Femi Kuti Grabs Third Grammy Award Nomination

Nigerian musician and respected Afrobeat singer Femi Kuti has been nominated at the 54th edition of the prestigious Grammy Awards.
Femi picked up his third ever nomination in the World Music Category for his ‘Africa for Africa‘ album last night Wednesday, November 30, 2011 when the list was unveiled at the ‘Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!‘ in Los Angeles, US.
In 2003, Femi, eldest son of late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti picked up his first ever Grammy Award nomination but lost out to  Panamanian salsa singer Rubén Blades. He similarly lost in 2010  when he was nominated in the same category. US banjo player Bela Fleck walked away with the award.
His recent nomination sees him up against Latin/Roots music band AfroCubism, South African male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Malian band Tinariwen.
‘We’re extremely happy, and hoping they give him this time around‘ Femi’s elder sister and Positive band veteran Yeni Kuti told us this morning over the phone. ‘It’s his third time and he has really worked hard‘. Femi Kuti himself, currently touring Europe, is unreachable for now. ‘I can’t say if he’ll attend or not, but I hope he will. He did not attend last year‘ Yeni says.
US rapper Kanye West leads the pack with seven nods, making it the second year in row a Hip-hop artiste has reached that feat. (Eminem topped the nominees list in 2010, with 10nods. He walked away with two wins).
Kanye is closely followed by UK singer Adele who is tied with Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nods each. But the controversial rapper-producer was, surprisingly missing on the biggest award category ‘Album of the Year’. Other notable acts that missed out on the big prize are Taylor Swift and veteran singer Tony Bennett.
The awards ceremony is billed to hold on February 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Adele, 21
The Foo Fighters, Wasting Light
Lady Gaga, Born This Way
Bruno Mars, Doo-Wops and Hooligans
Rihanna, Loud
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Adele, ‘Rolling in the Deep’
Bon Iver, ‘Holocene’
Bruno Mars, ‘Grenade’
Mumford & Sons, ‘The Cave’
Katy Perry, ‘Firework’
SONG OF THE YEAR
Kanye West, ‘All of the Lights’
Mumford & Sons, ‘The Cave’
Bruno Mars, ‘Grenade’
Bon Iver, ‘Holocene’
Adele, ‘Rolling in the Deep’
BEST NEW ARTIST
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
‘Someone Like You’ — Adele
‘Yoü And I’ — Lady Gaga
‘Grenade’ — Bruno Mars
‘Firework’ — Katy Perry
‘F***in’ Perfect’ — Pink
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
‘Body And Soul’ — Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
‘Dearest’ — The Black Keys
‘Paradise’ — Coldplay
‘Pumped Up Kicks’ — Foster The People
‘Moves Like Jagger’ — Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
BEST DANCE RECORDING
‘Raise Your Weapon’ — Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
‘Barbra Streisand’ — Duck Sauce
‘Sunshine’ — David Guetta & Avicii
‘Call Your Girlfriend’ — Robyn
‘Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites’ — Skrillex
‘Save The World’ — Swedish House Mafia
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
Zonoscope, Cut/Copy
4×4=12, Deadmau5
Nothing But The Beat, David Guetta
Body Talk, Pt. 3, Robyn
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites, Skrillex
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Duets II, Tony Bennett & Various Artists
The Gift, Susan Boyle
In Concert On Broadway, Harry Connick Jr.
