P Square launches Alingo Animated series

Alingos

Over the past few months, the multiple award-winning duo of Peter and Paul Okoye, famously known as P-Square, have relentlessly been working on a ground-breaking and unprecedented family-oriented animated series entitled “The Alingos.” The project is an innovation from the stables of P-Classic Entertainment.
alinggggoo
P-Classic entertainment is an entertainment company founded and controlled by the P-Square brothers and headed by Peter Okoye. The outfit is aimed at producing television contents, animation, discovering and grooming young musicians, and providing an array of entertainment to Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.
In their usual style of raising the bar in the entertainment scene, the duo is taking it a notch higher.  The Alingos was inspired by the need to create a unique content for children and fill the vacuum in the media sphere for this demographic. Adults would also find the animated series appealing. The Alingos will be the first high quality animated series from Nigeria to fit local television while intelligently crafted to serve international audience as well. It will initially run as a weekly web series and then on TV.
This family animated series is just one of many surprises the duo have stocked in their goody bags to revolutionise the entertainment industry. It’s no news that P-Square has become synonymous with top class standards, reflective in the quality of their song-writing, dance and music videos.

To herald the launch of The Alingos, the brothers are releasing a teaser – an animated music video for their hit single ‘Unlimited’. It is the first high quality animated video in Nigeria and by extension the whole of Africa. This animated music video is 100% Nigerian; no foreign inputs and is created in High Definition with superior picture and sound quality, as expected from the duo. The production quality compares to anywhere in the world.
The public and fans of P-Square will get to watch the ‘Unlimited’ animated video as well as The Alingos (when it hits the screens) by first downloading the P-Square app (P2) due for release next week.
aallllling.jpg-new
The P-Square app is another novel and exceptional concept from the creative minds of the twin brothers, to connect and interact with their numerous fans and followers all around the world. Definitely, this app will transform the fan community and pioneer a new trend in the entertainment scene.
The app will contain an archive of exclusive pictures of P-Square, gallery of latest musical videos including all the videos from past albums, compilation of all P-Square’s songs, behind-the-scene videos, awards and concerts videos, concert tickets, events and tour dates as well as their flagship project The Alingos series. The app also integrates popular social media networks – facebook, twitter, youtube etc. into one space and serves as a platform to bring P-Square closer to their fans.
Fans and the public will have endless access to all these materials and more awesome content from P-Square in the future by downloading the P-Square app for free on andriod, iOS and windows devices

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Damilola Adegbite - Why I left Tinsel

Telema

Over the past few years, Damilola Adegbite has become one of the most recognizable actresses in Africa.  She plays the role of ‘Thelma Duke’, the gorgeous actress in the day time soap, Tinsel on Africa Magic; a role which has seen her become a favourite of soap lovers. Damilola, who recently left the set of Tinsel to explore the film industry, during a courtesy visit to Vanguard, spoke on why she left the soap, life outside Tinsel, her relationship and more. Enjoy!

You left Tinsel. Why?
Well, it was… as much as people don’t believe me, it was a personal decision. I just wanted to experience more of the movie world. It really wasn’t an easy decision to make because Tinsel has been part of my life for a while and we are family. But the only thing constant is change; basically every human being should re-evaluate their lives more often and make decisions.

I wanted to experience film. I wanted to experience movie-making and that is what I am doing now. And, I am pleased with it.

Can you describe your experience on Tinsel? You were one of the first on Tinsel?

I will say I am one of the few that had it luckily. Tinsel is a very pretty platform. I didn’t have to deal with the exploitation that other actors go through for getting script and all that. I had a proper platform and it was a worthwhile experience and one I will always be grateful for. I enjoyed it while it lasted.

What is your relationship with Gbenro Ajibade?

Laughs.  We are ex-colleagues.  We are just friends.

For four years, you played Thelma in Tinsel. How did that role influence your life?

Definitely not negatively! Well, do you mean affecting my personal life or my career?

I mean both.

Well, personally, no. I learnt to detach myself from the characters of the roles that I play. Career wise, it gave me a beautiful platform that I am building on today.

What other movies are you doing now?

Beside the movie I just finished with Michelle, which is premiering on 13th – and I am excited about that, I will be going into production with two Nollywood big names in February. I will rather not expose who they are now so as not to spoil the surprise. But, there other productions lined up as well.

Are you hoping for endorsements from companies?
Well, it depends on the plan that you have for yourself. Like I said, I am not really concentrating on endorsements now. I would like my acting to speak for me and then, from there, if anything else comes up, that’s fine. But I am just breaking off the platforms now and want to continue building something. So, endorsements are welcome, of course. But they are not really my focus right now but they are welcome.

Now that you are in another phase of your career, would you say Tinsel sort of limited you to an extent?
I will say ‘yes’ to a certain extent because of the time. It’s very time consuming working on soaps. Tinsel, I would say is a pretty peculiar production as well, because they emphasise a lot on quality and, you know, all of that is pretty time consuming. No producer would like to work with someone they cannot guaranty would be there. It would give their production as much time and you know effort. So, I would say that it did limit me to a certain extent; which is why I had to come to a decision.

