Divvys Blog

The 60th annual Grammy awards is going down in New York City on January 28, 2018 and the official list of performers at the awards ceremony has been fully released.

While some names of performers were released earlier, the Academy has now released an updated version of the list which initially announced that Lady Gaga, Childish Gambino, Little Big Town and P!nk would be taking the Grammy stage at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.

Iconic American singer, Patti Lupone, is also set to take the stage to perform ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ from the Broadway musical, ‘Evita’. LuPone, who starred in ‘Evita’ in 1979, will be performing the classic ballad to honour New York City. Ben Platt will also be performing a tribute piece in honour of Broadway legends, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Leonard Bernstein.

The latest additions to the Grammy performance line up are: Kesha, Bruno Mars and Cardi B, SZA, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Alessia Cara, Logic and Khalid. Bruno and Cardi B will perform their latest collaboration, a remix to Mars’ ‘Finesse’. Cara, Logic and Khalid are also going to perform their collaborative song, ‘1-800-273-8255’.

James Corden will return as the host of the show, which will be held outside in Los Angeles for the first time since 2003

Nollywood Actress Wini lazarus in an interview, revealed why she became an actress, ventured into agriculture, being a virgin, among other issues.

What made you venture into Agriculture?

I have always loved agriculture. While I was in the University, Agriculture provided funds for my school fees. So I combine agriculture and acting. I am passionate about agriculture. Agriculture made me who I am today.

Have you ever been a victim of s*x for roles?

I am not a ‘Do or die’ actress. I am not desperate . Desperation makes people take advantage of you.

Have you ever been asked for s*x in order to get a movie role?

Yes I have been asked and that was when I was starting out in the industry. I wasn’t hungry or desperate when I came into the industry; I was already a big girl

What drives you, passion for your craft or money?

I didn’t start making money from acting for over three years. Now I have paid my dues, I deserve to be paid. In as much as I am passionate about acting, I am also a business woman.

What is your opinion about premarital s*x?

I am a virgin; I am keeping myself till after marriage. I don’t need to dress like a ‘Deeper Life’ member for anyone to believe I am virgin .I am a public figure, I need to look good for my fans.

source: Gistreel

controversial socialite and businessman Pretty Mike turned heads at a wedding in Lagos yesterday when he stepped out dressed in this angelic costume.

See more photos and some reactions below;

Omorogbe Godspower Hey  If you are reading this… May God remove your pain, worries and problems and replace them with Health, Happiness and Peace. 

Ril Love Wolu I watched the video and was expecting to see how possible he wld have entered his car with his wings  mike is not feeling fine.. someone’s hubby and future daddy to be 

Inakwu Jerry Completely nonsense! Making a big fool of himself all to get likes nd comments on social media.
You’ve been noticed,now can you go nd off that…I thought we left people with zero brain in 2017?

John Chukwujekwu Uche Imagine what they are using our uniform men to do in this country….. Every psycho just pays NPF money, the next thing commissioner will attach officers to them….this shame is just too much

Wisdom Nzube Njoku This gossip mill self nawaoo, “dressed like an Angel” Abeg e…. bring new story u people are confused, this girl way I dey see here no even fn reach Angel shit self

Prettymike has been in the news for one controversial story or the other. He became well know on social media, after the Lagos State Government arrested him for putting two ladies on a dog leech, after outrage from folks on Social Media.

Nigeria singer, Davido is set for a collaboration with South Africa s sensational dancer, Zodwa Wabantu, who normally dances on stage, without wearing a pant.

According to the Zimbabwe’s Herald, the collaboration between Davido and Zodwa, who is known as Queen of Vosso, is being arranged by Afrotainment boss, DJ Tira.

The report said Davido had sought Tira’s help to get Wabantu to feature in his upcoming music video.

“Hello @DjTira I wanna ft Zodwa Wabantu on my upcoming music video. How can I get hold of her? “(sic), he tweeted.

No date has been announced yet for the shooting of the video.

Zodwa, a Durban-based dancer has been grabbing headlines for her racy outfits and habit of not wearing panties. “

The dancer was banned from appearing at the Harare International Carnival in Zimbabwe last year because the organisers wanted her to wear panties.

see her below;

The death of another P0*n star woman, Olivia Nova, the fourth in less than three months, has thrown the industry into mourning this week

According to news.com, P0*n stars are some of the most watched and best loved people in the world but they’re also under more pressure and face greater stigma than many can even begin to imagine.

