Entertainment

‘The Village Headmaster’ Hits Your TV Screen Sunday After 34 Years Off Screen

Published

2 years ago

April 22, 2022

Editor

…Features 9ice, Jide Kosoko, Mr. Latin, Others

The defunct popular TV show, The Village Headmaster, would return to the network service of the Nigerian Television Authority on Sunday by 7 pm after 34 years, its Director-General, Yakubu Mohammed, has said.

The programme which was Nigeria’s longest-running television soap opera showed on the NTA between 1968 to 1988.

Mohammed announced its return in Abuja on Friday during the official launch of the TV series programme, while the audience erupted in jubilation.

He said it would start showing this Sunday on NTA, AIT and WAP TV.

On NTA, it is scheduled for 8-9pm, AIT on Wednesday 9-10pm, and WAP TV on Friday 8-9pm.

The Village Headmaster, originally a radio drama series, was created by the late Chief Olusegun Olusola and produced by Dejumo Lewis.

The soap opera showed on the NTA from 1968 to 1988, and starred Ted Mukoro as the original Headmaster.

The programme is currently being jointly sponsored by the NTA and Wale Adenuga Productions.

To maintain its originality, quality, feel and philosophy, the renewed cast has been super-packed with the choicest names in the industry, featuring some of the founding members of the series notably Kabiyesi, Dejumo Lewis, Ibidun Allison (Amebo), Dan Imodu (Dagbolu), Dele Osawe (Teacher Fadile), to mention but a few.

Other prominent members of the new cast include 9ice, Chris Iheuwa, Mr Latin, Funky Mallam, Jide Kosoko, Omo Ibadan, Okele, Fathia Balogun, Rycardo Agbor, Yemi Shodimu, Binta Ayo Mogaji, Jide Alabi, and many others.

It was gripping, memorable – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the drama series was at one time undoubtedly Nigeria’s first-longest-running television drama series which was produced by NTA and ran consecutively every week for decades.

He said, ‘‘The series was set in Oja, a fictitious Yoruba village, while the series was woven around the lives of the villagers from royalty to education and so on. The programme captivated viewers and it was difficult to look away from the TV set while the drama series was showing.

“The Village Headmaster was an addiction for many television viewers across Nigeria. Lovers of the sitcom rushed home by 8pm every Sunday to watch it.

“Each of the stories of the series was gripping and every episode was memorable.

‘‘The programme was the first major show since the country gained independence and was also the longest soap opera in production for many years until 1984.”

According to him, several efforts made to revive the programme were not successful.

“The one that readily comes to mind was in 2001 when NTA made a concerted effort to reintroduce The Village Headmaster.

“The viewing public was seriously excited. That excitement was however dashed. Little did we know that those hiccups were the ingredients that would eventually give a lasting hope for the series,” Mohammed added.

On Friday, September 4, 2020, the NTA led by the Minister and CEO of Wale Adenuga Productions, Chief Wale Adenuga, signed an MoU that officially marked the beginning of a partnership to bring “The Village” back on television.

Mohammed said many episodes of the programme were in the can and ready for the pleasure of the viewing public.

The Minister, however, called for a minute of silence for some of the members of the original cast who have passed on and therefore were no longer alive to witness the rebirth of the iconic series.

Prominent among them was Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Segun Olusola, who created the series as a staff of the then Western Nigeria Television – now NTA Ibadan.

Telecommunications service provider and sponsor of the TV series, Globacom, on Wednesday, announced the return of the classic TV series after it was created over four decades ago.

According to Globacom, the drama series was rested in 1988 but had undergone a reboot.

The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, said with the return of the TV Drama Series, viewers would watch it with a great sense of nostalgia, the rich cultural, educative and informative content.

The Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe, said the return of the TV Show was good for Nigeria, especially now that the country was divided and had lost the original values it was known for.

While calling the promoters to focus on quality content, he urged Nigerians to take the opportunity it offers to rebuild and reunite the country to its past glory.

PUNCH.

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Entertainment

[FULL LIST] BET Awards 2024: Burna Boy, Asake, Others Bag Nominations As Drake, Nicki Minaj Lead

Published

11 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Editor

Afrobeats superstar, Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy has secured two nominations for the 2024 BET Awards.

The ‘African giant’ featured in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Best Male R&B/POP Artist categories.

The singer is joined by fellow Nigerian acts – Asake, Ayra Starr and Seyi Vibez.

BET announced the 2024 BET Awards nominees on Thursday as Drake leads the nominations with seven, while Nicki Minaj has six.

BET also announced the performance lineup for this year’s awards, including GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.

The BET Awards 2024, will air live on BET on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 8 p.m. (European Time).

