DOUBLE DELIGHT AT PROJECT FAME

It was double delight at MTN Project Fame West Africa last weekend as the remaining eight contestants performed not one but two songs. To cap it all off, iconic popstar, 2Face Idibia who had visited the contestants at the Academy earlier in the week was present and served as the week’s celebrity/guest judge.

Kicking off the night was the petite Chidinma whose rise in the competition can easily be tagged as meteoric. Last  weekend was no different as she brought down the house after beautifully singing Alicia Keys’ Falling In Love. The second contestant who graced the stage after Chidinma was Adebola who was saved from elimination the day before. Not wanting to go home anytime soon, she gave all she had in her performance. Her effort was noticeable and commended by both the judges and the Faculty members. She was praised by Bibie who said that she had finally and fully come into her own.

The third contestant was the hot Ghanaian singer, Kesse who sang John Legend’s Everybody. It was another stellar performance under his belt which was summed up by 2Face as “a classic stage performance”. Akwa Ibom fine boy, Eyo sang I’ll Give Anything by Gerald Levert. After his performance Normoreloss noted that the song wasn’t the best song for his voice and that he was struggling with the song. In true form, the Faculty countered when Joke Silva argued that it was Eyo’s best performance ever. The second contestant from Ghana, Christian sang Shake You Down. His performance was rated as average with Bibie noting that he was struggling. Crowd favourite Yetunde was next and she sang a song by Beyonce called Ego. 2Face noted that the song didn’t suit her vocal range but still rated it as an okay performance.

Judge Kwame commended Ochuko after he sang Nothing Is Gonna Change. Kwame labeled him as a true competitor. Tolu was the last contestant and he sang You Remind Me by Usher which fell below his high standards. Nomoreloss noted this and warned him saying “One bad song is what you need for people to forget you. At this stage, you can’t risk a bad song.”

Next was another round of performance. Once again Chidinma was the first contestant and she sang True Love by 2Face which earned her second standing ovation in one night and praise from 2Face himself. Adebola was next and she sang Olufunmi by Styl Plus. TY-Mix commended her rapping and singing but said that she failed to make the song her own. Kaffy however praised her for her breath control. Kesse sang Ololufe and got a standing ovation from the audience. Kwame said concerning Kesse that “whatever you choose to do, you are still going to do it with so much passion that it will have us moving and grooving.”

After a not so good performance earlier, Eyo did a good job of eLDee’s Bosi Gban Gba and Nomoreloss and Ige thanked him for recovering. Christian sang Good or Bad by J.Martins and it was obvious that he prefers performing highlife songs. Despite approval from the crowd, TY Mix noted that if the song he sang wasn’t a popular one he wouldn’t have enjoyed his performance. Kaffy however counted that statement and said that his performance was amazing and wonderful.

Omo Ibadan a.k.a Yetunde sang the popular hit song from Wande Coal ‘You Bad’ and it was obvious her vocal range was not the best for the song. TY Mix commended her for making an effort and not leaning on the popularity of the song despite losing her voice during the week. Joke Silva however rated her performance as electric. Ochuko sang For Instance by 2Face. 2Face observed that the key of the song was too low for him which didn’t reveal the power of his voice. The last contestant was Tolu and he sang If Love Is A Crime. After his performance Kwame advised Tolu to rest his voice, rediscover the soul within him and come out smoking next week.

After their performances, 2Face ended the night by singing two of his many hit songs- one of them being the Implication which the crowd loved.    

Based on their performances, members of the public will vote for who they believe have the best night. The five contestants with the lowest votes will be up for eviction.

