Showing posts with label Edition 196. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edition 196. Show all posts
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Hip-Hop Conference: The old meets the young
Right from when CORA unveiled its plans to stage the first ever Hip Hip Conference in Lagos, many reasoned that the event would surely turn out to be a day for the hip generation. Another school of thougth believed that the conference would be the climax of the Great Music Debate that had been running for about four weeks in The Guardianlife. In fact, many expected a kind of showdown! The main Exhibition Hall of the National Theatre, Lagos, was filled with both young and old. Artistes, music promoters, label owners, art enthusiasts and music lovers turned out in their number to be part of the conference aimed at evaluating the Nigerian music industry. However, most of the top hip-hop artistes, were no where to be found; even when e-mails were officially sent to them, informing them of the programme. The event, which had a high number of enthusiasts of the music form anyway, is designed to be an agenda setting forum — creating a platform for dialogue for hip hop culture stakeholders — artists, producers and listeners. In spite of the seriousness of the event and because it was pop culture that was the subject of discourse, there was much fun and music and the usual glitz and glamour associated with this genre of music. Moderated by the youthful Tosyn Bucknor of Top Radio and Steve ‘Yaw’ Onu of Wazobia FM, but compered by Chris Ihidero of MADE magazine and lately Top FM too; the conference discussion opened with the CORA Secretary Toyin Akinosho, tracing the advent of the Hip Music and its pmacement in the contemporary popular culture of Nigeria. He questioned popular and often misconceived stereotypes and the use of the term “generation gap”, which is often thrown up as an excuse when youths and pop culture become the subject of discourse. He maintained that music transcends classes; and age has never been a barrier to the appreciation of any genre of music.
For sure, contribution from last Sunday event will provide material for scholars and journalists working in the field of youth culture and to aggregate a cross section of perspectives on the successes and failures of a fast growing industry from the leading proponents of the music genre in question. The event also featured heavy firework from a DJ’s turntables powered by the notable sound infrastructure providers, Z-Mirage; Soundcity, the leading music channel, gave full coverage of the conference, while the youth interractive cyber group, switchedonnaija.com handled the web dimension of the talks. There was also, the staging of Mi O Ni Choice, an illustrative dance-drama skit from the Crown Troupe of Africa led by the award winning Segun Adefila. T-Nice and other up-coming artistes on parade also thrilled the audience. Images: Courtesy: www.switchedonnaija.com
GOODLIFE: Born 10, get one cow
BY OMOLIGHO UDENTA
THE cow looked very nice indeed. It was nice and fat and its black coat gleamed as though it had been painstakingly and lovingly groomed.
I wanted to know why the cow was a little shorter than most I’d seen and I got told that it was a ‘local cow’, not the Fulani cow. I guess anyone into cows probably understands the difference.
There was this group of ten people gaily dressed in ‘aso-ebi’ around the cow. I peered at the picture, trying to see if I could recognise anyone it.
I did recognise a few of the people as being members of one family but I wasn’t too sure who the others were. I also couldn’t quite decide what was happening in the photo so I asked her.
‘What’s happening here?’
‘Oh, that picture was taken when the family did the ‘Ibo-Ezi’ ceremony for my mother,’ she responded.
I stared blankly at her waiting for her to continue.
‘Oh, ok, there’s this ceremony our people have for any woman that has successfully had and raised 10 or more children. All the children are presented to the woman’s family and a cow is given to her family in appreciation.’
I quickly glanced at the photo in my hand again and looked back at her. She was nodding at my unspoken question and trying not to laugh at the expression on my face. She finally got herself under control and continued.
‘Yes, those are my brothers and sisters and yes, there are ten of us and finally yes, we are all from one mother.’ Then as she couldn’t hold it in any longer she burst into laughter.
‘Why are you laughing?’ I wanted to know. ‘Are you serious? You have 10 or more children and then and only then does the society see it fit to ‘thank’ you for your contributions to the family? What if you really wanted to have 10 children but died giving birth to the ninth child?’
‘Eh, no cow be dat now. The honour is for the living.’
I was silently for a while.
‘These days very few people have four children not to talk of ten so what is going to happen to that traditional ceremony?
Do you think your people could perhaps adjust the number of children the woman should have before she can be presented with a cow to say four or even five?’
‘Hmm, I don’t see that happening.’
‘Well, in that case the tradition will die then.’
‘Naturally, but our men will have to find other ways to show appreciation for their wives. A few have already started the new tradition of ‘born two get one jeep’, you know!’
‘But seriously, how times have changed. I bet in those days the ceremony was a relatively common one. And I bet a lot of women tried their best to get to the magic number ten. Anyway, ‘born two get one jeep’ seems a fair enough bargain don’t you think? One thing I can’t help but wonder is how many other traditions will die sooner or later.’
omoudenta@yahoo.co.uk
Loving your job
(PANORAMA)
BY REBECCA AKINMOLAYAN
LOOKING for a job is like wooing a lady; getting a job with a lofty paycheck, the right location, great staff and all is not an easy task. Sometime later, the honeymoon with the job is over and the dream job becomes stressful and may not offer the desired satisfaction. In today’s eco-climate, many workers are made to work at optimum levels as this is the age of mini-projects, some are forced to work overtime due to cutbacks and insufficient staff coupled with pressure from bosses. This is why most workers are stressed at work and even complain of disaffection with their work.
Extreme stress levels lead to a condition known as job burnout which occurs as a result of cumulative stress at work and leads to exhaustion in all areas of life. This is common among those who are faced with demand for high work output, monotony of duties, little or no incentives and also uncooperative staff. Five signs of job burn-out include being irritated and snappy, waking up in the morning as tired as ever, not having time for family and personal life, not yielding any form of control over the direction of your job and worst still, dreading Monday mornings.
Most working class and business people spend almost 12 hours everyday at work, preparing and in transit to our workplaces. This shows that whatever work we do forms an integral part of our life. If the work you do is something being endured rather than being enjoyed, you will end up enduring your life in the long run.