See the full list of nominations below:

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Sexyy Red

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk’ (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa)

BEST NEW ARTIST

41
4batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

11:11, Chris Brown
A Gift & A Curse, Gunna
American Dream, 21 Savage
Coming Home, Usher
For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition), Drake
Jaguar Ii, Victoria Monét
Michael, Killer Mike
Pink Friday 2, Nicki Minaj

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
Sza
Tyla
Victoria Monét

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher

BEST GROUP

¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor

BEST COLLABORATION

All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
America Has A Problem (Remix, Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar
Barbie World, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua)
Bongos, Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion
Carnival, ¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $Ign Feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti
Don’t Play With It (Remix), Lola Brooke Feat. Latto & Yung Miami
Everybody, Nicki Minaj Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
Good Good, Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Agora Hills, Doja Cat
All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
Barbie World, Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua)

Bongos, Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion

First Person Shooter, Drake Feat. J. Cole
Good Good, Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Award All Of The Glory, Shirley Caesar
All Things, Kirk Franklin
Angel, Halle Bailey
Come Jesus Come, Cece Winans
Do You Believe In Love?, Erica Campbell
God Problems, Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
Me & U, Tems
Try Love, Kirk Franklin

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Agora Hills, Doja Cat
All My Life, Lil Durk Feat. J. Cole
Gunna, Fukumean
Lovin On Me, Jack Harlow
Made For Me, Muni Long
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Rich Baby Daddy, Drake Feat. Sexyy Red & Sza
Sensational, Chris Brown Feat. Davido & Lojay
Texas Hold ‘Em, Beyoncé
Water, Tyla

VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT

Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa)
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)

BET HER

16 Carriages, Beyoncé
Blessings, Nicki Minaj Feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Commas, Ayra Starr
Fly Girl, Flo Feat. Missy Elliott
Hiss, Megan Thee Stallion
On My Mama, Victoria Monét
Saturn, Sza
Yeah Glo!, GloRilla

BEST MOVIE

American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love
Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
The Book Of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid

BEST ACTOR

Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield

BEST ACTRESS

Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria Mccullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles

Entertainment

[ICYMI] VIDEOS: Portable Jumps Gate To Evade Police Arrest, Netizens React

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2024

Editor

Street-pop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, was on Tuesday arrested by the Lagos state police command for allegedly failing to settle the debt accrued after purchasing his G-Wagon from a car dealer.

The singer was arrested following his inability to pay the balance of N14 million out of N27 million worth of a G-Wagon car he purchased from a car dealer.

He was said to have paid only N13 million while refusing to pay the N14 million balance.

Portable jumps gate to escape as police come to arrest him over alleged unpaid debt for his G-Wagon…. Watch till the end cos he actually jumped the fence for real 😩😭😂 pic.twitter.com/PORc1X3cmK
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) May 14, 2024

Before he was taken to the station, the singer had attempted to evade arrest.

In a now-viral video, Portable and several police officers were captured outside a building. Following the presentation of his arrest warrant, the singer attempted to escape by leaping over the gate.

In separate footage, four police operatives were seen grappling with Portable as they bundled him into a waiting vehicle.

Confirming Portable’s arrest to Vanguard, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hudenyin, said the singer had been arrested.

Nigerian police never disappoints. See how they are treating portable for owning someone money and allegedly sending her treats.
The police can do better. pic.twitter.com/Iapa2cQBAa
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— Bishop 𝕏 (@BishopPOEvang) May 15, 2024

“Yes, he’s with us. A vehicle dealer has lodged a complaint against him.

“If he gets a reliable surety, he will be granted bail,” said the police spokesman.

This is not the first time the singer would be arrested. In March of last year, he was apprehended by the Ogun police on allegations of assault.

Portable had previously resisted police attempts to arrest him, and he even referred to himself as “a federal government liability.”

Entertainment

VIDEO: Drama As Portable Jumps Gate To Evade Police Arrest

Published

3 days ago

May 14, 2024

Editor

Men of the Lagos state police command have arrested singer Portable. The singer was arrested today May 14 following a petition from a car dealer.

Portable allegedly purchased a G-Wagon worth N27 million from the car dealer, made a down payment of N14 million and took the vehicle away with the promise to pay the balance.

After waiting for a while without any word concerning his balance, the dealer reached out to the singer who claimed the car he purchased had faults. The dealer then asked the singer to return the car or pay the balance but Portable allegedly refused.

Following a petition from the dealer, the police moved in and arrested the singer. The singer jumped his gate in an attempt to stop his arrest. He is currently in custody at the state police headquarters and might spend the night there as the police is yet to receive any surety for his bail.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest of the singer.

Watch a video showing the moment the singer jumped his gate below