Category Entertainment News

Highlife legend Mike Ejeagha’s tribute to comedian Brain Jotter, aka Chukwuebuka Emmanuel, was given new life by a viral social media challenge that led to the release of the 1983 film “gwo gwo ngwo.”

Ejeagha passed away on Friday at the age of 95.

Brain Jotter posted a throwback video of the late musician on Instagram on Saturday, saying, “39 years ago, he made magic. 39 years later, we re-danced to it. He is now resting, but his melody will always live. Rest in peace, legend.

After his skit featuring the track Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche propelled the decades-old song into a viral sensation, the comedian had visited Ejeagha at his Enugu home in July 2024.

The veteran musician watched a new generation embrace his timeless work with teary eyes as a result of the encounter.

During the visit, Ejeagha’s son had remarked, “Thank you for returning my father’s legacy.” This is the most attention his music has received in more than 30 years. Additionally, Brain Jotter and his team thanked the family for their support and donation of $2 million.

READ MORE about Mike Ejeagha’s classic Sparks Viral Dance Challenge, “Gwo Gwo Ngwo.”

Obi Mourn, Tinubu, and Atiku

The veteran singer passed away shortly after the song went viral, which prompted a wave of tributes. Bola Tinubu, president, set the tone.

Ejeagha was described as “one of Nigeria’s greatest folklorists, songwriters, and musicians in the Igbo language” by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement.

“Mike Ejeagha inspired generations by his unique storytelling style and musical style, preserving and projecting Igbo culture and customs.

The music of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha continues to inspire us that music has the power to rekindle, heal, and direct energy toward good causes that advance our country, said Tinubu.

The president also praised Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah for acknowledging Ejeagha’s contributions while he was still alive, including changing the name of a major Abakpa Nike road to Chief Mike Ejeagha Road.

Atiku Abubakar, the legendary politician’s former vice president, praised the viral challenge as a source of joy in his final months.

It is heartwarming to note that Brain Jotter’s performance included the encore dance “Gwo gwo gwo ngwo” by highlife legend Mike Ejeagha before the curtain was drawn. Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, “Atiku wrote on X,” is the best in music.

Peter Obi, a member of the Labour Party, described Ejeagha as a “cultural custodian.” His voice will continue to ring out through generations as testaments to wisdom, culture, and truth as he enters a new era, but not his voice.

Obi praised his lyrics, which were full of proverbs and folklore, as moral compasses for both young and old.

Ejeagha was described as “a legend, cultural ambassador, and revered son of Enugu State,” according to Governor Peter Mbah, who also had sentiments.

Mbah promised to make the musician’s memory more immortal, noting that “his death leaves a huge void that will be difficult to fill.”

Reimagined as a violent sensation

The song was first released in 1983 as part of Akuko Na Egwu Vol. A clever tortoise deceives an elephant to win a princess’s favor in marriage, according to the first album.

The comedic reenactment of the elephant chasing the tortoise in Brain Jotter’s skit quickly dominated TikTok and Instagram, generating over 28 million views in a week.

Two dancers meet, perform an unusual leg shuffle, and then one suddenly vanishes while the other chases, resembling the song’s vivid imagery.

The dance sparked a flurry of nostalgia and excitement all over, including Super Falcons and celebrities.

International participants eventually joined the dance challenge, with many others coming from other countries.

Chris Hughes’ ex-girlfriend JoJo Siwa and Love Island co-star JoJo Siwa have a heated relationship, and his ex-girlfriend has revealed that she is expecting their first child.

Chris Hughes’s professional sport star ex-girlfriend has announced she is expecting her first child – just as his romance with Celebrity Big Brother co-star JoJo Siwa has been confirmed. Professional golfer Annabel Dimmock, 28, shared her happy news via a social media post on Saturday.

The golf star took to Instagram showing herself wearing a pink crop top and a pair of short denim shorts. With her legs dangling into a swimming pool, the star showed her growing baby bump.

In an accompanying caption, she wrote: “New rookie on tour coming soon” alongside pink heart emojis – and thereby announcing her pregnancy. Fans were quick to take to the comments to wish her well – and noted that the star was posing with baby pink baby shoes.

