ENTERTAINMENT

Breaking News: Another Legendary Nollywood Actor, Justus Esiri Is Dead!

By Admin

As Nigerian Entertainers are still mourning the passing away of Goldie, another movie icon, Legendary actor Justus Esiri has died.

The Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), famous for his role as the Village Headmaster in popular 80's sitcom of the same name, passed on last night in a Lagos hospital.

Uncle Justus Esiri as he's fondly called has featured in several Nollywood movies. One of them is The Andrew Ukoko's Film, THE ASSASSIN'S PRACTICE to be released across the Nigeria cinemas from this Friday 22nd February.

He is the father of  the Music Artist, Dr Sid. May his soul rest in peace!
More updates to come soon
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No daughter of mine marries without University Education – King Sunny Ade

MONDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2011


By Ogbonna Amadi Entertainment Editor
Although he is one of the biggest and most influential musicians in Africa, King Sunny has one regret, his l ack of University education.
Pained by this short -coming, he has forbidden his daughters from getting married without acquiring a University degree.
He bared his mind to Saturday Vanguard at the wedding of one his daughters’ Ruth, last Sunday in Ondo, Ondo State and advised would- be suitors to steer clear of his daughters who are yet to meet his expectations.
Why did you decide to make your daughter wed in a low- key event?
The request was hers. She told me that she just wanted to go to the registry and have a small reception. I had to start calling my friends and apologising that we are not having an elaborate wedding. Besides, I have other things to celebrate , like my 65th birthday and my mum’s one year remembrance. So, there was no need to invite the whole world to the wedding and call them again a few days later to come for my mum’s anniversary and my birthday.
How much do you miss your mum?
I miss her very much. Although she warned me not to cry when she passes on or when any person dies, I have tried my best not to cry, but I can’t help it. On the day she was buried, I cried and on the first year anniversary of her death when I was about laying the wreath, I realised that I was alone and that my mum is gone and that my adviser is gone. I cried too. I thank God that my mum died at a ripe age but I still miss her.
I still have daughters and sons but my appeal to you guys is that if you want to come and ask my daughters’ hand in marriage, I beg you, let them acquire University education before you marry them. I cherish education, so much because I didn’t have much education.
Do you still want to have more kids?
It’s not that I still want to have more kids but if I decide not to raise kids anymore and one of my wives insists on having one, whom am I to say no. But the truth is, I have begged my wives not to get pregnant any more. I have grand children that are up to 16years and very soon, I will become a great grand pa and you don’t expect a great -grand father to continue to father kids.
We learnt that Ademola Records based in Oyingbo, Lagos is now the major distributor of your old works. Is it true?

king Sunny Ade
Well you are right, because I was formerly with NIRA and since the agreement between us elapsed and I found a new and reliable ally in Ademola records, I decided to give my works to him. Apart from the distributions, it will also help to curb piracy.
How many albums did you give to him?
I gave him all my oldies.
What of the ones released by TYC owned by the Late Bolarinwa Abioro?
Well, the case is still in court so I can’t speak on that. But as far as all my oldies are concerned, the sole distributor is Ademola records. And to make the job easier, my company is the one printing the album sleeves to avoid any problem.
What is the duration of the agreement between you and Ademola records?
It is a year agreement with an option that if he performs, it could be renewed.
As a visiting lecturer to Obafemi Awolowo University, what was your first day in the classroom like?
It was interesting because rather than teaching ,I was taught. The students had done their research work on me and had an insight into what they expected from me. First they had entertained me on stage and I did the same for them.
At 65 how do you feel?
I thank God for my life and I thank God day in, day out because someone had predicted that I’d die before I attained the age of 60. I thank God I’m 65 today.
Are you planning to retire soon?
You can’t retire from music unless you want to retire from active stage shows. But I’m praying to God for strength because you and my fans will not allow me to quit active stage show.
How does it make you feel that none of your children is playing juju music ,instead they prefer hip- hop and other genre of music?
I did not inherit music from my father. By playing music, I became a rebel in the family and I damned the consequence. So, I don’t want any of my children to damn my own kind of consequence. Now I make bold to tell you that those that went to hip- hop are back to juju music.
And how do you feel seeing your colleagues in music dropping the guitar?
As far as KSA is concerned, I still play the guitar. So , whoever does not play, it is his or her own problem. The difference is that I hardly play the guitar at shows but at concerts, it is a matter of must.
Sometime, don’t you feel embarrassed when you play at the wedding of those you played at their naming ceremonies? .
There is one thing I appreciate in transport business, especially those that ply in the Eastern axis of the country. There is a particular one that has the slogan ‘the young shall grow’. So I am presently playing for third generation now and I pray that I will be able to play for the fourth generation. Let me give you an example. A young boy saw me about 16years ago and said King, you will play at my wedding but the mum almost slapped him. But I stopped her and said that is his wish and recently I played at his wedding that shows consistency and God’s favour.




HOLLYWOOD TEAMS UP WITH NOLLYWOOD (The Nigerian Film Industry)


MONDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2011

Award winning Producer/Director/Actor, Pascal Atuma, changes the game with upcoming film: “The Trace”
Los  Angeles – Pascal Atuma (Hurricane in the Rose Garden)  teams up with Nollywood  A – List Superstar Ramsey Noauh, Hollywood actress Tangi Miller (Madea’s Family Reunion), Hollywood actors Hakeem Kae Kazim (Hotel Rwanda, Pirates of the Caribbean), Michael Blackson (Next Friday, Repos) and Raazaq Adoti ( Amistad, Resident Evil: Apocalypse)  to tell a touching story of love, betrayal and revenge.
In a recent interview with Pascal Atuma, he explained why he decided to take on this script. “As an artist the script intrigued me, more importantly this is an opportunity to bring Hollywood and Nollywood stars together in one project
Production is scheduled to start on November 14th in Los Angeles , CA and the film is set for release summer of 2012.

L-R [Ramsey Nouah, Tanji Miller, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Micheal Blackson]

CAST:

Grace (Tangi Miller)
Willy (Hakeem Kee Kazim)
Stanley (Ramsey Nouah)
Icon (Pascal Atuma)
Prince (Razaq Adoti)
Jombo Black “JB” (Michael Blackson)
Abridged Synopsis: When Stanley ‘s finance Lily gets coerced into stealing money from him, he hatches out a plan with his best friend Willy to seek revenge by scamming the young woman’s father. When Stanley is killed, Willy is left to stand trial for the crime, but is the evidence enough to convict him?
Pascal Atuma Productions is known for popular urban hits such as, “My American Nurse 1 and 2”, “Okoto the Messenger” and more recently, “Who is the Man?”. His first and second movies, “Only in America” and “Hurricane in the Rose Garden” are available at major retail chains such as, Wal-Mart, Target, Redbox , and Netflix. Olivia Entertainment has produced hit urban movies like, “Love & 4 other letter words” and “My Girlfriends Back”. This will be the first major production for CraigWal Entertainment( Nig).
“The Trace” is a production of “Pascal Atuma Productions” and “CraigWal Entertainment ( Nigeria ) in association with Olivia Entertainment.  It is going to be produced by Tangi Miller, Ujunwa Walter Ojimba and Pascal Atuma who will also direct the film.