The long awaited Nintendo Switch console hits the markets

By Jude Melea Moses
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The long awaited Nintendo Switch game console hits markets yesterday, 3 March 2017 as earlier said by the management of this Japan’s gaming giant, Nintendo.
While game lovers are seen in games stores in Japan, the UK and US eager to feel this new gaming tech, game lovers in Nigeria can’t wait to buy this console.

Be it at home or on the move, the new gaming machine comprises a tablet and controllers that could be used as a handheld device or home console.
“I can’t wait to buy my own Switch console” a fan of Nintendo, 15 year old Albert Alfred in Abuja is on his way to making his order on the console.

Previously code-named NX, the price on the Switch Console in the US is $299.99, £279.99 in the UK and 29.980 yen in Japan.

With the Nigerian Naira becoming a slave to the US Dollar video games lover are certain that the economic recession that had earlier seen the naira rising to more than 500 to a dollar, will definitely burn a hold in most pockets when buying this gaming machine.  

According to a report on the BBC, that the stakes are high for the Japanese firm after its most recent console, the Wii U, failed to replicate the success of the original Wii.  

Chimamanda elected into US Academy of Arts and Letters

Award winning Nigerian Author, Chimamanda Ngozi- Adichie has been elected into the American Academy of Arts and Letters as a foreign honorary member.

According to a press release by the Academy on http://artsandletters.org , the honorary members will be inducted at the annual induction in May.

This induction will make Chimamanda the second Nigerian to be inducted into the academy after Wole Soyinka, a Nobel laureate, was inducted in 1986.

The Academy explained that Chimamanda will be honoured alongside 14 others.

“When the American Academy of Arts and Letters holds its annual induction and award ceremony in mid-May, Calvin Trillin, secretary, will induct fourteen members into the 250-person organisation and Yehudi Wyner, president will induct three foreign honorary members.”

The objective of the Academy include to “foster and sustain an interest in Literature, Music, and the Fine Arts” by administering over 70 awards and prizes, exhibiting art and manuscripts, funding performances of new works of musical theatre, and purchasing artwork for donation to museums across the country.

Some of her previous awards include, Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2007 (Half of a yellow Sun); The MacArthur Fellowship 2008 for Fiction and The PEN Open Book Award, 2007 (Half of a Yellow Sun).

-NAN

Riz Ahmed: people will turn to ISIS due to lack of diverse movie roles

British actor Riz Ahmed issued a warning to the entertainment industry.

The actor said a lack of diversity in television and movies in the U.K. could cause people to "retreat to fringe narratives, to bubbles online and sometimes even off to Syria."

The actor, while addressing British Parliament, said the U.K. has failed to represent minorities on screen.

"If we fail to represent, we are in danger of losing people to extremism," Ahmed claimed.

The 34-year-old rose to fame in 2016 with major roles in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," "Jason Bourne" and HBO's "The Night Of."

"If we don't step up and tell a representative story. .. we are going to start losing British teenagers to the story that the next chapter in their lives is written with ISIS in Syria," he told Parliament. "We are going to see the murder of more [members of Parliament] like Jo Cox because we've been mis-sold a story that is so narrow about who we are and who we should be."

Ahmed, whose parents moved to England from Pakistan in the 1970s, said actors like him have been forced to move to America in order to find acting roles.

"We end up going to America to find work. I meet with producers and directors here, and they say ‘we don’t have anything for you, all our stories are set in Cornwall in the 1600s."

Arnold Schwarzenegger to 'Celebrity Apprentice:' I won't be back

Arnold Schwarzenegger has terminated his involvement with "Celebrity Apprentice."

Schwarzenegger said in an interview that he's riding off into the sunset after hosting a single season of the reality show, a lawyer for the actor told Fox News.

The news comes after Schwarzenegger's stint on the NBC show was plagued by poor ratings and recent reports that sponsors were ending their relationships with the show because of its continued links to it its former host, President Donald Trump, who remains a credited producer.

The "Terminator" star said he would not return to the show even if if he was asked to return, but NBC has yet to announce if they will even be renewing the show. The network did not return Fox News' request for comment.

