Entertainment
Gospel Artiste Launches Debut Album In PH …Seeks Encouragement Of Upcoming Stars
The Gospel Music Industry in Nigeria has received another boost following the recent launching of a new nine track debut album by an uprising music sensation, Mrs Vivian Humphrey amidst praise and worship, fun and glamour.
The album titled ‘Tamuno’ was launched on Sunday, January 19th 2020 at the Anzy Place, off Abacha Road GRA, Port Harcourt, under the chairmanship of Pastor Benibo Asonya of the Redeemed Christian Church, Winners Chapel Port Harcourt.
A large audience of Christian faithful attended the event including award winning gospel artistes such as Afy Douglas, sensational Dele and elder Dempsty who performed at the event.
The nine track album produced by Zerome Kussell contains songs such as Tamuno the album title, Yawch, He Reigns, My Joy has come and in your Grace. Others are Yekileme, Ft Pastor Famous George, Greater than All Ft Afy Dougls, Worthy of Praise ft Felegha Tokoni and Alagbeme ft Afy Douglas.
Speaking with The Tide Entertainment shortly after the album launch, the wave making songstress, Mrs. Vivian Humphrey gave gratitude to God for crowning her efforts with success. She said the success of the maiden album did not come on a platter of gold as she had to contend with some daunting challenges such as paucity of fund, promotion, marketing and production costs as well as logistics challenges.
On her journey into the music enclave, she disclosed that it was a divine calling a talent she discovered at a very tender age in her primary school days.
I started singing in the Assemblies of God Church, Mile One Diobu Port Harcourt at the age of eight later graduated to adult singing group.
In my secondary school days at Government Girls Secondary School, Harbour Road, Port Harcourt where I was made the Chapel Prefect I used to sing to my class mates in the hostel.
“Whenever I attended a church service or programme I was selected the choir mistress or lead singer, at a point I had a dream , God gave me a divine mandate to deliver his people from sin and bondage by preaching the gospel of salvation through music. When I explained the dream to may pastor, he encouraged me to do as the holy spirit directed me.
“So, in 2017 I started by writing songs based on our church’s prophetic theme, that was how my journey into the music industry started and since then I have not looked back and to the glory of God, I am progressing in my career as a gospel artiste”, she stated.
The gospel artiste who sings in both Kalabari and English languages disclosed that the beginning of her music career w as turbulent and full of disappointments and betrayals, but her husband stood solidly behind her and her children pushed her on through their encouraging words. Today she is very grateful to them for being there when she needed them most.
She recalled that at the initial stage of her career, she met a bad producer who took her money, but produced a song that was rejected by the public, radio and television stations due to its poor quality, but when the same song was given to another producer, he did a better job and the song was accepted by the public, it enjoyed a massive air play and became a commercial success.
The Kalabari born singer married to a Bayelsan, advised upcoming artistes not to relent in their efforts to show case their talents. She regretted that the older and established artistes do not carry the younger ones along rather they see the upcoming artistes as a threat to their career. She said if God calls you, He will surely back you up.
She called on her numerous fans to watch out for more of her life saving songs as the maiden album “Tamuno” is the herbinger of her better days ahead in the music industry.
Jacob Obinna
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.”