Brymo Walks with Johnnie on a Night Filled with Flavour and Jazz Beat
Nseobong Okon-Ekong reports that Afrojazz artiste, Brymo recently delivered a high-energy performance at an exclusive show tagged Johnnie Jazz and Whisky at a Victoria Island-Lagos venue called The Backyard
If he had any premonition, it was not entirely his. It may be argued that the supposed feeling of gloom was the general mood coffered by the organiser’s insistence that guests be dressed in black. Apparently inspired by the brand, Johnnie Walker Black Label, the revelry was to honour Nigeria’s independence and it was tagged, Johnnie, Jazz and Whisky-- the first in a series of quarterly jazz fusion music nights. The maiden experience held at the exclusive bar and grill The Backyard, in the heart of Victoria Island, Lagos. But Brymo started his performance with an announcement that he was feeling sad, having lost a dear one.
There was not going much talking. His songs are already loaded with striking narratives, anyway. He needed to launch into it fast. Many had waited for this moment. He read the mood correctly. He was ready, but not before teasing them.
The instrumentalists struck the tune for ‘Oleku’ the Ice Prince in which featured, but wait for it! He took them as far as the hook and dropped it off. As they thundered in encouragement (and perhaps in disappointment), he started singing ‘Ara’. This was a satisfying substitute. They turned away from the previous destination of sound that he was leading them and followed him down the new path chanting, ‘ara mbe e ti mo fe da’.
Incidentally, his band had no backup chorus girls. However, seeing the enthusiasm of the womenfolk in the audience, no one missed the official chorus party. Whatever song he came up with, they were ready to go with his lead and haul back the chorus. This was more evident in the tune, ‘Good Morning’ with the refrain, o ya sebi ayonge’ (show off like a younger woman).
His current single, ‘Alajo Somolu’ also attracted a lot of excitement as did other songs that he delivered in his inimitable style. Perhaps, the only hint that he was mourning was that he restrained himself from his usual tendency to take off his top on stage and expose his bare chest.
Brymo delivered a high-energy performance singing as if he could never lose his voice and as if he’d spent years taking detailed notes on what history’s greatest afrojazz performers had done before him.
But the show was not all about Brymo. Guests were also entertained by Mavin artiste, Johnny Drille. The Jazz Band opened their set with a scene-setting instrumental before wading into their repertoire of original and cover materials. Drille opened his set in an unapologetically soulful fashion, spreading a sense of an intimate living room performance around the venue. Label boss, Don Jazzy sat front row encouraging the crooner with every vocal note.
Guests were seated facing an art installation stage where The Jazz Band, Johnny Drille and Brymo performed. In between performances, guests indulged their palates with the Everest of the whiskies, Johnnie Walker Black Label, perfectly-paired delicious canapés. Each treat was designed to open the taste buds, bringing the flavours and aromas in the whisky to the fore.
The guest experience started at a custombuilt whisky bar where World Class Regional Champion bartender, Kelvin Oduntan treated guests to a bespoke tasting experience. The one-on-one exercise started with a quick nosing of the Johnnie Walker Black Label designed to encourage guests to discern the unique characteristics of the whisky.
From the scenery to the music to paired canapés, every moment of ‘Johnnie, Jazz & Whisky’ was carefully curated to deliver a blissful night under a starry sky.
MAJOR MATT OUT WITH TWO SINGLES
An award winning UK based Nigerian born artiste, Major Matt, returns to the music scene with two singles ‘Papi Don’t Go’ and ‘New King’. Produced by Kentee, the video was shot by popular cinematographer, Adasa Cookey.
The young man otherwise known as Mathew Olatomi Alajogun who is also an actor is currently signed to Mataan Entertainment. He teamed up with Samklef on 2 singles “Baseline & Banana Love” in 2015. He was nominated for (Best Pop Single, Best Recording and Best Commercial Single) at the Top Naija Music Awards (TNMA). His collaboration with Dj Shabsy on the song titled ‘Jobi Okoto’ recorded in 2016, sealed his endearing presence on the music scene.
