LAST week, Soundcity ignited the entertainment industry with the second edition of its yearly Soundcity Music Video Awards (SMVA). The evnt, which held at the company’s entertainment centre, Oceanview, Victoria Island. The awards ceremony featured the best of entertainment from within, and outside Nigeria with such an expansive red carpet event as never witnessed in Nigeria. And it was well attended, with the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan present. She was accompanied by the wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Fashola, and two of the state’s commissioners, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Prince Oniru. The SMVA ‘09 had all the glitz, glamour and quality entertainment synonymous with Soundcity, and was transmitted across Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, and indeed to some other parts of Europe. MIMS, one of America’s most popular hip hop artistes showed everyone present why he’s hot, with his smashing performance. Tu Face Idibia was also on hand to give an exciting account of himself with his wonderful performance on the night. Perhaps the most remarkable performance of the night was that by the Afro-beat reincarnate, Seun Kuti, who sang, danced, and did everything else reminding everyone of his father, and Afro-beat founder, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Bigiano and Tu Face shone like a million stars, carting home two Awards each. Bigiano won the Best Cinematography Video and Soundcity’s Viewers’ Choice categories, both for his work on Shayo; while Tu Face Idibia won the Best Video, and the Best Collaboration in a Music Video category for his work on Enter the Place (ft. Sound Sultan). Not to forget Don Jazzy (and the Mo’Hits Crew) who won in the Hit Producer of the Year (as used in a music video) category, with Suddenly (a D’Banj song produced by Don Jazzy). Darey indeed was the most underrated of the night; not only was he a superb and fitting anchor, he also carted home the Best R&B or Pop Video Award for his work on Not the Girl. Wande Coal added acrobatic displays to his singing skills as he also did the back flip while performing 10/10, and that was before D’Banj joined him on stage to do You Bad. He was very dazzling in all departments. In the other categories, Naeto C won in the Best Male Video category with Kini Big Deal; while TY Bello did the same in the Best Female Video category with Ekundayo. The Best Choreography Video went to P-Square for Roll It; the Best Special Effect Editing Video went to Dipp, for Dangerous; and the Best Hip Hop Video was won by Str8buttah for Last Standing. Further, the Best Duo/Group Video was won by P-Square for Roll It; the Soundcity Fresh Video was won by Steel for South African Girl; the Discovery of the Year was Kel with Waa Wa Alright; and the African Video of the Year, was won by 340ML from Mozambique. Popular American hip hop star, MIMS, showed everyone present why he’s hot, reeling song after song from his rich repertoire, helping to fulfill Soundcity’s reputation of adding value to life with the power of music. And that was not to be the only international performance as Wyre from Kenya had also done his popular Make A Choice song, amongst others. The winners list showed the viewing preferences of Nigerians during the period in review, especially as the nominations were judged on the criteria of originality, style, creativity, expression, and graphic quality. The categories of the Awards extended to every popular genre of music as appreciated all over Nigeria and indeed across Africa. The SMVA also recognized and rewarded the producers and directors, who worked behind the scenes to produce the videos that have put Nigeria on the global front. The crème of the increasingly fledging Nigerian Music industry was united in providing ample entertainment at the Pre-Award Concert at the same venue on Friday, July 31, 2009. And the After-Party itself was packed full with bubbling young men and women having the best of fun at The Grotto, the exquisite hotspot on Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Around and about Nollywood...BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
Kraftman votes for I-Joke
KRAFTMAN Productions has confirmed its participation in the I-Joke project, http://i-joke.ning.com, which was launched at the last Cannes Film Festival in France. Initiated by European Producers Jan Helig (Germany) and Jenny Inchbald, the project brings together producers from over 25 different countries. Each producer will present a short film (Maximum of 5 minutes) of a popular joke in that country. The jokes from different countries will now make up a series that is going to be presented around the world. The project aims to create an international community that can work together. It is also a cultural exchange programme to promote better understanding among the international community in an inspiring and entertaining way. Filmbit FilmProduction Germany and Future Artistes, UK coordinate the project. According to a statement signed by A.C. Nwankpa, Head of Corporate Communication, Kraftman Productions, Nigeria will be represented by the outfit’s CEO, Madu C. Chikwendu.
