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Rivers Community Ushers In 2019 With Wrestling Festival

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History was made in Emohua Community in Rivers State on Saturday, December 28, 2018 as the people of ‘Rumu-olo’ rolled out their ancient wrestling drums to celebrate the peaceful end of 2018 and to usher in the new year, 2019 as well as to mark the maiden edition of the rebranded system of traditional wrestling in the community amidst pomp and funfare.
In his address at the well- attended historic event, held at the Rumuche play ground the Paramount Ruler of Emohua clan, Eze Vincent C. B. Okor (Mgbo Xii) said “wrestling contests in Emohua Community is an age-long tradition that showcases the rich culture and tradition of the people which serves as a panacea for unity, peaceful co-existence and entertainment.
The Justice of the Peace noted that the old traditional system of wrestling had been rebranded and modernised to make it more attractive to the youths and to encourage their participation. He also disclosed that the wrestling calendar had changed from the rainy season to December when the people enjoy dry weather. He said: Wrestling in ‘Rumu-olo’ is now a celebration, an annual event to give the people an opportunity to come together every year to celebrate God’s awesome mercy and to enjoy the fruits of their labour with families, friends and well wishers during the yuletide.
The Royal Majesty and Peace Ambassador expressed delight with the massive turnout of able bodied youths of the community and its neighbouring villages and described it as a positive development and her binger of a new dawn of peace, unity and development in the area.
He also congratulated the organizers of the event for their foresight, stressing that their efforts would help to galvanize the youths and help to keep alive the age long wrestling culture of the people of Emohua, as he urged other illustrious sons of the community to emulate the laudable achievement.
Also speaking, the chairman, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Chief (Dr) Esezi Obilor-Rukaric stated that the purpose of the rebranded wrestling fiesta was to promote peace, unity and even development in the community and to encourage the youths to embrace and promote the age long culture which had been relegated to the background due to the influence of western culture.
Earlier in his welcome address, the spokesman and chairman, Security Committee, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Chief (Barr) Gabriel M. Enyi said: “the real origin of traditional wrestling is lost in myths and legends the prehistoric Emohua man was famed to have wrestled with the animal Chimpanzee and from that esoteric encounter, what came to be known today as traditional wrestling evolved.
He reiterated that wrestling as a combat sports involves grappling techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and take downs, essentially a practice and an acknowledgement of strength and one victorious was admired by all, he took home great prizes, he was the authentic hero of the people. In the days of yore when men were men and women were won by those who deserved them, the champion wrestler was a civilized law unto himself in the community.
“He enjoyed enormous freedom and privileges not available to ordinary members of the community. In most instances the community built houses and married for him expecting that the marriage will bring forth other champions.
“Today traditional wrestling has been repackaged and remodeled by the “Elekwuoro” in collaboration with His Royal Majesty and it still occupies a pride of place in Emohua Community compared to other sports and cultural activities. Traditional Wrestling is to Emohua what football is to Brazil,” he stated,” he stated.
A member of the organizing committee, Deacon (Engr) Nnamdi Chukwu noted that one of the aims of the wrestling contest was to train and prepare the youths for wrestling contests within and outside Emohua Community and to encourage them to be actively involved in reviving the wrestling culture which helped to unite the ancestors.
He urged the youths to channel their strength towards meaningful ventures instead of engaging in diabolic misadventures that lead to crime, imprisonment and untimely death.
Highlights of the event included cash awards, presentation of certificates, scholarship awards and other incentives as well as the chieftaincy installation of traditional wrestling instrumentalist, Chief Gabriel Onyukwu popularly known as ‘Bob Go Slow’ as a traditional Chief in Mgbo royal House of Emohua, cultural dances by ‘Elekwuoro Rumuolo” led by Elder Chinotu Olomi and is Ukwu Nganga age grade, hosts of the wrestling festival and other since attractions.

 

Jacob Obinna

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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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