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Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics - Politics (32) - Nairaland

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 8:59am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Luti Fagbenle[/size] (MY NYGGAH!! grin )

[img]http://en.academic.ru/pictures/enwiki/65/AliTaylor.jpg[/img]

Oladoke Lutiseku Mobolaji (Luti) Fagbenle is a BAFTA-nominated film producer and entrepreneur. He is best known for producing music videos for high-profile recording artists such as One Direction, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Iggy Azalea, Snoop Dogg and Rita Ora and commercials and branded content for Microsoft, Nike Inc., Beats By Dre, Sony Vaio, Ferrari and Reebok. He is also well known for his performances as Ali Taylor in popular soap opera Hollyoaks. Luti is a frequent collaborator with high-profile international directors such as Colin Tilley, Director X, Anthony Mandler, Kanye West, Ray Kay, Marc Klasfeld and others.

Born in London in 1985 to an English mother and a Nigerian father, both with show business connections, Luti is the younger brother of the actor O. T. Fagbenle. He began his acting career on stage as Young Simba in the musical 'The Lion King' and played the ill-fated Ali Taylor, one of several who left the teenage television soap 'Hollyoaks' feet first. He then moved into production and post-production with his company Portobello Post in London's Portobello Road. In January 2008 he indirectly hit the headlines after the graffiti artist known as Banksy painted the wall of Portobello Post and Luti advertised the wall for sale.

In 2006 Luti founded the production company Luti Media. The company has produced hundreds of music videos, commercials and films. Their work has been honoured with nominations and awards from the MTV VMAs, BAFTA, The MOBO Awards, Virgin Media Shorts, the UKMVAs and others.

Fagbenle's debut film was the 2006 Channel 4 Documentary 'Nike Midnight Madness' narrated by Trevor Nelson.

In 2009 the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) nominated the short film Mixtape written and directed by Luke Snellin and starring Bill Milner, which Luti produced.

In 2010 Luti Media produced their first no.1 video for Yolanda Be Cool We Speak No Americano

In 2011 Luti produced the MTV VMA nominated video The Wanted "Glad You Came".

In 2012 The Luti Media produced music video for JLS 'Do You Feel What I Feel' won the 2012 MOBO for best video.

In 2013 Luti's video for One Direction "Best Song Ever" broke the record on VEVO for views in 24 hours. Vevo the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform, announced that the music video One Direction “Best Song Ever” music video delivered 12.3million views across VEVO in the 24 hours following its premiere. This beats out the previous record holder, Miley Cyrus “We Can’t Stop,” which hit 10.7 million views, The video went on to win Best Video at the 2014 BRIT Awards.

Screen Nation honoured Luti with the Digital Vanguard Award for trailblazing contribution to the British and international online digital media industry at the 2013 Digital-IS Media awards at Google's headquarters. This acknowledgement is the highest digital media award presented by Screen Nation, which is the leading organisation across Europe celebrating and rewarding excellence by African Caribbean people in the global film, TV and digital media industry. Luti is the younger brother of actor O.T. Fagbenle.

In 2014 The Luti Media produced video for Iggy Azalea 'Fancy' helped the single reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming both Azalea's and Charli XCX's first number-one on that chart, holding the spot for seven consecutive weeks. The video was nominated for Best Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards and the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:04am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Tosin Cole[/size]

[img]http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tosin+Cole+Arrivals+Pre+BAFTA+Party+flhpNPnc2HSl.jpg[/img]

Tosin Cole is a British actor. He known for his roles in The Cut, EastEnders: E20 and Hollyoaks. In 2009, Cole was part of a theatre production titled Wasted!, a modern reproduction of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, produced by Intermission, a company which helps teenagers stay away from crime.

In 2010, Cole joined the cast of BBC teen drama The Cut, in which he played the role of Noah Achebe, who was introduced in the third series.

Cole later secured the role of Sol Levi in EastEnders: E20, a spin-off of the British soap opera EastEnders. The role required Cole to learn to dance and perform his routine in front of professional dance group Flawless in the series finale. He was quoted as saying the experience was "very, very, very stressful." Cole said it was a privilege to work on E20 and said the cast were fantastic. Cole then agreed to reprise the role for the third series.

He was then cast as a regular character in soap opera Hollyoaks as Neil Cooper. Neil was one of six new characters the programme introduced. He also filmed a television advert as part of the serial's promotional push for the new characters

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:10am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]O. T. Fagbenle[/size]

[img]http://3.bp..com/-n9H4-kqlVcc/URJ7CNJ01VI/AAAAAAAAOj0/Iewk3BM2kbQ/s640/OT-Fagbenle.jpg[/img]

O. T. (Olatunde Olateju Olaolorun) Fagbenle (also known as O-T and OT) is a British actor, writer, and director. He has appeared in several films, stage, and television productions.

Born in London to a Nigerian journalist father and a British mother, Fagbenle moved to Spain as a child and started learning the alto saxophone. Within a year he was playing for the South Coast Jazz Band and toured the Edinburgh Festival. He moved back to England where he continued to perform as a musician in big bands at the Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall. His name "Olatunde" means "Wealth comes again" in Yoruba. His younger brother is actor and film producer Luti Fagbenle

Fagbenle has been honoured by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (of which Queen Elizabeth II is patron) by being included in the 100 faces of RADA along with Sir Anthony Hopkins, Clive Owen and Sir John Gielgud.

O-T is the first British actor of mixed race heritage to play a lead in a period drama in the history of UK television (Walters War). He is also the first to play a leading role in an HBO series (Looking) and to win a best actor award at the M.E.N.

After John W Bubbles in the Opera and Sammy Davis Jr in the film O-T originated the role of Sportin' Life in the world premiere of Porgy and Bess - The Musical at the Savoy theatre in London's West End.

Fagbenle was awarded Best Actor in a Leading role at the M.E.N. awards for his performance in Six Degrees of Separation.

He was the recipient of an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 13th African Film Awards.

O-T originated the role of "Perry" in the Royal Court's production of the award winning production of Fallout.

In 2012 O-T was nominated for Best Male Performance at the Off West End Awards for his 'charismatic' portrayal of Slupianek in The Conquest of the South Pole

In 2015 O-T was honoured by being nominated for "Best Male Performance on TV" by the Screen Nation Awards for his performance as Frank on HBO's Looking.

In 2015 O-T was nominated and won the award for Best SciFi/Horror for the short film he wrote and directed, MOTH at the London Short Film Festival.

It was announced by The Royal National Theatre, that O-T would be cast as the lead in their 2016 production of the Award New York Drama Critic Circle Award winning play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:13am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Gbenga Akinnagbe[/size]




Akinnagbe was born in Washington, D.C.,[2] the son of Nigerian parents. He was raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is the second oldest of six children, with one older sister and four younger brothers, and the first in his family to be born in the United States. He attended Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland. He attended Bucknell University on a wrestling scholarship, majoring in Political Science and English. Akinnagbe is a cousin of rapper Wale.

