Nigeria News
I Once Begged For Shows
Songstress, Omawumi Megbele, tells FUNSHO AROGUNDADE about her second album, The Lasso of Truth, what she did to rise to the top and why female artistes deserve as much recognition as male counterparts
Why did you title your new album, The Lasso of Truth?
Wonder Woman was the title of my debut album. This was a nickname someone gave me. I love it and I decided to use it as the title for my debut and it worked. Wonder Woman is a fictional character in GT comics and one of the weapons she used to wield in the comics was called the “Lasso of Truth” or the “Golden Lasso”. The lasso is a rope that is impenetrable. So when I wanted to title my second album, I chose “The Lasso of Truth” because the album is a great project.
Tell us more about the album?
It is a 12-track album and in it, many things were revealed. For example, I have a song I Go Go, which is about women silently dealing with troubled marriages. Those women wear a façade that makes people see them as happy, but deep down, they are miserable. I don’t want to encourage separation, but I want such people to know that they actually don’t love themselves by staying in such relationships. There is another song, Warn Yourself, which talks about living within one’s means. As you know, this is a country where so many things are wrong; there are no checks and balances. Recently, the federal government granted some people pardon for crimes that they clearly committed. But since I cannot question anybody, I recorded another song What A Bang Bang?, which focuses on those socio-political happenings in our country.
Why did you launch the album with a concert?
Female entertainers in Nigeria do not get the respect and recognition they deserve in spite of our efforts. I felt that one of the best ways to make my own impact felt is by showcasing my full potential to the people. So, when the opportunity arose, I began to plan that my concert would showcase the many sides of me as an entertainer–both the funny me and the real Omawumi. A lot of people wonder who really I am. I crack jokes a lot and could be a little bit crazy, but deeply, I am a very serious person. These personalities are what I displayed on stage that day.
You featured Onyeka Onwenu at your concert. What exactly is the relationship between both of you?
First and foremost, Onyeka Onwenu is one woman I tried to emulate. For her to remain graceful at her age and her music still somewhat in demand make her line worthy to be toed. I am not ashamed of toeing that line. If we have more divas of her time still alive, you would have seen them at my shows. If you listen to my music, you will discover that I try very much to make my music dynamic in a way that people who were here before me will listen and say to me that I have done well. For those who can still recollect my time at the Idols, the first song that drew people’s attention to me was Onyeka’s Ekwe. And since that time, people have been calling me “Little Onyeka”.
What would you say has changed about you and your music?
I feel that my music has become more mature than it used to be. When you listen to some of my songs, especially If You Ask Me, carefully, you will understand what I am saying as the truth. The same applies to other songs that I have written. Basically, I pass sensitive messages through my music and that shows I am more sensitive now.
With some of your recent songs, many are beginning to see you as a feminist.
Feminist is too strong a word to use, but I think that everyone should have something they are passionate about. I talk about things that I am passionate about. It would get to a point in one’s career when you are expected to do certain things. I am not a feminist, but just a woman. If I were a man, I will protect men. I have my voice and I will use it to protect everyone, especially women and children.
You also sing about rape.
Honestly, I feel all vices such as that should be harped on more. I also champion causes for cervical and breast cancer, and call for young people to be re-orientated. I try to tell them to take things easy and adopt a step-by-step approach. I believe that as musicians, we should make conscious music that would make sense to a lot of people. I am not driven by the commercial angle of our business. I want to record songs that people will sing even after I am long gone. Look at people like Mariam Makeba, Onyeka Onwenu and Majek Fashek and see how people react to their music.
What about your fight against malaria?
You need to see me dey battle those mosquitoes.
You recently toured some African countries with Mortein. How would you describe your experience?
It was splendid. I jumped at that campaign because a lot of children between one and five years, who have less immunity against the disease, are dying unnecessarily. I thought we could prevent it by cleaning our surroundings and using treated nets, which aren’t costly. There are some mosquito-free African countries and I believe we can also have that here.
What is the length of your deal with the brand?
It is still on and this year, we will also be going to Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and also spreading out to other states in Nigeria like Rivers and Ogun, among others. We are going to be sensitising people on the prevention of malaria. People need to know that malaria kills more than HIV/AIDS. It kills at least five children per day in Africa. So, we would be telling our people that it is not impossible to have a malaria-free society if people do what is required of them.
What would you say about those who view your hit song Bottom Belle as one that preaches materialism?
I believe everyone has his or her way of interpreting things. I don’t have any problem with whoever views the song from the material angle. But I was just pointing out that things have gone beyond those old ways when men used to woo ladies for long before marrying them. These days, such things are no longer in vogue. Men just want to dangle their fat wallet and the girls also care less about the wooing. That is it.
