S’African artistes in love with Ice Prince

 

ICE PRINCE

Winning the Best International Act award at the BET Awards event places Ice Prince a step above his peers, writes AKEEM LASISI

Los Angeles broadly smiled on Nigerian singer, Ice Prince, on Sunday when he emerged winner of the BET Award in the Best International Act – Africa category.

The artiste’s achievement affirms that he is not a one-song star. Also, it shows that he has continued to attract the attention of music fans across Africa long after his debut album had set him up for stardom.

While another Nigerian star, Tuface Idibia, who was also nominated in the same category, was not present at the awards event, there was an indication that the judges were bound to eventually smile on Ice Prince.

When he first appeared at a reception held for the nominees on Friday, he was hailed elaborately and caught the attention of a good number of stakeholders. But the first indication that he had earned some respect on the music scene, especially in Africa, was the way his South African counterparts at the BET Awards rated and spoke about him.

In separate interviews with our correspondent on Friday, Toya Delazy and Donald, who were also nominated in the Best International – Africa category, described him as an interesting musician.

Both of them indicated interest in collaborating with him, an offer that he described as being inspiring during a chat with our correspondent.

“Africa is moving on at the moment when you consider the quality of the outputs of our artistes,” Delazy said.

“As for Ice Prince, I am very happy to meet him here. I believe it is good to have been nominated in the same category with him. I like his flow and he is one of the Nigerian artistes I like to collaborate with.”

Even the Ugandan group that was also nominated in the category, Radio and Weasel, said it would explore the possibility of doing something with Ice Prince.

Reacting to these gestures, Ice Prince said he felt highly honoured.

“It is awesome to be at BET awards for the second time,” Ice Prince said. “It is nice to be in this environment. And I feel blessed to hear that these people want to collaborate with me.”

The biggest honour, however, came his way when he was announced the winner on Sunday. The singer that lost out to Wizkid and Sarkodie last year said he has been inspired to do more for himself and his fans.

In his reaction to Ice Prince’s feat, the Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks Africa, Alex Okosi, said it was a deserved recognition for the singer.

“It is thrilling to see an African artiste of the calibre of Ice Prince being duly recognised alongside the biggest artistes in the world at the BET Awards.

“We are delighted that all of the African nominees have been able to enjoy the BET Awards and the BET Experience while benefiting from this fantastic promotional platform in the world’s biggest music market,” Okosi said.

Hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker, BET Awards ’13 saw Hollywood’s biggest stars come together to celebrate the accomplishments of their peers in music, sports and film, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

The biggest winner on the night was Kendrick Lamar, who took home three awards: Best New Artist, Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Collaboration for ‘Problems’ with A$AP Rocky, Drake and 2 Chainz.

Miguel took home the trophy for Best Male R&B/Pop, artist while Rihanna scored a win for Best Female R&B/Pop artist. Nikki Minaj was voted Best Female Hip Hop Artist.

The BET Awards ’13 kicked off with an electrifying performance by Chris Brown. He performed a medley of hits, including his current single, ‘Fine China’, and a special performance of ‘Don’t They Know’, with vocals from Aaliyah.

Another major performance of the night began with Justin Timberlake presenting R&B legend, Charlie Wilson, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

India Arie opened the moving tribute to Wilson with ‘There Goes My Baby’, while Jamie Foxx blessed the crowd with the fans’ favourite ‘Yearning For Your Love’.

The legendary Stevie Wonder then took the stage and energised the audience with the funky ‘Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)’.

Wilson joined Timberlake, Snoop Lion and Pharrell for 2003’s ‘Beautiful’’, a hit-song that reintroduced Wilson to a new generation of fans, along with astute rendition of ‘Signs’, ‘You Dropped A Bomb On Me’ and ‘Girl You Knock Me Out’.

At BET Awards, nothing happened by chance

 

Beyonce and Snoop Dogg

Beyond the harvest of laurels and concerts at the 2013 Black Entertainment Television Awards in Los Angeles, USA, stakeholders in the global entertainment industry have a lot to learn from the event, writes AKEEM LASISI, who was there

Scores of superstars virtually transformed Los Angeles into a planet of concerts over the weekend when the prestigious Black Entertainment Television Awards took place in the American city amid festivities. Winners in various categories, including Nigeria’s Ice Prince, who won an award in the Best International Act –Africa category, are the primary beneficiaries of the panorama established in 2001 by BET Network to “celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment.”

But lovers of good music, ranging from the secular to sacred, savoured top-rated performances in an ambiance that is comprehensively ready for such an elite fiesta.

Congratulating the organisers of the event, thanking the audience and promising to do more, American pop star, Beyonce, gave a stunning performance at the expansive Staples Centre on Friday.

