MTV celebrates olamide

MTV in partnership with quilox,is celebrating indegenours Yoruba rapper as the best artist of the month

facts ladies need to know about their breasts

Sometimes discharge from your nipplés is okay and will get better on its own. You are more likely to have nipplé discharge as you get older and if you have been pregnant at least once. Nipplé discharge is usually not a symptom of bréast cancer. But it is important to find out what is causing it and to get treatment. Here are some reasons for nipplé discharge: Pregnancy Stopping bréastfeeding Rubbing on the area from a bra or t-shirt Infection Inflammation and clogging of the bréast ducts (mammary duct ectasia) Injury to the bréast Non-cancerous brain tumors Small growth in the bréast that is usually not cancer (intraductal papilloma) Severe hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) Fibrocystic bréast (normal lumpiness in the bréast) Use of certain medicines, such as birth control pills, cimetidine, methyldopa, metoclopramide, phenothiazines, reserpine, tricyclicantidepressants, or verapamil Use of certain herbs such as anise and fennel Widening of the milk ducts Sometimes, babies can have nipplé disharge. Your doctor or nurse will call this “witch’s milk.” It is caused by hormones from the mother before birth, and should go away in 2 weeks. Cancers that can cause nipplé discharge are: Bréast cancer Paget’s disease of the bréast (a rare form of bréast cancer) Symptoms Nipplé discharge that is NOT normal is: Bloody Comes from only one nipplé Comes out on its own without you squeezing or touching your nipplé bosom discharge is more likely to be normal if: It comes out of both nipplés Happens when you squeeze your nipplés The color of the discharge does not tell you whether it is normal or not. The discharge can look milky, clear, yellow, green, or brown. Squeezing your nipplé to check for discharge can make it worse. Leaving them alone may make the nipplé discharge go away.

Ex-husband of Nigerian porn star, Afrocandy, reveals her dirty secrets

According to her ex husband, Judith had an affair with her landlord and neighbours, she called her boyfriend her uncle and DNA shows that he is not the father of her their second child which she later admitted. Looking at things happening to Judith Opara Mazagwu, aka Afrocandy, Nigerian artiste based in the United States, it appears that controversy is gradually becoming her second name. First, the video of her current work, Ikebe Na Moni, caused a stir on the Internet and major blogs, to the extent that angry Nigerians fired her hate mails. Currently, her marriage is a subject of controversy. This budding artiste had told our sister publication, Daily Sun, in an interview published on September 3, 2010, that she didn’t dump her US-based husband, Boltin Mazagwu. She had said in that interview: “There has been lots of rumours going on about my marriage and it is only a few people who know the truth. The fact is, I did not leave my husband; my husband rather left, due to some gossip he heard about something that happened back in Nigeria before I joined him in the US. I begged him and he came back. When he left the second time, that pushed me to give him a restraining order. I really would not like to go into details because I see that as past and I will like the past to remain where it belongs because I have moved on; talking about it takes me backward.” Boltin Elumelu Mazagwu, the artiste’s husband, who read the interview on line, has been furious. In his reaction, he accused Judith of cheating on him while their marriage lasted. He also said that a DNA test has revealed that he is not the biological father of their second daughter. Revealing how he met Judith, Mazagwu said: “I worked a while is Lagos before I relocated to USA. I came for holidays with my siblings and my uncle arranged for me to get a wife. There were three ladies he wanted me to meet and choose from. On my way to check out these ladies, I met Judith, my ex-wife. Because I like fair complexioned ladies, I took her in my car and we got talking. She told me that her name was Sandra, which I later found out was false. She told me she was a student of IMT, Enugu, which was also false. She never enrolled at IMT. When I offered to drive her to her home, she told me she was staying with her uncle. I discovered that the said uncle was her boyfriend. My friend at Onitsha, Omoba, revealed these to me. “The following day, I went to pick her up and we went to Enugu. After shopping at Onitsha, we came to Lagos, to the apartment where I lived at Ajao Estate. When I was going back to the US, I left the apartment for her. I was sending her money, although I had a hunch about her lifestyle. I remember telling her the day we met that my people won’t allow me marry an Owerri woman, since she told me she was from Owerri. After three months, I came to Nigeria and spent 11 months here with her. At this time, I had abandoned the idea of marrying the Onitsha lady I was supposed to marry. Judith and I stayed in a hotel because I lost my job and abandoned college back in New York. I got broke at some point during that period and I moved in with a friend, Christopher, at Okota. He really didn’t want me to marry Judith and it was a fight between us. He actually pushed Judith out of the house. People we stayed in their homes refused her.” He said that members of her family opposed his relationship with Judith, but he ignored their position. He said: “They vehemently opposed our union and yet I wouldn’t listen. It was war in my family. My mum and my aunt didn’t want her. My people didn’t want me to marry her, even when she had become pregnant with her child; they told her after I managed to go back to New York, that they would gladly take the baby from her if she delivered, but that I would never marry her. “When I returned again, I went to her parents; they appealed to me and told me that their people never get divorced once they are married. I respected their opinion because they are good Christians. When I went back to USA, my cousin who trades at Balogun gave her N200, 000.00 in 1995. You know the value of money at that time, but I paid back in dollar equivalent. All these were attempts to make sure that she got an apartment, which she did at No. 2 Alhaji Azeez Street Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos. Before the introduction of Western Union Money Transfer, I was sending money to her constantly. There was this African American publication called JET. I would put money in between the pages, seal it and sent it through Red Star every week. When Western Union came, my name became a household name at Oba Akran branch of Union Bank.” He said this continued until, “2002 when she started talking about acting in movies. I objected to that and maintained that I didn’t want her to go into acting. I needed her to take care of the kids, full time and also to get her busy. We quarrelled over it that night and I almost gave up on her, but because of my polygamous background and knowing what growing up was for us, the idea of leaving her was knocked off. I also love my children, Annabel and Angel, so much because at that time, I didn’t know that Angel was fathered by another man.” When asked what he meant by ‘Angel was fathered by another man, Mazagwu said: “When she sent me her pictures, I suspected, from the child’s facial features that she didn’t look like me. When I complained, she told me that the girl took after my mother’s people. She stopped at nothing to make me believe all her lies. She is a pathological liar. When I confronted her with the DNA results, she confessed that indeed, I am not Angel’s father and rationalised her actions to loneliness and temptation.” On his allegation that his wife had multiply partners, he said: “In the apartment I rented for her, she had affairs with the landlord because she lied about her marital status. She didn’t tell the man she was married. It was only when trouble broke out that the landlord knew her real status. Also, a guy across the street, named Goddy from Abia State, laid accusations on her. She couldn’t deny this. I know Goddy; whenever I came to town, she would tell me that Goddy was a chief from Abia State and I took them that way, not knowing they were dating.” One how the bubble burst, the angry ex-hubby said: “She started leaving the kids all by themselves. She would leave them and hit the clubs. I was boiling, but she had gone full circle. So, in January 2006, I came to Nigeria to investigate the whole thing and discovered everything was true. Before I returned from Nigeria she ran to the child support in the US to file a report that I had abdicated my responsibility. She went to the Nigeria Catholic community to complain. When I returned and told the church what had happened, it was shocking to them.