He is an actor and producer, known for The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009), The Savages (2007) and Edge of Darkness (2010).


Akinnagbe played Ben Ellis in the episode Contenders on the TV series Numb3rs. In the summer of 2006, Akinnagbe performed the role of "Zim" in the NYC Fringe Festival's "Outstanding Play" award-winning production of Modern Missionary. In 2003, Akinnagbe auditioned for the role of Chris Partlow on the HBO series The Wire and starting in 2004 began a frequent recurring role. In 2008 during the show's fifth and final season, he was promoted to a series regular. In 2007, Akinnagbe appeared in the film The Savages with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laura Linney, and Philip Bosco. He appeared in the remake of The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, which was released by Sony in June 2009. Akinnagbe made a guest appearance on a Season 10 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode entitled "Hell" as Elijah Okello, a former Ugandan child soldier living in New York, facing deportation. Akinnagbe's former The Wire cast mate Robert Wisdom also appeared in that episode as Father Theo Burdett. In 2010 in Seattle, Washington Akinnagbe starred in world premiere play The Thin Place at The Intiman Theatre. He was also in the movie Lottery Ticket and is currently in The Good Wife as Pastor Isiah Easton. His former co-star from the The Wire, Frankie Faison, portrayed his father on the show in several episodes. He is currently starring as Kelly Slater, a new nurse in the 3rd season of the Showtime series Nurse Jackie. He also starred in leading roles for two Independent films, as Jack in "Home", directed by Jono Oliver, and as James in "Big Words", directed by Neil Drumming. He is currently playing a drug lord in the USA series Graceland and stars as Tom in The Following. He also starred as CIA Agent Erik Ritter in 24: Live Another Day.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:19am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje[/size]




Born and raised in London, England, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje began his career as a model in Milan. He graduated with a masters degree in Law from London's prestigious Kings College, before moving to Los Angeles to make the transition to acting. Fluent in several languages, including English, Italian, Yoruba and Swahili, he is best known for his roles in the movies Congo (1995) and The Mummy Returns (2001), and the HBO series Oz (1997). He is also known for his roles as Lock-Nah in The Mummy Returns, Nykwana Wombosi in The Bourne Identity, Mr. Eko on Lost and Simon Adebisi on Oz. His more recent roles include Malko in the fifth season of the HBO series Game of Thrones, Dave Duerson in the NFL biopic drama Concussion and Killer Croc in the upcoming movie Suicide Squad.


Akinnuoye-Agbaje was born in Islington, London to Nigerian parents of Yoruba origin, who were students in the UK. He is fluent in several languages including Yoruba, Italian, and Swahili. He can "get along" in a few other languages, including French.[citation needed] When he was only six weeks old, his biological parents gave him up to a white working class family in Tilbury. His foster parents had at least ten African children, including Akinnuoye-Agbaje's two sisters, living in their house at certain points. His foster father made a living as a lorry driver and struggled to support the family financially.[3]


When he was eight years old, his biological parents brought him back to Nigeria but, as he was unable to speak the Yoruba language and forbidden by his parents to speak English, he was returned to Tilbury shortly thereafter. The brief exposure to Nigeria left him struggling to reconcile his heritage with the distinctly English culture and environment he was raised in. As a teenager facing a cultural identity crisis, he joined a local skinhead gang in order to escape racial persecution at their hands. At 16 years old, having become a violent thief, his foster parents sent him to a boarding school in Surrey where he ultimately attempted suicide before coming to terms with his background and turning his life around.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:23am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Richard Ayoade[/size]




Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, London, to Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade, a Nigerian father, and Dagny Amalie (née Baassuik), a Norwegian mother. The family moved to Ipswich in Suffolk when he was young. His name "Ayoade" means "The Blessed Crown" or "Joy of the Crown" in the Yoruba language.

Ayoade studied at St. Joseph's College in Ipswich and later read law at St Catharine's College, Cambridge (1995–1998), where he won the Martin Steele Prize for play production and was president of the Footlights from 1997 to 1998. Ayoade studied law, and says that his parents would not approve of studies considered to be of the "Regency era," adding that "a non-vocational degree seemed such an outlandish indulgence." Ayoade states that the law is no longer a viable "fall back" for him and that he would need to "go back to square one.

Richard Ellef Ayoade (born 12 June 1977) is an actor, writer, TV presenter, and director, best known for his roles as Dean Learner in Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd.[1] He has directed films such as Submarine, The Double, starring Jesse Eisenberg, and various music videos for bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Kasabian. Ayoade has often worked alongside Noel Fielding, Julian Barratt, Matt Berry, and Rich Fulcher in shows such as The Mighty Boosh and Nathan Barley, is a team captain on panel show Was It Something I Said? and presents the factual show Gadget Man.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:29am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Dayo Okeniyi[/size]





Oladayo A. "Dayo" Okeniyi (born June 14, 1988) is a Nigerian American actor, popularly known for playing the role of Thresh in The Hunger Games and Danny Dyson in Terminator Genisys.

Dayo was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and has four siblings. His father is a retired customs officer from Nigeria, and his mother is a literature teacher from Kenya. In 2003, he moved with his family to Indiana, United States, from Nigeria and later moved to California. He earned a bachelor's degree in visual communications at Anderson University (Indiana) in 2009.

Prior to being cast in The Hunger Games, Okeniyi worked in local theatre and in film shorts. Okeniyi starred 2014 in the drama film Endless Love and portrayed Danny Dyson in Terminator Genisys (2015).

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:33am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]David Oyelowo[/size]



Oyelowo was born in Oxford, to Nigerian parents of Yoruba ethnicity. His mother worked for British Rail, and his father, Stephen, worked for then state-owned British Airways. He studied theatre studies at City and Islington College, where his teacher suggested that he become an actor. Oyelowo enrolled for a year in an art foundation course, at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). He finished his three-year training in 1998. He also spent time with the National Youth Theatre

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo (born April 1, 1976)[1] is a British actor, producer, director, and writer. He has played supporting roles in the films Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Middle of Nowhere (2012), Lincoln (2012), and garnered praise for portraying Louis Gaines in The Butler (2013). On television, he played MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the British series Spooks (2002–04), and as of 2014, provides the voice of Imperial Security Bureau agent Kallus on the animated series Star Wars Rebels. In 2014, Oyelowo played Martin Luther King, Jr. in the biographical drama film Selma, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor (Drama). Also in 2014, he starred in the HBO movie Nightingale, for which he won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.


