Years after leaving the industry for the reasons best known to her, star actress, Lola Margret has returned into acting. Some years back, the sexy actress stated in one of her interviews that she will quit acting as soon as she get a right man to marry which could have been what really influenced her absence in the Yoruba movie industry,but it is rather unfortunate that we couldn’t hear a marriage bell ringing from her side. She recently bounced back when she played a lead role in a movie titled ‘Agbanipa” Killer. She has also featured in some other flicks which are yet to be released.

wonder they say shall never end, that is what aptly illustrates the action of star actor, Kunle Afod in a recent picture. this is indeed abomination in Yoruba culture. Though, some people especially those looking for the fruits of the womb do back goat or any other pet to market for spritual spiritual. But it came as shock when  Kunle Afod who has 3 bouncing baby boys was spotted in the public backing goat and his picture was taken. The picture has made his fans wondering but I want to believe that this is from a movie location and if it is not,Afod,kindly make it known to us what influenced this ooo!

Queen of creativity

Sexy actress, Sola Kosoko has rubbished the force news flying around that she has put to bed a bouncing baby girl yesterday. According to what Yorubamoviegist.com gathered, the actress’ Facebook account was hacked and the hacker shared the fallacious news that she has just delivered a baby girl. The hacker also shared the link of the fake news with her sister, Bidemi Kosoko’s which made many people believed it was real. Sola disclaimed the fact in an exclusive chat with our source today. Check below photos for the chat.

The African Union Commission (AUC) will unveil this year’s programs and calendar of the annual continental awards, All Africa Music Awards tagged “AFRIMA 3.0” at an AUC-AFRIMA music/cultural and media conference scheduled to hold on May 21-25 during the commemoration of the 10th African Union Youth Charter in Banjul, Gambia.

At the event, the AUC and the international Committee will reveal the dates and timelines for submission of entry and Guidelines, adjudication process, public voting and nominees’ announcement for the 2016 edition of the awards as well as dates for this year’s main AFRIMA Award ceremonies.

In a letter of invitation addressed to AFRIMA delegates from the African Union Commission (AUC) signed by Dr Marie-Goretii Harakeye, the Acting Director of Social Affairs, it states that the conference will bring together award winning music stars, creative/entertainment industry stakeholders, cultural enthusiasts government officials, corporate sponsors, and media practitioners among others.

There will also be a robust and intellectual session on the theme: “Using Music, Culture and Entertainment as Tools for a New Africa”. It will be a forum for discussion on how to engage the values and spirit of Pan-Africanism for greater collaborations in culture and music for sustainable development, in line with the African Union cultural agenda for peace, integration, democracy, economic advancement and social development.

The 10th African Union Youth Charter Conference featuring a high level roundtable and intergenerational dialogue and cultural presentations will witness a convergence of participants including President, Islamic Republic of Gambia, His Excellency, Sheikh (Dr.) Yahya Jammeh Babili Mansa; Vice President Dr. Isatou NjieSaidy; Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Alieu K. Jammeh; Commissioner for Social Affairs, Africa Union Commission, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko; and President, Pan African Youth Union, Ms. Francine Muyumba.

Others include Director, Culture Division, Africa Union Commission, Ms Angela Martins, Chief Brand Strategist, PRM Africa and President/Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada; members of the International Committee of AFRIMA; Africa Union Commission executives, AFRIMA 2015 award winners representatives that include Award Winner in the Best Collaboration category in 2015, AKA (South Africa); Revelation of the African Continent, Adekunle Gold (Nigeria); Best African Rock, M’vula (Angola); Best Artiste in African Reggae, Ragga and Dancehall, Stoneboy (Ghana); Best Female Artiste in Eastern Africa, Tsedenia (Ethiopia); Best Artiste in North Africa, Ahmed Sultan (Morocco), and Best Artiste in Central Africa, Stanley Enow (Cameroon) among others.

Speaking on the event, Mike Dada said: “The cultural and media conference organized by the African Union Commission and AFRIMA holding during the 10th African Youth Charter in Banjul is to provide a platform for music practitioners, recording artistes, cultural experts, policy makers, corporate sponsors and media practitioners working in the creative and culture sectors to interface within Africa’s rapidly evolving music scene and contribute to its transformation narratives.”

