The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • ‘I am grateful to my constituency’

    ‘I am grateful to my constituency’

    Nigerian performance artist and winner of 2015 Prince Claus Prize for Culture Development, Atiku Jelili, has hailed the art community for its support during his six-month trial at the Magistrate Court, Lagos. He said he was particularly happy that his hypothesis, which he tried to establish through the performance of Aragamago will rid this land of terrorism, was right.

    He said he felt extremely happy that the criminal charges against him and five others were dropped. “I tried to say that it was through the feminism energy that our world would be rid of terrorism. The case was presided over by a woman, who used the energy in her to do justice,” he said.

    Atiku and five others were arraigned for criminal charges of ‘constituting public disturbance, and inciting the public with his performance on January 14, 2016.’ The charges also included that the artist conspired with four others to ‘commit felony’ with his art. Magistrate J.O. Adeyemi of the Magistrate Court, Lagos, however, acquinted him from all the charges brought against him and five others last month.

    He noted that it would have been impossible for ‘us as defenders in the case without the support of the art communities in Nigeria and abroad, citing the efforts of Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), Arterial Networks Nigeria, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), International Artists Forum in Germany and many other organisations like Frontline Defenders as outstanding and marvelous. “I wondered what we would have done without their efforts,” he added.

    According to Jelilil, the support of the art community and the artists is not only a demonstration of their relevance in re-engineering the society for change, but also the power of art and culture in promoting critical dialogue in every society.

    “The power of arts and culture has once again come to the fore as an important societal element in promoting critical dialogue essential in addressing topical issues. However, the collective energy of artists and cultural officers can set arts free when under attack by any social or political regime. These are the lessons I learned during the trial,” he said. To him, the ruling class would always wish to silence the arts and the artists, but he urged the artists to be truthful and honest to arts and its values.

  • Group publishes anthology on human trafficking

    Group publishes anthology on human trafficking

    A non-profit, non-denominational and non-partisan organisation, Media Initiative Against Human Trafficking and Women Rights Abuse (MIAHWRA), has published a collection of poetry on human trafficking.

    The publication, entitled: I Am Not to Be Sold, is part of activities marking this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and part of its #EndHumanTrafficking debut project.

    The anthology, which is written by secondary school pupils aged eight to 14, was the product of the organisation’s secondary school outreach programme last year in Lagos. Published by Parrésia Publishers Ltd, MIAHWRA founder, Ms Tobore Ovuorie, the publication is in line with its principles of intervention and philosophy is oriented by a human rights and gender-based perspective.

    According to her, the anthology comes highly recommended with a foreword by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for use in schools, churches, mosques, in combating the sad reality of human trafficking.

    Ms Ovuorie, who edited the anthology, recounted the journey to publishing the anthology: “While educating the pupils about the A-Z of human trafficking, Ms. Ovuorie said, MIAHWRA held poetry and writing competitions with the theme: I Am Not To Be Sold, to bring to fore the inhumanity of the modern day slavery.

    “After giving them prizes, we decided to put together some of the outstanding works which has birthed the first human trafficking anthology. The published secondary school poets, through this collection of short poems, are advocating for the protection of their rights.”

    She said the publication will be a yearly project, noting that entries for the 2017 edition will be open when schools resume next month.

    “The anthology will be published every year, while the literary genres would be rotated with secondary school students being the authors and next year will birth short stories collection. MIAHWRA believes that this book will help to further the fight against human trafficking by reducing illiteracy and ignorance amongst the vulnerable groups,   rural community dwellers across Nigeria and expanding awareness on the ills and dangers of this criminal trade.

    “Considered as a serious crime and utmost violation of human rights, trafficking, every year, sees thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, whether here in Nigeria or in other countries. Trafficking affects almost every country in the world, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims. It has become urgent for us to take action, and everybody must be involved. We must all join in the fight against the trafficking of children and individuals and the abuse of women. That is what MIAHWRA believes in. That is what MIAHWRA is passionate about,” Ms Ovuorie said.

    The collection, which Acting Director General of NAPTIP, Mr Abdulrazak Dangiri, who wrote its foreword dubbed ”an anti-human trafficking anthology”, MIAHWRA said is free for students during school outreaches and available for sale online on www.konga.com. Mr Dangiri wrote in his foreword:  “I Am Not To Be Sold brings out the feelings and perceptions of some young people in our society about the importance of protecting human dignity. These young ones have demonstrated, through this collection of poems, that they are aware of their worth as human beings. The anthology is thus a collective voice of freedom and a call to those who are out to coerce, deceive and exploit their fellow human beings that human life is too precious and must not to be bought or sold.”