So what message exactly were you trying to pass with the song?
For every man to appreciate his woman as best as he can.
How is your daughter doing now?
She is doing really fine.
How are you coping with single parenthood?
No wahala. When I got pregnant, I told myself that I had to take things easy. And when my baby came, I told myself that my daughter would be my priority. I then rearranged myself to include my daughter in my plans. When I started out again, her nanny was always with me wherever I travelled to. There was even a time I always had her strapped to my back. She is always in the hotel room with me whenever I am out of town. My mother was also of great help, as she stayed with me for about eight months after delivery. Her dad and I ensure that she lacks nothing. If I don’t see my daughter for three days, I will feel guilty and this somehow affects my productivity. So, she gets much of the attention needed from me.
Why have you stopped taking her out?
There is no time for all that now. She has grown and goes to school. Whenever she is not with me, she could be with her grandparents or her god mother (Waje) or her many uncles and aunties. She is from a large family on both sides.
When are you going to disclose the identity of her father?
E concern you? It doesn’t really concern anybody.
Do you have plans to get married soon?
Marriage is not something one rushes into and I live by that understanding. I will never fall for the pressure of marriage because if I do and in the end something goes wrong, the same people will ask why I didn’t take my time. I don’t think it is a bad thing to take my time to understand my person before thinking of getting married.
What do you think female artistes need to do to bridge the gap that exists between them and their male counterparts?
The industry is male-dominated because our guys work hard and the women just work. It is not about our music, but our presence and that is what I am aiming at. I have heard my female counterparts complaining that promoters don’t put us on shows and all that stuff. I get irritated by this. We need to market ourselves and work very hard. I remember those days when my manager would tell me of a show coming up in two months’ time that I was not on such show. Most times, I would contact the organisers. I don’t feel too proud or ashamed to beg to be put on the show with a promise that I won’t disappoint.
By God’s grace, all these worked till I got to where I am now. But now, the female artistes are working really hard. We are going places. I commend the likes of Tiwa Savage, Waje and Chydinma. You can’t deny that they are very hardworking. And with the way things are going now, we are the ones who will be headlining shows soon.
How did you feel losing the best female vocalist award to Chydinma at the last Headies?
Without sounding egoistic, I feel awards and accolades don’t validate me as an artiste. It was not until 2009 before I won my first major award and afterwards, I won several others. Awards or no awards, I can say with confidence that I am one of the highest paid musicians in the country. I just feel that when it is time to be recognised, one will. No doubt, winning the same Headies’ Next Rated awards three years ago actually boosted my profile. At the same time, it brought a tough challenge by putting me on my toes to work harder.
What is the synergy between you and Waje?
Nothing really, it is just that we are good friends with the same values and orientation. We used to fight and play together. She has been instrumental to a lot of positive decisions that I have taken in life. And the same goes for her. Maybe people expect us to strangle each other, but that will not happen.
Do you see Tiwa Savage as a rival?
I did a song with Timaya, I No Fit Be You And You No Fit Be Me; that is the kind of person I am. I look straight without any distraction. If you do something good, I will commend you and if you do otherwise and you permit me to tell you, I will. I don’t and would never see Tiwa as a contender. Rather, I admire her guts and talent. For someone to come into the industry and achieve all that she has achieved in barely two years deserves praise.
What is music to you?
Music is a form of expression. It is a means through which I communicate.
Last year, a picture of you exposing your breasts surfaced on the social media. What actually happened?
The fact that I have small shoulders and my breasts aren’t so ugly, I tend to want to wear revealing upper body stuff. But that day, I asked my fellow artistes in same room with me if I wasn’t revealing too much of my breasts and they all answered in the affirmative. But when I looked at the mirror before leaving the hotel, I noticed that it was nearly out there and I had to tuck them back, only for me later to see the pictures of my breasts practically pouring out. It was one of my friends that would have been naughty.
Any regret about that?
No regret please.
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Posted in Nigeria News. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: PM News
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The Kano State Government on Saturday said it has transferred 1,098 ‘almajiris’ to different states of the country.
The commissioner for local government, Murtala Garo, disclosed this while presenting a report before the state’s task force on COVID-19 at the government house, Kano.
Almajiris are children who are supposed to be learning Islamic studies while living with their Islamic teachers. Majority of them, however, end up begging on the streets of Northern Nigeria. They constitute a large number of Nigeria’s over 10 million out-of-school children.
Mr Garo said the Kano government transported 419 almajiris to Katsina, 524 to Jigawa and 155 to Kaduna. He said all of them tested negative for coronavirus before leaving the Kano State.
Despite the coronavirus test done in Kano for the almajiris, the Jigawa government earlier said it would quarantine for two weeks all the almajiris that recently arrived from Kano.
