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President Jonathan’s N3b Grant To Nollywood Generates Controversies

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A recent report has it that
the N3 billion grant given to Nollywood practitioners to avail them the opportunity of being the best, is raising some controversies. The disbursement and operation of this grant are directly supervised by the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
News coming in from Nollywood is that of mistrust and discord on the manner in which N1 billion has been so far spent just among an extremely few Nollywood practitioners.
According to information gathered, the first stage of disbursement of the grant tailored for capacity building has been  completed by just 35 beneficiaries some of whom include.
Andy Amenechi, Paul Apel, Kingsley Omeoef among others, who have gone abroad for training facilitated by Project Act, a consultation company vetted by Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to disburse the grant for the capacity training for all cadres of practitioners within the film making industry which have gulped N300 million for just 35 people.
Right now, amongst the explanation that film makers are begging for borders on why practitioners from other guilds and associations were sidelined from benefiting from the capacity building training and how 35 people gulped the whooping sum of N300 million hence demanding for a published list of the beneficiaries from the association and guilds.
The second stage of disbursement for which N700 million has been set aside is – meant for production. However, beyond interviews, which they claimed is being carried out by nonprofessionals has only come out with shortlist of names while nobody has been given any money, probably in a swift reaction to the criticisms being generated, a statement was issued in Abuja by Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, spokesman for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, revealing that N300 million was for two segments.
The first component is a training fund for N150 million dedicated to training and skills acquisition for Nollywood practitioners in all competencies along the value chain of the industry which include script writing, directing, production and design, special effects, lighting, sound HD techniques, acting, cinematography make up and editing among others.
The statement further disclosed that the second component was the capacity development fund which was also worth N150 million. The final stage of Project Act Nollywood is distribution which has N2 billion attached to it and questions are also raised how this stage would be handled.

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 How Featuring Burna Boy Impacted Our Career-Yaba Buluku Boyz

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Mozambican group, Yaba Buluku Boyz has highlighted the effect featuring Burna Boy had on their career.
After their 2021 hit single, ‘Yaba Buluku’ gained some traction across Africa, the Mozambican trio recruited Burna Boy for the remix version that rocketed them to success.
In an interview, Yaba Buluku Boyz that is  made up of DJ Tarico, Nelson Tivane, and Preck shared that although their breakout single, ‘Yaba Buluku’ was already getting attention in some African countries, featuring Nigerian megastar Burna Boy rocketed the song to global success.
“The song was already big but when we did the remix with Burna, it took us to another level and took the song to the world,” Nelson Tivane said. “When we did the remix with Burna, the song blew up around the world so the influence of this particular Nigerian artiste is very big,” he adds.
Burna Boy’s effect on ‘Yaba Buluku’ remix is evident in the Spotify streaming numbers where the song has garnered over 10 million streams which is nearly 10 times more streams than the original.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the song which brought Yaba Buluku Boys mainstream success across the continent has also been viewed more than 22 million times on YouTube.
When asked about which Nigerian Artistes they would love to work with, Nelson Tivane named hitmaker Tekno while highlighting how he admires his lyricism and style of music. He also mentioned Davido whose high energy he believes matches Yaba Buluku Boyz type of music. DJ Tarico mentioned Asake whom he credits for bringing a new vibe to the music industry and whose Amapiano music fits their style.

 

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‘Safety Is Responsibility Of AGN, Actors’

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The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN)  Chairman, Rivers State chapter, Chigozie Osunwa Kenneth has reaffirmed that the safety of an actor is the responsibility of both parties.
He said this  yesterday, during an interview session with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the AGN makes policies that are beneficial to its members,  saying that it now  behooves on the actors to abide by the laid down policies.
He said that Nigerian actors do not live beyond 50’s and 60’s because of their lifestyles, adding that Orenthal James Simpson, the American actor who just passed on, died at age 76, saying that Nollywood actors hardly get to that age.
“0ur actors here hardly gotten to that age or beyond due to the kind of life they live. If you take an actor to a location for a film shoot, he will leave what he went there for and go clubing, by the time he is called to come and do the needful, he will start giving excuses for not being able to get on set,” he said.
He however, emphasise the need for discipline in the association, adding that as an individual, if you are disciplined you do not need any one to keep reminding you on what needed to be done, especially, when it comes to a laid down  principle or policy for wherever you belong.
He urged members of the association to be more focused on their chosen career, exhibit discipline wherever they find themselves and always follow policies made for members of the body

Nancy Briggs

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 ‘Why I Called My Song With Tiwa Savage Men Are Crazy’

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Singer Simi has explained why she chose to call her song with Tiwa Savage, ‘Men Are Crazy’
Two of Nigeria’s biggest female artistes, Simi and Tiwa Savage eventually gave fans the long-awaited collaboration with their single, ‘Men Are Crazy’.
In an interview  With newsmen, Simi addressed the controversy generated by the title of her collaboration with Tiwa Savage.
Simi stated that she had no intentions of explaining her reason behind the title ‘Men Are Crazy’ after the announcement generated negative reactions from some male observers online. According to the award-winning singer, she was going to wait till the song dropped as it would better explain the title.
“I honestly wasn’t going to go on an explaining spree at the time. I was like when the song comes out, they will see what I’m trying to say,” Simi said.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Simi also acknowledged that the online reaction the title caused also contributed to the track’s rollout as it increased anticipation.
Simi further shared that Tiwa Savage softened up the message in the song through her lyrics, “Men are crazy, but I still want one in my bed” as she was planning to simply leave it at “Men are Crazy”.
The single is the first time Tiwa Savage and Simi will be collaborating and it marks a notable moment for female collaborations in Afrobeats.
‘Men Are Crazy’ follows the release of ‘All I Want’ released in February 2024 and both songs are a precursor to her new album expected to be released later in the year.
During the interview, Simi also addressed the recent situation of Adekunle Gold defending her on social media during a back-and-forth with producer, Samklef.

 

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