Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Hong Kong opens World’s Highest Hotel
THE RITZ-CARLTON, HONG KONG OPENS AS WORLD’S HIGHEST HOTEL, TAKING SERVICE EXCELLENCE TO NEW HEIGHTS
HONG KONG — March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong opens today and dominates the skyline as the world’s “highest” hotel. Located at the very top of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong, occupying floors 102 to 118, the hotel is the very pinnacle of luxury and a beacon of contemporary style and excellence in Asia’s World City. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is the newest addition to the brand’s growing global portfolio of 75 luxury properties and its 16th hotel in Asia.
“The opening of this landmark hotel in Hong Kong is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to delivering the very best product, facilities and service in this international gateway city,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “Partnering with Hong Kong’s premier developer, Sung Hung Kai Properties, we have been able to create something truly spectacular to welcome our guests not just to the highest hotel in the world, but also to one of the very best hotels in the world. We are taking luxury to new heights in every sense.”
The stylish and contemporary interiors by Singapore’s LTW set the scene for this thoroughly modern hotel set in the heart of Hong Kong. The sense of arrival is breathtaking with views of Victoria Harbour and the iconic Hong Kong skyline as the backdrop. Guests will be welcomed into the arrival lobby on the 9th floor before being transported up to the hotel lobby on the 103rd floor where panoramic views over Hong Kong await them.
The hotel’s 312 guest rooms all offer spectacular city and harbour views. Starting at 530 sqft for a Deluxe Room, and reaching 3,920 sqft for the magnificent Ritz-Carlton Suite, rooms provide state-of-the-art technology including WiFi, iPod docking stations, blu-ray DVD players and flat screen TVs. In addition, Club room guests can enjoy the panoramic view from The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge with complimentary food and beverage presentations 24 hours a day. The Club also gives guests access to a dedicated Club Concierge, work stations, meeting rooms and WiFi throughout.
In a move that perfectly articulates the brand’s shift in design philosophy and service evolution, the hotel’s six dining venues have been created by some of the biggest names in restaurant design, including Japan’s Spin Design Studio and Wonderwall. The hotel offers three restaurants on the 102nd floor, including Tin Lung Heen, which is a Chinese restaurant serving refined Cantonese cuisine, Tosca, an Italian restaurant which offers Southern Italian Cuisine with an open kitchen and the very stylish The Lounge & Bar which features stunning crystal fire pits. In addition, there is a chocolate-themed lounge named The Chocolate Library on the 103rd floor and a stylish patisserie located on the 9th floor.
Perhaps the jewel in the crown is Ozone located on the hotel’s 118th floor. This sleek, stylish and contemporary restaurant and bar will set a new benchmark for Hong Kong’s social and dining scene. Offering contemporary Asian tapas, signature cocktails and a stylish wine list, Ozone has bar and restaurant seating in zoned sections and the world’s highest al fresco terrace where guests can indulge in the incredible views over the city.
For those wishing to relax and indulge, The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA is the ultimate in urban spa sanctuary experiences. Located on the 116th floor and featuring nine deluxe treatment rooms and two couple’s suites all with floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views, the spa will appeal to both residential guests and Hong Kong citizens alike and offer a true escape from the city some 16,000 feet below. A world-class team of professional therapists will ensure a spa experience like no other. The hotel also features a fully equipped fitness centre and an indoor infinity pool overlooking the Victoria Harbour on the 118th floor with a 92ft x 23ft LED screen on the ceiling that can display images and videos.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong has one of the largest ballrooms in the city at 10,000 sqft. Elaborately decorated with a sea of crystal chandeliers, the décor of the Diamond Ballroom is suited to weddings, meetings and gala events. Complemented by an additional four meeting rooms, the total of 14,000 sqft of meeting space is set to become the new social centre for Hong Kong and the benchmark for events in the region.