I want to be Ghana’s version of angelique kidjo” - Noella Wiyaala

As a little girl growing up in the small village of Funsi in the Upper West Region, Noella’s only dream was that luck will smile on her so that she could get assistance to pursue her music dream. Much as she prayed that her dream would become a reality, Noella did not anticipate that luck would shine on her so soon. Since last year, she has been performing on big stages including the recent Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Nominations launch in Accra. For now, the Make Me Dance singer says there is no turning back in her quest to reach for the highest in her music career. “I am more than convinced that I am the next big thing to happen in the history of Ghanaian music. This may sound like blowing my horn, but I feel it. I know where I started from and where I have reached now and where I want to be in my music career. “It is no child’s play for me at all. I want to be Ghana’s version of Angelique Kidjo” she told Showbiz on the phone last Tuesday from her base in South Africa. But her worry, she noted, is that most people don’t give a chance to young ones in the industry, and there is no inspiration to urge you on unless you are strong headed and know what you want to achieve. “Can you imagine that I didn’t get any nominations at the VGMA last two weeks? I don’t know what those on the board were looking for, but I was more than convinced that I should have been in the Best Collaboration and Best Female Vocalist categories, but I wasn’t listed. “Sometimes, you wonder what these people are looking for in their definition of what Ghanaian music should be, but I have vowed to work harder because it is only through hard work that one can gain recognition,” she said. From a humble beginning in the Upper West Region, Noella said she was turned down at many auditions, and she almost gave up. But her climb to fame started in 2010 when she emerged the second runner up at the Stars of the Future music talent show and subsequent winner of the second edition of Vodafone Icons as a member of Black and Peach group. “After Vodafone Icons when I decided that I wanted to do music on a full time basis, I acknowledged the stiff competition in the industry, but I told myself, ‘ I am not here to add up to the numbers’. I didn’t want people to name me as one of the new artistes on the scene but one who makes a difference with her brand” Apart from her hairstyle which she described as her “magic wand”, Noella who has her way of wowing an audience with her eclectic stage performances told Showbiz that the sight of an audience always gingers her up. “The mere sight of the crowd moves me because at that moment, it is all about me. I free my spirit and give them my all because you know, that may be the first time the person is seeing you perform, so you have to give a good account of yourself. I want you to recognise me not just as a singer, but a performer and an entertainer as well” she stated. Noella sings in Waali, Sisaali, Dagaari and English and is currently working in South Africa for the release of her second album after her debut Tuma in 2010 when she was a student at Takoradi Polytechnic. “There are many great talents in the North, but we receive little attention there. All the goodies are in Accra but sometimes, it is important that we look at the other regions as well, she said.

"I have not had any sexual experience' - singer Jodie says

In a recent interview with the NETng, Kuchi Kuchi crooner, Jodie Odiete says she has never had any sexual experience. Jodie was asked what her take was on sexual relationships and she said; "Personally to me it is wrong because I am not married. I am not condemning those who do it, this is just my personal opinion. I really should not have an opinion on sex because I don't have any experience. Sex means nothing to me so I can't get into any relationship just because of that" About her dream man, Jodie said; "I want a man that is my friend. Someone who would stand by me and be there for me. It is hard to find a friend in this dangerous world we live in so I need a friend. My friend should or would be the totality of me. With your friend in your life, there would be a large room of compatibility. To sum it up, instead of saying he should be tall, dark, short, slim, fat and all, he should be my friend, one I can relate with without inhibition".

Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of 'corrective rape' - aimed at 'curing' lesbians

Mvuleni Fana was walking down a quiet alleyway in Springs – 30 miles east of Johannesburg – on her way home from football practice one evening when four men surrounded her and dragged her back to the football stadium. She recognised her attackers. One by one, the men raped her, beating her unconscious and leaving her for dead. The next morning, Mvuleni came round, bleeding, battered, in shock, and taunted by one overriding memory – the last thing they said to her before she passed out: "After everything we're going to do to you, you're going to be a real woman, and you're never going to act like this again". Corrective rape is a hate crime wielded to convert lesbians to heterosexuality – an attempt to 'cure' them of being gay. The term was coined in South Africa in the early 2000s when charity workers first noticed an influx of such attacks. But despite recognition and international coverage, corrective rape in the region is escalating in severity, according to Clare Carter, the photographer behind these images. This is amid a backdrop of parts of the country "becoming more homophobic", as one recent victim asserts. Compared to many of South Africa's victims, Mvuleni was lucky: she survived. At least 31 women in the past 15 years did not. In 2007, to cite one incident, Sizakele Sigasa, a women's and gay rights activist, and her friend Salone Massooa, were outside a bar when a group of men started heckling and calling them tomboys. The women were gang raped, tortured, tied up with their underwear and shot in the head. Executed. No one was ever convicted. Mvuleni's case was also unusual as, unlike 24 out of 25 rapes that even reach trial in South Africa, two of her attackers were convicted and imprisoned for 25 years. The others remain at large. Ever since a 1998-2000 report by the United Nations Office on Crime and Drugs ranked South Africa as highest for rapes per capita, it has repeatedly been described as the rape capital of the world: 500,000 rapes a year; one every 17 seconds; one in every two women will be raped in her lifetime. Twenty per cent of men say the victim "asked for it", according to a survey by the anti-violence NGO, CIET. A quarter of men in the Eastern Cape Provinces, when asked anonymously by the Medical Research Council, admitted to raping at least once – three quarters of whom said their victim was under 20, a tenth said under 10. A quarter of schoolboys in Soweto described "jackrolling" – the local term for gang rape – as "fun".

FA Cup semi-final draw pushes United further towards season without European football... and closer to Woodward's idea of globe-trotting glamour friendlies

Sunday's FA Cup semi-final draw had giant ramifications for Manchester United despite the fact David Moyes' side will not be making a trip to Wembley this year. Father and son duo Ian Wright and Shaun Wright-Phillips announced that Hull City will play Sheffield United, with Arsenal facing a tough task against one of last year's finalists in either Manchester City or Wigan and in doing so confirmed that seventh place would no longer claim a place in next year's Europa League. Should United finish seventh it could see Ed Woodward's idea of glamour friendlies across the globe to fill weeks previously dedicated to European nights to make up the shortfall.

Central African Republic: UN launches human rights probe

The United Nations has launched a human rights investigation into the violence in the Central African Republic. Inquiry head Bernard Acho Muna said he hoped the presence of investigators in CAR would help prevent a genocide. The UN Security Council ordered the inquiry in December to identify suspects who could be prosecuted for the violence. Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict between Muslim and Christian militias. The UN's World Food Programme says that about 1.3 million people - a quarter of the population - are in need of aid. 'Hate propaganda' Some 7,000 troops - from France and African countries - have been mandated by the UN to help restore order "We have to put an end to the impunity," said Bernard Acho Muna, the Cameroonian judge who is heading the inquiry, Reuters news agency reports. He said the "hate propaganda" in CAR was similar to that in Rwanda before the 1994 genocide that killed about 800,000 people. "We don't wait until genocide is committed and then we call for prosecution," Mr Muna said at a press conference in Geneva, before heading for CAR. "I think it is in our mandate to see how one can stop any advances toward genocide," he added. Tens of thousands of Muslims have fled as Christian militias have stepped up their attacks since the forced resignation of CAR's first Muslim ruler, Michel Djotodia, in January. Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza, a Christian, has appealed for an end to the bloodshed, but with little success. The militias claim to be taking revenge for atrocities committed by mainly Muslim rebels after Mr Djotodia seized power in March 2013. Many Muslims have crossed the borders into neighbouring Cameroon and Chad, while thousands more are living in camps inside CAR. CAR is rich in gold, diamonds and other natural resources but decades of unrest and mismanagement have left most of its people stuck in poverty.

