Artsville; A city where art lives

Now that we are off the streets

2012-01-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

It was a long walk to freedom. For five days thousands of Lagosians walked several kilometres to and fro freedom park, Ojota to protest against the sudden removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government. A journey that has been long overdue. A walk that we should have taken years ago, when Nigeria was still pregnant with corruption. Perhaps, it could have been delivered still born. Unfortunately, the baby was carried to term and delivered as a bouncy baby boy. It now walks tall threatening to destroy our land.

Thankfully, it’s better late than never. Nigerians finally took the streets, protesting, not just the subsidy removal but against the corruption that has eaten so deep into our nation. A country where the office of the president budgets 1billion for feeding in a year while the average Nigerian lives on $2 per day. Where the senate president reportedly earns 40million per month and civil servants are fighting to be paid a minimum wage of 18,000 per month. You wonder when we became like this or have we always been this way?

On Friday, as we walked back from the protest sight, a car lost control and skidded off the roads, nearly knocking down several pedestrians. The men among us rushed to the scene to offer assistance. Close by were stationed some policemen. They remained unmoved, unconcerned. One puffed out his cigarette at us when we questioned their indifference. There seems to be such a disconnect between the government and the people. The protests have been a huge step in the right direction and though we have left the streets now, we must go on to occupy the lives of these corrupt leaders.

We must stop celebrating them. Our religious organizations must cease to harbour them. If the polity refuse to prosecute them, then we the people will ensure that they become outcasts in the society. When thieving politicians are booed in public, allowed to sit only at the back seat of churches if allowed in at all, their children snubbed for their undeserved wealth, then would we truly have occupied. As long as we celebrate them and allow them to reign as kings among us, then all our efforts in the past week would have been in vain.

The road to freedom park might have been long but it has brought freedom a few steps closer.

IN THE TIME THAT I WAS GONE:

2011-10-12T04:45:00.000-07:00

I had a baby. She’s the cutest little thing in the world and I do not say this because she is my daughter. She really is cute. Of course she has my genes.

I made a movie: OkonLagos which was financed by my brother. It is only family and friends who will take the risk of investing in your first work. I set out to make a commercial movie and I succeeded. It’s done very well, particularly in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states for obvious reasons. My feeling is that of gratitude because it could easily have gone wrong. Despite putting what I considered the elements for a successful Nollywood movie, there are simply no guarantees. As one of my friends would say, Nollywood is spiritual. You can’t explain why one person would rise to become an A-lister in one year and some others will remain D-listers for a lifetime despite being better actors.

I celebrated 5 years in marriage. Who would have thought. Even my husband is surprised I haven’t yet cooked him for dinner. Yes, he has plenty wahala but so do I.

I visited home: Ikot Ekpene. I couldn’t believe how much it’d changed. Expanded roads, street/traffic lights, more companies etc. PHCN remains a problem. One day maybe.

Zazugist.com was born. Unfortunately I am anti-pidgin so that one would be passing over me. I do not listen to Wazobia or any of those stations. I think that there is already a huge divide between the upper/middle class and lower class and pidgin just makes it worse. You know, like we’re saying, we’ll speak Queens English and teach our children same, you guys stay down there and speak your pidgin. Everyone in my opinion should have a chance of getting to the top and language is key.

Steve Jobs died. I didn’t know him much while he lived but in death we seem to be getting close, I know, that sounds spooky,right. I read his Stay hungry, stay foolish speech and what popped out at me was not that he dropped out of school but that he dropped in on some classes, one of which was calligraphy which laid the foundation for the gadgets he would later create. In Nigeria, we’re quick to mention that some of the world’s geniuses were school drop outs but we quickly forget that they never stopped learning. Something we seem to be averse to in Nigeria. Everyone wants a university degree but no one wants to read and actually learn. Your certificate may get you the job, but it’s your knowledge/skill that will keep it.

I’m making the blog more personal, we’ll still talk Nollywood and Arts but we’ll talk me too.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

PS. Congratulations to Adeleke Adeyemi who just won the NLNG prize for literature for his children’s book: The missing clock. Adeleke and I attended the first Fidelity bank sponsored Chimamada Adichie’s workshop. Yes, I’m famzing.

Uche Jombo;The D in Determination

2011-07-29T05:47:00.000-07:00

Uche Jombo , a multi award winning actress came into Nollywood in 1999 in the movie: Visa to Hell. I have followed Uche Jombo’s career closely for many years and happened to be on set the day she nearly got fired on the set of ‘Girls in the Hood’ Uche did not impress the director nor the producer and was going to be decast. She asked for a second chance and got it. That second chance redefined her career. Uche returned to set the next day on fire. Her acting skills had drastically improved overnight to the shock of the entire cast and crew. I suspect that she didn’t sleep that night but rehearsed and rehearsed till she could rehearse no more.

When I speak to upcoming actresses, Uche is a name I am quick to mention. She is a clear example that hard work, determination and passion pays. She’s climbed to the top of the ladder by sheer hard work and a strong determination to succeed. Just when you think she’s about to slow down, she comes up with something new. In 2010 she funded and co-produced Nollywood Hustlers. And on Sunday the 31^st of July, 2011, Jombo will be premiering her first solo production: DAMAGE at Silverbird Galleria.

Nollyarts congratulates her and wishes her a successful career as a producer.

Domestic Violence. Aren’t we all guilty?

2011-07-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Akolade Lukeman Arowolo allegedly beat his wife and the woman died. Titilayo Oyakhire was a beautiful hardworking mother. Now she’s dead. Her three year old daughter will grow up without a mother and a father.

Domestic violence in Nigeria didn’t start with this family unfortunate lady and sadly won’t end with them. But it is not only Akolade that should be tried for Titilayo’s murder but the entire Nigerian society. From the mother who insists there will be no divorce in her family to the church who constantly harps on submission to the journalist whose only question to celebrities is the date of their marriage.

It’s easy for us to all play sanctimonious now and rebuke the late Titilayo for not leaving her husband while she could. But could she really? Had she gone to her family or any of her friends, would they have taken her in?

An acquaintance of mine was being battered by her husband, one day her brother walked in on them, gave the guy the beating of his life and took his sister out but as soon as he returned to his abode in Canada, the mother took her right back, claiming there was no room for divorce in their family.

