Entertainment
Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s Death, Big Loss – Artistes
Nigeria’s “Lady of Songs”, Chief (Mrs) Christy Essien-Igbokwe, who died on Thursday has been described as an accomplished entertainer who would be sadly missed in the industry.
The Weekend Tide reliably learnt that Essien-Igbokwe passed on at the age of 51 at a Lagos hospital.
She was the first female President of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and played “Apena” in the popular sitcom comedy— “The Masquerade”.
The PMAN President, Dele Abiodun who was among the early callers at the residence of the late Essien-Igbokwe in Ikeja yesterday, said that she would be greatly missed in the entertainment industry.
“It is a pity that the industry has lost another big artiste like her. She has a passion for the industry and helped in building and sustaining it”.
Abiodun described the late Essien-Igbokwe as a good ambassador of Nigeria because her music went beyond the shores of this country.
“We adore her, her openness, uprightness and she was a good listener to anyone’s complaints.
“She was someone you could rely on for anything and she used to give good advice and did not believe in cutting corners”, he said.’‘
Abiodun said that since death was inevitable, people who have the zeal for the entertainment industry should do whatever they could to make their names indelible as Essien-Igbokwe has done”, he added.
A former PMAN President, Bollaji Rosiji also said that the deceased uplifted the role of women in the industry and was a good leader.
“She carried others along with her during her reign in various capacities in the entertainment industry,” Rosiji said, noting that she set enviable standards in everything she did in her short life time.
He described Essien-Igbokwe as an evergreen artist who sang with a good voice and used the medium “to promote our values, culture and womanhood to people both at home and abroad”.
A musician, Stella Monye described the late Essien-Igbokwe as the best PMAN president the music industry ever had.
“She was full of compassion for the music industry when she was the president and carried us along everywhere she went so as to make the industry work.
“She was very transparent in her doings and dealings and as a good mother and wife, she was friendly and accommodating,” she said.
Monsgr. Gabriel Osu, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, said that most of the late Essien-Igbokwe’s songs made meaning to the culture and values of the country.
“We need people like her in the industry to give us that kind of music to reshape our values and culture,” he said.
Osu said that her advice to children in her hit tracks – “omo mi seun rere” or “my child behave well”— and “nzu ko” in which she pleaded for peace to reign in Igboland, would not be forgotten for many generations.
“It is how well one lived that is important, not how long,” Osu said, adding that, “she lived an exemplary life for others to emulate”.
Essien-Igbokwe’s son, Kaka, who spoke on behalf of the family, noted that they would always cherish the good memories of their matriarch.
“She led a scandal-free life and because of that, I am so proud of her,” Kaka told The Weekend Tide of her mother.
Entertainment
BBNaija Season Nine: ‘Dynamic Duos’ Auditions Begin
The organisers of the Big Brother Naija( BBNaija) have announced that season nine of the reality TV show started accepting applications last Wednesday.
Biggie is back for BBNaija Season 9 auditions with a twist! The audition requires two people. “This year, it is a search for Dynamic Duos that love the show and can turn up the heat in Biggie’s house,” the announcement said.
This new twist to application videos, which used to be a single person in the video, candidates will have to apply in pairs. This means that the audition video will feature two candidates each.
Make and upload a three-minute video telling Big Brother why both of you should be in the Big Brother’s House together.
The video can be recorded together or separate, but must be a single video.
You have to audition together.
In the video describe yourselves and where you are from.
Also talk about your personalities, your favourite things, likes, dislikes, unique things about both of you and how it may help you do well on Big Brother Naija Season 9.
Stay natural, do not force it, keep it fun!
Audition is free and has opened on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8:00pm.
Application is only open to people who are 21 or older with a valid means of identification.
Entertainment
Onyeka Onwenu’s Film To Chronicle Her Music Journey
Renowned Nigerian musician, Onyeka Onwenu, says she is working on producing a film that will delve into her experiences which span decades within the music industry.
