The Nation Newspaper

Category: Entertainment

  • CELEBS IN CHRISTMAS CARD FEVER

    CELEBS IN CHRISTMAS CARD FEVER

    WHEN Sir Henry Cole, an English civil servant and inventor, sent the first-ever Christmas card in the late 19th century, it was not clear if it would become something of a tradition.

    Christmas, a coinage from the word Christ Mass, is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ observed by Christians and sometimes non-Christians too.

    It is traditionally observed with church services, gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decorations and card-sharing.

    Traditionally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures of the nativity or other parts of the Christmas story.

    Today, however, it is more common to see winter scenes, Father Christmas, cartoon characters or jokes.

    In this Yuletide, there exists a growing fad among Nigerian artistes, where customised greeting cards are concerned. While it is fast gaining popularity in this part of the world, the notion has been in existence in other climes, precisely Hollywood.

    Christmas, meaning Christ’s Mass, is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by millions of people around the world.

    This year, some Nigerian artistes in the music and movie industries have upped the Yuletide ante by sending customised cards to friends, family and fans alike.

    Among the Nigerian artistes who embraced this tradition are Iyanya, Aneke Twins, comedian Julius Agwu, Adaora Ukoh, Empress Njama and Segun Arinze.

    Of course, there are those with a sensual bend like Beverly Osu of the BBA: The Chase fame and singer Maheeda.

    Also called holiday card, a Christmas card is a form of greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of the Yuletide in order to convey a range of sentiments related to the holiday season.

    The Yuletide message from Nollywood’s celebrated sister, The Aneke twins, aptly captures that: “Holidays are a special time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the gift of love everlasting. We love you very much. Merry Christmas to our fans.”

    While the traditional greeting on a card reads something in the line of “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” there have been countless variations on this manner of greeting. Many cards now express more religious sentiments or contain a poem, prayer or Biblical verse.

    Some others stay away from religion with an all-inclusive ‘Season’s greetings’.

    Singer Iyanya takes on the religious angle in his customised card. It reads: “Rejoice in the spirit of Christmas, which is peace, the miracle of Christmas, which is hope and the heart of Christmas, which is love. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, from Iyanya.”

    Iyanya clinched a couple of endorsement deals this year, so it is safe to say he has a lot to celebrate. The artiste adopts the red theme for his card, donning a bright red leather jacket with every other thing, including trousers, sweater and shoes black. He caps it off with a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

    When John Calcott Horsely printed the first-ever Christmas card, little did he know that in centuries to come, it would be perverted by some artistes. In this regard, prostitute-turned-singer, Maheeda, comes into the picture.

    In Beverly’s card, she poses as sexy Santa. Red is the globally accepted theme colour for Christmas, so it is understandable for the vixen to don a red Santa Claus hat, a red turtle neck and a red pair of shoes. However, apart from all that, there is nothing else on her. She appears naked from the waist down. But then, it could be a photo trick. Beverly’s card simply reads: ‘Season’s greetings from Manswers.’

    If Beverly’s card is sensual, that of gospel artiste, Maheeda, is outrightly vulgar. As an artiste, Maheeda came into the entertainment picture only a few months ago, but has since made a name for herself, posting unclad photographs on the Internet, a lifestyle that has reportedly been endorsed by her husband. At some point, she got banned from photo app Instagram.

    While Maheeda’s might not pass for a greeting card, it draws a lot more attention than others. She is clad only in a red G-string, bra, red gloves and a Santa hat with a gift strapped to her back.

    Maheeda’s post leaves a sullied taste in the sight of viewers, especially the overtly religious.

    Nollywood moviemaker Charles Novia’s reaction to Maheeda’s photographs is quite instructive. “Christmas is all about Christ, hope and giving. These misfits exposing body parts on Christmas cards and sending to bloggers are from hell,” Novia posted on his Twitter handle.

