Entertainment
I faced lots of bullying as a child due to my skin colour –Shan George
GODFREY GEORGE, veteran actress, Shan George speaks about her growing up and acting career
You have been a strong force in Nollywood for almost three decades. What has kept you going over these many years?
I would say that the Lord has been my strength. The desire to be able to speak out in defence of justice and to contribute any little I can towards the betterment of society is what drives me.
How have you managed to stay relevant over these years?
First of all, I have been in the industry since 1996. That would be about 26 years. Staying relevant is something that has to do with your input in the industry. I drink, eat, sleep this industry. So, it is hard for someone like me not to be relevant. I have not for one day said I wanted to diversify or do something else. It has been acting. My life is this industry. You know, as a woman, when you get married and start having kids, you may leave the scene for a while. But being relevant just has to come with some sacrifice. Even when I was not making money from acting, I have always been there. I also try to upgrade myself by reading books and attending acting academies. The better you get, the more the demand for you in the industry.
In your years of acting, directing, and producing, you must have had some challenges. How did you tackle such challenges?
The thing is that I am an only child. I have always been an independent person. I started fending for myself when I was in Primary Six. I was always bullied in school. So, as I grew up, it was like I fortified myself against all these negative vibes and people who just want to see others down. I have, over the years, always been known to fight my own battles. I have no big sister or brother who can help me fight my battles. That was basically what prepared me for the bullies in the industry. I am also a very liberal-minded person. I don’t react to things immediately. That is why it would be hard to see me in the web of transferred aggression. When people lash out at me, I try to understand first, their state of mind before responding to them. That is how I have been able to survive.
There have been many transitions in the movie industry since Nollywood began in the 90s. What are some of the beautiful memories you have carried with you?
There are many beautiful memories. I don’t even know where to start. Every set I have been on, every movie I have made, every colleague of mine I have had to work with within this industry left a beautiful memory with me. I have worked with very good and cooperating directors and colleagues. Worthy of mention is (the late) Sadiq Daba. He is one of those people I would say gave me good tutelage in the industry. He was harsh in a fatherly way. He set the foundation or lead I was expected to go on. He disciplined a lot of us to be stronger. He gave me some beautiful memories while we were working at the Nigerian Television Authority.
Looking at the transitions the industry has been through, what are some of the major differences in storytelling and quality of actors you have seen working on set of the 90s and what is obtainable now?
Some of the equipment used at that time and what we have now are very different. The cameras are so better now. We now have what we call Retro and others. The quality of actors is also improving. When we started, people never took us seriously. People didn’t see us people who had a job. I remember my mother once called me for an early morning meeting. She woke me up from sleep, sat me down and asked me if it was ‘drama’ I wanted to do after graduating from the university. Even in the colleges then, most of them did not offer Theatre Art. There were a lot of parents that would never allow their parents to study Theatre Art. They saw acting as a degrading kind of job. They never knew what went on behind the scenes, where the main work goes on. So, I would say it has improved. Now, you would hear parents telling you to come teach their children how to act. One met me and said I should register his kids in my film academy. The acting has also improved a lot because so many people now are into the business of teaching acting. The Internet is also there and it gives people the opportunity to watch established acts do monologues and all that. You will also watch on YouTube how a lot of stuff has improved. Technology has also improved and there are a lot of dynamics to acting now.
The storytelling has also gone deeper; interpretation has become more serious. You now know that if you get a script and do not deliver on it, they would drop you because so many people are in line waiting (to take the role). I like the competition now. It is like writing an exam. If you fail, you have failed. In acting, especially now, whatever bribery you have done doesn’t matter in front of the camera. People are taking it (acting) more seriously, so the quality of the movies has improved.
Have you always known you would be an actress?
