Entertainment
From Rags To Riches …Touching Stories Of Celebrities
Just like us, most Nigerian
celebrities didn’t always have an easy life before they became famous. From Joseph Benjamin working as a security guard to Timaya a plantain seller, most celebrities began their careers making an earning doing menial tasks. These celebrities had odd jobs before stardom, they include.
Patoranking
Patrick Nnaemeka, Patoranking didn’t always have things rosy. In fact, the Headies Award Next Rated Artiste for 2014 was a former bricklayer and rat poison seller on the streets of Lagos! He virtually rose from nothing to the star he is today.
Don Jazzy
Before Don Jazzy became famous and made fellow producers feel inferior, the Mavin Boss moved to London in the United Kingdom in 2000 after his uncle invited him to come play the drums for the neighbourhood church.He did various odd jobs including working at McDonalds as a security guard while trying to hit it big.
Joseph Benjamin
Who would even think that polished looking actor, model and voice over artiste, Joseph Benjamin was also once a bus conductor, security guard, waiter, bakery worker and a shoe seller? The MTN project fame host revealed in an interview that he went through various jobs before finally hitting it big in the movie industry.
Timaya
Back in the days, timaya was a great ‘hustter’ and a very good plantain seller. Yes! The Egberipapa 1 of Bayelsa was a plantain seller who lived with a lady who took him in after his landlord sent him packing in Port Harcourt.
P-Square
Although they are one of Africa’s biggest artistes now, but these two actually went through hell before the money started coming in Peter once worked as a super market attendant while Paul did some electrical repairs for money.
Banky W
It’s hard to believe but there was a time when Eme boss, Banky W took on the job of a sales boy to make money for studio time in the US. The RnB crooner worked in fast foods outlets, clothing stores and as a knife salesmany selling knives from door to door.
Mercy Johnson Okojie
Nollywood star actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie once opened up about life before the fame, money and marriage where she revealed how she rose from squalor to become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated stars. According to her, asides once living in an uncompleted building, she worked as a maid just to make ends meet.
John Okafor
For comic actor, John Okafor, he was not in anyway born with a silver spoon. In an interview recently, he said before he became a popular person, he sold firewood, a butcher and a hair stylist.
Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, aka Cubana Chief Priest, has said that his relationship with singer Davido is beyond money and gossip.
He stated this in a recent interview with BBC Igbo.
“Davido is my friend. He is my in-law; he married Chioma who is from Imo State where I hail from.
“So the relationship I have with Davido is beyond money and gossip,” he said.
DAILY POST reports that Chief Priest disclosed via his Instagram page that his outfit for the wedding of the singer, Davido and his wife, Chioma, in Lagos on Tuesday cost seven million Naira.
The socialite recently appreciated Davido for not “discarding” Chioma.
He stated that the DMW boss has made Imo State proud by choosing to marry from the state.
Nigerian singer Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has lent her voice to the ongoing anti-tax hike protests in Kenya.
The Tide’s source reports that Kenyan youths are marching against tax hike in widespread demonstrations tagged ‘RejectFinanceBill2024.’
Five people were shot dead and dozens wounded after police clashed with protesters who stormed the parliament building in Nairobi on Tuesday, according to Amnesty Kenya.
Reacting via her X handle on Tuesday night, Simi declared her support for the demonstrators.
She stated that “it is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights.”
The singer wrote, “I stand with the people of Kenya. It is both powerful and heartbreaking for a people to have to fight and die for freedoms and rights. Godspeed and Strength. [Hash tag] RejectFinanceBill2024.”
In a series of other posts, she wrote: “Wow. When you’ve had enough, the fight is almost inevitable.
“African leaders- have not you done enough?
“I can’t wait for the day Africa is not a weapon fashioned against Africans. All of this amazing Black power and human resource, but the majority are not likely to thrive unless they run.”
Famous Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Davido was spotted among other top artistes at Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour concert in Atlanta, Georgia.
Asake’s performance at his sold-out show at the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena in Atlanta began on August 16, 2024, and is set to run for 10 days.
In a trending video on social media, Davido appeared backstage with American rapper Quavo to support Asake during the live performance.
Other musicians in attendance included Nigerian hitmaker Zlatan and American rapper Russ Millions.
The Tide’s source reports that Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’ tour is set to cover six U.S. cities, where he will headline notable venues including Madison Square Garden in New York, the Toyota Center in Houston, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Asake’s tour comes just days after the release of his latest hit, ‘Lungu Boy,’ which features several superstars, including Wizkid, British rappers Central Cee and Stormzy, Travis Scott and Brazilian singer Ludmilla.
‘Lungu Boy’ set a new record for the biggest opening week on Spotify Nigeria, garnering 18.9 million streams in its opening week and breaking the previous record of 14.4 million streams held by Davido’s ‘Timeless.’