LONDON NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2015 INVITES AFRIMA TO SHOWCASE AFRICAN MUSIC, CULTURE AT FIESTA

It is indeed an eventful year for the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA as the London Notting Hill Carnival enterprises Trust, LNHCET has signified interest in a collaborative relationship with AFRIMA and has given the prestigious African music awards platform a V-VIP invitation to be represented at the 2015 London Notting Hill Carnival, LNHC between Saturday, August 29 and Monday, August 31 to showcase the rich musical culture of African countries to the world in a letter signed by the LNHCET Communication Manager, Mrs. Deborah Alleyne De Gazon and the LNHCET Trustee/Secretary, Mr. Lewis Benn on July 20, 2015.

Cindy Munyavi with her trophy at AFRIMA 2014

The London Notting Hill Carnival, LNHC is a renowned Afro-Caribbean street festival and the biggest carnival in Europe which brings different groups together to showcase their different cultures and music. It also uses carnival arts collaboratively and artistically as a catalyst to facilitate artistic excellence, education, engagement, empowerment, entertainment, integration, transformation of perceptions and inspiration.

Pan African Writers’ Association to celebrate the life and works of Chinua Achebe

Prof Achebe

The Pan African Writers’ Association (PAWA), the continental body of African writers is dedicating its November 2015 Conference to the celebration of the life and works of this great African writer and humanist, Chinua Achebe (1930 – 2013).

Scheduled to hold from November 5th -8th, 2015 at Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana, Newswatch Times gathered that the Conference will bring together connoisseurs of Achebe’s works in particular and of African literature in general from across the world. “In a truly celebratory manner, the Conference will not only critically explore the impact of Chinua Achebe on African literature but also, through this, the impact of African literature on world literature and vice versa.

 “To be attended by more than 300 participants from within and outside Africa, the Conference will be the biggest and most important literary event in recent times in Africa to explore the state of African literature against the background of the huge shadow cast by the life and works of this giant who, as each one of us must eventually do, answered the call to the beginning on 21st March 2013 after 82 years of giving and committing to Africa and the world.”

Gulder unveils world largest poster, begins biggest Nigeria’s consumer promo *Journalist wins car

A cross section of Adaeze International Cultural Troop Enugu, performing during the launching of Ultimate Guilder Promo in Enugu, Enugu State on Monday. Photo: Bode Agbede

By ADA DIKE

On Monday, August 24, 2015, Nigerian Breweries Plc, makers of a premium beer brand, Gulder, unveiled the world’s largest poster to kick-start the beer’s biggest consumer promotion in Nigeria.

The first of its kind poster measuring 5, 367 square metres unveiled at the Okpara Square, Enugu State broke the record for the existing largest poster measuring 4.793.65 square metres, which was displayed India on June 27, 2015

Adaeze Internatioanl Cultural troupe, Enugu State performing at the event

Shortly before the poster was unveiled, a Chattered Surveyor, Dr. Nath Agu, who measured the poster with his team, attested the size of the poster while a lawyer, Barrister Onyekwuluje Ogochukwu, legally confirmed the measurement.

The Gulder poster served to kick-start the 2015 edition of the Gulder National Consumer Promotion.    

SOO Live The Dream Serenades Edo State youths

Hon. Barr Sergius Oseasochie Ogun

The People of Edo state are about to witness the birth of a new reality show.
Tagged SOO Live The Dream, it is a musical talent hunt show targeted at youths from Esan North East / South East Federal Constituency in Edo State.
This new reality show powered by Hon. Barr Sergius Oseasochie Ogun (SOO), and according to the lawmaker from  Edo state, the sole aim of putting up such a show for youths within his constituency is to give them a lifetime opportunity of kick-starting their career in music.
While speaking to journalists at a press parley, Hon. Ogun opined that SOO Live The Dream is all about promoting gainful employment and socially acceptable enterprise among youths
in his area and curb the sudden mass migration of youths from his area who die on a daily basis in their quest to travel to Europe through the Mediterranean sea.
He hopes to save the lives of youths from his place through such schemes and also re-directs their focus into areas that could change their lives for good.

