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I’m Anointed for Music that Ministers to Souls – Gloria KarTee

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By Eric Elezuo

She is sure a wonderful person to talk to. Her delivery speaks volumes of her anticipated performance. Her brand of gospel music mirrors her eloquent, cheery and purpose-filled personality. She is Gloria Karebi Tombri, better known as Gloria KarTee, and she has undying passion to reach out to as many souls as she can, bringing to them the Jesus brand. The Bayelsa-born developing and smooth talking artist shared with TheBoss her dreams and visions for the future. Excerpts:

Could you please tell us a little bit of your background?

I am from Adegbabiri Sagbama local government, Bayelsa state. I was born and brought up in Lagos state. Yes, I grew up in New Site. Growing up was quite funny, weird. I grew with guys; I’m from a family of ten, two parents, eight children. And I have five older brothers, so I could do all the things guys do.

So, can we comfortably say you were a tomboy?

I was a tomboy, yes. Well, they say I was a tomboy but I don’t agree (Laughter). I finished my secondary school in 2012 and then I moved to Bayelsa State. Actually my dad relocated.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a musician.

Your brand?

Gospel.

So, when you call yourself a musician, what exactly do you mean?

A musician is someone who plays an instrument and sings. I play drums and currently, I’m learning how to play the lead guitar. Plus, I sing.

Ok, so you are a brand?

I am a brand, yes.

What kind of songs do you sing?

I sing Rock and Soul gospel. It is that kind of calm music that will make you, kind of want to shed tears.

What in your songs do you think evokes this emotion?

The thing is, music is communication and it also flows with the emotions. God is an emotional God and He gave us emotions so that we can worship Him effectively, either when we are emotionally high or low. And so, soul music puts you in a mood or an atmosphere, where you get some level of intimacy with God, some solace. You begin to reminisce on God’s faithfulness and kindness, irrespective of your unfaithfulness. He’s been so faithful and merciful and His grace has been so amazing. So, you just want to cry at how He can love a person like me and it makes you just want to fall to your knees involuntarily and begin to reverence Him.

What inspired you to choose this line of communication, so to speak?

It’s my strength in music. When you find your strength, you dwell there. It’s my strength, it’s my grace, my place of anointing. I can only flourish and thrive in my place of anointing, my place of grace.

So when did you discover that this was your place of anointing?

It was this year, actually.

Meaning you started professional music this year?

No, last year. Just about a year plus now.

What were you into before the music business?

My dream was to become a footballer. I play football very well, so I wanted to become a professional footballer but I wasn’t encouraged. I was spoken out of it by my immediate family. The reason is because I’m a girl and they thought ‘how can a girl be playing football? You’re not a guy”. It quenched that fire but I have forgiven them. So, over the years, I began to find myself a new calling. I’ve been singing from childhood but I didn’t want to make a career out of it then. I love sports, so that was where my focus was but eventually, as I grew up and I went through school, I began to find a calling in music. And so, last year, I decided to take it professional.

It has been a very short period no doubt, but what have you been able to achieve for yourself in this profession?

The most important thing is I have been able to preach Jesus, evangelise and win souls with my music. Evangelism is not just the stage, it’s something that you do daily, with your life and everything about you. So, musically, I have been able to impact lives; I’ve seen some people who want to come to Jesus because of my music. So I’ve been able to impact, influence and to an extent, acquire a level of fame.

So, where has your music taken you to so far and what audience have you played for?

I’ve played at weddings, churches. I don’t believe that gospel music is limited to the church because God did not send us to the church, He sent us to the world. And for us to go into the world, we must take the gospel out of the church. And so, I am open to any event whatsoever as long as it will glorify the name of God. The people who need to hear about Jesus are not really in the church. We can find them outside; on the streets, in the club, wherever…but I don’t sing in clubs (laughter). Maybe sometime in the future, God will lead me there.

So, where do you see the Gloria KarTee brand in the next five years?

Oh my God, I see myself all over the world. A global figure, doing things with the likes of Kim Burrell, Tasha Cobbs…those are my role models. I see myself really all over, doing great exploits for God.

Those role models you mentioned are actually foreign names, do you have local inspiration?

I don’t really have. I used to listen to Lara George but I would say I found fulfilment listening to the people I mentioned because they do my kind of music, they have kind of vocal texture. I listen to Nigerian singers but I don’t get what I need professionally and technically, but their songs bless me.

So, what turns you off as a person, minister, and singer?

I hate pretence. I love it when someone is very sincere, honest and open-minded, because I believe that communication is key to everything. Because for everything we do in life, relationships matter and for a healthy relationship, communication is essential so when there is lack of communication, there would be failure in accomplishment or limitation in accomplishment. I need people to be really open-minded, sincere, honest and I hate hypocrisy. It really turns me off.