Quincy Ayodele hands over herbal business to daughter, Tobi Keeney

Foremost herbal slimming expert, Quincy Ayodele has handed her thriving Herbal treatment business Quincy Herbal Silmmers to her first daughter, Tobi Ayodele Keeney. Quincy says her business is growing expansively and requires a younger and vibrant hand to handle it. "I have decided that my first daughter should take over because she is a trained scientist. Her administrative ability is very sound. She is very effective and efficient and I am not. She is young and energetic and it would be easy for her to relate with the younger generation. I am going to step aside only when I have to. I believe strongly that she can handle it so my mind is at rest. They were born into the Herbal business they know the in and out of it so they wouldn't have any problems at all. When I started Quincy I was younger and I was able to attract my age mates then, so for her now, she is already attracting her age mates". Quincy tells City People magazine

Sections @allafrica Videos En francais Nigeria: Four Nigerian Poets Make World Poetry Anthology

Bury my books with me' - OAU student who committed suicide

The last note by Dipo Ige, the 400l law student of Obafemi Awolowo University, who committed suicide last Monday (Read it here ), was that his books should be buried with him, Punch reports. Ige was buried yesterday Sunday March 9th at his hometown in Iree, Osun State. Punch reports that in his suicide note which they obtained, Ige asked that his girlfriend should not be blamed for his death. Friends of Ige had earlier said he committed suicide because the lady dumped him. Part of the note read, “As I plan to end my life, please bury my books with me. My reason for this action is best known to me. Please don’t blame my girlfriend (name withheld). She knows nothing about this. Share my properties accordingly to…” Fresh facts, however, emerged on Sunday that Ige sent a message to his mum before his action. It was learnt that due to network problem, the message did not get to his mum until over an hour after it was sent. A close friend to Ige, who pleaded anonymity narrated, “That day about 9pm, Ige sent a text message to his mum. He told her to come to Ile-Ife immediately, adding that any delay could mean that the mum would meet him dead. “When she eventually got the message around 10pm, she immediately alerted his close friend, Bola Okiji, to check on him. Unfortunately, Okiji was not in Ile-Ife, he was at Ilesha. “The mum sent another lady living close to him to check him. The lady met Ige’s door locked. She peeped through the key hole and saw Ige, who appeared lifeless. She screamed, broke the door and raised the alarm, which attracted the neighbours.” However, Okiji insisted that his friend hung himself because of “academics love.” He said Ige was a brilliant student in second class upper grade before his death.

Sechaba Pali's wife has finally had enough

Troubled gospel singer Pali's devoted wife Julia reportedly finally had enough of his adulterous ways and trashed her own house a fit of rage. Julia Pali usually shows unwavering support for her husband, so much so that she defended him through charges of raping a minor, this despite the fact he has nine other children with other woman. But Julia is rumoured to have reached the end of her tether not long after he was found guilty of raping a minor and handed a five-year suspended sentence in October 2013. According to SundayWorld, they received confirmation from two anonymous sources that Julia went on a knife-wielding rampage in their house when she started suspecting that he was cheating on her, reportedly before also moving out and resigning as his manager. Julia apparently slashed their lounge suite with a knife and angrily broke various things around the house. When approached for comment, Sechaba admitted to his wife's angry outburst, but denied that she has left him. He said: "I had a fight with my wife last year around the time I was accused of the rape thing with the girl. Things were broken in the house. "She was angry until I apologised to her on a gospel show on TV. When we had the fight, she damaged some furniture, but it was only small things. She did not intend to, she was just angry." But Julia denies everything, saying: "It is not true. I love my husband very much. We might have had issues, but we are still together and devoted to our marriage. I am still happy and committed to my marriage." While an anonymous music promoter corroborated rumours that the couple are not longer together, saying: "I was organising a music event this year and decided to include him in the line-up of the artists performing in my show. I asked him to give me the contact details of his wife so I could send him a contract. He told me that his wife was no longer managing him because they have separate

'I Wonder' star, Bongi Mvuyana reveals delight at sin

star, Bongi Mvuyana reveals delight at single Zalebs spoke to the talented Bongi Mvuyana this week. The soulful songbird has been making waves with her new single, 'I Wonder' in recent months and with her album set to release this month, she is primed to make a big impact in South African music. Let's see what Bongi has to say about her music and her live showcases. Hi Bongi, welcome to ZAlebs. Your new single  I wonder, is doing quite well and your name is getting a lot more mention since the last time that we spoke. How happy are you wight he way things are going? I’m very happy, I’m delighted. A lot of the goals we set out as a team look like they are going to happen this year! When we last spoke you mentioned that authenticity was a big thing for you. How hard is it to maintain that when people are talking about you every day? It’s not hard, you just have to be yourself, it’s not hard to maintain who you are or to stay away from things that you don’t agree with. I think being pretentious means you have to think about what you’re going to do, what you’re going to say etc. I keep it natural, authentic and put in as little as effort as possible- which means being my complete and natural self. Tell us a little more about your private showcase on the 25th of February? Why weren’t we invited!  It was an incredible musical experience, it was a way of me allowing a select number of people into Bongi’s world. It’s a world full of beautiful music, love,  positive surroundings and great musical experiences. I’ve never had so much fun on stage. Tell us a little more about the music that will be on your upcoming album- correct me if I’m wrong it’s end of March release, right?  I’ve been told that we’re releasing another single, Gold, and the music video for I Wonder will be releasing on Friday, the actual album is dropping late march or first week of april. I think for me the album itself is about what I believe in. The music is all about love- not just the romantic light side of it- the ups and downs and depth of love. In terms of the sound, we got very experimental with our genre. It’s what I’d describe as alternative soul. We’ve seen a lot of artists, for example James Black, make a big impact with experimental and alternative sounds. Did the global influence of soul and experimental music (And its success at the moment) have an effect on the creative direction your album took? No, not really. I’ve been listening to that kind of stuff for ages and I’ve always been very experimental with my music. I’ve always enjoyed different kinds of music and that kind of attitude is what influences my sound. I don’t follow trends, because sometimes you lose your identity when that trend changes. What would you say you hope for more than anything on the album?  My hope? I hope it flies off the shelves! [Laughs] I really hope that people will relate to it. It’s been written from a very personal and real place. I hope people find something good to latch on to, or feel like they can relate. I hope that people appreciate the amount of musicianship that went into this album. I think we have really stayed true to how much we are musicians in our own right. Are you planning any tours or live shows soon? When the album drops, lots of shows are planned. We’re planning to go to Cape Town, Durban as well as here in Johannesburg. I place a huge importance on my live show, I want people to enjoy the experience and connect with me when I’m playing live. You place a large importance on your musicality. What kind of arrangement do you bring to the table when you perform live shows? I perform with my band, I am strict with that. I like to have a bassist, guitarist, a drummer, a horns guy and me; so there’s five people in my band. We have plans of extending the band to possibly about 8 people. I place great importance on the live band because I want you to have a great experience. I want a gig that will have people dancing and feeling great and enjoying the musical elements of the performance. Not everybody maybe may be musical, but music move

I deserve to win all my nominations @ VGMA 2014 – Guru

>even though last two years Guru had a couple of hits with “lapaz Toyota” being a major hit nationwide, his song was not nominated for the 2013 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. This came as a shock to a lot of music lovers in Ghana, and even to those who don’t really pay attention to the Ghanaian music industry. The song was a huge success in both Ghana and on the international market, which won him the Best Song of The Year at the City People Entertainment Awards in Nigeria.

Speaking to Guru up close and personal about his music and the upcoming Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2014, he stated that; "Last year when I didn’t get nominated or win any award when it was so obvious I should have won a couple of awards at the VGMA’s, I did not insult or disrespect the organizers of the VGMA, instead I went to the studio with a focused mind and a hardworking spirit and dropped Boys Abr3, NkwadaNkwada, let me love you and Amen, which by God’s grace were all hits nationwide; topping radio charts across the country and beyond. "All the songs I dropped last year didn’t have any line of profanity to suggest I’m informing the youth or my fans wrongly, but they are rather entertaining and motivational lyrics that inform and educate the country and the world at large. So if Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is really “Ghana Music Awards,” then the organizers should factor in the influence of a song nationwide, not only in Accra or any capital region, but also in all the villages and in the rest of the country. Which my song did all over the country for months, and still reigns." So for this and the other reasons mentioned above, I deserve to win all categories I have been nominated. Finally, he added; "I really respect the organizers of the VGMA’s and expect them to do the right thing by awarding those who clearly deserve the awards. Am not sure an artiste has to insults organizers or any media house before they are noticed or are awarded what they deserve; and even if it happened, it is not right because it proves that the organizers don’t know what they are doing and also give the awards a bad name. But as I said earlier, I respect the organizers and believe they will do the right thing by awarding me what I have worked for."

