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...

Ihidero Life is truly a case of different strokes for different folks.

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 for entertainment pirates might just not be the same again.

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...

Mo’ Cheddah was once very hot.

Dagrin Just like yesterday, the news of the death of promising rapper, Dagrin, filtered around and shocked the whole nation.

Neptune An upcoming artist has taken a swipe at DJ Neptune.