Are they not really intricate parts of life… pretence, hypocrisy and the rest of them

Well, I believe that for us as, especially Christians, those things shouldn’t be found in us because we market the Jesus brand. People are supposed to see us and see Jesus; they shouldn’t see us and ask themselves if we are really Christians. In fact, people today don’t want to be Christians because of some Christians. They think “if this is what Christianity is about, then I should be who I am”. God puts us in certain territories to bring impact and influence to that territory, but when we fail, we have failed the people in that area and our purpose.

Are you married?

Not yet, but very soon

What qualities are you looking for in a man?

Truthfully, there is no one yet but there is a vision of that person and I will make it very simple. Every other thing can be found in these two words: suitability and compatibility. We have to be suitable in terms of personality, likes and dislikes, our values and beliefs. You know, belief is one thing that enhances communication. If our beliefs differ, then we cannot have an effective communication.

What kind of food would make you smile widely?

Jollof rice!

Ghana or Nigerian?

Nigerian.

Have you tasted Ghanaian jollof?

No, I haven’t.

Would you wish to taste it so you can make a fair comparison?

Yes, I wish to.

Ok, sports and recreation? How do you recreate?

I play football, basketball and so on. I still play football and it brings back the old dreams.

I can imagine you performing on stage, you probably show-off some football skills.

(Laughter) Not exactly.

With your love for football, do you plan to own a football club sometime in future?

Not exactly. I had a vision last year to find a body or an establishment, more like an NGO, where the purpose is to find young minds who are influenced by things that are not Christ-like, whose lives and destinies are being perverted by the devil. This organisation will be focused on the young ones who are frustrated, those who don’t know how to come out in life, the ones who have something but don’t know how to harness it.

So, more like a foundation?

Yes, a foundation. It will be focused on talent; using what you have to get to where you need to be – be it sports, entertainment and so on. People think Christianity is boring, so let’s show them there’s more to Christianity than they see.

What would be your advice to upcoming youths?

I would say, it is very imperative for every individual to know what they want and what they stand for because until you know what you stand for, everything you see will just look like it. Also, know your purpose; one of the relevance of knowing our purpose is that, it simplifies and focuses our lives. You know the activities you should engage yourself in and prioritise them. You can only know your purpose when you look within and look up to God, because those are the two things that matter. Have a relationship with God; God is more concerned about our relationship before our service, because your service can only make sense when you have a relationship with Him. The bottom line is, have a relationship with God, find your purpose and work daily towards it.

Do you think, so far, this profession has given you the fame and wealth you deserve and look forward to?

Well, it has not given me the wealth I desire, but it is working something out. Of course businesses have stages, the forming stage, which I would say I am in, because I need to gain grounds, have a stand. And then, we have the recreational stage, which is where you don’t need to stress yourself. I’ve gained fame to an extent, like I said, and I believe I would be everywhere in no time. I just believe God for something mind-blowing and as we walk in course with God, we’ll see tremendous results. One of the things that matters, is sacrifice, service; if you can serve and put in the necessary sacrifices, then definitely we will reap the fruits of our labour.

Thank you, Gloria.

Thank you for having me.

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Entertainment

76th Cannes Film Festival Ends with Bang

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The stars on parade at 76th Festival de Cannes

 

By Michael Effiong

The colour, the glamour, the style and class of the 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival ends today with a big bang.

Festival de Cannes, the film industry’s most prestigious festival will take place at 8:30 pm and will be broadcast live on France 2 and internationally on Brut.

The Jury, presided over by director Ruben Östlund and including director Maryam Touzani, actor Denis Ménochet, writer/director Rungano Nyoni, actress/director Brie Larson, actor/director Paul Dano, writer Atiq Rahimi, director Damián Szifron and director Julia Ducournau, will select the winners from the 21 films in Competition this year.

Actress Anaïs Demoustier, President of the Jury, will hand out the Caméra d’or award to the best first film. Actress Stacy Martin and director Ildikó Enyedi, President of the Short Film and La Cinef Jury, will award the Palme d’or for short films.

Actor Orlando Bloom will hand out the Jury Prize. Actor Song Kang-ho, last year’s winner of the Best Performance by an Actor for Broker and actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, last year’s winner of the Best Performance by an Actress for Holy Spider, will award the Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor Prizes respectively.

 

Actor John C. Reilly, President of the Un Certain Regard Jury, will award the Best Screenplay Prize, while Pete Docter, Creative Director of Pixar Studios, will present the Best Director Prize.

 

The Festival de Cannes will also be honored by the exceptional presence tonight of legendary filmmaker Roger Corman, who will present the Grand Prix alongside virtuoso Quentin Tarantino.

