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Gbamu Gbamu: 9ICE AT IT AGAIN...READY TO ROLL AND RULE

Music lovers everywhere have been eagerly anticipating the release of 9ice’s new album all year! Now, we finally get a chance to listen to the first single from the new album ‘Tradition‘. The song is entitled ‘Gbamu Gbamu‘.
Read more details from the press release below and have a listen to the song!

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Multiple award winning Alapomeji recording artist 9ice has officially dropped the first single off his upcoming album “TRADITION”. The single titled “GBAMU GBAMU” is one of the many hit songs recorded by 9ice. The album which has been tagged “the most anticipated album of 2009″ features hit track after hit track, no instrumentals and no skits.

A fusion of proverbial lyrics in his mother tongue (Yoruba), a danceable tune, and a unique style that is known to belong to 9ice, Gbamu Gbamu gives a brief insight of what to expect from TRADITION. In Gbamu Gbamu, 9ice sings about how happy and content he is with his life, career, music and achievements. To start off the first verse it is clear he wants to audience to get up and dance as he tells them to put on their dancing shoes, and move their waistline while getting their groove on. He gives us a brief background history by stating matter of factly that if you want to know his “trick”, go back and ask for “omo Iya Agba ni oke aro” telling us in essence that, he may be 9ice but he has not forgotten his roots.

The track which was produced by ID Cabasa, is clearly a 9ice track and just the tip of the iceberg on what to expect on Tradition. Not leaving out his usual style of teaching and inspiring the listener through his music, 9ice makes statements such as “Ti oju Ba farabale a ri imu” ( a lesson in patience), and “Ifa Fani Lapo Ya, ore ma ma mu yo” ( a lesson about greed).

9ice, who is one of Nigeria’s hottest megastars and one of the youngest connoisseurs of our traditions, proves without a doubt that he is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. And as he said in Gbamu Gbamu, “as you pose, na so you go show”, you just cant fake real talent.

For additional questions and /or booking inquiries please contact booking@9iceonline.com

Listen to 9ice – Gbamu Gbamu

9ICE AT IT AGAIN

BIG BABE CAUGHT FOR SHOP LIFTING AT 'PRINCES' MALL GBAGADA

IT WAS A GORY SIGHT AS A MIDDLE AGE WOMAN WAS CAUGHT AT PRINCES MALL BESIDE DEEPER LIFE HQ GBAGADA. THIS SHAMEFUL SCENARIO PLAYED ITSELF AT ABOUT 9.AM MONDAY MORNING WHILE IT WAS DRILLING. ACCORDING TO THE SECURITY WHO CAUGHT THE SHOP LIFTER WHO DRIVE A BLUE TOYOTA ESTATE,'SHES BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME,BUT I FELT I SHOULD NOT EMBARRASS HER COZ SHE LOOKS QUITE OK' BUT ON THE PARTICULAR DAY SHE MET HER WATERLOO, SHE HAD COM E SHOPLIFTING SEVERAL ITEM WHICH SHE HID INSIDE HER BAG COVERED WITH A SCARF. AFTER HAVING MADE LIKE TEN TRIPS TO-AND FRO HER CAR,SHE WAS ACCOSTED BY THE GUARD, WHOM SHE EVEN YABBED THAT HE GUARD WANTED TO BEG HER FOR A TIP. JUST AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE AWAY THE GUARD OVER POWERED HER BY SNATCHING THE CAR STEERING FROM HER,ON A CLOSER INSPECTION INSIDE THE CAR, ALL THE ITEM SHE STOLE (A PACK OF ROLL-ON, EXPENSIVE CREAM,SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WERE RECOVERED FROM HER,. SHE EVEN LIED GLIBLY THAT SHE ADD BOUGHT THE ITEMS AT IKOTUN A LAGOS SURBBOB, BUT ALAS! ALL THE ITEM HAD "PRINCES" MALL STICKER ON THEM. WT A SHAME!!!

