Entertainment/Arts/Culture
“Slum King”, my Most Challenging Project-Tobi Bakre
Tobi Bakre, the lead of Africa Magic’s new crime series, ‘Slum King’, on Saturday said the movie production was his most challenging project so far as an actor.
Bakre, a two-time Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) ‘Best Actor’ winner, disclosed this while speaking during the preview of “Slum King”, in Lagos.
He said that the production was hectic as he had to read through the Bible as his script and shoo for two months at a strech, unlike every other movies he had featured.
“This is my most challenging project so far, the first time I was given a Bible to read as my script but I’m proud and confident to be part of this. Africa Magic, you created greatness, thank you.
“Delivering my role was very hectic in Slum King, this was a longer project, we shot for two months, everyday doing a lot of work which was emotionally and mentally sapping but as a professional, I ensured I delivered my role appropriately.
“I acted as Edafe, a young guy who had to go through unfortunate circumstances, losing his parents and entire family at a very young age and life just changed in a twinkle of an eye,” he said.
Bakre described himself as a self driven fellow who is optimistic to be one of the greatest actors out of Nollywood.
Speaking on his work relationship with his colleague on the job, Olarotimi Fakunle, who acted as Bale, Bakre described Fakunle as a great and amazing actor.
“Olarotimi is a great actor, one of the best actors I have worked with till date. He is so amazing and he is an open book, he is ready to teach and I feel even beyond acting, he should be a producer, director and a lecturer when it comes to this space of acting.
“We had a brotherly interpersonal relationship, I learnt a lot from him and he is also humbly open to learn too,” he said.
Commenting on the morals the series relayed, Bakre said, “I’ve learnt a lot of life lessons stepping into the shoes of Maje, as we are all victims of our circumstances and what becomes important are the decisions we make when trying to get out of them.
“The people you see on the streets are also human beings, collectively, we can work together to build a better community for ourselves.
“And generally, we should all spread love and empathise with one another.”
Earlier, Busola Tejumola, Executive Head of Content, West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, said that the first episode of the series would be aired on Oct. 8, on Africa Magic Showcase by 8.00p.m, after which it will be showcased every Sunday on DStv channel 151 and GOtv channel 12.
Tejumola described the script of the series as an amazing one as she commended the producer of the and the cast for their efforts in producing an outstanding series.
“We are incredibly excited to present this powerful and gripping drama that takes viewers on an emotional journey.
“It is all about showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
“The team has worked tirelessly on this project and it is a testament to the remarkable storytelling that MultiChoice is committed to delivering,” she said.
Also, Chichi Nworah, producer of the series, “Slum King”, said that the series was produced out of the quest to tell stories of where a lot of people come from, particularly the slums.
She said Slum King was conceived in 2021 and prepared for three years to come up with the series.
According to her, the series relays the story of how people move from high to low but not basically about crime.
“The production of Slum King was quite hectic, I fell sick all through the production process as well as the director, and the casts.
“We have been able to tell the story of how people in the ghettos have dreams but don’t eventually get such dreams actualised.
“After three years of labour, a true masterpiece has emerged. A big shout out to the dedicated team who invested countless hours of their time and effort breathing life into this project,” she said.
“Slum King,” the highly anticipated limited drama series from Africa Magic, created a buzz long before its official release,” she said.
Slum King is an intriguing story of Edafe ‘Majemijesu’ Umukoro, who witnessed the massacre of his family by armed robbers at age 11 – robbers, who had entered his family home because he unfortunately forgot to lock the front door.
Sad events force ambition on an indifferent Edafe, causing him to detest his lowly status and develop an appetite for power.
Trapped in the cycle of guilt and trauma, Slum King takes us on Edafe’s journey from a disturbed tout in the slums to become MAJE, the charismatic king of the slums.
Grammy-winning Nigerian Singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has hinted the release of a new album.The “Twice As Tall” crooner disclosed this in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.He wrote: “Album dropping 12AM.”According to the Afrobeat superstar, the new album will be dropping on July 30.
The announcement came after his recent celebration of the fifth anniversary of his Grammy nominated 2019 album “African Giant”,which he marked with a concert at the kolo Camden, United Kingdom. The multiple award-winning artiste has continued to make headlines for being atthe forefront of exporting Nigerian music with his award-winning albums and historic sold-out concertsIn 2019, he won the Best International Act at the BET Awards, and was named an Apple Music Up Next artist.He also released his fourth studio album, African Giant, which went on to win Album of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards.The album was nominated for Best World Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards and he clinched the African Artistof the Year at the 2020 Ghana Music Awards.Burna Boy released his fifth studio album, ‘Twice as Tall’, in August 2020, which fetched him the Best World Music Album atthe 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.His sixth studio album Love Damini was released in 2022 and became the highest debut of a Nigerian album on the Billboard200 chart.Love Damini also became the highest-charting African album in France, the Netherlands and the UK.In October of same year, Burna Boy was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic plaque for his achievementsin music.In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him number 197 on its list of the 200 greatest singers of all time and he won his fourthBest International Act at the BET Awards in 2023, among others.He made history again when his his 7th album, ‘I Told Them’ released in October 2023, earned him nominationsfor the 2024 Grammys, which became his fourth consecutive album to be nominated for the Grammys.(NAN)
The news of Rema’s record-breaking performance fee at Anant Ambani’s wedding has sent shockwaves across social media, with many users hailing music as a lucrative career path.
