Cover, Edition 202, September 13 - 19, 2009

16 years after, Dream remains fresh at AREF

BY GBENGA SALAU
WITH the theme Making Hope Real, the African Refugees Foundation (AREF) recently celebrated its 16th anniversary at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. Present to celebrate with the foundation were friends, trustees and patrons of AREF and lovers of arts. The event, which was also used to raise funds, started with a performance from the Crown Troupe of Africa, and an opening remark by the Honorary President, Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson, who spoke on the importance of peace and why Nigerian should work towards ensuring peace reigns in the country. Opral said, “our efforts as a humanitarian organisation in special consultative status with United Nations ECOSOC would be meaningless if our peace, concerns, social developments and various achievements in Nigeria and Africa are not given wider recognition; and if the wisdom, contributions and energy of various organisations and individuals inside and outside the government, who have assisted us with their counsel, time, expertise and resources are not recognised.” While pointing out that it is essential for meaning to be given to all achievements of AREF, she called on everybody to support and identify with the foundation, as it beckons on individuals and institutions to endow projects and programmes. “To continue our work, as we turn 16, we are inviting everyone, everywhere to embrace our vision, our hopes and our quest for justice, peace and social development,” she said. After her presentation there was an interlude with performances by the junior arm of the Crown Troupe of Africa, who were dressed in war like clothes, and Jojo Body Beat. A talk by the founder of AREF, Amb. Segun Olusola followed. The art patriarch drew the attention of the guests to the strangers-indigenes dichotomy. He said, “if we do not confront this dichotomy, we may be running into another civil war, problem even AREF cannot do anything about. I hope we would be able to convince our friends to stop pointing hands at people as being strangers.” Among the guests, who came to celebrate with AREF were former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Newton Jibunoh, Mr. Segun Sofowote, and the Fadesewa of Simawa Autonomous Community (near Sagamu), Oba Gbenga Sonuga and Aremo Taiwo Allimi. Others included Otunba Yinka Lawal-Solarin, Chief Kesington Adebutu, Chief Tunde Oloyede and the Director General of Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof. Tunde Babawale. The Crown Troupe of Africa in its dance-drama mimicked some of the happenings in relation to government-citizens interaction in Lagos and Nigeria. Most of the guests made financial commitment with a promise to do more when called to do so.



To be a Millionaire, think like Aroma
BY florence Utor
When Osezua Osahon, the University of Benin law undergraduate won N5 million in the multi-million naira game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, he instantly hit the headlines, as the man who broke the jinx to walk away with that amount from the show since its debut in October 2004.
However, another contestant, Ufodike Chimuanya Egwuchukwu Aroma, has brought the ceiling down by proving that with reading everything that comes your way, it is possible to win the ultimate prize of N10 million from the MTN quiz show.
The Nnewi, Anambra State-born dude, Aroma, who resigned from Diamond Bank in 2005, to start a steel business, is the last of his parent’s five children.

Aroma, 36, who entered the game show through the online version, is a widely travelled and well-informed graduate of Geography from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Interestingly, he didn’t use any lifeline until he got to the N5 million question, though he demanded to drink water in the course of the show.
The latest millionaire says that he felt so happy with the kind of welcome he was given and the way the contestants were briefed. “We were told in clear terms that we should perish the thoughts of cheating; we should just relax and catch fun… and, who knows, one of us might carry the ultimate prize at the end of the day. I tell you those words were encouraging; and now, it has come to pass, I have made the dream of everybody who has been on this show and has followed on television. Perhaps my name Aroma meaning ‘good year’ has caught up with me today.”
He continues, “a friend of mine on this show had not been able to scale the Fastest Fingers First (FFF) segment before. Even another brilliant lady friend of mine was once here and could not be on the hot seat because of this same FFF. So, for me to have been able to scale through means something and I owe it to the pep talk before the game, which really calmed me. It was not easy for me, because FFF was my biggest fear.”

Beaming with smiles, he told The Guardian that he intends to put a major part of the cash into his steel business and give his mother some sum.
The new millionaire, who is a twin, says he does not have a fiancée, “though there is a lady I came across recently, and I hope things will work out now that the situation is different.”
And on what he has to say to MTN/Ultima for making him a millionaire, his prompt response was gratitude. “This show is wonderful. MTN has done well. I am thankful to them. My thanks also go to Ultima Production for putting this up all these years.

Stress-free

(Living Well)
By Kikelola Oyebola
It is inevitable that one gets stressed once in a while with modern living. What should be avoided perhaps is letting stress accumulate for too long in the body or allowing it to happen all the time. Preventing it from building up to the point where it has to be managed, in the first place, remains the best remedy. At this level, experts have to be consulted and professional approach adopted for the treatment. In most cases, it becomes an on-going process, which in itself is another form of stress.
In spite of everything, however, there are certain steps that can be taken to avoid or keep stress at a manageable level, which will not require the professional ‘touch.’
“One of the effective means of keeping stress at bay is by avoiding working under too much pressure,” says Bolu Faloye of Deslim Outfit, Ikeja. “Work pressures constitute the largest percentage of every stress problems. So, if people can find a way of reducing this pressure and working more in a relaxed atmosphere, the problem will be half-solved.”
Creating conducive atmosphere for their workers then becomes a must for employers. To be also included under this are other areas affecting workers’ welfare. In this regard, it is pertinent that the habit of taking work home is avoided. “Some are in the habit of extending their offices to the home front. But this is wrong. As much as possible, work should be limited to the office alone. Only seldom should work be taken home and this is in emergency situation when it becomes absolutely necessary,” Faloye says. The home is purposely to serve as a relaxing and recuperating place after a hard day’s work.
At work, it can be beneficial to take a nap especially if the body demands it, preferably during lunch break when there is least disturbance. “It has been discovered that such naps are very healthy and they make up for sleep lost at night for those who don’t fall asleep immediately after hitting their beds. Some people who indulge in the afternoon naps have reported feeling invigorated afterwards. They go back to work feeling refreshed and energised than before.”
But aside this, it is equally important that individuals go on vacation when appropriate. Such has the capacity to restore back into the system all that has been lost to work and other everyday hassles. Even the change of scene offered by such breaks goes a long way to recover much.
Leisure also helps manage stress. Worries and anxieties should not be condoned at all. Nothing piles up stress easily in the body as much as worries and anxieties. This twin burden also hastens the ageing process in people. Individuals, of necessity, have to find ways of coping with their problems without these degenerating into worries and anxieties.

Re: Secret of long life

(PANORAMA)
BY REBECCA AKINMOLAYAN
A RESPONSE to my last week’s article is that was it actually meant for Nigerians, how many Nigerians will enroll for a course in the Red Cross?
What makes some people live long while their mates do not? It is a question that has dogged some of the finest minds for generations. A long healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are that you may live up to the century mark.
Though many are responding to the call to change in diet and exercise, the guarantee of living a long life goes beyond these rituals.
Experts reveal that our position in the hierarchy of long life is influenced by two things — how much control we have over our lives and what role we play in society. This holds true for every group in society, from politicians to those living in poverty.
It is all about our mindsets too. One thing everybody should know is that they own their bodies and are therefore responsible for what ever happens to them. Our thoughts lead to our actions and if you do not value your self, how can your take care of your body?
Everyone should realise that he or she should exercise a level of control over his or her bodies. This was the original reason for the article.
Also, anyone who wants to live long will not take unnecessary health risks. Tell some people to stay clear of tobacco; it is akin to banishing them to Antarctica.
Limit the intake of alcohol, another no-go area and they want to live long. These are attractive poisons with chronic effects, that is, the results of their damage does not come immediately but many years later when you are counting your years and wishing to add more to them.
How much do you know of your body? With so much information, ‘in the air’, many are still ignorant of how the body they carry around everyday works. And that is every small pain takes them to the dispensary and thereby render themselves open to exploitation by the unscrupulous.
Study your body, it will save you time and money. It is not uncommon to hear many people when they return from overseas boasting of the superb treatment they got over there.
Ask them about the treatment and the reason for it, they become speechless. When you visit the hospital, ask questions, and don’t let your body be used for guesswork or experiments.
Be immunised; not against polio or tetanus this time but against the negative influence of life and the bad-belle people around
Finally, enjoy your life, you only have one go at it.