Mr Garo said another 100 almajiris scheduled to be taken to Bauchi State also tested negative to COVID-19.
In a remark, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said the COVID-19 situation in Kano was getting worse. He appealed for a collaborative effort to curtail the spread of the virus in the state.
Mr Ganduje, who commended residents for complying with the lockdown imposed in the state, said the decision was taken to halt the spread of the virus.
Kano State, as of Saturday night, has 77 coronavirus cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The decision to transfer the Kano almajiris is part of the agreement reached between Northern governors that almajiris in each state be transferred to their states of origin.
However, even before the latest agreement by the governors, the Kano government had been transferring almajiris to other states and neighbouring countries after it banned street begging in the state, most populous in Northern Nigeria.
Despite the transfers, however, no concrete step has been taken to ensure such children do not return to Kano streets as there is freedom of movement across Nigeria although interstate travel was recently banned to check the spread of the coronavirus.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
By Ugochukwu Alaribe
Operatives of the Abia State Vigilante Service, AVS, popularly known as ‘Bakassi Boys’ have arrested 24 market women hidden in a container truck, at Ekwereazu Ngwa, the boundary community between Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The market women, said to be from Akwa Ibom State, were on their way to Aba, when they were arrested with the truck driver and two of his conductors for violating the lockdown order by the state government.
Driver of the truck, Moses Asuquo, claimed he was going to Aba to purchase stock fish, but decided to assist the market women, because they were stranded.
A vigilante source told Sunday Vanguard that the vehicle was impounded while the market women were sent back to Akwa Ibom State.
Commissioner for Home Land Security, Prince Dan Okoli, who confirmed the incident, said that smuggling of people into the state poses great threat to the state government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID- 19.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba of the Lagos State police command have arrested one Mrs Nene Steve for allegedly killing her maid, Joy Adole
The maid was allegedly beaten to death by Nene for requesting for her salary at their residence located at 18, Ogundola Street, Bariga area in Lagos.
Narrating the incident, Philips Ejeh, an elder brother to the deceased said that he was sad when they informed him that his sister was beaten to death.
He explained that the deceased was an indigene of Benue State brought to Lagos through an agent and started working with her as a maid in January 2020.
‘’She reported that her boss refused to pay her and anytime she asked for her salary she will start beating her.
She was making an attempt to leave the place but due to the total lockdown she remained there until Sunday when her boss said she caught her stealing noodles and this led to her serious beating and death,’’ Ejeh said.
He called on Lagos State Government and well- meaning people in the country to help them in getting justice for the victim.
The police spokesman, Bala Elkana, stated that the woman and her husband came to Bariga Police Station to a report that their house girl had committed suicide.
Detectives were said to have visited the house and suspected foul play with the position of the rope and bruises all over the body which confirmed that the girl had been tortured to death and the boss decided to hang up the girl to make it look like suicide.
He said: “The police moved on with their investigation and found a lot of sign of violence on her body that she has been tortured before a rope was put on her neck.’’
He added that the police removed the corpse and deposited it in the mortuary for autopsy to further ascertain the cause of the death.
Elkana said the matter has been transferred from Bariga police station to Panti for further investigation while the couple have been arrested and will be charged to court.
Ostensibly alarmed by the latest killings of dozens of soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents, President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned an urgent meeting of Service Chiefs to find ways to stop the trend.
He has also dispatched the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, to the neighbouring Republic of Chad for an urgent meeting with President Idris Deby and his defence counterpart.
Knowledgeable sources said in Abuja on Friday that the president is worried by on the deterioration of security situation on the Nigeria – Chad Border that has led to the recently increased Boko Haram terrorism in the area.
The sources which did not want to be named in Abuja said: “Nigeria has a Chad problem in the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) put together to secure the Lake Chad basin areas and repeal the Boko Haram terrorist attacks against all the countries neighbouring the Lake.”
The sources noted that Chad is believed to be having their own internal security challenges and this has reportedly led to their pulling away their own troops manning their own border around Lake Chad, saying: “That lacuna is being exploited by the Boko Haram terrorists, who go in and out of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to launch terrorist acts. This is a clear illustration of the fact that terrorism is beyond national borders.”
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed that the Defence Minister is going to Chad but said he is unaware of the purpose.
Meanwhile, the military authorities are said to be in the process of identifying the families of the latest victims with a view to making contact with them.
Credible sources revealed that it is the reason the president is yet to make any pronouncement on the matter.
“The President has called an urgent meeting with the Service Chiefs, as well as the fact that families of the latest victims of the Boko Haram are being identified and contacts made before a government pronouncement on the tragic attacks. This, it is understood, is the reason for the silence of the government over the incident,” the source said.
Sourced From: Tribune
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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