NEW YORK TIMES:THE FULL REPORT ON DBANJ AND MOHITS PERFORMANCE AT IRVING PLAZA

 By JON CARAMANICA

 There was talk of kokolets all Sunday night at Irving Plaza. D'Banj, the Nigerian pop star who was headlining the show, boasted, "I have too many kokolets around the world." Later on he wondered, "Can I get two kokolets that can dance better than my dancers?"

If it seemed like D'Banj, one of the quickest-rising stars in Africa, has a one-track mind - kokolets, in his lingo, are beautiful women - that wasn't far from the truth. As a style, his was as monomaniacal in focus as Miami bass, one lusty come-on after the next.

He is at the forefront of an emergent style loosely called Afrobeats by some, a mélange of hip-hop, R&B and other traditionally urban sounds with elements that hark back to older African styles.

In practice on Sunday all that meant was that D'Banj, backed by

GM CONSUMER MARKETING MTN NIGERIA, KOLA OYEYEMI MARKS 45TH BIRTHDAY IN LAGOS

Kolawole Oyeyemi-GM consumer services MTN

Lynda Saint Nwafor-Chief Technical officer

TV Presenter, Aisha Falode

Tony Udenze

It was to a cheering crowd that Kolawole Oyeyemi, GM Consumer Marketing; MTN Nigeria launched his new book, “Wealth without Theft” at the Grand Ballroom, Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Guests included top bosses from the telecommunications, advertising, marketing and PR industries.
Starting out with a lush cocktail session, guests were treated to an impressive recitation by the poet, Sage and a performance by popular saxophonist; Sax Dude. There was also a surprise documentary on the celebrant made by friends and family.
After the book was launched, it was reviewed by Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi (Chairman, APCON and Prima Garnet) and later, different guests said a few words about the author and made private donations to the book.
Notable faces at the Saturday, February 18 event include, Mr. Felix Omoikhoje Ohiwerei (Chairman, ARM Funds) who was also the chairman of the event, Mr. Udeme Ufot (Group chairman, SO&U Saatchi), Mrs Lynda Saint Nwafor (Chief Technical officer), Jimmy Awosika (CEO, Insight Communication), Saint Obi, ID Ogungbe, Fela Durotoye, Ayo Animashaun, Jedi, Rotimi Pedro, Kelvin Orifa, among other guests.

Also present

NIGERIAN BILLIONAIRE BATTLES BRITISH WIFE OVER $21 MILLION DIVORCE PAYOUT

A wealthy Nigerian-born, British-based oil baron has been granted permission to use Nigerian tribal law to appeal a $21 million divorce payout to his former British wife, the Telegraph has reported.

Michael Prest, the 50 year-old founder of Nigerian energy trading firm Petrodel Resources, split from his wife in an acrimonious divorce in 2008. During a British High Court hearing on the divorce in October last year, the presiding judge ordered the tycoon to pay his former wife cash and assets worth over $20 million.

  

 However, Prest has applied to appeal the court’s decision on the grounds that his Petrodel’s assets do not belong to him, but are held in trust for his children,

WHY MY ROMANCE WITH ACTRESS TOYIN AIMAKHU CRASHED -BOYFRIEND

  Kunle Soyombo, a socialite and boyfriend of actress Toyin Aimakhu has confirmed that they are no longer dating. 
  In an interview he granted recently, the Ogun State born Kunle disclosed that they parted ways because Toyin was cheating on him. He alleged that the escapades of the actress was glaring to close friends and he had to call it off because she was not ready to make amends with her wayward lifestyle.
When asked if he would go back to the relationship he disclosed that he would rather become a reverend father than be in a romance with Toyin again

LATEST NEWS:BOBBY BROWN CONFIRMS HE WILL PERFORM THIS MARCH IN NIGERIA

New Edition to perform in Lagos and Port Harcourt, as Bobby dedicates gig to Whitney

Lagos| Nigeria It’s official! - Grammy award winning American musician Robert Barisford Brown (Bobby Brown) is coming to Nigeria for the first time ever. And he’s making the trip with his pop group New Edition!

The R&B Singer, Song writer and dancer confirmed his appearance for the high budget concert organized by R28 events in an audio statement released on Monday from his base in America. The concert is scheduled for Friday March 9 in Lagos and Sunday March 11, in Port Harcourt.

In the audio message, Bobby Brown confirms he’d be in Nigeria in March “We’ll be rocking the stage live in Nigeria live on March 9 and 11. Don’t you dare miss it.”

This is the first time New Edition will be performing in Nigeria, a city where they have millions of fans and followers.

According to their management, the former group members will travel to Nigeria with a

FASHION PROMOTER LEXY MOJO EYES TO ADDRESS UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR

Following his continuous contribution to the development and growth of

global fashion, Lexy Mojo Eyes, President/CEO of Legendary Gold Limited

has been invited as a VIP Guest Speaker at the United Nations – Commission

session on the 2nd of March in New York. He will be addressing a seminar

on ‘Empowering Creative Rural Women through Enterprise Development and

Global Fashion Opportunities’

This is coming after the very successful hosting of the Nigeria Fashion

Week November 16th – 19th, 2011. The event organized in collaboration with

the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the World Fashion

Organization hosted 42 designers and 39 Exhibitors from 22 countries.

