Welcome to Oliver Onuoha's blog

Price of Oil drop amid COVID-19 Concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 04:10:00 -0700

New York/Hong Kong (CNN Business)Oil prices are still crashing after a stunning collapse Monday that saw US crude futures plunge below zero for the first time in history.

The pain in oil markets is carrying over to stocks, with Asian and European indexes, and US stock futures, all in the red on Tuesday.

US oil futures for May delivery were last trading below $0 again after briefly popping above $1 a barrel. The May contract, which expires Tuesday, finished regular trading Monday at -$37.63 a barrel.

The West Texas Intermediate June contract, which is now being traded more actively, crashed more than 11% to $18.14 a barrel. Brent, the global benchmark, also plummeted nearly 22%, last trading at $19.92 a barrel.

Oil prices turned negative. Hundreds of US oil companies could go bankrupt

The coronavirus pandemic has caused oil demand to evaporate so rapidly that the world is running out of room to store barrels that nobody wants. A new agreement a little over a week ago by Saudi Arabia and Russia — with other producers — to cut supply by a record amount has failed to convince traders that the supply glut will ease any time soon.

The market will likely continue to be pressured in the coming weeks, wrote Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy, in a research note Tuesday. He noted that the OPEC+ cuts only go into effect in May. And while the group has agreed to cut oil production by historic amounts, Tonhaugen said the market needs to see a lot of additional cuts to account for a massive decline in demand for oil.

Global stocks also recorded big declines Tuesday. The FTSE 100 (UKX) is trading 1.4% lower in London. Germany's DAX (DAX) and France's CAC 40 (CAC40) are both down 1.8%.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng (HSI) tumbled 2.2%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 (N225) fell nearly 2%. China's Shanghai Composite (SHCOMP) lost 0.9%.

South Korea's Kospi (KOSPI) tumbled nearly 3% and the won slipped as much as 1.7% against the US dollar as CNN reported — citing a US official with direct knowledge — that the United States is monitoring intelligence that suggests North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in grave danger after undergoing a previous surgery.

South Korea's Presidential Blue House said in a statement provided to reporters that they have nothing to confirm on reports about Kim's health and that "no unusual signs" have been detected inside North Korea.

The Kospi pared losses to close down 1%. The won also recovered somewhat, though was still weaker against the dollar compared to Monday.

Regional markets have only priced in "a small-ish reaction to the [North Korean] news," wrote Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst for Asia Pacific at Oanda, in a Tuesday research note. But he added that if it proves to be correct "the region is set for a period of uncertainty."

US stock futures reversed early gains. Dow futures were last down 264 points, or about 1.1%. S&P 500 futures dropped 0.7% and Nasdaq futures were down about 0.2%.

The Dow (INDU) closed 592 points lower, or 2.4%, on Monday, marking the worst day for the index since April 1. The S&P 500 (SPX) finished down 1.8% and the Nasdaq Composite (COMP) closed 1% lower.

— Jill Disis, Julia Horowitz, Anneken Tappe and Matt Egan contributed to this report.

Donald Trump Suspends Immigration into the US

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 03:46:00 -0700

(CNN)President Donald Trump said late Monday night he will sign an executive order temporarily suspending immigration to the United States as the nation battles the health and economic effects of the corona-virus pandemic.

"In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" he tweeted.
It's unclear what mechanism he will use to suspend immigration, how long such a suspension could last or what effect this will have on the operation of US border crossings and on those who already hold green cards.
Trump administration looks to triple fees for some immigration court filings
Trump administration looks to triple fees for some immigration court filings
The White House declined to provide further information on the executive order Monday evening. The Department of Homeland Security didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
As a result of coronavirus and attempts to curtail its spread, immigration to the United States has been largely cut off: Refugee resettlement has been put on hold, visa offices are largely closed and citizenship ceremonies aren't happening. Trump didn't offer details Monday on what he intends to do to further restrict immigration in the face of coronavirus.
Immigrant advocates immediately pushed back against the tweet.
"This is not about the policy. It is about the message the president wants to send. He wants people to turn against 'the other.' And, regardless of the valuable contributions immigrants are making to the response and recovery, he sees immigrants as the easiest to blame," Ali Noorani, the executive director of the National Immigration Forum, said on Twitter.
Trump's tweet comes as the administration seeks to reopen parts of the country from the coronavirus shutdown through a phased approach, but it's also a continuation of the President's 2016 campaign promise to slow immigration.
Trump has repeatedly touted his decision to halt travel from China and Europe as a means of blunting the spread of coronavirus in the United States.
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, the Trump administration has tried to move forward with some of its most restrictionist policies that have struggled to be put into practice, including blocking entry to asylum seekers.
Citing the "unscreened" and "unvetted" people who come into the US across the southern border, Trump said late last month that the border would be sealed off "mostly, and even beyond, but mostly during this global pandemic." Restrictions on nonessential travel remain in effect and on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security announced they'd be extended with Mexico and Canada.
The administration has also put in place an order allowing the US to swiftly remove migrants arrested at the border, including children.
This story has been updated with additional immigration reporting.

Ndabeni Abrahams 'maybe' in Hot waters over lock-down rules

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 8 Apr 2020 00:35:00 -0700

As South Africans enter day 13 of the global pandemic lock down as a result of the spread of the Novel Corona Virus, some law makers are not adhering to lock down rules.
Communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has been pictured enjoying lunch with a friend, apparently during the period of lock down. This goes to show of the popular saying "Do as I say, not as I do".

How has Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams allegedly broke lock down rules?
Photos of her and her friend, none other than former deputy higher education minister, Mduduzi Manana, went viral Tuesday. In a photo uploaded to Instagram, he can be seen dining with Ndabeni-Abrahams and a few others. These two politicians do not live together, and it’s difficult to understand what legitimate reason they’d have to meet for this contentious lunch.
All efforts to contact the office of Ndabeni-Abrahams proved futile and were directed only to her communications team: Ironic, given her job title. This is the offending snap that could land her in some serious trouble.
The President as we learnt has said he will summon the Minister for question and possibly disciplinary actions.