Emotional intelligence, financial intellige
(Biz tool Kids)
BY BRIDGET OLOTU
I WAS having a discussion with one of my business partners on a project we were working on recently and he shared with me what I think would also help many of us in our businesses, workplaces and lives.
He told me he was a partner to the guy who started the business of packaging comedy shows in Nigeria. He said after the first two events were held; he quit because they didn’t make any profits. Meanwhile, the other guy continued.
The third show he held was a flop, followed by the fourth until the fifth show where the guy was able to recoup his investment. Then followed the sixth which was a huge success and the rest is history.
But my business partner quit early enough. He scored low on emotional intelligence. The lesson he picked from that experience still guides him till today. Financial intelligence is also the same as emotional intelligence. Warren Buffett once said, “If you cannot control your emotions, you cannot control your money.”
In the art of money making, we all have unique and different processes to get there. Some will achieve their financial freedom as employees in establishments while some others will achieve theirs running their own businesses. Whichever route you want to take, just bear in mind that there’s a process to pass through.
So, in improving your financial status, you need to understand some facts that can stop you from getting out of the rat race into financial freedom. Let’s consider some of them.

If you cannot control your emotions, you cannot control your money. People’s money decisions are not controlled by their wives or friends or family but by their emotions. They buy on impulse, invest on impulse, want to live like the Joneses, acquire a lot of non-productive assets that turn out to be useless liabilities, etc. Their money decisions are controlled by their emotions. Who or what controls your money decisions?

If you quit when you are depressed, you cannot control your money. Quitters rarely win. Like the story in my introduction, my business partner lost out in that business deal that could have been fetching him 7-digit figures every time the event is held because he couldn’t fight back the negative emotions to quit.
I
f you lose your temper when you are frustrated, you cannot control your money. Many have lost business deals, closed the door of friendships, lost customers, missed opportunities, lost job or promotion opportunities and suffered untold financial losses because they could not manage their temper. Angry people can’t keep relationships. Even in marriage, their spouses live in fear with them; they sleep with one eye shut and the other open. Your temper can make you lose business deals if you don’t wake up and start growing your emotional intelligence.

If you cannot continue to study when you want to run away, you cannot control your money. Some have lost vital opportunities of mentorship, training, education and coaching because they lost their emotional handle to fear, disappointment, unforgiveness and anger. How it works is this, whatever was the first emotion that comes to you when you are down or depressed or even afraid, check it out. Don’t obey it! Do the opposite if that is the commonsensical thing for you to do.

If you cannot live without instant gratification, you cannot control your money or be wealthy. Some of us are carried away by instant gratification. To be rich, you have to overcome your itching for instant gratification. Choose delayed gratification over instant gratification.

If you want to keep up with the Joneses, you cannot be rich. You may run into trouble when you want to be like the Joneses. Your financial path may be different from your friends. You may have to start a new and/or small business and grow it from there. You may also have to work for many years and rise to the top of your career, thereby making a lot of money and using that to meet your financial objectives. But make sure you are true to yourself per time.
Emotional intelligence, as we have seen, is similar to financial intelligence and guides our money decisions. So, when that emotion or those feelings are asking you to do what you know won’t help your financial goals, think again.
Olotu is the CEO/Lead Consultant, DEAIM Innovative Resources Ltd,
bridgetolotu@gmail.com

Staying Power

By FABIAN ODUM
Energy on the go! That is the end point of the digestion of all major foods we eat. Some release more of it than others and the situation in this season of skyrocketing price of rice, one of the main staples, is a case for concern. It means that our energy source is already dwindling with high prices keeping sufficient food out of rich. But the limitation of the decrease in calorie intake is that exercises will be restrained and the body may become prone to ailments.
It becomes important at this time to seek alternative to rice, given that local consumers are so much attached to this grain. In this respect, an inward look to foods like yam, cocoyam, acha, maize and maize-based products as energy source is desirable.
There are several local foods that make up for this as well and it is right to get them.
Drinks like kunu is okay too.

Energy utilisation
While food could be a high-priority item on your list of helpful changes to increase stamina, it could also be pretty far down the list, depending on your lifestyle and non-food factors.
The lifestyle and non-food factors include: our current level of fitness, the type of exercise you’re engaging in, and how accustomed your body is to this type of exercise. If you have not been exercising at all, or if you are not at all accustomed to a new type of exercise, increasing your exercise level very slowly can help you to build stamina.
From a dietary standpoint, our first thought would be to make sure that your diet is meeting all of your nutritional needs.
All types of exercise require energy in the form of calories. The number of calories and nutrients required to fuel physical activity depends on several factors including your age, your gender, your level of conditioning, and the intensity and duration of the activity.

Drinks option
Exercise also causes loss of water through sweating and respiration. Some of the water that is lost gets taken from the blood, which can reduce blood volume. If fluid is not replaced during and after exercise, serious dehydration can result, causing an increase in body temperature and impairing heart function. Drinking water is probably the best way to replace fluids.
However, some experts believe that it is also necessary to replace lost electrolytes.
Electrolytes are electrically charged substances that help our cells send and receive electrical impulses. Some electrolytes are minerals - including sodium, and potassium - that can be lost in substantial amounts when we sweat. (Other minerals can be lost through sweat as well, including the antioxidant mineral, zinc). While many different “electrolyte-replacement” sports drinks are available, you may not need to spend money on these expensive drinks to ensure adequate replacement of electrolytes.
In many cases, a well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables can provide an appropriate amount of these important minerals.
Additional reports from: WHfoods

University of Ibadan Conquers Africa

By Tope Templer Olaiya
After six grueling months of competition, the University of Ibadan, has emerged overall winner of this year’s edition of Africa’s top show, the Zain Africa Challenge. The programme is a fast paced televised quiz show involving universities from across East, West and Southern Africa, where the company has operation.
It may be regarded as the surprise of the century – considering that the best Nigerian university is ranked 1,723rd in the world (www.4icu.org) and is not even among the top 50 in Africa. However, the team that represented the University of Ibadan (UI) in Uganda has proven that a lot of good can still come out of Nigerian universities.
The UI team made up of Nnaemeka Nwachukwu, Olatunji Ayoola Olalere, Tolulope Oloruntoba and Olanrewaju Ismail Shittu beat a more experienced team from Kenyatta University, Kenya, which won last year’s edition of the competition.






As it was in Ghana, so it is in Nigeria
By Dayo Adesina Peters
When ASUU began its strike in July, critics expressed fear that the strike might last two years just like Ghana spent two years to work things out; and set its educational system on a sound footing.
Sometime ago, Professor Wole Soyinka suggested that to find lasting solution to the perennial problem of the educational system, the uinversities should be closed down for two years, during which all the problems plaguing it, which manifest in its deterioration as well as often leading to incesant strikes could be thoroughly addressed.
Now, was this not what Ghana did?
As impracticable as the suggestion might seem, I believe the solution to Nigeria’s problems lies in the Nobel laureate’s suggestion.
The untold story of Nigeria and Ghana is that the order of things has really changed. In fact, what is left of Ghana’s problems is only a frayed fragment while Nigeria still reeks in corruption and other vices. This also is pointer to the fact that change is constant.

Ghana has always been like a younger brother to Nigeria. The relationship between the two countries was really cordial, since the days it was called Gold Coast. Then, Nigeria could boast of having an upper hand in terms of currency and the likes. I remember a time when 79 cedi was the equivalent of one naira. But that was those days!
Ghana, to most politicians and indeed everybody, is now a home away from home. The services Ghana provides for its citizens and foreigners alike is qualitative. Apart from the fact that it is a peaceful nation whose economy and educational system are favourable and stable, the country is very close to Nigeria. No wonder the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, houses his family in the country.
Much to the discredit of other African countries, especially the so called giant of Africa, Ghana is fast changing the bad look of things and setting an example for others to emulate.
ucjeditorinchief@yahoo.com

Participating in the competition for the first time, UI scaled every hurdle to win the international inter university competition involving 32 Universities in Africa. Tens of millions of viewers across Africa and beyond were glued to their screens as the continent’s top students battled for the top prize and their share of over US$ 1,000,000 of cash prizes and grants made possible by Zain.
For the feat, University of Ibadan received the star prize of a $50,000 grant from Zain, with each of the team members receiving the sum of $5,000. Second placed Kenyatta University carted homethe sum of $35,000, while its team members went home with $3,000 each. All the other schools that participated in the tournament received varying grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000.
The prizes were handed out at a colourful prize presentation ceremony in Abuja. To kick off the event, guests watched a pre-recorded broadcast of the Zain Africa Challenge final between University of Ibadan and Kenyatta University, projected from a large format screen. The dexterity displayed by the team drew thunderous applause and admiration from everyone that was present at the event.

