The Lagos audition of the Globacom-sponsored Reality TV Show, ‘Dance with Peter’, got really hot on Tuesday as show promoter, Peter Okoye of Psquare, went on the audition stage to challenge a contestant who was making a “mess” of the legendary ‘Bad’ steps of the late Michael Jackson. Dance-with-Peter dance with P-square The Dream Studios, Bamako Estate, Lagos, venue of the audition erupted in cheers as Peter, left the judges’ stand and climbed the stage to re-enact with perfection Michael Jackson’s steps in the “Bad” track. Though Peter delivered and got huge applause of the recording crew and other contestants waiting to perform, he was however, ruled out of contest by fellow judge and dance legend, Kaffy, who intoned with magisterial finality, “looking at you from here and given what we are looking for in this show, I say come back to your seat and you are ruled out of contest.” This threw the studio into loud guffaws. More excitements came from Ehis Okoegule who challenged the judges for disqualifying twin dancers, Oliver and Emmanuel Wilson, who, despite a scintillating performance were sent packing. Then13-year old Angel Ukaro-Agunbiade, a Junior Secondary School III student of Grange School, Lagos, took the audition to the next level with her marvelous dance steps which earned her a ‘yes verdict’ Alozie Malachi, an ex student of Nnekede Polytechnic, Owerri, all female dance group, Terrific Steppers, from the Loveworld Creative Arts Academy, a dance academy of the Christ Embassy Church, and the duo of Precious Ighofese and Hero Zaria of the Fire Flame, who travelled all the way from Ugheli in Delta State for the audition, impressed the judges. The auditions for the Dance with Peter started in Abuja two weeks ago, with the train moving to Accra Ghana on Tuesday last week. Benin City played host to the audition’s crew last Saturday. The last one held in Port Harcourt, last Thursday, September 10.

Who wouldn’t want to get cosy with stunning beauty, Shirley Igwe, Nollywood’s actress and former principal protocol officer of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State? The lucky guy is the upcoming, dashing actor, Bolanle Ninolowo, who had several cosy moments with the smashing actress in a new movie. They look good together, don’t they?
Bolanle Ninolowo and Shirley Igwe star in the new movie “My Neighbors Wife” produced by Diven Touch Productions and shot in Owerri. This is a few weeks after the movie “The Pren-Up” hit the market .
The two actors played an unforgettable role in the film which is a story of a star actor ‘Desmond’ who moved into a new apartment to find out that all his neighbors are his die-hard fans.
War for his attention springs up between his neighbors’ wives, sisters and entire compound occupants. Heaven was let loose when his former girlfriend in America, current girlfriend and his neighbours’ wives collide. The movie also features Uche Ogbodo, Mimi Orjiekwe Pius, Charles Pius, Chinenye Uyanna, Andy Ike, among others.

Kaffy takes steam off Peter Okoye at Lagos Dance with Peter audition

The Lagos audition of the Globacom-sponsored Reality TV Show, ‘Dance with Peter’, got really   hot on Tuesday as show promoter,  Peter Okoye of Psquare, went on the audition stage to challenge a contestant who was making a “mess” of the legendary ‘Bad’ steps of the late Michael Jackson.

dance with P-square

The Dream Studios, Bamako Estate,  Lagos, venue of the audition erupted in cheers as   Peter,  left the judges’ stand and climbed the stage to re-enact with perfection Michael Jackson’s steps in the “Bad” track.
Though Peter delivered and got huge applause of the recording crew and other contestants waiting to perform, he was however,   ruled out of contest by fellow  judge and dance legend,   Kaffy, who intoned with magisterial finality, “looking at you from here and given what we are looking for in this show, I say come back to your seat and you are ruled out of contest.” This threw the studio into loud guffaws.
More excitements came from Ehis Okoegule who challenged the judges for disqualifying twin dancers, Oliver and Emmanuel Wilson, who, despite a scintillating performance were sent packing. Then13-year old Angel Ukaro-Agunbiade, a Junior Secondary School III student of Grange School, Lagos,   took the audition to the next level with her marvelous dance steps which earned her a ‘yes verdict’
Alozie Malachi, an ex student of Nnekede Polytechnic, Owerri, all female dance group, Terrific Steppers, from the Loveworld Creative Arts Academy, a dance academy of the Christ Embassy Church,  and the duo of Precious Ighofese and Hero Zaria of the Fire Flame, who travelled all the way from Ugheli in Delta State for the audition, impressed the judges.
The auditions for the Dance with Peter started in Abuja two weeks ago, with the train moving to Accra Ghana on Tuesday last week.   Benin City played host to the audition’s crew last Saturday. The last one held in Port Harcourt,  last Thursday, September 10.

