'I Love Seeing Kim N@ked, Love Her N*vde Selfies - Kanye West Reveals

'I Love Seeing Kim N@ked, Love Her N*vde Selfies - Kanye West Reveals

Adeboye   11:51:00   No comments:

Kanye West has revealed that he loves seeing his wife Kim Kardashian naked and that he loves her nude selfies taken from the side and back in a new interview with magazine, Harper's BAZAAR.

The rapper and fashion designer who together with Kim stunned on the cover of the magazine's September edition also revealed his best part of Kim is her heart and they both talked on a lot of things ranging from his debt, to Taylor Swift, to their biggest insecurities and annoying habits. Read the full interview below

Harper's BAZAAR's Laura Brown: Okay! So, this is in no particular order. Kanye, your favorite body part—your own or Kim's.

KW: Is the face a body part? My favorite body part of Kim's: heart.

KKW: Awww, now I have to say the same. But of my own, I like my upper stomach. I just seem to always have abs.When I'm not really pregnant, I have a great two-pack. [Laughs.] And of Kanye's? I have to say his heart. And I've always loved his legs.

LB: Favorite song of all time?

KW:"All Along the Watchtower." The Jimi Hendrix cover.

KKW: I really like the song "Only One" [West with Paul McCartney].

LB: Favorite Taylor Swift song?

KW: For me? I don't have one.

KKW: I was such a fan of hers.

LB: Favorite book?

KKW: Embraced by the Light. It's about a woman who passed away during surgery, and she went to heaven, had her experience, and then came back. My dad [Robert Kardashian] would try to get me to read it, and I wouldn't. Then when he passed away, I was cleaning out my room in his house, and I found it. I read it, and it helped me. I felt like my dad was okay.

KW: Yeah, I don't have an answer for that.

KKW: Your mom's book or your book?

KW: Yeah, but that's like, you know...

KKW: Too self-promotional?

KW: Yeah, too promotional.

LB: Celebrity crush when you were young?

KKW: I thought Johnny Depp was so cute when I was younger. Kanye, didn't you like Pam Anderson?

KW: Yeah! That's what I would say.

LB: Historical figure you identify with?

KKW: This one is hard.

KW: Us? Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe—all day. Next question.

LB: Hidden talent? I don't know if you guys hide your talents, but if you do ...

KKW: I can smell when someone has a cavity. It's a very specific smell—not a bad-breath smell—but something that is really strong.

KW: I can analyze people's intentions. Immediately.That's just a warning. To everyone.

LB: Biggest insecurity?

KKW: I would say looking fat sometimes. I really do take it seriously. I try to do what I can and diet and stay in shape, and it does make me insecure when I'm heavy.

KW: I used to have insecurity about my finances, then I announced that I had debt, and now I don't have any insecurities.

KKW: Then you didn't have any debt; it seemed to all figure it out.

LB: You just put it out there, like The Secret.

KKW: Don't think that will work for everyone.

KW: People will definitely use that against you if someone knows that. But the one thing I don't have an insecurity about is public perception. I'm not going to conform to it, you know?

LB: Yes, the more attention you pay to the winds, you can overthink things.

KW: Here's something that's contrary to popular belief: I actually don't like thinking. I think people think I like to think a lot. And I don't. I do not like to think at all.

LB: You're an underthinker.

KW: I think about things to put them in a place where I don't have to think about them anymore. Say if I had a child with a really bad mom, I would have to think more than if I had a child with a good mom. I'm just doing my homework early. I told my trainer today, I'm a mix of a 14-year-old high schooler and a 60-year-old guy. It can never fall into the 30s or the 40s. It has to be 100 percent 60 or 100 percent 14, no in between.

LB: Can you please make that into a T-shirt? Okay, how much do you really sleep? On social media you are asleep all the time.

KKW: He can fall asleep anywhere.

KW: I can sleep. I love sleep; it's my favorite.

KKW: He took me to a fashion meeting in Paris once. I'd never met these people; I was so nervous. It was the beginning of our relationship, and I didn't know anyone in fashion. And he passed out at the table. I'm like, "I'm so sorry, we're jet-lagged." You don't know the number of times I've had to say that. I always flat-out lie that he's jet-lagged, even if we've been home for months. [Laughs.] Me? I'm up at like 6 a.m. With my trainer, running up the hill you drove up to get here.

LB: Most annoying habit?

KKW: I think he gets really annoyed because I just hate fittings. I'll just be like,"Ah, I can't find something to wear." I get so worked up every time I'm rushing; I get annoyed with rushing. Then I get in a bad mood—I'm so cranky. I hate being late.

KW: It's so hard to do fittings [for Yeezy] because we want to do things that are inspiring, that people could look at and say, "Wow, I like that color palette, I could put that together." And there are so many images of things that it's almost impossible to have your clothes go up against the amount you're seeing and carry it into one language. That's why I'm always fighting either to have a house work with us or to head a house. It's a lifestyle I can totally see: the future, modern Versailles, modern Versace, modern Calabasas, paparazzi, celebrity language. I just want to build a collection that's around me and my wife and my kids. Because Kris and the family, they have the power of communication. This is the number one communications company.

LB: You're saying you've got the power of the idea.

KW: The idea. I know I wasn't allowed to go to fashion school; I can't cut a dress like Galliano, right? But I had enough wherewithal to go to that studio on my first collection and bring Kim, [stylist] Christine Centenera, Ian Connor, Theophilus London, Virgil Abloh...they all came down to [Vetements/Balenciaga designer] Demna Gvasalia's studio that night and hung out. (And then Demna, as you probably know, he worked on Yeezy Season 1.) Anyway, I want to say a controversial thing for this article...

LB: I'm ready.

KKW: Laura's question was, What's annoying?

KW: What designer on the planet can sell, consistently, 40,000 shoes. In two minutes?

KKW: One minute.

LB: Wow. Yeezy does it. Okay, change of subject. Favorite selfie pose?

KKW: I love a selfie in the mirror.

KW: I love her nude selfies. Like, I love the ones from the side, the back ones, and the front. I just love seeing her naked; I love nudity. And I love beautiful shapes. I feel like it's almost a Renaissance thing, a painting, a modern version of a painting. I think it's important for Kim to have her figure. To not show it would be like Adele not singing.

LB: Kanye, nude selfies?

KW: I used to do nude selfies in my single days.You'd get a good cock shot here and there. [Laughs.] Gotta keep it rock 'n' roll.

LB: I'd assume scale is important.

KW: Yeah, it's all about scale. You don't become a rock star for no reason.

LB: Who's more vain?

KKW: I mean, me.

KW: Yeah, I think she has vanity. And with me, I don't give a fuck, bro; it is what it is. I'm the best—now what? I don't know if that's a vain statement. I don't particularly like photos of myself, though.

KKW: Yeah, what is the definition of vain? I want to look up exactly what the definition is.[Googles.] Vain, definition: "having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth."

LB: Speaking of pride, tweets you're proud of and tweets you regret.

KKW: I don't regret any tweets. I'm not a tweeter and deleter. So I have no regrets.

KW: She hates tweeters and deleters.

LB: Kim, blonde or brunette?

KKW: Blonde. Brunette is who I am obviously, it's my core. Blonde Kim is this alter ego; she has a vibe to her that I love.

LB: Could you have predicted the reaction to your nude selfie with the black bars?

KKW: I was about to get in the shower; I took a nude selfie, kept it in my phone for over a year. I just liked the picture, so I was like,"Let me put censor bars on it and post it." I don't do things to be like, "This is powerful. I'm going to show you guys that this is my 'message.''' I'm not that type of person. I'm empowered by it, but I'm not doing it specifically to show power.

LB: It was a weird response because we've all seen your body before.

KKW: Yeah, that's what was so shocking. And when I put the bars on it, it was more covered up than a bikini!

LB: What was the last thing you bought yourselves and each other?

KKW: The last thing I bought was a pair of Isabel Marant sandals. I don't wear flats, so it's hard for me to buy sandals. Kanye is the hardest person to buy something for, so I bought…

KW: You extended the bathroom and bedroom on the house.

KKW: I rented an island for his birthday. A far, far away place where no one can find us.

