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Three filmmakers pushing the boundaries of creativity in Nollywood are Kunle Afolayan, Toyin Abraham, and Charles Okpaleke.

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When talking about a great film, the question ‘who produced it?’ usually pops up. three individuals Known for their distinctive storytelling style, Kunle AfolayanToyin Abraham and Charles Okpaleke have contributed to the evolution of the  Nollywood industry through their artistic expressions.

One may wonder what do all three have in common, the answer is not far-fetched: they have always done things their own way and this has not gone unrecognized given their recent collaboration with a grandmaster of craftsmanship, the Balvenie.

As a brand which embodies mastery in itself, The Balvenie applauds the spirit of passion and craftsmanship in creative individuals who share this same zeal and has consistently demonstrated dedication to commemorating and rewarding recognizable uncommon craft among the world’s artistic and passionate people.

Meet the Makers
one of the most renowned producers from Nigeria, Kunle Afolayan, has been a dominant force in the Nigerian film business for more than 23 years as an actor, director, producer, and writer. His perseverance and ambition have helped him become one of the most influential filmmakers, and he is well-known for introducing Nigerians to the golden age of cinema through his distinctive works.

Kunle Afolayan

Every production from his stables has been a blend of uniqueness, mastery and pure creativity, which encapsulates the spirit of The Balvenie Makers. When asked about the key to his mastery in the filmmaking industry, he responded,

You can always define and design your own path to success in every aspect of life; focus, discipline and consistency is key, when you leverage your uniqueness, mastery ensues– and this is what the maker’s project is about.

Charles Okpaleke is the creator of Play Management, an award-winning production company that has worked on some of the most recently talked about Nollywood films, including Breaking Free and Living in Bondage. A talent manager with a knack for spotting and managing several distinctive and creative people who have gone on to make names for themselves in the industry,  Charles believes success is never a linear process, it comes when talent is supported by dedication and hard work.

Charles Okpaleke

During the last edition of the Balvenie Makers event in Lagos, He said

there is no customized path to success, each person has a uniqueness that is borne out of the individual mindset and attitude to put in the work; the mastery you see is the result of what happens behind-the-scenes and it shows in your output.

Toyin Abraham is an actor and filmmaker who began her career in 2003 and has earned a household name in the indigenous Yoruba movie industry. Through her niche in satirical plots, Toyin has won numerous awards in comedy and is one of the top faces of the Yoruba movie industry and has featured in popular award-winning movies such as; Alakada,  King of thieves, and The Therapistto list few. Toyin believes mastery is about sustaining peak heights and following due process which is one of the values of the Balvenie.

Toyin Abraham

The Maker’s Project captures this passion and self-confidence, which are two essential components of The Balvenie. Its Makers are able to dramatize the distinctively human distinction made when Makers put their souls into their work through this process of shared enthusiasm.

Experience the taste of Creativity with the Balvenie

 

Femi Ogunrombi Known as Papa Ajasco is dead

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On Sunday, Husseini Shaibu, a theater professional, reported his death on Twitter.

In his post, he stated, “I have just received reliable information that Mr. Femi Ogunrombi, an ethnomusicologist, former music instructor with the National Theatre, and former stand-in for the ‘Papa Ajasco’ character on the well-known #waleadenugaprod comedic series ‘Papa Ajasco,’ has passed away.

I’ve been informed that “Uncle Ogurombo,” an actor, singer, highlifist, and trained nurse, passed away this evening (Saturday), though not to his hearing.
Ogunrombi’s performance in Wale Adenuga’s comedy series Papa Ajasco made him well-known.

 

In episode 8 of “Mercy’s Menu,” Veteran Nollywood Actress Joke Silva joins Mercy Johnson Okojie.

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Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva appears with Mercy Johnson Okojie in episode 8 of season 3 of “Mercy’s Menu.”

Joke Silva talks about being a mother and a grandmother, the early years of her marriage to veteran actor Olu Jacobs, dealing with her partner’s health issues, appearing in Hollywood, the development of Nollywood, marriage, her advice to people in abusive marriages, and much more as they prepare a meal of creamy pasta with snails in this warm and insightful episode.

The episode can be seen below:

 

The iHeartRadio Music Awards have nominated Wizkid, Tems, Burna Boy, Ckay, and Fireboy DML.