Mayo Clinic experts deduce that whatever work being done could be viewed triagonally either as a job, a career or a calling. The difference between these three perspectives is that while a job offers only financial rewards, a career gives room for advancement, a calling focuses on fulfilment. Whatever perspective you have evaluates the level of the amount of satisfaction derived from the work you are currently doing at present.
Satisfaction at work leads to a stable emotional health indirectly. It does not depend on the type of work being done. One has to learn how to cope with the challenges that work brings. If you are bored, unbalanced, under pressure or even fed-up with your job or work, it is advisable you switch to another? No! Take care of yourself first!
At work, prioritise your duties, break down large or cumbersome projects to small sizes and carry them out one after the other. If you can, delegate duties. Learn not to be over-committed to work, that is do not marry your job.
Make your work interesting, no one would do that for you! How about putting additional touches (fragrance, flowers or beautiful pieces of art) to your office for ease or comfort and make good use of break periods listening to music. Finally, never neglect your health, eat well, sleep well and above all, live well.
Native courtesies and modern society
(GOOD MANNERS)
BY MIKE EKUNNU
WHEN my grandmother died, one of the beautiful memories we had of her was how she reacted if you finished eating without saying ‘Thank ma’.
To the old lady, that was a sign of not being satisfied with the meal. She’d watch your countenance and ask: “Are you satisfied?”
Those were the days when society and culture demanded that you thank your seniors after eating. As a direct consequence of that, when you now withhold that courtesy, it sends a signal. Today the story is different.
Most city children from the same culture don’t bother to greet after a meal (or is it that only the house help is there to be greeted?).
Waiting for signals is by the same token outmoded. The kids simply walk up to mummy (or nanny) and demand for more.
Don’t get me wrong; this is not a lamentation about “the good old days”. I’m just musing about the changing nature of etiquette some of which are good and others, well, not so good.
Still on eating: native courtesy also demands that when you sit down to eat, you invite those around to “come and eat”.
This was the tradition one late PDP chieftain was referring to when he rebuked a non-PDP minister in OBJ’s cabinet that he was only invited to ‘come and chop’.
The underlying point in that rebuke was that an invitee should ‘chop’ with respect and gratitude to the host. Most commentators and columnists went to town on the corruptive undertone of that statement.
This was, of course, legitimate. What was lost on them was the reference to our local eating courtesies in that statement.
You could not be heard criticising the cooking as an invitee in the traditional set-up. You can see the connection between the woes of governance and our traditional world view.
MODERNITY and city life have done away with this beautiful custom too. Now any time it is observed, it is done perfunctorily with a curt ‘join me’.
But if you’re really inviting me to share your lunch, where is the extra chair and cutleries? Is it any surprise that the standard reply is “No, thank you.”?
There’s also a funny angle to this custom whereby instead of an invitation the person pre-empts you with “let me do what you’ve done.”
This funny variant is said to have originated from people from a particular town on the River Niger.
Whether in jest or seriously, it speaks to the competition for dwindling resources which is at the root of most global issues including the war in Iraq, Niger Delta crises and global warming.
Moving away from culinary concerns, native etiquette also frowns at using the left hand to give or receive anything.
Left-handed children are therefore pressurised into converting to the right. It is a shame that no NGO has yet taken up the advocacy for left-handed children. This is one custom we’d be happy to lose.
Who knows whether this is why the society has witnessed a decline in the incidence of natural southpaws unlike Western societies.
Our football is going to be the loser as natural southpaws make deadly left wingers. One of that rare breed was Emma Amuneke. Taiye Taiwo is not doing badly too. For all I care, southpaws should form an association like their albino counterparts. Their natural patron should be the Egbon at Alausa.
Again I remember society’s prudishness on matters of sitting together by the sexes. It is not only Islamic societies that maintain this, only that it is more discreet in non-Muslim cultures.
Trying to place this side-by-side what we see on okada motorcycles these days just scandalizes decency. You have noticed the male-female-male sandwich atop commercial motorcycles. I wonder how a decent girl will agree to take that position unabashedly. Again I wonder whether this is about dwindling resources thrashing decency. Just wondering.
chudiekunno@yahoo.com
Organising your life
(LIFE COACH)
BY AGBOLADE OMOWOLE
THERE is an order in nature. Hundreds of years ago, a Mathematician discovered a sequence, which he called the Fibonacci sequence.
In the sequence, the next term is the sum of the two previous terms. Here is the Fibonacci sequence. 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89… The sum is (1+1=2, 1+2=3, 3+5=8, 8+15=13…)
Leonardo Da Vinci devised an order out of the seemingly ordinary Fibonacci sequence. It was after Leonardo Da Vinci exhumed corpses and measured the length of each bone, which he discovered that they divide themselves in ratios proportional to the Fibonacci sequence.
1.618 is called the divine order. If you divide any number in the Fibonacci sequence by the number before it, you get 1.618 approximately. Try it. (89/55=55/34=34/21=21/13=1.618).
Your body obeys the divine order. Get a tape rule, the one fashion designers use. Measure the distance from your shoulder to the tip of your longest finger, and divide it by the distance from your elbow joint to the tip of your finger. It will be equal to 1.618, approximately.
Here’s another exercise. Measure the distance from your head to your toe, and divide it by the distance from your navel (belly button) to your toe.
It is approximately equal to 1.618. Leonardo Da Vinci also discovered that our finger bones divide themselves in ratios equal to 1.618.
SUCCESS has an order. It is easy to fail. If you want to be a failure, just decide to do nothing.
Sleep well, watch movies, spend your money anyhow, and live carefree. But success has an order. If you don’t follow the order of success, you can end in disorder.
Ask the youngman who made money through Internet fraud, and ended up broke, and broken.
Success does not happen by magic. Success is the product you get when you follow the process.