  • Etisalat sponsors Lagos photo festival

    Etisalat sponsors Lagos photo festival

    Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, Etisalat, in line with its commitment to promote innovation and creativity, has announced the opening of the 2016 Etisalat Photography Competition.

    The Etisalat Photography Competition encourages emerging photographers to capture and celebrate fascinating pictures that reflect the diversity and daring spirit of our expressions. The competition kicks off series of activities leading to the opening of the 7th edition of the Etisalat-sponsored annual Lagos Photo Festival.

    The Director, Brands & Experience, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Ogiemwanye, while speaking about the Etisalat Photography Competition, revealed that submission of entries opens from August 8th to September 1st, 2016.  “This year’s edition of Etisalat Photo Competition is tagged Performance; action repeated constantly, becomes a ritual, its transference into other spaces of engagement becomes a performance. We wish to explore further these performances through the strength of photography in depicting our daily routines and celebratory activities and expressions. Under the categories daily routines and celebratory, the competition serves as a platform fostering expressions and creativity at its peak,” he said.

    According to Ogiemwanye, Etisalat Photography Competition uses the power of photography to create compelling stories that encapsulate individual experiences and identities from across Africa.

    “To enter for this year’s competition, participants are required to visit photo.etisalat.com.ng  to register and submit entries for both Daily routines and Celebratory. Voting will be announced after entry closes on September 1, 2016. The top 50 images from each category will be reviewed by a jury who will then unveil the finalists at the Grand opening of the LagosPhoto Festival”

    He added that the first prize winner will receive a Canon Camera; the second prize winner will get an iPhone, while the third prize winner will receive a Samsung. The shortlisted photographers will also be enrolled at LagosPhoto Summer School where they are expected to hone their skills.

    Etisalat is committed to nurturing talent in Photography through the Etisalat Photography Competition and the support of LagosPhoto Festival; the first and only international arts  festival of photography which features exhibitions, workshops, artist presentations, discussions, screenings, and large scale outdoor installations in public spaces in Lagos.

     

     

  • Nigeria’s Wakaa! sold out in London

    Nigeria’s Wakaa! sold out in London

    If the size of the audience, its quality and responses are parameters to measure the success of a musical play, then, Nigeria’s Wakaa! outing in London, last month, was a success. Little wonder the two-hour play, which is Nigeria’s first musical play in London, sold out at the Shaw Theatre, London. The seven shows (one each on July 21, 22 and 25, and two each on 23 and 24), were presented at a capacity filled theatre.

    Wakaa, the musical, also got standing ovations throughout the shows. The home-grown musical is the first of its kind to make its debut at the Shaw Theatre, London. There seems to be high demand for productions of African and indeed, Nigerian origin in London as there were calls for the show to be extended or for it to be brought back soon.

    The successful outing was attended by dignitaries such as the Minister of Information and culture ,Mr. Lai Mohammed; the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo; Director-General of the Nigerian Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Amazu-Anohu; Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Managing Director, MIXTA AFRICA, Mr. Deji Alli; member of the House of Lords and Trade Envoy to Angola, Baroness Lindsay Northover; and Chair, Nigeria All Parliamentary Party Group, Ms Kate Osamor (MP).

    The BBC Art Editor, Will Gompertz, described Wakaa the musical, as “soulful, colorful and dynamic” and having “a spirit and sensibility that is fresh and true.”

    Wakaa! the musical was able to break new grounds and transcend the demographic barriers of London’s theatre landscape, prompting Will Gompertz to further say that “the show is a little bit different and so is tonight’s audience, the big subsidized theatres here in the UK say they want to attract a more diverse crowd, but struggle to do so, perhaps they should go along and see how it is done.”

    This was further affirmed by Editor of Europe’s Newsweek, Conor Gaffey, who noted that “the show has heart, energy and a great sense of humor, and received a standing ovation on the final night when Newsweek was in attendance.”

    First Nigerian play to be performed in London, Wakaa! The Musical, was a highly successful celebration and exhibition of Nigerian culture.   The two-hour stage musical extravaganza of drama, comedy and live music is dance about the trials, successes and experiences of graduates with varied backgrounds. A wager between them after graduation leads to twists and turns when the realities of life and the folly of their choices hit them.