When Monalisa Chinda walked out on her marriage, the media went crazy. She was labelled names that I cannot type here. Nobody wanted to know the reason, because the reason didn’t matter, in Nigeria you are supposed to marry and stay married. Period. The name calling even extended to the friend who took her in.

I just read excerpts from a Genevieve Nnaji’s interview in Tell Magazine. You would think that with all the lady’s achievements, the interview would centre on her works, but it doesn’t, it’s the same old marriage questions.

We have made marriage more important than life, than happiness, than the fulfilment of dreams.

We’ve lost Titilayo but we don’t have to lose another woman at least not by the hands of her husband. We die from too many things already in Nigeria, accidents caused by bad roads, during childbirth due to poor hospital infrastructures, and very recently bombings and more.

Several women have been wounded, maimed, killed in marriages. We can help stop or reduce this by reducing the pressure on women to marry. It would be nice if the media were not so interested in the marital status of our celebrities, if our parents were not so eager to marry us off and hear the cries of their grandchildren, and the church, oh, the church did not make the man feel so superior and the woman the greatest sinner for not attending to his whim.

As Akolade gets charged to court, let us each charge our conscience.

The Youths are not smiling.

2011-05-29T03:17:00.000-07:00

And the president said, let there be food, and there was. And he saw that the food was good, so he made it better by adding money.

Social media has been agog with news of the Lunch with the president. Was it right? Was it not right? Gloria Edozien, who attended the lunch but left before money was shared has an interesting piece on Bella Naija. Most of the comments do not condemn the lunch in itself, but the distribution of money to youths. The money is rumoured to have ranged from 50,000 to 150,000. Some group leaders may have received up to 500,000, it is said. A commenter asked why it was clouded in silence? I wonder too. Most of the invited youths blog and tweet every few minutes but apart from Tolu Ogunlesi who was several miles away, I did not see it mentioned until after the lunch. It sounds awfully suspicious, like they knew there would be more than just lunch. But twitter or no twitter, we still heard.

It is said that you cannot claim to be a thief until you have been in a position to steal and you didn’t steal. So since I was not at the lunch, was not offered any bribe, sorry, transport money. I will not point accusing fingers at anybody. I am however concerned that it is these same people who chewed D’banj and spat him out for accepting to interview the president. They said he was paid to do so, said he was not a true representative of the Nigerian youths. And I asked, who is the better representative? The bloggers, the twitterers, the ones who sit in the comfort of their homes and claim to be youth activists? While I am not undermining the impact of social media or anybody’s effort at change, it bothers me when these people feel superior to others. When they think that university degrees place them higher than the youth on the street. In my opinion D’banj is the better representative; he is hustler and has achieved much success in spite of.

I am extremely concerned about how our president is doling out money. There have been several gatherings of such in recent times and each time money was shared. 500 people were invited for the lunch, let’s say 400 got the minimum amount shared, that would be 400x50,000=NGN20,000,000. Imagine what this would do in equipping one General Hospital in the country? Could the youths not have said no, we don’t want money, use the money to buy ultrasound machines for hospitals etc and used their activism experience to ensure this is done? But in true Nigerian style, we collected the money, thereby justifying Government’s spending, tomorrow we ask that they be probed.

These youths may have smiled home with money in their pockets but there are several youths on the streets, homeless ,jobless, powerless and these youths are not smiling.

To be a youth activist, you must first be an altruist. Are there any still standing?

MONALISA CHINDA CATWALQS WITH STYLE

2011-03-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

In Nigeria today, women are expected to marry, never mind if they have to drag the man screaming to the altar, they are also expected to stay married, never mind if the man is beating here everyday and may soon send her to her grave. And should you decide to go against these traditional beliefs and remain single or get a divorce, then all hell will break loose. You’d think it’s a criminal offence in Nigeria to be 35 and above and still single and worse to be divorced. Our society seems to hate it when women succeed without men beside or over them as the case may be.

But in spite of this, some single women have continued to rise in their chosen careers.

From Funmi Iyanda who was recently honoured by the World Economic Forum as a 2011 Young Global Leader.

To Peace Anyiam Asigwe who runs one of the biggest African movie Awards.

To Emem Isong who is one of Nigeria’s most successful producers.

To Evelyn Oputa, the managing director of Bank of Industry, to mention but a few.

Monalisa Chinda is one of these women, having gone through a messy divorce where her ex husband granted interviews to as many press people as he could, she’s still come out with her head held high.
When asked why she didn’t respond to any her ex-husband’s allegations, she very simply replies that she has a daughter to protect and that the truth was very boldly written between the lines of his allegations, if anybody had cared enough to look.

‘Catwalq is one of the biggest things I have done professionally; it’s not a comeback as I never went anywhere in the first place. When you’re divorced or sometimes even widowed in Nigeria, people always find ways to make it the woman’s fault. You’re expected to cower in shame and fear for the rest of your life. But for God, good friends, fans and family who have been with me through all the pain and hurt, I, too, like other broken women, may never have been able to hold my head high.’

Catwalq tells the story of three ladies who run a fashion magazine. It follows their work, passions and travails. Lisa plays the role of a single mother in the movie but insists it’s not the story of her life. ‘I wasn’t even part of the story writing’ she says.

Catwalq has something for everyone, it was important to me that we didn’t leave anyone out.
Asked why she chose to invest in a soap as against a movie, she responds that the soap opera ,Heaven’s Gate brought her to fame and it was only natural to produce one, perhaps as a way of giving back to the society that had given her so much.

‘I also wanted to discover new talents to whom I can one day pass the baton. In soaps, you don’t necessarily need to use stars, the entire cast of Catwalq were newcomers to the industry.’
On her last words to the newcomers in Nollywood, she says: ‘Hard work, hard prayer, hard faith.’

Catwalq will hit TV screens in the 2nd quarter of 2011.

Enjoy some pictures from the set of Catwalq below.

Happening this month.

2010-12-18T03:59:00.000-08:00

Anchor baby which premiered on the tenth of december continues to show in cinemas across Nigeria.

Through the glass: Out on dvd.Available in stores nationwide.

Bursting out: Out on dvd in America.

COMING SOON

Tango with me

Memories of my heart

Ma'ami

Black Gold.

Watch this space.

The new Sodom and Gomorrah

2010-11-03T02:40:00.000-07:00

I know recently there have been a lot of sex movies in the market but most of them have come from Ghana so I have ignored them. Until yesterday, when I saw the trailer of Dirty Secrets. It's probably all in a bid to sell( I understand these movies are hot in demand) more copies but isn't this stooping a little low? Particularly when popular acts are involved?

