Entertainment
Zee World, Telemundo, Killing Nigerian Movies – Zebrudaya
Veteran comic actor, Chika Okpala, popularly known as Chief Zebrudaya has lamented that foreign Television Channels like Telemundo and Zee World have won Nigerian fans over to the bletrinent of local channels as indigenous drama series were being ignored.
He stressed that foreign soaps like Mexican soups, Telemundo and Zee World and the rest of them have flooded our TV screens now and our indigenous TV series are suffering. Those popular programmes like The New Masquerade, Cock Crow at Dawn, the Village Head Master, Hotel De Jordan etc were left to slip away.
The legendary actor disclosed that the lack of sponsorship has hindered the production of most TV series in the country,. The 69 years old comic actor also noted that old TV series were left abandoned because sponsor withdrew.
He said the dwindling economy is the major problem of production in the country and lack of sponsorship has contributed to the dearth of programmes on TV stations in the country.
Chief Zebrudaya expressed optimism that if those programmes were still being aired, actors, actresses producers, directors and many Nollywood practitioners be employed and people will be entertainer also. The private sector complained about the economy and without the economy being vibrant you cannot push the people, they cannot do productions without it yielding something substantial to take care of the families.
“If you engage an artiste and he performs for free today, tomorrow, he may not because he has to pay his rent and take care of other things”, he said.
The Nigeria comedy pioneer and entertainment icon his advised the Federal Government to factor in the role of the entertainment industry in national development stressing that key actors are not recognized in Nigeria. They were being celebrated in other countries like Gambia, where the president of Gambia honoured over 17 of them with a plot of land in choice locations in the country but generally I have not seen the Nigerian society being special to us, they don’t even know that we exist”, he stressed.
Okpala who spoke during a press briefing in Abuja to announce the public presentation of a new movie titled “I Believe” which stars Desmond Eliot, Patience Ozokwor and other key Nollywood actors supported by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) disclosed that government has not been supportive to him and some other colleagues who were part of the popular 80s comedy show, “The New Masquerade.” They only think of themselves and ignore others.
He noted that only one individual called prophet T.B. Joshua of the synagogue Church of All Nations responds to the problems of people “if he calls you and wants to honour you, he will give you one car and one million naira, which Nigeria as a whole cannot do”. He cried out that even the suggestion by the former finance minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala that the nations entertainment industry was adding a lot to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria has been swept to aside and thrown away”.
Okpala stated that they know that there is no event or gathering that takes place in Nigeria today without entertainment, yet government don’t want to recognize the industry.
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.’