Steve Hofmeyr mocks Charlize Theron over parenting revelation

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 05:18:00 -0700

Steve Hofmeyr has responded to comments by Charlize Theron about raising her child as a girl, seemingly mocking the star.

Charlize sparked debate recently when she revealed that her seven-year-old child, whom fans assumed was a boy, identifies as a girl.

Speaking to Daily Mail about the gender of Jackson, whom she adopted years ago, Charlize said: “I thought she was a boy, too, until she looked at me when she was three years’ old and said: I am not a boy!”

She said that it was not up to her to decide what gender her child identified as.

“My job as a parent is to celebrate them and to love them and to make sure that they have everything they need in order to be what they want to be,” she added.

Steve took to Twitter recently to respond to the news and in a seemingly mocking tweet asked Charlize’s “advice” on raising his daughter.

Zuma damaged South Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 05:05:00 -0700

JOHANNESBURG – Former president FW de Klerk says there is an element of truth that life and public services were better under the apartheid government.

De Klerk, who was speaking on eNCA’s The First Citizen program says this assertion is solely based, not on race and colour, but on the nine years during the Jacob Zuma presidency.

The former president (1989 - 1994) described the Zuma administration

(2009 - 2018) as “nine lost years” which have damaged the country.

“... because of bad appointments made in the nine lost years, inter alia, of cadres, instead of people with the right experience, with the right training into management posts.

“People were appointed because of their connections instead of because of their knowledge and their experience. I think this has harmed service delivery tremendously.”

De Klerk said he believed the opportunity to build a truly non-racial and just society was wasted during the Zuma years.

He advised the current government to accept the challenges it faces, improve the quality of education and training, grow the economy, build investor confidence and rise above racism.

De Klerk, who was the last apartheid government president, maintains that his hands are clean and that he is wrongly blamed.

“My hands are clean and my conscience is clear,” he said. “I have never been part of a policy that says kill people.”

Zodwa Wabantu's slams 'parasites' for using her name to score points

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Sat, 4 Nov 2017 19:42:00 -0700

Zodwa Wabantu‚ who is known for her no-nonsense approach recently slammed people‚ who she has labelled “parasites” for using her name for their own benefit.

Socialite Zodwa Wabantu provoked onlookers

The dancer took to Instagram to address the issue which she sees as a desperate attempt to be relevant by some people.
“Guys‚ but some of you have a problem hey. You see these guys that are always surrounding rich guys...the ones that are usually sent around and get ice (for the bosses’ drink) and stuff? These guys pretend that they are good people but really they’re not. Theirs is to be sent for ice‚ have free drinks and food. They attempt to be relevant by trading gossip from one boss to the other‚ just so they remain relevant.”

" Culled from Sowetan"

Robert and Thusi Splits

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Tue, 8 Aug 2017 03:00:00 -0700

South African sports journalist and television and radio personality Robert Marawa recently confirmed rumors making rounds about relationship break-up with actress and television presenter, Pearl Thusi.

Robert reportedly tweeted “I confirm the rumor and speculation that our relationship with Miss Pearl Thusi ended a few months ago. We continue to be good friends though.”

Three months ago, City Press reported that the relationship between actress and television presenter Pearl Thusi and sports broadcaster Robert Marawa was in trouble. At that time both neither confirmed nor denied the breakup.

Arts that leaves you in bewilderment

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 04:57:00 -0700

As arts and culture continues to evolve in today’s world we see various mediums of painting and sculpting where the artists creates new forms of art but the issues of originality and creativity often arises. This write up takes a peep into the strange balance that exists between the intensely macabre and the bizarrely beautiful in artist Nandipha Mntambo’s oeuvre. Invariably it leaves you haunted yet in awe of her distinctive aesthetic and technique that combines the use of cowhides, and hair with clever juxtaposition and positioning. One can only interpret her work as it is, a spectacle that leaves you repulsed or that piques your interest for the grotesque, yet profound. The artist brings issues of identity and conflict to the forefront, and she frequently addresses the dynamic tension that exists within the self, the push-pull between libido and mortido, life instinct and death drive. Concepts of powerlessness versus empowerment, the public versus the private selves, or the presentation of unexpected role reversals have arisen in some of her latest bodies of work.

Born in Swaziland in 1982 and raised in South Africa, Mntambo is a sculptor who has made cowhide her medium of choice. Her choice is inspired and informed on one hand by a childhood dream where she found herself left with a pile of cowhides and on the other by her interest in science and forensics, which was her first passion before she decided to become an artist.

“I enjoy chemical processes. I was never really interested in ‘conventional’ materials and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with a taxidermist for a while. The thin line that exists between our understanding of attraction and repulsion has always been of interest to me. I developed my aesthetic in an attempt to destabilise/push this boundary while challenging how art material and the product are understood.”

In describing the artist media, Gabi Ngcobo, in Art South Africa vol 04, issue 03, 2006 said “It is a material variously associated with wealth and power. The literal hairiness of her figures also functions as a distancing device... Her work encourages us to critique the politics and aesthetics of femininity and beauty and is suggestive of the ways in which (black) women are re-interpreting their bodies and claiming visibility.'

She uses plaster moulds of her own body and envelops them with the still malleable cowhide that she has thoroughly treated and cured. The hide becomes a beautiful and repulsive empty floating carrier. These hairy feminine shapes defy our notion of feminine beauty. The artist remembers her early years at Floating Figures, girls’ school where there was so much focus on getting rid of body hair. With her haunting simultaneously human and animal like, she deliberately seeks to provoke a sense of agitation.

She describes her use of cowhide “as a means to subvert expected associations with corporeal presence, femininity, sexuality and vulnerability.” The animal/human association is not new but rarely has it been so provocative. The cowhides seem to be worn as garments caught in movement. As Mntambo explains, the many folds and creases were inspired by the move of the dress worn by a woman dancing the Paso Doble with her partner. She defines herself as existing between several worlds, and refuses to be located in one particular identity. Cowhide is a conceptually loaded substance and to mistake the (often dark) cowhide with the female figure is a contentious practice, which might arguably naturalize the ideological metonymy of women, blackness and nature. Other readings of Mntambo's work have centred on the traditional practice of 'ilobola' [bride-price] in South Africa, which is often criticised by feminists for reducing women to the level of possessions. Although these issues do play a part in Mntambo's attraction to the medium, it is reductive to read her production only in these terms. In filling out the vacated body of the cow with different forms, then vacating it again or re-embodying it herself, Mntambo utilizes the semantic layering embedded in her material to flesh out, exaggerate and ultimately - I would argue - deflate the terms which have kept people in subjugated states of embodiment. The quasi-scientific arguments which backed up the discourse of racism and sexism have long been discredited; however, their semantic legacy continues to haunt contemporary culture. It is this ghosting that Mntambo points to with her evocative and alluring sculptures.

