Ada: hey
Shei Funmi: what’s good?
Ada: everything. Howdy do?
Shei Funmi: I’m good n u'
Ada: good
Ada: so tell me what’s the blog about?
Shei Funmi: It basically an entertainment blog/journal that gives out entertainment news also celebrity and famous faces interviews, it is gives out recent news and updates on artists both gossips and news. More so it focuses on music, movies, celebrities and interviews... the blog started off with interviews from American celebrities but now i include Nigerian artists too
Ada: when did u start this-the blog i mean?
Shei Funmi: I started media at the age of 13 but blogging at 15
Ada: at thirteen? What media were you into then?
Shei Funmi: There was this time in school that a TV show come on to my school for teens program, i featured in it and did more of TV presenting and i also did a song for the show's soundtrack. the show's called "busy teens" but i recollect clearly before doing that i auditioned for a soap opera called "silver lining" by Tajudeen Adepetu, i was sick on my audition day so i had a rough act but later on i featured in Everyday People and got myself into other media jobs till now plus the fact was that my parents never knew i was in the media till i was 16
Ada: how did you keep it away from them and what did they do when they found out?
Shei Funmi: My father was an arts doer slayer, he hates on artists and my mom had to agree with her husband also i never had a close relationship with my parents. growing up was rough for me even though the family was comfortable also my mother never believed me when i told her i was in the media, she always said i was lying and my father just had to accept the fact that I’m an arts person. It was a fight worth fighting for...lol
Ada: wasn’t it? Lol...well that’s nice. So tell me how you intend to use this blog to inspire people?
Shei Funmi: my focus is not just on celebrities but to dig out hidden talents and upcoming acts, most people go like what can a 17year old do and i let them know even a 13year old can do anything. I feature YouTube singers and acts, mere writers, singers also i do free adverts, i feature people living with the HIV virus on my blog, i even feature the straight, gay, lesbians and people that are going through their own struggles and they are still creative and zealous despite all that
Ada: and what do you intend to gain from this?
Shei Funmi: It helps build me career as a performing/media arts student. It creates a good profile for me and the youths out there. I just want to see people smile and see youths happy and proud of themselves, helping people to attain their goal and reaching out to their role models... Money wise?? God will send me a big contract...lol
Ada: i was about to ask that, with the free ads you’re doing how do you manage financially?
Shei Funmi: The thing is i don't really spend much because i am still a dependant. i pay yearly for my website, like now for instance i need to modify my website I’m still looking for the strategy to tell me dad so he can give me some money also, my www.naijalifemagazine.com isn't really on me so i have my two blogs set on me.
Ada: do you also own that- d website?
Shei Funmi: yes, friends started it and a day came by one of my blog followers and a creative friend asked me if I’d like to take over naijalife and i was like "hell yes" why not?
Ada: just going through it and I think it’s pretty nice and you manage this alone?
Shei Funmi: there are people that write too, but i wouldn’t say i manage it alone, because the actual starters are always there to help me if i have difficulties or problems with anything on it
Ada: ok, so tell me who shei funmi is.
Shei Funmi: Shei Funmi is a friendly, down to earth person but he has zero tolerance for rubbish. Friendly and humbly, tries to reach out to everyone he can even though my inbox is spammed with mails and all my facebook accounts have reached their limits. I am just me; I’m not a second class version of another person. I love to be me, more so I’m an introvert so i try to relate with people as much as possible even though i try to put up with their irritating attitude.
Ada: like d popular artist dbanj having two personalities, would we say same for you?
Shei Funmi: i don't really know who D'banj is even though i have worked with him indirectly on different notes but for me i have an anger problem, i flare up easily and the thing is if you mess up, you mess up, i don't consider a second chance even if i do it is going to be difficult, i barely trust people and i bolt in things a lot emotion wise.
Ada: whoa! Take it easy dude. i meant you know when he's on sunglasses he is dbanj and when he's not he's dapo oyebanji. Do we same the same for you in terms of 'shei' and 'seyi'
Shei Funmi: well i guess so but on the real why lie about stuffs on your interview? why can't you just be real and let people know who you are. If one is trying to keep one’s life private and you are a public item, it's pretty difficult; i try to be as real as possible. Even without you being sincere people will talk and vice versa. To me opinions are like butt holes, everyone is entitled to it.
Ada: ok, well said. Tell me about your background
Shei Funmi: I was born to Nigerian parents, lived in Ikeja and went to Providence primary school, and my high school dansol high school, i graduated from ifako international secondary school. Moving on to Babcock University which I left for the states, while in Babcock I was studying English and creative arts but now in Houston Community College my major is Performing/Media arts
Ada: so where did the love for computers go to? Any plans going through that line
Shei Funmi: i don't know o, it's still there but the artsy part of it. Probably later on
Ada: do you write too
Shei Funmi: yes i write
Ada: what part of arts specifically do you tend to go into in d media?
Shei Funmi: general arts so I’m not specific yet
Ada: ok. So have you written for any publication yet?
Shei Funmi: no i have not
Ada: do you plan to or you’ll just dedicate it to your blog/site?
