexy shoes.

Lace top- G500 boutique Shorts- Daviva Ankara hair band –Bejewelled Koncept Belt- stylist’s wardrobe Pantyhose-stylist’s wardrobe Shoes-stylist’s wardrobe Earrings-stylist’s wardrobe

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SASSY MASCULINE AND FEMININE MIX Sexy masculine tailoring is ideal this season. Pair a dramatic white or colour shirt with tuxedo pants and brogues.

Shirt- G500 boutique Tuxedo pants- Stylist’s wardrobe Glasses- stylist’s wardrobe Bow-tie- stylist’s wardrobe Shoes- Topsy’s shoes

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Words by Elomie Ototobor, Makeup by House of Tara, Hair by Jerryplus, Models by Isis Models, Styled by Elomie Ototobor, Photography by Moussa Moussa.

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SHIFT DRESS The shift dress is inspired by retro-chic style of the 60s. The straight-cut dress flatters all body types without hugging the figure. Pair with flats or wedges for a casual look and with heels for a party.

Dress- G500 boutique Faux pearls- G500 boutique Shoes- G500 boutique

Watch out for the palest pinks to dusky damask hues this season

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y t u a e B e h t d n Beyo

There is nothing like a good weave

s e y E

F

inding the best hair in the perfect cut can not only enhance your look, but transform you into another woman. The main purpose of wearing extensions is to enhance your hair to its fullest potential, not to cause breakage and harm to your natural hair.

Unfortunately, all weaves are not created equal. Some don’t last long and, without care, they can cause major breakage for your natural hair.

Wine hued vixen

This season is all about plum and shades of wine red. What better way to get an attention grabbing wine coloured lip, if not to wear it with a simple braided hair look for that vixen appeal. You can create a fun look by twisting the braid to any side of your face for that extra pop.

1.

2.

3.

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5.

Choose a length in hair extensions that you will feel comfortable in.

Create your signature style by blending textures with 100% human hair.

For example, combining wavy hair with curly hair gives you an easy wash- and-go style. A relaxed texture combined with straight will give you the perfect blend with lots of body.

Choose textures that work for your lifestyle. Do you work out? Do you like low maintenance hair? Ask yourself these questions when selecting. You can also opt for clip-in extensions for a temporary style.

Think about how often you would want to change your style with your extensions. For a natural part, leave some of your natural hair out. For alternating between lots of body and sleek strands, opt for curly or wavy textures.

Don’t be afraid of color! Choose a color that compliments your skin tone and one that you can easily maintain.

Hair extension care: 1.

Maintenance is key. Treat your extensions as you would your natural hair.

However, you should take your extensions down every eight weeks.

Every six months, you should also give your hair a break from extensions

for at least two to four weeks.

2.

Avoid hairline breakage at all costs! Take care of your natural hair. Try

to leave out ample hair around the edges to avoid added tension around

your hairline. Tight braids applied close to your hairline with tracks sewn

on them can easily break or cause further damage, like tractional

alopecia.

3.

When getting extensions, always use premium hair. Using 100% virgin

Indian hair, with cuticles running in one direction, from root to tip, will

ensure that you will be able to reuse the hair multiple times.

4.

These types of products will weigh the hair down and make your hair

extensions stiff so avoid at all costs: o Spritz o Oil sheens o Products containing alcohol o Heavy leave-in conditioners o Mousse o Pomades 5.

Shampoo hair in the shower in a downward motion to keep hair from tangling. Air dry or use a diffuser for curly hair, for straight styles use your blow dryer and a vent brush and flat iron until sleek. Make sure your base braids are fully dry to avoid braid mildew.

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Toks Fahm-Ajayi Owner/Creative Director, TressesByToks

Words by Akudo Abengowe, Makeup by House of Tara, Hair by Jerryplus, Models by Isis Agency, Photography by Mouss Moussa.

When choosing hair:

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Retro revisited The retro look keeps coming back to our beauty looks and it’s a trending look this fall.

This look revisits the hawk hair style, but this time in a braid at the back and the hawk look at the front. With dark eye makeup, you can achieve a hot yet sexy look that will fit the urbane retro image we all try to wear some times.

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EVENT

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ABUJA STANDS STILL FOR TEE A’S SHOW Words By Akudo Abengowe, Photography By Ibraheem Tiamiyu

Tunde Adewale, popularly known as Tee A is a foremost Nigerian comedian who has carved a niche for his art. He is a formidable force in the comedy entertainment industry and is forever breaking new grounds. Tee A held his latest concert ‘Tyme Out with Tee A’ in Abuja on Sunday 11th August 2013 and it was a fantastic outing.

The likes of Basket Mouth, Bovi, Princess, Headmaster, Mc Abbey, Dammy Krane, Skales, Banky W, Inyanya, Kc, Emma Nyra etc gave astounding performances which kept the Abuja crowd screaming till the end of the concert. The highpoints of the concert was an interview with Daddy Showkey and a special performance by the dread wearing ‘Fire Burn’ singer. Tee A gave his Abuja fans an unforgettable concert. Keep it up.

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Coming to

Abuja

For Airport Pickup, Rentals & Drop-Off Call:

(Nigeria)

Direcktah Extraordinaire

Interviews By Akudo Abengowe, Myke Pam and Patrick Chilaka Seven years ago, the franchise reality show Big Brother Africa berthed in Nigeria as Big that was mainly because of the interesting crop of contestants in the game. Katung Aduwak was one of them, he was fun, entertaining and unpredictable. He eventually emerged winner of BBN and went underground. The KadunaState born dude has been very busy, directing

or

music videos, presenting on radio, handling PR for major music labels and running his farm in Abuja. Now, Katung is set to make mega waves as the director of ‘Heaven’s Hell’, a big budget feature film, which will change the face of movie making in Nigeria. He was all too

a subsidiary of Printfield Ent. Ltd.

FCT Licenced Taxi Operator Brand New Cars Convenient A/C Tracked Customer Support Center

happy to talk to us about the movie and BGL, the financiers for the movie.

HF: You have come a long way since Big Brother Nigeria, which was about eight years ago?

KU: Actually it was seven years ago, Big Brother Nigeria was a long time ago.

HF: So what has happened to you within those years?

KU: I was a radio presenter before BBN and after Big Brother Nigeria, I went back to radio, because I love radio. I left Cool FM for Rhythm FM, I am also a condom ambassador for NACA. I did some charity work which made me a UN Ambassador for Peace. I was also running marketing and PR for Chocolate City, which we started in the University of Jos. My contract with Storm ended two years after Big Brother, so I left for film school in New York. I did a film in New York called ‘The Unwanted Guest, it got nominated for four AMAA awards though it did not win any. Then I moved back to Nigeria and so far I have directed Everybody Loves Ice Prince(E.L.I). I did a couple of music videos for Ice Prince, Gabriel Afolayan, Style Plus and now Heaven’s Hell which we have been working on for a while.