HUSTLE OR DIE”- OD TELLS FANS

One of Africa’s most gifted and most consistent

rappers David Adoga popularly known OD is finally ready to release his

second album H.O.D

According to the Rapper’s record label X3M Music, the album will

record the events shaping OD’s life since the release of his last

album ‘Don’t hate’. ‘And there’s definitely going to be a lot about

gadget, politics, women, wine and parties’ a spokesperson at the

record Label disclosed last week

“Hustle or Die” will feature OD’s SWATROOT buddies Mode 9 and Terry

tha Rapman, First lady of Storm Records Sasha, Kiss Records’ Black

Solo, and label mate Etcetera. Others include Solah and AT. OD also

worked with Producer Kraft, Ill Fingerz and Bernstein

Born David Adoga in Kaduna, Nigeria, OD started his journey into the

Hip-hop world in December 1998 and has worked with PayBackTime Records

and KD World Records. He worked briefly as an OAP in Rhythm FM Jos in

2008 before he finally pitched his tent with X3M music in 2009.

To be released on September 20, 2010 HOD which stands for “Hustle or

Die” will be marketed and distributed by Obaino and will feature

already established hits like “Drinks in a glass”, “Run if you want”

and “Alujo”

The album will also be available on iTunes, x3mmusic.com and other

internet retail websites to be confirmed.

The rapper’s recent video – the second from the forthcoming album –

was released in January 2010. Titled ‘Alujo’- the song is a further

testimony that OD is overhauling his style; courting a new set of fans

and seeking to sell himself as a talented and versatile

artiste-entertainer – not just a ‘hardcore rapper’

PROJECT FAME CONTESTANTS PAY HOMAGE TO ONYEKA ONWENU

The remaining 10 contestants in the third season of MTN Project Fame paid homage to the veteran singer-songwriter, Onyeka Onwenu and other legendary African acts.

Last week the Nigerian diva was on hand to lecture the contestants and

assess their performance by being this week’s celebrity/guest judge.

A day after two contestants (Helen and Vwede) were eliminated from the

show, the contestants stepped on stage to perform and save themselves

from possible elimination this week. The first contestant was Adebola

who performed Hallelujah by Onyeka. Vocal coach, Ige commended her for

bringing out her personality in the song and delivering the song

accurately even though she isn’t Igbo. The second contestant who

graced the stage was Eyo who performed the classic hit, Ifeoma by

Felix Lebarty. After his performance, Onyeka observed that he was an

entertainer but he was missing the voice quality and that he was going

off in some parts.

Jocelia sang Let Me Love You and Bibie told her that she has a great

voice but her performance felt like a rehearsal and that she needs to

be more confident. Kaffy however did praise her for experimenting with

her movement. The hot contestant from Ghana Kesse was next up and

after his rendition he was praised by Kwame for giving 110% of himself

into his performance Kwame wondered if Kesse should be in the

competition or he should just go and release and album. The fifth

contestant Christian was also from Ghana. Christian performed the

highlife tune Bonsue which could arguably be rated as his best

performance so far in the Academy. His performance was so on point

that Onyeka was visibly excited. She later said that Christian

“inhabited the song to the minutest note” and that he performed like a

master of the genre.

Chidinma performed Ekwe by Onyeka which earned her standing ovation

from the audience. After the thunderous applause, Onyeka said that her

“costume was appropriate and her mood was appropriate. She was sassy,

cheeky, strong, and bold and she thoroughly enjoyed herself.” Tolu

sang another of Onyeka’s timeless tunes You and I. His was another

performance that moved the crowd. His performance earned 3 gbosas!

from the audience. Onyeka couldn’t hide her feelings. “Music can make

you fall in love with someone. I think I have fallen in love with him.

I don’t mind doing a duet with you” gushed Onyeka. Rhoda performed Hot

Hot Hot and Onyeka commented that she was convincing.

Omo Ibadan a.k.a Yetunde was the ninth contestant to perform, she sang

Ja Fun Mi by King Sunny Ade. After her impressive performance she was

commended by Onyeka for using KSA’s singing style well and that her

movement was on point. She concluded by saying that it felt like

watching a female KSA performing. Ochuko was the last contestant to

hit the stage, He sang Afro-juju by Shina Peters. His performance

raised the roof. Bibie said his showmanship was absolutely perfect.

