The CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards 2013: Call for Entries

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalists Awards 2013 has launched!
Be part of the most prestigious awards on the continent and submit your entries today.

Your story must have been broadcast or published in 2012 and deadline for receipt of entries is 17th April 2013.

To submit your entry, please go to http://www.cnnmcaja.cnn.com It’s the easiest and fastest way to get your entries to us. The onscreen instructions are easy to follow and, depending on file size, print; radio; digital and photo journalists can upload their stories directly to our servers.

Television journalists, and those whose file size exceeds our server limits, should enter all their details and then send the hard copy story, along with a printout of their unique story reference ID number, to their nearest collection points.

The online entry form is the most convenient way for you to submit your work to the competition. However, should you prefer, you may also use the attached PDF entry form. To do this, print out the attached form and complete all sections. The full list of collection points are also attached so you can find the one nearest you.

Should you have any difficulty accessing the attached documents, please visit our website: www.cnn.com/africanawards and download from there.

Please review your work of 2012 and select your best stories. Remember the total number of entries (stories) allowed per journalist remains at a maximum of 2.

Should you have any queries regarding your entry or about the competition generally, please contact us at cnnafrica.competition@turner.com

We look forward to receiving your entry – Good luck!

CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards Team.

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Carnegie Mellon 7 Years Study on Facebook Finds Increasing Private Disclosures.

Photo Credit: Mosimak.

5 Mar 2013 21:08 Africa/Lagos

Despite Efforts To Protect Privacy, Users Increase Amount of Personal Information Available Online, Carnegie Mellon Study Finds

First Long-term Study of Facebook Users Finds Network Environment Influencing Privacy Outcomes

PITTSBURGH, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A seven-year Carnegie Mellon University study of Facebook has found evidence of three contrasting trends in the amount of information Facebook users disclosed over time: decreasing public disclosures; abrupt changes in disclosure due to interface and policy changes; and increasing private disclosures.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020422/CMULOGO )

The 2005-2011 study, which appears in The Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality and can be found at http://repository.cmu.edu/jpc/vol4/iss2/2/, is the first longitudinal study to document how privacy and disclosure evolve on social network sites over an extended period of time. Researchers found that from 2005-2009, Facebook users displayed more privacy-seeking behavior, progressively decreasing the amount of personal data shared with the public.

This trend abruptly reversed between 2009 and 2010, when changes implemented by Facebook, such as modifications to its user interface and default settings, led to a significant increase in the public sharing of various types of personal information. The study also found that, over time, the amount and scope of personal information that Facebook users revealed to their Facebook "friends" actually increased. As a result, users ended up increasing their personal disclosures to other entities on the network, sometimes unknowingly, including to "silent listeners" such as Facebook itself, third-party apps and advertisers.

"These findings highlight the tension between privacy choices as expressions of individual subjective preferences, and the role of the network environment in shaping those choices," said CMU Associate Professor of Information Technology and Public Policy Alessandro Acquisti, who co-authored the study with CMU researchers Ralph Gross and Fred Stutzman. "While people try to take control of their personal information, the network keeps changing, affecting their decisions and changing their privacy outcomes."

Titled "Silent Listeners: The Evolution of Privacy and Disclosure on Facebook," the study profiles data from a panel of 5,076 Facebook users and is the first study to use data from Facebook's early days in 2005.

"These findings illustrate the challenges social network users face when trying to manage online privacy, the power of social media providers to affect their disclosure and privacy behavior, and the potential limits of notice and consent mechanisms in addressing consumers' on-line privacy concerns," Stutzman said.

"Access to settings which help individuals determine which profile data other users get to see may increase members' feeling of control, but perceptions of control over personal data and the misdirection of users' attention have been linked to increases in disclosures of sensitive information to strangers," Gross said.

About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon (www.cmu.edu) is a private, internationally ranked research university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business, to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small student-to-faculty ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon's main campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pa. It has campuses in California's Silicon Valley and Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico. The university is in the midst of "Inspire Innovation: The Campaign for Carnegie Mellon University," which aims to build its endowment, support faculty, students and innovative research, and enhance the physical campus with equipment and facility improvements.