HF: That is massive, so though you haven’t been in our faces, you have actually been busy.

KU: Quite Busy.

HF: So what else have you done, did you get married? Do you have children right now?

KU: There are two kinds of busy in Nigeria, there is busy for really being busy and busy for people to feel that you are busy so that you can attract other things. Whichever way you choose to do it, busy is busy. I am getting married in August, I met her while I was schooling in New York and she is from Chicago. She came to test the waters in Nigeria, and she’s been here for a year now. She is an only child and we are getting married in Chicago, because her father can’t travel due to ill health. We will come back to Nigeria and do the Nigerian version for my family.

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Brother Nigeria. Though short-lived, it made a lasting impression on viewers regardless. And

for Business

Pleasure

KATUNG ADUWAK

HF SPECIALS

HF: Let us talk about the movie ‘Heaven’s Hell’. We have heard amazing things about the movie. As the movie director, what’s your perspective of it?

KU: Heaven’s Hell is a story that will literarily affect everybody that watches it. The basic message is about domestic violence among families. It’s about emotional and physical abuse, which might be happening to you or someone you know. Women and children are the major focus irrespective of their status, they are mostly prisoners in their own homes, yet they keep quiet about it because of the stigma that comes along with it. We want people to

know that they do not deserve to be abused that way. There is no need for them to waste and add to the statistics of dead people when there is help that can be accorded to them. The movie is an eye opener for people to know their worth.

They say the way you set your head na him barber go barb you. If you are not weak, do not appear weak. People take advantage of insecure people, if you have unhappy mothers, you will have unhappy children, and they are supposed to be leaders of tomorrow.

HF: As someone known for having a magic touch, what are those things you brought to Heaven’s Hell that will make everyone applaud it?

KU: I am a guy who choose story over style because when you have a good story you will have everyone on lockdown even if you do not shoot it very well. I chose story over style. And then I decided to depict a picture that is not regular in anyway. We shot with Sony F55, this is the first time it is been used in Africa as a whole. The Sony F55 is what Hollywood is calling the revolution of the 21st century. It shoots 4k, which in layman terms is eight times the quality of HD. My director of photography and assistant cameraman are from Hollywood, they have worked with Will Smith, Al Pacino, Rihanna and Michelle Pfeiffer. We brought excellence both in cast and technicalities in order to tell a good story. In Nigerian movies,audio sound are always faulty, I brought a guy who does not even speak English, he’s name is Aleon Mbo. He is Africa’s number one sound guy, his brief was to ensure our audio was hi-tech. We want to show that it is not about churning out quantity, we can also give quality movies. We have aerial shots of Lagos, we brought guys from South Africa to do it. Some people are already doing some good movies in Nollywood, which is why people like me can come in at this stage to up the ante. I have put in my best and given it my all, if this movie does not make it, you will see me in Ajah selling DVD on the streets (laughs). The actors were superb, they delivered because I went through sessions with them. So with their efforts, the crew, what I have done and what God is going to do for us, there is no stopping this movie.

HF: How would you rate this movie with your other works and secondly it means this is feature film?

KU: Starting from the first question, the only other feature film I have done is the one I did in New York. I shot on a 7D, which doesn’t shoot on the level of the F55. In comparison, that feature film, is on a scale of 1, and Heaven’s Hell is on a scale of 110. That is the difference. These people are too hungry to blow your trumpet, if you don’t blow it, no one will and it is the truth. With the Sony F55 I have limitless options as it has about 16,000,000 color settings. The quality of the actors was also key. I did not believe that I could draw this much strength till it HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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HF was asked of me. Now the second question, yes this is a feature film that will go to festivals, we are already in touch with a lady who is starting up a Pan-African Film Festival in Senegal.

She has worked in Cannes for 6 years and Toronto for 5 years. Heaven’s Hell has already been picked though she hasn’t seen it. The feature film will go to cinemas, we already have distribution deals in South Africa, UK, US and some European countries. We are translating in other languages as well.

HF: Are you done with the post production?

KU: Oh no, it is still going on. Editing is going on in New York, and after that we will do color correction, sound mastering and grading in Los Angeles. We want to make sure we do it right.

HF: What are your plans for the premier?

KU: We will premiere the movie in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Congo, Kenya, the UK and the US. In the US, we have New York and Texas in lockdown and we are also working on Atlanta and Washington DC. That is the spread we have for the cinemas. I know the premiere is going to be big. We have big plans for it, and want to make a lasting impression.

I want just to wow people with the movie.

HF: What message do you have for the financiers of the movie?

KU: I was just a visionary who met with some visionaries’. BGL Asset Management Entertainment Fund, they have been interested in entertainment for over a year before they met me. It is so sad that our industry is not properly structured, so it’s not really encouraging for a financial investor. I showed them a preliminary structure where they can monitor their funds, we formed a great partnership, a great synergy. They did a good job because entertainment is one area the government has not invested in. The total number of cast for ‘Heaven’s Hell’ was 222 and they lived everyday on €70. So we provided jobs for people.

HF: As an upwardly mobile director charged to do a whole lot more, do you see Nollywood embracing more feature films than home videos?

KU: All I can say is ‘if something is worth doing, if you are not striving to be the best at it don’t even do it all’. I believe so much in growth because, there was never an industry before Nollywood, and it started one day. Now the problem came in because there are no standards in the movies they churned out. But when they see the good thing they will still take it. Right now if you asked them how we can get better, they will vie for better DSLR cameras and light, they forget that there is something called a story, something called characterization etc. You don’t shoot a movie in a week and release it the next week, no. I worked on this movie for over two years. It is not even a joke. Six months before shooting the movie, I and the actors were still going over the characterization. We developed a bible for each character and made them understand the person deeply. They were overwhelmed by the job, but the thing is even when things go wrong, what do you do? You look for a way out rather than panic.I was patient in dealing with everybody, I managed everybody’s ego on set. Because at the end of the day, it’s for the good of the film. Five years ago, who would have believed that some people will take this industry as serious as I am taking it You can imagine how it will be ten years from now. It is not growing at the rate we want it to, but it will definitely change.

HF: As a director, where do you see yourself in five years?

KU: Worst case scenario I would be collecting an Oscar for the Best Foreign Film. So Hollywood should watch out, because they won’t see me coming.

HF: Would you say attending the New York Film School paved a way for your success?

KU: Not really because my mother still reminds me of how I used to point out continuity mistakes in movies as a young child. We don’t pay much attention to continuity in our movies things like ‘there is a rosary hanging on the mirror, then they just show the next right on and the rosary is no more there, why? As a child I could draw, I could write and I could paint. I knew everything but I was a master of none. Films provided the perfect platform for me to fuse all these talents together. I would have been confused, I write, I sing, I even acted Wedlock of the gods (by Zulu Sofola) for the Governor of Lagos as a child. It is not enough to have a talent, you need to become skilled, that was why I went to school.

