Maxwell to Perform in Nigeria, Two Days After Valentine’s, February 16th, 2013

Yet another interesting news. Maxwell recently took to twitter to announce he will perform in Nigeria, two days after Valentine’s. His vocals are so sexy and I am sure his Nigerian fans will appreciate his presence in the country. I have been calling this invasion for a while now, i.e. the increase in American artists performing in Nigeria given the current state of the US economy and the digital revolution taking place in its music industry as a whole.

For all the terrible reputation/surveys/rankings and bad country branding Nigeria enjoys, in the final analysis, if promoters can pay to get USA artists, in a recession, to show up, then that’s what it is. I have no issue with it. I just INSIST Nigerian and other similarly situated African artists should have that reciprocity in the USA music market. I also insist on their turf, in their homeland, the celebrity artists are treated with respect.

However, we gotta earn that respect too. Does your music move the ladies and the soul like Maxwell’s does? Exactly my point. We’ve got work to do in and out of the country. Africa is not Asia. The influx of American celebrity artists who command hefty fees from promoters will ultimately affect the kind of music Nigerians want, and how they view the value of the Nigerian artists.

History does repeat itself. Also, with the continued cookie cutter crap emanating from the industry, it is only a matter of time when we completely fatigue fans with the same “ova” “hi” “tinkolo  gaga” sound. Don’t you dare pick on #Poko #Tonto Dikeh people. She’s not even a musician and she fits right into the current music industry structure and sound. That’s the music industry’s problem not hers. She is just smart  to leverage on such an opportunity for even more reach with her brand’s message,  while the rest of industry gets “hi” off “overgreased and over fat” American music diet.

See Maxwell’s tweet below. The “Summers” hashtag he refers to is in reference to his upcoming album.

Celebrities Behaving Badly: Davido Calls Celebrity Blogger Shei Funmi “Faggot,”

Have you all read about the drama between rapper Azealia Banks who is signed with Interscope Records and blogger Perez Hilton? The rapper was irritated when Gay Blogger (sounds weird identifying people by their sexuality. As in heterosexual blogger???) In any event, Perez Hilton, popular blogger who is also openly gay voiced his opinion about Banks’ behavior towards her fellow music industry colleague. Banks, upset at his comments, basically told him where to go and called him a “faggot.” Many attacked her on twitter  and so did the LBGT organization, a gay rights group. Banks stood her ground. She said it was hypocritical that she could say and use the “Nigga” word and every one dances to and affirms it, yet there is an uproar when she says the “Faggot” word. She said using the “F” word does not make her homophobic and explained its variety of meanings not associated with sexuality, per se.

Davido takes a page from Banks and attacks Shei Funmi with the “F” word. The altercation is over an alleged inaccurate reporting by Shei Funmi about Davido. You get to read the tweets shortly. Shei Funmi also received heat from Wizkid who had issues with a reporting by Shei Funmi regarding his mother.

Bloggers, as a rule, it is usually a bad idea to get family involved when reporting about stars. However, you can maybe get away with reporting on siblings, and other relatives but when it comes to mothers, that is a no go area. You better get your facts right because grown men have been known to lose it when you push that universal sensitive button. In this instance, in response to Shei Funmi’s statements, Wizkid calls Shei Funmi “Bitch.” Is that acceptable? “Nigga” and the many forms it can be said, “Faggot,” and “Bitch.” Aren’t we dealing with derogatory words against blacks, gays and women?

AML artists, a good rule of thumb is to avoid the outburst of anger on twitter and social media sites, especially against three key groups: fans, bloggers and media in general. Beyond giving more weight to a situation than you need to, it detracts from what you are trying to do and where your focus should be placed, your music. I know it’s easier said than done, but try.

If stories are libelous/defamatory, I have shared how to deal with such situations, on AML, in a more powerful and effective way. Shei Funmi gets even American celebrities all worked up. It won’t be any different just because you happen to be a Nigerian celebrity. Finally, there are few persons you just know, they don’t need to tell you, that should you strike at them, irrespective of who began the fight,  you should be prepared to get bloodied up. Unless you are ready to get bloodied up in the press, in public, in the courtroom or wherever, fall back and find different more effective methods of resolving conflicts.

Now can we all just kiss and makeup?

NOTE: By the way, if you are wondering who Shei Funmi is, click to read my exclusive interview with him on Ladybrille Magazine where he discusses, for the first time, being raped by his uncle at ten (10) years old. He has also been very open and transparent about his struggle with bi-polar and depression.