"With Trump being involved in the show people have a bad taste and don't want to participate as a spectator or as a sponsor or in any other way support the show," Schwarzenegger told EmpireOnline.com. "It's a very divisive period now and I think this show got caught up in all that division."

The Wrap reported that half of the show's sponsors have bailed out after recent boycott threats. An online campaign called #GrabYourWallet, which is encouraging sponsors to pass on the reality TV series due to President Trump’s involvement, reportedly prompted six of the series’ 12 corporate backers from last season to not return.

"When people found out that Trump was still involved as executive producer and was still receiving money from the show, then half the people [started] boycotting it," Schwarzenegger said.

While Trump no longer hosts “Celebrity Apprentice,” he does hold the title of executive producer. His spokesperson Hope Hicks confirmed in 2016 that Trump also maintained a financial interest in the franchise.

-FOX

Oscars 2017: Complete list of winners

The 89th Academy Awards (Oscars) took place on Sunday, honoring the best in film. “La La Land,” tied the all-time record with 14 nominations. Viola Davis won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. With her Oscar win, Davis puts herself one step closer to a possibility of an EGOT (an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony). With the win for her work in the 2016 film “Fences,” Davis already has an Emmy, two Tonys, five Screen Actors Guild awards, a Golden Globe and now an Oscar. Congratulations to her and other winners. Full list of winners after the cut..

Best picture:
“Arrival”
“Fences”
“Hacksaw Ridge”
“Hell or High Water”
“Hidden Figures”
“La La Land”
“Lion”
“Manchester by the Sea”
“Moonlight” (WINNER)

Lead actor:

Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea” (WINNER)
Andrew Garfield, “Hacksaw Ridge”
Ryan Gosling, “La La Land,”
Viggo Mortensen, “Captain Fantastic”
Denzel Washington, “Fences”

Lead actress:
Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”
Ruth Negga, “Loving”
Natalie Portman, “Jackie”
Emma Stone, “La La Land” (WINNER)
Meryl Streep, “Florence Foster Jenkins”

Supporting actor:
Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight” (WINNER)
Jeff Bridges, “Hell or High Water”
Lucas Hedges, “Manchester by the Sea”
Dev Patel, “Lion”
Michael Shannon, “Nocturnal Animals”

Supporting actress:
Viola Davis, “Fences” (WINNER)
Naomie Harris, “Moonlight”
Nicole Kidman, “Lion”
Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures”
Michelle Williams, “Manchester by the Sea”

Best director:
“La La Land,” Damien Chazelle (WINNER)
“Hacksaw Ridge,” Mel Gibson
“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins
“Manchester by the Sea,” Kenneth Lonergan
“Arrival,” Denis Villeneuve

Animated feature:
“Kubo and the Two Strings,” Travis Knight and Arianne Sutner
“Moana,” John Musker, Ron Clements and Osnat Shurer
“My Life as a Zucchini,” Claude Barras and Max Karli
“The Red Turtle,” Michael Dudok de Wit and Toshio Suzuki
“Zootopia,” Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer (WINNER)

Animated short:
“Blind Vaysha,” Theodore Ushev
“Borrowed Time,” Andrew Coats and Lou Hamou-Lhadj
“Pear Cider and Cigarettes,” Robert Valley and Cara Speller
“Pearl,” Patrick Osborne
“Piper,” Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer (WINNER)

Adapted screenplay:
“Arrival,” Eric Heisserer
“Fences,” August Wilson
“Hidden Figures,” Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi
“Lion,” Luke Davies
“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins; Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney (WINNER)

Original screenplay:
“20th Century Women,” Mike Mills
“Hell or High Water,” Taylor Sheridan
“La La Land,” Damien Chazelle
“The Lobster,” Yorgos Lanthimos, Efthimis Filippou
“Manchester by the Sea,” Kenneth Lonergan (WINNER)

Cinematography:
“Arrival,” Bradford Young
“La La Land,” Linus Sandgren (WINNER)
“Lion,” Greig Fraser
“Moonlight,” James Laxton
“Silence,” Rodrigo Prieto