Do people actually find these things interesting? I think nudity on the black man looks disgusting.

Surely there must be other ways to get the public attention. We are an African nation please: discretion and moderation being some of our core values. Let us not lose everything that we are for a few wads of naira.

Most families watch Africa Magic in the evenings with their children, never mind that it is 9pm and the movies are rated 18. Makes you remember Frank Oliseh: 'It's 9pm, do you know where your children are'.

Should these movies make it to cable, will our children be watching these soft porn movies? The movies are obviously not censored. There's no way they would get past censors baord with such graphic details.

Below are some of the trailers. As one of my favourite TV characters,John Cage would say, I am troubled.

Great Movie Trailers.

2010-08-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Holding Hope leads the bunch with this amazing trailer.

Inale follows. I think the cinematograpghy is just awesome.

Then there's Bursting Out.

It just keeps getting better.

Holding Hope and Bursting Out will premiere this sunday, 8th August,2010. We will keep you posted on the release date of Inale.

Kajola

2010-07-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

People say that Nollywood is dying but optimists like us insist the industry is being rebirthed. Kajola is a futuristic drama/action movie directed by Niyi Akinmolayan.

Kajola is the Yoruba word for commonwealth. In the year 2059, Nigeria becomes a totalitarian state. After a second civil war, the rich relocate to the Island areas of Lagos state and turn it into an ultra modern city. The war torn mainland of lagos state is disconnected and abandoned.

A rebel leader, Allen learns of a plot code named kajola to build cities on the mainland and eliminate the remaining survivors. He leads a rebellion against the government and must be stopped by Yetunde, the police chief. Though mortal enemies, both discover that everything they thought they knew was nothing but lies. It’s a story of love and lust and it heightens the fact that if we don’t deal with the segregation and negligence issues facing the country today, then our future is quite predictable because TOMORROW IS TODAY.

The movie shows at Silverbird cinemas, V.I from the 30th of July. Make it a date. I would usually not be interested in sci- fi but coming from one of our own, I'll be sure to see it.

Congratulations Niyi!

City people award winners

2010-07-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Boldly written on the I. V as the start time for the city people entertainment award was 2pm. Even bolder was: NO AFRICAN TIME. However, in true Nigerian style, the show did not commence till about 5pm.

The first award was presented by Ali Baba and it went to ‘The Place’ as the most patronised club. Coming from Ali Baba, I thought it was a joke, didn’t they say it was entertainment awards? Well, a place that hosts entertainers is part of entertainment I guess.

Here are some of the winners:

Most popular female artist:               Keffi

Best Collabo of the year:                  Keffi and Timaya

The award came just as Keffi entered the hall, so she went straight to the stage and before she could get back to her seat, she was called for the second award.

Best International promoter:                        Yinka Farende

Best film Producer:                                      Kunle Afolayan

Best movie director:                                      Kunle Afolayan

Movie of the year:                                         Figurine

Songwriter of the year:                                  Cobhams

Best new musician of the year:                          Skookie

Best new actor of the year:                             O.C Ukeje

Best radio station of the year:                         Classic F.M

Best actor of the year(English)                         Desmond Elliot

Screenwriter of the year:                                Emem Isong

Best actress of the year( Yoruba)                    Toyin Ayimata

Music video of the year:                                Banky W(strong ting)

Best Hip Hop artist:                                          M.I

Best Rap Artist:                                               Dagrin

Best R&B song of the year:                            Banky W(strong ting)

New comedian of the year:                             Emeka Smith

Best group:                                                   Artquake

Best gospel act of the year:                            Lara George

Best supporting actress of the year:                 Funke Adesina

Best Comedian of the year:                             Lapacious Bose

Most popular song of the year:                         Terry G.

Actress of the year(Ghana):                            Jackie Apia

Actress of the year(English):                           Uche Jombo

Helen Paul and AY were the anchors. Helen Paul may be small in stature but she's got great wits.
So many musicians attended the event and there was a beautiful performance in honour of Dagrin.

Congratulations to all the winners and to City people. God bless y'all.

Madam Kofo

zacky

Eucharia in gold

Susan Peters

The winners in celebrations

Nollywood as a social tool

2010-07-13T03:08:00.000-07:00

7,000 copies of EDIKAN- A Royal Arts Academy film has been purchased by Steppingstones Nigeria for free distribution in Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers States. This is in a bid to educate parents on the ills of labelling children as witches and causing them bodily and pschological harm.

More information on this can be found here.

Please visit SteppingstonesNigeria's website to lend a helping hand. Let's join hands to stop this wickedness to our children.

UCHE JOMBO HOLDS ON TO HOPE

2010-06-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for the definition of a ‘success story’, Uche jumbo is the person to look at.

Several people said she couldn’t make it, others even bet on it. But the determined beautiful young lady defied all her critics and has come out to be one of the biggest brands in Nollywood.

Watching Uche play bitchy roles in movies and play them to the T, you’d think that there was a bit of her in those roles. But if there’s something Uche isn’t, it is bitchy, except of course the bit that is in every woman, the one Shakespeare was talking about.

‘That’s the beauty of acting’, she says, ‘ I can be anything I want to be and get away with it.’

On locations, she’s the crew’s favourite. A good word for someone here and a smile for another and the thing that Nigerians love best, a tip.

Uche is probably one of the biggest givers I know, and that may be the explanation for her rise and rise in the industry and in life generally.

‘Givers don’t lack, it may seem like such a cliché but it is so true, I have found that the more I give, the more the blessings just keep coming my way.’ She says with that bright smile of hers.

Jombo says she wants to empower everyone around her, I believe God blessed me so that I may bless others. If I sit on my blessings then what’s the point?

Uche has starred in several hit movies namely: Celebrities, Games men play, Girls in the hood, Darkest night, Girls cot and so many others.

‘What you need most is passion, that’s what kept me going. I wanted to act and even when it seemed difficult, I knew it was something I wanted to do so I stayed on it. It’s also important to develop one’s craft; the competition is fierce now particularly for new comers so if you’re coming into Nollywood, you must bring something to the table. Producers are not here to do favours, if you have something they want, they’ll find you. So the question upcoming actors should ask themselves is: how can I make myself stand out? If you’re lucky to get a role, even if it’s one scene, play it like you’re playing the lead and someone will notice you.’

