The 9ice controversy

So you must have heard about singer/rapper 9ice of the Gongo Aso fame. The song made 9ice a superstar in Nigeria, and he was even chosen to perform at the Mandela 46664 Concert last year.

I am not a major 9ice fan, although I do like that song. I even bought an original mp3 version!

However, this post is not about 9ice and his accomplishments in the music world. Its about 9ice the person - some would argue that he is not that 9ice (pun intended), based on this video (relevant portion starts around 1:04).



obviously 9ice was freestyling music from his new album, and he was being recorded. The little boy shows up, and dude waves him off like a fly.

Dang! That was cold!

Yes, there are beggars all over the streets of Lagos, and you go broke trying to solve every problem, that is true. However, I think, that for 9ice to post this video on youtube with that boy on it, knowing how far it would go, tells me just how hardened we are to human suffering as a people.

What do you think? Was 9ice wicked (bear in mind that beggar plenti for Lagos o), or was he well within his rights to brush off the boy like that?

I vote for insensitive (at the very least). He did it and posted the vid on youtube? Dude needs sensitivity training meeeen!

What do you think?

Gospel Music Spotlight: Lara George

So I have already talked about this lovely lady here and here .

Well, she's BACKKKKKKKKK!

Her self-titled sophomore album is out, and it is slamming! I am loving it. If you liked her first album , you will love this one even more honestly. Its beautiful.

The only video she has made so far is for this song:



Cute as it is, I don't think its even close to being the best song on this album.

You can listen to more samples of her newer music on her myspace page

I love that "Kole baje" song men. You can also listen to a most beautiful remix of her hit song Ijoba Orun song here. Its also on the new album. This girl can blow!!!!

Alright, where can you get this album? Well, you can get it on itunes (just download itunes and type in her name). If you are like me and you rebel against itune's restrictiveness, its also available on limewire.

In addition, its available as a cd on demand on Amazon


Far as I know, her first cd is also available on itunes and Amazon.

She is very gifted no?

Enjoy.

Gospel music spotlight: BOUQUI

Even though I am not the biggest fan of hiphop, I just have to show some love to this female rapper.

BOUQUI (pronounced Bukky) is a christian rapper, but I gotta tell you, her music is just outstanding. Totally and completely, whether it be dance music, or more introspective rap, she has all the bases covered. Her message is deep, her hook is sweet. What can I say? I love BOUQUI.

More about her:

The album titled B.O.U.Q.U.I was her debut and the album can be referred to as a two in one package due to the fact that it contains a record breaking fourteen tracks and four skits, the highest by any debutant in the Nigerian music industry. Still on breaking records, her lead single “Get it started” in less than a month debuted at number one the backyard beats segment of the PJ Butter hosted World Chart Show,also another first by any home– based Nigerian artiste in the history of Nigerian music. Other tracks like “Not Ashamed”, “Major Problem”, “Molejo”, “Vanity” and “Wanna Lone U” have become household anthems. The album has won several accolades and nominations including the much
covetted AMEN awards in 2007 for best female act.

Source

The lead single for her self-titled first album Molejo:



She released her second album titled Redefinition earlier this year. The lead single is Morile (love that song!!)



Good stuff no?

And there is a lot of stuff featured on the albums that I would argue are even better than the singles. You may especially want to check out Take you away and Love you forever both on the redefinition album. And on the older self titled album, Vanity and Major problem are pretty good. Some hot stuff I tell ya!

How can you find her stuff? Both albums are available for download on Amazon.

First album BOUQUI here

Second album Redefinition is available here

To listen to more of her music, check out her myspace, and you can also learn more about her by checking out her website.

Good stuff no?

Ciao.

Light up Nigeria on CNN

So, I have written about this movement earlier here. I am really proud of them and what they are doing, and will make as much noise as possible for them. it is really disgraceful that in 2009, we still have electricity problems. Makes no sense!

Anyways, this video caught my eye on CNN tonite, and I decided to share:



The govt minister talking very plenty is our very own madam rebrand, the minister for communication Prof. Dora Akunyili. We call her madam rebrand because she has started a campaign to rebrand Nigeria's image abroad. You can listen to the BBC on the attempt to rebrand here .

But you cannot put a bandaid on cancer! Stop talking plenty and let there be light. Una hear me madam rebrand?

Sheesh!!

Pieter Hugo, Time magazine photos, Nollywood and related matters

First of all, congrats to the Ghanaians for winning the U-20 world cup. Good job guys!

So, today's issue: The blogosphere has been set ablaze with the discussion on the appropriateness, or lack thereof of Pieter Hugo's photoshoot on Nollywood that was picked up by Time Magazine.

If you have not seen the photos, please check them out here . Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the explanation for all the pics.

