Entertainment
Lexy M Blames Elders For Rivers PMAN Crisis
The music industry in Rivers State has come a long way starting from the times of Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson, Prince David Bull, King Sunny Brown who took highlife music to international level to the present era of Daniel Wilson, Arthur Willie Pepple, Peter Stone Cold among others. However, the history of the industry would not be complete without mentioning the likes of multiple instrumentalist, composer and vocalist, Lexy Mueka popularly known as Lexy M.
Lexy M, the immediate past chairman of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter hit stardom in 1991. His maiden album titled Change was launched in 1997 and turned out to be a huge commercial success, today he has four albums to his credit. However, the Ogoni-born music maestro is irked by the endemic crisis rocking PMAN in the state which had impacted negatively on the growth of the industry in recent times.
In this interview with our entertainment crew, Mr Jacob Obinna and Bemene Taneh, Lexy M spoke extensively on the crisis, the past CARNIRIV and the entertainment industry in the state as well as his pet project.
Commenting on the crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Lexy M said elders of the body were responsible because as elders they know what to do for peace to reign, but refused to do it because they are making money out of the crisis which is why the association moves a step forward and four steps backwards.
The former PMAN boss noted that it took just one patriotic Rivers man, distinguished Senator Magnus Abe to settle the problem between him and Arthur Pepple Jnr when the association had leadership tussle and wondered why the elders found it difficult to bring about lasting peace in the association so that the association would move forward like their counterparts in other states.
He, however, stressed that the only solution to the crisis was for members to follow the constitution. According to him, PMAN has a constitution but people are ignoring it and doing things the way they like. He reiterated that it is only when members start recognizing the constitution and working in accordance to its provisions that things would work. He contended that because he followed the constitution, there was peace and progress during his tenure as chairman.
On the recently aborted delegate conference of the Association in the state, he stressed that the conference was illegally, organisers wanted to use it as a forum to extort money from innocent citizens of the state and course unrest in the state. He disclosed that presently the police was looking for them including the so called administrator of the Association in the state. He urged members to desist from being part of such kangaroo gatherings in future to save the image of the Association.
The seasoned musician and producer also spoke on last year’s Rivers State cultural festival (CARNIRIV) and regretted that home based musicians were not carried along rather the Lagos based musicians and their foreign counterparts were celebrated. He also noted that while the few home base musicians who performed at the event were paid peanuts, the Lagos based musicians were paid millions.
He observed that the person who was in charge of the whole event belonged to the entertainment industry, yet he could not carry his people along. According to him, pepple like Arthur Willie people Jnr, Daniel Wilson, Jerry Demon who are stake holders ought to have been celebrated now that they are alife not when they are dead.
The showbiz personality also faulted the planning. He said the venue was not spread out, he contended that a CARNIRIV band would have been kept in each of the strategic locations like Aggrey Road, Mile I, Ogbunabali, Rumuola Justice Es etc with indigenous home based artistes to control them which would have given him a sense of belonging that they were celebrating their own thing.
Instead of the huge amount of money that was wasted in one particular venue.
Lexy M also lamented the slow pace of development of the entertainment industry in the state. He suggested that the only way forward was to have a stakeholder’s meeting between the state governor and the entertainers. He noted that the state governor had met with all the stakeholders in the state except the musicians and other classes of entertainser, he stressed that it was only in such meet Lexy -M that the governor would understand the plight of the industry in the state.
The award winning multi instrumentalist called for the establishment of an entertainment centre in the state where shows and other concorts would be held just as it is in Museum Centre and Festac in Lagos. He disclosed that based on the slow pace of development in the sector, a group of concerned persons had come together to look for a way forward for the industry.
The former PMAN boss also noted that the oil companies and other multinational organisations in the state were not helping matters. He reiterated that in all the bill boards from Rumurokuro to Aggrey road their was no face of a Port Harcourt artiste them but they used most of their says no ring tunes in their hand.
Entertainment
My Relationship With Davido Beyond Money, Gossip -Cubana Chief Priest
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Entertainment
Simi Joins Kenya’s Anti-Tax Protests
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Entertainment
Davido, Zlatan, Others In Attendance At Asake’s Atlanta Concert
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’
-
Rivers4 days ago
Monarch Brokers Peace Among Warring Factions In Usomini Clan
-
News4 days ago
Activist Tasks Civil Servants, Rivers People On Support For Fubara
-
Politics4 days ago
How Senators Shot Down Bill For Private Investigators In Nigeria
-
Agriculture4 days ago
Campaigns End As Rivers Gears For LG Elections
-
Rivers4 days ago
Cleric Prays For Breakage Of Tyrannies In Leadership
-
News4 days ago
Rivers Chief Judge Hands Over 15 Official Cars To New Magistrates
-
Politics4 days ago
LG Election: Abia LP Rejects Abure’s LG Election Committee List
-
Agriculture4 days ago
GO-CARES: Gombe Empowers 573,429 Farmers, Entrepreneurs