Ibadan Trip

I was in Ibadan with my family over the weekend, and we had loads of fun. Meet my family:

Efico!!!!

Christmas Carol- RCCG, House of David parish

My church, RCCG, House of David parish, had its Christmas carol service yesterday, and it was fun all the way. I wasn't too visible at the event, but my cousin-in-law took some photos: 

 ..........and after the carol service

Yemi weds Biodun

My neighbour, Biodun, quit the Barchelors' Club on Saturday, November 4. The wedding ceremony took place in Ibadan, and Yours Truly was there with his family. Here are some photos from the event:

Biodun, the groom

The bride, Yemi

Bisi, the groom's sister

Ogun Drops Bid For N100bn Bond- The Punch

Somehow, I knew this was a wild goose chase from Day 1!

Gov. Gbenga Daniel

The Ogun State Government has dropped its quest to obtain a N100bn bond.

A faction of the state House of Assembly consisting of nine members of the lawmakers had approved Governor Gbenga Daniel’s request to raise the bond after impeaching the Speaker, Mr. Tunji Egbetokun, and suspending 15 other members of the house.

But the Deputy Speaker of the pro-Daniel faction, Mr. Ayo Odugbesan, told THE PUNCH in the state capital, Abeokuta, on Sunday that it was possible that the state government had dropped the idea.

“We have given approval to the state government to obtain the bond. The approval by the house is not the only condition needed for obtaining the loan as there are still some other issues to be cleared.

“From every indication, it is doubtful if the state government is still interested in pursuing the bond bid,” he said.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Sina Kawonise, also gave an indication that the state government had dropped the quest.

When contacted on Sunday by telephone, he said, “Getting the bond is a long process. It is doubtful if it can come to fruition in the little time left in the life of this administration.

“I guess the next government will be the one to get it, if the need for it is still there.”

Kawonise also dismissed claims by the former Vice-Chancellor of the Crescent University, Abeokuta, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, that he quit his job a few days ago because some government officials threatened to kill him for opposing the controversial bond.

The leading opposition party in the state, the Action Congress of Nigeria, has also confirmed that the bond has not been obtained by the state government.The state chapter’s Publicity Director, Mr. Sola Lawal, said in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday that the state government had not obtained the bond.

According to him, “As at now, they have not obtained the bond; the crisis in the House was part of what stalled the move. Don’t forget that the lawmakers under Egbetokun had earlier challenged the executive to a public debate on the issue before the governor later backed out.

“Though the nine lawmakers approved it but we believe the government is aware that they will be acting illegally if they work on the basis of such an approval. We also know that no reasonable investor will stick his neck into such monetary controversial issue.”

Eminem Gets 10 Grammy Nominations + Full Grammy Nomination List

Eminem has emerged the highest nominee in the 2011 Grammy Awards nomination. Jay-Z and Beyonce also get 7 nominations each, while Lady Gaga has 6. The Awards ceremony will take place on February 11, 2011, at the Staples Centre, New York.

The full nomination list:

Record of the Year

NOTHIN’ ON YOU – B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Eminem Featuring Rihanna

F*** YOU – Cee Lo Green

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

NEED YOU NOW – Lady Antebellum

Album of the Year

THE SUBURBS – Arcade Fire

RECOVERY – Eminem

NEED YOU NOW – Lady Antebellum

THE FAME MONSTER – Lady Gaga

TEENAGE DREAM – Katy Perry

Song of the Year

BEG STEAL OR BORROW – Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)

F*** YOU – Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)

THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME – Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna)

NEED YOU NOW – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Best New Artist

JUSTIN BIEBER

DRAKE

FLORENCE & THE MACHINE

MUMFORD & SONS

ESPERANZA SPALDING

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

KING OF ANYTHING – Sara Bareilles

HALO (LIVE) – Beyoncé

CHASING PIRATES – Norah Jones

BAD ROMANCE – Lady Gaga

TEENAGE DREAM – Katy Perry

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

HAVEN’T MET YOU YET – Michael Bublé

THIS IS IT – Michael Jackson

WHATAYA WANT FROM ME – Adam Lambert

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE – Bruno Mars

HALF OF MY HEART – John Mayer

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ (REGIONALS VERSION) – Glee Cast

MISERY – Maroon 5

THE ONLY EXCEPTION – Paramore

BABYFATHER – Sade

HEY, SOUL SISTER (LIVE) – Train

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

AIRPLANES, PART II – B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams

IMAGINE – Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare

IF IT WASN’T FOR BAD – Elton John & Leon Russell

TELEPHONE – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé

CALIFORNIA GURLS – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

FLOW – Laurie Anderson

NESSUN DORMA – Jeff Beck

NO MYSTERY – Stanley Clarke

ORCHESTRAL INTRO – Gorillaz

SLEEPWALK – The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Best Pop Vocal Album

