Friday, July 31, 2015

A Letter From Home

Source: mackieandtate.weebly.com
(E. C. Osondu)--My Dear Son, 
Why have you not been sending money through Western Union like other good Nigerian children in America do? You have also not visited home. Have you married a white woman? Do not forget that I have already found a wife for you. Her name is Ngozi. Her parents are good Christians and her mother belongs to the Catholic Good Women’s League like me. Please do not to spoil the good relationship I have built over the years with Ngozi’s family.
I beg of you not to become like Kaka’s son who was sent to America with the community’s funds, only to come back with a white woman, and then would not let his parents visit him in his white man’s living quarters in the Lagos government reserved area. He has large dogs and his white wife treats the dogs like her children. The only time he visited his family, he refused to sleep in his father’s old house, complaining that it was dirty, and took his wife to pass the night in a hotel. He stretched out his hands to shake the hands of the elders of the community and would not prostrate on the ground like a well-brought- up child.

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Corruption Wars: Pro & Anti Camps One & the Same

"Permit me the excesses of generalisation to say that while Nigerians like to mouth anti-corruption rhetoric, we are actually pro-corruption. We claim to hate corruption, but when people we sympathise with are called to account, we begin to stammer and resort to sentiments to justify corruption, while saying: “I’m not trying to justify corruption but...” But what? We whip up ethnic, religious, regional, legalistic or political sentiments and ignore the substance. Indeed, we have devised many pro-corruption responses which we try to intellectualise....
I can identify at least six pro-corruption devices which we regularly deploy to frustrate the anti-graft war. The first is what I call “Our Son Syndrome”. Put a Nigerian on trial for corruption and people suddenly start grumbling about the plight of “our son”. This message, often orchestrated, comes in form of visits by traditional rulers to key government officials as well as stage-managed public protests and a media campaign to defend “our son”.
If someone is arrested for corruption today, rather than allow him to defend himself in court, it is the emirs and obas that will be making phone calls to the powers-that-be to get him released. And we say we hate corruption."

Literature, Widsom, and Freedom

Source: s1.hubimg.com
“The first freedom is mental freedom. We have to seize the freedom to be what we can be, to write whatever we want, with all the mystery and fire of art. It is our responsibility to illuminate the strange corners of what it is to be human.
Literature is the index of our intelligence, our wisdom, our freedom. We must not let anyone define what we write, what we see as worthy of playful or profound investigation in words. “The aim of art,” wrote Aristotle, “is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”

Not the appearance, but the inward significance, radiated from the genius of inner freedom.”

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Street Art with a Message of Hope and Peace



(TED)--What does this gorgeous street art say? It's Arabic poetry, inspired by bold graffiti and placed where a message of hope and peace can do the most good. In this quietly passionate talk, artist and TED Fellow eL Seed describes his ambition: to create art so beautiful it needs no translation.

Nollywood and Business Moguls Celebrate Yes! Magazine @ 4

The Azuh siblings, L-R: Arinze (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Yes! Int'l magazine), Lilian, Fr. Chijioke,
Amatus (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, DayLight newspaper), and Chibunna (Director, BuNna Fashion)
(Yes!)--YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, one of the leading and most respected soft sell journals in Nigeria clocked 4 years on Friday, June 19, 2015 – and on hand to celebrate and rejoice with them were business moguls, top government functionaries, showbiz stars, renowned men of God, friends, families, well-wishers, readers and advertisers. They all came dressed to the nines, ready and happy to say YES! with the celebrity journal which prides itself as being ‘More Than Just A Soft Sell’.

Africa: Tradition versus Modernity

Source: New African
(New African)--Visiting a museum in Auckland, New Zealand, a colleague and I were impressed by a battle-ready Maori warrior, showing his martial prowess whilst doing the Hakka. 
The display was suitably intimidating. My colleague got carried away and began to over-exaggerate its efficacy, claiming a warrior could dispose of their enemies in seconds. I reminded her that the weapons had proved ineffective against European firearms, and this was the most likely explanation why the warrior was now on display in a museum, and not on the battlefield.

