Entertainment
FirstBank Sponsors Duke of Shomolu Production As Awo, Aremu Hit Stage
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its sponsorship of ‘A Deep Dive Into History’, a theatre production from the Duke of Shomolu (DOS) Production House, spearheaded by Joseph Edgar.
A deep dive into history comprises two exciting stage plays – Aremu and Awo, showing from the 22nd of August and will run every Sunday till the 12th of September 2021 at the legendary Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos.
Aremu is a powerful depiction of the life and times of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR. The play takes us through his birth, the errant stages of his adulthood, exploring his peasant background, his travails as a freedom and human rights crusader and other milestones. Aremu is a rich cultural play that preaches hope to the audience, that they can be whoever they want to be. The play was written by Prof. Ahmed Yerima, the former DG of the National theatre and National Troupe.
Awo on the other hand is a play that seeks to reintroduce the dying values of loyalty, integrity, vision building amongst others to the modern-day audience who seem to have lost their way in the fast and seedy lifestyle of modern-day Nigeria. This play is set to be directed by Mr. Makinde Adeniran FTA – Lagos State Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners and is bringing 26 years of local and international experience to the play.
With the sponsorship of similar socio-cultural plays in the creative arts industry such as Ayinla, Moremi, Makaliki, Duke of Shomolu Production’s Play (Emotan and Oba Esugbayi), October 1st (a movie) and the Calabar Festival, FirstBank’s sponsorship of ‘Duke of Shomolu Productions’ affirms the bank’s continued support for the development of arts in Nigeria under its First@arts initiative.
First@arts is FirstBank’s platform for consolidating all its efforts in the arts, supporting the entire value chain of the creative arts, providing much-needed financing and advisory support, showcasing and facilitating the successes of the industry, and enabling customers to explore and access the wealth of opportunities the creative industry has to offer.
Achieving these and a host of many others have been implemented through strategic partnerships with organisations like the British Council, Live Theatre Lagos, Freedom Park, Terra Kulture, and the Cross Rivers State Government (Calabar Festival), among others.
Expressing her delight on the plays, Folake Ani-Mumuney, GH, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said, “For over 127 years, FirstBank has been at the forefront of nation-building; enabling Nigeria and Nigerians through resourceful partnerships to build the Nigerian creative industry value chain, especially the arts and entertainment sub-sectors. We remain proud of this sponsorship that creates an excellent platform to showcase Nigeria to the world as being part of a collective goal to continually keep dreams and hope alive; holding strong to our commitment to reignite cultural heritage.”
“Without a doubt, the theatre remains part of the creative and entertainment industry value-chain across the globe and indeed a powerful channel to drive our heritage and culture, which resonates with our legacy of being woven into the fabric of society.”
The Duke of Shomolu Productions is a positive disruptive force that has been designed to aggressively push the agenda of “telling stories through performances”. In the last three years, the platform has engineered and fostered on Nigerian theatre audiences, some of the most eponymous works attracting over 50,000 people, attending their productions. The DOS production is a leading brand in the Performing Arts sector in Nigeria and was established in 2018.
According to research disclosed in PWC’s recent Entertainment & Media Outlook report, Nigeria’s entertainment market is expected to rise from $4.46 billion in 2018 to a $10.5 billion market by the end of 2023. In addition, with this initiative and other sponsored events, FirstBank is committed to strengthening its contribution to the development of the entertainment industry in the country.
Nigerian music sensation, Innocent Idibia aka 2Baba, has dismissed earlier claims that his Instagram account was hacked.
In a video shared on his Instagram story on Sunday night, 2Baba confirmed that a controversial post on his social media page regarding his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia, was indeed made by him.
The earlier Instagram post announced the end of his 13-year marriage to Annie.
The post read: “Hello to my beautiful people of all federations. Well, this thing I have to say is short but also long…I and Annie Macaulay have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce.
“I would grant a press release soon to say my story. Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life but because I love my people and I need them to know my innocence or offense. Stay blessed my people. I love you all.”
Shortly after, another post appeared on the same account, claiming that the page had been compromised.
It read: “My Instagram account has been hacked, efforts are being carried out to take back control. #onelove!”
In a surprising turn of events, 2Baba later released a video clarifying the situation.
He disclosed that his account had not been hacked, contrary to the previous statement, and implied that the initial post about his separation was authentic.
Entertainment
EFCC Has Most Corrupt, Wicked People in Nigeria, Bobrisky Lashes Out at Anti-graft Agency
Nigerian controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, has taken to his social media account to lash out at officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The self-exiled transvestite, while reacting to EFCC’s plea to be kind and show sympathy for an official who was shot during a raid in Anambra State, alleged that the anti-graft agency has the most corrupt and wicked people in Nigeria.
Bobrisky, who criticised the EFCC for its hypocrisy, said he does not like reading about the anti-graft agency and feels like throwing up each time he does.
“I just don’t like reading anything about EFCC online, cus I feel like I want to throw up each time I read about them.
“You are asking the public to be human about the loss of one of your staff but you are the most wicked people in Nigeria,” Bob wrote on his official Instagram page.
He also recalled how his home was ransacked and he was manhandled by officials of the EFCC when he was accused of money laundering and naira mutilation.
“When I was in your custody, you took me to my house and searched my house.
‘‘When I asked you guys why, you claimed I’m into money laundering, you want to check if I’m not printing money in my house, Police are better than you all one million times…” Bobriksy added.
Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun has reunited with his estranged wife, Faithia Williams at the graduation ceremony of their son, Khalid Ayomide Balogun.
The couple, both Nollywood actors, who called it quits with their marriage a few years ago, had cause to come together, to celebrate their son’s achievement as he graduates from the University of Lagos with a first-class honours.
Trending videos and photos captured the couple in jolly mood posing for photographs and exchanging pleasantries with well wishers and friends.
Saidi and Faithia had a bitter separation, which prompted Saidi to caution his ex-wife to desist from using his name, Balogun.
