Saturday, 31 March 2012
WHY MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE GREATEST
BOLA TINUBU AT 60
A look into the Nigerian Entertainment industry
By Yemi Olakitan
The huge potentials in Nigerian entrainment sector are no news to many people all over the world; the opportunities for growth and economic prosperity are enormous. From the music industry, to the movie sector and even in the comedy scene, Nigerian entertainment offers opportunities for unlimited wealth, job creation, investments and poverty eradication. It has been described as a goldmine that has not been fully tapped by the Federal Government. With little government support and poor infrastructure in Nigeria, the Nigerian creative artistes have been able to create a very dynamic industry and the prospects for expansion is immense.
In the music scene, Nigerian music is well known all over the world. Artistes such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade, and Ebenezer Obey have exported Nigeria music far and near the developed nations. Today, particularly in Hip Pop music, Nigerian artistes are breaking new international frontiers. They are entering new collaborations with global superstars for example; D’banj and Kanye West are in alliance, Psquare recently released a video with Akon, 2 Face and R.Kelly are also reportedly working together. Not too long ago, Fela was on Broadway. The play ‘Fela’ is still being performed in theatres all over the United States. Our artists are daily gaining popularity in Europe and the America and our movies are been shown in every corner of the world. Asa has gained national prominence in France and she is considered as one of the finest musical acts in that country, not to mention Sade Adu, Ceel and many others.
The release of the movie Ije directed by Chineze Anyene saw Nigerian movies wining prizes in film festivals around the world. The success of Figurine is another example of Nigeria’s success in the entertainment world. Figurine, the movie was reported to have generated over 12 million naira in box office revenue with major reviews in international media. Nigerian movies and artistes are increasingly becoming popular around the world. It has been said that Nollywood releases more movies in a year than both Bollywood and Hollywood combined. The industry is rated as the number 3rd in global film making after the American and the Indian movie sectors. According to a UNESCO report, the Nigerian movie industry has overtaken Hollywood and closed the gap on Indian to be the global leader in the number of movies released each year. It is the third largest movie industry in the world. The movie industry in Nigeria creates jobs for about 200,000 Nigerians and provides up to I million indirect jobs for Nigerians. The entertainment industry in Nigeria holds huge promise of millions of fortune for possible foreign investments for the benefit of the Nigerian people and yet many problems limit its advancement. It seems that in the coming generation of the world will have to look up to Nigeria as the next haven of the creative and entertainment enadeavour. It is clearly evident that our industry is among the most dynamic in the world today with growth potentials that we cannot adequately enumerate as at yet.
However, as lucrative as the sector may look, it still has many challenges that hold it back and these challenges may scuttle any roughrider investor who does not take calculated steps before stepping into the sector. Some of them are the lack of copyrights, intellectual property rights, a loose and uncoordinated market system, an undefined distribution channel, poor government support and lack of infrastructure. These are some of the problems that confront the entertainment sector in Nigeria.
In a chat with iconic King Sunny Ade, he said that piracy remained one of the hardest problems in Nigerian entertainment. He mentioned that this was responsible for the disappearance of foreign record companies such EMI and Decca from the Nigerian music scene. According to him, this record companies could not cope with high level of piracy in Nigeria and the government inability to reduce piracy in Nigerian creative industries. Speaking further, KSA consider piracy as one of the reasons why people do not want to invest money into entertainment and why foreign investment continues to elude Nigeria in that sector. ‘‘Nigeria only has record labels and not record companies and this does not help the sector. We need record companies and not labels. Record companies take care of the album from the studio to distribution, to media and promotion. They ensure that the artistes get their royalties. Today, we no longer have that. All we have are individuals trying to do it by themselves.’’
‘‘I released an album tagged the Grace of God by 28th of December, but it was already all over the streets by 24th of December. The pirates flooded the market with their own products. My fans invite me and pay for my performance, that is why I am still on the scene otherwise pirates are having a filled day.’’
Legendary actress, jokes Silva also pointed out that one reason why Hollywood is ahead of Nollywood is that Hollywood has so many structures that are not available to us here in Nigeria. For instance, when they release a movie, it goes to about 3,000 cinemas simultaneously. We cannot do that yet. Our distribution system at the moment is so informal that it is difficult for any serious investor to take us serious. At the moment, how many cinema screens do we have? Lets say Silverbird has about six, the palms has about six, may be about 20 all over the country compared to thousands that other industries such as Hollywood or the Indian Bollywood have. If you take video as our first window of opportunity and our distribution system is so porous, then pirates will have a filled day. So, until we have a well-regulated, worldwide distribution network, we will remain number 3rd.
Speaking further, she said that epileptic electricity supply in the country is a major problem in Nollywood. ‘ The producers usually brings a generator along in order to shoot a scene and he will position it far away so that its noise does not interfere with the recording. However, the neighbours also do not have lights and they are also on generators and they are not part of your production team. You cannot go and meet them and say, please can you turn off your generators because I am shooting a movie. It does not concern them. We need dedicated studios and zones where we can shoot our movies without that kind of limitations.’’ She said.
Even comedians complain about piracy. Their CDs are massively pirated and distributed without gains for their pockets. In a chat with ace comedian Julius Agwu, he said, piracy is the first problem of the industry. He lamented that new comedians are coming out everywhere and they use your jokes. I work hard to get my jokes, I am in my observatory tower, in my toilet, bedroom, kitchen and I observe what is going on and I create my jokes.’’ He said.
It is very encouraging that the federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan in response to these problems released US$200 million as the Entertainment industry Fund. Many artistes have however, complained about their inability to access the fund.
Friday, 30 March 2012
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Nigerian Islamists killed in shootout with army
source: AFP
KANO, Nigeria — Three suspected members of Nigeria's Boko Haram were killed in the restive northern city of Maiduguri in a shootout with soldiers deployed to crush the Islamist sect, the army said on Sunday.
Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for the elite unit hunting down Boko Haram members, said militants attacked soldiers in a raid launched late Saturday, triggering a fierce gunbattle that lasted until early on Sunday.
"The attack was repelled. Three Boko Haram members were killed," he said. "Our troops are in pursuit of the sect members. (The) situation is under control."
Musa said the attack in Maiduguri, a Boko Haram bastion, was launched just before a night-time curfew, adding that some passers-by caught in the prolonged crossfire had been "ordered to lie down by the roadside".
A resident caught in the shootout said about 20 gunmen attacked a police station with rifles and explosives.
"There was a shootout that continued throughout the night and around 200 residents were forced to lie on their faces along the streets to avoid being caught in crossfire," he said.
Another local man said he saw six dead bodies.
"The shooting continued throughout the night, we did not sleep. I and my family lay flat to avoid stray bullets," he said.
Boko Haram, blamed for a wave of attacks mainly in northern Nigeria, has targeted mostly the police and other symbols of authority in Africa's most populous nation, but also churches.
Although its specific aims remain largely unclear, violence by the sect since mid-2009 has claimed more than 1,000 lives, including more than 300 this year alone, according to rights groups and an AFP count.
Yemi Olakitan On Michael Jackson
The Greatest Entertainer in the World
Yemi Olakitan
I grew up in the hay days of Michael Jackson and I loved and adored him. He was one of those individuals who made my life beautiful as a young person growing up in Lagos. He was like a beautiful rose on the field or a cool sunshine on a lovely, romantic evening. Michael Jackson meant the world to me. Back then, I always sang his songs along street paths and football fields. I dreamt of becoming a great musician like him. I used to imitate him as an undergraduate student. I knew most of his songs by heart. He gave me so much joy and made my life beautiful. His music was everything, like so many others all over the world, I cherished him. Then came that day when they said he was dead. I have never cried about a famous person before, but I cried when Michael Jackson died. He was a part of me. I loved the music, the dancing, and the creativity.
The love that I had for Michael Jackson while he yet lived, I have reserved. And it has prompted me to research about him and to always find out the actual truth whenever I heard a rumour about him. I have books about him in my library, including the ones he wrote by himself. This has helped me to know more about him and to continue to love him to this day. I discovered among other things that he never bleached his skin and that he suffered from a skin disease called vitiligo, a kind of pigmentation of the skin.
Rumours and tabloid stories followed Michael Jackson while he was alive and even after he died. True and untrue stories followed. The truth is that lazy commentators who do not have time to search for the truth often parade lies about famous people, most of them often fabricated. People like to focus on the negative, whether these negative stories are true or not are usually irrelevant to this group of people as they are either too indolent or malicious to search for the truth.
But no one can deem the many positive truths about Micheal Jackson. He was the greatest entertainer in the world. His album, thriller was the biggest selling album of all times. His second album Bad was the second biggest. He was recorded as the most famous man on earth. He entered the Guinness book of World records as the celebrity who gave the most to charity in history. Michael was a symbol of love and he toured the world with his message of love, cheering the hearts and souls of millions.
I once attended a church service where the Pastor said that the late Michael Jackson was a member of the Satanist Church. I wanted to vomit. Another untruth. Micheal Jackson was a Jehovah’s Witness and so were other members of his family. Although he was too famous to go about preaching from house to house but he was singing about love from nation to nation and giving to the poor. There are so many other lies about MJ. According to a statement, he made during his trial on child molestation, he said lies may run marathon but truth will run sprints and he was acquitted of all charges. Michael will forever live through his music and through those of us who love. He is always in our hearts.
Caffeine in Nigeria
By Yemi Olakitan
Nigerians are known for their love of coffee, tea, soft drinks, and more recently the latest, which we called, energy drinks. There are so many brands; Power Horse, London Best, Red Bull, Spark, Monstar, Hippo and many more. Kids love chocolate. Teenagers love energy drinks, teetotalers love them; energy drinks are non-alcoholic. Children love different brands of biscuits made from chocolate. All of us consume caffeine in one quantity or the other. These trends are popular in Nigeria, particularly the energy drinks. Some have even claim that their days are not made without a cup of coffee. The question one needs to ask is what are the health implication of all these. Caffeine is a stimulant and a drug. Is Caffeine good for our health or not? It is regarded as the most widely used drug in the world. Scholars around the world confirm its stimulating power. It is a natural stimulant and can be found in the leaves, seeds or fruit of plants. It is manufactured and used as a food additive in a variety of colas and soft drinks. Many, pain relievers, and cold remedies also use caffeine. Caffeine is therefore in the daily life of most Nigerians knowingly or unknowingly. This question is therefore relevant: To what extent is Caffeine good for our health? This is a legitimate question that needs correct answers since we all take caffeine whether it’s from an energy drink, a can of soda, chocolate bar, or a cup of coffee or tea Nigerians consume caffeine regularly.
However, according to the World Health Organization, Caffeine, like nicotine, albeit to a lesser extent, meets some of the criteria of the WHO and the American Psychiatric Association for a drug of dependence and acts on the dopamine system in the same way as amphetamines and cocaine. ‘‘Caffeine and its metabolites are known to cross the blood-brain barrier readily in adults and fetuses alike. Intake of caffeine during pregnancy or the early postnatal period would be expected to have similar or more profound cardiovascular and neurobehavioral effects on fetuses and infants than on the caffeine-consuming mothers.’’ Studies have also shown that Coffee should never be consumed during pregnancy. It also appears that coffee consumption is associated with increased estrogen levels, which means an increase for breast and endometrial cancer.