Writing Africa to the World

Source: faithmwaura.com
What role should African literature play in presenting the continent to the world?
"To write truthfully, beautifully and to raise high the possibilities of literature. Literature is not advertising; it is all the truths that we cannot take and sometimes all the beauty that we cannot bear. It is about our enrichment and about compelling us, through its dreams, to face ourselves. The best contribution that literature can make is to be the best literature that it can be."
Ben Okri, New African magazine

Monday, July 20, 2015

"I Always Mispronounce My Name...I'm Reclaiming the Original"

Source: anglianwater
(The Guardian)--The Facebook name-pronunciation feature made me realize that, after a lifetime of code-switching, I want to pronounce my name as my mother intended

Facebook’s feature allowing you to choose an accurate pronunciation of your name for everyone to see (and hear) seems simple enough. Helpful, even. But I haven’t pronounced my name correctly in the last 27 years, and I’m afraid to start now.
I introduce myself as a three syllable SAH-dee-uh, when my name is actually a two-syllable Sa-Dhya, adapted from a sharper-sounding Arabic name to roll off a softer, Urdu-speaking palate. The trick is in the D. When I spell out “D as in David” to the Comcast rep on the phone, what I should be saying is “D as in Theo.”
But I don’t say that. Pronouncing my name the way my mother intended is more foreign to me now than the other way around. Here’s the uncomfortable reason why: I’m afraid my name sounds too ... ethnic. That Sa-Dhya won’t fit in with her mainstream white American friends and co-workers anymore. That saying my name “the right way” will somehow negate the fact that I was born in this country and feel more American than Pakistani.

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Nollywood Thesis Earns 1st Class at Cambridge

Precious Oyelade; source: voice-online.co.uk
(The Voice)--A CAMBRIDGE graduate has impressed academics with her dissertation on Nigeria’s flourishing film industry, better known as Nollywood, to the extent that she secured a first-class rated paper that is set to be published.
Precious Oyelade, from south London, defied the statistics to graduate with a degree in politics, psychology and sociology from Britain’s leading university with her dissertation, Changing representations of Nigerian identity: An exploration through Nollywood and its audience.
Oyelade, whose parents hail from Nigeria, was inspired by her heritage to explore a new narrative in her 10,000-word paper that fed directly into her final degree grade.
“For me it was the issue of identity. I really wanted to look at how Nollywood impacts those who have grown up in the diaspora, who identify as Nigerian but still see themselves also as British and what distance exists between us and those in Nigeria in relation to film,” the 21-year-old explained.
“In my study, I found that we as a diaspora have the choice and an ability to decide which part of our identity we want to focus on.”

Nollywood: In Promotion of Pan-Africanism

Source: Switsalone
(MarkLives)--Pan-Africanism is defined by “the idea or advocacy of a political alliance or union of all the African nations” — an idea that has been discussed, debated and promoted throughout the entire continent for many decades. In the 21st century, media platforms in Africa have become an important player to unify the underlying voice of ubuntu and cultivate a landscape of independent, yet intertwined, African culture.
One important player in the promotion of an interconnected African spirit is the highly successful Nigerian film industry — which averages an annual turnover of US$250m.

