Patience Jonathan to light Nigeria’s first National Xmas tree

The First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, will on Wednesday today, December 19, 2012 light the first Nigerian National Christmas Tree.

The Christmas tree, is 20.9 meter high and is located at the Unity Fountain Park, besides the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The tree is decorated with the national colours: green and white.

‘It is consequently our anticipation that an annual lighting of the Nigerian National Christmas Tree will play a similar unifying role for our people’, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide noted.

The project is an initiative of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

10 Essential Gadget a Dj needs to Utilise His/Her Performance

At Mrate INC. we have discover the 10 essentials gadgets a DJ needs in this ever-changing technological age….

MacBook Computer: It is no question the MacBook computer is faster and more reliable than the PC, a DJ needs speed and the guarantee of saving his huge files of music in a virus free computer. All that can be achieved in a MAC.

Head Phones: DJing is all about listening, your opinion about a song will be mostly needed so therefore you need high definition headphones to enable you achieve this. Branded headphones like the SMS Audio, Sony MDR 700, Ultrasonic DJ1 and the popular Beat By Dre headphones can be recommended.

DJ Bag: Everywhere you go you will come in contact with artists who want you to have his or her CD , sometimes in a day I go back home with over 20 new CDs! It’s also useful for keeping headphones and cables. Get a fancy bag!

MP3 Music Player: This is a must have gadget for all DJs, portable digital audio players, also referred to as MP3 players. MP3 is the most commonly used and recognized digital audio file format, have become widely popular since Apple introduced the first iPod in 2001. Mp3 players are convenient with large storage facility. Brands like Apple, Sony, Samsung have made great pieces. You can also use your MP3 player as a secondary music back up plan ….ask me later I will tell you the trick… Lol

Mini Hi-fi Audio Player: Yeah, something like the Boom Box, the loudspeakers will enable you identify the baseline of a song and also give you an idea of what your music will sound like when you are at work using the public address system. You can also use the auxiliary output for your routine DJ rehearsals.

Wrist Watch: You need to not only know what the time is as a DJ but know how to use the time right, we don’t have pagers here in Nigeria but you still have to draw a perfect schedule with you wrist watch. It doesn’t have to be an expensive Gucci wrist watch, a Timex or G-Shock wrist watch will do just fine. You can also use the stop watch function whenever the need arises.

Video Games: Aside from the fact that is fun, medical research has shown that videos games are known to improve hand-eye co-ordination and help players gain skills like fast decision making and help players think on their feet. Video games teach players problem solving, motivation and cognitive skills and so on . So my guy biko buy yourself some PSP or Xbox 360 cause you need to be fast with your fingers on the turntable.

Accessories: You need to look good always, you don’t have to do too much but please look good and one way to achieve this is by adding some dope accessories to your outfit.

Controller: Everyday a new technology comes up, change is constant and you as a DJ must be willing to change. The controllers can be used in replacement of your turntables or CDJs depending on the kind of function you are having. I recommend the new Pioneer DDJ-SX DJ Controller With Serato. You’ll love it

Digital Camera: Pictures, Videos are very important files in today’s world . We all know the importance to documentation. So get it !

Katiee Holmes tops Hottest Celebrity Bodies 2012 list

Katie Holmes appears backstage at the 12-12-12 concert on Wednesday. / Associated Press

Time for another year-end list.
Fitness magazine has come up with its Hottest Celebrity Bodies for 2012 and No. 1 is Katie Holmes, who made big news with her split from Tom Cruise this year. Fitness says she has the "Best Revenge Body" of the year.
"This Broadway star and overall (tough) mama keeps her shape in check with frequent Soul Cycle classes. She was even spotted at a class on her 32nd birthday this year– now that's dedication," says the mag.
Other celebs snagging Hot Bod titles:
Best Legs: Blake Lively:
Best Arms: Michelle Obama
Best Cleavage: Kate Hudson
Best Abs: Gwen Stefani
Best Curves: Jennifer Lawrence
Best Back: Julianne Hough
Best Baby Bump: Claire Danes
Best Bride-to-Be: Jennifer Aniston
Best Body After Baby: Beyonce Knowles
Fab After Forty: Halle Berry
Best Celebrity Slimdown: Pink