In a chat with Ms. Iphy Edafe a pharmacist, she was of the opinion that moderate caffeine consumption poses no real risk to the general population. However, for those who are more sensitive to caffeine, even a small amount could cause a variety of adverse effects such as insomnia, headaches, irritability, restlessness, hallucinations, nervousness, and increased urination. Additionally, caffeine has been shown to inhibit absorption of iron and calcium and has an effect, which may lead to fluid loss. Speaking further, she said, ‘‘constriction of blood vessels can also occur when caffeine is ingested, which can cause poor circulation. Diabetics are often cautioned to avoid caffeine because it leads to an increase in blood sugar. Women of childbearing age are at increased risk of possible reproductive effects of caffeine,’’ she said. Michael Orie, a journalist said that sometimes he takes coffee and does not feel any side effects but at other times a cup of coffee can give him sever headaches, as a result of this, he has decided to avoid coffee altogether, instead, he prefers tea which he said do not contain the same quantity of caffeine as coffee.
The brand, Red Bull reportedly contains 80mg of Caffeine, the same amount as in a cup of coffee. Two years ago when Hummer Bonus International Limited launched its brand of energy drink, Hippo at Sheraton Hotels, Lagos, it claimed among other things that Caffeine has beneficial effects on mental and physical functions in human body. It has an influence on breathing and ability of the cardiac muscles to contract, as well as the heart rate. It has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and speed up cardiac activity. A statement released by the company says, ‘‘Caffeine stimulates fat burning during endurance activities and thereby helps to use fat stores in the body, which results in a more efficient supply of energy. Caffeine is contained in many foodstuffs such as coffee tea or chocolate. One can of Hippo Energy Drink contains approximately same as a cup of coffee.’’
How true is this statement? Was it a statement inspired by brand building effort or a PR gimmick? In a chat with a Pharmacognosist, Chukuma Muanyan who defined pharmacognosy as "the study of medicine from natural sources, he advocated moderation in the intake of caffeine, according to him caffeine has different effects on different people but moderation should be generally observed by all. While some people may enjoy the health benefits in the consumption of caffeine, others may face the other side of the stimulant. People need to study their genetic make-up in other to know weather they should take caffeine or not. In this context he said that caffeine is neither good nor bad as it depends on who is taking the stimulant and in what quantity. He recommended coconut water as a form of energy drink, particularly for sports men and women He said that coconut water is a natural alternative that does not just boost energy levels in joggers and athletes, but lowers blood sugar levels/diabetes risk. According to him, a cup of coconut water from the young green coconut has been shown to be low in calories, has no fats or cholesterol, and has a natural balance of sodium, potassium (about 600 milligrams, that is more than a banana), calcium and magnesium- making it a healthy electrolyte drink. It has even been used intravenously, directly into the human blood stream, to stabilize electrolytes or treat people who were severely dehydrated. In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941 to 45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma transfusions to wounded soldiers. Studies have shown that coconuts are anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. It is recommended that mixing coconut water with other juices for a tasty blend increases the health benefit and decreases the amount of calories and sugars in the drink.
Another school of Thought who supported the intake of Caffeinated products says it produces a variety of short and long-term health effects. Along with caffeine’s main appeal of greater alertness and energy, there are ample findings that reveal other positive effects. Findings suggest that caffeine reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease and type 2-diabetes. A French study showed a slower decline in cognitive abilities among women who consumed caffeine. In small quantities, caffeine can relieve migraines and enhance the pain-reducing effects of aspirin or other pain relievers, and is believed to help lessen the symptoms of allergy and asthma sufferers. Caffeine also increases dopamine production, a chemical that improves feelings of well-being. In all, it is reasonable to take the advice of experts when we feel any slight reaction in our body system in the consumption of any brand of caffeinated products.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
In Touch With Genevieve Nnaji
This story is by Akinnagbe Akintomide
Genevieve Nnaji is one of the most respected actresses in Nollywood, with excellent interpretation of characters in movies.
She is one actress every good director would want to work with. Pretty and unpretentiously friendly,Genny, as this acting queen is fondly called, is one Nollywood personality who has worked herself to a level where she gets the sort of adulation that stars in Hollywood get.
Beyond movie,what many people don't know is the many challenges she has been through in life.
At the tender age of 17,the talented thespian that Oprah Winfrey named Nigeria's Julia Roberts, had a daughter as a result of a fling with her teacher in secondary school.But she moved on,utilized her God given talents and today,she is the most recognized actress in Africa.
She is even happy to tell anyone that cares that she loves her daughter so much and that she is all she lives for.
In an interview she granted years back, she narrated her ordeal thus, I'm sure everywoman knows the feeling of pregnancy, but for the young girl – it is difficult for me to say now, because I have grown much older – but I know at that time it was, let me see... Anyway, I'd just wake up every morning hoping to wake up from a dream... but you know it doesn't happen so. It's more like giving me hope that 'no, it wasn't...' I was like looking forward to sleeping and waking up, then it wasn't getting any better anyway.
Getting rid of the pregnancy was an alternative then, but it was too late, because not until I was four months before we discovered it and so it was not what we could do, and my dad was like, 'it's a child for Christ's sake. God knows why he wants to bring that child into life”. We are Catholics and it's just that conscience, you do wrong once and doing another would not make the first right. So, you either correct your mistake by doing the right thing. If I was pregnant, and then have an abortion, it would have been like murder after fornication! So, that was basically wrong.She said
From the look of things, the reality of this costly mistake she make back then seems to be blessings in disguise now that she seems to be finding right men for marriage elusive.
But that doesn't bother her one bit because she has 15 year old daughter that is source of her joy, happiness, and fulfillment. This helps less pressure to get married.
According a close pal to Genny who pleaded anonymity, Genny knows how tricky men could be, so she's taking her time to choose Mr. right among the many men asking for her hand in marriage.
The nature of her job as an actress is cumbersome,it entails moving from one location,country to another.Only a man with a good heart would take that in marriage.And she's just at the starting point of her career.She needs a man that would be a silent reflection of her strength and a supporter of her dreams and goals not a dream killer.
The minute she settle for less, this will only take her to despair.
Apart from that, men her scared of her achievement and high profiles lifestyles. this makes it pretty difficult for her rushing into a marriage.
Even though she once admitted she's tired of spinsterhood, that's not a yardstick for settling down
That brings me to the interview she granted months back,Genevieve said; I'm 32, I've been busy for 12 years and I'm still busy.
My parents have other children to focus on. I'm only one out of eight. For me if marriage comes, fine. It's not a priority. It's never been, but it a good thing every woman wants. So, I'm not shying away from it. But then, I'm going to go in with my head straight. I will go into marriage for the right reasons. Not for money, not for fame, not for name and not to satisfy the world. I don't want any sort of peer pressure getting involved in my settling down, or trying to prove a point that I can settle down. I don't need that. I'm here to please my God and myself, and as long as my parents have no issues with it, I'm fine. When I find the right person, I'm sure I'll settle down.
First of all I have to agree within myself that I actually want to get married. I think my life is already chaotic as it is being one celebrity.
I don't find marriage repulsive but everyday I learn from married people about what not to do when it comes to marriage. I think I've just learnt the bad things about marriage before the good ones. There is constant discouragement but I just know for a fact that when I find the right person I will definitely not think about it. Marriage should be about finding the right person, finding your soul mate, not necessarily in receiving love.
I think she said it all. She has developed and established a very successful career in the movie world, got a lovely daughter and other good things of life. What else could she want?
Ceteris paribus; "all other things being equal”let's hope that the wedding bells will soon be ringing.
Genevieve Nnaji is one of the most respected actresses in Nollywood, with excellent interpretation of characters in movies.
She is one actress every good director would want to work with. Pretty and unpretentiously friendly,Genny, as this acting queen is fondly called, is one Nollywood personality who has worked herself to a level where she gets the sort of adulation that stars in Hollywood get.
Beyond movie,what many people don't know is the many challenges she has been through in life.
At the tender age of 17,the talented thespian that Oprah Winfrey named Nigeria's Julia Roberts, had a daughter as a result of a fling with her teacher in secondary school.But she moved on,utilized her God given talents and today,she is the most recognized actress in Africa.
She is even happy to tell anyone that cares that she loves her daughter so much and that she is all she lives for.
In an interview she granted years back, she narrated her ordeal thus, I'm sure everywoman knows the feeling of pregnancy, but for the young girl – it is difficult for me to say now, because I have grown much older – but I know at that time it was, let me see... Anyway, I'd just wake up every morning hoping to wake up from a dream... but you know it doesn't happen so. It's more like giving me hope that 'no, it wasn't...' I was like looking forward to sleeping and waking up, then it wasn't getting any better anyway.
Getting rid of the pregnancy was an alternative then, but it was too late, because not until I was four months before we discovered it and so it was not what we could do, and my dad was like, 'it's a child for Christ's sake. God knows why he wants to bring that child into life”. We are Catholics and it's just that conscience, you do wrong once and doing another would not make the first right. So, you either correct your mistake by doing the right thing. If I was pregnant, and then have an abortion, it would have been like murder after fornication! So, that was basically wrong.She said
From the look of things, the reality of this costly mistake she make back then seems to be blessings in disguise now that she seems to be finding right men for marriage elusive.
But that doesn't bother her one bit because she has 15 year old daughter that is source of her joy, happiness, and fulfillment. This helps less pressure to get married.
According a close pal to Genny who pleaded anonymity, Genny knows how tricky men could be, so she's taking her time to choose Mr. right among the many men asking for her hand in marriage.
The nature of her job as an actress is cumbersome,it entails moving from one location,country to another.Only a man with a good heart would take that in marriage.And she's just at the starting point of her career.She needs a man that would be a silent reflection of her strength and a supporter of her dreams and goals not a dream killer.
The minute she settle for less, this will only take her to despair.
Apart from that, men her scared of her achievement and high profiles lifestyles. this makes it pretty difficult for her rushing into a marriage.
Even though she once admitted she's tired of spinsterhood, that's not a yardstick for settling down
That brings me to the interview she granted months back,Genevieve said; I'm 32, I've been busy for 12 years and I'm still busy.
My parents have other children to focus on. I'm only one out of eight. For me if marriage comes, fine. It's not a priority. It's never been, but it a good thing every woman wants. So, I'm not shying away from it. But then, I'm going to go in with my head straight. I will go into marriage for the right reasons. Not for money, not for fame, not for name and not to satisfy the world. I don't want any sort of peer pressure getting involved in my settling down, or trying to prove a point that I can settle down. I don't need that. I'm here to please my God and myself, and as long as my parents have no issues with it, I'm fine. When I find the right person, I'm sure I'll settle down.
First of all I have to agree within myself that I actually want to get married. I think my life is already chaotic as it is being one celebrity.
I don't find marriage repulsive but everyday I learn from married people about what not to do when it comes to marriage. I think I've just learnt the bad things about marriage before the good ones. There is constant discouragement but I just know for a fact that when I find the right person I will definitely not think about it. Marriage should be about finding the right person, finding your soul mate, not necessarily in receiving love.
I think she said it all. She has developed and established a very successful career in the movie world, got a lovely daughter and other good things of life. What else could she want?
Ceteris paribus; "all other things being equal”let's hope that the wedding bells will soon be ringing.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
AROUND AND ABOUT NOLLYWOOD, Author of this article: BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
Ali-Balogun’s short documentary on fuel protest ready
THE filmmaker Mahmood Ali-Balogun has said work is almost complete for his short documentary on the January fuel price hike protest titled, Nigerian Autumn, for a possible premiere at the 2012 edition of the i-Represent International Documentary Film Festival. The film fest holds between March 22 and 25 at Terra Kulture, Lagos. The film is one of the works from ‘Occupy Nigeria’ that will dominate the film fest . Ali-Balogun disclosed that the short documentary would have been ready before now, if not for the challenges faced when he was sourcing the fund for his ‘next project’. This edition, according to a statement from the organisers, is conceptualised on the framework: Africa in self conversation, and it would explore the theme: Democracy and Culture — The Documentary Film Intervention. As would be deduced from the sporadic people's mass action that attended the January 1 removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, a new sense of participation in governance, the organisers say, is evolving on the African continent, hence the need to explore opportunities open to African filmmakers to bring better understanding and approaches to participatory democracy as part of African political culture through the medium of documentary films. According to Ali-Balogun, his film fits the bill and he hopes to finish the work before the start of the festival. Executive Director of i-Rep Documentary Film Forum, Femi Odugbemi, said the four-day festival would cover areas such as democracy and demonstrations, new media technology and participatory democracy. It will also examine the potentials of the Nigerian films to explore and exploit the documentary format in its production virtues. The festival’s subtheme is: Is Nollywood Documentary? This will feature a conversation among filmmakers and their publics on the potentials of Nollywood films to embrace the documentary ethics in its operation and outputs. For this edition, organisers have invited Professor Jean Paul Colleyn (Director of Institute of African Studies, Paris) to deliver a Keynote. Details on the festival can be sourced at www.irepfilmfestival.com.
