INEC Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu Sacked

ACTING President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, yesterday, ordered the immediate sack of the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu. We are waiting to see the who replaces him

Industry Night honours Dagrin

Every Wednesday, Industry Nite... A platform for Established & up and coming artists....takes place at Tribeca, Victoria Island, Lagos.

INDUSTRY NITE: Started over a year ago - A networking forum with attendees from Record Label Executives, Artists, Promoters, to Publicists, Media Houses, Brand Managers and more (including the General Public).

On April 28th, 2010, Industry Nite will pay tribute to Dagrin.

DAGRIN a charismatic young star whose music impact in the African Hip Hop scene has been revolutionary.

Dagrin performed twice at Industry nite: 5 weeks ago, and before then a year ago when he was relatively unknown.

His passing at 23 has stunned the Entertainment Industry not least his family,friends and fans.

'The Industry unites for DAGRIN', will pay homage to DAGRIN'S legacy and contribution to the African Music Industry.

Monetary donations will be collected at the entrance of the venue and ALL proceeds go to DAGRIN'S family.

Performances from an All star line up of artists have donated their time to payhomage and respect to Dagrin: GT Guitarman,Omawumi, TosinMartins, Sasha, General Pype, YQ, Sound Sultan, Weird MC, Shank, Waje, Show Dem Camp, Banky W, Lami, Pin Code, Zara, Overdose, Aquadragon, Benny P, Badman Floss and more.

There will also be speeches by major people in the industry to talk about DAGRIN and their relationship with him (business/personal).

Host: Olisa Adibua

Date;28th april,2010

Start time: 8pm

Come with a candle!!!

For more information on Industry Nite please email Matthew Ohio or Ngozi Omambala at industrynightnaija@gmail.com

For Press and Publicity matters regarding industry night please email bobby@bobbytaylor.ca

UNITE FOR DAGRIN.

Tweets Mourns for Dagrin from Friends and Colleagues

Still on the Death of Dagrin, Some of the tweets posted by Dagrin’s friends and industry folks on social networking site, twitter, in reaction to the news are written below.

Dr Sid- Please let’s pay our respects and pray for his family. I ask everyone to please change your avatar to his picture and trend #RIPDAGRIN

Kemi Adetiba- We all pray to rise to the top. We live every 2mrw like it could never be snatched from us. In our  minds. That can never be us.

Ikechukwu- God, it’s true, isn’t it? May the Almighty father accept my brother Dagrin’s soul into heaven and may he rest in perfect peace, Amen.

Munachi Abi- God! Da Grin!!! Lord Jesus no!!!! God please no.no.no.no. It can’t be true

Darey- Pray for the repose of his soul…RIP Dagrin. We shall miss you…your music…your swag…My heart goes to his family

Wande Coal- God bless you Dagrin RIP

BankyW- RIP Da Grin. Lord have mecy on us all. Damn.

Joke Jaiyesimi – Just when your star started shining, death decided to cheat and snatch you away. So sad. RIP Dagrin

Bouqui- Am sooooo sad

D’Prince- R.I.P Da Grin a shining star gone too soon

Jimoh Ibrahim stakes $250m - Acquires Virgin Nigeria

News reaching us from Guardian Nigeria by Wole Sadare on the Acquisition of Virgin Nigeria.

THE recently announced acquisition of Nigeria Eagle Airline (formerly Virgin Nigeria Airline), may have cost NICON Group of Companies $250 million (N37 billion), under a debt buy-over deal sealed with United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA).

The amount represents Virgin Group's indebtedness to the bank, which liability has now been taken over by Jimoh Ibrahim-led organisation.

There were however, indications in the aviation industry yesterday that Captain Dapo Olumide, who was introduced by Ibrahim as being retained as Chief Executive Officer of the acquired airline, may quit the position this week.

Ibrahim had announced the retention of Olumide as the helmsman of the airline at the weekend, citing the confidence reposed in him by the board of directors for the decision.

Already, industry operators had expressed mixed reactions over the airline's acquisition, given the antecedent of Ibrahim. He acquired EAS Airlines but shortly, on his own, wound up its operations.

Ibrahim is expected to assure workers of his plans to consolidate on the success of the airline as driven by the Olumide-led management, at a briefing slated for today.