In his welcome remark, the Chairman of Zain Nigeria, Mr. Gamaliel Onosode, OFR, an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, said the enviable feat by University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos (a semi-finalist) clearly demonstrates that Nigeria still has an oasis of healthy, strongly growing minds. He commended the champions and urged them to ensure that they retain the title next season.
Specifically, he showered encomiums on the students that represented University of Ibadan for their display of outstanding brainpower and intellectual acumen, while also praising them for bringing honour and glory to their country. A visibly elated Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, commended Zain for the initiative and the interest in human development. While congratulating the winners, he revealed that six Nigerian universities have already been earmarked as centres of educational excellence, to compete among the best in the world.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro commended Zain for organizing the pan-African academic quiz show, describing the initiative as a fantastic and unique Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
“This competition has shown clearly that Africa has the talent to develop Africa. Like Zain, we all need to put our hand on the deck and keep creating an enabling environment for the development of our great nation,” Bamiro said.

By his dance steps, you shall know Qudus

BY CHUKS NWANNE
Born and raised in Lagos, dancer Qudus Aderemilekun Onikeku now considers himself a complete Lagosian, even when his parents originally hail from Abeokuta, Ogun State. “Until the age of 17, I had never stepped my foot out of Lagos. Despite my Abeokuta and Ijebu heritage, I still consider myself a full-time Lagosian.” Qudus’ journey into the artistic world started at the age of five when he began to feel the hyperactive pulse and curiosity that sustains his adrenaline up till date. “I could vividly remember seeing a guy do a back flip during inter-house sport in my primary school. It’s not as if I’ve never seen better acrobats on TV, especially during Olympics games, but seeing someone close to me do it, gave me the audacity to attempt it again and again.” After series of falls, with injuries sustained, Qudus found himself jumping up and down in flips. “My flips sometimes raise the blood pressure of my mum and concerned elders around. This perhaps was the most honest period of performance for me, and in all I do, I still try to do everything to retrace that path again,” he enthuses. With his kind of energy, Qudus described his primary school days as brilliant, yet he considers his hooliganism more dominant in those days. “I got pardoned most times for my brilliance,” he recalls. “It was a moment I really had to confront my energy by easing it on something external; the issue of positive or negative was not in my mind.” The decision by the mum of the young positively-rascal boy to move him from public to private school at the age of eight, finally paved way for the making of the Qudus of today. “I was taken to Brown Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Lagos; that was where I began to lose my old bad habits. After the entrance test, I was taken to Class Five instead of Four; I was glad that I would be finishing before my mates.” Reality dawned on Qudus when he dropped from his usual first position in his former school to seventh. “This calmed me a whole lot; I realised that success is not served with crispy fried chicken and strawberry milk shake.” With the dream of becoming a Chemical Engineer at the back of his mind, Qudus approached his secondary education with more seriousness. “I once heard my siblings chat about how the oil workers live large. But that half-baked dream was flushed away when I discovered dance in my senior secondary. But instead of taking art courses, ego would not let me stay away from sciences. Yet, the only remarkable moment of my secondary school days was the fact that I was an active member of the Music and Theatre Art Club, where I was later the dance captain.” By the time Qudus made up his mind to study Theatre Arts in the university, he met brick walls. “It was absolutely impossible to switch from the sciences to the arts, even when you can practically prove yourself; that was how I lost interest in the Nigerian educational system.” Left with no other option, Qudus began to seek knowledge in all possible angles. At a point, he became a regular at the French Cultural Centre workshops. He had a stint with the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, before joining the renowned repertory dance troupe, Gongbeat Arts, where he remained until he got a job with an Ibadan-based dance company, The Alajotas, at the age of 17. “This was an essential period for both my artistic and intellectual upbringing. With Alajotas, the stark beauty of being away from one’s family confronted me; I began to gain the individuality I’ve continually been denied”. Meeting Heddy Maalem at the French Cultural Center in 2004, gave a lifeline to Qudus’ dance career. “Heddy happens to be one of my mentors presently. He approached me for a contract proposition and since 2004 till date, I’ve been a permanent dancer with his Dance Company based in Toulouse – France. During tours with Heddy, I would engage him in a whole range of discussions. He is a father figure to me and I trust him. He was the one that gave me the idea of studying in a Circus Arts School, when I explained to him how I had let down my merit list admission to study Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Lagos in 2003.” After few research on Circus Art Phenomenon that began to take over the performing art scene of France, Qudus finally decided to give the idea a trial in 2006. “I went for the selection at the National Higher School of Circus Arts, and fortunately, I was selected amongst the 19 successful ones out of the over 120 that took part in the process. On getting to Lagos, I shook my networks a bit and I got the full scholarship of the French Embassy for the two years period of my studies.” After three years of acquiring knowledge in the field, Qudus has resolved to return home to begin his one-man dance revolution. “While in Chalons en Champagne in my little apartment all alone for three years, I dreamt, I wrote and I talked to myself; sometimes, I recorded my words. The gateway to the dance revolution in Nigeria was clear in my head. The more I remained abroad, the more I get closer to the Nigerian reality.” In 2007, Qudus started with Do We Need Cola Cola to Dance? project, touring round Africa. By 2008, he planned making ewaBAMIJO the next step, but was really busy with traveling. “The same thing was about to happen in 2009, but I said to myself, ‘this must not go past 2009.’ During my previous returns to Nigeria from time to time, I would find myself in the midst of poets, musicians, comedians, writers, journalists, photographers, painters, sculptors, actors as well as dancers. But I realised that, there is no genuine link bringing all these art genres together in Nigeria. “In this present day, where boundaries are beginning to fall away between visual, performing, graphic and literary arts, Nigerian artistes are still feeling comfortable in their various corners. Most of my works have never been about just dance. No, you will always feel the space of visual art, music, new media etc in my works. So, this is what informed the notion of having an interdisciplinary arts festival. “The international arts scene is really getting really vicious, lacking fresh air and very boring. With ewaBAMIJO, we are doing everything possible to make the Nigerian arts scene begin to set a new pace, with fresh breeds, inspired by whatever happens on Lagos streets, and will in turn affect whatever happens in the arts world.” According to the dancer, the idea of ewaBAMIJO is to negate all conventional ideas and misconceptions of what the Euro-American power players think our art-face should look like. “We are not here to romanticise our beliefs; we are here to create something entirely different that fulfills our socio-economic and socio-cultural needs. With this edition, we want to renovate the theories and praxis of contemporary art in our part of the world, to depart from the all pervasive discourse and fantasies of the art world.” Organized in partnership with the Creative Arts Department of the University of Lagos, ewaBAMIJO is scheduled to open October 27 through November 3. YK Projects, organizers of the event, has unveiled plans to make the event a bi-annual international festival. “We are not replicating or competing with other big arts festival already existing in Nigeria, but we seek to be a support and intellectual backing for the growing art network for Africans; ewaBAMIJO is more like a principle than any other thing. For that reason, we are going into a full triangular partnership with the Creative Arts Department of the University of Lagos and The National Arts theatre. All the events linked to ewaBAMIJO shall be taking place around both venues.” To Qudus, ewaBAMIJO will make all the difference. “We want to set the pace for ourselves to start. We don’t know how we are going to do it, but we believe in the power of dreams. We shall continue to dream until we see the change we hope for. ewaBAMIJO is not just about dance, it’s about the power of dream, its about hope, its about the dance industry, its about creating a sustainable dance market for the dancers yet to come, its about doing what we believe in and about inspiring confidence in those who could stand up against those bad habits that have hindered our collective development as a people.”

I love flashy colours, no skinny jeans for me, pls’

BORN on May 5, 1988, Ibrahim Adebola Adams is one of the presenters of Excite on TV. The Ibefun, Ogun State native attended Ronik International School, and rounded off his primary education at t Teammate Children school. He had his secondary education at Lagos State Civil Service Senior Model College, Ikorodu, before moving to the University of Lagos, to study Civil Engineering. Along the line, he realised that engineering wasn’t his way, so, he delved into broadcasting and event went to a school of broadcasting. Adams, who was an housemate at The Next Movie Star show last year, is also a model. In a chat with DAMILOLA ADEKOYA, he reveals what fashion means to him.

