Class and Glamour as Panda is Opened

 

Class and Glamour as Panda is Opened

- By Ingram Osigwe 

A classy event attracts a galaxy of classy dignitaries. And so it was on October 17th, 2020 when an upscale Event facility, Panda Event Complex Ltd formally threw its doors open to the public. Situated at the Sabo, the commercial nerve Centre of Yaba, Lagos, Panda Event Complex Ltd is the brain child of Willy Obi (Agbarusia Ngele Akokwa).

 

Chief (Hon) Jude Dimogu, the only Igbo person in the Lagos House of Assembly was billed to chair the event but was caught up in a massive gridlock occasioned by the EndSARS protest in Lagos. However, Ichie Dikenuokam Nkem Okiche was on hand to fill the vacuum and he masterly and superbly gave account of himself. Ichie Okiche bore testament to the success of the event as Chairman of the day, proving his mettle and dexterity in the management of time and human resources as he skillfully piloted the affairs of the event from the beginning to the end. With another illustration son of Akokwa and Chairman of Orange Group, Chief (Dr) Sir Tony Ezenna, OFR as Chief Guest of honour, the stage was set for breathing of life into Panda.

As he cut the tape to signal the formal opening of the magnificent edifice, hands clapped in joy and heads shook in acceptance. Awed by Chief Obi's uncanny ingenuity in establishing the first class facility, Ezenna who holds the traditional title of Ijele Akokwa, effusively prayed for the success of the company and also for the safety of all guests. On his part, for citing the complex in his domain with the added advantage of boosting commerce and creating employment in the area, the Chairman of Yaba local government area, Hon. Kayode Omiyale, promised to give Panda two years of Tax holiday and other incentives. Apart from the names above, other high flyers who graced the official opening of Panda Complex Ltd also include Chief Ben Amuta (Onowu Umudioka) Sir Ken Okafor, (0welle Ichida) Chief Demo Amaefuna (Akubudike,)Chief Vincent Mgbemena(Ugonna Akokwa) Chief J O Uzuh ( Omeiheukwu Unubi) Chief Akaekpuchionwa Nawfia ,Chief Okiche ( Dike Unaku of Unubi) ,Chief Azubike Umunna (Nwachinemelu) Chief Ochendo Aguluzigbo,Chief Israel Orjiekwe(Akuzurumba), Chief Cletus Chukwu (Kent),Chief Ralph Obi( Akuilili Awka-Etiti) Mr. Amaechi Okpara, Hon Oderaa Onwudiwe( Ugodinobi), Chief Odinnanwa( Ocean Wave), Chief Uchenna Nkana( Nkana Cash) Chief Stephenson Mbajekwe, Barr( Pharm) Steve Okonkwo,(Ugwumba), Chief Luke Okeke(Nwachinemelu), Chief Easy Emesofor (Akajiugo), Chief Dona Akachukwu (Akajiugo Nnewi) Chief Uche Offor( Ugochinyereze) Chief and High Chief Don Abuachi( JP),Sir Engineer Nebeolisa, Prince Chibuike Aluchuru( Oke Ikpo, Chief Obinna Ashara( ObiPaki) Engineer Chimezie, Chief Ik Azugo ( Okenwa Nnobi) Chief Akujiobi, Chief Signal Izuagba, Ichie Boniface Uzuh( Ezeudemba Unubi),Chief Ugochukwu Emebo(Ugotec) Chief Ernest Ugochukwu,(Nwatakwochaa) Chief Collins Ejeckam, Chief Akajiugo Ntueke, Chief Kene Anolue(Igiligi Alor) Chief Charles Udochukwu(Ikukuoma) Lady Hope, Elojones, Prince Dondee, Chief Egonku Ndubuisi, Chief Collins Ekwebelem(Nwachinamaraoji) Chief Omenife Oraukwu,Chief Emeka Ikeabuotu(Akukwesili Nnobi), Emeka Arondizuogu) Chief Peter Obi (Ezeobinwa) Chief Ezeamanyanneya Oraukwu, Chief Ubani, Mrs Mulikat Kolawale, Chief Obinna(Ezeokwelume), Chief Ifeanyi Okafor(Ifemelumma),Chief Ohamadike Nnewi, Chief Okpuruisi Izuogu, Nwa Jesus na Akokwa,Mr Musa Mbitahson, Hallmark Movie Chairman, Igbudu Alor, Chief Sunday Ebelebe(Omenyiri Akokwa) Dr Mike Izuogu(Ugwudinanwa) Dr Charles Iweanya, Chief Emeka Ufo (Nkwachukwukwere Nnokwa) and Chief Emeka Emechebe(Amaraeriaku of Akokwa,Mr. Ugochukwu Obi, Mr. Uche Azifuaku, Chief Nonso Abatete, Allman Communication, Ogechukwu Obi and Ebuka Nwosu(Ikoro). Diamond Club members and Bank executives also graced the event.