The Nigerian Afrobeats sensation reportedly pocketed a whopping N4.5 billion (three million dollars) for performing just one of hit songs, ‘Calm Down’, at the high-profile event, leaving many in awe.
Rema performed at the wedding of Asia’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani’s son, Anant Ambani, and daughter of pharma tycoons, Viren and Shaila Merchant, Radhika Merchant.
The event held on Friday at the Jio World Centre in Bandra Kurla Centre (BKC) in Mumbai.
Canadian singer, Justin Bieber, was also paid 10 million dollars for his performance at the event, according to reports.
Pop star, Rihanna, also performed at the event for an undisclosed fee.
Social media platforms are buzzing with excitement as aspiring musicians and music enthusiasts alike are drawing inspiration from Rema’s achievement.
The news has also sparked a renewed interest in the music industry, with many youths seeing Rema’s success as a motivation to pursue their own careers.
@Solomon_King says on X, “Hold up, let us get this straight, Rema just bagged a whopping N4.5 billion ($3 million) for singing one song at some rich kid’s wedding?!
“One song? We’re talking about a sum that could solve Nigeria’s economic problems, okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point.
“Rema just made more money than I’ll see in a lifetime and I’m still struggling to pay my rent.
“I need to start singing.”
@OlamideAngel said, “I’m quitting my job to become a musician, or maybe just a wedding singer.
“We’re dying over here! Meanwhile, Rema’s just over here living his best life and we’re not hating. In fact, we’re low-key inspired to step up our music game.
“On a more serious note, this achievement is a testament to Rema’s hard work and talent. We’re proud to see African artistes making waves and getting the recognition they deserve.”
@Perryblack, an X user, said, “Back then y’all mocked Rema for sounding “Indian” when he broke out. Now he was paid $3m to perform a song at Anant-Radhika’s wedding in India.
“Trust your music, Trust the process. Maybe I will go with Portable that said music money is bigger and better than football money.
“We thought Rema was goofing when he said he’s the future. He said he’s the next wizkid but we are not taking him seriously. Big ups boy.”
According to @blacktribemusic, “ Only this Rema’s song alone has made him one of the biggest artistes in Africa. Bigger than the top guys una dey reason self.
“Rema is too big to be underrated by Nigerians, he’s just 22 but making more money.
“Another day to remind y’all that music money is longer than football own.”
On the contrary, @cassandra mentioned that the billionaire should have used the money to feed all the poor Indian citizens.
“That country dey suffer, why can’t he donate this money to the poor. Isn’t India one of the poorest countries in the world?
“I swear the billionaires don’t think of the poor chaii!
“Just $1k is enough for like 1 million people and
they will appreciate it and pray for you, it is more than all this show off,” she said.
Also, @UcheMark said, “They all belong to the same cult. Even from the beginning of Rema’s career, we can already recognise his affiliation with India (voodoo).
“Also, his recent use of devilish symbols and colours is enough evidence. Birds of a feather.”
@chocolatechic said, “I will never be poor.” (NAN)
Female talking drummer, Aralola Olumuyiwa, popularly known as “Ara”, says Nigerian Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, taught her humility.
Ara said this in an interview on Friday in Lagos while commending President Bola Tinubu for renaming the National Arts Theatre as Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts.
The drummer urged the Federal Government to continue to honour thespians while alive.
“This development is highly welcome, the first black nobel laureate we have, honestly, he deserves more.
“He is 90, we don’t know how long we are going to have him here. I am very proud of him and his achievements. We should make it a habit to always honour our thespians.
“2007, my first encounter with Prof. Soyinka, I attended an event organised in his honour, so, I was invited as one of the artistes to perform, after the event, he invited me to his house where he asked me “Why the talking drum”?
“Also, during my 40th birthday years ago, he sent goodwill messages to me, which meant a lot to me.
“I learnt humility from Prof. Soyinka, he does not allow anyone carry his bag, I was only opportune to carry his bag once, that was after dragging it from him. This speaks volumes to me,” she said.
Ara described Soyinka as a great respecter and lover of African culture, urging the younger generation to emulate such from him.
“Another virtue people should emulate from Soyinka is that he is a real and genuine individual, so, I challenge everyone, dare to be you, dare to be different, don’t be anybody,” she said. (NAN)
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