    Yes, greeting cards are effective tools to communicate important feelings to people. But in coming up with the idea, especially where Christmas is concerned, it should be noted that the Christian religion is mostly regarded as foreign.

    That way, while it is okay for foreign cards to have depictions of winter scenes, Christmas Trees, cuddly animals, Rudolf the Reindeer and Father Christmas, it will be nice to see home-grown cards adopt some tinge of localisation.

  • I’m a difficult husband but…–Stand-up comedian, Julius Agwu

    I’m a difficult husband but…–Stand-up comedian, Julius Agwu

    If Julius ‘The Genius’ Agwu, one of the celebrated stand-up comedians in Nigeria, decides to pen his memoirs, some events in 2013 will certainly be fore-grounded.  How? In 2013, he marked his 40th birthday at an elaborate shindig; he published his first book titled Jokes Apart-How did I get here?; he celebrated his 20 years on stage; he reunited with Globacom on Glo Laffta Fest and he also had a baby boy. But beyond this, the humour merchant, in this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, opens up on his most embarrassing moment, style and marriage, among other interesting issues. 

    WHAT does style mean to you? Style is who you are. Everybody can afford to be fashionable, but style is what you make out of it. So, style defines you.

    Who is your favourite designer?

    I am a very spontaneous buyer. I do not believe in the idea of having someone as my best designer. I could meet you on the street, see what you’ve done and start to wear your designs. I have some Nigerian designers who walked up to me and we hit it off immediately. The most recent one was Vans Kere. I have been watching him from a distance and have seen stuff that he’s done. He came up to me and said, “Julius, I want you to wear me.” I am very choosy, but because he has impressed me, I now wear his designs. What he does is that he makes them pro bono and I wear them because he understands I can help him showcase his designs. As expected, people see it and they ask me who made it for me.

    Another young man is David Bowler. He is a Nigerian, but when you see his stuff, you will marvel at what the young boy is doing. There is this white suit I wore recently, which everybody has been talking about. It’s on instagram. He made the jacket that I wore to the Africa Magic@10 event.

    I’m a spontaneous buyer; so, I just walk into shops like Fusion, Message, Wardrobes and Fomula.

    How often do you change your wardrobe?

    At times, I change my wardrobe weekly. It used to be bad when I was single. But now that I am married, I had to tone it down because of my wife and growing responsibilities. Truly, it is called show business and you need to show. I have clothes, shirts, shoes and trousers that I haven’t worn.

    How many pairs of shoes do you have?

    I can’t count.

    What do you do with the excess ‘luggage’?

    I give out and relocate some home. At times, I bring them out and call my staff to select. I do this from time to time.

    What would you not be caught wearing?

    I have won a skirt on stage before. Hmm! I can’t be caught wearing a G-string.

    You seem to have a preference for local designers because you have not mentioned any big international name.

    Well, the truth is there are so many big names that I’ve worn.

    How much is your most expensive pair of shoes?

    You know, I can’t really tell now. I have Giuseppe Zanotti shoes – original one, not the Nigerian made. Seriously, the man is planning to come to raid Nigeria very soon. Which other expensive shoes do I have? I have Louboutin for men. Now, most times, when my wife is around, I buy and sneak them into the house. So, anytime I now put them on, she asks me when I bought them; and trust me, I claim that I’ve had them since.

    When I got married, I had to tone it a bit because whether you like it or not, you have to cut down on your shopping so that you can pay school fees, take care of the children and take care of the family. But then, she knows that it comes with the job.

    Which outfit gives you the most confidence?

    I don’t joke with my suit. I am not particularly tall, so the only thing that can stand me out is my dress sense. The only way I stand out is to be outstanding. And how do I become outstanding? It is to look different. I have been to a wedding, where I was the MC, and when it was time for the cutting of the cake, the bride got carried away; she was admiring what I wore and the groom got very angry.

    I can see you always take your time to look good?