“My work was never meant to be a direct exploration of the African Female body. I just happen to be African and female and use my body in my art making process.” She said.

Mntambo addresses issues of gender, which are also at the core of her work. She has more recently expanded her work to include video and photography where she explores further associations tied to the cow iconography. The videos, which is be her first foray into the medium, translates her interest in femininity and cows into a cross-gender foray into bulls and the masculine arena of the bull-fight. It shows Mntambo as a matador in a deserted bull-fighting arena. She enacts a phantasmagoria bull-fight, making herself both the subject and the object of the work.

Mythology plays an important part and helps position her work in a broader geographical context.

Nandipha Mntambo completed a Master of Fine Arts from the Michaelis School of Fine Arts at the University of Cape Town. She was the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for visual arts and she has been shown in group shows in the US, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

Morals gone sour by Oliver Onuoha

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 01:59:00 -0700

The recognition of same-sex marriages is a political, social, moral, and religious issue in many nations, whereby civil, equal, and human rights are pertinent. Debates arise over whether same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into marriage.

It is unimaginable and weird as to how this moral indecency has taken over and gone viral whereby most churches now see nothing wrong in this abominable act which the bible condemns and I quote “Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination”.

Where are our moral values? Where is the fear of God in these last days? Do we even expect that Christ will come again and the world will one day come to an end and all souls return to their maker?

The united States of America which I was once proud of and loved the slogan on its powerful currency, “In God We trust’ seems to be the chief culprit and forerunner in the establishment of gay right as enthroned in their Federal Constitution. Most countries in South America, Europe and even Africa have established gay rights as a legal form of marriage. Australia recognizes same-sex marriages only if one partner has had gender reassignment therapy.

A prominent gay rights activist in Cameroon Eric Ohena Lembembe, was recently found tortured and killed in his home, amid claims the authorities have systematically ignored similar attacks in the country.

Some analysts state that financial, psychological and physical well-being are enhanced by marriage, and that children of same-sex couples benefit from being raised by two parents within a legally recognized union supported by society's institutions

I wonder if we now have fewer women around or men or the women are now too hard to get, vise versa.

Sex is a beautiful act created by God between a man and a woman and not the reverse which opposes to gay rights. Let me tell you a story. I was in a club with a friend who visited me in South Africa. While having our drinks and enjoying the evening, a guy came dancing and eyeing me from nowhere. He tried flirting with me as a normal lady would. I had ignored him with a stern look and he got the message and walked away. I would say even animals that are not sensible as we humans are don’t even involve in this abominable referred to as been gay.

This is a clear sign that the world is ending and people have become reprobates in nature.

I salute countries who frowns at homosexuality making it illegal es criminalising consensual sex between homosexual adults, and four punishing homosexuality by death.

In some countries, there are moves to increase criminal sanctions for homosexuality. Nigeria, which shares a border with Cameroon, has introduced a bill against gay marriage, while Ghana has reacted furiously to statements by the Britis prime minsiter, David Cameron, linking aid to a country's stance on homosexual rights.

XtraMiles: The blade runner goes partying

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:32:00 -0700

XtraMiles: The blade runner goes partying: South African Paralympian sprint star Oscar Pistorius was spotted partying last weekend at a trendy Johannesburg hangout, his first out...

The blade runner goes partying

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:16:00 -0700

South African Paralympian sprint star Oscar Pistorius was spotted partying last weekend at a trendy Johannesburg hangout, his first outing with friends since his arrest for the Valentine's Day killing of his girlfriend, media reported on Sunday.

According to a Sunday Times report, a "relaxed-looking" Pistorius was seen knocking back drinks at a party at an upmarket restaurant last Saturday, but did not stay long.

His publicist, Anneliese Burgess said the sprinter left the venue when "public interest became overwhelming". According to Burgess he then moved on to another restaurant but left for the same reason.

"The place went quiet when people realised it was Oscar and [the mood] never really recovered from there," a restaurant manager told the Sunday Times.

One patron of the restaurant said the double amputee, known as "Blade Runner" was seen downing shooters and being "flirtatious" before leaving.

"He was greeting a couple and then gave the woman a little pat on her backside. It was just so inappropriate," said the woman.

The paper reported that Pistorius was at the first restaurant in a group that included a wealthy businessman friend. They were watched over by bodyguards.

Burgess said the outing was a way of "trying to reconnect with friends of his and Reeva's."

Pistorius, 26, whose athletics career has been on hold since he was arrested for shooting dead 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp, has kept a low profile since he was released on bail on February 22.

The runner claims that he shot Steenkamp through a locked bathroom door in the dead of the night, after having mistaken her for an intruder. He is facing a charge of pre-meditated murder.

Last month he successfully challenged his strict bail conditions, including travel restrictions and alcohol consumption.

The athlete returns to court on June 4.

Courtesy of yahoo news.

Ghana mourns John Atta Mills

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:29:00 -0700

President John Atta Mills of Ghana, who was suffering from throat cancer, has died in hospital in the capital, Accra.

According to a BBC report, a statement from his office said the 68-year-old died a few hours after being taken ill, but did not give details.

"It is with a heavy heart... that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana," the statement said.

Mr Atta Mills assumed office in the West African country from 2009.

BBC's correspondent, Sammy Darko, who was at the military hospital in Accra, reported that Mr Atta Mills' voice has been degenerating in the last few months.

Mr Atta Mills came to power after narrowly winning against a candidate from the then governing New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, in polls in December 2008.

Mills graduated in law at the University of Ghana before going on to gain a PhD at London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He was selected as a Fulbright scholar at Stanford Law School in the United States and was awarded his PhD for a thesis on taxation and economic development. His teaching career spanned 30 years.

