WHO WILL HOST NIGERIAN IDOL?

Strong indications are beginning to emerge on the identity of who will anchor the upcoming music talent show- Nigerian Idols.

Screening for the desired job was held last week at the Lagos, Nigeria office of the producers- OMG. High profile personalities from radio TV took time off their choked schedules to audition.

According to a TV presenter who was there ‘’ it was a big experience for every one of us that was there and i am sure the organisers will have a tough day deciding whoever might have impressed them among us.’’

“Idols is as big as it can get; who wouldn’t want to be part of it?” a Lagos based OAP told friends shortly after leaving the OMG studios. ‘It is such a big opportunity for whoever gets the job because believe me, the whole world will be watching Nigeria’s version of Pop Idol”.

So far, members of the Idol crew are keeping sealed lips, but inside sources revealed they are still trying to make a final choice. According to our source ‘’ it’s a big task for them because they were very impressed with the performance of four of those that were screened last week.’’

Whoever will be announced as Host for the show is expected to have a big influence on the way the show will play out and the anticipation is high. Several names have been coming up including names of 5 radio presenters and few TV presenters.

PHOTOS FROM BUKKY OLANIPEKUN AND TOMI ARAROMI WEDDING TODAY IN LAGOS,NIGERIA

 Report by Niyi Tabiti
  
It was indeed a celebration of love in Nigeria today (3 July 2010)as important personalities from far and near witnessed the marriage between Olubukola (Bukky) Olanipekun and her man, Oluwatofunmi (Tomi) Araromi  in Lagos Nigeria. The bride is the daughter of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) a former president of Nigeria Bar Association and his pretty wife while the groom on the other hand is the son of Pastor and Pastor (Mrs.) Araromi.

 The church service took place at Our Saviour's Church,TBS,Lagos and the reception followed inside the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan.Those at event includes Mr. Jim Ovia, the outgoing managing director of Zenith Bank Plc,Chief Wale Babalakin,General Raji Rasaki (Retd), General Ike Nwanchukwu (Retd),Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Mrs. Mimiko, wife of Ondo state governor, Mr.Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN),the predident of Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Mrs. Folake Solanke, a niece of Chief FRA Williams and first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria,ex governor Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State and several others. Funke Bucknor Obruthe's Zaphirre Event was the event planner. Fruitopia by Laide Daramola gave provided the natural fruits for the guests. Here the gistmaster captured the event.
 More photos and gist later!!!

SEX IN HIGH PLACES :9ICE SAYS RUGGEDMAN IS STUPID

 Folake Alu/Asst.News Editor

There seems to be no end to the quarrel between two Nigerian top musicians,9ice (Abolore Akande) and Ruggedman (Michael Ugochukwu Stephens). 9ice who sent his wife,Toni packing from their matrimonial home over allegations and counter allegations of infidelity says he is ready to deal with Ruggedman.
 Yesterday, he was a guest on a TV programme in Lagos,Nigeria. Gistmaster watched as he poured vituperation on fellow artiste, Ruggedman.  He lambasted Ruggedman, calling him stupid and mischievous fellow.He was obviously angry because of a recorded interview Ruggedman did with him (without his knowledge) sometime ago.
The Osogbo, Osun State said sarcastically that Ruggedman should start writing lyrics because he is going to deal with him.
  It would be recalled that the controversial track "once bitten , twice shy" in 9ice latest album has continued to spark off row in the entertainment circuit. While it was believed that 9ice perfected the song to diss his wife, Toni Payne for being unfaithful to him, it was also insinuated that Ruggedman was also involved in the dirty 'sex-capades' that ruined their once talk of the town celebrity marriage.

 Ruggedman has called 9ice several times to clear the air on the rumour in town.Sources told gistmaster that Ruggedman was pained because he was not comfortable in town with looks from friends and fans that he contributed to the collapse of his friend's marriage.At a time, Ruggedman told a friend that some corporate organizations might even use it against him if he did not a find a way to resolve it.
  He called 9ice on the phone and did a recorded interview. The interview found its way to the press and it was also 'bluetoothed' round town.It was a way Ruggedman tried to prove his innocence.

              MODEL-STIC!

