Funmi Iyanda

Tuesday May 19th 2009
Long shoot today but an illuminating experience. 9ice is a really nice, decent young man. It feels like that because there were so many textures and layers to one story and one day.

It started with the aggro with Bayo over costume, I ended up deciding what I’d wear as l have more or less over the last three shoots. I was sleep deprived and cranky so, everyone is avoiding me. We set out eventually for 9ice’s house in Abule Egba and commenced on the long shoot complete with rains and thunderstorms and loud generator noise.

Poor Jeff is going out of his mind trying to perfect his sound. The house is modest and a mixture of where he and his wife Toni are right now. Their 5 month old son Zion is a gentle happy child and a spitting image of his father albeit much fairer. They have an interesting looking set of boys around in the house with Toni being the only female presence. Toni is cool.

After the house, 9ice, Toni and Zion rode in my car and we drove through Oshodi, Mushin and Akoka to ID Cabasa’s original studio in his parents’ house. A bit surreal for me as l grew up and spent part of my early years in this neighbourhood.

ID is a very smart and gifted young man. There was also 2 phat and his happy face and the model turned engineer and a motley collection of characters. We met ID’s mum who was shy and sweet. The bond between ID and 9ice seem fostered by the years of toil and hardship together building a mutual respect and dependency that is touching.

After Akoka, we stopped for lunch and drove to Nu Grotto in VI for the final shoot. Whilst the crew was setting up, l decided to take the boys to Chocolate Royale for drinks and a bite. The bouncer refused entry to 9ice, ID cabasa, 2phat and the other boys with us. I was livid and tried to speak with his boss who turned out to be an even more clueless Lebanese girl. The Nigerian staff were appalled, l told them off, matched the boys in, had very expensive drinks and ate fried
sawdust then returned to Nu Grotto.


Wande coal joined us for the final shoot in the technically challenging interior of Nu Grotto, complete with our waka past cast of UNILAG students positioned as diners and clients.

It all ended on a high note with Denrele Edun appearing in all his royal madness after the shoot along with a group of friends.

Home late, showered and in bed, its 1a.m but l am too fired up to sleep, spent an hour talking through my anxieties with Remi Lagos on the phone, dropped off with the phone still in my hand.

Postnote
My opinion on the separation of 9ice and Toni Payne? Watch the show
this Sunday 6pm Nigerian time on Africa Magic and you’ll get your own
insight then l will tell you what l think next week. Have a fab weekend.