A very reliable source told The Guardian that Olumide was already planning his exit from the airline, stressing that the decision was personal to him.

Efforts to reach him yesterday proved abortive as his mobile phones were switched off.

It would be recalled that the airline was indebted to UBA to the tune of $250 million, a debt reportedly incurred by the Virgin Group.

A source in UBA told The Guardian that to them, it was an economic decision they took by transferring the risk to the new owner.

"We are disturbed that there were claims in the media that Jimoh Ibrahim paid $100 million to acquire the airline", said the UBA source.

Olumide is an aviation professional and a trained pilot with over 28 years experience, having started his career after he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, USA in 1980.

He joined Aero Contractors in 1982 and following many successful years, he was appointed the Deputy Managing Director in 2002 and transformed the original company vision from an exclusively B2B model to the more demanding and more modern B2C approach.

He joined Virgin Nigeria in November 2008 as the Chief Commercial Officer, after a brief stint as a banker with the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), specifically in the area of transport infrastructure project development.

Before his current appointment as the chief executive officer, he was the Company's Deputy Managing Director with oversight responsibilities for Commercial Planning, Sales and Marketing, Cargo and Corporate Aviation.

Captain Olumide is a change manager and within a short time in the helms of affairs of the airline, brought his expertise to bear by turning the fortunes of the airline around especially by initiating and implementing policies that have brought the airline from the doldrums especially during the turbulent economic recession that adversely affected global aviation business.

Also, he led the management team that created an indigenous and unique brand for the airline, which has made the airline to remain a force in the domestic and regional markets.

He initiated code share with Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Delta Air and signing technical service with Ethiopia, the first in West Africa with another African profitable airline.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, former spokesman of Nigeria Airways, Chris Azu Aligbe said he found it "difficult to begin to say what will be the consequence of the airline's acquisition, because you don't know who is coming, but all I need to say is that Olumide and his team, they have done wonderfully well. They met a very bad situation and they have battled all their lives to salvage that situation.

"If it were not for the albatross of the debts accumulated by Virgin Group, the Nigerian Eagle would have stood out clearly, showing that people who know what they are doing are in place; they have a good roadmap and they were battling to stay on that road map.

"That roadmap comes along the line of national aspiration to have a world standard airline that can compete and gradually moving up from domestic and regional dominance to the point where it should be. It's quite sad that this has happened".

On Ibrahim's antecedents regarding the way he allowed EAS to die shortly after acquisition, Aligbe said people are apprehensive because of that, noting that everybody was shocked when it was bought, adding that people believed it was going to be revived, "but it just died that way and not even a word was said about it".

He however, stated that people had every reason to be apprehensive but quickly noted that Ibrahim would not invest that amount of money in such a place and allow it to go down the drains.

His words: "He is a businessman, even if the money fell from the skies to him as manna from heaven, I am sure that he does not intend to throw it away; that is my own submission, I may be wrong. I will be shocked if I find that I am wrong. I think that having invested, his sole business is to have an airline functioning and coming back after the EAS debacle, coming back to buy over another airline, airline that is major; I think it shows that he has an intention to own an airline that will work, but what people are afraid of is that he does not stand on the wrong footing"

Another aviation expert, Captain Dele Ore, said: "Whatever you are telling me is all speculative and what I am reading in the newspaper is worrisome. But I want to know how much money that has been injected into the place and by whom.

"The track record that is on ground should make us very, very worrisome. Why is EAS (NICON Airlines) no more flying? If it is an on-going business and it is flying, it can merge with a new one. Then you are thinking of a merger and we can understand that. As it is now, another dead company is in the offing".

He disclosed that Nigeria Eagle is the best run airline in Nigeria, which has met IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) requirements. It is the only company in the industry that has met IOSA.

"To me, that is an airline that is qualified to be an airline in Nigeria. So if Olumide was able to sustain and maintain it, we should say that we commend his effort. If he leaves, nobody is indispensable, but it will be a very sad story and we will be going in circles and that airline will be worse off for it".

Have More Sex - Brazilians are Advised

I've always known that being sexually active is healthy, but you rarely read where it's being advised publicly.  Brazilian Minister Jose Gomes Temporao advised Brazilians publicly while addressing journalists

People need to be active. A weekend football game must not be the only physical activity for a Brazilian. Adults need to do exercise: walk, dance and have safe sex," said Jose Gomes Temporao.