Forget Rivers state, PDP can’t win there, Amaechi tells Jonathan

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration that the PDP will take over Rivers State in the 2015 general elections. President Jonathan had in PDP rallies in Owerri, Lafia, Sokoto and most recently, Minna expressed confidence that the party would regain the five states whose governors defected to the opposition. The states are — Kano, Sokoto, Kwara, Rivers and Adamawa. But Amaechi, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Chief Tony Okocha, said over 90 per cent of the voting population in Rivers State were members of the APC. He explained that those thinking that PDP would win APC in any election in the state must be hallucinating, adding that the situation on the grounds was not favourable to the PDP. “For anybody to declare that the PDP will take over Rivers in 2015 is mere hallucination. It (PDP winning Rivers in 2015) is not possible. I cannot talk about any other state, but I am sure that APC is in full control of Rivers State. “You can see that Rivers is an APC state and they can’t take it. More than 90 per cent of the voting population in Rivers State is APC. Apart from being APC members, they are also adherents of APC. So, PDP cannot take the state away from APC,” the governor said. Also reacting to Jonathan’s declaration, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said statements credited to the President should give every right thinking Nigerian a cause for concern. He said it was particularly worrisome that the President was using the deteriorating security situation in some parts of the country to play divisive politics. He said, “What I can say is that from the President’s statement in Nasarawa where he said that they would get back Nasarawa and once they get Nasarawa, all the crisis in Nasarawa will be a thing of the past. “Is that not saying that, they know about it already? And that they are behind it? That, coming from a President is very destabilising for the country. “In other words, what the President is saying is that they are behind the crisis and the killings in Nasarawa State. “Otherwise, why would they have to wait for Nasarawa to become PDP before they put an end to the killings? Knowing full well that the Federal Government has full control of the military and the police I think Mr. President should explain to Nigerians what is happening.” Speaking in a similar vein, the Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, said unless the President was saying that he had no plans to have a free and fair elections in 2015, there was no way he (Jonathan) could return to power. He said there was no way the PDP could get the Presidency in 2015 if there was a free and fair election because the party had failed in all key indices of governance. Nyako, who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, said the President and the leadership of the PDP should look inwards for the cause of the nation’s woes because they were directly responsible for most of what was wrong with the polity. He said “Our advice to him and his party, is to look inwards and see what is going wrong around him. He is junketing and visiting traditional rulers in places where nothing is happening, he has forgot to visit places where people are being killed daily, where innocent people are being slaughtered. “He has a responsibility to the people of this country not to contest for the Presidency in 2015 but to provide leadership for Nigerians between now and 2015. “He has to secure the lives and property of Nigerians between now and then to ensure free and fair elections and ensure confidence in the democracy. These are the challenges before him; this is much more than his desperation to return to power in 2015.” When contacted, the Director of Press and Public Relations to the Kano State governor, Baba Dantiye, said comments made by President Jonathan at various party rallies were a party affair. “We believe the party (APC) is in a better position to respond to him.” In response, the National Publicity Secretary of

ghana and kenya won the night at the 2014 AMVC Awards

Ghana’s award-winning movie, ‘The Contract’ and Kenya’s ‘Nairobi Half Life’ were the big winners at the 2014 AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards held in Lagos on Saturday night. The Contract won 4 awards including Best Movie Director, Best Movie, Best writing (Drama) and Best Video Editing while, Nairobi Half Life won Best Lighting, Best Art direction, Best Makeup and Best Cinematography. Desmond Elliot and Nse Ikpe-Etim picked up the nod for Best Actor and Best Actress (Drama) respectively while Osita Iheme and Funke Akindele picked up the nod for Best Actor and Best Actress (Comedy). Full list of winners below: BEST MAKE-UP ARTIST: Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life BEST COSTUME DESIGNER: Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER: Mohamed Zain – Nairobi Half Life BEST VIDEO EDITOR: Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract BEST SOUND EDITOR: Obi Emelonye – Last Flight to Abuja BEST ART DIRECTOR: Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER: Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life BEST WRITER (COMEDY): Jigi Bello – Flower Girl BEST WRITER (DRAMA): Shirley Frimpong-Manso & Hertey Owusu – Contract BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE (HAUSA): Abba Muko Yakassai – Habib BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE (YORUBA): Mercy Aigbe – Komfo BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE (SWAHILI): Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka BEST DOCUMENTARY: Dr Gilbert Chigbo – The Deadwood BEST SHORT FILM: Walter ‘Waltbanger’ Taylaur – The Wages BEST TELEVISION SERIES COMEDY / DRAMA: Catherine Phiri – Love Games Episode 6 BEST MOVIE DIRECTOR: Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract BEST MOVIE 2013: Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Yvonne Okoro & Ken Attoh – Contract: BEST NEW MEDIA – ONLINE VIDEO: Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA: Tope Tedela – A Mile from Home BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA: Nse Ikpe-Etim – Journey To Self BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA: Bikiya Graham-Douglas – Flower Girl BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA: Desmond Elliot – Finding Mercy BEST MOVIE (DRAMA): Frank Rajah Arase – The Price BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY: Osita Iheme – The Hero BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY: Funke Akindele – The Return of Sheri Koko BEST MOVIE (COMEDY): Elvis Chucks – A Wish TRAILBLAZER Award: Michelle Bello NEW ERA AWARD: Rita Dominic – The Meeting INDUSTRY MERIT AWARD: Pete Edochie

Nigeria seeks to conquer African video games market

It's a common enough scenario in Nigeria and across Africa: how to get rid of pesky mosquitoes whose buzzing disturbs sleep and whose bites can carry malaria and other diseases. Two Nigerian start-ups have tapped this—and other aspects and quirks of daily life in Africa—to create online and mobile phone video games that are winning fans around the world. It's easy to see why "Mosquito Smasher"—which has earned comparisons to "Angry Birds", the worldwide mobile app success of recent years—might be a hit. The graphics are simple, the aim clear and the reward immediate: squash as many of the blood-sucking parasites as possible under your thumb with a satisfying "Splat!" Another, the highly popular "Okada Ride", has players guide a motorcycle-taxi driver around roadside street vendors, road-blocks and police in the notorious traffic of Lagos, a sprawling metropolis of nearly 20 million people. "What I like about Nigerian video games, it's one: the local content, because it tends to give you that everyday feel," said Chucks Olloh, 32, a big fan. "For example the 'Okada' hussle, it tells you how you ride on your bike, trying to avoid so many obstacles on your way home or on your way to work," said the computer programmer from Lagos. "Two: it's very simple. All you have to do is to gain as much points as possible and avoid the obstacles." An African flavour The worldwide video games industry, worth more than $63 billion (46 billion euros) in 2012, is expected to reach nearly $87 billion in 2017, PricewaterhouseCoopers said in a recent study. And while the African market has not figured prominently on the radar of game developers, the founders of Maliyo—the makers of "Mosquito Smasher" and "Okada Ride"—and Kuluya are hoping to change that. Both firms were launched about 18 months ago and draw inspiration from life in Lagos. Kuluya—"action" in the Igbo language of southern Nigeria—has already created some 70 games. It hopes to reach one million mobile telephone users by the end of June and has fans well beyond Nigeria's borders. "In Africa, we have a lot of downloads from Ghana, Kenya and South Africa," said Lakunle Ogungbamila, who runs Kuluya. "There was a particular game that a lot of people downloaded in Ethiopia, I'm not sure why. It's called 'Ma Hauchi': it's a hunter who is shooting vultures. A very simple game... "Also, we get a lot of downloads from China, India, Thailand, Taiwan." 'Mobile is massive' Adapting the games to the platforms that Africans use is vital, said Ogungbamila and Maliyo founder Hugo Obi. Unlike in Europe or the United States, sales of games consoles are low in Africa and there is a preference for playing on-line. Internet access comes rarely via home broadband hubs but instead—and increasingly—via smartphones. "Mobile is massive in this part of the world. It has the highest penetration, especially for Internet users. And we are exporting a lot of our games onto mobiles," Maliyo's Obi told AFP. Figures clearly show the trend in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with 170 million residents and nearly 100 million mobile phone users in 2012. In 2011, it is estimated that 46 million people used Internet, up from 2008 when there were only 11 million Internet users. Obi, who invented "Mosquito Smasher", spent 10 years in Britain running a recruitment company before returning home in 2012 to set up his on-line games company. To share Nigeria's high operating costs, with daily power cuts the norm and investment in diesel-powered generators a must, his five-member firm shares workspace with eight other companies. From an office in the Lagos suburb of Yaba, Maliyo now offers 10 free on-line games to some 20,000 users across Nigeria but also in Britain and the United States. It is preparing to launch smartphone versions of its most popular games. Expansion plans Kuluya, meanwhile, started with an investment of $250,000 but is now worth an estimated $2 million and employs about a dozen people in its Lagos office. Sitting behind large Apple Mac screens and armed with giant tablets and light pens, the creative team, all Nigerian, find inspiration from what dominates their daily life but also comb the web for information about other African countries. Along with the typically Nigerian games, their catalogue now nods to Kenyan culture with the game "Masai" and another called "Matatus", which features the minibuses that travel around Nairobi. Their "Zulu" game, meanwhile, has clear references to South Africa. For the moment, Kuluya, which is seeking new investment, earns little money from advertising. Maliyo, for its part, funds itself by creating games for businesses. The next stage for Kuluya is to introduce payment by text message for more sophisticated versions of its games.