David Oyelowo to play James Bond ... after landing audiobook role

David Oyelowo will play James Bond. Although his performance will be heard rather than seen – in an audiobook.

The announcement on Thursday follows long-standing rumours that Idris Elba is in line to replace Daniel Craig when the latter’s run playing James Bond on the big screen comes to an end, potentially in two movies’ time.

Oyelowo’s previous roles include Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company – which made him the first black actor to play an English king in a major Shakespeare production. He also played the MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the BBC TV drama Spooks and was acclaimed for his performance as Martin Luther King in Selma.


Why Idris Elba shouldn't give up on playing James Bond
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Oyelowo will play Bond, and other characters, in the audiobook version of Trigger Mortis, written by Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate.

Describing himself as “very honoured”, Oyelowo said: “I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say: ‘I am the new James Bond’ – even saying that name is the cinematic equivalent of doing the ‘to be or not to be’ speech.”

He added: “I was asked specifically by the Fleming estate, which is really special.”

Born in Oxford to Nigerian parents, his performance as Henry VI drew critical acclaim, but also “very real resistance”, particularly from one academic. Oyelowo said: “He said that we open ourselves to ridicule if we allow black people to play English kings when English kings have never been black. But I’ve never seen an Egyptian play Cleopatra ... so it’s a nonsensical statement.”

David Oyelowo, centre, as Martin Luther King in Selma Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Oyelowo, centre, as Martin Luther King in Selma. Photograph: Paramount/Everett Collection
The actor received hate mail that came “in the guise of fan mail”. He said: “I had to have my agent filter mail ... it was hate mail. It was: ‘How dare you enter a realm that is not yours to enter?’ One slipped through the net … it’s upsetting ... I had letters coming through to the stage door.”

He added: “This was over 10 years ago -so you’d hope that wouldn’t be the case now.”

But Oyelowo believes black actors still have huge obstacles to overcome. He is not alone. The director Rufus Norris has said that the UK still lags behind the US in casting black actors, while the comedian Lenny Henry has spoken of work having “dried up” for home-grown black, Asian and minority actors. David Harewood, who stars in the hit drama Homeland, is among black actors who have left Britain to find work.


New James Bond novel Trigger Mortis resurrects Pussy Galore
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Oyelowo also left the UK – in 2007 – and lives in Los Angeles. He said: “Part of the reason I moved to America was I could feel my head bobbing against this glass ceiling that wasn’t going to break.” Yet when black actors are given the opportunity, some “great work” happens, he said, adding: “That should be rewarded with more opportunity.”

Part of the problem lies in the disproportionate number of negative roles that are offered to black actors. Oyelowo is disturbed by the focus on white protagonists within dramas. He said: “It’s how few times we get to be the protagonist ... and how few times the world is seen through our eyes.”

Oyelowo said things will change for the better when a “white kid in Birmingham” can watch a TV show or film through a black actor’s eyes and “feels as much like him as the next person”.

He added: “If that young boy is always seeing [black characters] as on the periphery ... that’s going to be his world view, that someone like [that] is always on the periphery – and, by virtue of that fact, less important.”

Oyelowo acknowledges the industry is aware of the need for change, but he said: “It is [aware] verbally, but not in action. There is a cerebral desire to do it, but that’s not worked its way down to the heart yet. Because, if it did, then things wouldn’t be regressing, which they are.”

Asked why there is a resistance to change, he said: “It’s the status quo. A lot of it is subconscious. Some of it I do think is racism.”


David Oyelowo: 'No one says to Oliver Stone: white characters AGAIN?'
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Elba, who rose to fame in The Wire, has been rumoured to be among the frontrunners to replace Craig, and would be the first black actor to play the spy on screen if he secured the role. Although Elba appeared to distance himself from the rumours, Oyelowo said he was “ripe” for the role.

He said: “A titan on screen, he has all the qualities that you’d want in a James Bond. Because films and TV affect culture, a black Bond would be a cultural event ... a statement ... beyond just entertainment.”

More than 100m Bond books have been sold worldwide. Fleming wrote 14 and his estate has since commissioned new adventures from various authors, including Kingsley Amis.

Horowitz has written more than 40 books and, as a television screenwriter, created the Bafta-winning Foyle’s War. Oyelowo described his Bond as “a man who is very self-assured” but not perfect.

In a statement, Horowitz said: “What an honour to have an actor as talented as David to read my take on Bond. He has a brilliant voice and talent for bringing out the nuances of dialogue and characters.”

This article was amended on Thursday 13 August 2015. The original article’s headline and opening paragraphs stated that David Oyelowo would be the first black actor to play James Bond, across any medium. In fact, Hugh Quarshie played the character when he read the audiobook version of Dr No in 2012. This article has been corrected accordingly.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:37am On Oct 25, 2015
Femi Oyeniran

[img]http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Anuvahood+UK+Film+Premiere+0fa_WxhEk0Dl.jpg[/img]

Oyeniran, was born in Nigeria and raised in Islington, North London. He attended St Aloysius College, St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College and studied law at the London School of Economics.

In addition to acting and film making, Femi is a keen Manchester United Fan and has an interest in politics. He is a Christian and a married father of two.

Oyeniran's TV appearances include ITV’s "Golden Hour", Channel 4’s "The Ghost Squad" and BBC's "Absolutely Fabulous". His theatre debut was at the Hackney Empire in a two-hander called "Basic". He has appeared on news channels BBC News 24 and Sky News, BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and the BBC Asian Network to discuss youth culture in London. He is involved in an organization called Smart Justice for Young People, which looks at alternative modes of punishing petty crime. This led to him being asked to make a TV report for BBC 2’s “The Daily Politics" Programme. In July 2006, he accepted a request to speak alongside David Cameron at a Centre for Social Justice Event. The event was called "Thugs: Beyond Redemption?" at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster. In 2009, 'Fresh Off The Boat' became Femi's first foray into film directing. The film was nominated as part of the 2009 Film London 'Best of Boroughs' awards.

He produces and hosts an online panel chat show called Cut the Chat , which provides a platform for the discussion of issues that affect young people. The show has proven really successful and there is a live format every quarter at the Camden Roundhouse

He is best known for his roles as 'Moony' in Kidulthood and its sequel Adulthood, as well as a comedy spin off Anuvahood, a film made by Adam Deacon. His first feature film It's A Lot, which he co-wrote, co-directed and co-produced was released in Spring 2013.

In addition to his work in film, television and theatre, Femi has managed and delivered a series of workshops to young people in Young Offenders Institutions.

