Entertainment Briefs
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BIG Brother Africa, BBA, one of Africa’s biggest reality series, is set to make a return from September 7, this year. A statement by Azuh Amatus, the public relations officer of Showbizplusng, said the show would return with some improvements which will interest fans.
“It’s Big Brother Time and since the first season, the reality series has attracted some funny, dramatic, weird and wonderful characters that have kept viewers glued to the screens. Some housemates who have been part of this huge show have had their talents realised,” Amatus said.
He noted that some of the participants of the show in previous editions had gone on to be TV stars and big personalities in various social fields. The season nine which would be begin in September, the PR man said, would help participants to realise their dreams. “And in truth, Big Brother fashion, fans of the show and potential housemates will have to wait and see how it will turn dreams of some deserving and eager youngsters into reality. And subsequently transform them into household names,’’ he said further.
The organisers said entries would be open to the usual 14 countries, but with exception of Angola which would be replaced by Rwanda.
Hence, participating countries have been named as Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“Entries are only open to persons over the age of 21 who are citizens of one of the participating countries and must have a valid passport. Producers are looking for persons who are entertaining and passionate about the Big Brother experience; and they have to be fluent in English language,” Amatus said.
The audition for participants has been billed to end in June.
Amaka Igwe for Burial June 13
AMAKA Igwe, Nollywood icon and film producer who died on April 28, will be buried at her marital home in Ndiuche Arondizuogu , Imo State, on Friday, June 13. BHM, a media consultant handling the event said in a statement on behalf of the family. A tribute evening and Lagos Service of Songs at Haven Gardens, GRA Ikeja hold on June 9, and Enugu Service of Songs at Okpara Square, Enugu on June 12.
A tribute website, www.amakaigwe.ng has also been created for goodwill messages and pictures to celebrate the late iconic film producer. Her 25 years meritorious service in the film industry earned her a national honour of the Member of the Federal Republic, MFR, in 2011. She was the founder of BoBTV Film and Television Programmes Expo; founder and CEO of Top Radio 90.9FM; Amaka Igwe Studios, and the newly launched Q Entertainment Network.
A visionary and pioneer of modern Nigerian TV drama and film, she hit national limelight as the writer and producer of award-winning TV soap ‘Checkmate’ and its off shoot ‘Fuji House of Commotion.’
Igwe had her early education at All Saints School, Girls High School Awkunanaw, Enugu and Idia College, Benin. She studied Education/Religion at the Obafemi Awolowo University, and had her master’s degree at the University of Ibadan.
She worked as a lecturer at the Anambra State University of Technology before settling for the motion picture industry. Igwe, who is survived by Charles, her husband of 21 years, three children, an aged mother and siblings, died from complications from asthma at the age of 51.
Angelou Dies At 86
MAYA Angelou, one of America’s leading poets, authors and activists, died on May 28. She was 86 years old. Angelou, best known for her 1969 memoir “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” became one of the world’s most literary voices of the last 50 years.
The news of her death was confirmed by the mayor’s office in her home town of Winston-Salem, North California, United States. Mayor Allen Joines declared he was completely “sad of her passing.” Since her death was made public, celebrities from different parts of the US have been pouring their heartfelt condolences to Angelou’s family as well as preaching her incredible legacies.
J. K. Rowlings, author of ‘Harry Potter’ series, tweeted one of her Angelou’s quotes in tribute: “If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be… Maya Angelou — who was utterly amazing.” A statement from the Wake Forest University, where Angelou bad been professor of American studies since 1982, said: “Dr. Angelou was a national treasure whose life and teachings inspired millions around the world.”
The award winning author was raised by her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas and first wrote about her rape experience by her mother’s boyfriend when she was eight. The man was later killed when she told her family about the incident. She became a singer, dancer, cocktail waitress, prostitute and an actress before beginning her writing career. She became the first African American woman to have a feature film adapted from one of her stories when her screen play Georgia, Georgia was made in 1972.
She also acted in the ground breaking 1977 TV drama “Roots” and earned a Tony Award nomination in 1973 for her performance in the play “Look Away.” Angelou won three Grammys for her spoken-word albums and received an honorary National Book Award from President Barack Obama in 2013.
— Jun. 9, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT
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