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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Zur Eda's enduring passion
VETERAN singer Zur Eda Mokhtar, 60, looks hale and hearty, even though she was seriously ill a decade ago. Back in 2015, she suffered from a kidney ailment, which landed her a three-month stay in a government hospital. Fortunately, she recovered and bounced back to health and, today, she continues to entertain fans at events in the Klang Valley. Expressing gratitude to all her fans and loved ones for praying hard for her recovery, Zur Eda is also thankful to veteran singers Datuk DJ Dave, Datuk M Nasir and Datuk Nash, the trustees of Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanahair (YKAT), for lending a helping hand during her long hospitalisation. "They were the first people to go all out and help me meet my medical expenses, which were pretty costly," said Zur Eda at a recent 'buka puasa' organised by YKAT in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur. "Thank God, I'm once again able to sing for Malaysians. I was in tremendous pain as a result of the kidney infection, and while warded at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, I often feared for the worst." Zur Eda also struggled to make ends meet during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. "I am also grateful that my singing career has never stopped, especially after appearing in the third season of the reality show, 'Gegar Vaganza'." Zur Eda described 'Gegar Vaganza' or GV as a godsend for her. "The reality show allows young ones to know me and other 'otais'. It is a healthy and friendly competition from the word go, and a great avenue to catch up with long-lost friends." When asked if her children or grandchildren would follow in her footsteps, Zur Eda said the answer was a definite "no". "I've got two adult children, who can sing but only as a hobby, and four grandchildren aged one to 7. "They love my music very much, and I sang them to sleep when they were toddlers. "Perhaps they may want to follow in my footsteps one day, but they must graduate with degrees first." Zur Eda, whose real name is Zuraidah Mokhtar, began her singing career in the 1980s and was initially nicknamed "Sade Malaysia" for her slight resemblance to the legendary Nigerian-British singer Sade Adu. "My hair was curly, and my forehead was wide. I also wore big round earrings, which were the latest trend at the time. "Coincidentally, Sade was popular with the song 'Smooth Operator' then, and journalists started calling me Sade Malaysia," she said. Zur Eda, however, insisted that she had no intention of imitating Sade, as their music genres were entirely different — she was a pop singer while Sade shone in jazz. On the most memorable moment in her career, the singer fondly remembered visiting the interior district of Belaga in Kapit, Sarawak. "I was happy to see the Orang Ulu community in Sarawak, who met and greeted me warmly in Belaga in 1989. "It was among the happiest moments in my career were performing in Sabah and Sarawak. The people there are very friendly and cheerful." She also said while singing in Belaga, an insect entered her mouth, but fortunately, she spit it out. While singing at the Black Jack Club in 1984, Zur Eda met her husband, Zulkifli Mohd Yusof, who was also a bass guitarist, and they married a year later. They were blessed with two children, Siti Sarah, 35, and Mohd Naquib, 28. Zur Eda has produced three albums, namely 'Pelitaku' in 1987, followed by 'Lama Tak Jumpa' (1990) and 'Kelmarin' (1992), since becoming a singer at the age of 18. For almost a decade, Zur Eda has been making biscuits and cakes for Hari Raya during Ramadan and selling them at her Ramadan stall in The Curve, Petaling Jaya. "Many of my fellow artistes sell their cakes or biscuits there, there's Liza Abdullah, Ismaliza Ismail, Elliza Razak and Amai Kamaruddin. "I've been making cakes and biscuits for four decades. It is a good investment because an artiste will always fall on hard times and needs to support himself or herself with a second job." Zur Eda plans to record songs with new singers as there are many talents among the newcomers. "We all must learn to adapt with the times, to roll with the times," she said. "And as always, the songs I record help raise funds for the needy — helping them, especially the artistes, always makes me happy," she said.
