Oseyiza Oogbodo Blog

Ladi Emeruwa is a London-based Nigerian actor who has the distinct honour of being the first Black man to play the popular character, Hamlet, created by the great playwright, William Shakespeare. Currently playing Hamlet in a world tour which began last year and will end next year, the tour berthed in Nigeria last month and OSEYIZA OOGBODO used the opportunity to speak with Ladi. How do you feel being a part of this Hamlet world tour? It’s an incredible opportunity for me. This is my first production with the organizers, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and they have given me the chance to visit different countries of the world. On top of that, I’m back to my own country. It means the world to me. I really hope that, particularly this afternoon when there will be students coming for the show, they will be inspired by the fact that as a Nigerian, you can do this. What really got me interested in Shakespeare and theatre generally was when I saw in 2009 an actor called Adetomiwa Edun play R...

Another artist who recently opined that radio stations are more of a hindrance than a help to the Nigerian music industry is Michelle singer, Etcetera. While Phemz is an upcoming artist, and it might be felt that he is speaking out of frustration, Etcetera has attained recognition and success, yet he also feels the way Phemz does about piracy. In an explosive article he wrote in his column in Punch newspaper (an article which was so explosive that at least two popular radio on-air personalities, Cool FM’s Freeze and Beat FM’s Olisa Adibua, were so bitter about it that they lashed out at Etcetera publicly but were berated by the public who said Etcetera was saying the truth), he went as far as saying that due to the radio stations’ attitude of playing the music of majorly those who can grease their palms, piracy continues to thrive. According to him, people don’t like to listen to radio again in the country because it’s boring listening to radio as the same music of musicians who settle...

Pretty actress and model, Ufuoma Ejeonobor, is a year older. She turned thirty-four during the week on Thursday and unsurprisingly, she took to social media to gush about her joy at seeing another year on earth. “Perhaps I had a wicked childhood, perhaps I had a terrible youth, but somewhere in my wicked miserable past, there must have been a moment of truth. My treasure and priority, who can compare to you? The Lord of my life, my way maker. “My heart is filled with gratitude. My tears are happy ones. Many planned for today but didn't live to see it. It pleased you that I enter a new year surrounded by so much love. I'm just an ordinary girl with an ordinary heart, still you love me. “Oghene, mi yeruwe,” she concluded in her native language.

Life is truly a case of different strokes for different folks. While some believe that government is not doing enough to support, aid, fund the movie sector, a filmmaker, Chris Ihidero, has come out to advice Nigeria’s next President, General Muhammadu Buhari, that he shouldn’t consider frivolous claims for financial support from Nollywood. Succinctly, Ihidero pointed out to Buhari that “please don’t give Nollywood money. Let me clarify sir. PLEASE DON’T GIVE US MONEY TO MAKE COMMERCIAL FILMS. Sorry to write in caps sir but I needed to do that so those who may want to misconstrue my words can see clearly. “Your predecessor, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, did a lot for the industry. Let’s give a man his due. He recognised the industry’s contribution to the nation’s GDP. He made funds available through the Bank of Industry, NEXIM Bank and the Project Act Nollywood project. “Some of those funds have led to the creation and expansion of cinema chains like FilmHouse Cinemas, as well a...

Life for entertainment pirates might just not be the same again since movie producer, actor and director Kunle Afolayan’s outburst over the endemic issue some three weeks ago. Kunle’s outburst came on the back of the fact that his latest movie, October 1, which he went through so much physical, emotional and financial stress to produce, was being threatened to be released by pirates. Amd after his outburst which was steeped in tribalism, another notable entertainment personality, Yemi Sodimu, took it upon himself to start seizing copies of pirated movies he sees on sale. He did so for at least one day and proudly flaunted the resultant pictures from his feat online. Sodimu hasn’t stopped at that however. This week, he organized a walk against piracy and several entertainers, including Kunle, as well as Kehinde Bankole and Gabosky, joined him to register their displeasure at it. Is this the beginning of the final revolt against piracy? Some people are surely wishing it is.

A concerned Nigerian, Ariyo Obe, reviews the controversial Time magazine 100 influential people in the world list which came out this month and states that it’s a disservice to the universe. For the first time in history, four Nigerians made it onto the prestigious Time Magazine 100 most influential people list. Nigeria’s President-elect Muhammadu Buhari; arrowhead of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, Dr Oby Ezekwesili; award-winning Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; and curiously, Abubakar Shekau, leader of Boko Haram. To be on this list is no mean feat. In the past top achievers like the late President Mandela, The Dalai Lama and other important contributors to positive life on earth have been so recognised. As a Nigerian, it is indeed pleasing to see the President-elect, Chimamanda and Dr Ezeikwesili recognised this way. Even though I did not support his campaign for Presidency, there is no denying that General Buhari is a huge inspiration to many Nigerians. Having run for...

One-time in-demand singer who is now struggling for visibility, Mo’ Cheddah, has taken another step in her bid to salvage her ever-dwindling career. She has released a new song, Bad, and she featured highly-in-demand rapper, Olamide, on it, so Bad can attain commercial success sooner than later. If Bad will do that, even with Olamide on it, is however another point for conjecture, as Mo’ Cheddah’s recent releases were given whatever attention they got because of her past success.

Just like yesterday, the news of the death of promising rapper, Dagrin, filtered around and shocked the whole nation. Just as shockingly, that day is now five years ago, meaning Dagrin has now been dead five years officially this week as he died on April 22, 2010. And in remembrance of the Pon Pon Pon rapper, many entertainment personalities have been speaking on what he meant to them, how he inspired them, how he turned the industry around and all that. And adding his voice to the Dagrin discussion, entertainment analyst, Saucy Gezzle, “How I wish Dagrin was still alive today, to know how relevant he would really be. Not speaking ill of the dead, but if he was still alive, he might just not be as popular as he is in death right now. “This industry is a fickle one and entertainers come and go so fast that if Dagrin was still alive, the intense competition he would be facing might have affected his current rating. But he died in his prime and when the ovation was loudest and he has ther...

An upcoming artist has taken a swipe at DJ Neptune, saying, “Neptune, you don’t know what good music is and you don’t promote good music.” The artist, who prefers to remain anonymous, because he’s afraid there might be backlash on his fledgling career because Neptune is one of the top DJs in the country, said he’s coming down hard on Neptune because of his recent comment that Nigerian music lacks content. “I’m very angry that Neptune could have said something like that, because he should know better. He survives on Nigerian musicians, yet he feels he can just open his mouth anyhow and insult us.” Obviously angry, the artist continued that “it’s the DJs, Neptune included, working against the proper growth of the music industry. In America, people sing what they like and feel about and are therefore able to have the so-called content Neptune is talking about. “The case is however different in Nigeria. If you sing a sensible song and take it to Neptune and other DJs, they’ll tell you it’s...