According to Desmond Elliot, the new kid on the directing block, Uche is any director’s delight, She always has her lines, it doesn’t matter when she got the script and she doesn’t spend five hours making up. He adds with a mischievous grin. He also expresses pleasure over her interpretation of roles. ‘She’s good, that one, makes your job real easy.’

Uche Jumbo is presently one of Glo’s ambassadors and has an NGO: Uche Jombo and you geared towards the empowerment of youths in Nigeria. There’s also something that’s in the pipeline that’s making her smile a lot, but she’s not ready to say yet.

Her movie: HOLDING HOPE, co-produced with Desmond Elliot and Emem Isong will be premiering next month. NOLLYWOOD HUSTLERS, where she is executive producer will also be released next month.

On her words to young people looking up to her, Uche quotes Aristotle:

‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act but a habit.’

Literary Yahoo Yahoo.

2010-06-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

A certain Mfonobong Nsehe has been acused of intellectual property theft. It's embarassing, particularly as he is a young Nigerian student studying in Kenya. Why must we always drag the name of our dear country in the mud? See more details here.

So Fidelity bank has lost Chimamanda Adichie to Farafina Trust. There's no need to be bitter, Fidelity, it's only natural, Farafina published her, promoted her. And the creative workshop idea was hers, she's got every right to pitch her tent else where.

Fidelity still holds its own creative writers workshop in Abuja with Helon Habila. I'm not sure about the choice of Abuja but Artsville wishes them well. Molara wood has more on this.

I DO NOT COME TO YOU BY CHANCE

2010-05-23T05:09:00.000-07:00

A beautiful title for a beautiful book. Adaobi last weekend read from her book at a fully packed reading which held at Quintessence. Adaobi reminds me of Adichie in a funny way though the only similarity I can quickly point to is the simplicity of their writing. Nwaubani has written a very easy to read book, not one of those tedious writings common to the Nigerian Literary world. It is a book that has the potential to sell thousands of copies in Nigeria alone if aggressively marketed. We're looking to you o Cassava republic!

A new one from ROYAL ARTS ACADEMY

Helon Habila reviews The Memory of Love.

2010-05-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

Helon Habila, in my opinion is one of Nigeria's best. WAITING FOR AN ANGEL is a book you do not forget easily. I did not, however, understand MEASURING TIME. In this review of Aminatta Forna's book-THE MEMORY OF LOVE, Habila shows that he is still the master. It is a brilliant piece, sure to arouse anyone's interest in the book. Below is an excerpt:

Forna writes like a scientist, not only in the accuracy of her descriptions but in the way she selects which incidents to highlight, turning each scene into a metaphor that reverberates with meaning beyond the event itself. One character can't walk, and the doctors are carefully breaking his legs and putting them back together to help him do so. This procedure becomes a symbol for the nation, determined to regain the use of its legs after the crippling civil war.

The full review can be found here

THE ERA OF E.

2010-04-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Nigerians are mostly known for their can do spirit. Long before Obama started screaming yes, we can, Nigerians were showing that yes we could. That even without electricity supply, we would build a multimillion dollar entertainment industry. With most of us self taught, we used candle lights to write scripts and generators to power equipments and birthed Nollywood. The music guys, with most of them coming from not so porche areas of Lagos produced Tu face, Wande Coal, Psquare, Asha and several others that the world has come to recognise. All these without a health care system, electricity supply, security and sometimes even shelter. Fashion has also grown big, the designers probably used chineese made lamps to sketch their designs and now they walk red carpets in major cities across the globe. Yes, certainly, the young Nigerian has shown that he/she can.

Now in our usual self taught manner, we've taught ourselves new media skills. Probably tired of waiting for publishers, Myne Whitman self published and released her book-A heart to mend- online. A group of bloggers followed suit with a collective work: In my dreams it was simpler. Both books are available for purchase on Amazon.

This goes to show that with a little empowerment, a few more resources made available, an enabling environment and the average young Nigerian can take on the world.

O leaders, that thou hadst ears to hear and eyes to see.

Nollyarts felicitates with these fresh talents and encourages other youths to do something positive not withstanding all the forces against us in this our dear country. Someday, we will overcome.

I missed Toni Kan

2009-12-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

I had planned to attend the reading for two reasons:

I like Toni Kan. I have followed his works since he was a writer for hints. He is for me, a male writer that successfully writes like a woman. And his recent book: nights of the creaking beds: that’s a very good one. My second reason was Teju Cole. While his words at NEXT follow me and I admit that he is a brilliant writer, this was that my reason for wanting to see him. My friend has a huge crush on him. So I was going to confirm if he was crush worthy. Unfortunately, Nigeria, Nupeng, Pengasson, deregulators and all those responsible for fuel scarcity had other plans. I have been unable to move about for the past three days. No fuel for car, no fuel for generator, no fuel for stomach: can it get any worse?

So I missed the reading but I hope it went well and I hope I get the chance to meet Teju somewhere else.

PART TWO

Nollywood and Repackaged films.

In my last write up, I should have added that some of Nollywod’s enemies are within.

These repackaging moving business is getting really bad. I didn’t realise how bad until I recently bought a pair; you know they come in two parts now: Eg. The wrong woman 1 and 2. Followed closely by The return of the wrong woman 1 and 2. These two movies or should I say four movies are the same. It’s unfair to say the least. Unsuspecting consumers are spending their hard earned monies buying four movies when really they are buying two or is it one. Outside Nigeria, the movies are simply being split into 4 parts but trust me, 3 and 4 are the same as 1 and 2. It’s actually quite confusing. Some old movies are being resold under different titles.

At silverbird the other day, I noticed a movie shot some years back-‘Enslaved’ had now become ‘Voices.’ It is mostly marketers that are guilty of this practice as independent producers have not sunk that low (may they never). I suppose it’s a survival tact but it’s fraudulent. They are simply scamming the unsuspecting customer. Nollywood has become tough and if a practitioner cannot no longer survive, this may be the time to bow out gracefully.

It is certainly not the time to devise devious means to cheat Nigerians. It gives the entire industry a bad name.

So if you know anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone who is into this practice, please tell them to desist. Artsville is watching!

