africa entertainment plus sports

THE 'NEW' SUPER EAGLES

2009-06-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

From top: IK Uche - the new Okocha, Uwa Echiejile - the best new discovery,and Super Eagles' Coach Shaibu Amodu (great photos from Zimbio)

THE 'NEW' SUPER EAGLES

It is heartening to observe that Nigeria's Super Eagles have suddenly become an object of affection to local football buffs again ; a feat achieved after some impressive performances against France and Tunisia in particular.Beginning with the friendly game with Ireland, several 'new' players were introduced and the pattern was consistently followed right till saturday's World Cup qualifying game against Tunisia in Rades ( I note however that, but for Sone Aluko, virtually all the other players were named in the coach's inaugural list a year ago !).

With victory over France in particular, a lot -if not all - of the hitherto diehard critics of Amodu Shaibu's team seem to have changed their position, at least for now. I'm happy for these developments, especially now that our World Cup qualification dream is now in our own hands. But the team is yet not the dream team we crave, and I will proceed to give my personal opinion on the shape and character of this 'new' team.

GOALKEEPERS

Clearly an area of strength, with Vincent Enyeama partiularly in splendid form.

DEFENCE

All the full-backs - Odiah,Mohammed,Olubayo,Echiejile and Taiwo - are good enough. However the same cannot be said of our central defence.The combination of Adeleye and Sodje may be high in grit and potential, but both still have some learning to do : Our best pairing, bar fitness, in my opinion for now remains Yobo and Shittu.

Uwa Echiejile was the most complete and effective among the 'new' faces. This is cheering as this will put pressure on Taiwo to keep his game up always. I also see a further advantage in having the two players in the team: See details below.

MIDFIELD

I have seen enough to be convinced that Olofinjana and Kalu Uche are just not it (more especially Olofinjana). Rather than continuing with them, I think it's better to keep trying out new players until we find the right quality. Kanu and Mikel however remain the essentials.

I think it is time we accept the reality that Mikel is a defensive midfielder and just keep him in that position.If Mourinho was a fool, Scolari and Hiddink surely could not also have been. In Tunisia he held the midfield very well , so let's know at least that we have that position coverred, while the search for the new Okocha continues.

And talking of the new Okocha, I think IK Uche has demonstrated enough skill and vision to merit being given a try. Therefore, I strongly suggest that ,when Yakubu and Martins are back fully fit, IK should be given the playmaker role. At least Kanu is there to guide him along. Then, there is the young lad Sone Aluko. He has a wonderful left foot and good dribbling skills (an Ilerika type of player, which we have not had for a long while), and should be kept in the team to gain experience and build self- confidence.

ATTACK

On the strength of what I saw in the last four matches, Eneramo and Akpalla are still far from international quality. Obinna Nsofor has world class qualities but is also one of the most inconsistent footballers I've ever known; which leaves us with just Osaze Odemwigie. This is therefore one critical area that we need to look inwards at the local leaque for, and we can start by trying the lad who just broke the long-standing goalscoring record, Orok Akaranduk.

Secondly our attack line is very weak on the left side. As a solution I will suggest that one of Taiwo or Echiejile be moved upfront to provide the needed balance. Remember that Otto Gloria played two hitherto outside-lefts, Adokiye and Felix Owolabi in our 1980 Nations Cup winning team, so it's nothing strange to work outside the box when faced with a problem. What really is the big difference between a wing-back and an outside-left anyway ?

MY BIG PICTURE

In summary, I will wish Amodu to try out this sort of line up in his next friendly matches:

Enyeama

Olubayo Yobo Shittu Taiwo

Mikel

Odemwigie IK Uche Echiejile

Martins Yakubu

Essential subs: Kanu,Nsofor,Adeleye,Sodje,Aluko.

POINT OF CAUTION

I strongly disagree with those who say that the World Cup ticket for thie group will be determined at the Nigeria v. Tunisia match in Abuja. Mark my words; there is a very strong likelihood that either of these countries will lose valuable points in their forthcoming matches against Kenya and Mozambique: Remember that there's also a Nations Cup place to play for.

My advise to Amodu is to repeatedly play back the tape of today's USA v. Spain FIFA Confedereations Cup match to his players, as there are abundant lessons to be learnt therein on commitment, total football, and above all that the concept of the underdog in football is outdated,myopic and potentially fatal.

EYO FESTIVAL,MUMINI ALAO, NFF'S VERY SAD DECISION

2009-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Eyo Festival is the symbol of Lagos' rich history and culture.See story below.

(photo from nigerianwiki)

MUMINI ALAO'S SOCCER TALK

Mumini Alao: Ace sportswriter

Although many people have chosen to make sarcastic remarks about the Nigerian government's brand pay-off line "good people,great nation", the truth is, Nigeria is actually blessed with so many 'good people'.My definition of good people here being a people with abundant talents that, through sheer hardwork,creativity and honesty, have been harnessed to achieve world class performance in various vocations. How else will you describe people like Cardinal Arinze,Enoch Adeboye,Chinamanda ,Wole Soyinka, Wole Oguntokun, Emegwali,Austin Okocha,Chinua Achebe,Dele Olojede,and so on and so on, if not as good people ?

Well, one good person that fully deserves all the accolades that have come his way is the highly influential sports journalist Mumini Alao.Today will see Mumini mark his second full decade as a sportswriter, and from the tone of the accolades one would think the guy is some old veteran in the throes of retirement. But the guy is probably only in his early 40s: In 20 years this young man has steadily progressed in his chosen profession to become, probably, the most influential sportswriter in Nigeria.

I have the good fortune to have followed Mumini's career right from the very beginning. As at the time he joined Complete Communications I was already a huge fan of his publisher Sunny Ojeagbase and his Sports Souvenir newspaper (now Complete Sports). In fact Ojeagbase was one of my early influences in sportswriting.The others were Chris Okojie of Vanguard,late Owoblow of Punch and Mitchel Obi of Guardian. So Mumini had the singular good fortune of starting his career under the best tutelage possible.The difference between him and the many others who passed through Ojeagbase is that,first of all he wrote in very similar style and conviction as the boss, and more importantly he had the patience to stay put with one employer and develop his career - something that's indeed very rare these days.

In the 1990s I had the priviledge of publishing several of my articles in their newspaper (in fact they published everything I sent to them), and incidentally till date I've never enterred their offices or even met Mumini. So maybe this article can also be regarded as official thank-you to Mumini for the priviledge they gave me to 'shine' !

From a distance it's easy to see that the arrival and efficiency of Mumini Alao provided the much needed room for his publisher,Sunny Ojeagbase to concentrate on the business side of his enterprise.The result is that,from the 80s when the newspaper seemed like a bad risk and guaranteed failure, Complete Sports is today about the most widely read newspaper in Nigeria, with readersship cutting across various segments - from mechanics to medical doctors to captains of industry.

But what is it that has stood Mumini Alao out from the rest of the pack ? Simple answer; he writes in a dispassionate and balanced manner, and always takes the trouble to research his facts before commiting his pen. Hardly would Mumini criticise someone without also mentioning some positives things about the person. The only time I felt dissappointed with him was in 2002 when I felt he and other influential journalists at the time did not do enough to dissuade the sports authorities from committing an obvious and needless suicide when they disbanded the National Team,Super Eagles, barely five months to the World Cup finals. The subsequent woeful performance of the team in Korea/Japan apart, Nigeria is,seven years later, still trying to recover from that premature termination of a whole generation of world class and patriotic footballers.I only hope we never repeat such madness again.

That however does not diminish the great respect I have for Mumini, whose Soccer Talk column has become the major reference point for enthusiasts and regulators alike in the industry. For instance it is in Soccer Talk that the name 'dutchgerian' was given to Clemens Westerhoff; 'Goalsfather' to Rashidi Yekini, and several other now household sobriquets.The book containing a compilation of past Soccer Talks will also be launced today, and I intend to buy several copies of it, to be given as precious gifts to friends and associates.

Keep the flag flying, Mr. Soccer Talk !

NFF'S VERY SAD DECISION

Nigeria's Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets : NFF should give us their educational records.

(photo from FIFA.com)

I've just written about the senseless disbanding of the National Team in 2002; but yet another such inconceivable decision has just been taken by the Football Federation ,with their sacking of the Golden Eaglets' coach, Henry Nwosu during the week. And Nwosu's offence ? 'The team has not been playing well'.

With just a few months to the Under 17 World Cup, the clear message the NFF is sending out is that the 'win at all cost' mentality for cadet compeitions is still very much the in-thing. What do we expect the new coach to do now, if not to load the team with super-old men masquerading as teenagers. The opportunity for Nigerian schoolboys to savour a festival on their own soil with their peers on parade will now elude them, and another bunch of old cargos who cannot withstand competition with their true agemates will most probably be assembled, ride majestically through the competition, and win the cup. And we continue to deceive ourselves.

Thereafter, just like what we have seen with the last 'world champion' Eaglets, the celebrations would only last for the moment, as plotting a natural transition to a higher level will prove a herculean task.

Let's be clear on this: Building a team of genuine Under 17 footballers would make the task of winning the U-17 World Cup very difficult (though certainly not impossible).The reason being that most other teams from the so called 'third world' countries probably cheat at this level. However,if we are serious about the developmental process of our football, we have to take the crucial decision of jettisoning the win-at- all- cost mentality at the Under-17 level.

Whatever be the case, I will only challenge the NFF to ensure that they publish the educational records ( primary and secondary schools and dates) of all the players that will eventually be selected to represent Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup.That way any inquisitive citizen can check to confirm that the country is not living a lie once again; not now that the competition is holding right here on our own soil. Let our kids have their due, whether we win or not !

EYO FESTIVAL

As a 'Lagos boy' I feel immensely proud of the Adamu-Orisa festival, popularly known as Eyo. This is the cultural pride of the people of lagos, dating back well over a decade: From an origin traced to Badagry, and eventually settling as an important annual ceremony in Isale Eko ( lagos Island). My excitement this time around is that the government has stepped in to make the festival the gigantic tourist spectacle that it should be.

In years gone by, the Eyo masquerade has danced in honour of several illustrous indigenes of Lagos (originally as an important part of the rites of passage): From Oba Akitoye,Eletu- Odibo,Aromire Aiyedun and many others. Sometime before independence, we were told, the festival was even held in honour of Queen Victoria of England.Many musicians have also waxed hit records in praise of the festival. King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall and Ebenezer Obey's have to be the most famous of the lot.

Apart from fitting in very well with the Mega City vision of the 'new' Lagos,I'm happy that unlike in our youthful days when we held the masquerade in fear and mystery, our children and visitors to Eko (aka las gidi to the young at heart) will henceforth join in the celebrations with absolute free mind, savouring the frills and awesome spectacle. I dream of the day that the Eyo festival will attract the same worldwide reputation as the Rio festival in Brazil - and if that will also mean more euros and dollars for the people, so be it !

EASTER ,HIP HOP WORLD AWARDS,SUPER EAGLES.

2009-04-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER !

As a Christian, I'm humble enough to know and accept that Easter is the bedrock of my faith and therefore Love the essence of this life. Let me just say happy Easter to you all !

HIP HOP WORLD AWARDS: REFLECTIONS ON NAIJA MUSIC

D'Banj ruled the streets in 2008.
(Photo courtesy Hip Hop World)

I love music; and contemporary Nigerian pop music is no exception.In fact I have my own recorded material containing songs in afro-beat, galala and of course hip hop genre. I flow easily with this generation you know, and I must say that despite all the defects I'll definitely give kudos to everybody involved: the singers, producers (eventhough in most cases are no more than sound engineers),publishers (the magazine type that is, eg Hip Hop World),marketers, video producers,....and ehm ehm, well, the 'record companies' - oh sorry I mean labels.

Ayo Animashaun's Hip Hop World Awards has earned its place as the most respected industry award show today, and whenever it comes around, it sets the industry abuzz. This time around the organisers say they have deliberately excluded some songs from nomination because ot their not-so society-friendly lyrics, and this is supposed to be the magazine's own little contribution towards sanitising the industry.Good talk.

On the streets, 2009 was another exciting year, with so many dance hits to reckon with. Bigiano's Shayo, Sheyman & Dr Pat's I'm On Fire (aka Kondo Olopa !), J.Martin's Good or Bad ( aka Do Me pt. 2 ), Kelly Handsome's Maga Don Pay (aka Yahoozee pt. 2 )and the whole load of D'Banj's stuff all ensured that there was no dull moment. One of my personal favorites was Styl Plus' Four Years which unfortunately was thoroughly whipped by the 'critics' even before it got to the shelves.

From a creative point of view however and as usual, there were very few songs worthy of mention. 9ice's Gongo Aso ( which I still regard as an adulterated fuji song.....ha ha ha !) was definitely the year's best material. The other was Lord of Ajasa's Le Fenu So (also a fuji twist !). Frankly speaking, I couldn't see anything near those two.

The rap scene was particularly interesting, and not just because of Lord of Ajasa. Ruggedman, the self-appointed headmaster and inspector-general of the Nigerian rap scene met his nemesis in non other than his former buddy, Mode 9. Taken word for word, line by line, Ehen Pt 1 would sound like absolute child's play compared to the venom of Death Row.

On the positive side though, 2009 witnessed the release of one of the best rap albums yet in Nigeria - Naeto C's You Know My P. It was also the year of a new star MI. And yet another star in the making, Kel.

Afrobeat came alive with the release of the long awaited debut album by Seun Kuti, Many Things. It would appear though that the young lad still has many things to learn as far as his recording career is concerned.

Asa is doing the real branding job for Nigeria

Although D'Banj ruled the airwaves and the streets, the two most significant artistes of the year were Asa and Tuface. Asa in fact must be Nigeria's most popular artiste in Europe today - maybe with the possible exception of Femi Kuti. Her Jailer collection is absolutely awesome and has been doing the real branding business for Nigeria. I hope aunty Dora has been taking note !

Many have commented that Tuface's last album was weak. I agree. I also think the negative perception is essentially because he packed too many irrelevant and unnecesary songs into the album - a practice that has become commonplace in the hiphop era. Back in the day, our great artistes like Fela and Sonny Okosuns used to release magnificient 4-trackers, sometimes 6, and the market accepted the works, for essentially each song was memorable in it's own right.

These days most of our local hiphop cds come with 11 - 16 songs, most of which do nothing than bore the listener. I can count only very few that sustained a positive and consistent tempo throughout, and interestingly Tuface's first two albums are among these. Some artistes take it to really dramatic levels; eg Naeto C's rap album contains a pure and vintage highlife material ! Why waste money producing so many tracks when the market is only interested in one or two - or maybe four or five as in the case of Styl Plus' Olufunmi,P Square's Game Over or D'Banj's The Entertainer ?