KW: You see, those are the type of statements that make people not like us, more so than the "I'm the best" statement. It's more the "Oh, yeah, I just rented an island for his birthday ..." You know in Meet the Parents, Owen Wilson's character? All of our shit is like Owen Wilson's character; he's like, "This is when we jumped off Mount Everest, and we wore turtle flight suits or whatever."

LB: Is there anything you wish the world didn't know about you?

KKW: Definitely. I was going to say some ugly looks and stuff.

KW: Some pregnancy stuff. You killed this second pregnancy, though.Your body slammed that crap. You made that second pregnancy your bitch.

KKW: I wish I had a little bit more privacy.

LB: Okay, TV shows you binge-watch?

KW/KKW: Empire.

LB: What would you do if you were invisible?

KW: Women's locker room.

KKW: I would probably creepily follow my kids around, see how they act, see what they talk about. I record my daughter just talking because the things she says are so funny. I could watch her talk all day.

KW: Yeah, maybe. See, Kim? Yours is so much nicer than mine.

LB: What makes you both laugh?

KKW: Kanye just says the funniest analogies that are so random. I should start keeping a book—in 20 years, I'll have a big book of analogies.They always make me laugh.

KW: Kim's just a funny person in general.

KKW: But I don't get credit for being funny; it's, like, not a thing.

KW: I think my sense of humor is really dark and super twisted and stuff like that. It's like, "Is this a funny joke for real? Or am I just rich?" See? That was funny.


LB: What would you bring to a desert island?

KKW: My kids. My phone.

KW: Not me. [Laughs.] I would bring my laptop and the Internet.

LB: How would you like to be remembered?

KKW: I'd like to be remembered as someone who was smart in business, works hard, and can be sexy and a mom. A powerful but still sexy, nonconforming woman. And I would hope that Kanye would be remembered for being smart and sticking to what he believes.

KW: Determined. I would say my determination is way higher than my smartness.

KKW: A lot of people have strong beliefs, but they don't have the confidence to really stick to them. I really respect Kanye for that.

LB: I personally really enjoy your use of capital letters.

KW: Yeah, all caps. Next time I'm doing all raps in all caps.

KKW: Kanye, what do you want to be remembered for?

KW: Your answer was so much better. I was going to say the whole thing about global warming and we're all going to be gone.

Source: www.harpersbazaar.com

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I Can Never Be Tired Of Acting - Empress Njamah

I Can Never Be Tired Of Acting - Empress Njamah

Adeboye   07:30:00   No comments:

Most people won’t forget the sad end of the romance between musician Timaya and Empress Njamah in a hurry. Though she’s moved on long ago and apparently delved into other businesses, Njamah’s reputation as a top notch actor is still intact. Declining questions on her relationship with Timaya, she speaks with DGossip247 about many other issues.

Your roles in movies have reduced, are you tired of acting?

I can never be tired of acting because it is something I have great passion for. All my life I have been an actress and I cannot think of quitting now. There are other things I am engaged in which need equal attention as well. But I intend to appear more in movies now; so expect to see me often.

You must have made a lot of money from acting?

Well, it is not all about the money but the passion one has for the job. Acting has been sustaining me from day one and it is still paying part of my bills. I have another business I’m focusing on, but I thank God.

At what point did you venture into make-up?

I’ve been doing it for a long time. The bridal make-up comes up almost every weekend. After finishing one job, I get another one from it and it goes on like that. Bridal make-up has been very okay.

What is your sincere assessment of the industry?

The only constant thing in this life is change and the Nigerian movie has been able to evolve with this change over the years. You can’t compare the movies that were made in the ’90s with the ones shot in 2015. I believe there is a big improvement in all areas, and things will only get better in Nollywood.

Why do you shun most entertainment or social events?

It is far different from the way you see it. The fact that I’m not gracing all the red carpets events does not mean I have shunned them. You don’t expect me to gate-crash events; I only attend the ones I’m invited to. I could be busy with other things too and there is a clash. I just have to sacrifice one thing for the other because it is not possible to be in two places at the same time.

Was being an actor a childhood fantasy?

Every part of me has always wanted to be an actor. My brothers are in the movie industry, so I would say acting runs in the family. We are proud and happy of what we’ve achieved. It helps to have a brother who does the same thing that you do. We learn from one another.

Do you have a new movie project you are working on?

Yes I have, but I am not ready to let the cat out of the bag. All I can say is for people to watch out for some new materials from me.

You’ve had your share of controversies in the past, how have you been able to avoid more of such?

In life, nothing good comes easy and you should always understand that you are a public figure. But if other people have decided not to mind their businesses and keep passing negative comments about another person, I think it is their own problem and headache. I have learnt to keep to myself and mind my own business. I don’t care about what people say and God has been my rock.

How does it feel when you read or hear unpleasant stories about you?

I just say to myself “they have come again” and I move on with my life. I owe nobody any explanations.

Why do you think it’s hard for Nigerian celebrities to stay in their marriages?

We all have our differences, motivations and what we want in a marriage. It is important to identify what exactly one wants in a marriage before going into it. Without this, one could rush in and rush out. The fact that something worked out for one person does not mean it would work out for another. We shouldn’t speak badly of marriages because no one knows what the couples are going through. Most importantly we should learn to put God first in marriage and whatever we lay our hands on.

Are you in a relationship at the moment?

I don’t want to talk about that. I like to keep my private life private.

Could you point at one period when things started working for you?

Every bit of my life was and will always be a turning point. I did not have a very special time but God has been faithful to me over the years and I remain grateful to him. I am aware that God is the one that crowns all our efforts as humans. No matter how hard working one is, without the blessing of God, it is in vain.

How do you describe yourself?

I am just a fun loving and sociable person. I spend so much time with the children from my foundation; I love them very much. As much as I love to be a ro u n d m y l o v e d ones, I find so m u c h peace in the comfort of my home. I play a lot but when it is time to be serious I don’t joke. I am not a fan of hypocrisy and gossip.

Why did you relocate to Abuja?

I needed to change my environment and Abuja is also a lovely place to live in. Also, I have my boutique in Abuja and there is need to monitor my business.

How do you give back to the society?

I give back to the society in so many ways. The major way I give back is through the Empress Njamah Foundation, a foundation I have been running successfully for 10 years now. I am so happy that most of the children are now grown-ups and are doing well.

Sometimes it looks difficult to carry on, but God has always been faithful at the end of it all. I built classrooms for them because I know that most of these children are very intelligent, especially the blind ones. To make the children happy always, I try as much as possible to celebrate with them eight times in a year.

I want them to feel loved all the time. On May 27, Children’s Day, I would be holding a party for them in Abuja. I’m l o o k – i n g f o r – w a rd to and excited a b o u t that

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How I Escaped Death During June 12 Crisis — Ooni

How I Escaped Death During June 12 Crisis — Ooni

Adeboye   16:00:00   No comments:

At a time the spate of violence across Nigeria seems to be threatening national security, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, offers a valuable intervention, in this interview conducted at his palace preparatory to a non-violence programme, Peace Icons and the NMVA, coordinated by veteran broadcaster and cultural activist , Mr. Cally Ikpe. The monarch, who has passion for getting the teeming youths of Nigeria gainfully engaged, examines the country’s rate of violence within the context of the role of the youths and concludes that addressing the challenge is an urgent issue of national interest. He ascended the throne in December, 2015.

 Your concern about the youths in the country is well known especially on empowerment and youth violence. How concerned are you about the spate of violence everywhere in the country? 

I am indeed very concerned because if you look at the statistics of those engaging in violence all over the world, they are mostly youths between the ages of 18 and 40 years. Those formative years you don’t have proper balance. You will rarely see someone of about 60 or 80 years engaging in violence. Between the ages of 10 and 18, you will easily see people in that category engage in violence. But at above 18, you will start developing the rebellious spirit that ‘I can be on my own, I don’t want to be to taught again, I think I can stand on my own’, peer influence and all sorts of advice from bad fellowship. So it pretty much has to do with the formative years and it really has to be carefully guided. 

What do you say about people being under the impression that violence is profitable and and maybe somehow government is encouraging it? 