I never knew I would be an actress. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a lawyer, the reason being that I come from a community that bullied me when I was growing up because of the colour of my skin. I have a very light complexion, so they would mock me and call me ‘Oyibo’. I was the only Oyibo before the other Oyibos began to come along. They picked on me a lot so I used to tell myself I would become a lawyer so I would put all of them, who were making my life miserable, in prison. There were a lot of things that shaped my mind that made it desirable for me to become a lawyer. But I didn’t pass the exam then, so I resorted to Mass Communication. When I got admission into the University of Lagos to study Mass Communication, I didn’t have anybody that would help me. So, I needed money to pay my fees. That was how this acting thing started. Someone took me to NTA and introduced me to Sadiq Daba. That was how I got a ‘waka pass’ role. Then, I became a Personal Assistant on set. I did all this at that time just because I was looking for a way to earn a living and not really because I thought about the job so much. I just needed money for my school fees and other expenses. As time went on, I started meeting people and began to like the whole thing. It became like a family then in NTA. Then, a lady, Blessing, told me to accompany her to a movie audition in Maryland, Lagos, held by Emeka Ossai. When we got there and Ossai saw me, he simply said, “This is the Joan we have been looking for.” I was shocked. He asked if I could play the role of Joan. I had just done a few ‘waka passes’ in Nollywood and honestly, I thought it was getting too serious. I didn’t trust myself, so I started laughing. I told the lady who took me there that I wasn’t sure I could do it. She encouraged me that I could. That movie was titled ‘Thorns of Rose’ and it was directed by Fred Amata. There were a lot of big actors on the set and it was a really beautiful experience. I was paid N20, 000. I became a big girl in school. That was how it all started. From there, I got another role for another movie and another one and another one.
Who did you inherit your complexion from, your father or mother?
My mom was fair. I think it was from her I got this fair complexion.
Do you think your skin gives you some kind of privilege or edge in the industry?
Honestly, when people say this, I wonder what they mean. Being fair or light-skinned, for me, has not made the road smoother at all. It has been the same thing darker people have had to face that I have also faced in my career path. I cannot relate when people say I have had a good run only because I am light-skinned. May be that is why many people go the extra length to be like us and end up spoiling their God-given skin.
It would appear that fate was at play when you couldn’t get admission to study Law and had to settle for Mass Communication, which led you into acting, a field in which you have achieved so much. Looking back, do you still regret not studying Law?
I studied Mass Communication, so I would be a journalist. That is the closest to being a lawyer. At least, I can always speak up for the voiceless (as a journalist). But when acting came, it became the ultimate. I have no regrets. I have had a good run in my acting career, and I won’t trade it for anything.
Did your mom eventually accept your decision to be an actress, having earlier expressed reservations about it?
As a student then, my mom never took me seriously because she didn’t think it was what I wanted to do for a living. She wasn’t bothered. I too was trying to be a good journalist. I didn’t think I was going to graduate and enter Nollywood. I just felt it was something I would do only for some time. By the time I finished school, I did a project titled ‘All for Winnie’. This was the first movie I produced in the 90s. One of the reasons that pushed me into producing, besides the fact that my Head of Department was very encouraging, was the fact that the man-know-man matter in the industry was just too much. It is either the man-know-man or the conditional-role-giving that came along with it. I just decided that I didn’t have time for all that. I was able to raise some funds and got a student loan and did that movie. When I left school, I did another one before I did ‘Made in Heaven’ and others.
It was after I graduated that my mother began to properly ask me if drama was what I wanted to do. I told her that it was drama I wanted to do. One day, when I bought her some good rice and chicken, I chuckled and told her, “As you dey enjoy this chicken now, na that drama o!” She also began to laugh.
You seem very fond of your mother. What is that thing you miss about your childhood with her?
My mother is an awesome woman. She recently passed (on) and I am even still mourning. I miss living rent-free as a child. I miss shouting that I was hungry and people would rally to send food to me. I miss eating free food. Adulthood is such a scam! I miss my mom so much. It has always been the two of us since my dad passed. I never knew much about my dad though. I only have tiny patches of memories about him until he passed (away).
Would you like to speak of any tough moment in your career?
I remember going for auditions that I was sure I did well but I was not chosen. The role would be given to some family member or so (of the producer or director). Another challenge was the fact that when I started I was in school, so it was hard combining schoolwork with acting. Sometimes, I would forget my lines because they clashed with schoolwork I had to do. Also, when we started, there was no GSM, so it was hard to know where there was casting. Then, we would wake up in the morning and go to National Theatre. It was tough.
What was your first day acting like?
My mouth was shaking like I had yellow fever. I didn’t have that confidence in myself. That did a very bad trick on my brain. But I had a couple of friends who cheered me on.