In the podium of the ICC, the one million square foot Elements shopping mall offers some of the finest shopping in Hong Kong with luxury brand names featured throughout this world-class location. The ICC will also host an Observation Deck, Sky100 on the 100th floor and offer direct connections to Hong Kong International Airport in 20 minutes and Central in five minutes. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is strategically located at the heart of the city and will become a must-see tourist attraction now that it has opened.
Click here for a behind-the-scenes tour of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong with Vice President and General Manager, Mark Decocinis.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 75 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR). For company news and information, please visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
Media Contact:
Allison Sitch
Senior Corporate Director, Public Relations
Tel: (301) 547-4784
Fax: (301) 547-4722
allison.sitch@ritzcarlton.com
Cooperation: inter-faith school in Nigeria
29 Mar 2011 15:21 Africa/Lagos
Cooperation: inter-faith school in Nigeria
ROME, March 29, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- In the heart of Nigeria's poorest region and the one most torn by inter-faith conflict, a boarding school run by the Augustinian Fathers provides first-rate education for 200 children of all faiths. The middle school in New Karo, an outlying district of the capital, Abuja, is where in September 2009 the latest Italian Development Cooperation project was launched in Nigeria to provide secondary education for the young people of Nassarawa.
Built by Apurimac, an Italian non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a contribution from the Order of St. Augustine and the Directorate General for Development Cooperation, the school accommodates 220 pupils, many of them from Muslim families. It provides full board throughout the school year, along with top-rate services such as sports facilities, laboratories and highly qualified teaching staff.
Apurimac also runs a vocational training centre in Jos, in the Plateau State, a region sadly renowned for inter-ethnic violence. Here, 400 people learn vocational and craft skills in the dressmaking, catering and information technology sectors.
Cooperation: inter-faith school in Nigeria
ROME, March 29, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- In the heart of Nigeria's poorest region and the one most torn by inter-faith conflict, a boarding school run by the Augustinian Fathers provides first-rate education for 200 children of all faiths. The middle school in New Karo, an outlying district of the capital, Abuja, is where in September 2009 the latest Italian Development Cooperation project was launched in Nigeria to provide secondary education for the young people of Nassarawa.
Built by Apurimac, an Italian non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a contribution from the Order of St. Augustine and the Directorate General for Development Cooperation, the school accommodates 220 pupils, many of them from Muslim families. It provides full board throughout the school year, along with top-rate services such as sports facilities, laboratories and highly qualified teaching staff.
Apurimac also runs a vocational training centre in Jos, in the Plateau State, a region sadly renowned for inter-ethnic violence. Here, 400 people learn vocational and craft skills in the dressmaking, catering and information technology sectors.
Shark Attack Must Stop pleads Jim Toomey
Caribbean reef shark and diver in Bahamian Waters. (PRNewsFoto/Pew Environment Group, Stuart Cove Dive Bahamas)
29 Mar 2011 14:39 Africa/Lagos
Shark Cartoonist Jim Toomey Joins Effort to Protect Sharks in The Bahamas
PR Newswire
NASSAU, Bahamas, March 29, 2011
NASSAU, Bahamas, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Syndicated cartoonist Jim Toomey, whose Sherman's Lagoon comic strip appears in more than 250 newspapers in over 30 countries, will be in The Bahamas this week to push for increased shark protections. The artist will speak at several public forums and will visit with schoolchildren in Long Island and Nassau.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110329/DC73209)
"The Bahamas has something wonderful in its waters, something very few countries have," said Toomey. "Because the government banned longline fishing, the shark populations off the Bahamian coast are still relatively healthy and the marine ecosystem is more intact here than almost any other place in the world."
Toomey's cartoon features a great white shark that lives off of a fictional island in the Palauan archipelago. In the real world, the Pacific island nation of Palau established a sanctuary for these animals in 2009.
