BETWEEN INDIA ARIE AND MIKE AREMU

Four times he has organised an entertainment event that is second to none, in terms of its peculiar appeal. As the finer details of the fifth edition of this signature event, Sax Appeal, put together by award-winning Jazz saxophonist, Mike Aremu are being concluded, fans are eager to share in the promises of this year’s edition.

Billed to hold on Sunday June 26, at the Expo Centre Eko Hotel & Suites Victoria Island-Lagos, the concert has chart topping, Grammy winner, India Arie as headline act.
For good company, the American singer-songwriter, actress, musician, and record producer will perform alongside excellent Nigerian musicians including Timi Dakolo and Praiz.

An accomplished four-time Grammy Award winner from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album, India has sold over 3.3 million records in the US and 10 million worldwide.
Her debut album ‘Acoustic Soul’ released on March 27, 2001 was met with positive reviews and commercial success. ‘Acoustic Soul’ debuted at number 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and Number Three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Within months ‘Acoustic Soul’ was certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

THE UNBROKEN PENCIL SHOW
Multi-talented comedian, and AY Open Mic Comedy Challenge winner, Ogechi Nwanevu Cyril, popularly known as Pencil, is set to stage the maiden edition of his highly anticipated comedy show tagged, Pencil Unbroken (The First Assignment)
The show billed to hold on June 26 at the Muson Centre, Onikan will witness an impressive lineup of comedians and musicians who will be thrilling guest with rib-cracking jokes and mind-blowing musical performances on the evening.

Comedians billed to thrill on what we will be an intense night of laughter include Alibaba, AY, Gordons, Ushbebe, Shakara, Teju Babyface, Romeo, Kenny Blaq, Okey Bakassi, Ajebo Dan d Humorous, Senator, MC Shakara, Wofai Fada, Funnybone, Seyi Law, and will be hosted by Caroline Hutchings.
The night will also witness legendary Dj Jimmy Jatt on the turntables and musical performances from Iyanya, Phyno, Ice Prince, KCEE, Seyi Shay, Harrysong, Praiz, Oritsefemi, Yemi Sax, Reekado Banks, Yemi Alade, YCEE, Orezi, Vector, Mr. 2kay, Humblesmith, Sean Tizzle, Tjan, Rayce, Reminisce, and Bracket.

TOWARDS A POSITIVE FUJI BRAND
Participants at the maiden edition of the Fuji Roundtable, powered by Goldberg Lager Beer, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, have described Fuji music as the only Nigerian music brand that is devoid of foreign contamination.
They therefore identified the genre of music as a unifying factor for Yorubas living in the western part of Nigeria and beyond. As a result, they agreed that the music deserves due attention and concerted efforts towards taking it to the next level.

The convergence of stakeholders, which took place at the headquarters of Nigerian Breweries, included: Sikiru Ayinde Agboola (a.k.a SK Sensation), Chairman, National Project Committee of the Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria; Akogun Gani Balogun, cousin to the late Fuji Legend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister; Olasoju Adebayo, General Manager, K1 De Ultimate Band; and Olawale Obadeyi, a Fuji analyst.
They unanimously agreed that Fuji music has, over the years, contributed to the socio-cultural development of Yorubas in the region and beyond.

In his keynote address, Olawale Obadeyi, traced the origin of this genre of music to the period when Were, the local brand of music was in vogue among the Muslim faithful. He acknowledged that the music has grown astronomically over the years featuring different artistes who have contributed in different dimensions to its development.
He said the innovations brought into Fuji by those artistes have deepened ties across boundaries in the region. “Each Fuji artiste, evidently, is pushing the limits of creativity. The horizon of Fuji music has been astoundingly widened,” he stated.

Sikiru Agboola, who corroborated him, advised Fuji musicians and other stakeholders in the country to take the music to the next level. According to him, it is the only surviving genre of music that has its origin in Nigeria and deserves concerted efforts from stakeholders to proffer possible ways through which it could be developed. His words: “It is the duty of all stakeholders to take the music to the next level.”