    Wakaa! the musical presentation in London was made possible by the support of MIXTA AFRICA; MTN; PENCOM; Bank Of Industry; Nigerian Export Promotion Council; the British Council; the Nigerian Ministry of Culture and Information; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Africa Magic and Channels TV. Others are Ebony life TV; TV Continental; Africa Movie Channel; Beats FM; Wakanow; IBST; Elufowoju jr Ensemble; DJA MEDIA; Lanre Dasilva Ajayi; Arik Air and British Airways, amongst other partners.

     

  • profile of the shortlisted writers for nlng prize

    profile of the shortlisted writers for nlng prize

    On July 14, the advisory board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, led by Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, announced an initial list of 11 books for the  the 2016 contest.

    The $100,000 prize rotates yearly among four genres: fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. This year’s edition is focusing on prose-fiction.

    The “first 11” books, chosen from 173 books, were entries from well-known and first-time Nigerian novelists at home and in the Diaspora. The judges were led by Prof. Dan Izevbaye, a literary critic and a professor of English Language; Prof Asabe Usman Kabir and Prof Isidore Diala, first winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism. The winning entries are expected to be announced in October, in commemoration of the company’s first LNG export in 1999 .

     

    CHIKA UNIGWE is an award-winning short story writer and the author of two novels written in Dutch. Her  book, Night Dancer (2014), is on this year’s shortlist. It is the story of Mma, who is in a desperate search for her root. Her book, On Black Sisters’ Street, published by Jonathan Cape in 2009, won the prize in 2012.  Unigwe is a judge for the 2017 Manbooker Prize.

     

    EL-NATHAN JOHN is a past contender for the Nigeria Prize for Literature. His work, Born On A Tuesday, on this year’s shortlist explores brotherhood, religious fundamentalism, and  turbulent periods in contemporary Northern Nigeria. John was shortlisted twice for the Caine Prize for African Writing (2013 and 2015). His writing has been published in Per Contra, Evergreen Review and Chimurenga’s Chronic. He is a 2015 Civitella Ranieri Fellow.

    IFEOMA OKOYE, 79 years old, is an award-winning writer and academic. She is on the list with her The Fourth World. The book focuses on Chira (18) and her attempt to escape the deprivations and tragedies of her life in the shanty slum of Enugu’s Kasanga Avenue. Her works, Behind the Clouds and The Village Boy earned her prizes from the Nigerian National Council of Art and Culture (NCAC) in 1983, along with her being the best fiction of the year award for the novel, Men Without Ears, in 1984. In 1985, she received another award for Daily Bread after Eze at the Ife National Book Fair. She was also the African Regional winner for the Commonwealth Short Story Competition in 1999.

     

    ABUBAKAR ADAM IBRAHIM, writer and journalist, is on the list with Season of Crimson Blossoms that captures the angst and dysfunction that are contemporary to Nigerian history and the story Binta.  His debut, a short story collection, The Whispering Trees, was ‘longlisted’ for the Etisalat Prize for Prose and the title story was shortlisted for the prestigious Caine prize for African Writing. He has won the BBC African Performance Prize and the Amatu Braide Prize for Prose and has also been awarded the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Fellowship and the Civitella Ranieri Fellowship. He has been named in the Hay Festival Africa39 list of the most promising African Writers South of the Sahara under the age of 40, who will define future trends in African writing.

     

    Widely-acclaimed writer SEFI ATTA is on the list with her work: A Bit of Difference, which follows the story of 39-year-old single lady, Deola, from London to her home in Nigeria where she meets the charming Wale. In 2006, her debut, Everything Good Will Come, was awarded the inaugural Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. Her short stories have also won prizes from Zoetrope and Red Hen Press. Her radio plays have been broadcast by the BBC. She is the winner of PEN International’s 2004/2005 David TK Wong Prize. Her short story collection, Lawless, received the 2009 Noma Award for Publishing in Africa.

     

    ARAMIDE SEGUN is on the list with her novel, Eniitan. Her debut, The Third Dimple, won her the Association of Nigerian Authors Prose Prize and was shortlisted for Commonwealth First Book Prize. Segun enjoys charcoal drawing and painting portraits in her spare time. Her works explore complex themes usually laced with romance. Eniitan x-rays the bronze albino woman in her early 20s and the complexities societal prejudices, love, politics and more.