Pennies for the Boatman get Madrid Filmfest nomination
NIYI Coker’s engaging feature, Pennies For The Boatman, has been nominated in four categories of the 2012 Madrid International Film Festival. The movie, which had its Nigerian showing last year at LifeHouse, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the auspices of the LifeHouse and iREP screening collaboration, will compete in Best Film, Best Director, Best Film Script and Best feature film. In an email exchange, the Nigerian-born Desmond Lee hinted that the festival and awards would be announced in Madrid, Spain between June 6 and 9. “Many thanks to all for your support with this project. It has meant the world to us. We would not be at this point without it,” he said. Details about the festival and its nomination list can be sourced at www.madridinternationalfilmfestival.com/nominations2012.
NFC announces winners for film essay competition
THE Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has released the result of the 7th edition of its Film Essay Competition. According to a statement signed by Brian Etuk, Head, Public Affairs, the winners are Moses Daodu (first), Fedelis Okoregbe ( second) and Onyedika Okafor (third). They beat other participants to clinch the cash prizes of N100, 000.00, N75, 000.00 and N50, 000.00, respectively. The topic of the essay was Re-emergence of the Cinema: Impact on the Local Industry and National Economy. The competition, which began in 2005, has, as at today, recorded a total of 232 participants, producing 21 winners. Afolabi Adesanya, managing director of NFC, while commending the high level of intellectual essays, congratulated the winners. Adesanya described the participation level in past editions as encouraging noting that the choice of the topic for the 2011/2012 edition, no doubt, presented an interesting turning point in the history of the competition, which now serves as a benchmark for assessing critical issues germane to the growth of the Nigerian movie industry. Presentation of cash prizes and certificate of participation will hold during the 6th edition of ZUMA International Film Festival, scheduled for Abuja from May 6 to 10.
Audio-visual practitioners to be armed on right infringement
AN international workshop that will further strengthen the capacity, rearm audio visual professionals on intellectual property rights, and as well fightpiracy and copyright holds in Lagos from April 11 to13 at NFC Lagos office, by Voice of Nigeria (VON), Obalende . Organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), in collaboration with Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the workshop intends to address new media and other related issues that affect the sustainable development of the motion picture industry in the country. Participants are drawn from the professional guilds of the Nigerian motion picture industry (Producers, Marketers, Exhibitors, Actors etc.) creative industry experts, copyright and anti-piracy officials, entertainment outfits, satellite, telecoms, and terrestrial television and radio stations. Others include officials from the NFC, the NCC, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), selected development banks, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and WIPO Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop, which also intends to evaluate the current status of the Nigerian motion industry and the impact of copyright and piracy, starts 9am and participation is free.
In a statement by Chinwe Okonkwo, Head of Legal Unit, NFC, and programme’s coordinator, the workshop will also attempt to chart a way forward for the growth and expansion of the industry with a view to increasing its contribution to the economic development of Nigeria. Facilitators and discussants include Mr. Rob Aft from Los Angeles, USA; Mr. Richard Moxon from the United Kingdom; Donna Hill of WIPO, Switzerland; Afolabi Adesanya; Tarja Koshinen-Olsson; Mr. Bankole Sodipo; Tunde Kelani; Sandra Obiago of Communication for Change; Femi Odugbemi, Chief Executive of D-V Works; Fidelis Duker, Chief Executive of Abuja International Film Festival. Others include Efere Ozako, Gabriel Okoje, Don Pedro Obaseke, Chinwe Okonkwo, James George, Ag. Director, National Film Institute, Jos, and others.
Identification of the major characteristics and profile of the audiovisual industry in Nigeria with the objectives of assessing and determining the number, type and size of companies, major stakeholders, the employment and trade generated by the audiovisual industry will also feature during the workshop, which will also address the importance of chain of title documentation establishment ownership in film production, methods of acquiring underlying property rights, sales and distribution process for independent and foreign copyrighted materials including film, television, new media markets, sales agents, film festivals and distributors. The statement also added that, the importance of developing domestic film markets and how to develop other channels for the sale of Nigerian film rights, including how to improve infrastructures for collective bargaining and management would also be addressed.
AMAA heads to the Gambia to announce nomination
FILMMAKERS who submitted entries for the 2012 edition of the yearly African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will know how well they have performed when the nomination for AMAA is formally released today in the Gambia. Though details of the nomination is still being awaited, there are indications that Nigeria will have countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Ghana — its traditional arch rivals, to contend with this year. An inside source noted that the battle for who will receive most of the diadems out of the 20 in contention is keen. He hinted that the competition seem keen this year because ‘the entries are very rich.’ Held yearly in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria since 2004, the main award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, in Lagos. This is the second time the award will be staged outside its traditional venue — Bayelsa. The first time it was held outside Bayelsa was in 2007.
6th Kids For Kids Festival Africa calls for films
LOLA Kenya Screen invites films from children and youth in Africa for
the 6th yearly Kids for Kids Africa Festival (KFKF-A) Competition that has since 2008 been organised and presented in the framework of Africa's premier audiovisual media initiative specifically designed for children and youth. “The films we are looking for must be made by children and youth in 2011 and 2012 only; any film made by adults masquerading as children or youth are unacceptable,” Lola Kenya Screen director Ogova Ondego says. “We define a child as any one aged 18 and under. And such people need not be citizens of Africa, but can be resident in the mother continent at the time the film was made.” Ondego clarifies that films made by children under the guidance of adults are eligible for the Kids For Kids Festival Africa but that the contribution of adults should be confined to training or facilitating the process but should not be extended to areas such as scripting, shooting, story-boarding or animating. “Eligible films are those made by children resident in any part of Africa. All kinds of moving images — animation, experimental, documentary, fiction — will be considered,” Ondego says. Any film in a language other than English must be sub-titled in English. “All entries will be received, processed, assessed and awarded by a film selection committee and jury comprising children. Winning entries will represent Africa at the international Kids for Kids Festival,” Ondego adds. Deadline for receiving entries at the directorate is April 15. KFKF is an international community of young filmmakers and media educators; it constitutes a unique, international movement for the promotion and advertisement of audiovisual messages created by children for children.
KFKF-A was first held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2007. However since August 2008, KFKA has been organized and presented in the framework of the Nairobi, Kenya-based Lola Kenya Screen reputed to be Africa’s first audiovisual media initiative exclusively designed for children and youth. Details of the festival can be sourced from director@lolakenyascreen.org
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Author of this article: BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
THE filmmaker Mahmood Ali-Balogun has said work is almost complete for his short documentary on the January fuel price hike protest titled, Nigerian Autumn, for a possible premiere at the 2012 edition of the i-Represent International Documentary Film Festival. The film fest holds between March 22 and 25 at Terra Kulture, Lagos. The film is one of the works from ‘Occupy Nigeria’ that will dominate the film fest . Ali-Balogun disclosed that the short documentary would have been ready before now, if not for the challenges faced when he was sourcing the fund for his ‘next project’. This edition, according to a statement from the organisers, is conceptualised on the framework: Africa in self conversation, and it would explore the theme: Democracy and Culture — The Documentary Film Intervention. As would be deduced from the sporadic people's mass action that attended the January 1 removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, a new sense of participation in governance, the organisers say, is evolving on the African continent, hence the need to explore opportunities open to African filmmakers to bring better understanding and approaches to participatory democracy as part of African political culture through the medium of documentary films. According to Ali-Balogun, his film fits the bill and he hopes to finish the work before the start of the festival. Executive Director of i-Rep Documentary Film Forum, Femi Odugbemi, said the four-day festival would cover areas such as democracy and demonstrations, new media technology and participatory democracy. It will also examine the potentials of the Nigerian films to explore and exploit the documentary format in its production virtues. The festival’s subtheme is: Is Nollywood Documentary? This will feature a conversation among filmmakers and their publics on the potentials of Nollywood films to embrace the documentary ethics in its operation and outputs. For this edition, organisers have invited Professor Jean Paul Colleyn (Director of Institute of African Studies, Paris) to deliver a Keynote. Details on the festival can be sourced at www.irepfilmfestival.com.
Pennies for the Boatman get Madrid Filmfest nomination
NIYI Coker’s engaging feature, Pennies For The Boatman, has been nominated in four categories of the 2012 Madrid International Film Festival. The movie, which had its Nigerian showing last year at LifeHouse, Victoria Island, Lagos, under the auspices of the LifeHouse and iREP screening collaboration, will compete in Best Film, Best Director, Best Film Script and Best feature film. In an email exchange, the Nigerian-born Desmond Lee hinted that the festival and awards would be announced in Madrid, Spain between June 6 and 9. “Many thanks to all for your support with this project. It has meant the world to us. We would not be at this point without it,” he said. Details about the festival and its nomination list can be sourced at www.madridinternationalfilmfestival.com/nominations2012.
NFC announces winners for film essay competition
THE Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has released the result of the 7th edition of its Film Essay Competition. According to a statement signed by Brian Etuk, Head, Public Affairs, the winners are Moses Daodu (first), Fedelis Okoregbe ( second) and Onyedika Okafor (third). They beat other participants to clinch the cash prizes of N100, 000.00, N75, 000.00 and N50, 000.00, respectively. The topic of the essay was Re-emergence of the Cinema: Impact on the Local Industry and National Economy. The competition, which began in 2005, has, as at today, recorded a total of 232 participants, producing 21 winners. Afolabi Adesanya, managing director of NFC, while commending the high level of intellectual essays, congratulated the winners. Adesanya described the participation level in past editions as encouraging noting that the choice of the topic for the 2011/2012 edition, no doubt, presented an interesting turning point in the history of the competition, which now serves as a benchmark for assessing critical issues germane to the growth of the Nigerian movie industry. Presentation of cash prizes and certificate of participation will hold during the 6th edition of ZUMA International Film Festival, scheduled for Abuja from May 6 to 10.
Audio-visual practitioners to be armed on right infringement
AN international workshop that will further strengthen the capacity, rearm audio visual professionals on intellectual property rights, and as well fightpiracy and copyright holds in Lagos from April 11 to13 at NFC Lagos office, by Voice of Nigeria (VON), Obalende . Organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), in collaboration with Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the workshop intends to address new media and other related issues that affect the sustainable development of the motion picture industry in the country. Participants are drawn from the professional guilds of the Nigerian motion picture industry (Producers, Marketers, Exhibitors, Actors etc.) creative industry experts, copyright and anti-piracy officials, entertainment outfits, satellite, telecoms, and terrestrial television and radio stations. Others include officials from the NFC, the NCC, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), selected development banks, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and WIPO Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop, which also intends to evaluate the current status of the Nigerian motion industry and the impact of copyright and piracy, starts 9am and participation is free.
