Derenle’s Heart Felt Tribute to Goldie

My super star friend sways away and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says “she’s gone”…Gone where?

Gone from my sight, that is all. She is just as gorgeous now as when last I saw her.

Her slightly disappearing figure and total loss from my sight is in me, not in her.

And just at that moment, when someone at my side says she’s gone, there are others who are watching her coming over their horizon and other voices take up a glad shout – There she comes! That is what dying id – An horizon and just the limit of our sight.

My lifeline, my lexicon, Therapist and support system…we have known lots of pleasure, at times endured ppai, we have lived in the sunshine and walked in the rain. I had acute malaria (was shaking terribly) but performed “skibobo” with you at the Industry Night and Loud&Proud show, I sprained my ankle but still shot your three videos in a row in S/A.

I left my family house and moved in with you and your family right after all the Big Brother Africa madness, I did all the damage control….

I fought every organizer simply cos I wanted you on the bill with me and split my show earnings with you, I dragged you to the American Embassy even if it meant I had to get up at 4am. I endured negative criticism because shallow minds couldn’t comprehend your brand essence – I started wearing block heels (you got me the most fabulous pair of Jeffrey Campbells) and I damned the consequences. I recorded the reality show “Tru Friendship” with you because you went on and on about it and I wanted to please you.

I have been your fierce-alter ego in all your videos, I have fought your fights, endured countless eccentric P.As with you…I can go on and on and this is how you leave me? You chose an eternal sleep over a fabulous life with me? Lest I forget, I ate the entire box of birthday chocolates Bola sent to you!

Phew, I can’t type anymore, I’m playing “Good To Me” (always disturbed you to release that song) and my notepad is a misty mass of my never ending tears. So sad when people who give you the best memories, become a memory!

The Goldie I knew, despite your success and worldwide recognition, still wondered, “Am I good enough?” “Am I pretty enough?” “Will they like me?” It was this burden that made you great…And that made you stumble in the end.

Goldie if you can hear me now, you weren’t good just good enough – You were abso-frigging-lutely GREAT! You sang the whole damn song without a band- you made the picture of a showbiz star look so perfect!

Your parting has left a void, but I will fit it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss and oh yes, these things I too will miss. Even though we are separated and for a time apart, I am not alone cos you’re forever in my heart. I will move mountains to continue your legacy, I will crash ceilings to spread your good works, I will break barriers to sell your “market” but above all, I will cherish the awesome times we spent together…You will forever be my source of infinity!

We wore the same shoe size and had the same body proportions. You made me start strutting lashes and recall I wore that black dress of yours you never got to wear? No masterpiece can ever match your face! To everyone reading this piece, let my dear friend rest in peace! Speak no evil about her, she was too good to be true!

I can hear you say to me…Mbirikoko, do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep, Do not stand at my grave and cry…I am not there, I did not die!

Denrele Edun

Emotions brings out words unsought.Well done Denrele. May God grant you and her loved ones the heart to bear the loss. May her tough soul rest in Peace

My Complete Thoughts On Kim Kardashian In Nigeria

FEBRUARY 19, 2013 BY Raymond

Darey & Kim

Darey (Dare?) had a concert this past weekend in Nigeria. I have read a lot of blogs that reported on the event, and everyone (including people that commented) have said two things in common:

1.  The concert was beyond amazing. It was like nothing they have ever experienced.

2.  Kim Kardashian made no difference whatsoever AND she was on stage for like a few seconds.

When I wrote the piece “Lessons Hollywood Can Learn From Nollywood,” that was my way of highlighting some of the foolishness of Nollywood and Nigerian entertainment in general – for those who did not get that memo. And it’s not just Nollywood, but Nigeria as 

We have something going on with us where we – as a nation – would rather have anything that is NOT of Nigeria. We do not celebrate our own; we do not appreciate our own, and we do not just want our own.

I remember when I was in Nigeria and companies who made plastic would mark it as “Made in Holland” or something like that. Meanwhile, the plastic was made in Aba or wherever else. But they did that because they knew that people loved to see things made in other countries.

It has been a real eye opener for me here in America as Americans generally don’t appreciate products made in other countries to be sold here. When American-made products are advertised, they make sure to tell you that this is American-made. So why is it the opposite in Nigeria?