Tell us a bit about your background?
Well, Damilola Adegbite was born into a family of four. I was born and raised in Lagos. In Surulere, to be precise, so I grew up in Surulere. I have a degree in Business Administration from Bowen University.

What childhood memories do you have of Surulere?
Wow! I had a fun childhood in Surulere; those street carnivals and all that. It was fun. And, the friends I had in that area, which would be exclusive to me. I had a lot of friends in the area, so you could basically just get up and walk into anybody’s house, eat with them and sleep there if you wanted to. Everybody’s door was open to you all the time in my neighbourhood, anyway.

How did you get into acting?
It’s always been a passion for me. Some people, along the course of life, decide to choose certain careers based on wherever life leads them. I am pretty focused and I know what I want and I always try to stick to that. I have always wanted to be in the arts. Even while growing up, everyone around me saw that that was what I wanted to do. I was always in some music or theatre-related issue. I was always doing something that had to do with the arts.

So what’s your style like? How will you describe your style?
My style will be: simple, classy, and comfortable. I don’t like discomfort, even if it means looking good. No. I like to be comfortable and relaxed wherever I am; free to move around without being afraid that my skirt is too short or whatever. So, I am just simple but classy.

You are always well put together on the red carpet. Do you have a special designer for your clothes?
Well, I try to patronize as many people as I can in the fashion industry. Especially, if your item or your piece flatters me or something I could rock. I basically source for most of the clothes you see.  They could be something I pick off a designer’s rack or something I put together myself.

So, do you have a role model in the industry when it comes to acting? Is there anybody you look up to?
Of course, there are a lot of people I admire in the industry. I learn a lot from them; I probably just watch their movies. A few of my personal favourites: I like Mercy Johnson. I like her acting. I think she is good. I like Mr. Ibu; he makes me laugh. There is something very unique about him. His talent is quite unique. I like Mojid Micheal as well. He is not a Nigerian but I think he is a very good actor. Everybody has something I like.

What would be your greatest fantasy?
I remember that yesterday I was reading a newspaper and it was talking about Mr. Aliko Dangote.  He was referred to as the richest man in Africa and there was a picture of him sitting down, eating a bowl of food.  I remember thinking to myself, to wake up in the morning knowing that you are the richest man in Africa and yet you are dressed in shorts and a tee-shirt!  You are just chilling. There must be a huge amount of self fulfillment in that.

Regardless of what it is, where I am, what I achieved, whenever, wherever, I want to be able to wake up in the morning, look at myself in the mirror and say: “You are not doing badly Damilola”. So, basically, I would want to, at all times, be happy with where I am.

What won’t you wear in the name of fashion?
I wouldn’t wear a loud wig in the name of fashion; a coloured wig.

You have a boyfriend?
Yes

How did you meet?
I saw him. I liked him and we started talking; from there till today.

Tell us what you don’t like about men.
I don’t like men who over-indulge in alcohol. I like men that have regard for themselves and for the people around them. You would have to come across to me as a very serious minded person to be with me.  That’s the honest truth.

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”Charly boy brand tormented our lives” – Charles Oputa

Charlie Boy

Charles Oputa aka Charly boy in a birthday letter of tribute to his wife, Lady D, who turned a year older on Tuesday, admitted that the Charly Boy brand had been a torment to their lives.

He thanked his wife for sticking by his side.

“With all the mysteries, the enigma and the eccentric persona of the Charlyboy brand that has so tormented our lives; you are unswervingly glued to Mr. Oputa. You have never mixed up the two. You know your husband and your husband knows you.”

Charles reportedly has declared a week public holiday both at home and work to honor his beautiful wife.

His moving letter finished…

”There is no gainsaying that you are the most beautiful woman on earth. With just you, I evolved from nothing to something. With you, I simply grew my worth. In my next world, it’s Diane Oputa. You have not stopped showing me the amazing side of you.

Each day is a manifestation of another amazing and estimable you. Even as your beauty continues to radiate, so your sensitivity. It’s hard to express all that burns inside of me.

They are inexplicably enormous. The world is beautiful today, because you have been created to join me in this journey through life. I owe you just one single honour on a day like this. Just to say thanks for always being my baby-girl.

Have a super awesome day today!

Happy birthday LOVE…

Your boy,

Charlyboy

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NBC, NFVCB deny ban of P Square Alingo, other music videos

Allingo

The Nigerian Broadcast Commission, NBC, and National Films and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, on Monday denied banning the broadcast of some musical videos by Nigerian artistes.

Mrs Maimuna Jimada, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Commission, disclosed in Abuja that the commission was not aware of the ban.

According to her, NBC was not in charge of banning musical videos. “NBC has not banned any videos as we are not in-charge of placing a ban on music videos.”

Some newspapers had reported that the commission had banned some new musical videos from being broadcast in the country for containing offensive materials.

The report named some of the affected artistes as P-square, Wande Coal, Timaya, Flavour, D’prince, Goldie, Chuddy K and Tillaman.

Jimada said NBC was solely responsible for ensuring that musical videos and audios made for public consumption were safe.

“ If a music video or audio has content that is not suitable for broadcast, we tag these videos and audio as ‘not to be put on air. Also we inform stations across the country not to broadcast them,” she said.

