TIWA SAVAGE'S 'ARREST'

TIWA SAVAGE'S ARREST
Sometimes a celebrity assumes a self-imposed larger-than-life image and believes he or she is above the law or above reproach. If the reports of Tiwa Savage's arrest are factual, with the areport by thenetng suggesting that they are, then a 'bringing down to earth' psychological regimen is needed for the newly-wedded singer. One major fact to note by celebrities and other citizens, DO NOT SCREW WITH THE NIGERIAN POLICE. No matter how much you hold them in disdain or think they are inept, those guys operate within the ambits of the law or laws which they can conjure to empower their case. If you have ever 'visited' a typical Police Station in Naija to setlle or aid a case, you will know what I am saying.

In fairness to the Police, they are quite friendly and accommodating when celebrities are involved and treat artistes with respect more than other citizens but that should not be taken for granted by the artistes in any way. 

There is what I term ' a galloping stumble' in the career of artistes which comes full circle most times. An artiste attains dizzying heights in his or her career within a time capsule of promise, possibilities and potential. Fame, endorsements, adulations and unbelievable stardom follow one after the other or even simultaneously for a hitherto backwater act. Having achieved such within a short and unsolicited for career, the artiste finds himself or herself on a fast lane. On that lane, all caution is thrown to the wind and a breakneck speed is allowed by the artiste on that lane. But more-often-than-not there would be a stumble along the way; a big pothole to rein excesses. For the smart ones, they slow down. For the others who believe they are delirious gods on earth, they go faster. Most times, doom beckons. A career doom or even a fatal one.


What if Tiwa had encountered one of those trigger-happy Policemen who, without thinking, could have fired off a shot at her? Has she and her handlers thought about that? It is all well for her husband to wave it off as a joke as he did in the report by Thenetng. But if indeed it isn't a publicity stunt ( and I don't think it is) then this is where her brand handling should be put under a microscope. Personally, I love Tiwa's music and admire her seeming humility, having been opportuned to speak with her and her then Manager a year ago on a proposed project then. I think she must be commended for blazing a trail in a male-dominated music industry and making a huge success out of it too. And it is because I like her and believe she still has a lot to offer to our entertainment sector that I wrote this.

Let's just say I hope this little advice fills the potholes on her lane. Or maybe it should serve to erect a speed breaker?

'SIR, PLEASE TELL GENEVIEVE TO HURRY UP WITH HER MAKE-UP' said STELLA DAMASUS ON MY SET! From the book 'NOLLYWOOD TILL NOVEMBER by Charles Novia

CHARLES NOVIA REVEALS THE ARTISTIC RIVALRY BETWEEN GENEVIEVE NNAJI AND STELLA DAMASUS ON HIS SET IN HIS NEW BOOK 'NOLLYWOOD TILL NOVEMBER'  Excerpts from the new Bestseller 'NOLLYWOOD TILL NOVEMBER BY CHARLES NOVIA               The Producer in me wanted to titillate the audience with a box office pairing never before seen in Nollywood. I had for a few months wondered how it would be like to have Genevieve and Stella Damasus in leading roles in the same movie. They both were audience favourites for various reasons and the prospects of having another box office hit with both of them was quite appealing. Besides, the script 'MORE THAN SISTERS', was just right for both of them to explore their creative abilities.
Stella promptly signed up for the movie as did Segun Arinze, whose re-branding process was an on-going project for me. He was cast as a mellow ‘bad-guy-turned-good-guy’ who paid the ultimate price just to pay back a favour. We went on location after a couple of rehearsals. The chemistry and energy between Genevieve and Stella was amazing. Both actresses gave amazing performances. They were literally smoking! Somehow though, I could sense an unspoken professional rivalry between both of them. A certain competition to outshine each other, behind the friendship they had. When I noticed a bit of that, I had to consciously rein in artistic excesses where I felt their acting could become melodramatic so as not to lose the essence of the story. But incidents like this were few.
Though both actresses were friendly with each other, at that point in time, Genevieve was the bigger box office star. I expected some diva tantrums for her and was quite prepared to either curb such or handle it with the firmness I had devised for such but surprisingly, she was very co-operative and blended with cast and crew alike. Our mutual professional respect for each other developed the more. I remember on the third day of recording, one night while shooting at a clinic in Victoria Garden City Extension, I came out for a bit of fresh air while the technical people were setting up for the next scene.I saw Genevieve in a dark corner of the building, smoking a cigarette.
‘Whoops! You caught me’, she said, laughing.