That apart, Tuface's collaboration with R Kelly- one of the greatest r'n'b stars in the world- in Flex was quite a significant achievement which, if properly promoted should open the door for Nigerian acts to gain real international acceptance and fame. In any case the song is a very good one, and I dream of the day Mr Idibia will climb the stage with Kelly to perform it. Then we can truly say Naija hiphop/ r'n'b has arrived.

I hope I've not stirred too many controversies , for the real fun cometh with the Hip Hop Awards in a few weeks !

SUPER EAGLES: THE TRUTH ABOUT NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

John Mikel Obi is the only thing close to USA '94 quality in today's Super Eagles

When I noticed from their very first match in the World Cup qualifying series last year, that analysis of the Super Eagles' matches has been reduced to the single pedestrian exercise of highlighting the weaknesses - real and imaginary - of the coach, Amodu Shaibu, I knew the man was once again living on borrowed time.

Although the team still has not lost a game, the away draw to 'lowly' Mozambique in a weekend that saw rivals Tunisia win their own away fixture, would provide sufficient amunition for the carnivorous hawks whose appetite has only been wet by the recent sacking of Ladan Bosso in the Flying Eagles, to strike. And the cry has been loud and scathing ever since :'Nigeria is on the brink of missing the World Cup again'; 'Sack him'. And the replacement ? 'Bring Westerhoff', 'bring Siasia','bring foreign coach','bring.......'. All these coming after only the first of six round of matches !

Truly,I also share patriotic concerns about Nigeria's chances of qualifying for the World Cup. But I do not support any call for the sacking of the coach. For one, the man has proven more than sufficiently that he is as capable as anyone else of handling the National Team. And then everytime I remember the blatant 'suicide' that our Sports administrators committed in 2002 when they sacked the technical crew on the eve of the World Cup I catch instant cold. If the current administrators ever choose to walk that road again, posterity will be very harsh on them.

We must be honest with ourselves in analysing the current situation. Nigeria does not as at today have (or maybe have not discoverred) the quality of players she had between 2004 - 2006. At that time we had no less than 8 world class players, most of who could easily have won the African Footballer of the Year award on merit. Today we only have Mikel Obi to look up to. Maybe also I.K. Uche. Who else ?

Given this scenario, the key to success is to build a strong team spirit and make the squad function maximally as a unit, and I believe this is what the coach has been trying to do.With 5 rounds of matches to go, 2 of which will be against our main rivals Tunisia, the qualification ticket cannot be said to have been lost. The rest of us outside the coaching crew have the crucial patriotic role of motivating, not destabilising the players and technical crew.

I will advise the coaches to use the forthcoming grade A friendly matches to try out some new players in the major areas of weakness; namely, the playmaker, winger (right or left) and centre forward. I strongly agree with those who say Amodu should be more flexible in inviting players to the team.He should forget about the mediocrity of the local leaque and give some promising players a try. You never can tell.

THE TRUTH IS BITTER....

The low quality of the Nigerian National Team is a direct reflection of both the insipid local league where most young players with any sign of real talent are shipped out by the lucre-minded scouts to various obscure leaques abroad even before the fans and coaches discover them here, and the dubious system whereby glaringly overaged players are selected for the age-group teams,thereby giving us a false sense of the quality of talent at our disposal.

The earlier we start addressing these issues approrpriately, and stop hypocritical postures, the better for our football.

THE VILLAGE HEADMASTER

2009-03-06T11:37:00.000-08:00

Ambassador Segun Olusola (right,with the late Elder Steve Rhodes) created the Village Headmaster.

Let me take it from my last blog and thank Chief Segun Odegbami for reconciling our warring dribblers, Etim and Jay Jay. The Big Seg simply put 1 and 1 together, and got Oba Dapo Tejuosho to issue a royal order on the two combatants, and in a jiffy two multi-million lawsuits had gone for good. Isn't he simply mathematical ?

After my Valentine (mis)adventure last year I really needed something different for a change this time around. Fortunately the call of duty took me to Ibadan during the period, and I couldn't have asked for anything better; no need for making up excuses at the home front, and an all expenses paid time to booot!. Despite the menacing presence of military armoured tanks all over the once very peaceful city, we still managed to catch good fun, particularly at an open space joint called ina straight (!!!).I remember a memorable scene when some teenagers alighted from a jeep, and pronto jumped on the next available seats , took off their shirts (all of them !) and commenced operation !

Oh I meant ; commenced serious igbadun ! Ibadan kini s'ow ooo ? S'ow s'or jare !

The evening before, I had an issue with my val: She couln't understand why I wasn't going crazy about some soap opera on TV.Truth is I really don't watch TV that much any longer; especially the drama or soaps as they are called. I had to explain to her that I've seen it all - I mean the best of Nigerian drama. After over one hour of reeling back from my memory the best of Nigerian TV, she gave up the fight.Now she's dying of hunger for vintage drama, truly made in Nigeria.

In the 1970s and early 80s we had not the luxury of satellite TV; even coloured TV for that matter. In fact there were just four or five TV stations in the whole country, but believe me TV was awesome. For the purpose of this write up I'll restrict myself to the drama programs. They were few but extremely entertaining and intensely addictive.

The Masquerade from NTV Aba, with Chief Zeburudaya alias 4.30, Giringory Akabogu, Clarus and Apena (played by the legendary singer Christy Essien-Igbokwe) was comedy at its best. Benin's all-time unforgetable export was Hotel De Jordan. There was also this Baba Sala show in Ibadan featuring the indefatigable Okondo. Icheokwu was there too, and Jagua,etc etc. Cockcrow At Dawn,featuring the unforgettable Bitrus and that exquisitely beautifulf damsel who played his mother, came a little later and was immensely popular as well.

However, the most popular TV drama ever on Nigerian television was the Village Headmaster, created and I think also directed by Ambassador Segun Olusola, the highly respected afficianado of the arts in this country. This was art at its best.

Village Headmaster was a simple but ingeneous script built around a cosmopolitan Nigerian village with all shades of characters and mountain-sized egos. The King was therefore always busy calming hot nerves and solving all manners of disputes. I think the whole thing can be better illustrated if I take the lead characters one by one.I however warn that everything I write on this topic is entirely based on raw memory: If you spot any gaffes, please let me know.

HEADMASTER (initially played by Ted Mukoro,then by Femi Robinson,and finally by Justus Esiri): A perfect gentleman and an urbane character.He brought a touch of civility and western decorum to the series.

BASSEY OKON (Played by Jab Adu): One of the most popular characters,he had a provisions shop which invariably was patronised by everyone in the village.This gave him a feeling of being very important .His trademark exclamation of 'chei,chei ,chei !' was a big hit with us kids back then.

CHIEF ELEYINMI (played by Late Oba Funsho Adeolu): For many people this was the funniest character.Eleyinmi was proud,arrogant and brash.You dare not cross his path ; lest he confers on you an ignoble label that will hunt you for life; e.g. 'hunter of rats and rabbits'!

GARUBA (Joe Layode): A senior teacher in the school, but prone to drinking and a rather unending personal crisis.

COUNCILLOR BALOGUN ( Wole Amele): Was very popular for his boldness and confidence, and the fact that he was a thorn in Eleyinmi's flesh.

GORIMAPA (sorry I can't remember his real name): This late addition to the cast became an instant hit with his clean-shaven head which the ever witty Eleyinmi dubbed 'sahara desert'! Till today the slang Gorimapa is used to describe bald-headed people.

AMEBO (Ibidun Allison): This is the most popular social expression that Village Headmaster bestowed on the Nigerian society: Amebo, gossip,gossip,gossip........

SISI CLARA (played by the series' creator's late wife, Elsie): Typical calaba woman; combining the best of womanhood with a spirit of entrepreneurship ,self assurance and dignity.

OKORO (Jimi Johnson) : Another late entrant,but immensely popular character. It took me and many others many many years before realising that Jimi Johnson isn't an Ibo man afterall (in the case of Bassey Okon the name 'Adu' gave him away ). That tells you the quality of acting on display.

KABIYESI ( Dejumo Lewis): The graceful and reverred monarch; loved by all, and who somehow managed to find the solutions to every conflict.

I also remember Lakunle Ojo,Boniface (Asuquo Ukwuak),teacher Oghene (Melville Obriango) and Chief Kokonsari.

I use this medium to pay tribute to these great actors who really brought fun and laughter to millions of Nigerians.Above all I salute the creator of the program Ambassador Segun Olusola for his ingenuity. And to the dead among these great heroes I wish a peaceful rest.

Maybe Laspapi or someone who knows him will read this post: Please try a stage version of this great drama. And since Segun Olusola is still alive, he can do one of two things or a combination of both : Re-invent the programme with a new cast; or take advantage of technology and make a compilation of the original series in DVD format (we won't mind the 'poor' picture quality;not at all !).This I assure,will sell in millions.

My fear though is if the tapes are still available.NTA please prove me wrong.

ETIM ESIN VS JAY JAY OKOCHA,NIGERIA'S FLYING EAGLES AND THE AGE-GRADE CONTROVERSY

2009-01-31T11:54:00.000-08:00

I was already planning a write-up with the above title,wherein I intended to compare the unique skills of two of Nigeria's most gifted footballers ever - Etim John Esin and Augustine 'Jay Jay' Okocha,until I started reading the thoroughly unpalatable news of the face-off between the two over a telephone handset.Yes,believe me ,two very good friends washing their dirty linen in public over a mere telephone handset !

Of course I was concerned,and therefore took the time to get as much information on the issue,only to discover that it is nothing afterall.What's the story ? Jay Jay invited Etim to his Christmas party,and at the venue (which was Jay's house) a guest claimed to have lost his phone and immediately fingerred Etim as the prime suspect;then proceeded to search the former Nigerian international and his family thoroughly and in the full presence of the other guests including Etim's kids.Jay Jay heard of what was going on and swiftly asked 'Mr phone loser' to stop embarassing his guest,and the party continued.A few weeks later Etim got his lawyer,Festus Keyamo to threaten Jay Jay with a court case over the matter.

Now this is my candid opinion:

First,I've been following Etim's career for over two decades now,and I do not believe that Etim is a thief. Maybe I need to disclose something that many people do not know : Unlike most of our star footballers who struggled their way out of poverty,I doubt if Etim Esin has ever experienced poverty in his life.Even his travails since injury forced him into premature retirement is only relative, because people tend to compare his current situation with his lifestyle at the pinnacle of his career.

I happened to have been in Cross-River when Etim Esin came to limelight, and believe me it was not only the irresistable edikangikong and afang soups and the extraordinarily hospitable fine calabar babes that made my stay memorable.At that time Calabar Rovers were making waves across the country for their smooth,champaigne soccer and the Calaber Township Stadium was the place to be every saturday evening,especially for those of us Lagos boys who were used to the same atmosphere with Stationery Stores at the Onikan Waterfront.

Mid-field dynamo Isong Isang and left winger James Etokebe were absolutely delightful,and were soon to be joined by two new showstoppers who were to even surpass their feats as the ultimate football entertainers:These were Okon Effa (who later became very popular in lagos as John Ene Okon) and Etim Esin a secondary school student from the Boys High School,Oron. And guess what ? Etim used the visit of my darling team,Stores to boldly announce his arrival at the big stage. His biggest victim that afternoon being no less a personality that our dreaded and most dependable defender, Joe Appiah !

Sorry for that irresistable digression ! The point however is that it was a well known fact at the time that Etim was from an elitist family in Oron.His Dad - a very principled man ,if I remember correctly was a top shot in government at a stage,and his siblings were deep into serious academic pursuits here and abroad. Etim's problems originated from his extraordinary talents which brought him enormous wealth at the age of 18 or thereabout, and I do not intend to recount the story that we already know. But to summarise,I'll say he has a post-retirement weakness for booze.That notwithstanding,I've met and discussed with him personally as recent as last year, and I can say convincingly that he is a very responsible man who has taken his travails in good faith and is determined to make a success of his life after football.

On the other hand,Jay Jay,whose senior brother Emma, played for the Flying Eagles together with Etim, has impressed me with the way he has always treated Etim as a brother: Not for them, the kind of suppressed rivalry between Pele and Maradona, for instance. That is why I am highly suspicious that what happened at the Christmas party was a deliberate attempt by some envious people to create bad blood between the two friends and Nigerian soccer legends.

I will like both Etim and Jay Jay to think deeper about this incident, and bury the hatchet. Etim should stop any further activity on his court action: What is N100 million compared to human friendship? Some mutual friend or former international player should invite the two guys to lunch and get Jay Jay to apologise to Etim; and that should close the matter.

NIGERIA'S FLYING EAGLES AND THE AGE-GRADE CONTROVERSY

The performance of our Flying Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Youth Championship will be rememberred as one of the worst in history. And to put the issue in perspective,the Flying Eagles ( Nigeria's under-20 football team) has traditionally been adored by Nigerians,not just because of their numerous successes, but also because of the beautiful brand of football that they usually display.Nigeria's team to Rwanda produced neither.

I don't want to dwell on the already flogged issue concerning the competence of coach Ladan Bosso; rather, my concern is with the fact that the core of this disgraceful team is made up of players that only a couple of years ago won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup for Nigeria. Remember also that just before the disaster in Rwanda the same Flying Eagles crashed miserably here at home during the WAFU Cup.So why did a collection of players who just two years ago ruled the world at the Under-17 level suddenly become so crass and incompetent? I agree that Bosso has his problems, but if the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF ) is only looking at coaching as the weakness of the team, then thay are making a big mistake.

The dismal performance of the Flying Eagles in two successive competitions clearly calls to question the true ages of the former Under-17 players in that team, and this must be addressed seriously by the NFF. The problem with using over-aged players in age-grade competitions,most espesially at the Under-17 level is that it distorts the developmental plan of the federation. The oustanding Nigerian player in Rwanda, Uchebo was not in the last Under - 17 team, and now whoever takes over the Flying Eagles must have to start hunting afresh for quality players to take to the World Cup. Yet we have a World Cup winning group of 'Under-17' players who ordinarily should have been automatically drafted into the team.

This is therefore a wake up call to Henry Nwosu and the new Under-17 team he's moulding: Please go for authentic under-17 players only. Nigeria does not have to win the Under-17 World Cup at all means ! But we need to build a team that will serve as potent foundation for the Super Eagles and The World Cup in 2014 and beyond.There are thousands of exquisite and prodigeously talented footballers in secondary schools all over Nigeria - in fact, the likes of a certain Henry Nwosu who played for St. Finbarr's College some years ago !

My advice to the NFF is that henceforth, the names of the primary and secondary schools attended by every under-17 player selected to play for the country,and years of attendance should be published for everyone to see. Any talented 'youngster' who does not have academic record should be asked to try his luck with the U-20 or U-23s.We have had enough of this charade.