Shei funmi: i hope to write for other publications but for now it's my blog
Ada: so what else do you plan on doing with your life aside blogging?
Shei Funmi: media lol... broadcasting, screen play writing. a lot of people have been telling me to do music but i don't have interest in that, i just love to sing for me and God lol
Ada: so far what have you achieved from your blog personally and publicly?
Shei funmi-Fans, stalkers more contacts with celebrities and relationships with them aside work, like chat and have fun and all that. i wouldn’t say fame but i would just call it spotlight or famous face.
Ada: how do you handle it
Shei Funmi: that part is very very difficult, i have over 14000 inbox messages on my facebook, i also have situations where by people will come to me not in relation to my blog but other jobs that i have done like when i was a radio anchor for the Nigerian University show "Red Alert”, my phone's always ringing, text messages and i wonder how they got my number but all those things are always wanting me to do more and better especially those that call to criticize me. After they call me and rant on the phone, i ask them what is your advice to me now and i say thank you
Ada: what else do you do part from blogging
Shei Funmi: I used to be the radio anchor for red alert radio show. but for now that i am in college, it's just blogging and school but doing long breaks like summer i hope to do more work like movies, soap operas or take my blog to the next level
Ada: in summary, tell me all the stuffs you’ve been involved in from since you were a kid till now
Shei funmi-Everyday people, Red Alert, Busy Teens, Liz Armani online entertainment, Mic Dunamis Modelling agency and official shei funmi's blog and naijalife magazine
Ada- being 17, is it hard for you doing stuffs? Is age a barrier sometimes?
shei funmi- yes i had opportunities of doing more but some people were against me saying what does a 17year old have to offer.
Ada: has this affected you in anyway and how
Shei Funmi: I remember writing a reality show project and i was working on it with Denrele edun, warebi martha, tosyn bucknor and other artistes but my concept spilled and it was stolen. I got to know when the owner of "All hog productions" called me and said Shei your concept has been stolen and it is now on Africa magic telling me bukky Wright was the host, it wasn’t really stolen because it was focused of kids but mine was about teenagers: it has in the sense of having to move with the wrong peers
Ada: I know that show: that’s sad. But i guess you are stronger now
Shei Funmi: yes i am way stronger now; i already learned my lessons for the past
Ada: ok...what is naija life mag all about and how do you get pips to contribute / write
Shei Funmi: for writing i do most of the writing and i do a lot of research. Naijalife magazine is a lifestyle magazine focusing on entertainment and lifestyle, fashion, gospel, music and movies and current affairs. I have friends that help in Nigeria.
Ada: how do you unwind when you are not sitting in front of a computer?
Shei funmi: I don’t really have a way of relaxing supposed to say "unwinding" but i go shopping often and to the movies, i barely have friends to hang out with so i sit by my computer reply mails from fans, go on facebook appear online and chat with them, at the same time i am having drinks and snacks watching TV. Lol...
The Future Awards breezes through Enugu, Port Harcourt and Accra!
After visiting Abuja, Yola and Kaduna, Nigeria’s biggest youth event, The Future Awards (under the umbrella The Future Project), continued its national tour of the six geo-political zones of the country, taking its youth town hall meetings to Enugu, Port Harcourt and the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
“On these visits, we have tried to see that we can reach individual young people directly and practically. We don’t just want these crowds of people, we want to ensure that message goes through to the attendees – we had them, not just talk about Nigeria and then know how to nominate outstanding young people, but also to make them ambassadors in their communities for the values we hold dear - entrepreneurship and value creation,” Chude Jideonwo, the Creative Director, said.
The Port Harcourt Town Hall meeting had the awards’ Business Owner of the Year speaking to the youth, while Enugu had finalist for On-Air Personality of the Year (Radio), the popular Chuks d Spaceman of Cosmo FM. “Courtesy of support from HiTV for these town hall meetings,” Jideonwo, who was also in Enugu, said, “not only do we have our own events, we also visit youth events, clubs and gatherings of young people in those areas to spread our message of hope and change.”
The Ghana Town Hall meeting was the first of the international town hall meetings for this year, where The Future Awards engages with communities of young Nigerians in different countries. It was held in conjunction with the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana. The High Commissioner, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, sent a representative. The event held at the Shangri-La Hotel, with an overflowing hall of young Nigerians living, working and schooling in Ghana, as well as a mix of Ghanaian youth. Also present was Screen Producer of the Year winner, Onye Ubanatu.
Performers included Ghanaian comedian Peter Wincousyn, Nigerian keyboardist Yemi (who reminded guests of Cobhams), Sammy and Bizkit. The event hosts were daughter of ace Nigerian producer, Daphne Akatugha (who is also one of the coordinators of the International Students Association) and Ghanaian writer Robert.
“We didn’t have any town hall meeting in Lagos because we had the launch event here, and we have also been on a breathless round of events, campuses across the entire state talking to hundreds of young people,” Jideonwo explained. “But we finally decided to do another event in Lagos, partnering with the popular event Taruwa. The conversation about Nigeria and what young people can practically do to empower themselves and to add value to the country can after all never end.”