In a statement by Chinwe Okonkwo, Head of Legal Unit, NFC, and programme’s coordinator, the workshop will also attempt to chart a way forward for the growth and expansion of the industry with a view to increasing its contribution to the economic development of Nigeria. Facilitators and discussants include Mr. Rob Aft from Los Angeles, USA; Mr. Richard Moxon from the United Kingdom; Donna Hill of WIPO, Switzerland; Afolabi Adesanya; Tarja Koshinen-Olsson; Mr. Bankole Sodipo; Tunde Kelani; Sandra Obiago of Communication for Change; Femi Odugbemi, Chief Executive of D-V Works; Fidelis Duker, Chief Executive of Abuja International Film Festival. Others include Efere Ozako, Gabriel Okoje, Don Pedro Obaseke, Chinwe Okonkwo, James George, Ag. Director, National Film Institute, Jos, and others.
Identification of the major characteristics and profile of the audiovisual industry in Nigeria with the objectives of assessing and determining the number, type and size of companies, major stakeholders, the employment and trade generated by the audiovisual industry will also feature during the workshop, which will also address the importance of chain of title documentation establishment ownership in film production, methods of acquiring underlying property rights, sales and distribution process for independent and foreign copyrighted materials including film, television, new media markets, sales agents, film festivals and distributors. The statement also added that, the importance of developing domestic film markets and how to develop other channels for the sale of Nigerian film rights, including how to improve infrastructures for collective bargaining and management would also be addressed.
AMAA heads to the Gambia to announce nomination
FILMMAKERS who submitted entries for the 2012 edition of the yearly African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) will know how well they have performed when the nomination for AMAA is formally released today in the Gambia. Though details of the nomination is still being awaited, there are indications that Nigeria will have countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Ghana — its traditional arch rivals, to contend with this year. An inside source noted that the battle for who will receive most of the diadems out of the 20 in contention is keen. He hinted that the competition seem keen this year because ‘the entries are very rich.’ Held yearly in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria since 2004, the main award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, in Lagos. This is the second time the award will be staged outside its traditional venue — Bayelsa. The first time it was held outside Bayelsa was in 2007.
6th Kids For Kids Festival Africa calls for films
LOLA Kenya Screen invites films from children and youth in Africa for
the 6th yearly Kids for Kids Africa Festival (KFKF-A) Competition that has since 2008 been organised and presented in the framework of Africa's premier audiovisual media initiative specifically designed for children and youth. “The films we are looking for must be made by children and youth in 2011 and 2012 only; any film made by adults masquerading as children or youth are unacceptable,” Lola Kenya Screen director Ogova Ondego says. “We define a child as any one aged 18 and under. And such people need not be citizens of Africa, but can be resident in the mother continent at the time the film was made.” Ondego clarifies that films made by children under the guidance of adults are eligible for the Kids For Kids Festival Africa but that the contribution of adults should be confined to training or facilitating the process but should not be extended to areas such as scripting, shooting, story-boarding or animating. “Eligible films are those made by children resident in any part of Africa. All kinds of moving images — animation, experimental, documentary, fiction — will be considered,” Ondego says. Any film in a language other than English must be sub-titled in English. “All entries will be received, processed, assessed and awarded by a film selection committee and jury comprising children. Winning entries will represent Africa at the international Kids for Kids Festival,” Ondego adds. Deadline for receiving entries at the directorate is April 15. KFKF is an international community of young filmmakers and media educators; it constitutes a unique, international movement for the promotion and advertisement of audiovisual messages created by children for children.
KFKF-A was first held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2007. However since August 2008, KFKA has been organized and presented in the framework of the Nairobi, Kenya-based Lola Kenya Screen reputed to be Africa’s first audiovisual media initiative exclusively designed for children and youth. Details of the festival can be sourced from director@lolakenyascreen.org
Next >
Author of this article: BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
NINE ISLAMIC VANDALS MEET THEIR END
By Elisha Bala-Gbogb
Nine gunmen suspected of belonging to Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist group were shot dead by troops in the northern state of Kano after they attacked a police station and a bank, the military said.
“They used improvised explosive devices to bomb these places,” Brigadier General Iliyasu Abba, military commander in Kano city, told reporters today. “We quickly mobilized our men to the scene and that was how we successfully got them.” Two more gunmen were arrested, he said.
Authorities in Africa’s top oil producer blame Boko Haram, which draws inspiration from Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, for a surge of violence in the mainly Muslim north and in Abuja, the capital, in which more than 1,000 people have died since 2009. The group claimed responsibility for multiple blasts and attacks in the city of Kano on Jan. 20 that killed at least 256 people, according to the Civil Rights Congress.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is a sin,” recently made contact with the government for peace talks through an Islamic leader, Abul Qaqa, a spokesman said yesterday. The initiative was called off after the group decided the government wasn’t sincere, he said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 160 million people, is roughly split between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south. Boko Haram poses a more serious threat to the country than the 1967-1970 Biafra civil war, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Jan. 8.
Nine gunmen suspected of belonging to Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist group were shot dead by troops in the northern state of Kano after they attacked a police station and a bank, the military said.
“They used improvised explosive devices to bomb these places,” Brigadier General Iliyasu Abba, military commander in Kano city, told reporters today. “We quickly mobilized our men to the scene and that was how we successfully got them.” Two more gunmen were arrested, he said.
Authorities in Africa’s top oil producer blame Boko Haram, which draws inspiration from Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, for a surge of violence in the mainly Muslim north and in Abuja, the capital, in which more than 1,000 people have died since 2009. The group claimed responsibility for multiple blasts and attacks in the city of Kano on Jan. 20 that killed at least 256 people, according to the Civil Rights Congress.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is a sin,” recently made contact with the government for peace talks through an Islamic leader, Abul Qaqa, a spokesman said yesterday. The initiative was called off after the group decided the government wasn’t sincere, he said.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with more than 160 million people, is roughly split between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south. Boko Haram poses a more serious threat to the country than the 1967-1970 Biafra civil war, President Goodluck Jonathan said on Jan. 8.
Nigeria Insists on Good Treatment of Deportees
By Oghogho Obayuwana,
ALTHOUGH all nations have the sovereign right to send away unwanted nationals of other countries, such deporting states must, however, abide by known diplomatic conventions which stipulate dignified treatment for those affected.
The Federal Government again reiterated this position yesterday just as it appealed to the international community especially its strategic partners to give greater support to Nigeria’s efforts at combating the scourge of terrorism.
At the second formal meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of international agencies accredited to Nigeria which is coming on the heels of the maiden interactive session in July last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said the Federal Government would not brook the maltreatment of Nigerians even when such citizens deserve to be sent home.
He said: “A critical issue I must comment upon concerns the deportation of Nigerians from various parts of the world. Let me state here that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not opposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in countries from where they are being deported; especially after they might have exhausted all local remedies. We, however, insist that this deportation should be done within the appropriate institutional and legal framework and with dignity and decency. We have signed MoUs with some countries of the world and are ready to take similar actions with interested countries.”
According to the minister, while urging Nigerians all over the world to continue to be law abiding and not abuse the hospitality of their hosts, the Federal Government will not tolerate maltreatment of Nigerians for no just cause. “I must emphasize that it is a cardinal principle of Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians all over the world. We will not abdicate this responsibility to our citizens all over the world and in all circumstances”.
No fewer than 56 Nigerians were deported recently from the United Kingdom. There are also a few isolated cases over which documentation is currently being compiled.
While thanking friendly countries for their support and understanding in meeting the challenge posed by terrorists’ activities in Nigeria, the minister said in tackling this particular challenge “the support of the international community and our strategic partners is vital.
This support in the form of training, capacity building, equipment and exchange of intelligence and joint actions, especially with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours is deeply appreciated. It is our wish and desire to intensify this cooperation in the days to come... government has begun programmes of social and economic empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction which we believe will ensure that the challenges of the recent phenomenon are sooner than later put behind us.”
He expressed delight that many countries have responded to Nigeria’s trade and investment initiatives. Calling for more partnerships and engagement in these areas, he said “many have sent trade delegations to Nigeria or have received Nigeria’s trade delegations in their respective countries. I urge you to continue in this spirit so as to strengthen relations between our countries, to the mutual benefit of our people. we believe that trade is central to Nigeria’s prosperity. We therefore need to devise creative ways of increasing and diversifying trade and investments between our countries and in all sectors of the Nigerian economy especially the power sector, agricultural and manufacturing value addition so as to assist us in job and wealth creation.”
Ambassador Ashiru, however, expressed regrets that despite his intervention last July, Nigerian visa applicants are still being poorly treated by some diplomatic missions while other missions still bypass the official channel of communication between them and Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions in breach of established diplomatic practice.
He said in this regard among others: “I am happy to say that I have noticed marked improvements in this direction. The rate of rejection of visa applicants seems to have fallen in some missions... but there is still room for improvement. Missions that have not erected special reception halls for visa applicants should please do so in order that Nigerian visa applicants will not have to queue in the rain and hot sun when they apply for visas at embassies. We shall continue to demand at all times, dignified service to Nigerians.”
Before they went into a closed session yesterday, the dean of the diplomatic corps and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Msuya Waldi Mangachi pledged sensible action on the points raised especially with regards to getting Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions to be sensitive to the standard norm in dealing with foreign missions. Approaches, the High Commissioner insisted yesterday, usually originate from the Nigerian side.
ALTHOUGH all nations have the sovereign right to send away unwanted nationals of other countries, such deporting states must, however, abide by known diplomatic conventions which stipulate dignified treatment for those affected.
The Federal Government again reiterated this position yesterday just as it appealed to the international community especially its strategic partners to give greater support to Nigeria’s efforts at combating the scourge of terrorism.
At the second formal meeting with ambassadors, high commissioners, and heads of international agencies accredited to Nigeria which is coming on the heels of the maiden interactive session in July last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru said the Federal Government would not brook the maltreatment of Nigerians even when such citizens deserve to be sent home.
He said: “A critical issue I must comment upon concerns the deportation of Nigerians from various parts of the world. Let me state here that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not opposed to the deportation of Nigerians who no longer have the rights to remain in countries from where they are being deported; especially after they might have exhausted all local remedies. We, however, insist that this deportation should be done within the appropriate institutional and legal framework and with dignity and decency. We have signed MoUs with some countries of the world and are ready to take similar actions with interested countries.”
According to the minister, while urging Nigerians all over the world to continue to be law abiding and not abuse the hospitality of their hosts, the Federal Government will not tolerate maltreatment of Nigerians for no just cause. “I must emphasize that it is a cardinal principle of Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote and protect the welfare of Nigerians all over the world. We will not abdicate this responsibility to our citizens all over the world and in all circumstances”.
No fewer than 56 Nigerians were deported recently from the United Kingdom. There are also a few isolated cases over which documentation is currently being compiled.
While thanking friendly countries for their support and understanding in meeting the challenge posed by terrorists’ activities in Nigeria, the minister said in tackling this particular challenge “the support of the international community and our strategic partners is vital.
This support in the form of training, capacity building, equipment and exchange of intelligence and joint actions, especially with Nigeria’s immediate neighbours is deeply appreciated. It is our wish and desire to intensify this cooperation in the days to come... government has begun programmes of social and economic empowerment, job creation and poverty reduction which we believe will ensure that the challenges of the recent phenomenon are sooner than later put behind us.”
He expressed delight that many countries have responded to Nigeria’s trade and investment initiatives. Calling for more partnerships and engagement in these areas, he said “many have sent trade delegations to Nigeria or have received Nigeria’s trade delegations in their respective countries. I urge you to continue in this spirit so as to strengthen relations between our countries, to the mutual benefit of our people. we believe that trade is central to Nigeria’s prosperity. We therefore need to devise creative ways of increasing and diversifying trade and investments between our countries and in all sectors of the Nigerian economy especially the power sector, agricultural and manufacturing value addition so as to assist us in job and wealth creation.”
