Saturday, February 23, 2013

Ndani TV Premieres New Web Drama Series 'GIDI UP'


Gidi Up is a thrilling adventure centered around the lives of four friends in pursuit of happiness, success and independence. However, a few wrong choices quickly turn their Lagos dreams into a Gidi nightmare.

Watch this 8-part webseries to see how Tokunbo (Deyemi Okanlawon), Eki (Oreka Godis), Yvonne ( Somkele Iyamah) and Obi (Karibi Fubura) deal with love, sex and making a living in one of Africa’s biggest cities.


Also staring Lynxxx, Burna Boy, Bimbo Manuel, Segun Arinze, Temi Dollface and Daniel Effiong.
Written and Directed by Jadesola Osiberu
Director of Photography: Muhammad Atta Ahmed
Executive Producer: Lola Odedina
Producer: Jadesola Osiberu
Associate Producer and production manager: Toyin Fajj
Casting Director: Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju
Sound: Leke Awoyinka

In this first episode (New Beginnings), we’re introduced to Obi, Tokunbo, Eki and Yvone as they each prepare for big chances in their lives.


In this 2nd episode (New Beginnings), Obi gets some bad news, Tokunbo tries to take his mind off his problems and Yvonne launches her Fashion label, Vone. 


In this episode 3 (Keeping Up Appearances), Tokunbo and Eki make a connection, while Obi and Yvonne share a lot but don't realise how much they have in common, and Folarin gets desperate. Music by: Temi Dollface - The Box, Falz - 1, 2, 3, and Ajebutter22 with Serenre.




ADVENTURES OF MUDDIE: THE FULANI CHRONICLES 2


Who would have thought the Fulani people inspire some of the latest fashion trends, the world over…but my encounter with these three amazing Fulani brothers during my tour of a Fulani settlement in Abuja, changed my perception!

Ladies & Gents, meet Wailare, Usman & Sulaiman!


Wailare: Now welcome to the real shoot for Darey’s “Ba ni kidi” music video but first, Muddie...put your money in the bowl!

Usman: Hahahaha…he's not smiling because he thinks we are going to beg for alms.

Wailare:  Now ease up Muddie, we only brought you some fura da nono!

Sulaiman: [laughing]  Mai ya kawo shi nan?(what brings him here?)

Usman: It seems he has come to take pictures of our village...See, he has a camera.

Wailare:  With a camera in hand, I’m thinking he's here because the rest of the world needs some fashion upgrade and he knows there's only one place to get the very best...here!

Usman:  Dan uwa, that makes perfect sense. First they criticize us for not being civilized and then they copy our fashion styles. I always knew we rocked.

Wailare: I hear so many people in the township now spot the Fulani inspired mohawk hairstyle, especially celebrities.

Sulaiman: So true, that inyamuri (igbo) rapper, Phyno presently spots one.

  
Usman: Well, the mohawk is already going out of fashion but I’m sure the world would love my hairstyle. The low cut is not totally new to them, but there's a new angle to it, the patch in the middle. It’s the real deal…so hurry, take a picture before I change my mind.
[General laughter]

Sulaiman: What about our clothes? Aren’t you people getting tired of skinny jeans?

Wailare: Hahahaha…I laugh in igbo! Baba (father) said back then, people would laugh at his trousers because they were too skinny and looked funny!

Usman: Hmmm, I mean who looks funny, a Fulani man in skinny trouser or Rick Ross in a skinny jean?
[laughter again...]


Sulaiman: Fashion designers across the world have embraced Ankara and I’m sure they need something new. I will not be surprised if tomorrow, i see Olisa Adibua or Dan Foster (those radio presenters) spot these same tops we are putting on.

Wailare: Considering their body frame, this would be a perfect fit.

Usman: Something tells me they already wear similar outfits. Uncle Abdul also told me a story of how his trader friends in the city often laughed at him back then because he always wore rubber shoes.

  
Wailare: Quite funny because today, all the fashionistas now wear funny coloured rubber shoes, you would think they are wearing colour wheels.


Sulaiman: The Fulani people might be seen by the rest of world as fourth world living in a third world country but we are one step ahead in fashion and always set trends.  We will continue to grace the pages of FAB magazine because  we are Fab. African & Black.