More than 40 different kinds of sharks can be found in Bahamian waters, including the whale shark, the great hammerhead and even great whites. Toomey is joining efforts spearheaded by the Pew Environment Group and The Bahamas National Trust to establish specific protections for the species; none currently exist.
"Under Jim Toomey's direction, Sherman and his friends confront all of the damage and indignities that we heap upon the underwater environment," said Eric Carey, executive director of The Bahamas National Trust. "Beyond the cartoon page, we need better marine protections so that the sharks can continue to keep our oceans healthy. That should start no other place but here in The Bahamas."
"The waters of The Bahamas were once known for buried treasure and pirate ships," said Jill Hepp, manager of Global Shark Conservation for the Pew Environment Group. "But living treasure can now be found swimming freely in the ocean. Over the past 20 years, shark diving has generated US$800 million for the Bahamian economy. In protecting these animals, we protect the health of our oceans and our economies."
Worldwide, up to 73 million sharks are killed every year, primarily for their fins, which are valued for their use in shark-fin soup, an Asian delicacy. As a result, 30 percent of the world's species are threatened or near-threatened with extinction. For an additional 47 percent, scientists lack sufficient data to properly assess their population status.
The Pew Environment Group is the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts, a nongovernmental organization that works globally to establish pragmatic, science-based policies that protect our oceans, preserve our wildlands and promote clean energy. www.PewEnvironment.org .
The Bahamas National Trust was established by an Act of Parliament in 1959 and is mandated with the conservation of natural and historic resources of The Bahamas. It is the only known non-governmental organization in the world with the mandate to manage a country's entire national park system. www.bnt.bs
Contact:
Pew Environment Group: Dan Klotz, +1 202.887.8855 / dklotz@pewtrusts.org
The Bahamas National Trust: Lynn Gape, +1 242-393-1317 / lgape@bnt.bs
SOURCE Pew Environment Group
Web Site: http://www.bnt.bs
CLICK HERE TO ORDER FOR YOUR OWN COLLECTION SHERMAN'S LAGOON COMIC BOOKS.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Most Popular Phones in Nigeria
BlackBerry is most popular among upwardly mobile young men and women in Nigeria, but Samsung Mobile with 6,136,648 monthly active users on Facebook and also winning the Sowambe Award for the best use of Twitter is like a superstar and the new Samsung Ch@t322 Phone with dual sim is currently the most popular phone in Nigeria.
About Samsung Ch@t322 Phone
The first mobile to offer a QWERTY keypad with DUOS, Samsung Chat 322 gives traveling business people and communicating heavy texters better mobile options on the go. Whether you’re juggling two phone numbers or taking advantage of different tariff plans, access to two SIM cards helps you stay in touch with double the convenience! Access 2 SIM cards at the same time! Harness the power, convenience and connectivity of two mobiles in one handset! Staying connected is so important – for business and pleasure! That’s why this phone comes with access to y! our favour es like Facebook and Twitter. Not only is Samsung Chat 322 powered with great functions to keep you in touch socially and while doing business on the go, the enhanced user interface makes it easier to use! Optical trackpad makes you to navigate menus smoothly and to expedite functions. Carrying and managing 2 SIM cards is not easy, but with Samsung Chat 322, it’s hassle free.
Details from Samsung Mobile
Access 2 SIM cards at the same time! Harness the power, convenience and connectivity of two mobiles in one handset! Whether you want to keep your personal and work phone calls separate, have greater coverage when traveling to different regions, or take advantage of the most advantageous calling rates, this DUOS feature makes it all easier and more accessible. Why manually switch back and forth between SIM cards when your phone does it all for you…automatically?!
Staying connected is so important – for business and pleasure! That’s why this phone comes with access to your favourite social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can even chat on instant messenger. With easy shortcuts and live updates from the home screen, you’ll always be socially up to date. Email is easier than ever – the mobile auto pulls so you don’t need to constantly check for new email! With Samsung, it’s so easy to keep up with your social life!