    Funnily, I really don’t take my time to look good. I don’t plan what I wear. I could just enter, pick this and that or mix and match. You know, I have to stand out, even if it’s casual. So, that is me.

    I have seen you wear some crazy belts…

    (Cuts in)You remember the one that has a cup; it is still there. I am planning to open a mini museum. The reason is that my wife, most of the time, will say something like ‘I don’t think these clothes can stay here again’; so, she will just pack them in a box and give them out.

    I plan to do a one-man show next year and the idea is to get some of those costumes I wore even in Okombo, including the wardrobe and drum set, on the stage. It will just be something like ‘Julius the Genius Agwu Live.’ I want to have a show, where Julius will be live on stage rough, rugged and raw. But it will be for 18+ only. It’s probably going to be the last vulgar, raw performance I am going to have before I finally answer the call of God. Because I believe God is calling me, except that I have been waiting for a direct call, so I don’t want any flash or text message.

    What has been your most embarrassing moment on the red carpet?

    Hmm! Interesting, you know, I really can’t remember anyone because if I bumped into any red carpet that I didn’t prepare for, I would rather not go on it. I would prepare to just sneak into the show. It has happened only once. I think it was the premiere of a movie, but I can’t remember the name now. I didn’t know they were having the premiere. You know how the paparazzi do; everybody was trying to get me to come on the red carpet. I told them that I didn’t come for this, but they thought I was probably posing. I didn’t want to get interviewed on the red carpet, so I dodged them. Next year, I am going for the Grammy.

    And what do you plan to wear to the show?

    I don’t know yet. I haven’t settled for any particular outfit, but I am going to dazzle them.

    Which is your favourite perfume and how many do you wear at a time?

    With perfumes, I combine. In my bag, you will find one and in my car, there is another one. I have them everywhere. I love bottles; I just look at a bottle and if it is catchy, I buy it. So, that is it. I have different collections.

    How about your favourite wristwatch?

    The one I am wearing is a TWS and is a limited edition signed by Kelly Rowland. She’s like their brand ambassador. I think they did just 100 of this.

    Who styles you?

    You know, people meet me and ask me, “Do you have a stylist?” and I always say no. So, I just do my thing; I just combine. My father was very fashionable. I guess I took it from him. I’m very eclectic. Though I could go wrong at times, I don’t care. The thing about it is that if you are bold enough to wear anything or if you are bold enough to make that statement, go ahead. Whether you like it or not, I do not need to impress anybody now.

    Can you remember any particular occasion you ‘missed’ it?

    Yes, it was at Kate Henshaw’s book launch. I was in a hurry; the shirt was flowered, yes! The tie went well with my jeans and the jacket was violet, so I just threw it on. I said let me just confuse people a bit. Then, my wife, who was in America, started ‘yapping’ me because na she be my greatest fashion critic. Meanwhile, at the event, people were hailing me because it’s Julius. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t particularly looking good because my shoes were brown. I wanted to block, but I come over block.

    How would you rate the year 2013?

    You know, I can’t thank God enough that I am alive. My wife is alive and God added another bundle of joy, a boy! That makes me a man. I just thank God. I can’t just ask for more. He’s been too nice to me. Glo has not used me for about eight years and finally they called me and I became part of the Glo Laffta Fest after a very long time. During those periods, different gists were said about me. And after so many years, God just spoke to them to remember me. I just give God the glory. He has just been too nice to me. You know, in life, we can be age mates, but not ‘grace mates’.

    Would you say celebrity marriages are different in some sense?

    My dear, the truth is no two marriages be the same. Everybody’s marriage has its own peculiarity and every relationship in life depends on what you ‘PUT’. I propounded this theory when I was in the university. Whether in your relationship with your father, mother, daughter, neighbour and God, it depends on what you ‘PUT’; and the ‘PUT’ stands for ‘Patience, Understanding and Tolerance’. You must understand these terms; otherwise, that relationship can never succeed. You must be patient at all times, you must understand each other at all times and you must be tolerant. If you don’t have those qualities, e no go work.