Music Is Better Than Words, Seth MacFarlane
What Matters Most – Barbra Streisand Sings The Lyrics Of Alan And Marilyn Bergman, Barbra Streisand
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
‘Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall’ — Coldplay
‘Down By The Water’ — The Decemberists
‘Walk’ — Foo Fighters
‘The Cave’ — Mumford & Sons
‘Lotus Flower’ — Radiohead
BEST HARD ROCK/METAL PERFORMANCE
‘On The Backs Of Angels’ — Dream Theater
‘White Limo’ — Foo Fighters
‘Curl Of The Burl’ — Mastodon
‘Public Enemy No. 1″ — Megadeth
‘Blood In My Eyes’ — Sum 41
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul — Jeff Beck
Wasting Light — Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown — Kings Of Leon
I’m With You — Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Whole Love — Wilco
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Bon Iver — Bon Iver
Codes and Keys — Death Cab For Cutie
Torches — Foster The People
Circuital — My Morning Jacket
The King of Limbs — Radiohead
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
‘Sometimes I Cry’ — Eric Benét
‘Fool For You’ — Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
‘Radio Message’ — R. Kelly
‘Good Man’ — Raphael Saadiq
‘Surrender’ — Betty Wright & The Roots
BEST R&B ALBUM
F.A.M.E. — Chris Brown
Second Chance — El DeBarge
Love Letter — R. Kelly
Pieces Of Me — Ledisi
Kelly — Kelly Price
BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
‘Party’ — Beyoncé & André 3000
‘I’m On One’ — DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
‘I Need A Doctor’ — Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
‘What’s My Name?’ — Rihanna & Drake
‘Motivation’ — Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
‘All Of The Lights’ — Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
‘Look At Me Now’ — Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
‘Otis’ — Jay-Z & Kanye West
‘The Show Goes On’ — Lupe Fiasco
‘Moment 4 Life’ — Nicki Minaj & Drake
‘Black And Yellow’ — Wiz Khalifa
BEST RAP ALBUM
Watch The Throne, Jay-Z & Kanye West
Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne
Lasers, Lupe Fiasco
Pink Friday, Nicki Minaj
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
‘Dirt Road Anthem’ — Jason Aldean
‘I’m Gonna Love You Through It’ — Martina McBride
‘Honey Bee’ — Blake Shelton
‘Mean’ — Taylor Swift
‘Mama’s Song’ — Carrie Underwood
BEST COUNTRY SONG
‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not’ — Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy
‘God Gave Me You’ — Dave Barnes
‘Just Fishin’’ — Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill
‘Mean’ — Taylor Swift
‘Threaten Me With Heaven’ — Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O’Brian
‘You And Tequila’ — Matraca Berg & Deana Carter
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Emotional Jukebox — Linda Chorney
Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down — Ry Cooder
Hard Bargain — Emmylou Harris
Ramble At The Ryman — Levon Helm
Blessed — Lucinda Williams
BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
AfroCubism – AfroCubism
Femi Kuti- Africa For Africa
Ladysmith Black Mambazo- Songs From A Zulu Farm
Tinariwen- Tassili
BEST BLUES ALBUM
Low Country Blues — Gregg Allman
Roadside Attractions — Marcia Ball
Man In Motion — Warren Haynes
The Reflection — Keb’ Mo’
Revelator — Tedeschi Trucks Band
BEST FOLK ALBUM
Barton Hollow — The Civil Wars
I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive — Steve Earle
Helplessness Blues — Fleet Foxes
Ukulele Songs — Eddie Vedder
The Harrow & The Harvest — Gillian Welch