If you put a man on top a building, he would probably get his broken, after jumping down because he didn’t climb to the top. A kid has to crawl before she walks. That is the order.
Shortcuts don’t pay. By taking shortcuts, oftentimes, you bypass the order. When a piece in the puzzle is missing, there could be a problem.
That’s why a lot of lottery winners end up broke after few years, because they didn’t learn the ropes.
Every game has a rule. When you ready to play the card of success, you have to follow the rules.
As a life coach, I know that it is important for people to form new habits, to become successful. Sometimes, a client will come and expect that I would solve her problems instantly. I let them know that I don’t use a magic hat. It takes time.
Take small steps. Jan Hayner, a professional organizer who specializes in time management and organizing workflow, said a major part of successful academic organization is motivation.
“It’s not hard, but sometimes people overwhelm themselves by looking at the big picture rather than doing it gradually,” she said.
You can overcome any challenge once it’s broken down into bite-sized chunks. You owe yourself the responsibility to put your life in order today.
THE cow looked very nice indeed. It was nice and fat and its black coat gleamed as though it had been painstakingly and lovingly groomed.
I wanted to know why the cow was a little shorter than most I’d seen and I got told that it was a ‘local cow’, not the Fulani cow. I guess anyone into cows probably understands the difference.
There was this group of ten people gaily dressed in ‘aso-ebi’ around the cow. I peered at the picture, trying to see if I could recognise anyone it.
I did recognise a few of the people as being members of one family but I wasn’t too sure who the others were. I also couldn’t quite decide what was happening in the photo so I asked her.
‘What’s happening here?’
‘Oh, that picture was taken when the family did the ‘Ibo-Ezi’ ceremony for my mother,’ she responded.
I stared blankly at her waiting for her to continue.
‘Oh, ok, there’s this ceremony our people have for any woman that has successfully had and raised 10 or more children. All the children are presented to the woman’s family and a cow is given to her family in appreciation.’
I quickly glanced at the photo in my hand again and looked back at her. She was nodding at my unspoken question and trying not to laugh at the expression on my face. She finally got herself under control and continued.
‘Yes, those are my brothers and sisters and yes, there are ten of us and finally yes, we are all from one mother.’ Then as she couldn’t hold it in any longer she burst into laughter.
‘Why are you laughing?’ I wanted to know. ‘Are you serious? You have 10 or more children and then and only then does the society see it fit to ‘thank’ you for your contributions to the family? What if you really wanted to have 10 children but died giving birth to the ninth child?’
‘Eh, no cow be dat now. The honour is for the living.’
I was silently for a while.
‘These days very few people have four children not to talk of ten so what is going to happen to that traditional ceremony?
Do you think your people could perhaps adjust the number of children the woman should have before she can be presented with a cow to say four or even five?’
‘Hmm, I don’t see that happening.’
‘Well, in that case the tradition will die then.’
‘Naturally, but our men will have to find other ways to show appreciation for their wives. A few have already started the new tradition of ‘born two get one jeep’, you know!’
‘But seriously, how times have changed. I bet in those days the ceremony was a relatively common one. And I bet a lot of women tried their best to get to the magic number ten. Anyway, ‘born two get one jeep’ seems a fair enough bargain don’t you think? One thing I can’t help but wonder is how many other traditions will die sooner or later.’
omoudenta@yahoo.co.uk
Loving your job
(PANORAMA)
BY REBECCA AKINMOLAYAN
LOOKING for a job is like wooing a lady; getting a job with a lofty paycheck, the right location, great staff and all is not an easy task. Sometime later, the honeymoon with the job is over and the dream job becomes stressful and may not offer the desired satisfaction. In today’s eco-climate, many workers are made to work at optimum levels as this is the age of mini-projects, some are forced to work overtime due to cutbacks and insufficient staff coupled with pressure from bosses. This is why most workers are stressed at work and even complain of disaffection with their work.
Extreme stress levels lead to a condition known as job burnout which occurs as a result of cumulative stress at work and leads to exhaustion in all areas of life. This is common among those who are faced with demand for high work output, monotony of duties, little or no incentives and also uncooperative staff. Five signs of job burn-out include being irritated and snappy, waking up in the morning as tired as ever, not having time for family and personal life, not yielding any form of control over the direction of your job and worst still, dreading Monday mornings.
Most working class and business people spend almost 12 hours everyday at work, preparing and in transit to our workplaces. This shows that whatever work we do forms an integral part of our life. If the work you do is something being endured rather than being enjoyed, you will end up enduring your life in the long run.
Mayo Clinic experts deduce that whatever work being done could be viewed triagonally either as a job, a career or a calling. The difference between these three perspectives is that while a job offers only financial rewards, a career gives room for advancement, a calling focuses on fulfilment. Whatever perspective you have evaluates the level of the amount of satisfaction derived from the work you are currently doing at present.
Satisfaction at work leads to a stable emotional health indirectly. It does not depend on the type of work being done. One has to learn how to cope with the challenges that work brings. If you are bored, unbalanced, under pressure or even fed-up with your job or work, it is advisable you switch to another? No! Take care of yourself first!
At work, prioritise your duties, break down large or cumbersome projects to small sizes and carry them out one after the other. If you can, delegate duties. Learn not to be over-committed to work, that is do not marry your job.
Make your work interesting, no one would do that for you! How about putting additional touches (fragrance, flowers or beautiful pieces of art) to your office for ease or comfort and make good use of break periods listening to music. Finally, never neglect your health, eat well, sleep well and above all, live well.
Native courtesies and modern society
(GOOD MANNERS)
BY MIKE EKUNNU
WHEN my grandmother died, one of the beautiful memories we had of her was how she reacted if you finished eating without saying ‘Thank ma’.
To the old lady, that was a sign of not being satisfied with the meal. She’d watch your countenance and ask: “Are you satisfied?”
Those were the days when society and culture demanded that you thank your seniors after eating. As a direct consequence of that, when you now withhold that courtesy, it sends a signal. Today the story is different.
