The 6th annual Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) took place at The Symphony Space, located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, on Sunday, September 4th, 2011. The organizers of the NEA took advantage of the US Labor Day weekend to put together a four-day schedule of entertaining and professional events including an entertainment industry seminar and the premiere of the sequel to the blockbuster “Jenifa” – The Return of Jenifa. This year’s events were a great success as Nigerians and other lovers of the Nigeria entertainment industry came out in large numbers to support the NEA resulting in a sold-out audience for both the movie premiere and the Awards.
The Award show was hosted by a perfect pair of the ever-so-bubbly, Funke Akindele and top comedian, Julius Agwu. Funke and Julius kept the audience entertained with spontaneous acting, dancing and singing all served with rib-cracking humor. Funke, popularly known as Jenifa was styled by the Liam Fashion Agency and she looked magnificent in every single dress she wore, while Julius who looked equally impeccable in his suits was self-styled.
This year’s event was graced by top entertainers including MI, Waje, Sound Sultan, Samklef, Jesse Jag, Nollywood actor/actresses – Chris Attoh, Susan Peters, Juliet Ibrahim, and Ebbe Bassey, US-based artistes – Rotimi, Naira, Titi Lokei, Zaina, Moyeen and Duncan Daniels. Other celebrities in attendance included comedians Emeka and Daniel-the humorous, Gideon Okeke of Big brother Nigeria, Stacie Scott Turner of the Real housewives of DC, Dammy Adegbite, and DJ Tee.
The event included various musical performances by Waje (and can I add Waje can sing!), Sound Sultan, Titi Lokei, Moyeen & Levelz, Rotimi and the Choc Boy crew who performed many of their hit songs, amongst many others. It was definitely a night to remember complete with a spontaneous freestyle rap/singing session by many of the musicians who joined the Choc Boys crew as they energized the audience with Oleku, which won the hottest single of the year. By the end of the night, all the entertainers in the house were on stage “Oliver-Twisting.”
While the NEA has come a long way and was a fun event this year, organizational improvements especially in the area of time-management will allow it to become one of the best awards show in the USA for Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Ladybrille’s Elfonnie Inokon
Singer Rotimi and Guest
Singer Tolumide
Guest
Host Julius Agwu with Guest
-Story by Elfonnie Inokon
Photocredits: Leeda Images, AdeWest Media
Winners
Music
Album – MI2 (MI)
International Artist – Nneka
Music Video – DJ Tee
New Act – Wiz Kid
Pop/R&B – Waje
Rapper – MI
US Female – Naira
US Male – Rotimi
Gospel – Lara George
Hottest Single – Oleku (Ice Prince)
Indigenous Artist – Duncan Mighty
Most Promising – Jhybo
Music Producer – Sam Klef
Pan African Artist – Fally Ipupa
Film
Actor in Film – Ramsey Noauh
Actor in TV – Frank Edoho (Who wants to be a Millionaire)
Actress in Film – Omoni Oboli
Actress in TV – Dami Adegbite (Tinsel)
Directing in Film – Lancelot
Best Picture – Inale (Jeta Amata)
Pan African Actor – Chris Attoh
Pan African Actress – Jackie Appiah
Miscellanous Categories
World DJ – DJ Obi
Comedian – Gordon
Entertainment Exec – Audu Maikori
Entertainment Promoter – Tiwaworks
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
