The Performing Musicians
Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and top Nollywood stars have thrown their weights
behind their counterparts being honoured at The Sun Awards taking place today
at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
For being a role interpreter par
excellence, The Sun will honour Rita Dominic as the Nollywood Personality of
the Year 2016 while Phyno will be conferred with The Sun’s Creative Person of
the Year Award alongside his contemporary, Olamide.
Pledging his support for Phyno and
Olamide, PMAN President, Pretty Okafor has vowed to storm the venue with
members of the executive including Sunny Nneji, Ruggedman, Felix Duke, Tolu
Obey, Zakky Adzay, Asa Ganger Lee, and Benny Aladin
“The Sun Awards is a good thing happening
to the entertainment industry. I can assure you that I will be at the ceremony
with all my executive members in solidarity with the musicians who are being
honoured,” Okafor said.
Rita
For screen diva, Mercy
Johnson-Okojie, it’s Rita Dominic’s day and she has pledged to grace the event
as a mark of solidarity with her. “I have made up my mind to be at The Sun
Awards simply because aunty Rita (Dominic) is winning,” she said.
However, it promises to be a
glamorous evening of fun and excitement as the likes of veteran movie maker,
Eddy Ugboma, gospel musician, Aity Dennis, Nigeria’s entertainment most
celebrated couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe have all promised to grace the occasion.
Other entertainers being expected
are Kanayo O. Kanayo, actor turned-politician, Desmond Elliot, Chika Ike, Nurse
Titi, Ejiro Okwara, Ebube Nwagbo, Tchidi Chikere, Nuella Njubigbo, Princess,
Ruth Eze, Bigdeal Omoruyi, World Wrapperman, Salawa Abeni and son, Big Shef,
Doris Simeon, Princess Anne Inyang, Empress Njama, Mercy Aigbe, Ronke
Oshodi-Oke and Tayo Sobola.
Rita Dominic, who hails from Aboh
Mbaise Local Government area of Imo State, cut her teeth in acting while in the
elementary school, appearing in stage plays and kiddies’ television shows. She
continued acting even while at the Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene,
Akwa Ibom State. Meanwhile, her decision to become a professional actor led her
to study Theatre Arts at the University of Port Harcourt where she graduated
with a BA (Honours) Degree in Theatre Arts in 1999.
However, her first movie role came
in 1998 when she starred in A Time to Kill. She went further to feature in over
100 films prominent among which are Iyore, Surulere, and 76. Aside being an
actor, Dominic is a producer. She has produced quite a number of movies
including The Meeting.
Charming, gorgeous and amiable,
Dominic is an actress who takes her job seriously. She is not stereotyped and
has the knack for the unusual. From playing a cosmopolitan lover girl to
cantankerous receptionist; frail-looking akara (bean cake) seller to
emotionally disturbed soldier’s wife, Dominic will fit into just any role.
Phyno
Born and bred in Enugu State,
Azubuike Chibuzo Nelson popularly known as Phyno is a self-made artiste who
believes in himself and respects his culture. Combining elements of English and
Pidgin, he delivers rap music in Igbo language effortlessly. No wonder his
friends call him ‘Phenomenon’ now shortened to Phyno.
Phyno began his musical career as a
producer in 2003. For more than 10 years, he practically lived in the studio,
producing songs for musicians in Enugu. As a producer, Phyno worked with top
acts like Mr Raw, Ruggedman, Flavour, Timaya, Bracket and, J Martins among
others.
In 2014, however, Phyno
dramatically altered the course of his career when he dumped the production
console to become a singer. Armed with a long list of songs, he entered the
studio and came out with No Guts No Glory, a debut album containing hits
singles like Ghost Mode, Man of the Year (Obago), O Set, Alobam (My Guy), Yayo,
and Parcel (a BIG Nwa).
For handsome, fair-complexioned
Phyno, whose ambition initially, was to become a pilot or a medical doctor,
there was no looking back on music after dropping No Guts. His sophomore album,
2 Kings featuring Olamide and guest artistes like Whizkid, Lil Kesh, Pheelz,
Young John, and B. Banks, turned out a collaborative masterpiece.
The Public Administration graduate
of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, then went from
glory to glory. He climbed the corporate ladder by becoming a brand ambassador
of Guinness’ Made of Black campaign. His hit singles such as Connet, Fada Fada,
and Mmenge Mmenge further made him a household name in Nigeria.
Olamide
Born in the ghetto of Bariga, Lagos
State in 1989, Olamide Adedeji also known as Olamide Badoo had his elementary
and secondary education in Lagos before proceeding to Tai Solarin University of
Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
In 2000, he made up his mind to
pursue a career in music. “I found out I was gifted in it. So, I had to explore
it, it’s my life, my hustle, my world,” he explained.
Naturally gifted, Olamide sings
mostly in Yoruba but laced his lyrics with a bit of English and Pidgin. With
his humour and mastery of street lingo, he has brought freshness and fluidity
to rap music.
Signed to ID Cabasa’s Coded Tunes,
Olamide released his debut album, Rapsodi, in 2011. This led to collaborations
with many musicians including D’banj, ID Cabasa, Wizkid, Reminisce, and 9ice.
However, he jumped ship sooner than later and established his own label, YBNL
Nation, where he released his sophomore album, Yahoo Boy No Laptop (YBNL). The
album parades hit tracks such as First of All, Stupid Love, Voice of the
Street, and Ilefo Illuºminati. It also features guest appearances by Davido,
Kayswitch, Dammy Krane, Tiwa Savage, Samklef, Reminisce, Buckwylla, Base One,
and Minus 2.
In 2013, Olamide dropped his third
studio album, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth featuring songs like “Durosoke” and “Yemi
My Lover”. His latest album, Glory, is already making waves across the country.
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