SOURCE Carnegie Mellon University

CONTACT: Ken Walters, +1-412-268-1151, walters1@andrew.cmu.edu

Web Site: http://www.cmu.edu

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Talents of African Cinema: Call for Nominations

March 5, 2013 4:42 Africa / Lagos

Talents of African cinema: Call for nominations

BERLIN, March 4 2013/PR Africa Newswire / - You are a director, producer, writer, or you work in another field of cinema? So, join the sixth Talent Campus Durban from 19 to 23 July 2013! In addition to numerous seminars and workshops, the Talent Campus offers coaching programs for young filmmakers and film critics Africa. You have until April 1, 2013 to register!

Talent Campus is part of the International Film Festival of Durban, which runs on twelve days in late July. This year's focus on "Memetic Africa." Not only participate in the activities selected talents Campus, but they also have the opportunity to attend films and other events of the 34th International Film Festival of Durban, where almost 300 films will be presented this year. As always, the focus will be on African cinema, and openness. Thus, several screenings will take place in townships where cinemas do not exist.

Three participants Talent Campus will be coached by professionals before submitting their documentary projects to investors, publishers and potential co-producers. Other three incorporate a program for African critics of cinema. They will benefit from expert advice and will access all projections of the 34th International Film Festival Durban.

SOURCE: Federal Foreign Office (AA), Germany

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New al-Qaeda Launching Pad Closer To US, European Shores in North African 'Arc of Instability'

Report warns of new al-Qaeda launching pad closer to US, European shores in North African 'Arc of Instability'

Points to links, recruiting with other militants in region, including from Polisario-run camps
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ (MACP) -- A new report on terrorism in North Africa warns of a new al-Qaeda hub for jihadi recruits and a potential launching pad for terrorist attacks much closer to US and European shores, along an "Arc of Instability" stretching across Africa's Sahara/Sahel region.

The study, " Terrorism in North Africa & the Sahel in 2012: Global Reach and Implications ," authored by Yonah Alexander, Director of the Inter-University Center on Terrorism Studies (IUCTS), was announced Wednesday at the 15^th Annual Terrorism Review by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, and made available online today.

The report says al-Qaeda-led extremists' attempted seizure of Mali's capital and their deadly attack in Algeria that killed 37 foreign hostages resulted from a regional terrorism threat that has been rising since September 11, 2001. In just a matter of weeks, the report says, "what many considered only a regional problem, metastasized into a crisis of global implications."

According to the study, "an 'Arc of Instability' is emerging across Africa's Sahel which has opened a path for al-Qaeda to shift its center of gravity from Afghanistan and Pakistan to a new sanctuary and has created a potential launching pad much closer to US and European shores."

The report says "al-Qaeda's new regional hub in northern Mali" poses "tactical and strategic challenges," including risk of kidnapping, piracy, drug trafficking, and terrorist attacks in the region and beyond. It notes intelligence reports have confirmed that al-Qaeda "has established links with Latin cartels for 'drugs-for-arms' smuggling through terrorist-trafficking networks that include members of the Polisario Front" in Algeria. 
The study expresses alarm about growing ties among key regional al-Qaeda-linked groups—al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Shabaab in Somalia, and Boko Haram in Nigeria. It warns they "have expanded their reach and recruiting to other militants and groups across the Maghreb and Sahel," and are emboldened by an "increased flow" of "weapons through the vast unguarded porous and national borders." 
To address the threat, the report makes a number of recommendations, including:

• International support for France's military intervention in Mali and negotiations with non-jihadist forces, particularly Tuareg leaders, to achieve an agreement on autonomy for the region.
• Application of "soft power" by accelerating national and regional economic development through reduced barriers to foreign and domestic trade and investment, and increased aid programs.
• Increased intelligence-sharing and resolution of old conflicts impeding regional economic and security cooperation, such as the Western Sahara dispute.
• Improved control of national borders to reduce the flow of recruits and arms to criminal and terrorist groups.
• Long-term solutions to reduce the potential for criminal and terrorist recruiting in the refugee camps run by the Polisario Front in Algeria.