Nigeria’s first women radio station presents its leading OAPs

On Thursday, St. Ives Communications, owners of WFM 91.7, Nigeria’s 1st Radio station for women and their families presented the voices and faces that will be its core on-air-personalities to a select cream of media practitioners.
The quartet of Abisola Grace Aiyeola, Nigerian British-born, currently studying Business management at National Open University of Nigeria;  Nigeria’s budding actress and singer,   Funmi Jinadu, who cut her teeth in radio broadcasting at BBC Bristol, UK   and an active member of the National Union of Journalists, United Kingdom;Bolatito Bez Idakula, a former banker with a B.Sc. in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick, England and an M.Sc. in Management from Imperial College, London, and Chinedu Faith Nwagha, a public speaker, customer service consultant and an advocate of personal development were presented to the media as the leading voices and faces that will run things at WFM 91.7 as the station’s core on-air-personalities – OAPs.
Presenting the young and talented broadcasters at the event which took place inside the cozy environs of Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya stated that the quartet were selected from over 5,000 applicants that showed interest in working for WFM 91.7. “The selection process was thorough and painstakingly executed. We were lucky to have veteran broadcasters like Femi Sowoolu, Seun Olagunju, Sydney Ufeli of Spik Rait, Saund Rait, etc. on the selection panel. So, what we are serving the listening public are the best of our bests,” she said
Present at the unveiling ceremony were top officials and directors of St. Ives Communications, the holding company that runs WFM 91.7 radio station. They include: Dr. Babatunde Okewale, Executive Chairman of St. Ives Communications, Kiki Wale Okewale, Executive Director at St. Ives Communications, Olayinka Lawal, Head of Sales & Marketing at WFM 91.7 and other staff of WFM 91.7 radio.

Olamide, Phyno celebrate their heroes in Made of Black campaign fanfare

Amid rollercoasting fanfare, grandeur and hype the Guinness Brand Ambassadors surprised and celebrated their own #madeofblack heroes in Lagos and Enugu recently. While Olamide identified Tunde Adebanjo aka Euro as his #madeofblack hero, Phyno celebrated Mr. Macdonald Ikem Odenigbo aka DJ Good Noise as his.
Visiting their heroes at their homes amid fanfare and pageantry, the duo explained the rationale behind their choices. Olamide and Phyno stated that it was important to recognize someone with a clear passion for creativity, sacrifice and zeal to make a difference.
According to Olamide, Adebanjo was celebrated “because of his selfless contribution to humanity and the society. He has done a lot for his community and environment and that is what the Made of Black campaign is all about; redefining black not as a colour but as an attitude that inspires individuals, charging them to greater feats. Adebanjo is my hero; he is made of more, made of attitude, made of swag; simply he is made of black”.
For Phyno, Mr. Odenigbo is worthy to be celebrated because he is bold. He is a determined individual, who inspires others to greatness. Odenigbo, a music producer, rapper, director and a disc jockey is one of the originators of Igbo rap in the 1990s. With degrees in Mass Communication and Psychology, he has worked with the many hip hop artistes including: Tuface Idibia, Nigga Raw, Smart Man, Ill bliss and Obiwon.
The event was spiced by the presence of Ehiz, Doris Simeon, Seyi Law, DJ Xlusive,and DNMT, Nigeria’s top dance group.