    You should know that no two people are the same. I’m a very difficult person and I sometimes wonder how my wife, with her quiet attitude, copes. I am the most difficult husband anybody can have. I snap easily. Sometimes, I wonder how she copes because she’s the nicest wife anybody can have. But she sometimes annoys me too. She’s the most stubborn woman on earth. I know I am difficult and for any woman to cope with me, I raise hand for am.

    For instance, my wife is the kind of woman that doesn’t call me. She no send. At times, we could be in the house and she will be quiet all through. Usually, in that circumstance, I will be the one to be worried. But that is my wife and me. At times, we keep malice for one month. We would be together in the same house and keep malice. So, no two marriages are the same. But that is the fun of it. When it is sweet, it is very sweet. But in Nigeria, we pretend a lot. Husband and wife will just come out and laugh, giving the impression that all is well. But the truth is, at times, you quarrel.

    I saw this Christmas picture of you and your family. What does Christmas mean to the Agwus?

    Christmas, for us, is a time of celebration. I actually didn’t want to do the picture you just saw, but a lot of people insisted I do it. I put up the one we did last year. Remember, it was when we took that picture that celebrities started snapping. Na we start am. Everybody come begin snap. This year, I was just going through my BB and I just put on my DP ‘Memories of last year’s Christmas’. I put up the picture of my wife, my daughter and me and people started saying something like “This is cheating! Where is Zadok, your son?” Meanwhile, I went to see them in October, which was when my wife gave birth. I just had to tell my graphics guy to use one of the pictures we took there. I know we didn’t quite go to the studio to pose and prepare, but some people liked it. My wife wore a green; so, the whole thing like blended.

    Do you see yourself going into politics now or in the future?

    I don’t have anything like that in mind. If I get an appointment, fine! But for me to go and print posters (pauses)…Nigerian politicians are deadly. Politics is deadly.

    You have not achieved, if you have not impacted on the society. I believe strongly that a real achiever is one that has given back to people; one who has succeeded in building brands or one who has impacted on other peoples’ lives. That is exactly the reason we have created a platform over the years.

    This year marks the 13 years of Crack Ya Ribs. And I have been able to create a platform where so many of the up and coming talents have been showcased to the world in London, America, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Lagos. That is what we’ve been doing over the years. And that is why God has always renewed his grace upon my life. This year, I celebrated my 40th birthday and published my book. Also, this year, I celebrated my 20 years as an entertainer. My first film, Rattle Snake, was in 1993. So, what more can I ask for? People have come and gone, but I am still here. This is just the beginning of my career because my best is yet to come.

  • CELEBS IN CHRISTMAS CARD FEVER

    CELEBS IN CHRISTMAS CARD FEVER

    WHEN Sir Henry Cole, an English civil servant and inventor, sent the first-ever Christmas card in the late 19th century, it was not clear if it would become something of a tradition.

    Christmas, a coinage from the word Christ Mass, is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ observed by Christians and sometimes non-Christians too.

    It is traditionally observed with church services, gift-giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decorations and card-sharing.

    Traditionally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures of the nativity or other parts of the Christmas story.

    Today, however, it is more common to see winter scenes, Father Christmas, cartoon characters or jokes.

    In this Yuletide, there exists a growing fad among Nigerian artistes, where customised greeting cards are concerned. While it is fast gaining popularity in this part of the world, the notion has been in existence in other climes, precisely Hollywood.

    Christmas, meaning Christ’s Mass, is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed cultural holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 by millions of people around the world.

    This year, some Nigerian artistes in the music and movie industries have upped the Yuletide ante by sending customised cards to friends, family and fans alike.

    Among the Nigerian artistes who embraced this tradition are Iyanya, Aneke Twins, comedian Julius Agwu, Adaora Ukoh, Empress Njama and Segun Arinze.

    Of course, there are those with a sensual bend like Beverly Osu of the BBA: The Chase fame and singer Maheeda.