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Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tems, Ckay, and Fireboy DML are all Nigerian musicians who have been nominated for the Afrobeats Artist Of The Year award at the 11th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards in 2023. Songs from Afrobeats have consistently topped international music charts, propelling the genre’s popularity around the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that these Nigerian superstars have been nominated.

In the lineup of nominees announced by iHeart Media and Fox Entertainment for the 2023 iHeartRadio Music awards, Tems received nominations in four other categories; Best R&B artist, R&B song of the year, Hip-Hop song of the year, and Best Collaboration.

Rema was also nominated for Best Music Video (A Socially Voted Category) for the visuals of his remix of “Calm Down” with Selena Gomez.

The 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards will be broadcast live from Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, March 27, on FOX.

See the full nomination list below:

Song of the Year:

“About Damn Time” – Lizzo
“Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift
“As It Was” – Harry Styles
“Big Energy” – Latto
“Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)” – Imagine Dragons
“First Class” – Jack Harlow
“Ghost”- Justin Bieber
“Heat Waves” – Glass Animals
“INDUSTRY BABY” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
“Woman” – Doja Cat

Artist of the Year:

Beyoncé
Doja Cat
Drake
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
Jack Harlow
Justin Bieber
Lizzo
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd

Best Duo/Group of the Year:

AJR
Black Eyed Peas
BLACKPINK
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
Glass Animals
Imagine Dragons
Måneskin
OneRepublic
Parmalee
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Best Collaboration:

“Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” – Elle King & Miranda Lambert
“Cold Heart” – Elton John & Dua Lipa
“half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny Chesney
“I Like You (A Happier Song)” – Post Malone ft. Doja Cat
“INDUSTRY BABY” – Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow
“One Right Now” – Post Malone & The Weeknd
“Sweetest Pie” – Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa
“Unholy” – Sam Smith & Kim Petras
“WAIT FOR U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems
“You Right” – Doja Cat ft. The Weeknd

Best New Pop Artist:

Dove Cameron
GAYLE
Jax
Nicky Youre
Steve Lacy

Country Song of the Year:

“Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan
“half of my hometown” – Kelsea Ballerini ft. Kenny Chesney
“She Had Me At Heads Carolina” – Cole Swindell
“The Kind of Love We Make” – Luke Combs
“Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen

Country Artist of the Year:

Carrie Underwood
Jason Aldean
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen

Best New Country Artist:

Bailey Zimmerman
Cody Johnson
Elle King
Elvie Shane
Priscilla Block

Afrobeats Artist of the Year:

Burna Boy
CKay
Fireboy DML
Tems
Wizkid

Hip-Hop Song of the Year:

“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”- Hitkidd & GloRilla
“First Class” – Jack Harlow
“Girls Want Girls” – Drake ft. Lil Baby
“Super Gremlin”- Kodak Black
“WAIT FOR U” – Future ft. Drake & Tems

Hip-Hop Artist of the Year:

Drake
Future
Kodak Black
Lil Baby
Moneybagg Yo

Best New Hip-Hop Artist:

B-Lovee
GloRilla
Latto
Nardo Wick
SleazyWorld Go

R&B Song of the Year:

“BREAK MY SOUL” – Beyoncé
“Free Mind” – Tems
“Hrs And Hrs” – Muni Long
“I Hate U”- SZA
“Smokin Out The Window” – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic

R&B Artist of the Year:

Blxst
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
Muni Long
SZA
Yung Bleu

Best New R&B Artist:

Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Muni Long
Steve Lacy
Tems

Alternative Song of the Year:

“Black Summer”- Red Hot Chili Peppers
“EDGING”- Blink-182
“Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)”- Imagine Dragons
“Heat Waves”- Glass Animals
“Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”- Kate Bush

Alternative Artist of the Year:

Imagine Dragons
Måneskin
Red Hot Chili Peppers
twenty one pilots
Weezer

Best New Artist (Alternative & Rock):

Beach Weather
BoyWithUke
Giovannie and the Hired Guns
Turnstile
Wet Leg

Rock Song of the Year:

“Black Summer”- Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Patient Number 9”- Ozzy Osbourne ft. Jeff Beck
“Planet Zero”- Shinedown
“So Called Life”- Three Days Grace
“Taking Me Back”- Jack White

Rock Artist of the Year:

Ghost
Papa Roach
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Shinedown
Three Days Grace

Dance Song of the Year:

“Cold Heart”- Elton John & Dua Lipa
“Escape”- KX5, Kaskade, Deadmau5 ft. Hayla
“Heaven Takes You Home”- Swedish House Mafia & Connie Constance
“Hot In It”- Tiësto & Charli XCX
“I’m Good (Blue)”- David Guetta & Bebe Rexha

Dance Artist of the Year:

Anabel Englund
Joel Corry
SOFI TUKKER
Swedish House Mafia
Tiësto

Latin Pop/Reggaeton Song Of The Year:

“El Incomprendido” – Farruko/ Víctor Cárdenas/ DJ Adoni
“MAMIII”- Becky G & Karol G
“Me Porto Bonito”- Bad Bunny ft. Chencho Corleone
“Moscow Mule” – Bad Bunny
“PROVENZA”- Karol G

Latin Pop/Reggaeton Artist of the Year:

Bad Bunny
Daddy Yankee
Farruko
Karol G
Rauw Alejandro

Regional Mexican Song of the Year:

“Cada Quien”- Grupo Firme ft. Maluma
“Cómo Te Olvido” – La Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho
“Si Te Pudiera Mentir”- Calibre 50
“Ya Solo Eres Mi Ex” – La Adictiva
“Ya Supérame”- Grupo Firme

Regional Mexican Artist of the Year:

Calibre 50
Christian Nodal
El Fantasma
Grupo Firme
La Adictiva

Best New Latin Artist:

Blessd
Kali Uchis
Quevedo
Ryan Castro
Venesti

Best Lyrics: (Socially Voted Category)

“About Damn Time” – Lizzo
“abcdefu” – GAYLE
“Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift
“Buy Dirt”- Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan
“Glimpse Of Us”- Joji
“Lift Me Up”- Rihanna
“N95” – Kendrick Lamar
“pushin P” – Gunna ft. Future, Young Thug
“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj
“Wasted On You” – Morgan Wallen
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno”- Lin-Manuel Miranda performed by the Cast of Encanto

Best Music Video: (Socially Voted Category)

“Anti-Hero”- Taylor Swift
“As It Was” – Harry Styles
“Calm Down”- Rema & Selena Gomez
“Don’t Be Shy”- Tiësto & Karol G
“DON’T YOU WORRY”- Black Eyed Peas, Shakira, David Guetta
“Envovler” – Anitta
“Left and Right”- Charlie Puth ft. Jung Kook of BTS
“Pink Venom”- BLACKPINK
“Tití Me Preguntó” – Bad Bunny
“Yet To Come” – BTS

Best Fan Army: (Socially Voted Category)

“Barbz”- Nicki Minaj
“Beliebers”- Justin Bieber
“BeyHive” – Beyoncé
“Blinks”- BLACKPINK
“BTSArmy”- BTS
“Harries” – Harry Styles
“Hotties”- Megan Thee Stallion
“Louies”- Louis Tomlinson
“RihannaNavy”- Rihanna
“Rushers”- Big Time Rush
“Selenators” – Selena Gomez
“Swifties”- Taylor Swift

Social Star Award: (Socially Voted Category)

Bailey Zimmerman
Charli D’Amelio
Em Beihold
GAYLE
GloRilla
JVKE
Lauren Spencer-Smith
Yung Gravy

Favorite Tour Photographer: (Socially Voted Category)

Bad Bunny – SIEMPRERIC
Demi Lovato – Angelo Kritikos
Dua Lipa – Elizabeth Miranda
Halsey – Yasi
Harry Styles – Lloyd Wakefield
Louis Tomlinson – Joshua Halling
Luke Combs – David Bergman
Machine Gun Kelly – Sam Cahill
Olivia Rodrigo – DONSLENS
Post Malone – Adam DeGross
twenty one pilots – Ashley Osborn
YUNGBLUD – Tom Pallant

TikTok Bop of the Year: (Socially Voted Category)

“About Damn Time”- Lizzo
“As It Was” – Harry Styles
“Bad Habit” – Steve Lacy
“Bejeweled”- Taylor Swift
“Big Energy”- Latto
“CUFF IT”- Beyoncé
“Envolver”- Anitta
“Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert
“Made You Look”- Meghan Trainor
“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj
“Unholy”- Sam Smith & Kim Petras
“World’s Smallest Violin”- AJR

Favorite Documentary: (Socially Voted Category)

“Halftime” – Jennifer Lopez
“Life in Pink” – Machine Gun Kelly
“Love, Lizzo”- Lizzo
“Niall Horan’s Homecoming: The Road to Mullingar with Lewis Capaldi” – Niall Horan + Lewis Capaldi
“Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me” – Selena Gomez
“Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl” – Shania Twain
“Sheryl” – Sheryl Crow
“Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby” – Lil Baby