* For the full report, go to Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies/IUCTS' " Terrorism: An Electronic Journal and Knowledge Base " at: http://www.terrorismelectronicjournal.org/knowledge-base/selected-special-reports/.
For more on Morocco and the region, visit http://www.moroccoonthemove.com/ .
Also follow us on Twitter - @MorocOnTheMove
The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.  For more, please visit www.moroccoonthemove.com
 
This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

SOURCE Moroccan American Center for Policy

CONTACT: Garth Neuffer, +1-202-470-2055, gneuffer@moroccanamericancenter.com
Web Site: http://www.moroccanamericanpolicy.org

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Technorati 2013 Digital Influence Report

Founded over a decade ago, Technorati Media has grown into one of the largest social media ad networks bringing top brands and valuable  influencers together at scale.  With an advertising reach of approximately 130 million US unique users/month, sit in the middle of an incredible social media nexus and have long believed that our data, relationships and unique perspective are important elements for us to share.

With this in mind, we present to you our 2013 Digital Influence Report, which replaces our historical State of the Blogosphere and expands the concept of all things social.  We hope you’ll benefit from the valuable insights culled from surveys that included over 6,000 influencers, 1,200 consumers and 150 top brand marketers.

Navigation

1. Executive Summary

2. Brand Digital Messaging: Going Social

3. Consumer Behavior

4. Creating Influence

5. Influencers & Revenue

6. Influencers & Brands

7. Conclusion

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1. Download full report

2. Graphics only

3. Text Only

—  —  —

The three surveys (consumer, brand, influencer) were conducted in November and December 2012, closing between Dec. 5-11, 2012. The consumer survey was run on the Appnexus exchange (approx. reach of 120 million), and responses from those under 18 were omitted from the final results. The Influencer Survey was sent to Technorati Media’s index of 2.5 million email addresses of influencers, and the responses cross referenced with the Technorati Authority index to insure a representative sample of the total influencer population. The Brand Survey was sent to account and media supervisors and planners at the top digital agencies as well as the digital marketing leads at Fortune 1,000 companies in the U.S. Technorati Media supports the Word of Mouth Marketing Association’s definition of an influencer: “A person who has a greater than average reach or impact through word of mouth in a relevant marketplace.”




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King Prof T.J.T. Princewill, CFR, Amachree XI, The Amanyanabo Of Kalabari Kingdom Is Not Dethroned – Barr Faye Dikio, SAN

HRH. Prof. TJT Princewill, CFR Reciving his national award from President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria.

PRESS RELEASE

KING PROF T.J.T. PRINCEWILL CFR, AMACHREE XI THE AMANYANABO OF KALABARI KINGDOM IS NOT DETHRONED – BARR FAYE DIKIO SAN


The news that the former Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Council, Amachree XI, Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom and Commander of the Federal Republic His Majesty, king Prof Theophilous J T Princewill CFR has been dethroned by the Supreme Court as the Amanayabo of Kalabari has been described as false and Malicious.

The Counsel to HRH. king TJT Princewill, Barr Faye Dikio SAN while reacting to a Newspaper report by one of the Port Harcourt based papers, BEACON NEWSPAPER last Friday in Port Harcourt, said there was no truth whatsoever in the publication which was only targeted at tarnishing the image of his client and also cause confusion and Panic in the Kalabari kingdom and beyond.


HRH. King Prof. TJT Princewill and his Queen Dame Florence Princewill.

Barr Dikio explained that what transpired in the proceedings of Appeal No SC.249/2011 before the Supreme Court on Monday, 25th of February 2013 was not for hearing of the substantive suit, but an Appeal by Chief O.T.K.D Amachree as Appellant against Chief MacDonald O Abbi, His Majesty TJT Princewill, Chief Dagogo Princewill and Chief S.O Princewill.


HRH. King Prof. TJT Princewill and Prince Tonye Princewill with Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and his wife.

He further explained that the Appellant filed two motions which were listed for that day, 25th February, 2013.

According to him, one of the motions was for the striking out of the names of Chief Dagogo Princewill and Chief S.O Princewill who were deceased and other prayers.

Dikio said the prayer to strike out the names of the deceased Respondents was granted and others were struck out upon withdrawal.

The Counsel also informed the press that the second motion for leave to file additional grounds of appeal was also withdrawn to be refiled.


HRH. King Prof. TJT Princewill addressing the press after the event.

"I give it to you to note that there was no other order and there could not have been any judgment on the appeal that has not been heard. His Majesty also has his Appeal in the Supreme Court against the same judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on 23rd May 2011 with a Motion for stay of execution still pending before the apex court”, he said.