Women should not be vulnerable to men- Jane Nakamba, Singer & Songwriter

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:56:00 -0700

Young and upcoming song-bird, Jane Nakamba has lamented the plight of musicians in Lusaka, Zambia saying, musicians have been ripped off even by their so-called producers and by pirates in the country. “Musicians make peanuts out of their sleepless nights in the studios, the government should act fast to eradicate piracy which is like cancer that has eaten deep into the industry. I believe the efforts used in combating these criminals should be intensified and that they are brought to book”. In this interview with Xtramiles, she spoke of her journey to becoming a musician, her philosophy, role models etc.

How did you discover your talent?

I started singing at a very young age. I had written a song for my parents when they had a quarrel which led to their divorce. I sang for my father, a love song though and I thought this would make him change his mind about the divorce but unfortunately, it didn’t happen like I thought it would. They both went their separate ways. That song to date is one of my recorded tracks. Since then, I have not looked back in terms of song writing and I have a lot of songs I have written and are yet to be produced but I am working on them.

What inspires you?

I draw my inspiration from God and my mother who has stood strongly behind me in my most difficult times. She gives me all the encouragement I had ever needed, I simply can’t describe how good she has been to me, and she is the best thing that has happened to me in life so far. I want to use this medium to say a big thank you to her and her sister suzan who has been supportive as well.

Have you done any collaboration?

Yes, I have done but it was more of a group thing than with individuals. I actually started singing in a group called Jacwise; we were three of us, Jane, Audrey and Chabala from our high school days at Muzi high school in Ndola. We came up with a few singles and we had performances at a few places although we were to come up with an album but somewhere along the line, we were caught up with our different priorities and went our separate ways. I am currently in South Africa, Audrey and Chabala are still in Zambia with their different ambitions at the moment.

Aside music what do you do?

Like I said earlier, at the moment, I am studying Financial Accounting at Damelin in Johannesburg, Gauteng where I had also completed a course in Office computing at College Campus but I also squeeze out time to look into some of the songs I have done and those yet to be completed and try to put finishing touches or modify them. That’s just me for now.

Who are your role models?

I am my own role model if I can say it like that. I admire musicians in Zambia like Mampi, Judy, Lady K, Slap Dee and Macky 2. Internationally, I look up to people like Beyonce, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Neyo and Brandy.

What would you want changed in the music industry?

Musicians make peanuts out of their sleepless nights in the studios, the government should act fast to eradicate piracy which is like cancer that has eaten deep into the industry. I believe the efforts used in combating these criminals should be intensified and that they are brought to book. I want to see a situation where we as musicians will be reaping the rewards of our labor with smiles on our faces.

What challenges do you face as a singer?

Well, as you already know that music is a universal language, loved by a lot of people and the fact that the industry is already saturated with a lot of new comers who are just like me trying break even to limelight. It has not really been easy getting to the top and building fortune and fame and retaining it.

How has music changed you?

I live and breathe music; it has changed me a lot. As they say, music is food for the soul. Becoming a singer has given me a new life because I write, not just write for myself but for people, it gives me a chance to inspire and touch other people and that is what I have always aspired to do as a singer and it also gives me a chance to say my mind out.

What message do you have in your songs?

I sing more about love; I try to tell women not to be vulnerable to some men who I would call opportunity seekers. A lot of men want to take advantage of young girls, lure them with little things like gifts, take them to fast food outlets and make promises to those girls which would make them fall for their sweet-sugarcoated tongue and along the line, most of these young ladies are used and dumped with those promises left to float on thin air. I tell them to believe in themselves and put in their best to be someone in life. As a woman, I have gone back to school in order to set my priorities right and make myself independent and being able to help myself in the future rather than rely on a man.

Are you currently dating?

I have had a few relationships in the past, they had their bad and good sides but it’s in the past. For now, I would say I am very much single but not rushing to date anytime soon guess that’s all I can tell you.

When are we to expect your album in the market?

The full album is going to be in the market soon, it just needs a bit of finishing touches here and there with the sound track and it will be ready and displayed in shelves of most record stores hopefully.

What is your philosophy?

As an individual, I believe whatever you do in life to others comes around to you. So, I believe in the popular saying that “do unto others as you want them to do unto you”. Love as you want to be loved. In short, let loose and take life as it takes you.

Five years from now where would we see you?

I hope to make it big both in my career and in my music. I want to see myself at the top, successful and having achieved all my goals, dreams and aspirations in life.

Zuma's genital painting, ANC provoked.

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:58:00 -0700

South Africa's randy president, Jacob Zuma seems to be on a hot seat. He was in an art gallery exhibition in a painting exposing his genitals. The painting was done by a white South African artiste, Brett Murray. The 1.85m-high acrylic on canvas painting titled “The Spear” has been generating a lot of controversies and comments in the country and around the world. According to a news website, praag.org, the painting of Zuma, and a few other pieces, have already been sold. The ANC said the painting is a defamation on the president's character and person.
Among Murray's work was the emblem of the ruling party ANC with "For Sale" written on it and then, "Sold" written accross it.
Murray also took struggle posters and adapted them to read: “Amandla, we demand Chivas, BMWs and bribes”; “Now you have touched the women you have struck a rock, you have dislodged a boulder; you will be president”; and “Tell my people that I love them and that they must continue the struggle for Chivas Regal, Mercs and Kick-backs”.

No more fairy tales-Kim Kardashian

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 9 Dec 2011 09:39:00 -0800

Kim Kardashian has admitted that while she's still a hopeless romantic, she doesn't believe in the idea of a fairy tale romance anymore.

The 31-year-old 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' star, who filed from divorce from husband Kris Humphries just 72 days after their August wedding, discusses the split in a joint interview with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney in Glamour magazine.

"I think I'll always be a hopeless romantic," says Kim. "It means that I believe in love and the dream of having a perfect relationship, but my idea of it has changed. I think I need to not live in a fairy tale like that. I think I maybe need to just snap out of it and be a little more realistic."

However Khloe, 27, says she admires Kim's idealistic view of relationships saying, "I love Kim's belief in love and the fact that she feels so strongly about it. She has that dream every girl has."

