Xty Essien's Burial Committee Condoles AGN Over Sam Loco

The Burial Committee of Nigeria’s Lady of Songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, has joined other Nigerians in mourning the late movie star and iconic actor, Mr. Sam Loco Efe, who died recently.

In a letter to President, Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Arinze signed by Chairman of the committee, Dr. Austin Izagbo, the committee expressed its heartfelt sympathy on the death of the celebrated actor.

According to the letter, “we share the grief of all members of AGN and that of the biological family of Mr. Efe at the loss of this immensely talented Nigerian icon. It is even more painful to members of my committee to lose another key member of the creative community at a time when we are working very closely with the AGN to give a befitting burial to the Lady of Songs.

“We pray that the soul of the departed be received in the bosom of the Almighty and that he grants all of us the fortitude to bear this mighty loss.”

Meanwhile, Segun Arinze has released a provisional list of 20 top actors from Nollywood who will trade tackles with their counterparts in the Nigerian music insustry at the Main Bowl of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, 3 September, 2011, in the much talked about football extravaganza, which Lagos has never seen.

The Football Match of the Stars, as it has been dubbed, is slated to kick off the grand activities for the burial of the music icon and the nation’s Lady of Songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, who died on 30 June in Lagos.

At Teslim Balogun Stadium that day, flying the flag of Nollywood in the battle for the Godswill Akpabio trophy will be former AGN President, Ejike Asiegbu; A-list actors, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Fred Amata, Ramsey Noah, Nonso Diobi, Desmond Elliot, Yemi Blaq and Basorge Tariah, Jr. Also on the list are Charles Abazie, Rykardo Agbor, Femi Ogendegbe, Emeka Enyiocha, Charles Inojie, Ejike Metuselah, Frank Dallas, Famous Otakponwen and Don Pedro Obaseki. Segun Arinze will captain the team, while the team manager is Abubakar Yakubu.

The musicians, whose team list is still being expected, have chosen toaster and dance hall crooner, Baba Dee, to lead them to victory.

Reliable information indicates that the teams have started strategising, plotting and secretly practising as each team is planning to outdo the other in the battle of wits, while vivacious singer, Yinka Davies, who is orchestrating the set and costuming of the music stars, has promised that there will be a lot of “hot legs” and that the ensemble will be “sexy.”

However, silver screen princess, Stella Damasus, coordinating the other cheer leading team and assembling the beautiful damsels of Nollywood for the showdown is not talking, but a source close to her, however, said that she has been laughing at the boast of Yinka Davies, wondering where Yinka will find the hot legs and sexy chicks.

Prior to the Football Match of the Stars, members of the pen profession will fight it out for the Austin Izagbo trophy as Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) lock horns with top entertainment journalists. Chairman, Lagos SWAN, Mr. Fred Edorel, has expressed confidence that his men will beat the entertainment writers silly and as part of their strategy, they will not name their captain until the last minute.

However, Mr. Azuh Amatus, editor of Entertainment Express, who will captain the entertainment writers’ team, said “the SWAN people are afraid and that is why they can’t name a captain. We will show them real entertainment on the field of play.”