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Nigerian-British woman makes history as UK's youngest mayor at just 29 years old
29-year-old Princess Opeyemi Bright has been inaugurated as the youngest mayor in the United Kingdom, holding the position of First Citizen of Barking and Dagenham in London A Nigerian-British woman has made history after she was elected the youngest mayor in the UK. Princess Opeyemi Bright now holds the esteemed position of First Citizen of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The 29-year-old was officially inaugurated in a ceremony on Friday, May 16. It marks a new chapter for British politics and helps shine a light on and celebrate Nigeria and its history. In her inaugural address, Councillor Bright shared her vision of a civic leadership grounded in inclusivity, pride and community service. She said: "I believe in the power of community, the importance of tradition, and the need to inspire pride in the place we all call home." She continued: "As Civic Mayor, I am committed to being a voice that uplifts our borough — honouring local heroes, supporting charities, and forging deeper connections with residents, schools, and businesses." Born to Nigerian parents in Homerton Hospital, and a resident of Barking and Dagenham since 2009, the trailblazer was first elected as a Councillor in 2018 at the age of just 22. Over the years she has gone on to serve as a school governor, a board member of an NGO, and continues to be an inspirational mentor for students who aspire to be leaders and professionals themselves. Councillor Bright brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and public service, and as part of her mayoral duties will support two charities very close to her heart. The first is Ab Phab Youth Club, a local initiative that provides inclusive youth activities and support for disabled and non-disabled young people. And also Crohn's & Colitis UK, a national charity offering critical support and advocacy for people living with inflammatory bowel diseases. The new mayor was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2011 and said: "Through this partnership, I aim to raise awareness, advocate for better support, and bring hope to those affected." In a statement on the Barking and Dagenham Council website, a spokesperson stated: "During her mayoral year, Cllr Bright is committed to fostering a sense of unity and belonging across the borough. Her focus will be on inclusivity, dignity, and connection — making sure all residents, regardless of background, feel valued and seen. The council extends its heartfelt thanks to outgoing Mayor Cllr Moin Quadri for his dedicated service and congratulates Cllr Princess Bright on her appointment."
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
My Father's Shadow
A bold new voice is born with this story of a dad and his two sons set over a single day in Nigeria as it teeters on the edge of a coup. Nigerian-British filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr taps into universal feelings – of wide-eyed childhood discovery, parental responsibility and a feeling of a world spinning out of control – and backdrops it with an immersive sense of controlled chaos. Written by the director and his older brother Wade and fuelled with their childhood memories, the result is touching, contemplative and unsettling – a film with the gentle impressionist gaze of Moonlight, the hard-scrabble edge of Bicycle Thieves, and a fourth-wall-breaking daring all of its own. My Father's Shadow is also coming-of-age story – an unusual one for focusing as much on its struggling but well-intentioned dad, Folarin (Gangs of London 's Sope Dirisu), striving to be a better man, as his two boys, 11-year-old Remi (Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) and eight-year-old Akin (Godwin Egbo). It's 1993 and Nigeria has gone to the polls to elect a new president. Folarin hopes it will be social democrat MKO Abiola, but as he travels with his sons into Lagos, word spreads of a spate of killings by a military regime looking to cling to power. The country is divided. Petrol is scarce. Tension throbs from the frame. 'Nigeria needs discipline,' mutters a passenger on their bus ride into the city, advocating for the jackbooted junta to come. Davies Jr's bold debut speaks with a murmur and beats like a drum Into this combustible mix, Folarin takes the two eager boys, hoping to claim the pay packet his employer has been denying him. Their split gazes sends cinematographer Jermaine Edwards's inquisitive camera off in different directions: the boys upwards to skies dotted with soaring birds; their dad to truckloads of passing soldiers with cold gazes and loaded rifles. A harrowing visit to the seaside, backdropped, in a dystopian touch, by a beached freighter, illustrates the fine balance between exposing the boys to the world and protecting them from it. The two young actors are both naturals as the boys bicker over their favourite WWE wrestlers, refuse to share ice-cream money and wrap their heads around the hubbub of the city. Dirisu is simmering and sensitive as a man who surfs the line between deadbeat dad and safe harbour. They're the heart of a film that sometimes speaks with a murmur and sometimes beats like a drum. There's been many movies made by Nollywood, the country's prodigious film industry, but somehow this is the first Nigerian movie to be selected to play at Cannes. On this evidence, the Davies brothers will be back.
Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The Tories need to fight out their internal battle or they are doomed
In time honoured fashion, the Tories and Labour have studied the drubbing they received last week and concluded that the public wants them to carry on as normal. We'll go 'further, faster', says Sir Keir. 'No lurch to the Right', insist the Conservatives. For Labour this is a reasonable bet: the economy might turn around, its vote isn't so divided (yet). But for the Tories, it's utter madness – a tone deaf, do-nothingness that will send them the way of the old Liberal Party and WH Smith. As with Smith's, the Tory brand is so moribund and confusing, I've forgotten what they used to sell. Paper? Council houses? Knighthoods and pens. Team Kemi's 'don't lose your head' argument does enjoy a superficial logic. They say: we can't copy Reform because Reform isn't real. In these local elections, it won a third of the vote on a third of the turnout, on a contradictory platform that fails scrutiny (cut taxes, raise welfare). Labour has sunk in the polls, too – because governing in the 21st century is jolly hard, thanks to an elderly population and sluggish growth, and Starmer proves that entering office promising the moon will lead to disappointment. Nevertheless, similarly awful, centre-left parties have won re-election in Canada and Australia. Why? Because the centre-right opposition allowed itself to be branded as Trumpian. In other words, when it comes to running the country, the voters will ultimately choose an impression of competence over Reform-style theatrics – a reality that will become clear at the next UK election, when Reform nominates Darren Grimes for home secretary (his nan would nae believe it). Moreover, echoing Reform would encourage some Tory MPs to defect to the Lib Dems. Therefore, unwilling or unable to embrace radical positions on immigration or net-zero, Kemi prefers to let her party evolve behind closed doors, via a policy negotiation process that will someday emerge onto the balcony as a fully-fledged 'plan'. The problem with this conclave style of politics is it cedes all publicity to Nigel Farage. Kemi only appears on television to explain why she has nothing to say and why it's rude of journalists to ask. In these tense confrontations, occasionally bordering on violence, one gets a flash of why grassroots Tories voted for her in October 2024. They thought they were getting a Nigerian-British woman who loves the country but can see its flaws, and has no fear in naming them. But her handlers, anticipating bad reviews among the critical voting blocs of Times columnists and Dr Who actors, decided to rein her majesty in and 'soften' her image. The result: an uncomfortable silence. You know Kemi wants to let rip; we can see what she's capable of from PMQs. But too often she lacks confidence or definition, and I for one am tired of being invited to press conferences to be given a lecture on 'the Kantian dualism in mass migration,' deploying philosophical reflection to disguise the absence of hard policy. Modern politics is an attention economy. For the past year, the Tories have chosen not to compete – and damage has plainly been done. The significance of the local elections is that in many parts of the country the Tories lost their historic position as the natural anti-Labour vote. Take my turf of Kent, where they went from 62 seats on Thursday night to just 5 in the morning; Reform is on 57. This was extraordinary. Even in 1993, when the Tories last lost the council at the height of Labour's revival, they still retained 41 councillors. I grew up believing Kentish politics operated somewhere to the Right of Mississippi, dominated by the blues with the occasional breakthrough for the reds in the coastal towns. But a revolution in voter psychology has taken effect. In the future, anyone who wishes to vote tactically to get rid of Keir Starmer, especially if they live east of the river Medway, will no longer automatically vote Tory: they might judge that Reform has a better chance. If sitting around praying for Reform to collapse doesn't fix things, the Tories could always offer a pact. This, of course, would acknowledge their diminished status, look desperate, and Nigel is likely to plot an amusingly public display of saying 'no'. So the only alternative is to court Reform voters and rebrand the party from top to bottom as populist and patriotic. The more liberal Tories fight back against this, the better. Have the battle and win it: their mass-defection to Ed Davey's clown show will confirm that the party has made a choice and is sticking to it. Tony Blair had his clause 4 moment. Keir Starmer expelled Jeremy Corbyn. The death of the old, Cameronian coalition of economic and social liberals is overdue anyway, because Brexit rendered it irrelevant. The day after that referendum, half the conservatives I grew up with became rabid nationalists, the other half bitter liberals – and the urban centre of my home town of Sevenoaks, once populated by Hyacinth Buckets, is now a mini Hoxton. They actually held a 'climate fair' on the green this weekend. I'm pleased to say it was freezing cold. Cutting one's losses among the joss-stick burning classes is the only way to build up votes elsewhere, and if gambling on a new message and a new demography feels temperamentally unconservative, remember that Peel did it, Disraeli did it and Thatcher did it, too. The paradox of conservatism is that it retains its identity, as the traditional party of governance, by changing – including its highest personnel. Which brings us to the final question: is Kemi best placed to revive the Tories? The local results suggest that so far she's failing, and it further weakens her position that the party has a viable alternative. After losing the leadership election, Rob Jenrick adopted the old trick of turning up to the office the next day and acting as if he got the job, issuing press releases, running marathons, taking senior but young-looking journalists to lunch, where he has impressed them with his analysis of the national crisis, his understanding of what needs to be done. All Kemi can say to fend off his implicit challenge is that to have five leaders within two years would look ridiculous – but the sad truth is that no one is looking anyway. While Reform is capturing the high street, like an invasion of Turkish barbers, the Tories are in danger of closing down for good.