 

Guests were treated to sumptuous delicacies and drinks as there were enough to drink and dine for all. Many of the guests were elated with the berthing of Panda as a one stop event complex that provides all facilities for wedding, cocktail, End of year parties and other sundry celebrations. Panda Event complex is the first ever event centre in Nigeria where Churches and reception halls, hotel accommodations as well as bars are located in one zone. Apart from event halls, the complex also houses an expansive, well ordered parking lot, shopping centres among others. Notedly, there is a large parking space to accommodate vehicles of different sizes, stores to accommodate various businesses, two halls for 1000 guests and 400 guests sitting. There is also a hotel consisting of 42 rooms (studio, standard, deluxe rooms, suite & executive suite) as well as outdoor and indoor restaurant, Executive bar and outdoor bar. Banks and ATM points in the plethora of banks adjacent the complex allow for quick banking transactions. This is complemented by the plethora of banks in Commercial Avenue, Sabo

The idea of an Event complex as opposed to an Event centre, according to Panda Management, is to eliminate stress and anxiety event organisers and guests often encounter, especially in Lagos due to logistics and traffic related factors. Users of the complex are assured of adequate security and health safety with deployment of automatic hand sanitizers in strategic points. Well trained security personnel are also stationed in various locations in the complex in addition to digital security apparatus, including CCTV cameras. This is in addition to sharing neighborhood with Army and police formation with the vicinity. A round- the clock power supply to the Complex ensures uninterrupted comfort. Located at plot 112 commercial Avenue, Oyadiran estate, Sabo yaba, Panda Event Complex Ltd is ringed by Adekunle, Alagomeji, Yaba, third mainland bridge, Jibowu, Oyingbo, Herbert Macaulay, commercial avenue and Sabo police station. Guests at the events praised Chief Obi for his foresight in establishing a world class leisure and business facility such as Panda, saying he has revolutionized leisure, business and event hosting in Nigeria.

Anachronisms in #Nollywood Igbo Epic Movies and Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò History

Anachronisms in #Nollywood Igbo Epic Movies and Ṇ́dị́ Ìgbò History

About ten years ago, I have written about anachronisms in several Igbo historical or epic movies. And I still see them in the new movies often showing on the AfricaMagic Epic channel on DStv.

You see Igbo warriors using the Takouba broadsword common in the Sahel region of Africa often used by the Tuareg tribe. And Igbo women having hairstyles and facial makeup of the Wodaabe fulani tribe. 

Wodaabe Fulani woman.

Then they are chanting hums of the Wolof tribe of Senegal or Zulu tribe of South Africa, but speaking the Igbo language.

These anachronisms in Igbo epic movies are caused by lack of education and research on the culture, haute couture and oral literature of Igbo history since the period of Igbo Ukwu.

Every Igbo epic drama must be based on Igbo Ukwu history. Igbo Ukwu produced  the oldest bronze artifacts known in West Africa and were made earlier than those of the ancient kingdoms of Ife and Benin. The bronzes include numerous ritual vessels, pendants, crowns, breastplates, staff ornaments, swords, and fly-whisk handles. 

Artefacts found in Igbo-Ukwu dates back to 2000 BC in Lejja and 750 BC in Opi, both in the Nsukka region about 100 Kilometers east of Igbo-Ukwu.

It is wrong to use modern wax textile clothes for Igbo epic movies. Because, such textiles did not exist 100 years ago. 

They can use Akwete cloth which has been in existence over 200 years ago. And Igbo also wove cloth from raffia. 

Igbo warriors never dressed like Zulu warriors. And Igbo chiefs never dressed like Zulu chiefs. And Igbo women never had Wodaabe hairstyles and makeup.

Ohafia women.

See pictures of the early period of Igbos on. https://igbophilia.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/five-brides-to-be/

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, 

The Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series.

Karl Maier Saw It Coming in 2002 in This House Has Fallen: Nigeria In Crisis

 

Karl Maier

The #EndSARS Protests Show the Unstable Future of Nigeria

The #EndSARS protests have shown us the unstable future of Nigeria with two groups of Nigerian youths; the peaceful nation builders and the nation destroyers, the mobs of hoodlums who as we saw were hired  political thugs and criminals on rampage. There is an emergency wake up call for the national reorientation of the disoriented and disillusioned Nigerian youths for their reformation and transformation for the nation building of a New Nigeria of the Nigerian Dream.