Best documentary feature:
“13th,” Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick and Howard Barish
“Fire at Sea,” Gianfranco Rosi and Donatella Palermo
“I Am Not Your Negro,” Raoul Peck, Remi Grellety and Hebert Peck
“Life, Animated,” Roger Ross Williams and Julie Goldman
“O.J.: Made in America,” Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow (WINNER)

Best documentary short subject:
“4.1 Miles,” Daphne Matziaraki
“Extremis,” Dan Krauss
“Joe’s Violin,” Kahane Cooperman and Raphaela Neihausen
“Watani: My Homeland,” Marcel Mettelsiefen and Stephen Ellis
“The White Helmets,” Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna Natasegara (WINNER)

Best live action short film:
“Ennemis Interieurs,” Selim Azzazi
“La Femme et le TGV,” Timo von Gunten and Giacun Caduff
“Silent Nights,” Aske Bang and Kim Magnusson
“Sing,” Kristof Deak and Anna Udvardy (WINNER)

“Timecode,” Juanjo Gimenez

Best foreign language film:

“A Man Called Ove,” Sweden
“Land of Mine,” Denmark
“Tanna,” Australia
“The Salesman,” Iran (WINNER)
“Toni Erdmann,” Germany

Film editing:
“Arrival,” Joe Walker
“Hacksaw Ridge,” John Gilbert (WINNER)
“Hell or High Water,” Jake Roberts
“La La Land,” Tom Cross
“Moonlight,” Nat Sanders and Joi McMillon

Sound editing: 
“Arrival,” Sylvain Bellemare (WINNER)
“Deep Water Horizon,” Wylie Stateman and Renee Tondelli
“Hacksaw Ridge,” Robert Mackenzie and Andy Wright
“La La Land,” Ai-Ling Lee and Mildred Iatrou Morgan
“Sully,” Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman

Sound mixing:
“Arrival,” Bernard Gariepy Strobl and Claude La Haye
“Hacksaw Ridge,” Kevin O’Connell, Andy Wright, Robert Mackenzie and Peter Grace (WINNER)
“La La Land,” Andy Nelson, Ai-Ling Lee and Steve A. Morrow
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” David Parker, Christopher Scarabosio and Stuart Wilson

Production design:
“Arrival,” Patrice Vermette, Paul Hotte
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Stuart Craig, Anna Pinnock
“Hail, Caesar!,” Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh
“La La Land,” David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds-Wasco (WINNER)
“Passengers,” Guy Hendrix Dyas, Gene Serdena

Original score:
“Jackie,” Mica Levi
“La La Land,” Justin Hurwitz (WINNER)
“Lion,” Dustin O’Halloran and Hauschka
“Moonlight,” Nicholas Britell
“Passengers,” Thomas Newman

Original song:
“Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” “La La Land” — Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
“Can’t Stop the Feeling,” “Trolls” — Music and Lyric by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster
“City of Stars,” “La La Land” — Music by Justin Hurwitz; Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (WINNER)
“The Empty Chair,” “Jim: The James Foley Story” — Music and Lyric by J. Ralph and Sting
“How Far I’ll Go,” “Moana” — Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Makeup and hair:
“A Man Called Ove,” Eva von Bahr and Love Larson
“Star Trek Beyond,” Joel Harlow and Richard Alonzo
“Suicide Squad,” Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio Gregorini and Christopher Nelson (WINNER)

Costume design:
“Allied,” Joanna Johnston
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Colleen Atwood (WINNER)
“Florence Foster Jenkins,” Consolata Boyle
“Jackie,” Madeline Fontaine
“La La Land,” Mary Zophres

Visual effects:
“Deepwater Horizon,” Craig Hammack, Jason Snell, Jason Billington and Burt Dalton
“Doctor Strange,” Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, Vincent Cirelli and Paul Corbould
“The Jungle Book,” Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew R. Jones and Dan Lemmon (WINNER)
“Kubo and the Two Strings,” Steve Emerson, Oliver Jones, Brian McLean and Brad Schiff
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” John Knoll, Mohen Leo, Hal Hickel and Neil Corbould