HF: Would it be safe to say that you are living your dreams right now?

KU: To God who made me, I am on the path to achieving all my dreams.

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Hell in Heaven’s Gate Nse is a prolific actress, very choosy in movie roles and give depth and character to each movie.

With movies like Guilty Pleasures, Phone Swap, Mr. & Mrs. etc. Nse Ikpe Etim Clifford has set a standard in her chosen profession that every intending movie star should emulate. HF crew paid a visit to the Akwa Ibom State born actress’ house, where she played host to us and talked excitedly about the block buster movie Heaven’s Hell, which is going to be a first of its kind in Nigeria. Heaven’s Hell will premiere in late 2013. But get the juicy details first…

HF: Nse, can you please throw more light on the big budget movie you were involved in recently?

NIE:

I was contracted to do a movie by Ashtag Media House and 108 Media, my sister Uyai and Katung Aduwak partnered with a multi-national organization to produce the movie. It is a true story on violence that was adapted to the African situation. Violence is something that we run away from, we don’t speak about it, or we believe that the person can change. We do not look at the deep rooted side of violence, we do not face it headlong and try to nip it in the bud. Everyone is involved in domestic abuse or violence, men, women and children are abused in several ways. All these elements were incorporated in the movie, violence is so wide and I think they threw more light on the various aspects of it. I was a cast in the movie, I played alongside Fabian Lojode, Bimbo Akintola, Chet Anekwe, OC Ukeje, Damilola Adegbite, Kalu Ikeagwu, Femi Jacobs and Waje who did a Cameo appearance.

HF: how long were you on location?

NIE: Well, I don’t think time is an issue, because we work hard in

Nigeria. We have been able to turn our supposed mushroom thing to a massive industry. But it took us 6 weeks or more because it was shot in two continents, Nigeria and UK.

HF: You are quite choosy of movie roles, what was attractive in this script? Or was it because your sister wrote it?

NIE:

No, I honestly had no hand in their casting, I read the script like every other actor, I almost felt slighted (Laughs), but my sister insisted on doing everything the right way and I understand that.

Even when I’m upstairs in my room, she will send me an email ‘hope you are doing good?’ when she can easily knock on my door to enquire (Laughs). So I took the script because it was well written, I liked the dialogue. It was very basic and real, it depicted each characterization well. I think it came out well because the three of them researched while working on the script.

HF: Does this movie have a working title?

NIE: Yes, it does have a real title. It’s called Heaven’s Hell HF: Can you tell us about your character?

NIE: I will try not to let the cat out of the bag too much.

HF: Not all NIE: No, even the head will not pop out (laughs). Ok let us put it this way, I

played a character called Alice Henshaw who came from nothing but wanted everything. She married right and couldn’t really tell the world her personal pain because she was constantly keeping up appearances. She is one character who kept up appearances until the end.

HF: What where the challenges playing that character? Were you just having fun or was it difficult?

NIE:

Truth is I don’t play every character the same way, because no two people are the same. So you always have to find that one thing that is different in every character. Alice kept smiling through her pain, it is a very difficult thing to do, yet everyone is an actor and the world is a stage thanks to ‘Shakespeare’.

How do you smile through pain? How are you a back bone, yet you have no back? This is what Alice was, it was tough having to live through her for that period. The character stuck with me, I had to be Alice, even when I got married. I could not be Nse because I went straight to set from my wedding, I had become Alice already. And at a point it affected my husband because I was subconsciously acting strangely. He had to complain seriously before I realized what I was doing. You see, to be a method actor can be painful sometimes, something has got to give.

HF: Taking a critical look at other movies in Nollywood, what

difference will HEAVEN’S HELL make?

NIE:

I believe that we have come to add to the industry not change it. That is what Heaven’s Hell is going to do. It will be one Nigerian movie that will make our industry a better one, no be fight, no be war, do you understand? We are fighting for one goal, we want our industry to live, and we will strive as hard as we can to make it right. That is what Heaven’s Hell hopes to achieve.

HF: Is this your first time working with Katung and what was it like?

NIE:

Honestly, as an actress I was very impressed, I did not think he would take me to where I went to. When I act otherwise, he will say ‘Nse, Nse is not here, is she? I am like no, he goes where is Alice? I go she’s here, he goes she’s not’. We would argue about it for a while and he would ask if I needed sometime. He did those things to ensure that I connected to each scene. They actually thought I had hurt myself at one scene, I had to smile and reassure them that I was fine, but the smile was not deep because I was mentally and emotionally pained. So he took me really far, I actually do not want to be an Alice in a long time, no I don’t.

HF: HEAVEN’S HELL has an impressive cast.

NIE: yeah, there was Bimbo Manuel.

HF: It was a combination of the old school and the new school NIE: Which one is old school now?

HF: People like Bimbo Manuel whom we watched as kids NIE: It does not matter, all these old people that are still rocking our world abi?

HF: So what was it like working with this mix of talents?

NIE: I only met few people on set because it was a diverse story. I didn’t meet

Bimbo Manuel though I had worked with him before. He is someone I really admire. But I worked with Fabian Alojode closely, I worked with Kalu Ikeagwu, Chet Anekwe, Bimbo Akintola played my friend, Gideon Okeke my brother and Linda Ejiofor was in it as well.

HF: What is the message of this story as it relates to Africa?

NIE: Heaven’s Hell tries tells us that before a man can wake up a monster,

something in his environment must have affected him. That we should understand that we are products of our environment. And that the world is not as wicked as we make it look, because some of us grew up with love and that is why we keep giving no matter how painful it is. Some people can’t give love because you can’t give what you don’t have. So that is what Heaven’s Hell is all about. It also tells you that life really is not a bed of roses, they have got thorns in it.

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UYAI IKPE

HF: Would you say the support shown to you financially added a certain value to the movie?

UIE: Oh yes, it really did. I am not big on technicalities but I know we got cameras that have never been used in Nollywood.

We got amazing directors of photography, people who have worked with the best in Hollywood.

ETIM GENERATION NEXT

HF: Hollywood? Wow UIE: Yes, we brought someone who has worked with AL PACINO, and worked in series like LOST. We were able to achieve all that because we had good funding.

Not many know Uyai Ikpe Etim, but if you have watched Guilty Pleasures or Queen Amina, then you will know the stuff she is made of. Meeting her for the first time, what generally comes to mind is, calm, shy and introverted. But Uyai is all of this and more. The very creative lady has made a name for herself by writing great stories and screen plays. She also blogs and easily describes herself as ‘very loud’. The best of the best, she is a younger sister to Nse Ikpe Etim and is currently working on a wonderful movie project which she cowrote with her sister and Katung Aduwak. Meet Uyai, as she talks excitedly about writing and ‘Heaven’s Hell’…

HF: When is the movie showing in cinemas?