That Yoruba Movie Marketers fell on bad times is no longer news as the market faces crisis. In one of our recent posts, we wrote that the marketers have been sabotaged by the dreadful CD buccaneers which are drawing back the market from moving forward.
The report from Yorubamoviegist.com then was that, “it seems that the era of home video will soon come to an end as the Association of the Yoruba Movie Marketers has hit hard time. A few years ago, precisely in August 2014, the Yoruba Video Film Producers/Marketers Association of Nigeria (YOVIFPMAN) relocated the film market from Idumota to the International Standard market of The Arena Shopping Complex at Oshodi in Lagos. Since the inception of Nollywood, Idumota has been the number one movie market in Nigeria, and the main motive behind the decision to move to Oshodi was to enable them battle the dreadful and deadly piracy which seems to be the biggest threat not just to Yoruba movie industry alone but Nigeria entertainment world as a whole.
We gathered that the marketers are no longer making sales after release of movies, and away from that, the unsold ones popularly known as portal which is sold for #100 weeks after its release are no longer selling as well and the reason behind it was as a result of piracy.
Immediately the movies are released on Monday morning which will be sold for #200 inside Arena, the pirated copies will also come out in the afternoon where 18 newly released movies will be packed in one CD for just #100. Psychologically, it is cheaper and people rather will go for it than to buy a movie for #200. This, we learnt has gradually affected the pace and regularity of sales from the side of the marketers which in turn has affected the usual 2-week pace of movie release.
Information further revealed that the marketers are running at loss at every release and they can no longer pay the brains behind the production such as Printers who made the CD jacket and posters, Film Editors and of course the movie producers which influenced the act of inviting Soldiers and Policemen to arrest some of the marketers before the producers can get part of their payment.
The replicators, we learn’t have increased their payment as the CD which was normally N20 now goes between 27 and #30 per copy, and the jacket which was #7 has risen to #13 per copy including posters. Some of these marketers are already lamenting especially after release but it is rather unfortunate that most of them have no alternative. This, has ultimately reduce the numbers of marketers releasing movies to less than 15 rather 22 fortnightly. We also scooped that most marketers are now forcefully going on leave while others are taking into music marketing. Some of these marketers, we learnt have been rejecting movies from producers, and in actual sense, if marketers are now rejecting movies from Producers, that means the era of home videos in the Yoruba movie industry will become extinct”.

Based on the above listed reasons, the marketers have finally decided to be releasing their movies in DVD which means it will be only one CD in the jacket rather than VCD which carries 2 CDs in a jacket to minimize cost of production. The latest development started a few weeks ago when virtually all the marketers released their new movies in DVDs.

Whenever the name Odunfa Caucus, the foremost Yoruba movie clique is mentioned only 3 names readily comes to mind. It is usually that of Yinka Quadri, Ogogo and Abbey Lanre.  But there is a 4th person who is the PRO of the group. He is Alhaji Abiodun Kakawa.

A few days back, Kaka, spoke with a popular entertainment newspaper publisher in Lagos where he talked about his life and how Odunfa Caucus came to be. Read on.

People only hear your name, Kaka. Who is this tall and huge man every one simply calls Kaka?

My name is Chief Jamiu Abiodun Ayinde Kakawa, from Kakawa-Woduba Chieftaincy family of Lagos State. I am from that popular Kakawa family of Lagos Island. And by the Grace of Almighty Allah I am the Kakawa elect, Chief Kakawa of Lagos. I attended Sumatu Islam Primary School in Lagos Island.  I later went to Holly Saviours College, Isolo with Oba Kabiru Osolo Adelaja from there we started together with Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde. I was his 1st Public Relations Manager from 1979  to 1992. Later on, I just sat down with Ogogo, Yinka, Lanre, everybody. That is how this Odunfa Caucus started. That is how God said Amen to our prayers.

How do you see the theatre business then?

In those day, the older actors usually find it difficult to come together to do things, to show themselves story ideas.

But these guys are different. Up till now if Yinka in working on a story line he will call Ogogo and show him. He will call Abbey Lanre to ask for ideas.

That was how the whole group evolved. Even some of our seniors comes to us for ideas or for some members to join them for movies. Oga Bello sometimes calls on us. Jide Kosoko does the same. Even when they have come up with ideas, they can seek for our opinion. That is how the caucus has grown.

The other directors of the caucus commended you for being accommodating. How easy was it for you to accommodate them?

Since I was young I have always had a lot of young people with me. I used to hang around people like Alhaji Musiliu Obanikoro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, they used to come here. As some come, they go and new people come. But when this guys came here, they stayed back and they started theatre business and more and more people joined them.

May be because of the Public Relations job I learnt with Wasiu Ayinde that has helped. My philosophy of life is everybody is somebody. Don’t forget that I was one of the first set of people to package Musliu Haruna Ishola in Lagos when City People hosted him a few years ago.

Tell us how you handle the PR of Odunfa Cancus?