Lagos Film Fesyival holds this August
THE Madu Chikwendu powered Lagos International Film Festival will hold at the National Theatre, Lagos, from August 11 to 14. According to him, “the first edition held at the National Stadium, Surulere, five years ago in August and has always held then except for once or twice, when due to logistics we held it in November.” This edition, Chikwendu revealed, would not come cheap ‘as almost everyone we approached for support asked us to push the festival forward a bit, but we cannot continue to move it forward. If we do that we will confuse our followers and partners’. All the events would be held at the National Theatre. “We enjoyed tremendous support from the former director general of the National Theatre, Prof. Ahmed Yerima. He is one of the reasons we have resolved to host the festival in spite of our inability to attract mega sponsorship’. The festival closes with a gala and award ceremony on August 14.
Time to register for SHOOT 2010
PREPARATIONS have already begun for the 2010 edition of SHOOT! The theme is Towards Digital Migration. The 2009 edition recorded impressive turn out and added values to training and professionalism within the industry.. Interested filmmakers, students, practitioners, stakeholders and other enthusiasts can visit its website, www.nigfilmcorp.com, or e-mail, md_nfc@hotmail.com for online registration or enquiries. The National Film Institute, Jos, from July 19 – 23, 2010. This year had as theme, Reel Life, Real Sound. And it lasted for five days (July 20 to 24).
WAKA PASS
Producer- Amebo A. Amebo
Director- Mr. Gossip
Actors- Nollywood Celebrities
We still have not found Achor Ugenyi
IT is still difficult to believe that the ‘man about town’ and ‘former’ secretary general of the Actor Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Achor Ugenyi, has still not been found months after we made an ‘each one tell one’ announcement. No one has called or sent messages as to how we can get the actor. We heard certain things concerning uncle that we have considered ‘lies’ until we hear korokoro from the oracle. Hear one of the things we were told: ‘That he is the author of most of the letters and releases that have been emanating from the camp of the Kanayo Kanayo-led Central Working Committee of the AGN’. So Oga Achor, over to you… let us also add that one waka pass said we should inform you that ‘you have no right to remain silent in this matter’.
Someone has been begging people around
IT’s only in moviedom that you hear all sorts of things. One waka pass has been forcing us to believe that an incumbent president of one of the associations has been going round to either intimidate or beg aspirants to stand down in the election that comes up next month. The waka pass said one of the reasons the ‘outgoing’ — except he gets re-elected — is advancing for votes, is that he wants to ‘properly equip’ the secretariat (a-one room apartment in Surulere that used to be a pepper soup joint). Anyway, we asked of names of those he has begged so far, and the waka pass said he has begged (almost to the point of becoming a nuisance), from one of Nollywood’s consistent female writers and producer, who is neck deep in the production of language movies. We also hear that he may head to Aguda in the Surulere area of Lagos shortly to hold talks with a substantial movie director and producer, who is gunning for the presidency. While the waka pass thinks he may walk over the female producer, he holds strongly that it will be difficult to impress the notable producer, whose mission is to somewhere (know of any movie with a similar title?). Not even after he has engaged an aggressive campaign manager and publicist. If you were here (this column) last week, you would know whom we are talking about.
Stephanie Okereke is busy on a dream projectSomeone ran into the steady and deep actress Stephanie Okereke and observed that she has lost so much weight. The waka pass that the spaghetti top she was putting on was so loose on her and wondered whether she had started fasting for ‘Mr. Right’. Anyway, we have it on good authority (we inquired from a waka pass who claimed that she knows someone, who knows someone who knows Stephanie) that the gangling actress has not started thinking of a ‘Mr. Right’ neither does she has that on her plans for now (but not to say she be wood ooo). We gathered that the reason she has lost some weight is probably because of the rigours of attending sponsorship meetings and so on. By the way, Stephanie is one of the arrow heads of the effort to get the New York Film Academy to Nigeria to run some courses. The producer of Through the glass, has, in the last two months or so, been attending meetings aimed at facilitating the smooth take off her alma mata in Nigeria. Don’t be surprised if Stephanie flashes a card at you and what you find on it is Stephanie Okereke, Director, NYU (Nigerian Campus). Sis, abeg claim am…o digi easi… meaning, it isn’t easy. To God Be the Glory
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