CHARLES NOVIA AND MAJEK FASHEK

2009-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today I want to write about two people I like so much: Frontline musician,Majek Fashek and talented filmmaker cum many other things,Charles Novia. I like Majek because he gave us entertainment of the highest quality,on stage and in records from the late 1980s through the entire 90s,then sufaced from nowhere to drop one of the very best albums of the 2000s - Little Patience. And that is where my affection for Charles started.

Like Aibtonia did some years back, Charles Novia saw beyond the horrible press on the artiste and took on the daring responsibility of resurrecting Majek's recording career (well,in Nigeria that is) about four years ago.It turned out to be a very successful venture from an artistic and commercial point of view, as Majek's reggae/rock/afrobeat - lased pangolo music surprisingly caught on effortlessly with the hiphop incensed youths.The only minus in the whole thing was that Novia kept promising that Majek will return to the country by November of that year to stage concerts across the country (and went ahead to further wet the fans' appetite by releasing a video compilation of live material from the US ) - a promise he never fulfilled; and to the best of my knowledge no credible excuse or even an apology was given.

It would appear that 'a lot of water has passed through the bridge' as my people would say, since then. Majek Fashek has been in Nigeria since last November, but from available reports, not at the instance of November Records (Novia's company).More significantly, from the moment he landed in Nigeria, according to press reports, Majek has been dissociating himself from the planned film on his life by Novia.Novia has also consistently responded by affirming that all is well between the two of them and that the film will go on as planned.Well and good.

My interest and concern on the matter was however aroused when I read an article on Majek by Charles Novia on saturday. Now, I do not know what Charles intended to achieve with that article: promote Majek or destroy him ? However I think articles like that do more damage than good to Majek's already severely battered image.

Let's put this in it's proper perspective: In the 1980s when Majek burst into the scene as a very lively twenty-something year old with the rest of his ghetto-bred hommies like Victor Essiet and Ras Kimono,he was obviously the most handsome and photogenic.Like Kris Okotie before him,it was difficult to assertain what really drew the large turnout of ladies to his shows - the music or the look ? Today, almost 30 years later, things have changed and Majek is a lot leaner with the wrinkles of age now very obvious. But so what ?

The legendary Fela went through exactly the same physical transformation, but that did not stop him from creating the best music of his life. Another superstar, Sunny Okosuns who dedicated his latter years to propagating the Gospel also had a similar experience. What then is the point in flogging this issue of Majek's 'new look'. Majek Fashek made his name as a musician, not some corporate exec. or model. So the question is; does he still have the music in him ? Can he still perform ?

Little Patience, a great work by all standards, showed clearly that Majek still has the music in abundance, while his recent one-man performance to honour Fela at the shrine,plus November Records' video release also proved that his thrilling stage presence is still intact. However,and most dissappointingly, Majek has been in the country for three months now, yet no major shows have been organised for him, and millions of his fans - both old and young - across the country. All we see are unnecessary write-ups like Novia's, alluding to drinking problems,spiritual problems, 'substances',olokun deity, and what have you. If this is what Novia's Majek film is going to be all about, then I'll advise that he drops the idea, otherwise Majek's kids will sue the life out of him !

And for the records, Majek Fashek has, despite his weaknesses been one of the best role-models among Nigerian artistes, or in fact Nigerian men as a whole. First he has extremely strong family value.His life has always revolved around his family : From his late mum to his wife and kids.I cannot remember ever reading or hearing any tale of Majek being involved in extramarital issues of any kind. Second, his music is entirely devoid of vulgar language or themes, but always addressing positive issues ,and from a very honest and frank position. Tracks like Jobe Lamentation and I'm Not Tired contain very deep philosophy that can only come out of a very perceptive mind.

What the likes of Charles Novia should realise is that the music of iconic artistes like Fela, Majek ,Bob Marley and Jimi Hendricks, amongst others transcend the physical and is deeply rooted in the spiritual. Except you are like them you cannot really understand what they go through emotionally - which of course sometimes manifests in wierd outward behaviour of one form or the other.Majek was born a Dada. Although he took after Bob Marley's music he is not a rastafarian: His Christian faith is easily discernible in all his albums. But there always has been something mystical about him. He is not called 'rainmaker' for nothing.In those days,when he performed Send Down The Rain, the skies obliged.This is no fiction.

But who cares really ? So long as the music continues to flow , and as sweet as the song I Am Not Afraid. The real challenge for Charles Novia and concert promoters across Nigeria is to get Majek back on stage; at Lekki beach, Ogbe Stadium , Abuja, Polo Club, wherever. Put the red gown on his back,the handcuffs, the bell........Let loose the Prisoner of Conscience ! Let the rain fall !

THE BEEF MASTERS,2FACE THE UNSTOPPABLE,HARUNA ILERIKA,FUJI GREATS,BAFANA BAFANA,SUPER EAGLES AND SA 2010

2008-12-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND FULFILLING NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL !

Back in the day,Christmas season used to be characterised by Church Service (for Christians ),harmattan weather,empty highways from late November,endless and assorted bangers,and of course rice and chicken !Now apart from the religeous rites which remains a constant,a lot has changed:The harmattan which gave the season a distinctive and very welcome feel is not there while traffic jams continue right up till Christmas eve.

Notwthstanding these however,Christmas still remains Christmas,a unique occassion when everyone somehow manages to wear a glowing face and shares good tidings with his/her neighbours. In this spirit therefore I wish you all a merry Christmas and a wonderful and blessed new year ahead.

THE BEEF MASTERS

Well the beef game is not in any way new to Naija music;what's new is the immaurity that some of our young hip hoppers are displaying.I mean the juju music scene in the 70s was laden with beef.The fuji music scene is characterised by beef till this day,and I'm sure that there'll always be beef in music.The hallmark of the great artistes is the fact that they craft beef into a veritable art form - a classic!In these songs the listener,despite strong suspicion of the subject under reference is still at ease to interprete the lyrics in a thousands of other positive ways.

But when an artiste records lyrics directly mentioning a competitor's name within extremely uncomplimentary statements (e.g "why you too dey rap like mumu?"),it is exactly like approaching that person face to face on the street and asking for a fight.That is not art;not even freedom of speech.That is violence,and therefore a crime!And that was exactly what Ruggedman did with his 'song' Ehen a few years back.It is to Ruggedman's credit however that,with the passage of time he has refined his ways and even did a collabo with one of the subjects of his beef,Eidris Abdulkareem (who in any case is a much more accomplised and successful recording artiste).His (i.e Ruggedy's) last album was clean, refreshing and very creative.

Unfortunately,the problem with sowing a bad seed is that you may not be able to control its fruits.In an ironic twist,Ruggeddy himself has become the prey in the latest edition of the beef game,with Modenine the predator.Death Blow is as scary a title as any song could get;and when the words pt 1 is added it becomes even scarier because you never know what will follow!The lyrics are indeed strong,to say the least:One of the lines describes the subject as having "cocoayam head,long neck - like a guinea fowl " !Thankfully Rugged's name is not mentioned.

While this madness is going on however,some other rappers are elevating their game and pushing rap closer to mainstream acceptance in the country.Naeto C and Kel fall into this category,with DJ Jimmy Jatt also contributing.In any case,instead of going about copying yankie rap hook,line and sinker,our self-ordained master lyricists should take a cue from Lord of Ajasa's So Fenuso which is not only original but very successful commercially.

I further advise our young 'beefmasters' to also learn from the Faze/2Face diatribes.It spawned two classic songs that will most certainly join the list of evergreens in Nigerian music:Faze Alone and See Me So:That is talent for you.The production quality of most of these beef songs is so appalling that you begin to wonder if the artistes involved are serious with their art in the first place.

My advice: Don't kill your career before it is born .

FUJI GREATS

Still on the subject of hip hop,VH-1 an influencial magazine recently released its list of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs ever,and it's been controversy ever since.What else do you expect in a list that does not include Carlifornia Love (Tupac),Rebel Without A Pause (PE),or Ice Ice Baby (Vanilla Ice).On my part,I only think Jay Z should be higher up,while Sugarhill Gang's Rappers Delight is my No. 1 any day.That was the song that took our (my ?) virginity away !

Vh-1's list gave me inspiration to think of the greatest Naija hip hop songs,of which only the Remedies' Shakomo and Sade seem sure in my head for now.The list that however clearly forms itself is that of the 10 greatesat fuji songs of all time.Here we go from bottom up:

10.YOBOROYOBOSIN - Fuji Sandoka.

Never mind if he never did any other thing as close,this was a masterpiece for Bobo Sandoka.

9.OPON APALA .... - Musiliu Haruna Ishola

Well this should be Apala really,but since the word is hardly mentioned anymore I guess we'll have to give this son-of-a-legend's huge hit a place among the fuji greats.

8.LAKUKULA - Kollington Ayinla

This was a huge hit for kollington,and won for him many of his big rival's fans at the time.

7.ASAKASA - Obesere

Real and down to earth lewd in the classic 2 Live Crew sense; shot omo rapala to limelight.

6.FUJI GARBAGE - Ayinde Barrister

The master himself.This was the beginning of many more great things to come for the undisputed king of fuji.

5.OROBOKIBO - Pasuma Wonder

This motorpark anthem of the 80s paved the way for arambabi's immense success till date.

4.FUJI REGGAE - Ayinde Barrister

The song that first gave fuji a cross-over appeal, way back in the 70s

3.IYO YOYO - Kollington Ayinla

A wild dancefloor hit that stunningly broke into mainstream niteclub DJ's playlists,competing

with american disco songs.Awesome!

2.BUBBLE - Adewale Ayuba

This song completed the cross-over journey started by Ayinde Barrister's Fuji Reggae,and

finally gave Fuji nationwide acceptance.Ayuba's urban popstar looks and electrifying dance

contributed immensely to the success of the song.

THE NUMBER ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS..............................

1.The greatest fuji song of all time is Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (now K1 The Ultimate)'s FUJI COLLECTION .Simply put,it was more popular than anything before or after it!

I must however add that there are a lot of other talented and exciting acts in the fuji world.If you are a fan of Malaika,Saheed Osupa,Sunny T,Remi Aluko,Atawewe,etc etc,don't worry.Your acts will certainly feature in the sequel sometime in future.

HARUNA ILERIKA

If you have been following this blog you would have known by now that I started following Nigerian football at a very (very!) early age in the 1970s.You know that I grew up in Lagos - Surulere to be precise.You know therefore that Stationery Stores was my darling team !

I witnessed the second generation of Stores,which developed from the all-conquering 'olympics' team of 1968,and there were still a lot of exciting players in the team who also played for The Nigerian National Team.But something unique was happening: A truely exceptional young talent had emerged,and he was the most popular secondary school student in lagos at the time.Like Pele and Maradona did in Brazil and Argentina,Haruna Ilerika took Nigeria by storm very early in his life.Stores signed him straight from school,while The Nigerian National Team followed suit.What was the attraction in a petite,thin and short footballer?

Answer: His left foot !!!!! There is no doubt that Ilerika's left foot was made from the same heavenly factory as Maradona's.Only that Maradona's was much thicker ! Ilerika must go on record as the only dribbling centre forward ever.He was nicknamed the 'tailor' because of the way he measured his 'victims' on the pitch before 'heighting' them or passing through their 'window'! For a spell of almost ten years,he personified the phenomenen called Stores,the Flaming Flamengoes,and multiplied the attraction and popularity of the team.

Although officially recognised as one of Africa's best players of his era,his retirement years were tinted by poverty until very recently when Governor Fashola's government absorbed him into the hierarchy of the Lagos State Sports adminisration ( a local magazine,Style Africa was the first to expose his life of squalor some years ago).Haruna Ilerika passed on a few weeks ago.

As I weep,I wish to join in condoling his family and to pray to alAlmighty God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

May his Soul rest in Peace.

BAFANA BAFANA,SUPER EAGLES AND WORLD CUP 2010

I'm often baffled when when I hear people talk about the South African National Team,Bafana Bafana as if they are minnows in African football.Well,they are certainly not.As far back as 1996 The Bafana Bafana were already African champions,and followed up with an inspiring performance at the World Cup.They've also produced some of the most exciting players in the African continent:Mark Fish,Phil Masinga,Lucas Radebe,and Doctor Khumalo the dribbling maestro,to name but a few.

Although results have been poor in the last few years,there has been a timely rejevunation in the team as they build up towards the 2010 World Cup to be held in their country.The SAFA should therfore continue to support the current technical crew of the team and take no action that will destablise the group.I believe South Africa as hosts ,stands the greatest chance of doing Africa proud at the tournament.

The Nigerian Super Eagles also stands a big chance of doing well at the competition,although they will have to qualify first.Immensely talented and vastly experienced coach Amodu Shaibu has to be given due credit for turning the character of the team full cycle at so short a time;from the 'super chickens' of the Nations Cup to record breakers in the World and Nations Cups qqualifiers.Indeed,Amodu's Eagles' performance has turned out,together with the Olympic outing, to be the only good thing about Nigerian football in 2008.

Unfortunately,as often the case in Nigeria the armchair critics seem determined to derail

the smooth sail of the team,just because they don't like the coach's face.They say the team is not playing well:That they were only lucky to have played the minnows of African football.They say the coach must replace the current 'tired legs' of the team with the fresh legs of the Olympic team.In fact,they even want the team's captain Yobo to be replaced (with immediate effect !) by the Olympic team's Dele Adeleye - the new found defence stalwart and saviour of Nigerian football ! As a matter of fact the all-knowing critics ,after the second round World Cup draws,declared Nigeria's imminent qualification no big deal,a fait accompli ! They want the Olympic coach Siasia to replace (or at best be drated to work jointly with) Amodu immediately so Nigeria can be guaranteed victory at the World Cup proper.

So while South Africa is gradually putting her acts together for a sussessful World Cup outing,Nigeria's self-destruct elements are threatening her own path to glory.

Please leave Amodu alone to do his job as best as he can.

2FACE THE UNSTOPPABLE, MAJEK FASHEK NEGLECTED

Despite his growing noteriety for 'enterring the place',2face Idibia continues to impress me as an artiste and as a professional.His latest album is world class in terms of production,and true to his word,it features an R.Kelly - written and produced track,Flex.This therefore not only extends Tu's impressive list of firsts,but represents a huge leap forward for Nigerian hip hop as a whole.

On the other hand,I've observed with huge dissappointment the near total neglect of reggae icon,Majek Fashek since he came back to the country about two months ago.It's unbelievable that one of Nigeria's true true living legends is around but does not feature in any of the big Christmas concerts.Instead,it is the same old bad press about his 'new look' (which has been 'new' for over ten years now !) and the stale speculations about drug use that we see in the press on a regular basis:One writer even made a veiled prediction this week that the old man may just be on his way...They are doing this to a man who has already confessed to having emotional and spiritual problems of which he has been battling to come out of.Is this the way to help him out ?