On the morning of January 7, Olivia Nova, whose real name was Lexi Forte, died after less than a year in the P0*n industry.

The circumstances surrounding the 20-year-old’s death are still unknown but she had taken to Twitter on Christmas Day to write, “Alone on the holidays and want to give a fan a holiday call. Would lift my spirit”.

Feeling lonely and isolated while working in the P0*n industry is something both Lucie Bee and Madison Missina, two of Australia’s most famous P0*n stars, understand well.

“We’re considered outcasts from society. A lot of us have to hide parts of our lifestyles and that leads to isolation and a lot of us have strange relationships with our families and friends because most of aren’t ‘out’ which can lead to more loneliness,” Ms Missina told news.com.au.

Ms Bee, who has been in the P0*n industry since 2010, said the loneliness can come from the stigma they face on a daily basis.

“When you can’t get that help and you don’t have a lot of people who can at least listen to you to talk about what you’re dealing with — that can be very isolating. Isolation and feeling alone sucks,” Ms Bee said.

“What’s really killing us at the moment is stigma. When we enter this industry we immediately get stigmatised, they treat us like garbage while simultaneously engaging and enjoying whatever we’re creating.

“They love and watch the content but they don’t really give a shit about the people that are making it, which I find incredibly frustrating,” she said.

Ms Missina, who’s been named “P0*n star of the year” for three years running, said there are also huge issues with bullying in the industry.

In December, famous P0*n star August Ames ended her life days after she sparked an online firestorm over tweets about working with men who had appeared in gay adult movies.

Ames, 23, was labelled a “homophobe” for the tweet and brutally bullied online. She died on December 8.

“All that bullying came from within the industry,” Ms Missina said.

source: Punch

Artiste and beauty queen, Hannah Eniola, aka Annola, speaks  on her career

Why do you school in Ghana and not Nigeria?

I had my elementary and post-elementary education in Nigeria. I chose to have my tertiary education in Ghana because I want to change my environment.

What are you studying?

I’m a student of law at the University of London, but I attend lectures in Ghana for now.

Why didn’t you study music since you have a passion for that?

Music is a hobby which comes naturally to me. I believe that I don’t need to study music because it is a gift already deposited in me, even though I still have quite a lot to learn. I decided to study law because I want to fight for the respect of human rights, especially for the womenfolk. The society is imbalanced, and always tilted against the female gender. We need to stand up all the time so that we are not put down wrongly.

How many singles and albums have you released?

I have four songs out already. They are titled, Feel, Chop money, Je kanmo, and Dance in love. Right now, I’m working on an album that may be released this year. I am really working very hard at that.

How did your music career start?

I developed passion for music at a very tender age. I used to sing at church programmes, birthday parties and weddings. I only used to write songs for artistes until 2016 when I decided to start singing my own songs.

How do you juggle schooling, music and modelling?

It has not been easy but as it is often said, nothing good comes easy. God has being my guide, and that has helped me to plan better.

Which has given you the most satisfaction and exposure?

I can gladly say all of them, because whenever I go out and I tell people that I am a model, singer and law student, they are usually amazed. Somehow, I can hardly separate any of the things I do.

What sparked your interest in modelling?

It is because I love fashion.

What’s the opinion of your parents about your career?

Initially, they were really worried and couldn’t understand why I had to go into these areas. However, they decided to let me follow my dreams and I am glad they did.

What has been your biggest moment?

There are no awards yet but I believe that they will start rolling in soon. I have been to lots of big events but the one that remains indelible was the Glitz Style Awards 2017. I love fashion and I saw lovely clothes made by creative designers, especially the dress worn by the wife of the Vice President of Ghana, Samira Bawumia.

What’s the origin of your stage name, Annola

Annola was gotten from my names. Hannah (Ann), and Eniola (ola). I didn’t know it had other meanings and deep roots in some cultures, but I understand that now.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I will be as high as God can take me. I am really aiming very high; far above little imaginations.

source: Punch

There have been reports that popular singer and drummer, Aralola Apake, popularly known as Ara, is in a relationship with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and that she may be his next queen. However, in a chat with Sunday Scoop, Ara rubbished the stories.