President Barack Obama's look alike traced in indonesia

Meet, Ilham Anas, a 40-year old Indonesian photographer that has a striking resemblance with Obama that has made him become popular and a TV star in his country. He has appeared on Indonesia’s premier TV talk show, done an advertisement as Mr Obama, and received other marketing offers from companies in the region. The real Barack Obama went to school in Jakarta in the late 1960s, when his classmates knew him as Barry. Mr Anas told Reuters news agency: “I was in the airport in Malaysia in transit and a man approached me and asked: ‘Are you Obama?’. I was very surprised when he asked to take a picture together and bought me a meal.” Mr Anas was born and raised in Bandung, West Java. “I will take all the opportunities that come my way, as long as they don’t violate ethical codes and my personal values,” he told AFP news agency. And he admits that all the attention has given him something of a boost. “I’m actually a shy person. I don’t like being put in the spotlight. “I see my resemblance to Obama as a blessing. I used to look at the mirror and I had a negative perception of myself.”

Abdulsalami: 2015 elections to determine Nigeria’s unity

Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar has said Nigeria’s handling of the 2015 general elections will determine if it will remain united, indivisible and stable. He said the country was already divided within faultlines, with politicians ready to exploit them without noble objectives. The former military leader spoke in Abuja at a conference organised by Peoples Media, publishers of Peoples Daily, with the theme: “Nigeria: The 2015 question”. He described the the general election as a “watershed moment in the history of the country”. Gen. Abubakar said: “As political animals that we all are, nothing seems to have gripped the imagination of Nigerians as the issue of the coming 2015 general elections which in my view is a watershed moment in the history of our dear country. “The way we are able to handle this very important event will largely determine how successful we will be in our efforts at remaining a united, indivisible and stable country. Already, the fault lines are apparent and politicians are ready to exploit them to the fullest to achieve their sometimes no so noble objectives.” “The 2015 election is, among other things, expected to determine where power will reside for the next four years. The North is determined to have it back and its leaders are pulling all the stops to see that that happens. On the other hand, the body language of the incumbent President strongly suggests he wants another term in office.” House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said people were throwing caution to the winds with their comments ahead of the general elections. The speaker urged politicians to see power as an opportunity to leave a positive mark on governance instead of a means to enrich themselves and their cronies. Tambuwal said 2015 was in the hands of the Presidency and the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). He urged them to deliver free and fair elections. He said: “It has made our usually challenging federal system even more difficult. People from different parts of the country seem to have drawn the line on this matter and even highly respected people throw caution to the winds when they comment on 2015. “We must learn to run our government in such a manner that whoever comes to power, the rights and privileges of every citizen remains guaranteed. Once we stop seeing power as an opportunity to enrich our friends and cronies but an opportunity to leave positive mark on governance. “Yes, 2015 is indeed pregnant. But it is in our hands if we want it to deliver a bright future or a foetus of aborted hopes and dreams. The responsibility is of course first on those who hold power currently and the election umpire that we now have. If they decide to conduct fair and free elections, if the scales are not rigged, then the hope that 2015 will usher in a more peaceful and more progressive year is not in doubt.” Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, in his lecture tagged “The Metaphor of Change and the politics of 2015”, said corruption, ethnicity, weak institutions caused by poor leadership heralded the country’s political and economic history. He accused the government of President Goodluck Jonathan of institutionalising corruption. Amaechi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, blamed the elite in power for disregarding the rule of law. He said: “Currently in the present regime of President Goodluck Jonathan, corruption appears to have been institutionalised. A whopping sum of twenty billion dollars is alleged to have been missing. It smears of corruption. “Nigeria’s political and economic history is beset with ethnicity, corruption, poor and weak or lack of institutions, glorified by poor leadership. “Perhaps the most troubling aspect of our nationhood is the arrogant display by the elite of power above the rule of law.” Yobe State Governor iIbrahim Geidam urged the country to put sentiments aside and work together to overcome the killings in the Northeast. Geidam, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Abdullahi Bego, commended the military but called for more troops in the state. He said: “The military on ground in Yobe State are doing their best. But they have to do more. We have to work together irrespective of our religion, background and beliefs. Minister of Information Labaran Maku said the political class had a lot to do ahead of 2015 election. Maku, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Kingsley Osadolor, faulted the media for paying attention to politicians who make reckless comments. The minister urged the media to give attention to development news. Maku said: “The Nigerian political class has a lot of examination to do before 2015. Beyond this wall, how do we get other Nigerians to be fully behind this challenge? What we have witnessed is a grandstanding by the political elite “Overtime, the Nigerian media have given attention to reckless talks by the political elite threatening fire and brimstone to paint a picture that the country is moving towards war in 2015 instead of development news.” The Vice Chancellor, Veritas University, Bwari FCT, Prof. Mike Kwanashie blamed the political class for the problem facing Nigerian. Kwanashie noted that Nigeria may not exist if the political class fail to work together in 2015. Prof Kwanashie said: “The problem with Nigeria today is the political class. If they don’t get their act together, I don’t know what will happen in 2015. I think those who can read the signs should read the signs.”

“If My Two Children Get Killed, Life Is Not Worth Living For Me” –Patience Jonathan

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, on Wednesday appealed to Nigerian youths to always put the nation first and embrace peace to foster development in the country. Jonathan said this while receiving various youth leaders who visited the State House in Abuja as part of activities ahead of the National Youth Peace Concert. The concert is scheduled for Saturday, March 8 in Abuja. The youth leaders, who were led by three personalities, said they were at the Villa to chart a course for the concert. The three personalities included Mike Omeri, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), and Onyeka Onwenu, Director-General, National Women Development Centre (NWDC).The other one is Jude Imagwe, the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Affairs. “I invited you here today for two reasons. One of them is to work with you to make Nigeria a better place for us to live in, and the other one is to ensure our states, local government areas, regions and zones are peaceful. “No one can do it all, we need collective efforts to make Nigeria a better place to live in. Please, put the nation first, because no other country is better than ours,’’ the First Lady said. She said the concert would be a turnaround for youths as it would enlighten them on peaceful ways to co-habit with their neighbours and thereby shun violence. Dame Patience Jonathan decried the ongoing killings in Borno, saying the killing of students and other Nigerians was a dastard act as the youths are the nation’s future hope. “Today, I have two children. If they get killed, life is not worth living for me. Why will anyone therefore want to kill people’s children? No mother will like to suffer in vain. “Our joy is in the youths. You are the hope of Nigeria, the hope of tomorrow. I don’t want to lose any of you. “Please, be co-ordinated, and also be good ambassadors at the concert so that the foreigners can take good news back home about us,’’ she said.