Genevieve Nnaji tells Encomium columnist Stella Dimoko-Korkus all about the ‘Oprah Experience’

Genevieve Nnaji tells Encomium columnist Stella Dimoko-Korkus all about the ‘Oprah Experience’
Posted on Monday, October 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

By Bella

G
On the heels of her feature on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Genevieve Nnaji granted an exclusive interview to Encomium columnist Stella Dimoko-Korkus. In the interview, she shares her thoughts on the experience…

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Hello Genny

Stella how now?

How are you?

Good. You?

Fine. You must know why I am calling you?

Surprise me (Laughs)

Did you know you were profiled on Oprah.

Yes .

How did that come about?

It’s a long story my dear

I have enough credit

(Laughs) Well, I was away on holiday and got a call from Iconola that Oprahs people wanted to speak with me. I thought it was a joke but I told her to go ahead and give them my number in the UK. Then my P.A also called to tell me, the blogger, Bella Naija had also called about the same issue and that she had given her my email and number. Then I got interested and started paying attention to my inbox which I hardly do. (Laughs).

Then what happened?

Well the mail came soon after, but before I could respond I got a call from the Supervising producer of the Oprah show and an interview was carried out immediately over the phone. She explained to me first of all that they were doing a show on the most famous talents around the world and in their research I was the famous talent for Africa. I can’t tell you how shocked I was.

So, what were the steps, give us details?

I am not good with details (laughs) but basically, I had about 3 telephone interviews with them. I gave them one or two numbers in Nigeria that they could deal with to send them all the stuff they need for the segment and that was it really.

Was there any chance of you physically going on the show?

I don’t know. They asked me if I had a valid visa and I said yes but straight off the bat they said they were not sure when it was going to air and logistics might be a problem so they would let me know. It was cool with me because I was holidaying different parts of Europe with non-refundable reservations (laughs) so I was hoping they would not want me to come over immediately because the exchange rate of the Euro these days is not for children. Then I had a charity show in Nigeria on my return so, it actually was fine by me either way.

Would you have loved to go on the show and sit on Oprah’s famous couch?

Sure. Why not, who wouldn’t?!(Laughs) But I didn’t and I have no issues with that whatsoever. I feel humbled that the big O and her people sought out little me in my little Nollywood box to do a profile on me on the most popular talk show in America. The fact that I was discussed at all is a great honour as far as I am concerned and can only be a good thing for me and I represent Nollywood. So, it’s good all around. Maybe one day. You never know.

What did you think about Oprah’s comment that the average Nigerian earns 400 dollars a year?

Well, unfortunately she was wrong. That works out at about 60k a year. The average Nigerian doesn’t earn that. Who is the average Nigerian? Civil servants. They do not earn 60k a year. Maybe they got their exchange rate wrong. I don’t know but that’s inaccurate I’m afraid.

She also said you earn the 6,500 dollars a movie.

Also a result of maybe the wrong exchange rate (laughs) I humbly submit that the figure is also inaccurate.

So what do you earn?

Stella, you know the regions of how much I earn. You and your paper have speculated on it several times and even when your speculations were not so accurate, it was not 6,500 dollars. The reality is, the average AMERICAN does not earn in a month what Oprah earns or even what I earn or even what most actresses in Nigeria earn every 2 weeks. We shoot movies in 2 weeks so these earnings should be viewed like that.

Did you call them to make these corrections?

I haven’t watched the show to be fair but I did see a little clip on Youtube where they showed some market women selling, not the beautiful part of Lagos. Western media never do really. This has been going on for years. Besides, those women are part of what makes Nigeria Nigeria. It’s part of our culture. So, if the western world prefers that as the picture of Nigeria, that is a problem for the ministry of foreign affairs. I think Nollywood has done a lot to show that there are other parts of Nigeria that are beautiful and I am interested in Nollywood because no one in Government is interested in us even though they should be as we are clearly the most popular export out of this country right now and should be funded adequately enough so as to represent the Country better but enough of that. I am tired of saying the same thing year in year out.