-Uduak

Photo description: Davido kissing a female fan in case that sent the internet blazing.

Photocredit: LindaIkeji

30 Nigerians killed in fresh oil pipeline fire

No fewer than 30 Nigerians, suspected to be oil thieves died in a pipeline fire at Arepo village, in Ogun state, early on Saturday, the police said.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in-charge of the Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Mr. Friday Ibadin, confirmed the death toll today in Lagos.

Ibadin said an explosion was heard at about 2 a.m. and shortly after, a team of policemen led by the sector commander, Lagos, DSP Onaghise Osayande, arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.

another oil pipeline tragedy: firemen battle oil fire in Lagos

He said the fire was caused by suspected vandals, who allegedly ferried across to the creeks to siphon petroleum products from a ruptured NNPC pipeline.

“Our preliminary investigation reveals that the fire was sparked off by vandals, who were arguing over who was eligible to fetch from the ruptured pipeline.

“It was in the heat of the argument that one of them accidentally released a bullet that led to several explosions.

“However, operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Unit, Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, who were on patrol rushed to the scene to avert further disaster.

“It was in the process that they arrested a medical doctor and one of the survivors on their way to the hospital in a jeep.

“The doctor was alleged to be smuggling one of the survivors, who happens to be a vandal, to his private clinic for treatment.

`In the course of interrogation, we discovered that the survivor was one of those, who allegedly participated in the killing of three NNPC officials in 2012 at same area,’’ Ibadin said.

The ACP said fire fighters were still trying to contain the fire. He gave an assurance that the police would provide adequate security in the area and that security agencies were on the trail of other “vandal’’ survivors, who fled the scene of the incident.

He said one of the suspects arrested told the police that many of his mates were killed in the explosion, while others injured might still be alive and “ dying in the creeks’’.

Ibadin narrated the suspect’s account of the incident and how his mother reportedly called in a doctor to treat his wounds.

“He claimed he was in his house, when one Suleiman, his friend, called him that there was a job at Arepo creeks.

“He asked him to look for a canoe and come with as many gallons of jerry-cans. Shortly after he arrived, he saw argument among the vandals and some began to fight before hearing a gunshot. “He claimed the next thing was an explosion. He claimed he was lucky that he wasn’t close to the ruptured pipeline.

“It was in the heat of the fire that he managed to run to his boat, where his mother was waiting. He said his mother called a doctor, who was about taking him to the hospital before they were arrested by the police.

On the number of persons involved in the incident, the suspect claimed that there were more than 50 men and women, the ASP said.

The police officer also told NAN that the doctor had tried to exonerate himself from the crime.

He claimed he acted “in accordance with his oath to protect life,’’ after receiving a distress call from “a customer’’ for an emergency, the ACP said.

Meanwhile, scarcity of fuel looms in Lagos State and Ogun as NNPC has since stopped the flow of petroleum products through the Arepo pipeline, pending the repair of the ruptured pipeline.

Warders do not impregnate female inmates – Rivers Prisons Controller

The Controller of the Rivers State Command of the Nigerian Prisons, Mr. Babalola Ogundana, has said that warders are not responsible for impregnating female inmates in the state.

He was reacting to allegations that some of the inmates were at different stages of pregnancy.

The Prisons boss said contrary to speculations, the female prisoners who ware in the family way got pregnant before they were jailed. He added that male warders were not allowed to visit the female section of the prison without being accompanied by a female warder.

“The allegation is not true because all of them (female inmates) were pregnant before they got to the prison.

“When female inmates arrive at the prison, we subject them to test to confirm if they are pregnant or not.

“Those that are pregnant; we cannot reject them because they are pregnant. Once they are brought by a valid warrant (of incarceration), we have to accept them.

“So it is not possible because at no time will a male warder be with a female prisoner without a female warder.”

Ogundana also denied that the ladies were sometimes allowed to go out of the prison for sex. He said noting of such happens as the command conduct regular headcount of inmates.

“It is not possible because the warder knows that if caught in the act, the penalty is severe and so no warder will dare do it; this is a mere allegation.

“If it is for medical purpose, it has to be certified by a medical doctor. In Port Harcourt prison, we have two doctors and there are a lot of nurses.”

He further explained that babies delivered in the prison were sent to their mothers’ relatives after 18 months of being nursed by their mothers.