Family background
I’m from a family of five, and I’m the last. My dad retired as a senior accountant at the Nigeria Ports Authority; and my mum also worked there, but she did a whole lot of the business thing. She also has a fish farm.
Definition of fashion
It is a state of creativity. It is what makes you feel comfortable.
Style of dressing
Though I make it as a simple as possible, you may find rings, hand bands and chains on me but mostly, beads. I love it so much.
Favourite piece of clothing
It’s my hand band; you will never catch me without it!
Favorite colour (s)
I love flashy colours, but I think I like green and white because green represents nature and white for holiness
Turn on
I’m always turned on, when my parents are happy, but when they are sad; it affects whatever it is that concerns me.
Turn off
I hate liars and people who are not real. I hate assertive people, I don’t like them, they turn me off.
What can you not be found wearing?
I think skinny jeans. It’s in vogue though, but I will never wear it!
Favourite food
I love pounded yam and draw soup. I also like Indomie because it’s the only food I can manage to eat when I fall ill.
Describe yourself in three words
Crazy, God-fearing and dedicated.
Inspiration
Music inspires me really! For instance, when I’m going to cover an event, and I’m getting close to the venue, I listen to music, and it makes me deliver better.
Happiest momen
It was the day I made it to the house of the next movie star; I was dead happy.
Most Embarrassing moment(s)
The day I entered a supermarket to buy some things. I was all dressed up, feeling like a big dude. I finished the shopping and went to the counter to ask for my bills, in the process of paying for the bills, I actually found out that I forgot my wallet at home. I used my phone to stand in for the goods and quickly rushed back home, to get it. I came back and even bought more things, but really, I was so embarrassed. Most cherished possession
That’s my face. I think it’s my money. I will also say my voice.
Most expensive item
The pair of jewelry my sister bought for me; it’s pretty expensive.
Favourite designer(s)
I love Climass, but I respect Mako Matinez and Mai. Internationally, I love Huwes and Curties and TM Lewin and maybe, Adidas.
If you were given an opportunity to change something in Nigeria, what would it be?
First of all, I will change our leaders, however, I think leadership starts from we the people. I will like to have an orientation exercise for we Nigerians in totality, so that we could actually love one another like we supposed to.
Projection into the future
For me, the best is yet to come because I learn everyday.
Philosophy of life
Life is like a market, when you are through with it, you’ll go back, meaning going back to God. You need to be the best you can and live everyday like it is your last!

Glam, tempting glam... On the red lane

CELEBRITIES, especially in the entertainment industry, stepped out in their best wears recently to witness the unveiling of new Lux beauty soap at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Lagos. Better described as a gathering of beauties, the event had in attendance such notable personalities i the pageantry world such as Helen Ajayi, Miss Nigeria in 1979, who was also the special guest of the evening tagged Nite of Temptation. Others who graced the truly tempting event as it turned out to be included Omowunmi Akinnifesi, Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2005; Loveth Ajuofoh, the reigning Miss UNILAG; Doris Simeon, Best AMAA Award supporting actress 2008; Ego, the popular Lagbaja songster; Bukky Wright, a Nollywood actress and Kenny Bankole. Also at the event was Olaide Olaogun and Sylvia Udeogwu, all of the popular TV show, Soul Sisters, from the stable of Wale Adenuga Production, the producer of the popular soap opera, Super Story. It was indeed a night of temptation. This was flaunted right from the entrance to the hall to the musical art performed by Banky W, the flow of event anchored by AY, one of the notable comedians in Nigeria, the temptation game and many more side attractions that made the event a memorable one indeed. The special guest, Ajayi, said that the skin is the true face of a woman’s beauty and ‘a privilege of nature’. She added that nature itself could always do with a little help. “I am proud to note that since 1924, Lux Beauty bar has always been there to help every woman enjoy getting beautiful, accentuate her feminine details and give a memorable indulgent experience.” ACCORDING to the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc., Mr Thomas Boedinger, “the launch of new Lux variants is coming on the heels of Unilever’s mission of adding vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good, look good and get more out of life.” The Marketing Director , Mr. Dominic Kimani, spenty the evening explainin the ingredients and varied shades of the Lux products. The peak of the night was the musical performance by Banky W, alongside models, who gave expression to the unveiling of the new variants of the soap.

The curious house on Lawanson Street

By Ayodele Arigbabu
Architecture has the potential to do much more than just delineate spaces for human activities, in truth; architecture can create excitement and bring new energy to a community. That much did the design sleuthe find out while chatting with James George on his self styled ‘twist cube’ design for the Guaranty Trust Bank branch in Lawanson, Surulere, Lagos; which has since completion become a head turning spectacle in the ever bustling neighbourhood. It is not always that you encounter a building that makes you look again, especially in the seediest parts of Lagos, James George tells us why and how he set out to do what he did with the building. There’s been some excitement over a particular branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) in Lawanson, Surulere got any clues what the static is all about? I’m wondering, I’ve had a few calls at odd times about the design and how some concerned individuals think it’s collapsing. I just laugh it off. What do you think? Word has it that you are responsible for the urban disturbance, what’s the history? What role did you play? I hear that too... I was approached by Yaba based Line Smiths Design Associates (LSDA), to provide a response to a place that has developed in a certain way. I imagined that the area would grow in a certain way, in the next few years. This is what I describe as an Urban Architecture or Urbanitecture. The building already existed as a shop. The question was how to take a boring shop design into a future that has no such buildings... the response was the twist cube Can we infer from that, that your imagination led you to a future where Lawanson will be populated with buildings that appear to be collapsing? Were you trying to create an ironically ‘iconic’ reference to the history of collapsed buildings in Lagos?...okay, what really is the twist cube? The twist cube is an allegorical reference to the GTB logo. It says that the readings of the GTB cube that go on to form its architecture are assumed to have reached an end. The idea is speed. And excitement. That part of Lawanson is always congested. The building provides excitement, and enjoyment to the static viewer. Architecture should provide enjoyment to the onlooker. People always need to be surprised... Lagos needs to provide surprise for 17.5 million people; or 8 million depending on where you look at it from! (Laughs). So the design intention was not simply to give a notion of a collapsing building as many concerned citizens have assumed? Is that ‘collapsed building’ feel something serendipititious or evidence of a gap between your original design intentions and the ability of the builders to interprete those thoughts from the drawings? I wanted to cover up the existing building with a sign post and create some movement around that area. the area was quite dull and monotonous before the interruption caused by the twist cube. I actually set out to create a slant at the angle that the builders built it to. The twist cube is one of the rare occurences in the profession in this country what we set out to do was obtained to a very close degree. It’s alarming and audacious, and clear. These metaphors, in addition to the layering of other ideas are the thoughts that go to form my architecture there. The LSDA ensured that what we thought of first was what we got in the end. Kudos to those fellas. They sure can build. (Laughs). The building has been described as one of the more arresting attempts at deconstruction on the design scene in these parts, I picked up a little book on Daniel Libeskind’s Jewish Museum -one of the better known temples to deconstruction - in Berlin last year and in it, an attempt was made to explain deconstruction: ”The deconstructivist architects are similar in their approach, although they have different architectural styles and do not define themselves as a group. But they, too, try to break up the foundations of a modernism that has become static, a rational geometry that has become a dogma. Their work is no longert centered just on the finished building- in their complex building plans and sketches the process of designing itself becomes the central theme. Their buildings deliberately show the disparate character of their parts.” Where would you place your work as typified by the Twist Cube within this mileu? Hmm, the built form of the twist cube has been described as deconstructivist? I prefer ‘responsive’. Our architecture in Africa is naturally deconstructivist. The insistence on the non Euclidean geometry, that caused the deconstructivist eureka moment in Europe is common place in our traditional architecture. This is the reason why I cannot align my thought process to that of the Libeskinds and Eisenmans of this world. They learnt fractal geometry, but as Africans we are born with the ability to see all the fractal dimensions of time. This has been so from our religious responses to our social outlook. Deconstruction, as they call it is another African response that has been theorized and pimped out by European intellectualism. Here, non linearity is natural, and indeed spiritual. I have not deconstructed a building, i have only created an African Temple of Banking in the lines of Susan Wenger’s Oshogbo architectural responses. If this is not African, I dont see what else is... dreamarts.designagency@gmail.com www.designpages.blogspot.com