Do you think this will open doors in Hollywood for you?

(Laughs) I don’t know. I did not look at it as an avenue to break into Hollywood. I didn’t go looking for it , so it wasn’t premeditated. My view on Hollywood remains the same. I am an actress. I can work anywhere. I am passionate about a good story, particularly character driven stories. If your story is good and the character appeals, I will play the role. Although it would be nice to work with acclaimed Hollywood directors and actors, I have always maintained that when they are ready for a young African woman to take part in a project that they will come looking for us.

Finally, what is your overriding feeling on this?

Humility, Joy, Different feelings. Pride. I am just grateful to Oprah and her crew. I am honoured and humbled. It’s a great privilege and I am sure I will replay a million times over, Oprah saying Genevieve Nnaji . I am also proud of myself because I believe I have sacrificed a lot and worked hard and so, to be identified alongside all those other leading lights in their respective continents on a show as globally recognised as the Oprah Winfrey show I see as a little reward from God and the good will of my loyal fans. To be identified for work that I have done in my own little Nigerian box is truly gratifying to me.

Click to visit Stella D-K’s Blog

Mo Abudu Scoops Exclusive Interview with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

Mo Abudu Scoops Exclusive Interview with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Posted on Monday, August 17th, 2009 at 8:50 am

By Bella

Mo Hilary Clinton
US Secretary of State – Hillary Rodham Clinton visited various African countries earlier this month. As part of her African tour, she visited Nigeria where in line with the Obama administration’s firm stance on the state of affairs in some African nations, her message t Nigerian political leaders was basically – clean your act up.