 Ooni Ogunwusi I don’t believe in that school of thought that violence is profitable You can spin violence in different ways. You can spin it in a positive or negative way. One is very productive, the other is counterproductive. When you spin violence in a negative manner, then it becomes very destructive, When you spin violence in a very positive manner, you become constructive. If you look at the pioneers of this country, they were not violent but they stood up to save this country and they were young men. The likes of Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Azikiwe among others. So my point is that violence cannot be called any other name than violence if is destructive. In Nigeria today, over 70 percent of the youths are jobless. Nothing is moving for them, so they intend to look for the easiest way out by saying that if I decide to go against the law, I will make quick money and I can oppress other people. It is a systemic thing, you don’t just probably think violence is profitable. If they had alternatives, I don’t think they will embrace violence. I don’t belong to that school of thought, my school of thought is let the system work, let the system run, then we can separate the grain from the chaff. 

Do you think government is actually doing enough to discourage this trend because, sometimes, we have seen government trying to go into negotiations with kidnappers, Boko Haram terrorists, hijackers, blackmailers and other criminal elements? 

It is neither here nor there. When such a situation comes up, you look at the overall interest and what is the overall interest? National security. Any time national security comes in, that is when government may try negotiating because the country is bigger than all of us but violence is simply bad. What is bad is bad. The truth is that things are not working. I think we can spin it in a different way. And the way we can spin it is for the youths to take things upon themselves and be more responsible, we should not put everything to government. We should stand up like a united force. If we have good leadership in terms of youth associations, I think government will listen, but if we say we want to put everything to government by saying they are doing less, you can’t satisfy 70 percent of 180 million people. The rate at which our population has grown over the last 20 to 30 years is in geometric progression and there has not been much plan and much provision for that rapid population growth. So it is important for us to rise to the occasion. Once we rise up to that occasion, it can reduce on gradual basis.

At some points in your life, you may have experienced violence in one form or the other which you may want to share? 

Violence is not a good thing, I keep saying it. I experienced the killing and maiming of people during the June 12, 1993 crisis and I pray it never happens again. I had to walk more than 20 kilometres, it was actually God that saved me that day. It was really bad. People got so frustrated, they were burning houses and burning people alive, I pray never to experience such a thing again. The entire Western Nigeria was on fire, nothing was working, and everything became grounded. And that was as a result of frustration, the frustration got to the peak. So, something must have pushed the youths to that level of violence. But you cannot blackmail a nation or hold a nation to ransom, if such is done, it then becomes a national security issue. And national security comes first. It is important because that is the essence of a nation and it is a growing concern. That is what actually makes government to bend over backwards to now readjust and say `we will negotiate’. They don’t want to negotiate but sometimes the hands of government are tied to negotiate. But we, the youths, should we be known for that?

Should we have that kind of name forever? 

I don’t think it is right. We should come together at some point, some of our leaders now played important roles in governance when they were in that age bracket. Some of them were governors, we have seen one who became the President as a youth and he is still alive, we have seen a lot of them who were in the parliament between late 20s and early 30s. So what are our youths doing? I will keep talking about it, because I am very passionate about it, as I have actually built a big capacity that can actually assist the youths. The youths can do many things other than violence. The chair that I am sitting on now was actually made by some youths. That is why I am building good followership among the youths so that we can work together. I am not in government, I am just a monarch but I am using my platform to encourage youths to quit violence. I am a living example of the saying that charity begins at home. My crown is made in Nigeria , most of the things I use are made in Nigeria. My policy is that the minimum of 60 -70 percent of what I wear should be made in Nigeria. Unfortunately, my wristwatch is not made in Nigeria but we will get there.

This is a youth programme and the audience will be interested in the kind of music that appeals to you? 

(Prolonged laughter) Made in Nigeria music. Like I said earlier on, charity begins at home. We are very talented in this country, Nigerians sing very good music even in Africa. We are very talented people. I have a lot of them actually. I like King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, I like old school music, the very old school music that is full of wisdom. I listen to them a lot because I learn from them. And the music of this generation, interestingly, I like the guy that sang Double Wahala for Dead Bodi, Oritse Femi because his music makes sense but people don’t really listen to whatever he says, they jsut listen to the beats. But if you listen to his music deeply, it makes a lot of sense

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I Hate Acting - Maryam Elisha

I Hate Acting - Maryam Elisha

Adeboye   03:53:00   No comments:

Kebbi State-born fashion designer and ex-beauty queen, Maryam Elisha, is the Chief Executive Officer of Rikaoto By Me. She speaks with DGossip247 about her life and fashion label

Did you train to become a fashion designer?

Yes I did. After I studied English at the University of Lagos, I went for further training at the New Jersey Fashion School, United States of America.

Did you plan to become a model?

I began modelling when I was in secondary school. One day, I was on my way home from school when I noticed a guy was following me. I became scared and I walked as fast as my legs could carry me. He chased after me and said he wanted me to join his modelling agency. I invited him to discuss with my elder sister and after that I began modelling. Afterwards, I moved to South Africa but I returned to Nigeria because I could not cope.

You were Miss Valentine 2007. How did the experience impact your life?

Being a celebrity or beauty queen goes beyond looking good and dressing well. What makes you a celebrity is how many people you have impacted positively and how many more who look up to you. During my reign, I learnt how to develop relationships with people. Becoming a beauty queen also gave me the push to do all that I have ever dreamt of doing.It was a good take off point for all my projects. I have no regrets and it has created several opportunities for success.

How did you decide on the name, Rikaoto By Me, for your fashion house?

Rikaoto is my native name and it means fruitful. When I was about to set up my brand, I thought of so many names. I wanted something that symbolised growth and Rikaoto came to mind. It has worked for me since then.

Your designs have been recognised at international pageants.

With my background as a model, beauty queen and pageant judge, I know what judges look out for. It is rare for a contestant wearing my design at international pageants not to win or emerge in the top five. For instance, the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2015, Unoaku Anyadike, emerged the top five during the modelling competition at Miss World 2015. Also, Miss Tourism Nigeria 2014, Collette Nwadike, was the first black woman to win the Exquisite Face of the Universe in 2015. She also won the best outfit at the pageant.

How have you been able to handle the fame that comes with your career?

It can be challenging sometimes. There are certain things I cannot do, which other people can without fear or favour. I do not have a lot of privacy because I am always in the limelight, but I have privacy at home.

Do guys like you because of your beauty or money?

Most people like celebrities for different reasons. Some like the way I dress, my character, personality, charity works, designs or my beauty. I have friends at different levels. Luckily, I do not have a lot of haters and my fans do not post bad comments about me.

What precautions do you take to avoid scandals?

I have not had scandals because I do things the way they are supposed to be done. If you have to be a celebrity, you must be a role model and earn that respect. You must affect other people and impact their lives.

You are also involved in charity.

Yes, I founded my charity foundation, Save Tomorrow Today, about seven years ago. There are about 40 children under the care of the foundation. We monitor their education and feed some of them. We also get sponsors for their education and I have contributed a lot to help them through my brand.

Are you looking to give acting a shot in the near future?

I am not the kind of girl that wants to be seen in front of the camera. I like to do business in my office and figure out how to make money. I prefer to do that than stay in front of the television all day and not make as much money.

What plans do you have for marriage?

I do not like to discuss my relationships in interviews but I will let people know when the time is right. I like a God-fearing guy, who will see me as a friend, sister and can advice me. It does not matter if the guy is tall or short, he must respect women because most guys do not.

What is your beauty regimen like?

I do not indulge in a lot of routines, but I am lucky to have a good skin. I go for facials once in a while and I do not use harmful creams or bleaching creams. I use baby lotions.

How would you describe your style?

Style is the way you combine your outfit and carriage to create a sense for yourself.

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Tribalism Is Major Problem In Nollywood – Ronke Oshodi

Tribalism Is Major Problem In Nollywood – Ronke Oshodi

Adeboye   03:17:00   No comments:

Ondo State born multitalented Yoruba actress, Ronke Ojo, popularly known as Ronke Oshodi Oke, has starred in over 70 Yoruba movies. She is loved and highly respected in Nollywood because of her creativity and wits. In this interview with DGossip247, the actress, musician, director cum producer, she speaks extensively on her journey to the world of make-believe, marriage and music

What has been happening to you in recent times?

I’ve been working on my album. I want to go into music. I’ve been saying that for a very long time and I have done some tracks. I featured Pasuma, 9ice and Oritsefemi. I have done about five tracks.

