I’m too busy to be distracted by rumour mongers - Doris Simeon

Just recently, the rumour mill was agog with the tale of beautiful actress, Doris Simeon renting a room in Ogba area of Lagos and how she’s been living in a terrible situation after parting ways with her director hubby. owever, the indigene of Edo State told Wall Gecko exclusively via telephone that she is too busy to be distracted and has little or no time for irrelevant and untrue tales.

“I’m too busy to be distracted or bothered about untrue tales. Like many people would know, I just returned from the United States where I was rewarded for my contribution to the Nigerian movie industry and was even hosted at Eldorado night club after which I’ve been at movie locations.
I don’t need to tell everyone where I live or how I live but I know I’ve worked so hard and still working hard to be impoverished and the good Lord has always been by me,” Doris said. The actress further disclosed that she has several projects that she’s working on and won’t be distracted by side talks or rumours.

Why I’m not married at 46–Blackky

In the late ‘80s, Nigerians were entertained with roots reggae music from the likes of The Mandators, Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono and Oritz Wiliki among others. That was the fad until 1990 when a 24 year-old graduate of Sociology from University of Lagos, Edward Inyang aka Blackky, swept the Nigerian music scene with his reggae hit track, Rosie.
Overnight, he became the toast of the town. However, after six albums, he disappeared from the music scene. Now in his 40s and after 21 years as a performing artiste, Blackky who is still single will stage a comeback when he performs live today at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the musician who prefers to be addressed as The Blackman, Blackky is just descending from the mountain top; “he is walking back into another mission that Jah has sent him musically and is getting things ready for his forthcoming album and concert dubbed ‘Blackky’s Playground’ starring Blackky live in concert.”
To him, Blackky’s Playground is a concert specially packaged by Blackville Limited, Blackky’s management outfit for Blackky’s fans. He says: “We are trying to meet our fans at a particular place where the Blackman would be performing quarterly or bi- annually so that they will enjoy our sound. Unfortunately, our music is plagued by piracy and poor remuneration and the artiste is gradually becoming an endangered species.

“We also want to in a way encourage live performances. A lot of Nigerians want a place where they can listen to live music and enjoy the music of artistes they have followed over the years. And my fans have been asking for that concert where it is not only Blackky singing Rosie or Delilah but Blackky singing a string of the hits since we have had about six albums. That is why we were particular about kick-starting Blackky’s Playground.”
During the period of his absence from music, a lot of rumours made the round that he had retired. Blackky, however, debunked the stories as fallacies and gave reasons for the blackout.
“We were up and rolling with Blackky’s Playground and we were looking at surprising our fans again. I won’t let the cat out of the bag but I want fans to know categorically that we have not retired. Some Babylonians were spreading rumours that the Blackman had retired, that the Blackman has stopped singing and we found it ridiculous.
“When we were at the mounting top, we could see you but you couldn’t see us. That is why these people do not know the true story. The fact is that after Reggae Icon, our sixth album, which got us a KORA award nomination for Best Ragga Artiste in 2010, we found out that Nigerian music was in a big mess!
“We do not have structures. Artistes are pirating their songs and even paying marketers in Alaba to pirate their songs on compilations. That is how bad it has gotten. You go to Alaba and give your CD to them to market and you are told that you would be paid less than the price of a blank CD. So, the business side of music is in big trouble.
“A lot of our artistes need to start speaking up. In terms of creativity, videos are getting better. We have more international reach now. We have our younger colleagues going out there and teeming up with Kanye West and other people but what about the business side? Now the artistes are finding it difficult to sell their music. So what are they doing? They are churning out singles.
“We move from album production now to just churning out singles just to get publicity. If the track is a hit then the artiste gets concerts and that is how the artiste survives but it is not supposed to be like that. These were the problems I encountered after the sixth album and I realised that this is not the way to go so we had to go to the mountain top to see how we could descend this time and revive our music and at the same time, tackle the inadequacies of our rickety Nigerian music scene. This was why we had to take a break for like a couple of years.”
As a music icon, Blackky attempts a solution to the situation. “When you want to change a thing like this, it should be done in unison. Our association would have tackled this problem but unfortunately, that is not happening. Artistes are left on their own to hustle. The artiste is the producer, director, distributor, marker, songwriter, composer and everything. It can’t last for long before that artiste packs up and this is what I have been trying to say after all these years.”
So what is Blackky doing between 2006 when he last released an album and now? He says: “We have been performing. If you go to Calabar and the east, you will realize that we are jamming live in concerts. A lot of people do not know that Blackky is a songwriter, composer, arranger and all that.
“It takes a while to come out with the tunes. I tell my fans that it is unlike Blackky to release an album every year. I compose my songs in a way that they will stand the test of time. If you listen to any of Blackky’s hits, you will realise that the songs sound fresh. We did not get any producer to cook up a beat for us or write lyrics. It was only in Blackky’s Skank that Kinsley Ogoro did the instrumentation.”