My hubby can marry more than one wife if he wishes – Foluke Daramola

Busty Yoruba actress, Foluke Daramola remarried last year amid controversy after her first marriage to her ex-husband, Mr Sobowale crashed. Though, she was accused of being responsible for the sudden collapse of the marriage of a female pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Olubunmi, as she went ahead to get married to the woman’s husband, Kayode Salako. But in this interview, Daramola, set the record straight, wondering why any man would want to drive away his ex-wife because of another woman. She also explains why they are not in a hurry to have more children. You recently celebrated one year of your marriage, how has it been? I can’t just thank God enough for bringing my ‘crown’, Olukayode Ezekiel Salako to my life. He has made me a contented and complete woman.I feel the best I can feel in life, I am very delighted and happy for having one of the best men of our time as my hubby. In one of your Blackberry posts, you said people could not believe your marriage would last a year: why? Yes. That was what I posted. The reason for that is simply because of the controversy that surrounded our marriage and another reason is the general belief that celebrities, especially the ladies, don’t sustain their marriages. So, our marriage lasting a year is a sign that haters and critics got it all wrong about us and are shocked and surprised to see us growing stronger everyday. What’s the difference between this marriage and your previous one? Firstly, I was very naive and immature in my first marriage. I will say, I was desperate because many of my friends were getting married then and I thought marriage was the ‘in-thing’, so, I guess I didn’t really know who and what I was going into. But this one is based on spiritual conviction,true love, deep and mature understanding between two adults in love, ready to be together forever. We have both been married before and I guess that helped us to love and appreciate each other. What do you love most about him? What I love about my hubby most is his generosity,his heart and the fact that my husband is very clean in all he does. My hubby doesn’t do shady deals or things that would not dignify a responsible man, and Kayode has conscience in all he does. He’s the definition of the kind of man I will love to have in my life again and again. He’s also a very intelligent and hard-working young man and he’s an expressionist. When you offend my hubby and he’s upset with you, he just spills it out and that’s it, he will even forget you guys ever had issues in a matter of hours. Though Kayode can assert himself sometimes like most men do or tend to nag but in all, I thank God because he’s very kind-hearted and a good man. Our readers will want to know how you and Mr Salako met and got hooked? We never started out as lovers. We are both activists,my platform is called AARA, Action Against Rape in Africa,and he runs Fasholamania platform and Change Agents of Nigeria, he was just starting Change Agents of Nigeria and he needed a popular face to identify with the platform and I was introduced to him by a casual friend of both of us that knew what we both do in activism. We met and we discovered we have a lot in common, and the rest is history. There is, or was a general notion that he chased his wife away because of you? It’s not something I want to discuss, because my husband has told me sternly not to discuss his former marriage on the pages of newspapers. He’s capable of marrying more than one wife if he so wishes, so, I don’t see how or why he has to chase his wife out for me. Besides, did he chase her or she left of her own volition? or then, should I say the person my ex hubby is married to chased me out of my former home as well? Well, I decided to walk out of my former matrimonial home for personal reasons. I don’t know much about my hubby’s ex wife’s issue, he is in the best position to talk about that, though, sadists and people that are just out to look for people to join them in their misery will always want to drag my name in what’s not my business and can never be my business. My hubby is very capable of taking care of his personal business and he is doing that to the best of my knowledge. He has a perfect relationship with his ex and his children and we have a wonderful relationship too,so people should just mind their business and leave us alone. Are you going to have more children after your own two kids and your husband’s children? We are both not in a hurry, because we have five already; my hubby has three and I have two and they go to quite expensive schools. We are not under any competition for kids, even if we are going to have kids, it’s not an immediate plan,it will be later when we are both good and ready for it. For now, our focus is to give the ones we have quality lives and expand our businesses and do our humanitarian works which we believe very much in. Furthermore, I have to further my education with a doctorate degree.

oBolaji Abdullahi sacked as Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo takes over

President Goodluck Jonathan, today sacked Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi as the Minister of Sports and replaced him with Dr. Tamuno Danagogo. Abdullahi was appointed as the Minister of Youth Development by Jonathan in July 2011. He is said to have performed above average since he assumed office, and has been widely praised for his pro-active and youth-friendly approach. Recall that Abdullahi has recently been criticised by Nigerian lawmakers for abandoning the Ministry’s budget defence for an overseas’ trip.

Kim Kardashian And Kanye West To Wed In May

Published On: Thu, Mar 6th, 2014 Entertainment | By Reporter Kim Kardashian And Kanye West To Wed In May kimandkanyesplit Finally, we have a wedding date for Rapper Kanye West and reality star Kim Kardashian. The couple will walk down the aisle on 24 May. The couple, who already have one child, only got engaged in October but Kanye West seems to be so keen to make Kim his wife that he has brought their Paris wedding forward to 24 May. According to reports, the couple chose that date because it’s when astronomers are predicting a comet will burst through Earth’s atmosphere and create a brilliant meteor shower, lighting up the sky – we wouldn’t expect anything less from Kimye’s wedding! Kim, 33, recently revealed the ceremony will be a small, intimate affair, but apparently Kanye, 36, has taken the lead when it comes to wedding planning.

Sound Sultan welcomes baby boy

Nigerian singer, Sound Sultan and his wife, Farida on Monday welcomed a baby boy. The happy papa shared the news on his Twitter page hours ago with a photo of the bundle of joy. “Help me and my Family thank God. We welcome in our bouncing baby boy yesterday 3-3-14 !thanks for prayers always” he wrote. The “Jagbanjantis” crooner, Sound Sultan and Farida got married in 2009 and are already blessed with have two kids.

rapper birdman post richgang shopping site on instagram.

the american rapper posted the site on instagram a couple of minutes ago.

phyno and pquare collaborates

the new collabo by pquare and Igbo rapper phyno has finally been dropped making waves in most of the radio stations nationwide.

South Africa press review: Pistorius trial

The world media's fascination with the trial for murder of double- amputee Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is amply reflected in the coverage by the media in his native South Africa. Several newspapers have live pages online and are covering the proceedings blow by blow. But it was problems over translating the evidence of the first witness that caught the attention of Afrikaans-language daily Beeld . South African website News24 describes an "unusual start" to an "unusual" trial, saying it is the first of its kind in the country, as it involves a celebrity and a "huge international following", and requires the court to rule on media access. "The trial is scheduled to last for three weeks, but it promises to be much, much longer than that," it concludes. On the front page of daily The Star is a photograph of Mr Pistorius with the caption "Oscar screams like a woman". The headline relates to the contention by the defence that the screams Michelle Burger says she heard were those of Oscar Pistorius, not the girlfriend he is accused of murdering, Reeva Steenkamp. The paper comments: "Pistorius cut a lonely figure in the dock, his family sitting right behind him, while Steenkamp's mother, June, and other relatives sat on the opposite side of the same bench... His demeanour contrasted sharply with the emotional mess he was during his bail hearing in February last year." In Beeld, the main headline is: "Interpretation of evidence 'scandalous, pathetic'." The paper is indignant about the "poor quality of interpretation" as Michelle Burger chose to give evidence in Afrikaans. Reader Cherryl Boshoff laments that "SA can do better than this with the world's eyes on us". Another reader, Louise Roodt, is unsurprised and recalls the sign language interpreter at Mandela's memorial service. The Sowetan features prominently the denial by the justice department spokesman that there was been a problem with the interpreter used to translate for Mrs Burger. "To this end, the department is not aware of any concerns raised and would therefore allow the wheels of justice to continue to be in motion," the paper quotes him as saying. 'Nearly ideal' On the front page of the online version of the Sowetan is a picture of Mr Pistorius, with his head bowed, under the headline "Day 2: Inside the Oscar Pistorius trial". The paper also has a "wrap of all the court proceedings on one page". There, the lead story is the row over a picture of Michelle Burger being shown on TV despite her request that this should not happen. The hard copy of the paper also has the Pistorius trial on the front page with a photograph of a half-empty court taking up the whole of the top half of the page. "OSCAR WON'T RUN" is the headline. The front page of The Mail & Guardian - self-proclaimed "Africa's best read" - carries the headline "Pistorius: SA justice puts its best foot forward." Associate editor Philip De Wet says the trial "has put the spotlight on SA's justice system, which is performing better than usual". His analysis piece says that all that foreign journalists "who parachuted into South Africa... to cover the murder trial" know about the country is that it "is home to an interpreter that made a mockery of the official memorial service of Nelson Mandela, and the police seem to have a penchant for shooting people dead". He adds that they were expecting "a disorganized mess of a justice system" but feels that this is not what they found. "What South Africa put on display on Monday was very close to the ideal the system strives for - even if that is far from the daily reality in so many other courts around the country," he says. 'Not personal' The Times shares a headline and "the wrap of all the court proceedings on one page" with the Sowetan , but features a picture of the victim's mother as she stares grimly at Oscar Pistorius. In an item entitled "The circus comes to town", the paper reports on the attention Mr Pistorius is getting from the media and the public. It describes how he "had to be bundled into his family's Toyota Fortuner after photographers and passers-by shoved each other to get a photograph - or glimpse of the accused". The paper says he would not have seen ANC Women's League members outside the court chanting "Oscar's going to jail" in isiZulu. One member told the paper that they were there to "support the Steenkamp family." "We're sick and tired of women being killed senselessly", the paper quotes her as saying. The Times also notes: "News broadcasters including eNCA, Eurovision, Sky News, BBC, Al Jazeera and SABC set up gazebos and scaffolding opposite the court entrance." The paper interviews an acquaintance of Mr Pistorius's from Johannesburg Scaffolding who said the company was charging agencies and broadcasters R1000 (£55) a day for the use of the scaffolding. Mr Pistorius's "mistake is my fortune, although it wasn't personal - just business", the paper quotes him as saying.