Femi Oyeniran regularly appears on the Sky News program Sunrise, as part of the newspaper review panel. He also sat as a Commissioner on the Speaker's Commission on Digital Democracy Commission which explored modes of improving democratic participation through the use of technology. In 2014 Femi was invited to give a TEDxParliament Talk on the theme of democracy, which was inspired by his extensive work with young offenders.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:42am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Judith Shekoni[/size]


[img]http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Judith+Shekoni+gw5C35Fzjh7m.jpg[/img]


Judith "Judi" Shekoni is a British actress, model and television presenter from Gorton, Manchester, England who is currently based in Hollywood. She has two sisters and brothers.

Shekoni began her career on LIVE TV as an agony aunt. From 11 June to 19 July 2002, she played the role of gangster's wife Marjorie "Precious" Hudson (née Hulton) in the BBC1 soap EastEnders. Shekoni has also had bit parts in films including Garfield 2 as a tour guide, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as Renee and Ali G Indahouse as a Jacuzzi girl. Shekoni has also made guest appearances in Casualty, Fat Friends and The King of Queens.

In 2005, she appeared in the ITV reality TV show, Celebrity Love Island alongside Calum Best, Paul Danan, Abi Titmuss and Nikki Ziering among others. She was the first celebrity to be voted off the show by the public. "For the short period I was there I got on with everybody and didn't have any negative experiences. But when I watch it now I just think, oh God, I had a lucky escape that I didn't end up crying in front of the cameras, or getting rejected by any of the guys, or involved in any of the arguments."

Shekoni lives in Los Angeles where she has appeared on US television shows such as NCIS, All of Us and Damages. She was the host of Fox reality show When Women Rule the World (2008) although the show was never broadcast in America. She played Zafrina in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:45am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Adepero Oduye[/size]



Oduye was born in Brooklyn, New York, one of seven children of Nigerian parents. She is a graduate of Cornell University. Oduye began appearing in short films such as Water and Fall, and in 2006 appeared in the independent drama Half Nelson. After several roles in off-Broadway production, in 2009, she debuted on Broadway in the musical Fela!.

In 2011 she starred in the critically acclaimed independent film Pariah. She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Oduye cast in the recent Steel Magnolias remake with the same title as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, a role that had been originated by Daryl Hannah.

In 2013, Oduye appeared in Ava DuVernay's short film The Door part of Miu Miu's ad campaign known as The Women's Tales. She also starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor in the film 12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:50am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Hakeem Kae-Kazim[/size]

[img]http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Hakeem+Kae+kazim+3rd+Annual+GRAMMY+Awards+WmwMSYtTisFl.jpg[/img]

Born 1 October, 1962, in Lagos, Nigeria to a Nigerian parents. His Parents emigrated to study in the United Kingdom when Hakeem was 1. Actor Hakeem Kae-Kazim, classically trained in the UK at the highly regarded Bristol Old Vic and soon after graduation was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Hakeem's list of impressive credits include Pirates of the Caribbean III, Lost, Cane with Jimmy Smits, Law & Order: SVU with Mariska Hargitay, The Triangle with Sam Neill, The Librarian with Gabrielle Anwar, X-Men: Wolverine with Hugh Jackman, The 4th Kind alongside Milla Jovovich and Darfur with Billy Zane. Hakeem is often recognized for his recurring role as Colonel Dubaku, through which he wowed audiences with his stunning performance in 24's' Season 7, and in the prequel movie Redemption.

Hakeem both produced and starred in Black November with Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger, as well as the award winning film Man on Ground and Last Flight to Abuja. His distinctive voice has also been shared in many popular video games including Halo, Call of Duty and The Bourne Conspiracy. Hakeem is well loved for his TV work, which recently has included many primetime shows including Human Target, Criminal Minds, NAVY NCIS, Law and Order, Cobert Affairs and Strike Back. Hakeem's latest films Half of a Yellow Sun and A Chance of Rain, are set to be released soon and his role as Mr Scott in Michael Bay's exciting and much awaited new series Black Sails with be premiering in 2014.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:56am On Oct 25, 2015
I'm gonna stray a round a bit into other fields.
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 9:58am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Katherine Adebola Okikiolu[/size]



Okikiolu was born in 1965 in England. Her father was George Olatokunbo Okikiolu, a renowned Nigerian mathematician and the most published black mathematician on record. Her British mother was a high school mathematics teacher. Okikiolu received a B.A. in mathematics from Cambridge University in 1987. In 1991 she earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California at Los Angeles for her thesis The Analogue of the Strong Szego Limit Theorem on the Toris and the 3-Sphere.

Okikiolu comes from a mathematical family, her father is a mathematician and inventor and her mother is a high school mathematics teacher. Her parents met when her father left Nigeria to study mathematics at the same college in England where her mother was studying physics. Her father, the Nigerian George Okikiolu, has written more mathematics papers than any other Black mathematician. She is married to mathematican Hans Lindblad.

Okikiolu earned her B.A. in Mathematics from Cambridge University in England before coming to the United States in 1987 to attend graduate school mathematics at UCLA (the University of California, Los Angeles). There, she worked with two mentors, Sun-Yung (Alice) Chang and John Garnett, and was able to solve a problem concerning asymptotics of determinants of Toeplitz operators on the sphere and a conjecture of Peter Jones, characterizing subsets of rectifiable curves in Euclidean n-space. She earned her Ph.D. at UCLA in 1991, and she has been exhibiting first rate mathematical abilties.

After her doctorate, Kate went, in 1993, to Princeton University where she was an Instructor and an Assistant Professor until 1995. From 1995 until 1997 she was a visiting Assistant Professor at MIT. She became a resident status in the U.S. at this time. Since 1997, she has been on the faculty in the Mathematics Department of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), first as an Assistant Professor. Also in 1996, Dr. Okikiolu spoke as part of the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration for Association of Women in Mathematics (AWM). In 2002, she gave the Claytor-Woodard lecture at the NAM meeitng st the Joint Mathematics Meetings.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by omobachi(m): 10:01am On Oct 25, 2015
Ambrose Akinmusire


A spiritual seeker in the grand tradition of musical aspirationalists, trumpeter/composer Ambrose Akinmusire has staked his place at the vanguard of jazz and artistic expression. The winner of the 2007 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and the 2007 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition, Akinmusire has proved himself one of the most vital and deft trumpeters of his generation.

Akinmusire was named 2012 Trumpet Player of the Year in DownBeat Magazine’s Critics Poll and the Jazz Journalists Association awards, and was awarded Germany’s ECHO Award as Instrumentalist of the Year, International Brass. His two CDs, Prelude to Cora (Fresh Sound New Talent) and When the Heart Emerges Glistening (Blue Note), were both met with critical acclaim. The latter topped critics’ lists at the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Allmusic.com, and earned Akinmusire France’s Grand Prix l’Academie du Jazz.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mni84dQUq00?list=PL9TDT0r_8dwcvpDCh5iuPFt9jIsj6naJP

The son of a father from Nigeria and a mother from Mississippi, Akinmusire was raised in Oakland, California, where he began playing piano at the age of three, switching to drums in the fifth grade and finally to the trumpet the following year. He attended Berkeley High School and the Manhattan School of Music, followed by a return to the west coast to earn his master’s degree at USC and to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.

