On Sunday, November 26, 2023, Gbenga Adeyinka D 1st’s Laffmattazz train stopped at the Balmoral centre on Victoria Island, Lagos for the Lagos Again edition.

The seven-hour-long comedy and music show kicked off with an orange carpet sponsored by Maltina. Ably supported by the Lagos State government, under the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, LSDPC, Toyota, Eleganza, Sujimoto, and The Address Homes, the music cum comedy show saw attendees and guests getting various treats from Indomie, Goldberg, and Ace.

A total of 33 entertainers – music and comedy stars – took on the Laffmattazz train and stage to thrill over 3,500 guests that attended the Lagos Again edition. Kicking off early on the show were young and rising comic and music acts that include Damola, MC Lozy, Prince Phelar, MC 90s, MC Stylo and Ashny.

The show host, Gbenga Adeyinka D 1st surprised attendees with his grand entry after he was introduced by one of his long-standing allies, Omobaba 1. The comedian, who also doubles as a master of ceremony and actor, expressed gratitude to brands and attendees.

“What I felt was even higher than ‘over happiness’ if there’s anything like that in the dictionary. There is nothing more gratifying than planning an event and having everything fall into place, I am overjoyed,” Adeyinka D 1st began. “The support from the Lagos State government was massive. The Honourable Commissioner Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka led a robust team to our event while the Speaker Rt. Hon Obasa led the legislatures and also the LSDPC boss, Mr Ayo Joseph, who supported.”

Other performers that made the event memorable include music superstars and comedy experts that were led by Tuface Idibia, Adewale Ayuba, Alibaba, Ruggedman, Funnybone, Real Iyke, Destalker, Bowjoint, Koffi tha Guru, MC Ajele, MC Bash, Baba Alariya, Dr. Smile, Prince Phelar, and many others. DJ Vinnie also dished out various tunes while showing his expertise on the turntables. Side attractions at the event were provided by Magic Whizz, Carton Boys and GKB.

Despite various high points of the event, the show’s crescendo remains the performances of Tuface Idibia, Ruggedman, and Fuji veteran Adewale Ayuba.

A long list of dignitaries that attended the event include Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa and other lawmakers, Honourable Commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, foremost Nigerian industrialist, Chief Razak Okoya and his beloved wife, Dr Sade Okoya, Kenny Keke Ogungbe, ID Ogungbe, amongst several others.

Adeyinka D 1st also expressed gratitude to entertainers who made his Laffmattazz Lagos Again a success. He said, “I can never repay all my colleagues for what they did to support me in achieving success with the Laffmatazz Lagos Again edition. It was a massive show of love from beginning to the end. Even though we were touring, we never lost touch with our base and that came to the fore at the event. We had attendees and performers at the event. The show was a rewarding one for myself and every member of our team and we are grateful but like Oliver Twist, we will always yearn for more so that we can do more.”

It’s official! Organisers of the prestigious Best of Nollywood Awards have announced that the 2023 edition of the annual pan-Nigeria, travelling awards will hold in the ancient city of Osogbo, Osun State, come December 22.

In addition, billed to serve as host for the event is versatile actor, Kunle Remi, while Media Maestro, Toun Cole, will man the red carpet.

Speaking on Osun State as host, founder of the awards, Seun Oloketuyi stated that the choice of Osun was a long time coming.

“Governor Ademola Adeleke is a big-time lover of the arts. Long before he became governor, he identified greatly with the entertainment sector, and the moment we presented him with our wish, he accepted us wholeheartedly and even asked us to sound the gongs that Osun was going to host the biggest and best BON Awards ceremony the industry has ever seen.

“This is our 15th year as the longest running awards platform in the industry, and having Governor Adeleke on it with us is right on brand and the extra pizzaz that is needed,” he stated.

While commenting on the choice of Kunle Remi as the host for the year, Oloketuyi said, “15 is the unofficial entry into maturity. At 15, we are entering our mature phase, and we want to identify with people who are still on fire for Nollywood. Kunle Remi is the poster child for the new blood that has been injected into Nollywood in the last few years, and as an award that celebrates excellence, we identify with that. Who better to do it? Last year in Imo State, we had Lateef Adedimeji and Queen Nwokoye. We are not just interested in getting the rave of the moment, we are focused on people who can deliver value and that is what Kunle Remi represents.

It would be remembered that in the recently-released nominee list, Shanty Town, Herdsmen, and Underbelly dominated the line-up of films nominated in the 29 categories available on the awards platform.

Shanty Town, a 2023 Nigerian crime thriller created by Xavier Ighorodje, Chichi Nworah and produced by Chinenye Nworah, bagged 15 of the total 29 categories of the BON Awards.

Also leading with 11 nominations is Herdsmen produced by Chloe Coko and directed by Toka Mcbaror. The movie which was shot in Kaduna is based on mix fiction and first-hand experience, takes a look at the herdsmen-farmer crisis in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, Underbelly also takes the stage with 11 nominations. The movie is produced by Tunde Aina. The movie is a thrilling and suspenseful epic that explores the themes of love, betrayal, and survival in a harsh and unforgiving environment.

BON Awards which was first held in December 2009, in Ikeja, Lagos State has continued to be a creative strata for the Nigerian movie industry. Every edition of the award ceremony is usually hosted by different states in Nigeria including Ogun, Oyo, Kogi, Kano, Ekiti, Delta, Abia among others.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated popular television presenter, Dr. Morayo Afolabi-Brown, on her appointment as the Managing Director of TVCe, the Entertainment Channel of TVC Communications.

He said the new role given to Afolabi-Brown, the host of the TVC’s breakfast programme, ‘Your View’ is well deserved.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Afolabi-Brown’s appointment as Managing Director of TVCe is inspirational to young media practitioners that they can get to the top position of their career with hardwork, commitment and discipline.

He said: “The appointment of Dr. Morayo Afolabi-Brown as the Managing Director of TVCe, the Entertainment Channel of TVC Communications, is deserving having distinguished herself at TVC Communications and the media industry for almost two decades.

“Morayo Afolabi-Brown is one of the most influential women presenters not only in Nigeria but Africa. She has been recognised as one of the top 25 most influential women in Journalism Africa (WIJA) 2020 where she ranked 18th on the list.

“I believe strongly that Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s new appointment is an inspiration to young media practitioners, particularly members of staff of TVC Communications, that they can get to the top of their career in the company if they put in a little more than is expected from them by their employers.

“Morayo Afolabi-Brown’s new role attests to her exceptional track record of achievements in TVC Communications as a former Deputy Director of Programmes TVC News, where she created content on three independent channels for broadcast. She has also made a lot of impact as a host in addressing basic issues in society through the TVC’s breakfast show ‘Your View,’ programme.

SIGNED

GBOYEGA AKOSILE

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

30 NOVEMBER 2023