Kunle Afolayan Talks about His Film ‘October 1st’, Says He Wants More Than Nollywood [VIDEO]

Nigeria's film industry, known as Nollywood, started just over 20 years ago and is now the third largest in the world.

Many of its low-budget films follow well-tried formulas with huge doses of love, betrayal and, often, witchcraft.

However, some Nigerian filmmakers are working outside the Nollywood genre, hoping to succeed internationally. Kunle Afolayan is one of them – in this interview with BBC, the film-maker talks about his latest film, “October 1^st” and his plans for the future.

Rapper Eva Alordiah Denies Dating Music Video Director Patrick Ellis

Chris Brown Welcomes New Year By Putting On a PDA With Karrueche Tran [PICZ]

True love knows no barriers - even the ones set by a court-ordered residential rehab program.

Despite being in rehab, Chris Brown spent New Year's Day with his lady love Karrueche Tran, who paid a visit to the controversial hip-hop crooner.

The 25-year-old aspiring model tweeted out a photo of the couple as they frolicked in the grass outside of the clinic.

Both she and the 24-year-old singer are wearing traditional New Year's crowns as Tran sucks on Brown's tongue.

'Getting chrae on New Years Day haha #Corny #Ha#HappyNewYears,' captioned Brown's girlfriend.

Nigeria's First Lady May Die; I do not see Nigeria at semi-final of 2014 W/Cup – Primate Ayodele

 Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has joined Nigerian Ministers to prophecy for 2014. The Primate is known to have predicted the Sosoliso and Bellview Airline crashes few years ago.

Hear him,

Concerning the year 2014, I will advise every Nigerian to take time and be prayerful for the country and for themselves from the 1st to 3rd of January, 2014. This is for God to prevent imminent dangers ahead of the nation and the economy. Let us take it from here. I don’t see anything happening in the Nigerian economy. I see debts everywhere- our crude oil, foreign reserve, and all.

States will be in debt, the Federal Government will be in debt and Nigeria will be planning to go borrow money. So, the government has to be very careful not to be affected by these debts. Prices of food will increase drastically and flour will be scarce and become very expensive. Corruption too will be more prevalent because this government lacks the power to fight it. Fighting oil theft will also pose a major challenge and Nigeria will beg America to support her in the fight. The price of petroleum will increase as well.

Keshi picks Alampasu, Egwuekwe, 21 others for CHAN

Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi on Tuesday in Abuja released the list of 23 players who will represent Nigeria at the third edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CHAN event is billed for Jan. 11 to Feb. 1, 2014 in three South African cities.

The list has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, six midfielders and six forwards, with 2013 Golden Eaglets’ star goalkeeper Dele Alampasu making the cut.

The team’s first-choice goalkeeper and skipper, Chigozie Agbim, as well as team regulars such as defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Francis Benjamin also made the list.

Jennifer Lawrence Voted Most Bankable Star of 2013

Actress Jennifer Lawrence apparently sold maximum tickets in Hollywood as she has been named the most bankable star of 2013 in Hollywood followed by 'Gravity' star Sandra Bullock.

In 2013, the 23-year-old actress appeared in teen franchise 'The Hunger Games' sequel 'Catching Fire' and in 'The American Hustle', David O Russell's latest after 'Silver Linings Playbook' that saw Lawrence bagging the best actress Oscar.

Lawrence was voted the top money-making star of 2013 in Quigley Publishing Company's annual poll of motion picture theatre owners and film buyers.

Photos of Celebrities at The Ghana Movie Awards 2013

The fourth edition of the Ghana Movie Awards held at the Accra International Conference Centre last week end.

See photos of Monalisa Chinda, Jackie Appiah, Nadia Buari and other celebs at the event – more photos on the flip.

Gunmen Kidnap Six-year-old Son of Ex-Commissioner in Bayelsa

A six-year-old son of a former Commissioner in Bayelsa state, Chief Godknows Powell, was on Wednesday kidnapped by gunmen.

The boy was kidnapped on Etegwe road, Yenagoa, in the early hours of the new year, while returning from church service.

According to NAN, the victim was in the company of his mother when the gunmen accosted them at about 12.45 pm and whisked him away.

A relation of the family confirmed the incident and said the abduction of the boy had thrown the family into despair.

