Entertainment
Gospel Artiste Storms PH With New Album
Gospel music lovers in Rivers State and beyond are in for another amazing and soul- inspiring moment as award winning sensational gospel-Afro pop artiste, Engr. Progress Ugo Ekwe popularly known as ‘K-Mite’ is now set to storm Port Harcourt market with his third album titled “God Understands” which is expected to provide healing and salvation to the people.
The Rivers State University graduate of Civil Engineering-turned gospel artiste in a recent interview with The Tide Entertainment disclosed that the new album was his third effort since he embraced music in 2005. His first album was released in 2011 titled “Son of the Highest,” an 8 track album released in Salvation Ministries, Okija, Port Harcourt. He produced his second album in 2014 titled “Money Dey Stop Nonsense”. He said all the songs are soul winning and commercial success.
K-Mite stated that he embraced music in order to harness his childhood talent. According to him, music had been his first love and way back in the days he started his music career by converting circular songs into gospel music until he later discovered he could write and produce his own songs.
“I decided to dump circular music for gospel songs because I discovered that circular music promotes worldly things while gospel music preaches God’s love and salvation”, he said.
Apart from his gospel music, the Ogbakiri, Rivers State born entertainer also handles a religious programme titled “Gospel on The Street”, targeted towards reaching out to souls on the street and bringing them closer to God through the platform. It is a monthly programme hosted at different locations in Port Harcourt in collaboration with Salvation Ministries Corpers Fellowship (SMCF), Port Harcourt.
The multiple award winning uprising star parades several awards including: Runner up, Silverbird Street Skillz, 2010, Best performing Artiste of the Year, Kisi Entertainment Port Harcourt 2016 and Best New Song of the year, Trans Amadi Fan Zone (TAFZ) among others.
He boasted that his greatest challenge in his music career is to beat his previous achievements in the industry, while he draws his inspiration from sensational gospel singer Bamidele whom he described as his role model.
The indigenous artiste appealed to the Rivers State Government to invest more in the entertainment industry in the state and to create an enabling environment that would enthrone a more vibrant and harmonious industry in the state and to establish an intervention fund for indigenous entertainers to enable them compete favourably with their counterparts in other states.
Engr Ekwe noted that the fund would not only galvanise the practitioners into more positive ventures that would transform the industry by ensuring high standards but as well take care of the welfare of the artistes.
He urged multinational companies operating in the state to partner with government in carrying along the indigenous entertainers as the gesture would give them a sense of belonging instead of relegating them to the background in preference to artistes from other parts of the country.
He challenged the young upcoming artistes to look inward and discover themselves, they should not be intimidated by the sounds from Lagos artistes, but to believe in themselves and look up to God, “ until you blow your flute, nobody blows trumpet for you”, he said.
Entertainment
“The Legal Day” 2025: Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Moves to Promote French Via Law
In a bid to promote the French language through law and build bridges between communities the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, in collaboration with the Embassy of France in Nigeria has organized the 2025 edition of “La Journée du Droit” (“The Legal Day”)
The event which took place at Alliance Française auditorium was a civic and linguistic celebration designed to help learners of French Language and young citizens discover the importance of law in everyday life.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the event featured interactive quiz sessions, exploring legal rules and civic principles in Nigeria, France, Africa and beyond, pointing out both the similarities and differences between legal systems around the world.
Throughout the day, the event featured interactive quiz sessions exploring legal rules and civic principles in Nigeria, France, Africa, and beyond, highlighting both the similarities and differences between legal systems around the world.
The initiative was aimed at encouraging reflection on the rights and responsibilities shared by all citizens and to promote the values of justice, equality, and mutual respect through the French language.
The programme which had two sessions, (Morning and Afternoon session) witnessed the participation of about 150 students from various levels of education. Ranging from the Primary, Secondary, and tertiary institution for an engaging experience of civic and legal concepts.
Schools in attendance included Surebloom International School, Pleroma High School, Casterly Rock Secondary School, and TotalEnergies Port Harcourt School.
The morning sessions saw the Participation of Alliance Française students in an interactive quiz, enhancing their French comprehension while exploring civic notions.
