Entertainment/Arts/Culture
I Learnt Humility from Wole Soyinka, Says Ara
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)
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Grammy-winning Singer, Angelique Kidjo Immortalised on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Five-time Grammy winner, Angelique Kidjo, has become the first African musician to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
According to Billboard, kidjo was honoured at a glitzy ceremony on Tuesday at the Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, United States.
The historic recognition has made the Beninese music legend the first Black African to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
After offering thanks to her team and family, Kidjo erupted into song as those present sat in rapt attention.
“We Africans don’t know what we’ve given to the world.
Without us, there’s no music possible on this planet,” the 66-year-old said.Harvey Mason Jr. of the Recording Academy hailed Kidjo as a “rare artist.”
“Your example has elevated our global music community, and your work continues to remind us that music is more than entertainment; it’s connection.
“This star is a permanent symbol; it’s not going anywhere, and it’s a symbol of your achievements.
“But your legacy, it lives in the people that you’ve touched, that you’ve inspired, the barriers that you’ve broken, the connections you’ve created all around the world,” he said.
Born in Benin, Kidjo has built an international career spanning more than 40 years and 18 albums.
Among other accolades, she has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people,
She has also been nominated as one of Africa’s 50 most iconic figures by the BBC, and one of the 100 most inspiring people in the world by The Guardian.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a famous public landmark in Los Angeles, California, featuring over 2,800 terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks to honour major figures in the entertainment world.
The walk of fame star is a permanent, five-pointed pink and charcoal monument embedded in the sidewalk to honour people and characters for major achievements in entertainment.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Singers Wande Coal, Davido Clash over Unreleased Collaboration, ‘Come My Way’
Nigerian singers Wande Coal and Davido have clashed on social media over an unreleased collaboration,“Come My Way”.
The disagreement was sparked by comments made by Davido during a recent podcast interview, which he shared on his Instagram Story.
The “I know Who I be” crooner said that the collaboration was shelved after he disagreed with Wande Coal on how the song should be released.
According to Davido, Wande Coal initially approached him to feature on the song, after which he recorded a verse.
He said the disagreement arose when Wande Coal planned to release the original song first and subsequently use his contribution for a remix.
Davido said he did not write his verse with the intention of releasing it as a remix, adding that the disagreement over the proposed release arrangement was responsible for the collaboration not being released.
However, Wande Coal rejected Davido’s account in a post on X, arguing that ‘Come My Way’ already had a release plan and date before the disagreement.
He wrote: “Carry song come give you as how? Song wey been get release plan and date!!! Song wey no be your own you wan dictate release plan”.
He also noted that the song performed well without Davido’s contribution, refuting narratives that the collaboration’s failure was primarily linked to his release strategy.
“That song fkin did well without you on it bruv!!!”
The disagreement later escalated on social media as Davido subsequently responded to him on X, leading to further exchange of words between both artistes.
However, as the war of words continues between the two them, netizens, especially their fans and industry watchers, have urged them to sheathe their swords.
Entertainment/Arts/Culture
Tonto Dikeh to Renovate Churches in Birthday Tribute to Pastor Jerry Eze
Actress and humanitarian Tonto Dikeh has announced a church support initiative through The New Wine Prophetic Tabernacle to mark the birthday of renowned clergyman Pastor Jerry Eze.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Dikeh said the initiative aims to ‘repair and strengthen altars in our communities’ by supporting churches with structural renovations and vital equipment.
According to her, the project is designed to ‘lift a physical burden so the work of the Kingdom can break forth without limitation’.
“To honour our father and man of God, Pst Jerry Eze’s Birthday, the New Wine Prophetic Tabernacle is aligning with heaven to repair and strengthen the Altars in our communities.
“We are stepping in to support and uplift churches through structural renovation or vital equipment, lifting a physical burden so the work of the Kingdom can break forth without limitation,” she said.
Churches seeking assistance have been urged to document their current facilities with clear photographs and to email details of their exact location, structural needs, and material deficits.
Applicants must also include a Bill of Quantities and the estimated cost of required materials.
Dikeh emphasised that beneficiaries will not be selected based on human favouritism.
“Please note that we are not choosing by human favouritism but strictly as the Holy Spirit directs,” she stated.


