Entertainment
NBC Denies Blacklisting Artiste’s Song
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has denied media reports that it issued a statement placing a ban on some songs by popular Nigerian musicians.
The NBC Director, Idachaba Armstrong stated that the ban on five Nigerian songs which include: ‘Wo’ and “Wavy level” by Damide, ‘Fall’ and ‘if Remix’ by Davido and “Living things’ by 9ice did not come from the commission. According to the cable, maintaining that it is not the commission’s job to ban songs as the prerogative on whether or not to play songs lies with broadcast stations”, Mr. Armstrong said.
“First of all NBC is a commission not a corporation, nobody at NBC issued a statement to the effect. We can’t be issuing a statement on every album released in this country.
“The broadcaster has the responsibility to do the needful. NBC does not ban songs, we don’t have any business with the artistes. It is left with NBC to tell stations to ensure the songs and videos are fit for broadcast before putting them on air.
“The whole idea of offensive vulgarlyrics is the responsibility of broadcasters to ensure they don’t come on air. They are supposed to do what is called gate keeping and they should have editorial control over their content, but broadcasters now carelessly air songs without exercising that editorial discretion. They abdicate that responsibility and then expect us to star chasing them.”
Admitting that the songs are actually offensive and meant for clubs, Mr. Armstrong noted that broadcast stations are lazy and unprofessional their conduct and would be fined if found to contradict any NBC law.
“I have reliably gathered that some of those songs are actually offensive, regarding the lyrics, some of these songs are for clubs.
“These stations that should practice, self regulation are lazy and unprofessional in their conduct. We will impose the necessary sanctions on the stations if the stations contravene any of the broadcast code, they would be fined.
“Once NBC picks it up, we call the stations to order and impose the necessary fine first, we caution you, then impose a fine afterwards which can be between N50-N100k. But if they are recalcitrant, it can rise to N500k”, he said.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Health had also recently said the video to Olamide’s ‘wo’ violated the Tobacco Control Act. The 28-year-old rapper, who is signed to his own record label, YBNL, had returned to Ladi Lak in Bariga where he was raised to shoot the video of his latest single.
Twitting the information via its official handle, the Health Ministry claimed that the video which features ghetto scenes where youths can be smoking, encouraged second hand smoking.
In a communiqué, the ministry noted that in accordance with Section 9 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act, offenders are liable to a fine of at least N50,000 and/or six months imprisonment once convicted.
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.’