NOLLYWOOD AND ITS MANY ENEMIES

2009-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

The minister of communication; Mrs Dora Akunyili certainly tops the list of Nollywood Bashers. Every time she talks about Nigeria’s problem, she is quick to attribute it to Nollywood. All Nigeria’s image problems lies with the fact that we’re making Juju films, she couldn’t be more wrong. In the past few years, Nollywood has produced mostly love stories, I would even welcome a movie bordering on rituals just for a change. Yes we had our session of rituals. It’s the way it works; one person starts a trend, succeeds, everyone else follows till someone else breaks the trend. Hollywood is particularly guilty: They came with NEXT and PREMONITION and DÉJÀ VU etc, and then for a while, the Directors all visited Africa, LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, BLOOD DIAMONDS, CATCH A FIRE etc. Now they’ve all gone surreal: TIME TRAVELLER’S WIFE, GAMER, 2012 etc.

Mrs. Akunyili is minister of information, an extremely sensitive position, before she can inform people, she must first be informed. All she needs do is grab a few copies of Nigerian movies from Idumota or sit facing Africa Magic for a few hours and she’d know a bit about Nollywood. It’s a bit embarrassing every time she makes a statement in error. In a recent statement, she blames Nollywood for the movie District 9. She says if we had been making movies about how Nigerians contributed towards ending apartheid, then District 9 may not have been made. Is she for real? The director of District 9: Neil Blomkamp clearly stated that he believes most of the crimes perpetrated in SA are by Nigerians, he’s probably never seen a Nigerian film.

Nigeria’s infamy is from corruption and internet scam, nicknamed yahoo, yahoo. And that’s the image she’s trying to clean, where does Nollywood come into the matter? Only recently, Amnesty International just accused the Nigeria police of extra- judicial killings stating that they ‘kill at will’. Someone will probably blame Nollywood for this development.

Even if we were making juju films as claimed, is this why my green passport is scanned a thousand times by immigration officers outside the country or why the guy in the bus in Germany shifts beside me uncomfortably, clutching his bag tighter. Or why the shop attendant in Dubai immediately becomes more alert when I mention that I am Nigerian. I bet they don’t even know we have a movie industry in Nigeria, all they remember is the number of crimes that have been perpetrated by Nigerians in their country. Why then is Mrs. Akunyili bent on blaming Nollywood? Only months ago, she asked Nollywood to help her rebrand Nigeria, now she turns around to rebrand Nollywood

The minister would do well not to tongue lash the Arts for it is the Arts that has saved Nigeriá’s face and given us global recognition. It is Uwem Akpan’s book that was selected by Oprah for her book Club, Asa who has gained acceptance world wide, I personally heard her on radio Leicester, Femi who has been nominated for the grammies, Chimamanda Adichie who has won several international awards, Lancelot Imasuen who has been featured on CNN and Genevieve Nnaji who was featured on Oprah.

But it is not only the minister that hates Nollywood. There are several websites dedicated to just spew venom on Nigerian movies and particularly at more successful producers. Most members of these sites are Nigerians in the diaspora or more specifically, Nigerians in the United States. Someone summarised their problem as beef(Nigerian English for envy) We succeeded where they couldn’t. We didn’t wait for them to return home with their Harvard or nursing degrees(not sure how nursing would help develop the country), we went ahead and produced an industry out of absolutely nothing. With most of us self-taught, we wrote scripts with candles, powered equipment with generators and made movies that have left the world gaping. How did we do it? Everyone is seeing the opportunities and potentials, except these set of Nigerians. South Africa, realising that winning the Oscar(Tsotsi) is not the all and all, have decided to go Nigeria’s way by creating Jollywood which they say will compete with Nigeria’s Nollywood. Ghana’s Gollywood is also following closely behind with the full support of their Government.

I was invited to a film makers workshop in Berlin based on a Nollywood script. The participants couldn’t believe my script had been shot as a feature film, they all wait for grants, grants that may never come and their dreams will be buried with them but in true Nigerian style, we found a way out without waiting for the Western Messiahs to come lead us right.

Nollywood has given me as a writer, a platform to be heard. I am privileged to write both screenplays and literature, while I enjoy both, in writing literature, my audience is mostly Western and I am forced often to look back to be sure that they are following me as I paint my dear continent black but with Nollywood there’s a freedom to be you.

Nollywood has also contributed towards bringing back the middle class in Nigeria. An average practitioner lives comfortably, travels round the globe, most times without having to pay for tickets.

While this profession will always attract its fair share of criticism, for most of the critics, it’s not aimed at bettering the industry, it’s sheer envy and hatred, they would give their left arms to see it fail so they can continue to feel justified for some of the conditions they live under abroad. Loads of them have tried to do it ‘better’ and few if any have succeeded so far.

While some movies make you cringe, some send you reeling with laughter or with tears. I choose to celebrate those ones.

Apart from Joy Isi Bewaju’s review of Guilty Pleasures and Molara Wood’s review of Figurine, a lot of what you read online is sheer balderdash. Ini Edo’s hair didn’t match her figure or Mercy Johnson should go learn how to kiss. These for movie reviews?

I read several reviews of Clint Eastwood’s ‘Invictus’: Some by critics and some by viewers. It left me with a prayer: Lord send us some intelligent critics in Nollywood. Chikena!

Nollywood takes a leap!

2009-11-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

I saw Through the Glass. I liked it but what I liked more was Stephanie's Okereke's tenacity. I doff my heart for her. She has really done well. Survived a near death accident, went to New York film School, made a film and saw it through cinemas. It grossed 10 million, the highest any Nigerian film had ever done. And then came the Figurine, that just left me feeling good for a long long time. Well done Afolayan and the entire team of Figurine. Good job. Not just the movie but the entire package, He thought out of the box, took a big risk but it paid off. He has taken Nollywood to a whole new level. The movie is still in cinemas and is expected to gross even more than Stephanie's film.

The next big one is Guilty Pleasures. It's already out in America but will be hitting the cinemas in Nigeria from the 29th of November. It is a must watch. Not just because it's from Emem Isong and Desmond Elliot, both of whom are my family(lol, yes, I know I am name dropping) but because it's really great. It thrills you from start to finish. If you don't watch it for anything else, you must watch it for Ramsey's Stellar performance. He deserves an oscar for that one, he was at his best.

DISTRICT 9 AND THE NIGERIA FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD

2009-09-23T03:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

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.

Ramsey Nouah

2009-08-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

It's not what you think.

Absolutely amiable are the first words that come to you when you first meet him. He has no airs. None.