The Art and Architecture of Motion Picture

 

The Art and Architecture of Motion Picture is a must study in filmmaking which I am yet to see in the curricula of any film school or film academy in Nigeria. 

The foremost Nigerian expert is Prof.  David Olatunde Aradeon who designed the movie sets for "Bullfrog in the Sun", the film adaptation of Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed novels, "Things Fall Apart" and 'No Longer at Ease" directed by Hansjürgen Pohland and Produced by Francis Oladele in 1971.

Prof. Aradeon is to Nigerian Architecture what Prof. Wole Soyinka is to Nigerian literature. He is the greatest and most accomplished Nigerian architect.

The following is a must read for filmmakers, film students, film scholars, artists, architects and students of art and architecture.

The Art Of Movie Spaces

Oct 14, 2020

Think about a movie you love. Chances are you also love—or can at least vividly call to mind—the spaces in it. Can you see the main character’s bedroom? Kitchen? Living room? More often than we realize, the design of such spaces is densely packed with emotional information. 

Perhaps no one is more keenly aware of this than Boryana Ilieva. For years now, the Bulgarian movie lover and architecturally minded artist has been exploring great design in great films, with great dedication to boot. Her exquisite Floor Plan Croissant project is an ever-expanding series of meticulous watercolors depicting the intimate residential spaces of beloved films like Parasite (whose production designer was the Oscar-nominated Lee Ha Jun), Roma (Oscar-nominated production designer Eugenio Caballero), and Call Me by Your Name (production designer Samuel Deshors). From film footage alone, Boryana draws then paints precise, vivid layouts. Her pieces are so evocative that the movies start playing in your mind. 

Continue reading on https://aframe.oscars.org/features/the-art-of-movie-spaces?utm_source=newsletter

Bekederemo! You Have Left Us in the Storm

A Tribute To John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo (6 April 1935 – 13 October 2020)

#EndSARS

@profosinbajo

@aatiku

@vanguardngrnews1

@aitonlineng

Bekederemo! You Have Left Us in the Storm

A Tribute To John Pepper Clark-Bekederemo (6 April 1935 – 13 October 2020)

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2020/10/bekederemo-you-have-left-us-in-storm.html

Bekederemo! 

Bekederemo!! 

Bekederemo!!! 

Great son of Ịjọ Empire! 

Why have you left us in The Boat. 

In the turbulent storm? 

Without even A Reed in the Tide. 

Behold the bloodshed of the Casualties.

Shot by the demons in uniform. 

See the bloodshed of the martyrs of the revolt

Our revolution gainst the State of the Union. 

Our nation is like The Raft adrift down the River Niger. 

Even the gods of Ozidi have taken to their heels.

We are marching with our bare feet.

As we stomp on the street.

The echoes of our screams rent the skies 

In A Decade of Tongues.

Ivbie is swearing at the Union Jack.

Blaming John Bull for the pepper in our eyes. 

But she forgot that her uncle Okoli sold our crude oil well to Shell. 

And General Chevron carried our oil drums to America, Their America. 

Our fish are floating in the oil spillage. 

Thousands fled our Izon Kiagbodo village.

Even The Masquerade of Ngbilebiri has stopped dancing. 

Who can dance to the Song of a Goat? 

In the hysteria of Nigeria?

Bekederemo! 

What are you going to tell

Achebe and Okara?

What are you going to tell Saro-Wiwa?

Tell them the truth, that all is not well.

Bekederemo!

Bekederemo!!

Bekederemo!!!

Farewell.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima, author of "Scarlet Tears of London, The Prophet Lied and other books.

https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima

über Nollywood

So much has been written and published on Nollywood, our Nollywood, the phenomenal Nigerian film industry producing thousands of home videos telling stories of Nigerians from the past to the present and has caught the attention of the rest of the world to say Wow! African magic? 

Did you know that Ivorian rebels in the bush stopped fighting when a shipment of Nollywood DVDs arrived from Lagos? 

Did you know that Zambian mothers said that their children now talk with accents copied from Nollywood movies? 

Did you know that when the President of Sierra Leone asked Genevieve Nnaji to join him on the campaign trail he attracted record crowds at rallies, because of her? 

Yes, Nollywood is our African magic that has hooked the world. The maiden edition of Nollywood Mirror® is a celebration of the best of Nollywood.