Not only is Samsung Ch@t 322 powered with great functions to keep you in touch socially and while doing business on the go, the enhanced user interface makes it easier to use! Optical trackpad makes you to navigate menus smoothly and to expedite functions. Explore mobile world more intuitive and comfortable.
Customised UX for DUOS
Carrying and managing 2 SIM cards is not easy, but with Samsung Ch@t 322, it’s hassle free. Direct SIM switch key on sid, and the Smart home offers you to check all the info and the update status from SNS or IM, email, schedules and more as you need.
3.5mm Ear jack
When you want to listen to the music, just plug in your headset to Samsung Ch@t 322, 3.5mm Ear jack fits your regular earphones, headphones and portable speakers.
Bluetooth v2.1
Bluetooth v.2.1 handles wireless file sharing and free-of-charge messaging with nearby users.
Surveys show that majority of Nigerians love smart phones, but they only go for the phones they can afford. That is why majority of the fanciful smart phones you see in town are not original BB or Nokia, but the imitations made in China.
7 out of 10 Teachers Think the Internet Could Help Improve Communication With Parents
29 Mar 2011 08:00 Africa/Lagos
7 out of 10 Teachers Think the Internet Could Help Improve Communication With Parents
BERGEN, Germany, March 29, 2011/PRNewswire/ -- 71% of teachers feel that a secure internet 'parent portal',where parents could see details about their child's schooling, would improve school-to-parent communication,according to a survey of 5805 teachers released today by leading educational ICT provider itslearning (http://www.itslearning.eu).
In the survey of teachers in France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US, 75% of teachers also rated parental engagement as either 'important' or 'very important' for the success of a child's education. However, 44% said they didn't have the time or means to communicate with parents as much as they would like.
"Teachers agree that involving parents is critical,but they aren't able to communicate with parents effectively," says Morten Fahlvik,Research Manager at itslearning. "Most teachers speak to parentsat least once a semester. But communication has to occur more often to be really effective. The internet could be the answer - as long as the tool is correctly designed."
How do teachers currently communicate with parents? According to the survey, 46% of teachers email each of their students' parents at least once a month; 37% use texts/SMSs and 24% still send letters.
"Many teachers use a mix of technologies to communicate with parents, but none of them are specifically designed for the task," says Fahlvik. "Teachers want a tool that will improve the flow of information and reduce their workload."
To meet this need, itslearning launched a parent portal last year. As part of the company's cloud-based learning platform, much of the information on the portal - such as grades and attendance - is updated automatically to save teachers time. Teachers can also add specific information about individual students as required.
"The teachers have been extremely positive," says Fahlvik. "We're now surveying the parents to discover how they feel about the portal."
For more information, please visit http://www.itslearning.eu/parentsurvey2011
Visit http://www.itslearning.eu/press to find your local itslearning press contact.
About itslearning
itslearning is a learning platform provider dedicated solely to the education sector. Its learning platform is used by millions of educators, students, admin staff and parents around the world - and can be found at all levels of education, from primary schools to universities. The company is headquartered in Bergen, Norway, and has offices in London, Birmingham, Berlin, Paris, Mulhouse, Malmo and Boston.
Contact information:
Kristine Lango
Marketing and Communications Manager
Email: kristine.lango@itslearning.com
Tel: +47-9828-3778
Source: it's learning AS
Contact information: Kristine Lango, Marketing and Communications Manager, Email: kristine.lango@itslearning.com, Tel: +47-9828-3778
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Sterling Bank’s Gluttons and Other Greedy Nigerians at Large
Sterling Bank’s Gluttons and Other Greedy Nigerians at Large
Sterling Bank’s Gluttons and Other Greedy Nigerians at Large
I know that Nigerian bankers can be very aggressive in the competition for rich customers, but I never knew that competing for free food and drinks was also in their bargain until I saw some Sterling Bank’s workers cornering, grabbing and monopolizing plates of food and bottles of drink at the wedding reception of their co-worker last Saturday in the assembly hall of the Federal Science And Technical College in Yaba, Lagos. They commandeered the foods and drinks even before the officiating ministers finished praying for the new couple Mr. and Mrs. Ibekwe. Apparently they were ignorant of social etiquette and company manners. The other day, greedy Nollywood stars were scrambling for the free cartons of cheap biscuits and T-shirts at President Goodluck Jonathan’s dinner in one of the halls of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island on Monday March 21, 2011. Even the Nollywood diva Genevieve Nnaji felt embarrassed by the shameless Nollywood stars that disgraced their profession at the event.