Onwenu disclosed this in an interview with the Newsmen, on Tuesday with a career that stretches back to the 1970s, the “elegant stallion” expressed her eagerness to share her firsthand account of the evolution of Nigerian music.
”I am currently working on a film that will chronicle my experiences in the music industry from the 70s to the present day. Having been a part of this narrative for decades, I have a wealth of stories to share,” she said.
In addition to the film project, Onwenu discussed her efforts to release her classic songs through collaboration with emerging artistes, promising fans a compilation of rebranded tracks later in the year.
“I am rebranding my old songs and collaborating with new talents. My aim is to offer listeners a fresh perspective on timeless classics,” she explained.
Onwenu’s creative pursuits extend beyond the realm of music, as she recently released a single, titled Abu Otito (Songs of Praise) and dedicated proceeds from its streaming to support widows through the Rose of Sharon Foundation.
“I am passionate about using music to address social issues. From supporting widows to promoting education among rural children, I strive to make a positive impact through my art.”
Reflecting on her philanthropic endeavours, Onwenu shared her commitment to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Abia and disclosed the plan to expand her initiatives to Imo.
“We not only pay school fees directly to schools but also offer civic education to instill a sense of cultural identity. These efforts represent my dedication to empowering future generations,” the musician noted.
Offering advice to fellow artistes amidst economic challenges, Onwenu emphasised the importance of resilience and self-initiative.
“Hang in there and create opportunities for yourselves,” she urged, highlighting the need for proactive approaches in navigating the ever-evolving music industry landscape.
Onwenu’s multifaceted contributions to music and society underscore her enduring legacy as a trailblazing artiste and philanthropist, inspiring generations to come.
“I have been part of the story right from time, and I am still moving forward, so I have a lot of stories to tell,” she remarked.
The Tide Entertainment reports that aside from the cinematic venture, Onwenu unveiled plans to breathe new life into her classic hits by collaborating with contemporary artistes. According to her, she aims to compile a collection of rebranded songs, promising Nigerian audiences an eagerly anticipated release later in the year..
Onwenu has used her music and its timeless messages to promote Nigeria’s culture. Her music duet with King Sunny Ade, titled Wait for Me, has remained evergreen. It is remembered always as a song with deep lyrical message which was put together to help the government of that era fight seriously against the outburst of population explosion while also regulating it with the different family planning programmes put together by the government.
Her song, African Woman, helped greatly in projecting the innate exquisiteness of the African woman giving them a sense of pride and belonging amidst poverty, widowhood, rape, lack of care, hatred, humiliation, abandonment, among others.
Her evergreen classic, Sodom and Gomorrah, is a biblical narrative of the popular story of the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, a city destroyed by God due to their heedlessness and high level of immorality.
Some of her other evergreen songs include Iyogogo, One Love, Dancing in the Sun, and Choices, among others.
Entertainment
Osita Iheme Reacts To Pawpaw Memes
Legendary Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, fondly known as Pawpaw, has revealed that he is happy with the way his memes are used on social media as a means of expression.
In a recent interview with newsmen, the actor expressed pleasure with the use of the clips from his films, stating that it shows his old films still have value.
“It’s good to see that your works are doing well out there and people are appreciating what you are doing,” he said.
“Even though it has been so many years, people are still valuing it years later. It’s good and it shows that you have an asset that you can always back up and bank with. Because when you look at 20 years ago, the works you’ve done and you see that people are using it to express themselves, you’d feel happy. I feel happy,” he continued.
The Tide Entertainment reports that over the past few years, hilarious stickers and memes of the star from his old films have been used widely across social media platforms to add a comic flair to conversations. His funny memes were not only used by Nigerians, but also in foreign media, especially during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown era.
It is worthy of note that Iheme is one half of the dynamic Aki and Paw Paw duo, the other half being his partner-in-crime, Chinedu Ikedieze.
The pair starred in numerous movies in their prime like ‘Aki Na Ukwa’, Village Rats, and Double Wahala, amongst many other iconic films.
More than 20 years later, they have remained Nollywood household names, hilarious memes, and pop culture icons.
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