Four Icons That Changed The Face Of Nigerian Entertainment In the Last 20 Years

Ali Baba – Comedian

Acknowledged as the ”Oga at the top” of Nigerian comedy, Atuyota Alleluya Akporobomeriere is the catalyst that brought respect and (ahem!) the big bucks into the humour industry, paving the way for the likes of Basketmouth, Julius Agwu, AY and many others making a decent living today off their jokes.

Ali Baba was among an amazing troupe of pioneer funny-men that took their jokes as serious business. His early contemporaries in the early nineties were the late Mohammed Danjuma, Yibo Koko, Alarm Blow and Basorge Tariah. He started telling jokes for a fee as a student of the then Bendel State Univerrsity, Ekpoma in 1987 and moved to Lagos for greener pastures in 1990.

D'Leads Break Out With Dance Track - "Nkaboleke"

Lagos based duo, D'leads made up of two self confessed dance addicts recently put finishing touches to the video of their high energy debut track titled Nkaboleke.

The first time we got a hold of the track, courtesy of D'Leads front-man, Eric Cool we were apprehensive of it being a rehash of reigning material in the clubs and radio but by the end of the track we all found ourselves humming unconsciously to the catchy chorus.

I immediately placed a Skype call to Eric Cool to ask him the message behind the track since large parts are in his native dialect and in a heartbeat and a big smile he replied - "its all about making the people dance".

With the sort of passion they radiate, expect more dance floor fillers from these guys.

Enjoy!

AK-47: The Gun That Changed The World

First model from 1949

While recuperating in a hospital bed from injuries sustained in a battle during World War 2, Sergeant Mikhail Kalashnikov of the Red Army became obsessed with the idea of creating a gun that would drive the Germans out of his motherland. He started the sketches for a super weapon that would match the 7.62mm calibre cartridge and suffered initial disappointments including the gun not being adopted by the Soviet Army before the German war machine was beaten back to the heart of Berlin.

Sergeant Kalashnikov in 1949 

J. Martins On Wizkid & "Broke Fan" Comment : Don't Diss The Fans!

J. Martins who was in Abuja days ago, gave his opinion on the altercation between singer, Wizkid and a follower of his on Instagram. The fan noticed some faulty grammar in a post by the star musician and told him that he needed to "go back to school". 

Wizkid hit back at the rude poster, by saying - "broke people always have an opinion"

The Instagram altercation

Super producer/neo-highlife musician, J. Martins addressed Wizkid's comments in an interview on Hot FM 98.3 and had this to say -

"J Martins on the show said ‘I’m not taking any side, don’t mean no beef, no disrespect, and no hate but let the truth be told. I don’t believe because you feel you have a few change you didn’t have a few years ago and which you cannot guarantee having in a few years to come then you wake up and look at those people who have cheered you up, loved you, supported your music, bought your CD’s, prayed for you, just because you can lay your hands on some phone and you call them ‘poor’. Am not in and will never be in support of anyone who has such bad attitude.

“It needs to be corrected, we owe our fans the duty of being good examples that’s why they hold us in high esteem, that’s why you are a role model and if you know you cannot be a good role model you have no business in Music. You don’t know if it’s that person that might help you tomorrow, whoever does that should be checked.

You have to decide why you are in the music industry. If you know you cannot be a role model then you have no business being there”

While J. Martins may have a point about respecting the fans and not being arrogant, we cant ignore the fact that the fan in question here could have been more polite in giving advice and correcting grammar. If I made a mistake and somebody corrected me like that I would likely give him a piece of my mind.

Why Are These Nigerian Soldiers Dancing "Your Waist" (Etighi) ?

Npak Eto!, Figure eight o!

These troops were pictured sweating it out to some external stereo, booming Iyanya's monster hit - "Your waist" and doing a very good job of the etighi dance step too. Iyanya had better watch out before these guys (especially the dude in the middle) put him out of business  These gallant soldiers of ours are based in Mali, following the tradition of helping to beat back rebels and fundamentalists in the West African sub-region. Our boys are among the best ground forces in Africa and have over the years, contributed above their quota to ECOMOG and now as part of UN coalition forces.

Its not clear if they are dancing because they heard of the death of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, they got paid today (friday) or they just felt like it. Whatever it is, these guys have earned the right to boogie every once in a while.

Big up to "Africa's Finest" Infantry keeping the peace !!

New "BOYONA" Army Division Takes Over Operations Against Boko Haram

Starting from Monday August 19th, a newly formed Nigerian Army division dedicated to counter-insurgency will take over all operations against the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States. This group will take over the command and assets of the JTF which recorded notable success in dislodging the boko haram sect from their camps in hills and forests in North-Eastern Nigeria since the declaration of the State of Emergency three months ago in those states.

FLASHBACK: Alex O, Nigerian R & B Icon

Album cover for his 1988 debut album

In 1988, Nigeria's foremost record label, Polygram Records released an album titled "Gettin Loose" by a little known studio engineer/songwriter/singer known as Alex O. Born Alex Okoroigwe in Imo State, he was new to the limelight but like many good artistes back then he had spent a number of years under the tutelage of a pair of titans in the persons of late great musicologist, Elder Steve Rhodes and uber producer Lemmy Jackson. 

The album turned out to be a good bet for Polygram Records as it sold fairly well for a debut and was nominated for the defunct Nigerian Music Awards for two years in a row. He was hot cake. A sensitive lover-boy in the mould of the leading Pop/R & B stars of the 80's like Michael Jackson, Ray Parker Jr and later in his career like British singer, Rick Astley. He had jerry-curls, was an enthusiastic dancer and wasn't afraid to try and rap sometimes in his songs. Though it was always the nursery rhyme type of flow that singers were forgiven for in those days.