Hip-life for One-Week

STORIES BY CHUKS NWANNE
WHEN gyration music is mentioned in the country, Tony One Weeks name will hop up on top. His album, You Go Bow, made this sort of music more popular than what it was with the university Campus-based Kegites Club.
“Everybody knows me as the gyration master in this country, and to God the glory,” he says at a recent meeting in one of Lagos’ popular hangouts.
But what happens when the gyration master goes hip-life, a genre associated with Ghanaians?
Well, that’s exactly what you are going to hear in his latest work billed to hit music shelves soon. However, worried lovers of gyration music need not fret, as Tony still has something close to that in the offin.
Tony came to limelight when he repackaged gyration music and recorded it for public consumption.
He became a household name in gyration music, featuring at major gigs in the country. Songs such as Onwa December and Obowede oh yes were on the lips of very many young persons.
Eleven years after he stepped out with his wave-making You Go Bow, the gyration master, is back with a new work, The Champion.
Away from his usual style, the 14-track album features hip-life tracks, which he believes will be a must-listen in many homes in the country and beyond.
“I’m assuring Nigerians both home and in Diaspora that something is about to happen. Hip-life is derived from the presence of hip-hop in the beats; it’s a combination of highlife and hip-hop. It has songs such as The Champion, which I did with Sonny Bobo, Monkey No Fine and others.”

ACCORDING to the film producer, the new work is a kind of innovation. He adds that his usual gyration work will be released at a later date.
“We actually planned to combine the two albums together, but my producer decided we split them into two different works. So, you are going to see The Champion 1 and 2.
“Everybody knows me as the gyration master, but this work is away from the traditional gyration you know. For instance, the track featuring J Martins is not gyration, but it’s a good song. When you listen to it, you discover that it’s the gyration master singing. If you want to call it an experiment, then you are not far from the truth,” he says.
On why he went hip-life, the Anambra State native explains, “ to me, music is about acceptability; I don’t even want to know how it sounds. Once the music is acceptable to the people, I don’t have problem with it. My doing hip-life is by choice because hip-life is taking over gradually. If you hear the guitar in Onyeacha, a track featuring Duncan Mighty, you will first think it’s the late Sir Warrior. But because of the hip-hop flavor, it makes you dance. If I play pure highlife, I might be attracting the older generation, but hip-life cuts across.”
But it’s likely going to affect your identity?
“No, I don’t think so; good music is good music. I’m still the Gyration Master giving you something you might never imagine Tony One Week could do. If directing a movies and acting could not affect my identity, I don’t think playing hip-life will have any effect.”

FOR Tony, who is now based in Abuja, producing the new work was financially challenging, especially with the number of artistes featured.
“Ordinary flight fair that went into this production is unbelievable; Niggar Raw flew in from Enugu and I had to go pick him up from the airport and lodged him in a hotel, flew him back after the production; the same thing with Storm Rex and Duncan Mighty. In fact, I had to bring Duncan back to repeat the track he featured; the producer noticed something in the song, so, we had to repeat it all over again. I was in Owerri to work with Sonny Bobo… the cost was much! But my happiness is that everything came out the way we wanted it.”
Already, Iyk The Don Entertainment has been contracted to distribute the work both locally and internationally. According to the CEO of the outfit, Ikenna Ezeh, plans are afoot to ensure the album gets to every nook and cranny of the country.
“Tony has been my friend for sometime now, but my decision to take up the job has nothing to do with our relationship; the album met my company’s requirement. We have a solid distribution channel within and outside the country and we are going to apply it in this particular work. We were responsible for the Marketing of Asa, Infinity, J Martins, Midnight Crew and others. We are still going to approach this work the same way we did with the others.”
For promotional purpose, one of the video from the work, Ife Osolugi Mebe, is already showing of TV stations across the country.
“It’s a promo video featuring Flavour. Naturally, when you are bringing out a new album, it’s normal to release just one promo video. If not, pirates will help you market the work. So, what we did was to do a promo video, but the other videos will follow in no distant time; before Christmas, you will get the new video. I expect every Nigerian to grab a copy of the work, because we are reaching out to both children and adults; there’s nothing vulgar in my music. I’m sure this album will satisfy the desire for good music.”

BORN into the family of Gabriel and Angela Muonagor of Obosi town in Anambra State, Tony attended the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, where he cut his teeth in entertainment; he formed a group, Thriller Entertainment, organising major shows on campus. He was also at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus for his Post Graduate Diploma and Master’s degree in Business Administration and majored in Management.





Atinuke sings Majemu ife
Right from his childhood, Atinuke had always dreamt of becoming a very popular musician in the country; taking up a white-collar job was never in the big picture of her life.
Her love for music actually spurred her into joining the Christ Apostolic Mission Church Choir in Lagos, at a tender age of seven.
“I was known as Iyabo then, because they believed that my late grand mother came back through me. But I dropped the name later because I know that I’m me; I’m not a reincarnation of one old woman. So, I changed my name to Atinuke.”
Unlike most artistes, who go through difficulties in getting their parent’s nod to become musicians, Atinuke’s case was entirely different.
“They were very supportive; God rest their souls, they are late now. My parents were organists and my Dad was a composer. So, I think music runs in our family.”
On her choice of doing gospel music as against the hip-hop tradition that has become popular among youths, Atinuke Show, as she’s fondly called said, “Maybe because of my background as a child; we were brought up in the church; that kind of spurred me into playing the kind of music I do.”
But some people view gospel music as ‘church music?
“Basically, the biblical translation of gospel is good news; everybody wants to hear good news. If we are singing about God’s blessing, it does not mean it applies to Christians alone. But because the word is popular among Christians, people tend to see it as church thing. If you listen to the lyrics of people like Sunny Ade and some juju artistes, you will hear a bit of gospel in it. So, it’s not for Christians alone.”
She continues: “Some artistes are more concerned about the commercial aspect of their music, so, they can afford to shoot any video without looking at the moral implication. A lot of them don’t even bother about the kind of signal they are sending through their songs. As far as it will sell, they are comfortable with it. But for me, music is about message.”
For Atinuke, music is a calling.
“It’s an in born thing; it’s not an all comers affair. If it’s your calling, the spirit will drive you. Personal experiences somehow influence the kind of lyrics I write, but basically, God is my inspiration.”
She recalled her first experience in wiring music.
“It was an English song, I got it from the book of psalms. I was supposed to do it in this album, but my producer decided we put it in the next work. I wrote it about seven years ago. I think it’s a good song; we’ve done a demo of it.”
Atinuke’s first effort, Shout Halleluiah, a four-track album, which was released in 2005, could not go as far as she expected.
“It was ok, but you know the problem of up-coming artistes with marketer and thing like that.”
This time around, the singer is back with a new work, Majeku Ife, which is already on music shelves. Arrange and produced by Dare Ojetola, Atinuke is optimistic that the album will make a good listening.
“It has always been my dream to write and produce my own songs. At a point, it was a bit difficult; you write a song and it’s not good enough, you had to rewrite it and make it better. Gradually, with good producers, I was able to come up with what I have now.”
If yoy think making music is easy, then hear Atinuke: “Nothing good comes easy; singing itself is a whole lot of task. Some people think it’s easy, but the truth is that it’s much difficult than people think. You don’t wake up and jump into the studio,” she notes.
Have you ever slept in the studio?
“Several times,” she quips. “If I’m not doing my work, I will be backing other artistes. Meanwhile, I’m also into voice over and jingle production; I write scripts too.”






After Lagos, Face-Offf heads to Abuja
The first edition of the Face Off, which was held last November, at the Expo Hall, Eko Hotel, Lagos, was a bang. The hall was filled with fun lovers, who came out in handful number to be part of the show that saw artistes slug it out with the Islanders Basket Ball Club in a match.
Featuring notable names such as Tuface Idibia, Banky, P-Square, D’banj, Sound Sultan, Basketmouth, Kefee and others, the event saw the celebrities show their skills in basketball. It was fun all the away, as the entertainers take their turn to thrill the large crowd with music and comedy at various intervals.
Smirnoff Ice added colours to the event by taking up its sponsorship and branded the whole arena and the court in its colour. Indeed, Face Off opened a new page in the entertainment circle.
Following the success of the first edition, Playcentre, the entertainment company behind the event, has announced plans to host this year’s edition on October 24, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Managing Director of the outfit, Olatunde Michaels, informed that the company is putting its act together to ensure that Face Off 2009 blows the mind of fun lovers beyond expectation. Michaels noted that the show is being packaged to give Abuja fun lovers a more exciting experience.