We thank God that we were able to build a name for all of us. We distinguished ourselves as a force to reckon with. The 4 of us have built a good name for ourselves. Just mention our names and people will tell you Yinka Quadri, Ogogo, Abbey Lanre are big names in the industry.

That is part of the success story of Odunfa Caucus.

What the next level for Odunfa Caucus?

That lies with God. It is in Gods hands. When we sat down to plan, we decided that we would not just celebrate 30 years of Odunfa Caucus by dancing and merriment, we need to do things that will strengthen this Caucus for surviving this long.

When we started Odunfa Caucus, caucuses like Menran, Iyesi and other were existing but some have disappeared. But thank  God, we still exist today. To God be the Glory a lot of actors and actress have passed through here  like Bisi Komolaye, Bisi Ibadapo Obe, Sir K Kamoru, Saidi Balogun, and others. We now decided that with 30 years of Odunfa Caucus, we should lay a foundation to build a place in the next 6 months. Yoruba Institute of Acting or something like that. We can build that and now modenise it so that students can get certificates when they graduate. We thank God.  We did a fund raising recently and we able to raise some funds. With the assistance of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ganiyu Odesanya Oloto, we know we will be able to give us land around here because we don’t want to leave this Mainland.

It is no longer news that star actress, Lola Alao is bereaved as the actress lost his dad,Pa Lasisi Alao aka Baba Soldier into the cold hands of death. He died on 23rd March 2016 at age 75. The latest gist about it now is that the Ale Ariwo’s star,Lola and the entire family of Alao have picked Sunday July 10th 2016 a date for the final burial which holds at the new Lekki Coliseum, 14,Providence Road, Lekki Phase 1,Lagos Nigeria by 10am. Music by K1 De Ultimate.

In less than a year, Toyin Aimakhu has successfully made herself the talk of the town. From her marriage breakup with Adeniyi Johnson to her complicated relationship with Seun Egbegbe which finally hit the rock, then her semi-flopped Tv reality show, her school academy and now Seun Egbegbe’s detention for threatening her.

Without being biased here, we can say Toyin Aimakhu is Nollywood’s number 1 most controversial Yoruba actress, even though she tries as much as possible to hide it by engaging in new activities which eventually ends up failing. Well, some says she should stop trying, maybe take a break off social media or a break off men.

Seun Egbegbe has been doing nothing but tarnishing her image ever since she publicly released a disclaimer letter, officially dissociating himself from Toyin Aimakhu. Even though they have settled, the damage has already been done.

Adeniyi Johnson never got over his public humiliation thanks to Toyin Aimakhu who accused him of cheating severally and has been riding solo ever since.

The atmosphere is calm now but personally i believe if Toyin Aimakhu could go back and rewrite her past, here are two mistakes she should have avoided:

Marrying Adeniyi Johnson when she wasn’t certain she could stick through the hard and challenging times.
Rushing back to her ex,Seun Egbegbe a few weeks after her marriage collapsed.
No doubt she has made several other mistakes but the name Adeniyi Johnson and Seun Egbegbe are now names that would be associated with her no matter how hard she tries to dissociate.

-Modupe Abioye

This is a story of 3 popular families who at all times rocking the Yoruba movie Industry according to Yorubamoviegist.com’s research. There are many families in the industry who are also doing well but this certain set of families are obviously the peak of the sector. They are:

ADEBAYO SALAMI’S FAMILY

Adebayo Aremu Salami popularly known as Oga Bello was born on May 9, 1953 in Lagos, but he’s a native of Ilorin, Kwara state. He started acting at the age of 11 in 1964 with a group called Young Concert Party. He led late Ojo Ladipo’s Theatre Group which was later named Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group.
Bello was inspired by watching Television series peoduced by late Huber Ogunde called the Village Doctor.
His first appearance was in a Yoruba film by Dr. Ola Balogun titled Ajani Ogun, where late Ade Love played the lead role. Apart from that, Adebayo has many children amongst who are also in the Yoruba Film Industry. They are Omolara Adebayo, Femi Adebayo, Sodiq Adebayo, Kemi Adebayo and his oldest wife, Risikat Ejide, the CEO Ejide Movie Production. Femi and his elder brother, Wale first acted In the yesteryears’ movie titled Owo Blow by Tade Ogidan. Sodiq is a location manager and he produces movies. In Adebayo family, there are movie producers, director, actors and actresses as well as marketer. The family has the largest number of people in the industry. It is very easy for them to produce movies which ultimately made them number one family dominating Yoruba movie genre.

