Entertainment
OSCARS Approves Pidgin English As Foreign Language
Nigerian movies in pidgin English now have a fighting chance at international feature film category of the OSCARS. According to Oloture, film director, Kenneth Gyang,top film executive, Mo Abudu helped Nollywood achieve the feat after extensive conversations with the Academy.
“ Pidgin English is now considered a foreign language at OSCARS, Ms Mo Abudu has been in communication with international features section of the academy about the possibility of entering our film made in pidgin through the Nigerian Oscar”,Gyang tweeted.
In the final stage of the extensive conversations, Abudu was requested to write a letter of justification which was approved by the academy. The latest development has since been communicated to the Nigerian Oscars Selection Committee (NOSC)
Recall Nigeria’s 2019 submission, Lion Heart, Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut was disqualified by the academy for violating the foreign language requirements. The history making film was well over 60 per cent in English.
However, a press statement released by Nigerian official selection committee for the academy awards has confirmed that the academy would now consider movies with dialogue in pidgin English, according to Chinese Anyene Abonyi NOSC chairperson, the feat was achieved after several months of being in communication with the academy as well as visits to Los Angeles
“ This approval as secured by the NOSC is a new feat for the industry and it is untrue if any other individual or entity claims such achievement as this is beyond mere visiting the academy without knowing the approval intricacies”, it said.
In the light of the new development, NOSC will now consider extending the submission deadline which ended at 11.59 Pm on October 2,2020..This according to the press statement will now allow over five filmmakers with pidgin English films to submit their films
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.”