Ramsey Nouah is one of the A-list Nigerian actors. His good looks and suaveness make him a favourite among the women. The screen has the ability to make humans look larger than life, but on set, Ramsey is like the rest of us, eating ordinary food and doing ordinary things. He is also very corporative, doesn’t spend hours arguing with the director or complaining about some irrelevant details as most of the stars are wont to do. Mr. Nouah just gets on with his job.He has a good word for everyone often accompanied with a smile. Ramsey can’t resist music, whenever he hears a tune, he swings to it often causing laughter among the other cast and crew.

Mr. Nouah is so real you completely forget he is a star until the director screams ‘action’ and he transforms into a completely different person depending on the character he is playing.
Ramsey Nouah was born in 1973 and has been in Nollywood for ten years. King of Money (1993) was his first movie. Ramsey has worked hard at his craft and the difference between his first movie and his recent ones are very obvious. He is happily married with kids.

Nouah does not like the press and avoids them as much as he can. However, Shllye Shonoike of WOW magazine succeeded in squeezing a long interview from him. The magazine is on news stands and has a sensational looking Nouah on the cover.

Pete Edochie Kidnapped?

2009-08-17T01:25:00.000-07:00

Pete Edochie, popularly known as Okonkwo from his great performance in 'Things fall apart' has been reportedly kidnapped in Onitsha. As at press time, no demand for ransome had been made. Recently, there have been several reports of kidnappings in the Eastern part of the country. Now that a popularl person has been kidnapped, one hopes that the coverage it is already generating will force the government to beef up security in the nation.

Nollyarts sympathises with Edochie's family and prays that he will soon be returned to them unhurt.

A more detailed report on Edochie's kidnapped can be found here.

Say you are a child witch.

2009-08-17T01:20:00.000-07:00

This piece can be found on nigerianstalk here.

An update of some sorts

2009-07-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have been wondering what the Nigeria film and censors board was up to before the advent of Nollywood and Cinemas-they censor movies shown at galleria and other places too. I think they do more harm than good. Why does the Nigerian government always look for ways to drain an already drained people? Everyday they introduce new taxes.
The Association of movie producers(AMP) is conducting it's general elections next week. The tussle for presidency is between Teco Benson and Paul Obazele. And it is a real tussle, you would think they are contesting for Yardy's seat.
The Nollywood Glo ambassadors have just returned from SA where they went to shoot a glo commercial, I understand that they had fun. In my next life, I will be an actress.

EDIKAN

2009-07-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

Edikan was inspired by steppingstones

Still on Tolu Ogunlesi

2009-06-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

He's got to be the most popular Nigerian youth on the internet. Just google his name. Tolu has won numerous literary awards and has been invited for workshops and seminars and fellowships. He works hard, that one and it is surely paying off. Artsville congratulates Tolu on his achievements and urges other young writers to emulate him. Something I heard Muhtar Bakare say, it isn't neccessarily the most talented that gets published but the one who works the hardest. Whatever you do, don't stop till you get there.

Zik Zulu stands up for Nollywood

2009-06-06T00:04:00.000-07:00

Eddie Iroh recently lashed out at Nollywood, Zik Zulu responds to him here. When you live in a glass house,they say you cannot afford to throw stones. It amazes me when other writers criticise Nollywood writers when we know that their works are not any better. I see it so many times on blogville, blogville writers condemning Nollywood writers when they themselves have never been published. If you post your story on a blog, that is not publishing, it's posting. If you think it's that easy and you are that good, go get published!

Nigerian Books versus Nigerian Films

2009-05-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am privileged to work in both industries. Yesterday I chatted with Eghosa Imasuen, a friend for whom my respect grows daily. His first book, ‘To Saint Patrick’ is a fantastic read. Unfortunately the book has sold very few copies. When he tells me how many copies have sold, I cringe. It is less than the number of copies ‘Reloaded’ sold in a day and ‘Jenifa’ perhaps in an hour. And so my question is why are Nigerian films selling so much and books not at all? Getting published in Nigeria particularly for new writers is almost as hard as crossing the ocean on foot.

In a brilliant interview by Eghosa here, he insists that Nigerians read. I share the same sentiments. Inspirational books, Business books, Novels, just name it, Nigerians are reading it, ask the boys at Yaba, how many Sheldon’s or Archers they sell in a day or stop by Laterna and watch the crowd. I think it’s been a very wrong notion that Nigerians do not read, unfortunately we have come to believe this, even the publishers which is why I think the books are not selling. The people behind it consciously or subconsciously don’ t really think that it will sell. They have created hurdles in their minds that don’t really exist. I also think they don’t see it as a business, perhaps they consider it charity. The marketing of books in Nigeria is terribly poor, I doubt that more than one percent of Nigerians are aware when a new book is released. All praises to Facebook. Farafina seems to have been waiting for the social network as that’s what they mostly rely on now. Take the 9writers tour, I have not heard it announced once on radio, nor seen it on TV nor read it on print, it is only online. While the online audience is huge, this is Nigeria, we do not have power supply, I personally have not had electricity in a week so how are we expected to access the net?

When one of Adichie’s books was released in England I happened to be in London and saw the posters in lots of places, train stations, buses etc. ‘Half of a yellow sun’ is recorded to have sold 40,000 copies in the U.K. alone. Farafina releases a book, sends the information to a few people on facebook and then waits for a miracle. It sounds to me like a crazy plan. I know that lack of funds may be a major factor but in business, you have to spend money to make money. Which is why I doff my hat for Nollywood guys particularly the Idumota guys who practically made Nollywood, They pumped their money in, pushed the movies out there and now several people are reaping the benefits. Several of my writer friends are trying to cross over because while our first love may have been prose or poetry, nobody wants to write a book that nobody’s going to read. Personally, I prefer to write screen plays because there I can be anything I want to be,I can choose to write about love, beauty, religion, anything at all but when writing literature I must remain guarded, I am forced often to write to type, in style, in language, in everything, constantly glancing over my shoulders to be sure that my (western) audience is following. Nollywood has set me free but I want books to do the same.

The publishers should repackage not just the books but the presentation of the books to the public, Nigerian writers and readers have been made to believe that our books must run social commentary or be historic to succeed particularly after the success of Adichie’s half of a yellow sun. While that is a good thing, it can get tiring and boring. Our novels are presented like academic books, the readings are so boring you wonder why you would spend 2 hours of your hard earned time getting bored. A book is a product like any other, it has to be well packaged, advertised and made available to the public.

