Music chose me  –
               Queen of swag, Anabella

Gorgeous Sensational act, Emakhu Anabel signed on to Swag Entertainment with the stage name Anabella, is gearing up to storm the industry with her “MUJOJO” single. In this interview, Queen of Swag, Anabella, tells DAMILOLA TOWOBOLA about her sojourn to music, “MUJOJO” and projects…During the chat the Edo state born sexy graduate of philosophy from UNIBEN, was witty, blunt and generous with her smile. Enjoy the excerpt.

Q: How did music start for you? Tell us how the journey began.

 Before I knew I love music or I can sing, my mum usually told me how I use to sing, how I use to entertain everybody in my neighborhood because I was like chubby…so from there I found myself loving music, I developed a passion for it singing in churches, school and everywhere so it’s not like I know that everybody is doing music that’s why I came into music but I have the passion for music.

Most Nigerian parents do not support their children when it comes to showbiz? How did they react when you told them about your music career?

Even before now my mum usually tells me “You that love music, Are you not going to sing?”…my mum has been very supportive right from time; she is not biased about the showbiz of a thing even though some people ponder why someone that sings in church has started singing worldly music like most Nigerians say…My mum has been a source of encouragement right from childhood, when I return from school, she would bath me up, beautify and encourage me to go out there saying Anabel “your fans are waiting for you on the street”…she is my number one fan, dances to my music likewise loves it but she advices me to know what to do and what not to do when the trying times arises.

What kind of message does your music pass across to people?

My music is not particular about something because I believe in diversity and changes. My first single is talking about happiness because when you are happy you tend to live longer. My music would help both the poor, rich and bereaveds forget their sorrow, have fun. As a musician, I am a messenger, therefore, I use my music to communicate to people on how I feel, how others feel… not everyone can speak so my Music is a voice in disguise. My music entails what is going on, how I feel and how others feel.

Do you have any plan redefining music in Nigeria?

Yeah sort of, I believe in changes because am not a stagnant person…the kind of music I do is my own thing but first of all we need the past to build the present and future. I tend to bring my own style also into music even though I might take from the past and present to sharpen mine.

Are you working on any project presently?

I am working on the promo of my first single titled “MUJOJO”, have shot the video so watch out for Anabella on your television set, Radio and everywhere locally and internationally. Also I am bracing up for performances alongside Tuface, Terry G, Flavour, VIP from Ghana, Olamide, YQ, Jaywon on the 9^th of December likewise performances at Jozing Nite club V.I, Lagos on the 11^th, 18^th and 22^nd. I got lots of performances this December both home and abroad so I am trying to stay in the right mindset to get my fans dancing because “Mujojo” would sweep them off their feet.

Do you have any accolades to your name?

I am a born champion…laughs…I got numerous awards already such as Miss Foundation for Family Values International (FFI), Queen of Swag (Niger Delta Magazine), numerous campus awards(Most popular, Best dressed, Most Outstanding, Most distinguished, Most Sociable and Most Generous) that’s all I can remember for now. I would be giving my very best in my music so that I can add more from the entertainment scene to my shelves and rising profile.

What is your romantic life like?

Maybe I leave that for now because it’s kind of private… (Break in) Why? I think it’s too early to delve into that.

Tell us a really embarrassing story.

(Laughs)…the first time I ever travelled out, I went to Dubia with my sister…You know in Lagos when you want to cross the road, we usually run… so there was a day, my sister and I wanted to cross the road in Dubia, we didn’t know that when you step on the Zebra crossing unlike Nigeria, cars would stop for you to cross with ease but we started running… on looking back we saw people making jest of us so we inquired and was told we acted like “bush people”. Also when I was leaving my friend’s shop I thought I was still in Nigeria, she was about locking up the shop and I busted out “Una no go off Generator, Nepa dey go”… it was really embarrassing.

Who are some of your favourite celebrities and which one of them do you want to be like and why?

My first is Beyonce on the foreign scene, I love Beyonce a lot…it would be a dream come true if I ever work with her, I like her courage, charisma, protégée and personality…she is an artiste that believes in herself and her works are exceptional. In Nigeria, I like Omawunmi…she has a very powerful voice, even Waje is not bad and I think I also like Goldie too because she came into the industry with her own style even though people see her as weird. Goldie came into the industry with something different from what has been in vogue. Actually, I love a lot of practitioners in the industry and I would be happy if I get to work with them.

It’s been wonderful having this interview with you, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years…5 years is too long if you know what you are doing in the industry, let’s say 5 months?

Oh…I prefer to work with 5 month… First and foremost, Anywhere, I want to see myself is God that first of all has to take me there because I believe in him. Actually, in 5 months times, I should be like a household name…Anabella should be everywhere because the type of music I do is what people can relate with, easily know and sing along. I want to make an impact with my music in the industry, is not like I want to take without giving back to the industry and people out there. In 5 months, with my producers, Management, Marketers, Fan base and well wishers I should be somewhere great…so watch out for Anabella.

                  Soso Trice: Ready for Stardom

Soso Trice

It’s obvious through his resume that Soso Trice a graduate of salt of the Earth and Scratch Academy, a renowned Disc Jockey’s School has style and panache. Anyone who has listened to his singles titled “BAMILOLE” can tell easily that Soso Trice would burst into the fore front in the music industry with his mix of foreign style of rap, Nigerian style and Calabar flow which would be laced in his subsequent singles.

Soso Trice currently signed under Swag Entertainment is in a class of himself when it comes to keeping bodies giggling on the dance floor.

Armed with a single featuring one of Naija finest in the industry, Bounty… Soso Trice is indeed ready to rivet the entertainment industry with his own unique musical treat reminiscent of his two inspirational heroes Jay Z and Nas

“Swag entertainment gave me the courage and hopes to do what I am doing today… I am very grateful for the privilege” Soso Trice Stated.

