Entertainment

Call military to order to avoid coup – Seun Kuti urges FG, Sanwo-Olu

Published

4 months ago

January 9, 2024

Grammy-nominated afrobeat singer Seun Kuti has urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Federal Government to take drastic actions against the military to avoid a coup d’état.

The controversial singer was reacting to the insults hauled at the Governor by some yet-to-be-identified soldiers for arresting one of their colleagues over a traffic violation.

He noted that if the excesses of the military are not contained, not only civilians would suffer from it but also politicians.

Kuti also mocked the soldiers for threatening to “humiliate” social media influencer, VeryDarkMan for applauding Sanwo-Olu’s action, saying the military only bullies civilians but runs away from terrorists.

Speaking during an Instagram live session with fans, the singer said: “I didn’t want to speak on this very matter but when I open my Instagram this morning, I saw a video of one of the unruly soldiers threatening to humiliate VeryDarkMan for making comment on Sanwo-Olu’s arrest of one of their colleagues. Imagine, in a free country.

“Sanwo-Olu and co, you people don’t understand anything. You think you [politicians] are protected from this [military] boys? Have you forgotten what military coup is? If you guys don’t do your job now, stamp down on this impunity in the armed forces, keep them to their barracks, treat their f*ckups anytime they f*ck up… If any soldier misbehave, make sure the commandant of the barrack he is attached to is removed.

“If you don’t treat them like that, do you think it is only Fela’s family they will kill? You don’t understand as the government claimed that it was unknown soldiers that killed my grandmother, Fumilayo Kuti… They killed my grandmother, threw her from the window because they were acting based on government order.

“The government protected all of them saying they were unknown soldiers. Now, they are threatening you, Governor. The table has turned from civilians now, they’re now threatening politicians too.

“Now, let me address the soldier that was threatening VeryDarkMan. I, Seun, is telling you guys that if you do anything to VDM, you guys too won’t have peace. It’s only for civilians that you can show your power, but when it comes to Boko Haram, you run away. If Boko Haram open fire, you beg Nigerians; civilians to support you in your fight against terrorists.”

Entertainment

BET Awards 2024: Burna Boy, Asake, others bag nominations as Drake, Nicki Minaj lead

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2024

NewsDirect

Afrobeats superstar, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy has secured two nominations for the 2024 BET Awards.

The ‘African giant’ featured in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Male R&B/POP Artist categories.

The singer is joined by fellow Nigerian acts – Asake, Ayra Starr and Seyi Vibez.

BET announced the 2024 BET Awards nominees on Thursday as Drake leads the nominations with seven, while Nicki Minaj has six.

BET also announced the performance lineup for this year’s awards, including GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.

The BET Awards 2024, will air live on BET on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 8 p.m. (European Time).

See the full list of nominations below:

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Sexyy Red

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk’ (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa)

BEST NEW ARTIST

41
4batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

11:11, Chris Brown
A Gift & A Curse, Gunna
American Dream, 21 Savage
Coming Home, Usher
For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition), Drake
Jaguar Ii, Victoria Monét
Michael, Killer Mike
Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
Sza
Tyla
Victoria Monét

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher

BEST GROUP

¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor

BEST COLLABORATION

All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
America Has A Problem (Remix, Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar
Barbie World, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua)
Bongos, Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Carnival, ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign Feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti
Don’t Play With It (Remix), Lola Brooke Feat. Latto & Yung Miami
Everybody, Nicki Minaj Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
Good Good, Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Agora Hills, Doja Cat
All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
Barbie World, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua)
Bongos, Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion
First Person Shooter, Drake Feat. J. Cole
Good Good, Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Award All Of The Glory, Shirley Caesar
All Things, Kirk Franklin
Angel, Halle Bailey
Come Jesus Come, Cece Winans
Do You Believe In Love?, Erica Campbell
God Problems, Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
Me & U, Tems
Try Love, Kirk Franklin

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Agora Hills, Doja Cat
All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
Gunna, Fukumean
Lovin On Me, Jack Harlow
Made For Me, Muni Long
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza
Sensational, Chris Brown Feat. Davido & Lojay
Texas Hold ‘Em, Beyoncé
Water, Tyla

VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa)
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)

BET HER

16 Carriages, Beyoncé
Blessings, Nicki Minaj Feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Commas, Ayra Starr
Fly Girl, Flo Feat. Missy Elliott
Hiss, Megan Thee Stallion
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Saturn, Sza
Yeah Glo!, GloRilla

BEST MOVIE

American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
The Book Of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid

BEST ACTOR

Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield

BEST ACTRESS

Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria Mccullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles

Entertainment

BBNaija’s Neo, Venita win Best Dressed Male, Female at AMVCA Cultural Day

Published

6 days ago

May 11, 2024

NewsDirect

Big Brother Naija reality stars and cousins, Neo and Venita Akpofure shone bright at the 10th African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards’ cultural day held in Lagos on Friday night.

Neo won the Best Dressed Male award, while Venita was adjudged the Best Dressed Female for the second consecutive year.

The duo donned Itsekiri royal attires for the 10th AMVCA’s Cultural Day and Opening Night celebration.

They were presented cheques of N1 million each by the organisers.

The 10th AMVCA Main Awards Ceremony holds Saturday, May 11, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos State.

Entertainment

Business mogul Kenneth Ifekudu appointed National Patron of Actors Guild of Nigeria

Published

7 days ago

May 10, 2024

Praise Oguntan

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), the esteemed umbrella organization representing Nollywood actors, has recently announced the appointment of prominent business figure Kenneth Ifekudu as its National Patron.

In an official statement released on Friday, AGN’s National President, Emeka Rollas, expressed the guild’s profound admiration for Ifekudu’s unwavering commitment to the advancement and prosperity of the creative economy, alongside his notable philanthropic endeavors.

Rollas elaborated on the significance of Ifekudu’s appointment, affirming that the decision was reached unanimously by the Board of Trustees and the entirety of AGN’s membership. A letter of appointment was formally presented to High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu, recognizing his pivotal role as the Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Leeds Ltd, and honoring his exceptional contributions to various sectors including infrastructure, hospitality, and his commendable leadership qualities.

“It is our intention to bestow this prestigious title upon a select group of distinguished individuals who have demonstrated unwavering support for humanity and the national economy,” Rollas remarked. He further emphasized Ifekudu’s gracious acceptance of the role, highlighting the business mogul’s commitment to leveraging his influence and resources in advancing the objectives of the guild.

In response to his appointment, Ifekudu expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged his steadfast dedication to fostering the growth and development of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.