Favorite Tour Style: (Socially Voted Category)

Bad Bunny
Carrie Underwood
Dua Lipa
Elton John
Harry Styles
Lady Gaga
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Machine Gun Kelly
Olivia Rodrigo
Rosalía
The Weeknd

Favorite Residency: (Socially Voted Category)

“An Evening with Silk Sonic” – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic
“Enigma + Jazz & Piano” – Lady Gaga
“Let’s Go!” – Shania Twain
“Love In Las Vegas”- John Legend
“Love On Tour” – Harry Styles
“Play”- Katy Perry
“REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency” – Carrie Underwood
“Usher: My Way – The Las Vegas Residency” – Usher
“Weekends with Adele” – Adele

Favorite Use of a Sample: (Socially Voted Category)

Beyoncé’s “SUMMER RENAISSANCE” – sampled Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”
BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom” – sampled 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P,” Rihanna’s “Pon de Replay,” and Biggie’s “Kick In The Door”
Chlöe’s “Treat Me” – sampled Bubba Sparxxx & Ying Yang Twins’ “Ms. New Booty”
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” – sampled Eiffel 65’s “Blue (Da Ba Dee)”
DJ Khaled & Drake’s “Staying Alive” – sampled The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”
Doja Cat’s “Vegas” – sampled Shonka Dukureh’s “Hound Dog”
Jack Harlow’s “First Class” – sampled Fergie’s “Glamorous”
Latto’s “Big Energy” – sampled Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”
Lizzo’s “Break Up Twice” – sampled Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” – sampled Rick James’ “Super Freak”
Taylor Swift’s “Question…?” – sampled Taylor Swift’s “Out Of The Woods”
Yung Gravy’s “Betty (Get Money)” – sampled Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”.

 

 

Burna Boy, a Grammy Award winner, is set to perform at Coachella 2023. 

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Burna Boy, a Grammy Award winner, is scheduled to perform at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival alongside other worldwide musical groups.

Burna Boy will be joined by international performers including Gorillaz, Chemical Brothers, Pusha T, Kali Uchis, Chris Lake, Uncle Waffles, Tobe Nwigwe, and a host of other worldwide superstars in the star-studded line-up, the festival announced on their Instagram page.

The festival is set to run from April 14-16 & April 21-23, 2023 and Burna Boy will be performing on April 14 and 21.

Bad BunnyFrank Ocean and Blackpink are the megastars headlining this year’s event.

See the line up below:

 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie starred in the most recent Dior handbag Campaign.

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie served as the face of Dior’s most recent handbag advertising campaign, which Maria Grazia Chiuri dubbed “Lady 95.22.” The first phase of the campaign includes a series of black-and-white pictures of the Nigerian author as well as other remarkable women from the fields of fashion, film, literature, sports, music, and art, such as Anya Taylor-Joy and Beatrice Borromeo.

According to the French luxury fashion house, “this new bag offers a totally contemporary reinvention of the iconic lines of the Lady Dior, with its Macro and Maxicannage motifs, soft curves and signature charms. Its unique name references the years of its predecessor’s and its own creation.”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Wearing the “We Should All Be Feminists T-shirts, paired with a black suit and a matching Lady 95.22, she says, “I feel happiest when I am surrounded by the people I love—by my family, by my friends. I think I just light up.”

She adds, “I think femininity and feminism have often been seen as mutually exclusive. And so, I think for a long time, people felt that being a feminist meant somehow to reject everything to do with feminity. Right so, you have to in some ways, kind of appropriate a man to be a feminist, and I don’t think so at all. I think that femininity and feminism actually do complement each other. Women should be allowed to have a broad range of what they can be, who they can be, of how they can present themselves. And so I think femininity is one of those options and I love femininity.”

Talking about the bag, she continues:

There’s something almost timeless about the bag. I think it would be interesting to juxtapose that with a less timeless outfit – a lot of colour, a lot clashing, a lot of maximalism and then the bag. Its beauty is not rooted in any particular period. Timelessness means that it cuts across cultures. It doesn’t matter where one is looking at a beautiful timeless thing, one finds it. One of the motos I like to live by is, never admire quietly. If I admire something about somebody, I think it’s important to tell them. We humans are so fragile and it’s important to give people their flowers while they’re here. So never admire quietly.