UIE: The movie is supposed to be out towards the end of the year.

HF: With such a big picture, do you have promotional plans?

UIE: Yes we have promotional plans, we also have plans to make our sound tracks into a DVD and sell that separately because we have great sound tracks if I must say so myself. (Laughs)

HF: Take us down memory lane, how did writing start for you?

UIE: Writing was pretty much part of growing up in my family, we were made to read a lot and thus most of us discovered writing. I also blog. My blog is just about me, playful, random stuff. Until recently when I started writing for an online magazine. Before then, I wrote GUILTY PLEASURES, which was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 2011 AMAA awards. I also worked on a mini- series QUEEN AMINA with JETA AMATA. My latest story has been turned to a movie called ‘Heaven’s Hell’ which is in post production now.

HF: What should movie lovers look forward to in this movie?

UIE: Look forward to a story that is been told in a way it has never been told before, look forward to loads of entertainment.

Look forward to great acting and very great directing. Yes, look forward to an amazing movie.

HF: What gave you the inspiration for such a catchy title?

UIE: (Laughs), We wanted to do a movie that every African woman could relate to, bearing in mind that there’s a lot of abuse movies in Nigeria. We decided to tell our story from an original point, we wanted to tell a story that is true to art and entertaining.

In doing that, we wanted a name that will be punchy and attention-grabbing. A name that would make you ask why Heaven’s Hell, because there’s a hell in everybody’s little heaven, no matter what amazing life you may think the person has.

HF: The first impression one gets when they meet you is that you’re an introvert.Yet you are very eloquent. How do you separate these two personalities?

UIE: I think it’s a misconception when people meet me and assume I’m an introvert, but I am very noisy and playful and sharp, ask my sisters (laughs). However, in the entertainment industry, I work mostly behind the cameras, which is great for me, because I can shout and play anyhow I want to.

HF: So you are content to be just a writer?

UIE: Oh yes! Writing is something I love so I don’t see it as work.

HF: We were told Heaven’s Hell is a true story. Did you get to meet the real people in the story?

UIE: Yes, we met the person.The story is based loosely on actual events surrounding one person’s story, though there are loads of characters in Heaven’s Hell. So yes we met the person, and we were able to feel this woman’s pain. You may not be able to get a clear picture of how deep someone is hurting, but we could connect with her pain and we added a bit of fiction to make it more entertaining.

HF: How long did it take you to write the script?

UIE: Hmm, I started writing Heaven’s Hell five years ago. It was rewritten and edited which took another one year. So yeah, it took us approximately six years to say ‘ok this script is ready to work’. We just had to draw a line at some point and move to the next stage.

HF: One of the major attractions about this movie is the screenplay, who did the

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screenplay?

UIE: I did the screenplay with my sister TENYIN IKPE ETIM and our friend and co-worker KATUNG ADUWAK. But Katung directed it.

HF: When was your first experiment with script writing?

UIE: (Laughs) My first script writing experience started as a joke. My sister Nse was writing and she got stuck along the line. She sought my opinion and I said ‘why not make it happen like this and like that’ she playful tossed the script to me and told me to write it. That was how I wrote the entire thing, but yeah it turned out good. Jetta Amata was impressed with the script that was how I got to work with him on Queen Amina.

HF: A movie like ‘Heaven’s Hell’ with such a cast is definitely big budget. How did you get funding for such a movie?

UIE: We found an institution that was interested in entertainment.

Katung Aduwak found that company and they were captivated by the story. They saw our vision and saw what the movie could become.

And they gave us what we wanted.

HF: Where do you see Nollywood in five years with the influx of young creative minds like you and the interest of American movie makers?

UIE: (Laughs) Well we are getting there, but I don’t know if you can compare Hollywood to Nollywood, it has never really made sense to me, it is like comparing America to Nigeria, but we are really looking at a new Nollywood.

Besides‘Heaven’s Hell’, there are other great movies coming from Nollywood.

I think in five years, we will be doing something amazing.

HF: Finally, what other projects are you working on now?

UIE:We have a great story we are working on currently, but I will keep it in the wraps for now. If ‘Heaven’s Hell’ took us five years, we have no plans to rush this one, it will probably take us way longer. We aim to please.

After hearing the way this movie is been talked about, HF Magazine marks this one as a must watch.

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THE MAKING OF

HEAVEN’S HELL

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GONE WITH THE WIND?

a e m o c e B Has NTA f o w o d Sha Itself?

NTA is still holding its own! In my department, as EDP I have introduced programmes such as the drama serial you sold to us, ‘Shackles’, which has not been able to get a sponsor. That’s one of our major handicaps. We have many good programme ideas, but sponsorship is a major challenge”.

By Shamsudeen

Adeiza

W

hen you say NTA today, what easily comes to mind is Network News, alas that wasn’t the case before this time. In the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), simply known as NTV, was a colossus that monopolized the industry with vivacious festivals, musicals and documentaries. I was privileged to be a producer / director with the NTA in the 80’s, when this giant was at its peak; a time when she had very interesting programmes with competitive prizes attached to them; this pushed producers and directors to be their best. That was when powerful dramas like The Village Headmaster, The Masquerade, Mirror In The Sun, Ripples, Spacs (First Attempt At Action Drama) and Check Mate amongst others, ruled the airwaves and entertained Nigerians. The Controversial ‘Pot of Life’ was made then and Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ was adapted to television. That was when screen-kings such as Pete Edochie and a few others were created.

Nothing lasts forever and all Kingdoms must come to an end. And so, the Golden Age of NTA,

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when popular children programmes like Tales by Moonlight and Giant in the Sun, which won prizes at international Television Festivals ended. And why not! After all, NTA used to send her production staff for training to internationally recognized institutions abroad. But today, such incentives no longer thrive there. I left NTA 2 decades ago, and as a bystander, I’m in a position to say it has lost a lot of verve, value and vigour. Though, it has remained the largest television empire in Africa. That is why new players like AIT, Channels and Silverbird, tend to attract more viewers than NTA. Privileged to be doing a new comedy programme, titled ‘Professor Angus’, with NTA, I asked the Executive Director Programmes, NTA Headquarters Abuja, Mallam U. Mamoud, why NTA has seemingly lost her audience to private televisions and this is what he had to say; “I wouldn’t say we are losing our viewers to other television stations; what’s happening is that viewers have variety of stations to watch and its good for them. Even my friends tell me they switch to NTA only for Network News, and they know NTA sifts her news because she is basically a government organ. This is a reality, but I tell you,

Apart from sponsorship, my investigations reveal that NTA has rapidly lost some of its best hands that produced the super-hits of yester-years through retirements, and talents are the most difficult attributes to replace. There is a yawning vacuum in the system because the new hands are not as enthusiastic to learn as their predecessors. It may be far-fetched to say that NTA is now a shadow of itself, but, clearly, for us who knew when NTA was the allin-all television station in the country, NTA needs a lot of re-definition, rejuvenation and revitalization for her to keep her head above water! We ask again, has NTA as we use to know it gone with the wind?