The United Nations seminar is being co-ordinated by TCF Global, Belmont

BEC and BPW International and is an accredited event being ran during CSW

NGO Sessions. TCF Global and Belmont BEC are non-profit community

TOBI EXCITE NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES

If the buzz around the movie, TOBI (a Nigerian flick shot in New York) is anything to go by, then the Nigerian movie industry might be on the verge of witnessing one of its most exciting cinematic episodes since the days of Ije and Unwanted Guest.

It therefore hardly came as a surprise when Nigeria’s flamboyant singer, Muma Gee recently expressed her unreserved anticipation and excitement towards watching the movie.

The gorgeous singer and recently made this known in a chat with Simply Samad noting that she was glad the countdown to the premiere had begun.

Previously, Mr. Nigeria 2007, Bryan Okwara had equally

WHO IS NIGERIA'S MOST TALKED ABOUT ACTRESS?

 
Gistmaster is doing a search on who is Nigeria's most talked about actress. In the 90s, the award would have gone to someone like Liz Benson or Regina Askia. From those that i have asked so far, the four contenders in this category are Mercy Johnson,Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola and Ini Edo.
  We have a poll running by the side bar, you can click on your favourite actress.

EX-BEAUTY QUEEN VANNESSA EKEKE SHOOTS DOCUMENTARY FILM ON DELE GIWA

To many Vannessa Ekeke should be refered to as an ex-beauty queen because she is still as pretty as ever.Graceful and elegant, Vannessa won Miss Commonwealth organised by man about town, Venat Omigie some years ago.

 The reason much has not been heard about Vannessa is because she has been busy abroad studying  Documentary, Film and History at the University of Syracuse. When we got in contact with the former Miss Commonwealth, she disclosed that she has been busy with a project that will indeed give her great joy when it is finally released to the public by October 2012.      However, she sent us a 'rough' trailer of the documentary film entitled ' A General's Burden'
  The film is in honour of veteran journalist, Mr. Dele Giwa,who was murdered through a letter bomb by unknown persons more than two decades ago. In her words, Vannessa told gistmaster that the film is the story of Dele Giwa and the circumstances that led to his death.

-By Niyi Tabiti
  

MONEY RAIN FOR IMOKE TONIGHT AT TRANSCORP HILTON, ABUJA

  Today, there would be a gathering of business moguls and policians at the Congress Hall,Transcorp Hilton, Abuja at  the fundaraising ceremony in honour of  former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Mr. Liyel Imoke. The event according to information available to gistmaster, would starts at 7 P.M under the chairmanship of Chief Tony Anenih,a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is the Chairman of the Fundraising Commitee.

Mrs.Imoke

Mr.Imoke

 Trust,money bags are expected to raise funds toward the return of Mr. Imoke and Barrister Effiok Cobham's to government house after they were sacked by the Supreme Court.The gubernatorial election comes up very soon.

I have attended the fundraising events for some state governors in the past (I remember i attended the one for Dr. Bukola Saraki in 2003) and its usually very interesting when you hear the Billionaires donating millions upon millions of Naira for the purpose of making their friends win election so they can get patronage later yet some of them (NOT ALL), have done nothing to improve the lives of the less priviledged.

-Niyi Tabiti

  

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK DESIGNER LIST OUT

Due to the phenomenal response to participate in the much anticipated, ARISE Magazine Fashion Week, which last year hosted 5,000 guests, 51 designers, 81 models, 5 musical acts over three days – ARISE organisers have announced that it will return to Lagos in March 2012, only this time it will feature 77 participants from 6 continents – including designers as far away as India, the Caribbean, USA, Europe and Africa.

The ARISE Magazine Fashion Week – Lagos 2012 fashion extravaganza will run for an extended period of SIX days from Tuesday 6th March to Sunday 11th March 2012 in THREE tents on the grounds of the luxurious 5-Star Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.

The much-anticipated designers selected to participate include:

Adama-Paris (Senegal/France), Amine Bendriouich Couture and BS (Germany/Morocco), Amrapali (India), Angelo Van Mol (Belgium/Ghana), Be-Grey (Nigeria), Bestow Elan (UK/Ghana), Bridget Awosika (Nigeria), Buki Akib (UK/Nigeria), CHICHIA (UK/Tanzania), Christie Brown (Ghana), CLAN (Nigeria), David David London (UK), Davida (Nigeria), Duaba Serwa (Ghana), Ejiro Amos Tafiri (Nigeria), Eki Orleans (UK/Nigeria), Frank Osodi (Nigeria), Funlayo Déri (UK/Nigeria), Gavin Rajah (South Africa), Gloria Wavamuno (Uganda), HOUSE of DIVAS (Nigeria), House of Farrah (Nigeria), House of Nwocha (Nigeria), ICONIC INVANITY (Nigeria), Imane Ayissi (France/Cameroon), Jacob Kimmie (UK/South Africa), Jewel by Lisa (Nigeria), Kastle Designs & Treasure