We hope to be the best in Nigerian music scene - CEO of Playtime Studios

Bartholomew Azubuike Okeke

Speaking with ADA DIKE, the Chief Executive Office of Playtime Studios, the newest music outfit in the country, Bartholomew Azubuike Okeke, discloses his reasons for opening his ultra modern music studio based in Festac, Lagos. He also tells us why he is seriously aiming for the stars.

 Who is the CEO of Playtime Studios?
My name is Bartholomew Azubuike Okeke. I am the owner of Playtime Studios in Festac Town, Lagos. By the grace of God we are doing well so far.

Can you tell us what motivated you to go to into music studio business?
 Music has been part of my life for a long time. I grew up in a family that loves music and I have also been in the Nigerian music scene in the last 20 years doing behind the scenes promotions for a couple of people.

Okigbo assumes new life in ‘Words over Bonfire!’

The Edge Crew dramatizes Okigbo at war

Christopher Okigbo metaphorically rose from the dead in his native Ojoto when six Nigerian poets sought to invoke his genius in a colourful ceremony held on the eve of his posthumous 85^th birthday at the weekend. 

Dance around Bonfire

Stakeholders unveil UK/Nigeria 2015–16 season of arts in Nigeria

British Council team

BY ADA DIKE

History was made last week Friday, August 20, 2015 when people from all walks of life converged at the British Council premises, Ikoyi, Lagos for the launch of UK/Nigeria 2015–16 as a major season of arts in Nigeria.

The evening began with Director Arts Nigeria, British Council, Ojoma Ochai, setting the tone and reeling out some of the programmes for the event. Shortly after, writer, blogger, radio presenter and poet, Wana Wana went to the stage and recited some poems including “I want to be a star”, “You are not like a catfish” and “Home”.

Ada Dalyn Dike (Me) at the unveiling of UK/Nigeria 2015–16 as a major season of arts in Nigeria

Welcoming guests, the Deputy High Commissioner of the British High Commission, Mr. Simon Shercliff, said UK/Nigeria 2015–16 promises to be an exciting year. “There will be new connections between the two countries in arts, education, innovation, trade and investment. The timing could not be better since our countries have new government elected earlier this year and the Presidents of the new governments have already made numerous pledges to start strong relationships between our two countries. And this excellently new British Council programme, will, I hope, make a meaning to those pledges.”

KPeace and his team

Guinness celebrates their ambassadors, takes #madeofblack to the street

L-R: Ace Comedian, Seyi Law; Portfolio Marketing Manager, Guinness, Liz Ashdown; Made of Black Ambassadors, Olamide, Eva and Phyno and Brand Manager, Guinness, Chukwunonso Ndukwe, at the celebration of the Guinness Made of Black Ambassadors in Lagos

Committed to encourage, celebrate, inspire and give the Nigerian youth a voice, Guinness Nigeria Plc on Saturday, August 15, 2015, hosted a media parley to celebrate their ambassadors namely; Olamide, Eva and Phyno and also moves to the next step of the Made of Black campaign.

The event which took place at Rhapsody in Ikeja City Mall, Ikeja, Lagos, kicked off around 4.30 pm and had Dj Xclusive put guests in a state of coolness and smoothness with good music while the award winning comedian whose skin colour really looks cool, beautiful and made of more like Guinness, Seyi Law, thrilled the audience with ribs cracking jokes about dance steps, football clubs and so on. 

Speaking at the event, the Portfolio Marketing Manager, Guinness, Ms. Liz Ashdown, “said Made of Black is more than an ad campaign, it is a movement. It’s about the people making bold choices, those who ask ‘why not... those doing things their way and carving out a path for themselves.”

 Explaining the next steps of the campaign, Liz said, “This year, we turn the camera around and focus on the real made of black heroes in all walks of life across Nigeria starting today with our very own brand ambassadors. We showed Nigeria made of black and now we will make you part of it by taking #madeofblack to the street and to the bars.

FCAAC set to hold the Nigerian Week 2015 in the US

BY ADA DIKE

The management of FGH Center for African Arts And Culture hereby invites Nigerians to join them to celebrate the best of Nigerian people, arts and culture annually in Central California.

