Entertainment
Breaking: Veteran Highlife Singer Orlando Julius Dies, Aged 79
Veteran highlife singer Orlando Julius Ekemode has died.
The news of his death was announced by the Managing Director of Evergreen Music, Bimbo Esho who wrote that the wife of the deceased had reached her in the early hours of today, Friday, April 15 about his death.
The deceased’s wife, Lady Latoya, also confirmed the incident.
Julius was a saxophonist, singer and band leader. A native of Ijebu Ijesha, he evinced his musical talents at a young age, having been taught by his mother who was a musical teacher.
His musical career took flight in the 60s when Eddie Okonta invited him to join his band. Before then, he had been tutored by Highlife musician Jazz Romero.
With Okonta’s band, Julius performed in many gigs and opened for the American trumpeter and vocalist Louis Armstrong. In subsequent years, he would play with other bands, including Hugh Masakela and opened for other high profile international acts. Julius also opened for the iconic American musician James Brown.
He released his first hit ‘Jagua Nana’ in 1965 and went on to tour West Africa. Julius formed the Ashiko movement and taught people his style of music although he did not stay in this position for long.
After spending some time in the United States, he returned to Nigeria in 1984. He quickly began recording tracks for the album Dance Afro-Beat, leading him to put together the 18-person Nigerian All Stars band.
In her eulogy while announcing Orlando Julius’ death, Esho wrote: “Bimbo Daddy has passed On…
“This was the message I stumbled on waking up at exactly 3am to peruse my WhatsApp page.. It was a message sent in to me by Orlando Julius beautiful and supportive wife Lady Latoya.
“Orlando Julius a native of Ijebu Ijesha succumbed to the cold hands of death and breathed his last few hours ago at the age of 79.
“We shall miss one of Nigeria’s fathers of Afro/Highlife Music , a gentleman and a fine Saxophonist.
“May daddy Orlando Julius soul journey well . To the entire Ekemode family may God give you the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”
The cause of death is unknown as at the time of writing. He was aged 79.
Entertainment
Priscilla Ojo Praises Mom For Filling Fatherhood Gap
In a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, Priscilla Ojo Mkambala has shared that she never felt a father figure was missing because her mother, actress Iyabo Ojo, effectively filled both parental roles.
Following her parents’ separation during her childhood, Priscilla noted that her mother’s dedication made her life easy and seamless. Despite being raised primarily by a single mother, Priscilla maintains a positive relationship with her biological father, Ademidun Ojo.
Priscilla explained that her parents went their separate ways when she was still very young. She said despite their separation, she never felt deprived while growing up.
According to Priscilla, her mother took responsibility for raising both children and successfully handled the role of both parents in the home.
“My parents fell out of love and my mom played the role of both parents very well, I didn’t feel like there was maybe a father figure missing.”
Priscilla Ojo said the support and care she received from her mother helped shape her childhood and prevented her from feeling the absence of her father emotionally.
Priscilla Ojo was born in 2001 and is the second child of Iyabo Ojo. Her older brother, Festus Ojo, was born in 1999. Over the years, she has built a career as an actress and social media personality.
Entertainment
Simi Welcomes Second Child With Adekunle Gold
Popular Nigerian music star, Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has welcomed her second child with her husband, singer Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold.
She shared the news on Instagram on Wednesday evening.
In her post, Simi revealed that the baby was born on March 10, 2026.
She posted maternity photos and addressed earlier rumours that she had given birth to twins in January, making it clear that this is her second child.
Simi referred to herself as “mommy of two,” while Adekunle Gold responded in the comments, calling himself “Daddy of two.”
She wrote, “+1. 3.10.26. God bless my little family. Mommyof2.”
The couple did not disclose the baby’s name or gender.
Entertainment
Bill Cosby Ordered To Pay $19m Over Sex Abuse Case
A woman who said she was drugged and sexually assaulted by veteran US entertainer Bill Cosby was awarded more than $19 million on Monday after a civil hearing in California.
Donna Motsinger said she was working as a waitress more than 50 years ago when the performer began to target her.
In the civil case decided in Santa Monica, the suit stated that the comedian had initially come into the restaurant where the now-84-year-old Motsinger worked.
According to court filings, one day, when he picked her up in his limousine, Cosby gave her a glass of wine and what she thought was aspirin.
She began slipping in and out of consciousness, and the next thing she knew, she was waking up at home, wearing only her underwear.
“She knew she had been drugged and raped by Bill Cosby,” the suit said.
Attorneys said Cosby, 88, did not remember any sexual contact with Motsinger, but that any that had occurred had been consensual.
The jury took three days to deliver its verdict, ordering Cosby to pay $19.3 million, a figure that could increase if they add punitive damages.
The case was heard in the same courthouse where a 2022 jury ordered Cosby to pay $500,000 in damages to Judy Huth after finding that he had molested her in 1975 when she was just 16 years old.
The man formerly known as “America’s Dad” was jailed in Pennsylvania for drugging and molesting a woman in a separate criminal case in 2018, but was freed in 2021 when his conviction was overturned on a technicality.
Cosby was a towering figure in late 20th-century American popular culture, including for his starring role in “The Cosby Show,” which ran from 1984 to 1992.
Dozens of women have accused Cosby of being a calculating, serial predator who plied victims with sedatives and alcohol before assaulting them over four decades.
AFP
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