Book Review: Trends in Nollywood

Source: amazon.com
(ThisDay)--My first contact with a Nigerian movie was in 1977. I grew up near a Cinema Hall and the Urban Community School I attended was also located behind the Central Cinema in Abakaliki. The movies trending then were foreign movies like: Enter the Dragon, Game of Death, Heroes Two, Blacula, Saturday Night Fever, Longest Day, One Arm Boxer, and The Ten Gladiators amongst others.
Early in the morning, we used to deploy the promotional signpost “Showing Tonite” at strategic locations which accounted for our gate fees. It was then surprising to see on the coming attraction promo board a Nigerian movie titled “Bisi Daughter of the River” starring Patti Boulaye, a Nigerian celebrity who we had watched severally on LUX soap commercials courtesy of the Lever Brothers’ market activation team at Hosanna hill. 
I have journeyed down memory lane to connect with the title of this book review, which is all about trends. But first, what is a trend? It is a gradual change or development that produces a particular result. As the human society develops, trends emerge. Life evolves in diverse ramifications, creating trendy patterns at every point in time.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Africa's History Through Colonial Films

Source: thisisafrica.com
(This is Africa)--Colonial Film presents “moving images of the British empire” for the viewing pleasure of anyone with internet access. It provides an invaluable resource that I think should be exploited by everyone, especially if you are from a country that was colonised by the British
Colonial Film presents “moving images of the British empire” for the viewing pleasure of anyone with Internet access. On the website, you will find facts, figures and material on upwards of 6,000 films, more than 150 of which can be watched online.

Yoruba Deities as Movie Superheroes

Photo source: thisisafrica.com
(This is Africa)--"Oya: Rise of the Orisha" is a feature film that blends the Western superhero genre with Yoruba mythology. The film garnered Internet attention following its Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign.
To find out more about the importance of retelling Yoruba mythology on a global stage, and about the strong female character of Oya, we sat down with director Nosa Igbinedion.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Africa Magic Awards 2015: Matter Arising

(CharlesNoviaDailyAt 21:52 pm CAT, when IK Osakioduwa and Vimbai, hosts of the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, had signed off from the show and brought in P Square, I was left scratching my head a bit as I walked out slowly out of the hall with some of the invited guests.
I was puzzled. There was something about this year’s AMVCA which lacked the punch the last two editions had. I couldn’t place my finger on it and it kept nagging me all night as I played the event over and over in my mind. You see, I have attended lots of high-profile events and the AMVCA is one I always look forward to attending, not just as a filmmaker but also as a reviewer and this year’s was no exception.

Movie Review: Gone Too Far

Photo source: 360nobs
(360 Nobs)--After several years of trying to bring him over to London from Nigeria, Ikudaisi’s (O. C. Ukeje’s) mum (Golda John) finally succeeds.  On the day he arrives to meet his younger brother, Yemi (Malachi Kirby), whom he last saw when he (Yemi) was three, a chain reaction is set off; leading to unexpected outcomes.
Bola Agbaje has to be lauded for writing such a simple, but gripping screenplay; which is proof that well researched, everyday stories can become blockbusters. In fact, Gone Too Far merits the Best Screenplay award in national and international award ceremonies.  Then, Destiny Ekaragha is the new queen as far as film-making is concerned in Nigeria.

Nollywood and Renewed Season of Royalty

Photo source: iRokotv
(All Africa)--About 15 years ago, more than 80 per cent of the movies that were being churned out on a weekly basis, were all 'epic' films.
In case you have no understanding what an epic film in Nigeria film tradition otherwise called Nollywood is, let me give you an insight. A movie that was shot on location in a typical village with mud houses and all the characters wear sack clothes and walk bare footed. It is always about some gods (then Amadioha, Orisi Iyi, Sango and Ogun among other not too popular gods) fighting for or against the people. It was fashioned in the tradition of the Greek theatre-deus ex machina-where issues are resolved by the gods.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Tana Adelana's All-Time Nollywood Favorites


Tana Adelana; Photo source: Pulse.ng
In a recent interview with Pulse Nigeria, Nollywood actress Tana Adelana shared her favorite movies.

Movie Review: The Grave Dust

Photo source: 360nobs.com
(360 Nobs)--Clara (Amaka Chukwujekwu) ditches Johnson Okwuozo (Ramsey Noah) after her sister pronounces that Johnson’s family is accursed because members of the family die in their prime.  Her marriage to Jordan (Joseph Benjamin) is constantly menaced by a ghost, which is invisible to everyone else, but Clara.
It is pleasant surprise to see Emeka Edokpayi, the mortician, and Emeka Okoro, Chijioke – the ghost, after donkey years.  Clara and her sister bear a resemblance to each other just like Chijioke and Johnson – good casting.

