On April 26th 2013, 2face Idibia, D’Banj, King Sunny Ade, Femi Kuti, Amaka Igwe were some of the outstanding entertainment icons who were honored at the first ever Nigerian Entertainment Conference which held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event which was formally opened by the Director General of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr, was attended by dignitaries from all spheres of entertainment as well as thousands of Nigerians who were eager to be part of the highly anticipated ‘conversations’.
The award session, which was one of the many exciting highlights of the events honored the following recipients. Nelson Brown, D’banj and Don Jazzy, Ken Calebs Olumese, Edi Lawani, Femi Kuti, 2face Idibia, Amaka Igwe, Ali Baba, K1 The Ultimate, Kwam 1, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Kunle Bakare, Femi Akintunde Johnson, Mayor Akinkpelu, Tunde Kelani, Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye, Opa Williams, and King Sunny Ade.
Speaking at the event, Ayeni Adekunle Samuel, Publisher and Editor in Chief of Nigerian Entertainment Today said, “We believe it’s very important for us to give honor to who richly deserves it. And we do not want to wait till when they are no more here with us; we’d rather do it now. It’s a privilege for us to let these individuals whom we have honored tonight know how important their contributions to us and the entertainment industry as a whole are.
Profile of Recipients
NELSON BROWN
Accomplished producer and hit-maker, Nelson Brown was responsible for most of the biggest hits of the nineties, giving millions of Nigerians and musicians of the time, the soundtrack of their lives for many years. Nelson Brown, recipient of the inaugural NET Honours, is being recognised tonight, for his great musical work, philanthropy and for using his talent to empower many musicians who would otherwise have been unable to employ his services.
D’BANJ AND DON JAZZY
Together, this remarkable duo created a new sound and culture that birthed what the pop scene thrives on today. A rare combination of musical skills and entertainment genius, D’Banj and Don Jazzy, through Mo’Hits, created a fresh sound, and together built what was until last year, Nigeria’s most popular record labe.
KEN CALEB OLUMESE
The Guv’Nur of Niteshift Coliseum, the grand daddy of the night club industry is one of Nigeria’s most consistent entertainment icons, turning night clubbing into a respectable business, and teaching many the ropes for many years
EDI LAWANI
Rarely celebrated, Edi Lawani is a walking encyclopedia of the entertainment industry in Nigeria. A major force behind the success of many events across the country, Edi is a hardworker who has helped built many music careers, while building a support system that’ yet to be beaten
FEMI KUTI
Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, the Grammy-nominated afrobeat giant is one of Nigeria’s greatest musicians, and a pride to the entire African continent. A world-famous performer, Kuti is one of the most decorated Nigerian musicians alive; one of the most prolific, and a role model for many hoping to build international careers without cutting corners
2FACE IDIBIA
Africa’s most iconic pop music icon, Innocent 2face Idibia is not a stranger to awards and honours. Yet, he continues to achieve many firsts, recording endless milestones that make it impossible to stop pouring encomiums on him. Idibia continues to show that it is possible to combine critical and commercial acclaim, possible to be loved at home and abroad. And there’s almost no contemporary musician he’s not influenced
AMAKA IGWE
Mrs Amaka Igwe is a teacher, writer, producer and director. Reverred and loved by many. she’s helped build many careers, and businesses, helped established a positive culture for the industry, and she continues to break new grounds in Tv and film
ALI BABA
Ali Baba, the comedians’ comedian, receives this special NET Honours, for his contribution to the development of the comedy industry in Nigeria. Ali brought respect and pride to an industry no one gave a chance; and he helped build a business out of an art no one thought could be commercially viable
K1 THE ULTIMATE
KWAM 1, the revolutionary Fuji musician changed the face of modern Fuji music, bringing the art to new, sophisticated audiences, while helping change the perception of the elites and corporate Nigeria about a street genre.
DJ JIMMY JATT
We’re decorating DJ Jimmy JATT, with the special NET Honours tonight, for his tremendous role, in the development of modern Nigerian music and especially pop/hip-hop culture, and his strong influence on the acceptability of the art of disc jockeying in Nigeria. A teacher and mentor to many, he continues to hold the ladder for upcomers, helping hundreds kick start their careers.
KUNLE BAKARE, FEMI AKINTUNDE-JOHNSON AND MAYOR AKINPELU
These gentlemen, fine journalists, celebrity reporters and managers are the architects of modern celebrity journalism in Nigeria. They’re receiving the NET HONOURS TONIGHT, for their work all through the years, especially at FAME WEEKLY, the definitive celebrity magazine that changed the face of the industry for good
TUNDE KELANI
Tunde Kelani, an internationally-renowned cinematographer, director, producer and manager, is one of the few who have put quality first since day one.
With many award-winning, critically-acclaimed movies under his belt, and a strong passion for cultural revival, Kelani is a great role model, and huge inspiration for those coming behind; the kind of examples we want to throw up and flaunt for the world to see
KEKE AND D-ONE
Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye are being honoured tonight, for bringing fresh ideas to music television, when it was badly needed. From AIT Jamz to Primetime Jamz, and later Primetime Entertainment, the made youth culture and pop music fashionable, drawing the attention of millions of young Nigerians, with positive implications for the brands targeting this demography. And with Kennis music, they embraced local music, giving a voice to many talented but helpless artistes other labels had ignored.
OPA WILLIAMS
Although he is a Nollywood producer, Opa Williams is being honoured tonight not for his movies, but for the impact of his brain child ‘Nite of a thousand laughs’ on the discovery and development of comedians around the country.
KING SUNNY ADE
With hundreds of albums to his name, multiple Grammy nominations, endless hits and a career that has lasted over four decades, King Sunny Ade is a living legend, and one of the greatest African musicians ever. The guitarist, composer, band leader, performer and businessman is being honoured tonight, for his consistency, his musical genius, and positive influence on today’s generation of entertainers…