When Kim replies that she doesn't have the same dream anymore, Khloe adds, "…I'm your sister and I know why you don't have it right now. But I know you will get it again."

Kim, Khloe and Kourtney, 32, who announced that she and her partner Scott Disick are expecting their second child together earlier this week, pose together in a sexy shoot for the January 2012 issue of the magazine.

Kim later admits that she has always wanted to mirror the relationship that her mother Kris Jenner, 56, had with her father Robert Kardashian, who died in 2003 from esophageal cancer.

The couple divorced in 1990 and Jenner went on to marry former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner in 1991.

"I always wanted what Mom and Dad had," she adds. "And at first I was like, I want six kids. Then I went down to four, then I was down to three…and now I’m like, maybe I won’t have any. Maybe I’ll just be a good aunt."

"At this moment in my life, I feel like maybe I'm not supposed to have kids and all that."

Kim has kept a low profile since announcing her decision to file for divorce, however earlier this week it emerged that NBA basketball star Kris filed a petition in Los Angeles to annul the couple's on the grounds of fraud.

According to California law, a nullity is granted if the court finds that no valid marriage took place.

Kim filed for divorce on October 31, citing irreconcilable differences.

"Maybe my fairy tale has a different ending than I dreamed it would," she adds. "But that’s OK."

The full version of the article is available at www.glamour.com

D'Banj to Collaborate with Kanye West

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 07:02:00 -0800

Nigerian music star, D'banj and producer, Don Jazzy we gathered, are getting ready to feature Hip-hop music star, Kanye West on one of Mo' Hits' newest songs.

D'banj and Don Jazzy, both members of the Mo' Hits crew which also includes Wande Coal, Dr sid, D prince and K-switch, have cemented their name as a formidable force in the Nigerian music industry and on the African continent.

This recording is coming just months after the two recorded the remix of D'banj's smash hit Mr Endowed with another Hiphop heavyweight Snoop Dogg.

This movie many say is aimed at propelling the Mo' Hits crew on the international stage after chalking huge successes both in Nigeria and Africa.

A source close to the crew, according to Nigerianfilms, has confirmed the recording adding that the group has met with Kenye West.

Kanye West is reported to have tweeted that he was expecting them.

Beyounce plans retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 06:42:00 -0800

Beyonce has revealed that she previously planned to retire at the age of 30.
The 'Crazy in Love' singer, who is just months away from her 30th birthday, says she never imagined she'd be so successful and had decided to quit the music business as early as possible.
“Now I’m nearly there I can’t believe how much more I want to do,” she tells the UK edition of Cosmopolitan.
The 29-year-old R'n'B sensation has gone on to become on of the world’s most successful female solo artists, with albums such as ‘I am…Sasha Fierce’ earning her numerous Grammy Awards.
“I never imagined the extent of what I’ve achieved. I never imagined the awards, the movies and I still can’t believe it,” she said.
To date, she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Beyonce will be one of the headline acts at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival, performing a 90-minute set on the last day of the festival on June 26

Mugabe Cripples foreign businesses in Zimbabwe

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 4 Mar 2011 06:26:00 -0800

Robert Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe made special mention on Wednesday of British-controlled banks and businesses, saying British interests controlled 400 businesses in the former British colony.
"It is time now to take action and to start looking at these companies we must take over," Mugabe told a rally at the start of a campaign to gather two million signatures for a national petition to take over the businesses.
He accused Barclays and the Standard Chartered banks of taking money out of Zimbabwe's economy and using it to support a British banking freeze against Zimbabwean leaders.
He said British firms and other European and American interests also took out profits on mining and other ventures.
"We say no to that," Mugabe said.
He also demanded executives of foreign-owned companies denounce the sanctions placed by their governments.
Trucks and buses carrying Mugabe supporters arrived earlier Wednesday at open field on the edge of the city centre. The supporters sang slogans and raised Mugabe's trademark clenched-fist salute. The former opposition party of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, in a shaky coalition with Mugabe, boycotted the gathering.
In a statement, Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change said the measures against Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party resulted from its record of violence, intimidation and vote-rigging.
The statement said Tsvangirai distanced himself from the "unpopular and bloodthirsty" party.
Mugabe insists Western sanctions have destroyed Zimbabwe's economy. Critics and economists, though, blame his violent land distribution program for crippling the country's agriculture industry since 2000.
The sanctions include visa bans and asset freezes on Mugabe and his party leaders. Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.
On Wednesday, US, President Barack Obama extended for one year the Bush era sanctions against individuals closely linked to Mugabe. The sanctions had been scheduled to end March 6.
"While some advances have been made in Zimbabwe, particularly on economic stabilisation, since the signing of the power-sharing agreement, the absence of progress on the most fundamental reforms needed to ensure rule of law and democratic governance leaves Zimbabweans vulnerable to ongoing repression and presents a continuing threat to peace and security in the region and the foreign policy of the United States," Obama said in a statement to the US. Congress.
"Politically motivated violence and intimidation, and the undermining of the power-sharing agreement by elements of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party, continue to be of grave concern," Obama wrote.
Businesses closed their doors across Harare as some 20,000 Mugabe supporters converged on the rally Wednesday. Many supporters were seen leaving the gathering during Mugabe's rambling 80-minute speech touching on white domination in the nation's colonial-era history and Western opposition to his rule.
"Sanctions were put there to give you pain, and if you feel the pain you will rise against Mugabe," Mugabe said, speaking mainly in the local Shona language.
Witnesses said Mugabe's militants went house-to-house in township suburbs and patrolled bus stops early Wednesday demanding support for the petition.
There were no immediate reports of violence.
Mugabe has called for elections this year to bring an end to a shaky two-year coalition with Tsvangirai.
His party claimed in notices announcing the rally that sanctions were responsible for the collapse of health services and other utilities, and that they affected the care of children and the elderly and were aimed at defending "minority rights" of white farmers and other groups.
"Sanctions do kill. Fight them," the notices said, adding: "Sanctions are a racist attack on an African people. Sanctions are a gross human rights violation. Sanctions are an attack on all Zimbabweans, they are wholesale, they are not personalised or targeted." Britain, the European Union and the United States have listed some 200 individuals and 30 businesses linked to Mugabe's party as targets of the Western bans.