Moments With Mo host, Mo Abudu secured an exclusive videotaped interview with Secretary of State Clinton. Below is the transcript. The show will be aired soon during the new season of Moments With Mo.
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MO: Madame Secretary, the challenges facing the African woman are many, from poverty to lack of education, to, you know, non-participation in governance, especially in the numbers that we require; physical abuse, sometimes mental abuse; the glass ceiling syndrome. How can we persuade our leaders that the status of women is a priority issue for them?
SECRETARY CLINTON: That is such a great question, and it’s one that I have been devoted to answering for many, many years now because the evidence is overwhelming. You can look at economic studies, World Bank studies, sociological studies that have piled up on shelves across the world, that if you do not empower women, you do not give them the tools to make good choices in their own lives, education and health care, access to credit, participation in their societies, then your country cannot develop beyond a certain point.
MO: Right.
SECRETARY CLINTON: It is just a fact; you cannot leave most of the other half of the country behind.
MO: Half of the country behind.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And in Africa, women work so hard. And here in Nigeria, 70 percent of the small farmers are women, as they are throughout Africa. Women get up in the morning, they tend to their children, they tend to their husband, they tend to their crops and their livestock, they cook, they bring firewood. It’s a never-ending work.
MO: Never-ending work.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And I remember, years and years ago being in Africa, and an economist had said, well, it’s too bad women make no economic contribution.
MO: Hello? (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Hello? And of course, what he was meaning, in the most narrow technical sense, is that most of what African women do all day, every day –
MO: Is not being rewarded.
SECRETARY CLINTON: — is not in the formal economy. But if African women decided to stop working tomorrow, the whole continent would shut down. People wouldn’t eat. Crops wouldn’t be planted and harvested, a lot of the informal retail market would not go on, just in every area you can imagine. So from an economic perspective, empowering women is critical. Obviously, from a human perspective, from a moral perspective, we’re in the 21st century; all human beings, no matter what religion or ideology you reference, have the right to develop to their God-given potential. And too many women in too many parts of Africa are –
MO: Are not being developed fully.
SECRETARY CLINTON: They are not being developed fully.
MO: And not being educated.
SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s right.
MO: They’re not able to play a role. They’re not able to participate in government.
SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s right.
MO: And that needs to change. That needs to happen.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And that also, unfortunately, as you know so well, perpetuates problems of the next generation. Because if you educate a man, you educate a man. If you educate a woman, you educate a family.
MO: A family.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And a community. And what we want are educated children. And Nigeria has a huge population under the age of 15. If their mothers are illiterate, if their mothers cannot advocate for them, if their mothers cannot get access to healthcare for them, we just perpetuate the cycle of dependence and impoverishment.
MO: And it goes on and on and on. Thank you, Madame Secretary.
In your trip to Kenya, you spoke about stereotypes and that they were stale and they were outdated. At Inspire Africa, when I started this journey, we coined a phrase that we called the five Ds, and that the Western media keep portraying Africa in this light. And they are disease, despair, destitution, disaster, and destruction.
Now, if the Western media keep portraying that image of Africa that is outdated and stale, as you also said, you know, this would – could this have an impact on investment into the continent? It impacts the mindsets of those that you meet, even as the African person, if this is the picture that you continually see. How do we fight against these stereotypes or these five Ds, as we have coined them?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think you have, unfortunately, accurately depicted the stereotypes that exist. Part of the reason for my trip so early in my time as Secretary of State is to talk about both the opportunities and the problems. I mean, every society has both. There is no perfect society. Some places in Africa are much further along than other places. But every society has to be constantly taking stock. In a democracy particularly, you have to hold your leaders accountable. You have to say, “You said you would do this for me – more electricity. You have to deliver.”
So there’s a constant give-and-take that has to go on. And I think it’s important that more voices like yours be speaking on behalf of Africa. Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat the issues that we all know about. I was in Goma yesterday in eastern Congo. Horrible, horrible –
MO: Stories.
SECRETARY CLINTON: — atrocities.
MO: Yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: But at the same –
MO: They need to be spoken about, yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And they need to be spoken about. But at the same time, let’s look for the positive, inspiring stories –
MO: Positive things, yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: — so that people believe there’s hope, and that if they work hard, they too can be successful. I mean, if all you hear is the negative, it’s like raising children. If you’re only negative to a child, over and over again –
MO: Exactly. “You’re stupid, you’re silly, you’re this, you’re that” – then they become that.
SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s exactly right. They have no positive self-esteem. Africa’s got so many great things happening here. And not only that, I mean, the joy of so many people in Africa is contagious. It’s –
MO: We are considered the happiest nation, apparently, Nigerians. (Laughter.)
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I mean, there is something about people feeling good about themselves. Now, you have to do more on behalf of your society.
MO: Yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: But there is a story that I’d like to be more comprehensive than just the five Ds, as you say.
MO: Yes. And also for there to be balance in the reporting.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Exactly.
MO: Thank you, Madame Secretary. As an African people, we are very submissive, we are very accepting. Authority is something that we respect very much. So in this society of ours, when we see things going wrong, how can we as citizens make change happen? Because we are so accepting and we are so submissive, what do we do?