    Also called holiday card, a Christmas card is a form of greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of the Yuletide in order to convey a range of sentiments related to the holiday season.

    The Yuletide message from Nollywood’s celebrated sister, The Aneke twins, aptly captures that: “Holidays are a special time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the gift of love everlasting. We love you very much. Merry Christmas to our fans.”

    While the traditional greeting on a card reads something in the line of “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” there have been countless variations on this manner of greeting. Many cards now express more religious sentiments or contain a poem, prayer or Biblical verse.

    Some others stay away from religion with an all-inclusive ‘Season’s greetings’.

    Singer Iyanya takes on the religious angle in his customised card. It reads: “Rejoice in the spirit of Christmas, which is peace, the miracle of Christmas, which is hope and the heart of Christmas, which is love. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, from Iyanya.”

    Iyanya clinched a couple of endorsement deals this year, so it is safe to say he has a lot to celebrate. The artiste adopts the red theme for his card, donning a bright red leather jacket with every other thing, including trousers, sweater and shoes black. He caps it off with a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

    When John Calcott Horsely printed the first-ever Christmas card, little did he know that in centuries to come, it would be perverted by some artistes. In this regard, prostitute-turned-singer, Maheeda, comes into the picture.

    In Beverly’s card, she poses as sexy Santa. Red is the globally accepted theme colour for Christmas, so it is understandable for the vixen to don a red Santa Claus hat, a red turtle neck and a red pair of shoes. However, apart from all that, there is nothing else on her. She appears naked from the waist down. But then, it could be a photo trick. Beverly’s card simply reads: ‘Season’s greetings from Manswers.’

    If Beverly’s card is sensual, that of gospel artiste, Maheeda, is outrightly vulgar. As an artiste, Maheeda came into the entertainment picture only a few months ago, but has since made a name for herself, posting unclad photographs on the Internet, a lifestyle that has reportedly been endorsed by her husband. At some point, she got banned from photo app Instagram.

    While Maheeda’s might not pass for a greeting card, it draws a lot more attention than others. She is clad only in a red G-string, bra, red gloves and a Santa hat with a gift strapped to her back.

    Maheeda’s post leaves a sullied taste in the sight of viewers, especially the overtly religious.

    Nollywood moviemaker Charles Novia’s reaction to Maheeda’s photographs is quite instructive. “Christmas is all about Christ, hope and giving. These misfits exposing body parts on Christmas cards and sending to bloggers are from hell,” Novia posted on his Twitter handle.

    Yes, greeting cards are effective tools to communicate important feelings to people. But in coming up with the idea, especially where Christmas is concerned, it should be noted that the Christian religion is mostly regarded as foreign.

    That way, while it is okay for foreign cards to have depictions of winter scenes, Christmas Trees, cuddly animals, Rudolf the Reindeer and Father Christmas, it will be nice to see home-grown cards adopt some tinge of localisation.

  • How Kcee, Harrysong rocked ‘Star Beer Village’

    How Kcee, Harrysong rocked ‘Star Beer Village’

    WITH his second performance at the Lagos Countdown held last Friday at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos, wave-making singer, KCee, once again, blew up the stage at the Star Beer Village.

    The Pull Over crooner, who was accompanied by singer and songwriter, Harrysong, stole the show as he dished out hit songs.

    As usual, he splashed an undisclosed sum of money on the fans during the show.

    Fans, who turned out in large numbers to see singer May D perform, were also not disappointed, as he delivered his performance as part of the exciting line up of activities at the Star Beer Village.

    Donning a bright red jacket with black pants and backed up by his athletic dancers, May D gave the crowd a music treat in its best form for almost 20 minutes, performing Ile Ijo, Gat Me High, Ur Eyes and a number of other songs. His performance, though brief in the opinion of his fans, was wrapped up with his popular hit, So Many Tinz.

