2012: A Dramatic Year For Nigerian Artistes

Genevieve_Nnaji

Genevieve Nnaji

The outgoing year, 2012, is an eventful one in the entertainment industry. It has offered the good, the bad and the downright ugly. BAYO ADETU highlights some of the events that shaped the industry during the year.

Chinedu Ikedieze, got married this year

Marriage: It was a good year for some entertainers, as many completed their marches into matrimony. Chinedu Ikedieze got married to his heartthrob, Nneoma. The celebrity wedding paraded the crème de la crème of the society. Aki’s colleague and friend, Osita Pawpaw Iheme, was his best man. Actresses Stephanie Okereke and Uche Jombo also did the same. Stephanie got married to Linus Idahosa, an international businessman on 21 April. The nuptial was held in Paris, France. Uche Jombo married Kenny Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican on 16 May, at a secret ceremony that had very few friends and family members of the actress in attendance. Rap music act, Naeto C also got married. So did Funke Akindele to Kenny Oloyede and Chidi Mokeme.

Kate Henshaw, lost her marriage to irreconciliable differences

Divorce: Actress Kate Henshaw stopped being Mrs. Nuttal after her divorce from James Nuttal, after about 12 years of marriage. Movie producer, Daniel Ademinokan also divorced actress Doris Simeon.

Death:Face-2-Face actress, Cassandra Gabriel died of a heart-related ailment. Other entertainers who died included Pete Eneh, Enebeli Elebuwa, Akin Ogungbe, Ahmed Oduola (Dento) and David Ihieze. Hip-hop singers, P-Square, lost their mother. She died in an Indian hospital after a protracted battle with diabetes. Star actor, John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, lost his one year-old son, Mandela. The death of veteran Yoruba movie actor, Akin Ogungbe, also  died.

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the late Cassandra
Ifeanyi Dike

Sickness: Some entertainers were hit by serious ailments. Among these was Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, who had a kidney transplant in an Indian hospital. Kayode Odumosu, a.k.a. Pa Kasumu, was also hospitalised for liver ailment. The most recent is actress Ngozi Nwosu, who currently needs N6 million to be back on her feet. She is down with multiple organ failure. Her colleagues and kind-hearted Nigerians are still raising money for her the required surgery.

Kidnap:Actress Nkiru Sylvanus and colleague, Kenneth Okoli, were kidnapped from a movie location in Owerri, Imo State. They were in the kidnappers’ den for five days before being released after a ransom was paid.

Nkiru Sylvanus
Genevieve Nnaji

Endorsement:The year 2012 saw the brightest on the entertainment turf inking endorsement deals. Actress Genevieve Nnaji signed an endorsement deal with Coscharis Motors as the face of Range Rover. She got a Range Rover Envogue as part of the deal. Stella Damasus was appointed as an ambassador of American fashion outfit, AmVictorious, while the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, also made her its ambassador alongside gospel singer, Lamboginny. Omoni Oboli signed an endorsement deal as face of Venus Cream. Both Tiwa Savage and Wizkid got multi-million naira Pepsi deals. Don Jazzy, accomplished music producer, was made the face of Loya Milk.

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