Pic - Stephanie Okeke and Jim Iyke
More and more Nollywood stars and filmmakers are still mourning and crying over the recent and sad demise of globally acclaimed Pop star Michael Jackson, recently, after suffering a cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home, US.
Leading the pack of mourners is top actor cum Hip-hop debutant Jim Iyke. In an emotion-laden voice, the talented thespian that just breezed in from the US, where he just finished work on a trans-Atlantic big budget movie, said the world has lost an entertainment icon. “Michael Jackson was no doubt an icon of unprecedented presence. Many will come and go in the course of our history, but come what may, there will never ever be another MJ”.
Also lamenting, the trio of Oby Edozieh, Stephanie Okereke and Steph Nora Okere, who are top actresses in Nollywood, said the news of Jackson’s exit came to them as a rude shock. In the words of Edozieh, “I could not do anything the day Michael died. I felt so sad and that feeling has not left me. Mike truly touched lives and would be greatly missed”.
While baring her heavy heart to us, actress cum TV presenter of Bold Faces, Tricia Eseigbe, said she could not hold back tears when the sad news reached her. “My brother, Mike inspired my going into showbiz at a very tender age. I cried all day when I confirmed the news of his death. Death or not, he lives on in my life and that of many others globally”.
For Barrister Sam Kargbo, the Abuja based honcho of SKP productions; Jackson’s death has left a big vacuum on the global entertainment scene. The lawyer whose label discovered X-Project, and has continued to nurture them for almost a decade, further hinted that his exit was a big blow to all his fans globally.
“There can never be another Jackson, he was truly loved globally.”
Mr. Joseph Odobeatu, the boss of O’Jez Music and Entertainment Centre, opined that aside the untimely death, he was also looking forward to the day Jackson would visit Nigeria. “That dream is no longer realistic, because the cold hands of death has denied us of that once-in-life-time opportunity. However, we are planning something big for him at O’Jez soon”.
While lamenting the irreparable loss, Nigerian born Swedish based Afro-Hip-hop crooner, Lurrenz hinted he was looking forward to attending Jackson’s over-publicized concert in London, next month. “I cannot go again, because Mike is no more. He really influenced my going into showbiz”.
According to ace filmmaker and the president of Nollywood Association for Better Anambra (NABA), Mr. Obi Madubogwu, the sad news spoilt his mood for the whole day. “Initially, I thought it was a joke, but it dawned on me when it was confirmed. Since his death, I’ve not stopped playing his songs, but the irony is that they keep bringing back sad memories.”
It would be recalled that Jackson, the undisputed king of Pop died on June 25, 2009 at age 50. Showbiz Bits also joined Nollywood and the rest of the world in mourning this music legend, whose soul lifting songs immensely helped to heal our troubled world and souls.
The Ahizes’ fetes stars and associates
Lagos literally stood still for politician and international businessman Chief Charles Ahize and his pretty wife penultimate Sunday evening, when they threw a lavish birthday soiree for their last daughter, Zeenachi Kayla, who just clocked one.
The classy and hugely attended event, which held at the upscale Fun Factory, Lekki, Lagos, attracted the who-is-who as well as some leading entertainers in the movie, music and comedy sectors.
Pic - BracketWhile sultry actress Bimbo Akintola and tested actor Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey led the team from Nollywood to the event, Nigga Raw and Yori-Yori crooners, Bracket, were fully in charge of the team from the music industry.
Representing the team from the comedy sector was ace rib-cracker, Ali Baba, who came very late to the grand gathering with Mary, his wife.
Swathed in an all white Linen attire, Chief Ahize, who drove to the event in his glittering Phantom Rolls Royce, played the good host, by personally serving his specially invited guests with choice drinks and assorted dishes.
The Obigbo founder was so busy serving and ensuring that all went well at the bash, even to the extent of refusing to sit for just a minute.
In fact, getting him for a group photograph with most of his A-List guests was very difficult, because he kept moving from seat to seat greeting and personally taking the orders of all his invited guests.
In a brief chat, elated Mrs. Mercy Ahize, his equally busy wife, said if feels real good celebrating the first birthday of her last daughter with friends, associates, family members and well – wishers.
She also thanked her darling husband for making the celebration possible in a grand style.
Also speaking, top actor Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, who was accompanied to the champagne-flowing bash by his wife and daughter, further disclosed that him and Chief Ahize married their wives from the same family. “I m not at this party as a Nollywood star, but as a member of the family. You can also see that I came with my family members for this party. We wish the baby many happy returns and long life,” he prayed.
Some of the Igbo big boys and society top shots spotted at the party include: Chief Mike Ikoku, the honcho of All Seasons Hotel and Mike Records, whom we gathered flew in from Owerri, Imo State specially for the event, Prince Emeka Obasi, the dandy publisher of Business Hallmark newspaper, Christopher Okobi, the CEO, Chriskobi Investment Limited, Chuks Okoroafor, CEO, Sectronics International Limited among others. Even the presence of Chief Ukaonu A Ukaonu, the Assistant Controller of Customs, further electrified the venue. He came with his wife and two lovely daughters and cracked many ribs with unending laughter before leaving. May be, he missed his earthly calling as a comedian.
Gathered authoritatively that the after party train later moved to the palatial Lagos home of the Ahizes’, from where it continued till very late into the night.
NFVCB unveils magpie
Mr. Emeka Mba and his very creative team at the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), in their continued efforts to digitalize the new distribution framework and make the system easy and user friendly, through its ICT unit, has created a special software application called Magpie. According to them, it’s a system that will enable film and video distributors track the progress of their film throughout the process of classification. A major concern in the business of media and communication is the ability to store and retrieve information quickly and accurately. The enormous quantity of information and data available in the business of censorship and classification of movies is much that the traditional methods of information and data use are grossly inadequate. The use of the MAGPIE SUITE of applications by the NFVCB is therefore to ensure timely and accurate assessment of data for effective and efficient delivery of services. Also, the
system will ensure the sharing of information both within the corporate network and the Internet. Other value added services inherent in this system is to help automate and improve workflow processes. It will also enhance the effectiveness of the board’s censorship and classification processes. The applications are in three forms: the classifier, link master and sms engine. While the Classifier encapsulates the business logic in the process of censorship and classification of films and video works, the link master is an application employed in manipulating the repository of data relating to operators in the film and video work industry.
The Short Message service (SMS) has achieved a huge success in the wireless world; because billions of SMS messages are sent everyday, which is complemented by the fact that virtually everybody owns a GSM phone.
SMS Services makes for ease of communication; with a mobile phone one can send and read SMS messages at any time, no matter where one is.
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