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Prof Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Oluwole Soyinka, today,
opened up on his health status, saying he was
diagnosed of cancer last December.
But an expert and Founder of African Cancer
Centre, Lagos, Prof. Olu Williams, quickly
assured Soyinka that he would “not die of
cancer.”

Williams, who revealed that Soyinka had the
disease because of his old age, said the
playwright will only “die with the ailment.”
Soyinka, who revealed his cancer status at a
press conference at the June 12 Cultural
Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said he had
decided to open up so as to create awareness
about cancer disease and to help people take
measures to prevent it or seek prompt medical
attention for cure.
The Nobel Laureate said he survived the silent
killer disease because of early detection,
treatment and proper dieting, adding that it
has also dawned on him that the family has a
history of cancer ailment.
He noted that his initial reaction when it
dawned on that he has cancer was to see it as
one of those challenges and nuisance that
should be dealt with, adding that a time he
considered it “an unwanted squatter in his
body and had to get rid of it whether it is a
slow growing one or malignant.”
Although, “Kongi”, who showed a crest to
attest to his surviving the disease, did not
reveal to reporters the nature of the cancer he
was treated for, his son, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka,
who is also the Commissioner for Health in
Ogun State, later told The Nation his father
was treated for “prostate cancer.”

Angelina Jolie has confirmed she is
retiring from acting.
The Hollywood star, who won an Oscar
for Girl Interrupted, said she did not enjoy
being the centre of attention and intended
to move permanently behind the camera
and she wants to concentrate on writing
and directing.
“I’ve never been comfortable as an actor;
I’ve never loved being in front of the
camera,” Jolie said in an interview
with Du Jour magazine.
“I didn’t ever think I could direct, but I
hope I’m able to have a career at it
because I’m much happier.”
Jolie is currently promoting her new film,
Unbroken, about Olympic runner and US
airman Louis Zamperini, who spent 47
days living on a raft after a plane crash
and survived two years as a Japanese
prisoner of war.
The 39-year-old actress made her
directorial debut in 2007 with the
documentary, A Place in Time, followed
up by the harrowing feature film, In
the Land of Blood and Honey in 2011
about the Bosnian war.
She recently signed up to direct Africa, a
biopic of Kenyan politician and
conservationist Richard Leakey.
Jolie said earlier this year that her
appearance as Cleopatra in an impending
biopic of the Egyptian queen could be her
final acting role.
Jolie, who met Zamperini shortly before
his death at the age of 97 last year,
fought to make the film, the rights of
which were sold to Universal Pictures
more than 50 years ago.
When the director told her husband, actor
Brad Pitt, that she was interested in the
script, he said: “‘Oh, honey, that project
has been around forever.’?”
Jolie said: “I fought for it for months… I
felt I needed to go on that journey, that it
would make me a better person if I could.
I was begging not only to be the director-
I was begging to have the opportunity to
spend two years of my life focused on
Louie Zamperini.”

In those days in the Nigerian music scene, you are not
considered a bonafide musician until you have an
album to your name.
Now, the story has changed as we have artistes who are
yet to release their first albums, but already have
massive hits, huge fan base and commanding high
performance fees. An album takes an artiste out of the
rookie zone and serves as the approval the artiste needs
to prove their mettle.
This report highlights 8 Nigerian artistes who have hit
songs but are yet to release an album.
Skales
At a time when his former record label refused to renew
his contract and wasn’t seen as a good business deal,
Skales soared above the rejection, scaled through the
obstacles and fine -tuned his craft .The youngster
signed a new deal with Baseline records, became more
visually appealing and jarred our ear drums with the
wonderful song Shake Body which now has a French
version. It is unbelievable that Skales is yet to release an
album, but the fact remains that he is gradually
making himself an irresistible artiste.
Praiz
Even though Praiz is gradually switching from the RnB
genre he is known for, his talent and versatility is
however not in doubt. The success of his reggae themed
hit song Rich and Famous , shot him up, winning him
fans who are reggae inclined .As the year is running to
an end, there is no better time for praiz to fete his fans
with his debut album than now.
Orezi
While we wonder why Orezi is yet to release his debut
album, the artiste who once proclaimed he has a crush
on Rihanna and dedicated a song to her, dominated
the airwaves with two hot singles Rihanna and Shoki.
Even though the songs  have been said to lack depth
by music veterans, Orezi makes up for it with his energy,
stage craft and delivery. Shoki made him one of the
most sought after artistes of 2014.
Mc Galaxy
The name Mc Galaxy may possibly not  really ring a
bell amongst music lovers, but whenever his hit song
Sekem is being played accompanied by the dance
steps ,people get their groove on. What makes this song
a hit perhaps is the bubbly beat, bass line and his
melodious delivery on the song. Though, the singer cum
comedian is yet to release an album, he has been able
to define what a hit song sounds like.
Cynthia Morgan
Fast-rising pop artiste  Cynthia Morgan, whose groovy
hit song Don’t break my heart has been welcomed with
loads of airplays is one artiste who doesn’t just flaunt
her talent but also her sensuality. Don’t Break My Heart
is a fast-paced contemporary highlife song termed as
her claim to fame. She is signed on to Jude Okoye’s
Northside  Music Inc. Her work ethic has seen her being
nominated in three categories for BEN TV Awards 2014
and also in 2 categories for Nigeria Entertainment
Awards (NEA). She has done all these without an
album.
Seyi Shay
The beautiful and artistic Seyi Shay burst into the
Nigerian music scene when she released her song Irawo,
laying claim to the fact that she is a star who has
come to take her place. Even though the Murda crooner
is yet to fully go mainstream with her music, the
success of her semi hit song Murda; featuring
Patoraking and Shaydee gives her the super star status.
She is a brand ambassador to Baccardi Breezer and
toured major cities of the world even though she has no
album to her credit.
Patoraking
The pop singer released his highly successful and
commercial hit song Girlie O this year which made him
a toast of show promoters. Years back, Patoraking was
just a greenhorn in the music terrain. Today, the
story has changed, as he is undoubtedly one of the
most featured artistes of 2014. He has made songs with
A- listers like M.I, Timaya and Tiwa Savage. What
makes him the rave of the moment is perhaps his reggae
styled delivery. No show seems to be complete without
Patoraking’s name on the menu. If he has an album it
must still be forming in his head.
Zaina
Since she returned to Nigeria,
the Soul Musik first lady has continually been dishing
out songs, striving to make her mark in the music
industry. This year, she surprised everyone with the
release of her massive Afrobeat inspired song Sarewale.
Zaina’s growing confidence, sex appeal and voice texture
makes this song one of the biggest songs of 2014. Her
fans gladly anticipate the release of her album.
Lil Kesh
Ololade Keshinro, known as Lil Kesh is a fast-rising
indigenous rapper signed on to YBNL Olamide’s record
label. Though the Olamide protégé is yet to finally
create his own unique style and punchlines,the
youngster made 2014 a remarkable year for his fans
when he took advantage of the Shoki craze and made
a song out of it just like Orezi. Having done two
different versions of the song, featuring top guns like
Davido, Olamide and Chidinma, Lil kesh is
progressively stamping  his stage craft on the Nigerian
music terrain but still a long shot from having his
debut

Vanguard

I remember months ago I reported that Nigerian
singer — Terry G, was going into the pure water
business.
The famous producer, singer and now
businessman has finally made it happen and
is working hard to make his name known in
the pure water business.
Sources close to him disclosed that Terry G is
currently making millions with his sachet water
business and visits his factory very often.