The minister gave the advice as he launched a campaign to prevent high blood pressure, which afflicts a quarter of Brazil's 190-million strong population.

 

After making his unusual comments, Mr Temporao defended his promotion of sexual intercourse to journalists, according to the G1 news website.

"It's not a joke. It's serious. Having regular physical exercises also means sex, always with protection of course," he said.

"Dancing, having sex, keeping weight under control, changing dietary habits, doing physical exercise" all help keep blood pressure down, he said.

He added that he believed there was a health "time bomb" ticking in Brazil, which within 20 years could see a "gigantic percentage" of the population suffering chronic illnesses, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

An average Woman Dates 24 Men before Settling Down

Or so i heard o, I stumbled on the article Posted by Ami Angelowicz on thefrisky.com that an average woman will date about twenty four men before finally settling dowm. Check out the original post;

"This may make all of the serial daters out there feel a little bit better. Or, ahem, make me feel better. A new survey done in the U.K. found that the average woman goes on about 24 dates before she finds a keeper. And to add a little more solace—seven percent of the more than 2,000 women polled went on between 41 and 60 dates before finding someone special and one percent went on a staggering 61 to 80 dates before finding Prince Charming. Geez, no wonder we get so sick and tired of dating. That’s a lot frogs.

The poll also found that one-third of the women surveyed have ditched out on a date when they knew the guy was lame. (Raises hand.) One out of four women will only go out with a guy once before she determines if he’s Mr. Right, while 35 percent will give a dude two dates, and 16 percent think three dates is fair. 

And this dating business costs us, too. On average, the research found that we spent about $3,000 on dating, mostly on getting our hair did and buying new clothes and stuff. I wonder what that figure would be for the guys?

Moral of story: dating is hard and you have to pick through the proverbial haystack to find that needle"

Well, i don't think that statistics will be applicable everywhere especially in Africa

Chimamanda Adiche's Purple Hibiscus now in WAEC Syllabus

Saw it on Linda Ikeji's blog that Chimamanda Adichie's award winning first novel - Purple Hibiscus is in the WAEC Syllabus. I think it's a big feat for her as she becomes a popular name among teenagers and youths

Nadia Buari marries secretely

Nadia Buhari, a movie goddess of immaculate beauty, is said to have gotten married recently and there is a wild hunt for who the husband might be though family sources have not said much.

As if to confirm the report, Nadia has started wearing a sparkling ring on her ring finger. She has been spotted wearing this sparkling ring at a number of official programs but has decided to keep the issue of her supposed marriage under wraps. “It’s my little secret. I’m not sharing that,” was all Nadia Buhari told myjoyonline when she was questioned about her new ring.

It is public knowledge that Nadia had been in a long-term love relationship with golden-boy Michael Essien of Chelsea Football Club and that has added a sting to the controversy surrounding her sparkling ring. Many would have concluded Essien was responsible for the ring on Nadia’s finger, if not for recent grapevine reports that suggested the two had called off their relationship for undisclosed reasons.

NEWS-ONE recently asked Nadia about her marriage plans and she was quite slippery on the subject. “I want to establish myself well before I get married. Before you become somebody’s wife you must have your own life. I have to work so hard to get to this point of my life and I am going to continue because I don’t think I have achieved enough or what I want to achieve. Marriage kind of pulls you down.

It demands a lot and I am not willing to relax, I want to work harder and get somewhere. I will get married but not any time soon. Probably a couple of years, I am not sure. But anyway, hey! You never know. I may say this now but tomorrow may come with something different,” Nadia told NEWS-ONE in that interview at Akosombo.

In that interview, Nadia explained that though her fans would want to know what is going on in her life, the media should be cautious and respect her privacy saying she considers matters concerning her relationship private.

“I feel that part of me is very personal, very private so it should stay that way. What I am bringing to the public is the movies. It is what I am doing, my career is my job. hat is what we should be talking about. I don’t like to talk about my private life and so I don’t want my private life out there.

“I am extremely quiet because I am a very shy person. You will never know me until you get close to me and you will know the kind of person I am,” she noted. She would, however, not talk about her alleged collapsed relationship with Michael Essien and speculations that she had a child with a Holland-based Ghanaian.

