Entertainment
PH AMP Set For AMAA 2016
Nollywood practitioners during AGN election in Pixy Hotels Ltd, Port Harcourt
The Association of
Movies Producers (AMP) Rivers State chapter is leaving no stone unturned as they prepare to play host to other producers who are expected to attend the 12th edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on Saturday 11th June 2016.
The chairman of the Association in the state, Mr Fisim Lawson Young Arny, expressed hope that the event will not only attract constellation of stars in the entertainment world to Rivers State, but will help boost the image of the state as a movie-producing state and attract investment to the industry.
He congratulated the organizers of the event for choosing Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital as host of the continental event for the first time since its 12 years of existence. He recalled that the prestigious Pan African Reward System for motion pictures practitioners makes its debut in the garden city after it was successfully held for nine consecutive times in Bayelsa State, one in Abuja, Lagos and Port Elizabeth in South Africa. He described it as a great opportunity for movie practitioners in the South-South geo-political zone and the Nollywood clan.
Already the social media is awash with the information as nomination gala will hold on May 11th as part of the scheduled pre AMAA activities, while the rebranded Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is the official broadcast partner for live telecast to over 100 million people across the globe. Other media partners signed to broadcast the event include: Africa Magic, OHTV Uk, SABC South Africa and ONTV.
In a statement jointly signed by the state Commissioner for culture & Tourism, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide (on behalf of the state governor, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the founder of the awards organization, Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, hosting the award this year will be the beginning of a partnership that will add immense value to the people of the state and the host city in particular as the government is determined to position Port Harcourt as a destination of choice in Nigeria and West Africa.
“We are repositioning Rivers State as a State ready for business to Nigerians and the rest of the world and our partnership with AMAA will become a veritable platform to attract tourists, global and Nigerian icons in business and the entertainment industry. We want to showcase Rivers State as a peaceful place where socio-economic activities thrive and also the hospitality of our people.
There is a huge economy around entertainment and show-business in Port Harcourt” Mrs Briggs said.
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.”