EME'S FINEST-WIZKID PROMISES FANS A ROLLICKING TIME AT THE BADDEST CONCERT

-          It’s our Christmas gift to Nigerians’ – Banky W

The Countdown to the ''Baddest Concert'' as already begun, it's just 2 more days to the date. And that's the date some religious sect have already tagged the 'End of the World'. Fans and music lovers from what we can see, don't seem to be worried about the world ending at all. At least, there is NO visible sign that any from Nigeria are heading off to make sure to enter one of the Arks positioned around the world. 

Empire Mate Entertainment's cash cow, the one and only Wizkid has promised all those who would come for the baddest concert, the most rollicking of time. Hear him.

International pop star Wizkid says his teeming fans are in for the big thrill this Friday, as he performs in Lagos with his label mates.

The bestselling, MOBO-winning hit-maker who’s had a great year winning laurels and inking big deals, says he’s been rehearsing for weeks, to make sure he delivers an unforgettable set.

The EME concert, tagged ‘The Baddest’, is produced by events company R28, and is the first in a set of big-budget international standard concerts to be promoted by R28 and EME.

‘Headlining this concert with my boss Banky W, and my colleagues Niyola, Shaydee, Skales, DJ Exclusive and others is truly a great way to end this fantastic year’, says Wizzy who had earlier in the year toured the UK and US with his crew.

‘And, trust me, we’re bringing a concert like never before’.

The Baddest Concert holds at The Grounds, Oceanview, in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday December 21.

Apart from Wizkid, Banky, Niyola, Skales and others, many Nigerian acts from different generations are also expected to hit the stage in what many have tagged the concert of the year.

According to a spokesperson for R28, The Baddest concert ‘will feature themed performances, big band sets, and all the electricity you’d expect to find in a truly international concert of this kind’.

Meanwhile, Banky W, who’s one of Nigeria’s most celebrated singers and performers, has said the Christmas concert organized by his label Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) and respected events company R28, is a special Christmas gift to Nigerians from both organizations.

W, who will headline the concert with his EME colleagues Wizkid, Skales, Niyola, Shaydee and others, with support from friends from here and abroad, says The Baddest concert is ‘the kind of gift no money can buy’.

‘’We’re truly grateful to Nigerians for the support and I hope they’ll come out on Friday December 21, so we can have an opportunity to say thank you…’

The Baddest concert holds at 7Pm this Friday December 21, at The Grounds, Oceanview, in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Apart from Wizkid, Banky, Niyola, Skales and others, many Nigerian acts from different generations are also expected to hit the stage in what many have tagged the concert of the year.

According to a spokesperson for R28, The Baddest concert ‘will feature themed performances, big band sets, and all the electricity you’d expect to find in a truly international concert of this kind’

THE EME CREW, DJ EXCLUSIVE, SHAYDEE, WIZZY, NIYIOLA, SKALES & BANKY W

Role Of Sport In Education

The role of sport in the society, and more particularly in schools, has been debated for many decades. There are divergent point of view on the value of sport, with proponents on one end of the continuum hailing sport as having the same goals and objectives as all of education and on the other end those who purport that sport is an entertainment enterprise that should be separated from education altogether.

A Brief Historical Perspective

According to WIKIPEDIA, Sport is all form of competitive physical activities which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and provide entertainment to participants.

“Sport” comes from the old French word meaning “leisure”, with the oldest definition in English from around 1300 being “anything humans find amusing or entertaining”. The Chinese term for sport, “tiyu” connotes physical training. The Modern Greek term for sport is “athlitismos” directly cognate with the English terms “athlete” and “athleticism”.

Others meanings include gambling and events staged for the purpose of gambling; hunting and games and diversion

The debate continues as to the value of sport in education. Sport is ingrained in society as both an educational fixture and an entertainment enterprise. The argument continues as to whether or not sport holds valued benefits for its youth and young adult participants and therefore warrants a prominent place in the educational system.