Ige went on to further add that his breath control was impeccable.

VWEDE, HELEN EVICTED FROM PROJECT FAME ACADEMY!

“The show goes on” Femi Ayeni of Ultima studios told journalists last

week after the fire outbreak, and true to his words, the show

continues with Vwede and Helen being the next to leave the academy.

Last week, to the surprise of ardent followers, none of the remaining

12 contestants was evicted from the MTN sponsored franchise, but this

week, Christian, Rhoda, Ochuko, Helen, Christian and Vwede had the

lowest votes and were up for eviction

As is the tradition, these contestants were given another chance to

prove to the audience, faculty and contestants that they deserved

another chance. The judges saved Rhoda; the Faculty saved Christian,

while the contestants saved Christian.

This is the third time in a roll that the judges will save Rhoda.

To bid their fellow contestants and the fans farewell, Helen performed

Awilo Longomba’s Coupe Bimbaba while Vwede performed Victor Uwaifo’s

Jolomi.

23 year old Helen Pajebo Jackson is a student of Royal Institute,

Monrovia. She is married to Joseph and loves singing, cooking and

listening to the news. She loves songs by Brandy

Vwede Akpoguma is an Engineering graduate of the University of Benin.

He loves swimming, reading, playing scrabble and listening to the

news.

So far, eight contestants have now been evicted, as it continues to

show to viewers and the remaining contestants that the academy is like

a jungle and only those with the highest votes will survive. Lindsey,

Gold, Samuel, Modele, Monica, Shehu, Helen and Vwede are out of the

competition, leaving 10 contestants to battle for the grand prize.

With this being its third season, the franchise show is stepping

several notches higher. The winner of this year’s PF will be going

home with N2.5M, a brand new Toyota RAV4 and a recording contract. The

1st runner up is set to win home with N1.5M and a Toyota Corolla while

the 2nd runner up will win N1M and a Toyota Yaris. The 3rd runner up

will end up with N1m

MTV & BHARTI AIRTEL SIGN PARTNERSHIP TO BRING MAMA TO LAGOS

MTV Networks Africa (MTVNA) and Bharti Airtel have confirmed that they will be holding the 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) in Lagos, Nigeria.   MTVNA’s jubilant celebration of contemporary African music and creativity will be held at the EKO EXPO Hall, Lagos on 11 December 2010, focusing the spotlight on Africa’s most outstanding musicians, from the heart of one of the continent’s most vibrant cities. 

The 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel will take the form of a stunning live music event and global television spectacular, featuring performances from contemporary African and international music giants and hosted by a major music celebrity. Artists from around the continent will battle to win a coveted MAMA trophy in one of twelve award categories including: Best Male, Best Female, Best Video, Best Group, Artist of the Year, Best Lusophone Act, Best Anglophone Act, Best Francophone Act, Song of the Year, Brand: New Act, Best International Act and MAMA Legend.  

Telecommunications giant Airtel comes on board as the headline sponsor of the MTV Africa Music Awards 2010, signalling the telco’s profound commitment to African music and youth culture following its purchase of Zain Africa’s business operations earlier this year. The sponsorship was announced by Andre Beyers, Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa and Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa.

Sponsorship of the MAMA will provide Airtel with unique brand exposure across multiple platforms including live event activations across the continent.  A key component of the partnership will be the development of exclusive mobile and data content for the Airtel subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa including wallpapers and various downloads. 

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Airtel to bring the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel to Lagos for the first time and look forward to delivering the most exciting MAMA yet on 11 December.”

Said Mr. Beyers, “Airtel is proud to be at the forefront in nurturing talent in Africa and connecting the passions of millions of youth across the continent through music. Our support for the MAMA awards is founded on our commitment to empower the youth through initiatives that will help Africa to identify and celebrate talent.” 

Conceived in 2008 as the ultimate celebration of African contemporary music talent, the MTV Africa Music Awards with Airtel provides a major promotional platform for the African music industry, championing, supporting and empowering African talent by broadcasting their music around the world via MTV’s global multimedia network.  

