Entertainment

Kwara hosts 2024 BON Awards

Movers and shakers of the Nigerian movie industry are expected in Ilorin in November as Kwara State hosts the 16th edition of the Best of Nollywood awards in November.

Receiving the hosting rights of the award on Wednesday in Ilorin, Governor Abdulrazaq said the event will hold at the iconic Sugar Factory Film Studio which he said had been built to take the Nigerian creative industry to the next level through cutting-edge last mile post production capabilities.

“We are honoured to be given the hosting rights for this year’s event (Best of Nollywood Award). As you can see, Kwara is ready to dominate the film industry. The intention for this Sugar Factory Film Studio is to take film production in Nigeria to another level” he said.

“What we have seen in Africa and globally is that what we are producing (in Nigeria) are mostly videos. We want to move to another level of cinematography so that we can win global awards in film production. This is a reason for this facility.”

The brief ceremony was attended by top government officials and some Nollywood stars from within and outside the state.

Attendees included the Chief of Staff to the Governor Alhaji AbdulKadir Mahe; Commissioner for Communication Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology Damilola Yusuf-Adelodun; Commissioner for Finance Dr Hauwa Nuru; Commissioner for Works Engr. Abdulquawiy Olododo; Managing Director, Sugar Factory Film Studio Olugbenga Titiloye; Chairman Advisory Board for the BON Mr. Seun Oloketuyi; and President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) Alhaji Abdulmumeen Abdulmalik.

Others are General Manager, Sugar Factory Film Studio Mrs Grace Babasola; General Managers for Radio Kwara Kayode Aremu; General Manager Herald Newspaper Yomi Adeboye; Executive Producer, BON Awards, Prince Feranmi Olaoye; and Nollywood actors Yemi Blaq and Feyi Hassan.

AbdulRazaq said hosting the BON Award will further market the Sugar Factory Film Studio to the movie industry, whose legends are coming for the event later this year.

“This is stage one of this facility. We intend to go to stage two and three, but we want stage one to be put in use. So, marketing this studio to the film industry is part of hosting this event and we will be glad to welcome at least 500 of the top film producers and active members of the film industry that day,” the Governor said.

“Kwara state is the place to be. We know that this place will definitely be a catalyst for future production in the film industry. I welcome you to Kwara and to the future in the movie industry in Nigeria.”

The Governor said the state is intentional about building a strong service and hospitality economy in phases to draw in quality human traffic. He said facilities like the Film Factory, visual arts centre, international conference centre, and the Kwara Hotel are a part of the plan.

Titiloye, for his part, commended the Governor for the huge investment in the facility and others, which he said would generate employment and revenue for the strategy.

He said Kwara was picked to organise the next event because of its peaceful atmosphere and the exceptional investments of the administration in the creative industry.

He said the Best of Nollywood Awards has always been a big event, and that close to 500 top film producers will attend the next edition in Kwara.

Entertainment

My song created International Awards category for Afrobeats – Rema

Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, aka Rema, has claimed that the recent addition of an Afrobeats category to some international awards was a result of the success of his hit song ‘Calm Down.’

Appearing on ‘The Breakfast Club’, Rema reiterated that he is on the same level with Afrobeats giants Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy.

“I don’t want to feel like an Afrobeats Messiah. Sometimes I can’t wait for the OGs to say it but since no one is saying it, I might have to say it myself,” he said.

“Respect to the OGs but yeah, I am one of the Big 4… Something as little as a major award shows creating an Afrobeats category because the success of my song has already opened gates.”

Entertainment

Patoranking’s sister, her husband die in explosion

Famous Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Patoranking’s sister, Chioma, has reportedly died in an explosion which occurred in her home.

Chioma was said to have died on the spot while her husband, George passed away from his injuries on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

Media personality, Cutie Juls made this known in an Instagram post on Thursday.

Sharing the video of the deceased house after the tragic incident, Cutie Juls disclosed that the explosion occurred shortly after their housewarming and child’s birthday celebration.

“Remember when I posted last week or so that his (Patoranking) sister passed away in a gas explosion incident in their home and the husband and child are battling for their lives in the hospital?

“The husband also couldn’t make it. He just passed away. Pathoranking tried so much. Buying tones of blood to help save his brother-in-law’s life so at least his nephew won’t be an orphan
“Remember he loves his sister so much. Abeg, his friends should help check on him.”

As of the time of filing this report, no comment has been made by Patoranking or his manager over the incident.

Entertainment

South African singer, Tyla says after winning Best Afrobeats Award at MTV VMAs 2024

Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Tyla Laura Seethal, popularly known as Tyla, has said she represents Amapiano and not Afrobeats.

The South African singer spoke out against the categorisation of all African music as afrobeats by the West, while accepting her award for Best Afrobeats Song at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday night.

Tyla beat Burna Boy, Davido, Lojay, Tems, Ayra Starr, and Pheelz were nominated under the same category.

Tyla was also nominated for two other categories ‘Best New Artiste’ and ‘Best RnB’ but lost in both.

In her reaction, Tyla, said Afrobeats has opened a lot of doors for African music but it was wrong to categorise every music from the continent under the genre.

She explained that she is from South Africa and represents the Amapiano genre.

She said: “The impact that ‘Water’ has had on the world proves that African music can be pop music, too. This is so special but also bittersweet. Because I know there’s a tendency to group all African artists under Afrobeats.

“Even though Afrobeats has run things and has opened so many doors for us, African music is so diverse. It’s more than just Afrobeats.

“I come from South Africa, I represent Amapiano. I present my culture. And I just want to shout out all the Afrobeats artists in this category with me. Shout out to all the Afrobeats artistes Tems, Ayra Starr, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema and

Tyla released her highly anticipated self-titled debut album, “Tyla” on March 22, 2023.

The album is supported by singles: “Water”, “On and On”, “Truth or Dare” and “Art”, in addition to the promotional single “Butterflies”and the 2022 stand-alone single “To Last”.

Tyla’s global hit single “Water”, opened the floodgates for her career, leading to a viral dance challenge, almost 500 million streams on Spotify so far and a Grammy win.