Youth Participation

Youth Sports present children with opportunities for fun, socialization, and forming peer relationships, physical fitness, and athletic scholarships. Activist for education encourage youth sports as a means to increase educational participation. Youth Sport Participation is now popular in Nigeria. Sport like Chess, Draft, Volleyball, Tennis, Basketball, Handball, Beach Soccer, Cricket, Golf, etc. are becoming popular in Nigeria, With the help of Government and Sponsors Sport can be major source of revenue in Nigeria.

Benefits of Sports to a Child's Development

A wide spectrum of outcomes has been attributed to modern-day sports and play. Critics have condemned sport for fostering excessive violence, an overemphasis on competition and winning, and the exploitation of individuals. Sport proponents have extolled the value of sport as a contributor to health, personal fulfillment, and community integration.

It is important to look at how sport has the potential for producing positive outcomes in educational and noneducational settings for children and youth. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has proposed a model for systematically assessing the potential positive outcomes of sports and the conditions necessary to produce them. The Csikszentmihalyi model is based on the premise that four main types of consequences are of importance when examining and/or evaluating any sport activity. Two of these consequences are present at the individual level: personal enjoyment and personal growth; and two are at the community level: social harmony/integration and social growth/change. In relation to this model, an ideal sport activity is one that contributes in significant ways to all four types of outcomes.

Leonard Wankel and Philip Kreisel have identified five factors that should be present for a child or youth to experience the benefit of personal enjoyment in sport: personal accomplishment, excitement of the sport, improving one's sports skills, testing one's skills against others, and just performing the skills. These factors are thought to contribute most to the enjoyment of sport.

Personal growth includes a variety of physical and psychological factors. Physical health can be maintained and improved through sport participation by enhancing the cardiovascular system; improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels; increasing muscular strength; improving muscular endurance, flexibility, and bone density; and weight management. Because sports are a major type of activity in which children and youth are involved, it is considered a viable method of promoting good health. Lifetime sports, such as golf, tennis, swimming, and cycling, are especially beneficial in meeting nationally established health objectives. Early childhood participation in sport can minimize the emphasis on competition and focus on skill instruction. However, sports may not be a sufficient substitute for physical education programs in the schools. Quality physical education curriculums that have developmentally appropriate physical activities which provide the necessary foundations in motor skill, movement acquisition, and behavioural development can enable children and youth to become successful participants in organized sport.

Numerous studies support the positive relationship that exists between psychological well-being and regular involvement in physical activity, especially in the areas of reduction of anxiety and depression. Conditions to maximize such outcomes are usually associated with individual preferences related to activity type; environmental factors; level of competition or intensity of activity; and individual versus group format.

Sport has also been shown to serve as a mechanism for the transmission of values, knowledge, and norms in creating social harmony. The specific values conveyed may be those of the dominant society, or they could be those of a subgroup. Therefore, sport could contribute to either differentiation and stratification or to integration into the overall society. Evidence indicates that different sports appeal to different social stratifications in the society and may reinforce cultural or societal differences. Sport also may serve to transmit general societal values, which leads many sport authorities to believe that sport has positive value for the participants in building character, discipline, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work in teams. The research literature supports the importance of de-emphasizing winning and competition and thereby moving young people into positive and enjoyable experiences. Unfortunately, the trend has been toward a more competitive, "win-oriented" framework, which has created increased aggression and violent behaviors among spectators and youth participants. This has led to many national forums at the high school, collegiate, and community levels to reassess the sport culture.

Positive outcomes related to socialization and social integration are also dependent upon appropriate leadership, as well as the creation of a climate for this to occur within the sport experience. Changes within sport and change in the general society have a symbiotic relationship - general societal changes affect sport, and changes in sport can also affect society.

Conclusion

Youth sports participation can have many benefits for the individual and for society. However, it is evident that sports can produce negative consequences if quality programs are not developed. Schools and communities can strive for the highest standards by educating and training coaches, deterring the professionalization of youth sports programs, and abiding by the guidelines established by national sport governing bodies, so that sports programs have optimal benefit for all youth, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or ability.