I’m also working on two projects, one is ‘Osun Shegese’, its a story about Osun Oshogbo itself and the other is, ‘Feyintola Olobi’, that’s also a true life story of one of my big mummies in Ilesha.

A story of a woman that suffered from birth till she was 70. Basically, those are the three projects I’m working on and by the special grace of God, they are going to come out before the end of this year.

Are you not discouraged by some of your colleagues who have tried going into music and it didn’t work for them?

Like I always say, I love challenges. We are in the entertainment industry directly or indirectly.

Everybody wants to showcase what he or she has inside. I wouldn’t call it rivalry; if you are selling something and I’m selling the same thing, you would want yours to be unique and I would mine too.

So I can’t say I’m really threatened; on the other hand, I’m not too bold because whatever I do, I won’t say I’m the best. I can only try, so I don’t think I’m threatened by anyone. I’m not too afraid of coming out to sing.

How would you describe your genre of music?

I actually do a universal music.

How soon are we expecting an album?

The album would be coming out before the end of this year.

How is marriage life?

I bless God. I’m happily married to Mr. Sylvester Gbolahan and blessed with two wonderful children.

What are the modern day challenges confronting movie industry in Nigeria?

The number one challenge we have is tribalism, yes, coupled with not being under one umbrella.

I tell people, Americans love their country, that’s why they love themselves. Of course, they’ve got shortcomings as well but you won’t really see it the way you see it here in Nigeria.

This tribalism of a thing is actually our number one problem. A Yoruba man would not want to call an Igbo man to act in a movie and same with the Igbo people.

Especially we women; you know that person is your colleague and you will be giving her attitude. All these things to me are childish. That’s one thing about me, if I see any good actress, I approach her and compliment her.

When I come across some upcoming actresses that are good, I go to them and tell them that I am their fan. I’m a very blunt person, but I don’t know what our problem is in this industry.

Tribalism has really eaten deep into this industry. Even if I’m not on talking term with a particular person and I have a script and I see that the person is fit for the role, believe me, I will call the person to come in. It’s got nothing to do with our relationship, but I don’t know what our problem is.

So tribalism is our major problem in Nollywood; especially I f we are not under one umbrella.

So that is to say you are not dissing anyone in the industry?

My brother, believe me, I love everybody in their own way.

What other form of business do you do apart from movies and music?

I am a full time entertainer. I act, I sing, I anchor events.

When you feel the need to take a break off movies and music,how best do you do that?

I spend time with my family. People say I am homely; I don’t really like going out. I like watching movies and listening to music and I love my kitchen, as you can see, I’m very big

Your favourite perfumes and designers when it comes to fashion?

I am not a designer freak. Anything goes, so long as it is beautiful and cool. If it suits me and I’m comfortable in it, I’m fine with it.

What’s your take on nudity?

I don’t like it! I am a mother, its really sad that nudity is what most of our new actresses are promoting now.

Maybe if I was born twenty years ago, I might, you get what I am saying? But its not the way we were born and brought up. Of course, I am not just a Yoruba person, I am a woman of tradition and culture, why would I encourage or preach nudity?

It’s fake and that is what I tell people, we are Nigerians, we are African, we have got cultures and traditions here but we are derailing.

Exposure is fine, its a good thing to be exposed, but we are getting it wrong.

The indians, although, they have changed their style a little bit, you won’t see them encouraging nudity, and that is because they value their culture. So we too should not encourage it.

The Americans that are doing that, that is their way of life, that is the way they are brought up. Why do we have to emulate something that is not our culture?

What’s your life philosophy?

Be proud of yourself, be humble, be good to people, put smiles on people’s faces in your own little way.

What’s the craziest thing the media has ever reported about you?

If I tell you, you won’t believe it but I have never seen any. Do you know why? It’s because whatever the press sees is news to them and when the press is talking about you, it is either good or bad and that’s because you are still relevant in your society, if you are not, the press will not say anything about you.

So I don’t see anything bad in whatever they report. More importantly, I love my job, I have passion for my job, so if I see anything as a problem, I am going to derail, I don’t see the negative side of it, instead, I focus on the positive side of it.

How long have you been in the movie industry and what’s that height you still feel you are yet to attain in your career?

I am just starting, I have been doing movies for twenty years now.

For twenty years, you have been entertaining your fans, did your parents support you in the beginning?

No

Did you ever overcome that and how? My father is late now, he wanted me to go back to school and be a newscaster.

Its just few years ago, that you will see a Nigerian parent encouraging their children to go into movies. Unlike before, you dared not. No one wanted to be associated with theatre practitioners. In my own case, before my father died, he had no choice. Eventually, he and my mum became my number one fans and today, she is eating the fruits of her labour.

What do you want to be remembered for?

Like I said earlier, in my own little way, I like putting smiles on people’s faces. God willing, I want to try and make few people, encourage those who are serious about taking up a career in acting.

This is because when it comes to acting, everybody wants to act, everybody wants to be an entertainer but I really want to help the serious ones. I am here today because my boss, late Mufutau Oladokun Babaalaran, encouraged me both in and outside the industry too.

What do you have to say to those coming up?

Don’t look up to me or to any individual, Look up to God. Any other Ronke Oshodi Oke in this industry is fake, it can’t last, because it is art. You must think, you must be creative; create your own thing, don’t try to be anyone, be yourself. And to my fans, I love them, without them, there’s no me. They are everything I am today.

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‘I Won’t Date Anyman Against My Career’ - Mary Urantha

‘I Won’t Date Anyman Against My Career’ - Mary Urantha

Adeboye   14:32:00   No comments:

Vivacious actress, Mary Urantha, remains a stunner on screen and behind it. The seamlessly beautiful entertainer speaks about her career, family and marriage in this interview with DGossip247.com

You’ve had a stint in pageantry and you were a runner-up at Miss Niger Delta.

How was the experience and what lessons did you learn from it?

As far as pageantry is concerned, I was The Finest Girl on campus. I picked the form for Miss Nigeria, which I later did not go for because I fell ill. And one of the things that actually discouraged me was when I saw the politics in the contest; I just felt I should just stop here. I know that I don’t just have passion for pageantry, I have passion for anything entertainment. I can sing, I can dance and I can act.

You have a production company, 50th Film Academy. What motivated its establishment and does the name symbolise anything?

50th Film Academy is my own way of giving back to the society. The truth about it is that we have big plans for 50th Film, which hasn’t really taken off yet. It is a platform for training aspiring actors. 50th Film is a production company. We’ve done our first and second production. So, it’s a growing production company.

By the time we do up to five productions, people will get to know about us and then they can start coming in for training and production.

The motive for setting up 50th Film is to see how I can help my people because the industry is a clique thing, it is a family thing. I thought I could set up the academy to help talents from my state, Rivers State to afford them the opportunity to come into the industry. Already, they have started coming. But for now, we are yet to start training. We are concentrating on production in order to gain that ground, but we will eventually delve fully into training.

What were the initial challenges you faced as a fresher in Nollywood and how did you overcome them?

Challenges are part of life. Every industry comes with it is own challenge; it is not just peculiar to Nollywood. There is no sector that you find yourself that you won’t face challenges. So, for me, every challenge I faced at the early stage was part of the training.

Do you still find the industry competitive? And how do you handle the competition and stay successful in the industry?

I am not in competition with anyone. I do the best that I can and leave the rest to God. I don’t think getting into competition will make me bigger than I am today. By the grace of God, it’s been a gradual thing for me and I love it that way. That’s what defines me. I am not in competition with anyone.

How would you describe your personality? What don’t people know about you?

I’m a very calm person by nature. I don’t like to be in the eye of the public all the time. I hardly go out. That is something I would say people know about me. Anybody that knows me knows I am a very private person.

How fulfilling is it being in the spotlight always? Do you sometimes wish things were different or that you had another job?

I am happy being an actress. I couldn’t have wished for any other job, that is the truth. I love where I am. I love entertainment.

Is Mary Uranta in a relationship? What are your views about love and marriage?

Is Mary in a relationship? That is personal. Love and marriage is a good thing. Everybody wishes for love. Every woman wishes for marriage, but it is not something you die for.

When it comes, it comes. I can’t force myself into anything. When you force yourself into marriage, you find yourself coming out.