She said that if a video was tagged as not to be aired, its producers could still reproduce them with better content for broadcast.

Also reacting  on the matter, Mr Yunusa Tanko, the Deputy Director and Head of Corporate affairs, National Films and Video Censors Board, said the board was unaware of such ban.

He said although the board was in-charge of censoring the content of musical video, artistes failed to bring their works to the board for proper check before broadcast.

He explained that since the videos were produced for broadcast, it was also the duty of NBC to monitor their contents.
“The board has collaboration with NBC and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in matters of copyright, piracy and censorship.

“Most times, these issues could fall under any of our jurisdiction because our functions overlap. NBC has the mandate to regulate content and music videos are supposed to be classified.

“Though piracy is supposed to be handled by the copyright commission, the censors’ board works to ensure that all content that passes through the board are classified,” he explained. (NAN)

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Rumor Calls : P-SQUARE SEPARATES!!!

P Square

According to Hiphopworldmagazine the duo split some days back.
"Born to the same mother, on the same day within just eight minutes of each other, grown up doing almost everything together, the duo of Peter and Paul of P-Square have in January, 2013, have parted ways........... to two different vacation spots
For many, December is the holiday month they look forward to every year. This is not the same for P Square who do back-to-back shows, helping fans enjoy their holiday by performing at concerts, end of year parties and various kinds of events.
P-Square definitely had one of their busiest seasons last year. Now, for these hard working Jacks, it’s time to play; and they are choosing different vacation spots in the United States.
Last week, Paul was spotted in Atlanta, while Peter told us he’s hanging out with in San Francisco with kids Cameron and Lola. The multi-award winning duo and triple Headies winners at the 2012 edition say they’re "chopping their money""

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15-Year-Old Girl Married Off To 70-Year-Old Man By Parents At N3m

Relationship

A 70-year-old man and a 15-year old girl were married in Saudi Arabia after the girl’s parents reportedly sold her to the man for $20,000 (N3.1m).
According to CNN, the marriage was made public after the man filed a complaint that his wife had been returned to her parents who are Yemeni and Saudi, and that he had been swindled. Authorities believe the young girl may have gotten into a physical altercation with her elderly husband, which prompted her return home.
The case has prompted members of the Human Rights Commission as well as other activist groups to further their push for setting a minimum age for betrothal in these countries. They have proposed that anyone under the age of 18 get legal consent to marry. This has been met with longstanding resistance from conservative religious groups. [VN]

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Actor Charles Inojie in paternity mess

Charles Inojie

There's an Abuja based 29 year old woman, Lynn Nguseer Adi, who is accusing newly married actor Charles Inojie of being the father of her young daughter. Lynn said she and Charles dated for 10 months in 2011 and he was all over her until she got pregnant. She claims Charles Nnojie was initially cool with the pregnancy, but when she was three months, he asked her to get an abortion.

What Lynn didn't know was that Charles was in another long-time relationship with Obehi Obhiseh, the woman he married in November. Obehi is heavy now.

Lynn said Charles hasn't called her, doesn't reply her messages and has said he doesn't want anything to do with her and her baby. Lynn is now asking for a paternity test.

Dear Charles, since you're not picking her calls, hopefully someone who reads this blog knows you and will give you this message. Do a DNA test to determine whether the little girl is yours or not. Lynn is even willing to pay for it.

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'I'm not in any relationship' - Yvonne Nelson declares on Twitter

Yvone Nelson

My sources tell me that Yvonne Nelson and Iyanya are talking again after their bitter break up in November, but Yvonne is hesitating to fully commit to the Kukere singer because of how much he hurt her by allegedly cheating on her with another actress. She has obviously not made up her mind to fully resume her relationship with Iyanya because she's declaring herself single on Twitter... 

I hear she wants some kind of promise before she gives in. Haha! When they fully get back together, I will let you guys know...:-)

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22 Years Old American Rapper, Freddy E, Kills Himself After Girlfriend Dumps Him

Freddy E

The fast rising rapper and YouTube sensation shot himself with a riffle to the head on Sunday night after his supposed girl friend denied him and posted on Twitter that she is single. It's a season of sorrow for the family of rap artiste, Freddy E, whose real names is Frederick Eugene.

His estranged girlfriend, Honey Cocaine (pictured above) is denying she was responsible for the death of 22 year old Freddy E. See Freddy's suicide tweet before killing himself below....

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Nollywood Actor, Muyiwa Ademola Involved In Fatal Accident

Muyiwa Ademola

A report written by popular blogger, Sheifunmi, says Muyiwa Ademola, a Nollywood actor, who features mostly in Yoruba movies, was involved in a serious road accident, as 2012 was ending.

According to the MTV presenter, “In other news, another Yoruba actor Muyiwa Ademola was also involved in another accident on December 30,2012, fatally injured and receiving treatment.”

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9 Foods that Reduce Stress Levels

Fruits

Reach for these items next time you're feeling under pressure, under the weather, or just too close to that breaking point. Munching on these stress-free foods will help pull you back into the game.

Oranges 
A German study in Psychopharmacology found that vitamin C helps reduce stress and return blood pressure and cortisol to normal levels after a stressful situation. Vitamin C is also well-known for boosting your immune system.