Nigerians are among the greediest of the human species and their greed makes them go gaga over material things and desperately grabbing things and looting the treasury and they have turned Nigeria into one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Sterling Bank’s Gluttons and Other Greedy Nigerians at Large
I know that Nigerian bankers can be very aggressive in the competition for rich customers, but I never knew that competing for free food and drinks was also in their bargain until I saw some Sterling Bank’s workers cornering, grabbing and monopolizing plates of food and bottles of drink at the wedding reception of their co-worker last Saturday in the assembly hall of the Federal Science And Technical College in Yaba, Lagos. They commandeered the foods and drinks even before the officiating ministers finished praying for the new couple Mr. and Mrs. Ibekwe. Apparently they were ignorant of social etiquette and company manners. The other day, greedy Nollywood stars were scrambling for the free cartons of cheap biscuits and T-shirts at President Goodluck Jonathan’s dinner in one of the halls of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island on Monday March 21, 2011. Even the Nollywood diva Genevieve Nnaji felt embarrassed by the shameless Nollywood stars that disgraced their profession at the event.
Nigerians are among the greediest of the human species and their greed makes them go gaga over material things and desperately grabbing things and looting the treasury and they have turned Nigeria into one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Monday, March 28, 2011
The most popular Nigerian newspaper in the world
The Vanguard is the most popular Nigerian newspaper in the world according facts obtained from Alexa.com on the most popular Nigerian newspaper websites.
The Vanguard has over 995 inbound links from external websites in the world with over 200,000 pageviews daily and over 7, 000, 000 pageviews monthly.
The second most popular Nigerian newspaper in the world is The Punch and the third is 234 Next
The following is the current top 10 newspaper websites in Nigeria
1. Vanguard
2. The Punch
3. 234 Next
4. Daily Sun
5. The Nation
6. Nigerian Tribune
7. The Guardian
8. This Day
9. Daily Independent
10. PM News
The Vanguard has over 995 inbound links from external websites in the world with over 200,000 pageviews daily and over 7, 000, 000 pageviews monthly.
The second most popular Nigerian newspaper in the world is The Punch and the third is 234 Next
The following is the current top 10 newspaper websites in Nigeria
1. Vanguard
2. The Punch
3. 234 Next
4. Daily Sun
5. The Nation
6. Nigerian Tribune
7. The Guardian
8. This Day
9. Daily Independent
10. PM News
Viva Riva shines at 2011 AMAA in Nigeria
A scene from Viva Riva.
Viva Riva shines at 2011 AMAA in Nigeria
The thrilling Congolese gangster epic movie "Viva Riva" out shined competitors to win 6 awards from 12 nominations at the 7th Annual African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Sunday night at the Gloryland Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Riva is a small time operator who has just returned to his hometown of Kinshasa, Congo after a decade away with a major score: a fortune in hijacked gasoline. Wads of cash in hand and out for a good time, Riva is soon entranced by beautiful night club denizen Nora, the kept woman of a local gangster. Into the mix comes an Angolan crime lord relentlessly seeking the return of his stolen shipment of gasoline. Director Djo Tunda Wa Munga’s Kinshasa is a seductively vibrant, lawless, fuel-starved sprawl of shantytowns, gated villas, bordellos and nightclubs and Riva is its perfect embodiment.