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Amy Winehouse’s Dress Sold For $68,000 At Auction

Winehouse on the cover of Back to Black

Late Singer Amy Winehouse’s chiffon dress worn for the cover of her chart-topping album ‘Back to Black’ has sold for $68,000 at Kerry Taylor Auction House in London.
Proceeds from the Disaya-designed dress sale, which exceeded initial pre-sale estimates of a maximum $31,454 will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, a charity set by father to the 27-year-old singer, Mitchell Winehouse, which seeks to provide help and relief to young people struggling with ill health, disability, poverty or drug addiction.
The dress will go on display at the Museo De La Moda, a South American fashion museum in Santiago, Chile which acquired the iconic property.
The English singer songwriter, who died in July of 2011 due to alcohol poisoning, is best remembered for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz as well as her sometimes eccentric behaviour.

PIC OF THE DAY: LOVELY BEAUTIES - LINDA IKEJI, MATILDA OBASEKI & JUMMAI SHABA!

Our Pic of the Day goes to the lovely ladies - former model/blogger Linda Ikeji, Actress Matilda Obaseki and TV presenter, Jummai Shaba!

The three ladies got this lovely pic of them as brides shot for the new December edition of Genevieve Magazine out now in stores. Don't they look lovely? What can I say? Are Nigerian men are blind? Lol!
credits: Photography by Moussa Moussa - Make-up by Banke Meshida 
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Kim Kardashian’s Husband Seeks Annulment

Kim and Kris on their Honeymoon in August

NBA player Kris Humphries has filed in a request, asking a judge to annul his 10-week, highly publicized marriage to Kim Kardashian stating that it was ‘fraudulent’.
The follows Kim K’s October 31 divorce filing after the celebrity model cited irreconcilable differences between herself and Humphries.
Humphries’ request however does not furnish any proof to support his argument that the marriage was a fraud. A judge would have to establish a case and decide if it’s true for the marriage to be completely annulled.
Both Kardashian and Humphries are asking a judge to prevent either side from receiving spousal support but Kardashian wants her husband to pay his own attorney’s fees.
The couple had tied knot on August 20, 2011 in Montecito, California in an elaborate wedding that cost about $20M (Twenty Million Dollars).
Kim, 31, had apologized to her fans saying ‘she ‘never meant to hurt anyone’ by ending her 72-day old marriage.
Humphries and Kim had both suffered failed marriages before meeting in October
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Muma Gee Plans Tripple Wedding Celebration: Wedding to hold in two states

The forthcoming wedding ceremony between the Afrotastic Diva, Gift ‘Muma Gee’ Uwame and Nollywood actor, Prince ‘Eklips’ Eke will be an elaborate triple celebration.

The first stages would be double Traditional Wedding ceremonies on Tuesday, December 20, 2011. Starting at 10am, Muma Gee’s hometown of Odiabidi, Upata Kingdom, Ekpeye Land in Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State would witness the first Traditional Wedding Ceremony. This first ceremony will be the final stages the Traditional Wedding Ceremony which began in that town in 2010. It would be held in the compound of Dr. Ukachukwu John Uwame.

On that same day, at 4pm, the compound of Chief Athanasius Nwankwo eke in town of Umuota Umuhu, Ngor Okpal Local Government Area of Imo State will come alive as the party would have arrived their gates. It would continue far into the night.

The White Wedding would then come up on Friday, December 23 in Port Harcourt at the Recovery House, 36, Uyo Street, Off Stadium Road by Bereton School, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. It will be officiated by Reverend Ugochukwu Unachukwu.

The Invitation Cards containing details of both the Traditional and White Wedding have already started going out to friends, colleagues and well wishers.

While the excitement of her weddings continued to build up, Muma Gee did not let down her musical oars. She is far gone in the preparations for a new album which would be released next year. The first single, “Port Harcourt is Back,” has been released and the video, directed by her husband, Prince Eke alongside Ak-One and Frank Macaulay, a renowned cinematographer was shot a few weeks back across locations in Port Harcourt. 

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Rescind decision on gay marriage or else... •Britain gives Nigeria condition for partnership •No country can dictate to us -Senate president

Senate President, David Mark.

THE Federal Government on Thursday disagreed with the British Government over the recently passed same-sex marriage bill
 as the Senate president, David Mark insisted that the law is irrevocable in spite of the threat by the foreign nations to withdraw assistance to Nigeria on account of that law.
 While the British Government said that Nigerian government should rescind its decision to punish individuals who engage in same sex marriage with 14 years imprisonment, the Federal Government said that the foreign mission should hold whatever assistance or aid to Nigeria tied to such gifts with ulterior motive.
The British Prime Minister, Mr David Camevon, said that Britain would not give any assistance or aid to countries that were opposed to same sex marriage.The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Andrew Lyod, who held a closed door meeting with the Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, asked the Nigerian government to rescind its decision on punishing individuals involved in same sex marriage, adding that such a law infringes on the fundamental rights of choice and association.
This is just as the Canadian government has also condemned the passage of a bill criminalising same-sex marriage and gay activities in Nigeria by the Senate, saying that the bill, if assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, would trample upon the fundamental human rights of homosexuals and gay people.
The Canadian government, in a statement by its Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, on Thursday, called on Nigeria to reverse the bill so as to allow all its citizens to enjoy basic rights.
The Canadian government said: “Canada calls on Nigeria to immediately ensure that all its citizens enjoy basic rights. A bill passed by Nigeria’s Senate would, if ratified, disregard basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.”