See the campaign video below.

 

Vote for Nigeria’s best-performing Governor in the areas of economy and business growth. 

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This poll has ended (since 2 years).

As part of Africa 100 and Ranks Africa to celebrate and honor the best-performing governor in the areas of economy and business growth for exceptional dedication to improving the country through innovative initiatives.

We are now at the final voting stage to pick the most impactful Governor in Nigeria 2022.

Voting runs from January 12th to January 17th, 2023. 
You can vote 10 times per login for your choice.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
23.08%
Gov. Seyi Makinde
12.31%
Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike
10.77%
Gov. Godwin Obaseki
7.69%
Gov. Nasir el-Rufai
7.69%
Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum
7.69%
Governor Dapo Abiodun
6.15%
Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu
4.62%
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu
4.62%
Gov. Ben Ayade
3.08%
Gov. Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman
3.08%
Gov. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel
3.08%
Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa
3.08%
Gov. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
3.08%

 

 

 

Seun Kuti celebrates his 40th birthday and 32 years of performing on stage with charming family pictures.

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Seun Kuti, happy birthday!

To commemorate his 40th birthday and 32 years on stage, the musician sat for brand-new pictures with his wife Yeide and daughter, which were taken by Kelechi Amadi. His “aim is to become an African elder, i.e., one who has aged with elegance and dignity that the young might emulate,” the musician said, describing himself as being “baby forty” now.

Photo Credit: Kelechi Amadi-Obi

 

RANKSAFRICA MAGAZINE JAN. 2023 EDITION: DOYIN ASHIRU A QUEEN IN HER ART AND HEART

Adedoyin Ashiru is a multi-award-winning media professional, promoter, business owner, and brand management specialist who is familiar with the mechanics of communication. Doyin, 30, began her profession when she was 16 years old, and she is still working hard to support Nigerian kids whenever they need it. She is the director at Doyin Ashiru Concept (DAC International), a media company that provides consulting services to Nigerian celebrities and companies, and the publisher of the popular monthly SingleLink Magazine. Due to her love for others, Doyin also operates the DAC Foundation. Doyin, an Abeokuta native from Ogun State, completed studies in marketing and business management and advertising and marketing communication at the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom (MSc).

 

As a professional promoter and event guru, Doyin added numerous media master’s degrees to her list of achievements. Doyin, a pan-Africanist, has contributed to the growth of African culture in the United Kingdom and, through her generosity, has supported a lot of Nigerians in the UK in actualizing their dreams. Doyin profoundly received the DAC International Awards as a way of rewarding outstanding achievements and talents that have made vibrant contributions to the growth of Nigeria.

This wave-making laurel has encouraged and appreciated talents as well as trailblazers in different sectors over the years. With its first edition in the Republic of Ireland, the DAC International Awards didn’t relent, pulling off another successful edition in the UK in 2018. The third edition of the DAC International Awards, held in the serene atmosphere of the GRA-Ikeja in Lagos, Nigeria, honored the First Lady of Ogun State, Her Excellency, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, among other notable and influential celebrities. In 2021, the 4th edition was held in Ibadan, Nigeria, where notable personalities from Ibadan and beyond were recognized.

Doyin, an advocate for girl children, women, and youths with a keen interest in the well-being of Nigerian youths, gave support to the less privileged at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL); this same gesture commenced in 2015 in Ibadan.

Due to Doyin Ashiru’s significant actions, this special edition of Ranks Africa Magazine is dedicated to her.

So now it’s over to you. What do you think of this issue, both in print and online? What do you like and what is missing? Let us know RanksAfrica@gmail.com or @RanksAfrica on Twitter and Instagram and we’ll see what we can deliver in our forthcoming issues.

 

READ AND DOWNLOAD HERE FOR FREE

 

Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the founder of AMAA, Is Dead.

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Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, who founded the African Movie Academy Awards, has passed away.

Anyiam-Osigwe, who was regarded as one of the country’s promoters of the entertainment industry, is said to have passed away at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos on Monday after entering a coma on Saturday.

One of her colleagues, Zik Zulu, broke the news by declaring, “Our President, Peace, has passed.” She was said to be in a coma at Saint Nicholas as of Saturday. Her family has now acknowledged her change, nevertheless.

May her life’s memories bring her blessings.

He writes for a Nollywood platform, so “Rest in peace, darling Peace.”