The Counsel said His Majesty's Appeal No SC.248/2011 was not listed for the 25th of February 2013 and also not been heard due to many other Appeals before it.

According to him, the motions struck out by a panel of five supreme Court justice headed by Justice Walter Onnoghan has no effect on the substantive suit on whether King Princewill was rightly crown as the Amanayabo of Kalabari and subsequently recognised by the government.
He regretted that the publication failed to verify the veracity of the facts before going to the press, noting that all what the said Newspaper published were false, Malicious and was intended to cause chaos and disaffection in the Kalabari Kingdom with the intention to disturb the peace and loyalty enjoyed by His Majesty,King TJT Princewill and the Kalabari people.
He however noted that the publication 26th February succeeded more in causing panic among his people and subjected the king to anguish pain and mental torture.

Barr.Dikio said his Chambers has formerly written to the publisher to take urgent steps to retracting the false story and state the true facts of the case to the public. His letter to the Management of Beacon is attached while his account of the issues at stake is displayed below.

Hon. Tamunotroko Prince Dateme, JP.

Secretary to the Amanyanbo of Kalabari Kingdom

    FAYE DIKIO & ASSOCIATES

          Legal Practitioners & Arbitrators

                            OBAZI CHAMBERS,

                            No. 7 Aba Road (3^rdFloor)

                            Port Harcourt,

                            Rivers State,

                            Nigeria. 

FALSE AND MALICIOUS PUBLICATION IN THE BEACON NEWSPAPER OF TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 – MARCH 4, 2013 RE: SUPREME COURT SACKS AMANYANABO OF KALABARI - A REFUTAL

INTRODUCTION

The front page of the BEACON newspaper of the issue of Vol.4 No. 8 of Tuesday, February 26 – March 4, 2013 published the following headline: “Supreme Court sacks Amanyanabo of Kalabari – Great Jubilation in Buguma” and at page 3 of the same publication a false story was carried concerning the removal by a Supreme Court judgment of 25th February, 2013 of His Majesty King (Prof.) T.J.T. Princewill, JP, CFR (Amachree XI, Amanyanabo of Kalabari) as the reigning monarch of Kalabari Kingdom.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PROCEEDING OF 25/2/2013

It has become necessary to refute the false publication in the said newspaper and state the truth here for the interest of the public.

The truth is that there was no judgment by the Supreme Court dethroning the Amanyanabo of Kalabari on the 25th of February 2013. The Supreme Court did not affirm or upload any Judgment of the Court of Appeal on the said date. Two appeals were lodged at the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 23rd May, 2011. His Majesty, King (Prof.) T.J.T. Princewill filed one (Appeal No SC.248/2011) and Chief O.T.K.D. Amachree filed the other (Appeal No. SC.249/2011). No date has been fixed for the hearing of the two appeals in the Supreme Court.

APPEAL NO. SC.249/2011

On the 25th of February 2011, two motions were fixed for hearing in Appeal No. SC.249/2011. One was for the amendment of the Notice of Appeal by striking out the names of two deceased Respondents (Chief Dagogo Princewill and Chief S.O. Princewill) and for leave to file and argue additional ground of appeal. The prayer seeking to amend the processes by striking out the names of the deceased Respondents was granted while the prayers for leave to file and argue additional grounds of appeal were struck out upon withdrawal. The second motion for stay of execution was also withdrawn and consequently struck out.

APPEAL NO. SC.248/2011

The Motion for stay of execution in His Majesty’s appeal No. SC.248/2011 has not been heard as no date has been fixed for it. It was therefore, inconceivable that the proceedings of the Supreme Court on Appeal No. SC. 249/2011 were being misinterpreted as “unanimous landmark Judgment …. Which de-stooled the Kalabari monarch”. This can only be in the imagination of His Majesty’s detractors, whose dreams and wishes for his dethronement cannot become reality. His is still firmly on the throne. They have only succeeded in casting doubt as to his continuous reign as the Amanyanabo of Kalabari in minds of a negligible few who may easily be persuaded while he still enjoys massive loyalty and support from an overwhelming majority of the Kalabari people.

