Entertainment

Tiwa Savage premieres first film, ‘Water and Garri’ on Prime Video

Streaming giant Prime Video has launched Tiwa Savage’s new movie titled ‘Water and Garri’ exclusively in more than 240 countries today.

The premiere of the film was held yesterday in Lagos, led by Tiwa Savage and the cast of the movie. During the media parley, Tiwa and the cast took turns narrating their experiences and roles in the film.

Talking about the inspiration behind the movie, Tiwa Savage said she wants to inspire and encourage people with her debut ‘Garri and Water’ movie to try their hands at different endeavours and execute them excellently.

Stressing that acting had always been her first love, she emphasised that she was encouraged to do the project to prove that it was possible to do more than one thing and execute it excellently. She also praised her team, the cast, and the crew of the film for making her acting debut very easy.

Speaking about her summary of the movie, “It was quite an interesting time. I am lucky to have had the support of the fantastic cast and crew that were part of the project. ‘Water and Garri’.

“I got the script, and I was like, ‘This is amazing. Let’s do a short film. We started shooting it, and it ended up being a full feature. And so I couldn’t change the name. It felt like there was nothing else that fit.

“Water to Garri’ is like love to pain, and that resonates a lot in the movie. Now the EP is a stand-alone project, and we have a completely new soundtrack for the movie. The 10-song soundtrack for the movie has also been released independently.

“Life is never black and white. There are ups and downs. Water and Garri has a global message, and it has resonated with both African Americans and people who are not of African descent. Do not be afraid to pursue your dream.

“Where Aisha’s coming from, you would never imagine that she could be anything. But she ended up being very successful as a fashion designer, but then she still went back home. So, I think the film can encourage anyone. I don’t care if you’re from the slums; all it takes is just that dream, and it definitely can happen. Whatever you put out, what you speak with your tongue, it has to—it will come back.”.

The executive producer, Vanessa Ogbonna, also shared Savage’s thoughts on excellence, as she pointed to the power of the female characters to navigate life as the most fascinating part of the movie for her.

The director of ‘Water and Garri’, Meji Alabi, also shared his thoughts on why he decided to shoot it as his first film aside from being a go-to music video veteran.

Alabi said, “When we were creating it (Water and Garri), we weren’t thinking about balance. We were thinking about telling the story in an exciting and relatable way. I am happy with what we have been able to achieve, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

The executive director, Jimi Adesanya, recognised the movie’s cast for being supportive of each other and bringing the drama to life, Savage for her financial investments, and the significance of shooting the movie at Cape Coast, Ghana.

Adesanya noted that the fictional setting of the movie is a representation of West African unity.
While addressing the location, Adesanya said, “That was a beautiful way for us to make our mark: the Cape Coast, which also signifies the door of no return—some of our black brothers and sisters were taken away from us to another part of the world many decades ago.”

The premiere was also supported by the office of the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima.
In an address by the Special Assistant to the President on Digital and Creative Economy, Fegho Umunubo, the federal government’s support for the ‘Water and Garri’ premiere is evidence of its show of support for the creative industry.

Umunubo said, “Tiwa Savage has committed a lot to the creative industry. We saw the need to support her, knowing how much it takes to move from music to film.”

Umunubo also revealed that the government has secured N5 billion in partnership with Providus Bank to support creatives in the movie industry who will apply and receive the money without collateral.

The Special Assistant to the President on Arts, Culture and Digital Economy, Ayo Adeagbo, also at the event, stressed that the current government’s support for the creative industry is in policy-making, including a task force to tackle piracy.

The ‘Water and Garri’ movie tells the story of Aisha (Savage), an ambitious fashion designer, as she returns to her native home after 10 years away in the U.S., following a family bereavement. At home, things have changed—violence has escalated and tensions have been high.

As she reconnects with family, old friends, and her past love, she must learn to live with her scars and confront the guilt she left behind.

It also stars Andrew Bunting (as Kay), Mike Afolarin (as Mide), and Jemima Osunde (as Stephany).

Entertainment

OAP Do2dtun calls out popular radio station over 8 months unpaid salaries

Popular On-Air Personality (OAP) Do2dtun has called out Soundcity Radio for allegedly owing its staff eight months of unpaid salaries.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the media personality criticized the station’s management, describing their actions as “cruel and inhumane.”

In a series of tweets, Do2dtun expressed his frustration, stating that operating a radio station should not come at the expense of employees’ welfare.

“It’s not by force to open a radio station. Owing your staff for 8 months is very cruel and inhumane. You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you this,” he wrote.

Revealing the station’s name in another tweet, he sympathized with his colleagues and friends at Soundcity, questioning how they have managed to cope under such conditions.

“My friends and colleagues at Soundcity, how do you guys cope? No salary for 8 months? Mehn that’s crãzy!!!!”

The allegations stirred an outcry on social media, with many users sharing their thoughts on the situation.

Entertainment

Speed Darlington drags IGP Egbetokun to court, demands N300m damages

Speed Darlington (Darlington Achakpo), a detained Nigerian singer, has taken the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to court for alleged unlawful detention.

He filed the lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court has fixed January 13 for the hearing of the fundamental rights enforcement suit.