Nadia Buhari, daughter of music icon, Alhaji Sidiku Buhari, is undoubtedly one of the topmost actresses on the screens. She has become a household name in Africa most especially in Ghana and Nigeria and has close to 40 movies to her credit.

Source: peacefmonline.com

Dagrin is Confirmed Dead..............RIP DAGRIN

Rapper, Da Grin formally known as Olayitan Olanipekun Oladapo is dead at the tender age of 23. We all knew Da Grin was in a ghastly auto accident last week and was admitted at LUTH Hospital in Lagos.

The Rap artiste who was nominated for the 2010 Hiphop World awards to take place in May was on his way from a friends place when he drove into a stationery truck. 

Da Grin was officially pronounced dead by the doctors sometime about 8:30pm local time at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Rest In Peace, Da Grin. I actually thought he was going to bounce back and do a song around his near death experience.....so sad

May his gentle soul rest in peace 

Desperate Nigerian Travels to US in the Tyre Class

It was gathered that a young Nigerian, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, recently wanted to do the impossible by smuggling
himself into the United States, but ended up arriving not only in body bag but also as mangled body.

Impeccable sources at the Murtala Muhammed International, Lagos, revealed that Okeke had beaten all security at the
airport, traced his way to the tarmac and sneaked into the tyre compartment of a Delta Airline’s plane scheduled to depart for Atlanta, United States.

It was gathered that the plane had departed Lagos, without Okeke being detected, and safely arrived Atlanta. Ground staff
of the airline, in the United States, were said to have discovered pieces of flesh and blood smear on one of the tyres of the plane
and raised an alarm.
A check on the plane revealed the mangled body of Okeke in one of the tyre compartments of the aircraft. The check also
revealed a bag and a mobile phone on what remained of the body of the young man.

Shocked officials of Delta Airlines, in the US, had put on the mobile phone and scrolled through the numbers. To find out the identity of the man, they were said to have called the last number dialed and made inquiries. The
man, who received the call, was said to have revealed that the owner of the phone had travelled to the United States.

Delta Airlines officials in the United States had transferred the case to Nigeria, where it was discovered that Okeke, who
is married, had confided in some of his friends and relatives that he was traveling to the United States on the night he sneaked into the tyre compartment of the aircraft. His family has been contacted and its members have identified the corpse of Okeke.

According to some source, Okeke is from Anambra, Nigeria and had tried unsuccessfully for years to get a visa to America. Owing to desperation, he decided to embark on the risky venture, which eventually claimed his life.

Although, he told his family that he was travelling to US, he never revealed that he was going to sneak into the tyre
compartment of the aircraft.

According to some Intel, Okeke colluded with airport officials to gain access to the tarmac, before finding his way to the
plane in the dark. He was said to have wrapped himself in a blanket, not knowing that the aircraft tyres would get to where he was and kill him.

Meanwhile, Delta Airline staffers, who guarded the plane at the airport on the day the incident happened, have been
arrested by the police, to explain how Okeke sneaked into the tyre compartment of the plane.

Delta Airline has a security policy, whereby its plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is guarded from the time it arrives Nigeria, in the afternoon, till when it departs with passengers in the night.

With such security arrangement, the airline is, therefore, shocked that somebody could have access to the plane undetected
and embarked on a suicide mission, which has caused the airline a scandal.
The police at the airport command are currently battling to find out how security was breached at the airport that day.

An airport official, who pleaded for anonymity, said that many people had been smuggled out of the country by sneaking into aircraft.

The source said: “That route is for people who have guts and all efforts to leave Nigeria have failed. The man has bad luck;
it is not his destiny to leave Nigeria. Maybe he did not follow the instructions given to him on how to survive under there. This
is not the first time people are sneaking out of Nigeria through that means. Sometime last year a woman travelled through that means and arrived safely. “If this man arrived safely, we would not be talking about this. He was careless with his life. Now innocent staff of the airline are going to suffer for his mistake. Those who guarded the plane that night were arrested.”

The question being asked by people is, how possible is it that somebody would gain access to the tarmac undetected, considering the tight security in the airport? Our source explained that such illegal movement is being coordinated by a syndicate at the airport, which also works with airlines’ workers.
It was gathered that people who need such services pay as much as N800,000 which i think is ridiculous. They are tutored on how to survive in the aircraft compartment. For one, it was learnt that they are given blankets and winter clothes with which they would keep warn while the plane is in flight across the Atlantic.
In the country of destination, the illegal immigrants are received by agents in the syndicate, who smuggle them into the country.