HIS MAJESTY’S STANCE

His Majesty sympathizes with those who are determined to mislead and misinform the people in their attempt to cause anarchy and confusion. While they are pursuing their evil agenda, he is more determined to pursue the course of justice and secure the victory he so much deserves. It is His Majesty’s resolved to continue to pray and work for the peace, progress and unity of the Kalabari nation with the hope that soon even his enemies will sheath their sword and join him in the task of seeking the well-being of the Kalabari people. In this regard, His Majesty as the father of the Kalabari people for calm while the final outcome of the appeal is being awaited. 

LONG LIVE THE KALABARI PEOPLE!

 LONG LIVE RIVERS STATE!!

LONG LIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!!!  

FAYE DIKIO, SAN

COUNSEL FOR HIS MAJESTY

KING (PROF.) T.J.T. PRINCEWILL, JP, CFR

(AMACHREE XI, AMANYANABO OF KALABARI)

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Kenyan Elections Must Be Free of Sexual Violence, UN Official Stresses Ahead of Polls

2 Mar 2013 15:37 Africa/Lagos

KENYAN ELECTIONS MUST BE FREE OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE, UN OFFICIAL STRESSES AHEAD OF POLLS

NEW YORK, 01 March 2013 / PRNewswire Africa / - As Kenya prepares to go to the polls on Monday, a senior United Nations official has called on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls, recalling that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented during the violence that followed the 2007 elections.

“I urge the authorities in Kenya to ensure that civilians of all ethnic and political backgrounds can exercise their right to vote in safety and security, and to guarantee that in the post-election period we do not witness the rise in politically-motivated rape which occurred in the wake of the last elections,” the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, said in a statement.



Monday's election will be the first presidential polls since the December 2007 vote, which was followed by post-election violence in which more than 1,100 people were killed, 3,500 injured and up to 600,000 forcibly displaced.

As Kenya goes to the polls, national and international observers and human rights actors have warned of the risk of election violence, including the deliberate targeting of civilians due to political or ethnic affiliations, Ms. Bangura noted, adding that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented after the last elections.

“I call on all candidates to speak out against election violence, and for the Kenyan authorities to take the necessary steps to avert the risk of increased sexual violence and ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls,” she stated.

“Above all, the Kenyan authorities must remain alert to the warning signs and send the signal that such crimes will not be tolerated.

Also today, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it is deploying a four-person team to monitor the human rights situation during the electoral period and to support the Kenyan National Commission of Human Rights as well as civil society groups.

Earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the hope that all Kenyans will work together to ensure that the 4 March election will be peaceful and credible, and said he trusted that efforts made at many levels to prevent a repeat of past violence will be redoubled during the remainder of the campaign.

SOURCE : UN News Centre

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The 2013 Charles Taylor Prize Winner Announced Monday, March 4th

2 Mar 2013 00:15 Africa/Lagos

The 2013 Charles Taylor Prize Winner Announced Monday, March 4th

TORONTO, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

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The following B-Roll is available by Video On-Demand web download:

STORY SUMMARY: Five authors are up for The 2013 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction but only one can win. The authors in contention for the annual $25,000 prize are Carol Bishop-Gwyn for the Pursuit of Perfection, Tim Cook for Warlords, Sandra Djwa for Journey with No Maps, Ross King for Leonardo and The Last Supper and Andrew Preston for Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith. Which author will jurors Susanne Boyce, Richard Gwyn, and Joseph Kertes pick as their winner? Find out on Monday, March 4th at 2:30 pm. The prize recognizes excellence in non-fiction writing and emphasizes the careers of the authors it celebrates. http://www.thecharlestaylorprize.ca

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Wole Soyinka: A Name Is More Than The Tyranny Of Taste

FESPACO 2013 - Read The Transcript Of Wole Soyinka's Epic Keynote Address Speech

Click here to read the complete report.



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Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Is a 'Renaissance' Moment

Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards Is a 'Renaissance' Moment

~ By Femi Odugbemi

The Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) will take place on the 9th of March 2013 with lots of pomp and pageantry. It will be an important and magical moment in the development of the content industries for Africa. If there is something I am passionate about as a Content Producer and a former President of an Industry body, it is the fact that attention to shaping the "stories" of the African experience, growing its audiences and supporting the development of our content and creative industries will be how Africa wins the future. Today many of Africa's economies are failing, but I believe strongly that the emerging creative thrust of Africa holds a lot of hope for the social rejuvenation and economic rise of the Continent. The AMVCA will highlight for the world in a spectacular way all the works and workers that are driving the economy of Africa into its new future.