“I wouldn’t say we are losing our viewers to other television stations; what’s happening is that viewers have variety of stations to watch and its good for them” HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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EMMANUEL IBRAHIM

Interview By Akudo Abengowe and Patrick Chilaka, Hair By Jerryplus, Makeup By House Of TARA, Styled By Elomie Ototobor, Photography By Moussa Moussa

A N N E & e v Lo usic M FUSING

M

Dress- Total wrap boutique Earrings and neck-piece – Playtime Jewellery Shoes- Hot stepper boutique Hair-piece – Bejewelled Koncept Bangle – Stylist’s wardrobe

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other, wife, singer, entrepreneur, social activist, Anny Emanuel Ibrahim is all that and more. She stamped her foot very firmly in the entertainment scene with her Peace and Love Concert which she staged at Oriental Hotels. This Delta State born artiste, simply sings for a living and has produced hit singles such as Time and Come and See, which redefined the gospel music genre. HF Magazine had a tell-it-all interview with Anny and it was superlative

HF HF: How did you catch the music bug?

AEI: Music is synonymous with my life, because I am so in love with it. You know what it means to be in love? Music started a very long time ago for me. I used to be a catholic and I remember the first time I was invited to a programme in a Pentecostal church, I didn’t know much about music then but we had children’s choir. The children’s choir of that particular church gave their special number and my jaw dropped. I fell in love immediately and that was where my love and passion for music started. We started attending that particular church which was good for me, because I joined the children’s choir. It was so awesome that I preferred singing to even food.

I was always a good girl at home as long as I got to sing. Of course my sisters took advantage of it and sent me on countless errands, but I didn’t mind because I followed them to church afterwards. My love and passion for music grew and before you knew, I started writing my own lyrics and here we are today.

Sequined top- Total wrap boutique Cropped pants- stylist’s wardrobe Shoes – Total wrap boutique Wristwatch – Annie’s own Chain and gold bracelet- Stylist’s wardrobe

HF

HF: Will you say singing comes naturally to you?

AEI: Yes it comes naturally because I love it. There is this thing about love that is so emotional and natural. So any day, any time, any minute you call me up I will be able to sing, I don’t have to force it.

HF: Who where your role models within and outside Nigeria?

AEI: Back then I used to sing Whitney Houston’s songs a lot, bless her memory. Even though I was a church girl, I just loved her songs. I also listened to Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, you know they were the leading ladies in music. For gospel music, I always listened to Shirley Caesar, she is a very powerful vocalist, and I used to call her minister.

HF: Ok, tell us how growing up was for you and the influence your parents had on your career choice.

AEI: Hmm. growing up was fun to be honest, because mine was a home of happy siblings, though it could be boring and annoying sometimes. The fact that I had to do all the errands formed the woman I am today. My parents taught us to bond and love each other. My eldest sister is my best friend, there is nothing I cannot tell her and it started from childhood. In the past, our mother would put the food in a big tray and we will all eat it with love and this tightened our bond as a family. Christmas was always fun because you would always hear lots of singing in my house, I have brothers who could rap then. Also, my parents never really objected to our career choices, they would guide you but they never imposed their opinions on us. They knew we had good upbringing and would not go the wrong way. My mother really loved music, so she really supported me. The same thing with my late father, bless his memory.

HF: How fulfilled are you in your genre of music and what hit songs still make you smile till date?

AEI: I thank God, because it is not easy in the entertainment industry. It takes a lot of work for you to be recognized. It’s been fun, it’s been a mix of good and bad. It has been worth my while and I thank God for that. I have two albums and they are doing very well. My first album ‘Your Mercy’ came out in 2009 and the second one ‘Time’ was released in 2011. The songs that pushed me out there were ‘Come and See’ featuring Kefee, ‘Na Time’ and ‘Happy Day’ featuring Freestyle. These are songs that make me happy any day, any time. They were all radio hits, especially ‘Come and See’. It was even a TV hit, because SOUND CITY always started their day with the song.

HF: Have you performed outside the country?

AEI: Yes, I have performed a lot outside in the UK, Dubai and France.

HF: Can you name some acts you have performed with?

AEI: My first performance was in the UK for Diversity Entertainment’s annual awards. I was nominated for the awards and they asked me to perform Come and See because they loved it.

I performed alongside Omawumi, Bukky, Kefee and Sasha. It was a thrilling experience for me because it proved people noticed what I was doing.

HF: Tell us some bad habits you have that people would say aahhh! Annie!!!?

AEI: (laughs) Hmm, I don’t know o, let me see, I eat very late as late as 2:00am. I also pick my nose sometimes and bite my nails.

HF: As an artist, what does fashion and style mean to you?

AEI: I define fashion as simplicity and comfort. I prefer comfort no matter how much I want to

project. Fashion is a way of life and how you want to be seen. So I keep it simple and sometimes edgy.

HF: If we take a peek in your wardrobe, what’s the most expensive thing we will find?

AEI: It will definitely be shoes. I am a shoe freak, I have a boutique where I sell shoes and clothes. In fact my mother came to visit and she was amazed at the number of shoes I had. I must pick a pair of shoe anywhere I go. I pick shoes that I like. My sun glasses I would term as expensive because I bought it for $2000, I have shoes I buy for £500, £200, £300. It’s a lot of money, mostly shoes and sun glasses.

HF: Who are your style icons?

AEI: I think that would be Mary J. Blige, because she knows how to put it together without abusing her body. In Nigeria, I like Omotola probably because she is married and trying to be different, I like the style and manner she dresses. And I like my home girl, Omoni Oboli she also tries to keep it edgy, sexy and decent.

HF: Name your celebrity crush?

AEI: I have a crush on Timaya (laughs), fortunately he is my friend.

I think he’s hot. I will not say I have a crush on girls before I get misinterpreted (laughs) I love a whole lot of them. I like Genevieve a lot, I think she is perfect, there is no perfect person but she just does it for me. As crazy as this sounds, I love Tonto Dikeh a lot. I like HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

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SOAP REVIEW

Kamson and Neighbours

her guts, I like the controversy sha, I just like the fact that you cannot predict her.

HF: Can you recount a bad hair day?

AEI: That would be at the 2011 PRAISE JAM, I had braided hair. I don’t like braids much. So I styled the braid in a cap-wrap and felt really cool with it. But the hair kept falling down and I did not have rubber bands, it was really messy. I had to continuously pull it while I sang.

HF: With the current awareness on looks and image, particularly for celebrities.

Can you tell us your beauty routine?