According to the programme coordinators, Dr. Steve Fagbule and Dr, Wale Adeduro,

the objective of the event, with the theme: ‘Celebrating Change,’ is to give Nigerians in Central California a sense of pride about the Nigerian Cultural Heritage while projecting the positive attributes and values of the Nigerian nation for the appreciation of the American nation.

Scheduled to hold in the premises of Fagbule Glass House 1930 E. Shields Avenue, Fresno, the maiden edition of The Nigerian Week shall afford kids and adults an opportunity to identify with the arts, literature, folklores, food, music, dance and distinguished Nigerians in Central Valley.

“As part of our vision to promote love for Nigerian arts among Nigerian families, this event will feature the Nigerian Family Arts Competition. This competition will afford Nigerian family units to either showcase the Nigerian artworks, crafts and cultural items they possess or the visual arts skills that the family members possess. At the end of the competition, the first three Nigerian family adjudged to possess the best artworks shall be honored during the "Central California Distinguished Nigerians Awards Night" (DNA Night).

“In addition to this, young Nigerians in the 13-18 years age bracket living in Central California will also participate in the Young Nigerian Arts Competition during the Nigerian week. The first three young Nigerians adjudged to produce the best artwork shall also be honored.

“We look forward, with excitement, to your participation in the Nigerian Week 2015. Apart from making commitments to attend all the programs scheduled for the event, we shall be glad to see you identify with any of the programs as a competitor, exhibitor, contributor, facilitator, donor or sponsor/advertiser,” the said.

The programme will commence on September 28^th and end on October 4, 2015.

Miss Green and White Nigeria Season 2 form on sale, contest holds in October

Created to promote peace and unity in Nigeria, organisers of Miss Green and White Nigeria, has called on girls between the ages of 18 and 28 years to participate in this year’s contests.

The founder of the beauty pageant and also a former beauty queen, Mrs. Juliet Geoffrey-Porbeni, announced this in Lagos recently.

She said that Miss Green and White Nigeria (MGWN) which is scheduled for first week of October, “stimulates awareness against violence and apathy towards the oneness of Nigeria particularly among the youths and at the same time celebrating young Nigerian women; presenting them as unique blend of beauty, elegance, intelligence and excellence.”
Criteria for participation among others include: “The contestant must have a height limit of 5.7 tall, have at least senior secondary school certificate, must be a Nigerian and have charisma and confident.”

Activities she itemized that would be beneficial to the contestants who will purchase their forms at the sum of three thousand naira only, include; learning sewing, knitting, hair dressing, rudiments of broadcasting and how to maintain peace and unity in the country.”

Porbeni revealed that the winner of Miss Green and White Nigeria will be given the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand naira; the first runner up will go home with the sum of one hundred thousand naira while the second runner up will be given the sum of fifty thousand naira.

She appealed to well meaning Nigerians and organizations to support the pageant through sponsorship.

200 Level student of LUTH wins Miss Virginity 2015

ADA DIKE

A 200 Level student of Lagos Teaching Hospital (LUTH) School of Nursing, Idi-Araba, Musumola Oladipo, was crowned Miss Virginity 2015 on August 15, 2015.

The 19-year-old Ogun State indigene defeated about 50 virgins who participated in the contest to emerge the winner, while 15-year-old Adebusola Kasim, of Ogudu Senior Grammar School became the first runner-up and Ikimat Isiaka, 15, of IFS College Owode, Ajegunle in Ikorodu, won the third position. Parts of the criteria used for selecting Miss Virginity 2015, according to the chief judge of the contest, Princess Ada Dalyn Dike, were based on appearance, charisma, poise and intelligence.

Reacting on how she felt emerging Miss Virginity 2015, beaming with smile, Oladipo said she feel honoured for holding on to that principle of the pride, where she could stand upright, raise her  shoulders high that she’s still a virgin. “It means that I know my worth and my essence and that goes to say that I have control over my body,” she said.

Explaining further, she said she guarded her virginity carefully despite pressure from both male admirers and some of her classmates, who must have lost their dignity.

Musumola Oladipo

Ada Dike and Miss Virginity 2015,
Musumola Oladipo

SAKOBA DANCE THEATRE

By Sanjoy Roy

(The Guardian, Wednesday 9 March 2005)

If you think African dance is all about traditional rituals, talking drums and dynamic energy, think again. Here's a man dressed as a woman, hamming it up to the hilt as he rails against an unfaithful husband and tells God to mind his own business. Aseju (Excess) is the first work by Bode Lawal (the guy in women's clothes) following his return to the UK after a sabbatical in the US - and it shows him to be energised, irreverent and brash.