‘You smoke?’ I asked, a bit surprised.
‘Now and then. It relaxes me ’ she said. ‘Do you smoke?’
‘Never have. Never will. But I don’t have any problems with people who smoke though. But health wise, I hope you stop soon.’ I replied.
‘I am trying to. Sit with me a bit, lets talk about this scene ’ I sat with her and I explained some few things to her about the scene. We also talked about a bit of her stardom and how she was coping with it. She was in a chatty mood and it was a revealing conversation.That evening, I saw a vulnerability in her, I had never seen before. This young lady, by a dint of her talent, hard work or fortune, had superstardom thrust upon her and seemed to have no private life anymore. She had become one of the most recognisable faces in the continent and whilst enjoying the adulation, she was also coming to terms with the scrutiny of her Privacy, which was not too palatable to her. I admired her courage and somehow felt that she would go places beyond Nollywood. I remember I told her so. 

Genevieve was quite particular about make-up. She would spend many minutes, ensuring that her face was well-powdered. She had some pimple breakout on that shoot and wanted them less visible on screen. She would have mild arguments with the make-up artiste about the right powder application to her face and at times would go out of her way to make up herself after the make-up artiste must have finished. I found this quite amusing and in some cases, I did not mind her fussiness over her make-up as the script progressed from a flashback period to ‘present day’ and I felt if she had to hide her blotches, she was very well within her ambits to do so, in tandem with the character who was supposed to be trendy.

I remember when we went to Ikorodu village to shoot some forest scenes, it was getting late and we had one night scene left to shoot. The time was about 7.30pm and it was supposed to be the last scene for the day. Genevieve took some extra time on her make-up. Stella walked up to me in agitation.
‘Sir, please tell Genevieve to hurry up. Its late, we are in the middle of nowhere and she’s still making up. I am a wife and mother. I have kids to attend to at home tonight. She should not waste our time.’

I looked at Stella in surprise. There was an unusual edge in her voice. I could not fathom out why she would sound a bit antagonistic. I knew she had a point on the time being spent by Genevieve in making up but I always assumed she had been ok with it. But she did have a point about the time being a bit late and we were actually miles away from the main town in a bush somewhere! I walked up to Genevieve who was rubbing powder on her face, while the make-up artist stood nearby, warily telling her she had over-done her face . ‘Genny, let's shoot this. It's late. Come on!’
‘Just a minute, sir’ she replied. She spent a few more seconds dabbing powder over a big pimple on her cheek. Stella was behind me, scowling and tapping her foot, impatiently. I took the whole incident between them as one of some brimming rivalry among actors which directors and Producers face at times on set so I did not pay much notice to it.    However, I was taken unawares by what happened a few days later! 

A VICIOUS VALENTINE BY CHARLES NOVIA

Tony Tetuila, one of the pioneers of the Afro-hip hop genre of music in Nigeria in the late nineties, had a moderate hit song in 2006 titled 'I'm in love with two women'. While I found it funny then that many ladies rushed to the dance floors at clubs and parties at the peak of the song whenever it was played, it also spoke volumes about the acceptable norm in Naija about the double-dating fad which ferociously crept into the society with renewed vigour less than a decade ago. Where it concerns the men, one could make a hypothesis that a new form of modern pseudo-polygamy has taken root in Nigeria. But this time, instead of one dude marrying many wives as three or two generations before us did, one dude has a string of girlfriends and its accepted that that is 'how men are wired'.




Fela Kuti, in his biography 'This Bitch of a life' written by Carlos Moore has something interesting to say about polygamy. He says, 'If a woman likes a man, she doesn't really mind sharing him with other women...women today are not making men happy. They are constantly confusing the man's mind. There's too much deceit..confusion going on. The Christian Woman and the Muslim Woman? Oh yes, too much bullshit, man! If a woman don't like a man, she should leave and go find another man. That's why polygamy is fantastic!Monogamy was imposed by religion. Its against the natural order. Men just have to go for other women. Nobody can explain it! A man with many wives is natural. A woman with many men is not. The woman can be satisfied with one man. Besides women can stay without sex. Men can't. Why? Go ask nature, man! Different sexual structures, that's all. Sex is a gift of nature. So why do men make laws to check it? A law deciding when a woman's ready to fuck and another law saying where to fuck. Look, what's natural is not illegal. Sex should be something people participate in properly, with joyfulness and happiness. Sex is clean. But by bringing human laws into it, its made 'dirty'. Sex is life-giving. Sex is joy.' End of quote. (FELA: this bitch of a life. 1982. London: Allison and Busby)




For those who lift off quotes off my blog, please note that the above were statements of Fela Kuti and not mine because I have discovered that many bloggers are quick to sensationalise most of my writings just to get hits on their websites. Why did I quote Fela? Basically because his position is a fundamental Africanist opinion on relationships between man and woman. I will come to that later. 




