EASTER ,HIP HOP WORLD AWARDS,SUPER EAGLES.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.