Yoruba Music and Film Awards Comes on Sream

Yoruba Music/Film Awards comes on stream
By Yemi Olakitan

All is now set for the first edition of the Yoruba Music/Film Awards scheduled for December 30, at the Blue Roof Events, Lagos State Television, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Initiated by Leo-gold Entertainment, an outfit that specializes in packaging entertainment, the award was instituted as a platform to reward excellence in the two industries.

Unveiling plans for the event, the CEO of the outfit, Gbenga Leo Taiwo, informed that the aim of the event is to promote Yoruba arts and culture, as well as to honour practitioners, who have made the Yoruba tribe prominent in the entertainment sector. "It was necessary to create such an event because there are over 150million Yoruba people scattered all over the world. The huge population of the Yoruba people and their spread in different parts of the world has made the impacts of their creativity more pronounced all over the world."

Taiwo observed that the contributions of Yoruba artistes in the entertainment should not be overlooked.

"The list of high achieving Yoruba artistes is too long to be ignored. The achievements of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Sade Adu of England, Asa in France, Ara in Nigeria, Prince In Cote Divoire, Ceel Olumide in the US and many others ought to be celebrated'' he said.

He hinted that the award would celebrate Yoruba artistes at home and abroad, adding that the event is being planned as an international ceremony that will promote unity. .

"An event such as this was long overdue. We must not forget that Yoruba people started Drama and Cinema in Africa; the tribe pioneered the advent of home video drama, when Alade Aromire produced the first home video drama. Hubert Ogunde, Victor Olaiya and Ade Love also played vital roles in the development of the industry. This kind of achievements by a people should be celebrated and acknowledged by all."

According to the organizers, some of the categories of wards to be presented at the event include Best Actor of the Year, Best Actress of the Year, Best Supporting Actress of the Year, Best cinematography, Best Costume, Best Producer, Best Gospel Artiste and others.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Babatope Bamidele, is being expected as the Chief Host, while the Director General of Lagos State Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo is the host. Chief Dr Taye Afolabi is Father of the day, while Chief Mrs. Adunni Bankole is also expected to attend as the mother of the day.


Gbenga Leo Taiwo, a musicologist and entertainment entrepreneur, had in the past produced artistes such as Pasuma, Daddy Showkey, Saidi Osupa, Atorise, Malaika, Idris Abdul Kareem, Atawewe, Alapanla and others. He is also packaging other entertainments projects such as the Most Beautiful Yoruba Girl n the World and the Yoruba Music Show, in partnership with Ben TV, UK.




Tools