MMR 2012: D'banj and Magnese to Host the Show

D BANJ & MILLEN MAGESE TO CO-HOST THE SHOW

MILLEN MAGESE

D BANJ

After the suspense of the artist line up, there is no question that these10 artists will give the performance of a lifetime with the fabulous models strutting to the designer’s collections on Monday, December 24, 2012 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 10 artists are:

Dbanj

Wizkid

Iyanya

Naeto C

David O

May D 

Burna Boy

Ajebutter22

Taikoon

Efya From Ghana

This year’s MMR event will be even more outstanding than it was last year. The host for this year will be the beautiful Supermodel Millen Magese (Former Miss Tanzania now signed to Ford Models New York) who has been the face of all the MMR campaign images, and none other than “The Entertainer” himself Dbanj.

The 10^th and headlining designer for this year’s the show is fashion Icon Lanre Dasilva Ajayi.

Get ready for an amazing fuse of music and fashion like never before!

Tickets are on sale now, so get yours before it’s too late.

Date: Monday 24th of December

Venue: Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Ticket Outlets:

Tickets available at: Eko Hotel & Suites, Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Ozone Cinema, Get Arena, Le Reve Pieces (Lekki Phase 1), L’Espace & Selected Sweet Sensation outlets.

For your convenience: Order online on www.afritickets.com or get your tickets delivered straight to your door by calling 360 Delivery on: 08105004000

Tables and Tickets information:

Standard Tickets: N5, 000

VIP Tickets:  N 20, 000. 00

Gold VIP Table of 10 Seats: N500, 000

Platinum VIP Table of 10 Seats: N1, 000,000

FOR TABLE RESERVATION ONLY PLEASE CALL: 08104751043 | 08092222201

For additional information:

Email: tickets@musicmeetsrunway.com

Log onto: www.musicmeetsrunway.com

For a chance to win free tickets to this year’s show:

Like on Facebook: Musicmeetsrunway

Follow on Twitter: @MUSICMEETRUNWAY

Best Of Nollywood Awards 2012 Winners and Nominiees

Nollywood paraded some of its brightest stars at the fifth edition of the Best of Nollywood Awards ceremony which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square auditorium in Lagos on Sunday, November, 11, 2012.

The three hour event which was hosted by actor, Nonso Diobi and ex-beauty queen, Sylvia Nduka, started with a red carpet reception for the stars in attendance, including Desmond Elliot, Gbenga Adeyinka, Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Halima Abubakar, Laide Bakare, Segun Arinze, Doris Simeon, Susan Peters, Sola Fajobi, Emem Isong and many others.

The likes of Joseph Benjamin, Emem Isong, Ayo Adesanya and a host of other film makers were rewarded in different categories.

