Entertainment Briefs
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POPULAR Nigerian artiste D’banj has said he would take to farming to encourage youths to embrace agriculture and fight poverty. D’banj told the News Agency of Nigeria recently during the launch of ONE’s Year of Agriculture campaign that his action was to explore another area of opportunities. ONE is an international, non-partisan, non-profit, advocacy and campaigning organisation aimed at eradicating poverty and preventable diseases in the world through public awareness.
D’banj said that during his meeting with the One Organisation in South Africa, he was convinced that agriculture was the only way forward for Nigeria and Africa. “They told me about how many potentials that we’re missing out on. They talked about how if we focus on agriculture in the next five to 10 years, Africa can actually be feeding the rest of the world. They told me about how much the small scale farmers don’t even have any support and they are the larger percentage of people that are giving us what to eat. They said we would like you to champion this move where we go across Africa and we tell our youths, create that awareness for them, let them know,” he said.
“So, for me, I will be doing everything in my power to make sure that the youth, my generation, they see what I have seen and they get informed as I have. So, everything we would be doing to just let them know that ‘oh boy, you can wear a Rolex and still be a farmer’.”
Kelly Rowland to host Darey’s Concert
KELLY Rowland, American pop singer has been announced as the special guest at the second edition of Darey Art-Alade‘s “Love Like a Movie“concert. The event tagged “The Love Roller Coaster!” is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 15, at the Ocean View Grounds, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The former Destiny’s Child artiste will electrify the stage alongside her world famous dancers. Apart from her performance which everyone can look forward to, she will host the red carpet with Darey; analyzing the style and fashion risks of guests on the red carpet.
Kelly will take over as host from Kim Kardashian who hosted its first edition.
Kelly who was excited about coming to Nigeria, said: “I’m so excited to be a part of this innovative concert. And I’m really looking forward to coming to Nigeria too. I hear LLAM Season 1 was simply magical and I really can’t wait to get on stage and give a great show.”
Also scheduled to perform at the event are D’banj, Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, Mo’Eazy, Zaina, Timi Dakolo, Waje, Muna and Eva Alordiah.
Mercy Johnson, hubby plan big for daughter
AWARD winning Nollywood screen goddess, Mercy Johnson and her hubby, Odianosen Okojie are planning to throw a big birthday bash for their daughter, Purity, who clocked one year last month.
The sultry actress and her hubby threw a ‘small party’ to mark the little Purity’s birthday on December 30. However, the parents are planning a bigger part this month which will have in attendance who is who in the celebrity circle. Meanwhile, the date for the party is yet to be fixed.
No Grammy Award for Femi Kuti
AFTER weeks of anxiety sustained by hope, Femi Kuti, son of the late Afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, failed to lift the coveted trophy at the 56th edition of the Grammy Awards ceremony on last Sunday at the prestigious Staples Centre in Los Angeles, United States.
The 52-year-old singer was nominated in the ‘Best World Music Album’ category for “No Place for My Dream.” He was nominated along with Gipsy King’s Savor Flamenco, Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Live: Singing for Peace around the World and Ravi Shankar’s The Living Room Sessions Part 2.
Following the nomination, his fans waited to see him win. But regrettably, the Grammy went to the popular French group, Gipsy King and a South African choral group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who tied.
Femi, as he is fondly called, also lost out in 2003, 2010 and 2011. In 2003, he picked up his first Grammy nomination, but lost to Panamanian salsa singer, Rubén Blades. In 2010, the Beng Beng crooner was nominated in the same category, but lost to the US banjo player, Bella Fleck.
Interestingly, after the announcement last night, he took to his Twitter handle, and shared his thoughts. He wrote: “Congrats to the winners! The nomination made my year. So, not winning won’t spoil it.”
However, a number of nominees, in different categories, had a date with history. In the Record of the Year category, Daft Punk’s album, Get Lucky, which featured Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, was adjudged the winner. Also, Daft Punk shone brilliantly as the winner in the Album of the Year category. This year’s Grammys also threw up Lorde as the winner in the Song of the Year category with his album, Royals.
Compiled by Vincent Nzemeke
— Feb. 10, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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