One person expressed their happiness when they saw you. Another phrase was written, “Congratulations you’re going to make the best mother, I’m so excited to meet her.”

Annabel previously enjoyed a 14 month romance with Love Island star Chris which lasted from 2020 until 2022. Chris had previously hinted the split hit him hard.

“I’m in a good place,” I said. When a relationship is just beginning, he said to The Sun in 2022, “I always struggle a little bit.”

“But I’m working out at the gym and working on my work. I’m a complete stranger in the store. I feel good because I have good friends and family around me, which is also a blessing.

Agent of Annabel had previously told OK! “Annabel wishes Chris the best of luck and I can confirm that they have split,” the magazine said. She then moved on to date Alfie Best Jr., whose businessman father Alfie Best Sr. is credited with making his father, a successful entrepreneur, worth £10 million.

A source told The Sun that “Alfie is a really liked guy and has been a great match for Annabel” when the romance first surfaced in June of 2023. The pair are head over heels for taking their own actions rather than posting their thoughts everywhere.

Chris has since found a new romance, however, with American pop singer JoJo Siwa, 22. The pair fell for each other after appearing on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother in April this year.

Viewers watched in surprise as the pair grew extremely close while in the house – despite the fact JoJo had a girlfriend, Kath Ebbs, on the outside world. When the series concluded, Kath sensationally claimed that JoJo had dumped her at the CBB wrap party.

When JoJo and Chris were photographed kissing in a swimming pool during a vacation together in Mexico, they raised eyebrows.

Chris and the younger star later exchange photos of themselves in bed to confirm their romance. JoJo has since opened up about their relationship, telling Lorraine on ITV that Chris and I have a lot of conversations. The head is turning as we enter the kitchen, but that version is the only one we have. The best man is him.

She responded, “It’s so funny to me. I’m not sure what was going on. How innocent people are is hilarious. She claimed that he had given her roses as discount flowers when they were discovered. This adorable clip of him has the sticker on it, but better news is that the flowers are in a blender bottle, which everyone should be aware of. The best is him.

Over the years, the Jeremy Kyle Show on ITV has drawn controversy, with one guest who accidentally killed his girlfriend’s hamster after discovering out he wasn’t her baby’s father.

A former star of The Jeremy Kyle Show has had his lifetime ban on owning animals lifted.

Controversial host Jeremy, 59, confessed that he still feels “immensely proud” of the ITV show, despite it being a factor in the death in one of its guests. The programme showcased a diverse range of individuals to the public, including an elderly escort who happily had sex with over 1,000 men.

However, a previous visitor has since filed a lawsuit to have his lifetime animal keeping ban lifted. A judge granted this right to Stevenage resident Ryan O’Brien, who claimed he had been successful in “turning his life around” and demonstrating his ability to look after a pet.

READ MORE: Jeremy Kyle guest who threatened to ‘knock out’ the host is on road to being drug free

After smashing a hamster against a wall and striking it, O’Brien admitted to inflicting unnecessary suffering on an animal in 2012. O’Brien and his girlfriend had a turbulent relationship that had just ended shortly before the incident, according to The Comet, which was occurring at the time of the animal’s death.

After appearing on a contentious ITV program to find out if he was the father of a 13-month-old girl he had been co-parenting with his partner, his relationship abruptly ended. A DNA test revealed that he was not the father of the child while he was on the show, according to the Daily Star.

O’Brien was initially given a suspended jail term and an indefinite ban on keeping or owning animals after admitting the offence. He has, however, persuaded the court to uphold his reformation, which is a dramatic turn.

No fewer than four witnesses defended his transformation when he appeared in court on May 22 to show evidence that he was now fit to care for a pet. His lawyer made a press release revealing that O’Brien’s demeanor had significantly changed since the magistrates had witnessed.

O’Brien, 35, has welcomed a small British bulldog pup named Dotty into his family. He shared his journey of turning over a new leaf while collaborating with The Comet and allowing substance abuse to focus on improving himself.