Valentine's Day in Nigeria comes with a yearly ritual. The overt commercialisation of sex; however you look at it. Whether its between married couples or plain lovers or randy burgers. The build-up to the day is so huge and commercially driven that the essence of it all is lost. It's not unusual to find many ladies 'roasting' on that day and willing to give in to just any man so as to have a 'Valentine story' to tell when her mates are telling theirs. Likewise the men, though with more rascally intentions sometimes. Valentine in Nigeria throws up despair and loneliness for millions of people more than love, romance and affection. It's a mind-blowing contrast. In Lagos, there's always a terrible traffic along major roads on Val's Day. I cannot for the life of me imagine where everyone rushes out to that day. I can only theorise that the traffic is caused more by hormones spinning out of control. Testetorone-charged male drivers would blare deafening car horns in anger at the traffic as if the oestrogen-induced ladies they are rushing to meet would not wait if they are late! Incredible.



Shops and restaurants always sell out on Vals Day. Not to mention the heavily booked hotels all over! If Valentine is a day of love and sharing, can someone please tell me why condoms have the biggest sales day in Nigeria during the valentine week? And that is according to statistics too! Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not dissing Val's Day in anyway. Not when I'm an old-fashioned romantic. I'm just commenting on how it has lost its esssence since my growing up days. Its just more of a desperate day for things behind closed doors than the import of the day itself. However, the day is here. Traffic and all, have a good time (pure good time, I mean!).





And coming back to Tony Tetuila's song, there's a verse in it which typifies a lot of disappointments going on today in the country over this Valentine phenomenon. 'This na the reason I nor dey celebrate my birthday..Tony; Valentine nko? Omo, I nor dey for house!' The song captures it. A lot of ladies are knocking on closed doors of their 'boyfriends' today as I write. Ha! O ma se o!

'CHARLES, YOU DEY CRAZE...'

A few days ago, I was at the local wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport with Fred Amata, waiting to board our flight to Abuja for the Abuja International Film Festival, when we saw a prominent actress in the 'Things Remembered' lounge at the MMA 2, placing an order for food as we had just done. She greeted Fred warmly as I took my food tray to my table. 'Ah Charles,' Fred called out to me, a bit surprised, 'See ( mentioned her name) for here.' He in turn pointed me out to the actress who looked away, scowling. I grinned at Fred and continued with my meal while Fred sat with her for a few minutes before our flight was called for boarding. 

Later in the plane, Fred asked me why I ignored the actress. 'First, I think she is mad at me over an article I wrote about her and some actors in Nollywood five years ago in which I did a critique of their acting prowess. That story caused a stir then in the industry and the actors called me all sort of names for analysing their acting prowess, as it were' I replied.
' Yes, though I didn't read that article, I tried to make her see what you are doing for the industry in your acknowledged standing as an unbiased critic' Fred said. ' I told her that she should consider it a great honour to have you pick up your pen to even write about her art. I told her that if she was not important enough to be criticised, you would not have done that and that you don't do critiques to bring anyone down as far as I know but you do it to point out areas you feel could be improved on. And that it is nothing personal where you are concerned.'
'And what was her reaction to that?' I asked Fred.'
She was quite cool but she said what pained her most is that you are a colleague in the same industry and you should at least not write on anybody at all in the industry. I told her that it is a wrong notion for her to think that way. If only she knows the real Charles Novia, she won't be holding grudges like these against you. But Charles, I am a bit worried for you. You mean say some people for industry nor dey talk to you at all because of wetin you don write about them before?'
I smiled at Fred and sighed. ' Do I look like it bothers me? I don't write destructive criticism but I try to be very constructive and objective. Perhaps a little subjectism comes in, now and then but one cannot always rule that out. As long as it is not gossip but factual analysis of a trending topic or just a critique of events and situations, then I am in a comfort zone'
Fred replied, ' Charles, this industry of ours need to have more enlightened and educated people. People go just dey 'bad belle' you for nothing and most of the time, they don't even read what you write. Where are the intellectuals among Nollywood practitioners? We need to be more vocal and critique ourselves more. You are doing something very commendable and thankless, my brother. It's just the people beefing you I am a bit worried about' 