JIRE GOES PLACES WITH KOKO
Promising singer, Jire has seized the moment with the release of his debut single, ‘Koko’ to embark on a tour of radio stations, even as the song receives massive airplay.
In the last three weeks, ‘Koko’ has become a staple on many radio stations. On one of the programmes with popular OAP, Ossam on Naija FM, Jire promised that he is in music for the long haul, saying that his intention is to give afro pop fresh dimension. Osam opined that “there is a lot of promise in this young artiste and his age represents the future of Nigerian music.”

In another development, the 16 year-old artiste, came tops in a contest for new songs decided by fans. The programme was moderated by OAP Douglas Jenkan. Jire’s ‘Koko’ was adjudged the best fresh beat for the month of May, shoving aside tracks like ‘Yetunde’ by LAX, ‘Susanna’ by Harrysong and ‘Orekelewa’ by Jumbo.
Jire’s ‘Koko’ got the top mark with 64 votes, followed by LAX with 55 votes. Voting was done on Twitter. Listeners were encouraged to vote their choice artiste and their preferred song. His performance at a recent Indomie Media was captivating.

His string of live shows continues to grow as he has been booked to perform at the Naija/BeatFM NYSC Camp show scheduled for June 24. Jire’s second single is expected in July to commemorate his birthday.

AFRIMA MEETS AFRICAN CULTURE MINISTERS
The President and Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), Mike Dada recently addressed a meeting of the Ministers of Youths, Culture and Sports in Africa at the African Union 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports (STC-YCS2) at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the theme ‘African Year of Human Rights: Promoting Ethics and Cultural Diversity as an Essential Right for the People of Africa’.

According to the Head of Culture, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC) Angela Martins “The 2nd session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport is holding a few days after the celebration marking the 10th Anniversary of the African Union Youth Charter (the Banjul+10) which was an opportunity to advance the agenda for youth empowerment and development in all member states. The outcome documents of the Banjul+ 10 celebration will be presented to the STC-YCS2 for consideration, adoption and implementation by AU Member States.”

“The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance adopted by the 6th Assembly of the African Union held in Khartoum, Sudan in January 2016 is the guiding policy tool for the promotion of the cultural and heritage sector in the continent. However, the Charter has only been ratified by eight AU Member States even though thirty one have signed it.
“When it comes into force effectively the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance will enable that the sector takes its rightful place and contribute significantly to the development of the continent through heritage and its cultural and creative industries sector,” she concluded.

Dada who is also the Chief Brand Strategist of PRM Africa Marketing and Communications stated that AFRIMA is on the right path of communicating the true narrative of Africa to the world through music, art and culture.

2BABA, ALI BABA, SAUTI SOL, VANESSA MDEE DRINK CAMPARI
According to Kenyan comedian, MC Jessy, Buckwyld and Breathless concert is undoubtedly the Kenyan concert of the year and would not be forgotten in a while as Campari Senator, 2Baba, alongside King of Nigerian Comedy, Ali Baba, Kenyan Comedian, Mwalim Churchill, Sauti Sol, Vanessa MDee among many others gave fans and lovers of Campari the ultimate experience in African music, comedy and dance.

The event which held at the Carnivore Simba Saloon in Nairobi, Kenya, was graced by numerous beautiful Kenyan men and women who were excited to spend an evening with the line-up of entertainers and also mingle with other Nigerians present.

With rib-cracking sessions from Ali Baba and Churchill alongside pulsating performances from Sauti Sol, Vanessa MDee, Della among other acts got guests fired up for more excitement. Campari ambassador, 2Baba later took over the stage and made guests sing along to every song he performed.
The Campari team, which accommodated fans in an all-expense paid Safari trip to Kenya was led by Head of Marketing, Brian Munro Limited, Abayomi Ajao.

A PERSONAL PERSON CALLED ELDORADO
A young Nigerian act, Awoluyi Henry Edowmonyi better known as Eldorado, who only recently released his hit single, ‘Personal Person’, says he aims to play in the top league in the near future.
To guide his vision, he has decided to follow the footsteps of industry leader, 2Baba. Like Tuface, he wants to stand head and shoulder above others by being tireless and always playing new music
He also admires Tuface’s humble disposition, and sense of style. Personal Person which is released on Prince James Efosa Aghedo’s Efoski label is the follow-up to his debut, ‘Overload’.