Wednesday's rally follows a clampdown on dissent and a spike in political violence and intimidation since Mugabe called for elections this year.

Mandela is safe!

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:54:00 -0800

Nelson Mandela

Former South African President Nelson Mandela is undergoing specialised tests in hospital and there is no reason to panic over his health, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Friday.

Mandela, 92, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday, prompting fears for the anti-apartheid icon who led South Africa as its first black president and is revered at home and abroad as a symbol of reconciliation and hope.
A source close to Mandela told Reuters on Thursday he was recovering from a collapsed lung and could leave hospital as early as Friday. His foundation said he had been admitted for routine tests
Motlanthe said Mandela was in good spirits and given his age and medical history, the tests were needed to ensure he got the best care. "Medically there is no need to panic. Dr. Mandela suffers from (an) ailment common to people of his age, and conditions that have developed over years. We may recall that he has suffered from tuberculosis whilst on Robben Island and has had previous respiratory infections," Motlanthe said.
Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the 1980s while he was jailed and later had an operation to repair damage to his eyes. In 2001 he had treatment for prostate cancer. He was released from prison in 1990 after 27 years imprisonment.

President Jacob Zuma and the ruling African National Congress appealed for calm after the hospitalisation set off speculation in local media about Mandela's health and brought family members and dignitaries rushing to the hospital.

Sammy Brown releases new single

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:49:00 -0800

Chioma Emerges Miss Abuja

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:52:00 -0800

Chioma Ezenwa, an indigene of Imo state, is the reigning Miss Abuja, having emerged winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Abuja Beauty Pageant (MBGA).

Darey to releases Two New HAUSA and YORUBA Singles

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:24:00 -0800

Darey’s sophomore is titled ‘Double Dare’ (he would be playing with the four-letter word that makes up his first name again, His most popular pay-off line when he worked as an OAP at Cool FM was ‘How dare you dare Dare?’ And his last album, released in March 2009, was titled ‘UnDareyTed’.) Earlier in October, he released two singles – ‘The way you are’ and ‘Don’t let me know’. A video for the latter was released only last week.

‘We’re finally ready!’ he says excitedly. ‘I can’t wait to share what we’ve put together with my friends from all over the world’.

‘DOUBLE DARE’ is a two-part album – coming in two CDs (each CD is titled ‘HEART’ and ‘BEAT’ respectively – together read as HEARTBEAT)..

He released recently, two new singles – ‘Ba Ni Kidi’ and ‘Sisi Eko’ via his Twitter page (@darey). In an unexpected, unsual and funny twist, Darey delivers a song in Pidgin and largely in Hausa with ‘Ba Ni Kudi’. Assumably, In a bid to ‘double dare’, Ba Ni Kidi is distant from previous effort (any record released by Dare) – There would be alot of experimenting on the album.

‘There’s going to be a lot of love and romance on the album, as you’d expect of Darey. But there’s also going to be a lot of fun; even naughty and mischievous stuff’ a privileged source reportedly said. ‘There’s another song called ‘Belly’; you might want to watch out for that’, he added.

‘I recorded Ba Ni Kidi with the kind help of my friends’ Cobhams, eLDee and Bayo who speak very good Hausa’ says Darey. ‘We were just messing around really’.

‘‘Sisi Eko”, a ballad done in Yoruba is Produced by Cobhams and Darey himself.

DOUBLE DARE will be released in a matter of weeks into the Nigerian market, while a UK debut, tentatively titled ‘DAREY’ is expected to follow.

Screen acts may be good, but stage acts are better-Ignis Ekwe

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 8 Dec 2010 03:56:00 -0800

Ignis Ekwe, a TV actor and scriptwriter, easily brings to viewers’ memory the rested soap operas like Behind The Clouds and CockCrow At Dawn. A native of Fuga in Edo State where he had both primary and secondary education, Ekwe proceeded to the University of Benin where he studied Theatre Arts and graduated in 1982. He had a stint at the NTA, Jos, before obtaining a Master’s degree from the University of Jos and worked as a Consultant for United Nations Children Educational Fund (UNICEF).

Ignis Ekwe finally left UNICEF and went into full-time acting, and recently told of how it all started:

Acting career
To be honest with you, my acting career started when I knew how to talk. I grew up to discover myself playing drums, leading masquerades, organising my peer groups for dancing and singing.
Currently, I can write songs with ease in any language and translate them into any language, particularly the ones I understand. I was the president of the debating and cultural society at St. John’s College, Fuga and I had a cultural group inside the town as well as at St. John’s. In all the cultural activities that took place in Benin, Auchi and Fuga, St. John was always coming first and I was the leader of the group.
So I was a cultural ambassador even before I gained admission to the university. My first play was titled The Son of Tradition and my school group went on tour with that play and made money for the school. As I grew up, I took interest in writing soap operas, some of which are Cock Crow At Dawn, Behind The Clouds and After The Storm, for NTA Jos.

Inspiration
My inspiration comes from God and my fellow man. As I talk to people on different issues, I get inspired and get ideas that tell me I should have done more for myself. I believe people should value you for what you are and not really advertising you.

Role model
Jesus Christ is my role model, but the people I learn more from are children when I look and listen to them talking.

Nigerian theatre
As far as I am concerned, the stage still remains the best test for performance for anybody because if you can perform on the stage before a live audience where you don’t have to refer to scripts or somebody prompting you, then you can perform before any audience.
I think it’s one of the best mediums of training and that is why you see most people who studied Theatre Arts emerging better professionals than those who are just mere screen artistes.

In TV productions, they can always stop the camera for you, re-taking and editing episodes but on stage there are no such opportunities. It’s either you know it or your audience will know when you are not giving them the right thing. Having said this, I am not saying that the film and home video are not good. There are very good men and women who despite lacking theatre training are equally good and I respect them a lot.