Graeme Smith to quit international cricket

Cricket-mad Sydney has been brewing coffee to stay up late and watch a third day completely dominated by the tourists, while Smith would have had ample time in the sheds to consider his future, having been the first man out at the beginning of play.


Smith has endured a torrid time against a rejuvenated Australian side, led capably by Michael Clarke who, in stark contrast to Smith, managed to score a stunning 161 to set up the green and gold's for a long-awaited series win in South Africa, reports Xinhua.


After a historic Ashes series win in Australia, the Test team has captured the nation's sporting imagination once more, with pubs and clubs in Sydney packed out until 3.00 a.m., listening and watching the thrilling series on the other side of the world.


Alas for Smith -- a combative, aggressive captain in the traditional South African mold -- has only managed a meagre 42 runs through five innings in this series. Perhaps an indication that his powers have begun to inexorably fade.


Smith broke the news to his team-mates at the close of play on day three of the third Test at Cape Town Monday, releasing a statement that caught the cricketing fraternity off guard.

"This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life," he said in a statement.


"I have a young family to consider, and I felt that retiring at Newlands would be the best way to end it because I have called this place home since I was 18 years old."


Smith made his debut as an opener at Newlands more than a decade ago in 2002, also against Australia, making a hard-fought 68 in the combative style that would become his trademark.


It would have been a painful day for any captain to watch his side skittled cheaply on their home turf as Australia bowled out South Africa for 287, garnering a lead of 207, and added another 27 runs for no wicket before close of play.


The Aussies are in a powerful position as chief-destroyer Mitchell Johnson said that the ambition and drive remained to topple the world champions.


Johnson said: "We want to be the number one Test side," and with 98 overs due to be bowled on both the remaining days, it looks almost arithmetic that the Australians will be crowned the leading team in almost all forms of the game.


Johnson led the destruction with fiery pace bowling on a dull pitch to end the day with 4 for 42.

Why I Love Dating Older Men - Nollywood Actress Speaks Out

Lol, these actresses tho. Queen Blessing Ebiegieson is a Nollywood actress who has been acting for some time now. Queen, a mother of one spoke to The Nation Newspaper why she loves dating older men and why she has never dated any man in her age group. Considering the age bracket between you and your ex, it’s widely believed that you dated him because of his money. How will you react to this? Love has nothing to do with age, especially when it comes to true love. But we really don’t have true love here in Nigeria. A lot of women go for fancy things. Even the first man in my life was 30 years old when I was 20. He was 10 years older. That was how I started my life. I have never dated my mates or younger men. Continue after the cut.. You don’t expect me to get entangled with someone who is still in school. What if I get pregnant, who will take care of my child? Where will we live? I’m a realist. That is why I fall in love with someone whom I know can take care of my children. The wrong thing for any woman to do is to get married to anybody who can’t take care of her and her children - that is when you will start thinking of cheating. Why this unusual obsession for older men? I think that is me. Younger men don’t turn me on. If you are 25 or 30 years old and you are toasting me, then, you are just wasting your time. Maybe because I don’t really like séx and I always think they are after séx. Or maybe they don’t think the way I do. So, it’s bull shit for anybody to think I date older men because of money. That is the person’s business and I don’t give a damn.

Govt of Delta State building $57m massive shopping mall in Effurun

The Delta State Government in collaboration with Shoprite have started construction on a massive shopping mall called the Delta City Mall in Effurun, Uvwie LGA near Warri in Delta State said to cost $57million. The government said the idea of building the mall was to help improve the economic activities of the state.

The 12,000 square kilometers of fully air-conditioned shopping mall will be ready by Christmas of 2014. If you live in Delta State, Shoprite and many other stores are coming to your town. Continue to see more photos....Below is what the mall will supposedly look like when it's done

Another day, another Boko Haram attack. This time in Jakana, Borno

Over 200 people have been killed in the last two weeks in some troubled northern states by Boko Haram insurgents. Another 35 was added to that list after gunmen carrying AK47 rifles, Rocket Propelled Launchers, Improvised Explosive Devices and petrol bombs, invaded Jakana village in Konduga LGA, Borno State around 7pm yesterday Monday March 3rd.

They slaughtered residents of the community and set their homes ablaze in a raid that lasted for hours. They also burnt down shops and a police station along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road.

The attack in Jakana comes barely 12 hours after gunmen killed over 36 people including 3 soldiers in the Mafa Council area of the state.

Kissing 'straight' men. Is it a big deal?

Is there anything wrong with two seemingly straight men kissing on the lips? Photo on the left shows Diddy and Rick Ross in an embrace, like they were getting ready to kiss each other. Rapper 50 cent posted the pic on his instagram page suggesting the rap heavyweights are gay. When fans blasted him for posting it and suggesting something like that, he quickly deleted the pic.

Photo on the right shows '12 Years a Slave' director Steve McQueen and star of the movie Michael Fassbender kissing on the lips after winning Best Film at Sunday's Oscars award. The men are known to be straight men with women in their lives (Steve has two kids with long-time girlfriend, Bianca Stigter. Michael has a girlfriend) but it didn't stop people from insinuating they are gay because 'no straight man kisses another man on the lips'.

I personally would not be comfortable with some girl kissing me on the lips, but for someone who is comfortable with it, is it a big deal? Can't two straight men kiss each other? Pls share your thoughts..

Is there anything wrong with a woman not wanting to change to her husband's name?

So because prolific writer Chimamanda Adichie asked to be addressed as a Ms and not a Mrs, some people are assuming she's separated from her US-based husband, Dr. Ivara Esega?

In an interview with Sun Newspaper on Saturday March 1, Ms Adichie told the interviewer who addressed her as Mrs Chimamanda Adichie, to simply call her Chimamanda Adichie.

“Before we start (the interview), please, I just want to say that my name is Chimamanda Adichie. That’s how I want it; that’s how I’m addressed, and it is not Mrs but Miss. Ms: that’s how I want it. I am saying this, because I just got a mail from my manager this morning. It seems that there are people who attended the church service, and they wrote about it, addressing me as Mrs. Chimamanda (Esega). I didn’t like that at all. So my name is Chimamanda Adichie, full stop!”

Is there anything wrong with what Ms Adichie said? If you go back to history, African women didn't bear their husbands name until the advent of colonization. They bear their parents name. And it's especially difficult if you have already made a name for yourself with your maiden name. Thoughts?

Iyanya gets brand new Prado SUV from Solo Phones

Iyanya just got a brand new 2014 Toyota Prado SUV from Solo Phones. The SUV was presented to him this morning after a brand activation ceremony that held at Solo Phone office at computer village in Ikeja. The singer was unveiled as brand ambassador for the phone late last year. Iyanya pictured mobbed by fans as he leaves computer village. Congrats to him.