She said, “There is no iota of truth to such reports, please disregard them. The Ooni is like a father to me, and he takes me as his daughter. There is no love affair between us at all. The monarch is a very great lover of our culture, and it is obvious that he has done a lot to support and promote the Yoruba culture. I am also a cultural ambassador and the Ooni has lent his support to our cause.

I believe that there are a lot of potential in this country that can be tapped. If we harness the tourism potential of Nigeria, it would fetch the country more money than oil and gas. There are a lot of beautiful sites across the country that foreigners would love to visit, and with my foundation, I have decided to showcase the country’s beauty through movies and other forms of entertainment.”

The singer added that she is in a relationship at the moment. “I am in a relationship at the moment, and my man makes me happy all the time. He has all the qualities that I want in a man, such as being God fearing, confident and caring. Even as I am talking to you now, you would notice that the tone of my voice has changed. That should tell you how happy he makes me, even in his absence,” she said

Nigerian singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, Harrison Okiri, popularly known as Harrysong, shares fond memories of his trip to Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany,

When did you visit Duisburg and what was your mission there?

I visited Duisburg two years ago, during my European tour and it was very successful. The reception I got was massive.

Was it your first time visiting Duisburg?

Yes, that was my first time of visiting the city.

Did you travel alone or in company with people?

I travelled with my team. It was a tour so my team was present.

What are some of the things that fascinated you when you arrived in Duisburg?

I was fascinated by the beauty and freshness of the city. The people are happy and cheerful. They easily accept visitors. The reception I got was breathtaking and my songs are so big there. As a matter of fact, we had two performances and the response we got was great. It received so much love and it was a very good experience.

How would you describe the culture of the people there and what are some of the things that stand them out?

They don’t discriminate; there is mutual love and understanding. They believe in oneness, appreciate themselves and are very free with one another. They are also very humble people who respect themselves.

What are some of the food that tickled your taste buds while you were there?

Although they have great meals, I didn’t taste any of them. I didn’t want to take the risk of eating something that would upset my stomach. While I was there, I was just feeding on fruits and water.

Were they receptive towards you as a Nigerian?

Of course, they were. They are very receptive and respectful people.

How informed are they about Nigeria?

They are very informed about Nigeria. They have good records about Nigeria and they love Nigerians.

What were some of the tourist sites and attractions that you visited during your stay in Duisburg and what did you take away from there?

I didn’t really go out because there was no time to visit anywhere. It was from the airport to the hotel where we lodged and from the hotel to the venue of the events. Everything happened at the venue of my show.

Were there downsides to your trip?

No, there wasn’t. I enjoyed every bit of the tour and everything went smoothly.

As a musician, how would you rate the music industry over there compared with what is obtainable in the Nigerian music industry?

They are sophisticated and informed because they have a platform that is working. Unlike the Nigerian music industry, we are still struggling to build a platform.

Which other places would you like to visit?

I don’t know. I am not really a travelling person. I don’t travel for fun. I only travel when it is business-related.

What is the best travel advice you can give?

Travel comfortably and be sure of the purpose of your trip. You should have a good reason before embarking on any trip.

Did you buy any keepsakes during your trip?

I don’t remember buying anything because it’s been a while.

In terms of security of lives and properties, how would you rate Duisburg over Nigeria?

We cannot compare Nigeria and Duisburg in terms of security. There is no security in Nigeria at all. The only people that have security in this country are politicians because they have security men guarding them. The masses are on their own because their lives and properties are not secure.

Did you observe any similarities between Duisburg and other major Nigerian cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt?

There was nothing of such. Duisburg is not similar to Nigeria and nothing I saw there reminded me about Nigeria.

What was the weather like when you travelled?

It was a bit cold but I was okay. We went prepared because we carried out research on what the weather was like before leaving Nigeria. We went there properly dressed.

Is there anything you saw in Duisburg that you would love to see replicated in Nigeria?