Lawal, who founded his company Sakoba in 1987, can certainly choreograph traditional African forms when he wants to. In the first half of the show, for example, he shows off his dancers' impressively sharp technical skills in abstract compositions that highlight the pump of their shoulders and the roll and twist of their limbs about their spines. It's a lively exposition of his base material - on which he then builds a series of more narrative scenarios about aspects of modern urban life: commuting, job-hunting, clubbing, going to the gym. So in each section you sense the stylistic root and also see how Lawal adapts it for the theatre. Rhythms are evened out into steady pulses for the club scene. In an outrageously provocative podium dance, with Lawal dressed in the tiniest black PVC shorts, all the expansive pump and roll of his body seems to have been compressed into his tautly swivelling buttocks.

Lawal seems much better at starting sections than at ending them. Yet the work is made vivid by the confident, versatile and physically expressive dancers, and enhanced by the live percussionists. Despite its flaws, the lasting impression is of a fresh, populist and often mischievous piece that is much more direct and entertaining than the pontificating programme notes would have you believe.

Bode Lawal: Exit of a famous international dancer

A popular dancer, choreographer and founder of Sakoba Dance Company, UK, Bode Lawal, is dead. Newswatch Times learnt that he was reported dead on August 13, 2015 in Manchester, where he had been running a Dance workshop. Details of the circumstances of death are still being put together by the Police in London, and will be reported here as soon as it is clear. Mr Peter Badejo (OBE) of Badejo Arts, and Alhaji Teju Kareem (CEO Mirage Multimedia Company) – two of his close associates -- are on top of the case, and are already in touch with his family both in the UK and in Ibadan, Nigeria.

 Profile:

Bode Lawal MA (emca), is hailed as one of the finest exponents of creative African dance working in Britain. He studied dance, choreography and drama before being invited to join the Nigerian national dance troupe with which he toured internationally, winning the Ministry of Culture’s Dancer of the Year award in 1985. After this success, he moved to Britain to form Sakoba (meaning new dawn), to celebrate the rich traditions of African dance and music and to spread the profound messages encapsulated in his choreography across Europe. 

OSHIOMHOLE GOOFED-DR ADESINA

“It is uncharitable and against the interest of Nigerian public to politicise issues of agriculture and food security as Governor Oshiomhole did in his criticisms of that sector.
“Nigerians know better and will not allow this governor’s attempt to reinvent the wheel. “Foremost, it is a bad public relations stunt, not expected from the governor. Secondly, his comments detract from the ATA – a reform that was vigorously pursued and implemented by Dr Akin Adesina, now president elect of African Development Bank,” the former minister said. Governor Oshiomole ought to know better that, under ATA, efficient distribution of subsidised farm inputs – also known as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS), reached 14.3million farmers with 1.3million MT of fertiliser, 102,703 metric tons of improved rice seeds, 67,991 metric tons of improved maize seeds, 6,171 metric tons of improved cotton seeds, 130 million stems of cassava, 45.5million seedlings of cocoa, nine million seedlings of oil palm amongst many other crops between 2012 and 2014.
“Those inputs helped produce an additional 21million MT of food that has acted as a buffer against inflation with the devaluation of the Naira. “Particularly troubling is the fact that a political leader of a State as enlightened as Edo State could feign ignorance at the fact that the number of integrated rice mills, needed to produce parboiled rice, preferred by Nigerians, has grown from just one in 2010 to 24 in 2014. “Equally worrisome is the fact that he is unaware that our parboiled rice milling capacity increased from 70,000 metric tons to 800,000 metric tons. His former colleague in Lagos, at some point, had bought as many as 56 trailer loads of paddy rice from Kebbi (a major massive producer of rice under ATA) for processing into ‘ Eko Rice ‘ brand in Lagos. It means Governor Oshiomhole’s criticism is fraught with irregularities.
AKINWUNMI ADESINA(PHD),Ex-Minister of Agriculture,President Elect,African Development Bank(ADB).