Love cannot stand in my way of career because first of all, I cannot date a man who doesn’t support my career. A man who loves me will love my passion, my career, everything around me. When you find a man who doesn’t love or support you, it is very simple, it just shows that the man is not for you. My first priority for a man is you must love my family. Career is even secondary. A man that loves you will love everything about you.

What beauty tips or routine do you indulge in to stay beautiful?

I don’t have any beauty routine. Let me shock you, I hardly go to the spa for facials. I have never done facials before in my entire life. It is funny, but it is the truth. I don’t even use a lightening cream, I do moisturizers. If you have seen my family, you will notice that I am the darkest. My siblings are white, that’s the truth.

What movie roles are you most comfortable with and which ones would you not dare play?

I’m comfortable with any role, that’s what makes me an actress. The only thing I can’t do is going nude. Some will say they can act with pant and bra, but for me, that’s nudity. I can’t do that. I can never do that because this is Africa.

This is not Hollywood. Maybe that is why I am not as famous as others.

Could you please shed light on your background and formative years?

I am from Queens’ Town in Opobo, Rivers State. I’m from a family of nine. Growing up for me was fun. We didn’t have issues at all. I don’t like to go deep into my growing up because I don’t know how to say that we were so rich, suddenly my father woke up one morning and said he had a covenant with God to serve Him.

And he abandoned everything else and dedicated his life to serving God. We are grateful daily that my father yielded to that call because he has taught us what life is all about and loving God. I think that is the best thing any father can give to any child and not riches. He taught us the right way and till tomorrow, he is still my mentor.

He actually went to school and studied and had lots of degrees that would make him feed to the end of his life. And with all the positions he held before he resigned, I am proud of him.

My father resigned at Michelin as the first African Michelin Manager in Rivers state. He woke up one morning and said, “God said I should resign and go and serve him and leave everything”.

And that’s how he left. Shell was one company everybody was fighting to be part of. Shell came to the village to look for my father. They came down to ask for Albert Uranta and that was how he was employed. My father has a doctorate degree.

He is a civil engineer and an architect. He was so brilliant. He was the best student in his class. That was why Shell had to come looking for him in the village. I don’t like disclosing this part of my life because I don’t know how to say I was born with a sliver spoon. We were so rich and all of a sudden we lost that silver spoon. But that was how it happened. Life wasn’t difficult if you ask me, because we all looked up to our father. You see a man who has been having the best things of life, and all of a sudden you see him putting his mat in the house of God. We had the basic things of life.

I don’t think I will have asked for anything more than that. If I have my way, I will even want to be a child again because my parents are very lovely people.

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Kennis Music Has Given Me What I Have Always Wanted – Joe El

Kennis Music Has Given Me What I Have Always Wanted – Joe El

Adeboye   07:05:00   No comments:

Kennis Music artiste, Joe El, speaks about his music and other related matters in a chat with DGossip247.com.

How did you delve into music?

I started in church like most people. I was about nine years old then when I joined the junior choir in my church in Sokoto State. Later, I formed my own music group. I started writing songs while I was in secondary school. It was then I realised that I wanted to take up music as a career.

How did you get signed on with Kennis Music?

I got signed on with Kennis Music in 2010. I was supposed to get signed on with Tuface Idibia’s former record label, Hypertek Entertainment. I guess the deal did not work out because their focus was on Tuface and they did not want to sign anyone then. After that, I met Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye. They listened to my songs; we booked an appointment and discussed the contract. A lot of people thought Kennis Music searched for and discovered me but I was the one who went in search of them.

Did you go to Hypertek initially because of your resemblance with Tuface?

Tuface has inspired me a lot. Apart from the fact that we look alike, which I have been told a lot of times, he and my mum are from Benue State and we speak the same dialect. I see him as a big brother and mentor. I saw him as someone that could grant me easy access to the industry, but things did not work out the way I wanted.

Why couldn’t you secure a contract at Hypertek or did they feel you would compete with Tuface?

It was because I did not really make my intentions clear to them. I planned to fix another appointment with the management but it never happened.

Do you regret not being signed on with them?

Not really. Sincerely, Kennis music has been doing for me what I have always wanted – the fame and achieving my dreams among other things. Moreover, I have a song which I did with Tuface, so it is as good as having both record labels in the picture.

There are talks that artistes who are signed to Kennis Music do not receive good treatment?

People always ask if I plan to leave Kennis Music and some have persuaded me to leave the record label, but where would I go to if I leave? I would not have become popular if I was not brought to limelight by Kennis Music. I prayed and fasted for God to fix me up with a good record label and He did it. Kenny Ogungbe, whom I fondly call Baba Keke, is like a father to me and I no longer see him as the chief executive officer. If I have any problem, I go to his house to discuss it. That is the best way issues between artistes and managers should be handled. Issues are not settled by taking each other to court. I will always appreciate him because he has done a lot for me.

Initially when you began making music, a lot of people mistook you for Tuface. Would you consider that as your first claim to fame?

It contributed to making me popular. When people saw my first video, some confronted me to find out if I was Tuface or if we were related. People tried to insult me because they thought I was imitating him, but I did not let it get to me. Instead, I took advantage of the situation and turned it around for my own good.

How have you been able to handle the fame?

It has been wonderful. Kennis Music, as one of the pioneers, has done a lot for me and all I can do is listen and obey simple instructions.

Did you see yourself getting to this point in your career?

I never doubted myself. My success is a function of hard work, focus and belief in myself. I knew that one day; God will put me in the same spotlight with the A-list superstars.

Has the fame translated to money?

Yes, it has and I thank God for creating a means of survival. If the money was not forthcoming, I would not still be doing music. I would have been complaining.

Have you had any beef from other artistes?

I have had beefs, but I also have them under control. I do not have to go to social media to announce it or let people know I am having issues with other artistes. I just pray to God.

How do you relate with female fans?

I am not the first male artiste. I do not take advantage of female fans; I try to be as nice as I can and also keep my distance. For the daring ones, I put them off politely.

Are you in a relationship?

Yes, I am; I am not searching.

What are your fashion preferences?

I like to wear black always. With black, you hardly go wrong. I do not like too wear too many colours at any point in time.

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I Make Money When I’m Insulted On Social Media – Foluke Daramola

I Make Money When I’m Insulted On Social Media – Foluke Daramola

Adeboye   07:13:00   No comments:

Popular Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola-Salako, got more than she bargained for last week when she aired her opinion about gender equality as fans and foes abused her nonstop. On her Instagram page recently, she had posted that the role of a man and a woman is not the same as men are meant to be the head while women should submit to them.

This did not go down well with some of her followers on Instgram as they pounced on her, abusing her and calling her unprintable names. The actress did not take it easy with them as she lashed back at them. Before long, a war of words ensued.

In a chat with Saturday Beats, the actress explained why she blew a fuse.

She said, “What got me upset was the fact that there are some things people talk about but they are not able to back it up with facts. When you say gender equality, the role of a man can never be de-emphasised to the role of a woman. That is why Hillary and Bill Clinton cannot be the president of the US at the same time. Bill Clinton had to teach her the grinds and she followed suit. The bible says that the man would love the woman and she would submit and respect the man. That position can never be overemphasised. I just wanted to drive some message home but later on, I felt it was not really worth it. When you have a bad mindset, there is no how another person can change it. My own position as a gender-based activist is not for the woman to be competing with the man but to complement him. In the scheme of things, the man would always be the head and the woman would be the neck. It does not mean that the woman cannot turn the head to whatever direction she feels like.”

She said that unknown to many, she intentionally created the crisis because such rancor actually strengthens her brand and fetch her more money.

“The backlash is nothing to me, I just wanted to drive home a point. My own stand point is that of most reasonable women. Take for instance, Omotola Jalade has come a long way and she has been able to keep her home. It is just because she has a little bit of feminism in her. She has been able to balance her home and her career and that is why she has been successful. At the end of the day when people are talking, they should be able to think deeply and not just talk from the surface. The funny thing is that things like that increase my fan base. If there was no conflict, no one would go to my page to find out what is going on. It makes my account more active and the more the merrier for me. Don’t forget that I am a brand, when things like that happen, it is more money for me. It is an advantage to me. The reason I actually answered was because I wanted to create a crisis. When Foluke talks, everyone would want to know what is happening and that is what makes the world more interesting.”