The same thing applies to our entertainment industry. Peeps are recruiting hosts from America, people who don’t know of or care about Nigeria, people who are just there to get their money. They are overpaid, underworked, and over-celebrated. Tell me, what do the likes of Morris Chestnut, Chris Brown,  Idris Elba, and Kim Kardashian have to do with Nigeria? Believe me, I am not at all hating on these people, but I just know  - and wish that everyone else recognizes – that these people do NOT care about us. Tell me, how many times has America invited ANYONE from Nigeria to come and host ANY kind of event?

When I heard about Darey’s event, I just kept asking myself, “What the hell is Kim K going to be doing there?” And people even paid to see her??? Why???????????????????? You don’t see her enough on television? Really, I’d understand why someone would pay to see the likes of Oprah, Beyonce, Stephen Spielberg, Simon Cowell, etc, but Kim K?? Why? You need tips on making a sex tape? Or tips on getting pregnant for the man that you are NOT currently married to? What?

It sounds like I don’t like Kim K, but that really isn’t the case. I’m indifferent. I just don’t know why we keep celebrating everyone but ourselves.  And when the celebrities come and give us less than whatever it is we were expecting, everyone is up in arms, wondering how on earth this could happen. We give them soldiers to protect them, follow them everywhere, and take pictures for Instagram. We pay them 20 times what we will pay our own, and they do one-twentieth of the job that our own will do.  They don’t know Nigeria. They don’t know Nigerians. They don’t know what the heck we’ve invited them for; all they know is the money. And who can blame them? If some country were to pay me $$$$$ to come to an event I don’t know and pose for a couple pictures, I would do it, too.

Look at this picture of Kim Kardashian and tell me that this is money well spent.

One of these people don’t look like the other

 P.S. And for the people blogging and saying that she looks “stunning” or “dazzling,” you need to stop with the ass-kissing already. We have all seen Kim K looking fab, and this isn’t a fab-looking Kim K. I’m not saying you should say she looks bad – and I don’t even think that she does – but quit with the lies,joh. Sick of all y’ll kissing ass.

Which way, Nigeria?

Photo: Mum Arrested For Hiring Strippers To Lap Dance At Her 16yr Old Son’s Birthday Party

February 20, 2013

By Raymond

Some parents are disgustingly irresponsible.

A New York mother has been charged with five counts of endangering the welfare of a child after she allegedly hired two strippers to perform lap dances on the guests at her son’s 16th birthday party.
Judy Viger, 33, hired the women from a company called Tops in Bottoms and arranged for them to perform in a private room at the Spare Time Bowling Center in South Glens Falls on Nov. 3.
At the party, the women performed what police describe as “personal and intimate” dances with the party guests, some of whom were as young as 13.

Approximately 80 people attended the party, including a 13-year-old and many adults who later said they were outraged at the sexually charged performances.
Police were alerted to the party activities after raunchy photos of the lap dances were posted online. The mother of a 15-year-old boy who attended the party saw some of the photos on her son’s Facebook page and alerted South Glens Falls authorities.
“The charges stem from an allegation that she endangered not only the welfare of her own child, but the welfare of the 14- and 15-year-old children that were at the birthday party as well,” Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy told the Glens Falls Post-Star.
The company providing the strippers said that the dancers were unaware that the kids at the party were underage, local CBS affiliate WRGB reported, and that the incident was being “blown out of proportion.”
Police said that Tops in Bottoms cooperated fully with their investigation and does not face any charges.
Viger, who has a March 7 court date, faces up to a year in prison if convicted.

 Sweet Mother

Another Star Gone Home

AUGUST 5, 2012 BY Raymond

Justus Esiri a veteran actor, got more than he bargained for on his recent trip to the United Kingdom. He was there as part of a performing crew of Wole Soyinka’s play, The Lion and the Jewel. Other Nigerian acts in attendance were Olu and Joke Jacob, Keppy Ekpeyong, Bimbo Akintola, Segun Arinze and a host of others.

While he was out on rehearsal, his room in the hotel, where he lodged in Surrey, was burgled and Esiri lost his passport, other travelling documents, laptop, cash and several valuables. Although the incident was reported to the police, no arrest has been made so far but a forensic search of the place was carried out. Unfortunately, the hotel has no CCTV camera.

However, to save him from being stranded, the Nigerian mission in the UK has issued him a new passport on self-recognition, being a national honour awardee

RIHANNA INSTAGRAMS HER MARIJUANA BOUQUET,
BEYONCE SPENDS $600 ON HER NAILS,
                                               & OTHER BIZARRE NEWS

How to use social media: Share your feelings. Share your accomplishments. Share interesting stories and information. And most importantly, share cat videos. Did you notice the part where I said "expose your illegal drug possession on the Internet"? That's because I didn't say it — because it's a terrible idea and basically serves as a public record of your debauchery. Apparently, Rihanna doesn't see this is being a problem.