 Bunmi Ademokoya 

    The photos has the tall black beauty!
 Her name is Bunmi Ademokoya from Ilesa, Osun State.

TAÉ UNVEILS OMOGÉ

The summer holidays are here again and bags are being packed for those long anticipated sojourns to far flung, exotic locales. Of course, your holiday trousseau would be incomplete without the Ariola Tunic, perfect for lunch at that Italian cafe, the Nu Ntt dress which is sure to inspire more than a bit of jealousy in the hearts of the women at that soiree in Monaco, or the whimsical Anjola skirt which will put you in the mood to sing along with the cast of Oliver! At London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

These gorgeous pieces form part of Tae's Omoge collection, which will be unveiled at Terra Kulture on the 11th of July 2010.
Time - 12pm - 6 pm

The Omoge collection is quintessential Taé: fun, flirty with a touch of glam and dollops of the Wow! Factor, for which Taé s renowned. The colours are bold, the styles classic and the tailoring divine.

Surely we would expect nothing less from Taé?

HIP ON TV SCREEN GODDESS, DORISHA DENIES DATING COLLEAGUE+EXCITEMENT GALORE AS MTV BASE KICKS OFF NEW SHOW

 By Niyi Tabiti

    
 Nigeria celebrity screen goddess, Dorisha George of Hip on TV has denied speculation making waves in the entertainment circuit that she and her colleague, Dayo Ephraim are dating. The pretty presenter told gistmaster recently - "I heard people saying Dayo and I are dating just because they see us together. We are friends and nothing more" 

 When gistmaster asked her about the lucky man amongst the long list of admirers who make advances towards her, she laughed, insisting that "That is what people think. But the truth is that most of them get scared  away because they see me with Dayo"
 So when next you see her, be bold enough to say your mind, Dayo is no stumbling block!!!
  

                        MTV BASE VJ, CYNTHIA OKPALA KICKS OFF NEW SHOW

       Titled MTV base.IQ Sweetened by Buttermint, the new Programme is a
      quiz show aimed at setting musicians, DJs, sports stars and
   celebrities against die- hard music fans. The project according to MTV
base spokesperson “will be the ultimate trial of Nigerian youths’
music know-how and the latest ‘street’ culture

Recorded in various campuses, neighborhoods and local spots around
Lagos, Base IQ’s major aim is to give young Nigerians the chance to
represent where they come from by putting their musical knowledge to
test how well do they know their favourite music stars? How well can
they rock the mic and work the stages? How well do they even
understand the music scene?

“I can’t wait to get out on the road with Base IQ,’’ Cynthia says. ‘’
Seeing celebrities compete with music fans in a test of their music
knowledge will be riveting television entertainment.  Can you beat
your music heroes at their own game? – that will be a sweet victory
indeed!” she concluded.

Cynthia ‘C-Von’ Okpala is MTV’s only Nigerian VJ. The 24-year old
computer science graduate from Ebonyi State University first came to
public attention after winning the MTV & MTN VJ Search in Nigeria in
November 2007.

Although these days, Cynthia’s contract with MTV base has taken her
all over the continent including recent trips to Nairobi and South
Africa, Miss Okpala is always keen on applying her talents in new
directions. She currently combines her MTV duties with high profile
gigs as a radio DJ and actress, co-hosting the ‘MTN Yellow Top 10
Countdown’ which is syndicated on 40 radio stations across Nigeria and
starring on the MNET series 'Tinsel' as “Ify”

Base IQ will kick off on August 18, 2010. Divided into two series,
Series 1 will run for 13 fast paced episodes, while series 2 will roll
out in January 2011.

The show will be supported by Trebor Buttermint and fans will be able
to participate by logging on to MTV Base official website
www.mtvbase.com.

HIP ON TV SCREEN GODDESS, DORISHA DENIES DATING COLLEAGUE+EXCITEMENT GALORE AS MTV BASE KICKS OFF NEW SHOW

 By Niyi Tabiti

    
 Nigeria celebrity screen goddess, Dorisha George of Hip on TV has denied speculation making waves in the entertainment circuit that she and her colleague, Dayo Ephraim are dating. The pretty presenter told gistmaster recently - "I heard people saying Dayo and I are dating just because they see us together. We are friends and nothing more" 

 When gistmaster asked her about the lucky man amongst the long list of admirers who make advances towards her, she laughed, insisting that "That is what people think. But the truth is that most of them get scared  away because they see me with Dayo"
 So when next you see her, be bold enough to say your mind, Dayo is no stumbling block!!!
  