The awards celebrate contemporary African and international genres loved by the youth and young adults across sub-Saharan Africa including Hip Hop, Hip Life, R&B, Afro Pop, Afro House, Kwaito, Boomba, Bongo Flava, Coupé Décalé, Dancehall, Soul and Rock.   

The inaugural MAMA was held at the Velodrome, Abuja in 2008, while October 2009 saw the awards move to Nairobi, Kenya, with performances from 2Face (Nigeria), Amani (Kenya), A.Y. (Tanzania), Blu3 (Uganda), Brickz (South Africa), Da LES (South Africa), D’Banj (Nigeria), Fally Ipupa (DRC), HHP (South Africa), Lizha James (Mozambique), M.I. (Nigeria), Mo’ Hits Allstars (Nigeria), Nameless (Kenya), Pype (Nigeria), Samini (Ghana), STL (Kenya), Lira (South Africa), Wahu (Kenya) and Zebra & Giraffe (South Africa), alongside international stars Wyclef Jean and Akon.

Past winners have included 2-FACE (Nigeria), Nameless (Kenya), Samini (Ghana), Wahu (Kenya), HHP (South Africa), D’Banj (Nigeria) and Patricke-Stevie Moungondo (Congo Brazzaville).

WWTBAM AND PROJECT FAME GET NEW HOUSE

In the words of Ultima Studios CEO, Femi Ayeni, "...the show must go on..." This statement was after, a mysterious fire razed the ultra-modern studios on Sunday evening. While, many thought, that was the end of the popular shows, the producers of Project Fame West Africa and Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? is further exhibiting the "We Can Do" spirit as it takes the shows notcher to a new site.
Though, it has not been made official, I gathered productions will now be at 1, Bamako street, Ojodu street, a stone throw from the Murhi House in Omole.
Investigations say the new studio was used during the world cup by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria throughout the duration of the fiesta.
So viewers, are in for a roller coaster ride, as the Project Fame West Africa goes into its final five week.
However, you could still vote for your favourite contestant for them to remain in house and possibly win the star prize.

STARS STORM BENIN FOR LANCELOT IMASUEN

Top stars and celebrities will be enroute the ancient city of Benin on 18th of september for the premiere of ace filmmaker, Lancelot Imasuen's block buster movie entitled "Triumphant Home Coming".

The flick which is popularly known as 'Home in Exile' centres around the inherent selfish nature of man, and talks of how we extol tradition when it favors us and abhor it when it comes against us. The plot of the movie is about Desmond Elliot(Dave)’s fiancée Beverly Naya(Julie) who had to marry Desmond Elliot’s father the king, a repercussion of her sitting on the king’s stool which is supposed to be an abomination, with this development the prince is up against the king.

Although yet to appear in cinemas, Home in Exile has enjoyed professional applause proven by the awards accorded it at the Terracota Awards.

Lancelot Imasuen’s first film Ebuwa had over 32 stars in attendance including the Edo state commissioner for information but Triumphant Home Coming is set to raise the bar a notch higher as a high number of dignitaries and celebrities are expected at the event, including; Omotola Jalade Ekehinde who happens to be married to a son of the Edo soil, there is also Joke Silva, RMD, Sam Dede and many more.

Home in Exile was directed by Lancelot Imasuen himself and featured a lot of Hollywood stars like Desmond Eliot, Justus Esiri, Chiwetalu Agwu, Fransis Duru, Uche Jumbo, and so many more.

Alongside the premiere of the movie, the Director, Lancelot Imasuen will be launching Project One-o-One, a project borne out of his passion to see upcoming actors succeed. The project is targeted at fresh faces in Nollywood who need counsels and mentoring from established persons who in th entertainment industry.

Do not also forget Lancelot Imaseum in collaboration with Stingomania is cooking a movie to chronicle the life of the late Nigerian rapper, Dagrin.