Painter Kainebi is Trash-ing

The painter, Osahenyen Kainebi, who is reputed for his incredible resources in painting, may have turned the corner in his new creative enterprise, the result of which is on show under the theme, s Trash-ing, an exhibition that opened yesterday at the Centre for Contemporary Art, CCA, on Mcwen Road, Yaba, Lagos. His current engagement as presented in the exhibition, presents a dialogue between the artist and found objects represented by mostly disposables cans and water bottles, which he has assembled to create works that address various shades of the travails of the Nigerian nation and its beleaguered people. The exhibition, which has been drawing critical acclaims will be on till the end of October at the gallery.

TEETH 4 TEETH

BY JUSTIN AKPOVI-ESADE
M I The Tallest
RAP music sensation, M I, is a very tall young man. In fact, he is in the league of tall artistes such as Nollywood actress, Grace Amah, and Hollywood star, Danny De Vito. M I is so tall that he is just some few feet taller than the popular ‘kid’ actors Aki and Paw Paw. T4T saw the artiste, who is currently making waves in Victoria Island area of Lagos walking to his Honda Accord (End of Discussion) car and the thought that crossed my mind is: can this fella drive this car, being a very tall person? I waited to see the drama play itself out (dis T4T get time sha). M I entered the car and attempted to reverse, geez, you needed to see how he craned his neck so that he could see his back. He deserved some pity and an award to compensate him. To be ‘tall’ no easy sha.

Agatha Amata’s Has ‘Arroved’
TALKSHOW queen, Agatha Amata, has arrived and in local parlance ‘arroved’. Saw the Inside Out T V show creator in Victoria Island, Lagos, with a metallic black Murano SUV. Things are really looking up for the queen. She is so fresh and her black complexion will make an eja aro (black ‘point and kill’ fish) go green with envy. The last time T4T saw Aunty Agatha, she was driving one small Rav 4. It seems things have looked up since the last meeting, if not how would you explain a Murano? Let’s join hands in wishing her well and also asking weda small crumb fit fall down near our table make we drag am chop?

Big Fredo’s Daughter Got Married
ABOUT two weeks ago, Nollywood actor, Big Fred, was at O’jez, not to have a drink but to share invitation cards of her daughter’s wedding ceremony. Fred was so engrossed in the sharing that he failed to notice T4T sitting in his usual corner. When he was confronted for ignoring T4T, Fredo bluffed his way out of the situation, saying that T4T by virtue of the state he is from, is his younger brother. I agree, Big Fredo, but when an elder brother decides to commercialise his daughter’s wedding, as some of your detractors claim you did, one cannot just watch without saying anything. Fredo invited the whole world to the wedding, which held in Surulere area of Lagos, and his detractors said his dance steps increased when he began to see Nollywood stars and other dignitaries arriving the venue. He smelled money, according to the detractor, who revealed the secret.

... Still On Big Fredo
THE Nollywood star is a living testimony of a failed country. Please do not get me wrong, it is not Fredo’s fault that Nigeria has failed as a nation. A visit to Big Fredo’s house recently in Surulere revealed that he has three power generators. There is the small one (I better pass my neighbour) he uses in the morning, the medium size he uses from 12 noon and the big one he uses to oppress his neighbours from 7pm till dawn. So, ‘in Big Fredo’s house, there is no power failure’. No wonder I saw him fighting and shoving some time ago to buy fuel at a service station with jerry cans. Trust T4T, he accused him of being a living testimony to a failed state. Sadly, Fredo agrees. You could see sadness in his eyes. Over to you President Yar’Adua, save Fredo and others from imminent noise pollution.
ogbuus@yahoo.com

Abuja film fest beckons

BY SHAIBU HUSSEINI
THE yearly Abuja International Film Festival begins on September 22 at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre. Senator Aliero, minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will declare the festival open. Moviedom engaged the Festival President, Fidelis Duker, on plans for this edition.
The festival
Abuja Film Festival is some days away and this is our sixth year. We want to see how we can raise the stake this year in spite of the global economic meltdown. This year, we are posing a question with our theme, which is Nollywood; what next? We are concerned because Nollywood is not moving anywhere. The industry is at its lowest ebb. Nothing seems to be working. Distribution is a problem and so is production. People are complaining and they even want us to change the kind of stories we tell. So, we are using this edition to address some of these issues that have been raised about the industry, particularly that of maintaining standards and the problem of piracy and distribution. However, in terms of entries for the festival, I am glad to say that we have received a couple from within and outside of the industry. In fact, we got close to 250 entries and they are more of foreign entries than films by Nigerians. I am sure you know why we don’t have more entries from home. Well it’s basically attitudinal. We are non-challant and we don’t like putting our creativity to test. But we’ll talk about all that at the festival. But the final screening of the entries will hold in Abuja were also the finalist will be announced and prizes given out. We have a jury that will take care of that.
The FCT administration
Honestly, we have in different ways tried to get Abuja as a city involved in the organisation of the festival but the reception we have always been accorded have not been encouraging at all. I think the Abuja Film Festival goes beyond just film. We have been to some other festivals and we have discovered that tourism is a major aspect of those festivals. We have tried to do it with Abuja and we have approached the authorities since we started six years ago, but there has not been acknowledgement of our proposals and letters, let alone, support. Each year, we have international filmmakers and their local counterpart travel all the way down to Abuja but the government and citizens of Abuja are always missing. And this is not about reaching out. We have talked to, written and even blackmailed them, but they seem to have other interests. But I don’t know what can be more interesting than having creative people be your guest for three to four days that the festival normally spans. We have really been unfortunate with the Federal Capital administration. But we are hoping that they will see the need to support us and truly make the city to be part of the festival as we run along. I am hoping that with the plan by the Coalition of Filmmakers to storm the venue, we should be able to make enough impact that will get them interested in growing the event in line with our vision and expectations. So, Abuja film festival is on course and it will hold from September 22 to 25.
Award
The late Muyideen Alade Aromire, one of the pioneers of Nollywood, will be honoured for his effort in the production of Ekun, a video film that was shot and released in 1987 in Yoruba language. The release of this film signaled the beginning of the era of films being made on video formats. Available records are there to show that several films were released before the highly celebrated Living In Bondage by Chief Kenneth Nnebue in 1992, who incidentally, had shot several home video in the thriving Yoruba genre such as Aje Ni Iya Mi. Aromire. Also to be honored at the festival is the film, Iyawo Alhaji, which is the first home video film to be classified by the National Film and Video Censorss Board. A Nollywood Achievement Award has been created as a yearly package of the festival to honour stakeholders in the industry, who have contributed yearly to developing and improving the sector since inception. The comprehensive list of awardees will be unveiled at a world press conference that will herald the festival.





Around and about Nollywood...

Through the Glass premieres today
THE Lagos premiere of Stephanie Okereke’s debut movie as a director and writer, Through the Glass, holds today at the SilverBird Galleria on Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos. A statement from Next Page Productions indicates that the Lagos premiere is being held in partnership with the Silverbird Film Distribution Limited. Scheduled to begin at 4pm and strictly by invitation, Through the Glass, which has premiered in Los Angeles, California, features Garrett Mckechnie and Okereke in lead roles.
Time for Romania International Film Festival
THE former Bucharest International Film Festival, now known as the Romania International Film Festival, Ro-IFF, holds between September 27 and October 4, in the City of Arad . The official competition – called CineBlackSea – focuses on films that must have been produced in either Russia, Republic of Moldavia , Ukraina , Georgia , Armenia , Azerbaidjan , Bulgaria , Turquie , Greece or Romania . There are separate competitions for feature films as well as short films and documentaries. CineBlackSea is meant to be a link between countries that recent history kept apart in different social, political and economic ways. Like this, Bucharest transforms for nine days into a metropolis of cinema and arts. A competitive international section focuses on Women in Cinema – competing are feature films and documentaries, directed by women. The Focus will be dedicated to the opera of a special personality in film. The programmers consider cinema as a mirror reflecting the needs and mentalities of different societies. One of the main principles of selecting films is drawing special attention to new filmmaking including their own ways of expression. The aim is to promote talents, to fight the cultural decay and to consolidate quality in culture, arts and mass media. After the festival in Arad the films will be screened in other Romanian cities, such as Bucharest, Ramnicu Vâlcea and Mangalia. In 2010 the programme will move to Pecs in Hungary as a part of the initiatives of the European Capital of Culture.