Oozing elegance, crooning with panache and dancing with an incredible energy, she thrilled the audience endlessly to a rehash of her hit-songs in a manner that evoked nostalgic feelings.

The choreography that propelled the singer’s show was also phenomenal. This, coupled with her usually rapacious costume, which changed almost with the speed at which a chameleon changes its colour, further enshrined her in the hall of fame of quintessential show women. No wonder, the audience rewarded her with wild dancing and endless hooting that inspired her to sing more.

Beyonce said she was happy to be back on stage in Los Angeles and re-assured her fans that the duty of a musician is to make the people feel good.

While several other artistes performed all through the awards, the next big treat came on Saturday night when Snoop Dogg led other celebrities, such as Kendrick Lamar, Miguel and Schoolboy Q, in action. Unless you wanted Dogg to break into two – or more – you would not expect him to go into the kind of acrobatics that defined the acts of Beyonce and some of the other performers. Apart from the fact that Dogg harbours arresting acrobatics in his voice, he also demonstrated a good measure of theatrics in his own way of dancing.

Also, some female dancers occasionally enlivened the performance when they danced seductively round Dogg. Besides, the symphony between his performances and those of Lamar and others was positively felt by the audience. Dogg, indeed, demonstrated a remarkable sense of responsibility during the awards, as the same artiste that participated in the mentoring aspect of the festival, teaching aspiring artistes how to make it in the industry, was back on stage on Sunday when he performed alongside never-say-die Chirlie Wilson, winner of Lifetime Achievement Award.

And it is this type of fervour that the likes of Mike Epps, Janelle Monae, Erykhan Badu, The Roots and Friends, Nelly, MC Lyte, Too Short, Kirk Franklin, Chris Brown, R Kelly, New Edition and the Jacksons demonstrated while the festival lasted. In front of microphones and on instruments, the sense of professionalism they exhibited was phenomenal.

In the BET Awards slogan and tradition, anything can happen. But nothing happened by chance over the weekend. The system was quite ready to contain any unusual occurrence.

From the number of stars on queue to perform, new songs, films and the typical American ‘swag’ that travelled from mouth to mouth, you could not miss the fact that the BET Awards event is a huge festival of fun, what with the exhibition and sales of all kinds of food that came in dramatic packages.

In one of the food sheds, the otherwise thorny, conical body of a pineapple became a novel jug from which guys sipped creamy fluids with tempting ease. This would remind one of how Badagry people, in Lagos State, also cleverly twist the fate of virgin coconut shells, when they just open its top and turn it into a jug of a native drink. At the BET arena, even anything could so much happen that the corn, chicken, turkey, pork, salt and pepper you used to know would, in now unfamiliar forms, beckon at you from equally new pots.

Yet, the observant soul would resist getting totally carried away by the fanfare. It is a difficult task to remain your passionate or impassionate journalist here, really. The rate at which music blasted and the stages rumbled beneath the artistes’ vocal chords, which constantly jammed with the audience’s roars, could easily ensnare the reporter, who could get carried away by the spectacle.

But dotting the canvas of the festive sky, which, being summer, radiated a sun with sometimes overzealous rays, was the message that after all said and done, entertainment is a serious business. There is the message that entertainment, as the BET rolled out, does not happen by chance; and it does not exist in a vacuum. It is a product of well-thought-out plans and synergy, with almost every other segment of the influential society.

For instance, enlightened and genuine corporate support is key. Apart from the fact that the various businesses and other organisations that support the BET Awards responded as due in the course of planning, the zeal that they demonstrated during the festival, pampering guests and audience in general with a taste of their products – the beverages companies endlessly competed for the participants’ tummies – contributed to its success.

Next is the issue of security. As expansive as the awards programmes were, and as widespread and sophisticated as the venues were, there were security men and women – police and civil – manning every point. They were warm and civil in their approach but they were, at the same time, proactive, precise and firm. The result is not just that there were no ugly incidents, the participants felt secure, while the organisers were also able to achieve their goals. This is a factor that organisers of similar events in Nigeria have to bear in mind, in terms of the need to cultivate security well ahead of the time of their programmes.

And what is BET Awards without the infrastructural largesse that the American culture offers it? With the existence of magnificent venues, such as the L.A Live, Staples Centre and Nokia Centre, it seemed that the task of the organisers of the event had been done.

The imposing theatres/auditoriums/halls are not just ready to swallow any audience, no matter how huge. They are connecting structures that make mobility easy and interesting, even if at times intriguing. This is complemented by the fact that they stand in proximity to big hotels that include Marriot Hotel, to which the BET Awards conveniently spread their tentacles.