~ From South by South West
The film by Congolese director Djo Tunda Wa Munga won the awards for Best Film and Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Production Design.
The Ghanaian film “Sinking Sands” won 3 awards, for the Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Best Make-up.
“Aramotu” won awards for Best Nigerian Film and Best Costume Design.
The Best Actor Award went to Themba Ndaba of South Africa for his role in “Hopeville” and the Best Young Actor was Edward Kagutuzi for “Mirror Boy”.
It was another disappointing AMAA for Nollywood diva Genevieve Nnaji whose role in Tango With Me was not good enough to beat Amake Abebrese of Ghana who won the Best Actress award for her role in “Sinking Sands”
The following is the complete list of nominees and winners for the 2011 Africa Movie Academy Awards
Best Film
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo)
Best Director
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga
Best Actress In Leading Role
Amake Abebrese - Sinking Sands
Best Actor In Leading Role
Themba Ndaba – Hopeville
Best Actress In Supporting Role
Marlene Longage – Viva Riva
Best Actor In Supporting Role
Hoji Fortuna – Viva Riva
Best Young Actor
Edward Kagutuzi – Mirror Boy
Best Child Actor
Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) And Sibonelo Malinga (Khwezi) – Izulu Lami
Best Film In African Language
Izulu Lami – Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa)
Best Nigerian Film
Aramotu – Niji Akanni
Best Screenplay
Sinking Sands
Best Editing
Soul Boy
Best Cinematography
Viva Riva
Best Achievement In Sound
Shirley Adams
Best Visual Effects
A Small Town Called Descent
Best Soundtrack
Inale
Best Make Up
Sinking Sands
Best Costume Design
Aramotu
Best Production Design
Viva Riva
Best Film For African Abroad
In America: The Story Of The Soul Sisters - Rahman Oladigbolu (Nigeria/USA)
Best Diaspora Short Film
Precipice – Julius Amedume (UK)
Best Diaspora Documentary
Stuborn As A Mule – Miller Bargeron Jr & Arcelous Deiels (USA)
Best Diaspora Feature
Suicide Dolls – Keith Shaw (USA)
Best Documentary
Kondi Et Le Jeudi Nationale – Ariana Astrid Atodji (Cameroun)
Best Short Documentary
After The Mine – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (DRC)
Best Short Film
Dina – Mickey Fonseca (Mozambique)
http://www.chinokino.com
Labels:
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Viva Riva
Sunday, March 27, 2011
UN Condemns Continuing Use of Force in Western Libya
Under attack: Vehicles belonging to forces loyal to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi explode after a coalition air strike
24 Mar 2011 14:48 Africa/Lagos
UN Secretary-General Condemns Continuing Use of Force in Western Libya
NEW YORK, March 24, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General condemns the continued use of force in the western part of Libya, including Zintan and Misrata. Once again, he reiterates his call for an immediate end to violence by all parties, in accordance with Security Council resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011), and for the responsibility to protect civilians. All those who violate international humanitarian and human rights law will be held fully accountable.
Source: UNITED NATIONS
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time 24 Mar 2011
14:48 UN Secretary-General Condemns Continuing Use of Force in Western Libya
23 Mar 2011 21:57 African Union Chairman Obiang Supports Conclusions of High-Level AU Committee on Libya
20:22 Focus-Libya / NATO now in play. Italy's role. Frattini reporting to the Senate today
20:05 Libya / EU imposes additional sanctions following the adoption of UNSCR 1973
13:45 Libya Retains Scud Missiles
Africa’s Academy Awards attract thousands to the Niger Delta
Africa’s Academy Awards attract thousands to the Niger Delta
The excitement is in the air this Sunday evening as thousands throng the Gloryland Cultural Centre in the capital city of Yenegoa in the oil rich Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta, to join African film makers, movie stars and movie buffs for the 2011 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
The African Movie Academy Awards has all the glitz and red carpet fanfare that can only be compared to the glamorous and prestigious Oscars of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(AMPAS)in Hollywood as AMAA celebrates the best of Nigeria’s Nollywood and the rest of Africa in one unforgettable night as African movie stars strut the red carpet to compete for the coveted trophies of the AMAA in different categories. AMAA has attracted notable Hollywood stars like Danny Glover, Forest Whitaker who won an Oscar for Best Actor for his thrilling portrayal of Ugandan military tyrant Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland", Cuba Gooding Jnr who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his memorable portrayal of Rod Tidwell in Cameron Crowe's 1996 film "Jerry Maguire", Courtney Vance, Vivica A. Fox and Angela Basset.
