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THE NATION MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013
NEWS (SHOWBIZ)
Nigeria’s Wizkid wins Channel O’s best
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IGERIA had received 20 nominations and made a few, but remarkable wins, including the overall prize at the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards (CHOAMVA) which held Saturday night, at Walter Sisulu Square, Kliptown Soweto, South Africa. The biggest category, being the Most Gifted Video of the Year, featured an unusual 12 nominees, and was clinched by Ayodeji Balogun aka Wizkid for the music video Azonto. In its 10th edition, winners were chosen by music fans around the continent, who had voted for over two
•As P-Square gets special recognition award Stories by Victor Akande
months via sms, web and WAP, were announced at a ceremony that was broadcast live on Channel O. also winning from Nigeria, in the Most Gifted R&B Video was Banky W for Yes/No. The special recognition award – the only category decided by organisers of the show also went to Nigerian R&B duo P-Square. The brothers also proved they are still very much at the top of their game by taking home Most Gifted African West Video for Alingo. The presence of Jude
Okoye, P-Square’s brother and manager at the event, may have put to rest, insinuations that the former has called it quits with his brothers. Rumour of possible tussle broke when Jude was missing at the wedding of Peter, the onehalf of the singers, two weeks ago. Touted as the longestrunning and most highprofile awards event on the continent, the show featured the who-is-who of African entertainment and spectacular red carpet glamour. The prevent razzmatazz
was followed by an array of world-class performances, happening intermittently, as recipients came up stage to pick their plaques. Some of the acts of the night included Cassper Nyovest featuring Okmalumkooklat, Burna Boy, The Soil, Khuli Chana, Victoria Kimani, Buffalo Souljah, Wizkid, Aka featuring Da L.E.S., KCee, Lizha James, and Mafikizolo. The show which was jointly emceed by Naeto C and AKA, saw the latter also walked home with the CHOAMVA’s Most Gifted Hip Hop Video for Jealousy – one of the most hotly fought
Fast and furious race actor dies riding
genre categories on the night. A repeat broadcast of the
event will air on Wednesday on Channel O, organisers say.
Calabar Festival kicks off in style
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•Mixed feelings over actor’s death, replacement
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S the movie world mourns the death, Saturday, of Paul Walker, an undercover agent in the cash cow series, Fast and Furious, there arose mixed feelings among fans who juggle thoughts between the actor’s painful demise and curiosity over the re-scripting of the much anticipated 7th installment of the action film, gunning for next year. Walker who played agent Brian O’Conner in the movie was killed in a tragic car accident in California. He had been shooting the next installment of the Fast and Furious franchise in Atlanta, but was said to have returned home to California
•Wizkid
•The late Paul Walker, left with colleague
for thanksgiving when the accident occurred while on his way back from a charity event. The thespian was a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT driven by his longtime friend, Roger Rodas. Reports say Rodas lost control of the car and
crashed into a light pole and tree in the community of Valencia, north of Los Angeles. When police arrived at the scene of the accident, the car was in flames and the two men inside the car were declared dead at the scene. Walker, 40 is sur-
vived by a 15-year-old daughter named Meadow. The Fast and Furious brand which released its 6th outing last May is known to have topped box office sales chart at every release since 2001. The American street-racing action film started off with Paul Walker, Vin Diesel among others, and only just added Transporter star, Jason Statham in the last series. Concerns among fans of the series who have kept social media buzzing since Saturday is similar to the ones expressed two years ago when Andy Whitfield, the British star of US TV drama Spartacus died, and for a long while shut down production until Aussie actor, Liam McIntyre was brought in as replacement. Even then, McIntyre disclosed Whitfield’s shoes were too large for his legs. With so much intrigue, the 6th installment has heightened expectations, bringing the tale of Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker), and their fellow professional criminal/car racer types to a conclusion of sorts. It is said that not only was Fast and Furious 7 on the way, the sixth and seventh installments in the high-octane thrills franchise were shot back-toback with the addition of Statham. Chris Morgan who penned the last three chapters in the franchise is said to have scripted both the sixth and seventh movies. The 7th chapter has been shooting partly in Abu Dhabi since November 8. It is due to be released on August 7, 2014, but with the passing of Walker, the feasibility of the target date may depend on Morgan and how ‘fast and furious’ other factors may turn out.
ATURDAY night, marked the beginning of the line-up of events fin this year’s edition of the popular Calabar Carnival, with the ceremonial lighting of what organisers touted the tallest Xmas tree in Africa. True to their hype, the ceremony kicked-off with colour and panache, as it was witnessed by top celebrities, captains of industry, politicians and revelers, including the host governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who were treated to high octane entertainment at the Millennium Park, Calabar, Cross River State. The event, which lasted two hours, saw the lighting of the Christmas tree at midnight, accompanied with fireworks. Before then, there were performances by up and coming musicians discovered during auditions for the 2013 Festival. Ace comedian, I Go Die left the guests, which included the Governor’s wife, Obioma, Minister for Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke, former Military Governor of the state, Air Vice Marshal Gregory Agbonemi and Nollywood stars Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Gideon Okeke, Bryan Okwara and Executive Director of First Bank, Mr. UK Eke on the edge of their seats. “We remain that place in Nigeria where every Nigerian would be proud to be, where every Nigerian will say there is one state in Nigeria where you can see the governor walking about, associating with his people, he is not afraid, he is part of the crowd, and the people are warm, happy and beautiful”, Imoke said. While urging youth to make use of their talents, Imoke recalled that like music star, Inyanya, many talents are discovered every year during the festival. The governor contended that the two brands recognised by the world today are Nollywood and the Calabar Carnival, noting that, the tree-lighting exercise will go down in the record of Nigeria that next to the tallest and biggest flag in Nigeria is the tallest Christmas tree. Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, stressed the need for government to galvanise resources and train young artistes in order for them to use their creative abilities to better their lots. Duke also urged ‘Cross Riverians’ to find in each of them their creative talents that they may showcase to the world instead of waiting on government to provide their needs. He hinted that the siting of over N2 billion project for a creative academy in Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo Local Government Area remains a clear testimony of how important government holds the works of creative arts among youths in the area. Edem Duke also used the opportunity to announce the offer of 10 scholarships by the government of Trinidad and Tobago to provide opportunities for people to learn creative arts of carnival. He disclosed that the scholarship would be available from next year, adding that carnival has transformed from a street party into an economy. Executive Director Public Sector, South, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. UK Eke, lauded Cross River government for its initiative which has also helped in uniting people from several cultures while bringing happiness to Nigerians.
•Calabar biggest xmas tree