Well, Fred is my friend and brother and I took his concerns to heart. However, I must make a few things clear to many people who read my posts.I know a lot of bloggers and journalists all over the world read my facebook posts and from there quote me. I don't mind. As long as my words are correctly reproduced and not mis-represented, it is all well and good. All should know that I did not just start these critiques recently. I have always been like this. Since I was a kid. My close friends and family members will attest to this. Someone who knew me from my University days wrote that 'Charles is painfully honest'. THISDAY Newspapers in celebrating my fortieth birthday a couple of years back used a curious but nice headline to describe the full page interview on me; ' TRUTHFUL Charles Novia turns 40'. Many people have called me blunt, fearless and sometimes crazy but none would deny that I comment from a standpoint of facts and fearless objectivity. It is not an act. It is who I am. The person I have evolved into but whom I have always been. 
I have my own faults o. Chai! You guys don't wanna know. I am as human as every other person and I have my foibles and finnicks but the moral coda on which I stand helps to overshadow such. But I am also aware that I am not a perfect being. No one is. I am work in progress. When that work will end, I don't know but I will keep on working.
Most of my close friends say I am very stubborn. When I take a stand, it is difficult to get me to sway. That is because I live by my convictions. Once my inner spirit tells me that I am right, I take that stand. And I rarely go wrong when I follow that inner conviction. That is what comes out as my being stubborn.But I am also very humane. I am as vulnerable sometimes as I am hard. I enjoy the concept of sacrifice. I can give anything for anybody as long as it is for a good cause. I love to help people when I can. I sometimes even borrow to help people if I don't have.I also love to help new talents a lot. I do not know why I do that. But I do. My wife says all the time that she and my daughter, Nosa, always pray for me every moment they can. 'You have a heart of gold'. I judge myself first, before I judge others. And I use the word 'judge' positively, not in the Biblical context. I am not in anyway on a one-man crusade in the society I find myself. I am just being me. That me is more amplified by social media. And that me will not waver. That I am sure of. 
When my commentaries and critiques first started on social media blogs, I would read most of the 'anonymous' comments after my articles. At first, they were very vitriolic and hateful towards me. I was being called all sorts of names. I was amused by such then . Gradually, those same commentators have been won over. Now, I see many writing that 'this man always speaks the truth though you don't have to agree with him'. I did not need to change who I am to win over such people. I just remained who I am.I am going on a larger platform in a few weeks. My own daily online site will take off soon. And I won't change anything you all know here on that. It would be much more witty and swashbuckling and entertaining too. A whole new experience for the world to see. I may seem like a paradox to many people. But let me be very candid. I can safely say it took me to achieve a huge pedigree before these critiques came home to roost. And so, when most commentators abuse me and stuff like that, they know too that they cannot ignore that pedigree. It is like asking a bird if it can fly. I am not blind too to the fact that I may not be well loved among my colleagues in the entertainment sector. But if I was looking for their affection, I would have joined politics where psychophancy holds sway.

But I never carry a grudge. Never. Once I say something out, it is out of my system and I move on. The ones who beef me over what I say about them are the ones who have problems. While my conscience is clear and without malice, they are eaten up by the grudge demon. And that is because of the society we find ourselves.Now, many would ask why I did not go up to the actress at the airport and greet her 'to show maturity' as even Fred suggested. ' I be her mate? Na me go come go greet am like say I dey beg am or like say I wan be her friend? If e nor wan greet, na her wahala be dat. But if she greet me, trust me, I go answer warmly'And that is me. I nor send. 


Meanwhile, for those wondering who the actress is, it is not any of the ones who delved into music within their career trajection so please, gossip bloggers don't twist my words or speculate. I chose to protect her privacy because I respect her right to her privacy despite her misgivings over me. Yes, I respect relative success even though I feel that artistic success must be critiqued endlessly to make the person better in their chosen fields. I just wrote this lengthy piece to open up my mind a bit. Make una nor vex.Recently, a friend of mine who owns three major television stations saw me and shook my hands warmly. 'I read all your write-ups' he said. 'You dey craze. But I admire your craze. You speak for the industry. You say the things many of us in the industry know but are either afraid or timid to say out. You are ahead of your time'.


I had just told this same guy to his face a few months back that he and the stations he owned were spewing shit on the airwaves and he was pissed. But he was enlightened and mature enough to see that my I was being honest without fear or favour. For others who don't see it that way, we will keep avoiding ourselves in public places if that's how they want it. I would rather it happens more in airport lounges. Because even inside the plane, my head is never up in the clouds.

I HAD A BIG FIGHT WITH OMOTOLA JALADE ON MY SET! ' EXCERPTS FROM CHARLES NOVIA'S NEW BOOK 'NOLLYWOOD TILL NOVEMBER'

'As the recording of the movie continued Omotola somehow started getting on a lot of the crew and cast nerves. Since this is a ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ book and since I am generally known to be outspoken, I believe I have to reveal a bit of this, not in any way to disparage her person but to be candid in my opinion. Little unnecessary skirmishes with one person or the other became rampant. It got to a head one day that my Production Manager, who is usually easy-going and friendly lost his temper and came to me. ‘Sir, please this will be the last time I will ever work with you if Omotola features in your movie after this one!’ he complained.