The nomadic trumpeter currently teaches at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. He has played on stages around the globe, including in India, Vietnam, Australia, Turkey, Japan, and Brazil, and at international festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Barcelona Jazz Festival.

Akinmusire’s forward-reaching compositions have earned him a commission from New York’s Jazz Gallery and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation’s MAP Fund and Chamber Music America’s French-American Jazz Exchange Program. In 2011, he debuted his star-studded Big Band on one of the world’s most renowned stages, Carnegie Hall. The following year he was named Artist-in-Residence at the 55th annual Monterey Jazz Festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8MHggEGN68?list=PL9TDT0r_8dwcvpDCh5iuPFt9jIsj6naJP

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:01am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Lola Ogunnaike[/size]

[img]http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lola+Ogunnaike+Celebrating+Arts+American+Dinner+sPj0kaOFd3El.jpg[/img]

Lola Ogunnaike is an American features and entertainment journalist. Lola was born on September 13, 1975 in New York to Nigerian parents. She earned a master's in fine arts degree in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Virginia.

Ogunnaike commenced her career in journalism in 1999 covering entertainment news and pop culture. She was a reporter for The New York Times and lead its entertainment coverage, focusing on celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Ozwald Boateng, Oprah Winfrey and writing Sting for the paper's "Arts and Leisure" section. She was a writer for Vibe magazine, contributing to the monthly music features and cover stories. Her work has also been published in Rolling Stone, New York, Glamour, Details (magazine), Nylon, the New York Observer and V Magazine. She also accompanied and interviewed Michelle Obama on a tour to South Africa. Lola was also a features reporter at the New York Daily News, where she covered breaking news on celebrities and entertainment for "NOW," the paper's entertainment section, and for the Rush and Molloy column She was a former correspondent on CNN’s “American Morning"[1] where also worked from 2007 till 2009.

She has featured at several television programs such as NBC’s Today Show, MTV and VH1. She was listed in may 2007 as Ebony’s ‘150 Most Influential Blacks in America”. She is currently a host of Arise News.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:06am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Walé Adeyemi[/size]



Walé Adeyemi MBE is a British-Nigerian fashion designer. He has worked as head designer at B-side, former creative director at New Era, an entrepreneur, industry spokesperson, music promoter, ambassador for The Prince's Trust and stylist to numerous celebrities.

His designs have been worn by Beyoncé, Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, Alicia Keys, The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Missy Elliott, Jourdan Dunn, Estelle, Victoria Beckham, David Beckham, Mos Def, Tinie Tempah, Ms. Dynamite and Joey Badass to name but a few. British style markets have also used Walé for their brands; Adidas, Caterpillar Inc., Nokia, Martell, Slazenger, Superdrug, Sky and New Era have all been clients of Walé. Walé attended Thurrock and Basildon College and studied Fashion Design. At the age of 18, Adeyemi began an internship with British Designer Joe Casely-Hayford.

The Walé Adeyemi collection debuted in 1998 as a menswear collection "somewhere between the kerb and the boutique". The brand now covers both menswear and womenswear. He was presented with the Fashion and Design Award at the Carlton Multi-Cultural Awards in 2001. 2004 saw Adeyemi nominated for the AoC Gold Award, which he won.

In 2005, Walé was noted for his iconic Graffiti Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, featuring him in the Moments in Black British Style exhibition. Walé received the Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for his contribution to British Fashion. The Wale Collection debuted and sold initially in Japan and London. In 2012, Walé opened his B-side by Wale store in Hanbury Street, East London. B-sidebywale is currently stocked in Harvey Nichols and Urban Outfitters

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:10am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Lola Adesioye[/size]

[img]http://3.bp..com/_2rTAfHY6xaM/TPFhoIa3zBI/AAAAAAAABEE/gdeRH59NzRw/s1600/Lola_Adesioye.jpg[/img]

Lola Adesioye is a writer, commentator, broadcaster and singer/songwriter born in London, England, to Nigerian parents. Adesioye attended Rosemead Preparatory School and James Allen's Girls' School, prestigious private schools in Dulwich, South East London. She excelled academically and musically at both, becoming Head Girl at the former and a Music Scholar and Head Girl at James Allen's Girls' School. At James Allen's Girls' School, Adesioye participated in the European Youth Parliament and competed on the debating team.

Adesioye studied Modern and Medieval Languages (Italian and Spanish) at Robinson College, Cambridge, before changing to Social & Political Science. She graduated in 2003, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 2007, Adesioye was awarded an honorary master's degree by the university.

At Cambridge University, Adesioye was politically active within her college and the Cambridge University Students' Union, holding elected office for two years as Anti-Racism and Ethnic Minorities Officer respectively. She was involved in the creation of Cambridge University's Little Black Book, an award-winning book for students of colour that was used by the UK's Department for Education and Employment as part of its race relations initiative at the time.

In 2004, she appeared in a primetime BBC documentary series Black Ambition, which followed the lives of eight black Cambridge students in their final year.

Adesioye is an international writer whose commentary and analysis on UK, US and African society, politics and culture has been published in the New Statesman, The Guardian, The Economist, BBC, CNN, The Huffington Post, TIME magazine, The Washington Post′s TheRoot.com, Forbes Africa, and EbonyJet.[8] She regularly appears as a talking head on TV and radio including CNN,[9] MSNBC, the BBC, Channel 4 and BET.

Adesioye was one of the founding editors (Deputy Editor) of NBC's African-American news site TheGrio.com and was a Contributing Editor for AOL Black Voices before it became Huffington Post Black.

She has been described as one of "11 black commentators you should be following" and has been named one of Nigeria's top wordsmiths.

Adesioye's grandfather, Ebun Adesioye, was one of the pioneers of journalism and PR in Nigeria.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:17am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Helen Oyeyemi[/size]



Helen Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria in 1984 and has lived in London from the age of four.. In 2013 she was included in the Granta Best Of Young British Novelists list.

Oyeyemi wrote her first novel, The Icarus Girl, while still at school studying for her A levels at Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. While studying social and political sciences at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, two of her plays, Juniper's Whitening and Victimese, were performed by fellow students to critical acclaim and subsequently published by Methuen.

In 2007 Bloomsbury published Oyeyemi's second novel, The Opposite House, which is inspired by Cuban mythology. Her third novel, White is for Witching, described as having "roots in Henry James and Edgar Allan Poe" was published by Picador in May 2009. It was a 2009 Shirley Jackson Award finalist and won a 2010 Somerset Maugham Award. A fourth novel, Mr Fox, was published by Picador in June 2011, and a fifth, Boy, Snow, Bird in 2014.