For many years, Africa has struggled with the irony of its "wealth"; which is almost entirely concentrated under the ground. The irony being that Africa's wealth under the ground hasn’t translated to wealth above the ground. Many nations of the world have built and advanced their societies on the wealth of resources found in Africa, yet, the continent is acutely challenged with underdevelopment, poverty, disease and wars, with a visible decline in its share of World trade over the years. But there is a growing realization that economic competitiveness is no longer largely dependent on natural resources. Economic viability and wealth distribution order of the World are evolving on new grounds that are not predicated on wealth under the ground. Given current economic realities in the World, it is increasingly difficult for any country or continent to compete entirely based on natural resources.

Economic competitive gaps in the world now depend on exploiting human capabilities, rather than natural resources. The industrial age is giving way to a knowledge economy and Africa is rising to the challenge of this new economic order in its own unique creative way. Africa is pressing its advantage in storytelling, culture, and creativity. Chinua Achebe is quoted to have described Man as "a story making animal. He rarely passes up an opportunity to accompany his works and experiences with matching stories…" it is clear from many indications that Africa's entry/contribution in the knowledge economy might be through storytelling, especially at a time that the continent is economically challenged from many fronts; this is even more valid considering that Africa has a heritage of storytelling that reaches way back into pristine times. African history and culture have been passed on through oral tradition that is largely dependent on story telling, we have created governments by story telling, we live and breathe story telling.

With the exponential increase in technology development, Africa has a greater opportunity to exploit its unique advantage in storytelling. Until now, the cost of technology has not been to the advantage of Africa, but with the current explosion in technological development Africa is by providence being positioned to exploit the possibilities of technology for the purpose of its innate capabilities - storytelling. The impact of this technological explosion is already evident in the creative industry in Africa; the result of that is what we see with Nollywood. The fact that you don’t need to have all the big machines and huge capital to tell your story or to access an audience has expanded the frontiers of the film industry in Nigeria, and indeed in Africa. It is, therefore, not a surprise that among those of African ancestry, across waters and across borders, Nollywood is not an isolated incident in Nigeria; it is a phenomenon that is identifiable wherever the African experience exists.

In the last 20 years, Nollywood has expanded, if not reinvented, the art of storytelling as we know it in Africa. Our fathers told their stories (folktales) to a small gathering of generations of their family, sitting in circles on wooden stools in their compound they passed on great stories to the eager minds of the young ones. Stories that embedded in them, values that have kept Africa together through wars, colonialism, economic deprivation, and unsettling moments that have challenged our existence to its roots. The values in those stories have kept hope in the hearts of Africans, constantly reminding us that there is a better day, in spite of the oddities of colonialism and despondent leadership, the African spirit stands undeterred. It explains why you will find that it is difficult to find an African that is committing suicide; we always think tomorrow is another day.

Nollywood has capitalized on the inherent potential of African stories to penetrate individual cultures on the continent, breaking down colonial structures that keep us apart. It has opened new opportunities for Africans, regardless of their geographical distance, to reconnect and find an appeal in the common values taught to us in our stories. This, to my thinking, is a singular success of the film industry in Nigeria. Africans, both on the continent and in the Diaspora, now have a sense of connection that speaks to the values that are peculiar to them and cannot be replicated in American, Indian, or Chinese movies.

Beyond this, African films have become the backdrop of our history in a time when the global information order has not been to our advantage. We have been able to demonstrate in our movies that our lifestyles are different, our ways of seeing the world are different, our spirituality is different and we have passed that on even as we migrated to cultures that are foreign to ours. Interestingly, these films are fast becoming a cogent reference for our identity as we move into new worlds. We have used these films to teach our children, and expand our capacity to recognize ourselves as Africans.

The Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards comes at a time when it is most important to take the African storytelling experience to a new level of reckoning and celebration. But above all it presents a prime opportunity for the voice of the large community of content consumers in Africa to be heard.

#

Femi Odugbemi is a Filmmaker and Executive Director of the IRepresent International Documentary Film Festival.

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