Nigerian FG recruits forest guards to fight B’Haram

The Federal Government has resorted to recruiting forest guards to assist the Joint Task Force in combating Boko Haram insurgents in the northern part of the country. Most of the insurgents are believed to be using routes cutting through forests in states like Borno, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa to smuggle arms into the country from Cameroon and other neighbouring countries. The Conservator General of National Park Service, Mr. Haruna Abubakar, told the House of Representatives Committee on Environment on Monday that the guards would help the JTF to comb the forests for hideouts of insurgents. Abubakar had appeared before the committee in Abuja to defend the 2014 budget of the agency. The NPS had been classified as a para-military agency in January this year by the government. According to Abubakar, the agency will rely on its knowledge of the country’s forest terrain to conduct sweeps with the military. He informed the committee that the agency controlled seven national parks in the country, covering about 24,000- square kilometres of land. Abubakar said, “The National Park Service has been playing a crucial role in intelligence gathering for the country’s military in the North-East and the forest bordering Chad and Cameroon.” The committee, which is chaired by Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, stated that insurgents operated camps in forests like Sambisa, Mafa, Wulgo and Kirenowa, all in Borno State. Sambisa forest camp which was said to have been first discovered during a military raid in 2013, covers an area of about 300-square kilometres. The chairman of the committee expressed concern that besides the loss of human lives and property, Nigeria was losing revenue from tourism due to the activities of insurgents. “We have to look inwards to find a way to protect our forests. “It is regrettable that our forests have been turned into havens for insurgents,” she added. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Baptist Convention has appealed to Boko Haram sect to pursue the path of peace for Nigerians to live in harmony. The sect destroyed Mainok village, about 50 kilometres to Maiduguri in Borno State and killed 39 people in its latest attack on Sunday. During a press briefing organised by NBC on Monday in Ibadan, the President of the church in Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, sympathised with the victims of the attack, adding that the church would maintain its stance against all forms of terrorism in the country. Ayokunle called on the Federal Government to step up security in the northern part of the country.

Makinde To Politicians: Guard Against US’ Prophecy Of Doom On Nigeria

Politicians have been told to prevent the American prophecy of doom on Nigeria from coming to pass next year by allowing a free and fair general election in 2015. The federal government should also implement the outcome of the coming National Dialogue. These calls were made by the retired prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Sunday Olu Makinde, while preaching at the Centenary Interdenominational Church service held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja. The clergyman, who recalled the history of Nigeria from 1914 to date with the important landmarks, said despite all the challenges the country had experienced and was experiencing now, there are many reasons why the centenary is worth celebrating. He further charged the political class against making inciting statements that threaten the country’s stability. Makinde said: “Politicians should now allow that false prophecy that in 2015, Nigeria will cease to exit by allowing free and fair elections. They should let our votes count. It is God who puts those he wants in the positions of authority. They cannot help God.” He then addressed the president: “President Jonathan, you don’t need a prophet to tell you there is insecurity in Nigeria. You don’t need a prophet to tell you there is a mass unemployment in the country. You don’t need a prophet to tell you there is a decay of infrastructure, bad roads, epileptic power supply, corruption, kidnapping, armed robbery, raping and ritual killing in the land.” He called on Jonathan to properly equip the military and other security forces with the necessary armament to win the war against terrorists. He said: “The security agencies should be well equipped with modern technological arms and ammunition. Who are the financiers of the Boko Haram? Where do they get the sophisticated weapons they are using? Where do they get the money they are using? Where do they get their food or is there a special market for Boko Haram? Security is not the business of the military alone, it is the business of everyone.” Speaking further, Makinde charged President Jonathan to expose the collaborators in the government if he wanted an urgent end to the problem. When President Jonathan was asked to speak, he invited General Yakubu Gowon who presided over Nigeria during the civil war to speak. In his remarks, General Gowon recalled the 30 months civil war and regretted the situation that led to the war among brothers and sisters. According to him, “It was not two enemies that fought the civil war. They are not enemies at all. We are brothers and sisters and we thank God for protecting the country.” He said his name, Gowon, which became the acronym for ‘Go On With One Nigeria’, was not his own making but that of the media. He recalled how he was asked by the media if he knew the meaning of his name and he responded, ‘yes’, the unnamed reporter said, “Your name means Go On With One Nigeria”. In his speech, President Jonathan faulted those opposed to why the federal government decided to hold the centenary celebration amidst bloodshed, saying in spite of the security challenges, the country has more opportunities that outweighs the challenges.

DJ Cleo taking a break from music for...football?!

Renowned music producer and DJ Cleo, whose real name is Cleopas Monyepao, during a recent interview on Power FM confirmed that he is putting his music career on hold to become a professional footballer. Speaking to Thabiso Tema, Monyepao said he has always dreamed about being a professional football player and has played before, progressing as far as under-15 Kaizer Chiefs. He had to take a break from playing when he suffered some injuries, though, and during this time started getting involved in the music business he'd later prove to be so good at. Monyepao also discussed the touchy fact that he is embarking on his soccer dream at the age of 34, but said that goalkeepers are generally much older than the rest of the players in a football team. "Keepers can go till 40," he said. The award-winning producer furthermore insisted that he didn't make the decision lightly, and took four months to finally decide "no more music, football", and that the rampant scepticism of those around him only makes him more determined to succeed. "I'm very driven," Monyepao told the radio presenter. "98.7 percent of everyone I've told that I want to play soccer, they laughed at me. One of the Sunday papers this weekend actually ridiculed me. It's such things that get me going. "All my struggles in the music industry made me realised that, once I started succeeding, I then realise I'm driven, and if you persevere, nothing will stop you from achieving what you want. "The message is, 'You can do it'. If you can dream it, you can live it." The DJ-turned-goalkeeper is currently training with BidVest United, with whom he hopes to secure a contract.

Lupita Nyong'o and Jared Leto dating?

Kenyan-born actress Lupita Nyong'o has laughed off rumours that she's dating Jared Leto. Nyong'o has been thrust into the limelight after landing her breakthrough role as Patsey in historical drama '12 Years a Slave', for which she won a Best Supporting Actress award at the Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in January. Nyong'o and Leto have both received Oscar nominations for supporting roles in a film, and rumours of a relationship between them started doing the rounds after photos appeared of the two looking very cosy at the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony. Nyong'o appears to be taking her sudden rise to fame in her stride, though, and lightheartedly discussed the rumours on The Ellen Show, where she jokingly told host Ellen DeGeneres that she thought her relationship had ended because of Miley Cyrus. "You're actually in tabloids, which means you've really made it. Because there are rumours that you and Jared Leto are together," Ellen joked during the recent show. To which the sharp actress responded: "Ah, but I thought Miley Cyrus broke us up. That was the last thing I heard." "It's crazy, 'cause when I read these rumours, they're so detailed that even I start to question whether they're true or not," Nyong'o added. "I know I've believed them in the past and now I guess I can't believe anything."

Nintendo shuttering online services for Wii, DS from 20 May

in an official blog post , the Japanese gaming giant says that services such as leaderboards, YouTube streaming and multiplayer gaming for both consoles will end. The termination of online services is worldwide. What will remain, according to Nintendo Australia is the money- making branch, namely the online stores for both the DS (including the DSi) and Wii. The following is a list of all services that will remain unaffected: Internet Channel Nintendo DS Browser Nintendo DSi Browser Nintendo DSi Shop Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Pay & Play Wii Shop Channel YouTube The killer blow, for some will be the end of online play. Top Wii games such as Animal Crossing: Let's Go to the City, Mario Kart Wii, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pokémon Battle Revolution and Battalion Wars 2 will see their last online adventures before the first half of 2014 comes to an end. As for the widely popular DS, Advance Wars: Dark Conflict, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, Pokémon Black Version (plus most other Pokémon titles for the DS) and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will see their final days of online play. As a final aside, the online services of the Wii U and 3DS will remain unaffected. But, online features for the Wii played on "Wii Mode" on the Wii U will cease, as for DS titles which run through the 3DS. So, there's no tricking Nintendo by playing the title on a system which will still support online play.