Here is a full list of the winners

Best Actor English In A Leading Role

1. Wale Ojo – Phone Swap

2. Van Vicker – The Search

3. Joseph Benjamin – Married But Living Single – Winner

4. Nwachuckwu Uti – In The Cupboard

Best Actress English In A Leading Role

1. Funke Akindele – Married But Living Single

2. Nse Ikpe-Etim – Phone Swap – Winner

3. Tonto Dikeh – My Life My Damage

4. Ini Edo – I Take My Chance

5. Shaffy Bello Akinrimisi – The Score

Best Actor Yoruba In A Leading Role

1. Femi Adebayo – Aiyekooto – Winner

2. Odunlade Adekola – Irano Meji

3. Femi Adebayo – Sonto Alapata

4. Muyiwa Ademola – Eyinju Eledumare

Best Actress Yoruba In A Leading Role

1. Bisi Komolafe – Aiyekooto

2. Fathia Balogun – Sunmisola Otelemuye

3. Liz Anjorin – Kofo Tinubu

4. Ayo Adesanya – Amope Alasela – Winner

5. Bimbo Akintola – Eyinju Eledumare

Best Actor In A Leading Role Hausa

1. Ali Nuhu – Madubin Dubawa – Winner

2. Adam A Zango – Adamsy

3. Adam A Zango – Ahlul Kital

Best Yoruba Actress In A Supporting Role

1. Iyabo Ojo – Ijo Olomo – Winner

2. Kehinde Bankole – Ojukoju

3. Ireti Osayemi Adeoye – Jejere

4. Eniola Badmus – Ijewuru

Best Actor In Supporting Role English

1. Yemi Blaq – The Search – Winner

2. Hafeez Oyetoro – Phone Swap

3. Jide Kosoko – Last Flight To Abuja

4. Alex Ekubo – In The Cupboard

Best Actress In A Supporting Role English

1. Nse Etim – The Search

2. Tonto Dikeh – Broken Silence – Winner

3. Nadia Buari – Holding Hope

4. Mary Uranta – Misress

Best Actress In A Supporting Role Hausa

1. Rahama Hassan – Madubin Dubawa – Winner

2. Ladidi Fagge – Adamsy

3. Zainab Abdullahi – Ahlal Kilab

Most Promising Act Male

1. Bryan – I Take My Chances

2. Tony Monjero – Last Flight To Abuja

3. Alex Ekubo – In The Cupboard – Winner

4. Ifeanyi Kalu – Udeme

Most Promising Act Female

1. Arike Akinyanju – Eyinju Eledumare

2. Belinda Effiah – Kokoma – Winner

3. Iyobosa Olaye Adesua

4. Moyo Lawal – Holding Hope

5. Yewande Adekoya – Omo Elemosho

Child Actor Of The Year

1. Wale Akinwunmi – Amope Alasela – Winner

2. Mac Donald Okorowu – Wanderer

Child Actress Of The Year

1. Toyin Adebiyi – Jejere

2. Priscilla Ojo – Jejeloye – Winner

3. Sharon – Last Flight To Abuja

4. Deola Faseyi – Married But Living Single

5. Gbemisola Obadeyi – Amope Alasela

Director Of The Year

1. Desmond Elliot – In The Cupboard

2. Bayo Tijani – Aiyekooto – Winner

3. Kunle Afolayan – Phone Swap

4. Obi Emenloye – Last Flight To Abuja

5. Tunde Laoye – Married But Living Single

Movie Of The Year

1. In The Cupboard

2. Aiyekooto – Winner

3. Phoneswap

4. Adesua

5. Married But Living Single

Comedy Movie Of The Year

1. Ijewuru

2. Okon Lagos 2 – Winner

3. Amope Alasela

Best Movie With A Social Message

1. My Life My Damage

2. Kofo Tinubu – Winner

3. Last Flight To Abuja

4. Jejere

5. Victims Of Life

Screenplay Of The Year

1. Aiyekooto

2. In The Cupboard

3. The Search – Winner

4. Phone Swap

5. Amope Alasela

Cinematography Of The Year

1. Adesua

2. Igba N Bajo

3. Phone Swap

4. In The Cupboard

5. Aiyekooto – Winner

Movie With Best Sound

1. Adesua – Winner

2. Igba N Bajo

3. Sonto Alapata

4. Phone Swap

5. Eyinju Eledumare

Best Edited Movie

1. Phone Swap

2. I’ll Take My Chances – Winner

3. In The Cupboard

4. Aiyekooto

5. Igba N Bajo

Best Production Set

1. Sonto Alapata

2. Phone Swap – Winner

3. Eyinju Eledumare

4. Aiyekooto

5. Adesua

Best Actor Hausa

1. Ali Nuhu – Madubin Dubawa – Winner

2. Adam A Zango – Adamsy

3. Adam A Zango – Ahlul Kitab

Supporting Actor Hausa

1. Saddik Sani Saddik – Adamsy – Winner

2. Al’amin Buhari – Ahlul Kitab

Best Actress Hausa

1. Napisa Abdullahi – Madubin Dabawa

2. Fati Ladan – Adamsy – Winner

3. Napisa Abdullahi – Ahlul Kita

Supporting Actress Hausa

1. Rahama Hassan – Madubi Dubawa

2. Ladidi Fagge – Adamsy – Winner

3. Zainab Abdullahi – Ahlul Kitab

Best Actor In A Supporting Role Yoruba

1. Ibrahim Chitta – Aiyekooto – Winner

2. Kayode Akinbayo – Igban

3. Rykaydo Agbor – Ojukoju

4. Gabriel Afolayan – Tangiri

Onga Best Use Of Nigerian Food In A Nollywood

1. Ijewuru

2. Udeme – Winner

3. In The Cupboard

4. Aiyekooto

5. Eyinju

Best Use Of Costume

1. Jejere – Winner

2. Sotonto Alapata

3. I Take My Chance

4. Igba N Bajo

5. Adesua

Best Kiss In A Nigeria Movie

1. Uti & Tonto – Broken Silence – Winner