Sweet Potatoes 
Sweet potatoes can be particularly stress-reducing because they can satisfy the urge you get for carbohydrates and sweets when you are under a great deal of stress. They are packed full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber helps your body to process the carbohydrates in a slow and steady manner.

Dried Apricots 
Apricots are rich in magnesium, which is a stress-buster and a natural muscle relaxant as well.

Almonds, Pistachios & Walnuts
Almonds are packed with B and E vitamins, which help boost your immune system, and walnuts and pistachios help lower blood pressure.

Turkey
Turkey contains an amino acid called L-tryptophan. This amino acid triggers the release of serotonin, which is a feel-good brain chemical. This is the reason why many people who eat turkey feel relaxed, or even tired, after eating it. L-Tryptophan has a documented calming effect.

Spinach 
A deficiency in magnesium can cause migraine headaches and a feeling of fatigue. One cup of spinach provides 40 percent of your daily needs for magnesium.

Salmon 
Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids protect against heart disease. A study from Diabetes & Metabolism found that omega-3s keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline from peaking.

Avocados 
The monounsaturated fats and potassium in avocados help lower blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says that one of the best ways to lower blood pressure is to consume enough potassium (avocados have more than bananas).

Green Vegetables 
Broccoli, kale, and other dark green vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress.

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10 Unspoken Marriage Rules You Must Follow

Unspoken Marriage Rules

Every married person knows to be faithful, stay truthful and be there for her partner through good times and bad--they're in the wedding vows, after all. But most seasoned couples would admit that some unspoken rules are vital for getting past rough patches and growing stronger as a couple. Here, experts share 10 of the less apparent (but just as important) marriage rules to live by. Photo by Getty Images.

1. Don't criticize your partner's parents or friends. You know how it is-your family can tick you off but no one else had dare speak ill of them. That's why you should tread carefully with your in-laws and your husband's dearest friends. "Even when he's venting to you, your contributions can put him on the defensive," explains LeslieBeth Wish, EdD, a Florida-based psychologist and licensed clinical social worker. "When you take position A, you prompt your partner to take position B." Instead, says Dr. Wish, put yourself in his position so that you can empathize with him.

2. Tell your spouse about any ex encounters. Whether you get a Facebook friend request or run into an old flame at your kid's soccer game, keeping the news to yourself could backfire, despite having zero feelings for the ex. "If there's nothing to hide, why hide it?" says Deb Castaldo, PhD, a couples and family therapist and professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work in New Brunswick, NJ. "That leads to an air of secrecy and dishonesty," she says. Just clue in your hubby matter-of-factly: Try, "I knew it was only a matter of time before old boyfriends came out of the woodwork on Facebook. I got a friend request from one and ignored it." Or, "I saw my ex in the mall today. His kids are cute. Glad to see his life turned out nicely."

3. Keep unsolicited advice to yourself. Offer your support, lend your ear, but avoid speaking in an "I know what's best" tone. "We give advice because we're trying to be helpful, but it's seen as criticism when we offer too many corrections," says Harriet Lerner, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up. This goes for everything from your husband's outfit choices to how he deals with a work issue. Give your spouse space to make decisions and gain confidence through trial and error-and ask that he do the same for you, says Dr. Lerner. "What matters in a relationship is not that things get done 'right,' but that two people are dedicated to contributing to each other's happiness."


4. Don't take charge all the time. Whether you fold all the laundry because you don't like how your husband does it or you manage the finances because you don't think he's as careful, you may feel more at ease doing all the work. But stop! "The spouse who does the rescuing can become tired of that role," says Dr. Wish--and resentful that everything is on her shoulders, even if she volunteered for that burden. Get in the habit of asking your partner, "What do you think works best here?" or telling him, "I could use a hand cleaning out the pantry." These requests will foster the idea that you're teammates.

5. Don't bring up past arguments. Or at least put a statute of limitations on them. "People repeat ancient disagreements because they haven't resolved the problem," says Dr. Castaldo. Letting things fester often causes marriages to break down, she says. It's important to address issues as they happen and come to some sort of resolution--agreeing to disagree counts. "Leave it there, and respect each other's opinion," she says.

6. Choose your battles, but don't stifle your feelings. "There's going to be toothpaste globs here and Post-it notes there; that's human nature," says Dr. Wish. "You have to be able to say, 'this isn't important.'" Or if it is, speak up. "Tell your partner why it bothers you and that you'd like to work on a solution," suggests Dr. Wish. You'd be surprised what you could learn about each other. For instance, your husband may not leave dirty dishes in the sink anymore if you explain that your childhood home was piled high with plates and you were stuck washing them. It's also important to understand that he's not plotting to upset you every time he's sloppy or forgetful. A simple request like: "Honey, it'd be great if you could pick up the dry cleaning while you're out" beats getting mad that he didn't offer to help with errands.

7. Don't post private thoughts or photos publicly. You may not want to be tagged in a politically charged rant he starts or he may not want you to share photos of the kids. And you each deserve the other person's respect for those wishes. "Discuss the ground rules regarding posting about yourself, as a couple and about the other person," says Dr. Castaldo. And no matter what, don't take your grievances with your husband to the masses for support. "It's destructive to air conflicts on Facebook," she warns.