He proudly reported to the paper that he had just completed a three-year apprenticeship with the construction firm Wates and that he was a qualified electrician, tiler, and decorator. He also volunteers at warm spaces and food banks, giving back to the community.

O’Brien said, “Many things have changed, and I’ve changed.” “My body isn’t breaking a bone right now,” I said. He expressed regret over his past deeds, saying, “My life’s biggest regret is killing the hamster.” I was simply not thinking at the time.

O’Brien acknowledged that despite his best efforts to move forward, the consequences of his past are still present, and public humiliation is a reminder of this. He thanked The Jeremy Kyle Show for revealing the truth about his ex-partner, though.

He shared that he’s been clean since Christmas, steering clear of drugs for the past two years. He admitted reaching a juncture where he was “sick” of his previous lifestyle. Now, with “a good support network of friends”, he’s turned a new page: “I have stopped hanging out with people who were bad for me.”

A tense clear the air meeting between Meghan and Kate was revealed by Prince Harry in Spare – and experts have explained how it changed the course of the monarchy

A clear-the-air meeting between Waleses and the Sussexes “ripped the monarchy to pieces”, a royal expert has claimed. Back in June 2018, the Prince and Princess of Wales met with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as tension had brewed between the couples after Harry and Meghan’s wedding. It came after, as Harry recounted in his memoir Spare, his new wife seemingly being at loggerheads with his sister-in-law in the early days of their romance.

He says the two women had a row over bridesmaid dresses in the lead-up to his wedding that left Meghan in tears and that Kate “grimaced” when the duchess borrowed her lipgloss. Both couples decided to have a clear-the-air chat shortly after the Sussexes’ honeymoon.

However, things got so tense that Kate’s fingers supposedly went white. Harry describes the moment in his memoir after he and Meghan were invited over to see William and Kate for tea at their Kensington Palace apartment. He recalls how both couples aired their grievances including Kate, who asked for an apology from Meghan as she gripped a leather sofa so tightly her “fingers were white”.

According to Spare, Kate wanted Meghan to say sorry for making a remark about her hormones and having “baby brain” while she was pregnant. The book then recounts how Meghan apologised and explained that is how she speaks to her friends.

But the encounter took a turn when Harry claims William “pointed a finger at Meg”, then allegedly blasted: “Well, it’s rude, Meghan. These things are not done here.” To which he says Meghan responded: “If you don’t mind, keep your finger out of my face.”

Now in a new Channel 5 documentary, ‘Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy’, royal experts believe this meeting was a turning point for the Sussexes as set the wheels in motion for Harry and Meghan to dramatically quit their royal roles.

According to the Daily Mail’s Richard Kay, this was the meeting that saw “the seed of Megxit sewn” while fellow expert Sarah Hewson said: “Had that meeting been a success, had they been able to put their differences aside, things would have been very different indeed.”

And chief royal correspondent from Newsweek, Jack Royston said: “If only they’d listened. If Meghan had listened what was being said to her, she could have changed way back in 2018. And even if they had still quit the monarchy, they could have saved themselves so much pain and so much conflict.

“What happened in that room back in June 2018 was the defining element of the relationship between the two couples that ripped the monarchy to pieces.”

While respected royal author Valentine Low added: “They had pathetic little differences that should have been sorted out in two minutes. But it helped fuel the flames.”

Harry’s observation in Spare comes after Meghan took aim at Kate during her and Harry’s Netflix docuseries. As she recalled their first meeting she said she was “surprised” by the behind-the-scenes formality of members of the royal family.

Speaking in episode two of the six-part Harry & Meghan docuseries, she said: “When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot. I was a hugger. I’ve always been a hugger, I didn’t realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.

“I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go ‘You can relax now’, but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me.”

Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy, airs on Channel 5 on Saturday at 9.20pm.

On Friday at around 4 p.m., a car belonging to Nigerian musician Darey Art Alade and his wife Deola was allegedly caught in flames on the Third Mainland Bridge.

Deola expressed gratitude that the car’s driver was unharmed when she shared videos of it on Instagram.

