Author Archives: Stacy Ketiku

Legendary hip hop singer, Innocent ‘2baba’ idibia broke down in tears while paying tributes to late singer, Sound Sultan during his special performance at the Nigerian Entertainment Industry (NECLive9), on Friday, April 29, 2022.

Sound Sultan passed away in 2021 and in a bid to keep his memory alive, a new album in his name is expected to be released alongside a merch line.

2Baba who performed a special song in honour of his late friend walked out of the stage in tears mid-performance.

 

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The African creative and entertainment industry has come a long way in the last decade. Concerts are outsold, and Nigerian entertainers and Africa are winning global awards.

Speaking at NECLive9, Tee-Y Mix, one of Nigeria’s top music producers, while acknowledging the industry’s growth, pointed out the need to institutionalise the entertainment and creative industry.

Speaking on a panel session titled Global opportunities for African entertainment alongside Sam Onyemelukwe and Osi Suave, the music producer said there is need to formalise the industry.

“Afrobeat movement is happening now. I’m hoping that we will be able to sustain it. But what happens when the movement moves away from Afrobeat?”

The music producer pointed out that in the past, the most sought after music was reggae. It moved away from that.

“At some point, it was reggae. At one point, it was Latin music. Now it’s Afrobeat. What we will do when that circle rolls by, and the attention is not on us again? What we have put in place determines the growth and suitability of the industry.”

He insisted that Nigeria’s entertainment industry is way bigger than one or two persons being popular on the world stage.

“We need to support our own structure. The Nigerian creative and entertainment industry is bigger than one or two persons being popular beyond Nigeria. The industry is way bigger than that.”

Highlighting the role Nigerian entertainment industry in building its own structure, he maintained that the industry should tell its own story, celebrate itself more and then take the movement to the world stage.

“For instance, we need to get to that stage where CNN will be able to give us a time slot for the Headies.”

NECLive is an annual gathering of African entertainment and creative industry experts were to convey to share ideas and ponder how to grow the African entertainment industry.

Debo ‘Mr Macaroni’ Adedayo has called on Nigerian creatives to use technology to drive social change particularly ahead of the 2020 general elections during his keynote speech at the ninth edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive)

Mr Macaroni who rose to popularity through his online skits as well as his social and political activism, particularly for his anti-police abuse campaign, spoke at the conference which took place at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.

The comedian and actor who has used social media and tech as a basis for the production and distribution of his skits recalled his own role in the EndSars protest and how tech helped to give it much needed attention.

He said that although the primary function of entertainment is to amuse, there is now a burden on the artiste to use his art to cause societal change.

“I am doing my part by using my art to call attention to things that need to be corrected in Nigeria. We must all do our part.”

Mr Macaroni who was nominated for the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) Best Online Social Content Creator, said while some people may not find this form of art funny, its message has already been passed.

The conference themed ‘Sustaining The African Momentum focused on the economic power for self and country, opportunities via communities of Africans in the diaspora and the social impact and development through entertainment.

Ayeni Adekunle, the convener of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive), has said the current growth of the entertainment industry must reflect on the local economy.

Speaking at NECLive9 which took place at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos on Friday, Adekunle said he feels a sense of fulfilment with the growth recorded so far.

He said: “What we saw at Maddison Square where Burna Boy performed is what NECLive is all about. We are getting nominated for Grammys, We have musicians and actors that are now big deals not just in Nigeria but across the globe.

“The essence of NECLive is to share ideas and collaborate as we build the industry of our dream.”

The NECLive convener said that a decade ago, this development would only have been best imagined but now, it has become more than a reality.

He said: “A decade or two ago, our artistes would not be seen headlining a show abroad or being the main face of Billboard magazine.

“The dream when we started NECLive in 2013 is being lived now. What we are witnessing today in fashion, music, art, movie industry is still in its early days. Some of those that will make it happen are here today. The growth of our music and movie and fashion must benefit the local economy.”

NECLive9 is West Africa’s biggest and longest-running entertainment conference. The conference, which started in 2013, convenes entertainment and creative industry professionals from across Africa.

ID Africa has confirmed News Central TV as a partner for the ninth edition of the Nigerian entertainment conference, NECLive.

News Central TV is a television station owned by Anthony Dara and operates from their head office in Lagos where they serve their audience with stories on politics, business, sports, nature, eco-diversity, lifestyle, and other inspiring features all enabled by digital technology.

With this in mind, the station is committed to bringing Africa to the world by telling the true African story from an African perspective, using diversity, creativity and technology. 