8. Log off. When your attention is focused elsewhere, your spouse is bound to feel unimportant. So make quality time a top priority and restrict tech gadget use if necessary, says Dr. Wish. "Pay attention to the concept of ratio: How much time am I spending doing this compared to how much time I'm spending with my family?" she says. Create a rule that works for your household and stick to it, whether it's no devices at the dinner table, shutting down phones at 8 p.m. or going gadget-free on weekend afternoons.

9. Don't use the "D" word (divorce, that is). Even in the heat of an argument, avoid threatening to pack your bags or head to the lawyer's office. Besides the "D" word being downright hurtful, repeated warnings may result in a spouse calling the other's bluff. "We act as if the intensity of our anger gives us license to say or do anything," says Dr. Lerner. "But threatening divorce is never useful, and it only makes the probability of separation more likely."

10. Be each other's number one. In other words, be wary of outsider influence, like a friend putting relationship-threatening ideas in your head or work or hobbies competing for your attention. "Happy couples have just as much conflict as those who divorce, but they know ways to get through it," says Dr. Castaldo. "A couple has to have a strong boundary around themselves and they can't allow anybody to get in between."

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Vixen VeeZee reacts to Chris Brown hook up

Chris Brown & Veezee Baybeh Crew

I'm sure some of you heard that Chris Brown supposedly hooked up with a video vixen while in Nigeria last weekend for his concert. The lady in the centre of the story is popular video vixen and model, Venita Akpofure, popularly known as Veezee baybeh (second from left). She spoke to me exclusively this evening about the speculation that went viral on Social media. Below is what she said
I didn't have any sexual contact with Chris Brown. We all hung out after the show because we have mutual friends. I actually went with Wizkid who's cool with Chris. It's not abnormal for models/vixens to meet artists in the line of work that I do. I didn't really speak with him, just hello and goodbye. It was cool to meet him and he was polite enough to take a photo with us. We hung out with him after the show and I left for home to go and prepare for Christmas. It was nothing scandalous like what is being implied.

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Biggest movie flops of 2012

2012 Movie Flop

2012 is pretty much done and dusted - a year when Bond, Batman and friends came, saw and conquered the box-office. It's time we turn our attention to the year's biggest losers; the movies that performed gigantic bellyflops into empty cinemas.

With Hollywood's accounting even sketchier than that of our own bankers, it's tough to determine just how much money a film has lost, but the big-budget films almost always double their production budget with advertising costs: think ailing salesmen forking out on flash new cars to convince you they're not flat broke. It's far from an exact science, but we've calculated the year's biggest bombs. Take cover.

The Watch

The Watch
Estimated loss: $40 million
What went wrong? Once again, we're left asking how a comedy could possibly rack up a budget of $68 million (minus Vince Vaughn's catering bill, obviously) when the most expensive special effects shot seemed to be an exploding cow. Following the tragic case of Trayvon Martin, who was killed by a neighbourhood watch volunteer, Fox changed the movie's title, claiming: "As the subject matter of this alien invasion comedy bears no relation whatsoever to the recent tragic events in Florida, the studio altered the title to avoid any accidental or unintended misimpression that it might." It seems the damage was already done; ‘The Watch’ only took $35 million in the US, perhaps suggesting that Ben Stiller is a spent cinematic force.

Thats My Boy

That's My Boy
Estimated loss: $50 million
What went wrong? A straight-up, R-rated family comedy with nothing in the way of pricey special effects, expensive sets or big-money actors (unless you count Vanilla Ice), we're at a loss as to how 'That's My Boy' had a whopping production budget of $70 million in the first place. One can only assume star Adam Sandler requires to dine on Kobe beef and lobster smoothies between takes. The funnyman usually has a Midas touch at the box-office – this year's 'Hotel Transylvania' scared up $240m; even 'Jack & Jill' made money – but his loyal, easily-pleased fans deserted him this time. Frankly, we blame Vanilla Ice.

Total Recall

Total Recall
Estimated loss: $55 million
What went wrong? The remake of the Paul Verhoeven action classic wasn't all that bad, it just compared poorly to the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger original. Underwhelmed audiences obviously thought the same, as they stayed away in droves. With the Austrian Oak making his own headlines and filling cinemas with 'The Expendables 2', it was left up to Colin Farrell to deputise, but Len Wiseman's identikit future thriller lacked the identity of its predecessor, totalling a worldwide gross just shy of $200 million. That's $60 million less than Arnie's version, and that's before you adjust for inflation.

Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows
Estimated loss: $60 million
What went wrong? 'Dark Shadows' made a not-entirely-embarrassing worldwide gross of $240 million, but when you factor in how much Warner Bros. must have spent on advertising the damn thing (it briefly became law to have Johnny Depp's pale face on every bus in London), Tim Burton's vampire comedy bit hard. Could it be that audiences tired of the Burton and Depp combination after sitting through 'Edward Scissorhands', 'Ed Wood', 'Sleepy Hollow', 'Charlie And The Chocolate Factory', 'Corpse Bride', 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street' and 'Alice In Wonderland'? No, that couldn't have been it. It must have been something else.