Yet Majek was at the Afrika Shrine recently to honour Fela with a superb performance with his voice and guitar to the delight of all.Are MTN,Nigerian Breweries,Glo and the rest of them saying they are not aware of Majek's pedigree as a performer?

Wake up Nigeria.Let's honour,not kill our heroes.

NAETO C NI BIG DEAL,THE ROT IN NIGERIA'S SPORTS,BIG BROTHER AFRICA 3

2008-08-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

NAETO C NI BIG DEAL

He's cool,he's smart - his designer suits will make any corporate exec green with envy. More importantly he owns the song of the moment - 'kini big deal ?';and the album of the day - 'u know my P'.He's Naeto C.

We always knew it would take a gigantic effort to knock 9ice's 'gongo aso' off that prestigeous top spot.Big guns like Eidris Abdulkareem,Tu Face and Styl Plus have relased new songs since march,but none has given Mr.Abulore any run for his money.Naeto C just did that,with...wait for this....a rap song and album!

Despite all its associated controversies,never has a rap album managed to hit mainstream rave status in Nigeria.The likes of Freestyle,Ruggedman,Wierd MC and Mode 9 have all made impact as rappers,but still a wee bit short of that magic leap to the next level.The closest was Jimmy Jatt's album.But in 'u know my P' you find most of the ingredients that made Tu Face's debut such a massive hit.

'Ashewo' and 'kini big deal' are as commercial as any song can be,while rap fundamentalists will find 'gidi' and at least three other tracks irresistible.'E mara mma' on the other hand is vintage highlife,beautifully rederred;but what its relevance is on this album I cannot see:It only distorts the flow.That little flaw is however easily forgotten when you listen to 'I've been',a world class blues song that instantly creates a romantic feeling to the senses.

Naeto C's debut brings to Nigerian rap what MC Hammer's 'u can't touch this' did to the American rap community - opening the door a lot wider for greater acceptance and of course the big bucks.The song 'is built on a very strong melodious hook which grips the listener throughout,while the artiste kills it with such a clinical rap performance that even Jay Z will applaud;and to think I bought the CD with just N200....

THE ROT IN NIGERIA'S SPORTS

If anyone ever doubted the rotten state of sports administration in Nigeria,our performance at
the just concluded Olympic Games in China should erase such doubts once and for all.Our scorecard of 3 bronze and one silver medal is what Africa's most populous country with abundant human and natural resources could offer.What a shame!

When our sports 'super administrator' (not the Minister please) was asked after the football
final why such a poor haul,he retorted,'why not wait for the games to end;or has the paralympics
been held?' ! Very interesting!But to be fair,the guy and his colleagues have done their best,only that things have long moved beyond their generation and ideas.

Let's put the records straight:Nigeria attained the dominant place in Africa and also became a major force at world level in at least three sports since as far back as the 1980s.These sports were athetics,table tennis, and boxing.By the 1990s soccer ,weightlifting ,karate and basketball had been added to the list.We were also making steady progress in lawn tennis, volleyball,handball,swimming and badminton.Today all the afore-mentioned sports with the exception of soccer have become near extinct.Even soccer is surving only because of the motivation private 'agents' have to sell local talents to European,Asian and Middle Eastern clubsides (remember a top national goalkeeper died in Iraq or Iran some years ago while searching for a club).

There are no infrastructure,and definitely no conscious structure on ground to develop sports in the country.Rather than progressing we have been steadily retrogressing.At this point the
government has a duty to embark on a clean sweep of its Sports organ.The sports ministry needs young,learned and forthright administrators;preferrably former international sportsmen and women with hunger to achieve.A Samson Siasia kind of spirit.

Then a two-pronged plan should be articulated as follows:

Short Term - Operation Next Olympics (2008-2012,ie 4 years):

This should be restricted to those sports where some sort of structure for identifying national materials still exist,i.e soccer,athletics,basketball, and table tennis.A team of ex-international athtetes in each sport,including those with coaching credentials,should be constituted to serve as the planning and supervisory organ for the sport.Their mandate should be to scout for youths(age 16 - 24) with strong potential for world class performance in the next two years (2010).A 5-star camping village to accomodate and groom at least 100 of these athletes should be set up immediately.Apart from free feeding and training materials, a daily allowance should be paid to the selected athletes,while those in school should in addition be given full scholarship,with a clear academic/training time table worked out for them.Arrangement should be made to ensure that those playing for clubsides within or outside the country are properly intergrated with the rest of the group.

The camping should commence latest by January 2009 ,while the government should create a special fund for this purpose.It's a national duty.

Long Term (beyond 2012)

i.Build and maintain at least one multi-purpose stadium in each state capital,with facilities for our regular popular sports,i.e soccer,athletics,table tennis,basketball,swimming,boxing,weightlifting,handball,martial arts,volleyball and badminton.These should be made freely available to schools and grassroots sports bodies for competions.

ii.Establish and passionately encourage inter-school competitions (primary and secondary),and grant scholarships to the winning students.In my estimation this is the most vital of all.Kids of age 10 - 16 must have all the facilities and competitions they need to actualise and develop their talents if they are to make any meaningful progress as sportsmen and women.

iii.Retain the special camp for extraordinarily gifted athletes.The government must take over their living,schooling and training expenses up till when they attain the age of ,say 22,by which time they must have started their professional carreers.

iv.Government must encourage the private sector to invest in sports,by granting all the necessary incentives.

v.Zero tolerance for age cheating/use of overraged athletes in age-grade competitions locally and internationally.Age cheating creates serious distortions in sports planning and administration,and makes a huge mess of whatever developmental efforts on ground.

Funnily,none of what I've written above is new.The problem is always the WILL to act.Will President Yar'Adua be different?Nigerians are watching.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA 3

Why did I have to go through these hasles just to get a channel that I legimately paid for activated on my TV ? Channel 198 has always been active on my DSTV;in fact much of the Beijing Olympics was shown on that channel.Olympics ends,and a text message hits my phone.I'm required to text 'yes' if I want to watch BBA 3.What do they expect me to do - say No? When my subscription supposedly covers the entire bouquet - the good,the bad and even the ugly?

OK,I text 'yes' as requested,only to be inundated with the same text message again.I drive to Multichoice the next day for clarifications.I'm subjected to a baseless interview, and still given a form to fill.All correct ?Sorry I was wrong.I return home on time to catch the much dreaded ( which I've since discoverred means 'much loved' ) shower hour -which by the way is now strangely but very conveniently timed.Channel 198 is blank !!!!!!!!!!!!!

My babe was outraged,given the kind of high expectations that we created in our preamble gossips.She actually went back to the company herself during her office hours,only to be sent back with instructions to put the channel on and call customer service on phone for activation.All these for Big Brother !

Good news however is that we're finally watching BBA 3.More good news (well,bad news really for the critics) is that,if the first 3 days are anything to go by,then this will be the wildest and most scandal-infested BBA yet.For starters the girls in this edition are simply out of this world - wild!Yet they look stunningly beautiful and innocent from the outside.And the boys are no less crazy either.

Now I'm waiting to read from the critics of the show.They will need to explain to me if they went through all the rigours I went through above,stay awake till late in the night,switch from good ol' NTA, Silverbird, and the popular Channels TV News at 10, just to 'observe' BBA 3 and criticise!

STATIONERY STORES RETURNS !, JAY JAY AND THE THRILLING NO. 10s

2008-07-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

RETURN OF STATIONERY STORES FC

If not for the fact that the news appeared in the Guardian newspaper I would have found it difficult to beleive.But for the first time in a real long while I felt the adrenaline surge through my veins like it used to many many years ago - the darling club of Lagos, Stationery Stores F.C.(a.k.a Super Stores,Stationary Stores,Adebajo Babes,Flaming Flamingoes,etc etc) would return to the Nigerian soccer scene TODAY ! Ol' boy wahala dey oh !!!!!!!!

I felt the tragedy of Stores' long sabatical when I observed most of the young chaps in my office just staring at me worriedly as I lept all over the place with pages of the newspaper in my hand and shouting 'up super,up super, up flaming !'.Abi oga don kolo !

For the benefit of the under-25s, let me explain it this way:The frenzy around the Nigerian league in the 1970s and 80s could be likened to that of the English Premiership today. Rangers International F.C. of Enugu was the forerunner of today's Chelsea.Their football was direct,business-like (trust the Ibos) and devoid of fantasies.With a 'chairman' like Christian Chukwu who could spray precise through balls 40 yards across the field, what did they need midfielders for?Dribblers like Stanley Okoronkwo,Ogidi Ibeabuchi and Okechuckwu Obiora ('agarimojo') were pure nuisance to the fold ! As you would expect,Rangers won so many trophies both locally and on the African scene.

IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan on the other hand were like Man U. They had a little bit of everything; flair (Segun Odegbami,Kunle Awesu),Steel (Taiwo Ogunjobi,Ademola Adeshina) and precision (Muda Lawal with passes,Moses Otolorin with long throws).They won the first continental trophy for Nigeria.

Now you would ask, what of 'Arsenal' ? Which team provided Nigerian soccer fans with 100% guaranteed entertainment;no fakes,no pretensions ? For the answer you only need come to lagos - aka las gidi- and meet the great team with the cross-striped yelow/maroon shirt and white hankerchiefs flying everywhere :Super Stores, the legacy of the late Israel Adebajo,the pride of Lagos !

Now, unlike Rangers and Sooting (sorry,Shooting), Stores didn't win that many national trophies after dominating the late 60s,but their reputation for 'good football' just kept soaring.Only very few teams achieved their mastery of the smooth 'Brazilian' flair,and these were all temporary:Ismaila Mabo's Mighty Jets of Jos and Josiah Dobraye's Sharks of Port Harcourt in the 70s,the massive Felix Agbonifo - led Bendel Insurance of Benin, Isong Isang - marshalled Calabar Rovers team between 1983 - 87,and of course more recently the star-studded Leventis United where Wole Odegbami and James Etokebe knew no rules or restrictions when it came to dribbling.

Stores was not a rich club,but she produced many of the most gifted and reknowned flair players in Nigerian football.Haruna Ilerika of course remains the most popular,but Sani Mohammed,Yakubu Mabo,Olumide Banjo,Tarila Okoronwanta,Yisa Alabi,Arthur Moses and so many others were household names.In fact the reputation of Stores was such that even average talents became overnight superstars when they played for Stores:Remember Godwin Obiyan and the funny-looking lad called Idi-Isho ('yansh like nail') ?!

Unfortunately a long-arranged engagement will not permit me go to Onikan today,but I'm sure with a soccer-loving Governor like Babatunde Fashola (BRF) and unity among the Adebajo family,the long-elusive dream of reviving the Stores brand and by implication the glory days of football in Lagos will soon be realised.

JAY JAY AND THE THRILLING NO. 10s

Shame on the NFA.I say shame on you NFA.After serving this country meritoriously for so many years ,mid-field maestro Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha announced his intention to retire from international football since about four years ago and eventually hanged his boots two years later.All the NFA did was to keep prodding the guy to continue playing as if his body is a machine,and till date they didn't deem it worthwhile to honour the man who raised the profile of Nigerian football through his individual displays in the top leaques across Europe - Germany,Turkey,France and England.It had to take the efforts of a Nollywood actress,Tricia Esiegbe to bring world class footballers to Nigeria to honour Jay Jay;and even at that, the NFA top brass did not deem it fit to attend.Shame on you NFA:Shame on you !!!

Well my own way of honouring Jay Jay is to recap on some of the other 'Jay Jay's we've had in Nigerian football.In my opinion and based on observation over the years,I think any team aspiring to be 'great' should have the following ;an instinctive and ruthless striker, a good goalkeeper,an intelligent central defender who can organise the rest of the team,and most importantly a skillful midfielder with immaculate dribbling skills,vision and passing ability - the ultimate crowd pleaser,the one worthy of the special jersey no. 10 - Pele's number.Unfortunately that last quality is what most 'good' teams lack,and which stands between them and greatness:Greatness meaning Brazil with Pele,Holland with Gullit,Man U with C.Ronaldo,and Arsenal with Fabregas.

Nigeria's football folklore is replete with stories of Peter 'Baby' Anieke,but I've never watched
him play.With Haruna Ilerika however I was luckier.Barely out of secondary school,he anchored The National Team,Green Eagles to victory in the All Africa Games in 1972. A very tiny frame,he had a magical left foot and popularised several tricks such as 'window' which was the act of putting the ball in between the marker's two legs and invariably leaving the marker sprawling shamefully on the turf, and 'heighting' ,where the ball is knocked over the marker's head and controlled !Josiah Dombraye who played for Port Harcourt's Sharks was very similar in style but sometimes played to the gallery.

Ilerika was a product of the highly coveted Principal's Cup in lagos which produced so many stars for Nigeria.One of the most astonishing dribblers out of that competition was Adokie Amesiamaka.He was well-read and intelligent,and that made him even more dangerous on the field.He would dribble his markers,calmly take his time to review the situation and then dribble them again and again until he was sure that his striker was properly positioned to score.Adokie didn't waste passes at all.

The most popular product of the Principal's Cup however was Henry Nwosu,one of the rare players who could dribble perfectly with both legs.His unique quality was the overhead kick ('zangalo'),and with Taiwo Afinih,Stephen Keshi et al he made St Finbarrs College the team of the early 80s.

John Mastoroudes built a very efficient team in Leventis United of Ibadan.But for the fans they will always remember the team's wingers who dribbled almost with reckless abandon .Wole Odegbami operated from the right,while James Etokebe had the left wing.Both also played for the Green Eagles.They were dribblers per excellence and always had the stadia packed full
of ecstatic supporters.

Despite the direct style of Rangers,they still produced some very exciting players. Stanley Okoronkwo was one.Johnny Egbuonu was another.Christian Madu was Rangers' most exciting player of all time.

Very few teams can boast of having no less than three dribbling masters at the same time.We know Brazil of 1970 and 1982.We also know of the great Bendel Insurance when Felix Agbonifo,Sam Okpodu,Henry Ogboe,Lawrence Akpokona,and the Egharevba brothers raved in the 80s.Calabar Rovers also matched that feat a few years later when Isong Isang,Uwem Ikono and James Etokebe propelled a scintillating display of champaigne soccer in 1983 - 86.Isong Isang was the terror-in chief,but Rovers' greatest ever player was an Oron Boys High School product named Etim Esin.Many that watched him in Nigeria and Europe saw in him the same qualities in Diego Maradona.Not surprisingly Etim was a multi millionaire long before his 20th birthday,but unfortunately the rest of his story,riddled with gunshots,rape framing,drug allegations,etc is history.