In 2009 Oyeyemi was recognized as one of the women on Venus Zine’s "25 under 25" list. Oyeyemi was a judge on the Booktrust Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for 2015, and is serving as a judge for the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

Oyeyemi is a lifelong Catholic who has done voluntary work for CAFOD in Kenya

Awards

2013 Granta ‘Best of Young British Novelists’

2010 Somerset Maugham Award, Winner

2009 Shirley Jackson Award, Finalist

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:20am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Femi Oke[/size]



Femi was born in Britain to Nigerian parents of the Yoruba ethnic group. She is a graduate of Birmingham University where she received a bachelor's degree in English literature and language.

Femi began her career at age 14 working as a junior reporter for the United Kingdom's first talk radio station London Broadcasting Company. During 1993, Femi worked for a cable station called Wire TV, this was pre-Janet Street Porter's L!VE TV. Femi presented several shows for the station, including the popular Soap on the Wire on a Saturday afternoon, with soap opera expert Chris Stacey. In the early 1990s, Femi presented the BBC's flagship educational science programme Science In Action and was also a presenter of Top of the Pops. She has also worked for GMTV, London Weekend Television, Men & Motors and Carlton Television. She is a former anchor for CNN International's World Weather service at the network's global headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] She presented weather segments for the programs Your World Today and World News. She also regularly hosted Inside Africa, now fronted by Errol Barnett, a programme that looks into the economic, social and cultural affairs and trends in Africa. She joined CNN in 1999, and worked there until 2008. She used to appear as a daily newscaster, contributor and interviewer on Public Radio International/WNYC's morning public radio news program, The Takeaway. Currently, she hosts The Stream on Al Jazeera English.

She has accepted an invitation to teach on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization in Buenos Aires, Argentina, conducted guest lectures for the University of Liberia, Emory University in Atlanta and been a guest speaker at the United Nations, addressing the World Food Programme in Rome, Italy

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:25am On Oct 25, 2015
[size=14pt]Steve Osunsami[/size]




Steve Osunsami is an award-winning correspondent for ABC News based in the network's Southern Bureau in Atlanta, contributing reports to "World News with Diane Sawyer," "Good Morning America," and other ABC News broadcasts and platforms. He began his network career at ABC News in April 1997, as a correspondent for NewsOne, ABC's affiliate news service.

In 1998 Osunsami began filing reports for "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings," primarily covering the southeastern U.S. Among his many assignments, Osunsami reported from New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and then followed the rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast. He also covered the search for and capture of accused serial bomber Eric Robert Rudolph, the 2000 presidential election recount in Florida, the legal fight that surrounded six black teenagers known as the Jena 6 in 2007, the fall of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford in 2009, the sex-coercion allegations against Mega-Church leader Eddie Long, the 2011 tornados that killed more 200 people in Alabama, and more than two dozen hurricanes over the last decade.

He was a correspondent for the Emmy award winning broadcast of "ABC 2000: The Millennium," and has received multiple awards for his work from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Columbia School of Journalism.

Prior to joining ABC News, Osunsami was a reporter in Seattle for the ABC affiliate KOMO-TV and a reporter and substitute anchor for the NBC affiliate, WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For his work at WOOD-TV, he was recognized several times with awards from the Associated Press and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

Osunsami's earliest work in broadcasting began with the then-ABC affiliate WREX in Rockford, Illinois, where he was a reporter and weekend weather forecaster.

A graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he studied broadcast journalism, Osunsami was born in Washington, D.C. to Nigerian immigrants.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:31am On Oct 25, 2015
Taiye Selasi



Taiye Selasi (born 2 November 1979) is a writer and photographer. Of Nigerian and Ghanaian origin, she prefers to describe herself as being a local of New York, Rome, and Accra.

Taiye Selasi was born in London, England, and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, the elder of twin daughters in a family of physicians. Her given name means first twin in her mother's native Yoruba.

Selasi's twin sister, Dr. Yetsa Kehinde Tuakli, is a physiatrist in the US, and an alumna of the African Paralympics, in which she competed in the long jump for Ghana's national team. Selasi's mother, Dr. Juliette Tuakli, is a paediatrician in Ghana. Renowned for her advocacy of children's rights, she sits on the board of United Way. Selasi's father, Dr. Lade Wosornu, is a surgeon in Saudi Arabia. Considered one of Ghana's foremost public intellectuals, he has published numerous volumes of poetry.

Selasi's parents broke up when she was an infant. She met her biological father at the age of 12.

Selasi graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in American Studies from Yale, and earned her MPhil in International Relations from Nuffield College, Oxford

In 2005 The LIP Magazine published "Bye-Bye, Babar (Or: What is an Afropolitan?)", Selasi's seminal text on Afropolitans. The same year she penned a play, which was produced at a small theatre by Dr. Avery Willis, Toni Morrison's niece.

In 2006 Morrison gave Selasi a one-year deadline; she wrote "The Sex Lives of African Girls" to meet it. The story, published by UK literary magazine Granta in 2011, appears in Best American Short Stories 2012.

In 2010 Ann Godoff at Penguin Press bought Selasi's unfinished novel. Ghana Must Go was published in 2013 to much critical acclaim. Selected as one of the 10 Best Books of 2013 by the Wall Street Journal and The Economist, it has been sold in 22 countries as of 2014.

In 2013 Selasi was selected as one of Granta′s 20 Best Young British Writers and in 2014 named to the Hay Festival's Africa39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers under the age of 40 "with the potential and talent to define trends in African literature."

Selasi collaborates frequently with fellow artists. In 2012 she partnered with architect David Adjaye to create the Gwangju River Reading Room, an open-air library erected in 2013 as part of the Gwangju Biennale's Folly II. With director Teddy Goitom, founder of Stocktown, Selasi is Executive Producer of Afripedia, a documentary series about urban African creatives. With producers Fernando Meirelles and Hank Levine (City of God), Selasi is developing Exodus, a feature documentary about global migration

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by SirShymexx: 10:37am On Oct 25, 2015
Dapo Torimiro

[img]http://2.bp..com/_8NOD5iNHqxM/SP-asYFrIFI/AAAAAAAABI0/uasYtQTj4mA/s400/brandy-300x200.jpg[/img]

Dapo Torimiro is a multi-platinum songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he has worked in the music industry in the US for several years writing and producing music for artists' album projects, touring with numerous artists, as well as scoring various television and film projects. He is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Dapo's big break was placing the song "Quickly" (co-written with Frank Ocean and the award-winning production duo Midi Mafia (50 Cent, Fantasia)) on nine-time Grammy winner John Legend's third studio album, Evolver, which was released in Fall of 2008. Featuring multi-platinum-selling artist Brandy, "Quickly" received early industry buzz as not only an inspired, sleek duet featuring R&B/pop music's leading artists, but also as one of the album's stand-out gems. Dapo, Frank Ocean and Midi Mafia co-wrote (and Dapo/Midi Mafia produced) approximately 20+ songs, some of which were released by Frank as part of his "Lonny Breaux Collection" which includes a demo version of Justin Bieber's "Bigger" (My World) as well as "Bedtime Stories", "Done", "Lights", "Quickly" (Frank's demo version), "Read The Stars", "Standing Still", and "When I'm Done".