Day I lost my virginity–Uche Ogbodo

Her father’s decision to enroll her in the movie industry is uncommon among most Nigerian parents whose perceptions about the entertainment industry are inimical to the talents of their children.
But star actress, Uche Ogbodo’s father is one man who has not failed in his duty to foresee the future of her daughter as a star. Born in the ghetto and growing up there had prepared the beautiful but charming actress for the vicissitudes of life. In an interview with The Entertainer, Ogbodo recounts her experiences in Nollywood. Excerpts:
How did you venture into acting?
It was something that came by accident. My father brought me into Nollywood. I never knew anything about the industry until my father encouraged me to go into acting. I have been doing drama since I was a kid. At the time, I had just finished my secondary school. He came home one day and told me he had something I might be interested in. He told me he had a link to Nollywood. He told me he met someone who could introduce me into the industry. That was it. The next day, my father got me registered with Actors Guild of Nigeria. My father believes in me, and also in my talent. He wanted everything about me to be expanded, he knows me too well and he knows also that nothing can influence me. So, I appreciate my father for the role he played in my life.
How has the journey been?
Ok, well, back then, going down memory lane. It has not been easy for me, I am strong as I normally say because as I sit down, I thought deep and I saw my future, that is where I was going or where I was heading to or my exact destination, really, it has not been easy. I left secondary school and I got into the university then I got into Nollywood at the same time. Through my father who registered me in the Actors Guild in Enugu back then. It has not been so easy for me; it has been tough because I had to juggle between school and job. When I got into Nollywood, it was not a bed of roses, there were a lot of females and a lot of competition, but I had faith in myself and capability that I would do whatever anybody would do. I was talented, but a bit intimidated. Intimidated in the sense that I knew that it will take me a lot of time to get to the level of the girls ahead of me, but I knew that the journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. I was ready to take those steps and I knew that with hard work, my tomorrow was bright. Thus building on my career and getting to the level of my mentors and ahead of them if possible.