You have grown-up sons who you gave birth to very early in your life. Was it hard for you to manage them and your career?
It was not an uphill task. I look at those days now and I smile. I remember one time I was down with typhoid and I had my sons around me. They literally carried me. When we walk together people think they are my bouncers or bodyguards. It is so overwhelming. Being a mother comes with a lot of worrying to be sure your kids are fine. Keeping the decorum and following it up with the teachings so they can turn out as good citizens is a struggle. With the rate of insecurity in the country, the worry is a lot.
Your son, Deloi, in an interview, said his life and that of his brothers got better after your break-up with their dad. How has it been raising these children? Did you do it all by yourself?
I never raised them all by myself. My ex and I had to make sure we raised them together. He is married now but we still raise the kids together. We have a good rapport because of the kids. He paid all the bills. He never pushed any responsibility as a father to me, not even for a second. My children like him. They have always had a good relationship. My ex is a very kind-hearted and responsible man. It was his hot temper that made us break up.
What lessons did you learn from your marriage that has shaped you into a better woman?
I never even know yet o! I am not really shaped now. I have been married twice. I have my first husband who happens to be the father of all my kids. My second husband also didn’t work out, clearly because of distance. He lived in England. I lived in Nigeria. The gap was an issue, so we went our separate ways. There were no hard feelings. So, I won’t say I had a terrible experience. Well, I would say I have learned to be more patient. I am still trying to experience whatever it is I have to experience.
Do you feel pressure to marry anytime soon?
I feel no pressure. No one can even pressure me. I am the pressure.
PUNCH
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed a long-standing relationship between his family and Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.
Speaking in a recent interview, Davido said Dangote personally drove his mother home from the hospital after she gave birth to him.
“Aliko Dangote drove my mom home from the hospital when she gave birth to me.”
Davido explained that Dangote has maintained a close relationship with his family for decades, particularly with his father, businessman Adedeji Adeleke.
According to the singer, Dangote has also offered him financial advice since he was a child, repeatedly encouraging him to save and manage his money wisely.
“Anytime I see him, he still tells me, ‘David, save your money.’ He’s been saying that since I was a baby.”
The singer said the billionaire’s advice has remained valuable throughout his career in the entertainment industry.
Davido also spoke about his perception of wealthy people, saying billionaires are ordinary people despite the enormous wealth they possess and that their private lifestyles are often different from how the public imagines them.
He described his relationship with Dangote as one that dates back to his childhood and continues to this day.
AGULU CHIMEZIE Releases New Single Titled “NNE AGULU BIA”
Artist: Agulu Chimezie
Real Name: Chimezie Ibezim
Song Title: Nne Agulu Bia
Producer: Mr Wanga
Location: Nigeria
Native: Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria
Nigerian recording artist Agulu Chimezie, born Chimezie Ibezim, has released his latest song titled “Nne Agulu Bia.” The new release adds to the growing catalogue of the talented artist, who has previously released several songs and continues to make his voice heard through music.
Nne Agulu Bia is a song that proudly reflects the artist’s connection to Agulu in Anambra State, celebrating his roots, identity, culture and the spirit of his people.
The song which storyline reflects to how our Ancestor traveled from Agulu to foreign land and later came back home peacefully
The song was produced by talented music producer Mr Wanga, bringing together a distinctive sound and musical production that complements Agulu Chimezie’s artistic style.
With several songs already to his name, Agulu Chimezie is steadily building his presence in the Nigerian music scene, using his music to connect with listeners both at home and beyond.
“Nne Agulu Bia” is now available on various digital music platforms, giving fans and music lovers the opportunity to stream and enjoy the latest release.
About Agulu Chimezie
Agulu Chimezie, whose real name is Chimezie Ibezim, is a Nigerian artist and a native of Agulu, Anambra State. Through his music, he continues to showcase his creativity while representing his roots and contributing to the growth of Nigerian music.
Listen, Stream & Support
Music lovers are encouraged to search for Agulu Chimezie – “Nne Agulu Bia” on major digital music platforms, stream the song, share it with friends and family, and support the artist by following his musical journey.
Agulu Chimezie — “Nne Agulu Bia”
Produced by Mr Wanga
Out Now on Digital Platforms.
