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Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Silver Omah: Like Daughter Like Mother


Silver Omah: Like Daughter Like Mother

When you have a mother who is into the nitty gritty of music,  including being a singer and owning a music studio, music will naturally be for you an everyday thing.

Ekene Silver Momah whose stage name is Silver Omah was born into music and has remained immersed in it ever since.

The young songstress was indeed greatly impacted by her mother who is a singer and a studio owner. Opting for music as a course and graduating from the Department of Music, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, further enhanced Omah's passion for music.

As an undergraduate Omah was actively involved in musical shows and musical collaborations.

Notedly, during her undergraduate days, she joined a music band named “Ichoku” led by Gerald Eze whose main focus was on exploring Folk Music and adapting popular songs to the Igbo traditional instruments such as the Uboaka and Oja.

In 2021, Omah met Kaycee Oguejiofor while attending a music seminar hosted by himself and Gerald Eze where they educated musicians and music lovers about the music industry.

Oguejiofor took a liking to Omah's sound and decided to sponsor her recordings which aided her career growth thus the young female music star started recording her music professionally in 2021.

A singer, songwriter, and composer, a turning point in Omah's fledgling music career, however, came in August 2023, "when I met Arch. Tobenna Ezeofor (Zeofest), the manager of Zeof Records also took a liking to my sound and introduced me to the CEO, High Chief Jideofor Ezeofor of Zeof Records.

"He too fell in love with my sound and had me record two songs, one of which I released on February 9th, 2024 as my first single named “Price Of Your Heart” in collaboration with Zeof Records"

Omah's musical career got a huge boost recently when she featured in an EP,  "Epiphany".  The EP which was released by Zeof Records, is a selection of different Afrobeat genres.

Von Blake: When A Civil Engineer Takes The Music Scene By Storm


Von Blake: When A Civil Engineer Takes The Music Scene By Storm

As a kid, Blake Dilinna Ezeofor with the stage name,  "Von Blake" knew that the pull and allur of music would be irresistible. It was not therefore,  a surprise that even as a graduate of Engineering, Von Blake has stuck with music.

He is proverbial wedded to music for which divorce is a distant dream. For Von Blake, music is a passion that caught up with him as a pupil.

With music-loving parents as role models, growing up music was simply a way of life. 

"As kids, I and my siblings formed dance routines to songs we composed ourselves. It gave us great joy because we didn’t like lessons or doing chores.

"Even in church I was in a dance group, so performing has always been in my blood. And also I was a mass server, that’s where I first learnt synchronization and syncopation with other performers", he said.

A singer, songwriter composer and a graduate of Civil Engineering, Blake's love for music blossomed throughout his academic pursuit.

In secondary school, for example, he teamed up with like minds in his class to form the musical group, INVICTUS.

The budding music sensation has hit tracks to his credit,  including Vibration,  Tom Tom Waist and Fine Fine Caro. He also has several unreleased tracks "that grow by the day in my portfolio" 

Blake is inching towards international stardom as the young artist and INVICTUS came 3rd in the Spanish/ Nigeria  musical competition on 24 March 2023 organized by the  Spanish Embassy in Nigeria which featured 200 Nigerian artists.

He featured in a recent EP collaboration with two other young artists,  Denzel-Armani and Silver Omah. The EP,  entitled "Epiphany" is a blend of different afrobeat rhythms.

Von Blake is optimistic that "my future is going to be bright... I see myself in the next five years impacting a wide range of people and generation after generation to come identifying with my music irrespective of their colour, tribe or race"

Denzel Armani: Redifining Afrobeat


Denzel Armani: Redifining Afrobeat

Music did not just happen to Ifenna Denzel Armani Ezeofor. He did not stumble on music out of idleness.

The star-studded lawyer-turned-musician veered into music in obedience to a childhood passion that settled with him in adulthood.

A talented songwriter and composer with Denzel Armani as a stage name, music comes naturally to him. Armed with a Law degree from the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus,  UNEC,  Denzel Armani is on top of his game as an Afrobeat musician.

Listening to the soulful rhythms and lyrics of Denzel Armani's brand of Afrobeat one cannot but agree that he is one of the few Nigerian Afrobeat musicians who has redefined the unique,  timeless music genre originated by the irrepressible late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. 

On stage, Armani is a delight to watch. He is imbued with an electrifying fierce sound and stage presence which is undoubtedly unique, embodying a fusion of afrojuju, rock, jazz, R&B, neo-soul, and hip hop. 

Armani has always loved music. His romance with music started as far back as his childhood when he was around six years old as he was always so fascinated with sound, delivery, and the awesome stage presence of Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson’s death was however a very devasting experience for him. He also had at his beck and call and rich musical library growing up as his parents were music lovers. He had the opportunity to listen to the greats of times like Marvin Gaye, Boney M, Abba, Barry White, Bob Marley, Fela, Labaja, and so on.