Etim however inspired a lot of Nigerian footballers,one of which was a junior brother to one of his international teammates Emma 'Jay Jay' Okocha.That kid was Austin Okocha,who not only adopted his senior brother's nickname,but also the skills and style of his idol,Etim.Little wonder then that football scouts in Europe quickly spotted him and ferried him to Europe even before Nigerians knew about him.

Local scouts however did not miss the preceous talent in Nwankwo Kanu.The gangling teenager,about 15 years old announced his arrival with a man-of-the match performance for Iwuanyanwu Nationale at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.The rest of his story you all know more than I do.

Female football has also produced some exciting players since it officially became a national
vocation in the 90s.Florence Omagbemi is undoubtedly Nigeria's most accomplished,but when it comes to raw skill,giving the fans what they want to see ,the lady to watch was Nkiru Okosieme.She obviously took after her brother Ndubuisi who,together with Mike Obiku,Samson Siasia et al made Warri's Flash Flamengoes a delight to watch.

Many have however been asking for the knew Jay Jay.Well, there will not be another Jay Jay,just like Jay Jay himself did not replicate an Etim or Ilerika.But I see an Ikechukwu Uche already displaying the qualities of a great no. 10.I see Emmanuel Ekpo with plenty of skills to offer;and I still see in John Mikel Obi the potential to be a truly great no. 10.

ARE STYL PLUS THAT BAD?,TU FACE DEBUTS ON HYPERTEK!,OTHER STORIES

2008-06-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

ARE STYL PLUS THAT BAD ?

A few years ago frontline galala/ragga artiste and member of the defunct pop group Plantashun Boyz,Blackface, was so pissed off with a negative review of his debut album by a hip hop magazine that he couldn't resist baring his mind in his own unique way:He tore the magazine to shreds right before the cameras in his video.I couldn't blame him at all.

It's usually very easy and tempting to sit cossy and write damning reviews of creative/artistic works,but we must always be mindful of the economic effects of such comments on the artist vis a vis the effort,time and resources that he/she must have expended in creating the work.It is even more pertinent to always bare in mind that one's own view may not necessarily represent others',therefore being privileged to have access of a mass medium should always be utilised with caution.I find very little justification in the extremely negative reviews of Styl Plus' latest album,Back and Better,by some writers,which tends to portray the work as sub-standard.

Out of curiousity I went out to search for and buy the CD.I was stunned.What I heard was by far better than most of the other CDs released into the market recently.From their first work,Olufunmi,Styl Plus chose a different and more difficult path to tread.They tried to blend the r&b vocal style with vintage techno (something only the Plantashun Boyz had dared to try) and they did it perfectly.Olufunmi was a runaway smash,but like all other first time hits,was always going to pose a problem for the group:How will they produce a bigger hit without sounding like olufunmi?

And that probably explains why the follow-up album did not create as much buzz,eventhough Iya Basira would have been a big big hit for any other group.Back and Better is a fine album ,and for me Four Years has already caught on.I would be surprised if any Naija teeny boppy fan does not go crazy over I Don Tire.I even think a massive US/European tour is overdue for the group,given the high-tech dance flavour in their music.

Someone also suggested that the group should leave Abuja for Lagos.Why ?I think the lagos scene is already over-saturated with hip hop/pop acts,even when there is an enormous market begging to be tapped in Abuja,Kaduna,Port Harcourt,Jos,Onitsha,etc.I discoverred recently that Faze is larger than life in the east,while the sengemenge duo are so massive in Uyo.I think it's in the interest of the industry for the market to expand into the other parts of the country.

To my friends in the entertainment press,I'm not saying you shouldn't criticise;just balance what you write,and don't entirely write off any work - no matter what your personal opinion.I remember many years ago in the 80s,there was a massive blockbusting hit in the country, Atomic Bomb by William Onyeabor(not too sure of the name really).To me then,just a cheap repetition of 1 or 2 lines of verse and bass for over 5 odd minutes;but it sold massively and was the street anthem all the same.Ditto for Anita Ward's Ring My Bell;we never heard from her again,but only few songs sold more copies!

TU FACE DEBUTS ON HYPERTEK

The much awaited new CD from Nigeria's top pop star,Tu Face Idibia has landed ! Only that this is just a mini,not the full album.It's just 4 tracks and remixes/instrumentals.No Kennis Music,no OJB as producer,the work is releasd on Tu's own Hypertek Entertainment label.

And that's the big factor in Tu Baba's success:Always ahead of his peers.When his colleaques in the plantation were still brooding over contractual issues with their label,Tu had moved on with Kennis.While Faze is still dilli-dallying with Akon,Tu has launched his own label.It is noteworthy that the sleave of the CD confirms that the much speculated collabo with R Kelly will be included in the full album - and that is the big deal.Tu Face's advance singles never truly represent the strenth of his album,so there's still some expectations and anxiety to come.Brace up 9ice!

ADIEU OLIVER,PA STEVE RHODES,SAMMY

These are indeed testy times for the music industry,and we can only continue to pray to God.Steve Rhodes,a doyen of Nigerian artistes passed on after living a very fulfilling life.Sammy Needle was a very young man,but he made his mark on the Nigerian music scene,even without releasing so many albums.

Oliver De Coque was a trail-blazer.He emerged at a time when the igbo highlife scene was dominated by the likes of the Oriental Brothers and Chief Osita Osadebe.Oliver introduced a cross-over flavour, and quickly won converts from the other ethnic groups in the country when he sang Identity.It remains the most popular igbo highlife song after Nico Mbarga's Sweet Mother.

May their souls rest in peace.

SUPER EAGLES:HERE WE GO AGAIN !

2008-06-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

I thought the events of the last couple of years would have changed us - Nigerian soccer critics that is ,but how wrong I was.The local media in the last one week has been so full of severe criticicsm for the National Team that you would think the whole bunch (coaches and players) know next to nothing about the game or have so much embarassed the country by their performance.

The trend started in a subtle form after the team's first game ,a friendly against Austria,became temporarily muted after an emphatic win against South Africa,only to rise to a crescendo after the games in Sierra Leone and Equitorial Guinea.What are the all-knowing critics saying?

First, that Nigeria is in the weakest group,and so should stroll through in majestic manner whether playing home or away.The defenders,and not the attackers are scoring all the goals.There is no wing-play,no cohession,no pattern,no 'sexy' football.And Nigeria was only lucky against Sierra Leone,they should have lost by a basket!And how on earth we could only score one goal against Equitorial Guinea,when we should have whipped them silly?If we are playing so badly against these 'underdogs',how are we going to win the Word Cup in 2010?And so on,and so on (it seems we have even forgotten that we could not even qualify for the World Cup the last time around!).

And I can't help asking myself if these guys are living in this same planet.With what we have all seen with our 'korokoro' eyes in the last few years,even right up to the current World/Nations Cup qualifiers,we still believe there are minnows or whipping boys in soccer,particularly in Africa?Do we forget so soon that it's barely 3 months' ago that this same team crashed to their lowest rating ever at the last Nations Cup - even with a 'world class coach' in tow?.The new coach who was appointed only about a month ago is expected to have transformed the team into world champions overnight.

Of course it's only in Nigeria that these warped expectations exist,and mostly when an indegenous coach is in charge.That was why the team was disbanded and Adegboye Onigbinde mandated to build a new National Team barely four months to the World Cup finals in 2002 - the consequenses of which we are yet to fully recover from till date.I do not recall anytime during Berti Vogt's run up to the last Nations Cup when the outpour was this bad.People only criticised the guy for choosing to do his job from outside the country.

Any team that wins a football game deserves some praise at the very least.A team that wins three World Cup qualifying matches in a row definitely deserves to be respected.And when a team wins two matches away from home at a stretch,there's no way it could be as bad and rotten as our super critics will want us to beleive.In any case I do think that we are grossly over-estimating our current football strengths.This is 2008, not 1994 when Nigeria had by far the largest contingent of TOP-CLASS African players in Europe.With all due respect I think what we have now is quantity with very little quality.

Having decided to dispense with the services of Berti Vogts,the NFA did absolutely the right thing in hiring coach Amodu Shaibu.The timing of the World/Nations cup qualifiers presented no opportunities for taking blind risks.So the NFA wisely opted for a coach who understands African soccer inside out (exam or no exam).The coach in turn did the smart thing by retaining the core team,try to help the players regain their self-confidence,and thereby build a platform for short term success (which is what the team needs at this time).

Of course I wont pretend not to know where all these venomous criticisms are heading:Sooner or later,the current Super Eagles will experience their first loss (which team ever won for ever?), then the knives will be sharpened.Their will be a massive outcry for a 'world class' foreign coach,and the whole circus will start all over.

My advice is for the NFA to learn from the past,and not rush into any irrational decisions.The current team (coaches and players) is good enough,and should be fully supported,even when they lose a game.I saw character in the team that rallied from the first half onslaught from the Sierra Leonians to seize the innitiative and go on to win (football is played over 90 minutes,not 45).Sexy football will come naturally over time - look how many years it took Van Basten to mould the Dutch team.

DELE SOSIMI,COME BACK HOME !

2008-06-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Shortly after I blogged on the fading profile of afrobeat music in Nigeria earlier this year,I found myself discussing the same issue with some friends at high profile celebrity joint,The Coliseum in Ikeja.It was there that someone drew my attention to the dogged efforts that a mutual childhood collleaque, Dele Sosimi has been making over the years in popularising the genre far away in the United Kingdom.I found myself unconsciously gasping aloud,momentarily attracting everybody's attention to myself:How on earth could I have forgotten Dele?

My first thought was to go edit that post and add a line or two on Dele,but on further reflection I decided that the guy deserves much more than that.I'll explain why.

When Fela's son and now the torchbearer of afrobeat music,Femi Anikulapo -Kuti relocated from the great Baptist Academy to (the greater ?) Igbobi College in the late 1970s,he met a very vibrant social scene largely propelled by the lively and immensely popular college band (ask the old students of Methodist Girls High School for instance!).The band at that time was fronted by Dele Sosimi who already had a reputation of a genius on the keyboards, Femi Elias (who has probably taken after his father as a law guru) who displayed similar dexterity on the bass guitar,and a few others I cannot immediately remember.

Femi Kuti and Dele Sosimi took to each other like siamese twins instantly,and they complemented each other perfectly.Femi the tall,quiet,genteel,aje-butterish looking fellow,and Dele the very typical tough-looking,street smart type.Both shared a common deep-rooted passion for afrobeat,and Dele was soon jamming with Fela's Egypt 80 band-even as a teenager.Yes,both Dele Sosimi and femi Kuti were nurtured together directly by the legend himself,Fela Anikulapo-kuti!They went on to perform on several of Fela's albums and tours.

It was little surprise then that Dele Sosimi would play a major role in the evolution of Femi's own band,the Positive Force.His influence on Femi could easily be felt on the hyper-charged,energy sapping pace of the group's earlier albums.Perhaps it was this free spirit and youthful zest that attracted so much European interest in the group.While Femi preferred to shuttle between Europe,America and Nigeria,Dele Sosimi settled permanently in the UK and has been there for so so many years - which explains why those of us in Nigeria may easily forget him occassionally.

While in London sometime ago,I got gist of Dele's growing popularity,but I never got the opportunity of watching him.My friend at the Coliseum (himself also a london self-exiled) however intimated us that Dele Sosimi is in massive demand in queen's land.I had mixed feelings though.I'm happy that Dele is keeping the flag flying abroad,and in the process obviously doing well for himself,but on the other hand I feel bad that we have someone like that yet afrobeat is losing its soul locally.

Dele Sosimi should come back home and bring life back to afrobeat.His presence is exactly what Femi himself needs to jolt him back to action.Both are still under 50,and still have several active years ahead of them.I also wonder why kennis Music and others have not looked their way,because in afrobeat is hidden the real big money that can galvanise the entire music industry in Nigeria,in fact Africa.Replicating American hip hop and other foreign genres in whatever guise can only go as far as the tide,believe me!

ADIEU SONNY OKOSUNS

2008-05-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

With the possible exception of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and King Sunny Ade,I doubt if there is any musician that has made more contributions to the spread of Nigerian music across the world than the late Sonny Okosuns.He was a creative artiste per excellence.Like Majek Fashek who came many years later,Okosuns started with a passion for reggae music,and made an immediate impact with a song called 'rain' in the 1970s.He however did not rest on the success of that effort,but tasked his creative endowments to the limit;the result being oziddizm - an infectious blend of African riffs on Jamaican roots reggae.

Interestingly,oziddizm was created at the same time that Fela was cooking afrobeat,which meant an inevitable (but healthy) rivalry of sorts .I recall in the latter years when we used to do Lekki Sunsplash (actually I used to assist Olumide Esho's boys led by the indefatigable Dapo Adelegan),Okosuns once challenged Fela to an open contest to determine who was more popular (don't ask me if abame eda accepted the challenge)!

It is a pity that many youths under 25 may not even faintly understand the extent of Okosuns accomplishments as a musician.But let it suffice to say that in his heydays,which ran between the early 70s and 80s,the guy was not only a massive seller in Nigeria,but in the entire African continent.He was singularly outstanding in writing potent songs against the apartheid scourge that ravaged virtually the entire southern part of the continent .If Billboard magazine had a presence in Nigeria,they would have had ample figures to prove that 'fire in soweto' was the biggest hit out of the Afican continent for many years.

On stage,Sunny Okosuns was blazing hot, while his concerts were usually of international quality.In fact his unigue charisma attracted some of the world's greatest reggae icons to Nigeria,with his home then in the ghetto area of Lagos a favorite abode:I'm talking here of the likes of Jimmy Cliff and Peter Tosh!

The volcanic emergence of Kris Okotie and later Majek Fashek somehow took the focus off oziddizm for a period of time,eventhough many aficionados would more readily point to the elimination of apartheid as the turning point in Sonny Okosuns' career.They may have a point.

Those distractions merely served to bring out the versatility in the artiste.In the 80s,he scored big with a yoruba dancefloor thriller "t'ire ni Oluwa',while during the tempestous Nigerian political impasse he lent his voice with 'which way Nigeria' and other strong political statements.

But by far Sonny Okosuns greatest accomplishment was his acceptance of Jesus Christ into his life.He discarded the 'gospel' of oziddizm for the true Gospel of Christ,and he did not have to wait until Heaven for his reward: His 'Songs Of Praise' became one of the highest selling Gospel records ever recorded in the history of that genre in Nigeria.He followed up by establishing a Church to propagate the Gospel.

