The Blog

07.07.08

Monday was the 3rd year anniversary of the 7/7 London bombing.

See the story here.

Also, in relation to the unfortunate event, a project titled The Forgiveness Project has come about. Click here to read the stories including that of Marie Fatayi-Williams, mother of Anthony Fatayi-Williams who was killed in the bombings - R.I.P

Nigeria for Obama??

As cute as this sounds, I just find it all very amusing. Nigerians put together a 4000 strong fundraising campaign to support Barack Obama last weekend at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja

Their notion is that the funds raised will be sent to the OBAMA campaign office as their own way of showing support for OBAMA since they are not eligible to vote as they are Nigerians based in Nigeria and not in America. - Is that right....

.....is that right? I dont think we have finished campaigning for each other but hey, who knows what Obama's plans for Nigeria will be if he is elected president :)

The Buzz

New music videos, click to watch.

Olu Maintain's Karmakazee -

Mo Hits Records' Pere -

Mo Hits Records' Close to you -

Etcetera's Life for you -

Pheel's God dey -

Naeto-C Press Release - see below

Blogville Idol 2008

Blogville Idols 2008 is here! Itt started yesterday and will go on till the 23rd of July. Check it out here

Two Nigerian Websites to check out:

- Luxury on Water

- Nigerian Circle

NAYO on the cover of July's True Love!

NAYO (N-áá-y-Ò) of Nigerian descent (culled from Odunayo) is really doing things....her album African Girl has also been included in Virgin Atlantic's inflight music programmes and magazine.

You can buy her album here and a copy of true love here.

Needed The Break.......

Hello Everyone,

I took a month off! To re-acclimatize, rejuvenate, replenish, rebuild, reform, re-whatever and it's really helped. Sometimes we need to do that (although I've done that a time too many) Congratulations on successfully reaching the month of July!

See Below for some Refreshing Infotainment:

Picture of the week :o)

UK Apprentice Winner pulls a sickie on his first day at work! (Not impressive)

Los AngelesWorld Affairs Council welcomes UN Ambassador D'banj.

The Los Angeles World Affairs Council is an organization that promotes greater understanding of current global issues and their impact of Southern California by inviting authoritative, influential figures in world affairs to Los Angeles and providing them an open form.

Today, July 1st, a high profile dinner will be held in Beverly Hills (Beverly Hilton Hotel) and speaking at the dinner tonight will be His Excellency Samir Sumaida’ie, Ambassador of Iraq to the United States.

Samir Sumaida’ie was an activist opposed to Saddam Hussein’s Baathist Regime for many years while living in exile in London.

In August 2004 he was appointed a member of the Iraq Governing Council and in April 2006 he became Iraq’s ambassador to the United States.

Ambassador Dapo Oyebanjo (DBANJ) has been invited to meet His Excellency Samir Sumaida’ie today at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Dapo will be attending this dinner with his United Nations Title, Ambassador for Youth Peace.

Dapo Oyebanjo remains the first and only Nigerian to be given this United Nations title and he plans to do some goodwill during his short stay in Los Angeles California.

Student Fraudsters embezzle N34million [link]

Three students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, have been arrested by detectives of the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Milverton Road, Ikoyi.

They allegedly withdrew about N34 million fraudulently from a People’s Bank account through the automatic teller machine (ATM). The fraud was detected at the Benin branch of Access Bank Nigeria Plc.

Click here to listen to the official reunion mixtape of DJ Dee Money and DJ 3k

CAREERS IN EUROPE EVENT

If you want to boost your career and are looking for the best international jobs, apply now for this prestigious Event.

More than 30 blue-chip companies represented by more than 200 recruiters will be recruiting for positions throughout Europe over the two-day event, consisting of interviews, company presentations and career coaching. It provides a unique opportunity for you to meet with leading HR Directors and Senior Business Representatives from various organisations.

This invitation-only Event is tailor-made for university graduates or early-career professionals who are fluent in English and in at least one other European language.

You will receive an invitation only if you are selected by at least one of the participating companies.