The actress was recently hosted at Ojodu Junior School, Lagos, at an event organised by Bayo Adetu, where she gave a career talk to the students. She further told Saturday Beats why she was a part of the event.

“This is my passion and it is what I like to do. I like to impact on the younger generation. It starts from now. I want the tendency for showbiz to be watered down and the thirst for education to be increased,” she said.

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Stop Spreading False Rumours About Me - Yul Edochie

Stop Spreading False Rumours About Me - Yul Edochie

Adeboye   16:58:00   No comments:

Following his success and career, lots of false rumours have been spread about popular Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie.

Last week, it was reported that he has a terrible accident, this is one of the series of attempt in smearing his name, another example is the gay who resides in Canada and claimed, they had something going.

However, Yul has figured out why all these are happening to him.
In a brief chat with DGossip247.com, the proud father of three said; As a celebrity or a successful person in life you should expect such things. Challenges, temptations will always come your way.

People will try to bring you down. It’s normal. But I focus on where I’m heading to and I just take them in my stride and move on. I believe God will keep me where he has put me."

He also talked about how his father influenced his carrer: ?"No extra push from my father. He encouraged me to follow my passion, my dream, which is being an actor and film director. That’s all. But I worked hard on my own to be here. I started from the scratch."

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Toni Payne Is A Super Woman — Ruggedman

Toni Payne Is A Super Woman — Ruggedman

Adeboye   07:23:00   No comments:

Ace rapper and music producer, Michael Stephens, aka Ruggedman, opens up on his career and some controversies

What projects are you working on currently?


Presently, I am working on new songs, videos, promoting my clothing line and a concert. I recently shot the video for my track, 8 Figures (TSW remix), in which I featured Ice Prince. I am also working on a few other tracks, which I do not want to disclose at this time. I have been recording new music with Olamide, Oritsefemi, Solidstar, Glenmenna and 2face. I have also been creating new designs for my clothing line, Twentieth September Wear. Recently, I released the song, titled Seyi Shay. I featured Olamide in it and it is doing very well. We are already making plans to shoot the video.

What is the secret of your longevity in the industry?

I have been real from the outset till today. I have also adapted to every change in the music industry. I have been able to do more than just music and God has never failed me. The fact that I am a very creative and hard-working person contributed to making me relevant.

You have been caught up in several controversies at different points in your career. Did you consider them to be as threats to your career?

I do not see controversies as a threat; I see them as part of life’s lessons, which I have learnt a lot from. I see them as reality checks and most of them helped in further engraving my name on the Nigerian music industry. Ruggedman’s career is a story on its own. In fact, it has been action-packed. I have even been approached to make a movie out of it.

How did you pull through?

I pulled through by being real, staying true to myself and being vocal about it. I never faked anything and never backed down from speaking the truth when necessary. I am a good guy and on one of those situations, the truth finally came out years later; I was exonerated.

What is your relationship with 9ice and Toni Payne?

9ice is my friend and colleague who I had a misunderstanding with; and Toni Payne is a super woman and a very good friend. She was the first person to put my music and videos online. She was also the first person to do an online interview with Ruggedman. She helped in the production of the first set of TSW shirts that were manufactured abroad and that is why I will always appreciate her.

What lessons did you take away from the whole episode?

I learnt to always be true. Be careful how close you get to people and how close you let them get to you. Finally, expect any and everything from human beings. That is why nothing surprises me anymore. I do my best to handle a situation that arises and I move on positively.

What could be the reason some of your colleagues have beef with you sometimes?

I do not know any colleague of mine who is aggrieved by me. I only had personal issues with a friend that was blown out of proportion because we did not handle it on time. So if a colleague of mine says he or she has a beef with me, please ask them why. If anyone has a beef with me and doesn’t let me know, it should not bother me.

What inspired your song, Seyi Shay? Are you crushing on her?

It is the biggest crush you can find. She is hot, a great singer, real and her hustling spirit is the turn on for me. The inspiration came when I saw her dance in a music video. The way she moved made me wish to see her dance to my song like that. So there and then, I decided to title my next dance track, Seyi Shay. Featuring Olamide made it a bang.

Why have you refused to get married?

If my fans believe that, then they should be asked who or what gave them that impression. I never said anything like that.

In the past, you dated Isio Wanogho and Olaide Olaogun. Why didn’t any of those relationships lead to marriage?

I only dated Isio. Olaide and I have been friends, even before I met Isio. People date and break up and it happened with us.

What attracts you to a woman?

Her carriage, sense of humour, nice personality and sense of responsibility appeal to me.

What else are you passionate about apart from music?

I love movies, playing and watching soccer. I do a lot of charity work and it is not just because I am a United Nations Peace Ambassador. I love to give back whenever I get the chance to do so.

What does style mean to you and what influences the way you dress?

Style to me is how I wear what I wear and what makes me feel and look good. I love casual wear a lot and I guess that was why I kicked off my TSW clothing line with casual wear.

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God Endowed Me With So Much Beauty – Laide Bakare

God Endowed Me With So Much Beauty – Laide Bakare

Adeboye   07:13:00   No comments:

Background

I am an actress and I own a record label called Simline Records. I am from Ibadan, Oyo State. I have a diploma in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, and a degree in History and Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos.

Early years

My early years as an actress were a new experience for me. Prior to that time, I was in school and I hardly ever went out or visited places. It was quite adventurous for me and I began to love it.

Simline Records

Simline Records is a new entrant in the Nigerian music industry and we kicked off with talented artistes. We are not competing with any music label; we want to do what we know how to do best and that is the entertainment business. So I do not see anything competitive in doing my business. My focus is not to be better than the already established record labels but to put in my best to make sure I do not have any regret. It might look competitive but I am not competing with anyone.

Laide Bakare Foundation

My not-for-profit organisation is named Laide Bakare Foundation. We are concerned about the girl child and we also address the issue of early marriage. But I cannot really say much about it as it is still in the planning stage. We are also planning to give back to the society. Also, we are working on our Simline Film School and the details will be made known to the public in due time.

Business management

I do not have a hard time managing my businesses. They do not really clash because I have an able and reliable management team. I delegate assignments to the most capable hands that can handle the responsibilities.

Philosophy

I am most grateful to God for who I am today. Everything I lay my hands on becomes successful. I joined the entertainment industry when I was in the university. I did it by the side during my leisure and focused on my studies as well. I was not anxious or hungry for the fame at that time. I got more involved in the industry during my national youth service. It has always been one step at a time for me. I have never really been anxious about anything. I wanted to be a good mother, wife and an established chief executive officer of my own business. Everything has fallen in place and I have never lacked anything. I am grateful for everything I have accomplished today.

Motherhood

Motherhood has been my best experience ever. My family comes first before everything I do. I am not so keen about money and then neglect my family. Family comes first and every other thing follows. I am grateful that has God shaped me into everything I wanted to be.

Challenges

I do not believe in challenges and I have never really been faced with any challenge. I believe everything happens for a purpose. Life itself is full of ups and downs. We can only put in our best, but we cannot control situations around us. Also, we cannot question God for positioning things the way they are.

Privacy

I have never been known to make my personal life public knowledge. I cherish my home a lot because it is my source of happiness. News about my family would be of no benefit to anybody’s life but me.

Longevity

The secret of my longevity lies in who I am. I am an extremely private person and that was why people were surprised that I ventured into the entertainment industry. But I am business-minded and I wanted to make money. I have been in the industry since I was 16 years old. I know a lot about my industry and I have always kept a low profile. I do not care about any impression people have about me; I know myself more than they know me and that has always worked for me.

Beauty

I see myself as a goddess. I am lucky that God endowed me with so much beauty. I seldom apply make-up and when I do, it is for professional reasons. My skin has always been smooth, beautiful and spotless. I have never had a single pimple on my face or any part of my body. Why do I have to go through the trouble of wearing heavy make-up? I do not apply any special cream and I do not have a beauty routine.

Fashion

Style to me means comfort. If I have to wear a dress, I make sure it is short; I do not like long dresses and I don’t like to wear skinny jeans. My favourite fashion accessories are wristwatches and bags.