2. 9ice & Laide – Jejere

3. Nse & Bola – Search

4. Tonto &Thomas Aitman – My Life My Damage

5. Desmond And Nse – Spellbound

Best Print Media Journalist

1. Victor Akande

2. Biodun Kupoluyi

3. Sam Olatunji

4. Hazeez

D’banj Opens Night Club In Lagos

Popular Nigerian musician, Dapo Oyebanjo aka D’banj, has joined the elite list of night club owners in Lagos.D’banj confirmed this in a post on Twitter on Friday.

This is coming after former producer and estranged partner, Don Jazzy tweeted about opening his own night club “PoP” on the 21st December.
D’banj said the club, located on Adetokunbo Ademola Street in Victoria Island, would be known as ‘One Eleven’ and would open today(Dec 14).
The club will be opened with three days of partying, he added.
Source: Naij

Van Persie's Manchester United shirt is best-selling in North America

The forward has taken the place of  strike partner Wayne Rooney and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres in the top 10, with the rise to first place coinciding with his summer move to Manchester United

Getty

The shirts of Man Utd striker Robin Van Persie are the best-selling  Football jersey in North America.

In a list compiled by Sporting ID, the Netherlands international has moved ahead of striker partner Wayne Rooney - who has the best-selling shirt in Premier League history - and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.

United States international Clint Dempsey becomes the first American in the top 10 after his rise to sixth in the list following his summer move from Fulham to Tottenham.

Robert Thayne, global sales and marketing director of Sporting ID, has highlighted the increased popularity of the sport in the continent as part of the findings.

"North American soccer fans continue to support the Premier League as fanatically as anywhere else, often waking at 4:00 to catch games on TV," he said. "Players like Van Persie, Eden Hazard, Clint Dempsey, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere are top-class players playing for the biggest clubs in the world and their fans in North America are really no different than the ones who live in the UK.

"They are clearly showing their support of these players and their club by personalizing jerseys with official Premier League player names, numbers and sleeve badges."

Van Persie, Rooney are joined by Manchester United teammates Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa on the list, along with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard, Dempsey of Tottenham, Steven Gerrard of Liverpool, and Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere.

D’banj Releases New Single “TOP OF THE WORLD”; Announces “Sony Music Africa” Record Deal

Global recording company Sony Music Entertainment is proud to announce the signing of Nigerian megastar D’Banj to its RCA Africa label. The breakthrough deal also includes a multi-album, worldwide exclusive contract with emerging Nigerian singer-songwriter star Kayswitch and a strategic partnership with D’Banj’s Nigerian record label DB Records, who’s catalog includes artists and producers such as J.Sol, Jay Sleek and DeeVee. Sony Music’s RCA Records label hosts a family of global superstar artists and a catalog of music, which includes some of the most important recordings in history. The signing landmarks a historic moment, which sees Africa’s number one superstar artist D’Banj join Africa’s number one music and entertainment company Sony Music.
TOP OF THE WORLD” is the first single to be released through Sony Music’s RCA Africa label and DB Records Nigeria since D’Banj signed his groundbreaking multi-album deal with Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
“TOP OF THE WORLD” is already impacting Pan Africa on DStv as the official SuperSport anthem for the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 (AFCON) in South Africa and is a first taste of what’s to come from D’Banj’s partnership with Sony Music Africa leading up to several scheduled releases dropping in the weeks and months to come including D’Banj’s new album DKM scheduled for release early in the new year.
D¹Banj is signed to a Pan African multi-album deal with Sony Music¹s RCA Records. He has also concluded an exclusive management deal with Sony Music and strategic partner ROCKSTAR4000 for the continent.
D’Banj – Top Of The World
DOWNLOAD