In cases where there is no one to accept a child, the baby is handed over to orphanage homes.

Donjazzy And Lagos Socialite Princewill Ojukwu Reconcile

                                                 
Remember the Donjazzy-Princewill Ojukwu story which I reported recently, where the latter claimed that Donjazzy ordered his thugs to beat him to pulp at his new club PoP? Refresh your memory by reading all about it HERE.
Word out now is that the two met at an hangout on the island yesterday evening to resolve their differences. All the beef between Princewill and Donjazzy has been axed, and the two at peace with each other. Good stuff!

I'm listening to loritosan in Hulkshare:

I'm listening to loritosan in Hulkshare:

Man Slams Tonto Dike In Open Letter, Says:You're A Monkey!

           
I came across the letter you're about to read and found it very interesting. The letter is an open letter to actress Tonto Dike who allegedly granted an interview late 2012 in which she was was quoted to have said:

 First of all, it is nobody’s business where my fiance is from. That out of the way, yes Benin men are great and very understanding. They are not sitting and judging you unlike an Igbo man that will want to be poke-nosing in everything you do. You make your money and the Edo man is not interested in your personal affairs . “If I keep waiting for an Igbo man, I will just end up like Genevieve Nnaji who is eternally single.”

Tonto and her reps have however debunked the above statement calling it false. However, the writer of the open letter still refers to the letter against the backdrop that she perhaps made the statement afterall.
See the open letter when you continue....

Dear Tonto Dikeh, 

I know you feel beautiful this morning! Well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. For me, you are nowhere near ‘beautiful’. You are just there. But before I tell you what I really want to tell you, I need to tell you something. There is a lady called Adele.She is a singer. She sings. I need to explain what a singer means, because I understand that you have no brain at all. Because I hate sugar-coating, I am hated by a lot of people. You are just like me too. I will understand when people hate you, but, seriously, if you think Igbo men are nosy, then, you are right. That is your opinion and you must protect it. 

I am an Igbo man. I will defend myself right now. Back to Adele. I will tell you everything about this young lady who transformed herself into something very beautiful in the eyes of men.I also understand that you don’t know her, but it won’t hurt if I tell you about her now. This is what TIME magazine wrote about her few days ago: “As talented and appealing as she is, few could foresee how utterly dominant Adele would be in 2011: in an era where even the highest-tier musical acts can struggle to move records, her sophomore effort, 21, sold 17 million copies worldwide and spent 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, the longest for any record since 1998′s Titanic sound track. Combined with sales of her previous album, 19, Adele has topped the U.K. charts for 21 weeks — a feat matched only by the bands Oasis and Queen.” Tonto nne m, Adele is 23. You are older. She is not worried about her future. You are. She is focused about her music.You are worried that no Igbo man will marry you after you’ve created yourself into a bamboo stick

Truth is that I don’t know you personally, but you’ve created a strong mystery around yourself. People see you as a soul from hell.They say you’ve sold your soul to the devil. Me, I don’t know where the devil lives, but I think you have. You even went ahead to show us tattoos at your back. I just didn’t understand why you did that. As an Igbo man, I will never marry a woman who has shown the entire world ‘my tattoos.’It is not good. I am an Igbo man, so I will need to know who snapped the picture. Maybe, your secret boyfriend? This is the reason why we are bad, abi? Adele doesn’t go around seeking attention. She doesn’t pay anyone to publish pictures of her tattoos. Who knows? She may just have a lot of them. I haven’t seen them. I have seen yours. 

There is nothing wrong in you tattooing your entire body, but what is my businesswith that? Are you not supposed to be an actress? Of course, I understand that you appear in ”p”  films now? That is good. At least, you are doing what you know best. But to pick on Igbo men? This is very unacceptable.You insulted a lot of us. This simply shows how unintelligent you are towards anthropology. Men are the same all over the world. Igbo man, Yoruba man, Hausa man. We all treat women in similar ways. We love unconditionally. And we all become nosy when our women start acting like you. 

If your father is an Igbo man, dearest Tonto Dikeh, you are a monkey. But I will be sorry if you didn’t say that. I only rely on the media, since I don’t know you personally.If you didn’t say it, Tonto, I am very sorry. I will publicly apologise. Yet, I believe you did, because you do so many things after marijuana. If it’s not good for your brain,stop smoking. Listen to Adele’s ”Someone Like You” and you will feel good.I don’t look forward to hearing from you. 

Sincerely,Onyeka Nwelue