I wonder how he planned to make it anyway? 

Younger Generations Cannot Rule Nigeria - General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

Former military president and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, said in an interview that he was planning a come-back to office because of the non-availability of capable younger people who can steer the ship of state.

Speaking to the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) monitored in Kaduna, Babangida said: “Because we have seen signs that they are not capable of leading this country and so we feel we should help them. May be they are not given the proper education that is why. I have spent 17 years since I left office.
“But a country like Nigeria cannot be ruled by people without experience. People like the (President Barack) Obama that you are speaking about have the experience. He started from the state House of Assembly to the House of Represen-tatives and to the Senate. If our youths are like this, we will say they have the requisite experience. But we have not reached that level. Honestly, it is our wish that God will bring the younger people that will take over from us if they are available.”

Babangida, who answered questions from the BBC on almost every aspect of his administration during his eight years in office, said he was seeking a return to the Presidency, if elected next year, to contribute his quota in taking the country to the next level.
The former military President in the 15 minutes interview also absolved his eight year tenure of promoting corruption. He said the level of corruption in the country today is a far cry from what was witnessed during his time.

Asked what was attracting him to run for the office of president this time around when he declined to run in 2007, Babangida said, “I gave my reasons for not contesting in 2007 and it was published in many newspapers in the country. Therefore, Nigerians know my reasons for not contesting at that time. But now, Alhamdudillahi, things have changed.

“My position as a Nigerian. Anything that God wants me to do to help this country, I will do it. If I am given the chance, I will know what to do and by the grace of God, I will do it. Nigeria is a country of 150 million people and any of this 150 million people can be president.
Babangida told the BBC that his godfather in Nigeria was the masses when he was reminded by the BBC that the June 12, 1993 election was made possible by the masses but he still went ahead to annul it.

He then said: “But what you should take into consideration is that there has never been an election like that before. That election convinced not only Nigerians, but even the international community that it is possible to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria,” he said adding that as head of the government at that time he takes responsibility for annulling the election.

The following is the full text of the interview:

You wanted to contest for the Presidency in 2007, but at the end of the day you didn’t submit your papers, how can you assure Nigerians that this time around, you will contest?

I gave my reasons for not contesting in 2007 and it was published in many newspapers in the country. Therefore, Nigerians know my reasons for not contesting at that time. But now, Alhamdudillahi, things have changed.
Don’t forget we are talking of helping the country. What we are talking about, is something that happened some 16 years ago. We should be thinking of what we can do to make progress.
Nigeria is facing a lot of problems, if by the grace of God; you become the president again, what are these new things you never did in the past that you will want to employ in tackling these problems.
God in His infinite mercy gave me the leadership of this country for 8 years…. Remember the Nigerian people have not changed, and since they have not changed, we are in a position to tell them that we can do it again.

There are speculations that the United States of America (USA) wants you to contest for the presidency. What do you have to say about this?

How can that be possible since it is not Americans that will vote? It is Nigerians that will vote.
But America is an influential country in the world and it has its interests in Nigeria.
Nigeria is an influential country too. If somebody wants something in Africa and he hears the voice of Nigeria, it is like he has heard the voice of Africa.
But they said the American Assistant Secretary of State paid you a visit.
Yes, he came to greet me. He is somebody I have known. He came to condole with me over the death of my wife. When we were in the hospital in America, he was coming to greet us…

The issue of the dwindling Nigerian economy is blamed on your administration. You invited former World Bank Economist in charge of Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), Prof. Joseph Tigris, who you used to ruin the nation’s economy. Why did you do that?

…Today, we are talking of exactly 24 years, but SAP has not changed, they keep on modifying it. If the economy was ruined, by now, we would have been history. The Nigerian economy was not ruined.
But they say Nigerians are going through serious hardship as a result of your economic policies.
I want you to know that if you read all the books on the economy of Nigeria, you will find out that from 1960 to 1995, Nigeria made far-reaching progress. I left office in 1993. You should be asking what have those who came after us done.