5 things International celebs must do when visiting Nigeria

1.      Visit the hood. Rick Ross visited Lagos in 2012 to shoot the video for Hold Me Back. “These …won’t hold me back! These…won’t hold me back!”

Rick Ross at Obalende

​2. Dress up in local attire and get a chieftaincy title. Shawn Carter, aka Jay-Z, hip-hop impressario, bestselling rap artiste and entreprenuer visited Kwara in 2013 to hang out with Bukola Saraki.
3. Drink Nigerian Beer. U2 frontman Bono, after selling over 150 million records to become the world’s wealthiest music artiste worth an estimated $1.4bn caught at Fela Shrine in Lagos living it up with some Star Lager Beer during his visit in August 2015.
4. Visit the club and try to keep up with the amazing spectacle of Nigerians having a good time. International DJ Tim Westowood visited Nigeria in 2014 for the Heineken Green Light party finale.

Jay Z and Saraki

5.  Learn Nigerian dance moves…As Amber Rose did earlier this year at D’Banj’s 10th anniversary…

Follow Timilehin on Twitter at: @MrBigTimi

See you in Court- Jahbless to sue Timaya’s producer

Following Jahbless’s recent tweet on his tweeter handle, it seems Timaya‘s producer copied Jahbless’ ‘Jeje’ instrumental and used it to produce Timaya’s track titled ‘Halleluyah‘.
Jahbless took to tweeter yesterday September 13, 2015 to call out Timaya.
Jahbless said he will drag the producer to court and Timaya should avoid such producers in future.
He tweeted:
“Hey bro @timayatimaya who ever produced that your ‘halleluyah jam’ should be jailed! ..he lifted the instrumental off my album , #iamme album track 2 “jeje ft @oristefemi ..and gave it to you. I want to believe you know nothing about it cos with your years of experience in this game you should know the consequences of copyright infringements. pls avoid such producers in future cos they might tarnish your image. And for you Mr producer, see you in court.”
As at the time of filing this report, Timaya is yet to release an official statement.

A new dawn:…as American govt. partners Nollywood

There are indications that the government of United States of America (USA) is set to partner the Nigerian film industry, popularly called Nollywood, particularly in the areas of co-production treaties, protection of Intellectual Property rights and distribution, among others.
The US Assistant Secretary of State on Economic and Business Affairs, Ambassador Charles Rivkin, dropped this hint when he and his team met with a high-powered 6-man delegation of Nollywood on Wednesday, at The George Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, to discuss the challenges and economic prospects of Nollywood and how the US government can begin to officially partner the third largest film-making nation in the world.
According to Rivkin who was a former US Ambassador to France, his visit is to find a common ground between Nigeria and the USA in various sectors, including Nollywood, pointing out that the US was very much concerned about the issue of piracy and Intellectual Property protection in the sector.
“My visit today is one of a long line of engagements with U.S. in coming years and there will be other opportunities to collaborate on mutual interests. We will look at the issue of co-production treaties between our countries, getting your country to ratify and domesticate relevant World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties for the protection of Intellectual Properties especially online;
getting big US production studios to invest in Nollywood particularly in the areas of cinemas and other forms of distribution in conjunction with bodies like Netflix among other symbiotic relationship,” Rivkin stated.
The Nollywood delegation included Alex Eyengho (President, Association of Nollywood Producers, ANCOP, and Vice President of the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations, FIAPF), Zik Zulu Okafor (President, Association of Movie Producers, AMP), Adeyinka Oduniyi (Vice President, Independent Television Producers Association, ITPAN), Gab Okoye, alias Igwe Gabosky (President, Motion Picture Distributors of Nigeria, MOPIDON), Andy Amenechi (President, Directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN) and Nobert Ajaegbu (Leader, Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, FVPMAN).
Ejike Asiegbu who was to represent the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) missed his flight from Abuja to Lagos. Ambassador Rivkin who was in Nigeria for a 3-day State visit had earlier met with the Presidency, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Trademark, Patents and Designs Registry (TPDR), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Rivkin is a friend to the film industry and has a background in the business (as an executive with Jim Henson’s production company – i.e the Muppets).