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By Prisca Sam-Duru The screening of the documentary film on "the March on Washington" and  “I Have a Dream” Speech by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the US Consulate General in Lagos last week, greatly exposed the importance of non violent revolution all over the world. Screening of the film titled “The March”, a 1964 documentary by James Blue  was  part of activities organised to mark the 50th anniversary of  the march led by Luther King Jr. whose non violent struggles, resulted in the emancipation of black Americans. The 40 minutes film describes the events of the 1963 civil rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom which has remained till date, one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history. The March, which took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963 had American footsoldiers of about 250,000 participating in the campaign for civil and economic rights for African Americans. During the march, Dr. Martin Luther King, J...

By SAM ANOKAM It is in every word and description the Nigerian story. At a time in the history of the nation when after 52 years of independence, various ethnic groups are working and scheming assiduously to control the political space especially ahead of the 2015 elections, the menace of terrorist groups, kidnapping, corruption as well as the growing religious and sectarian divide in the nation, the dance drama, Nigeria The Beautiful, aptly comes alive. As part of the programme celebrating the Osun Osogbo Festival, renowned poet and intellectual, Odia Ofeimum, had packaged the dance drama at a well attended event at the government House, Osogbo. The occasion had in attendance, the governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his cabinet, foreign dignitaries, Nollywood stars, musicians, comedians, art enthusiast, and tourists. Despite a bit of hiccups in terms of sound and delivery, the play which is the story of Nigeria from Lord Frederick Lugard, the first colonial Governor-Gene...

By Prisca Sam-Duru When “The Bombers” stormed the stage with a most exhilarating performance, the entire audience comprising the honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; representatives of Centre for Black Art and Africa Civilisation (CBAAC), National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), National Theatre, Ministry of Education, Professors from different universities across the federation, etc, knew the afternoon was that of super entertainment. The occasion was the maiden convocation of the National Institute for Cultural Affairs (NICO) Training School where the Director of Bauchi State Arts/Culture and 216 students were awarded the Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration. The event also doubled as the 20th anniversary of the institute which took place last week at the Cinema Hall, National Theatre, Lagos. Starting from the drummers who opened the floor, with melodious sounds, the exotic dancers whose dance steps and stunning choreogra...

By Japhet Alakam Art has been described as a goldmine as well as the best alternative to oil as far as revenue generation , job creation etc, are concerned in Nigeria. In fact, Art has made Nigeria a significant country in the world culture map as a major contributor to the development of world civilisation. But despite these laudable goals, the sector is still faced with many problems which need to be addressed by the various actors in the industry.  And for art to overcome some of these challenges, there is the urgent need for the establishment of a foundation for the arts by the federal government run by a Board of Trustees with professional integrity and ethics where all the various sectors of the arts have a clearly defined fund to draw from. This was the submission of Professor Jacob Jari of faculty of Environmental Design, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria while delivering a lecture at the third Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF) lecture series titled “The Price...

By Prisca Sam-Duru Caught In The Storms is a non-fiction authored by a budding writer, Amaka Ezenwankwo, an Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) graduate of Mass Communication, who though expresses herself in key genres of Literature, flaunts a bias for prose and poetry. With the use of non fictitious places, locations, schools, etc, Caught In The Storms  provides deep moral lessons for teenagers. It also warns parents/Guardians, of the danger of not properly monitoring their children and wards while on campus. In leu of this, the author opines that irrespective of students’ religious background or level of discipline, it is imperative to act positively whenever parents spot any behavioural changes in their children/wards while in the higher institutions. With twenty chapters and 173 pages, the author embarks on a detailed expository mission with her goal, being to address issues relating to truancy, immorality, illicit love affairs with married men commonly known am...

She looked at the monstrous machine with sadness  written all over her face. She quickly snapped out of shock and put on her thinking cap. Before her was what one could rightly describe as a sleeping giant, a massive rice mill capable of producing 180 tonnes of rice daily, lying fallow at Elele Alimini in Rivers State. For Dr. Christy Atako, the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, something must be done urgently. In very few words, she made it clear, there and then that the sleeping giant must be roused from its deep slumber. The rice mill built by the NDDC had remained comatose since it was completed in 2010 for some inexplicable reasons. At a time when attention is focused on agriculture, the new NDDC boss  could not accept allowing such a huge investment to continue to waste. “We will do everything possible to ensure that farmers benefit from the rice mill so as to guarantee massive cultivation and production of rice in the Niger Delta. Farming ...

By OKOFU UBAKA. One issue towered above others in the just concluded conference on oral literature in Nigeria organized by Nigerian Oral Literature Association (NORA). “No fieldwork no oral literature”, this was Prof. G.G. Darah’s ‘Oriki’ all through the duration of the conference. Darah’s description of the writers’ festival as a dance of the forest was not uncommon. Trainee researchers had the rare privilege of watching the literary sways of the generals that took turns to do what professors were known for. The echoing and chaotic clattering of the forest was too fierce for any Akaraogun. Yet, the literary trainees survived the intellectual rumblings of the generals. From the presentations of Profs Darah, Wanjala, Ogwude, Nkem Okoh, Chinyere, Adekoya, Adebola Dasylva to Dr. Otiono, Dr. Awhefeada and Dr. Linda Onwuka, none of it left the audience in doubt as to the appropriateness of the theme of Documentation and Safeguarding of Nigerian Oral Literatures and Traditions. Expectedly, t...

By Japhet Alakam As part of its corporate social responsibility, Sterling Bank Nigeria PLC last Sunday, auctioned  not less than 43 artworks by young talented artists from age 5 to 15 to raise fund for the less privilege in the society. The auction which was done under the supervision of renowned artist and founder of Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya took place at the bank’s head office in Lagos. The auctioned works were selected from a painting competition organized earlier this year for the children of the bank’s staff, with a theme: “Creating a beautiful world”. According to the organisers, the money raised from the auction would be donated to a non-governmental organization, Lots Charity Foundation that caters for physiological, social, educational, psychological, medical and emotional needs for vulnerable street children in Dustbin Estate in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Ajegunle, Lagos State. The Group Marketing Manager of Sterling Bank, Mr. Segun Anako said the essence o...

By Prisca Sam-Duru The Paroche Foundation last week at the Muson Centre, Lagos, held a colourful and elaborate concert in memory of the 26year old graduate of Political Science from Babcock University, who was killed in Lagos on the 19th August, 2012 by a drunken driver. Organised by Tsoule events, the concert tagged, “Candle Of Purpose” featured notable Nigerian musicians currently making waves in the music industry which include Davido and Buchi. The Paroche Foundation named after Taiwo’s nickname (Paroche) which was formally inaugurated on the anniversary day he was killed, was to carry on with the legacy he left behind from which he got his nickname. The Muson Hall was creatively and flamboyantly decorated with corresponding colours and lighting coupled with all kinds of musical instrument contributing to the venue’s adornment. The number of youths who were on ground to lend a helping hand in giving the hall as well as the concert itself, a perfect touch was in excess. And through ...