MULTIPLE PAN AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNER D’BANJ EMBARKS ON A NEW CHAPTER IN HIS ILLUSTRIOUS MORE-THAN-20-MILLION-RECORDS-SOLD CAREER WITH SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT – IN ADDITION INKS A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP DEAL FOR DB RECORDS IN NIGERIA INCLUDING A MULTI-ALBUM, FULL MANAGEMENT, WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT WITH EMERGING STAR AND SONGWRITER KAYSWITCH

“Partnering with D’Banj is a seminal event for us at Sony Music Entertainment Africa. We’ve always admired his talent and to be able to assist with bringing D’Banj’s music to millions of fans, established and new, across the continent is an honour for us. There are still so many to whom an artist like D’Banj has so much to offer that we can see a brand new era emanating from this phase in his career. We are very excited about being a part of it. ” Says Managing Director of Sony Music Entertainment Sean Watson.
“Partnering with the leading music company in Africa is a natural fit for me and DB Records to ensure my music can be available to my fans across every corner of Africa and in countries where they’ve never been able to access my music in a legitimate way, instantly as its released anywhere else in the world. It’s a new era for Africa, the birthplace of music and I’m excited about this very powerful partnership with Sony Music through which we will give birth together to a new era with endless opportunities for my fans, producers, artists and the start of a new time for a revolution in music from Africa. Nothing is impossible!” says D’Banj
D’Banj (born Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo) signed to a Pan African multi-album deal with Sony Music’s RCA Records. He has also concluded an exclusive management deal with Sony Music and strategic partner ROCKSTAR4000 for the continent. Under the deal D’Banj will join Sony Music’s Pan African RCA Label in the family of such superstar artists as Usher, Chris Brown, R Kelly, Alicia Keys, P!nk, Christina Aguilera, Pitbull, Britney Spears, Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake, Ke$ha, T-Pain and Miguel.
“We are really excited to be partnering up with DBanj and his DB Records label. DBanj is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in Africa who continues to deliver world-class hits. What we’ve seen from DB Records so far is an energetic mix of hot new sounds and great new artists like Kayswitch, who we believe will impact right across Africa. The recent launch of iTunes in Africa means that Nigerian fans and those elsewhere on the continent will now readily be able to access this amazing music as soon as it comes to market.” Noted Spiro Damaskinos, Director of RCA Records Africa
“Since the first time I met the incredible talent that is D’Banj in Lagos a few years ago, headlining the first of many shows we did together, I knew he was destined for musical greatness. Indeed D’Banj went on to smash all expectations around the world. He has always flown the Nigerian and African flag higher and higher and broken down the barriers for many of Africa’s great talent to follow through. We are thrilled to now have D’Banj in the family with Sony Music and RCA Records and to represent him across the African continent. Together we can take his amazing music and talent to even greater heights and new audiences, as well as launch emerging new stars such as Kayswitch through this landmark partnership” says Jandre Louw, FOUNDER and CEO of ROCKSTAR4000
DBANJ (a stage name that is a combination of the first letter of his first name and part of his last name) is an extremely talented Nigerian-born, singer-songwriter-musician who has become an International Superstar blending sounds from AfroBeats, AfroPop and AfroFusion music genres. D’Banj literally broke contemporary sounds and music from Africa onto the mainstream Global stage recently with his smash-hit ‘Oliver Twist’. ‘Oliver Twist’ has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide to date. The single debuted at number 9 on the UK National charts just behind the likes of Rihanna and Tulisa.
D’BANJ’s musical mentor and influence is the late Afrobeat Maestro – the legendary Fela Anikulapo Kuti and like him, he performs in Yoruba, English and Pidgin English.
As an energetic, crowd-pleasing live entertainer, D’BANJ has performed alongside many international artists on stages all over the world from the 1st Edition of the MTV Africa Music Awards to the ‘Koko Concert‘ LIVE in London at the O2 Arena amongst others.
As a recording artist and performer D’BANJ has won a whole host of awards including Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009, BET Awards of 2011 for Best International Act, Best African Act – (MOBO Awards 2012), Most Gifted Male Video of the Year (Channel O 2012 MVA’s).
D’Banj has also established himself as a television celebrity on Nigerian TV’s “Koko Mansion”.
In 2011 Kanye West penned a deal with D’banj onto his G.O.O.D. Music label in the USA. D’Banj also signed with Mercury in the UK.  Over the course of his career D’BANJ has worked with Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Jay Z, Kid Cudi, LA Reid, Tinie Tempah and Rio Ferdinand. A humanitarian at heart, D’BANJ is the founder of Koko Foundation for Youth and Peace Development. He is also Nigeria’s first United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace.
“The Sony Music / D’Banj strategic partnership is the key catalyst to change the business and face of Music across Africa, especially in the key areas of quality, distribution and content management”, says the Chidi Okeke, Managing Director of MComm, leading West African music Distribution Company and strategic partner to Sony in the region. “This deal represents a major breakthrough in achieving our vision of delivering quality music across the continent on diverse platforms. The immediate benefits include the improvement in the distribution value chain, quality control and direct economic benefits to individual parties and the continent at large. We are positioned to create the necessary support platforms and initiatives to drive this partnership to the maximum, and the long-term plan is to fully penetrate the significantly untapped African market for music and content in general” he added.
D’Banj’s passionate drive, coupled to his talent and creativity, regularly delivers appealing music productions and entertaining live performances ensuring his continuous relevance in the music market.  He remains one of the most celebrated superstars from Nigeria and the African continent to break into the international music scene.