Application deadline: October 26, 2008
Application on www.careersineurope.com/brussels

Fashion Nigeria

On July 11th in Abuja & 13th will Deola Sagoe showcase her new special designed collection for Africa Rising with Supermodels Naomi Campbell, ALek Wek, Oluchi etc. Male collection from Ozwald Boateng

Music performances from Jay Z, Usher and Rihanna.

To see this spetacular fashion show Live come for the African Rising Music and Fashion show in Washington August 1 and London October with the same models and Male collection from Ozwald Boateng.

This Friday

First Fridays Lagos

First Fridays Lagos is proud to present ourJULY NETWORKING EVENT

Date: Friday July 4th, 2008

Time: 6 - 10pm

Venue: SAIPAN, 7 Bishop Aboyade Cole Str, VI

Sponsors: Aquitane Oil and Gas

Dress Code: Business casual (no jeans or tee shirts)

Admission is free with complimentary business card (N2k Otherwise)

Happy Friday!

Hello All, It's been a while hasn't it? I have been so busy, probably the busy I've ever been. It's been filled with all sorts, highs and lows (arsenal) and the like. Anyway I am still blogging for those who are asking, just not as frequent. Yet, you can always count on me. Also do not hesitate to contact me to feature your info on this blog. Have a good weekend all! Thanks xx

Seun Kuti live @ The Barbican in London yesterday.

Visit the Barbican website and his myspace.

Wole Soyinka @ Terra Kulture

As the legend turns 74, Theatre @ Terra presents another season of Soyinka!! Live plays and sketches every Sunday through the months of June and July.

June:

Babuzu Lion Heart
Childe Internationale
Obstacle Race
Polling Booth
Home to the Roost
Press Conference
Unlimited Liability Country
Population Control
Interview Panel
Priority Project
Riceee
Homage to Yellow Thrones
Symbolic Peace
Symbolic Gifts....and many others

All plays written by Wole Soyinka

Venue: Terra Kulture, Victoria Island
Time: 3pm and 6pm
Tickets: N2000 each

Produced by Wole Oguntokun

For tickets and enquiries, please call 0702 836 7228, 0808 123 9477 or e-mail laspapi@yahoo.com

Youth on the Frontline Conference Tonight

This Conference is bringing together all Youth Leaders, Youth Ministers, Youth Pastors, Young People in Ministry and Young Christians from all over London under one roof, calling on one God to do one thing – Bring Revival to the Nation. Organised by Dayo Israel

BOUQUI will also be performing at the event. Watch the music video of her single Molejo here

Venue: Methodist Central Hall, Westminster SW1H 9NH
Time: Friday, May 30, 2008 at 9:00pm
Entry: Free

Music Week (2)

Asa Concert Review

The Asa concert in London was so much fun! She has a huge presence when she's on stage. It was also quite entertaining having our fellow Naijas there. Several times she had to ask them to allow her sing because they were basically shouting over her voice. It was a pleasant night out. After she had bowed out off the stage with her band, she returned for three more bonus tracks for the rest of us who hung about including Nina Simone's Feeling Good.

Check out a video clip of one of her songs here.

She also pulled a few members of the crowd to come and sing a few lines to her song. Tami was one of them who has a single Mama, released with her brother MC Baba. The song is dedicated to their late mum. Check out Tami's song in the video below:

Visit Asa's myspace and her website

Hip Hop World Award Winners

I never featured the awards as I had so much on the go at the time but there was a lot of publicity for this event. Nomination went on for quite a while and the public could nominate via the website and then................ the ceremony came. It was held at Planet One, Maryland on the 15th of March, 2008.

Winners

While Asa grabbed the awards for Recording of the Year (Bibanke), Album of the Year and Vocal Performance (Female), as well as her Producer, Cobhams Asuquo, emerging the Producer of the Year, 9ice emerged the best in two categories, winning the awards for Vocal Performance (Male) and the HHW Revelation of the Year. Wande Coal, however, won the star prize of the show, a Hyundai Sonata, as the Next Rated artist.