I would love for everything to be replicated in Nigeria. The people in Duisburg are happy; they celebrate with you when you are celebrating. For them, it is not about culture or where you are from. They have love and respect for each other. In Nigeria, most times it is about Yoruba, Ijaw, Hausa and Igbo etc. There is a lot of tribalism and culture discrimination. Sometimes, some people even say it to your face that you are not from their tribe so they cannot help you, and that is very wrong. If we continue with this, then we won’t move forward as individuals and as a country

source: Punch

Reekado Banks’ manager and brother, Temi Solomon, insists that his artiste doesn’t feel sorry for saying he is a better artiste than Lil Kesh.

It will be recalled that when Reekado was adjudged the Next Rated Artiste at the 2015 Headies Awards, it generated mixed reactions. Olamide, who was Lil Kesh’s boss at the time, was furious that his protégé didn’t win the award. While reacting to Olamide’s public outburst, Don Jazzy (Reekado’s boss) said he was ready to let Olamide and his boy have the car prize if that was what made them upset. That comment degenerated into a war of words on the Internet before both parties were implored to sheathe their swords.

Two years after the ugly event, at his recent Thank You concert in Ibadan, Reekado declared in pidgin English that he is better than Lil Kesh and his father. He said, “I remember when they said I didn’t deserve the Next Rated award. The person that they said deserved the award, I am better than his father.”

When Sunday Scoop reached out to Reekado’s manager and brother over the statement, he said his brother only said what was on his mind, but he didn’t mean to hurt anyone

He said, “It is not something I want to talk about. If certain people were annoyed because he spoke his mind, I think those people are not his fans. Our fans would not complain about what he said in that manner. He didn’t mean to hurt or harm anyone and we don’t have something against the artiste (Lil Kesh).”

According to Temi, Banks was not misinterpreted, neither was he under any influence when he said he is better than Lil Kesh. He said, “If he said he is better than someone, he probably meant it. I really want to know the fans who were angry about it. Was it Reekado’s fans or the person’s fans? He said what was on his mind and it is not compulsory for everyone to agree with him.

“People who feel that he is arrogant because he said what he wanted to say have their reasons to think so. If I say that one newspaper is better than another, it is my opinion. That he didn’t say a word since the 2015 Headies Awards’ fallout doesn’t mean he has not felt like talking. So, if he said he was better than Lil Kesh, it was just an expression.”

source: Punch

During the week, it was widely reported that the house of comic actor, John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, was robbed and that he lost over N14m to the thieves.

While many sympathised with the actor, others also questioned why the actor would keep such a large sum of money in his house, considering the cashless policy adopted by most Nigerians. Some people also insinuated that the actor exaggerated about the amount he lost to the robbery.

In a chat with Sunday Scoop, Okafor made some clarifications. He said, “When I said I lost N14m, there was a misconception that it was all in cash but that was not the case. One million naira cash, and properties worth over N13m were carted away. Some of the items the robbers stole included gold wristwatches, necklaces and jewellery. They also stole shoes belonging to me and my wife, and a lot of other items. The trauma is still very much for my wife and kids. They are still in shock because the thieves knocked down the doors of the house and you can imagine the type of noise they would have made at the time they came, which was about 3am.”

On the insinuation that he exaggerated about the cost of the items stolen, Mr. Ibu said, “The total cost of all the things that were stolen is even more than the N14m that I said. I have no reasons to lie about that.”

Speaking on how the security of his house was compromised, he said, “I live in a renowned estate for crying out loud, and we have different types of security in place. I am totally surprised as to how such an incident could have happened. Right now, I feel someone gave the robbers some information. However, some arrests have been made already. We identified two of us those who were arrested from the CCTV footage.”

Punch

ike most women, the dream of actress, Lota Chukwu, aka Kiki in Jenifa’s Dairy, is to be a size 10. Though she is not out of shape, the fear that she could grow fat someday made her take a bold step.

Speaking with Sunday Scoop, Kiki stated that she started yoga at a point in her life when she was struggling to shed some weight.

She said, “I enjoy yoga because it helps me to stay in shape and it also helps to relax my mind. I exercise a lot and I also pay attention to what I consume, when and how I consume such food.”

Being a pretty lady, she stated that she could not stop men from showing interest in her. “Like I always say, it’s normal for men to make advances at me, but where it goes from there is what the problem is. I’ve been able to make friends with a lot of male folks and this has helped me to handle men,” she said.