AEI: My beauty routine is simple. I have a normal but very sensitive skin. I break out easily, so I always wash off makeup from my face each night. I use Neutrogena Facial Scrub on my face. I also stay away from the sun. I drink a lot of water and avoid harsh creams and lotions. I only use Makari lotion on my body.

HF: What are your make up/skin care must-haves’?

AIE: I use Tara’s eye shadow, I use her lipstick as well. I am content with my eye shadow, lip gloss, Orekelewa powder and Black Opal products.

HF: What hair look can we never find you wearing?

AEI: That would be dreads, never. I fancy it on men, but you can never find me wearing dreads (laughs).

HF: What inspired the Peace and Love Concert?

AEI: I grew up in Kano state. I understand what violence and fear is. When I read about these bomb blasts, I can literarily see myself because I grew up in a place where there was crisis. So seeing that music is an effective tool in reaching out to the youth. I want my voice to be heard and that was how the Peace and Love Concert came to bear. No matter how expensive it is right now we want to have peace, because Nigeria itself is not at peace. Enough of the back biting, even amongst us artistes, people beef and hate on each other. We put together the concert to reach out to the less privileged in our midst, children in motherless homes, and people in prisons, to reach out to them in love as well. We got support from people and whatever little extra we got outside the concert is put back to visiting people in prisons. We had the children from the So-Said Home who performed at the concert, we are also reaching out to them through food and toiletries.

HF: So we will see more Peace and Love Concerts?

AEI: Yeah, we will have the second edition next year by the grace of God.

Dress- EBI House of fashion Earrings and neck-piece- Playtime jewellery Shoes – Nykaysflo boutique

HF: If we conduct an opinion poll on your friends, what will they likely say about you?

AEI: They will tell you I am a jolly fellow. I try as much as I can to be happy, I stay positive and I always love to help. I always want to reach out. I think that is what they will tell you. I go out of my way to see that you are ok.

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HF: You have been married for a while, what romantic gestures do you appreciate most from your husband?

AEI: I think it is when I have to go out, my husband is a very quiet person and a very simple man. Sometimes I travel for weeks and leave him with our daughters.

He never complains, that is very romantic and he is very homely. He can wash the toilet, make the bed, he can go that far. That does it for me, money is part of it, (laughs) when he gives me money, that is romantic too but to be honest the fact that he is homely does a whole lot.

HF: What is the next level for you?

AEI: As I said previously, my concert was a huge success, though it was the first time I would do a thing like that. I believe the new single titled ‘Beats around the World’ featuring 9 different artistes will be out soon, I am also working on a couple of singles. We intend to also visit the female maximum prisons before the year runs out and stage like a mini concert for them as well.

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NOT RESTING ON ITS OARS

By Olumide Oguntimehin

igerian soaps are not what they used to be, these days soaps are interesting and extremely funny.

But they also teach lessons of life.

There are several soaps today with different genres and angles of entertaining viewers, that make families look forward to watching their favourite soaps on local or global televisions.

Thus igniting unity and family bonding across the continent.

Some Nigerian soaps have come and gone while some are still in existence; Papa Ajasco, Ripples, Checkmate, I need 2 know, Fortunes, Everyday People, Super story, Tinsel, Dear mother, My mom and I, Family ties, Domino, About to wed, Us, Disclosure, Just the Two Of Us, Kamson and Neighbours etc.

Kamson and Neighbours is a family oriented TV Drama that has been on air for 7 years. Kamson and Neighbours’ portrays real life characters in social and domestic settings whose actions elicit laughter and entertainment. It is a popular series that has grown from strength to strength and gathered positive reactions from its Nigerian audience.

Kamson and Neighbours tells the entertaining stories of the Kamson’s family. JFK the father, Fade the mother, Ladi Andrews (a.k.a L.A), the tricky and jobless 25yr only son, Biodun the 19yr old undergraduate, who always gets into trouble by covering up her naughty brother Ladi. Then there is Loretta, the 13yr old baby of the family. She is the wittiest of them all and full of childish tricks.

She usually exposes her siblings’ activities to their parents.

Then there is Adisa, JFK’s illiterate step brother. The Kamsons have next door Neighbours, the Ibekwes, made up of Francis the husband, Florence the wife,

and Nath their only child and very good friend of Loretta Kamson.

The soap combines a mix of issues and personalities of an average African middle-class family residing in a city to achieve a solid entertaining drama. Season one introduced viewers to J.F.K, a disciplinarian bent on raising his children the military way. Fade on the other hand can’t help but spoil their troublesome son Ladi.

Their nosy neighbours can’t help but get interested in the everyday troubles of the Kamsons. How will the Kamsons survive in this season of the reverting drama series when they cannot keep the drama down and their nosy neighbours are no longer as inquisitive as before? These are questions the audience keep asking, we have to keep watching Kamson and Neighbours to find out.

Kamson and neighbours narrates the ordeal and

challenges parents face when they have grown children around them. Each episode showcases activities that most likely happen in our environment every day.

The producer of the drama series, Tunji Bamishigbin deserves a round of applause for a professional soap that has captured and entertained Nigerians.

However, it is important that the production continues to raise the bar on the quality of its production, its stories and the values they project to their audience.

The family drama is void of corruptive scenes; hence it needs no parental guidance. Every viewer finds something in each episode that they can relate with.

Kamson and Neighbours shows weekly on AIT, LTV, OGTV, African Magic etc.

“ THE SOAP COMBINES A MIX OF ISSUES AND PERSONALITIES OF AN AVERAGE AFRICAN MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY RESIDING IN A CITY TO ACHIEVE A SOLID ENTERTAINING DRAMA.”

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HF

Power Couples T

he African entertainment industry like its counterparts around the world is blessed with its own version of entertainment power couples. Some of these public figures have weathered a lot of storms to stay married.

Scandals, speculative rumors and alarming statistics of failed celebrity marriages and the incessant break ups of their liaisons are constant reminders of the staying power of these profiled icons. A tree, according to the time tested African adage does not make a forest, and bearing in mind the phrase ‘it takes two to tango,’ we chronicle in this first installment, the lives of some of these headliners who have been able to keep the fires of their respective conjugal bliss burning despite the many travails and bad press they usually have to contend with.

Words By Myke Pam

children to show for their undying love, the 71 year old Olu, an alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts London and winner of the Best Actor In a Leading Role of the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA 2007 and Joke, winner of the AMAA 2006 Best Actress In a Leading Role award and an alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts London who just clocked 52 are definitely riding the matrimonial waves.

