DISTRICT 9 AND THE NIGERIA FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD

Just a quick question,how did the movie get past the bulging eyes of the Nigeria film and video censors board? They censor Nigerian movies before they are released into the market and foreign films before they are shown at cinemas so how did District 9 get past them to be shown at Silverbird cinemas?
The things D9 said, we dare not try a quarter of it in Nollywood, Censors board would ask you to yank it immediately so why did they approve D9 for the general public. Is this a case of double standards? Wouldn't it have been simpler to simply dissaprove the movie from day one than to now run round banning it?

A one time winning short story of the commonwealt short story writing competition was titled: Bill Gates goes to Hell. The States or Gates family decried the title, and the award had to be withdrawn so everywhere people do not take kindly to their names being used negatively.

I think it was highly irresponsible of the movie makers particularly at a time when emotions are still raw from the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. What exactly was neil Blokamp hoping to achieve by this? To start a war? I know that as writers, we want to make a statement but they are subtle ways of saying things. The use of the name Obasanjo was a very cheap jab. But I guess Neil has gotten his cheap popularity.

OPRAH MAKES UWEM AKPAN ONE OF THEM

Say you're one of them, a book I am still searching for, has just been chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her book club.

This is great news, particularly as the sales of the book will sky rocket. Nigeria will also instantly claim him.

" He is our son" our leaders will be quick to say, in the same way that they cling to Obama, forgetting that he received little or no recognition from here.

Even after Akpan won the commonwealth writers prize earlier this year, very little if any coverage was given to him.

It is the first collection of short stories Oprah has ever chosen and she says each of the stories left her gasping.

Congratulations to Father Uwem Akpan for a well deserved recognition and Congratulations to Oprah as well for choosing this great Nigerian talent.

WORLD BANK SUPPORTS NOLLYWOOD

Succour seems to have arrived for the ailing industry-Nollywood. According to a report in Punch newspapers, World Bank will be disbursing $20m to Nollywood and the Music industry in Nigeria.

For Nollywood, the money will be contributed towards funding movies, training for existing and newcomers in the industry and also for distribution.

Distribution has been the major setback in the industry. Nigerians are ready to buy these films but apart from a few outlets, they are hardly available for purchase giving pirates a chance to reign supreme. Africa magic, a cable station dedicated to African films also benefits hugely from the lack of a proper distribution network in the industry as thousands of viewers subscribe to the station.

The Nigeria video and film censors board early in the year came up with some plans for distribution but these plans are yet to be realised. It is our hope that World bank will keep its word despite the many challenges they are bound to face.