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March 2012
God I want a baby now -Tonto Dikeh
In Nigeria’s Tinsel town, T is for Tonto Dikeh, one of Nollywood’s leading controversial actresses. With a growing reputation for devil-may-care roles and a bohemian lifestyle as a tattoo addict, the 26 year old has become an obsession with many movie fans since she set tongues wagging with her provocative performance in the 2009 Dirty Secret, a movie with soft porn elements.
In this scintillating encounter, the 2005 runner up of the TV reality show, Next Movie Star was grilled by an Entertainment Express team and she made no bone about answering questions about her life. Just as she bluntly confesses that: “I love to make mistakes,” she also blurts her only regret.
The result is a provocative interaction that provides a new perspective about the Tonto Dikeh persona. Here, we present the interview, raw and uncut.
Recently, you had a get-together for students and also gave your Twitter followers a treat. What inspired all these love? I love to give and I love to make people happy. I just sat down and thought about my fans being there for me all these while and I thought I should make them happy as well. As a matter of fact, everywhere I have been today, I think my fans have been really helpful. They have been the ones projecting me. So, I am grateful and just wanted to give back to them in my own little way.
I don’t have a registered foundation; I am just doing it my own way. I used to have, but I have a problem with the name. I am still trying to change it; I am just doing everything my own way for now.
Many people often see Tonto Dikeh as a bad girl and in contrast some say that you are just another misunderstood girl. We put it to you, who is the real Tonto Dikeh? Tonto Dikeh is a simple girl. I love trying new things. I love to make mistakes, and it makes me learn. I love to make my mistakes my kind of way, and that is just me.
Why do you love mistakes?
I love to make mistakes because I learn from them, and when I mean mistakes, it is not like I see a mistake and I would want to make them and do them. But when it comes I learn from them.
What would you consider your favourite mistake(s), so far?
Talking about having a child early, I just see a lot of my friends these days and they have kids and the kids are almost half their heights, strolling and shopping together, it is a cute idea, but that is not a mistake, and it is just the only thing I just regret.
Doesn’t it bother you when you see your friends and their kids? Click Here for the remaining story
Lagos carnival 2012: Eko for show!
The Lagos Heritage Week is fast approaching and the Lagos Carnival is the high point of the week long activities. It is scheduled to hold on Easter Monday, 9th April, 2012. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Eko 4 show”. The Carnival will be hosted by The Lagos State Government, and it’s going to feature parade and floats traversing the major street on Lagos Island.
According to the official website, the Lagos State “has a long history of holding carnivals, particularly on Lagos Island, as a result of historical links with the returnees and their descendants from Brazil, West Indies and Sierra Leone in the late 19th century. Traditionally, these have been in the form of street parades”. The Lagos Carnival is a popular international event. It featured exciting dances, mascots and floats. From an art history point of view, the event reinforced what I’ve read about African art and how historically the emphasis was placed on performance.
The carnival parade will begin at Falomo, Ikoyi and culminate in a spectacle at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). This year’s edition will have over 12,000 adults and young people beautifully costumed participating in the parade. To participate, you may sign up with a Carnival Band with which you are familiar; or you can join in the fun on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi where the parade will start from, and walk with the carnival bands to TBS or go directly to TBS.
The organizing committee is providing free transportation from different parts of Lagos State to TBS (a comprehensive list of pick up points will up loaded to the website soon www.lagoscarnival.com or you can look out for flyers).
Entry into TBS is free whilst entrance into the VIP section is strictly by invitation. Security in and around the TBS as well as the parade route is guaranteed.
It is advised that you are comfortably dressed for the occasion as it may be hot and may rain for a few minutes (as it always does) and a camera is considered a requirement to capture the fun forever. If you are on Awolowo road, watch out for the fun spots which will blow your mind!