The very industrious and articulate thespian started off as a basketball player before becoming the coach of a team called ‘ICMB’. Major Matt began his acting career early in Manchester United as he also bagged the City People’s Revelation of the Year award (Actor) in 2016. He then enrolled at the Met Film School London where he is acquiring the needed knowledge to be a successful actor.
Major Matt also featured in a couple of UK weekly TV series including the popular “The Red Garrote Strangler,” “Hunger Games” and many others. He has also acted alongside Hollywood star actor and director, Desheiles, an experience he says made him a better actor, ready to tackle challenges in making movies.
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC CONCERT 2.0
On Sunday, October 29 all roads will lead to the Hard Rock Café at Landmark Plaza in Oniru-Lagos for the second edition of the Alternative Music Concert, a platform promoted by Efizzi Worldwide Entertainment Company in conjunction with BmitchPanache, a bespoke brand consulting agency.
With South Africa’s MI Casa as headline act, it promises to be one of the most talked about concerts of the year. Featuring on the bill as well are Nigerian Neo soul acts like Aramide,Lindsey Abudei,Chiny Izuka and Tomi Owo.
This is the second edition of the concert the first having successfully held at the garden of Nakenohs boulevard last easter that featured performances by Falana,Temi Dollface,Diana Bada, Moyeen and Maka.
‘LARA AND THE BEAT’ STARS SEYI SHAY AND VECTOR
Following the successful debut of Banana Island Ghost (B.I.G), Biola Alabi Media in collaboration with Skylar Pictures has embarked on another production with an all-star cast that is set to be Nollywood’s most glamorous and thrilling movie yet.
Starring music superstars Seyi Shay and Vector, ‘Lara and the Beat’ is a coming of age movie about the young and beautiful Giwa sisters caught in the center of a financial scandal with their late parents’ Media Empire. The sisters are forced out of their privileged bubble, and must learn to build their own future and salvage their family’s past.
According to Biola Alabi, Founder and Managing Partner of Biola Alabi Media, “Lara and the Beat is a special project beyond what we accomplished with Banana Island Ghost. This is a movie with many layers and experiences for everyone. We and our partners are putting our best into this production. We want this production to be appealing to both our local and global audience.”
AFRIFF ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES
Organisers of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced the return of the festival for 2017.
Scheduled to run from October 29 to November 4, 2017, the annual event marks AFRIFF’s 7th season of celebrating African cinema in Nigeria.
It is a season of international collaborations for AFRIFF with the French government coming in to strengthen its commercial and artistic exchanges with Nigeria.
“The importance of AFRIFF, that is growing year after year, is a wonderful showcase for us,” says French Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Laurent Polonceaux, who described the annual event as “one of the most important film festivals in Africa.”
Interestingly, AFRIFF 2017 is dedicating two days - November 2-3, 2017 to French films
This is just as British Council, UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities is bringing the London BFI (British Film Institute) into a new partnership with AFRIFF.
Tagged ‘Film Connections’, the British Council’s partnership also aims to share knowledge and give pep to co-production opportunities between filmmakers from Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
AFRIFF Founder/Executive Director Ms. Chioma Ude announced ‘Waiting for Hassana’, a short film by Ifunanya ‘funa’ Maduka (Nigeria/US) and a feature, ‘I Am Not a Witch’ by Rungano Nyoni (Zambia) as the opening night films while ‘Felicite’, an Oscar contender by Alain Gomis (France/Senegal) is the closing night film.
Ude said AFRIFF is well prepared to host filmmakers and actors from around the world this year, noting that the festival continues to attract interests with a record of 3,232 film entries received this year alone.
She announced the films in competition which include 24 shorts, 11 documentaries and 14 feature length films, while all the films in official selection will be uploaded to the festival website on October 9.
According to British Council Head of Arts, West Africa, Ojoma Ochai, “As part of the Film Connections project, the 2017 AFRIFF will open with the screening of the Rungano Nyoni film ‘I Am Not a Witch’, on the 29th of October. There will also be screening of several acclaimed British feature and short films during the festival – showing for the first time in Nigeria, including ‘Whitney ‘Can I Be Me’ by multi-award winning British Documentarian, Nick Broomfield; ‘Under the Shadow’ by Babak Anvari, winner of the 2017 BAFTA award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer; and ‘A Moving Image’ by Shola Amoo.”