ION Film Festival
ORGANISERS of the international touring film festival, ION International Film Festival, have affirmed that the festival will hold in Port Harcourt between December 9 and 12. Dubbed ION International Film Festival Port Harcourt 09, the touring film festival, which moves every year to a new location around the globe in an effort to promote global awareness, peace and unity. This is the first time it is holding in Africa. The previous festivals had been staged in Los Angeles (2007) and Dubai in 2008. ION launched the call for entries in 12 official categories on April 1, while deadline for submissions is September 30. International submissions can be done through www.ionfilmfestival.com or www. withoutabox.com. Those wishing to make submissions from Nigerian should check www.omcomm.org.

Registration for Berlin Today Award – Talent Short Film Competition begins
THE organisers of Berlin International Film Festival have said the forthcoming Berlin Today Award 2011 competition is looking for the best five short film ideas based on the theme, You Are Leaving The Familiar Sector. Interested applicants can visit www.berlinale-talentcampus.de/berlin-today-award. October 7, is deadline for submission. Out of all applications, 15 short film proposals will be selected for the first round of the competition. The directors involved will be invited to meet pre-selected producers at a Producers’ Meeting during the next Berlinale Talent Campus in February 2010. Here, the directors will be given the opportunity to present their project. Following the Producers’ Meeting, 5 producer/director teams will be nominated as finalists for the award. The short films will be produced until the end of the year 2010 and will celebrate their world premiere during the Berlinale Talent Campus 2011. The winning film, chosen by a jury, will receive the Berlin Today Award. The Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg supports the award. Entry to the competition is open to Berlinale Talent Campus participants past and present

NFC has no plans to re-locate THE management of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has issued a statement debunking the rumour making the round that the Nigerian Film Corporation is relocating to Abuja. In the statement, signed by its Head of Public Affairs, the management described the act as ‘condemnable, negative and retrogressive’. The NFC management reiterated its earlier position that the Headquarters of the corporation remains in Jos and that no attempt by any individual or group of persons to malign and disparage the authorities of the corporation will henceforth be tolerated’. The management restated its commitment to pursuing the mandate of the corporation, which includes ‘the provision of broad policies and programmes which are being carried out through the continuous strengthening of its administrative, physical and infrastructural facilities, to reposition for accentuated performance and a dynamic, proactive leadership of the Nigerian creative industries.
WAKA PASS

Producer- Amebo A. Amebo Director- Mr. Gossip Actors- Nollywood Celebrities
A distress call from Iroegbu
THOSE who know the youthful and one time ‘dread’ wearing filmmaker, Dickson Iroegbu, are aware that the only thing on his mind is how to get his pet project, Child Soldier, off the ground. So, when one waka pass gushed that he had been seeing him lately at the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigerian Police Force, we wondered what Child Soldier had to do with fraud. Well, we received an email from the AMAA laureate just when we were about to call and find out about the true state of things. The content of the mail suggested that the mountain was on fire… no sorry, fire was on the mountain. See what the director of Women’s Cot sent us, which he signed as the Public Relations Officer of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria; ‘Dear Colleagues, a meeting with the Police Commissioner Special Fraud Unit between Dickson Iroegbu and Mr. Paul Obazele has been rescheduled and fixed for Monday, September 14, 2009, by 2pm. I enjoin colleagues to intervene in this matter officially now before it becomes another messy slur on Nollywood. You will recall that recently, the incessant fight and quarrels in Nollywood has aided the berth of hunger amongst practitioners. Current efforts to save this business should be guarded vigorously by all and sundry peacefully and coherently. Please accept my commitment towards the success or attainment of victory in our struggle towards practicing this esteemed craft. I use this medium to notify you officially of this case. Dickson Iroegbu has been accused by Mr. Paul Obazele of fraud and threat to life at the SFU IKOYI. Whereas, the former got battered and suffered a failed assassination attempt on his life, which to the glory of God he survived, the later decides the option of the police rather than face his new “acclaimed” responsibility as AMP president. Nobody’s blood is needed to return the lost pride of Nollywood! We want to behold a new day when this will be all over; and honestly we hope it will be very soon. Thanks for your kind attention, warm regards’. End of email. And our Comment? May the day break!

GQ got a good clap Star actor, Chidi Mokeme, got a good clap from the audience the other day when filmmakers united against pirates at the National Theatre. The Nollywood actor and model, who is regarded as a powerful dresser, asked a question at the forum that everybody considered very intelligent. After the presentation by the London-based film curator and festival adviser, Keith Shiri, on why practitioners should take advantage of participation at festivals to grow Nollywood, Chidi took Keith up on the criteria for selection of films and why Nigeria has not been able to have an in-road into these festivals. A loud applause greeted those questions. Hear how a movie marketer at the forum reacted when Chidi took his seat after seeking further clarification from Keith: ‘Nna, amarom na this boy deh intelliegent like this (I don’t know that this boy — Chidi — is this intelligent)’. He adds: ‘I used to think he was just a fine boy no intelligence (sic). Well, we asked the fellow how he thought Chidi has been acting and the fellow cut in: ‘abeg that one na cramming and if he make mistake dem go stop and start’. And since Chidi asked his questions extempore that day, no be cramming! Shoooooooooooee. I no know book ooooooooooo!

Monalisa drops Dejo Richards from her name?
WHAT is it that we hear is going on between Nollywood actress, Monalisa Dejo Richards nee Chinda, and the ‘love of her life’, Dejo-Richards? There is so much hush hush going around lately about them. We have refused to believe the talebearers, who have persistently brought it to our notice that the fair skinned actress (no be bleach aided oo) may have moved out of her matrimonial home. In fact, one waka pass touched the ground and pointed to the sky to make us believe that the University of Port Harcourt-graduate and mother of one had asked a Lagos based lawyer to separate what before now, ‘God had joined together’. The waka pass, who has made this matter his case, mentioned to us just yesterday that attempts to make the endowed actresschange her mind from dumping the man and father of her pretty daughter, she swore ‘to die, re-incarnate and marry again’ have proved abortive. Not only has Mona -- as the actress is simply called -- stopped picking calls from ‘in-laws’ and ‘out-laws’, we hear that she is contemplating putting herself in purdah and that only her brief as an ambassador of one of the leading telecommunication company can make her be seen at public functions for now. Anyway, we will watch as events go…but one waka pass think sey dey dust go soon settle. We ask am why him talk so and him say him go tender the poems wey Mona don compose on top Oga Dejo Richard head for court if he is called as witness to testify how oga Dejo bin dey shack Mona before their love story come wan tragic pass that of Romeo and Juliet!. To God be the Glory
shaibu70@yahoo.com

‘Canaan… my beloved’