Given his ability to keep the party alive with his exhilarating lyrics and stage craft, he would be performing alongside established act like Tuface, Terry G, YQ, Olamide, Jaywon, Flavour at the Lagoon Restaurant come December.

Soso Trice whose real name is Douglas George is a native of Calabar State and has a lot to offer because of his distinctive style.

                                        Trail of Incompetence

President Goodluck Jonathan

*Bomb blast hits Nigeria

*Security apparatus and anti-graft agencies collapsing

*NDLEA and Baba Suwe’s Case an eyesore

*Who are Dele Giwa’s killers?

The state of incompetence of our security apparatus and anti-graft agencies across Nigeria is becoming alarming, as one can no longer have faith in them. A recent attack in the northeast of Nigeria has left at least 69 people dead in a wave of bombing and shooting carried out leaving frightened mourners burying their dead, likewise the scenario between Babatunde Omidina a.k.a Baba Suwe and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA is a signal that our security apparatus has collapsed.

Overtime, Nigeria has been hit by series of bombing, kidnapping, Rape, Assassination, Tribal wars and numerous vices, which dissipate the trust of the masses in the topmost priority of the essence of governance which is to protect lives and property and maintain peace and security.

An attack was recently launched on police station, Army base and churches in Damaturu on the eve of Eid-el-kabir before gun battles against security forces. Though there was no claim of responsibility for the suicide bombing and attacks in Damaturu, Capital of Yobe state and Maiduguri, in Borno state. But blaims immediately fell on the sect known as Boko Haram, which had staged bombings and assassinations around Nigeria’s north.

This public unrest started since July 2009 when Boko haram staged attacks in Bauchi; clashed with police and army in Maiduguri. And in December 2010, the group claimed bombings in central Nigeria and attacks on churches.

Boko haram has waged an increasedly bloody sectarian fight against Nigeria’s weak central government. A suicide bomber claimed by the group attacked the UN headquarters in August, while another bomber targeted the Federal police headquarters in June.

Boko haram whose name means, “Western Education is a sacrilege” in local Hausa language, has targeted, assassinations and bombings around Nigeria’s North. The group, whose followers wear long beards and red or black scarves, considers all who do not follow its strict ideology as infidels, whether they are Christians or Muslims. The group is demanding for addition of Sharia, Islamic law, in all of Nigeria.

It should be noted that the president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during a post Election statement re-assured of his solemn duty to duty to defend the constitution of this country. That includes the obligation to protect the lives and properties of every Nigerian wherever they choose to live.

“ I assured all Nigerians that I will do so with all powers at my disposal as president, commander-in-Chief” he stated.

Nigerian Police

Condemning the recent bomb attack in Yobe and Maiduguri, Acting National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje stated, “ The latest bombings in Damaturu and Maiduguri were bizarre, tragic and unfortunate. They literally broke the peace, sacrife and solemnity, which the Eid-el- Kabir signifies.”

Despite the recent surge in the Northeast Nigeria, Defence Minister Mohammed Bello speaking with journalist said that a lot of progress has been made there. “I believe our security agencies are doing very well in containing the situation,” he said.

Also the U.S state department has warned travellers to stay away from three major hotels in Abuja, the Nigerian Capital after learning of a possible new assault.

The case of incompetence of our anti-graft agency, NDLEA in the case of popular Yoruba actor, Babatunde Omidina also known as Baba Suwe who was arrested at Muritala Muhammed Airport on October 12, 2011 on his way to Paris of alleged possession of Narcotics which had brought about lot of controversies over the past few weeks is a global eyesore.

Baba Suwe was granted freedom after the agencies could not prove that he has ingested the said Narcotics after putting him through series of test. Immediately he regained his freedom following a court bail injunction, his fans swarmed round him and carried him shoulder-high while screaming “O ya gbe ti”.

Baba Suwe has sued NDLEA seeking compensation for his bartered image and violation of his Fundamental Human Right by keeping him in custody for more than the constitutionally allowed 24 hours.

Insider learnt that the scanning machine employed by NDLEA, was donated by the United States government to the agency in 2008, the machine is believed to be one of the most sophisticated x-ray body scanning machine available for drug detection.

The image, integrity and ideology of the agency is skirmished for emphatically claiming through scanner result that Baba Suwe had narcotics substance in his belly yet no physical substance to prove of his guilt after series of excretion.

The level of competence of our executive arm of government calls for questions as numerous robberies, assassination, bomb blast cases are still on resolved. 25 years after the death of the backbone of Investigative Journalism in Nigeria, the person of Dele Giwa, the Police are yet to expose the killers of a man who should have been a jewel to the fourth realm of the estate.

Late Dele Giwa

Dele was home on Talabi street, Ikeja, Lagos, about to eat a meal with Newswatch’s London Bureau Chief Kayode Soyinka when his son, Billy, brought in a large brown envelope addressed to him and carrying what seemed to be the official government seal. As he attempted to open the parcel, it blew up. It was a parcel bomb. Dele’s lower half was almost severed from his body. Dele Giwa’s killers are still walking out there.

Addressing the issues of our security flaws, a statement issued by National publicity secretary of the All Nigerian People’s Party, Emma Eneukwu called on the Federal Government to urgently explore and implement a visionary and holistic security strategy that will address the remote and immediate cause of this rather unfortunate state of affairs.

The protection of lives and property of every Nigerian wherever they choose to live is a solemn duty of the government of the day as encoded in the Constitution of Nigeria; President Goodluck Jonathan must act swiftly to curtail this security flaw and also redeem is image as a capable administrator for a better Nigeria.