The pics were picked up by Time magazine and shown here . Here are a few of the more chaste pics reproduced below for your viewing (dis)pleasure:






As a bonafide rabid fan of Nollywood in particular and African film in general, I was totally outraged by these pics. And just for the record, I still am!

However, I was doing a little bit of research on the issue, and it seems that the dude is some kind of photographic shock jock, if the other images on his website are anything to go by. His fans interpret these pictures as some kind of "art". They apparently include Amy Stein who said:

The prolific and talented Pieter Hugo has a new body of work called Nollywood. Nollywood is the colloquial name given to the Nigerian film industry and all of the images appear to be portraits of actors in b-movies. The new photos share similarities to his previous work--desaturated tones and subjects looking at you with a bayonet gaze--but this work has a decided sense of humor. How does he do it?

Source

Excuse me while I roll my eyes for a minute!!

Worreva!!!!

Anyways, some other guy was so pissed off by the representation that he responded to Amy Stein with this article. He uses a lot of big, big grammar, but the bottomline is this - the pictures are represent the colonial image of Africa and are d%^*ned RACIST!

But what do we say about the people who cooperated to get the pics taken? None of whom I recognize anyways, avid nollywatcher that I am? I hear that one of them is a well known special effects guy in the horror genre of the industry (which I don't watch).

So, here is my angst about this whole thing - lack of context. If it had been clearly stated that the photoshoot was a far out exploration of the horror genre of Nollywood, I would have looked the other way. But to paint the entire industry with this backward brush, it smacks of an agenda to me. He is painting a single story of my beloved Nollywood which I find really, really annoying and offensive. Nowhere on the blurb he has on his website, or on Time Mag do they provide any context. In fact TIME introduces the pics as

"Nollywood: The Stars of Nigeria's Movie Biz"

Worraheck!! Who are these people? And now, Mrs suburban soccer mom looking at these pics from her home in the midwest will be convinced that those stories she has heard about people living in trees must be true, since these are the movies we are making.

This other dude agrees with me.

I find the whole thing extremely distasteful and annoying.

Do y'all think its "art" or a deliberate attempt to paint us as less than - aka racism?

Please weigh in.

William Kamkwamba: The windmill guy

So this extremely creative guy was able to build a windmill out of nothing and create electricity for his home in the village. It begs the question - if he can do it, why can't we have more regular electricity combining solar, wind and hydro electric?

Answer - STUPID GOVT!!

But that is another conversation for another day. He was a guest on Jon Stewart's show recently. Its fortunate for him that somebody saw his windmill and gave him opportunity, but how many people like him are wasting away in frustration because of irresponsible, stupid, myopic governance? Is my anti-government angst showing? Hmmmm!

Enjoy the video:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
William Kamkwamba
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

On a separate note, The huffington post (HP) also picked up on the story and how did they caption it?

William Kamkwamba Helps African Poverty With A Homemade Windmill

Granted, the HP is famous for their sensationalistic, misleading headlines, but isn't this going a bit too far? Can't you just see that windmill powering every home in the "country of Africa"?

Anyways, its not their fault sha. My people have a saying: "if the wall does not open its mouth, the lizard cannot enter it".

It still comes down to irresponsible, selfish, visionless, myopic leadership.

Blah! I am in a bad mood today.

Anyways, celebrate this young man, but mourn for our system that crushes the spirits of so many like him.

GOD help us.

Ciao.

Chimamanda Adichie--The danger of a single story.

If you are a reader of contemporary african literature, then you have heard of this amazing woman writer. If you have not, you can read about her on her website here. Its always magical to see someone who is the absolute best at what they do. Her books are amazing. When I read half of a yellow sun, I could not put it down. Same for Purple hibiscus. Amazing writer she is!!

And her insight in this speech is fantastic. Pass it on to everyone you know. It is deep. We need to hear ALL of our stories. This is what I was trying to say here, but I guess I was not as eloquent? I love this girl!!

Happy Independence day and We Are African!

Nigeria turned 49 today. Yeah. Not that there is anything to celebrate o. Our president is sick, our football teams are in shambles, electricity is still a pipe dream, our attorney general wastes our money to defend criminals in foreign countries (Ibori), the massive brain drain continues, our university lecturers are on strike, and our leadership at all levels can simply be described as a bunch of brain dead, corrupt idiots!

Did I say happy birthday?

But anyways, persin wey neva die still get hope abi? Ehen now. Let us pray that when we celebrate 50 next year, we will also be celebrating freedom from irresponsible leadership. Can I hear an Amen?

Meanwhile, I am not a huge fan of hiphop, but I love this song!! Chei! Its a new one by JJC. Even if our leaders are irresponsible, we can still build up our self esteem abi? Yes o, we are African! Awoooooooooo!!




And if you like Nigerian hiphop music, head over to Notjustok. They have a whole bunch of music available for free download.

We go survive abi?
Ciao.