Entertainment
Issakaba: 25 years after, Sam Dede returns as Ebube
Twenty-five years after the Nollywood blockbuster action franchise, Issakaba is returning.
Issakaba, an anagram for Bakassi, makes a comeback over two decades after the first instalment in 1999, featuring the renowned protagonist in the movie, Sam Dede, who reprises his famous character, Ebube.
Following the success of the first instalment in 2001, Issakaba was rested. During this period, Sam Dede, who played a pivotal role, pursued a career break, dedicating time to lecturing theatre arts at the University of Port Harcourt.
Recently, he returned to the screen, featuring in notable movies such as ‘Breath of Life,’ ‘Brotherhood,’ ‘Ijogbon,’ ‘Merry Men 3,’ and ‘Mamba’s Diamond.’
Also returning as the director is Lancelot Imasuen, the visionary behind the original film.
Chidi Mokeme, Nosa Rex and Unusual Phyna are joining the cast, adding fresh talent to the much-anticipated project.
Initially produced by the late Nigerian filmmaker Chukwuka Emelionwu, the five-part movie was a household favourite in the early 20s.
Inspired by true-life events, it depicted the Bakassi Boys, a community vigilante group combating crimes like armed robbery and murder that struck fear into the hearts of the people.
It also depicted the battle against the late Eddy Nawgu, a sorcerer who terrorised the people of the Nawgu community in Anambra State.
The plot revolved around the Issakaba Boys, led by Ebube (Sam Dede), who had to fight against armed robbers who terrorised their society. The armed robbers possessed certain mystical powers in their robbery activities. Because of this, Ebube and his team of Issakaba boys also acquired capabilities that enabled them to fight against robbery. The movie was full of action, horror, and drama.
The five-part film featured Nollywood actors like Sam Dede, Chiwetalu Agu, Pete Eneh, Amaechi Muonagor, Susan Obi, Mike Ogundu, and John Okafor.
Also, Andy Chukwu, Zulu Adigwe, Diewait Ikpechukwu, Remmy Ohajianya, Emeka Nwafor, Tom Njemanze, Uche Odoputa and Emeka Ani starred in the movie 23 years ago.
The return of Issakaba, the reboot, was announced by Dede on Instagram on Saturday.
The movie, which is not a remake but a continuation of the gripping narrative, promises to deliver the same intensity, with Lancelot Imasuen returning to helm the project.
Dede wrote, “Dede, who is back as the lead character, shared some words about the production. “ISSAKABA!!! The Myth returns. A river does not flow through a forest without bringing down trees. Men with evil minds lurk in the dark. But Justice is Mine.”
However, the movie is still in the works, and the date for the movie release has yet to be announced.
Award–winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy has secured two nominations at the Black Entertainment Television BET Awards for this year.
The organizers of the annual BET Awards have announced the nominations for the 2024 BET Awards, with African global stars making a significant impact.
The ‘City Boys’ crooner was nominated in two categories, including Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Best Male Hip Hop Artist respectively.
This double nomination shows Burna Boy’s dominance in both the Hip-Hop and R&B/Pop genres. He is also going up against big names in the industry like Drake, Usher, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Gunna and the likes.
Burna Boy has previously won BET Awards for Best International Act in 2019 and 2020.
He is no stranger to the BET stage. However, these nominations mark a significant achievement in his career as he receives nominations in these categories for the first time.
Last year, Burna Boy failed to win in any of his seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.
Tyla, Tems, Ayra Starr, Focalistic, Davido, Lojay, Asake, Tyler ICU, and Seyi Vibzs have all received nominations across various music categories.
Some of the global stars have also secured major slots in the ‘Best International Act’ category, with Asake, Tyla, Ayra Starr, and Focalistic earning four nominations in this prestigious category.
Africa’s young queens, Tyla and Ayra Starr, shine bright with three nods each. Both artists have secured nominations in the ‘Best New Artist’ and ‘Best International Act’ categories.
Additionally, Ayra Starr received her third nomination in the ‘BET Her’ category for her global hit song “Commas”, while Tyla earned her third nomination in the ‘Viewers’ Choice Award’ category with her worldwide chart-topper “Water”.
The “BET Awards” 2024 will air live on Monday, 1 July 2024, at 2:00 am WAT/3:00am CAT on BET Africa DStv Channel 129 and GOtv Channel 21. The awards’ pre-show will air at 1:00am WAT/2:00am CAT, with a repeat of the awards ceremony at 18:00 WAT/19:00 CAT.
Voting for “BET Awards” 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award begins June 6, 2024, and ends June 30, 2024, at 6:30 PM PT/ 9:30 PM ET.
Culture’s biggest night, “BET Awards,” has been the #1 cable award show among all adults 18-49 for the last three consecutive years and is the #1 cable award show among Black adults 18-49 for the 22nd consecutive year (CY02-CY23).
Award-winning Afrobeat sensation, Adekunle Gold, has poured encomiums on the legendary musician, Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba, as his debut solo album, ‘Face2Face’ turns 20.
According to Gold, the project is “undeniably the blueprint for Afrobeats.”
He noted that the ‘African Queen’ hitmaker’s timeless artistry and influence continue to inspire generations of musicians.
Sharing the album cover via his X handle, Adekunle Gold wrote: “God bless you, @official2baba! 20 years ago, you dropped a project that’s undeniably the blueprint for Afrobeats.
“Your timeless artistry and influence continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike.”
2Baba, then known as 2Face, released his debut solo album, ‘Face2Face’ on May 15, 2003, after breaking away from the boy band, Plantashun Boiz.
The album, which arrived under Kennis Music, housed the lead single ‘Nfana Ibaga’ and the classic ‘African Queen,’ which transcended the Nigerian and African soundscape.
‘Face2Face’ is regarded by music buffs as the blueprint for debut albums in the Afrobeats scene.
Wunmi, the wife of the late Nigerian singer, Ileriowa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has called on the spirit of her deceased husband not to sleep in death.
She made the call following the report that the toxicology test carried out on late music star, revealed that the singer’s cause of death cannot be determined.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday after the Coroner Inquest, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, revealed that the pathologist in his submission in court said that at the time the test was carried out the body of the singer had already decomposed.
“According to him, the cause of death cannot be determined,” Shittu told pressmen outside the court.
“He gave a lot of reasons. He said by the time they conducted the test, the body had decomposed and that it is not possible for them to determine the cause of death. So the summary he is saying is that the cause of death cannot be ascertained and when you say the cause of death cannot be ascertained, it means it is suspicious, it is not clear, no particular reason.”
The lawyer also said the pathologist also said the cause of the death could be attributed to reaction to certain drugs administered on him before he died.
Shittu said the pathologist also said the cause of the death could be attributed to a reaction to certain drugs administered to him before he died.
Reacting, Wunmi took to her Instagram page to share the caption ‘Ilerioluwa masun’, which, when translated into English, means ‘Ilerioluwa do not sleep’.
2024 BET Awards: Burna Boy bags two nominations
2Baba’s ‘Face2Face’ album is the blueprint for Afrobeats – Adekunle Gold
Mohbad’s wife reacts to his autopsy report
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