Minjin, Nigeria's latest hip-hop sensation is ready to blow
Written By: Babajide Awonyinfa
He is a young and aspiring music artist, who is currently signed to Kennis Music; Minjinis bringing something undeniably fresh to the table. He started singing very young and began spitting rhymes at 14. Now, with several releases already under his belt, he has recently found his style and voice on “Bunga” his latest single. I had a chat with him recently where he talked about his music and where he is heading. All in all, Minjin is an artist that is worth keeping your eyes on.
How did you come about the name Minjin?
My mum gave me the name, long time ago. Before I started doing music, I was dancing then, modelling and all when she gave me the name, meaning my son from God (the most high). I had to stick with it (Minjin) because it was unique and not everybody bears the name. My real name is Adewale Lawanson.
How has the struggle been like for you?
The struggle was tough, I emerged winner in two musical competitions in 2010 and that was how the birth of my music started. I won the high school musical live in Nigeria, I played the role of Troy in 2010, and I also won the Centage superstar, which got me signed by Kennis music and that was how my music really started professionally. Although I have been doing music like indoors, going for shows and performing live but was not that popular then.
How did you come about the name Minjin?
My mum gave me the name, long time ago. Before I started doing music, I was dancing then, modelling and all when she gave me the name, meaning my son from God (the most high). I had to stick with it (Minjin) because it was unique and not everybody bears the name. My real name is Adewale Lawanson.
How has the struggle been like for you?
The struggle was tough, I emerged winner in two musical competitions in 2010 and that was how the birth of my music started. I won the high school musical live in Nigeria, I played the role of Troy in 2010, and I also won the Centage superstar, which got me signed by Kennis music and that was how my music really started professionally. Although I have been doing music like indoors, going for shows and performing live but was not that popular then.
How did you meet Kennis Music?
The deal of the Centage competition was that if you win, you get a record deal and when I won, I was signed. That was the breakthrough for me to get into limelight, everybody knowing me and you interviewing me. I really feel good now because people say they love me and also there is a lot to be done. I am working very hard now.
The deal of the Centage competition was that if you win, you get a record deal and when I won, I was signed. That was the breakthrough for me to get into limelight, everybody knowing me and you interviewing me. I really feel good now because people say they love me and also there is a lot to be done. I am working very hard now.
Has music been your childhood dream?
It wasn’t music specifically; I wanted to do entertainment, I wanted to dance. I was a very good dancer (I still dance) I also model; I play instrument and I am also a songwriter. I thought even if I wasn’t going to sing, I would be a songwriter but you know song-writing is not really a big trend here in Nigeria. I started singing at the age of 14 and I found out that I could sing, so I started writing songs.
It wasn’t music specifically; I wanted to do entertainment, I wanted to dance. I was a very good dancer (I still dance) I also model; I play instrument and I am also a songwriter. I thought even if I wasn’t going to sing, I would be a songwriter but you know song-writing is not really a big trend here in Nigeria. I started singing at the age of 14 and I found out that I could sing, so I started writing songs.
Read the rest HERE
ARA Now an Ambassador
One of Nigeria’s finest performers and first female talking drummer of international repute, Ara made another headline in far away New York City, when she was made the Melody Ambassador for Waterby Melody for Dialogue among Civilized Association.
Ara was honoured by Melody for Dialogue among Civilized Association, an organization affiliated to UNESCO and UN on the world water day at the Merkin Kaufman concert hall.
As part of her trip to the US, she’s meeting with the ambassador of Nigeria to the United States of America, HE Ade Adefuye, the Director of the UNESCO office in New York and an eventual recording with the human beat box, Douge Fresh. At the well attended ceremony with representatives from the UNESCO headquarters in France, UN office in New York, Ara was eulogized as a woman who broke away with traditions and norms of limitation usually imposed on women from all parts of the world.
Apart from this, the enigmatic performer was well applauded for restoring hope and happiness to the children and women in her Nigeria through her NGO called Ara Passion Project. With her new role as the water ambassador, she is expected to educate and raise awareness on the need for accessibility and sustainability of clean water in all parts of the world.
Ara will also communicate with world leaders on the need for the earth to be a haven for children and the need for portable water as a right for all citizens of the world.
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