Personality of the Week: JUSSY J

JUSSY J

PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK. SAMBISA REPORTS

JUSSY J
JUSSY J in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Japhet Jussy Hassan
Born	November 22 Yola, Nigeria
Genres	Christian Raggae
Occupation(s)	·           ·         songwriter ·         record producer ·         music executive ·         graphic artiste ·         entrepreneur
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Cloud9 musik, Tok89 ent
Associated acts	Enzyme, Ibi Dave, Rotgak Kassem ·         Autan Zaki, BOC Madaki Maupheen, Braveheart, Mr. Trust, T-Klex Brendan, Bigdelymo, Martino El-Casino

Japhet Jussy Hassan, mononymously known as Jussy J, is a Northern-based Nigerian artist, songwriter, record producer and graphic artiste. He is the president of the independent record label Sauteen Arewa ent, and the CEO of DanSarki visuals. To date, he has released five studio albums as a solo artist, and has supervised the release of other singles as the leader of the group Cloud9 Musik.

Jussy J received nominations for the best song with a message for his hit 'JEJE' at TopNaija Awards, 2016. His credits as a graphic artiste includes the post-production for BOC’s ‘Chill Bros’ Music video (2-17) and Richard Alhassan’s directed gospel drama ‘LOUDEST VOICE (2016).. In the social sphere, Jussy has demonstrated a commitment to the pursuance of good governance and had thrown is support to ONE VOICE NIGERIA during it peaceful protest on March 6^th in Nigeria.

He is currently under a management contract with Tok86 Int'l owned by stelwart Mr. Tokkida Semlek

Early life and call

During an exclusive interview in January 2017 with ArewaJamz, Jussy said '' Well, it started at a very tender age. @10 I was a member of Sunday school choir at COCIN Railway Bauchi. It was an awesome moment then. I give God the glory that am still holding onto my call''

Professionally, I was there for about three years before I came out with my first album (which was released way back 2003) It was tough at the beginning; you hardly get people to support you. I remember it was only my big sister (MRS ESTHER DIMAS) that was supportive; my first studio bills were paid by her. My dad was totally against it, we had series of conflicts because I choose music. But I thank God; today daddy happens to be my supper fan. So it’s getting better now.

JUSSY J

Kalangu (2015)

During the closing months of the year 2014, Jussy J teamed up with ace producer Mr. Trust who produced the title track of his 5^th studio album. Unlike his previous projects, Jussy went predominantly pop on this album and laced most of the tracks with live instruments and amazing vocal rendition.

With some selected features, Kalangu enjoyed massive airplay upon release in the first quarter of 2015 around the country notably in Kaduna, Abuja, Jos, Yola, Gombe and Bauchi topping charts including Top10 on 94.6fm in Bauchi for weeks running.

KALANGU ALBUM ART

Dansarki (2017)

Early in January, 2017 Jussy J announced through social media that his sixth studio album would be titled Dan Sarki (son of the King) bringing an end to a long term puzzle as to the title of Dan Sarki he took up using at the latter stages of 2016.

ALBUM ART FOR UPCOMING ALBUM 'DanSarki'

DanSarki Visuals

Under the visual label, Jussy has produced album arts for nearly all the major artistes from the North and has also made movie premier banners for several productions aside from logos designed for corporate bodies.

His other credits include the post production for BOC's Chill Bros (official video) as well as the christian short film Loudest Voice Directed Northern sensation Richard Al-hassan.

OFFICIAL LOGO OF DANSARKI VISUALS

Style of Music

Singing in both English language and Hausa, Jussy J described his kind of music as a fusion of traditional Hausa style of using the talking drum popularly known as Kalangu with modern instruments producing a unique melody. Hence he came to be known as the KALANGU MASTER due to his prowess on the traditional instrument of sound.

A number of his studio records have been live-recorded as evident in his Kalangu album.

Kalangu was noted for its stylistic diversity were he combined rock, pop and a rare fusion of hip-hop particularly on his love song featuring Rap king BOC Madaki ‘Ke kadai’, a song he has had to defend in several interviews after he came under criticism for singing with a secular artiste.

