Entertainment

Bole Festival Pulls Large Crowd – As Fun Seekers Defy Bad Weather

Published

4 years ago

August 13, 2021

There is no doubt that the entertainment industry in Port Harcourt is growing by leaps and bounds with innovative and creative ideas by the shakers and movers of the industry.
This came alive as Port Harcourt fun seekers defied the rain in their number and trooped into the main arena of Peace Park on Aba Road near the Airforce Base to participate in the Bole Festival, late afternoon penultimate Friday and Saturday.
The festival however, turned into carnival as the both side lines of that part of Aba Road witnessed gridlock. Fun lovers adorned different fashionable clothes like don green (jean upon jean), black T-shirt and black chino jean trouser and other assorted fashionable clothes which added more colour, pomp and pageantry to the festival.
Port Harcourt residents, especially those who took part in the festival would not forget so soon that the huge success achieved by the management team and the organisers of this event, as though there was no cash crunch in the nation’s economy, has proved that the entertainment industry in the state is rich and robust, waiting to be explored and tapped by both indigenous and foreign tourists.
Little wonder, despite the bad weather and the presence of fierce looking bouncers and other private security men at the main entrance into the Peace Park, the gate fee of two thousand Naira (N2,000,00) and the small pieces of bole in a foil plate which was sold at two thousand Naira (N2,000.00) participants did not mind as they queued up and paid in their number.
There were other festive lovers who could not find their way into the Peace Park proper, due to the large crowd, but brought their bole from volunteers in the main bowl of the peace park behind the wire cage on the counter.
Speaking to The Tide, the volunteers who preferred anonymity said they had to assist the organisers and the management of the bole festival was ensure that every fun seeker is treated as an important personality which was responsible for huge patronage. They also revealed that there were some patronisers in the festival, who did not have money on them, but availed themselves of the POS services rendered by the volunteers.
In the large crowd, The Tide spoke with a member of the management team, Mr Divine Agulu, who declined to grant interview, but promised to get in touch with the head of the media team of the event but did not return back whilst The Tide waited endlessly in the rain accompanied by cold breeze.
In another development, there were important lessons to learn from the bole festival, it has created employment amongst the teeming youths in the state, as they voluntarily elected to work as volunteers and to be paid handsomely for their services by the management of the festival.
Again, the bole festival has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that if the right atmosphere, innovation and creativity are put in place, the entertainment industry in the state has a lot to offer in the areas of employment, comic relief, fight against boredom which are elements of healthy living. In consideration of the huge crowd that was attracted by the bole festival, fun seekers in the city would be willing to pay any amount of money just to catch fun.
However, the two-day bole festival which shook Port Harcourt has come and gone, but the memory would continue to linger in the hearts of both the crowd who participated in the festival, the management and the organisers for a long time.

By: Okwein Parker/Newlife Sunday

Entertainment

Valentine’s Day: Streaming Of Heartbreak Songs Increased Massively-Spotify

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

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.

Entertainment

Tems Becomes Co-owner Of MLS Club

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

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.”

Entertainment

Toyin Lawani Cries Out Over Side Effects Of Epidural

Published

5 days ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

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.”