BY ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA
CALABAR, the capital of Cross River State is one of the cities hosting FIFA Under-17 World Championship in Nigeria. Known as ‘Canaan City,’ Calabar was also one of the hosts cities of the World Youth Championship held in 1999.
Background: The city played a significant role in the political evolution of Nigeria, as it was once the seat of power for the Oil River Protectorate, Niger Coast Protectorate and Southern Protectorate. Calabar also featured prominently as one of the trading centres and ferry points through which slaves were exported out of the shore of the country during the ignominous slave trade era. It is on record that over 2.4 million slaves passed through the city’s seaport in the heydays of the obnoxious trade. From 1967, when 12 states were created out of the former four regions of the country to this day of 36 states, the city has remained a capital. One of the smallest of the host cities, beside Ijebu Ode, the most visible element that will assails a visitor’s sight is the culture of hospitality.
Checklist of leisure Spots
EXCEPT for Lagos, Calabar boasts of the highest number of well-primed entertainment and leisure spots in the country.
Dining out: Calabar is noted for its unique culinary feature, especially the vast array of Efik menu that visitors will find tempting. In all the nooks and crannies of the city, you are sure to find different eateries in operations. One of the most visible locations in the city is the Ndidem Usang Iso Road formerly Marian Road. This long stretch of road in the heart of the city is one sure place where leisure seekers will find comforting. The list of eateries include Genny, Mr. Fans and Mr. Biggs as well as Sweet Sensation. While Etta Egbe Road, where the University of Calabar is located, Calabar Road and Murtala Mohammed Road – from the J. U. Esuene Stadium end to Watt Market are some of the popular roads to catch fun too. Apart from these locations, Housing Estate also has a number of spots to sample. One of them is Duke’s Place, which, besides its fast food centre, has a section devoted to traditional Efik menu. The Chinese restaurant of Mirage Hotel beckons as well as that of Pyramid Hotel and Conference Centre. A visitor is also sure to have good dining spots in some of the well-apportioned hotels in the city such as Channel View Hotel, Metropolitan Hotel and La Chateau Hotel. Marina Resort is another good spot for dining out and harvest fun in the city. Located at the Duke Town end of the city, it is a water front resort, which once harboured the Calabar jetty, has been turned into a leisure city of sort where the locals spurn different leisure packages ranging from food to drink.
Old Residency: For a treat of the historical antecedents of Calabar, Old Residency is the place to visit. The building, which once housed the colonial government, is both a historical and master architectural piece to behold. It houses, among others, a museum of the relics and memorabilia of the old history of the city; ranging from the people to the economical and political exploits. After a tour of the complex, one can seat out at the restaurant section for food, music and drink. The Governor’s lodge, which is part of this complex, is just a distance away from the Old Residency. It has a good landscape outlay with the Calabar River serving as its backdrop.
Old Calabar, Duke Town: These are two sections of the city where one can feast on the nature and colour of the old settlement, as most of the buildings are monuments to the great past of Calabar. Some of the schools, institutional buildings and complexes that tell the tales of the old city are still in existence. One of the living monuments of the city is the Hope Waddell Training Institute (1895), which is one of the oldest colonial schools in the country. The late Nnamdi Azikiwe was a former student of the institute. Other historical monuments in the city include the oldest post office in the country, the first general hospital, the first social club in Nigeria (The Africa Club) and one of the earliest military barracks in the country.
Eco Tourism: Calabar also has a rich blend of eco tourism elements for people to exploit. Some of the spots within the city include: The Drill Ranch, which is actually one of the oldest of such centres and is devoted to the care of primates such as monkey, drill and chimpanzees. Afi Wildlife Sanctuary is an offshoot of this centre, as the wildlife sanctuary located in Afi forest, outside of the city is a sanctuary dedicated to drill, monkey and chimpanzee in their natural habitat. Besides a day tour of the sanctuary, one can stay over night or as many days as one so desires, as it has lodging and camping out facilities where one can savour a wilderness experience. Bird watch is also another activity here as well as safari. Afi Mountain Canopy Walkway : The Afi sanctuary is also where the Afi Mountain Canopy Walkway is located. It is an intriguing and creative walkway— a series of suspension bridges linked to platforms on trees. It affords aerial view of the forest and elicits great excitement walking on the delicately balanced creation. Just like The Drill Ranch in Calabar, CERCOPAN too is situated within the city and is a centre for breeding of primates with conservation education, enlightenment programmes and researches undertaken too.
National Park – Calabar is also home to one of the nation’s eight national parks and one of the rain forested parks with Okomu National Park in Edo State as the second. The park, which has two distinct sections, Oban and Okwangwo, with one of the sections extending to the Cameroun, plays host to rich varieties of fauna and flora. One of the rare species of the park is the forest elephant, which is endemic to the park.
Agbokim and Kwa waterfalls: These are two sites to also sample enchanting ambience of nature as they both have enticing landscape and waterfall. Their heights reach the heavens with water cascading down in such torrential momentum to form great pool of water at the base.
Ikom Monoliths: Found in Ikom, some distance away from the city, the monoliths represent the enduring history and art of the people, as these are carvings and writings that date back to hundreds of years.
Aqua Vista Holiday Resort and Farm: Is a rare facility tucked away in the calm area of Anantigha (Messembe Close), Calabar. It has a natural appeal that features palm trees. It has good accommodation, dining and wining facilities while some of its leisure features include sporty facilities — volleyball and tennis.
Obudu Mountain Resort: Formerly the popular Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort, it remains the prime tourism product of the state. Located in Obudu, it has a good landscape made of the Obudu rolling hills and plateau. The temperate climate of the resort is what recommends it to visitors, as it is located about 1,576 metres above the sea level and has 22 steeple and snake – like bends that take one from the base to the top. Beside the lodging facilities, the resort has ample leisure and entertainment facilities for patronage. It also has a natural enclave as Becheve Natural Reserve (BNR) . The resort can either be accessed by land or air, as there is the Bebi Airstrip located few kilometers to the resort. The state government has recently acquired an aircraft to service the resort making it now easier for daily air flight to the place. Tinapa Business Resort: It’s supposed to be the signature attraction of the state but is yet to be fully operated, however, with the Amber Tinapa Hotel and the entertainment arcade in operation, a tourist can visit the resort for a ball. The numerous facilities now in place such as the shopping complex and the Nollywood Studio are sights to behold.
Tourism Village: This would be one of the main spots for leisure during the game as the traditional tourism village with it cultural and entertainment ambience would be an open theatre for all sorts of fun filled activities ranging from musical concerts to theatrical acts. Millennium Park: With a lovely and attractive garden and arcade, the Millennium Park should be another spot to visit for rollicking moments. It is located some distance away from the stadium and the tourism village.
Mary Slessors’ Tomb: Mary Slessors was a Scottish missionary who lived and worked in Calabar. she was noted for fighting against the killing of twins. A statue of a woman carrying a baby in one of the roundabouts in the city is dedicated to her memory while grave other known as her Mary Slessors’ Tomb located at Eyamba Street cemetery in Duke Town near the Marina Resort, has been preserved as a tourist site in the city
Airport The city has an airport known as Margaret Ekpo International Airport. It presently operates local flights with regular flights to Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. From the airport one can easily access any part of the city as well as the state and its environs for anyone interested in making a detour to places like Uyo, Aba and Port – Harcourt
Tour packages Cross River State Tourism Bureau (CRSTB) is the state agency in charge of tourism development and promotion in the state. Their office is based at Arikpo Okoi House at Calabar road, a visitor to the office would gain more insight to the tour packages available. Also visit Grand Trip Tours at the airport and Executive Tours, among others, for tour packages.






Ekiti celebrates Udiroko
BY GREGORY AUSTIN NWAKUNOR RECENTLY, Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State was agog with festivity, as the city hosted this year’s Udiroko Festival. Before the commencement of the festival, the city was in expectant mood, with every path and road properly cleaned. A true reflection of one of the virtues of Ado people, who are known for their cleanliness. In fact, a lyrical description was composed in the past to describe Ado people. It says, “Ira ule Ado me’tipise fifin seree” — Ado citizen with their usually clean heels. The yearly cultural feast forms the basis for reunion, which the people look forward to every year. Natives and well wishers come from far and near to celebrate a unique age-long festival. In accordance with this tradition, this year’s celebration started with Ijoko Awon Agba (Gathering of Elders), an acknowledgment of the unique position of elders in the affairs of the community. Other activities that heralded the final ceremony included Ewi’s Football and Quiz Competition for the youths of the community; Prince and Princess’ Night and Cocktail Party. The grand finale, which held on Tuesday, September 1, at the palace of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, attracted a large turnout. As tradition demands, the Ewi, who is the highest authority in the land, meets his subjects from the various communities under his jurisdiction on a particular day in a year. Such sessions are held under a particular Iroko tree within the palace. In ancient time, the warlords would present their progress report, which included their conquest. Udiroko Day represents the beginning of a New Year, a time to appraise what they have achieved and what they needed to do to move ahead in the New Year. However, as modernisation crept in, the meetings became moment for celebration. And commendation must go to MTN for making the celebration memorable through its involvement in the various activities of the weeklong festival. Since the telecom’s firm got involved in the festival, it has become more elaborate and widely publicised. Speaking on his company’s support for the festival, Olaolu Osundina, Regional Marketing Manager, MTN, South West, said this is to reinforce the ‘Can do’ spirit of the brand. “We are using the medium to associate and showcase the beauty of the African culture to the world,” he noted. He said the company is using the festival to not only drive brand affinity, but also live the passion of the people and empower the host community. According to him, his company is passionate about promoting the African culture. “We are rooted in our culture as Nigerians and Africans and we are proud to be a facilitator of that celebration,” he said.