Little wonder then that when,for many years, the gossip mill went agog with speculation on his frail-looking physique,the guy simply waived all the insinuations aside,continuing with his life ever- filled with life,zest and fulfilment.

The music industry will miss Sonny Okosuns big time.But we should take solace in the undeniable fact that he lived a fulfilled life and left his mark on the sands of time.As he journeys to the ultimate Papa's Land,I wish his gentle soul a peaceful rest in the bossom of The Lord.

A LESSON FOR ABRAMOVICH

2008-05-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

Don't ask me why I'm blogging about England's Chelsea Football Club.You ought to know. Chelsea has perhaps the largest number of Aftrican first team players among the elite clubs in Europe,and this includes Nigeria's brightest star - John Mikel Obi,and as happened with Arsenal in the heydays of 'king' Kanu,Chelsea is embraced as an african team by most Africans.

You can then imagine how proud we Africans were in the last three years when Chelsea upturned the formbooks to wrest the dominance of English football from Manchester United and Arsenal.You can now further imagine how deeply dissappointed most of us were when in the first few weeks of the outgoing season,the club decided to sack Jose Mourinho,the 'special one',the manager who led the new revolution in English football.

Well, rich people think differently from ordinary folks,but Abramovich's decision to offload Mourinho beggars explanation.I mean here was a coach that came with a pedigree of success,and achieved instant success.What then was the reason?Failure to win the Champions Leaque?The fact that Liverpool,with only modest domestic success in recent years could be so successful in Europe should confirm that European success is not necessarily a yardstick to measure the strength of any team:Otherwise Man U would not have waited for 9 years to lift the trophy.In any case if Chelsea could get to the semi-finals twice , victory surely could not have been too far away.

Or was it the lure of the so-called attractive football?Did we forget so soon that the original masters, Brazil , have long ago jettisoned the samba game for a more direct,result oriented style?In any case a neutral review of English football in the last 3 seasons would reveal that some of the most exciting games involved Chelsea.Rewind to the gruelling duels with Man U in 2006,and the epic UEFA battle with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, for instance.

Was it then the string of drawn matches at the beginning of the season?I'm sure Abramovich is not so ignorant about football.Look at where all the teams that were top 4 at that same period ended the season;for example Arsenal's run in the last three months of the season was by
comparison a disaster.In fact if all team proprietors acted like Abramovich,Sir Alex Ferguson would have been sacked at least 3 times in the last 9 years.I would not even want to talk about the effect that Drogba and Lampard's injuries had on the team.

Abramovich had the rare luck of employing a winner as Manager,then took the resultant success for granted.He failed to realise that what differentiates Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger from other good coaches is the winning mentality.Mourinho was not necessarily better at coaching than Ruud Gullit,but he brought a winning mentality to Chelsea.

And most unfortunately,that was the missing attribute in his successor,Avram Grant ( although I wouldn't want to join other Chelsea supporters in renaming him 'Average Grant' because I actually think he is a good coach ).Under Mourinho Chelsea soared when the big occassion beckoned; under Grant they crumbled like water mellon.Take a closer look at the final premiership game against Bolton, and the closing stages of the Champions Leaque in Moscow.

I started to have serious doubts about Avram Grant's mental strength and Chelsea's likely run in the season, in January when the English press started to brandish statistics showing how Grant had won so many matches since taking over from Mourinho.Grant appeared to revel in those glowing,but absolutely meaningless publicity.In the next two months Chelsea were bundled out of both the Leaque Cup and the FA Cup - the two easiest competitions of the season.

Yet the deceptive ovation continued;from how Grant had taken Chelsea to touching distance of the Premiership title,to how he 'surpassed' Mourinho in reaching the Champions Leaque final.Now Grant could not hold back:He demanded to be recognised as the real 'special one'.Yet both battles were still in progress.He had won nothing.

In the end he won nothing.More succintly, Chelsea Football Club,for the first time in 3 years ended a season without a single trophy.Her proprietor,Roman Abramovich would reflect on that calamity,and realise that it was all down to one irrational,perhaps reckless decision he took at the beginning of the season.

EIDRIS,ETCETERA

2008-05-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

LET THE (SWEET) MUSIC FLOW

It is incredible the quality of music coming out of Naija these days;if you thought it was just a copycatish hip-hop thing,better take a closer look.These guys and babes are really firing on all cylinders.

Asa and TY Bello crept quietly into our consciousness last year,and are now more addictive than breakfast.9ice's cross fuji-hiphop sound is defining the new street culture,and suddenly the american sound seems extinct.

I've played Etcetera's 'land of the rising sun' over three times already this evening,and I'm scared because the melody is still reverbrating in my head and I know I will have to play the song again.And again!.Forget that the title and words connote an Ibo anthem - that's not my concern at all.Etcetera's album is a powerful soft rock compilation;probably the best since Gbubemi Amas' 'grill' back in the 80s.In fact 'land of the rising sun' brings back refreshing memories of the mint fresh 'ereyon';great accoustic guitar,so cool.This is good music.

YES,THE KING IS BACK !

Please let's just give it to this veteran of the hiphop game,Eidris Abdulkareem.With his buddies Tetuila and Eddy they brought hiphop to the forefront.Then as if to make a statement he went solo and placed himself at the very top with that song we loved to hate,'mr lecturer'.Eidris made his mistakes with his clash with 50 Cent,but has displayed tremendous maturity in reconciling with both 50 and hitherto pain in da ass,Ruggeddy baba.Now,after a long long hibernation,the kano boy returns with a precise album that is exactly what you want to hear.Eidris shows he has been a good student of Fela.He makes a bold attempt at infusing afrobeat and Majek's pangolo
vibes into his hiphop music.I don't know how many copies this will sell,but Eidris Abdulkareem has earned my respect.

A PLEA

2008-05-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

I appreciate and respect everyone's opinion on any issue,irrespective of whatever I think;but it's important to stress that this blog is focussed on entertainment and sports.Let's stick to that.Words cannot adequately express my love for you my readers.

FROM 9ICE TO OFEGE:THE RAVES THROUGH THE YEARS

2008-04-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

9ice's music is all over the place - clubs,homes,streets,even offices;entertainment writers call him the 'rave of the moment',and that is one thing I like about music.At every point in time there is always a stand out artiste around whom the entire scene is focussed,i.e the reference point.Listening to 'Gongo Aso' blaring from the mobile CD Player of a CD hawker on my street this hot afternoon and the huge number of kids trailing him like bees and honey,my mind wanderred into the past,and with a tinge of nostalgia,I recalled some exciting 'raves' who made the Nigerian music tick at different times.

My earliest memory will be sometime in the 1970s,during an era when highlife was at its peak of popularity,but the american disco music was fast catching on the youths.A group of secondary school students from 'Gregs' (which by the way has probably created more showbiz gurus than any other school) unleashed a very American sounding album,self-titled Ofege.It was the anthem of the youths all over the country for the next couple of years.

Ofege of course reigned the same time that Fela was constructing afrobeat.Little wonder then that it was a medley of street-friendly,but radical -themed hits from Fela,such as 'alagbon close','lady',yellow fever' etc etc that blew ofege off the top.Incredibly every new Fela song seemed to achieve even greater popularity (and controversy),as the afrobeat hurricane continued,culminating in the ultra-massive 'zombie' which was followed by the sad razing of the Kalakuta 'republic'.

Sunny Okosuns then took his chance with his fiery ozzidi music.It started with 'help', then 'fire in soweto'.But Okosuns' best ever was 'papa's land' which took the whole country by storm.

The ladies have been few and far between,but I can't forget Theodora Ifudu whom I believe was Nigeria's first female superstar.She had two massive pop albums,and a real sexy and awesome stage presence.The titles of both,unfortunately have slipped off my memory for now (hmmm let's see - I guess a song titled 'the way we(or 'you') are',and something like 'gbatangua',well..!)

Then came Christy Essien,the great great actress in the immensely popular comedy ,Masquerade.Her 'seun rere' has remained an evergreen,and even when played today still moves any listener.

Oby Onyioha's 'i want to feel you love' was massive,but a hit-and -run,just like Mandy Brown-Ojugbana's 'taxi driver'.Both ladies came,saw,and.........ran away,back to onyiboland where they came from.Mandy however made a huge impression as an awesome stage performer,and I dare say that today's naija 'hip-hopresses' should watch her old tapes or see her for very useful tutorials on how they can overcome their stage timidity.

The 'elegant stallion',Onyeka Onwenu was an instant hit as a newscater on the NTA screens,and followed up with an ok debut album.It was however her next recording 'one love' that sealed her acceptance as a bonafide singer.The song is still recognisable to todays youths.

The pop music scene in the 1980s was defined by the production dexterity of Odion Iruoje,Larry Ifedioranma (late),Jake Solo (late) and the BLO trio (Berkley Jones,Laolu Akins and Otu Lemmy Jackson).Odion's big contribution was in grooming a UNN law student by name Kris Okotie.With a rare combination of good looks,intelligence,and a knock-out voice ( which many critics still maintain he did not use well),Kris' album 'i need someone' became one of the all-time best-sellers in Nigeria's recording history (thanks also to the late Haruna Ishola's innovative Phonodisk Records).The follow-up album was even more successful,with the emotionally-charged girlie song,'take it to stella'.

One of the key instrumentalists in Okotie's recordings was a talented guitarist named Felix Lebarty.He waited patiently for his turn,and no sooner had Kris abandoned music for evangelism
did Felix unleash 'loverboy'.If Kris had the upper 'aje butter' class in his palms,Lebarty was king of the ghettos.'Ngozi' and later 'Ifeoma' were legitimate ghetto anthems for years.Curiously 'ifeoma' is still played in several upscale night clubs today!

Another offshoot of the Kris Okotie era was Jide Obi,another law student who actually partnered Kris in a group at UNN.Not wanting to languish in Okotie's shadows,Jide Obi released the album Front Page News,which featured several hits such as 'tonight'.Interestingly it took about a whole year before people took notice of Front Page News,but once the album got off the mark it became real real massive.

Then reggae took over.Lemmy Jackson crafted Tera Kota's Lamentation For Sodom,which instantly became naija's first massive reggae hit.He followed with the Mandators' Crisis,Ras Kimono ,and several other successful recordings which made him the rave producer of the 1980s.

Without doubt however,Lemmy's best production (some argued though that he did very little,considering the extraordinary talent of the artiste) was Majek Fashek's Prisoner Of Concience album.The song 'send down the rain' was more massive than massive.Majek actually described the song as a special Gift from God,and I agree:Many testified that drops of rain actually fell whenever the artiste performed that song on stage!

The Majek era and its mystiques was punctuated by the coming of Sir Shina Peters and the sexually-charged Ace.The term 'rave of the moment' was first used on Shina Peters by the press.'Ijo shina' held the country spell-bound for all of four years,until an unlikely fuji artiste with an urban personae and fascinating choreography took the scene.That was Adewale Ayuba,and the music was bongue-fuji,'traditional music with modern touch'.

Remember though that Sikiru Ayinde Barrister had popularised fuji in the '80s with 'fuji reggae',while Kollington complemented with a string of club (believe it!) hits some years later.Wasiu Ayinde Marshall's 'fuji collection' and later Pasuma's 'orobokibo' were also very popular outside the strict yoruba market.

Blackky brought the 'blackky skank' and was on direct collision with Daniel Wilson's 'mr raggamuffin' for the latter part of the reggae era.Working hard to break out of the reggae grip were pop artistes like Alex O ('do it in the name of love'),Charly Boy ('nwata miss') ,Emphasis and Sweat ('television').These were the true forerunners of today's hip hop crowd.Emphasis and Junior and Pretty were even rappers.

Femi Kuti finally eatablished himself with the afrobeat hit 'wonder wonder',and followed up with an even bigger hit 'sorry sorry'.

After the long lull brought about by the folding up of the big recording companies,Kennis Music intervened,and the hip hop era as we know it today was born.The first great act were the Remedies,consisting of Eidris Abdulkareem,Eddy Montana and (the relegated) Tony Tetuila.'Sakomo' was the song.

Tetuila later turned the table on his former group when his 'omode meta n'sere' and later 'my car' established him as king.Only for a while though as Eidris soon dropped 'mr lecturer' and took the crown.

Paul Play (who seems genuinely confused on what brand of music to stick to) had the market with his father's 'mo s'ori re',but the boys from Benue had arrived Lagos and had ideas of their own.The Plantation boys should be in the Guinness Book of Records for being on top of the charts for almost two years without an album in the market!In fact by the time the album was released vitually all the songs had become archive materials.

Daddy Showkey left his more critically acclaimed friend,Daddy Fresh behind to claim a rave spot with his emotional song,Dynah',While Lagbaja tasted royal treatment for the dance spectacular,'konko below'.

Already massively popular from his time with the Plantation Boys,Tu Face Idibia's debut album was a guaranteed success.Only that 'african queen' made it the biggest album of the hip hop era.

African China stormed the ghetto with his social commentary 'crisis' and later 'mr president',while Faze,whose 'faze alone' was overshadowed by the strength of 'african queen',finally had his big pay day with 'kolomental'.P Square on their part danced their way to
fame with 'busy body' and later 'do me'.

Olu Maintain's 'yahoozee' ensured that there were more than one raves in 2007,before 9ice also latched in with 'gonso aso' to start 2008 as the rave of the moment.

Did I miss or omit anyone?Please let me know.

EASTER,AFROBEAT,HHWA ,P SQUARE,100 MAN MARCH,AYO SONAIYA..

2008-03-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

THE JOY OF EASTER

Hope you had a swell Easter? O course I realise this may be an unnecessary question:This year's Easter period will go down as one of the most action-packed,entertainment-wise , particularly l'Eko!Big shows,this and that Awards,all the big acts on parade,etc,etc.Let's therefore appreciate and thank God for the Gift of Easter;it's the reason we're all alive and smiling.

ARISE OH AFROBEAT ARISE !

I felt sad when I realised that in the midst of all the musical action during Easter,afrobeat - Naija's own authentic original music was hardly heard.In fact in the last few years afrobeat had virtually dissappeared from our air waves,with the exception of the routine Fela's oldies at lunch time.

This is surprising,considerring the massive upsurge in the genre's popularity in the immediate aftermath of the abami eda's death.Where is Dede Mabiaku (and his forever expected debut)?;Kola Ogunkoya was becoming a huge afrobeat act before he fizzled out.Alariwo,Seyi Solagbade,etc etc,same story.

Not surprisingly,the leading light in the afrobeat expedition has been the crown prince (who is now in all parameters the king),Femi Kuti.Unfortunately the man seems to have taken a sabatical from music,over the last few years,in favour of procreational activities.The positive thing about the Positive Force is that they have kept the africa shrine busy all the way.Then,one can't but applaud Femi for reconciling with his kid brother ,Seun.

