Winners Of Star Quest 2009

The Pulse is a band of very focused and extremely talented people. Their independence and very versatile style sets them at the top of the game.
The group is made up of five boys and a girl. They are Dubem Ochokwu, vocalist and guitarist as their band leader, Asuquo Edet is on the bass guitar, Samson Charles is their drummer, Moses Phillips, the saxophonist, Omomeji Abiodun is on the keyboards and the tom boy of the house Obianuju Udeh is their vocalist.

The band was very confident and they believe that their being on the show was predestined by God and are sure they will make it to the top.

36 contestants were inducted into the Star Fame Land at the beginning of the show after having scaled through regional screenings in the six geo-political regions of the country. The contestants formed six bands including; J-Nutia, 100 Degrees, C-N-R-G-Y, Nu Soundz, The Pulse and Xpressions.

During the show, three of the bands were evicted from after polling the least votes from the viewing audience. They are the J-Nutia, 100 Degrees and C-N-R-G-Y. That was, however, not until they had each presented their own two original songs.

In an elaborate ceremony held last Saturday at Planet One in Marylad, Lagos, the three finalists; Nu Soundz, The Pulse and Xpressions put up desperate performances to further convince the viewing audience of their worthiness of the crown. They performed two songs each; one composed by them, the other an international song.

Finally, On 18th Of April, The Pulse band won Star Quest 2009 to claim the N7.5 million recording contract, a minivan, N3.6 million cash and one year guaranteed accomodation in Lagos star prize.

In addition to the star prize, the winning band will have the rare chance to perform alongside established super music stars in this year's edition of Star Mega Jam, Star Trek and other events sponsored by Star.

'The Pulse' joins KC Presh, Diamonds, D'Jewels and D'Accord on the list of winners of the Star Quest which debuted in 2002. It's quite interesting that Star Quest produced the popular KC Presh who excelled in the Nigerian musical industry.

Dj Zeez, 04kasibe Master

A hit, that's all you need to turn a star over night. When Kingsley Elikpo aka Dj Zeez used to walk to events as a disc jokey, not many noticed him while he hussled to make a decent living.

Just one hit, his days of jumping cabs, hiking and sweating are gone, forever. “O4KASIBE”, that was the one song that changed DJ Zeez's lot for real. 04KASIBE, is the song that recently landed him a Cadillac. 04KASIBE is the song that has ensured that the good times has not only come, but has announced the arrival of the Imo State hailing dude on Nigeria's music scene.

Born in Lagos, Kingsley started out as a DJ 17 years ago. An adventurous person, he figured there was much to life than just mixing songs for people to enjoy, he wanted to make his own songs too. For as long as the idea hit his head, he tried to do something of his own.

The result was “Orin Ni” in 2004. Not much of a success was made of that debut song, but it didn't matter, he was just “enjoying himself.” He still enjoys disc jockeying.

He took time out again in 2005 to release “Same Ni”. The song was a bit popular, at least it earned him the respect of fellow DJs who saw him as Nigeria's Craig David, a DJ that successfully crossed over to the British hip-hop scene five years ago with “Born To Do It.”

To be compared with Craig is a complement, but he doesn't plan to be Craig, he is just “having fun” doing what he enjoys best. Now, “04Kasibe” has changed his idea of success. It's no longer just 'fun' or 'enjoyment', it's now about business.

To repay his record label owner, the Uk-based Nigerian that has spent lots of money on him to get where he is today, his management team and several hangers on, “I now have to be business-minded,” he said, to justify the confidence reposed in him by all.

Honesty and humility brought Zeez where he is today, he believes he'd probably be hustling now if not for the trust his label owner has in him. “We met on the internet. Initially, he thought I was a scammer, but I was able to get him to listen to one of my songs, “Bobby E”, which he liked so much.

“With time, he was able to bring himself to trust me, especially when he found out that all the business runs we did for him over here were sincerely done. “Eventually, he said he would love to do business with us, my management team I mean.