Your administration was accused of massive corruption. If you become the president again, how would you address the problem of endemic corruption in Nigeria?

If you compare what is happening now with what happened during my administration, you will commend me. I sacked a governor for embezzling N300, 000 during my regime, but now, what do you see? During our time we were not enmeshed in this kind of things we see today.
During your time, there was this $12 billion made from the sales of oil. What happened to the money?
The $12 billion was the money realised from the sale of oil for 8 years. Let me repeat, it was money made from the sales of oil in 8 years. It was money that we saved in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) within those 8 years. There was an additional $1.2 billion… So all they are saying about this money are lies. If you read the Okigbo report, you will see that the money was made in 8 years.
But the Financial Times reporter who published the story was sent out of Nigeria because of the report. If it was not true, why was he sent away? 

Frankly speaking, I can send the Okigbo report to you to read. I have been explaining this over and over. What I realised from oil in eight years is what somebody makes in one year.
You have been a major player in the leadership of this country for a longtime.

Don’t you think it is time to allow the younger generations take over from you the older ones as it happened in America and other parts of the world?
Honestly, it is our wish that God will bring the younger people that will take over from us if they are available. I was the one who introduced the politics of new breed in this country.

Why didn’t you step aside and give the younger generation a chance to lead since they are fresh and strong.
Because we have seen signs that they are not capable of leading this country and so we feel we should help them. May be they are not given the proper education that is why. I have spent 17 years since I left office.
Haba! The younger generation is supposed to be in charge by now.
But a country like Nigeria cannot be ruled by people without experience. People like the Obama that you are speaking about have the experience. He started from the state House of Assembly to the House of Representatives and to the Senate. If our youths are like this, we will say they have the requisite experience. But we have not reached that level.

If by the grace of God, you become the president what new thing will you do which you did not do during your eight years in power.Which are the mistakes you would want to correct?
 
The politicians are asking me what I forgot in the Presidential Villa that I want to go and pick. When I left power, the naira was N22 to the dollar. Petrol was selling at 70 kobo per litre. So there are things that I did that will make me come back.
These things were not like that when you came to power. You were the one that devalued the naira.
How? During my time, the naira did not exceed N22 to the dollar. Now it is N150 per dollar.
But how much was it before you came to power?
It was N4.5 to the dollar.
So you devalued the naira.
Some people destroyed the value of the naira…

Nigerian Hip Pop Awards Nominees 2010

The highly anticipated nominees list of Hip Hop World Awards 2010 was unveiled on Tuesday, April 6,at a brief breakfast event held at the awards secretariat in Lagos. But why were some of the biggest songs of 2009 were missing from the list?

Songs like “Kondo” by Dagrin, “Free Madness part 1” by Terry G, “Choko the Choko” by Sean Tero, Ekaette by Maye Hunta, amongst others were nowhere on the list; and fans and pundits are already wondering and asking “why”?

In a chat with the Secretary of the awards committee, James Silas, he explained that one of the criteria for nomination is that no music materials that encourage fraud, alcohol abuse, narcotics and wanton sex are eligible for nomination, except if said songs have radio-edited versions. You may recall that “Shayo” by Bigiano was also missing from the nominees list in the 2009 edition of the awards for the same reason. “This screening process is our social responsibility and contribution to the sanitization of music in our entertainment industry,” he added.

‘‘Terry G is undoubtedly one of the most controversial artists in Nigeria today, but he was smart enough to make a radio-edited version of “Free Madness Part 1” which made “Free Madness Part 2” eligible for nomination in the song of the year category’’ Silas adds.

In recent times, music of Nigerian origin has been replete with reckless content, glorifying fraud, alcoholism, drug and other substance abuse, sex and get-rich-quick-mania. The NBC-although belatedly- have banned many of these materials, while responsible media organizations are stiffening their NTBB regulations. It is our desire at HHWA, to help encourage artistes to be responsible with the music they churn out; and in cases where they choose to cross the line; to at least provide broadcast edit; and also label albums properly.

The 2010 edition of Hip Hop World Awards will hold on Saturday, May 29 at Eko hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos and the theme is “Power. Prestige. Pride

Beyonce gets 2 million Dollars to sing at Bella Adenuga's Wedding

It was heared that Beyonce Knowles was paid $2M . . . to sing at the wedding of Nigeria's richest man's daughter.