Will the forces that be now Clear Road for Jagajaga in the Big Blind Country?Most shrine aficionados will readily state that Fela's best works were the unrecorded ones which he frequently unleashed at the shrine just before his death.A joint recording of these works by Femi and Seun will provide the big tonic that afrobeat desperately needs for revival.I earnestly hope that those songs,as legacies,will not go the way of Bobby Benson's Hotel.

Then there is this issue of the Lagos Mega City project.A revival of afrobeat will immensely boost the tourism credentials of that project; and I know Governor Fashola can make a positive intervention if his advisers make a case before him.Eko o ni baje o !

So arise afrobeat! Take your rightful place as Naija's one and only original,authentic,world class
music.

35 MM NONSENSE

It was becoming embarassing the rate at which Naija artistes travelled or sought to travel to Nelson Mandela's country just to shoot musical videos.And the excuse often given was that they wanted to shoot with the 35mm camera.This of course was taken to extra-terestrial boundaries after P Square's run-away hit, Do Me.

I've always found something curious and terribly wrong with this craze,but could not really comment on it.Not until a most distinguished cinematographer,director and film expert decided to make a categorical but most instructive comment to put the matter to rest once and for all.According to Ayo Sonaiya,a good musical video is a result of a combination of factors,largely on the creative side and not so much on the economic.I couldn't agree more.There's a particular local musical video that always trips me since like five years ago.Sometime recently I had a chance meeting with one of the crew and a bombshell!I was told that that video was actually recorded with a camcorder!This might be an extreme example, but I stronly recommend Ayo Sonaiya's article ( which by the way was all over the press some three weeks ago) to all Nigerian artistes.To Sir K though,I say congratulations on his new acquisition;At least in his own case we know he's always been a creative guy.Sorry SA embassy,to Klink Studios we head!

THE 100 MAN MARCH TO ALAUSA

A few weeks a group of top celebrities led by smoking hot D'Banj and highly regarded writer Ayeni Adekunle staged a peaceful march to the Lagos government secretariat to protest the security situation.I commend them.Each one of us citizens has a big role to play in combating crime.The artistes that marched with D'Banj played their part.Sometime this role may entail 'little' things like counselling our kids (which seems to have gone out of fashion),or asking questions about a neigbour's sudden wealth.But by and large,I think it's imperative that we reverse our value system to what it was many many years ago:stop worshipping the rich as if they are gods.Secondly,the manner in which our successful musicians flaunt their wealth these days does not help matters at all:An artiste records his very first hit song,and suddenly his home is decorated with all the known exotic cars in the market.Yet,as has happened severally in the past,he may never achieve another hit status for years to come;yet he still lives in the same poverty-stricken environment,and still mingles with the same poor 'hommies' that his life has been built around.Modesty is the key word here, eventhough this should not in any way diminish the message of the 100 man march.

HIP HOP WORLD AWARDS SCORE-CARD

I'm sure you read my predictions on the 3rd Hip Hop World Magazine Awards.I'm equally sure that you noticed I was spot on in several categories:Tuface,Ruggedman,Timaya,Jimmy Jatt etc,etc,et cetera!!!Congratulations,Ayo Animashaun.Congratulations Asa,9ice and everybody else that won.As for the controversisies,there's nothing to say.It comes with all and any awards event anywhere in the world.I've always had the impression that any awards list merely represents the opinion of the organizers,simple;if you don't like their choice,then organize your own show and 'right' the 'wrong'!Meanwhile,the yellow carpet event was something else.Splendid.

P SQUARE'S REACTION

If there was anything I didn't like about this year's HHWA,it was the unwarranted and absolutely unnecessary negative publicity given to the apparently unhappy reaction of members of P Square to their inability to win a single award at this year's show.What these writers failed to remember was the fact that the Okoye brothers are human beings like everybody else;and I daresay that 8 out of 10 of us would have felt the same way if we were in their shoes.Let's consider the facts:In 2006,P Square's Get Squared (Busy Body) album which only crept slowly to the top of the charts, won a sensational 6 awards at the same HHWA.In 2007,the follow-up,Game Over was an instant chart-topper,breaking (as the press reported) all known sales records in the process:Indeed christmas 2007 was dominated by one song - Do Me.How would members of the band then ever imagine that they would achieve anything less than the 100% haul of 2006 in 2008, not to talk of going home EMPTY-handed?

What really dissappointed me was a certain instance where an innocuous personal phone call from one of the group members to a writer on the issue was not only revealed to the whole world,but also made the source of a very damning article against the group.However,I'll advise the group to take these things calmly.Remember that it's easier to get to the top than to stay there.

A (MISSED) SHOT AT VALENTINE

2008-02-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

Hope you had a great Valentine Day? Mine wasn't so cool I must confess,and I blame the absence of a public holiday on this most important day for this.

Madam (there's no way I'm going to use her name or even pet name here) is not in town,although with her it usually makes no difference:I do the romantic things all the time,particularly when my conscience pricks me - like when someone has cheated on someone (not necessarily referring to me hmm!) . Just take it that she knows I love her.

My valentine experience usually trips when it involves an adventure; and this year's promised to be one of such.I've been flirting with this tall ebony-black babe of the 'arsenal' family, who works with one of my Bankers, since the middle of 2007 but we never really got round to having a proper date.That until last week when I threw the valentine bait at her, and she got hooked.

We were to have lunch at the calaba restaurant inside the National Museum at Onikan,which was her choice, perhaps due to its proximity to her office and the fact that she wanted to have afang soup specifically.

Ten minutes to time, I was there, gave her a call and got her assurance that she will make it.And she did some thirty minutes later.She was just getting round to explaining how she had taken the trouble to clear her desk and delegate some duties when her phone roared.It was her supervising Director,and she was required to join him for some emergency marketing meeting in Ikoyi - in 30 minutes time! So much for good luck.I reeled out a long list of what I thought were justifiable excuses,but clearly this girl loves her job too dearly.The farthest she went was to tell the boss that she was already in another marketing meeting (with me,that is!).The man requested to speak with me,made some apologies, and that was it.My valentine adventure was over.I had a gift for her,but the mood wasn't right, so I didn't mention it.

Fortunately, the restaurant was near empty at the time,so I got a tender hug for my troubles.Apart from my bottled water,no food was ordered,so another consolation - money stays in the pocket.Not that it's really an expensive place,but sometimes you need to console yourself don't you?

Hope your day was better.

SHOW COMPASSION AT VALENTINE
Like I experienced after leaving the Museum Kitchen, how many times have you trekked along the Marina and beggars in different forms will 'harass' you for money? In how many of those instances did you respond with a gift?In how many of those instances did you look at the beggars (well,I'm referring to the physically challenged among them , not the area boys) with disdain and wished they would just leave you alone?

Valentine Day provides a unique opportunity to show compassion to the less privileged, and I recommend that we all make the most of it.I noticed that there is an inherent joy in giving.It also brings a sense of fulfilment, and of course peace of mind.

PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR VALENTINE
It is regarded worldwide as the day of love, and love is the substance of life.So why don't governments all over the world declare February 14, St. Valentine's Day, a Public Holiday?Imagine the effect on estranged couples,the destitutes,America/Iraq war, or the Niger Delta Militants.Maybe Nigeria should lead the way.

HIP HOP WORLD AWARDS PREVIEW

2008-02-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

....I'm watching Entertainment World with Isis on Silverbird TV,and guess who just popped up on the screen ? It's the koko-master himself D'Banj having an appetising full body massage executed by a gorgeous kokolet.Ol'Boy I envy these hip-hop stars no be small....

....Tommorrow I head to Veniveci ( I'm always getting the spelling and pronounciation wrong) ,a damn good spa at the Eti-Osa area.Last time I went there was like two years back and the memory still lingers. So sister Arin,now that I own a blog ( a whole blog by myself !)I hope you will treat me like a star - that is to say just forego the charges....

So much much for digressions !

I want to write about the Hip Hop World Awards. I've always felt that hip hop music is a dominant genre in Nigeria today due to the foresight and sacrificial efforts of two institutions:

Kennis Music and Ayo Animashaun's Hip-Hop World Magazine which blazed the trail when hip hop was a non- starter subdued under the dominance of reggae music ages ago.If I had my way,I'll ask each and everyone of these jeep-riding hip-hop stars of today to record a song in honour of Ayo Animashaun.He deserves no less.

I was at the maiden edition of this event some 2 or 3 years back ( courtesy of invaluable assistance from an admirable young man,Ayeni ),and immediately was impressed by the organisation and sheer splendour of it all.I commented that it certainly was not going to be a one-off event,and I've been proved right.

The list of nominees for this year's awards has just been given to me, and I can easily predict that this will be the most keenly contested so far.I also want to tease the judges by evaluating the nominees and predicting the likely winners.It's proving a good antidote for a missed shot at a valentine date!

.Lyricist : Mode 9 was hot,but I thought Ruggedman upped his already phenomenal writing skills in his latest album, and showed that life is not only about dissing fellow rappers.His live duet with Eidris Abdulkareem at The Vault was also one of the memorable happenings of 2007.He wins.

.Hip Hop Revelation: None of the nominees can really be described as revelations in the true sense of the word,but I'll give it to Sasha on the strength of her style.

.Next Rated:I enjoyed Ebutte-Metta ( a la Umbrella), but I'll give this to Wande Coal.

.Vocal Performance (female):There's little to differentiate between TY Bello,Lara George ,Asa and Niyola,so I do a ballot.......hmmm............TY Bello !

.Vocal Performance (Male): Whatever happened to Tu Face's True Love? Faze we all know can sing,but I'll pick Wande Coal's performance of Ololufe for this category.

.Best Rap Single: Stylee was the song that brought rap back to the top.No question about that. Jimmy Jatt wins.

.Collabo: All the nominees were awesome, but when it comes to the basics,and for a collabo too, Stylee was extraordinary. Stylee,Stylee,Stylee......"

Excerpts:

I reside in Lagos,the city of hustlers
Everybody is in a hurry
Traders and customers
...If you no strict
you go part with your cellular....
....This Lagos wey we dey so
Na our own !

Wait oh, could this be influenced by my being a Lagos Boy ?Who cares !

.Best Rap Album: I know Nigerian girls loved El Pluribus Unum,but personally I enjoyed First Lady the most (what am I saying?). So who wins ? Mode 9 has the bigger reputation, and will more likely nick it.

.Best R'n'B/Pop Album: Game Over had Do me and two other great tracks; Independent was a one song wonder until the videos dropped and two other tracks came alive.However, if we're talking about an album full of hits (video or no video), it doesn't come any better than Grass 2 Grace. Tu Face Wins.

.Reggae/Dancehall: The true story is that Timaya rejuvenated a fading genre. Julius Agwu, am I lying? Tell them. Timaya for award.

.Best Video: I don't understand why Yahoozee is not on the short list, but I easily appreciate the fact that there were so many quality musical videos in 2007 that one may be excused for overlooking such a splendid effort. For Professors looking to research on how a well-directed video can positively influence the sales of an otherwise average song, I recommend P Square's Do Me. Jude Okoye wins.

.Producer of the Year: ID Cabasa , not for Ruggedy Baba, but for the lethaly infectious Kolomental which for a moment turned all of us into near psychiatric cases.

.Recording of the Year: If production skills,creativity and overrall musical desterity is what

counts here, then I'll give this to Asa, no wait...TY Bello's Greenland..... no ,Asa . Asa wins , but only just.

.Song of the Year: Yahoozee brought novelty,Do Me took the entire Christmas, but Kolomental had the rest of the year. Faze wins.

.Album of the Year: You know,don't you? Grass 2 Grace.

.Artiste of the Year: 2007 belonged to the kokomaster - ask all the kokolets ! D'Banj, without rival.

.Who Did I Miss? Award : Freestyle and Sip Easy,Koffi and Green Is My Home,Style Plus ,and of course Sauce Kid's Sambaribobo.Warning:These category will not be presented at the Hip Hop World Awards!

Please join MTN in supporting Ayo Animashaun,Nigeria's Grandmaster of Hip Hop at the 3rd Hip Hop World Awards come March 15 in Lagos.Thereafter you score my predictions.

.

27 QUESTIONS FOR SANI LULU

2008-02-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

Having been duly authorised by the supreme court of public opinion, I representing 100 million soccer-crazy Naijas hereby put forward the following (potentially dangerous) questions to you:

Are you the chairman of the NFA?

Is the NFA which you head,the Nigeria Football Association or the No Future Ambition?

Are you aware that football provides the strongest bond that unites all Nigerians,irrespective of tribe,economic status,or whether fine or ugly?

Do you therefore agree that those people enpowered to run our football should do so with utmost dilligence and sense of patriotism?

What is your assessment of Nigeria's performance at the just-concluded (oh sorry on-going,wihout Nigeria) Africa Cup of Nations?

Are you aware that there exists a bitter rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana in football?

Do you know that Nigerians have been plunged into acute depression since Nigeria lost to Ghana on sunday?

Did you watch the match between Nigeria and Ghana in Accra on February 3 ?

Did you notice that the Eagles took a deserved lead after dominating the Ghanaians in the first half?

Did you notice that the referee awarded Nigeria a (deserved) penalty and (also justifiably) sent off the Ghanaian captain in the game?

Chairman Sir,did you notice that soon after the red card which conferred the Eagles with a numerical advantage, our team surprisingly lost control of the game ?

Do you agree that the Eagles were thoroughly humiliated in that match?

Did you notice that the Eagles struggled all through their previous matches in that tournament?

Did you notice that,unlike what happened with other teams,most of the substitutions made by the Eagles' coach failed to improve our game?

Did you observe that the Eagles played an ackward and ineffective style which lacked the traditional flair that Nigerian football is noted for?

Do you agree that AFRICON 2008 was Nigeria's worst ever?

Did you notice that the team previously known and addressed as Super Eagles is now commonly called Super Chickens ?

Do you therefore agree that the manager,Berti Voghts failed woefully on this assignment?

Are you aware that the trend worldwide is to sack coaches that have failed in their assignments?

Are you aware that even there in Ghana 2008,some coaches with intergrity have honorably resigned their positions without waiting to be sacked?

Do you remember that not too long ago,Nigeria lost the World Cup qualification ticket to lowly-rated Angola?

Do you therefore agree that there is a major crisis in Nigerian football?

Do you agree that given our pedigree, qualification to the World Cup finals should be our birthright?

Should Nigeria gamble with her chances of qualifying for SA 2010 , the first World Cup to be hosted in Africa?

Sir, do you know what a "slave contract" is ?

Did the NFA sign a slave contract with Berti Voghts?

When will the NFA sack Berti Voghts ?