Ambassador Ashiru, however, expressed regrets that despite his intervention last July, Nigerian visa applicants are still being poorly treated by some diplomatic missions while other missions still bypass the official channel of communication between them and Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions in breach of established diplomatic practice.
He said in this regard among others: “I am happy to say that I have noticed marked improvements in this direction. The rate of rejection of visa applicants seems to have fallen in some missions... but there is still room for improvement. Missions that have not erected special reception halls for visa applicants should please do so in order that Nigerian visa applicants will not have to queue in the rain and hot sun when they apply for visas at embassies. We shall continue to demand at all times, dignified service to Nigerians.”
Before they went into a closed session yesterday, the dean of the diplomatic corps and Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Msuya Waldi Mangachi pledged sensible action on the points raised especially with regards to getting Nigerian ministries, agencies, departments and institutions to be sensitive to the standard norm in dealing with foreign missions. Approaches, the High Commissioner insisted yesterday, usually originate from the Nigerian side.
Nigeria May hold World Bank Presidency
By Sandrine Rastello
Some African nations are planning to nominate Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become president of the World Bank, an official on the lender’s board of directors said.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was a managing director at the Washington-based World Bank until August, would be proposed by South Africa, according to the official, who spoke on condition of not being named because the talks are not public. South Africa also represents Nigeria and Angola on the 25-seat World Bank board.
South African Treasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane said “we’re not commenting on the issue,” when contacted on his mobile phone today. Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for South African President Jacob Zuma, did not respond to a message left on his mobile phone.
“It’s great there’s a conversation about merit,” said Kevin Gallagher, associate professor of international relations at Boston University. “She knows a heck of a lot about development. I’m not so sure what her thoughts and record is with respect to environmental protection,” he said in reference to a topic of increasing interest at the World Bank.
While the bank promised a “merit-based and transparent” selection process, the position has always been held by a U.S. citizen proposed by the U.S. president. Two days before a March 23 deadline, President Barack Obama’s administration has not announced its candidate to replace Robert Zoellick, who has said he will step down when his term ends June 30.
‘Quite Surprising’
“The minister hasn’t put herself forward for the position and she’s not actively seeking it,” Nigerian finance ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said. “That’s why it’s quite surprising the amount of support that the idea is getting from Africa and other parts of the world.”
The World Bank’s board has said will decide on a shortlist of as many as three candidates, whom it will interview, and that it wants to make a decision by April 20.
The plan to nominate Okonjo-Iweala was reported earlier by Reuters, which also said Brazil will nominate former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo. Ocampo didn’t return a call to his office at Columbia University in New York.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa “and other active developing countries in the World Bank are discussing the issue,” Carlos Cozendey, secretary for International Affairs at the Brazilian Finance Ministry, said in a statement while declining to confirm Ocampo’s candidacy. “The president of the World Bank should be chosen by his merit and we think it is very positive to have an open competitive process,” according to the statement.
U.S. Nomination
Okonjo-Iweala’s possible candidacy may not be enough to derail a nomination by the U.S., the bank’s largest shareholder, said Uri Dadush, director of international economics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. The U.S. last year also backed Europe’s pick for the International Monetary Fund against Mexico’s candidate.
“The only scenario I can imagine where it would make it difficult is if the U.S. doesn’t come up with a strong candidate themselves,” Dadush said. “But if they do and they are convinced they have a good candidate, I don’t think the African countries can stop this.”
Another declared candidate is Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, who is backed by developing nations including East Timor, which said it nominated him.
-- With assistance by Arnaldo Galvao in Brasilia, Maram Mazen in Abuja and Franz Wild in Johannesburg. Editors: Kevin Costelloe, Gail DeGeorge
To contact the reporters on this story: Sandrine Rastello in Washington at srastello@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz in Washington at cwellisz@bloomberg.net;
Some African nations are planning to nominate Nigeria’s Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become president of the World Bank, an official on the lender’s board of directors said.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was a managing director at the Washington-based World Bank until August, would be proposed by South Africa, according to the official, who spoke on condition of not being named because the talks are not public. South Africa also represents Nigeria and Angola on the 25-seat World Bank board.
South African Treasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane said “we’re not commenting on the issue,” when contacted on his mobile phone today. Mac Maharaj, a spokesman for South African President Jacob Zuma, did not respond to a message left on his mobile phone.
“It’s great there’s a conversation about merit,” said Kevin Gallagher, associate professor of international relations at Boston University. “She knows a heck of a lot about development. I’m not so sure what her thoughts and record is with respect to environmental protection,” he said in reference to a topic of increasing interest at the World Bank.
While the bank promised a “merit-based and transparent” selection process, the position has always been held by a U.S. citizen proposed by the U.S. president. Two days before a March 23 deadline, President Barack Obama’s administration has not announced its candidate to replace Robert Zoellick, who has said he will step down when his term ends June 30.
‘Quite Surprising’
“The minister hasn’t put herself forward for the position and she’s not actively seeking it,” Nigerian finance ministry spokesman Paul Nwabuikwu said. “That’s why it’s quite surprising the amount of support that the idea is getting from Africa and other parts of the world.”
The World Bank’s board has said will decide on a shortlist of as many as three candidates, whom it will interview, and that it wants to make a decision by April 20.
The plan to nominate Okonjo-Iweala was reported earlier by Reuters, which also said Brazil will nominate former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo. Ocampo didn’t return a call to his office at Columbia University in New York.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa “and other active developing countries in the World Bank are discussing the issue,” Carlos Cozendey, secretary for International Affairs at the Brazilian Finance Ministry, said in a statement while declining to confirm Ocampo’s candidacy. “The president of the World Bank should be chosen by his merit and we think it is very positive to have an open competitive process,” according to the statement.
U.S. Nomination
Okonjo-Iweala’s possible candidacy may not be enough to derail a nomination by the U.S., the bank’s largest shareholder, said Uri Dadush, director of international economics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. The U.S. last year also backed Europe’s pick for the International Monetary Fund against Mexico’s candidate.
“The only scenario I can imagine where it would make it difficult is if the U.S. doesn’t come up with a strong candidate themselves,” Dadush said. “But if they do and they are convinced they have a good candidate, I don’t think the African countries can stop this.”
Another declared candidate is Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, who is backed by developing nations including East Timor, which said it nominated him.
-- With assistance by Arnaldo Galvao in Brasilia, Maram Mazen in Abuja and Franz Wild in Johannesburg. Editors: Kevin Costelloe, Gail DeGeorge
To contact the reporters on this story: Sandrine Rastello in Washington at srastello@bloomberg.net;
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Wellisz in Washington at cwellisz@bloomberg.net;
Some Facts About Nigeria
Nigeria i/naɪˈdʒɪəriə/, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. In terms of religion Nigeria is roughly split half and half between Muslims and Christians with a very small minority who practice traditional religion.
The people of Nigeria have an extensive history. Archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BCE.[5] The area around the Benue and Cross River is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was coined by Flora Shaw, the future wife of Baron Lugard, a British colonial administrator, in the late 19th century. Since 2002 there have been a spate of clashes in the north of the country between government forces and the Boko Haram militant group which seeks to establish sharia law.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, the seventh most populous country in the world, and the most populous country in the world in which the majority of the population is black.[6] It is listed among the "Next Eleven" economies, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The people of Nigeria have an extensive history. Archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BCE.[5] The area around the Benue and Cross River is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was coined by Flora Shaw, the future wife of Baron Lugard, a British colonial administrator, in the late 19th century. Since 2002 there have been a spate of clashes in the north of the country between government forces and the Boko Haram militant group which seeks to establish sharia law.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, the seventh most populous country in the world, and the most populous country in the world in which the majority of the population is black.[6] It is listed among the "Next Eleven" economies, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Remembering Gani Fawehinmi in A vow in a Thunderstorm By Yemi Olakitan
A vow in a Thunderstorm: A book Review
By Yemi Olakitan
A vow in a thunderstorm contains 222 pages of captivating work of fiction. Written by Chike Obayi, the book is dedicated to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi who spent most of his life fighting against human rights infringements by corrupt military leaders. The author seems to have obtained his inspiration from the life of the Fawehinmi. The main character of his story walks the same path as the late activist. Obayi writes with clarity, imagination and a simplicity that one would find in the writings of great storytellers such as Cyprian Ekwensi or Chinua Achebe. Obayi writes with great promise and delivers his plot with enough enthusiasm that convinces his audience that he has both the talents and the imagination to deliver his stories.
Tijani, a young brilliant boy vowed to spend his life fighting for the rights of the less privileged in his society after he witnessed died of tuberculosis while in prison for a crime he did not commit. Tijani promised his father that he was going to study law and he would strive to use the legal profession to bring solace to the oppressed.
Written in simple language, the author tells his story brilliantly without boredom or unnecessary details he seems to command a kind of touch for keeping the readers glued as he moves from one stage of the story to the next. Obayi traced the story of Tijani’s life to his earliest educational background and showed the readers how the character strives to keep the promise he made to his father by fighting for the rights of the oppressed and the underprivileged and exposing the wrongful acts of the wicked ones in the society. He borrowed from Ibo land immensely in his use of proverbs, similes and metaphors, which are not far feched in the book.
While in secondary school at the Kings College, Lagos, Tijani rose to the position of clerk in the school informal law court by fighting for the rights of the junior students. In keeping with the promise he made to his late father. He fought courageously against the infamous compulsory free purchase culture of the college, in which senior students were forced to buy a long list of beverages and other items for senior students. This illegal practice ensures that the junior student used his money to purchase the items while the senior student freely enjoys the purchase. Sometimes a student has to steal in order to meet up with the CFP. A refusal to purchase the listed items means that the concerned student would suffer innumerable punishment in the hands of the students.
An alarmed Tijani takes the matter to the lower student court and appeal the judgment of the lower court. At the upper court he was able to win the case and the oppressed students were free. This is the beginning of Tijani’s fight against abuse of the peoples’ human rights. He went on to study Law at the University and he continued his fight for the eradication of all acts of intimidation and oppression in the university community. Tijani is a multitalented young man who plays football very well and his love of the game gives him popularity. In chapter 11 of the book he even took his love for the sports to the higher institution, which made him even popular.
As an undergraduate studying Law, Tijani displayed outstanding courage in chapter 13 of the book. When he exposed the members of a notorious secret cult operating in his school. The cult known as NASTO had kidnapped Kutoye, the son of the university’s Vice Chancellor over the student union election. This has pushed the university into confusion. Tijani displayed the courage of detective in the matter. He trailed the cultists to their hiding place. He recorded their discussions and obtained enough evidence for the arrest of the offenders. The head of the cultists Prof. Ozia was exposed in the process. All these were as a result of Tijani’s efforts in the face of threats to his life. He helped the police to get to the bottom of the matter and saved the life of his friend Kutoye who would have been killed. Tijani kept the vow he made to his father even in the university days. Tijani’s radicalism, like that of the late chief Gani Fawehinmi arises out of a desire to fight for justice and promote the welfare of humanity. Like the late chief Gani Fawehinmi, Tijani was determined to face danger in order to fight for justice and the enthronement of truth. Chike Obayi had rightly dedicated the book to fawehinmi’s memory. A vow in thunderstorm would make an interesting reading particularly to the youths. It provides an experience that many of the younger ones have not had before which may also yield them valuable lessons in human relationships and in many issues of life.
Obayi takes the reader through villages and the Lagos city to tell his tale. He makes use of words such as Igwe thereby using his cultural experience and language in the choice of location and the behaviuos of his characters. Although he did not provide a bibliography of difficult words at the end of the story, he left the readers to do the interpretation.