AFOLAYAN FAMILY
Another family on this list is the popular AFOLAYAN FAMILY: it all started with their late father, Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), in his lifetime. The foremost filmmaker raised a lot of bars. Asides acting, his vocal dexterity was also a plus, he produced soundtracks for movies before he died. He was one of the greatest film makers in Nigeria. Even before his death, the late movie icon initiated some of his children and family members to his line of business and his good will is still working well for them. In Afolayan Family, virtually all Ade Love’s children are into acting. Not just to act but to produce, sing and make sound tracks for movies like their dad. To start with is his first son, Kunle Afolayan who became popular after he played the role of Arese Jabata in Saworo Ide by Mainframe Production. Today, Kunle is one of the successful actors in Nigeria. He’s rated among filmmakers who produces big project movies not only in Nigeria but worldwide. Kunle, Aremu, Gabriel, Moji as well as their aunty, Toyin Afolayan a.k.a Lola Idije are hosting their father’s colourful flag. And there’s this touch of style and excellence in what they do.

EYINWUNMI FAMILY

This family definitely needs no introduction if you are conversant
with Yoruba movies’ adverts because each time the film they featured  is being advertized, names like Murphy Ray Lasun Ray, Mukah Ray, Mama Ray, Baba Ray will be mentioned while their fans still waiting for Children and Grandchildren Ray to make the list. Their late father, Eyinwunmi Ray was a great pioneer of the Yoruba theatre industry before moving to home video. After his death, his children took over and ever since then, they are tremendously doing well for themselves.

It was indeed a great day for one of the leading Yoruba movie marketing companies in Arena Oshodi Lagos, Okiki Films and Music Productions as the organization bagged 10 Awards at the most talked about Islamic Music and Associated Nominees (IMAN) Awards ceremony held at Quadosh Event Center, Ikeja,Lagos on Sunday 22nd May 2016. The respected film/music production outfit under the chairmanship of Sunday Esan won 3 different categories including Best Islamic music marketer of the year,
Best Islamic music promoter of the year and a Special Recognition award for supporting Islamic Artists. While Esan was still celebrating the 3 awards, some artistes and crew members under Okiki Films platform also got another 7 awards and they are Rukayat Gawat,(Best Islamic Female Artiste of the year 2016), Alhaji Basit Aponle Anobi,( Best New Islamic Male Artiste of the Year) Gbemisoke ( Best Upcoming Male Artiste of the Year) , Omotayebi ( Face of Islamic Music 2016) Sule Alao Malaika’s Iya Mi album won (Best Collabo of the Year) Saheed Oyeledun got the (Best Islamic Video Editor of the year) and Dare Saka who won the Best Islamic Video director of the year.

Exactly a year after he gave out series of exotic cars to Nollywood stars to mark his birthday, renowned Abuja pastor, Joshua Iginla, the Senior Pastor of Champions Royal Assembly, Kubwa,
Abuja, Nigeria has been reported to have  on Sunday gave out 32 cars to another set of showbiz stars especially in the Yoruba movie industry of
which were 16 SUVs to celebrate his birthday. Iginla, we also gathered
gave out money running into several millions of naira to
the aged, widows, orphanages and scholarships to
orphans from nursery school to university.
Six Nollywood actors and actresses got Hummer jeep 3
series, Mercedes G-Wagon and Mercedes CLS 550. They
includes Jide Kosoko, Francis Duru, Alex Usifo, Ngozi
Osondu, Thelma Nwosu and Sunday Omobolanle,
popularly known as Babaluwe. Artisans got generators
and cash gifts while the widows got deep freezers, rice
and cash gifts ranging from N150,000 to N1.5 million.
Treasure Orphanage Foundation, Nyanya, Divine Wound
Orphanage, Kubwa and Christ Home Foundation, Kuje, got
N1.5 million each and rice while some orphans in the
homes were awarded scholarships from nursery to
university. Iginla said he had 782 widows and orphans he
caters for. “It doesn’t matter to me if I trek home as I
have given even the car that I personally drive. “I can only
drive one car and live in one house at a time.
This understanding is what has taught me that when I die,
others will inherit my assets. “The beauty of life is not in
its duration but in its donation. I have not seen some of
the beneficiaries before in my life or spoken to them. “I’m
seeing many of them for the first time today. I am seeing
Jide Kosoko for the first time”, he said. Iginla also said he
gave cars to the Nollywood actors because many of them
were poor but people erroneously think they were rich.
According to him, the fruit of the Nollywood artistes were
being reaped by pirates and challenged government to do
something to arrest it.
“The Nollywood actors and actresses are our
ambassadors; they have projected the image of this
country positively”, he said. Kosoko, who confirmed he
was meeting Iginla for the first time, commended him for
his philanthropy. Iginla had, in 2015, given 18 cars and
millions of naira as birthday gifts to people to celebrate
his birthday.