The Oogieloves

The Oogieloves In The Big Balloon Adventure
Estimated loss: $60 million
What went wrong? Everything. Technically the biggest ever box-office bomb ever to open in more than 2,000 screens, the worst thing about 'The Oogieloves In The Big Balloon Adventure' is that you still haven't heard of it. A kids movie that encouraged children to sing and dance in the aisles, starring puffy day-glo creations that looked like cheese nightmares come to life, 'The Oogieloves' crashed hard, racking up the worst ever opening weekend with a per-cinema box-office take of just $47. The hobos outside the cinema probably made more money. Don't expect a glitzy Leicester Square premiere for Goobie, Zoozie and Toofie, basically.

Rock of Ages

Rock Of Ages
Estimated loss: $95 million
What went wrong? On the surface, 'Rock Of Ages' looked like an easy sell: based on a smash hit musical, with the biggest star in the world singing some of the most classic rock songs ever recorded, there was no chance it'd flop. Sadly, Tom Cruise singing 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' in a bejewelled codpiece does not a hit movie make; 'Rock Of Ages' wasn't fit to even strap the dungarees of Swedish movie monolith that was 'Mamma Mia!' (maybe an exclamation mark would have saved it). Critics hated it too: Guardian scribe Peter Bradshaw predicted, "like 'The Producers', it will be adapted back into the theatre, sometime in 2017, at which time it will be even more bland and tiring". Time to play that sad ballad, Tom.

Battleship

Battleship
Estimated loss: $100 million
What went wrong? You mean, what went wrong for the movie that was based on a small plastic board game? We'd say everything went exactly as expected. Perhaps over-estimating the fan base of an ancient, table-based strategy game that hadn't been played by anyone under 50 for decades, Universal gambled big on 'Battleship', but it sank all the same. Perhaps the lead weight was star Taylor Kitsch, who was also captain of the good ship 'John Carter'? 'Battleship' made in-roads overseas, where it made four times its domestic take, but US audiences must have realised they'd reached their cultural nadir right about the time Kitsch put his 60,000 tonne ship into a powerslide to shoot some aliens.

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas
Estimated loss: $160 million (yet to open globally)
What went wrong? Though it might be premature to start hammering the nails in its coffin, given that it hasn't opened globally yet, it's fair to say 'Cloud Atlas' underperformed in the US market to a spectacular degree/ Costing an approximate $100 million (before you even take the ad budget into consideration), the epic Tom Hanks sci-fi was lost on American audiences, who perhaps didn't fancy sitting through a transcendent, three-hour, six-story love story when they could just stay in and watch 'The Avengers' on DVD again. 'Cloud Atlas' could dig its heels in in Asia, where much of it is set, but it'll be another black mark against the Wachowskis after 'Speed Racer' left behind considerable skidmarks in 2008

John Carter

John Carter
Estimated loss: $200 million
What went wrong? A more pertinent question would be 'What went right?' Seemingly doomed from the start, with tales of its budget spiralling out of control during the shoot, 'John Carter' was an unqualified disaster. Originally titled 'John Carter Of Mars', Disney sensed that audiences might confuse it with their mega-flop of last year, 'Mars Needs Moms'. Unsurprisingly, the name change did nothing to salve John Carter's gushing wounds. A massive advertising budget – which desperately compared the movie to 'Avatar' and 'Star Wars' – just made things worse. 'John Carter' was such a bomb, Disney were forced to release a statement, saying "we expect the film to generate an operating loss of approximately $200 million." Don't feel too bad – they made that back on the opening weekend of 'The Avengers'.

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Idris Elba Arrives Nigeria For Koko Concert

Idris Elba

British Hollywood actor, Idrissa Akuna “Idris” Elba, arrived Lagos Nigeria this morning in preparation forthe annual Koko concert which holds on Thursday December 27th at Eko Atlantic.
The highly anticipated concert, hosted by Idris Elba, will feature Tinnie Tempah, Big Sean, Pusha T and many top Nigerian artists. Ticket: 5k regular, 20k VIP and N1m for table.
Meanwhile, a welcome party for Idris Elba will hold tonight at D’banj’s newly opened One Eleven nite club situated on Adetokunbo Ademola street in V.I, Lagos.

Elba & Dbanj

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Uduaghan, Nollywood stars mourn Enebeli Elebuwa

Enebeli Elebuwa

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta  State has described Enebeli Elebuwa’s  death  as “painful and saddening.”

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, yesterday, said the governor was shocked that the concerted efforts by well-meaning Nigerians to save his life did not yield the desired result.

He said: “I am particularly touched because as a renowned Deltan and talented Nollywood actor, Enebeli still had a lot to offer to Delta, to Nigeria and the entertainment world.

“I recall that the thespian came to limelight in the 80s when he played the character, Andrew, in the Federal Government campaign to get Nigerians to believe in Nigeria. And since then, he remained dominant in the entertainment industry.

“He prayed God Almighty to grant the family, Nigerians and the colleagues in the entertainment industry, the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Confirming the sad news, on the telephone, Secretary-General of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr Yakubu Abubakar, said the leadership of the guild had declared a three-day mourning in honour of the departed actor.