     

    OGOCHUKWU PROMISE is a novelist, playwright, poet and essayist with over 18 novels. She is founder and coordinator of the Lumina Foundation, which instituted the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. Promise, a two-time contender for NLNG-sponsored prize, is on the shortlist with her book Sorrow’s Joy. The novel is a compelling tale on the onslaught of cancer and courage required to face it. Promise has received seven Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) awards for her fiction and poetry. She also expresses herself in abstract painting. She is an Azikiwe Fellow, Fellow of Stiftung Kulturfonds and the Iowa International writing programme. She holds a Ph.D in Communication and Language Arts.

     

    MANSIM CHUMAH OKAFOR is on the shortlist with The Parable of the Lost Shepherds. The novel highlights the temptations of an otherwise good priest, the intrigues of his protective bishop, the push back by some determined nuns, and an outcome worth  every ounce of faith in the Divine. Okafor has also written Chinelo (Forth Dimension Publishers); Elma: This Will Heal the World (Createspace), Chinua Achebe, The Art of Fiction and a Bottle of Guinness (a tribute to Chinua Achebe).

     

    MARYAM AWAISU, a radio presenter in Kaduna, is a survivor of sickle cell anaemia. Her first novel, Burning Bright, is on the shortlist. The disease did not stop her from getting an education, both in Nigeria and abroad, and earning a degree in business administration. She is a volunteer at Sickle Cell Foundation in Kaduna, providing services to Nigerians, who cannot afford necessary treatment. The Burning Bright is set within the complexities of Nigerian culture. It is the story of an over-achieving young lady, who is determined not to let sickle cell anaemia stand in her way and young people trying to make their way in a world they didn’t make.

     

    Like Awaisu, IFEOLUWA ADENIYI, the writer of On the Bank of the River listed for the NLNG-sponsored prize, is also an On Air Personality (OAP) with Splash FM radio in Ibadan. Adeniyi published her first novella, The Twin Sisters, at age 11, and started writing her debut novel, at her late teens. The book is a story of the ever ironical nature of love, of the paradox of human relationships and of Enitan that grows up with a certain ill-feeling towards a mother, whose past threatens to eclipse the girl’s future.

     

    YEJIDE KILANKO is a writer of poetry and fiction with her debut novel Daughters Who Walk This Path, which is on the shortlist. She started the work in 2009. It was later published in Canada (2012) and in the USA (2013). It focuses on spirited and intelligent, Morayo, who is determined to fiercely protect herself and her sister, Eniayo, in a complex and politically charged country.

  • Goldberg Beer Village promotes commerce at Osun Osogbo festival

    Goldberg Beer Village promotes commerce at Osun Osogbo festival

    indigenes of Osun State and visitors to the ongoing Osun Osogbo Festival have expressed appreciation to Goldberg Lager Beer for unveiling the Goldberg Beer Village, an initiative that enhances trade and commerce in the ancient city.

    The people praised the brand at the Ogo-Oluwa area, venue of the Goldberg Beer Village during the official unveiling by the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II and the Goldberg brand team.

    The Baale Elese of Osogboland, Adebayo Moshood, who represented the royal father at the event, showered prayers on the Goldberg team and Nigerian Breweries Plc for setting up a beer village in the town because the initiative would increase and promote socio-cultural activities during the entire period of the Osun Osogbo Festival. He lauded the brand for championing befitting societal and cultural causes of the people.

    Regional Business Manager, Ibadan, Nigerian Breweries Plc Joseph Abodunrin gave thanks to the Ataoja, his chiefs and indigenes of Osogboland for their support and for coming out en-masse to witness the unveiling of the beer village.  “The Osun-Osogbo Festival is an age-long traditional festival that must be honored and celebrated and as the official

  • Writers to corporate brands: Make us your ambassadors

    Writers to corporate brands: Make us your ambassadors

    •NLNG, CORA host 2016 Literature Prize first-11 authors

    The literati, book lovers and enthusiasts thronged the Agip Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, for the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA) book party. The cerebral feasting drew attention to ongoing conversations on the book industry’s challenges. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    Corporate brands have been urged to make writers their brand ambassadors. By so doing, they will be encouraging and promoting creative writing across the country, writers and critics said at a book party to celebrate the 11 shortlisted authors for this year’s NLNG-sponsored $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature.