“Since August that we started chatting, it was in January that I finally saw him when he came to the country for our press conference,” he said. Even though he drives an expensive car, Zeez is not detached from his Shomolu, Bariga neighbourhood. It was from the streets of Shomolu that he picked his Fokasibe slang, which has now turned to a national slang.

“Unless you have a hearing problem, there are slangs in daily use in Bariga. “Fokasibe had been on the streets even before I made it a national anthem of sort. Boys were just playing around with the slang, but I took it further by making a song out of it,” he claimed.

Now that 4Kasibe has become a national slang, not Shomolu's anymore, Kingsley is happy, “especially now that bank managers and bus conductors play the song. I'm glad I'm representing my hood,” he said as he thumped his chest.

In the course of this session, a female fan came up to us in his Caddy and said “you must drop before you leave Allen o, Ori e ti Fokasibe. Is it a dissing slang? “Hell no! It's a slang showing utmost respect to whoever is so such addressed. In Shomolu, guys usually say “Ori e, o wan be,” “Ori e, oduro sibe”, Ori e, o fo ka sibe.”

“The actual meaning is that you are the best there is. You are too much, et cetera.

“For the 4 in 4Kasibe, that represents the four cardinal points of the earth, the North, South, East and West.

“Whatever it is you do here, and it's felt outside of Naija, deserves commendation. Whatever it is you do that makes positive impact across the world deserves commendation.

“Our songs are now felt globally, it has a Nigerian beat to it. So, if I say Bros, ori e fokasibe, it means your work is been appreciated North, South, East, West.

“I said “to ba de yankee, won gbo wa nbe, to ba wo JD, wa bawan be, that's how wide 4Kasibe has gone. So, it's not a disrespectful slang at all”.

Despite the popularity of the track, 4Kasibe was not expected to be such a hit, it was just to make up a number of songs for the album.

“I hear many songs as a DJ and I sincerely wouldn't have believed 4Kasibe would have been a hit.

'I've heard better songs, but which were never hits. So, it's a grace to have hits,” the NIIT diploma holder in Digital Film Animation admits.

Not claiming to be a total scarlet, and not a saint either, Zeez never jokes with God. “Am not an SU, but am a Christian and I'm no pretender.

That's not the only thing he's dropped, he's single and not searching after a failed relationship.

“I had a girl in the past, but she never liked showbiz. When the fame and late nights were getting out of hands, she opted out.

“I didn't try to make her stay because I also had to decide between her and my career.

“I don't blame her because she didn't want to lose both ways. Now I'm careful with my female fans, but I'm not dating anyone.

“As I'm talking to you, except for my mother and sisters, no female has gone on a ride in this Cadillac with me.

The second born of three, Kingsley would have been a Robotologist if not a musician, he's always been fascinated with science.

He holds a certificate in Computer Science too from the University of Abuja. As he revels in the success his album has made, so is his label owner pushing international tours for him, none has come to fruition as at now though.

While he waits for positive reports from over there, he admits he's happy to be in the field as Nigerian music is now booming.

“It's now the fastest growing industry in the country, not even Nollywood, oil companies or the corporate industries come close.

“In fact, corporate bodies now find it difficult to promote their products without music.

“If we can keep this pace, the output will double in 4/5 years.

“Naija songs, which used to be seen as bush is now tush, even to foreigners,” he asserted.

With the good times rolling in, it's no surprise that DJ Zeez has parted ways with the profession that brought him fame.“Even as a DJ I never enjoyed playing at clubs, I was a freelance. Now, I'm not a DJ anymore, I've quit for music totally”.

Ay, Nigerian Stand Up Comedian

Live and stage shows are gradually making their ways back to the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. With the AY monthly show now on, theatre enthusiasts have found reason to hang out at the Theatre most weekends.

What took place at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos last weekend was exceptional. The AY show has come to stay. A monthly comedy show, designed purposely to restore and bring back live activities at the National Theatre, last Sunday’s event was show of all shows. It attracted the largest crowd the Theatre has ever experienced in recent times. As the evening wore on, the crowd kept converging at the Theatre’s cinema hall two where the show was held. Amazingly, the crowd showed their surprise at the new changes at the Theatre, which of course was part of the reason why the Ahmed Yerima-led management team planned for the AY show in the first place.

