Iara Lee's Cultures of Resistance thrills film festival's audience in Lagos

Many people came for the Nigerian premiere of Iara Lee's Cultures of Resistance at the 2nd Eko International Film Festival Tuesday morning at the Silverbird Galleria on Victoria Island, Lagos. The audience twitched and swore as bloody scenes of oppression were shown on the silver screen. They were moved by the gripping imagery of political tyranny and how the human spirit can overcome fear in a hostile world.

Many people said Lee's political documentary is the best film they have seen at any film festival in Nigeria. The impact of the scenes showing the legendary Pan African musician and protest artiste Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Niger Delta activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was felt by the audience who could not deny the testimonies of the victims of injustice in Africa's most populous country. They were enraptured by the flashbacks on the martyrs and heroes of political justice in Nigeria.

Lee is expected in Nigeria before Christmas.


~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima

Gani Fawehinmi: The Conscience of the Nation is Gone!

Chief Abdul-Ganiyu "Gani" Oyesola Fawehinmi, (22 April 1938 - 05 September 2009)

Honorable Gani Fawehinmi was the conscience of Nigeria and there will never be another Gani Fawehinmi again. He and the late Afro beat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti were the most outspoken Nigerian human rights activists of the 20th century. As Fela used his music as the instrument and vehicle for the social and political emancipation of the poor masses, Gani used his law to fight for justice and liberty in Nigeria.

For decades Gani risked life to defend the defenseless poor and powerless people of Nigeria and was imprisoned dozens of times for his protests against military dictatorship and injustice. Gani was a fearless and incorruptible prisoner of conscience. Gani was a great man and would be remembered as one of the greatest civil rights leaders of our time.

Nigerians Report hereby proposes that we should have a special day to be celebrated as a Gani Fawehinmi Day in Nigeria.

Chief Abdul-Ganiyu "Gani" Oyesola Fawehinmi, (22 April 1938 - 05 September 2009) was a Nigerian author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, human and civil rights lawyer, politician and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) (the equivalent of the rank of Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom).




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