We’re incredibly appreciative that the driver made it out safely, she wrote. No lives were lost, and that is what really counts.

Videos posted on her page showed attempts to put an enormous fire out of the car’s engine before it started to burn fiercely.

Firefighters were present at the location where the flames were discovered later in footage. In the end, the vehicle was left to burn.

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Deola used the incident to reflect on the importance of life and the fleeting nature of material possessions, encouraging everyone who experiences unanticipated losses to hold on to the hope of new beginnings.

Moments like these serve as reminders of how quickly life can change and how unimportant material things can become. We’re sharing this to show someone that things can be changed rather than show our sympathy. Lives cannot exist.

We hope this reminds you that “we can rebuild if you’re dealing with a sudden loss of any kind.” We can re-enter the momentum and find the willpower to advance. One step at a time, one breath, one prayer, “

She also praised God and those who came by the scene to offer their assistance.

We’re choosing to pray for protection, perspective, and the still-so-quiet strength to carry on. Jesus, I’m grateful. She thanked everyone who stopped by to help.

Wicked fans have gone wild after the trailer for part two of the musical was released last week, with triple Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo opening up on her friendship with co-star Ariana Grande

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has revealed how Ariana Grande persuaded her to follow her dreams and become a popstar – unlike her first career choice to become a surgeon.

Speaking as the trailer for Wicked: For Good is released, giving fans a taste of what to expect in part two of the musical, Cynthia – who plays green-skinned Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba – will be releasing her second album, I Forgive You on June 27.

The triple Oscar nominee, who has won Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards, says of her pal and Wicked co-star Ariana: “At the very beginning when we were doing rehearsals, that’s when I sort of decided that, okay, time to write this album. Coaxed by Ariana because she wouldn’t let me get away with it!”

READ MORE: Wicked fans all make one prediction as ’emotional’ For Good trailer released

Wicked was the box office hit of the winter, surpassing Mamma Mia! and taking over $750 million worldwide – catapulting Cynthia to fame.

Singing with Ariana on the chart-topping soundtrack to the film, which shot to number one in the UK album charts, critics praised Cynthia’s powerful vocals and emotional acting.

Yet the star originally wanted to be a surgeon, not a singer.

She says:” I decided I wanted to be a spinal surgeon, randomly. Because I was good at biology and I was starting to get the hang of it.

“I was one of those kids that was good at reading, good at doing all those things and good at class work, but I could also sing. So my left and right brain were sort of like, doing a battle.”

But music won the war.

“I started enjoying singing when I was about eleven,” Cynthia tells Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett on the Dish from Waitrose podcast.

“Music was in my household all the time. My mum would sing along to everything and it would end up being a family sing along.

“My sister and I would sing together while we were doing the dishes. I think I was about fourteen and I was like,’ oh, I think I wanna do this. And then I changed my mind randomly when I was about sixteen, because there were no performers in my class.”

But when she embarked on a musical career, she received advice from high places – with Oprah Winfrey going out of her way to be helpful.

Cynthia says: “I have had advice from Oprah before, which is really nice.

“Right at the very beginning of my career, I was saying yes to absolutely everything. She was the one that was like, ‘You should say no sometimes.’

“‘It’s really good to say no. Sometimes you need to leave space for yourself’. So I took that to heart and began to really be discerning about what I said yes to.”

Born to Nigerian parents and growing up in Stockwell, south London, Cynthia has now finished filming for the second Wicked movie – which is out in November – apart from a couple of re-shoots, and would like to star in more films.

“I hope I get the chance to do the things that I’m wishing for – more film, more TV, more music. I hope to get to do a little tour.

“In my head I’ve been dreaming of doing some of the biggest stages in the world.”

Already receiving shining reviews, her new album, I Forgive You, which opens with a cover of No More I Love Yous – a tribute to her hero Annie Lennox – it is a mainly original and deeply personal exploration of romantic relationships.

”The good parts of the relationship, bad parts of a relationship, new relationships, letting go, saying goodbye, and forgiving both parties, yourself and, and the other person,” she says. “And it just sort of wrote itself.”

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