SECRETARY CLINTON: I think that’s an interesting analysis. I’ve never heard it put like that before. Every society has social and psychological characteristics. And what you say will cause me to think very hard on your description. But assuming that your description fits generally, I think there are several approaches.
One, there are huge extended families within Nigeria, as you know. And I think within families, a lot of change can start. As young people say to themselves, I want to have better opportunities, you tell your elders. I mean, for young girls, we want them to go to school; for communities, we want schools to be present; for people who are sick or for young women about to become mothers, we want health clinics. There is a lot which people can do, speaking up and advocating for themselves. And it’s not just at the national authority here in Abuja, it’s at the local authority, at the state authority. I know I learned that all of the governors in Nigeria have banded together to finally get rid of polio in Nigeria.
MO: Yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, there are lots of problems like that that can be taken to your local government to make the case.
And then on a broader basis, Nigeria has to have vigorous elections that are credible and free and produce outcomes that people accept. I know that your parliament is currently looking at an electoral reform law. People should stand up and say, we need that. In a democracy, you contest for elections – and I’m a witness and an exhibit of this –some people win and some people lose. I’ve won some elections, I’ve lost some elections. So part of what you have to understand is that you can’t always win, but a fair electoral process will give everyone the chance that they have the opportunity to win.
And I think, finally, people need to be speaking out to their elected officials on what they need to have the benefits of development. There’s corruption in every country. We know there’s corruption in this country, and we know that the benefits of the riches of oil do not get to the vast majority of people in Nigeria.
MO: That need it, yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: And so people need to be saying, “I deserve electricity. I deserve food security. I deserve the kind of development that a country with so many riches as ours should be able to produce for people.”
MO: To give to people, definitely. And talking about democracy, what do you consider to be the essential elements that we need to establish and to build a culture of transparency and accountability in our democratic process? Because that is so key to ensuring that all of this can come to – can happen, can (inaudible).
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, you’re right to ask about ingredients plural, because some people think you hold an election, therefore you’re a democracy. But that’s not right. First, the election has to be free, fair, credible, legitimate. And that’s very important for Nigeria. Secondly, there has to be a real opportunity to contest an election. That means that people don’t just show up and say, “I want to run for office.” You have to build grassroots political organizations. You have to build networks of support so that when you contest an election, you stand for something.
MO: Of course.
SECRETARY CLINTON: There has to be a free and independent judiciary. There has to be a free and independent press, which you are a symbol of.
MO: Yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: There has to be an awareness that people inculcate in their hearts and their minds that everyone in the ballot box, everyone in a democracy, is equal. Someone may be a billionaire and you may be a poor villager, but your voice counts as much as anyone’s.
MO: So that’s when you become one.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
MO: That’s when everybody’s on the same playing field.
SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s right. And because –
MO: One man, one vote.
SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s right. And because Nigeria is so diverse –
MO: Yes.
SECRETARY CLINTON: — you have such pluralities of – someone said to me today that it is many nations made into one nation.
MO: Into one nation. 150 million people.
SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s right. You have to protect minority rights. Just because someone’s in the majority, that doesn’t mean you ignore the rights of the minority. So there are many aspects to getting a fully functioning democracy up and going.
MO: The issue of corruption, it is widespread in Africa. What can we learn from advanced democracies on how to fight corruption in Africa?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think it’s very important that Africa tackle corruption, because the development of Africa is being undermined by corruption. And we have offered several ideas: more transparency, more information about the revenues coming into government and the expenses going out of government. Now that we have computers, everything should be put online. Any person in Nigeria with access to a computer should be able to find information out, that – we like to say letting sunlight be the best disinfectant.
I think it’s also important to have a strong investigative arm within the government, prosecutors and law enforcement who do not favor any party or any person. There’s an Elections and Financial Corruption Commission, the EFCC, that needs to be strengthened with good leadership. And we will try to continue to support that.
I think it’s also important to have no impunity. People often know who the biggest perpetrators are. There needs to be an outcry, and not just from poor citizens who feel like they are being taken advantage of, but everybody who has risen up in this society needs to recognize that if you don’t get 150 million Nigerians to believe that the society works for them, you will begin to see splintering of that unity and that union. That would be terrible for Nigeria.
So taking on corruption is an economic issue, it’s a justice issue, but it’s also a political issue, it’s a cultural and an ethical issue. And all of that need to be kept in mind.
MO: Wonderful. Madame Secretary, I believe our time is up.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Oh, what a shame. I’ve enjoyed talking to you.
MO: I wish I could be here, but I’m trying to keep to the agreement that we had initially. But it’s been short, but it really has been an experience. It’s been an amazing opportunity for me, and I want to thank you so much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Well, thank you for having me.
MO: And we celebrate you, and you know, you really are someone that inspires women. So – all your achievements, it’s – we’re proud of you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: I appreciate that very much. Thank you so much, Mo.
MO: Thank you.