Justice Musa Liman fixed the date after counsel for the singer, Abubakar Marshal, sought an adjournment to enable the I-G’s lawyer, Garba Audu, study and to respond accordingly to the processes served on him in the open court.

Justice Liman had, on Dec. 23, 2024, ordered the I-G to charge Speed Darlington to court or release him on bail unconditionally within 48 hours.

The judge made the order in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by lawyer who appeared for Darlington, David Ihuoma, and adjourned the matter until Jan. 6 for the hearing of the substantive case .

Speed Darlington, 39, was allegedly arrested by the police over allegations of “defamation and cyberstalking” of the ace award-winning artiste, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy but was released on bail on Oct. 8, 2024.

A lawyer and human right activist, Deji Adeyanju alleged that Speed Darlington was apprehended in Lagos State following a petition by Burna Boy, and was moved to Abuja where he had been in detention.

Upon resumed hearing in the matter on Monday, Marshal informed the court that the matter was scheduled for hearing of the originating motion on notice for the enforcement of Achakpo’s fundamental rights.

Although Audu said he was yet to be served with the process, the court however confirmed through the proof of service in the court record that the police were duly served.

The judge thereafter directed Marshal to avail Audu with a copy of the application in the open court.

Justice Liman then asked Marshal if the singer had been released but the lawyer responded in the negative.

Responding, Audu explained to the court that the I-G had already filed a criminal charge against Speed Darlington before the singer filed the motion ex-parte for his release.

He said the singer was admitted to administrative bail but allegedly jumped the bail.

The police lawyer said that the charge, which was filed before Justice Ekerete Akpan of Court 13, came up earlier in December 2024, but could not be heard.

He said an application was also written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the reassignment of the criminal matter to a vacation judge so that the defendant can be arraigned but all to no avail.

He explained that the criminal matter was now fixed for Jan. 15 for Speed Darlington’s arraignment before Justice Akpan.

The lawyer further explained that contrary to insinuation, the police did not flout the order of the court as it would have been difficult to arraign the defendant at the time the order was made going by the Christmas holiday.

Marshal, therefore, prayed the court to direct the police to release the singer to him pending when he would be arraigned.

“We shall be applying pending the trial and arraignment of the applicant that your lordship make an order admitting him to bail.
“If my lord will, as ministers in the temple of justice, we will ensure his presence in court on the day of arraignment,” he said, but Audu opposed the application.

Justice Liman, who agreed that the police were not in deliberate disobedience to the court order, advised Audu to ensure Speed Darlington is released to Marshal, having undertook to produce him in court.

“I don’t see anything the police will lose if granted bail,” the judge advised.

He subsequently adjourned the matter until Jan. 13 for hearing of the substantive matter.

In the fundamental right suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024, Speed Darlington sued I-G as sole respondent.

The artiste, who urged the court to declare that his arrest and detention violated his fundamental rights as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, sought four orders.

In the suit filed by Adeyanju, he sought an order directing the I-G to immediately and unconditionally release him from detention facility where he is being kept.

Alternatively, he sought an order mandating and compelling the I-G to produce him before the court to enable the court inquire into the circumstances constituting grounds of his arrest and detention and where it deems fit, admits him to bail.

He also sought “an order directing the respondent to pay the applicant the sum of N300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) only as general, exemplary and aggravating damages for their unlawful and continued detention since the 2024 till date.”

In the affidavit deposed to by Esther Eyisi, a secretary in the law firm, she alleged that Speed Darlington was first arrested on Oct. 4, 2024 for allegedly defaming Burna Boy.

She said he was illegally detained for five days and subjected to severe torture and maltreatment without being formally charged to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Eyisi averred that the artiste was eventually granted bail by the police after spending five days under inhumane conditions.

According to her, on Nov. 27, 2024, the applicant was arrested and detained by officers of respondent on the grounds that he allegedly jumped administrative bail.

This, she said, is in spite of notification from her client about his medical emergency and his inability to report on the scheduled date and obtaining the permission of the officers of the respondent to travel to Owerri, Imo for a performance.

She said the continuous detention of Speed Darlington without arraignment contravened his constitutional rights, describing him as the “breadwinner in his family.”

Entertainment

Nigeria Nathaniel Bassey to minister at Trump’s inaugural prayer breakfast in US

A Nigerian gospel singer and pastor, Nathaniel Bassey, has been invited to minister at the Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20 in Washington, D.C.

The Akwa Ibom-born cleric disclosed this on his Instagram page, sharing a poster of the event.

He wrote: “Let’s raise a sound in America. See you on January 20, 2025.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the U.S. prayer breakfast is a non-political and faith-based event that emphasises prayer and worship as a spiritual support for the U.S. government and presidency.

The event is held once in four years preceding every new administration, and this edition is scheduled to be held ahead of Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance’s swearing-in ceremony.

The prayer breakfast will be hosted by Reverend Merrie Turner at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Presidential Ballroom, featuring a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Dr Alveda King and Pastor Mario Bramnick.

Bassey, an acclaimed trumpeter and convener of the Hallelujah Challenge, an online Christian worship movement, is known for his hit songs, including “Imela”, “Onise Iyanu”, and “Olowogbogboro.”