He described the late actor as a father and a veteran who would be greatly missed by  colleagues and the Nollywood community as a whole, adding: “We have lost a gem. Personally, he was a father to me, right from the NTA, he was there for me. He motivated and inspired me so much in life.”

The immediate President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Arinze, described Enebeli as “a father-figure, an uncle,” adding: “He inspired a generation of Nigerian artistes. He fought gallantly and he was a great actor. We all called him Andrew but unfortunately, he has checked out.”

For Ejike Asiegbu, past president of AGN, “Enebeli battled death for several years when his ailment started  gradually he conquered his prime enemy only for another challenge to take place. He bestroded the stage and screen like a connoisseur.”

Also, paying her tribute, award winning producer, Emem Isong, described the Enebeli’s death as “a huge loss to the industry, noting: “He was a veteran actor, a very interesting person to work with. I have worked with him a couple of time.”

Elebuwa, 66, died Wednesday after losing his one-year battle with stroke at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad Haryana, New Delhi, India.

His death came shortly after that of other veteran actors,  Akin Ogungbe and Peter Eneh.

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Yvonne Nelson’s Tweet : HYeart shattered…. ends relationship with boyfriend

Yvonne Nelson Tweet

We cannot authoritatively tell who did this but Sexy Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson is heartbroken.

Evidently she found out about her cheating boyfriend and has poured her heart out on social networking site twitter.

Read her tweets

We have ideas that her ex is a currently raving artist who is the originator of dance style and who blew into fame after winning a reality show.

Yvonne is inconsolable as she’d been tweeting all day.

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The best age to be single and dating

Best Age of Single

No matter what the topic, there can be an age related twist given to it. Is it better to be young or old? Whatever you’re talking about this could be a vibrant discussion. Is it better to be educated when young or old, is it better to get a new job when you’re young or when you’re old and is it better to be a consumer when you’re young or old?

Here’s another one though. When it comes to being single, when is the best time? Is it in youth or is it in midlife? Is it some other time altogether? After asking around we’ve received all kinds of answers. Few people have been picking their own age group though, opting for another period of life to point towards.

Teenagers for instance, get to be single at a time when there are a lot less burdens. Sure, they don’t recognize this at the time and would protest the thought, but they have more of a chance to focus on the dating as opposed to other things in life. They also have the luxury of not being weighted down by a need to commit.

When we enter our twenties, things seem to be prime for singles. Many are professionals and can afford to go on proper dates. They are experienced enough to know what they’re doing, but young enough to enjoy making mistakes. Of course, many find themselves under the gun, being pressured to settle down at a time when they feel they should do anything but.

In the thirties, being single tends to have all the pressure. Marriage is always on the minds of people going out on dates. In older groups though, the single life becomes a strange mix of people who are happy to be single, and people who have only just recently become single again. Is that good or bad?

Now, do these opinions come from the grass is always greener frame of mind, or are they based on something more substantial? Let us know what you think. Just add a comment by clicking the link below, and help continue the conversation.

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How to forgive somebody after an affair

How to Forgive Infidelity

1.Don’t rush your response
It might feel natural to finish the relationship as soon as you discover the infidelity, but do stop and take stock. Wait for your initial feelings of hurt and anger to be replaced by secondary responses – these will be more productive in the long term. Can you understand why the infidelity happened? Were there warning signs? If the roles were reversed, might you have been tempted to be unfaithful in your partner’s position? Were there outside pressures on the relationship – a new baby, a family upset, a big change, depression? Taking time to consider the contributory factors in any situation isn’t weak, it’s sensible. And understanding the reasons will help you move forwards.

2.Talk
You will feel an urge to obtain every piece of information about the affair, just to give your racing mind some peace, so talk about it with your partner. Discovering the details won’t help you emotionally (you’ll feel they will, but they won’t), but you will find comfort in talking to your partner about it, because talking is a sign that your partner wants to rebuild their relationship with you. If your conversations end in arguments, consider talking to your partner with a counsellor present. Just having a neutral third party in the room will make you and your partner behave in a less emotional manner.

3.Ask for what you need
If there are changes that will help you cope – moving into a separate bedroom, taking a holiday (alone or together), meeting the other person – then ask for them and do it early on. At the beginning, your partner’s guilt will make them amenable to your requests and they will try to help you as much as they can. Later on, they will prefer to try to “forget” what happened. So take a private moment to think of practical arrangements that feel comforting, and then state them.

4.Write it down
Keep a journal where you pour out every last feeling of hurt and distress, every question, every moment of anguish. Write it all down. Don’t reread what you write, just let it pour out. The simple act of writing is comforting, plus it gives you a safe place to process your thoughts. Keep it a private book, don’t let your partner read it, and don’t quote irate passages from it. Use it as a place to express your emotions until you begin moving past them. Later on, you might want to ceremoniously destroy the journal as a symbol you have closed the chapter.