According to the source, Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur Chief Mike Adenuga Jr hired Beyonce to sing at his daughter's wedding. His daughter, Bella Adenuga and her fiance Jameel Disu are scheduled to be married next week.

Linda Ikeji's "It Takes You" is Officially Out

Blogger, Ex-Model and Entertainer "Linda Ikeji" now adds to her list of title as she officially rolled out her first book "It Takes You" 

Linda: "My book came out two days ago and it's been really exciting for me. Totally proud of myself. I decided to do this book in January...and by April, I actualised that dream. That's why I titled the book - It Takes You. Everything in our lives is really up to us.

From now on when you want to address me, you must include Author. For example, ex-model, blogger and author, Linda Ikeji...oh yeah...loves it! lol"
 
Basic info you all need to know.

The book - It Takes You, (A Book of Inspiration) is a 130-page book of 30 inspirational, motivating and life changing articles written by ex-model, entrepreneur and blogger, Linda Ikeji. (Make sure you write my title like that :-))

It will sell for N800 naira at the bookstores (You can start buying at the stores after the launch). But if you buy directly from me, it's just N600, but totally free to students. I don't have that many copies to give out for free, that's why I'm hoping to find a generous individual or a corporate organisation to pay for the cost of printing more copies. I'm talking to one already. Hope it turns out well.


Book Launch/Signing
The official launch date is May 5th, @Theatre 5, Genesis Deluxe Cinema, The Palms, Lekki.
Time: 5pm prompt.
Book signing is 8th May at the Hub Media Store, The Palms, Lekki.
Time is 2pm.

Home/Office delivery.
The book is N600, but if you want it delivered to your home or office anywhere in Lagos, it will cost you an extra N1000. Anywhere at all in Lagos. If you want a copy, please call Uche on 08030529633. Just text her your address and how many copies you want and it will be delivered to you...then you pay when you get your delivery. 

If you live abroad and want a copy or some copies.. contact me directly. (I want the western union in my name and my name alone :-)). The book is less than $5 but to deliver it to you will cost money. So you will be looking at buying a copy between $30 to $50 or even more depending on where you reside. Contact me - lindaikeji@gmail.com or 08033595004.

Rapper Dagrin in a Minor Accident

Rising rapper Dagrin was in a minor accident Wednesday evening, NET sources have confirmed.

The hip hop act, who had been underground for years, before finding favour with fans last year, had his car – a black Nissan Maxima- damaged yesterday while driving to Surulere (in Lagos) with his friends, after a careless truck driver ran into him and tore off his car fender. They were returning from Ikeja.

There was a brief argument, multiple sources tell NET; but no one was injured – and no punches were thrown.

Here’s a picture of the car Dagrin was driving.

The rapper has been unreachable, and repeated attempts at getting him to comment proved abortive. ‘The calls were getting too much, so he had to put off his phone’, one of his close friends who was in the car with him told us.

The source says the truck driver has agreed to be responsible for the damages; but we are unable to confirm this from Dagrin or a rep.

Larry King and Wife files for Divorce in Los Angeles

Larry King joins the list of celebrity divorce 2010 as he ends his 13-year-old marriage on the ground of "Irreconcilable Differences"

The 76-year-old host of CNN's "Larry King Live" filed hours before Shawn King filed her own petition. Both cited "irreconcilable differences."

The couple were married in a hospital room in 1997 three days before Larry King underwent surgery to clear a clogged blood vessel. They have two sons, ages 11 and 9. The petitions differ in that Larry King is seeking joint custody, while his 50-year-old wife wants physical custody.

Larry King is also asking a judge not to award his wife any spousal support and to invalidate an agreement in which he transferred property to her, court records show.

Shawn King's petition seeks spousal support from her husband, along with ownership of the couple's home in Beverly Hills, Calif., and two properties in Utah.

"His major concern is the welfare of his children," said Howard Rubenstein, a spokesman for Larry King, adding that the talk-show host would not comment further on the divorce.

King's nightly news and interview show has been a CNN mainstay for nearly 25 years. He has three children from previous relationships.

The couple started house-hunting in California shortly after their marriage and lived in Beverly Hills. He is a Los Angeles Dodgers season ticket-holder and announced the start of the team's home opener to fans Tuesday.
Source: Yahoo News