News Central TV would be joining a long list of affluent brands to partner with NECLive for a progressive discussion on the theme, ‘Sustaining The Africa Momentum.’

NECLive9 will hold on Friday, April 29, 2022, at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos and it will be broadcast live on Hip TV (DStv and GOtv) and online platforms. 

Other confirmed partners include Big Cabal Media, Legit, MTV Base, Hip TV, Trace TV, 7even Interactive, Landmark Centre, AV Edge, Huce Valeris, BHM, Plaqad, GreenRoom, Mirus Events, African Movie Channel, X3m Ideas, Hit FM, Beat FM, Naija FM, Classic FM, Top Radio, and Pinpoint Media.

NECLive9 would also include a host of industry experts like Anyiko Owoko from Kenya, actor and comedian Mr Macaroni, founder of ChessInSlums, Tunde Onakoya, Dr. Busola Tejumola, the Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, TV host and filmmaker, Bolanle Olukanni, Broadcaster Osi Suave, Sam Onyemelukwe, media executive, Broadcaster Mozez Praiz and more.

Registration is open until April 22, and there will be no manual registration at the venue. Register here to be part of it.

Obi Asika, creative industries entrepreneur and Nigerian Idol Season 7 judge, will speak at the ninth edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive) on April 29th, 2022.

The founder and CEO of Storm 360, an indigenous music label, and founding partner of Dragon Africa, a strategic communications firm is renowned for his significant influence in Nigeria’s music industry and is prominent for laying the infrastructure for the growth and development of the media and entertainment industry. Obi Asika music label spawned talented entertainers like Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix.

At NECLive9, Obi Asika will engage other creative geniuses in the industry on how to sustain Africa’s momentum in the entertainment space. Some of the like minded-gurus Asika will be discussing with include Anyiko Owoko from Kenya, actor and comedian, Mr Macaroni, founder of ChessInSlums, Tunde Onakoya, Dr. Busola Tejumola, the Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, Aline Gahongayire, Rwandan gospel music star, Broadcaster Osi Suave, Sam Onyemelukwe, media executive, Broadcaster Mozez Praiz and more.

The conversations will explore how African creatives and entertainers can use digital media and technology tools to build sustainable economic power for themselves, the industry, and their nations, opportunities via communities of Africans in the diaspora and social impact and development through entertainment.

The special hybrid event, NECLive9, will be held at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos and simultaneously broadcast live on Hip TV (DStv and GOtv) and online platforms.

NECLive9 is organised by ID Africa in partnership with AV Edge, MTV Base, African Movie Channel, 7Even Interactive Limited, MultiChoice, Trace TV, X3M Ideas, Legit.ng, Mirus Events, Naija FM, The Beat FM, Classic FM, Huce Valeris, The GreenRoom Nigeria, Landmark Centre, Plaqad,  and BHM.

Registration is open until April 22, and there will be no manual registration at the venue. Register here to be part of it.

Crown Troupe of Africa is confirmed to perform at Nigerian Entertainment Conference (NECLive), West Africa’s most significant and longest-running entertainment gathering.

A vital stakeholder in the entertainment industry, Crown Troupe of Africa, is a total-theatre company committed to awakening people’s consciousness to the social issues that affect them through their live theatre entertainment performances.

Crown Troupe of Africa has performed on many significant stages, including Contacting The World, an international youth theatre festival hosted by Manchester-based Contact Theatre in 2002. The creative artistes will perform at NECLive9 on Friday, April 29, 2022, at  Landmark Event Centre in Lagos. 

At the pan-African event, entertainment industry stakeholders will engage in intellectual conversations, network, and proffer solutions to some of the industry’s challenges in line with the Conference’s theme: ‘sustaining the Africa momentum’.

The conversation will focus on economic power for self and country, opportunities via communities of Africans in the diaspora and social impact and development through entertainment.

Speakers already confirmed for the event include Anyiko Owoko from Kenya, actor and comedian, Mr Macaroni, founder of ChessInSlums, Tunde Onakoya, Dr. Busola Tejumola, the Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice, Aline Gahongayire, Rwandan gospel music star, Broadcaster Osi Suave, Sam Onyemelukwe, media executive, Broadcaster Mozez Praiz and more.

NECLive9 is organised by ID Africa in partnership with AV Edge, MTV Base, African Movie Channel, 7Even Interactive Limited, MultiChoice, Trace TV, X3M Ideas, Legit.ng, Mirus Events, Naija FM, The Beat FM, Classic FM, Huce Valeris, The GreenRoom Nigeria, Landmark Centre, Plaqad,  and BHM.

Registration is open until April 22, and there will be no manual registration at the venue. Register here to be part of it.