    The call, the state of leadership in the book industry, reading culture, lack of infrastructure and high tariff on paper and other printing materials were the focus of conversations at the  party organised by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA).

    The feast, the seventh edition, was to honour writers, and celebrate Nigerian prose. It also featured readings, book discussions, conversations and performances.

    Eight of the writers, fondly called “the first-11 authors” at the event, participated in the feast. While three of them were present, five participated via Skype because they were abroad.

    Those present were Maryam Awaisu, author of Burning Bright); Ifeoluwa Adeniyi (On The Bank Of The River and Omowunmi Aramide Segun, daughter of a first generation writer, Mabel Segun. She wrote Eniitan.

    Those who participated via Skype were the author of Born On Tuesday, El-Nathan John; Ifeoma Okoye, who authored The Fourth World; Abubakar Adamu Ibrahim,  (Season Of Crimson Blossoms) Yejide Kilanko (Daughters Who Walk This Path)  and Mansim Chumah Okafor, (The Parable Of The Lost Shepherds). Chuka Unigwe, the 2012 winner of the Prize for Literature and the writer of Night Dancer was ready for the conversation via the Skype, but, technical hitches delayed her participation.

    Ogochukwu Promise (Sorrow’s Joy), and award-winning Sefi Atta, author of A Bit of Difference, did not participate.

    Interestingly, eight of the authors are women, cutting across three generations of post-independence Nigerian writing. This feat CORA Secretary General, Toyin Akinosho observed, makes this year’s edition “almost about The Female voice in Nigerian Literature”. And the women had their say as they voiced their misgivings about the challenges facing the book industry. The writers also decried the lack of electricity, poor distribution network, and absence of libraries and dependable bookshops. In fact, Dr Dami Ajayi, a poet who moderated the event, wondered how creative writers living in Nigeria were able to write and get their works published.

    “It is sad that from my mother Mabel Segun’s time and the time I first published my first book in 1991, the reading culture is still a debate. So many things militate against reading culture. For many people, survival comes first. Bookshops sell books but authors don’t get money back. No proper postal system compounds costs of distribution. Until we have intellectual leaders, reading would continue to take the back seat. If we don’t do something about the state of the country, 20 years from now, we would still be talking about the declining reading culture and lack of infrastructure in the book industry, bemoaned Segun.

    While decrying the lack of infrastructure, Adeniyi urged the government to look into the tariff on printing materials and books published abroad.

    According to her, Nigeria needs intellectual leaders to solve the problem of leadership in the country. She said: “There is no incentive for reading and writing in the country. Why can’t we have writers as brand ambassadors; who says they can’t be brand ambassadors? There are no paper mills in the country and the cost of paper is so high because of the high tariff on paper.”

    On the challenges she encountered before publishing her novel which she wrote at age 17, she said approached virtually all the publishers in Nigeria without any positive response. “They never reject you; they never accept you either. They don’t want to publisher somebody without a name. I became a Disk Jockey (DJ) and On-Air-Personality (OAP). I had to look for best editor and publisher. I’m glad I took a leap of faith and saved up to publish my book. I had a launch that looked like a wedding event.”

    With the many challenges facing writers, Awaisu advised them to look out for themselves by “using a book platform that has a global network and proper editing”.

    The prize, is in its 13th edition. The General Manager, External Relations at NLNG, Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, noted that there is a huge rise in the quality of books in the country. He said: “The books on this shortlist depict that hard work and nothing short of the pursuit of excellence drove the writing of books. This makes the competition exciting and less predictable.

    One thing which will not change is our quest for excellence. I state it here without doubt, that NLNG remains committed to this principle.

    “At NLNG, excellence is one of our core values, together with teamwork, integrity and caring, which we owe our success to. We believe that we have a lot of potentials which make us world class and able to compete with the best around the world. That is what we intend to do with writers in Nigeria through The Nigeria Prize for Literature.”

    Akinosho called for the enabling environment where reading and community of book readership can thrive.  He said: “This party, which is one of the series of events in our calendar that preface our annual book and art festival,  is our little contribution to growing a community of book lovers was held for the first time seven years ago in 2009 for poetry. It was held at the seaside venue of the Goethe Institut. It is the second time they are focusing on Fiction: in Prose style. The Nigeria Prize itself is on its Fourth round of genres and is featuring Prose for the fourth time. The NLNG sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature, picks one literary genre every four years. For us at CORA, this is part of a third cycle.