He once remarked '' Well I love Reggae not for anything but because Reggae has been my first love. It Reggae music that got me inspired to write song. Talking about the pattern of music am into, I think I do virtually all patterns. Just as the Holy spirit leads.

On Jeje, the award-winning hit, Jussy and Mr. Trust notably slowed down and created a song that drew comparison to Bob Marley’s deep form of music.

JUSSY WITH HIS TRADEMARK LOCAL DRUM 'KALANGU'

Kloud 9 Musique- Dan Sarki Empire (2013-present)

In 2013, Jussy J brought together Daniel Abbo (The Enzyme), Brenda Ayuba (Brenda), and Tino Timna (LadieKatino) forming  Kloud 9 Musique. Working with other producers, he supervised the talents and offered them a platform to showcase their gifts.

In 2016, Jussy J announced that henceforth Kloud 9 will be incorporated into his newly enlarged Sauteen Arewa Ent (Dan Sarki Empire) where more artistes will be sign.

Dan Sarki Empire  MUSIK FAMILY

Choosing gospel music

Jussy J declared'' The impact gospel music is making now can be likened to a scenario where God is pulling man to himself. There is something in every man that desires God though unbelievers are rebelling against their maker. However, gospel music is gaining grounds because much more people are accepting the importance of God in their daily lives. So the gospel industry has gone higher. So it’s all about God increasing our chances and circle of influence too, and people are being drawn to him and accepting him like never before, we are winning!

We need more hands to lift the banner of Christ! Let me make clarion call to the most influential personnel in the Christian vault, come and invest in the young talents, let’s take the gospel to the level. Many of us have countless ideas but the fund is not there. Make use of your wealth for the kingdom business. There’s no lost at all.

WORKING IN A STUDIO

Influences

Regarding which musical artists have influenced him, Jussy J, has repeatedly mentioned in interviews the likes of Jeremiah Gyang, Earnest Dades, Tuface Idibia and has also been heavily influenced by international acts like Mali Music and Lacrae.

JUSSY J ON SET OF A TV INTERVIEW IN YOLA

Social activism                                                                                                                              

Jussy J supported Nigeria’s pop star Tuface Idibia when he proposed to lead the ONE VOICE NIGERIA protest against the Nigerian government’s handling of the economy on febuary 6^th 2017.

He aslo acively participated in the social media campaign for the release of Chocolate music CEO Audu Maikori when the Msi executive was controversially detained over comments made on facebook by nigeria’s security agents.

Above all, Jussy J has constantly advocated for an end to the crisis in southern kaduna that has destroyed a lot of lives and properties

‘there is no alternative to peace’ he constantly says

JUSSY J 

Personal life

With an ever smiling and cheerful countenance, Jussy J currently resides in his north-east Nigeria hometown of Yola from where he frequently travels all over the country wherever ministry calls.

During his leisure periods, Jussy spends time interacting with his fans over his social media handles of facebook and instagram.

He is in a relationship with Jennifer John whom he has many times professed love for on his facebook page.

JUSSY J

Discography

(albums)

Makiyayi na (My shepherd)- 2003

Wazobia (2006)

Hakin Zunubi (wages of sin)- 2009

Water to wine- 2013

Kallangu- 2015

Dan Sarki -(unreleased) 2017 

Recent Collabos

Ke kadai ft Boc Madaki

Mean to be ft Mista Darsh

Godiya ft Johny T

Emmanul ft Sems

Dogara ft Enzymes

Heaven ft Bigdelymo

Kaine Jehovah ft Ladiekatino

Na kwapsa ft Hezaco

I am sorry ft Martino El-Casino

Bend down low ft Bigdelymo

Awards and nominations

Jussy J has won many music awards over the space of his career, including Adamawa entertainment awards 2015- Kalangu won best pop album of the year

TopNaija Awards 2016- Jeje Best Song with a message

Best Arewa Song 214 at GOM AWARDS Kaduna 2014- Kalangu

MEGA AWARDS 2015 Lagos- Kalangu as Best indigenous Song of the Year

MEGA AWARDS 2015  Molo da Garaya as Best Hip-Hop Song 215

Gallery