Thank you, Sir, and to show that I'm not one of your enemies I wish to congratulate you on Nigeria's victory at the last FIFA under-17 tournament.It's my fervent wish that we share more of such happy moments together, and less of the Ghana 2008 type.

9ICE,NIYOLA,X-PROJECT...WHAT I'M LISTENING TO...

2008-02-01T12:27:00.000-08:00

It's a cool beginning for Nigerian music in 2008.Who would have thought any song would push P- Square's twin bomb, Do me and Ifunanya off the top of the charts so soon?That's exactly what 9ice has achieved with Gongo Aso.Man me,I really love this song oh!It's the kind of direction I will like our hip-hop stars to follow;songs like this or RRR's Wetin Dey are welcome any day.Yes the hip-hop is noticeable,but the unique african feel is dominant all through,and you can't help but feel proud that these are products out of dear motherland.

Another big winner is X-Project's Lorile:exquisite,flowery,and positively infectious.You know I don't particularly envy those americana-sounding acts,but one that has really impressed me is Niyola.The tracks Let Go andTogether Again represent R'n'B at its best.It is obvious that this girl really and truly worked hard on her voice and on this album;whether the naija market will appreciate the product is a different matter entirely.With her chic physique and sexy aura,she only has one more hurdle to climb - an awesome stage presence.That done, she may well become the first super hip-hop diva we have been waiting for.By the way,did someone notice the brief about her relationship with da shogun (in All My Life)?That was a cute one ,baby!

NIGERIA VS GHANA: NOW THE SHOW BEGINS

2008-01-30T15:56:00.000-08:00

Come sunday 3rd February,one of the greatest rivalries in football will be re-enacted in the African Nations Cup, when Nigeria's Super(?) Eagles square up to hosts Ghana's Black Stars.Since I started following football actively in the 70s,there are certain fixtures that I don't joke with: Super Stores v NEPA in Lagos,Brazil v Argentina, Man U v Liverpool in England,Milan v Juve in Italy,and of course Nigeria v Ghana.The atmosphere that envelopes these matches is pure fantasy - indescribable!

In the early years,I think Ghana used to have the upper hand,and truly the Black Stars played sexy,champaigne football which made many to dub them the "Brazilians of African soccer".But that was until one cool evening when a coach Onigbinde - tutored Eagles made nonsense of bookmakers' predictions by thrashing the Stars right on their home soil.The star of the Nigerian team that day was a youngster by the name Chibuzor Ehilegbu.Can the Super Eagles repeat that feat on sunday?

NIGERIA'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CELEBS

2008-01-27T14:41:00.000-08:00

It's almost midnight,and I'm all alone (yes you are right,she isn't around).Initially bored,but my mood just got better after reading some exciting blogs from Tayo Odukoya and Aworan .Watching the classy Africa Nations Cup match between Senegal and Angola did much to revive my spirit early on,but the drab follow-up b/w SA and Tunisia threatened to send me to an early sleep.But somehow I still find myself awake,TV turned off and my mind just drifting to nowhere.A stroll to the balcony sets me on direct collision with the mild harmattan breeze;a familiar feeling envelopes me -you know what I mean now -but I could handle it.Afterall I did it only yesterday!

Now I pick up a magazine,it's a pull-out from This Day on Sunday.Very cool.The pictures were glossy and inviting,and the women(sorry, ladies) posh and gorgeous.Then I had the idea:why not write on Nigeria's most beautiful women?Yeah! Now I'm lively, just thinking about it. Nigeria is truly blessed with beautiful women;not just beautiful but sexy as well.Okay,here let me begin with (some of) the most beautiful Nigerian female celebrities as seen by my naughty eyes!

No.1 is Julie Coker.Queen of the tube and former Miss Nigeria(one of the truly worthy ones).Greatest asset:the eyes,the eyes,the s..y eyes !!

No.2 is Funmi Odubekun.If Julie was queen, she was the Princess.

No.3, Toyin Money and Mandy Brown-Ojugbana.Both just stuck in my memory as the aje-butter damsels.Mandy was a class hip-hop act even before the genre became legit,while I think Toyin was a Model (not too sure now).

No.4 Mary Afi Usua,velvet voice with seductive,pure calaba style waist dancing

No.5 Binta Sukai,the pearl from the north

No.6 Regina Askia and Linda Ikeji.Delicate,natural, and provocative to the senses.Linda is class on the runway,believe me.

No.7 Alexandria Lopez and Clarion Chukwurah. Both are natural when it comes to sex appeal.Alex is one of the very few Nollywood stars that interprete romantic scenes well.

8.Warebi Martha and Blessing Effiom:Similarly endowed.Through them I see beauty in slimness (or thinness,or lepaness!)

9Ama Peterside.Put the controversies aside,she is a true representetion of Naija beauty

10.Funlola Aofiyebi.Latest owner of (Hummer?) jeep,but nontheless a very beautiful woman proudly representing Ni-ge-r-i-a!

Be assured that this list is not exhaustive.I'll continue with "part 2" in due course.Particularly watch out for the list of beauties outside the entertainment industry.You'll find it interesting.

2 FACE + R.KELLY : I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS

2008-01-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

Well this has been in the gossip mill for some time,but after reading today's papers it appears 2 baba himself has confirmed the news ( and you know Tu is not given to frivolous statements).Am I excited ? You bet! Two of the most gifted vocalists and creative songwriters of this generation coming together is nothing short of a thriller, and of course a big lift for Nigerian music too.And who knows, we may just get to see the great mr Kelly live on stage in Naija this year.....or did someone say this day?!!!!!!

WILL SUPER EAGLES WIN NATIONS CUP ?

2008-01-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Is Berti Vogt's army good enough to give Nigeria it's third Nations Cup trophy ? As a patriot the answer will always be yes,but I have my fears.I witnessed our triumphs in 1980 and 1994, and still remember vividly that the feeling of an imminent victory was palpable even before those tournaments kicked off.That does not existt in this case.Why?

In 1980 we had a solid team on ground long before the tournament.Every single position from 1 to 11 had an estalished custodian whom Nigerians had come to have confidence in: Ema Okala in goal,Chairman Chukwu at the heart of the defence, Mathematical Odegbami and Chief Justice Adokie on the wings.Even the players on the bench were good enough to play whenever the need arose,which was why coach Otto Gloria could mesmerise the Algerians in the final with a novelty combination of two natural left-wingers Adokie and Felix Owolabi.

Tunisia 94 was no different.Clemence Westerhoff's four-year team construction had matured.Amunike,Amokachi,Okechukwu,Yekini,Finidi and the rest were already feared as a deadly bunch throughout the continent before Nations Cup began,so winning the trophy was only a confirmation of their supremacy.

With Vogts army nobody has a clue of the character of the team.The man most likely to lead the attack,Yakubu,as recent as two months ago did not even seem to feature in the coach's plans.The entire defence,minus Yobo,is indeterminate. Obi Mikel the only recognised world class act based on current form, has yet to put up a convincing performance for the team.So where does this leave us?

I know many will say naija fighting spirit.Okay that's cool;at least fighting spirit gave us the olympic gold in Atlanta.So good luck boys !

THE 2007 AWARDS - FROM ME

2008-01-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

I always enjoy watching all those "best this" and "best that" awards,and usually envy the organizers for being able to put their views across and make it count.Well since I now have this opportunity,I'll also now let the world know who and what caught my fancy in 2007.

BEST STAGE ACT: D'Banj.No arguements:A David Beckham in looks and Sisquo on stage,he is
simply awesome.

BEST ALBUM: Tu Face - Face 2 Face.Oozes class and pure enterainment from the first note to the last.

BEST SONG: This is the era of dance music,and we had a lot of them.Kolomental (Faze),Yahoozee(Olu Maintain) and the late comer,Do Me(P Square) were the loudest.It's dificult to choose one.

BEST VIDEO: Another tough category,with so many quality contenders I can't even start listing them.Okay,please check out Pasuma's Initiator if you're into Fuji.

WORST VIDEO:Tu FACE - True Love.Absolutely no link between the video and the song.A very good way to waste money and waste a world-class song.

BEST MOVIE: Caught In The Middle.For those who think Nollywood is all about rituals,violence and mediocrity,please watch this.

COMEDIAN: Basketmouth. An embodiment of the huge improvent in quality of our comedians.

MODEL:Biola Boris,for still going strong after all these years.Where are Theodora,Ndidi and Lara Agbeyegbe?That was a generation of exciting Models.I hope the industry will start appreciating our Models and help them sustain economically meaningful careers, just like the musicians and actors now have.

TV PROGRAMME: Q, Mo Ments(not an Oprah Winfrey show,but I enjoy it)

FASHION PERSONALITY:Zizi,Tiffany Amber and Modella.But whatever happened to Dakova?

FAVORITE BLOGGERS: Naijagal and Ladybrille.I'm doing this because those sites made an impression.Thanks and keep it up.

BBA,OFUNNEKA AND ALL THAT CRAP

2008-01-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

Whenever I think of the furore generated by Richard's so-called raping of Ofunneka in BBA 2, I get amused ,not really deciding whether to be dissapointed or elated.The whole thing just smacks of hypocrisy at its best (or is it worst ?).I mean even if we never saw Big Brother in Holland or UK, at least we saw BBA 1, so we can't pretend not to know what the show is all about.

Big Brother anywhere,wherever is an adult, absolutely x-rated show.It is purely entertainment for voyeurs- and there are many of them around.But at least the show is aired on pay -tv,which means there is an effective dicretion over who watches and who doesn't.By voluntarily enterring for the show Ofunneka had made a honest statement of the kind of person she is (which in my opinion should not in itself remove anything from her intergrty or self-esteem), therefore you wouldn't for instance say she is a Nun! And viewed within the context of the show,she actually performed "below expectation" by not giving in to the more amorous aspects of the BBA house.Didn't she always take her bath with her over-sized panties on?

Incidentally, my partner had been away and my libido was high when I first read about this rape thing (I mean the National Assembly had just querried the producers) so I scurried to my computer and searched the web with great expectation.I was dissappointed.Yes I saw images of drunk housemates behaving exactly as you would expect drunk people to.I saw people frolicking on the bed,under the bedsheet,and yes a finger playing games inside someone's panties(with the receiver clearly enjoying the moment!).But where was the sex,or better put,the rape?

What was the point in "banning" a show that had already run its full course?When people pay for pay-tv,what are they expecting - morning ride?Then what kind of signals are we sending to existing and potential foreign investors? Let's just admit that globalization has its "side effects".You can't eat your cake and still have it.

GIANT STRIDES IN NIGERIAN MUSIC

2008-01-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

Thankfully the good days are here for Nigerian musicians.When kris Okotie's Just for You album ruled the airwaves in the 1980's,even outselling its monumental forerunner I need Someone,the artiste was given a gold disc for selling 100,000- 200,000 copies - a rare fit that was usually celebrated by the entire industry.I also remember attending an epoch ceremony at the Eko Hotels where Sir Shina Peters was awarded gold discs for selling 200,000 copies of the then "national anthem" Ace and Shinamania.Majek Fashek however refused to accept the figure of 100 and something thousand copies which his record company declared for the monumental Prisoner of Conscience (widely reputed to be the most popular album after Nico Mbarga's Sweet Mother),and quit the label in frustration.

However things seem to have changed dramaticaly,even at a time when many analysts say that the music industry in Nigeria is dead!I've read no less than four reputable Journals report that P Square sold well over a million copies of Game Over in less than one week!I've also observed that most artistes with known hit records today ride flashy cars,dress in true celeb fashion,and generally live hollywood-like lifestyles- something that will make Alex O,Oby Onyioha,and Dizzy k curse their lucks for arriving a shade too soon!

Does this then mean that a viable music industry now exists in the country?I don't think so,but I think what the artistes are enjoying today is largely a result of the bold and creative intervention of Kennis Music about a decade ago.Apart from deeply traditional music such as fuji,we are yet to have a distinctly Nigerian popular music with international appeal,which is largely due to the failure of the system to exploit the huge potentials of Fela's afro-beat.We are still aping and copying foreign genres - which modern studio technology has made easier though.There is as of today no properly structured record company that provides all-round grooming and other label services for artistes.It is a hit-and-run system that exists,where the artistes cannot boast of any defined career path.

Credit must however go to the marketers for sustaining the artistes: at least piracy is now viewed with less disdain,eventhough it's still a big problem.Another major positive change is the fact that Nigerian music is played a lot more on the airwaves and on upscale nightclubs across the country;at least our studio egineers have become adept at sampling whatever beat the americans come up with,while the problem of intonation is eliminated by infusing local dialect into the vocals-so no one is pretending to be a Michael Jackson here!

A few artistes though are genuinely trying to be original in their works.Tu Face,Lagbaja and Asa readily come to mind,but songs like Sample Ekwe sound more like what the industry should be encouraging.In sum, I,m happy with the progress achieved, but there's still a long way to go.

WAS 2007 A GOOD YEAR ?

2008-01-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

First let me apologise for my inactivity since commencing this blog stuff last year:I simply could not create the time.Perhaps my working on the debut music album excercebated an already tight schedule.However I've been reading great stuff on the net,particularly from the naija bloggers,and I must say I've thoroughly enjoyed myself.In fact for this reason alone I'll say 2007 was a good year!I hope I will find a way to make my blogspot as beautiful and appealing as naijagal's or ladybrille's for instance!Since I've had a little rest and can now muster some strength,I'll proceed to recap some memorable events of 2007 -the good and the not so good,and share my impressions with you.It will be interesting knowing what you think of these.I extend to you all my fervent prayer for a blessed and fulfilling year in 2008.

WELCOME FRIENDS

2007-09-17T22:13:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,
Thanks for checking on africaentertainmentandsports,where we intend to write on issues relating to the entertainment sector (music,arts,film,fashion,modeling,photography,TV/radio,etc) and sports (soccer,ayo,athletics,rugby,etc) in africa.This will be done in a way that will entertain and at the same time educate all of us,with the ultimate aim of developing those sectors and adding sustantial value both economically and socially.At least we all agree that sports and the arts are the areas where africans still feel a sense of living,and actually excell,despite the acute poverty and other social challenges in the land.
It's good to also let you know that I'm based in Nigeria (land of Nollywood,Golden Eaglets,Tinapa,Fela,2face,etc) so a lot of my own contributions will derive from that region.That is why I'm counting on you,my friends in SA,Ghana,Egypt,etc. to participate actively and let us know what's going on in your areas.
Our sisters and brothers in "Oyinboland"(ie,Europe,America,..everywhere),please join us as well,to make your homeland a treasure.
So,what are you waiting for - start writing in!Perhaps you may wish to comment on the desirability or otherwise of blogging on the theme as outlined above.
Love you all.
Omonaija (africa entertainment and sports)