Can you tell us about your years of growing up?
When I was growing up, I was afraid of becoming a failure. I was also afraid of getting married and being controlled by a man. I grew up thinking I would not get married due to some things that happened in my life when I was younger. I came to the conclusion that men were wicked and that they were terrible people. I would not like to talk about that. As I was growing, I started knowing people, meeting men, my father taught me so many things and advised me to stop thinking about men in a bad image, and to stop having fears about men, and he also told me that I would meet a better man tomorrow. I was like I can take care of myself, I was highly independent and also outspoken, I can take care of my people, I thought I was a man and I should be the one controlling men not verse versa. I started changing my initial opinion about men as I grew up and as I met with men and as I started working in this industry. I think men are great people with good hearts too.
Tell us more about what brought you into the limelight?
When I was growing up, I used to rent films, I did it because we weren’t so rich and I lived the same way a normal child should. I came from the ghetto. I had a good family; I had good parents who were moralists and all that helped me while growing up, stopping me from going into anything that would have ruined my life. Coming to my talent, I used to rent a lot of films that I would watch but I never believed that I would be an actress later in life because I wanted to be a lawyer. Although as a kid, I used to act with other children in the neighborhood. I really enjoyed acting and it influenced my life greatly.
In a movie you did with ‘Mama ‘G’, you acted like a real ghetto lady, are you fierce in real life?
In any role given to me to act, I cue myself into it, bringing the person into life. I do not smoke in real life. My real life person is so different from the character I act as my fans would term me ‘a worldly person’. The real me is calm, calculative and collective. The ghetto is a place where you have different people and their ways of life. I grew up in the ghetto but I did not get carried away with life in the ghetto. I am a very rational person, which is quite different from my acting as a worldly person in television. My real life is very different. I am a calm and collected person. I grew up in the ghetto and I know every good and bad thing that every kid that grew up in the ghetto knows. I do not smoke cigarette, I was a virgin till I was 20 years old. Before I had my first boyfriend, I was already in Nollywood.
How did you lose your virginity?
As I said earlier, I met my first boyfriend at 20. I came from a Christian home and was trained by Christian parents. My father made sure we imbibed the Christian values and this helped me very much in my career as an actress. I actually thought that as a Nollywood actress I was ripe enough to have a boyfriend and this will make me feel more sophisticated. I did not lose my virginity to an actor, you know.
How did you lose it?
I did not stumble on losing my virginity, I was ready for it and I knew what I was getting into.
How did you feel as a woman after losing your virginity?
I was ready, I felt like I was ready to bring the world down. I felt like whatever it is, bring it on.
Most people assume that personalities like you are not down-to-earth, can you cook?
Oh my God, I can cook very well. In fact, that is my hobby. I love cooking and I love it so much. I love to explore, I love to learn new methods. I can cook both continental and intercontinental foods. In fact, I did a course in cooking some time ago. I know so many things about cooking. I love beans and bread; I can’t do without it.
What accessories you cannot let go of?
I love to wear my make-ups when I am going out but in my day-to-day life, I do not wear makeup. For instance, I am not making up right now. I am not wearing makeup but I can go out. I am not so crazy about make-up. From January to December, I may not make up still I will look beautiful. I do not really care about what people say about me. I also like wearing high heels. When I am going on any occasion, if I do not wear heels, then I am not ready to go.
What is your favourite colour and why?
I love bright colours because I am a happy person. I am a bright person, full of life and I think that colour depicts my mood. Today, I am wearing orange and brown maybe I am having mixed emotions, you know (laugh).
What are the challenges you face in the movie industry?
There are many challenges in the field, but generally, we face intimidation and harassments. Sometimes ago, I arrested a person that beat me up. This is something that I face every day in my life, but I just know that I can overcome it, so I do not let them worry or wear me down. To me, they are not challenges anymore because I can conquer them.
Why would someone slap you?
Such things happened because of indiscipline; however I went to court with the person. Anyway, don’t let us go into that.
Were you slapped because you refused to summit to their sexual harassment?
No man can ever do that because I am not one of those actresses that sell their bodies for roles. I am not and I have passed that level. I am a Christian and I think my body belongs to my God, and God gave me this talent so I can explore it and even if I want to have anything to do with any man, I will do it on the basis of likeness. I would not do it on the basis of my job.
Do you still go church?
Yes, I go to church. I am a Christian.
What’s the craziest thing a fan has done to you?
A fan was stalking me and got me scared. He was calling me on the phone and making short calls always. He was calling me in the midnight and when I picked the phone, the person will say rubbish, he will be blowing me kisses like for 20 minutes. Imagine 20 minutes and my phone will be on and he won’t say anything. Before you know it, he will call me over 100 times a day and blow me kisses. He was a ghost caller. I just knew he was a fan, who only blows kisses at me, but does not say anything. At a point, I became scared. At another point, I started receiving another caller who will call by 11:30pm and tell me he wanted to f—k me, funny enough, I have never met these people.
What pranks did you play in the ghetto?
In the ghetto, the funny thing is that I was a tomboy. In the ghetto, I was not a girl; I was a boy. I used to climb all the trees and I used to beat up all the boys in a street fight. However, people in the street were afraid of me. I played football with the boys. I did with the boys anything they did. As I grew older, my father started teaching me how to be a lady. This made me a stron lady. Already, I was a star in the ghetto. I was really beautiful as a young lady growing up, but I was more interested in becoming a tomboy than a girl.
Which of your movies made you popular?
Well, I really cannot tell the movie that made me popular because I put all my efforts in every movie that I do. You know, I just knew I was a star, so I won’t just say this particular movie brought me into the limelight. I showed my first salary to my father because it was the first salary that I earned in my life. I felt glad and I was happy.
Tell us the happiest moment in your life?
I do not have the happiest moment in my life. I have happy moments every day of my life. Everything that happens in my life is beautiful and special so I think I have special moments every time. But I can say this is the happiest day in my life because I am always happy.
Have you been heartbroken?
Yes, I have been heartbroken once. Well, it happened in Lagos. It happened that the relationship did not work out. Yea, I was also surprised to hear that I have settled down with a man. I heard the rumour at the time. I want to state that I am not yet married. I am single and still searching. If there is anything to qualify single and over searching, I am. (laughs) “make dey no spoil my market”.  I also heard that I had a child, which is not true. I hear a lot of gist about me, which are not true (laughs). Yes, I am not getting younger but I have to wait for God to give me a husband. Yes, a good husband (laughs). I am not in a hurry to get married but I know any time soon I am going to invite you to my wedding.
What is your ideal man?
I like honest and good-looking men with an enviable dress sense. He must have good sense of style and the fear of God.