Other winners include, Olu Maintain for Song of the Year, D’banj for artiste of the year, DJ Tee (Stylee) Best music video, Timaya for Best Reggae/Dance hall, Tu face for Best R&B/Pop Album (Grass2Grace), Ruggedy Baba for Best Rap Album, Jimmy Jatt, 2face, Elajoe and Mode9 got the best collabo award for Stylee, M.I got the best rap single award for “Crowd Mentality”

Congrats to Asa, 9ice, Olu Maintan, D'banj, Wande Coal and everyone else.

See photos from the event below:

Resources: www.hiphopworldawards.com

Yellow Carpet pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24845048@N02/
Stars - 9ice (website) and (myspace)
- D'banj (website) and (myspace)
- Wande Coal (website) and (myspace)
- Olu Maintain (website) and (myspace)

NAYO at Jazz Cafe

Nayo will be performing as a special guest of Nate James at the legendary Jazz Cafe, Saturday May 31st. You may purchase your tickets on Nayo's website and you CAN WIN TWO TICKETS by viewing the Competitions page on: http://www.nayomusic.com

Read a review on NAYO in the UK Guardian here

Careers in Africa Recruitment Summit in London - May 23rd, 24th and 25th 2008

The Careers in Africa Recruitment Summits bring together world class business leaders and high calibre African talent from across the world to interview at unique invitation-only events. Career opportunities available range from entry-level graduate programmes to senior management positions and cover a wide variety of functions across all sectors. Click here to visit the website and apply.

Music Week and What's On?

This week will be dedicated to music through and through. So watch out for some juicy tunes and great info on events and juicy celebrity news. Enjoy your week!

Asa Concert in London Tonight

Live at the Carling Academy, Islington N1. I will be there and will feedback to you guys. I am looking forward.

Asa’s self-titled album was released in the UK on February 18th on Dramatico Entertainment. Having grown up in Nigeria listening to an intricately diverse mixture of African music and some of the best known and loved artists from the West, Asa’s sound is as perfectly unique as she is herself. With a commercial appeal that is more by coincidence than design, Asa fuses pop, r&b, world, funk, soul and reggae on an album where she sings in both English and Yoruba.

Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Tickets: £20 buy here
Asa: Visit her myspace

London Business School's Africa Day This Weekend

On Saturday, 17 May 2008, the Africa Club at London Business School will host its 7th annual Africa Day Conference. Africa Day is a leading African conference in Europe, providing a compelling platform for intellectual exchange and debate around some of the continent’s most critical issues. The conference supports the School's vision to be the pre-eminent global business school, by bringing together some of the best minds and practitioners in African business to help inspire a socio-economic renaissance in Africa. It will entail a keynote address, panel sessions, lunch, networking opportunities, a cocktail and gala dinner as well as some live entertainment.

Date: May 17, 2008 at 9:00 am
Venue: London Business School, Regent's Park, London. NW1 4SA
Tickets: Available here

Resources: Africa Club at LBS

The Nigerian DJs Conference in Atlanta (June 6th - 7th, 2008)

The 2nd annual Naija DJs conference will be held in Atlanta this year. The aim is to provide a meeting-place for Nigerian DJs and Artistes to exchanges ideas on how to better promote the Nigerian music movement. The conference consists of a welcome party, DJ /Artist Seminar and DJ ShowDown / Artist Concert.

More info at http://www.nigeriandjs.com/NDJ08/ Also, see the video below:

Videobytes

LOL: Prince William & Prince Harry

Verdict = LOLOL very funny if you are into headcases, animation or british humour

Sir Victor Uwaifo - Joromi

Verdict = Another Classic!!!

New Blog to Checkout

The World Famous Naija Blog - www.worldfamousnaijablog.com/

Ciao Ciao!

Hello people, been a while innit? From this blog, everyone can now tell when Mona's busy or not. Anywhoo, just to reassure you I'm not running anywhere so I will always come back like the dog and it's master. Not that this blog is my master oh! God is my master thank you LOL

The Internet's 15th Anniversary!

I have decided to celebrate the birthday of the World Wide Web. I actually didn't know which is surprising but thanks to one of my readers Lord Tim, now I do!