In Pursuit of A Name: Nollywood, New Nollywood, Off-Nollywood

 CREDIT: IMAGE©ESPANOL/ONLYGRAFIC
(The African Report)--For more than 20 years Nigerian film has been limited to the 'Nollywood' brand, but now a growing number of filmmakers are shaking off the tag.
Auniformed man exits a van parked on the hard shoulder of the Magodo expressway in Lagos. He is the actor Wale Ojo, a face familiar to many Nollywood fans.
He walks a few metres towards a group of men engaged in a scuffle as cars speed past oblivious.
It is another day in mainland Lagos and a film crew attracts no more attention from the traffic than the dust left in its wake.

Meet Nollywood: A $3 Billion Industry

Photo source: Kunle Afolayan 
(Fortune)--Last year, data was released showing that Nollywood is a $3 billion industry. It is bigger than Hollywood by volume, and right behind India’s Bollywood.
In 1992, in Nigeria, electronics salesman Kenneth Nnebue shot a straight-to-video movie in one month, on a budget of just $12,000. Living in Bondage sold more than a million copies, mostly by street vendors, and Nollywood – Nigeria’s movie industry – was born.
By 2009, Nollywood had surpassed Hollywood as the world’s second largest movie industry by volume, right behind India’s Bollywood. And in 2014, the Nigerian government released data for the first time showing Nollywood is a $3.3 billion sector, with 1844 movies produced in 2013 alone.

Nollywood Attracts Educated Audiences

Rita Dominic; Photo source: RitaDominicOfficial/Facebook
(University World NewsNollywood, Nigeria’s vibrant film industry, has come of age by attracting tertiary educated audiences and can be used effectively as an integration tool in West Africa and beyond, says Dr Oluyemi Oyenike Fayomi, a senior lecturer at Covenant University in Nigeria.
Addressing more than 500 delegates at the 14th General Assembly of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa – CODESRIA – held in Dakar from June 8-12, Fayomi said Nollywood productions were rapidly gaining continental acceptance.
“Nollywood video productions are not just providing entertainment to residents of mega urban slums such as Makoko in Lagos or Kibera in Nairobi, but have penetrated gated communities of highly educated people in Sub-Saharan Africa and the African diaspora.”
A success story
It is hard to avoid Nigerian films in Africa, as they have defied the concept of the developed world cinema where feature films and high-end documentaries are screened in theatres. Nollywood filmmakers rely heavily on videos that are screened in informal settings such as buses, food kiosks, hotels and restaurants, and street and home theatres.

Inside Nollywood's Giant Economic Machine

(CNN)--They used to be the preserve of informal home gatherings around old flickering TV sets, but Nollywood films have now gone global.
Movie streaming giant Netflix has dedicated an entire section to Nigeria's mega film industry, so rather than having to buy a DVD, viewers around the world can now get their fix of Nigerian drama straight to their computer screens -- Nollywood is notorious for churning out hundreds of movies per month, capturing viewers with stories ranging from romance and drama to comedy and witchcraft.

Flavor: Igbo Amaka

Photo source: @igboamaka


25 Things You Can Blame Islam for



In this latest addition to It’s Your Fault, The Cubit’s series on blame in contemporary society, Religion Dispatches senior correspondent Haroon Moghul offers some good things to blame all Muslims for. 

The illustrations for this article come from the Illustration Class for high schoolers taught by Julie Zhu at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, a nationally recognized fine arts camp in Sitka, Alaska. The opportunity allowed students a peek inside professional illustration, how to approach and research an idea taken from a rough draft, and then how to edit and prepare the illustration for publication while incorporating feedback from the editors of the Cubit.