While the Afternoon session had students from the University of Port Harcourt – UNIPORT (French Language and Law Departments), students from the French Department from both Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and Rivers State University joined in the final rounds of the competition.
According to the director of Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal, all quiz questions were presented in French, then translated into English to ensure full understanding by participants, saying that winners received special prizes, as all attendees took home souvenirs from the educational and convivial event.
Mrs Lacal said that the diplomatic and educational initiative event “La Journée du Droit” (The Legal Day) sought to promote the French language through law, highlight the capacity of law to build bridges between communities and emphasize law as one of the pillars of French diplomacy.
“Through this initiative, the Alliance Française Port Harcourt continues its mission to foster intercultural dialogue, civic awareness, and the learning of French as a language of knowledge, culture, and citizenship,”?she?added.
The Garden City of Rivers State Port Harcourt at the weekend joined other parts of the world to celebrate the World Music Day, 2025, as Alliance Française showcases talents.
The event which is internationally known as Fête de la musique was held at cultural hall of the Alliance Française was a remarkable concert with memorable experience.
The event brought together music lovers, students, Artistes and members of the community For an exciting evening live performances and cultural exchange.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the world Music Day, which was created 1982 in France by the then Minister of culture, Jack Lang, ‘ Fête de la Musique’ is now celebrated in more than 100 countries every 21st June, marking the first day of summer with free concerts and musical showcases in public spaces.
In Port Harcourt, the Alliance Française honoured the tradition by spotlighting four(4) emerging artistes offering a platform to young talents shaping the city’s contemporary scene.
The audience enjoyed an unforgettable moments as they were entertained by the powerful performances from Preach A, who is known for blending fitness culture with spoken words and rhythm.
Also, artiste Emmayany delivering a vibrant fusion of afrobeat and afro pop. A singer, song writer and a performing artiste with a distinct sound.
Others were Amarachy Uko, a sensational singer with passion for soul , R&B, pop music and afrobeat.
While DJ Prospel closed the night with an energetic DJ set that got the entire hall dancing.
Earlier, the Director, Alliance Française, Port Harcourt Mrs Marina Lacal high lighted the mission of the Alliance Française saying that the event was more than a concert.
According to her, the event was put together by the Alliance Française to promote cultural diversity and foster artistic expression by connecting a long standing French tradition with creativity of the local music scene, adding that the event offerers an avenue for dialogue between culture and generations.
She stated that the event is used to promote professional and bring amateur artistes to limelight via the platform of the Alliance Française which is aimed at promoting the French Language through cultural heritage.
She explained that the celebration is also a broader series of Fête de la musique activities organized by the 10 Alliance Française across Nigeria in sync with concerts held in France and around the world simultaneously.
She further noted that the occasion reaffirms the role of Alliance Française as a cultural bridge, one where French heritage meets the pulses of Nigerian youth.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 19 artistes applied to perform at the event in Port Harcourt, but only four got approval for appearance.
The Governor of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Comrade Moses Mabadeje popularly known as Mozy B said that the body has announced plans to implement performance Levy on artistes in the state with effect from 21st June.
This was carried in a statement released to The Tide Entertainment, yesterday by the Deputy Governor of the association, Comrade Abiye Howells.
According to the Governor, the announcement was made by PMAN, the only governing body that regulates the music profession in Nigeria, as authorized by the Government of Nigeria, in line with the Trade Union Act.
He stated that those affected by the Levy include (Non members)bands, groups, Hotels, Bars, lounges, Event Centres, show organizers, promoters and other stakeholders hosting events which feature live music performances within the State.
However, the Levy does not apply to members of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria. (PMAN).
Comrade Moses Mabadeje, explained that this drive is aimed at financing the association and supporting the welfare and interest of musicians as outlined in Article 8 of the PMAN constitution as amended (2023). Consequently, a PMAN task force has been set up to enforce and swing into action to effect this move.
He further said that event organizers, promoters and owners of event centers are expected to comply with this regulation as the Governor has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the association to ensure the successful implementation of the levy and the peaceful co-existence between PMAN and Stockholders.
Nancy Briggs