DOWNLOAD AND ENJOY BELOW 👇
By Our Reporter
For Ugo Oswald, music is much more than entertainment. It is a responsibility—a vehicle through which artists can educate, influence, preserve culture and communicate important truths to society.
The multidisciplinary artist, author and songwriter believes music should carry messages that are meaningful, age-appropriate and rooted in the customs and values of the people.
“I believe that music is more than a sound. It’s a responsibility to the audience to influence, teach and share through age-appropriate storytelling, in the customs of our people,” Oswald said.
According to him, an artist has a solemn responsibility to confront society with the truth, mobilise communities towards communal living and promote values that strengthen society.
For Oswald, the genre is secondary to the message.
“We can rock it, ragga it, blues it, hardcore it, or simply oja it, to get the story across,” he said.
His approach to songwriting is also informed by his belief that music can communicate on several levels. He describes music as a “solid code” in which lyrics can contain deeper meanings beyond their immediate interpretation.
“I believe that music is a solid code, on two levels, or three levels, making lyrics deeper than what they seem to say,” he explained.
From Behind the Scenes to Songwriting
Although Oswald has only recently begun putting his own lyrics together in earnest, his relationship with music and the creative industry goes back many years.
A native of Ohaozara in Ebonyi State, he was involved in the music and entertainment scene during his university years, working largely behind the scenes.
He recalls being around the industry during the era of artistes such as McLoph, Ill Bliss, Obiwon and BigLo.
His experience also brought him into contact with some of the leading voices of the Nigerian music industry. While serving as a programme officer at the newly established NTA Asaba, Oswald granted Flavour, popularly known as Ijele, his first television interview.
Those experiences, he says, helped shape his understanding of music not merely as performance, but as a powerful medium for communication and social influence.
Today, Oswald sees himself primarily as a songwriter and music production operative rather than simply as an artiste.
His creative interest is centred on developing songs and productions capable of carrying substantial messages while remaining accessible to different generations.
Music With a Social Message
Oswald’s second album, Who Love Nigeria, reflects this philosophy.
The project explores family, history, anthropology, politics and African consciousness through a blend of conscious root rock reggae, dancehall, Afro-pop soul remix and alternative rock.
Rather than restricting himself to one musical style, he experiments with different genres in an effort to create what he describes as new paradigms for communicating deep messages about society.
Issues including conservation, governance and everyday living feature prominently in his creative worldview.
For Oswald, the power of an artist comes with an obligation to use that influence responsibly.
He is particularly passionate about positive and clean lyrics that can be enjoyed by families and audiences of different ages.
His philosophy challenges the notion that commercially successful music must necessarily sacrifice substance for entertainment. Instead, he believes music can be entertaining while simultaneously educating, preserving cultural identity and encouraging responsible citizenship.
A Multidisciplinary Creative
Beyond music, Oswald is a trained artist, brand and innovation expert, growth and marketing professional and author.
His multidisciplinary background informs his approach to creativity, allowing him to view music not only as an artistic expression but also as a tool for communication, branding, cultural preservation and social engagement.
He describes himself as a father, husband and “coffee-guzzling citizen”—a description that reflects the blend of creativity, family and everyday life that runs through his work.
As he develops his songwriting and production career, Oswald’s central message remains clear: music should do more than make people listen.
It should make them think, learn, remember, question and, where possible, act.
For an artist from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State who has spent years working around the music and media industry before stepping further into songwriting, the journey appears to be less about becoming another performer and more about finding new ways to use sound, words and culture to tell stories that matter.
Country music legend and Hollywood star, Dolly Parton, has died at the age of 80, her family has announced.
Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her death on Tuesday in a video shared on her social media account, describing the moment as one of “absolute pride and great sadness”. The family did not immediately disclose the cause of death.
The Tennessee-born singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades and became one of the most recognisable figures in American popular culture.
Known as the “Queen of Country”, Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and earned numerous honours, including multiple Grammy Awards. Her enduring hits included “Jolene”, “I Will Always Love You”, “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colors”.
Her death came after a period of health challenges. In May, Parton announced the cancellation of a Las Vegas performance, revealing that she had been undergoing treatment for kidney stones and was also dealing with problems affecting her immune and digestive systems.