5.Find support
Talk to friends whose relationships survived an affair, or find online groups where people discuss the issue from their own experiences. Look for support in moving onwards positively – don’t let yourself be talked into ending the relationship unless you are sure that’s what you want to do. Find a counsellor or therapist you can see individually, if you need a sounding-board. Your partner will want to spend less and less time talking about the affair, preferring to rebuild your relationship, and might see every conversation about What Happened as a backwards step, or yet another request for them to express contrition. Find other people to talk to. Avoid close family or friends you will socialise with alongside your partner as knowing that everyone has heard every detail of the infidelity will make your partner feel uncomfortable in their company for many years. Moving on and finding forgiveness is a personal undertaking; the rewards are many, but you’

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Nigerian duo P Square, Big Boys, Big Deals, Big Dreams

P-Suare & Ross

Most African musicians find it easy maintaining their form after they land mainstream success, while others simply lose grit, and slowly but regrettably, sink into complete oblivion after working hard to get to the top.

In this part of the world, there is a wide, blurred gap between underground acts and those in the A-List category. The setting is such that unsigned acts struggle to even get their demos played on radio. Plus, there is an accompanying pain of staying irrelevant as a yet-to-be-signed act for a very long time.

Underground acts always watch from afar, almost with a show of life in the fast-lane and how-sweet-it-will-sound while still being irrelevant. Half of the time, they never get to experience real mainstream status and how well the big boys and girls live. It's a tough environment out here.

The features of persevering and keeping hope alive as an underground act often include being stripped of everything you've put together over the years or being taken for granted by a not-so-qualified producer who doesn't have the slightest clue what the business of music is all about.

So when, through an artist's hard work and persistence, he is able to penetrate into mainstream appreciation, it is important that the hustle that led him to the Promised Land must be protected or at least revered. Some respect this creed, others don't.

Nigerian music duo P Square is one of the continent's finest pair of musicians, who are protecting the years of hard work that got them into the top core of the continent's most respected acts.

Recently collaborating with Maybach Music boss Rick Ross and fellow African-American Akon on songs off their current album 'The Invasion' to wild global reviews, there is certainly no stopping them, as they take the competition to their contemporaries.

The duo, made up of twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye, is Nigeria's biggest and most successful musical duo of the past decade, winning multiple awards and being nominated by a good number of award schemes domestically and internationally.

P Square's consistency and sense of force over the years has endeared them to a very large following that is almost becoming cult-like. Across the continent, and in most parts of the world, they sell out shows, command a lot of local presence, and are able to sell thousands of records apart from the ready-made sales in Nigeria - a rare occurrence in the life of an African musician.

'The Invasion', a solid album made up of beautifully-calculated and well-composed songs produced with a global audience in mind, has proven to be filled with well thought-out material.

'Chop my Money', a fast, up-tempo song off the album, is already topping the charts in most parts of the continent. The song and P Square's ratings were both refreshed by the collaboration of Senegalese-born American singer Akon on it, which led to a remix version.

The union with Akon was the result of the duo signing with his Konvict Muzik label in a deal that will see P Square and other Nigerian acts Wizkid and Tuface acting as representatives of Akon's label in Africa. P Square thus joins other international acts like Brick and Lace, T-Pain, and Lady Gaga who are also part of the Konvict Muzik family.

And just when the collaboration with Akon became the talk of the town, a video of a remixed version of their 'Beautiful Onyinye' track - also from the current album - featuring hip hop heavyweight Rick Ross started making waves. Social media networks buzzed with intense blitz about how awesome the video was.

The idea to have Ross, who is considered a modern day hip hop class act, chant a few lines on a track that had its own beauty worked a lot of magic, and the video has remained one of the most watched online.

For most African acts, this is the farthest and highest you can go.

However, the duo still shows no signs of letting up. They are clearly interested in spreading their wings, and have also signed a strategic deal with Universal Music Group of South Africa in an agreement that will see the music company handle P Square's digital and CD sales all over the world.

The deal reportedly 'covers P-Square's past albums and DVDs, including, Game Over, their 2007 album' which sold millions of copies worldwide.

'It's a great pleasure and excitement to announce that from today onwards P Square is signing to Universal music', The New Age newspaper quotes executive director at Universal Music SA, Lindelani Mkhize as saying.

'This is a platform that will allow our fans to get our music as it is released, anywhere you are if P-Square says our album is coming out ... you'll be able to get it', said Peter Okoye.

From very humble beginnings, P Square has gradually matured into the duo every investor interested in music as a commercial venture would want to work with.

Through a lot of hard work, the duo has almost become synonymous with success. Their 2009 album 'Danger', for instance, sold some one million copies in just eight days after official release. That was a huge figure.

P Square started off as dancers during their school days, where they formed a group that mainly mimicked the steps of other iconic dancers like Michael Jackson and MC Hammer.

The twin brothers later found music a worthy experiment, and got their breakthrough with the 2003 album 'Last Night'. The album made P Square an instant household name in Nigeria, and in Africa. Other albums like 'Get Squared' (2005), 'Game Over' (2007), and 'Danger' have followed.

A talented duo with very danceable songs to their credit - the type most of their fans have gotten used to - P Square's line of music usually focuses on the more afro-centric kind that combines Western and African rhythms to create a fine tapestry of eclectic, soulful, yet hard-hitting drum patterns, chord progressions, and lyrics of sampled songs.

The end result usually is a carefully-created electronic hook or rhythm, with a feel that can only be awesome, cutting across various age, gender, and geographical boundaries, hence their huge popularity base across the world.

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