South Africa dominates the 2011 AMAA with 27 nominations and followed by the host nation Nigeria with 23 nominations.
“The four South African films in competition include Hope Ville with nine nominations, Izulu Lami, seven nominations Shirley Adams, five nominations and A Small Town Called Descent with six nominations. Combined together, South Africa had the highest nominations by a country with a total of 27 nominations,” said Ms. Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the CEO of AMAA.
Ghana and Congo are also competing with great movies receiving the highest nominations. Ghana’s "Sinking Sound" with 10 nominations. Kenya’s "Soul Boy" got 6 nominations.
Nigeria is a strong contender with four films. Tunde Kelani’s "Maami", Jeta Amata’s "Inale", Niyi Akanji’s "Aramotu" and Mahmood Alli-Balogun’s "Tango with Me" are movies to watch.
The most coveted prizes are the AMAA for the Best Actor and Actress in a leading role; Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Achievement in Visual award.
Famous Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji is nominated for Best Actress in Leading Role
Best Short Film
Bougfen – Petra Baninla Sunjo (Cameroun)
Weakness – Wanjiru Kairu (Kenya)
No Jersey No Match – Daniel Ademinokan (Nigeria)
Duty – Mak Kusare (Nigeria)
Bonlambo – Zwe Lesizwe Ntuli (South Africa)
Zebu And The Photofish – Zipporah Nyarori (Kenya)
Dina – Mickey Fonseca (Mozambique)
Allahkabo – Bouna Cherif Fofana (Togo)
Best Short Documentary
Symphony Kinsasha – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (Congo)
Naija Diamond (Feature On Dr. Rahmat Mohammed) – Nform Leonard (Nigeria)
After The Mine – Diendo Hamadi & Dinta Wa Lusula (Drc)
Stepping Into The Unknown – Rowena Aldous & Jill Hanas-Hancock (South Africa)
Yeabu’s Homecoming – Jenny Chu (Sierraleone)
Best Documentary
Kondi Et Le Jeudi Nationale – Ariana Astrid Atodji (Cameroun)
Headlines In History – Zobby Bresson (Kenya)
Co-Exist – Adam Mazo (Rwanda)
State Of Mind- Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo)
Naija Diamonds- Nfrom Leonard (Nigeria)
Best Diaspora Feature
Suicide Dolls – Keith Shaw (Usa)
Tested – Russell Costanzo (Usa)
Nothing Less -Wayne Saunders (Uk)
The Village -Wayne Saunders (Uk)
Best Diaspora Documentary
Stuborn As A Mule – Miller Bargeron Jr & Arcelous Deiels (Usa)
Momentum – Zeinabu Irene Davis (Usa)
If Not Now – Louis Haggart (Usa)
Motherland – Owen Alik Shahadah (Usa)
Changement – Chiara Cavallazi (Italy)
Best Diaspora Short Film
Cycle – Roy Clovis (Usa)
Under Tow – Miles Orion Feld (Usa)
Habitual Aggression – Temi Ojo (Usa)
Little Soldier – Dallas King (Usa)
The New N Word – Sowande Tichawonna (Usa)
Precipice – Julius Amedume (Uk)
Best Film For African Abroad
Anchor Baby – Lonzo Nzekwe (Nigeria/Canada)
In America: The Story Of The Soul Sisters- Rahman Oladigbolu (Nigeria/Usa)
