Nigerian singer Korede Bello recently explained why he left Mavin Records. Don Jazzy is the renowned producer who founded this record label. Signed to Mavin in 2014, Korede exited the label in 2021.
The artist told Hip TV that he felt like a “product” designed and marketed only for profit. He talked about the constant pressure to chase hit songs. Also, staying relevant in the industry made him lose focus on what truly mattered to him.
What’s more, this feeling prompted him to take a break from music. During the break, he had to reflect and reconnect with his deeper purpose in life. Korede emphasized the importance of this hiatus in helping him realign his career with his values.
Korede Bello said,
“I was at a season in my life where I needed to metamorphose from a caterpillar to a butterfly. To explore my inner worth, to do introspection, to understand myself, understand meaning more, and reconnect to my why. Because I was at a stage where I started to feel like a product, I started to feel like something that was just being sold, something that is just there to make money.”
“You lose sight of what matters when you chase after the next song, after the next hit, and after the next whatever it is that can get you into conversations. So a lot of artistes are addicted to that circle, and that is why they will do anything to just stay relevant. And I know that music is not my destination, music is not my endpoint, it’s a means of communicating who I am and why I am. So I needed to reconnect to why I am and why music is an important tool for communicating what I’m about.”
Nollywood filmmaker Omoni Oboli disclosed that she exchanged her scripts for acting roles early in her career, which motivated her to pursue directing.
In an interview with Radionow 95.3 FM, Oboli recounted the challenges she faced at the start of her filmmaking journey, including giving away her screenplays for free and trying to direct her own films.
“I was trading my scripts, I’d say you know what, just take it, don’t pay me. Just give me a role in the film. So, I started to do that. But then I’ll watch the film and I realised, Okay it’s not quite what I had in my head when I was writing cos I see what I’m writing, I write in pictures. I see what I’m writing, so when I’m watching the movie it’s so different. Not to say that it wasn’t good because no two directors will direct the same script in the same way. So I said to myself, if my stories are going to have my DNA, then I’m going to have to direct them myself,” she said.
Omoni Oboli emphasized that she felt hesitant at the beginning of her directing journey. She lacked confidence but mustered up the courage to pursue her dreams.
“And it was a scary thought, really who do you think you are to come and direct a film? Like who are you again? You know it was so scary, but then I said to myself, Warri no dey carry lass na. Wwetin dem get wey I no get? I was like, I’ll do this thing. So I started understudying directors, like I’m acting on set but I’m watching the director closely. And I said you know what? Maybe I need some formal education on this. So I went to the New York Film Academy for a short course,” she added.
Popular Nigerian singer Portable and his partner, Ashabi Simple, have welcomed their second child together, a baby girl.
On September 13, 2024, the ZAZU star shared the exciting news with his fans on Instagram. In the caption, he showered Ashabi Simple with love. Also, he expressed his deep gratitude for the birth of their newborn daughter.
“ZAzuu With heart full of joy , we welcome our third princess to d world , thank you GOD for not shaming us eyitayo Alhamdulilahi 🙏 God bless you my woman ❤️ I fly 🦅with you forever @ashabi.mohsimple_ Mummy @fitilamihan_atandaogo iya new born baby Akoi Blessings my beautiful princess👩🍼 welcome to the world Ọmọ OGO ⭐️ OGO Ni ⭐️ God bless BADMUS family❤️”
Portable’s fans and followers flooded the comment section with congratulations and well wishes for him and his family. They expressed their joy, offering prayers and sending messages of goodwill.
A fan humorously noted, “Na this one resemble portable pass … that her mouth go too sharp no be small … imagine new born babe with this tongue … 😂 Congrat idamu industry “
“Congratulations ❤️ dis one na Ashabi carbon copy na so @ashabi.mohsimple u dey do for video i mean dat tongue 😂😂 welcome to d world,” read another comment.
The singer, Portable, and his woman, Ashabi Simple, welcomed their first child, his sixth, on June 6, 2023. During the child’s christening ceremony, Portable proudly announced in Yoruba that Ashabi was now a housewife.
In a recent interview on The Breakfast Club, Tems addressed the controversial claim from Buju Banton. Buju Banton claimed that Afrobeats fails to reflect the true realities of its listeners. The Grammy-winning singer argued that Afrobeats, like any other musical genre, serves a specific purpose for its creators, who are predominantly Nigerian.
She emphasized that Afrobeats is a form of pop music designed to provide its audience with a joyful and uplifting experience, similar to pop music from other regions of the world.
Tems countered Buju Banton by highlighting the positive and celebratory nature of Afrobeats, which offers a much-needed escape from the challenges of everyday life.
Tems further emphasised that “Afrobeats is not Reggae, it’s not Rock, it’s for a certain purpose. Thinking about its origin which is Nigeria, it’s for a certain purpose and you can join us in its enjoyment.”
In a recent episode of the Drinking Champs Podcast, Buju Banton made a controversial statement about Afrobeats. He claimed that the movement’s music fails to accurately represent the realities of its predominantly Black audience across Africa. Banton further argued that Nigerian artists leading the global Afrobeats movement have neglected to acknowledge the contributions of Jamaican stars.
Banton’s criticism of Afrobeats sparked reactions from several artists. These include Jamaican Dancehall star Spice. Spice disagreed with her compatriot, pointing out that there are numerous Afrobeats acts, such as Burna Boy and Falz, whose music addresses sociopolitical issues and reflects the realities of their listeners.
In the same interview, Tems addressed the false and offensive rumors that she was pregnant for American rapper Future. The singer dismissed these rumors as an attempt to spread the most outrageous and baseless gossip possible by purveyors of fake news.
Tems also shared insights into her recently released debut album, “Born In The Wild.” The album features guest appearances from Asake and J Cole. She discussed the creative process behind the album and the personal significance of its songs.
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