Obayi tells his story well and the readers could easily see that his inspiration came from the late Fawehinmi one of Nigerian heroes human rights advocacy. However, he err a bit on the part of suspense. Someone, one is able to predict the kind of life Tijani will leave from the earlier chapters of the book. A critical analysis of the book cannot overlook the issue of suspense. Obayi could have created more suspense in the plots by using some flashback instead of unfolding the story methodically as it occurred.
However, his use of imagination is good as he is able to use descriptive words and much imagery to tell the tale. For example, in his description of the chaotic situation of Lagos city in chapter seven, he wrote, ‘‘people were moving in almost all directions and in haste with no-one seeming to care for the other. It looked as if an invisible hand was propelled the movements. Here and there. People were conversing in a language he did not understand. Yellow painted buses cruising past in opposite directions with some passengers hang out from the doors like monkeys. He wondered whether something was wrong. ‘’
A vow in a thunderstorm will remain a great honour to the late Fawehinmi who truly deserved whatever monuments one might erect in his memory wether in the form of a literature or a sculpture. The author, Obayi Crescent Chikezie Agweri was born on September 28, 1966 at Nsukka in Enugu state. He attended Adada Secondary School. Npologu in Nsuka and Lagos state University where he obtained B.A Hons in Philosophy and a Masters in International Relations and strategic studies. He is married to Ngozika Eunice and they are blessed with children. Chike Obayi leaved in Lagos with his family.
By Yemi Olakitan
A vow in a thunderstorm contains 222 pages of captivating work of fiction. Written by Chike Obayi, the book is dedicated to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi who spent most of his life fighting against human rights infringements by corrupt military leaders. The author seems to have obtained his inspiration from the life of the Fawehinmi. The main character of his story walks the same path as the late activist. Obayi writes with clarity, imagination and a simplicity that one would find in the writings of great storytellers such as Cyprian Ekwensi or Chinua Achebe. Obayi writes with great promise and delivers his plot with enough enthusiasm that convinces his audience that he has both the talents and the imagination to deliver his stories.
Tijani, a young brilliant boy vowed to spend his life fighting for the rights of the less privileged in his society after he witnessed died of tuberculosis while in prison for a crime he did not commit. Tijani promised his father that he was going to study law and he would strive to use the legal profession to bring solace to the oppressed.
Written in simple language, the author tells his story brilliantly without boredom or unnecessary details he seems to command a kind of touch for keeping the readers glued as he moves from one stage of the story to the next. Obayi traced the story of Tijani’s life to his earliest educational background and showed the readers how the character strives to keep the promise he made to his father by fighting for the rights of the oppressed and the underprivileged and exposing the wrongful acts of the wicked ones in the society. He borrowed from Ibo land immensely in his use of proverbs, similes and metaphors, which are not far feched in the book.
While in secondary school at the Kings College, Lagos, Tijani rose to the position of clerk in the school informal law court by fighting for the rights of the junior students. In keeping with the promise he made to his late father. He fought courageously against the infamous compulsory free purchase culture of the college, in which senior students were forced to buy a long list of beverages and other items for senior students. This illegal practice ensures that the junior student used his money to purchase the items while the senior student freely enjoys the purchase. Sometimes a student has to steal in order to meet up with the CFP. A refusal to purchase the listed items means that the concerned student would suffer innumerable punishment in the hands of the students.
An alarmed Tijani takes the matter to the lower student court and appeal the judgment of the lower court. At the upper court he was able to win the case and the oppressed students were free. This is the beginning of Tijani’s fight against abuse of the peoples’ human rights. He went on to study Law at the University and he continued his fight for the eradication of all acts of intimidation and oppression in the university community. Tijani is a multitalented young man who plays football very well and his love of the game gives him popularity. In chapter 11 of the book he even took his love for the sports to the higher institution, which made him even popular.
As an undergraduate studying Law, Tijani displayed outstanding courage in chapter 13 of the book. When he exposed the members of a notorious secret cult operating in his school. The cult known as NASTO had kidnapped Kutoye, the son of the university’s Vice Chancellor over the student union election. This has pushed the university into confusion. Tijani displayed the courage of detective in the matter. He trailed the cultists to their hiding place. He recorded their discussions and obtained enough evidence for the arrest of the offenders. The head of the cultists Prof. Ozia was exposed in the process. All these were as a result of Tijani’s efforts in the face of threats to his life. He helped the police to get to the bottom of the matter and saved the life of his friend Kutoye who would have been killed. Tijani kept the vow he made to his father even in the university days. Tijani’s radicalism, like that of the late chief Gani Fawehinmi arises out of a desire to fight for justice and promote the welfare of humanity. Like the late chief Gani Fawehinmi, Tijani was determined to face danger in order to fight for justice and the enthronement of truth. Chike Obayi had rightly dedicated the book to fawehinmi’s memory. A vow in thunderstorm would make an interesting reading particularly to the youths. It provides an experience that many of the younger ones have not had before which may also yield them valuable lessons in human relationships and in many issues of life.
Obayi takes the reader through villages and the Lagos city to tell his tale. He makes use of words such as Igwe thereby using his cultural experience and language in the choice of location and the behaviuos of his characters. Although he did not provide a bibliography of difficult words at the end of the story, he left the readers to do the interpretation.
Obayi tells his story well and the readers could easily see that his inspiration came from the late Fawehinmi one of Nigerian heroes human rights advocacy. However, he err a bit on the part of suspense. Someone, one is able to predict the kind of life Tijani will leave from the earlier chapters of the book. A critical analysis of the book cannot overlook the issue of suspense. Obayi could have created more suspense in the plots by using some flashback instead of unfolding the story methodically as it occurred.
However, his use of imagination is good as he is able to use descriptive words and much imagery to tell the tale. For example, in his description of the chaotic situation of Lagos city in chapter seven, he wrote, ‘‘people were moving in almost all directions and in haste with no-one seeming to care for the other. It looked as if an invisible hand was propelled the movements. Here and there. People were conversing in a language he did not understand. Yellow painted buses cruising past in opposite directions with some passengers hang out from the doors like monkeys. He wondered whether something was wrong. ‘’
A vow in a thunderstorm will remain a great honour to the late Fawehinmi who truly deserved whatever monuments one might erect in his memory wether in the form of a literature or a sculpture. The author, Obayi Crescent Chikezie Agweri was born on September 28, 1966 at Nsukka in Enugu state. He attended Adada Secondary School. Npologu in Nsuka and Lagos state University where he obtained B.A Hons in Philosophy and a Masters in International Relations and strategic studies. He is married to Ngozika Eunice and they are blessed with children. Chike Obayi leaved in Lagos with his family.
Traditional Religion is Supreme- Ebun Osunnike
Traditional Religion is Supreme- Ebun Osunnike
By Yemi Olakitan
Ebun Osunnike (Iya Adunbuyinbo) is the President of International Congress of Orisa Congress, Lagos state Chapter, an umbrella organization for all the Orisa Worship in Nigeria and in the Diasporas. Osunike is dedicated to the propagation of traditional religious worship. She fervently believes that a return to tradional religion will bring about a beter society. In the interview with Yemi Olakitan she bares her mind on various issues affecting tradional religion in Nigeria and while she believes that traditonal is the best. Excerpts
• It seems that most people have abandoned traditional religion and stick to Christianity and Islam, Why have you remained in it?
The Christians and Muslims have not abandoned our traditional religion. They are deceive themselves when they say that they have abandoned our traditional practices and I will tell you why this is so. There are ways in which they still observe our traditional religion. The Muslims still use what they call ‘‘Tira’’ which is a kind of Charm if look at it well. During the Salah celebrations, a good Muslim must slaughter his own ram and share such with the neighbors.
In the Christian Bible Jesus died for the sins of the world. The death of Christ was a sacrificial offering. In the old testament of the Christian Bible, God told them to make sacrificial offerings of bulls and rams. Therefore, it is all interwoven and related. Tradition is supreme and we are all involved in these practices in one form or the other. Each religion has its own rites and rituals. So, don’t tell me that they have abandon tradition. No, they have not abandon tradition because they all practice it in one disguise or the other. In actual fact, traditional religion is the first-born. Look at our Muslim and Christian bothers, particularly in Yoruba land, there are few names that do not have a connection with a Yoruba deity. Our names are either attached to Ogun the god of iron, Ifa the God of Divination, or Osun, the River Godess. These are deities that are attached to traditional religion, although these people may claim to be Christina’s or Muslims. The fact is that their traditional religion is the religion of our ancestors. Look at Governor Fashola. He may claim to be a Muslim; his name is derived from Ifa. Traditional religion is the first. Islam and Christianity are foreign religion. Islam was imported from Saudi Arabia while Christianity was imported from Europe. They are not our culture originally. We accepted these religions because we do not know the value of what we have. The white man knows what he has and he packages it well and he gave it to us and we accepted his own religion to the neglect of ours. I have been a Christian before, my Baptismal name was Ruth and I have been a Muslim as well, my Muslim was Falilat. I have examined the two and I am convinced that Orisa Worship is pleasing to me.
• Does it not feel a little odd sometimes, been a traditionalist among a sea of Muslims and Christians?
I grew with traditional religion. My father was a staunch traditionalist and so was my mother. I know the value of what we have. We have inherited a strong religion full of deep spirituality and strong philosophy of life. Honestly, there is nothing in Christianity or Islam that is not in Orisa Worship. My father’s name was Ogundeyi, my son’s name is Ogunshina and my other son’s name is Ifashola.
You see, traditional religion works if you practice it with truthfulness and right living. I believe in the Orisas. People have different problems. Christians, Muslims and even atheist they all come to us for help including those who condemn us in public. I want to appeal to Christians to stop castigating us. They say, all we do is evil. This is a lie!
People come to us with problems and we are able to help them. Some come with unemployment problems, some barrenness problems, some have business problems. We consult the Orisas for the solution and the solution is always there.
• Tell us about your work and your association
Well, I am the president of the Orisha Congress in the whole of Lagos state. I went to Abuja to establish it. I have established it in Minna, Sokoto, Benin Republic and every states of the Western Region. We are present in the United States of America. We are in Europe as well. Professor Wole Abimbola in Ile Ife established Orisa Congress, when he was a Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife. He is the President of the Association, worldwide. Yemi Elebun Ibon is the National President of the Congress of Orisa Worshipers. Traditional religion is the first-born and it is supreme.
Let me use this opportunity to address some things, there are some people that go about parading themselves as Orisa Worshipers. They are dressed in white attire and they sit in public places begging for money. These people are not part of us. It is not a Yoruba Culture to beg for money. It is not even in the tenets of Orisa worship. It is completely unacceptable. You don’t beg for money. You work with you hands. This is what the Orisas instruct is to do, although there is a certain deity that instructs his followers to go and ask for money and pray for those who gives. However, this comes up at a particular season and when that season is past. You cannot continue to do as if you are beggar. It is totally out of the religious inclination of Orisa Worship to turn oneself into a beggar and be begin in the name of religion. I have trained several priestesses and some of them are in the United States and some are based in the UK. Some are in Ghana. You cannot find them beg for money. Those who are doing that have deviated from tradition.
Our Association is fully registered with the government. We are registered just like the Christian Association of Nigeria. However, the government does not recognize us. They give attention to the Muslims and the Christians but not to us. We want to move close to the government but our government be like a woman who gives birth to three children but abandon one. They have thrown traditional religion away. We are the true identity of the country. The others are foreign importation. In traditional religion, you cannot lie. If you do evil, evil will overtake you. Many people cannot be here that is why they hide under Christianity and Islam and yet many still come to us for deliverance. As an Osun Priestess for example, I cannot lie or cheat. It is what Osun ask for that I must ask for. If Osun does not ask for money, I cannot ask for money. Yet, you will never lack. All the Orisas do not encourage wickedness. Therefore, it is a lie to attribute traditional religion with evil. I also want to appeal to the Nollywood people who are making films to portray us in good light. When they portray us in a bad light, they are castigating our collective cultural heritage. Christianity and Islam are just a question of good branding. Let us portray our culture and tradition in a positive light to the outside world.