HF

ALEXANDROS and LIZZ KONSTANTARAS (Kenya) The love story of one of Kenya’s most prominent entertainment power couples is the stuff fairy tales are made of. The union of vivacious screen goddess Lizz Njagah and her producer/ actor husband Alexandros Konstantaras is worth chronicling. This eastern African version of Nigeria’s own Joke and Olu Jacobs have proven beyond all reasonable doubt that mind and matter do actually cohabit. Alexandros who proposed to the beautiful thespian in a classic romance novel style on the set of The Return of Lazarus is sure having a blissful marriage if feelers getting to your darling HF magazine are anything to go by. The match which was truly made behind the screen for the screens is still waxing stronger despite misgivings from Kenyan industry watchers who did not give them a chance to succeed, citing other failed celebrity marriages.

CONNIE and SHONA FERGUSON (South Africa) South Africa’s own Connie and Shona Ferguson who star across each other in the popular South African sitcom, The Wild have been married for more than a decade now and they are not ready to let up yet. A beautiful couple, who seemed tailor made for each other, the Fergusons are a wonderful sight to behold anytime, anywhere. Be it on the screen or off it, they just shine for each other. Quoted by some media sources some time ago to have vowed to stick together, forever, these acting duo are formidable style icons and inspiration to plenty of celebrities and fans alike in SA and beyond.

BEBE COOL and ZUENA KIREMA (Uganda) TUNDE and WUNMI OBE (Nigeria)

OLU and JOKE JACOBS (Nigeria)

Two young hearts bound together by cupid’s arrow in 1988 through the instrumentality of music. This highly creative and talented musical duo known today as TWO (Tunde Wunmi Obe), practically became one 25 years ago when they met at a musical rehearsal session in Lagos. Tunde, son of a former Nigerian ambassador and Wunmi, daughter of the venerable late publisher of the Punch Newspapers, Chief Olu Aboderin had no inclination as at the time that they would eventually end up as a reference point for other celebrity couples and would-be couples.

This couple remains one of the strongest motivating factors for some celebrities who plan to tie the nuptial knots with fellow celebrities. In fact, their story is an inspiring one. Both are thespians of repute who kicked off their respective careers in the United kingdom before relocating back home with their wealth of experience to add panache to the then emerging film industry in Nigeria. The Jacobs who got married in 1987 are a lovely couple to behold. Their undying affection for each other can be glimpsed anytime they are together, both in public and private functions as their hands keep straying to touch or hold the other at any slightest opportunity.

The hardworking couple who consecrated their ten years of courtship in an Elizabethan style wedding in 1998 is still one of the most enviable power couples in the Nigerian entertainment scene. Known for doing things together, this amazing couple famed for their instructive lyrics and musical videos have a classy musical ensemble known as TWO, a music label called Copykats and other sundry collaborative ventures including acting (Mr. and Mrs in the now rested Charley Boy Show) amongst others. Married with children, this 25 year old love story is waxing stronger by the day.

Known to his fans as Bebe Cool, this lyrically vibrant Ugandan Reggae artiste christened Moses Ssali at birth made a lot of Ugadan eligible bachelors and lascivious men envious when he walked the delectable and leggy former Miss Uganda Zuena Kirema down the aisle a few years ago. A marriage that has produced two lovely children, the union of these upwardly mobile young souls was celebrated nationally when it was consummated. Bebe, a dreadlock Rasta man who kicked off his musical career in Nairobi, the capital city of neighboring Kenya before relocating back to his native Uganda is most definitely a proud man. Teaming up with Kenya’s critically acclaimed duo of Necessary Noize to float a formidable reggae band aptly tagged The East African Bashment Crew, Bebe is truly having the best of two worlds. A beautiful beauty queen of a wife and a blossoming musical career is indeed, a wonderful combination.

A lot have been written and said about these multiple award winning couple and their compatibility as husband and wife. With two lovely

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ROCKERS

vs

FAKERS: SPOTTING THE DIFFERENCE With Myke Pam

“ For many

years, piracy and copyright abuse have been hanging over this industry like the proverbial sword of Damocles, beheading, crippling and incapacitating countless numbers of creative minds, projects and aspirations.”

H

OH NO! ave you ever paused to ponder this prevalent funny situation where people who shouldn’t know are the ones called upon to decide the fates of people who are actually knowledgeable about issues at stake? Does it not irk you whenever you find incompetent heads running the affairs of sensitive sectors of the economy, be it public or private? Do you not feel like doing something untoward when confronted with fake ‘arse’ pretenders in any area of human endeavor you dabble into?

Come to think of it, how do you really feel when you see people who rock? People who are on top of their games with their heads and grey matters in the right places and securely intact? So many questions eagerly begging for answers, but unfortunately, the answers are grossly inadequate when compared with the myriads of questions being asked.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

YOU DIDN’T!!

S When Tonto’s

London Bridge

o many things happen to celebrities all over the world, the good, the bad and the very ugly. Most celebrities get caught in awkward moments and that is what this column is about. My point is some can be avoided, but if you flash it, we will see it and if we see it, we are going to SCREAM out loud…Oh No You Didn’t….

Fell

ling down’? on Bridge is fal ry rhyme, ‘Lond out when controversial rse nu e th ll ca d at playe Can you re e fell the scenario th r dust when sh That was what r Tonto Dikeh raised anothe Onlookers claimed ge . on sin nd ed Lo rn acts ncert in actor tu d some strange and anya’s Kukere Co on stage at Iny drunk because she exhibite ng her gown mi ly bla er by l utt s fal r wa she ess is ded he the actor defen ing us? your gu backstage. But or. Will she ever stop stunn flo ge sta y er pp sli . as good as mine

Compiled by Akudo Abengowe, Pictures culled from The Internet.

Janet Jackson’s Stage Gift to Fans Music stars can be dramatic, but nothing beats dramatic like a boob slip, especially on stage. Janet Jackson had an epic boob slip while performing a duet with Justin Timberlake.

Though she later told reporters that she planned the whole thing.

Can we ever forget that?

Oh no! We won’t.

Before I digress, it is important to note that HF Magazine is strictly apolitical in the real sense of the word and this column adheres completely to the ethics, vision and tenets of this continental platform.

Having said that, we also make bold to say that it is very pertinent for the truth to be told in its unclothed and stark reality, for the overall benefit of the African Entertainment scene and all industry practitioners; hence this hard line approach. So, if it actually takes two to tango, come on then and let us tango together.

In this month’s discuss, we are taking a brief look at the bane of the entertainment industry in Africa as we know it. For many years, piracy and copyright abuse have been hanging over this industry like the proverbial sword of Damocles, beheading, crippling and incapacitating countless numbers of creative minds, projects and aspirations.

Copyright abuse, a scourge which has developed into a hyper-dreaded epidemic is now a wholesome endemic that has eaten deep into the body polity of the continent’s creative industry to the extent that most criminal minded individuals who view the industry as a goldmine are now spreading their dirty dragnets over the industry in association with some industry insiders who are bent on sucking the juvenile lifeline out of this young industry.