 

“I’m incredibly blessed and energized being part of this powerful family and of the endless opportunities this will provide to my music. Being part of the Sony Music family has now increased my family ten fold and I can now focus on my music and my fans and taking it to a whole new level and to all corners of not only Africa but across the planet!” noted KaySwitch
KaySwitch ‘D Produkt’ (Born as Kehinde Oladotun Oyebanjo), began his journey into music in secondary school, where he used to rap with his friends for fun. Rapping gradually became a part of him and later singing and songwriting. Influenced by iconic stars such as Sizzla Kalonji, Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Youssou N’dour, his greatest musical influence was his older brother, D’Banj, who played a major role in KaySwitch’s love and passion for music and entertainment. KaySwitch ‘D Produkt’ spent a lot of time with his brother D’Banj and gradually developed his own musical style and direction, but it was not until his first encounter with the mic in 2005 while recording a track with his friend Dr. Frabz in the studio that he decided to take up music professionally.
His past affiliation with Mohits Records, formed by his older brother, D’Banj and Don Jazzy,  gave him the time to develop his skills in the studio, and become a highly skilled recording and performing artist. From the US to the UK, India, Asia, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Dubai and many more countries around the world, KaySwitch ‘D Produkt’ has toured with his brother D’Banj and also performed at major shows such as the This Day Show, Star Mega Jam, Koko concert and the Calabar festival.
His music is a reflection of his calm and urban style as well as his eccentricity. KaySwitch believes in being the best in whatever he does in life and looking outside the box by creating something unexpected and different. He lives by the saying “send on” which he interprets as “bringing on blessing and good things to come”. KaySwitch ‘D Produkt’ is most definitely a force to be reckoned with in the music world.
The signing of D’banj and KaySwitch is part of Sony Music Entertainment Africa’s belief that Africa is an important & exciting music development frontier. The company has set its sights on becoming the primary partner of the best Africa has to offer and has confidence that through such partnerships, African musicians can achieve new Pan African and Global success.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA & PRESS: Louise.Pillay@sonymusic.com
ROCKSTAR4000 MEDIA & PRESS: media@rockstar4000.com
BOOKINGS FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES OR APPEARANCES: bookings@rockstar4000.com