Entertainment industry
This industry is big business in any part of the world and it is not supposed to be any different here in Nigeria. The problem is that it is still a growing industry and it’s only a few individuals who are promoting the industry. Recently, PMAN had got them together and had put their arts together. I remember when I was very young that if we didn’t go to watch Indian films in a day, we would not be happy. Indians place their economy on films and until Nigerian government starts active participation in the film and entertainment industry, it will still remain at the level where it is now. The industry is a goldmine, but be so far, I think we have tried because this industry started just barely 10 years ago and we have reached this stage, but it would have been better off than this if not that those who put the money down, particularly the Ibo marketers want to get quick money in return.

Happiest moments
I have had several happy moments in my life and one of such was when my wife wanted to take our son to the clinic for six naira and I told her that I didn’t have six naira but that she should take him to the clinic the following week and she was upset. That evening, all the children that were taken to the clinic died of fake drugs given to them. I didn’t know whether I should be happy or sad but when I heard families crying, I was very sad. Again when I looked at my little son who was saved because I didn’t have six naira, I was so happy.

Actors worth
Rate me ten over ten if you like because I cannot rate myself. I always try to improve on what I have done the previous day. Each time I finish a role, I always want to look back and see how I could have done it better and what I would have done if I were given the same role to play again. Of course, if I am given the same role to play again, I’ll love to do it in a different way.

Future plans
My plans for the future is to continue acting and creating scripts and serve God much better than I am doing at the moment. To be of much service to my immediate community in Fuga where I come from and to Nigeria as a whole, though I don’t have any political ambitions.

Directors/Producers
Right now, our producers are still trying to survive on their own. A few of them are good and there are a good number of those too who are not good. In my own candid opinion, if you ask me, the problem is that everybody seems to be in a hurry to be everything in this industry all because of money. You’ll find out that someone who has no professional training from anywhere, immediately becomes a producer, and becomes a director, a cameraman and you’ll find them like that in almost all productions and there’s nobody to correct them.

Why they do this is to cut cost in their own productions. There are a good number of those who go under all sorts of funny names all in the name of being producers. A good number of them have never been to any school and you cannot blame them because it’s their money that they invest in the trade and this is working for them. That is why the industry is growing at a slow pace, but I believe it will soon pick up.

Advice for practitioners
As for the film industry, I would say there’s hope. Our young ones who are starting now should learn to go to school first because anything one wants to do and don’t have educational qualifications, it will not be seriously regarded.

A good number of them, especially the young boys and girls, now rush into the industry because they want to act and the moment they get money in one or two movies, they don’t want to go back to school. It is not good for their future and their family because if you have billions of naira, you are still an illiterate with your money. For those who are already there, they should try to improve on what they have already acquired, as there is no age limit to acquiring training.,

Like Picasso, I want to work till death – David Dale

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 8 Dec 2010 03:38:00 -0800

By OLIVER ONUOHA and PATRICIA ONYEKWERE

Master artist, David Hebert Dale, is among the few artists who explore beads as a medium of expression. Born in the U.K. in 1947 to an English father and a Nigerian mother, Dale studied Fine Arts and Arts History at the Ahmadu Bello University in 1971, specialising in Illustration and Graphics Design.

Unperturbed by the rosy future, which life in the U.K. holds for him, David Dale has remained in Nigeria practising his profession and contributing to the artistic development of the country.

Dale blazed the trail as the first person to hold a solo exhibition of Deep-etchings, Watercolour, Lino prints and Pencil Drawings in Lagos in 1972. Aside from that, he has participated in 58 exhibitions both locally and internationally and has numerous commissioned works at different locations.

A bookworm and a rare artist, who works proficiently in about 23 different media with equal dexterity, Dale told Daily Sun, “If I am going to die tomorrow, I want to work till one hour to the time I am going to die because that’s what Picasso did.” He spoke further on why he read arts, his philosophy and arts in Nigeria.

Background
My father is English, while my mother is a Nigerian. I went to school in England and at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where I read Fine Arts. I graduated from the school in 1971. Since then, I have been practicing.

Art school
I think that the issue is, people like to parade their schools instead of working hard.
All I do today is to conduct research; these are things I didn’t read at the university. If you don’t do that, nobody will call you a master.

Artistic media
I use 23 artistic media. I do paintings, beads and glass bead works, water colour, I do stain-glass in three different styles, I wrought iron works, etchings, mosaic and many others.

Collateral
I have not used any of my works as collateral, but I think that in the nearest future, some of these works can be deposited in bank to get some money. The type of art that I do is something that grows in value as the years go by. I don’t insure my works, it’s the buyers’ problem, mine is to create.

Arts in Nigeria
I think I have to come out very hard on this, government is not doing well for people who feed on creativity in this country. Right now, the materials that I work with have been banned. So, if I want to buy mosaic, I’ll have to cross over to Togo.

And when you buy it with CFA in Togo, when you get to Seme border, you’re going to pay the same amount you spent on the material to ‘settle’ them in Seme. The ban on art materials will affect the work of artists who now use oil paints as if they are using watercolour. It’s either you paint properly or you don’t paint at all. But can you blame them? Nigerian artists are good but the facilities are not there to enhance the quality of their works.

Exhibitions
I have featured in 58 exhibitions locally and internationally. I have exhibited in places like United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Eastern Europe, Sweden, France, Holland, Spain, Eastern Europe, Former U.S.S.R, Cuba, Japan, U.S.A, Canada and Australia. I have done so many commissioned works for both private and public collections within and outside Nigeria.

Art masters
Perhaps, you are referring to people like Bruce Onobrakpeya, Yusuf Grillo, Kolade Oshinowo and Isiaka Osunde. We’ve left the university and created our styles. Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya is known for what I call folk art. Everything he does is like going back to Urhobo culture. Oshinowo has not cut off from the northern landscapes and cultural events.

If you look at his works, you’ll still see the Durbar and the rest of it. Isiaka Osunde, who studied in the Soviet Union, still captures the European romanticism. Grillo has the elongated figuring. We’ve tried to say this is what we can do and what we can not do but unfortunately, most of these artists probably work in one, two, three or four media and this is where I probably have an edge over a lot of other artists because I make use of 23 media with equal dexterity.