    “We at CORA have always felt that books that make it to this level in such a major award system as the Nigeria Prize for Literature ought to be known in every community in the country. Our ambition is to help that happen; to extend the star attraction of the award winner beyond the Gala Night of the award. “

    The award, he said, is an opportunity for a series of events to really make books look cool, adding that the promotion of books and reading culture should be beyond.

    “It is also is an opportunity for the promotion of series of book readings and discussions in as many crannies of the country as possible and on TV discussions and radio shows. We should develop a community of book readership enablers; organisations that exist just to spread the joy of reading.

    “Book readership promotion should go beyond big showpieces as Bring Back the Book campaigns or book festivals. It should be about how we as citizens engage the organs of book development in our communities,” he said.

  • Eko’s history to hit cinemas

    Eko’s history to hit cinemas

    As part of the Lagos at 50 anniversary, a new movie titled Eko: Iwure Olofin, is to be premiered in Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The historical movie is the first of a trilogy chronicling the inception and development of Lagos. It will be screened by 2:30pm on Saturday.

    The movie was initially commissioned in 1983 by one of the former governors of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande. Olumagbon Films called the shots, but two episodes into production, the studio got burnt, destroying all the materials.

    Speaking with reporters, the movie’s executive producer, Fola Onifade, said it is about the history and heritage of Lagos. He said: “It tells the story of Olofin, a young, brave prince from Ile-Ife, who left Ife to found Lagos. It details all the intrigues that followed the journey; how he stopped at Isheri then settled at Iddo; how the Benin royalty came to fight with Olofin; and how King Ado came to be crowned as the first king of Lagos.”

    According to Onifade, the movie is expected to contribute extensively to existing literature on the history of Lagos. “The issue of Lagos being no man’s land is wrong. This movie will set that straight. There are people who actually own Lagos. Some people don’t have other villages they go to. Lagos is their village and it is all they have. So it is not right to have your own village somewhere in another state, come to Lagos, and start calling it no man’s land.”

    He noted that the movie was of such appositeness that the government should support it. “No one wants to forget where they come from. In other countries, they want their stories to be told. However, in Nigeria, history is not even being taught anymore in schools. How do we expect generations coming to know who they are and what their values are? This was why we decided to shoot this film; to document this history and leave something for our children to fall back on. It will surprise you to find that some people, as old as they are, don’t know about the story of Lagos,” he added.

    Onifade recalled some challenges during the movie’s production, citing the major challenge as the compilation of the story. “Everyone will want the story to suit their own side. So, we had to balance the story and make the research thorough. It took us about four months to research and write it, and by the time we were done, we were satisfied that we had a well-balanced story,” he added.

    He opted against using books to tell this controversial bit of history because “people don’t read books; they watch films”. Information for the writing of the script was obtained from the internet, elders, and ‘Slavery and the Birth of an African City’, a book by Kristin Mann.

    Another major challenge the filmmakers faced was to convincingly portray the epic genre under which the movie inescapably fell. Onifade remarked that they were telling a story over 600 years old, and there was no room for any modernisation in it. For parts of the film, they set up camps in the hinterlands – even in remote villages located in such areas as Ifo, Seme, Badagry. Sometimes, they had to create sets from scratch.

    Then there was the issue of finance. “Funding for this movie was 100 per cent private. The money came from my savings and loans, which I got from friends,” Onifade revealed. At a point, he claimed he had lost track of how much the budget was running into. With a cast of over 500 a cow was killed nearly every day to feed them. He disclosed that they may have spent over N50 million.”

    Concerning the casting for the movie, Onifade said that since the story spanned over 600 years, they had to engage a cast numbering over 500 people. The team also found it imperative to include top Nollywood stars to carry it, hence the employment of actors such as Yemi Black, Kwam 1, Bukky Wright, Iya Awero, Ibrahim Saka, Peter Fatomilola, Orisabunmi, among others.

    The movie is set for a Europe tour, a Canada tour as well as airing on television, with DSTV and Startimes already confirmed. While the movie will run for 1 hour 30 minutes, the first season will run for 13 hours and both the movie and the series will be released simultaneously.