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Dangote Is My Celebrity Crush – Sylvya Oluchy

Dangote Is My Celebrity Crush – Sylvya Oluchy

Adeboye   05:49:00   No comments:

Beautiful Sylvya Oluchy is one of the faces that have made remarkable progress in the short period she has been in the Nollywood industry. She won the Most Promising Act of the Year award at the 2013 Best of Nollywood Awards and has gone ahead to win several others. In this phone interview with DGossip247, she opens up on how her mother influenced her acting career and the desire to get married soon


Brief background

My parents are both from Aguata LGA in Anambra State. I was born and raised in Abuja. I am the youngest of six children. However, I attended nursery and half of primary school in Finchley, London. My Secondary school was at the School for the Gifted in Gwagwalada, Abuja. I am a Theatre Arts graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and I attended film school at the Art Institute of Dallas.

What was growing up like?

Growing up was fun. I was attached and close to my mother being the youngest child. I recall being teased a lot because of my accent on returning from the UK. My classmates bullied me, saying ‘why are you speaking funny?’ However I had tons of fun growing up. We travelled a lot and my parents were always there for us.

Have you always wanted to be an actress?

As a little girl, I never wanted to be an actor. I was science inclined and nerdy while growing up. However, w h e n we returned to Nigeria and the bullying started, I didn’t have a lot of friends because I didn’t fit in. So when I got home, I would demonstrate and imitate all my teachers and classmates to my mother and she would say continuously, ‘You’ll make a great actor someday’.

I grew up hearing this and it slowly seeped into my subconscious. When the time to enroll into the university came, my mother said, ‘Try Theatre Arts if you don’t like it, you can switch’. I entered the university and from my first day on stage, I fell in love with art and the rest is history as they say.

When did you make the big decision to join Nollywood? And which year did you officially debut?

I decided to join Nollywood when I entered the university. During the holidays, I would go to Enugu and audition for movie roles; I got a few small roles then too. However, I moved to Lagos after my NYSC in 2011 and took up acting full time since then.

Were both parents in support of your chosen career?

I lost my m o t h e r in 2006. My dad wa s n ’ t overly e x – cited about my choice of study in the university but after he watched my first movie, he became sold on the idea and has been my biggest supporter ever since.

Mention some of the movies you’ve acted.

Bent Arrows, On Bended Knees, Lekki Wives, Being Mrs. Elliot, Losing Control, Duplicity and so many others.

As an actress, would you be involved in scenes that have to do with heavy romance -like kissing and bedroom scenes?

It all depends on the script and the director, the relevance of the scene to the overall story telling; how tasteful the director will be in the execution of such a scene.

What of acting nude? Would you do it and what can make you accept such roles?

Same rule applies. It depends on the script in question and the director.

Since joining the industry, have you had issues of sexual harassment from producer/ director in the industry?

It happens in every sector of the economy not just entertainment. It requires you not being desperate and able to walk away. You must weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision that satisfies your selfinterest. However, it’s something I hope as a people we can sanitize and purge society of the ailment.

As a young girl growing up, can you recall when you had your first kiss? Do you still keep in touch with the guy?

Some things are better left unsaid. However, I maintain a healthy and friendly relationship with most of my exs.

Do you believe in love at first sight and have you ever experienced it?

Yes I do. Perhaps, not at first sight per se but I believe you can feel so strongly about a person and have a deep connection after just one date or a few hours of knowing someone. Yes, I’ve experienced it but don’t ask me with whom.

Who is your celebrity man crush, both in Nigeria and abroad?

My celebrity crush is not a celebrity in the sense of the word I think you mean. I’ve always been attracted to nerdy guys and I like Elon Musk and the Google guys, Brin Sergey and Larry Page. Dangote is my Nigerian celebrity crush.

You were once quoted to have said that you are yet to fall in love. Has that changed in recent times?

No. Nothing has changed. I’m still looking for my other half. I am not in a relationship at the moment. I would love to get married soon however.

What are the qualities you expect from your man?

I adore men with high IQ, sense of humour and most importantly, a man who is slow to judge others but tries to see the good in everyone. Physically, I like men who work out and take good care of their bodies and hygiene.

Describe your fashion style.

My fashion style keeps evolving and changing. I am not a creature of habit and routine. I like different styles at different moments in time. However, I am and will always be a team natural when it comes to my hair because my hair is my crown and I’m proud of the way God made it. I like a touch of Ankara here and there for that Afrocentric vibe and I love bright bold colours.

What kind of clothes make up your wardrobe?

I wear more dresses than anything else. They say if you want to be dressed, buy a dress! I love dresses and skirts over trousers. I’m kind of girly like that. I own lots of heels, handbags and accessories.

What’s your beauty routine?

I work out a lot. I love to keep fit. I switch my workouts between yoga, boxing, swimming, jogging and going to the gym. I drink lots of water, eat fruits and vegetables daily. For my hair and skin, I swear by coconut oil. Beauty I believe shines best from the inside out. You are what you eat.

Your favourite accessories?

Earrings are my least favourite accessory ironically. Rings and neck pieces are my best.

What is your passion?

I have a couple of things I’m very passionate about. The first is acting. I’m also passionate about technology because science was my first love. I love the way technology has shaped and changed the world today.

Mention some of the awards you’ve won.

They are: Most Promising Actress at Best of Nollywood Awards, 2013; Best Rising Star at Nollywood Movies Awards, 2012 and Best New Actress at City People Entertainment Awards, 2012.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

I see myself married with a child. I would have produced my own movie by then and risen to great heights in my career.

Describe Sylvia in three words.

Kind, creative and ambitious.

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I Thank God For The Kind Of Wife I Have – Gbenga Adeyinka

I Thank God For The Kind Of Wife I Have – Gbenga Adeyinka

Adeboye   05:25:00   No comments:

His first introduction was an appearance at a function about 10 years ago. Since then, Gbenga Adeyinka has so mastered his art that he has become one of the very best in the business. The graduate of English from the University of Lagos is the first Nigerian Stand-up comedian to have performed in the 36 states of the federation. In this exclusive interview, he shares with DGossip247, top secrets about his personal life and plans for the future

Why comedy? 

Comedy for me is more like an everyday thing; I only discovered it on the campus of the University of Lagos after which I went professional. It’s something that comes naturally to me, I try not to force it, when it comes naturally, it’s always a sterling performance.

I worked in my uncle’s engineering firm after I left UNILAG, but after a while, I felt I wasn’t enjoying my job. It was the regular 9-5 for me and I wanted more and that was when I met Ali Baba, Akin Akindele and later Tee A. The rest, as they say, is history. I was brought up by a lot of uncles and aunties as a community project. They were not very happy but I had made up my mind and the fear of failure made me push on.

What has really kept you going as a successful entertainer?

What has kept me going is the fear of failure. Unfortunately for me, I’ve been thrown into the ocean of relative success. And not sustaining it would be a sign of career failure. So, that keeps me going; the desire to forge ahead and break new grounds.

The desire to prove people wrong, because a lot of people have said, and I know, that, ‘Gbenga Adeyinka is not funny; he’s not supposed to be doing this’. So, the desire to prove a lot of people wrong has kept me going and the desire to build a career also. But most importantly is the desire to continue to feed my family. It’s a hunger-inspired project. I have to continue feeding them and if I fail, then that is going to stop. That’s it basically.

As a successful comedian, what in your view are the qualities that make one successful in the industry?

I think it’s understanding that what we do is show business; a little show and a lot of business. Be committed to your art, be original, and try to create something for yourself. You can steal from other people -the dress sense of somebody, the appearance of another person, the delivery of another person – but you have to put all that together to form you, so that people won’t say ‘that guy sounds like or looks like’. If you can find that perfect thing and God is with you, I think your prayers are beginning to be answered.

Who are the people you understudied in your formative days?

The funny thing is that I understudied everybody. I understudied Ali Baba. I liked something about everybody. So what I did was that I tried as much as possible to pick one or two things from people, but for me, my most brazen mentor was Ali. I picked a couple of things from Akin Akindele too.

I was fortunate there were people who were already doing this, who were successful when I started. So, I knew what I wanted and what I wanted to do. And I knew what I did not want to do because there were some people I really liked too but in my estimation, I might be wrong, but they were getting it wrong, so I picked the good things and left what I thought they were doing wrong and God was good to me.

What would you say stands you out from the crowd?