  • Femi Kuti feted at Encomium White Gig

    Femi Kuti feted at Encomium White Gig

    IT was a day of surprises for Afro-beat king, Femi Kuti, at the Encomium White Gig last Sunday, when he was honoured for his 4th Grammy nomination over his 2013 masterpiece, No Place for My Dream.

    The 51-year-old, who was accompanied by his sister, Yeni, and friend, Mallam Abdul Okwechime, had no idea what had been planned at the event, where his citation was read by Ademola Oyinlola, Executive Director, Tell Magazine, Femi Segun, a former diplomat, polyglot and master of ceremonies and Yemi Sodimu, a popular actor and broadcaster.

    According to sources, the pressure for him to dress in a white ensemble was intense, as he ignored all pleas, choosing instead the most colourful attire in his wardrobe. But he later acknowledged that if he had been told, he would have complied with the dress code.

    Full of gratitude for the recognition, Femi was emotional as he responded to the citation and honour.

    An interview session, anchored by his sister, Yeni Kuti, took all by surprise as she quizzed her brother.

    Guests were fascinated by the chemistry and camaraderie between the children of the legend of Afro-beat and one of the greatest musicians that ever lived, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

    The all-colourful event, which was Encomium’s 16th anniversary and Christmas party, was attended by notable personalities.

  • Rosa Emilia shines at Exquisite Face of the Universe

    Rosa Emilia shines at Exquisite Face of the Universe

    THE Miss Dominican Republic, Rosa Emilia, has emerged the Exquisite Face of the Universe.

    She came tops in the competition involving over 30 beauty queens from different countries around the world.

    The 19-year-old beauty queen was rewarded with a bonus cash prize of 10,000 USD after a thorough selection process based on beauty, body, confidence and mannerism at the world finale of the pageant in Lagos penultimate Thursday.

    “The reason we chose to host this 5th edition of the Exquisite Face of the Universe in Nigeria is to portray a positive image of Nigeria, while showcasing Africa’s rich cultural diversity. We also believe this pageant can help attract investment opportunities in the tourism sector,” said Project Director, Ethel Okosun, during the event.

    The show, which was held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos was hosted by Kenyan radio personality, Angela Angwenyi.

    It featured exciting performances from top entertainment icons, including Tiwa Savage and 2Face Idibia.

    The contestants, who were all dressed in the Nigerian Iro and Buba attire, opened the pageant with a dance performance of Nigeria’s latest moves such as Skelewu, Azonto and Etighi.

    Popular comedian, Buchi, thrilled the guests as he reeled out rib-cracking jokes.

    During the pageant, Eazy Okosuns, brother of the late musician, Sunny Okosuns, honoured him with a tribute performance on stage, as he performed a number of his hits songs, including African Soldier and Orimolade to the delight of the guests

    The panel of judges included wife of the MD/CEO, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Clementine Vervelde; founder and CEO of Positive Runway, Justina Mulale; Tony White; Sola “Mr. Mahogany” Oyebade and executive director, Unicorn Foundation Ghana, Kris Lutterodt Azu, among others.

  • Is Davido’s SKELEWU Spiritual?

    Is Davido’s SKELEWU Spiritual?

    SINCE pop star Davido released the video of his hit track, Skelewu, it has continued to generate controversy, particularly because of the money spent on it and the claim among the directors over whose work was the best.

    However, the latest about the song is that, it might be a spiritual song, considering the sad incidents connected to it.

    It will be recalled that Davido allegedly tweeted some days ago that Skelewu is spiritual.

    With this disclosure, many are beginning to think that he may have inadvertently dropped a hint about the song, against the backdrop of the sad incidents involving the two music video directors, Sesan Ogunro and Moe Musa. The two recently lost their dads.

    Sesan’s dad, Sesan Ogunro Snr., was shot by armed robbers while he was returning from his church’s Christmas Carol with his family. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.

    Moe Musa’s dad died after a horrific gas explosion in his kitchen, here in Lagos.