It’s very embarrassing to hear about the poor sales of books particularly when one knows that it can do so much better. If we could read pacesetters, African writers series, I don’t see why we can’t read any other one that is made available.

GO, NOLLYWOOD,GO!

2009-05-08T05:13:00.000-07:00

A Unesco study has rated Nollywood as the second largest film producer in the world ahead of Hollywood.
http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=45317&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

This has generated much debate with some people arguing that quantity should not be a deciding factor but quality. While this may be true, it is also true that coca cola isn't the healthiest drink, yet its sales amount to billions daily. Quantity certainly is important.

Nollywood has done very well for itself and single handedly so. There has been no government support, very little bank support unlike other countries who don't even have an industry as large as ours.

The industry is ours to build, to nurture till we can beat our hands on our chests and say, yes we did it. Nigerians should stop taking the easy way out by constantly criticising but instead should task their brains a bit and profer solutions. The industry has been recorded as the largest informal employer of labour in Nigeria, at a time when a big telecom firm like Zain is laying off 300 staff in one day, and several banks have slashed salaries, we should be grateful that we have other industries and devise ways to build on them.

The industry offers huge opportunities for employment, for investments, and for Government revenue. Unfortunately, the outside nations are recognising these opportunities more than Nigeria is. Criticism is good but only when constructive. Nollywood has been reported to be a million dollar business, now is the time for us to work together and make this even bigger than it is. The capital market has crashed and the banking sector seems to be on its way down too, even the oil sector seems to be faltering. What may sustain us in the country may be the entertainment sector of which Nollywood is a major player.

Nollywood has major challenges: piracy, distribution and perhaps most importantly the lack of a film village. Businessmen, banks, conglomerates, govenment agencies should identify these challenges and profer solutions that would see both parties smiling to the banks.
Hollywood worked because Americans made it work, and Bollywood as well. It wasn't left to the practitioners alone, as many as could contribute did, with some building film villages, while others provided funds and others battled piracy.

This attitude of Nigerians to constantly reign negative attacks on almost everything is no longer fashionable if it ever was.

The whole world is in recession, now is the time to embrace anything(legal) that may keep us afloat. Agriculture remains largely untapped, instead of expending one's energy hating on Nollywood, one could try developing Agriculture.

Artsville congratulates all Nollywood practitioners and fans for building this amazing industry.
It can only get bigger and better. GO, NOllYWOOD,GO!

The book tour

2009-05-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

I must be the last blogger to put this up but better late than ......

And we overcame.

2009-05-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

A Nigerian Police station.

Bursting Out!

It's 2am.We are by a poolside. We have been setting up for almost six hours for this scene. The extras are all dressed, the music is ready, the director seems satisfied but just as his is about to shout action, it starts to rain. Heavily. The scene is cancelled. We'll have to do it another day.

Edikan!

The part 1 was shot last year, it was going to remain as a one part film but well wishers in the industry advised against it so we went back for a part two. The church we initially used has been dismantled. We improvise. It's not a high budget film so we film in Surulere and its environs. Not a very good idea as generator sounds are crazy. From 7pm it's almost impossible to shoot. Several times we have to beg the residents to hold out a few more minutes before putting on the heavy machines. Some comply eager to be of help, some think we must be crazy.

In lekki/Ikoyi, almost all the generators are sound proof. So many things divide the island from the mainland and it isn't just water.

Despite the challanges, we finished both shoots. Now I know why they write To God be the Glory as end credit.

'Bursting out' is a romantic comedy. 'Edikan' attempts to redress the issue of child witchcraft in Akwa Ibom state without sounding preachy.

I am happy to have been a part of both productions with such great cast and crew.

This week on Artsville.....

2009-04-20T01:18:00.000-07:00

The thing around your neck.

This month Chimamanda does it again with her new book; The thing around your neck, a collection of short stories. The book is published by fourth estate and is available for purchase online at Amzon.

This month also Emem Isong hits the screen again with Guilty pleasures an intense love story. The movie is produced by Emem Isong and Desmond Elliot and it stars: Ramsey Noah,Mercy Johnson, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Omoni Oboli,Marjid etc.Guilty pleasures is not yet available for purchase but the trailer is making webwaves.

A Nigerian wins commonwealth writers' prize

2009-03-18T04:39:00.000-07:00

Akwa Ibom State born Jesuit priest; Father Uwem Akpan has won the Commonwealth writers' prize for his debut book: 'Say you're one of them.' 'Say you are one of them' is a collection of five short stories about the painful experiences of children in five different African countries: Kenya,Rwanda,Nigeria,Benin and Ethiopia. These horror experiences are all narated by children. One of the featured stories was shortisted for the Caine Prize. Uwem Akpan has received much praise for his work. Say you're one of them is published by Abacus.

Below is a full list of this year's winners;

Best Book

Jhumpa Lahiri (UK) Unaccustomed Earth

Marina Endicott (Canada) Good to a Fault

Mandla Langa (South Africa) The Lost Colours of the Chameleon

Christos Tsiolkas (Australia) The Slap

Best First Book

Mohammed Hanif (Pakistan) A Case of Exploding Mangoes

Joan Thomas (Canada) Reading by Lightning

Uwem Akpan (Nigeria) Say You're One of Them

Mo Zhi Hong (New Zealand) The Year of the Shanghai Shark

Still on Slumdog Millionaire

2009-03-06T02:19:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine just drew my attention to Reuben Abati's article here-http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02//indexn2_html?pdate=060309&ptitle=Slumdog%20Millionaire%20and%20Nollywood (sorry blogger wasnt accepting the link, had to copy and paste.)

I knew someone was going to make the comparison, I just didn't think it would be him. It is a well written piece as most of his articles are but what exactly do they mean by this:
'If the Indians can do it, Nigerians can do it too. If we want to rebrand Nigeria, that is what we should be doing. Slumdog Millionaire is a great branding opportunity for India.'

How exactly is Slumdog millionaire a branding opportunity for India? what is it branding? The slums? the crime? the abject poverty? the child prostitution? etc. I have never been to India but this is the image I now have of it,thanks to Slumdog millionaire. Is this the same way we want to brand Nigeria; to show the corruption, the crime, the juju, the lack of power supply, the inefficient police etc. Because we would have to show the dark side of Africa to win an Oscar. Tsotsi- the South African film to win one did and so did City of God-the Brazillian film.
While these things exist in these countries, they also exist in the West, but I am yet to see a movie depicting and possibly exagerating the teenage knife crime in the Uk.