The Worst Thing I've Heard About Myself -Cossy Orjiakor

Nollywood actress, singer and dancer, Cossy Orjiakor is a lady a lot of people mixed feelings for.

While some love her for being herself, others have this negative impression about her and this bothers her a lot.

The sexy and bursty actress has said that out of all the things ever writing about her, the only one that bothered her so much was the affair with dog story.
This is what she said, "the worst rumour I have heard about myself was that dog story where it was alleged that I slept with a dog. It was so terrible that even the producer and director denied me. It got me thinking that what of if I was dead. If they had the mind to deny a living person, then, they can as well poison you. I took the producer to court because I served them court papers. We got the video and my mother said if these people can go to this extent to tarnish me, then they can do worse and she advised that I should just leave them. It was actually my mother that made me forget about the matter because my sister is a lawyer and she was working for Ricky Tafa, a law firm based in Abuja. She was ready to take up the case but my mum asked me to forget about it and I did."
During the whole saga, Cossy said she never for once changed her perception about the industry as it's one of those things to experience as a notable face in Nollywood.

"The experience didn’t stop me from acting. If I am called upon to take up a movie role, I go but I am very particular about roles. I love my life. I can’t really go to a place where I will be scared. Some people don’t like you so you just keep off." She said.

Davido Debunks Bitter Fight With Wizkid

Some days ago, it was all over many entertainment news media that 'omo baba olowo' Davido was in a bitter fight 'holla at your boy' Wizkid. It was even reported that at the recently concluded Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) in New York, USA, Davido left the hall with his crew while Wizkid was about to perform.

In an exclusive interview with AMC on the reported fight, Davido denied having any bad blood with Wizkid. He stated that he is still his (Wizkid's) brother. In his words, "he is my brother, my nigga. We are just making money."


For now, Wizkid has yet to speak on the matter. But there are indications that both pals are no more in good terms.

Davido and Wizkid are two young artistes making waves in Nigeria. They both have an album each. Davido and Wizkid are also both brand ambassadors to telecoms and beverage products respectively.

Omotola Jalade Denies Butt Lift Surgery

Nollywood diva, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has debunked the news going rounds that she did surgery to lift her butt,a special cosmetic surgery procedure to lift bum thereby making it fuller and sexier.

Omotola Jalade’s bum lift rumour started circulating when she was spotted at an event on Toyin Street in Ikeja Lagos recently.

Omosexy, as she is fondly called, took people's breath away with her sexy package even a Buddhist monk would have renounced his vows just to have a roll in the hay with her.According to a source, “The Omotola we used to know was shapely not as bootylicious as this. But the dimension of her bum today is just awesome! Look at how flat her tummy is. Combine that with the size of her hips and you have a sex goddess. It all suggests that she must have had a bum lift. What we are seeing today is the product of cosmetic surgery; bum enhancement. There is no way she can deny it; she’s definitely had a bum lift,”

However, a close insider told us that Omotola didn’t get any bum lift procedure, it’s just her natural physique as a result of weight gain.

“Omotola is a callipygian by nature. That is her real physique. What makes it so obvious now is that she has added a little weight.

People should stop spreading rumours. Okay, if she could do a bum lift, why not breast enlargement as well because we all know she has rather small boobs. That tells you it’s all rumours.”