Ayo Makun popularly AY is a stand-up comedian who has put so much into the act to help nurture new artistes. Part of the reason he has chosen this monthly show is to discover new comedians, put them on their feet and watch them grow. This is what he has been doing for sometime now. And some of the new discoveries which include Seyi Law, Benji D’Joke and others have been proving their mettle so far. The beauty of the show is that it affords young boys and girls and especially theatre lovers the opportunity to have somewhere to go on Sundays for the purpose of relaxation.

In an interview, Benji D’Joke who emerged the best comedian in one of the shows said: "Yes I am the winner of AY open mike show for the month. Comedy is something that is growing seriously in the entertainment industry in Nigeria. And I must tell you that it is not easy; it is a big challenge. It is not that I have that kind of comedy skill. But more often people would laugh when I crack yokes or when I say something in a funny way to them. That was the kind of way I was going with comedy. But one day a friend of mine came and gave a joke which he said came from Julius Agwu. And I said oh, I have heard this joke before and if that is the case I too can crack good jokes. I then gave my own joke and everyone of them laughed".

"But then there was a church I joined; they call it the Realm of Glory. They give room for people to perform, especially the youths in the church. They say whatever you know you can do prepare yourself for it. Now I prepared myself and I did two or three acts which impressed the congregation. At the end of it, people were laughing; everywhere was electrifying and I said to myself am I really the one doing all these? And so that was how it began for me. Then Toun Tade of MITV began to encourage me. She said, "oh Benji you are good. And honestly you can go places!" She even gave me a job at that early stage and I also did well".

"Thereafter, I heard about the AY open mic show and I told myself I have to be part of it. The first time I showed up I crashed out in the first round. Second time I was first runner up, but this third time I came up, I knew I had something different to offer. With prayer and more efforts, God gave me the glory this time around."

An Ordinary National Diploma holder in Mass Communication, Benji has come to stay as one of the newest joke crackers in Nigeria. His talents show a young man ever ready and eager to roll on and move the world. Not only that the AY show helps to propel new artistes on, it also shows that the Theatre is still a place to go to see and enjoy live and stage theatre. Before this idea was put in place by Dr. Ahmed Yerima, he had already renovated the cinema halls and put the seats back to life. But the way the show is going, it seems time has come when the five thousand seater main bowl has to be rehabilitated in order to seat more people. This is a task Yerima must accomplish so as to make the Theatre a total and complete beacon of entertainment for lovers of stage and live theatre shows.

Besides that, more established artistes have to be encouraged to help the up-coming ones to find their levels. If AY could have the likes of AIT, National Theatre, STV, MBI, Soundcity and so on as sponsors, then there is more to be done to lift theatre in Nigeria. The arrangement the Theatre management made by providing the venue and making it conducive for use, is also worthy of commendation. This is so because the youths actually need an avenue to unwind and show that life is not all about bottling up and looking for trouble.

The Couple: Fast-rising comedian AY (Ayo Makun) and fiance/mother of his daughter, Mabel

Their Story: Ayo and Mabel have been a couple for several years and are blessed with a beautiful daughter named Michelle. The ever-jovial Ayo recently commented that ‘I love my wife and her legs trip me a whole lot. One of the reasons I married her was because of her fine legs’.

The Ceremony: On the 29th of November 2008, the Household of God Church was swathed in Turquoise Blue & Gold as Ayo and Mabel came together to solemnize their union. AY is often referred to as Household of God Pastor, Chris Okotie’s ’son’, therefore it was not a surprise that Chris conducted the entire ceremony including the rendition of several praise songs. AY’s Best Man was fellow comedian Bovi Ugboma and various other entertainment industry friends including Ali Baba, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Faze, Gbenga Adeyinka, Stella Damasus and many other graced the occasion.

Such a cute couple! Mabel is absolutely stunning as well. As Proverbs 18:22 says “He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord”. Only a week after his wedding, AY won the Diamond Award for ‘Best Comedian of the Year’, the award package includes a whopping 1 million naira prize and a brand new car.