To win an Oscar, dear Reuben Abati and Toyin Subair, while a good story, directing etc may be important, what would be most important would be to show the darkest side of us. Binyavanga Wainana puts it perfectly in his article 'How to write about Africa'.
Nollywood needs to up it's game as they very well will, but it won't be in an attempt to win an Oscar, it would be first to give its audience a better experience which they deserve.

British Council is SWALLOWED up at NIGHT by CREAKING BEDS

2009-02-26T05:37:00.000-08:00

Last night, Sefi Atta and Toni Kan read from their books at the British council. Sefi from her two books: Lawless, a collection of short stories and Swallow, her second novel. Both books are published by Farafina. Toni Kan read stories from Nights of a creaking bed, also a collection of short stories published by cassava republic.

I was not expecting Toni Kan so I was happy to see him: two for the price of one. The two authors are quite different. Toni kan, vibrant and loquacious while Sefi sat demure and calm. Lawless and Night of a Creaking Bed are both set in Lagos and in this the two writers find a common ground. The conversation is centred around Lagos. In one of kan’s stories, a man attempts to move an electric cable off a Lagos road and gets electrocuted. Kan explains that this is an extension of real life as he actually experienced such a scene while driving past some Lagos suburb. He was convinced the man was new to town so he decided to build a story round it. Who touches fallen cables in Lagos? Sefi is shocked that Toni drove past, coming from abroad she thinks one should stop. Who stops by a corpse in Lagos? Only if you want to be the next corpse. Toni says.

Both writers chatter on for a few miutes about their fascination with Lagos. Toni says he will almost always write about Lagos and while Sefi does not say so, she confesses it’s their shared love for Lagos that drew them to each other.
Toni is asked to review swallow. Fortunately for Sefi, it is a good review, one of the few she has gotten for the novel swallow. Toni extols it and says other critiques must be talking about a different swallow. Atta rises to her own defence advising reviewers to put more energy into writing their works than condemning someone who is writing. We are informed that she doesn’t read her reviews. I think it is a good idea and decide that I too, will not read my reviews. No need to get a heartache.

It was a good event, well organised. Farafina surprised me by keeping to schedule. It was also well attended. Sefi continues to read at at Terraculture on Friday, the 27th and at quintessence on saturday the 28th between 3 and 5pm.

On the Church

2009-02-23T04:21:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know this has nothing to do with Nollywood or Arts. Thinking about it, perhaps it does as the noise pollution caused by the church is affecting my creativity.
I wonder if life in Nigeria has not been made difficult enough by the government , that the citizens should choose to make it harder. There’s barely any electricity as such there is no water as it can’t be pumped(that is for those of us privileged to have boreholes).A friend of mine says each compound in Lagos is a local government; you provide your own power supply with a generator, your water supply with a bore hole or well depending on which part of town you live in, your own health care by self prescribing your own drugs: headache? Grab some paracetamol and if symptoms persist after three days, try agbo. So you are lying in the heat worrying about water to have a bath in the morning, being feasted upon by mosquitoes and then the church piano starts humming. It’s 12am and so you think it must be the rat that accidentally touched some chords, but you start to hear voices, softly at first then as if suddenly determined to sing louder than the angels, the voices increase. You get up, your hope of getting any sleep completely gone.
There is a church beside me driving me crazy. There is always one service or another, day and night. If it is not women’s fellowship, it is men’s assembly. In January, they had service every evening. Not only do they constitute such terrible noise pollution, they take up the entire parking space made for occupants of the street as it is a small street and the church happens to be big. Now they are building a church three times the size of the present one just across me. They have taken up more than half the road with gravels/sand making parking and driving through very difficult and of course some driver bashes my parked car. I have finally had it and complain to the church, they blame it on the contractor and offer to pay for the damage. That’s a laugh isn’t it, Like I employed the contractor. I don’t take their money.
My question is this: This blatant disregard for the next being that is often exhibited by these churches , is that not in itself sin? How do they stand there before an altar and raise supposed holy hands in worship knowing that the blasting noise is causing many people despair? Is the core of Christianity not love, love and love again? The government would do well to ban all churches from operating in residential areas but I doubt it would be President Yaradua or Governor Fashola as that would probably cause a religious war. It would have to be when a Christian is in power , let’s see who the fanatics would have to say about that.
Two of my neighbours attend the church and by so doing have endorsed them so I fight a lone battle.

THE LONDON AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL

2008-12-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

See details here

AGN and the Face of Nollywood

2008-11-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

Interesting Story here

RELOADED and WHEN THE HEART LIES PREMIERE IN ABUJA

2008-11-26T07:27:00.000-08:00

Two Nigerian movies premiered at the Nicon Hilton Abuja, earlier this month.
Reloaded which is prduced by Emem Isong and Desmond elliot and When the heart lies produced by Vivian Ejike.
The event was well attended. Some notable names at the event were: The Honourable governor of Benue state- Gabriel Tor-Suswam, Chairman of Censors Board-Emeka Mba, President of AGN-Ejike Asiegbu among several others.
Both movies will be released in January under a new distribution network-Nollywood distribution.

Photos from the premiere at Nicon Hilton, Abuja.

Eghosa and Saint Patrick at Bambuddha

2008-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

Eghosa Imasuen on Saturday, the 18th read from his debut novel: To Saint Patrick at a nice serene venue;Bambuddha. Thirty two year old Eghosa says the first lines in his debut novel were the very first lines he ever wrote. His mother challenged him to write after reading purple hibiscus from the young and talented Chimamanda. He took up the challenge and it resulted in To Saint Patrick.

To Saint Patrick takes us back to the year 2003 in an 'alternate Nigeria,' a prominent member of the NPN political party, veteran journalist Chief Johnson, has just been murdered. Two small time crooks are found with a bag full of his bloody clothes. They will take the fall to assuage the public, although some evidence suggests they may just be innocent... Is it politics as usual?To Saint Patrick rewrites Nigerian political history, presenting the reader with a series of 'what ifs': what if Major-General Murtala Mohammed had survived the 1976 attempt on his life, and had run for a 2nd term?; What if Babangida was simply on the sidelines—an honourable gentleman?; What if our democracy was healthy?A beautifully written tale of adventure, sci-fi, intrigue, and a dash of love, To Saint Patrick is a must read.