Entertainment

Chiwetalu Agu Warns Against Leadership Tussle In Nollywood

Published

9 years ago

October 6, 2017

Nollywood veteran, Chief Chiwetalu Agu has urged all protagonists at logerheads in the Actors guild of Nigeria (AGN) to kill their over ambition for the organisation to move forward, adding that no society can progress where there is violence.
The veteran actor lamented the impasse in the guild between the parties that have refused to accept defeat and move on. In a recent interview with the media, the actor said that greed has a way of runing one’s career.
“I want stakeholders to begin to do away with over ambition, that this post is good for me to occupy is ok, but when you struggle for it for too long and you see that it doesn’t work, you can leave”, he said.
Agu stressed that it was good to have political intentions but it should not continue when such is causing havoc and division among people.
He urged the parties causing crisis in the guild to kill their over ambition, advising that they withdraw their interest if such was not yielding fruits.
The actor also advised the warning factions to look to other areas rather than kill the industry fighting in vain, “It must not be president, there are many areas you can pilot the affairs of Nollywood instead of insisting it must be president. I address these people as square pegs in round holes, so far as God has bless your career, you have to kill your ambition, kill your over ambition, those who are in crisis is God blessing them?
Do you still see them on screen or posters? No, they have gone out of spotlight we are talking about administration, so if it is not good for you, quit and return to your old constituency” he said.
Chiwetalu Agu noted “if you ask me, I am the most qualified to run the affairs of Nollywood, I started my career in 1981, in Enugu, so I have been on the scene acting for 12 years before the advent of Nollywood of which I am a pioneer”.
“There is no way you can talk about history of Nollywood without me occupying a substantial part of it. I had my theatre group known as inspirers in those days. I acted in many NTA programmes, like the ‘Ikoro’ produced by the Onyekwere, “Things Fall Apart” in 1986 after which I put together a soap “the Advocate” which never saw the light of the day.
In 1987 I went to Lagos where I featured in ‘Rippled’ produced by Zeb Ejiro. I played two characters of Chief Abunna, “the Okemilinaezo Luora I” of Ekiti and the “Odezulumba of Ogbunike Town”. I conducted the first ever audition of what later became ‘Living in Bondage”, a film from the stables of Kenneth Ncbue that produced stars like Kenneth Okonkwo, Kanayo O. Kanayo and many others.
From there we moved on to the production of “Taboo” where I played the role of Khie Ogwu and numerous productions in the 90s. so what ever is happening to our children concerns me.
So having come this far people should look at me to steer the ship of state, but because of my mild ambition, I am where. I am today. Why must we insist we must be president, governor, Chairman and this and that.
The all round Nollywood icon further called in the federal government to treat Biafrans with equity, Justice and fairness without which the people should be allowed to part ways in an unequal relationship.

Entertainment

Why Fans No Longer Faint For Musicians – Paul Okoye

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Nigerian singer and half of the defunct P-Square duo, Paul Okoye, aka Rudeboy, has claimed that social media has reduced the prestige and value fans attached to musicians due to the mystique that artistes had before the era of social media.
Speaking in a recent interview with Lun Lifestyle TV, Rudeboy argued that social media, despite all its benefits, has shattered the illusion of artistes being mysterious and godlike.
This he said has reduced the buzz artistes previously enjoyed whenever their fans got the opportunity to see them whether physically or visually.
The ‘Reason With Me’ crooner explained that because artistes are no longer mysterious, fans are no longer eager to watch them in music videos.
He claimed that shooting music videos is now a waste of money.
Rudeboy said, “Music videos somehow now, because of this generation, is a waste of money. I am sorry to say this. But do you remember us [P-Square] before? You don’t see us anywhere. You just watch music videos, you see us and that’s it, or we come to your country, you see us.
“The reason you don’t see people faint for artistes anymore is because they see them on TikTok every day dancing and promoting your music. If Michael Jackson was alive now and doing promotional content on social media, nobody would see him and faint.
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for us to bring back the era of artistes being mystiques. How can you advise an artiste to post every day? How? Post what? You don’t need to.
“Social media brought positive change to the industry but it also led to ‘see-finish.’ Artistes are now too exposed. Fans see how they eat, cry. Before when artistes go to club, they stay in restricted VIP areas, but now when they are clubbing, everyone is filming.”

Entertainment

Davido’s Aide Offers Cash Reward For Missing Phone At Zlatan’s Wedding

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Afrobeats superstar, Davido’s aide, Damilare Aladegbola, popularly known as Dre, has offered a cash reward to whoever returns his phone, which he claims went missing during rapper Zlatan Ibile’s wedding ceremony.
Dre made the appeal in a post on his Instagram page on Monday, pleading with the person who allegedly took the device to return it in exchange for money.
“If na u carry my phone for Zlatan wedding, abeg return am, I go give you money please,” he wrote.
The aide also expressed frustration over what he suggested was a method being used to take phones at social gatherings.
He said he would no longer tolerate waiters asking whether guests had finished eating so they could clear their plates, alleging that the practice could provide an opportunity for phones left on tables to be taken.
“From now on, if I go any party or dey any party and any stupid waitress tell me say are you done eating so I can pack your plate, na swear I go swear for you cause na pattern wey una dey use pack phone for table be that now,” he added.
However, Dre did not identify anyone suspected of taking his phone or provide further details about how the device went missing.
Zlatan Ibile tied the knot with his longtime partner, Davita Lamai, during a traditional wedding ceremony on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, attracted several celebrities, fans and well-wishers, with Davido among the prominent guests and leading the groomsmen.

Entertainment

I Ran Away From Nigeria, Never Wanted To Come Back-Chidinma

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Popular singer, Chidinma Ekile has revealed that before transitioning from secular music to the gospel genre, she “ran away” from Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent Eezee Conceptz event, Chidinma explained that she travelled abroad and wanted to secure permanent residency because she didn’t want to return to Nigeria, but failed.
She revealed that while she was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only person calling her from Nigeria, so she decided to work with him upon her return.
“I travelled. I ran away from Nigeria. I was processing my papers not to come back to Nigeria, but for some reason, it didn’t work.
“While I was abroad, the CEO of Eezee Conceptz was the only one who was calling me from Nigeria. He kept encouraging me, and I found the strength to come back to Nigeria. When I came back, I asked him to give me a gospel music contract because I want to spend time with God. And he gave me a contract that even my lawyer said seemed like a charity,” Chidinma stated.
The music star added that she did not transition into gospel music because she wanted to make gospel, but because she wanted a serious relationship with God.