They call it versatility. It’s my ability to work with a small corporate crowd and the ability to work with a large concert crowd. I think one thing a comedian has to have is versatility. Better still, let me just break it down. I describe it as knowing what is apt. It’s not enough to be funny but also knowing what is ideal.

If I am going for a corporate event, there are jokes I cannot tell there and the same thing goes for a large concert. It’s not every event you go to that you must tell a joke and that is what a lot of my younger colleagues don’t understand. It’s not all about jokes, but communicating with the audience and making sure they have a nice time. It’s about being interactive and that is what I tried at the beginning to learn. Having information about what you are going to do.

If you are going to talk to doctors for instance, a doctor will be more relaxed when he knows that this guy knows some medical terminologies. So, through your jokes, they will say this one is not an illiterate but when you don’t know that, there will be a disconnect. So the ability to know something about everything is one of the things that helped me.

As a graduate going into comedy, how did you cope with the pressure, particularly with the fact that your peers must have been in the banks and so on?

When I started comedy, my family was very upset with me. In fact, they had a town hall meeting because of me. They were like,’ after sending him to the best schools, he says he wants to be Baba Sala…Olorun maje (God forbid)’. One, I had an understanding wife. Two, I was not ashamed to do anything.

Then I was doing children party entertainment, I had clowns and mascots. I would paint my face and so on. I believe if I was in London or America, I would not be doing one job; it’s any job I see to make legitimate money that I would do, so why can’t I do it here? So then, I was doing clowning and still pushing being a Master of Ceremony. It got to a point that I knew I could not do that anymore; that this has sort of become more profitable. And my wife understood what it meant to build…it was rough.

There were times all we would have to eat would be concoction. My wife did not eat Ponmo until she married me but we kept pushing. We have not gotten there yet, but if we look back, where we are now is different from where we were back then and that is what is still pushing me. Because if God could have taken you from there, it means he can take you further. It was not easy, there were days fuel would finish in my car and I would park it and walk home to look for money to buy fuel. If it was not rough, we won’t have a story to tell. It was rough, sometimes now it’s still rough but God has been good and you have to keep going.

How easy was it for you to contain yourself when you made your first million?

How easy? It was easy. Let me tell you the problem I have. No matter how rich I am, there is somebody richer than me in my family. No matter how successful I am, there are people in my family who have achieved so much. I am lucky to come from a family that is not poor but I believe everybody must work hard to achieve something for himself. So I feel fulfilled with what God has done for me. And one thing I have also realised in life is that empty barrels make a lot of noise. I think the more God does for you, the more sober you become.

That is what I have observed with rich people I have met. I met somebody who is my role model; he came to my show with his children. That was when I first started and he said he liked my show. He was like it’s my birthday and I would like you to organise some comedians for me.

That was the first time I saw one million in my life. When I went to the man’s house, I wanted to die. The bottom line is, if people could be that rich and be humble why can’t I? So, any time I achieve something, it humbles me because I don’t see what makes me more special than every other person. Like I always tell people, I am probably one of the luckiest persons or luckiest comedians because it’s amazing how God continues to open doors.

Can you recall some of the funny moments you have had?

My best moment was when I held my son for the first time. That was when I realised I had become a man. I have had three other most embarrassing moments. The first one was back then when I was in the university. I was sleeping on the bed with my legs wide open.

I didn’t know my trousers were torn and my ‘Mandela’ was free. My roommate’s girlfriend knocked and I was feeling too lazy to open the door so I shouted and told her to come in. She came in with two of her friends, all females.

My roommate came in about five minutes later to tell me to ‘park’ well because my ‘Mandela’ was free in the open. The most recent was in the United Kingdom at the Nigerian Corner of the Nottinghill Carnival. One of the performers, a female, was dressed in such attire that left me bewildered.

While pondering what convinced her to dress in such attire, a photographer caught my gaze and many people wondered if I was actually looking at something else. Professionally, I have been embarrassed as well. I had a concert for Star in Ejigbo, Lagos, and I drove to Ejigbo in Oyo State and started looking for the venue of the concert only to realise that the event was actually in Lagos!

When will you join the rest of your colleagues in politics?

I believe it’s not time yet for me, one must not just follow the crowd because that’s the fashionable thing to do. I surely will, God willing, but not now.

If you were to serve Nigerians through politics, which capacity would you prefer to serve?

I would love to be a law maker and rise through the ranks.

How does it feel, being the first and only comedian to tour the 36 states of the federation and how were you able to create such record?

I feel privileged and humbled. It could only have been God. I was able to do this largely with STAR and private gigs.

Perhaps for staying with you in your low period, I understand you hold your wife in high esteem. How did you meet her?

Well, I was working with my uncle at Sparklight Engineering. She was with Amsel finance. She was their company secretary and legal adviser. I was going for lunch and I saw her at the staircase. I liked her and was like ‘excuse me, are you married’?

She said no and I said I want to marry you. She said, ha! and walked away. I kept following up and when two people are meant to be together, the rest is history. I have been blessed in life. I had nothing when I met my wife.

When I say nothing, I mean nothing. I had no savings, I had nothing. In fact, I got married immediately after I left university, which was the year after youth service. She had just finished serving too and we got married with nothing. During the marriage preparation, my uncle gave me his Benz 200 to use for that period.

So I knew I had to return the car when we got married. The money we were sprayed at the wedding was about one hundred and fifteen thousand Naira and when I told my wife about my intention to use the money to buy a car, she said yes. When we bought the car, our account was zero. So I will be very stupid if I don’t value a woman like that. Then the question would be why don’t I take her everywhere?

Why don’t they see her the way they see other comedians’ wives? From day one, I made up my mind that if I do show business, I’m going to be the one in show business. I want to take my family away from the bright light and all that because I have seen what that kind of life has done to families. I have seen how it has broken families and how the children have gone astray, thinking that they are more important than they are. And that is what I tell my children, that there is nothing that makes you different from the son of a mechanic.

I am hustling, so you are a son of a hustler. People say why don’t you take your wife to shows and I ask why doesn’t she take me to court when she is going for cases? We have a relationship where we understand that out there is out there and at home is home.

We are sane, there is sanity. And that is why I don’t do business at home. There are very few people that can say they know my house. I keep my family away from the madness. I might be wrong and those who do it, I am not saying they are wrong because that is their own belief, their way of showing love or their building their brand up but my own belief is different.

How have you kept safe from ladies who may have been jostling for your attention?

I’m looking at my big stomach. Men with big stomach are not attractive to ladies. Nobody likes me. ’Dey say monkey no fine, im mama like am. Na only my wife like me and I like am like that’. But honestly, I know what a broken home can do to children. I have experienced that and I will not allow my children experience it. That is one of the things that keeps me sane, keeps me grounded. Nobody is a saint but that is one of the things that keep me grounded.

What dictates your fashion statement?

I wear anything that makes me comfortable and anything that will not show my stomach. I hate it when my stomach pro t rudes and that is why I keep doing everything I can to make this stomach go down. I am not very wild with fashion, that is why you will not see me in red shirt and yellow trouser; that is why most times, I prefer to wear a suit because you can never go wrong with it. And when I started doing native, I do something simple with my logo on it. That is it for me.

What comes to your mind each time you reminisce about what your wife went through with you?

I thank God. Like I always tell people, if your home succeeds as a man, it’s not you, it’s your wife. If your home is destroyed as a man, it’s some of you and more of your wife. I just thank God for the kind of wife He gave me. If I don’t see my wife in two weeks, I know she’s either in church or her work or she’s praying for me. It’s very rare for a man to honestly say that. I know a lot of people say it, but I know my wife can never ever cheat on me. Never! I know.

Which is the best form of relaxation for you?

I love to watch movies, football and read. I also hang out a lot with close circle of friends. I play hard because I work very hard.

Is Gbanga Adeyinka giving back to his society?

Yes I am, but my belief is that whatever you do for people is between you and your God and not to be advertised cheaply.

What’s the most challenging thing a Nigerian comedian faces either on regular basics or occasionally?

Creating jokes, living up to expectation and being taken seriously.

Kindly highlight, if there’s any, things the media, your fans or the general public have always misunderstood about your personality?

I’m a very shy and private person but because of what I do, nobody will believe that.

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