I was taking everything in my stride and trying to calm frayed nerves when  a couple of days to the end of the shoot, Omotola practically drove me crazy. I am very calm most of the time as a person and as a movie director but that day I blew my top! I remember screaming at her and she was shocked at first but made the mistake of putting up a defence. That was when I basically warned her in a very deadly tone to be mindful of me. ‘ I am very dangerous when I am cross, Omotola. By the time I am through with you, you will be shocked what will happen to you and your career’.  Most of my crew members were shocked to see me in that mood. No one had ever seen me like that. I remember Norbert Young, Empress and Tari West calming me, while Ramsey sat coolly in a corner fiddling with his phone. Omotola seeing my mood, wisely went to her car and sulked.

‘Who told you to leave my set?’ I bawled. ‘Get back here and lets shoot!’

MAKING LOVE TO ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE

In the 70's, a singer known as Clarence Carter recorded a hit song 'Making love to another man's wife' which was quite huge back in the days. In it, he narrates in first person, how he was seduced by his friend's wife and fell for her wiles and eventually was caught pants down, making love to her! That song was as controversial then as the topic is probably tepid in today's times. That may be so because what we held as taboo just a few years ago, is more of the norm right now. In Nigeria, adulterous affairs are probably a dime a dozen, with such being done without any care in the world! Stories abound about salacious affairs in the posh neighborhoods of Lekki and Victoria Garden City. It seems the new mantra now among most ladies is 'what my hubby does, I can do better'. And such ladies flaunt their cougar mates in public too! I'm going to be doing more write-ups on my findings on this blog in the next few days which will be shocking to lots of people too! So keep on following me here for the true tales of a lifetime.

THE SEXDUCATION OF BRIDGET

At a seminar on Domestic Violence yesterday, I was one of the speakers and during the question and answer session, a young nineteen year old girl opened up and told her story. She was raped at the age of 16 by four lads who lured her via Facebook to their lair and had their way with her. 'They used condoms' , she said. She said she was numb for a few days after and could not tell her parents because she was scared what would happen to her. A few months later, she was again gang-raped by two different lads, living in the next street to hers. The same way the first gang contacted her; Facebook. With a growing hatred for men, she said she found herself on a sex mission as if on automated program me. On her last count, she has slept with over 40 guys! She has become an emotionless creature with a growing distaste for men. To her, men are only good to be used and she thinks sleeping with men and getting small amounts of money from them for services rendered is just payback enough. Of course lots of people at the seminar rushed to her aid and offered counseling. But I just could not help wondering since yesterday. A deep anger burns in me over her plight and I am so pissed at the society as well. A failed system which has eroded all moral values. The Facebook predators is a story for another day. What a cruel world!

SUNDAY SERMON: JESUS CHRIST: The First Superstar!

Being in the film and entertainment business, I clearly understand how it works. As a celebrity, you become a staple diet in the gossip and talk consumption of people all over your space. Your life comes under scrutiny and everywhere you go, you are watched, hailed or crowded by fans who wish to have a feel of you or just to snap pictures as a form of identification with you. The celebrity loses all his or her privacy, moreso when the press and gossip magazines are on his case daily with stories which might be fabricated or embellished just to sell more! Musing over this, my mind went to Jesus this morning and the popular question,' What would Jesus do?' came to my mind. And then it hit me! Jesus was actually the world's first superstar! Given the mind-blowing miracles he performed, the raising of the dead, the healing of the sick, the open forgiveness of sins and more, it was no wonder he had never-before-seen crowds of people after him whenever he went. Everyone wanted a piece of him, only this time, for spiritual succor. But he had his share of his loss of privacy too. That's why the Bible says that most times, he had to move away from the crowd to rest when he felt tired. But even at that, he had a listening ear for everyone and treated every problem attentively. In my analogy, I can liken the huge crowds always following Jesus as the fans, the Pharisees and Sadducees who sneered at him and told exaggerated tales about him as the gossip mags, the preachings he gave at every town and village as His music concerts, the disciples he had with him as his management team, the questions he was asked as his interviews and many more. Indeed, Jesus is the world's first superstar, while on earth and even after his resurrection. And in accepting him and believing in him, we all have a piece of that superstardom. We all are celebrities in our own way, in Christ. Shalom.