EeDris Abdulkareem ft Vicky E. & Starring Keke – Calabar Girl

The Year 2010 officially welcomes Eedris Abdulkareem back into the music scene. Abdulkareem is a veteran of the Nigerian music scene. With previous hits, his name and music will always stay on top with the Nigerian hip-hop music. One of his previous hits, Mr. Lecturer featured Abdulkareem's first video hit, the album's title track, which addressed the problem of students using money and sex to solicit higher grades in Nigerian colleges and universities. 

In 2004, Abdulkareem's third album, Jaga Jaga, appeared on Kennis music. Its title track, which laments the corruption and suffering in Nigeria, was banned from radio airplay by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in a televised address, although it continued to be played in nightclubs. Also in 2004, Abdulkareem came to international attention as a result of a scuffle with American rapper 50 Cent onboard an airplane at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. 

In November 2005, Abdulkareem launched his own record label, La Kreem Music, and released his fourth album, Letter to Mr. President. The album's title track addressed Obasanjo's criticisms of "Jaga Jaga."

Now, he’s back with Keke and I’m told his album is already made. Be on the look-out for more singles from him. “Calabar Girl” was Premiered yesterday by DJ Humility on Rhythm 93.7 FM.

music spotted on Notjustok.com

Nigeria in Pictures

Kerosine...what deregulation means in Nigeria

Lagos Eyo Festival

Body no be firewood

... in these hard times, survival is what matters

Man must chop!

Hope our leaders have plans for them

Picture source: Punch news

New Music: MI – Nobody feat. 2face

Brand new track from Mr. Incredible, M.I. features 2face, Nobody. This is a master piece from two masters of the game. To say the least from what we've heard from MI lately, his album MI2 is definitely going to be on fire. 

"If nobody talk about you, then you are nobody...whether nah true or na lie o"

Harvard African Business Conference & Concert/AfterParty featuring Naeto C

The 4th Annual Harvard African Business Conference was held in Boston, MA last weekend, and featured appearances from some of the biggest names in African Business. The after party concert featured Naeto C that so tore it up and had everyone jumping. The pics tell the whole story. Here are a few pic from the conference, concert and after party.

Zemedeneh Negatu - Ernest & Young Representative from Ethopia

Obiageli Ezekwesili - World Bank Representative

Naeto C with other attendees

Fashion show

Fashion show

Neato C on stage

Neato C

After party

Neato C with fans

attendees

Picture credits to Jaguda.com

Nigeria hires Lagerback as new Super Eagles coach

At least they NFF kept to their words to hire a new coach by the end of this month. I hope our new football coach will start working immediately, because World Cup is almost here. Nigeria hired Swede Lars Lagerback today and signed him on an initial 5-month deal. He would lead the Super Eagles to the World Cup in South Africa later this year. 

Lagerback, who coached his native Sweden for nine years, was picked ahead of fellow Swede Sven Goran Eriksson, Englishman Glen Hoddle, Serb Ratomir Djukovic and Frenchman Bruno Metsu. The Swede was the last of the five candidates to arrive Abuja and was interviewed on Friday afternoon.

The executive committee of the Nigeria Football Association subsequently went into an eight-hour meeting before announcing Lagerback as the new coach.

Serena Williams on court with children in Kenya’s largest slum

 

US tennis champion Serena Williams on court with children in Kenya’s largest slum, Kibera, during her charity tour of the country this week. (Photo: SIMON MAINA/AFP)

Fela's influence in yesterday and today's Hip-Hop

I might blog a lot about Fela but I admire his courage and love his great music. 

Questlove from The Roots talks about when he first discovered Fela Kuti's music, and walks us through Fela's influence in yesterday and today's hip-hop -- including works by Mos Def, Macy Grey, D'Angelo, X-Clan, and Leader of the New School.

Quote of the Week

 “People go to Africa and confirm what they already have in their heads and so they fail to see what is there in front of them. This is what people have come to expect. It's not viewed as a serious continent. It's a place of strange, bizarre and illogical things, where people don't do what common sense demands.”

--- Chinua Achebe

Nigerian Singer, Darey Meets George Bush

Nigerian singer Darey Art Alade is releasing his first US album in a matter of weeks, but that is not the news here. The gifted musician and pianist is already getting ready to mingle with America’s high and mighty. No, not just the Jay-Zs and Beyonces or Kanye Wests. How about dinner with former US president, George Bush, former US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and maybe a breakfast meeting with President Obama?

 

Darey strikes a pose with ex-US president George Bush

Darey co-hosted the THISDAY awards in Abuja, yesterday, and took time to pose and chat with Mr Bush and former US Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.

 Darey and former US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice

 'I hear you're coming to America to release your album; call me when you arrive, I am a big fan of your music OK?' George Bush seems to be telling Darey

 On stage at the THISDAY awards

News and pictures spotted on thenetng.com

Durella presents New Footwear

The winner of the premier edition of the MTV/Zain Advance Warning, Oluwadamilare Okulaja popularly known as Durella, has concluded plans to fully present his range of footwears labelled 2gbaski, to the public by March 2010. The sneakers, the first of it's kind by any Nigerian artist has been receiving positive reviews since the first installment arrived.

 

He borrowed the Lagosian's slangs like “2gbaski, yapayaski” and the likes has now redirected his energy into shoe-making! Launching the first sneaker line in Nigeria, by a Nigerian artiste, he has introduced to us “2gbaski” at the affordable cost of N25,000.00.

