Lolade Sowoolu
10 January 2009
Time and time again, the British Embassy in Nigeria denies people visas to visit the United Kingdom on many different grounds.
But when all documents are presented on request as experienced by DX-Generation band, and one is still denied a visiting visa, there is room for questioning.
The yuletide season is usually the busiest of times for most entertainers as several engagements are lined up. One of such was the watch-night service of the Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo-led Kings International Christian Centre (KICC) at its international headquarters in London. Among the Nigerian acts invited to minister at the event was rap diva, Bouqui, Holy Mallam, Sammie Okposo and DX-Generation Band.
As much as the KICC lawyer in Nigeria tried to convince authorities of the embassy about the credibility of the artistes and the authenticity of their claims by providing papers of the hotel reservations already secured for the band in the name of the band members, the embassy went ahead to deny the band their visas.
The lawyer was further infuriated as there was no prior record against his client since it was not the first time Nigerian artistes are being flown into London for any of their programmes, being one of the biggest black churches in the United Kingdom.
A number of industry practitioners including Rugged Man, Olu Maintain, and Denrele Edun to mention a few, have at one time or the other suffered rejection at this embassy, although they were later given visas. Consequently, entertainers are beginning to cry out against the British Embassy's surveillance and denial of UK visas, particularly artistes who are billed to perform in the U.K.
One person taking this very seriously is Sammie Okposo. The singer has had his lawyer send a letter of petition to the British Embassy while personally reporting the case to PMAN president, TeeMac. The singer is particularly agitated that after performing for the British Council for free alongside DX-Generation band just a few days before showing up at its embassy for a visa, the institution turns around and rejects the band's application.
Ajasa drags marketer to court
In spite of what appears like a sector boom last year, as was experienced by most entertainers especially artistes, one singer whose song was one of the really popular ones last year is crying foul over returns of investment.
Osaniyi Olusegun is better known as Lord of Ajasa and he is on his way to the courtroom as you're reading this.
The bone of contention is his second album titled, 2nd Turning by the Right and whose right he sold to Alaba giant Tjoe to market for a year. According to the rapper, the one-year deal was valued at N3 million Naira and papers were signed. It's close to eight months now since an agreement was reached and the Le Fenu So crooner is yet to receive a dime.
When asked if it is Tjoe who has refused to pay, the rapper replied, "He wants to pay me in stipends and that will spoil the money (lose value). I told him to pay me in bulk. Not necessarily all at once but at least in some meaningful portions."
As at last Monday, Lord of Ajasa had began talks with his lawyer in Ikeja, Lagos, and is finalising moves to drag his marketer, Tjoe to court unless he (Tjoe) pays up. "I didn't have time before but now. I need my money so I have his time," Ajasa finished.
The singer who had been living on proceeds from shows was introduced to Tjoe by his ex-manager simply identified as Paul; the same who brokered the Plantashun Boiz deal.
Femi Anikulapo-Kuti hospitalised
Afrobeat King, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, has been admitted in a Lagos hospital for what his doctor diagnosed as acute exhaustion occasioned by his extensive 10 weeks tour of Europe and America that ended mid December 2008.
He reportedly checked into the hospital late Saturday January 3, after initially refusing to abide by the doctor's directive that he should cancel all Christmas performance engagements and take a bed rest. His elder sister, Yeni Anikulapo-Kuti, told Showtime in a telephone interview on January 5, that her brother is responding to treatment.
"He was admitted in the hospital on Saturday, January 4, 2008 and he is responding well to treatment. We are also waiting for the result of further tests that has been carried out on him," Yeni disclosed.
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