    Speaking on behalf of the Eko @ 50 organising committee, Jahman Anikulapo noted that the movie was one of the top projects of the Eko festival. He said: “This movie is either the first or second prime project for the Lagos @ 50. The aim is to tell the story of Lagos’ Origin.”

    Meanwhile, the director, Femi Bright commented that he was privileged to be the director of such a big movie with a story that had always been a controversial issue. He also expressed confidence in the authenticity of the story. On his directorial approach, he noted that “I had to craft a unique style. The story is unique, so I came up with a unique style of directing it. I got all the inspiration and experience for it from the scripts.”

  • ‘Shooting movies at tourist sites will boost Nigerian tourism’

    ‘Shooting movies at tourist sites will boost Nigerian tourism’

    Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, has described shooting of movies at tourist sites as a good move that will enhance the tourism industry.

    Mbanefo hailed Mr. Odera Ozoka, producer of the movie A Forgotten Place , for complementing government’s tourism development and promotion efforts.

    She spoke while receiving the delegation of Diaspora Nigerians of Black Tower Gong Production Limited and Odera Ozoka led by a Nollywood veteran Mr Mahmood Ali Balogun at the headquarters of the Corporation in Abuja.

    The NTDC boss also commended Mr Balogun for supporting the movie production company for visibility to the rich cultural heritage in the country. She described the growth of the entertainment tourism in Nigeria as highly encouraging, being the 3rd largest in the world.

    The Consulting Producer and Nollywood Veteran, Mr Balogun praised Mrs Mbanefo for her visionary approach in identifying the potentials of the film and the possibilities for its worldwide success as a result of the historical importance of the film.

    Balogun said: “With this meeting, Mrs Sally Mbanefo has shown that there are people who truly care for Nigerians’ interest at the top. She was quick to see the potential of this film as an international juggernaut, and in supporting this film and the young filmmaker, Odera Ozoka, she has given me hope in the system.”

    The Black Tower Gong Production Limited boss in his spirited and passionate talk about the film disclosed that ‘A Forgotten Place’ movie will project Nigeria’s image, promote the tourism assets in the country and encourage international tourists to visit Nigeria.

    Ozoka added that the movie based on the Biafran war, will highlight unifying narratives at this critical moment in our nation building.

  • Writers can help fight violence in the North

    Writer of the book After They Left Edify Yakusak, has said Nigerian writers can help end insurgency and violence, especially in the North.

    She linked the lack of awareness by some Nigerians on the violence in that region to insufficient literature.

    The lawyer and writer, who believes that  enough is not being done to curb incessant clashes in the region, said the government has to stop the trend.

    At the presentation of her book, Edify noted  that more literature needed to be written to educate people on the killings in North Central.

    Her words: “What inspired me to write the book is the lack of literature on the violence in the North. We have very few and I don’t think they are enough, considering the gravity of what is happening, the fact that people are being killed and no one is saying or doing anything about it. So I just felt that I should write this book to create awareness on what is happening in the North Central.

    “The violence is really bad, from 2011 to 2014 in places like Kaduna State, you hear of people going to villages and attacking and scores of people – as many as fifty –are killed but people don’t care. If it had happened in Europe or US, the whole world will stop but in Nigeria, people don’t pause to sympathise when they read of things like this. You find out that things like this is still happening and no one is trying to bring about a concrete solution to solve the issue, which is what I am trying to address, writing the book,” Edify said.

    She went on:“I don’t think the government is doing enough to curb communal conflicts and attacks by herdsmen and others, though they are trying but I don’t think it is enough. The first step towards solving a problem is recognising it exists, which the government is yet to fully do. I feel a lot more can be done, go to these communities and incoperate laws that will permanently solve the problem, if the problem is from the herdsmen, fix it, if it’s the people, fix it, it is not just on the work of the government but all of us as well.

    “I think their are many reasons to the killings ranging from ethnicity to religion to plain wickedness but I can’t come out and say which since I’m not the one doing the killings but I believe that it is as a result of unchecked history of violence, especially around the north since the 80s and there has been no proper sensitisation of the people on why it should be stopped which continues to lead to more cases of insightments all over.

    “There are literatures targeted at addressing violence all over the country but their is room for more, people need to write more, we all write in one way or the other even if it is the little we write on social media platforms, I believe that if more people talk about the subject, it will go a long way in providing awareness and people will be able to come together to find solutions.”

     

    END