May D Joins MI, Ice Prince At Choc City Weeks After Square Records Sack

There are strong speculations that former Square Records artiste, May D is set to join Audu Maikori-led Chocolate City otherwise known as Choc City. This hint was dropped by one of the label's artistes, Jude Abaga better known as MI.

The rapper posted on his twitter page this morning, "It almost sounds like May D is saying... 'As a choc boy! I go de....."

Some weeks ago, May D was sacked from his former label. No big reason was given for the slip apart from 'irreconcilable differences'. May D featured in P-Square's 'Chop My Money' single which featured American music star, Akon in its remix.

May D presently has his hit single 'Ile Ijo' gaining massive airplay on both local and international radio and tv stations.

When pictures of Charly Boy being made-up like a lady got its way to the internet, little did the 61-year-old singer know he would get the wrath of some angry fans. Since those pictures became public consumption, tongues have wagged on them.

In an exclusive interview conducted by Nigeriafilms.com some months ago, Ed Jatto, the man who claimed to have interviewed Charly Boy on his confession of being gay, told us that the son of a retired judge, Justice Oputa of the popular Oputa Panel, also confessed to him of having a female gay personality called Linda.

A cross section of fans told Nigeriafilms.com that Charly Boy is now behaving like a possessed being. Another fan said that Charly Boy now behaves like a vessel of the Devil. The fan further said that he now looks very scary with the pictures.

Some fans were unanimous in their judgement that the former PMAN president is a disgrace to humanity especially with the way he now seeks for public attention.

"What lesson is he (Charly Boy) trying to teach his grandchildren?" an visibly angry fan asked. "With the way he is doing, you won't believe that he (Charly Boy) came from a respectable family. I wonder how his dad would feel about him," another fan said.

Charly Boy is not new to controversies as he is sometimes believed to generate these controversies by himself in order to remain in the news. Area Fada, as he is also fondly called, is a TV presenter and publisher. He is happily married to Lady D.

Lindsay Lohan Plans to Sue Man Who Alleges She Was Drunk Driving

The "Liz & Dick" actress was arrested in New York City last week for allegedly clipping Jose Rodriguez with her Porsche.

Lindsay Lohan is planning to sue a man who claims she was drunk when she allegedly struck him with her Porsche in New York City last week.

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TMZ reports, via The New York Daily News, that the 26-year-old star of Lifetime's Liz & Dick intends to file a defamation lawsuit against Jose Rodriguez, a 34-year-old cook who says was "slurring" and "smelled like alcohol real bad" when she hit him in the leg while driving outside a Manhattan nightclub early Wednesday morning. She was later arrested and released without bail.

Meanwhile, grainy surveillance tape of Lohan's alleged hit and run fails to answer any question over whether or not the actress actually clipped Rodriguez with her car.
Lohan remains on informal probation until 2014 stemming from her recent brush with the law for stealing a necklace.
Her rep did not immediately return THR's request for comment.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Gets Royal Appointment

The movie is this year's Royal Film Performance, an event established to support the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.

LONDON – Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is to be the 65th Royal Film Performance on Dec. 12 in the British capital.

The movie will screen to the Queen or members of the Royal Family in aid of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, the charity set up to look after U.K. industry employees and their families who are suffering from hardship.
CTBF president Anne Bennett said: "We are thrilled to be able to host the U.K. premiere of this highly-anticipated first instalment of “The Hobbit” trilogy. We are thankful to Peter Jackson and Warner Bros., New Line and MGM for providing this opportunity, and are grateful for the unswerving support the Royal Family gives to our charity and the Royal Film Performance."
Bennett noted that the funds raised by the Royal Performance "make a huge difference to the lives of many less fortunate colleagues.”
Josh Berger, president and managing director, Warner Bros U.K., Ireland & Spain added: "It’s fitting that this film, with a significant number of British cast and crew, will help support the great work the CTBF does for those most in need in the U.K.’s film and television community.”
The CTBF aims to confirm the Royal audience names "closer to the event."
Warner Bros. plans to roll the film out across the U.K. from Dec. 14.
Last year, Martin Scorsese's live action adventure movie Hugo unspooled with the Prince of Wales Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles meeting cast including Ben Kinsgley and Helen McCrory.