Happy Birthday To Nollywood Actress/Film Director, Stephanie Okereke Linus!!

Top nollywood star actress and film director, Stephanie Onyekachi Okereke Linus clocks 30 today.

The popular actress, film director, model has received several awards and nominations for her work as an actress, including the 2003 Reel Award for Best Actress, the 2006 Afro Hollywood Award for Best Actress, and three nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She was also the runner up for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant of 2002.

She was born in Imo State, Nigeria. She is the sixth child of eight children. She completed her primary & secondary school in Delta State before heading to the University of Calabar, where she graduated with a degree in English and Literary Studies.

Already during her teenage years in 1997 she starred in two Nollywood movies, Compromise 2 and Waterloo. During the 2002 Most beautiful girl in Nigeria beauty pageant Okereke reached 2nd place. A year later in 2003, Okereke received two awards at the 2003 Reel Awards for ‘Best Actress – English’ and ‘Best Actress of the year 2003′. After graduating from the New York Film Academy in 2007, Okereke released the movie Through the Glass in which she served as director, scriptwriter, producer and actress. The film received an African Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay in 2009. Okereke has starred in over 90 movies.

Okereke was married to a former Super Eagles football player, Chikelue IIoenuosi, a marriage which a high court in Lagos has declared null and void, because at the time they got married, Chikelue was already legally married to another woman in the US.

In April 2012 Okereke married Linus Idahosa in Paris, France, at a private wedding ceremony that was attended by members of her family and scores of Nollywood actresses and actors.

52 Most Influencial People In Nigerian Entertainment

As Nigeria marks her 52nd year of independence, editors of the Nigerian Entertainment News pulled up a list of 52 men and women shaping our growing entertainment industry…

2face Idibia: Mr Innocent Ujah Idibia is one of the most influential, the most consistent, the most decorated, and the most successful musician in his generation. Even his peers attest to that. From humble beginnings in Jos, he has grown to become Africa’s most iconic pop star, clearing the path for hundreds of others after him. Respected at home and abroad by almost everyone that matters, Idibia is now building his Hypertek dreams, mentoring younger acts like W4, Rocksteady and Dammy Krane.

Alaba Marketers: Although digital distribution is now finding its way to Nigeria with platforms such as Spinlet, Truspot, Iroking and Notjustok, and with the coming of Apple, marketers like Obaino, ABHU, and TJOE still wield their potent influence on music distribution. With many Nigerians consuming physical CDs, and the industry lacking the much-needed distribution framework, Alaba is the headquarters of music sales, with those there responsible for at least 90 percent of annual music sales.

Alex Okosi: Okosi sits atop Viacom‘s business in Africa, with Nigeria being a major market. From MTV Base to Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and now BET, he is one of the few determining the direction of today’s home entertainment.

Ali Baba: Nigeria’s stand-up comedy industry has him to thank for its rebirth and survival. The godfather of modern comedy, Ali Baba is arguably one of the most inspiring mentors and leaders still working within entertainment. Still actively performing, he continues to hold up the ladder for many to climb.

Amaka Igwe: One of the architects of Nollywood, Amaka Igwe is mostly known for creating Checkmate and Fuji House of Commotion. But the writer/director/producer has, for many years, been involved in training through her Lagos-based institute. There’s also her annual TV expo BOBTV as well as Top Radio, the Lagos-based FM station that’s doing things differently.

Andy Bello: For the last four years, Bello has taken it upon himself to honour Nigerian musicians with the annual South South Music Awards; the only recognized awards show from that region. Solely organized by his Lockdown Entertainment company, Bello has been able to run the awards show with little or no sponsors since 2009.

Audu Maikori: For years, he was lawyer by day and poet by night. These days, Maikori is a music entrepreneur by day and night, building, along with his team, Chocolate City, one of Africa’s most successful labels. Audu’s label has brought hip hop music and culture to more Nigerians than any other label – thanks to the success of their recording artistes M.I, Brymo, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince.

Ayo Animashaun: Animashaun is the executive producer of Nigeria’s only surviving music awards. Through his company, Smooth Promotions, he has built The Headies (also known as Hiphopworld Awards) as Nigeria’s most respected awards, as acknowledged by audiences and the musicians they reward. Animashaun is also the publisher of Nigeria’s only surviving (although epileptic) hip-hop journal HipHop World Magazine. His TV show Hip TV, syndicated on multiple channels here and abroad, is now warming up to become a 24 hour cable channel.

BellaNaija: Bellanaija has been able to tag itself as the one-stop online portal for stories revolving around Nigerian fashion, wedding moments and heart-touching stories. If you are a lady who’s single, married or a mother, you definitely have this website bookmarked.

Biola Alabi: The Managing Director at M-NET Africa over the last three years has harnessed the African TV viewing culture, with not just the quantity but quality of African programming. She also spearheaded the creation of the newly launched AfricaMagic channels.

Cecil Hammond: Hammond’s Flytime has become the go-to promoter for those hoping to have successful shows in Lagos, Nigeria’s entertainment HQ. From owning the famous Rhythm Unplugged property, to exclusive deals with Silverbird and Eko Hotels, and a media structure that works, Hammond is emerging as a major force in today’s industry.