The National
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Weekly UAE museum and gallery guide: Two Venice Biennale exhibitions debut in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
Two exhibitions by the National Pavilion UAE that were presented at the Venice Biennale have finally made their way to the UAE. That, along with other new offerings by local galleries, means that there's quite a bit to catch up on in the local arts scene. From poetic reflections of the country's natural landscapes to the Dubai debut of Nigerian-British artist Sola Olulode, here are four exhibitions to see this week. Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia was the National Pavilion UAE exhibition at last year's Venice Biennale. The show brought eight bodies of Abdullah Al Saadi's works, two of which were created specifically for the biennial. The exhibition is now making its UAE debut, showing at 421 until May 4. Like the original show, it is being curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh. Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia delves into Al Saadi's process and works with theatrical charm. Visitors trace a path through the exhibition as performers reveal works emerging from metal chests that allude to the artist's studio space in Khor Fakkan, and telling stories as part of the performance. Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-8pm; until May 4; 421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi A seminal work by an important Emirati artist, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim's Between Sunrise and Sunset was commissioned by the National Pavilion UAE and featured at the 2022 Venice Biennale. The work is now on display in the UAE for the first time in an exhibition at the Maraya Art Centre in Sharjah, which has been organised with the support of Lawrie Shabibi and the National Pavilion UAE. The exhibition features three paintings by Ibrahim, but the titular installation is the centrepiece, taking the entirety of the second-floor gallery space. The installation features 128 sculptural forms, each unique in shape, size and colour. The sculptures are arranged in a gradient, ranging from more vivid hues to the dulled and monochrome palettes that allude to the night. For Ibrahim, the work is meant to reflect the diversity of the UAE, both environmentally and culturally, while also evoking the metaphorical breadth of night and day. Saturday to Thursday, 10am-7pm; Friday, 4pm-7pm; until August 1; Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah Shama Al Hamed is marking her first solo exhibition, only a few years after earning her Bachelor of Visual Art degree from Zayed University in 2022. The exhibition features a vibrant mix of sculptures, installations and paintings that show surprising range for a young artist. The works reflect upon Al Hamed's journey as an artist, using the act of jumping as a metaphor for creative experimentation, as well as movement between different memories and emotions. Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm; until April 5; Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Dubai Olulode's debut exhibition in Dubai ventures towards the sea in an exploration of myth and memory. The Nigerian-British artist's paintings often features references to the Yoruba water spirit, Yemaya, while exploring concepts of femininity and the power of nature. In the exhibited works, Olulode draws from her archive of photographs taken during trips to Caribbean, Mallorca and Senegal. However, instead of realistic recreations of the photographs in paint, the images are reimagined with a dreamlike nature and with bold colours. The paintings, as a result, become places where memories and legends intertwine, with water featured as a freeing element. Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm; until April 9; Lawrie Shabibi, Dubai A new adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet will debut in Dubai on Friday, inspired by the music of the legendary rock band Queen. Featuring a five-piece band playing the British group's songs throughout the performance, the adaptation by Cross Bronx Studio's Lydia DeSouza punctuates the sword fights and star-crossed romance by a number of the UAE's theatre veterans with guitar solos and vocal gymnastics in the style of Freddie Mercury. Friday to Sunday, Theatre by QE2, Dubai