Most city children from the same culture don’t bother to greet after a meal (or is it that only the house help is there to be greeted?).
Waiting for signals is by the same token outmoded. The kids simply walk up to mummy (or nanny) and demand for more.
Don’t get me wrong; this is not a lamentation about “the good old days”. I’m just musing about the changing nature of etiquette some of which are good and others, well, not so good.
Still on eating: native courtesy also demands that when you sit down to eat, you invite those around to “come and eat”.
This was the tradition one late PDP chieftain was referring to when he rebuked a non-PDP minister in OBJ’s cabinet that he was only invited to ‘come and chop’.
The underlying point in that rebuke was that an invitee should ‘chop’ with respect and gratitude to the host. Most commentators and columnists went to town on the corruptive undertone of that statement.
This was, of course, legitimate. What was lost on them was the reference to our local eating courtesies in that statement.
You could not be heard criticising the cooking as an invitee in the traditional set-up. You can see the connection between the woes of governance and our traditional world view.
MODERNITY and city life have done away with this beautiful custom too. Now any time it is observed, it is done perfunctorily with a curt ‘join me’.
But if you’re really inviting me to share your lunch, where is the extra chair and cutleries? Is it any surprise that the standard reply is “No, thank you.”?
There’s also a funny angle to this custom whereby instead of an invitation the person pre-empts you with “let me do what you’ve done.”
This funny variant is said to have originated from people from a particular town on the River Niger.
Whether in jest or seriously, it speaks to the competition for dwindling resources which is at the root of most global issues including the war in Iraq, Niger Delta crises and global warming.
Moving away from culinary concerns, native etiquette also frowns at using the left hand to give or receive anything.
Left-handed children are therefore pressurised into converting to the right. It is a shame that no NGO has yet taken up the advocacy for left-handed children. This is one custom we’d be happy to lose.
Who knows whether this is why the society has witnessed a decline in the incidence of natural southpaws unlike Western societies.
Our football is going to be the loser as natural southpaws make deadly left wingers. One of that rare breed was Emma Amuneke. Taiye Taiwo is not doing badly too. For all I care, southpaws should form an association like their albino counterparts. Their natural patron should be the Egbon at Alausa.
Again I remember society’s prudishness on matters of sitting together by the sexes. It is not only Islamic societies that maintain this, only that it is more discreet in non-Muslim cultures.
Trying to place this side-by-side what we see on okada motorcycles these days just scandalizes decency. You have noticed the male-female-male sandwich atop commercial motorcycles. I wonder how a decent girl will agree to take that position unabashedly. Again I wonder whether this is about dwindling resources thrashing decency. Just wondering.
chudiekunno@yahoo.com
Organising your life
(LIFE COACH)
BY AGBOLADE OMOWOLE
THERE is an order in nature. Hundreds of years ago, a Mathematician discovered a sequence, which he called the Fibonacci sequence.
In the sequence, the next term is the sum of the two previous terms. Here is the Fibonacci sequence. 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89… The sum is (1+1=2, 1+2=3, 3+5=8, 8+15=13…)
Leonardo Da Vinci devised an order out of the seemingly ordinary Fibonacci sequence. It was after Leonardo Da Vinci exhumed corpses and measured the length of each bone, which he discovered that they divide themselves in ratios proportional to the Fibonacci sequence.
1.618 is called the divine order. If you divide any number in the Fibonacci sequence by the number before it, you get 1.618 approximately. Try it. (89/55=55/34=34/21=21/13=1.618).
Your body obeys the divine order. Get a tape rule, the one fashion designers use. Measure the distance from your shoulder to the tip of your longest finger, and divide it by the distance from your elbow joint to the tip of your finger. It will be equal to 1.618, approximately.
Here’s another exercise. Measure the distance from your head to your toe, and divide it by the distance from your navel (belly button) to your toe.
It is approximately equal to 1.618. Leonardo Da Vinci also discovered that our finger bones divide themselves in ratios equal to 1.618.
SUCCESS has an order. It is easy to fail. If you want to be a failure, just decide to do nothing.
Sleep well, watch movies, spend your money anyhow, and live carefree. But success has an order. If you don’t follow the order of success, you can end in disorder.
Ask the youngman who made money through Internet fraud, and ended up broke, and broken.
Success does not happen by magic. Success is the product you get when you follow the process.
If you put a man on top a building, he would probably get his broken, after jumping down because he didn’t climb to the top. A kid has to crawl before she walks. That is the order.
Shortcuts don’t pay. By taking shortcuts, oftentimes, you bypass the order. When a piece in the puzzle is missing, there could be a problem.
That’s why a lot of lottery winners end up broke after few years, because they didn’t learn the ropes.
Every game has a rule. When you ready to play the card of success, you have to follow the rules.
As a life coach, I know that it is important for people to form new habits, to become successful. Sometimes, a client will come and expect that I would solve her problems instantly. I let them know that I don’t use a magic hat. It takes time.
Take small steps. Jan Hayner, a professional organizer who specializes in time management and organizing workflow, said a major part of successful academic organization is motivation.
“It’s not hard, but sometimes people overwhelm themselves by looking at the big picture rather than doing it gradually,” she said.
You can overcome any challenge once it’s broken down into bite-sized chunks. You owe yourself the responsibility to put your life in order today.