“During the two days devoted to French cinema,” says Polonceaux, “we will welcome here in Lagos, high level professionals working in the production and distribution, and last but not the least, because it is a fundamental element in the funding of the cinema industry, I particularly would like to mention the participation of David Kessler, the Managing Director of Studio Orange and the Director of Orange Content. He’s a leading figure in the French cinema industry. He was among other important positions, the former director of the CNC.”
MISS GOODWILL AMBASSADOR PAGEANT
The Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja was the venue of the recent Miss Goodwill Ambassador for Peace Beuaty Pageant. The event was also used to recognize men and women who have contributed to building a more peaceful Nigerian environment.
Award recipients included Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu who was represented by Alhaji Umar Farouk. Other awardees were Williams Babatunde Fowler, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Chief of Army Staff who was represented by Major Gen. M. Mohammed. From the entertainment sector, the awardees were Seyi Law, Ice Prince, Moses Nowkedi, better known as Big Mo of Wazobia FM. Awardees from the private were John E. Mukoro, President and Founder of McCarthy and Martha Mukoro Foundation among others.
The entertainment package at the event included a session f comedy and musical rendition by Stylplus. The contestants provided a different kind of entertainment each time they made an appearance on the stage-at different times in Nigerian ethnic costumes and evening wear.
Contestants for the top prize were reduced to 11. Miss Edo emerged Miss Ambassador for Peace in Africa, while Miss FCT went home with the most valued crown as Miss Ambassador for Peace Nigeria 2017.
WOLE OJO, ODUNLADE ADEKOLA, OTHERS STAR IN ‘HASHTAG 40 MILLION’
Nollywood actors Hafiz Oyetoro (Saka), Odunlade Adekola, Wole Ojo, Kunle Bamtefa, Mary Lazarus, Niyi Johnson, and a host of others are some of the faces that will be seen in the new production of ADDPEC Media World International ‘Hashtag 40 Million’.
Already in production, the film is directed by Tunde Olaoye and shot in the serene environment of Lekki, Lagos.
According to the executive producer, Mr. Adeshina Akinyosade, the production which engaged about 35 experienced and notable film crew members, 10 Nigerian rated actors and approximately 20 additional upcoming movie talents promises to be an industry hit in content, production and all ramification.
“‘Hashtag 40 Million’ is a strong metaphor for human unending chase for what is not real at the expense of reality. The product is embedded with great details, quality characters, comedy, action, suspense,great expectations and didactic lessons”,he enthused.
Akiyosade added that the movie which happens to be the company’s third production in Nigeria was supported by the likes of Growing Circle International Limited, Wesco Pools, Lotto and Peculiar Properties Limited.
In his remark, Olaoye described the flick as perfect for the cinema.
“We have very good actors on set. The title of the story is more or less like a decoy to the story itself. The crux of the story is how genuine love triumphs over infatuation, how hatred can transform to love, how love heals the past,” he said.
Popular actor, Wole Ojo, plays the role of Ola, a young man who finds himself at crossroads.
“Ola is a regular guy, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Due to circumstances, he finds himself doing certain things that compromise his beliefs and views about life. It’s a character that did not necessarily have much dialogue, but more of expressions”, Ojo hinted about his character.
SIMI CELEBRATES WITH #CHILLWITHSIMI EVENTS
The first one held last month to celebrate notable feats of her new album Simisola which ranked No. 5 on USA Billboard World Albums Chart, topping iTunes and Apple Music charts in Nigeria, Ghana, and Gambia.
At the maiden meet-and-greet session titled #ChillWithSimi, the singer spent time with her loyal fans, staying true to her promise to keep her fans - The SimiArmy - happy through her music.
Subsequently, #ChillWithSimi took place on Independence Day - October 1 - at The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki to commemorate the country’s special holiday, as well as entertain and interact with her fans in a truly enchanting musical atmosphere.
The gifted and charming singer plans to continue to captivate and expand her fanbase with her fascinating vocals and songs, along with more upcoming #ChillWithSimi events within and outside of the country. She will be taking the event to Ghana, Uyo, Abuja, Ibadan, and Ilorin in the coming weeks.