Chris Ubosi: A complete behind-the-scenes man, Ubosi moved from being a big player at Cool FM to set up Megalectrics Limited, owners of radio stations – Premium choice BEAT 99.9FM, retro-styled Classic FM 93.7 and pidgin-speaking Naija FM 102.7, which have all become fan favourites in Lagos. Beat FM especially, has redefined today’s pop music, with OAPs like Olisa Adibua, Gbemi and Toolz creating a new set of stars that otherwise could have remained unsung. Megaletrics is now taking the game to Ibadan and other regions…

Clarence Peters: No other director in Nigeria can match up to Clarence Peters’ combination of talent and work. From shooting videos for top artistes in and outside Nigeria to co-running a record label, he keeps setting standards by taking his work up a notch every time.

Cobhams Asuquo: classical yet contemporary, the revered visually impaired producer is placed in the highest of ranks when music production in Nigeria is mentioned. His recent successful work with his label artiste Bez proves beyond words his mastery of sound.

D’Banj: ‘Entertainer’, the best word to describe the 32-year-old. Dapo Oyebanjo has broken barriers again and again; name it - winning world recognized awards, collaborating with international artistes, signing up with one of the biggest labels in the

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Nigeria @ 52!! / Nigerian terrorist attack accused, Okah, faces 13 charges

Congratulations to all Nigerians around the globe as they celebrate their 52nd year of independence today, 1st October 2012.

As Nigeria celebrates its 52nd anniversary, Nigerians express their frustrations at the current state of affairs in the country, as well as their expectations for the years ahead. Which way Nigeria?

Meanwhile...
As Nigeria commemorated its 52nd Independence Day, the man believed to be behind terrorist attacks during the country's celebrations two years ago also appeared in court (See video below):

 

PHOTOS: Brazil gears up for the "Miss Bum Bum" pageant!

Competitors of 'Miss Bumbum Brazil 2012', the contest for the cutest bottom, walk to take photos before recording a TV program in Osasco, a surburb of Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 24, 2012. Brazil's 27 states and Federal District representatives compete for the cutest bottom. Competitors will be eliminated into 15 by internet voting on their website and the winner will be chosen at the grand final in Sao Paulo in November. Photo credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/GettyImages

Competitors of 'Miss Bumbum Brazil 2012', the contest for the cutest bottom, wait to record a TV program in Osasco, a surburb of Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 24, 2012. Brazil's 27 states and Federal District representatives compete for the cutest bottom. Competitors will be eliminated into 15 by internet voting on their website and the winner will be chosen at the grand final in Sao Paulo in November: Photo credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/GettyImages

Competitors of 'Miss Bumbum Brazil 2012', the contest for the cutest bottom, pose against a wall for local photographers before recording a TV program in Osasco, a surburb of Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 24, 2012. Brazil's 27 states and Federal District representatives compete for the cutest bottom. Competitors will be eliminated into 15 by internet voting on their website and the winner will be chosen at the grand final in Sao Paulo in November. Photo credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/GettyImages

Brazil is gearing up for the "Miss Bum Bum" pageant, a nationwide contest to find the best butt in the country.

The nation's cutest derriere will be chosen out of 27 competitors, one from each of Brazil's Federative Units. Online voting will determine 15 finalists, who will travel to São Paolo in November for the "grand finale."

"Brazilians definitely have a thing with butts," said Brazilian Graciela Murano, writer and editor for Oddee, noting that "bumbum" is the word most commonly used in Brazil to refer to someone's rear end.

In her country, the 30-year-old says, most people know about the competition, but like to pretend that they're not interested.

In reality, though, "Every woman has read about it and won't admit it," she said, "and every man's dream is to be a part of the judging team."

It looks like those dreams won't come true, at least this year. In early September, Pamela Anderson was contracted to judge the competition, according to the Brazil Dispatch.

Like any good pageant, Miss Bum Bum Brazil is not without scandal.

Cibelle Riberio was one candidate who almost slipped through the cracks. Murano told The Huffington Post that Riberio was a national "favorite" for the competition, but was almost disqualified when judges suspected she may have butt implants, and the curvy contestant refused to take an X-ray.

However, it looks Riberio has since submitted to the X-ray and, butt approved, is now back in the running, according to Globo.

Anyone can see that the pageant contestants have perfect posteriors, but what about Brazilians in general? Do they have better butts than the rest of the world?

"Yep, definitely," Murano said.

Wow! What do you think of this competition peeps? Nigerians also have a thing for butts...





-Huffingtonpost

Shocking U-Turn: Female Pilgrims Not Deported - Hajj Commission

The National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has described as untrue reports that female Muslim pilgrims who were airlifted back to Nigeria last week were deported by the Saudi Arabian government.

Instead,the commission said the sudden return of the female pilgrims was at the instance of Nigerian government,which wanted to rectify certain anomalies.

It said Nigeria has not violated any Saudi Arabian law to warrant deportation of the pilgrims.

Addressing a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman of NAHCON, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, reiterated that the issue of a male companion for female pilgrims to the kingdom is a fundamental aspect of the hajj exercise which Nigeria cannot afford to violate.

He said that the Federal Government delegation to Saudi Arabia was also not denied visa to the kingdom noting that the issue of the departure of the delegation has to do with the disparity in timing between the two countries.

This was as he said that the suspended airlifting operation of the pilgrims would resume as soon as all the challenges that led to the problem are addressed. He added that eight states with 32 flight schedules are on standby to commence operation when the challenges are sorted out.

He gave assurance that all the pilgrims would be airlifted before the October 20 closing date of the King Abdulazeez International Airport Jeddah and Madinah airport, saying the approved air carriers for the operation, Max Airline, Mediview, Meridiene and Kabo airlines, are all set to commence airlifting.




-Vanguard