                        MTV BASE VJ, CYNTHIA OKPALA KICKS OFF NEW SHOW

       Titled MTV base.IQ Sweetened by Buttermint, the new Programme is a
      quiz show aimed at setting musicians, DJs, sports stars and
   celebrities against die- hard music fans. The project according to MTV
base spokesperson “will be the ultimate trial of Nigerian youths’
music know-how and the latest ‘street’ culture

Recorded in various campuses, neighborhoods and local spots around
Lagos, Base IQ’s major aim is to give young Nigerians the chance to
represent where they come from by putting their musical knowledge to
test how well do they know their favourite music stars? How well can
they rock the mic and work the stages? How well do they even
understand the music scene?

“I can’t wait to get out on the road with Base IQ,’’ Cynthia says. ‘’
Seeing celebrities compete with music fans in a test of their music
knowledge will be riveting television entertainment.  Can you beat
your music heroes at their own game? – that will be a sweet victory
indeed!” she concluded.

Cynthia ‘C-Von’ Okpala is MTV’s only Nigerian VJ. The 24-year old
computer science graduate from Ebonyi State University first came to
public attention after winning the MTV & MTN VJ Search in Nigeria in
November 2007.

Although these days, Cynthia’s contract with MTV base has taken her
all over the continent including recent trips to Nairobi and South
Africa, Miss Okpala is always keen on applying her talents in new
directions. She currently combines her MTV duties with high profile
gigs as a radio DJ and actress, co-hosting the ‘MTN Yellow Top 10
Countdown’ which is syndicated on 40 radio stations across Nigeria and
starring on the MNET series 'Tinsel' as “Ify”

Base IQ will kick off on August 18, 2010. Divided into two series,
Series 1 will run for 13 fast paced episodes, while series 2 will roll
out in January 2011.

The show will be supported by Trebor Buttermint and fans will be able
to participate by logging on to MTV Base official website
www.mtvbase.com.

EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR AS MTN PROJECT FAME 2010 KICKS OFF

The biggest music talent competition in Nigeria is set to hit the airwaves anytime from now. From the 12^th of July, MTN Project Fame West Africa will once again be a pleasant feature on our TV screens.

Since 2008, MTN Project Fame has gone on to establish itself as the biggest music talent in Nigeria. Spanning the sub-region of West Africa and with a target audience reaching millions, the music talent show has been able to churn out remarkable artistes. This year alone 6,000 hopefuls turned up for Season 3’s auditions.

According to the publicists of Project Fame West Africa, Sodium Media, “MTN Project Fame West Africa happens to be the biggest and the largest music competition not only in Nigeria but in West Africa, judging from the number of contestants that show up for auditions and the millions of votes sent in by the show’s audience.”   

Now back for the third time, MTN Project Fame West Africa seeks to bigger and better. Highlights from the auditions and semi finals will be start airing from the 12^th of July on several TV stations such as NTA and STV.

Millions of viewers will get to see 15 talented individuals enter the Famous Academy where they will be taught the rudiments on how to be a great performing artiste from the very best professionals in the game. Every week the audience will get a chance to see how the contestants have grown musically when they perform on stage during the competition.

In 2008, Iyanya emerged as the very first winner of the 1^st season of Project Fame and is fast on his way in becoming a household name in Nigeria. His debut which was released last year revealed to many, the edge Iyanya has over his peers thanks to the training he received in the show’s Performance Academy. 

Having released three singles after he won the second season of Project Fame, Mike Anyasodo is on a steady and sure path in becoming one of Nigeria’s top singers.

Both winners of the first two seasons will speak about what they learnt in the performance academy, the exposure and the fantastic platform from which they’ve been launched into their careers.

MTN Project Fame West Africa will last for three months and will once again take raw talents and mould them into stars. -Gistmaster