Mirror Boy – Obi Emelonye (Nigeria/Uk)
Africa United – Debs Gardner-Brook (Rwanda/Uk)
Best Production Design
Tango With Me
Viva Riva
Hopeville
6 Hours To Christmas
Maami
Best Costume Design
Inale
Yemoja
Sinking Sands
Aramotu
Elmina
Best Make Up
Inale
Sinking Sands
A Private Storm
Viva Riva
A Small Town Called Descent
Best Soundtrack
Aramotu
Nani
Who Owns Da City
Inale
A Small Town Called Descent
Best Achievement In Sound
Sinking Sands
Shirley Adams
Izulu Lami
Viva Riva
Tango With Me
Best Cinematography
Soul Boy
Sinking Sands
Hopeville
Shirley Adams
Izulu Lami
Best Nigerian Film
Maami – Tunde Kelani
Aramotu – Niji Akanni
Tango With Me – Mahmood Ali- Balogun
Inale – Jeta Amata
A Private Storm – Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun/Ikechukwu Onyeka
Best Film In African Language
Aramotu – Niji Akanni (Nigeria)
Izulu Lami – Madoda Ncayiyana (South Africa)
Soul Boy- Hawa Essuman (Kenya)
Suwi – Musola Catherine Kaseketi (Zambia)
Fishing The Little Stone – Kaz Kasozi (Uganda)
Best Child Actor
Sobahle Mkhabase (Thembi), Tschepang Mohlomi (Chili-Bite) And Sibonelo Malinga(Khwezi) – Izulu Lami
Eriya Ndayambaje – Dudu In Africa United
Jordan Ntunga – Anto In Viva Riva
Ayomide Abatti – Young Kashi In Maami
Benjamin Abemigish a- Zebu In Zebu And The Photofish
Shantel Mwabi – Bupe In Suwi
Best Young Actor
Yves Dusenge (Child Soldier) And Roger Nsengiyumua (Footballer) – Africa United
Samson Odhiambo And Leila Dayan Opou – Soul Boy
Edward Kagutuzi – Mirror Boy
Donovan Adams – Shirley Adams
Junior Singo – Hopeville
Best Actor In Supporting Role
Osita Iheme – Mirror Boy
Hoji Fortuna – Viva Riva
Mpilo Vusi Kunene – A Small Town Called Descent
John Dumelo – A Private Storm
Desmond Dube – Hopeville
Best Actress In Supporting Role
Mary Twala – Hopeville
Joyce Ntalabe – The Rivaling Shadow
Marlene Longage – Viva Riva
Tina Mba -Tango With Me
Yvonne Okoro – Pool Party
Best Actor In Leading Role
Themba Ndaba – Hopeville
Patsha Bay – Viva Riva
Jimmy Jean-Louis – Sinking Sands
Ekon Blankson – Checkmate
Antar Laniyan – Yemoja
Best Actress In Leading Role
Idiat Shobande -Aramotu
Omoni Oboli- Anchor Baby
Manie Malone – Viva Riva
Amake Abebrese- Sinking Sands
Denise Newman -Shirley Adams
Genevieve Nnaji – Tango With Me
Best Director
Soul Boy – Hawa Essuman
Shirley Adams – Oliver Hermanus
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga
Aramotu – Niji Akanni
A Small Town Called Descent – Jahmail. X. T Qubeka
Sinking Sands – Leila Djansi
Best Film
Viva Riva – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Congo)
Sinking Sands – Leila Djansi (Ghana)
Aramotu – Niji Akanni (Nigeria)
Soul Boy – Hawa Essuman (Kenya)
Hopeville – John Trengove (South Africa)
A Small Town Called Descent – Jahmil X.T Qubeka (South Africa)
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