Armani formally started his music career in 2020 and so far has several music tracks to his credit including the hits, Comot Der and Jonza.

His new single, "NEME",  a new sound of profound musical masterpiece,  was released on Saturday, 24th February 2024.

On March 9th,  2024, a collaborative musical effort with two other young artists- Von Blake and Silver Omah dubbed "Epiphany" under the Zeof Record label was also launched.

The EP, a potential chartbuster, is a selection and a rich blend of free-flowing music genres rooted in Afrobeat, Afro-ragga, and Afro-Gospel.

Denzel Armani is focused and forward-looking.  He believes the Nigerian and global music scene is his to conquer.


Saturday, March 9, 2024

NIGERIA: The Problem and the Solution

 


Do you know that Nigerians in Nigeria have not known ten years of peace since the independence of the country from the colonial rule of the British Empire on October 1, 1960?

The political history of Nigeria is full of contradictions of modern democracy and governance caused by the recurrent incidents of the abuse of political power by the majority of the citizens since 1960 to date 
From the parliamentary government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria truncated by the military coups of 1966 that precipitated the country into a catastrophic internecine civil war between the military regime of Nigeria led by General Yakubu Gowon and the secessionist republic of Biafra led by  Lieutenant colonel Chukwuemeka Odinegwu Ojukwu from 1967 - 1970. 

The details of the cause and consequences of the coups and civil war are common facts of the political history of Nigeria.

The civilization administration from 1979 to 1983 was truncated by military coup and counter-coup by young military officers and another coup terminated the next attempt of another civilian administration after the ill-fated 1993 presidential election of which the election of winner, Chief M. K. O. Abiola was annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda and provoked the widespread violent June 12 crisis.

Read the details on Nigerians Report Online: June 12 and The Mandate of MKO Abiola
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2017/06/june-12-and-mandate-of-mko-abiola.html

The Problem

The maladministration of the Nigerian government is caused by corruption that is caused by greediness, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism, religious bigotry, administrative incompetence, rebellion and stupidity of both the political ruling class along with their beneficiaries and majority of the citizens who have no principles of accountability, dignity, integrity and nobility in the Nigerian society.

Read
Nigerians Report Online: The Cause of the Widespread Violence Destroying Thousands of People in Nigeria
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-cause-of-widespread-violence.html

We have seen the gradual destruction of the foundation of Nigeria by corruption for decades by kleptomaniacs in the corridors of power; from every local government to every state government and the federal government and partners in crime in the private sector.
We have seen the decadence of governance from the street to the Office of the President.

The legislators who are the so-called lawmakers are also the lawbreakers of Nigeria. Corrupt and incompetent public office holders without accountability and integrity in public office are plundering the government in gross misappropriations of allocations of revenues. These political title chasers are not nation builders, because they are political opportunists and political jobbers who are not patriots.

The Solution

Read 
Nigerians Report Online: Nigeria Does Not Need Any Sovereign National Conference
https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2012/04/nigeria-does-not-need-any-sovereign.html



There is no need for any political election in Nigeria, but a political revolution for the eradication of corruption from the local government to the Office of the President.
We must destroy corruption in order to begin the national orientation for the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among the comity of nations in the world.

By
Ekenyerengozi Michael Chma,
Author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", 'The Prophet Lied"and other books distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

"IWAJU" is A Complete Masterpiece in Original Storytelling and Animation


"IWAJU" is A Complete Masterpiece in Original Storytelling and Animation


“Iwájú” will air* across Africa on Disney Channel—distributed on DStv platform (Channel 303)—this April and May, giving viewers across the continent an opportunity to view the series in territories where Disney+ is not available. “We created ‘Iwájú’ as a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria, and an ode to the rich legacy of African storytelling,” said Director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola. “We’re proud to share this series and hope that it inspires more Africans across the world to share their stories and shape our collective narrative.”

 “We created ‘Iwájú’ as a love letter to Lagos, Nigeria, and an ode to the rich legacy of African storytelling,” said Director Olufikayo Ziki Adeola. “We’re proud to share this series and hope that it inspires more Africans across the world to share their stories and shape our collective narrative.”

Says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa: “‘Iwájú’ is a true celebration of the creativity and storytelling excellence that is at the heart of Disney, bringing the immense talent and creative vision of home-grown filmmakers to the world. With the distribution of the series on Disney Channel, the release of the ‘Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef” mobile game and the “Iwaju” Original Soundtrack Score, we are excited to give audiences across Africa the chance to experience this ambitious and uniquely innovative series.”

A first-of-its-kind collaboration with Pan-African entertainment company, Kugali, “Iwájú” is an original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos and tells the exciting coming-of-age story of Tola, a young girl from the wealthy island, and her best friend, Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds. “Iwájú” streamed exclusively on Disney+ Feb. 28, 2024, in a six-episode event.

See complete media on 

https://dam.gettyimages.com/thewaltdisneystudios/iwaju