The singer posted anInstagram photo (left) on Valentine's Day of her present from "somebody" who "knows how to make" her "happy." Translation: Somebody (probably) named Chris Browndoesn't know how to give a thoughtful gift, so he bought her enough marijuana to knock out Tommy Chong so she'd be too stoned to notice. Of course, I doubt he made her post this picture on Instagram. Girl, you know there are people who've been arrested for posting Fight Clubquotes as their Facebook statuses, right?

RELATED: Is Rihanna a Bad Girl Gone Too Far?

But Rihanna's not alone. Elsewhere in weird news...

Beyoncé Put $600 Dollars on It: What does it cost to turn a pop star into the Queen of America? Sixty dollars per finger nail, apparently. Queen Bey reportedly spent $600 dollars on a manicure for her video announcing the Mrs. Carter world tour. It just so turns out, that's exactly how much the tickets to all her instantly sold out shows are going for. [OMG]

RELATED: Beyonce Announces The Mrs. Carter Tour

Knut's Legacy is Immovable... Literally: The lovable miracle polar bear Knut, who was hand-raised after his mother rejected him, will live on as a motionless, taxidermied version of himself in the Berlin museum. So, if you never got a chance to see the cuddly cub tumbling around his cage in person, you should probably just stick to his YouTube videos. [Yahoo]

2 Chainz Takes a Fan Photo... From Jail: It's not surprising that another celebrity, and a rapper at that, was arrested on suspicion of drug possession. Rapper 2 Chainz is the latest to be picked up for allegedly carrying around a bit of Mary Jane, but it's not his cargo that's the bizarre part of the story. After he was arrested, he took a fan photo with the cops who locked him up and then posted it to his Instagram. This reverse-Rihanna just became my favorite unneccessarily grainy photo of the week! [Instagram]

The pop artist was 31 years old

Nigerian Singer Goldie Harvey Dead 

Following Trip to Grammy Awards

Nigerian pop artist Goldie Harvey is dead at 31, according to announcements on the singer's Facebook page.

OUR EDITOR RECOMMENDS

Grammy Awards Crasher Vitalii Sediuk Reveals How He Did It (Exclusive Video)

Grammys 2013: Talent Scoff at CBS' Fashion Memo: 'We Should Be Allowed to Express Ourselves Artistically' (Video)

TV Ratings: Grammys Down From Last Year, Draws More Than 28 Million Viewers

Her death came Thursday following her trip to Los Angeles for the Grammys. Upon her return, Harvey reportedly complained of a severe headache and was rushed to a hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, where she was later pronounced dead.

"With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey," said Kenny Ogungbe, head of Kennis Music, Harvey's record label, in a statement.

Harvey, born Susan Filani, attended the American music ceremony despite receiving no nominations for the awards. There, she was spotted with R&B singer Ciara at a pre-event party.

Harvey is also known in her home continent for her appearance on Big Brother Africa in 2012, on which she stirred controversy for coming off as too Western to many Nigerians.

On the show, she met Kenyan rapper Prezzo, a musician with whom she had a relationship. Prezzo was on his way to Nigeria to meet with the singer prior to her death.

According to her website, Harvey had won numerous awards in Africa, most recently a special recognition at the Top Naija Music Awards. She was working on a new record, The Africa Invasion Album.

Berlin Film Festival

Topless Protesters Storm

                          Berlin Film Festival

Topless protesters stormed the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival opening last night.

The scantily-clad protesters were using the glamorous event – known for its political streak – to demonstrate against female circumcision in Africa.

The women appeared shortly after 74-year-old Fonda showed up and greeted the crowd.

Oleksandra Shevchenko, one of a trio of demonstrators, told Interfax the group were trying to draw attention to the barbaric practice of genital mutilation. ’One girl is circumcised every 19 minutes,’ she said.

The women were quickly removed by security and kept in a police vehicle for about an hour, according to Shevchenko.

Femen are known for staging attention-grabbing topless protests, at big events including major football matches.

Kim Pregnant For Kanye West

We must have heard about Kim
Kardashian being pregnant for Kanye West well hear is a photo of
her with a slight baby bump

013 is shaping up to be the year of KimYe. In a recent photo of Kim Kardashian, she steps out in a blue dress that shows the first signs of her baby bump. This was taken in Miami before she was heading to dinner.