• What other advice do you have for the Government?
The government should recognize us more. A father who has three children but throws away one is not a good father. If the Christians can help in nation building, we can also help. The Boko Haram issue, for example, they are not spirits, they are human beings. The government should involve all of us in finding solutions to the problem of the nation.
By Yemi Olakitan
Ebun Osunnike (Iya Adunbuyinbo) is the President of International Congress of Orisa Congress, Lagos state Chapter, an umbrella organization for all the Orisa Worship in Nigeria and in the Diasporas. Osunike is dedicated to the propagation of traditional religious worship. She fervently believes that a return to tradional religion will bring about a beter society. In the interview with Yemi Olakitan she bares her mind on various issues affecting tradional religion in Nigeria and while she believes that traditonal is the best. Excerpts
• It seems that most people have abandoned traditional religion and stick to Christianity and Islam, Why have you remained in it?
The Christians and Muslims have not abandoned our traditional religion. They are deceive themselves when they say that they have abandoned our traditional practices and I will tell you why this is so. There are ways in which they still observe our traditional religion. The Muslims still use what they call ‘‘Tira’’ which is a kind of Charm if look at it well. During the Salah celebrations, a good Muslim must slaughter his own ram and share such with the neighbors.
In the Christian Bible Jesus died for the sins of the world. The death of Christ was a sacrificial offering. In the old testament of the Christian Bible, God told them to make sacrificial offerings of bulls and rams. Therefore, it is all interwoven and related. Tradition is supreme and we are all involved in these practices in one form or the other. Each religion has its own rites and rituals. So, don’t tell me that they have abandon tradition. No, they have not abandon tradition because they all practice it in one disguise or the other. In actual fact, traditional religion is the first-born. Look at our Muslim and Christian bothers, particularly in Yoruba land, there are few names that do not have a connection with a Yoruba deity. Our names are either attached to Ogun the god of iron, Ifa the God of Divination, or Osun, the River Godess. These are deities that are attached to traditional religion, although these people may claim to be Christina’s or Muslims. The fact is that their traditional religion is the religion of our ancestors. Look at Governor Fashola. He may claim to be a Muslim; his name is derived from Ifa. Traditional religion is the first. Islam and Christianity are foreign religion. Islam was imported from Saudi Arabia while Christianity was imported from Europe. They are not our culture originally. We accepted these religions because we do not know the value of what we have. The white man knows what he has and he packages it well and he gave it to us and we accepted his own religion to the neglect of ours. I have been a Christian before, my Baptismal name was Ruth and I have been a Muslim as well, my Muslim was Falilat. I have examined the two and I am convinced that Orisa Worship is pleasing to me.
• Does it not feel a little odd sometimes, been a traditionalist among a sea of Muslims and Christians?
I grew with traditional religion. My father was a staunch traditionalist and so was my mother. I know the value of what we have. We have inherited a strong religion full of deep spirituality and strong philosophy of life. Honestly, there is nothing in Christianity or Islam that is not in Orisa Worship. My father’s name was Ogundeyi, my son’s name is Ogunshina and my other son’s name is Ifashola.
You see, traditional religion works if you practice it with truthfulness and right living. I believe in the Orisas. People have different problems. Christians, Muslims and even atheist they all come to us for help including those who condemn us in public. I want to appeal to Christians to stop castigating us. They say, all we do is evil. This is a lie!
People come to us with problems and we are able to help them. Some come with unemployment problems, some barrenness problems, some have business problems. We consult the Orisas for the solution and the solution is always there.
• Tell us about your work and your association
Well, I am the president of the Orisha Congress in the whole of Lagos state. I went to Abuja to establish it. I have established it in Minna, Sokoto, Benin Republic and every states of the Western Region. We are present in the United States of America. We are in Europe as well. Professor Wole Abimbola in Ile Ife established Orisa Congress, when he was a Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife. He is the President of the Association, worldwide. Yemi Elebun Ibon is the National President of the Congress of Orisa Worshipers. Traditional religion is the first-born and it is supreme.
Let me use this opportunity to address some things, there are some people that go about parading themselves as Orisa Worshipers. They are dressed in white attire and they sit in public places begging for money. These people are not part of us. It is not a Yoruba Culture to beg for money. It is not even in the tenets of Orisa worship. It is completely unacceptable. You don’t beg for money. You work with you hands. This is what the Orisas instruct is to do, although there is a certain deity that instructs his followers to go and ask for money and pray for those who gives. However, this comes up at a particular season and when that season is past. You cannot continue to do as if you are beggar. It is totally out of the religious inclination of Orisa Worship to turn oneself into a beggar and be begin in the name of religion. I have trained several priestesses and some of them are in the United States and some are based in the UK. Some are in Ghana. You cannot find them beg for money. Those who are doing that have deviated from tradition.
Our Association is fully registered with the government. We are registered just like the Christian Association of Nigeria. However, the government does not recognize us. They give attention to the Muslims and the Christians but not to us. We want to move close to the government but our government be like a woman who gives birth to three children but abandon one. They have thrown traditional religion away. We are the true identity of the country. The others are foreign importation. In traditional religion, you cannot lie. If you do evil, evil will overtake you. Many people cannot be here that is why they hide under Christianity and Islam and yet many still come to us for deliverance. As an Osun Priestess for example, I cannot lie or cheat. It is what Osun ask for that I must ask for. If Osun does not ask for money, I cannot ask for money. Yet, you will never lack. All the Orisas do not encourage wickedness. Therefore, it is a lie to attribute traditional religion with evil. I also want to appeal to the Nollywood people who are making films to portray us in good light. When they portray us in a bad light, they are castigating our collective cultural heritage. Christianity and Islam are just a question of good branding. Let us portray our culture and tradition in a positive light to the outside world.
• What other advice do you have for the Government?
The government should recognize us more. A father who has three children but throws away one is not a good father. If the Christians can help in nation building, we can also help. The Boko Haram issue, for example, they are not spirits, they are human beings. The government should involve all of us in finding solutions to the problem of the nation.
At the Synod of the Methodist Chuch Lagos Central
Diocesan Bishop of Methodist Church
By Yemi Olakitan
The Federal Government has been called upon to urgently deal with perpetrators and sponsors of ethno-religious violence and insecurity in the country. The Diocesan Bishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Lagos Central made the call at the 3rd Synod of the Diocese organized to mark 170 years of Methodism in Nigeria and 50 years of autonomy of the Diocese of Lagos Central. The theme of the synod was ‘Behold I am doing a new thing.’’ The Synod, which happened at the Adeniyi Oluwa Memorial Chuch, Olodi Apapa was presided over by the Diocesan Bishop. In his address on the state of the nation, he lamented the sad security situation in the country. In his words, ‘‘it is very sad that the nation has been enmeshed in complex social, economic and political problems for over two decades with no solution in sight. The security situation in the country is in dire straits for any meaningful development. The continuous reign of terrorists, armed banditry, monumental crime and violence will only make the touted drive for foreign investment and economic prosperity a mirage. It is unfortunate that criminals are overpowering the government and disrupting law and order. Our leaders must bring Boko Haram and their collaborators to book. Government must have the political will to deal with all those that have been arrested in connection with violence in the nation,’’ he said.
He said the Federal government must equip the Nigerian police with modern equipments and training to perform their statutory duties satisfactorily.
Church leaders, Members of the press and distinguished men and women from all walks of life, attended the synod.
Friday, 9 March 2012
A Community ’s Cry over Flooding in Lagos by Yemi Olakitan
A Community ’s Cry over Flooding in Lagos
By Yemi Olakitan
The problem of flooding is a major issue in Lagos state. Many administrations, including the present administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola have found that incessant flooding is a major problem to tackle during raining seasons. This is because of lack of proper drainage system and canals in most parts of the state. The result of these is that many communities suffer under the effects of flooding that often come after a heavy downpour. The most affected areas are those that are closer to the sea and the effects are usually loss of lives and property. These areas also have another problem added to flooding; the problem of erosion of the beaches.
This is the story of the people of Igbo-Efon community in Lekki-Epe Expressway, an ancient settlement of Lagosians who lives along the coastal areas of Alpha-Beach. This community has had to cry out on the problems they face in their fight against flooding during the raining seasons.
According to the Baale in council of Igbo Efon community. Historically, Igbo Efon has been in existence for more than 600 years and was founded along the coastline of Alpha beach. The community has not been experiencing much flooding before now until about four years ago when Chevron Nigeria, an international oil company came an acquire about 201 hectares of land with which they started a construction project in the community. The project was located on the central drainage system of Igbo Efon community. The site was also sand filled in such a way that it is higher than the rest of the community. This development has caused serious problems to the area on the issue of flooding. It means that incidence of flooding has more than doubled since the construction project started. A visit to the site shows that Chevron is building schools, shopping malls, and private estate on the landed property, which belongs to the families in the community.
In a chat with Chief Atiku Abogun, the spokesperson for the council of chiefs, Igbo Efon has made several appeals to Chevron Nigeria and even the Lagos State government on the issue to no avail. According to him, the people have cried out to Chevron to do something on the problem of flooding in the community but nothing has been done on the matter.
Speaking further, Chief Atiku said that experts say more of such heavy rains are expected this year and the people have started experiencing flooding beginning from the last rainfall in February.
‘‘These problems started in Igbo Efon Community when Chevron came and build a private construction site in the environment with making plans to contribute to the advancement of the people whose land they are occupying. Chevron has made various promises to the community but they have not fulfilled their promises to us. The land in the construction site is sand filled higher than the rest of the community, coupled with the Alpha Beach erosion. This have further compounded the problem.’’ He said.
The Baale in Council explained that the efforts of the community to get Chevron to help in solving some of the problems of the community have proved abortive. Igbo Efon is close to the sea and the people are suffering under the weight of incessant flooding. The erosion of Alpha Beach is another issue causing great damage to the fight against flooding.
Speaking further, Chief Atiku said, the flood in July 10th 20011 caused lot of damage to lives and properties because there is no proper drainage system in the area.
‘‘The Baale in Council has lodged complaints to the Chairman of Eti Osa Local government, Hon. Anafiu Elegushi who advised that we should take the matter to the Lagos state Government, Ministry of the Environment. There was no substantial response from them after the complaints were made. The matter was thereafter taken to the Lagos High court, igbosere, Lagos Island. On December 7th 2011, the court advised an out of court settlement. Nothing came out of the matter even after that. The court ordered Chevron to prepare a term of settlement after Igbo Efon Community Development Association take the matter to the court, justice Arinze of the Lagos high court, igbosere ordered a term of settlement. They have not done anything about the terms of settlement up until now. ‘’ He said.
According to him the terms of settlement stated by the court include community school, portable water, proper drainage system renovation of the community health care center, scholarship for teenagers and youths, and job creation. However, little was done in this respect. Chief Semiu Aniyalorun Abogun, a member of the Baale in Council said that at the initial stage, chevron consulted the Abogun and the Olukolu families as head of the families in the community but after that there was no further consultation with the families. There was no good roads, no electricity, as far away as Okun Ajah, Mopo, and Lafiaji.
‘‘They said they could only pay only N10, 000 naira for scholarships for each child. They occupy our land worth millions of Naira and their kids attend American and British international schools, He called on the Lagos state Government to come to the rescue of the people and challenge the chevron company so that they can alleviate the sufferings of the community. ‘’ He said.
Other members of the Baale in council include Mr. Yusuf Abogun, Mr.Mushafau Jinadu, and Musekiru Olukolu.