Wailare, Usman & Sulaiman: We are Fulani & we are proud!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

MOBILE DIARIES: EPISODE 1


Phone beeps…
1 new message

 Dear subscriber, we noticed u r 1 of
our only 5 Airtel subscribers in the
North & to reward ur loyalty, ur account
has been credited with N1000, 000
airtime!
Thanks for choosing Airtel!

Hurriedly dials *123# to check balance.

Service reply
Main Acc: N 0. 00 NGN. Voice Acct1: N 0. 00
On-Net SMS: O, Voice Acct2: N 0. 00.
We hope u would have realized at this point
that u were only dreaming & pls recharge
to avoid service suspension.

*insert* market women saying “Hmmm, wonders shall never end.” 


 Ladies and Gents, welcome to today’s post. Over the past few months, I noticed that I have left quite a number of text messages unattended to.  Can’t blame me...with Facebook, Twitter, BBM, Whatsapp ati other social apps, who really does text messages these days?

Scrolling through the length and breadth of my inbox, I can only find messages from Airtel, MTN & bank alerts that do nothing but remind me of how broke I’m.  I hear people don’t like it when they send you messages and you don’t respond and of course, I know how it would have felt if you didn’t take time out to read this post. [Ese Gan!]

Today happens to be one of many days when I question my sanity:
Muddie:  Which frequency we dey operate today? 
Voice:     “SBW”…short brain wave and this means your brain will be quite shaky today!

This explains why I will be replying text messages sent by telecomm service providers today… but one thing I will not do is apologise to them for the late response [una no go know wetin I dey go through just to talk to dem customer care agents].
Reaches for his Nokia X2 & navigates through inbox…

 Message #1
Super Eagles of NIG vs. Stallions of
Burkina Faso, who takes home the
cup, live match updates @ N20
daily. Send AFC to 244.

Received:  04:44:48pm  10-02-2013
From: Airtel

Reply
Scam to 244.
LWKMD…Airtel o!!! To who brain is
given, sense is xpected. Una want
me to pay N20 4 update 4 d same
match wey I watch live 4 ocean
viewing center 4 makoko area & na
N50 I pay. Are u a learner?

Message #2
Breaking News! Call 141 now for details.
It’s Free.

Received:  06:11:09pm  19-02-2013
From: Airtel

Reply
Make una no worry, I rely on Channels TV and Linda
Ikeji 4 breaking News. Their Services are also
free and dem no dey carry last. Can I call
08023454494 for free 2? Na my gfrnd numba.

Message #3

ENJOY THESE CLASSIC VALENTINE TUNEZ! For
PASS ME UR LOVE, text 011145 to 4100. For
L-O-V-E U by Jesse Jagz, text 011761 to 4100.
Txt STOP to 33111 to Opt-Out

Received: 19:43:58pm  12-02-2013
From: MTN NG

Reply
MTN, Apart from d fact say una wan force us 2 buy
old songs, I’m embarrassed by poor choice of luv
songs! Are u saving IFE WA GBONO by Tiwa and
YES NO by Banky for EASTER TUNEZ? To opt out,
I’m sendin…MTN, IF NA RUFF PLAY, ABEG STOP
AM!

Message #4

Customer service just got easier. A quick response
to your enquiries is just a tweet away. Go to

Received:  09:17:18  14-02-2013
From: Etisalat

Reply
Wayo Ppl! Una neva fit ansa who dey call una for
fone, how much more for twitter. This is just a
miserable excuse to get us to follow u on twitter.
Focus on improving ur call center services jor!

 People of God, that is how I respond to annoying text messages from inefficient telecomm service providers. The network is always good when you are loading a recharge card but try making a call, na dat time e go be like say BH don blow -up the entire masts for Nigeria. They keep sending messages that make no sense but Nigerians are so much smarter than service providers think. I for one, will not fall for all these SMS scams. I use Airtel and these guys are mean. They send messages and tell you to call 141 now. “Una no dey fit say please?” If you don’t call back, they will ask that girl who uses auto-tune and a phoney accent  to use one ordinary number to call you the following day…

“Good afternoon, we sent you a text message since yesterday and you haven’t replied. So wa OK?”
[To show it is a recorded message, it is always afternoon, even when she calls you at night.]

 Yes I’m alright and unlike every other Nigerian, if una send me text, I go reply and I still dey wait for the day wey una go send me text say I win free credit, black berry phone or free dinner with one of una beautiful female customer care representatives.