Later in the Fall of 2008, Dapo also enjoyed credit for other records, including "Running" (co-written with James Fauntleroy and Midi Mafia) on David Archuleta's self-titled debut album (11 November 2008) – his first since becoming runner-up on American Idol in June 2008—and "Torn Down" (also co-written with James Fauntleroy and Midi Mafia) from Brandy's highly anticipated album, Human (9 December 2008), which she describes as her most personal album to date. In the Spring of 2009, Dapo received songwriter and producer credit for the tracks "Know Better", "Apart From Me", and "This Step Alone" on Fight for Love, the second album by American Idol Season 5 finalist Elliott Yamin, which was released on 5 May 2009. He also received credit for "Forever in You", which was included on the album as an iTunes and Japan bonus track.

Dapo is a Yamaha-endorsed artist. Dapo worked with two-time Grammy-winning producer Jeffrey Weber to record a song for Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign called "Change".

Dapo worked with American Idol winner and Grammy-nominated artist Jordin Sparks on her second album Battlefield on the track titled "No Parade". Dapo wrote and produced the track "No Parade" along with Oscar-nominated songwriting duo Scott Cutler and Anne Preven. "Listen", is sung by Beyoncé Knowles in the 2006 film Dreamgirls. Early reviews of the album have generally been positive with most critics highlighting individual tracks such as "No Parade", which is described as 'breaking your heart even before she gets to the bruising chorus.'.
Dapo was announced as one of the songwriters for the hit Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam along with Kara DioGuardi and others. (Dapo co-wrote, produced and mixed "Fire" performed by Matthew "Mdot" Finley.)

On 30 October 2009, Atlantic Records announced that Dapo will be one of the producers personally chosen by Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Toni Braxton to work on her highly anticipated label debut album (Pulse) to be released 2 February 2010.

Dapo co-wrote and produced the track "Bigger" (with co-writers Frank Ocean and Midi Mafia) on Canadian singer Justin Bieber's first part of his two-part debut studio album, My World, which was released on 17 November 2009, via Island Records. Ashante Infantry of Toronto Star called "Bigger" one of the best tracks on the album.[6] On the week ending 5 December 2009, due to digital sales after the release of My World, "Bigger" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian Hot 100. The song debuted at number forty-nine on the Hot Digital Songs chart in the US, and therefore consecutively appeared at number ninety-four on the Hot 100.

The second part of the album, My World 2.0, on which Dapo co-wrote and produced the track "Overboard" (a duet featuring Jessica Jarrell), was released on 23 March 2010 and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.[8] In less than one month of release, the first part of the album was certified Gold in the United States by the RIAA, and in less than two months (8 January 2010), it was certified Platinum in the United States, by the RIAA[9] selling over one million copies.

Channeling his jazz roots, Dapo produced and recorded songs with Tony Award-winning singer/actress, Anika Noni Rose for Disney's album, The Princess and The Frog: Tiana and Her Princess Friends. The album is inspired by the 2009 Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog and was released on 24 November 2009. The album is the follow-up release in the successful Disney 'And Friends' musical series and features the song "Down in New Orleans" performed by Anika Noni Rose as written by Academy Award-winning composer Randy Newman and produced by Dapo Torimiro. In another Princess and the Frog-inspired album, Bayou Boogie (Release date 3/16/10), Dapo wrote and produced two songs: "Everyday Princess" and "Sing Away Your Blues", both performed by Anika Noni Rose (as Princess Tiana).

Dapo was a featured performer on stage with Andrea Bocelli and David Foster on the PBS Great Performances special, "Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas." The special debuted on Thanksgiving night 2009 with additional broadcasts through the month of December.

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by omobachi(m): 10:37am On Oct 25, 2015
Gina Yashere


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3KftYlX2BA

Gina was born & raised in London UK, of Nigerian parents.
Following an early career as an elevator engineer for Otis, she made her comedy debut at the Edinburgh Festival in 1997.
The show sold out almost immediately and overnight both audiences and critics were smitten.

Gina has been a stand up and TV star in the UK for several years now, with appearances on iconic TV shows such as Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week, as well as creating & performing popular comedic characters on The Lenny Henry Show.

She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on Last Comic Standing (NBC),
where she made it to the final 10,
and then never went home!

Gina went on to be named one of the top 10 rising talents in the Hollywood Reporter.

She is also known in the US for being the only British comedian to ever appear on the iconic Def Comedy Jam, as well as for her regular, hilarious appearances on
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as
Madame Yashere, The Surly Psychic (NBC),
The Nightly Show on Comedy Central,
& and her 1 hour Stand Up Special on Showtime, Skinny B*tch.

Gina has performed for audiences not just
in Europe, the US & Australia, but she is in fact one of the most highly sought after comedians in Asia, making numerous sold out appearances in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia & Hong Kong.

She has also performed numerous times at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and Toronto.

Feature films appearances have included Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Mr. in Between, and She has also appeared on the West-End stage in
The Vagina Monologues.

It’s a wonder she found the time to pick up her 4th award in a row for “Best Female Comedian” at the recent Black Entertainment & Comedy Awards (UK).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPdLCC3S5zw

She has recently shot her 3rd Stand Up Special, Gina Yashere: Ticking Boxes,
which was filmed at the iconic
02 Academy, Brixton in front of over 2000 of her fans.

Gina currently resides in New York

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by anonimi: 10:46am On Oct 25, 2015
Great thread about the success of yoruba/yoruba-related people OUTSIDE their homeland.

Will it not be more interesting to have stories of their CONTRIBUTION to the development of our homeland to INSPIRE others to do likewise

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by omobachi(m): 10:55am On Oct 25, 2015
Lt. Toby Cohen:
The first female officer from Nigeria in the Isreali Army



21-year-old Lieutenant Toby Cohen, 21, was born in Nigeria to a Nigerian mother and Israeli father.

The Israel Defense Forces, more than any other organization, represents Israeli society. Its officers include soldiers from all ethnic, religious and racial backgrounds, men and women, but Israel's first female Nigerian officer, Lieutenant Toby was born in Nigeria to a Nigerian mother and Israeli father; and that makes her the first of Nigerian descent.