 

Finally, the prestigious Palme d’or will be presented by the formidable and inspiring Jane Fonda.

 

The Closing Ceremony will mark the end of the 76th Festival de Cannes, and will be followed by the screening of Peter Sohn‘s film Elementary in the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

 

The 21 films competing for the Palme d’or this year are : Firebrand by Karim Aïnouz, Asteroid City by Wes Anderson, Rapito (Kidnapped)(Kidnapped) by Marco Bellocchio, Les Filles d’Olfa (Four Daughters)(Four Daughters) by Kaouther Ben Hania, L’Été dernier (Last Summer) (Last Summer) by Catherine Breillat, Kuru Otlar Ustune (About Dry Grasses)(About Dry Grasses) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Le Retour (Homecoming) by Catherine Corsini, The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer, Club Zero by Jessica Hausner, May December by Todd Haynes, Monster by Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Kuolleet Lehdet (Fallen Leaves)(Fallen Leaves) by Aki Kaurismäki, The Old Oak by Ken Loach, Il Sol dell’ avvenire (A Brighter Tomorrow)(A Brighter Tomorrow) by Nanni Moretti, La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher, Black Flies by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, Banel e Adama by Ramata-Toulaye Sy, La Passion de Dodin Bouffant (The Pot-au-Feu) (The Pot-au-Feuby Tran Anh Hùng, Anatomie d’une chute (Anatomy of a Fall) (Anatomy of a Fallby Justine Triet, Jeunesse (Le Printemps) (Youth (Spring))(Youth (Spring)) by Wang Bing, Perfect Days by Wim Wenders.

The Closing ceremony, usually a wonderful evening to behold will be broadcast in English and French by Brut.

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Entertainment

Renowned Singer, Tina Turner Dies at 83

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Legendary singer, Tina Turner, has passed away at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, Daily Mail reports.

She was known as the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’. ‘With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,’ her representatives said in a statement.

Tina Turner was born in 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee. She became famous as part of the Ike and Tina Turner duo in the 70s before embarking on a successful solo career, which is one of the most successful of any female performer in history.

She was known as the Queen of Rock ‘N’ Roll and is survived by three children.

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Entertainment

See Full List of 2023 AMVCA Winners

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The 9th edition of the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) was held today, Saturday, May 20, 2023.

The prestigious event, at the Eko Hotel, celebrated talents in the film world across Africa.

Veteran actress Patience Ozokwor took home the Industry Merit Award for her admirable service to the industry. Jade Osiberu’s Brotherhood and Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo grabbed multiple awards in different categories.

Below is the list of winners:

Best Actor in a Comedy – (Movie/TV Series)
Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi) –

Best Actress in a Comedy – (Movie/TV Series)
Bimbo Ademoye – Selina

Best Actor in a Drama – (Movie/TV Series)
Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood

Best Actress in a Drama – (Movie/TV Series)
Osas Ighodaro – Man of God

Best Supporting Actor (Movie/TV Series)
Abdisattar Ahmed – Gacal

Best Supporting Actress (Movie/TV Series)
Efe Irele – Four Four Forty Four

Best Short Film
Adeoye Adetunji – Pa Aromire

Best Online Social Content Creator
Elozonam, Kie Kie – Back From The Future

Best Original Telenovela
Mpali

Best Unscripted Original
King Bugar

Best Original Comedy Series
Njoro Wa Uba

Best Original Drama Series
Ricordi

Best Art Director
Wale Adeleke – King Of Thieves (Agesinkole)

Best Costume Designer (Movie/TV Series)
Adeola Art-Alade – The Real Housewives of Lagos (Reunion Episode)

Best Lighting Designer (Movie/TV Series)
Mathew Yusuf – Brotherhood

Best Picture Editor (Movie/TV Series)
Holmes Awa & Daniel Tom – Crime & Justice

Best Sound Editor (Movie/TV Series)
Anu Afolayan – Anikulapo

Best Soundtrack (Movie/TV Series)
Kent Edunjobi – Anikulapo

Best Makeup (Movie/TV Series)
Maryam Ndukwe, Hakeem Effects Onilogbo – Shanty Town

Best Writer (Movie/TV Series)
Sola Dada – Anikulapo

Best Cinematographer (Movie/TV Series)
Loukman Ali – Brotherhood

Best Movie, Southern Africa
Jewel – Elvis Chucks

Best Movie, East Africa
Click Click Bang – Philip Karanja Njenga

Best Movie, West Africa
Brotherhood – Jade Osiberu

Best Television Series
Crime & Justice – Yinka Edward

Best Documentary
Nigeria-the Debut – Nora Awolowo

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