George Bush, Tony Blair attend Nigeria ceremony

 

From left, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Robin Sanders; former US president, Mr George Bush; Acting President Goodluck Jonathan; former Secretary of State, Ms Condoleeza Rice; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, during a visit to the acting president, at Aguda House, Abuja, on Sunday.

ABUJA, Nigeria – Former world leaders George W. Bush and Tony Blair joined Nigeria's elite at a ceremony honoring the political and business establishment Sunday, but one honoree's absence highlighted the endemic corruption and other problems plaguing the oil-rich nation.

Hosted by a Nigerian newspaper mogul Nduka Obaigbena, the ceremony included an award for former anti-corruption investigator Nuhu Ribadu, who investigated top ruling-party politicians. But family members had to accept the award for Ribadu who left Nigeria for the United States after being fired from his job and the target of a drive-by shooting.

 

From left, Condoleezza Rice, Blair, Nigeria's speaker of parliament Dimeji Bankole, Bush and Nigeria's foreign minister Ojo Maduekwe pose for the cameras during yesterday's ceremony in Abuja

Bush visited Jonathan at his Aguda House presidential villa, to congratulate his host, noting that the circumstances that brought Jonathan to office were unexpected. However, Bush said: ‘Sometimes in life, the unexpected happens.’ He added: ‘We wish you all the best, even though we know it is not an easy job. With God’s grace and the support of your team, you will succeed.’

Jonathan also used the occasion to call on the American government to consider de-listing Nigeria from countries of interest in the global war against terrorism. And he assured his guests about the commitment of the government to conduct a free and fair election in Nigeria in 2011.  ‘I can assure you that come 2011, Nigeria’s elections will be credible. We will do everything possible to overhaul the electoral process and leave a lasting legacy in our political history,’ he said.

mail & Yahoo news

Lion Heart – The Kanu Story: Nigerian Football Legend Kanu Nwankwo set to tell all in new book and movie

Africa’s most decorated football player, Kanu Nwankwo has joined the ranks of global figures whose compelling stories have been immortalized on the silver screen. Kanu takes it a notch further as his feature is to be released simultaneously with his biography, after the World Cup in South Africa. Kanu considers this movie and book to be his heartfelt gift to Nigeria on her fiftieth anniversary, to Africa and indeed the world.

Lion Heart: The Kanu Story, the movie is a documentary feature directed by BBC London-trained Nigerian director Bayo Awolaja, and produced by Neil Oyenekan. The Executive Producers include Kanu Nwankwo, Lighthouse, IBST Media, Worldwide Management Ltd. and Connect Marketing. The movie is currently being filmed in Nigeria, London, Amsterdam, the USA, South Africa and India. It has a plot that chronicles Kanu’s inspiring rags to riches story. The unique perspective that delves into his journey into the world of soccer from his humble beginnings in Owerri. The movie will also cover his struggle of a near fatal heart condition at the peak of his football career, and his tribulations and triumph at Arsenal, Ajax, Portsmouth etc. In addition to his exploits on the football pitch, the movie also unveils one of the most recognizable UNICEF ambassadors as a mentor, business man, husband, and friend.

According to the Lighthouse Productions CCO, “ this film isn’t just about Kanu the footballer, we intend to reveal the Kanu story through interviews with all the world renowned players, coaches, administrators, including his wife, his childhood friends, his doctors and those people that played very important roles in his life. It’s going to be a three dimensional documentation of Kanu’s story according to Kanu, his fans, and his critics too – it’s definitely going to be compelling and well –balanced, because we intend to highlight the challenges he’s encountered and how he overcame them, in order to inspire many young Africans with his exceptional story of hope, determination and success”

Kanu expressed his excitement when he spoke about the project, saying, “I’m a very private person, but it has been a very interesting experience to watch my colleagues, team mates, coaches, doctors, fans, friends and family telling my story in a very passionate manner – this movie humbles me – I can see the aspects of my life that the world identifies with, and it’s not easy to open up your life to the world, but then it is very noble to do so in order to inspire those who wish to do the things you have done – at least so that they can see how you did it”

But why do we have to wait until after the World Cup to see this movie? And to this Kanu replied, “the producers have been working tirelessly for a very long time now, but I believe this World Cup should be part of the film, whether I play or not, I definitely want the experience to be part of the film…”

Lion Heart: The Kanu Story is scheduled for a global premiere in September 2010.

Source: James Amuta PR

More Pictures from the Face of Africa

More Pictures from the Face of Africa held in Lagos, Nigeria.

pics from Linda Ikeji's blog

Adebayo Ogunlesi, owner of Gatwick Airport

Adebayo Ogunlesi, chairman of Global Infrastructure Partners, said he is going "to make Gatwick a truly first class experience". However he cautioned it would take "somewhere between 12 and 18 months" before passengers started noticing a difference at the airport. GIP agreed a £1.51bn deal with Gatwick's current operator BAA last week, which represented a "good price", Mr Ogunlesi said.

PHOTOS FROM 2010 FACE OF AFRICA CONTEST IN NIGERIA

Nigerian business tycoons, fashionistas, fashion photographers and style editors from various capitals of the world converged in Lagos on 18 February 2010 for the much talked about M-Net Face of Africa. By the time the event was over, Lukando Nalungwe a contestant from Namibia was declared the winner. 

Winner (middle) and other contestants rejoicing after Lukando was declared winner

Lukando

Helen, Editor of Arise Magazine

Mo Abudu, a talk show host and businesswoman

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi a top Nigerian fashion designer pulling through on the runway with models at Face of Africa 2010

contestant from Zimbabwe