“We are supposed to be celebrating the New Year, but we are now in a pathetic mood. We pray that the boy is safe,” the source said.

The kidnappers are yet to establish contact with the family.

Jailed Ibori sacks Daily Independent newspaper management from prison

Jailed former Delta State governor, James Ibori, has ordered the management of his newspaper, Independent Newspapers Limited, INL, to proceed on compulsory leave with immediate effect.

The order from Mr. Ibori, who is currently serving his jail term in a London prison, was handed top editorial and senior management and operations staff of the embattled newspaper by the Chairman of its Board of Directors, Lawan Gambo, during an emergency management meeting on Saturday, December 18.

Mr. Gambo, who presided over the brief meeting, held at the corporate headquarters of the newspaper in the Ogba area of Lagos reportedly told some top editors and management to go home till January 31, Premium Times learnt.

The board chair also indicated that only those of them relevant to the future of the company would be recalled. Those not recalled, he said, would be disengaged and communicated.

New Music Video: Ehis Baba –– Sugarcane

Nollywood Actress Mary Uranta Releases New Photos

 See more photos on the flip.

“D’banj never tried to reach me, it hurts deeply” –– OJB expresses disappointment

In a recent interview with Inspiration FM’s Gloria Maduka, OJB talks about how D’banj abandoned him when he needed his help. He also tells how he expected D’banj to come out and refute claims that he gave him ₦7m cheque as his contribution towards the kidney transplant.

Hear him;

“The most disappointing one for me is D’banj because he passed through my hands, he was trained under my tutelage. That is offensive. I don’t care if you’re with Kanye West, you can’t forget your root. I won’t call anybody else’s name but I will call his because it hurts. His own hurts very deep. And he never tried to reach out to me. It’s not like we parted on fighting terms. 

He told me he had to go to London and he went. And when he came back it was Don Jazzy, and I said OK, that’s fine. And what he did worked and I’m very proud of him, the love I had for him, that’s why it hurts more. He should have come out to say no, I don’t know why you people are saying all this, I didn’t give OJB N7million, maybe a part of him felt embarrassed because at the end of the day, really, are you not supposed to do something?”

Endia and Emma Nyra grace the cover of Tush Magazine [PHOTOS]

Music acts, Emma Nyra and Endia are on the cover of the 6^th issue of Tush Magazine – Tush is an urban lifestyle youth magazine.

See more photos on the flip.

New Music: Harry Song –– Tele Mi

Here’s a new joint from Mr Songz himself, Harry Song titled “Tele mi”.

Army Headquarters Retires 30 Generals

Following the promotions and postings of 27 major generals by the Nigerian Army Council, indications have emerged that the Army authorities have issued terminal letters to 30 generals, preparatory to their leaving the force between today, 31st December and 31st January 2014.

Among the generals that have so far received the letters are some principal staff officers at army and defence headquarters, commandants of tri-service institutions, corps-commanders, as well as those of Army-owned training institutions.

Nigerian Tribune gathered from authoritative military sources that while some of the generals have served the mandatory 35 years in service, others have been caught up by the age on rank requirement for retirement and some have become not promotable by virtue of the fact that they have not been successful with the promotion boards for the three scheduled opportunities.

Nigerian Lady Excretes Hard Drugs On-Board Aircraft from Malaysia [PHOTOS]

A 32 year old single lady, Chizoba Anya Vivian is currently being quizzed by anti-narcotic officers for allegedly excreting wraps of substance that tested positive for methamphetamine on-board a Qatar Airline Flight from Malaysia. The suspect was said to have aroused suspicion following her frequent visit to the toilet. On arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, three wraps of methamphetamine was found in her possession.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that the suspect while under observation excreted two additional wraps. In his words, “the suspect was found with three wraps which she excreted in the aircraft. While she was under observation at the Lagos airport, she excreted two additional wraps of drugs. The five wraps which tested positive for methamphetamine weighed 80 grammes”.

75-year-old Man Dies after Marathon Sex with Prostitute

A 75-year-old man, Ogueshi Nwoye (surname removed), resident in Ogbesuwe quarters in Asaba, Delta State, slumped and died at the weekend after an alleged marathon sex with a 21-year-old female school dropout at the same quarters.

Leadership reliably gathered that the lady, popularly called “Lady P”, a renowned commercial sex worker, was sent out of school for poor academic performance, after failing to pass her JSS 3 exams several times.