The Staples Centre will particularly tickle any lover of quality concerts. In terms of size, it can swallow the zeal of an inexperienced artiste, to the point that he or she may collapse at the sight of the number of the sea-like audience that yelled practically with all parts of their bodies. But once the performer is sure of himself, the Staples Centre is eager to give his talent new wings and boost his creativity with a compelling technology, as especially exemplified by the surreal lighting system it commands.

Originally a multipurpose sports arena and home of major basket ball teams that include Los Angeles Lakers, Staples Center has 18,118 capacity that was really stressed by the BET crowds. The likes of Beyonce and Dogg enjoyed these facilities at the BET carnival and their tested musical endowments arguably never remained the same. It is such a synthetic preparedness that apparently buoyed BET Networks Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Debra Lee, to, on Friday evening, promised to deliver a world class panorama to celebrate music, film and other aspects of art and life.

“The BET is to elevate, educate and entertain,” she said at a reception for nominees that included Ice Prince and Donald from South Africa. The reception was held at the open roof arena of Marriot Hotel. It was a fulfilled Lee that later spoke during the awards finale on Sunday, when she also announced the winner of the Humanitarian Award – Diyane Wade.

Photos: Fierce!! Yvonne Nelson’s New Photos For Zaron Hair & Make Up Campaign

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

You can’t take away from the fact that Yvonne Nelson has a very fierce look about her, and it almost seems she’s made for the camera. Check out these early pictures from Yvonne Nelson’s ad campaign for Zaron Hair and Makeup.
She is the new face of Zaron Hair and Makeup, and will be the lead celebrity featured through the campaign.

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

Yvonne Nelso Zaron

 

 

 
 

Nigeria: Armed vigilantes fight militants, torch home

The arson of Mala Othman's home in northeast Nigeria came as soldiers killed some 40 men accused of belonging to the Boko Haram militant group.

Enlarge

Residents fill a mass grave in the northern Nigerian Zamfara state on June 18, 2013, after a group of bandits attacked the village of Kizara, killing 48 people in a pre-dawn raid in apparent reprisals targeting a local vigilante group. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

Armed with clubs and machetes, vigilantes in northeast Nigeria went door-to-door Monday in search of Boko Haram militants and torched the home of a politician suspected of aiding the Islamic extremists.
The vigilantes, popularly known as the Civilian Joint Task Force, stormed the house of senior party chairman Mala Othman and demanded his arrest, according to the Nigerian Tribune.
More from GlobalPost: Nigeria: Boko Haram gunmen hide weapons in coffin, kill 13
Upon learning Othman had fled, the group set the home ablaze.
The vigilantes moved on to the home of the former governor of the state, Ali Modu Sheriff, but security forces prevented them from causing further "mayhem," the Tribune reported.
The arson came as government soldiers killed some 40 suspected Boko Haram members on the outskirts of Maiduguri city, according to The Associated Press.
More from GlobalPost: Nigeria violence kills nearly 200 as government's Boko Haram Committee talks peace
So far, vigilantes have seized more than 100 suspected insurgents in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital that has borne the brunt of Boko Haram's campaign to impose Sharia law in Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan gave security control to the military when he declared a state of emergency in the northeast states of Yobe, Borneo and Adamawa.
More than 2,000 people have been killed since the militant group, whose name means "Western education is forbidden," began its offensive in 2009 to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state.

