GRAMMY MUSEUM, BET UNVEIL SOUNDS OF AFRICA

The Grammy Museum and BET are to unveil a brand new exhibit, Sounds of Africa, showcasing and celebrating the unique diversity of African music, and spotlighting African winners and nominees of both the Grammy Awards and the BET Awards.
Located on the third floor of the Grammy Museum, the display is an extension of the 16th annual “BET Awards” and the 2016 BET Experience at L.A. Live.

Commented Monde Twala, VP, BET, Youth & Music, VIMN Africa, “It’s fantastic to see the influence of African artists and music amplified in this unique exhibition in this iconic setting. We are excited about working with the Grammy Museum to create this fascinating tribute to legendary, traditional and contemporary African musicians.”

On display temporarily until later in the year, the exhibit will feature handwritten lyrics, costumes and rare instruments from a wide range of artists including: Nigerian singer/songwriter and producer 2Face Idibia, Nigerian hip-hop artist and actor Ice Prince (winner, 2013 BET Awards Best International Act: Africa), Nigerian visual artist Laolu Senbanjo, Nigerian singer/songwriter Sir Victor Uwaifo, South African duo Mafikizolo (2014 BET Awards Best International Act: Africa nominees), Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo (Benin), Singer/songwriter Salif Keita (Mali), Congolese rumba singer/songwriter and bandleader, Tabu Ley Rochereau and many more.

The BET Awards premieres on BET on Tuesday, June 28. BET has revealed that world-renowned actor and film producer Samuel L. Jackson will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 16th annual “BET Awards”. In addition, well-respected actor and activist Jesse Williams will receive the evening’s Humanitarian Award.

BET also unveiled hip-hop superstar and global humanitarian Akon as the recipient of the 2016 Global Good Award at the ‘BET Awards’. A Grammy – and BET Award-nominated, two-time multi-platinum musical artist, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Akon holds a place in industry history as one of music’s most influential voices.

BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT WINNER FEATURES YCEE
Since his debut in 2009 where his dance group Diversity won the British talent show, Britain’s Got Talent, Ike Chuks has grown to become a remarkable and versatile artiste in the industry.
Together with his group, Chuks has enjoyed golden spotlights and won numerous awards such as being the first act to perform outside No. 10 Downing Street in front of the Prime Minister. The group also sold out six UK & Ireland tours including three arena tours: ‘Diversity’s 1&2: Bringing A Toy Story To Life’; ‘Digitized – Trapped In The Game’; ‘Limitless’ and ‘Limitless –The Reboot”

In 2011, the rapper, dancer and actor further diversified his talents by venturing into music. However, he released his first official single ‘Play like Play’ in 2015. The single showed his diversity as an artiste who can sing and rap. In March 2016, he released ‘Go Low’ and in May, ‘I Dey Hail’.
Produced by Two Seven, the new single features fast rising hit-maker YCee. The song according to Chuks is an appreciation to God on his journey so far to stardom.

SUGAR RUSH DEBUTS
A luxury wedding exhibition tour, Sugar Rush, designed to celebrate the greatest talents in the events industry across West Africa will debut on July 10 at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos.
An initiative of Sugar Weddings & Parties initiative, the exhibition will feature bridal fashion show and many exciting giveaways. Visitors can also expect significant savings on any bookings made at Sugar Rush including but not limited to, booking any venue at the InterContinental Hotel Lagos. Expected guests include; captains of industry, engaged couples, celebrities and stakeholders within the event industry.

Sugar Weddings & Parties (SWP) is a premier African online resource which can be found at www.sugarweddings.com dedicated to weddings, parties and everything in-between. Since 2008, it has provided planning tips, inspiration, vendor contacts and everything needed to guide its millions of visitors through life’s celebrations. SWP features an event professional directory (the largest in West Africa), primarily focused on African based event related businesses. It is easy to search directory allows prospective clients to find vendors quickly by location and category, view vendor photographs and contact professionals.

SHOWCASING IBIBIA
After a successful launch of her 2015 summer/spring collection, titled Ofu, iconic fashion brand Miri Oma is set to unveil its 2016 collection. Themed ‘Ibibia’, the exhibition will feature a creative showcase of hand-crafted clutches, messenger bags, totes, shoulder bags and other exotic leather accessories

Known for its unique luxury style that strikes a chord with lovers of quality leather, the creative director, Didi Green, enthused that Ibibia will define everything insanely gorgeous. “Ibibia blends a tasteful fusion of exotic leather with ethnic materials to create distinct pieces that are beyond desire. Each accessory is hand-crafted to meet unrivalled assurance of quality for every client in more aspirational ways.”
The exhibition will hold on July 2 at Food of Sun Hall, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

EBONYLIFE TV PREMIERES THE GOVERNOR
Following its success in previous TV and film productions, Ebonylife TV announced recently the premiere of a new drama ‘The Governor’.
The highly octane political drama mirrors the life of Angela Ochello, a deputy governor of Savannah State. Ochello suddenly finds herself entangled in a web of political intrigue after the untimely death of the incumbent governor. With no future governorship ambitions, audiences are bound to be captivated by the intrigue, drama and humour in the riveting tale of this young woman who is likely to become the first female governor of Savannah state. Or would the threat to her husband’s life make her forfeit the political throne to her rivals?