For Edozie, identity on trial
BY TAJUDEEN SOWOLE
RECENTLY, cubist George Edozie had a good showing at the art and fashion exhibition organised by the Greek Embassy in Nigeria with Leventis Group. With a theme that focused on diverse Nigerian traditional wears, Edozie, whose forms dwell on figuration, didn’t look like the right choice for the show titled A Kaleidoscope of Nigerian Traditional Costumes held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. He argues, “I am not an African artist and I dislike ancient or any periodic image show.” Few days before the event, he still wasn’t sure why the organisers of the show chose him to paint the theme of the exhibition. “Maybe because the Ambassador, Haris Dafaranos; and his wife, Eva; have been following my works for sometime now, ” he says. Indeed, there must be something about Edozie’s work that the Greeks found in common with the focus of the show. His work was part of Hellenic Image and 54 Nigerian Masters in Translation held at The Embassy of Greece, Lagos and Abuja, few years ago. The combination worked in the last show, as traditional apparels complemented classic expression such as cubism. Edozie’s composition cuts across the various ethnic groups in the country, with such works as After the Party (Yoruba Couple), Argungu Fever, Benin Couple, Wazobia, Chief and New Wife, among others, the artist revealed an ‘identity on trial’. Figuration is unavoidable in After Party, just as the artist makes frantic effort to maintain a cubic look. Argungu Couple also poses a challenge to Edozie’s cubic identity. However, he seems to have made an escape in Prelude in the Garden. WITH Expression of a New Journey at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, last year, he began the journey to redefine his art. Few weeks to the opening, a private preview held inside the lobby of the Lagos Business School, (LBS), Victoria Island, Lagos, where he unveiled some of his radical characteristics. Between that show and now, Edozie kept growing in ideas, shifting from the art form commonly seen in galleries that earned him a place in the group show, Beyond Figuration, concluded about the same time at Omenka Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“Although I am a cubist, one cannot afford to be rigid as an artist; I am neither an African or European painter,” he states. His works explain much of this with its zero tolerance for African motifs. For him, “universal signs” make more sense in the mixed media and collage assemblage of 29 pieces for the Abuja show. EDOZIE also recalls how Prof. Perkins Foss saved his work from being rejected by the panelists of the controversial art competition and exhibition, The Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit. With over 20 group shows in 13 years after graduation practice, his only solo has been With Expression of a New Journey. Edozie, however, is not bothered. He says it’s not a drought. To him, more solo outings, “will come at the right pace, am not in a hurry, anyway.” AMONG his past shows are Olokoto: Songs of Chima at the Pendulum Arts Gallery, Lekki, Lagos., which featured the works of Emmanuel Mbanefo; Chinwe Uwatse; Gabriel Emengo; Afam Okwudili; Oliver Enwonwu; Fran Anammah; George Nwadiogbu; Obiora Obieze; Ato Arinze; Uchenna Arah; and Dubem Osaji. EVENTS Splashes Terra Kulture assembles 40 artists in Splashes, a show that is aimed at promoting miniature paintings and sculptures, from August 15 to 20, 2009. International Art Expo Nigeria The second edition of Art Expo Nigeria, now to be known as International Art Expo Nigeria, holds on August 21 through 30, 2009 at National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.
Marching To Aso in new beat
BY CHUKS NWANNE
The last time he was in the country, Germany-based-Nigerian artiste, Ade Bantu, practically refused to talk to the media. Even the day he was tricked into an improptu interview during his last visit to The Guardian, Bantu carefully escaped the trap.
However, the opportunity provided itself recently at the Black Tie Gig event organised by Xtreme Music to celebrate Etcetera’s latest achievement at the Hip-Hop World Award.
“Basically, I was avoiding the media then because I was in a period of solitude; I just came in and didn’t feel like creating so much noise,” he says in defense. “I really wanted to reflect on where I want to go in the next five years of my career. So, I was really hibernating and not in the right frame of minds to share any of those thoughts with anyone yet; as I needed to concretise them.”
The result of that long period of avoiding the media has finally come. The dreadlocks wearing musician is already putting final touches to his latest album, Sound Clash in Lagos, which he plans to release later in the year.
“It’s basically a collabo; I’ve always dreamt of collaborating with producers, singers and song writers that I’ve always admired along the way. So, what I did was stay in Nigeria, work diligently and feature some friends and colleagues I feel have something to add to the table. But I didn’t want them to sound their usual self; so, I challenged them.”
IN one of the tracks, Show Them Love, featuring African China, Bantu frowned at the incident in Akwa Ibom State, where innocent kids were accused of sorcery.
“I spoke to African China about the incident; I saw the documentary on British television. I said to myself, ‘how come people are not talking about this.’ Apart from the journalists, people seem not to be worried about this issue. So, I sat down with China and we came up with a song. We also have a project called Show Them Love, with which we will be campaigning against child abuse.”
In the new work, Bantu, whose music has shades of activism, has a politically conscious song, Martching To Aso, featuring the petit singer, Azadus.
“The song is politically charged; we commented on Niger Delta and other issues. So often, you feel helpless; you feel like your voice is not being heard and that politicians have become immune to your words. The longer I stay in Nigeria, the more I get frustrated. For instance, I don’t tell my driver to buy fuel for me, I do it myself; I queue for about two to three days, so, I know there’s a problem.”
Though no official date has been fixed for the release, September looks plansible. “I’m also doing another album for the German audience simultaneously. So, I am shuttling between Nigeria and Germany right now.”
IN the new album, Bantu also recorded a tribute track to the late highlife maestro, Orlando Owoh. “I’ve been a fan of his for long; I planned to record an album with him, but unfortunately he had stroke and couldn’t do vocals anymore.”
Determined to honour the legend, Bantus went in search of a similar voice for the track. “I had to make do with another singer from Mushin, Seinde Jo; he sounds very much like Owoh. I swear, if you hear his voice, you will marvel; it’s incredible.”
MEANWHILE, Bantus has parted ways with his former label, Xtreme Music. In fact, the new album will be released on Bantu’s Pako Records. Was there any disagreement with Steve Babaeko’s Xtreme Music?
“Nothing happened, I licensed my last album to Steve. It was wonderful working with Babaeko while I was away; but when I came back, I noticed I have to run the affairs myself. I sat down with Steve and I got his blessings to move on. But this is not about another Nigerian artiste setting up a label; it’s about adding value to the products.”
Inspite of his cross-continental star status, Bantu is a very humble person and you won’t see him wear his ego on his chest; his stardom has got nothing to do with his personality.