By Yemi Olakitan
The problem of flooding is a major issue in Lagos state. Many administrations, including the present administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola have found that incessant flooding is a major problem to tackle during raining seasons. This is because of lack of proper drainage system and canals in most parts of the state. The result of these is that many communities suffer under the effects of flooding that often come after a heavy downpour. The most affected areas are those that are closer to the sea and the effects are usually loss of lives and property. These areas also have another problem added to flooding; the problem of erosion of the beaches.
This is the story of the people of Igbo-Efon community in Lekki-Epe Expressway, an ancient settlement of Lagosians who lives along the coastal areas of Alpha-Beach. This community has had to cry out on the problems they face in their fight against flooding during the raining seasons.
According to the Baale in council of Igbo Efon community. Historically, Igbo Efon has been in existence for more than 600 years and was founded along the coastline of Alpha beach. The community has not been experiencing much flooding before now until about four years ago when Chevron Nigeria, an international oil company came an acquire about 201 hectares of land with which they started a construction project in the community. The project was located on the central drainage system of Igbo Efon community. The site was also sand filled in such a way that it is higher than the rest of the community. This development has caused serious problems to the area on the issue of flooding. It means that incidence of flooding has more than doubled since the construction project started. A visit to the site shows that Chevron is building schools, shopping malls, and private estate on the landed property, which belongs to the families in the community.
In a chat with Chief Atiku Abogun, the spokesperson for the council of chiefs, Igbo Efon has made several appeals to Chevron Nigeria and even the Lagos State government on the issue to no avail. According to him, the people have cried out to Chevron to do something on the problem of flooding in the community but nothing has been done on the matter.
Speaking further, Chief Atiku said that experts say more of such heavy rains are expected this year and the people have started experiencing flooding beginning from the last rainfall in February.
‘‘These problems started in Igbo Efon Community when Chevron came and build a private construction site in the environment with making plans to contribute to the advancement of the people whose land they are occupying. Chevron has made various promises to the community but they have not fulfilled their promises to us. The land in the construction site is sand filled higher than the rest of the community, coupled with the Alpha Beach erosion. This have further compounded the problem.’’ He said.
The Baale in Council explained that the efforts of the community to get Chevron to help in solving some of the problems of the community have proved abortive. Igbo Efon is close to the sea and the people are suffering under the weight of incessant flooding. The erosion of Alpha Beach is another issue causing great damage to the fight against flooding.
Speaking further, Chief Atiku said, the flood in July 10th 20011 caused lot of damage to lives and properties because there is no proper drainage system in the area.
‘‘The Baale in Council has lodged complaints to the Chairman of Eti Osa Local government, Hon. Anafiu Elegushi who advised that we should take the matter to the Lagos state Government, Ministry of the Environment. There was no substantial response from them after the complaints were made. The matter was thereafter taken to the Lagos High court, igbosere, Lagos Island. On December 7th 2011, the court advised an out of court settlement. Nothing came out of the matter even after that. The court ordered Chevron to prepare a term of settlement after Igbo Efon Community Development Association take the matter to the court, justice Arinze of the Lagos high court, igbosere ordered a term of settlement. They have not done anything about the terms of settlement up until now. ‘’ He said.
According to him the terms of settlement stated by the court include community school, portable water, proper drainage system renovation of the community health care center, scholarship for teenagers and youths, and job creation. However, little was done in this respect. Chief Semiu Aniyalorun Abogun, a member of the Baale in Council said that at the initial stage, chevron consulted the Abogun and the Olukolu families as head of the families in the community but after that there was no further consultation with the families. There was no good roads, no electricity, as far away as Okun Ajah, Mopo, and Lafiaji.
‘‘They said they could only pay only N10, 000 naira for scholarships for each child. They occupy our land worth millions of Naira and their kids attend American and British international schools, He called on the Lagos state Government to come to the rescue of the people and challenge the chevron company so that they can alleviate the sufferings of the community. ‘’ He said.
Other members of the Baale in council include Mr. Yusuf Abogun, Mr.Mushafau Jinadu, and Musekiru Olukolu.
South Africa Apologizes To Nigeria by Romoke Amad
The South African government yesterday tendered an apology to Nigeria over the deportation saga that led to a diplomatic standoff between the two countries since last week.
South Africa deported 125 Nigerians last weekend over alleged possession of fake yellow fever cards, and in the resulting retaliation, Nigerian authorities also refused entry to dozens of South Africans since Monday. The Federal Government also threatened to go tough on South African companies operating in Nigeria.
The South African government conveyed the apology yesterday in a letter to the minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, and in a joint statement by the South African Department of International Relations and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
"The governments of South Africa and Nigeria view these developments in a serious light. Accordingly, the two countries have, through diplomatic channels, consulted at the highest levels on ways of avoiding a recurrence of such developments," the statement said.
"The South African government has sent a letter of apology to the Nigerian government following this regrettable incident which the South African government believes could have been handled in a better way."
As part of measures to forestall a recurrence, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission and the Immigration Working Groups would be revived, the two countries said.
"The National Department of Health and the Gauteng Health Department should consider re-opening the vaccination clinic at the Tambo International Airport so that passengers without the yellow fever card can be vaccinated upon arrival at the airport, rather than be deported while Immigration officials would be the first officials that deal with the passengers at the port of entry and if they experience challenges, they should invite other units (such as health) to help and not the other way round," the statement said.
It added that both countries' health authorities would exchange vaccine batch numbers and details about the official institutions that administer the vaccines for verification at the port of entry. This information would be made available to the South African missions in Lagos and Abuja that issue visas based on the proof of a yellow fever certificate. The airlines will also be informed about the verification process.
"When it comes to mass deportations, senior officials at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (including Protocol) should be consulted by Immigration and Health officials at the airport before undertaking such action. This will provide the senior officials to consult with the Department before deporting large numbers of people," the statement said.
In his reaction yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ashiru said the apology has been accepted and that the letter would be forwarded to President Jonathan while a reply to communicate Nigeria's acceptance of apology would be sent to Pretoria.
Ashiru said during the Bi-National Commission meeting, "Nigeria would demand for waiver of the yellow fever vaccination card."
He urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring disrepute to the country.
Also, minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, said Nigeria will no longer tolerate any ill-treatment on its citizens based on flimsy excuses.
"We are not holding brief for Nigerians who commit crimes in another country, but our government is a people-oriented one that cares about her citizens and we would not tolerate maltreatment of any kind on our citizens from any country," he said.
South Africa deported 125 Nigerians last weekend over alleged possession of fake yellow fever cards, and in the resulting retaliation, Nigerian authorities also refused entry to dozens of South Africans since Monday. The Federal Government also threatened to go tough on South African companies operating in Nigeria.
The South African government conveyed the apology yesterday in a letter to the minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, and in a joint statement by the South African Department of International Relations and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
"The governments of South Africa and Nigeria view these developments in a serious light. Accordingly, the two countries have, through diplomatic channels, consulted at the highest levels on ways of avoiding a recurrence of such developments," the statement said.
"The South African government has sent a letter of apology to the Nigerian government following this regrettable incident which the South African government believes could have been handled in a better way."
As part of measures to forestall a recurrence, the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission and the Immigration Working Groups would be revived, the two countries said.
"The National Department of Health and the Gauteng Health Department should consider re-opening the vaccination clinic at the Tambo International Airport so that passengers without the yellow fever card can be vaccinated upon arrival at the airport, rather than be deported while Immigration officials would be the first officials that deal with the passengers at the port of entry and if they experience challenges, they should invite other units (such as health) to help and not the other way round," the statement said.
It added that both countries' health authorities would exchange vaccine batch numbers and details about the official institutions that administer the vaccines for verification at the port of entry. This information would be made available to the South African missions in Lagos and Abuja that issue visas based on the proof of a yellow fever certificate. The airlines will also be informed about the verification process.
"When it comes to mass deportations, senior officials at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (including Protocol) should be consulted by Immigration and Health officials at the airport before undertaking such action. This will provide the senior officials to consult with the Department before deporting large numbers of people," the statement said.
In his reaction yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Ashiru said the apology has been accepted and that the letter would be forwarded to President Jonathan while a reply to communicate Nigeria's acceptance of apology would be sent to Pretoria.
Ashiru said during the Bi-National Commission meeting, "Nigeria would demand for waiver of the yellow fever vaccination card."
He urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring disrepute to the country.
Also, minister of state for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed, said Nigeria will no longer tolerate any ill-treatment on its citizens based on flimsy excuses.
"We are not holding brief for Nigerians who commit crimes in another country, but our government is a people-oriented one that cares about her citizens and we would not tolerate maltreatment of any kind on our citizens from any country," he said.
Friday, 2 March 2012
BOBBY BROWN COMES TO NIGERIA
Last week, Lagos based Events Company -R28 Events officially announced plans to bring Bobby Brown and his former boy band to Nigeria. With the event just a week away, the question many fans and industry practitioners have been asking is “How did R28 Events get Bobby Brown to come to Nigeria at this time when many American artistes have developed a phobia for the country?”
“We have been in talks with Bobby Brown and BBD’s team since last year, we even went as far as bringing the team to come see what Nigeria has for them, and they sure had a nice time. All we are trying to do is bring the good old times back. We are promising an evening of good music, unbelievable fun and an opportunity to relive the good old times” Gbolahan Balogun spokesperson for R28 told news men in Lagos this week.
And as fans and music lovers gear up for the biggest indoor concert this year, the producers have confirmed the full set of Nigerian artistes who will join New Edition to deliver a world class event. Bonafide Nigerian stars Banky W, eLDee and Omawumi will deliver electrifying sets at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Friday March 9, 2011 while the combo of 2face, Duncan Mighty and Burna Boy will set the Port Harcourt Polo Club on fire on Sunday March 11, 2012.
“I am excited to go to Nigeria and I intend to give them a great performance, we are going to have fun in the motherland.” Bobby Brown says from his base in Boston last week.
Balogun says 39 members of New Edition’s talent, technical and management crew will leave their base in Boston on Tuesday March 6, 2012 to set up in readiness for New Edition’s arrival from LA on Thursday, March 8,. New Edition will arrive Nigeria with an 11 man crew including sound engineers, backup singers, security personnel, publicists and managers. The entire crew of 50 will work together in Lagos and PH to give Nigerians a rare experience of the New Edition classics.
This is the first time New Edition will be performing in Nigeria, a country where they have millions of fans and followers. It is also their first time performing on the African continent. We are told they are beyond excited about this trip; looking forward to connecting with African fans and talents – with a clear promise to give Nigerians ‘the concert of their lives’.
Bobby has been touring the world with his group New Edition since last year. Although he cancelled a performance in honor of Whitney Houston the day she died, the event producers say “Brown considers performing as therapy to get him through a difficult time. He wrote to us last week that he’d like to do this concert in memory of Whitney, and we said fine”.
R28 Events is a Lagos-based events solutions company set up to deliver simple, insightful and creative solutions through events, experimental marketing and corporate hospitality. The company says they are organizing the two-city concert as a way of redefining the quality of events in the country. ‘This promises to be a world-class concert, not like anything you’ve seen here before. Both in terms of production, and the quality of talent…’
The Lagos and Port Harcourt concerts will be dedicated to Bobby’s ex-wife Whitney Houston who passed on February 11. 2012.
New Edition is made up of Ronnie Devoe, Johnny Gill, Ricky Bell, Mike Bevins, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown. The group's hits include "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man”
Produced by R28 events with support from Play Centre the concerts will hold at the Eko Hotel and Suites on Friday March 9, 2012 and at the Polo Club, Port Harcourt on Sunday March 11, 2012.
Culled from Soundcity.Tv
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