Just days before her death, Parton had indicated that she was still determined to work despite acknowledging that she had slowed down following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.
“Even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!” she said, insisting that she still had many things she wanted to accomplish.
Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children in a poor family. She grew up in the Appalachian region, where her mother’s love for traditional music helped nurture her passion for singing and songwriting.
See also Breaking: Trump Is America’s next President
She began performing as a child and moved to Nashville shortly after graduating from high school in 1964. Her songwriting talent soon earned her recognition, before she established herself as a major recording artiste.
Parton’s breakthrough included “Jolene”, which became one of her signature songs. Her composition “I Will Always Love You” later became a global hit for Whitney Houston after the singer recorded it for the 1992 film The Bodyguard.
Beyond music, Parton built a successful acting career, starring in films including 9 to 5, Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She also became a prominent businesswoman through Dollywood, the theme park she established in Tennessee in 1986.
Her influence extended well beyond entertainment. Parton founded the Dollywood Foundation and its Imagination Library initiative, which provides free books to children, making childhood literacy one of the major causes associated with her name.
She also donated $1 million to coronavirus research at Vanderbilt University in 2020, funding that contributed to research that later helped in the development of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Parton’s personal life also attracted public interest. She married Carl Dean in 1966, and the couple remained together for nearly six decades until his death in 2025. They had no children.
Despite her global fame, Parton remained closely connected to her Tennessee roots and used her success to support communities, education, healthcare and other charitable causes.
Her death brings to an end the life of an entertainer whose influence crossed generations, musical genres and national boundaries, leaving behind a vast catalogue of songs and a philanthropic legacy that extended far beyond country music.
A legal practitioner and author, Timothy Tugbiyele, has urged Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to apologise to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over his social media post displaying the governor’s alleged West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result.
Tugbiyele made the call in a trending video originally posted on Facebook on Monday while commenting on the ongoing political exchanges ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Davido had shared what appeared to be Okpebholo’s WAEC result on his Instagram Story on Friday, shortly after the Edo governor criticised Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his penchant for dancing.
Okpebholo, who was campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, had mocked Adeleke’s leadership style.
“Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance,” the governor said.
Davido, who has been actively campaigning for his uncle, subsequently posted the alleged WAEC result of Okpebholo without a caption.
Reacting to the development, Tugbiyele described Davido’s response as inappropriate, arguing that Adeleke should have responded to his Edo counterpart through official channels rather than allowing the singer to engage the governor.
He said, “Governor Adeleke, Ademola Adeleke, would have replied his contemporary governor, or caused one of his workers, maybe a commissioner of information or a special assistant, to reply. Not Davido, David Adeleke.”
The lawyer further argued that Davido and Okpebholo occupy different positions and should therefore not engage each other on the same level.
“I think what Davido did is disrespectful and I will plead with him, he should exercise some humility and apologise,” he said.
Tugbiyele also maintained that even if the alleged result was genuine and reflected poor academic performance at the time, it should not be used to ridicule the governor.
“The result is not good enough, but it’s possible. The governor did a resit. We are not aware of that, but I think Davido, David Adeleke’s publication is inappropriate,” he said.
He rejected the argument that the exchange should be dismissed as ordinary political rivalry, stressing that political disagreements should not descend into personal attacks or disrespect.
“I have heard it said by one of the political leaders that everything is fair in politics. No, when you are fighting below the belt, when you are insulting, when you disrespect elders, that is not fair in politics,” Tugbiyele said.
The lawyer appealed to Davido’s elders to caution the singer, while urging him to apologise to Okpebholo.
He recalled seeing photographs of Davido prostrating before elders, describing him as a well-brought-up Yoruba man.
Tugbiyele also argued that a person’s academic performance at one stage of life should not be used to define their entire life or career.
Using his own experience, he said he had also obtained results that were not impressive but was encouraged by his father to keep going.
“So, oh, Governor Okpebholo had a result that was not good enough. He’s governor today. All of that, the bad result is in the past. Politics does not really have to go to that extent,” he said.
He concluded with a direct appeal to the singer: “Davido, David Adeleke, please, as a proper Yoruba, please apologise to Governor Okpebholo. God bless you, David. God bless Nigeria.”
The controversy comes amid heightened political activity in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with Davido openly supporting his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, in his bid for a second term.
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