The actress also revealed that she doesn’t like to dwell on challenges. “How we overcome challenges is what defines us. I always put God first and I try not to think too much of any situation. I just do my best and leave the rest to God. I have no regrets. I try as much as possible to learn from my mistakes and move on with my life. I give my best at every chance I get and that is always enough for me,” Kiki added.

While it is believed that Jenifa’s Dairy introduced her to the world, she attributed her rise to all the works she has done in her career. “I will attribute my success so far to every work that I’ve done. Every project I have worked on has contributed to where I am today, but Jenifa’s Diary has a big role in it,” she said

Singer, Damilola Afolabi, aka LAX, was criticised on the Internet after he performed at Olamide’s concert in December in what looked like a National Youth Service Corps uniform.

Talking with Sunday Scoop, he explained why he turned out that way at the event. “I had just completed my National Youth Service Corps programme at the time, and I wanted to pay homage to the scheme and Nigeria in my own way. I also wanted to inspire people to know that they can pursue their dreams and still go to school. It is not too good that people always like to dwell on the negatives when reacting to issues. I really didn’t pay attention to anybody who criticised me, and that’s because the people who appreciated and commended me were more. Those were the ones that I paid attention to,” he said.

Reacting to the notion that his career has suffered a decline after he left Starboy Records, LAX said, “People who are saying that need to go and check the records. I had three big songs that had a lot of views online last year. I travelled to a lot of countries and I enjoyed massive love everywhere that I performed. I will be releasing my debut album this year and I want my fans to watch out for it. People should listen to good music, not thrash.”

source: Punch

Since actor and comedian, Williams Uchemba, started his Give Challenge in December, his popularity has soared.

However, in a chat with Sunday Scoop, Uchemba, who was once a kid actor, said he didn’t initiate the gesture to gain popularity or seek attention.

He said, “I have been in the limelight since I was eight years old. What I am doing now is not because I want popularity, irrespective of what anyone thinks. I am doing it because God has said I should do so. As long as people are blessed and their lives are changed for the better, I am happy. Before I started the challenge, I had more than 300,000 followers on Instagram and the number has not changed. The Give Challenge only drew more attention to me, but it has not made me famous. I have my skits and other things I have been doing.”

The actor also stated that he is not rich and he had not spent anything near what many people have in their bank accounts. He said, “I believe that my supposed “show off” has inspired thousands of people around the world to do something for the poor. If this has made such a huge impact, then everyone needs to start showing off. I am a businessman, I work with the United Nations and I am an actor. I make profits from these activities. What I have spent is just a couple of thousands, but some people think I have a lot of money. I am not a rich man if that is what most people think.

“A lot of Nigerians are suffering because our resources are shared among a few people. I was on my way home one day when a car hit an elderly man who was hawking and he died immediately. If the country had been better, he would not have been on the road. What would have happened to his wife and children who were expecting him at home?”

He added, “I am not from a wealthy home. While I was growing up, there were times I had nothing to eat. There was a day I found myself eating soap. When I came back from school, I was so hungry and there was nothing to eat at home. I saw soap on the floor and I picked it up. I know how it feels to be hungry and you don’t have money to get food. Most Nigerians are in that state.”

source: Punch

Taylor Swift could have another obsessed fan on her hands -- because a 58-year-old man is claiming he's her boyfriend and needs a gun to protect her ... this according to cops.

According to TMZ, Law enforcement sources in New Hampshire tells them ... a guy was at the station for voluntary questioning on an unrelated case when he bragged he was the singer's BF. What's more ... cops say he went as far as showing them texts with a "Taylor Swift" as the recipient.

We're told cops got suspicious when he started asking how many states he can drive through with a concealed carry weapons permit. He also told them he wanted a gun to protect Taylor in Africa. It's unclear why he thinks Taylor will be in Africa.

As for why cops didn't detain him right then and there ... they say someone simply saying they want a gun to protect someone is not a crime.

That said ... cops tell us they're trying to contact Taylor's team to warn her.

At a time when the Internet has taken over many things, it will be hard for entertainers to flourish without embracing the social media. But the winner of the 2017 edition of Big Brother Naija, Efe Ejeba, has said that he hardly uses the different social media platforms in vogue today.

