Entertainment
One Thousand Artists For Port Harcourt Dance Festival
Over one thousand Art
ists from around the world are expected in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital this October for the International Festival of Contemporary Dance (IFCOD).
The festival which is at the instance of Mona Dance school Port Harcourt is part of the effort by the organisation to make Rivers State the hub of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of Mona Dance school Port Harcourt Mrs Elo Inyeinengi-Etomi who briefed newsmen on the forth coming event in her office in Port Harcourt also said that the festival will create awareness on the economic value of dance and other arts in the society. Mrs Etomi said that dance plays a pivotal role in the entertainment industry as it combines both music and drama to achieve its goal.
She said that the festival will play consistent role in the development of the Art industry in the various communities across the state.
According to her, apart from making the state the hub of the Arts industry the festival will also help in the creation of employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
She also said that, the international festival of contemporary Dance also seeks to harness the abundant local talents and resources for the improvement of the society.
Mrs Etomi said that the Arts industry has done so much in selling Nigerians image abroad, while also bringing millions of Foreign exchange to the economy, adding that the economic contribution of Artists to Nigeria and other countries was indications that there are no longer the under dogs that people take them to be.
She said that the activities of Mona Dance school over the years have changed the perception of the public about dance stressing that at the moment dance as a subject is being taught in over 26 schools in Port Harcourt.
Mrs Etomi however, stressed the need for the support of the government, multinational corporations and other organizations to ensure the success of the forth-coming programme.
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”