Leadership checks revealed that her stock in trade was to seduce more elderly men into sex romps.

Sources said that Ogueshi Nwoye, one of her admirers, was challenged to a sex bout after parting with ₦5,000, a situation that led both into some rounds of sex, which left the man gasping for breath afterwards.

Pastor Adeoye and wife, Sunmbo Had a Fun-filled Christmas [PHOTOS]

Royalty Christian Centre helmsman, Pastor Adeoye and 2face Idibia's baby mama, Sunmbo had fun this Christmas – the couple, after touring some locations in Lagos visited a cinema with 2Face’s children, Zion and Dino. They also had a cousin, Ella in their company.

Sunmbo says it's the best Christmas ever!

See more photos on the flip.

Fathia Balogun Changes Her Name To Fathia “Williams” On Instagram

Fathia Balogun and her Ex-husband, Saidi Balogun has been on the surname ‘Balogun’ saga for a while now and it appears the court has ruled in favour of movie producer Saidi Balogun as, Fathia has finally dropped the ‘Balogun’ title off her name.

Fathia a few days ago removed her ex-husband’s last name “Balogun” from her social media pages and added her maiden name “Williams” instead.

Governor Amaechi Denies Impregnating Soyinka’s Daughter

Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday debunked the rumours making the rounds that he impregnated a daughter of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

According to an online publication, Premium Times, the governor denied the rumours through his twitter handle on December 18, but it became public knowledge on Saturday.

There had been rumours that a daughter of the Nobel Laureate was expecting a child for Amaechi and that she was already living in the Government House.

It was further alleged that the governor’s wife, Judith, had fled abroad following the domestic challenges she was having with her husband.

Pastor Bakare Blast Pres. Jonathan for sending him a cow as Christmas Gift

According to Sahara Reporters, the presiding overseer of the Latter Rain Church and the convener of Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare has lambasted the Presidency for giving him a cow as gift this Christmas.

“I had a cow from the Presidency. I didn’t ask for it. They dropped it at the Save Nigeria Group office… But is it cow that we need? If you check their books, one cow could have been bought for $5,000. The rest of the money is pocketed! We don’t need cow, we need a country that will move forward!” he told his congregation in Lagos on Sunday.

Nollywood Actress Oge Okoye Honoured as a Chief in Enugu [PICZ]

Oge Okoye was honoured in her hometown this weekend as the Igolo Nwanyi of Amoli in Awgu, Enugu State.

See one more pics on the flip.

Obiwon Opens Up on Why He Dropped R&B for Gospel Music

In a recent interview with Punch, Obiora Nwokolobia-Agu, popularly known as Obiwon tells why he ditched R&B for gospel music.

Excerpts;

Why did you transit from R&B to gospel?

After recording some successes on my first album, I found myself right in the thick of a celebrity/ fame lifestyle. I wasn’t yet a practising Christian but I found myself often pondering if I could possibly end up well or ever lead a good life with the way things were going. Secondly, studying the personal lives of a couple of music icons, who were my role models at the time, was scary because they all had terrible endings.  Also, things hadn’t exactly gone as planned in my career despite some successes. All these drove me to seek God and answers. Eventually, I gave my life to Christ and became born again. For me, it was first, a step of faith, as the answer to the kind of life I desired while pursuing an entertainment career.

Lightning Kills Eight Worshippers at Seventh Day Adventist Church in Malawi

Eight worshippers have been killed and several others injured after lightning struck at a church in Malawi´s capital Lilongwe on Saturday, a health ministry official said.

“The worshippers were having an extended session of Saturday prayers when lightning struck their church at around 4.30pm,” Charles Mwansambo, chief of health services in the ministry of health, told AFP.

He said the eight victims -- included seven adults and one child -- had “arrived already dead” at Kamuzu Central hospital from the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Mwansambo said one person was at the intensive care unit, while 40 others were being “observed” and treated as outpatients.

Behind The Scene Photos: DiL, Praiz & Lynxx in “Acapella” Video shoot

Singer Dil is currently busy with the shooting of the video of his single, ‘Acapella,’ which is due for release on 3rd January 2014.

The track features soulful crooner, Praiz and ‘Ifeoma’ singer, Lynxxx – both artistes would also feature in the video.

Check out more behind the scenes photos on the flip.