Youths burn Borno ANPP chair’s house

*As female Boko Haram member loses leg planting IED

Maiduguri—Youths popularly known as Civilian Joint Task Force, JTF, who have been assisting security agencies in arresting Boko Haram suspects in Borno State, yesterday, invaded the residence of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chairman, Alhaji Mala Othman, at the New GRA, Maiduguri, the state capital, setting it ablaze.
They claimed to be looking for the Boko Haram insurgents.
This was even as a middle aged woman suspected to be a member of the Boko Haram had one of her legs shattered while trying to plant an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, on a Baga Road market square in Maiduguri.
The woman said to be carrying the improvised bomb to the area where it would have been planted, but it detonated before she reached her destination, last Sunday.
The ‘Civilian JTF’ also arrested two women with AK47 rifles at the Monday Market yesterday.
It was said that after torching the ANPP Chairman’s building, the youths proceeded to the former Governor Ali Modu Sherrif’s multi billion Naira residence in the same GRA with the aim of also setting it on fire.
It however, took the timely intervention of the security agents guarding the house to stop the action.
The security operatives were alleged to have shot sporadically into the air to scare away the youths who scattered without accomplishing their mission.
However, the party chairman was said to have narrowly escaped being killed by his attackers as security agents reportedly whisked him away in a tinted Toyota Camry saloon car before the youths arrived.
Youths on a similar mission, had earlier invaded Othman’s house but were stopped from carrying out the action by security agents who informed them that the chairman was not in town.
The youths whose efforts had earlier been commended by Governor Kashim Shettima and other concerned individuals for helping in the arrests of several Boko Haram sect members in Maiduguri and Damaturu, the Yobe State capital in the last couple of weeks have vowed that they would arrest both Othman and former Governor Sheriff and hand them over to security agencies for appropriate action.
Vanguard reported last week that some of the Volunteer Youths went to the residence of the ANPP chairman at the new GRA, on a mission to arrest him or set his house ablaze.
It took the security operatives guarding the residence of the politician about 20 minutes of begging the aggrieved youths to drop the idea.
A reliable source told Vanguard that the ANPP chairman had reportedly been on the run since last year over the Boko Haram palaver in the state.
However, on the woman who tried to plant an explosive, an eye witness who identified herself as Abubakar Kundiri said: “We were sitting under this tree with two of my friends when the woman passed by carrying something in her bag that looked like a tin of cowbell milk. Immediately when she reached there, (pointing to the area) she bent over and put the object she was carrying on the ground.
No sooner had she stood up than we heard a loud sound and her leg was torn into pieces.
”In fact, we were very lucky to be alive as we never knew she was carrying a device which could have exploded and killed all of us,” she stated.

Turkey 2013: F/Eagles, Uruguay in clash of interest

 

It will be a clash of third-bests when the Flying Eagles clash with Uruguay in a FIFA U20 World Cup Round of 16 game today.
The Flying Eagles finished third at the African Youth Championship in Algeria in April and Uruguay also placed third in the South American version of the qualifiers.

KAYSERI, ENGLAND – JUNE 24: The Nigeria players line up for a team photograph before the FIFA U-20 World Cup Group B match between Cuba and Nigeria at Kadir Has Stadium on June 24, 2013 in Kayseri, Turkey. (FIFA)

Turkey 2013, both teams started out on a losing note before they rallied to two straight wins to finish runners-up in their respective first round groups.
Today’s match will be the second time that Nigeria will be playing inside the Ali Sami Arena, the home ground of top Turkish club Galatasaray, while it will be a first for their South American foes.
Uruguay have also had to endure a trip from Antalya to Istanbul leading up to this match, while the Flying Eagles have stayed back after their win against South Korea to sample more of the joys of Turkey’s commercial capital city.
Los Charruas, as Uruguay are known, best performance in this competition was when they reached the final of 1997 edition, where they lost to hosts Argentina 2-1.
They finished third in 1979, fourth in 1977 and have reached the last eight on three further occasions.
However in their last three appearances, they twice crashed out in the Round of 16 and exited the 2011 edition in the first round.
Uruguay’s qualification for the 2013 tournament was boosted by a 3-2 win over world champions Brazil, who as a result are not in Turkey to defend their championship.

THE ACADEMY...........a mother's knee...

THE ACADEMY...........a mother's knee...

-James Russell Lowell

(quotes for mom.......)

What do girls who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?
                                    -Louisa May Alcott

With two kids ,a husband and a full- time job, my mother went to college and got her degree.Once i asked her why.she said,
         "Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until you make your good better and your better best!" -CHRISTINA G.

       When my stepmom was drying of cancer, she was in the hospital on a respirator. One day when we were playing soft music to soothe her, she removed her respirator and got out of bed too tired to laugh , love, and dance." And then, wearing her hospital gown and nothing on her bare feet, she danced.-Ileana A.
 A pastor once told me, "An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy."

    The God to whom little boys say their prayers has a face very like their mother's.-James Barrie
 
*According to Mom, there are three ways to get something done:
1.Doing it your self
2.hiring someone to do it or
3.Forbidding your kids to do it! -Lori F.
      Beign a mother is the hardest of all jobs. with kids of my own, i know thet now. I'm just thankful, for my own mother never gave her her two weeks notice!- Courtney
                 
                         "MOM" UPSIDEDOWN IS "WOW!"
       MOM IS MY "WOW" MOM, TEACHING ME DAILY TO HAVE
                  STRENGHT, PATIENCE, FORGIVENESS, LOVE,
          AND ABOVE ALL, FAITH FOR MYSELF. -DEENA S.

     Mom taught me that when times are tough and all else fails, beans and macaroni really can make a meal!-Galer.

          My Greatest Fan 
Youth fades; love droops;
  the leaves of friendship fall;
a mother's secret hope outlives them all
 -WASHINGTON IRVING