  • Kate Henshaw engages youths

    Kate Henshaw engages youths

    TOP Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, recently engaged some students of various public and private secondary schools and higher institutions in Nigeria.

    Henshaw spoke on attitude at a seminar organised by a non-governmental organisation, Charity Runway, in Lagos.

    She said all the youths need to succeed in life is to have the right attitudes towards their careers.

    She said, “Attitude is all you need to succeed in life. The youths should develop the right attitude towards their work, relationship, leadership, service and life, generally. They have to be like the turning point, where everything changes for the best.

    “Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong. Don’t look at the person that has all the money and fame; but look at how to change lives and impact on people, while changing your environment.”

    Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, lauded the organisers for moulding the future leaders.

    Speaking through Mrs. Adepeju Sunmonu, the commissioner promised that her ministry would continue to partner with organisations on the training and retraining of youths for better tomorrow.

    “I have been made to understand that the primary vision of this foundation is in guiding our teeming youths on the path to developing practical skills and a positive mindset towards their future,” she said.

    She also acknowledged the vital role of the organisation for channelling the youths’ energies towards positive developments and better future.

    She, therefore, urged other organisations to take a leave from the Charity Runway.

    “This gives me joy. This is because in a country which prides itself as the most populous black nation with active youths, we need a lot more organisations such as this, channelling that massive youth energy and potential into positive results for the betterment of the economy and the society; and by extension, the country at large,” she said.

    President of the organisation, Mrs. Chioma Okoye, stated that it was meant to engage the youths and educate them on the way forward in their sojourns in life.

    “We are looking at the youths and the areas they have problems while growing up. It is to educate them and counsel them in their careers,” she said.

    Samuel Moses, a participant, said he hoped that the organisers would continue to always organise such a seminar for the teeming Nigerian youths.

    “I thank the organisers of this programme. I have really learnt something great. I have learnt how to have the right attitude towards my career, among others. I will appreciate it if they can be organising this kind of programme always,” he said.

  • Film in exile: A sequel

    BEYOND entertainment, filmmaking is a form of expression. But I see it occupying a unique place as one of the most potent tools of activism. This is so, because while expressions in books require that you attain some level of literacy, audio materials in whatever language appeal to MORE people, but even when you kill the voice in an audio-visual material, the motion picture appeals to MOST people. In other words, more people are accessible to the motion picture medium than other forms of communication.

    Since freedom of expression is the nucleus of a free society and democracy that the world craves, the medium of film cannot be underestimated, not just because of its far-reaching advantage, but for its visual testimonial and subtle appeal.

    I am inspired lately by the brief ban of a South African film entitled Of Good Report and others like it, which have been outlawed by the government of their countries of origin, but which have found asylum in notable film festivals in the world.

    I say this against the backdrop of a similar case in Nigeria wherein the documentary, Fuelling Poverty by Ishaya Bako was banned, and the filmmaker, from threat he received, appeared to have ostracized himself alongside his work.

    The film, a 30-minute documentary, portrays the massive poverty in Nigeria and advocates against corruption and greed in the country. Released in 2012 by the filmmaker, in partnership with the Open Society for West Africa (OSIWA), the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) prohibited the distribution and exhibition of the documentary in Nigeria, saying its contents are highly provocative and likely to incite or encourage public disorder and undermine national security.

    The young filmmaker uses gripping voice of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka in analysing the trend and a critical sound track by Afrobeat King Femi Kuti. He weaves his thoughts around the monumental Occupy Nigeria protest on the oil subsidy scam and the general culture of corruption and greed in Nigeria.

    Although critics see the ban of the film as an evidence of Nigeria’s creeping departure from the democracy we loudly pronounce, and feel the filmmaker should stand his ground, Bako, it seems is so scared to make an appeal let alone a noise.