To worsen the already sickening circumstances, you now have situations where budding music acts in Nigeria and a few other African countries go caps in hand begging established pirates in sprawling markets like Alaba in Lagos to bootleg their creative works by incorporating the songs into what these buccaneers call compilations and/or mix tapes. The most painful aspect is that this desperate and oftentimes, ignorant artistes pay huge sums of money to these pirates to pirate them!

Beyoncé & the Fa

n; A tale of Tw o Best friends

Beyoncé keep s ch gets, but there annelling her inner sexines s was nothing se a fan while on xy about her ha every chance she stage. Yes, this ir happened in M getting caught in continued to sing, while he on r stage crew scr treal and the diva her hair. Can we ever get en am ough of Quee bled to untangle can’t, but we can do withou n Bey? I’m su t the awkward re we you very much stage mishaps, . No wonder, th th crop look few e days after that. sexy Mrs Carter cut her ha ank ir Go Bey! Long disadvantages. hair definitely to a has its

The excuse some of these desperados give is that since it is not easy to get record deals and the hence vision and lifespan of mushroom labels are usually short lived, they at least have no other choice but to resort to enriching the pockets of the pirates. Most of them sincerely believe that with the mix-tapes and compilations, their songs at least gets to be heard in the pubs, public transports, night clubs and of course some street joints amongst others, thereby assuring them of some measure of publicity and the likes. But the questions are, who is fooling who? Are we building or are we destroying? What exactly do we want to achieve by complicating our already exacerbated cancer? Like I said before, we have more questions than answers.

What is the way forward?

Dear Rihanna

er Beyonce a la Ch

yl Cole

‘Irreplaceable’ it first and then r Cheryl Cole did o did hers. It appears he als wife’s several diva Beyonce his nd mi n’t does do. husband Jay Z lars. Well, we private particu singer anything flashes of her xy se e th e giv for While we can to be reminded we don’t need . Bey, in this world, r stage flashes he th wi is e next ns ga or e how HOT sh tiv uc your reprod please tuck in time.

Imagine going cap in hand to seek out a thief in his hideout and bargaining with him on how much you will pay him to come and rob you. I don’t mean a one off robbery, no. we are talking consistent robbery.

What an irony! As an industry egghead, it beats my imagination whenever I hear stuff like this, because it neither makes an economic nor creative sense.

Please send your reactions to www.hfmagazineonline.com or tweet at us on @hf_magazine or through facebook, hfmagazinefanpage.

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Akon the Calab ar

Hero

There’s a hero in what award wi every one of us. I’m sure th at nn Calabar Nigeria ing singer Akon tried to pr was , ove in festival. While where he performed at the Calabar giving a dope ensued in the performance, cro a fight and jumpe wd. Akon thought he could sto fight d into the crowd p the resulted in los , his he roic att s of his shoes and belt buckle empt other things. am So expensive fashio rry Akon, naija guys need ong performed some n accessories. Anyway Akon your crowd cheerin stunts with a balloon which later g. left heroic experie What a nice way to end an the nce. awful

We Have Seen Enough!

Poor RiRi! She never gets tired but her fans in Istanbul, Turke of flashing her P parts, y got even more bargained for when she flash than they ed a sensitive butt. Rihanna pa didn’t flash he r butt cheek int rt of her because it wa sa en was clearly a wa sore sight and not sexy AT tionally ALL. This rd a count of her robe malfunction. But hey, let bo Marley’s tribute dy flashes. At the Grammy me do s, , at CBS, the lis RIHANNA!!!! t is endless….RI at Bob HANNA!

beneath Labyrinth was left ity beautiful in Kent’s Univers utiful about There was nothing bea formance Labyrinth’s summer per British The t.

Ken of ity vers Uni at the judged the singer must have mis stage dived crowds’ mood, when he catch him. expecting the crowd to caught him Unfortunately, no one . It is either and he fell flat on his face his free te the crowd didn’t anticipa ing his feel jump or they were not it may, I’m performance. Be that as r Beautiful sure the Beneath You ons the very singer has learnt his less you jump hard way. Look before next time Labyrinth.

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Street TRENDZ SOUTHStyle AFRICAN Every street has its own creed, every city their own style. we give you the different hues, shades and colours of the South African streets...

Africa’s tweaked fashion, by Africans and for Africans. From Soweto to Pretoria, Jo’burg to Durban, it’s our style, our world - this is SA street trendz.

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SUPER BRANDS

AFRICAN

I

& Entertainment: The Correlation

With Myke Pam

t is indeed a beautiful sight these days to behold the productive marriage of sorts between some super brands in Africa and African entertainment icons, projects and organs. One still remembers with nostalgic reflections when brands operating in the continent seemed not to take advantage of the abundant human and material resources available in the African entertainment landscape.

Those were the days when these brands preferred to trumpet the triumphs of unreachable foreign stars to the detriment of the home grown ones. It might interest you to know that in spite of the rejections meted out to our own shining lights by the then largely foreign controlled conglomerates, the hardworking indigenous industry eggheads still trudged on, until Africans who understood the goldmine staring at their faces took up the gauntlet to reverse this ugly unpatriotic trend.

Today, it is a different kettle of fish as the hitherto rejected stone has become the chief corner stone of this imposing modern house. A house fit for kings. So, like the proverbial phoenix, African entertainers are now rising out of the ashes of yesterday and are soaring into the horizon, one made for Africans by Africans. It did not happen overnight. It took the foresight, dedication and sincerity of purpose of a couple of big brands spearheaded by patriotically inclined Africans to right this age long wrongs.

Most of the projects getting respectable endorsement from these brands include music/ movie/general entertainment talent hunts, sponsorship and bankrolling of movie projects, dance competitions, music and comedy concerts, reality television shows, endorsement of entertainment icons as brand ambassadors and other sundry entertainment events.

Some of these highly commendable brands and their respective entertainment projects (most of them international Entertainment franchises) are listed below: MTN – Project Fame, Who Wants To Be Millionaire? Brand Ambassadors GLO – X-Factor, Naija Sings, Brand Ambassadors AIRTEL – Naija Got Talent, BBA, Tinsel, Brand Ambassadors ETISALAT-Nigerian Idols PEAK MILK- Peak Talent Hunt NBL – Star Quest, Star Mega Jam, Star Trek, Gulder Ultimate Search, Maltina Family Dance All, Amstel Malta Box Office GUINNESS BREWERIES – Malta Guinness Street Dance BGL – Heaven’s Hell (Nollywood) STERLING BANK – Spirited Actor (Talent Hunt) DIAMOND BANK – Money Drop /Brand Ambassadors UNILEVER – Lipton Brand Ambassadors Finally, without sounding pig headed, one can boldly say that the goose has finally come home to roost.

Note: This is the first of the brand and entertainment chronicles, more brands holding sway all over the continent will be profiled in subsequent editions of your number one African entertainment journal.

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HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.

HF Magazine Edition 1, Volume 1.