“I come from a very humble background; my parents never made me feel special. I try to be humble because I’ve studied the great people; what makes you great is your humility. For me as somebody who wants to keep it real, not by trying to be overzealously strict, but by trying to connect to reality; I always need to touch base.”
Talk of friends, Bantu is very selective.
“I don’t have sycophants around me; I have very few intimate friends and I listen to their pieces of advice and they help me a lot. Some of my friends will be like, ‘Ade, you can’t take okada,” or “you can’t take bus.’ This somehow detaches you from the reality; it makes me feel like a politician and dead to the feel of the people,” he muses.
He adds, “if I enter a place, I will greet the gatekeeper, the cleaner… everybody. I’m just fortunate to be in the limelight, but ultimately, it’s about these people that identified with my music. I’m based in Germany, but when I go on the streets, conductors hail me, kids come together to sing my song, No Vernacular. For me, that’s enough.”
Bantu, who recently performed for the German President at a summer get together on special request by the president, says “this is good for me because I now see myself in a position I’ve always dreamt of –– being an ambassador of Africa in Germany and Europe.”
Around and about Nollywood...
Lilian Bach made itBY SHUAIBU HUSSENI
Preparations begins for SHOOT 2010
Preparations have already begun for the 2010 edition of SHOOT! The focus will be on “Towards Digital Migration”. Interested filmmakers, Students, Practitioners, Stakeholders and other enthusiasts can visit our website www.nigfilmcorp.com, or e-mail, md_nfc@hotmail.com for on line registration and enquiries. The edition takes place at the NFI, Jos from July 19 – 23, 2010. This year’s edition with the theme “Reel Life, Real Sound” lasted for five days, from Monday July 20 to 24, at the NFI, Jos.
One-Week joins Leadership to Remember Fela
Leadership-E-Train in conjunction with Blakes Excellence Resort present FELAMANIA (Fela Remembrance Day), starring original Oroko Man and his Shrine girls; Tony One Week (the gyration king); Style Plus; Don Juan (from London); Tommy Shields; Keycee Kline and the great sensationals; Ibrahim Baba, the funkiest Mallam; and other top Abuja stars and comedy aside other side attractions. A statement by Al-Amin Ciroma indicated that Tony One Week will headline the show that will hold today August 2, 2009 at Blake Excellence Resort, Opposite UBA, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki II, Abuja beginning from 7pm.
WAKA PASS Producer — Amebo A. Amebo Director — Mr. Gossip Actors — Nollywood Celebrities
Jennifer Eliogu’s arresting voice
Wonder why popular Nollywood actress and mother of one, Jennifer Eliogu, has not considered a career in singing. The actress, who was a co-host of Clarion Chukwurah’s 30 years on stage anniversary held last week in Lagos had a brief ‘solo singing’ run on stage that tripped a lot of people including Alabi Pasuma, who also delivered an arresting performance that evening. Even the resident band at the event — the AMCO voice — didn’t know when they started urging her to do another solo. One waka pass, who heard her sing says she will do well as a singer, but the fellow wondered whether the voice will not change if she downloads the second time. And you know what, we asked him? What ‘downloading (giving birth) has to do with singing’? Abeg, carri go ojare sista Jeni…….na we go buy the first copy!
Popular Nollywood actress, model and singer Lilian Bach was a visible part of the Clarion Chukwurah’s anniversary. She came in company, not of her ‘my leg, your leg’ –Davidson Johnson, but with a tall handsome fellow, who did not as much observe the dress code of platinum or red. But Lillian was in a red top and black pants that turned heads towards her as soon as she arrived. Maybe it was because of her glittering skins and trinkets that made emcee or show host to introduced her twice. But the problems was that Lillian disappeared few minutes after she was introduced. One waka pass who kept what he called a ‘fixed gaze’ at Lillian and her ‘handbag’ said she never made it back to the hall after she was invited to grant an interview on the red carpet. Someone said she was shy and we concurred. I mean wetin make peson wear black eye shades in the evening and for an indoor event go equal shyness.
It’s Dickson Ireogbu and the rest of us
If you have a good product to sell, make sure you find Dickson Ireogbu, and please, insist that he sells it personally. Many people are capitalising on the director’s marketing and organisational skills and have been passing all sorts of briefs to him. The latest being the marketing of movie director and producer Teco Benson to the electorates. We understand that Teco Benson has declared his intention to vie for the Presidency of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and ,so, Ireogbu who has been waxing philosophical of late is at the head of the campaign team. He has sent over a dozen text messages and one waka pass is afraid that the current AMP president Paul Obazele may not have a second term, considering the weight of his text, which reads: “Our thoughts, or in other words (sic), our state of minds is ever at work. Fixing up things good or bad, in advance. Transparent. Leadership works! Vote Teco Benson’s team!” Who knows two plus two make him add am up….To God Be the Glory
NFC’s SHOOT 2009 ends
The five day intensive training and capacity building programme for motion picture professionals SHOOT 2009 organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation has ended in Jos, the Plateau State Capital with a call by Governor David Jang on participants to bring their experience to bear on the industry. Jang, who equally charged participants not to rest on their oars stressed that the industry is making enormous progress. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the programme last weekend, Friday 24, 2009, at the film institute, venue for the five day training programme. Jang, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Ezekiel Daliop, expressed joy over the tremendous investment put in the projects initiated by the NFC, to reposition the industry. The progress recorded so far, he said, can only be sustained if adequate preparations are made for future challenges. The Corporations Managing Director/Chief Executive Mr. Afolabi Adesanya at the ceremony said: “Given the euphoria that greeted the elevation of Nollywood to the second position of content provider of films in the world, it became imperative that we sustain quality production values; a demand, which only improvement in the technical quality of our films and edifying content can guarantee”. Adesanya who commended participants for making out time to be at SHOOT! 2009 said the need for sustainable development of the sector, which cannot be over emphasized, also motivated the designing of the workshop series with the objective to reinforce professional skills and breed future practitioners for the industry. Each edition of the programme has always been unique with improved formats for training, techniques, equipment and other technical requisites for world-class training. Special training in Camera Skills and Lightening Techniques; High Definition Production and Audio For Film and Video; Production Design; Photography, Special Effects, Elements and Techniques for Funding, Co-production and post-production, Sound Design and Music, Special Effects for Film and Television, Documentary Production and Advanced Camera Skills among others have featured at past editions. Documentary Production, Still Photography Cinematography/Editing, Directing for the Screen, Music for Film, Animation and Sound featured as core courses in this years edition. Over a 100 participants registered for the courses, which are considered germane for further growth in Nollywood. Each of the courses lasted for 8 hours per day, an approximate of 40 hours for the five days. The closing ceremony also featured the presentation of certificates of participation, goodwill messages and commendations. Speaking on behalf of the Resource Persons, Mr. Stephen Bayly praised NFC management for sustaining the programme, which he hopes will help transform the industry. Dr. (Mrs) Halima Kadima, the immediate past Head of Department, Mass Communication, University of Jos, who spoke on behalf of participants, also commended NFC management and described the training recieved as a better alternative to some foreign courses.