Her parents and 8-year-old sister live in the town of Kano in northern Nigeria, while she immigrated to Israel on her own at the age of 17. She serves in the Homefront Command.

"Even when I was 3 years old I knew I wanted to come to Israel. My father was born here and served in the Armor Corps, and our home in Nigeria was full of stories about Israel and the army," she said. "On Rosh Hashana and Passover we would always travel to celebrate with Dad's family in Israel, and as I was getting older I wanted more and more to get to know Israeli culture and strengthen my connection to Israel."

She learned Hebrew and her friends helped her get to know Israeli society more intimately and experience the country more completely. Cohen recalls that when her enlistment day arrived, her father came to accompany her on the special day.

Cohen initially served as an operations sergeant in the Homefront Command, but was later accepted into the officers' training course. "My mother and my entire family attended the officers' graduation ceremony. It is very touching to be the first woman officer from Nigeria in the IDF. Obviously I have fallen in love with Israel. This is my home and I see myself continuing my life here."



Photo credit: Michel Dot Com

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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 11:06am On Oct 25, 2015
Fvck the Igbotic supermod.

These mofos are catching feelings and getting jealous over my posts on here...and they are trying to stop me loool. Biitch arse nyggahs led by Obinoscopy the phaggot. You will get tired of banning...cos I'll unleash 200 hundred variants soon.

I can crash the darn forum and unban myself...don't mess about with someone in the IT field. But the owner will always get a pass cos he's Yoruba. But suck a fat dyck, you little cu.nt.

I should be back with more Yoruba achievers later in the day. Fvck these paigons...I run circles around ya squares.

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by teamchocolate: 11:45am On Oct 25, 2015
@ my comrades who are for the benefit of the southwest,this is too public a forum to talk about those details but you get the general gist... Yorubas first!! In fact by the time we are done, Igbos will go by themselves, we won't even chase them....
Though people of mixed parentage may also be hit.. I guess that's why our elders are afraid.. Ko si Eni to fe sor ko soja, ki o ma ba ba ara ile...Oro naa weighty die..

Aareonakakanfo:




Team chocolate gave a perfect idea though not detailed on how the issue can be solved





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Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by Nobody: 11:55am On Oct 25, 2015
Let me leave this here



To my Yoruba brothers lati Lagos dey Kwara and all over the surface of the earth. I think, despite the igbo's proclivity for behaviours and speeches that creates anger, we should not out of poking fun at them lose our sensibilities.

We should really sit back and think. Many of us get a hard on whenever Biafra is mentioned and we support or say things to thwart its actualization; why do we not want it to succeed? Why the strong support for the Nigerian state that has added little to nothing to us? Where we are having to provide all the basic amenities (water, security, power etc) obtainable even to the poorest folks in saner climes? If the Biafra people in the face of obvious possibility of jail or death can agitate for and identify with Biafra, I think we can either lend them a voice, let them do their thing and stay out of it or we find a course to agitate for. I wonder why we act like Nigeria is the sh!t when in actual sense most of you fall back to bed frustrated about one thing or the other or finding a way to run to other countries.

Nnamdi Kanu might have advocated for violence and said inciting things but then, other secessionist leaders in other countries have not been detained nor denied access to their lawyers for standing for what they stand for, why does everything in Nigeria have to be rough?

I do not think Northerners who have made treasonable statements in the post-2011 elections have ever been arrested or called for questioning and Boko Haram suspects who were caught in the act are not being prosecuted, hasn't Kabiru Sokoto been released? Those who embezzled state funds pre 2015 in the North have not even been touched yet we in the South especially the Swest are always quick to give up our own out of sophistication. Wtf?! Some of us are even calling for Tinubu's head whose existence we should be thankful for regardless of his shortcomings which is human, Obasanjo has not done 1% of what Tinubu has tried to do in and for the SWest.

We should never for once feel comfortable in this union with the North, they have been known to flip when necessary. Remember the 93 saga and the years after how they hounded many of us? Despite the strong support they enjoyed during the last election, see how SW has been shortchanged because we have no 'capable' hands here in the South, only in the North.

Nobody knows what the North is plotting, a time may come when even the Yoruba may become messed up in this useless union with the North and the laughs now may turn to tears.

We should be looking for means to whittle down the power the North weilds in this union that will never favour the south. I think it is time we stood for the cohesion of the SWest and quit kowtowing to the North then spiting on the Igbos who to me are the lesser evil if they're kept within their bounds.

For us here in the SWest, it is about democracy between PDP and APC but for the North, their brotherhood continues outside of and after APC or PDP.

When we go get sense self.

7 Likes

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by anonimi: 11:56am On Oct 25, 2015
teamchocolate:
@ my comrades who are for the benefit of the southwest,this is too public a forum to talk about those details but you get the general gist... Yorubas first!! In fact by the time we are done, Igbos will go by themselves, we won't even chase them....


I guess the Americans, Britons, Israelis etc that have created the enabling environment for the yoruba-related people to succeed should also make them 'go by themselves'.

When you point one finger at others, your remaining four fingers are pointing BACK at you, not so

When shall we black people wise up?



[img]https://www.nairaland.com/avatars/dmu038nc61mmai4li3hg7qlywqu46xtl1272873[/img]
Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by teamchocolate: 12:20pm On Oct 25, 2015
You are the one who is stupid... Abeg face your front retard!!!


Who is talking to you sef? And what are you doing on this thread.. are you yoruba.. pls go and create your own thread...


Btw Americans, britons and Israelis you mention are for self-preservation... in america, Americans come first.. if your not American in america ur on a long thing.. this is the last time I will quote u, I don't have time for Igbos..


anonimi:



I guess the Americans, Britons, Israelis etc that have created the enabling environment for the yoruba-related people to succeed should also make them 'go by themselves'.

When you point one finger at others, your remaining four fingers are pointing BACK at you, not so

When shall we black people wise up?



[img]https://www.nairaland.com/avatars/dmu038nc61mmai4li3hg7qlywqu46xtl1272873[/img]

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Yoruba Commonwealth and Politics by WIZGUY69(m): 12:27pm On Oct 25, 2015
Aareonakakanfo:




Hahaha these measures are too obvious and they appear too direct.


-Building shopping malls accross the south-west is a better alternative

-Generally they thrive in lawless environments, they're like mexicans so state police is also a good option

-Like i said in my previous comment,all subjects in south-west schools should be taught in Yoruba language.Anyone who's not comfortable with that can go back to his/her cave

These are the subtle measures i can think of right now



grin. That would be kinda weird.
I am comfortable with the present situation ; where Yoruba is a compulsory subject in SW secondary schools.

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