Nominations are still for the awards in the 20 different categories, and one of the main objectives of the tour is to get nominees from across the country and outside. According to Jideonwo, nominees are especially wanted in the Best Use of Science and Excellence in Public Service categories. Anyone can nominate any young Nigerian between the ages of 18 and 31 via the website www.thefuturenigeria.com.
Next on the schedule are Benin, Ile-Ife, Calabar, London holding at the University of East London, and Johannesburg, which will be the last town hall meeting, held in conjunction with naijaborn.com, on the 28th of November.
LIGHT UP NAIJA
By Amanda Etuk
Recently I was in an aircraft heading for Abuja when the pilot during his routine commentary announced that we had the minister of power in our midst and he hoped that his promise of significantly improved power supply by December this year would be met. At the announcement the passengers burst in to laughter. Is it impossible? I was saddened by the total lack of faith of Nigerians in our country and our leaders.
The issue of power supply should be paramount to our leaders. It is my opinion that if the issue is properly handled it will lead to a breakthrough in other sectors; health, telecommunications, industrialization etc. It would do wonders for our economy. There is word on the streets that many companies are moving to Ghana where production costs are less due to stable electricity and welcoming policies then they import their products to us.
I believe in Nigeria but one must wonder what it would take for the electricity issue to be dealt with. We have had construction of The Kainji Dam in the seventies, talks, seminars, promises, privatisation of then NEPA to PHCN with no improvement.
However there is a movement that is raising its voice against the power supply crisis in Nigeria. The movement has caught the attention of the Diaspora, foreign media, they operate on every Internet community facebook, twitter with remarkable follower ship. They are LIGHT UP NIGERIA; a movement advocating for constant electric power in homes and businesses. Light Up Nigeria targets its advocacy at the Federal, state and local government to make sustainable power supply a priority. Light Up Nigeria is advocating for 300 watts per capital by 2015, enhance generation transmission, distribution and storage.
I wonder if it will take only a group of young people advocating for a change to solve the problem of power supply. I am however delighted at the calibre of youth the nation is producing and I am confident that if the issue is not dealt with in this generation when the next generation takes the stage there will be many with our nation at heart.
THUMBS UP LIGHT UP NIGERIA!
To the Nigerian Youth; the future is ours.
YOUTHS DAZZLE AT THE ‘FACING THE GIANT’ SEMINAR.
Yvent Kouture, a dynamic events’ decorating company with the mission of delivering excellent services which will stay in the memories of esteemed and satisfied clients, had It’s first annual intensive training seminar organized to equip young Nigerians with key skills that will ensure success in the practice of the business of event s’ management with the major focus on decoration, tagged, “FACING THE GIANTS”
FACING THE GIANT, a 2-day interactive, skill acquisition and practical seminar dedicated to providing a platform for young people to hone their skills, gain more knowledge and see the possibility of becoming entrepreneurs or trainees in the events industry featured the likes of Akin Ariyo (Open Hands), Fumibi Adebayo (Rostal flowers), Ilesanmi John Okunbanjo (Femstar and company limited), Tijani Mohammed (Tijan Excellence Balloon) as facilitators for the first day and Demola Majekodunmi (Bosworth ltd), Tara Fela-Durotoye (House of Tara), Tee-A, Debola Lewis (Yvent Kouture), Akin Tofowomo (Shuga Band), Funke Bucknor (Zapphaire events), Leke Adenuga (Quartz Fotography), Toyosi Akerele (Rise Networks) for the second.
The Event which held at the Afe Babalola hall of the University of Lagos on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd of November 2009 had a huge turnout of youths and was Anchored by Tosyn Bucknor of Top Radiofm, and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu of Big Brother Nigeria.
It pressed on issues such as youth empowerment and self employment- being your own boss not to mention tips on how to manage your finances notwithstanding the talent you have.
At the end of the beautiful experience, its promise to be a two day of knowledge impartation and excitement was kept.
New Nigeria platform at NaijaBorn.com
Naijaborn.com is an African based custom built social networking engine that creates a searchable, detailed, user-generated database of the global Nigerian community.
It is the place to find Nigerians and their creations. It features profiles of active members, public user-generated blog; status updates features, and a place for users to upload music, art and other media from their experiences. So far, thousands of members have joined the budding site from places such as New Zealand, Japan, Poland, Oyo, Ore, Ogbomosho, Texas and of course Lagos, Nigeria.
The Vision of Naijaborn is to create a network that showcases the Intellectual capital of Nigerian origin to the world and also connect likeminded Nigerians and friends of Nigerians globally through its
unique platform. It is also interested in re-branding the National image by allowing Nigerians “show themselves”
Naijaborn.com is the flagship product of show ya sef Africa networks( SYS AFRICA), An information communications technology company with interest in the African technology industry.
This website will be a valuable way to network; for people looking to
reach out to the Nigerian audience, as large and diverse as it is.
There are plenty of other resources and features coming to the site in
the near future. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect! Sign
up today at www.naijaborn.com