    The letter, purportedly signed by the NFVCB’s Head of Legal Services, Effiong Inwang, warned the filmmaker against violating the order, saying “all relevant national security agencies are on the alert. A copy of this letter has been sent to the Director General, Department of State Services and the Inspector General of Police for their information.”

    But unlike Bako, Jahmil XT Qubeka, the director of Of Good Report did not only push on with the screening of his film at the last Toronto International Film Festival and now, at the ongoing Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Calabar, he had claimed for damages allegedly caused by the Film and Publication Board (FPB) of South Africa’s assertion that the movie contained child pornography, slapping them with a 28million Rand suit.

    Although Qubeka agreed that child pornography should be banned, he argued that Of Good Report is “making an indictment… For teenagers, this is a horror film. I want kids, particularly girls, to watch this and I want to scare them.”

    The movie’s plot revolves around a small-town school where a predatory teacher, Parker Sithole (played by Mothusi Magano) begins an obsessive affair with a 16-year-old student Nolitha, played by 23-year-old actress Petronella Tshuma.

    Reflecting on the effects of the ban, he said: “I’m not sad for me. This has turned me into a superstar. My life has changed in a week. I’ve been in Variety magazine… three times. What I am sad for is my nation because my nation was refused the right to see the film.”

    But the ban was soon overturned by the Board’s appeal tribunal and Of Good Report was released in S/African cinemas on August 6, with a rating of 16VSN. Qubeka was also during the DIFF in June honoured with an award for artistic bravery, but he is still pained by initial decision of the FPB, saying that being associated with child pornography is “a death to one’s career”.

    The principle of art is not all about the decorative crafts that we cherish. Perhaps that used to be the case before the renaissance of the 14th and 16th centuries. Today, it has a revolution of life ignited by activism; I see it as divinely-inspired creativity and in certain cases, an artist’s work becomes the object or subject of special pilgrimage and center of reverences.

    At the 32nd edition of DIFF, an Indian filmmaker, Leena Manimekelai brought her film; The Dead Sea, which suffered similar fate in her country. The flick, a blend of fiction and documentary protests against injustice and ethnicity and was considered prodigal by the Indian government. Even when there was a prolong court case on the issue, the movie continued to find expression at film festivals.

    I find a particular line most captivating in the movie and I thought I could share it with you; it reads: “I have always advocated that the people be armed, but now, I am convinced that not only the people, but the government should be disarmed”.

    In the same vein, Iranian filmmaker, Jafar Panahi was indicted. He even suffered a worse situation; not only was his film outlawed by the government of his country, he was committed to six years prison term and 20 years ban from filmmaking by the Iranian government for attempted to explore the social situation in his homeland through a movie that appealed to the Iranian government as state offence.

    Although convicted, Panahi has been celebrated world over for what he stands for. This included being invited to the International Jury of the Berlin Film Festival as a way of celebrating the artiste and protesting his incarceration.

    Where is the Nollywood activist filmmaker?

  • The great ‘annulments’

    The great ‘annulments’

    Divorce, as we all know it, is always an emotionally-tasking affair. Probably the most scandalous of the marriage-related stories in 2013 was the tale of actor Solomon Akiyesi’s bigamy.

    Like a scene in a movie, his wife, Lillian, stormed the venue of his sham wedding already in swing on April 13, a situation that turned messy.

    It was said that Solomon’s girlfriend, who was based in Lagos, got pregnant and the two opted for white a wedding.

    Lillian got wind of the wedding and decided to disrupt the proceedings.

    When eight-month-old pregnant Lillian confirmed the wedding was really going to happen, she contacted the police, took some family members and friends and stormed Overcomers World Outreach, the wedding venue.

    Next in line, in terms of popularity, is the crashed wedding between actress Funke Akindele and Kehinde Oloyede. Quite surprisingly, a few months after the highly publicized wedding, Oloyede casually announced an end to the union on his Facebook page.

    Also, Jetta and Mbong Amata as well as Chika Ikeh and Tony Eberiri are entangled in divorce cases.