MY WORLD 2.0 – Justin Bieber

I DREAMED A DREAM – Susan Boyle

THE FAME MONSTER – Lady Gaga

BATTLE STUDIES – John Mayer

TEENAGE DREAM – Katy Perry

Best Dance Recording

ROCKET – Goldfrapp

IN FOR THE KILL – La Roux

DANCE IN THE DARK – Lady Gaga

ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) – Rihanna

DANCING ON MY OWN – Robyn

Best Electronic/Dance Album

THESE HOPEFUL MACHINES – BT

FURTHER – The Chemical Brothers

HEAD FIRST – Goldfrapp

BLACK LIGHT – Groove Armada

LA ROUX – La Roux

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

CRAZY LOVE – Michael Bublé

THE GREATEST LOVE SONGS OF ALL TIME – Barry Manilow

LET IT BE ME: MATHIS IN NASHVILLE – Johnny Mathis

FLY ME TO THE MOON…THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK: VOLUME V – Rod Stewart

LOVE IS THE ANSWER – Barbra Streisand

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

RUN BACK TO YOUR SIDE – Eric Clapton

CROSSROADS – John Mayer

HELTER SKELTER – Paul McCartney

SILVER RIDER – Robert Plant

ANGRY WORLD – Neil Young

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

READY TO START – Arcade Fire

I PUT A SPELL ON YOU – Jeff Beck & Joss Stone

TIGHTEN UP – The Black Keys

RADIOACTIVE – Kings Of Leon

RESISTANCE – Muse

Best Hard Rock Performance

A LOOKING IN VIEW – Alice In Chains

LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM – Ozzy Osbourne

BLACK RAIN – Soundgarden

BETWEEN THE LINES – Stone Temple Pilots

NEW FANG – Them Crooked Vultures

Best Metal Performance

EL DORADO – Iron Maiden

LET THE GUILT GO – Korn

IN YOUR WORDS – Lamb Of God

SUDDEN DEATH – Megadeth

WORLD PAINTED BLOOD – Slayer

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

HAMMERHEAD – Jeff Beck

BLACK MUD – The Black Keys

DO THE MURRAY – Los Lobos

KUNDALINI BONFIRE – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

THE DEATHLESS HORSIE – Dweezil Zappa

Best Rock Song

ANGRY WORLD – Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)

LITTLE LION MAN – Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)

RADIOACTIVE – Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)

RESISTANCE – Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)

TIGHTEN UP – Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)

Best Rock Album

EMOTION & COMMOTION – Jeff Beck

THE RESISTANCE – Muse

BACKSPACER – Pearl Jam

MOJO – Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

LE NOISE – Neil Young

Best Alternative Music Album

THE SUBURBS – Arcade Fire

INFINITE ARMS – Band Of Horses

BROTHERS – The Black Keys

BROKEN BELLS – Broken Bells

CONTRA – Vampire Weekend

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

GONE ALREADY – Faith Evans

BITTERSWEET – Fantasia

EVERYTHING TO ME – Monica

TIRED – Kelly Price

HOLDING YOU DOWN (GOING IN CIRCLES) – Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

SECOND CHANCE – El DeBarge

FINDING MY WAY BACK – Jaheim

WHY WOULD YOU STAY – Kem

WE’RE STILL FRIENDS – (Kirk Whalum &) Musiq Soulchild

THERE GOES MY BABY – Usher

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

LOVE – Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller

TAKE MY TIME – Chris Brown & Tank

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND – Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin

SHINE – John Legend & The Roots

SOLDIER OF LOVE – Sade

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

WHEN A WOMAN LOVES – R. Kelly

HANG ON IN THERE – John Legend & The Roots

YOU’RE SO AMAZING – Calvin Richardson

IN BETWEEN – Ryan Shaw

GO [LIVE] – Betty Wright

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

LITTLE ONE – Bilal

F*** YOU – Cee Lo Green

ORION – Carolyn Malachi

TIGHTROPE – Janelle Monáe & Big Boi

STILL – Eric Roberson

Best R&B Song

BITTERSWEET – Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia)

FINDING MY WAY BACK – Ivan “Orthodox” Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin “Ransum” Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland & Miquel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim)

SECOND CHANCE – E. Debarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)

SHINE – John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)

WHY WOULD YOU STAY – K. Owens, songwriter (Kem)

Best R&B Album

THE LOVE & WAR MASTERPEACE – Raheem DeVaughn

BACK TO ME – Fantasia

ANOTHER ROUND – Jaheim

WAKE UP! – John Legend & The Roots

STILL STANDING – Monica

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

NOTHIN’ ON YOU – B.o.B & Bruno Mars

DEUCES – Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Eminem & Rihanna

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

WAKE UP! EVERYBODY – John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

Best Rap Song

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND – Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane’t “Jnay” Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE – Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna)

NOT AFRAID – M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, L. Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters (Eminem)

NOTHIN’ ON YOU – Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B & Bruno Mars)

ON TO THE NEXT ONE – Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Best Rap Album

THE ADVENTURES OF BOBBY RAY – B.o.B

THANK ME LATER – Drake

RECOVERY – Eminem

THE BLUEPRINT 3 – Jay-Z

HOW I GOT OVER – The Roots

Best Contemporary R&B Album

GRAFFITI – Chris Brown

UNTITLED – R. Kelly

TRANSITION – Ryan Leslie

THE ARCHANDROID – Janelle Monáe

RAYMOND V RAYMOND – Usher

Best Rap Solo Performance

OVER – Drake

NOT AFRAID – Eminem

HOW LOW – Ludacris

I’M BACK – T.I.