Osun Osogbo: The rites return
FROM tomorrow, Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, will be the scene of communal celebration, as activities marking the yearly Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival reach their climax. Activities started last month and the grand finale is Friday, August 14, at the Osun Grove. First celebrated in 1370 AD, it has grown to become a big festival attracting patronage from across the globe. For the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi 111, and his followers, it is a period dedicated to honouring their forebears, while at also celebrating the goddess of Osun River, who is regarded as the soul of the festival. It is to this goddess of fertility and prosperity that many devotees and acolytes from the nooks and crannies of the world come to pay obeisance and to renew their loyalty. Beyond its spirituality, the festival has become a social event of great import for the people of Osogbo — at home and in the Diaspora — who dedicate their time and resources to celebrate. Aside the musical concerts featuring different Nigerian artistes, there will be rich theatrical performances; costumes display; oratorical and poetic renditions; traditional folklore; dance and music; as well as magical art. THE commercial appeal of the festival is also another interesting element to watch out for, as it enjoys sponsorship from many corporate bodies. Besides, the commercial activities you are also going to encounter vendors of different items competing for space and attention alongside the huge human traffic. The Managing Director of Infogem Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ayo Olumoko has assured that this year’s festival promises a lot of excitement and adventures for people. He stressed that a number of new social activities have been added to the list of events to add colours to it.
Speaking on the late Aduni Orisa, Susanne Wenger, the Austrian artist responsible for the resurgence of the grove, which in 2005 was named World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), he said her death would not lessen activities at the festival. Olumoko, who is both consultant and marketer of the festival, said her demise would rather increase the inflow of tourists to the town and festival as many people would want to explore the grove and her resident, which has now become tourist attraction among places in the town. As part of efforts at immortalising her, Olumoko also revealed that certain aspects of the festival’s events have been dedicated to her. One of such is the Susanne Wenger sacred colloquium that would hold on August 13, a day before the grand finale. This, he said, is to raise awareness about her and her immense contributions to the rich culture of the people and the festival.
The Girl Whisperer: Whispering Lessons
BY WOLE OGUNTOKU
THE Whisperer is in the city of London as he writes this. A city meant to be in the middle of summer but still feeling very cold to a body that has been warmed over several decades by the African sun.
He sits quietly, looking out of glass-plated windows at blood-red buses carrying people to varying destinations, people meditating on their own thoughts and he remembers some of the lessons life has taught him.
One of these is that the best revenge you can ever mete out is the revenge of living well. For everyone who has ever abandoned you in a relationship, who has ever looked at you and told you, you would never make the cut, that you would never be a success; it is your determination to prove them wrong that should be your driving ambition.
It should not be you praying night after night that they stand under a crumbling skyscraper, that a speeding car runs them over or that they accidentally swallow ground glass. The best payback is the one that improves you so much that both the doubter and the rest of the world are awe-struck when they finally see you come up for air.
Another lesson goes hand in hand with this. You must always remember no one is compelled to believe in you or your dreams and aspirations.
There is no one who owes you that obligation, not your mother or brother or best friend. The primary believer must be you. If you do not believe in yourself, no else can, no matter how much they pay lip service to your cause.
“There will be miracles if you believe.” The power of consistency and single-minded pursuit of a cause can never be over-stated. Take The Whisperer’s word for it as he once took the word of Professor Adeoye Lambo, the renowned psychiatrist, in a quiet conversation at a dinner table years ago. Lambo said, “A cutlass has only one sharp side”. Keep cutting.
You will also learn that success has many parents but failure is forever an orphan. There are many who lay claim to having lent a hand to the supposed, perceived success of The Whisperer but this man can count and he knows those who truly believed. Guard your heart, guard your strength, and keep true friends. Nwabundo Onyeabo, I’m never letting you go.
THE Whisperer has learnt that not all that is gold glitters. In searching for potential in prospective partners, the flashy are not always the best options.
Often we do not look below the surface, as we are swept away by the glamour, the glitz, the trappings and the tinsel, but there are deeper things and those are the things that will last when the surface trimmings are gone.
And believe The Whisperer when he says the surface trimmings will go, some sooner than later.
A lesson that must never be forgotten is that patience is a virtue and it will serve you when other things have failed. Often however, we are not prepared to wait. In a world of instant gratification, we expect results at the click of a button.
One day, your ship will berth in the harbour, carrying all (or who) you want if only you can resist the urge to be hasty.
I have seen things I longed for; fall in place many years after, even though not at the time I desperately sought it, and I have chosen to believe that the eventual timing is the right one. Beware of desperate steps; the darkest night lived will turn to day.