The drama is set in Savannah, a coastal state in Western Africa established in 1964 and extremely rich in iron ore. Known for its widely spaced grassland with temperate weather conditions and unique tourist attractions, Savannah has a population of 15 million people, majority of who are fishermen and farmers. The rich cultural diversity and political awareness of the people makes it one of the most politically-active states in the country.

Written by Yinka Ogun, Debo Oluwatuminu and Tunde Babalola and directed by Ema Edosio, the lead character ‘Angela Ochello’ is played by British-Nigerian actress Caroline Chikezie (Aeon Flux, BBC’s Casualty, Channel 4’s As If). Other cast members include Bimbo Manuel, Baaj Adebule, Kachi Nnochiri, and Simi Adejumo amongst others. The 13-episode series premieres at 9pm on Thursday, July 7.

SMILE WITH M-NET THIS JULY
The existing nine M-Net movie channels have been pruned to seven well-curated movie channels that will feature a fewer number of older library movies in the schedule to keep the movie offering new and fresh.

Starting from July 1, a brand new, feel-good movie channel – M-Net Movies Smile will be launched. The channel will replace M-Net Movies Comedy, M-Net Movies Family and M-Net Movies Romance.
All programmes on this channel will be consolidated into M-Net Movie Smile and M-Net Movie showcase which will move from DStv channel 108 to 107. While M-Net Movie Premiere West will move to 108. These channel changes are part of M-Net’s efforts to streamline its channels in order to enhance DStv subscribers’ viewing experience. M-Net Movie Smile is only available on the Premium package.

In addition, DStv will include M-Net Movies Stars to the Compact Plus and Compact packages while Family and Access bouquet subscribers can now enjoy Africa Magic Igbo.
Other exciting changes include VUZU AMP which will find a new home on DStv channel 103 – previously occupied by M-Net Movies Premiere. The popular VUZU AMP’s out of this world TV entertainment will now be found in the same neighbourhood as the ever-popular M-Net and M-Net Edge channels. With VUZU AMP moving to channel 103, the M-Net Movies channels will now occupy channels 104 to 111.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLE MOVIE PREMIERES
Kiddies favorite channel, Nickelodeon, has announced the release of the second TMNT movie – Out of the Shadows. Nickelodeon Africa will reward lucky fans with tickets to a VIP screening, holding on the July 2 at the Silverbird Cinema, Ikeja City Mall in Lagos, in partnership with DStv.

Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael will return to our screens alongside good friend, April O’Neil and hockey-masked newcomer, Casey Jones.
In the new movie, super villain Shredder escapes custody, and joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop and Rocksteady to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take down Shredder and his crew, they are faced with an even greater evil, the notorious Krang who has the same intention to take over the world.

BOI HAPPY WITH RECEPTION FOR THE CEO
One of the partners for the production of Kunle Afolayan’s latest movie, The CEO, Bank of Industry is happy that it provided a N50 million loan to the filmmaker from its creative industry fund scheme tagged BoI NollyFund.

Captured in the in-flight razzmatazz and the glamorous premiere of The CEO which opened the 4th edition of Nollywood Week Film Festival (NWFF) in Paris was the Bank’s delegation, which included Mr. Babatunde Joseph, Divisional Head, Large Enterprises and Mrs. Uche Nwuka, Head, Creative Desk and Solomon Oyekanmi of the Communications department.

“I took loan of N50million from the bank to fund this film, and this was made possible by these people,” said Afolayan as he invited Mr. Babatunde and Mrs. Nwuka to the podium during the curtain call at the Cinema L’Arlequin, Paris, venue of NWFF. “Thank you very much for your support,” he said amidst laud applause from the crowd, just as he advised filmmakers in the Diaspora to avail themselves with the opportunity of producing high budget quality films by approaching the Bank for NollyFund.

Elated about the commercial potential of the film which is billed to hit the cinema on July 15, 2016, Babatunde, the leader of the BoI delegation was overwhelmed by the positive reception from the home and foreign audience who saw the film first-hand.