Aim
I aim at the feeling that my work should end up in a very happy home and that is the first thing about me. People come in here to say I’ve been to Mr. A’s house, I’ve seen your works. But if you look at him, you’ll know that he’s a status symbol man, who wants to say I want to be like Mr. Obi, who has 10 of David Dale’s works and Obi is a man who collects genuinely. Now, he wants to beat Obi, saying I’m going to buy 15 of your works. But the way he talks, you’ll know that this fellow is just trying to show off and I don’t allow my works to go to such homes. I feel the works should be part of the home and not say its there and you start flaunting it, I hate people who flaunt.

Why art
I had always wanted to be an artist. When I gained admission to the university, my family could only sponsor six of us at the same time, so they told me straight, “ If its Fine Arts you are going to read, you’ve got to sponsor yourself” and I sponsored myself through the university actually.

Recycling collectors
For us to have more collectors, we need more exhibitions. If you are a collector and you are able to drag one or two other people along with you to art exhibitions, it will raise new followership for the artist and his works. Nevertheless, we have a few good collectors in the country today.

Philosophy
It can be summed up as ‘do unto others, as you would want others do unto you.’ Don’t shy away from the help you can render. If you are ably placed to do something, don’t tell the Lord, ‘I can’t do it.’

Legacy
I can’t see any legacy I want to leave behind for the young ones because a lot of people come in here as interns and youth corps members. I’ve stopped that now because most of them come here to steal. The idea is that, some of these young people don’t want to put down their first step before taking another.

Role model
My school in England is my first role model. Then, the artist I refer to today, Picasso. I have the same attitude as he had for creativity. He didn’t create because he wanted to sell; he created because of the way he felt at that moment.

Future plan
If I am going to die tomorrow, I want to work till one hour to the time because that’s what Picasso did. He slept and did not wake up again. He worked till he died. He had a project at hand then. He held a party over night and said he was going to wake up at eleven o’clock to continue, but he never did.

Appreciation
I am a very serious artist. Anything I do, I put in a lot to it and for the fact that someone is going to buy it from me, I make sure that I put in my best. So, when he comes to spend two hundred thousand naira he doesn’t regard spending that much because I’ve put in all my best into the work.

Fraud is the bane of music industry

noreply@blogger.com (Oliver) — Wed, 8 Dec 2010 02:23:00 -0800

By AZUH AMATUS and ONUOHA OLIVER

With such artistes like Mamuzee, Freewindz, Bumpa Clash, Zhyon among others on his newly floated Myke Records, Evang. Mike Ikoku is really out to take the music industry to greater heights.

In this interview with Daily Sun, the showbiz impressario and image maker for All Seasons Hotel, explained his romance with entertainment, giving reasons for going into music and many more.

Myke Records
The aim is to contribute our own quota to the development of the Nigerian music industry. Also to discover and develop talents who find it difficult securing recording deals owing to one reason or the other. We also want to help export our music outside our shores. We also want those on our label to be part of the national cake, we have been in the entertainment business for long. This is our ninth year in the business of entertainment. We started with a nightclub in the East, after that we went into hotel business and also opened one of the best nightclubs in the South-East which is sited within the All Seasons Hotel and called N.V. Club

Artistes on Myke Records
We are trying first and foremost to ensure that some of them are signed on foreign labels and marketing companies. We are already discussing and negotiating with them. Once these deals are sealed, these outfits would help in the marketing of our products outside Nigeria. The works of all my artistes are of international standard and we are optimistic the deal would sail through soon. We also intend making the presence of our artistes felt here in Nigeria through the media and national tours.

Dreams
My dream is to build a good label with solid artistes who would be appreciated, celebrated and respected globally. We are talking of artistes who would be the richest in Nigeria and Africa. I’m also building a record label that would outlive me.

Myke Records and continuity
I have discovered why most record companies come and go, 90% of the people in the entertainment business are fraudulent. You daily meet people who are out to rip you off without giving you the assistance and mileage they claimed they would give. You will eventually back out when you are frustrated. The money I will make from my label is not what is driving me. It is the passion, because it supercedes the money and that is why Myke Records will continue to live and never die like others.

Rifts between record labels and artistes
The problem lies with the artistes and not the record labels. Nobody does business without making profit, some artistes like playing fast against their record labels. The truth is when a record label does not make money, so also is the artiste,and vice versa. But when one makes and the other is not making, that is when the problem comes in. Label owners take the first risk by investing in an artiste. Contracts are there, but sometimes our conscience has to over rule the contracts.

Difference between Myke Records and other labels?
The difference is that we are continually striving to prove a point and lead while others follow. We are new and making waves because we came in with a bang and lots of innovative ideas on how to better the lots of Nigerian artistes. We have also been able to change the face of musical videos in Nigeria with the laudable works of our artistes. My label produced the best video ever shot in Nigeria. It is on record. It came from Bumpa Clash and we don’t compromise on quality. Also, the video of Zhyon, Mamuzee and Freewindz, are all quality works that can compete favourably in any part of the world. In a year, we sign about five artistes. For example, we signed on five artistes in 2005, this 2006, we have signed on two more and few would join soon. And the newly signed artistes are in our studios cooking their works. We look out for artistes who can use their talents to tell the world that Nigeria is still good despite the many problems facing us. Nigeria is really good.

Artistes on Myke Records
As I speak with you, we have a total of seven artistes already signed on. Mamuzee, Freewindz, Zhyon and Bumper Clash already have their works released, while the others are still cooking.

Biggest problem
Piracy is the main problem and all hands must be on deck to reduce it to the barest minimum. When you report pirates and stop patronizing pirated works, it helps to push them out of the market. Intellectual property owners should reap from the fruits of their labour, we should not allow some faceless criminals to take from us the fruits of our labour. The government should assist us in fighting this scourge.

What Myke Records looks out for in artistes?
The artistes just like every good product, must have a hook. If they don’t, we are not interested. If you come to Myke Records, playing Ja Rule, R.Kelly, we will not look at your face, you must first-of-all, give us the R.Kelly of Nigeria because we are proud of Nigeria. You give us the Africanized R&B and we get you hooked on to our label.

Evangelist in music industry
Yes because music is the food of love, let’s play on and be happy. We preach happiness through music. We preach to people to be God fearing through music. We also preach people out of crime through music. So, in essence, music is the best form of evangelism and that is why as an evangelist of the most High, I’m preaching and reaching out to people through music via Myke Records.