The Whisperer has learnt not to believe in stereotypes; for angels come in many forms and not all of them are pretty but they are angels all the same. The most-sound advice he ever got in academics came from a classmate on a dusty classroom corridor when he was thirteen; and help has come from unlikely sources like “area-boys” when he was stranded and at their mercy.
Do not judge a book by its cover or a potential suitor by pedigree or family history. Open the book to read and then if it does not catch your attention, throw it away.
Note that I did not say to take the book home when you can steal a quick glance through its pages by a busy roadside.
The world is full of surprises and the book’s contents might surprise you. Everyone has a story.
I have learnt that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, that for some reason, many humans are wired to believe what lies unattainable just across the iron-gate is much better than what they have in their possession.
We long for the good-looking person who goes past the door every morning, thinking of how life would be a much better place if only that beautiful person existed in it.
The only fault with our calculations is that we underestimate the baggage other people carry.
There are a number of variables in every relationship; the mind-set of the people involved, their personal quirks… Sometimes we do not realise we are in possession of the real deal, that we hold gold in our hands as we strive for “fools gold” in other places, material that bears a semblance to the real thing but is of much less value.
I have learnt that happiness and laughter know no colour or language barriers, that you can find happiness in the company of those who are young at heart and contentment with those who are truly content.
I have learnt that truly peaceful people are priceless and a person who is like “still waters” can be calming to the soul. I have learnt that a person dies on top first and the day you lose your childhood is the day you lose everything.
I have learnt you must be able to speak the language of children and have the strength to look Presidents in the face.
I have learnt you must love yourself first before you can truly love others and though others might have the ability to make you happy, there is no one who can give you joy. It is your duty to find that wellspring inside yourself.
laspapi@yahoo.com
THE Whisperer is in the city of London as he writes this. A city meant to be in the middle of summer but still feeling very cold to a body that has been warmed over several decades by the African sun.
He sits quietly, looking out of glass-plated windows at blood-red buses carrying people to varying destinations, people meditating on their own thoughts and he remembers some of the lessons life has taught him.
One of these is that the best revenge you can ever mete out is the revenge of living well. For everyone who has ever abandoned you in a relationship, who has ever looked at you and told you, you would never make the cut, that you would never be a success; it is your determination to prove them wrong that should be your driving ambition.
It should not be you praying night after night that they stand under a crumbling skyscraper, that a speeding car runs them over or that they accidentally swallow ground glass. The best payback is the one that improves you so much that both the doubter and the rest of the world are awe-struck when they finally see you come up for air.
Another lesson goes hand in hand with this. You must always remember no one is compelled to believe in you or your dreams and aspirations.
There is no one who owes you that obligation, not your mother or brother or best friend. The primary believer must be you. If you do not believe in yourself, no else can, no matter how much they pay lip service to your cause.
“There will be miracles if you believe.” The power of consistency and single-minded pursuit of a cause can never be over-stated. Take The Whisperer’s word for it as he once took the word of Professor Adeoye Lambo, the renowned psychiatrist, in a quiet conversation at a dinner table years ago. Lambo said, “A cutlass has only one sharp side”. Keep cutting.
You will also learn that success has many parents but failure is forever an orphan. There are many who lay claim to having lent a hand to the supposed, perceived success of The Whisperer but this man can count and he knows those who truly believed. Guard your heart, guard your strength, and keep true friends. Nwabundo Onyeabo, I’m never letting you go.
THE Whisperer has learnt that not all that is gold glitters. In searching for potential in prospective partners, the flashy are not always the best options.
Often we do not look below the surface, as we are swept away by the glamour, the glitz, the trappings and the tinsel, but there are deeper things and those are the things that will last when the surface trimmings are gone.
And believe The Whisperer when he says the surface trimmings will go, some sooner than later.
A lesson that must never be forgotten is that patience is a virtue and it will serve you when other things have failed. Often however, we are not prepared to wait. In a world of instant gratification, we expect results at the click of a button.
One day, your ship will berth in the harbour, carrying all (or who) you want if only you can resist the urge to be hasty.
I have seen things I longed for; fall in place many years after, even though not at the time I desperately sought it, and I have chosen to believe that the eventual timing is the right one. Beware of desperate steps; the darkest night lived will turn to day.
The Whisperer has learnt not to believe in stereotypes; for angels come in many forms and not all of them are pretty but they are angels all the same. The most-sound advice he ever got in academics came from a classmate on a dusty classroom corridor when he was thirteen; and help has come from unlikely sources like “area-boys” when he was stranded and at their mercy.
Do not judge a book by its cover or a potential suitor by pedigree or family history. Open the book to read and then if it does not catch your attention, throw it away.
Note that I did not say to take the book home when you can steal a quick glance through its pages by a busy roadside.
The world is full of surprises and the book’s contents might surprise you. Everyone has a story.
I have learnt that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, that for some reason, many humans are wired to believe what lies unattainable just across the iron-gate is much better than what they have in their possession.
We long for the good-looking person who goes past the door every morning, thinking of how life would be a much better place if only that beautiful person existed in it.
The only fault with our calculations is that we underestimate the baggage other people carry.
There are a number of variables in every relationship; the mind-set of the people involved, their personal quirks… Sometimes we do not realise we are in possession of the real deal, that we hold gold in our hands as we strive for “fools gold” in other places, material that bears a semblance to the real thing but is of much less value.
I have learnt that happiness and laughter know no colour or language barriers, that you can find happiness in the company of those who are young at heart and contentment with those who are truly content.
I have learnt that truly peaceful people are priceless and a person who is like “still waters” can be calming to the soul. I have learnt that a person dies on top first and the day you lose your childhood is the day you lose everything.
I have learnt you must be able to speak the language of children and have the strength to look Presidents in the face.
I have learnt you must love yourself first before you can truly love others and though others might have the ability to make you happy, there is no one who can give you joy. It is your duty to find that wellspring inside yourself.
laspapi@yahoo.com
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