POWER – Kanye West

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

SHUTTERBUGG – Big Boi & Cutty

FANCY – Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz

ON TO THE NEXT ONE – Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz

MY CHICK BAD – Ludacris & Nicki Minaj

LOSE MY MIND – Young Jeezy & Plies

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

SATISFIED – Jewel

THE HOUSE THAT BUILT ME – Miranda Lambert

SWINGIN’ – LeAnn Rimes

TEMPORARY HOME – Carrie Underwood

I’D LOVE TO BE YOUR LAST – Gretchen Wilson

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

MACON – Jamey Johnson

CRYIN’ FOR ME (WAYMAN’S SONG) – Toby Keith

TURNING HOME – David Nail

‘TIL SUMMER COMES AROUND – Keith Urban

GETTIN’ YOU HOME – Chris Young

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

FREE – Zac Brown Band

ELIZABETH – Dailey & Vincent

NEED YOU NOW – Lady Antebellum

LITTLE WHITE CHURCH – Little Big Town

WHERE RAINBOWS NEVER DIE – The SteelDrivers

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

BAD ANGEL – Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson

PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) – Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers

AS SHE’S WALKING AWAY – Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson

HILLBILLY BONE – Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins

I RUN TO YOU – Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Best County Instrumental Performance

TATTOO OF A SMUDGE – Cherryholmes

MAGIC #9 – The Infamous Stringdusters

NEW CHANCE BLUES – Punch Brothers

WILLOW CREEK – Darrell Scott

HUMMINGBYRD – Marty Stuart

Top Earning Dead Celebrities

According to Forbes, the following are the top earning dead celebrities for 2010:

Michael Jackson (Musician) - $275 million

Elvis Presley (Musician) - $60 million

J.R.R Tolkien (Author) - $50 million

Charles Schulz (Cartoonist) - $33 million

John Lennon (Musician) - $17 million

Stieg Larsson (Writer) - $15 million

Dr. Seuss (Theodor Giesel) (Author) - $11 million

Albert Einstein (Scientist) - $10 million

George Steinbrenner (Sport Franchise Owner) - $8 million

Richard Rodgers (Songwriter) - $7 million

Prayer Vigil Held for Ailing Aretha Franklin

A community prayer vigil has been held in Detroit for Aretha Franklin, a day before organizers say the singing legend is to undergo a medical procedure.


City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson and others gathered downtown Wednesday to pray for Franklin. Last month, the 68-year-old singer announced she was canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through May on the orders of her doctors.

Franklin wasn't at the vigil, but in a statement she thanked the City Council, saying "all prayers are good."

A news release announcing the vigil says Franklin's medical procedure is scheduled for Thursday. A message seeking comment was left with Franklin's publicist, Tracey Jordan.

Get well soon, Queen of Soul.

Genevieve Nnaji, Don Jazzy, 8 Others for the Future Awards Young Person of The Year

The Central Working Committee for Nigeria’s most respected youth event, The Future Awards, has decided to unveil the long list for the biggest award, Young Person of the Year, one week before schedule!

“We are very excited by what we have come up with this year – so excited that we have 10 names on the list this rather than the usual 8,” says Shade Ladipo, a member of the committee. “And we thought we should share that excitement!”

All the nominees for Young Person of the Year have been taken out of the various categories as always and identified as trail blazing role models for young Nigerians,” Ladipo said. “They are all winners, and so they will all be given plaques like last year. Also, they will not go through the 4 stages of judging for the awards, only one stage for voting and one stage for judging since all of them are finalists and will be so recognized at the awards.

“They have all been contacted and we are incredibly proud of them. You will be inspired.”

THE YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:

1. Genevieve Nnaji, 31 – Actor

2. Nnaemeka C. Ikegwuonu, 28 – Advocate

3. Uche Eze, 26 – Entrepreneur

4. Psquare, 29 – Artiste

5. Ojoma Ochai, 29 – Intrapreneur

6. Michael Ajere (Don Jazzy), 29 – Entrepreneur

7. Nneka, 29 – Artiste

8. Debo Olaosebikan, 25 – Scientist

9. Blessing Okagbare, 22 – Artiste

10. Makinde Adeagbo, 25 – Innovator

-Culled from The Vanguard