In a chat with Sunday Scoop, he said, “The truth is that I don’t know what is happening on social media. When I wake up in the morning, I pray, eat, record songs and I release them. I don’t hear what people say about my music. I am not disturbed about negative comments because it is normal for people to have different views about whatever you do.”

He also said he could not remember having any dealings with an on-air personality, who called him out on social media during the week for disrespecting him. According to the OAP, Efe didn’t honour an invitation for an interview even after they had reached an agreement.

Reacting to the issue, Efe said, “I haven’t heard anything like that. Like I said, I am not a social media person. I visit social media once in a while because of the industry I am in. I only go online when I want to post things that are important to me and I log off immediately after that. The truth is that I cannot remember having such discussion with any OAP.”

Despite the insinuation by some music followers that he needs to improve on his music to compete in the industry, the singer insisted that he had a good year in 2017.

“Considering where I am coming from, I experienced massive growth in my career last year. Right now, I have the attention of the people and that is the most important thing. But I hope to do more this year, which is natural for every youth that dreams.

“I don’t feel any pressure. I am just doing my music. If there is any pressure, it is from within because I try to push myself every day. This year, I plan to release more music and videos, and I will put the rest in the hands of God. The industry is growing and I am happy to be part of it at the moment,” he said.

source: Punch

The multi award winning actress Funke Akindele has been removed from the cast list of upcoming superhero movie, Avengers: Infinity War.

The actress never confirmed or deny the reports on her social media pages, and now, her name no longer appears on the cast list at IMDb.

Could it possibly have been a ruse to generate interest among Nigerian viewers for the movie? If so, then shame on Marvel and IMDb.

It is also possible that all she got was a scene, which didn’t make the final cut.

Michelle Williams has admitted she will never forget Saturday 13 January, the day that Mark Wahlberg donated $1.5 million to the Times Up movement in her name. ‘Today isn’t about me. My fellow actresses stood by me and stood up for me, my activist friends taught me to use my voice and the most powerful men in charge, they listened and they acted,’ said Williams in a statement following days of backlash towards Wahlberg. It was confirmed that Wahlberg’s agent had demanded a fee for the actor to reshoot key scenes for All The Money In The World, reshoots which director Ridley Scott decided were needed to replace disgraced actor Kevin Spacey with Christopher Plummer in wake of the sexual harassment allegations.

Williams and Scott worked for free, receiving $80 a day per diem. ‘If we truly envision an equal world, it takes equal effort and sacrifice,’ added Williams. ‘Today is one of the most indelible days of my life because of Mark Wahlberg, WME and a community of women and men who share in this accomplishment. Anthony Rapp, for all the shoulders you stood on, now we stand on yours.’

Rapp was the first to discuss his claims against Spacey at the end of October in light of the accusations of sexual assault aimed at Harvey Weinstein. He alleged that at a party in the 80s when Rapp was 14, a drunk Spacey, then in his 20s, attempted to seduce Rapp. The Star Trek: Discovery actor claimed: ‘He picked me up like a groom picks up the bride over the threshold. But I don’t, like, squirm away initially, because I’m like, “What’s going on?” And then he lays down on top of me. ‘He was trying to seduce me. I don’t know if I would have used that language. But I was aware that he was trying to get with me sexually.’

The Lagos state government has reportedly filed a lawsuit against singer Davido and comedian , AY Makun, for tax evasion. A report by Punch says the entertainers have had a long-running battle with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) over alleged tax evasion. Davido was reportedly charged before a Lagos high court in July 2017 while AY was said to have been charged to court in 2016 for failing to file his tax returns.

Davido is said to have told LIRS officials that he pays his taxes to Osun state government since he is an indigene of the state while AY said he makes his tax payments to Ondo state. An official of the state government who spoke on the matter said

“Remember that Davido said he made N500m from his N30bn concert recently. We must know how much he paid to the LIRS. AY too said the same thing. The comedian claimed to be paying his taxes to Ondo State, where he hails from. It seems these celebrities don’t understand that the tax law stipulates that you must pay your tax to your state of residence. Anyway, we are already in court. Others will soon appear in court if they don’t obey the state tax law. You can’t be making money in Lagos and refuse to pay tax.”