Fair and White Unveils Jackie B as Brand Ambassador for Nigeria

Fair and White Unveils Jackie B as Brand Ambassador for Nigeria

Thursday, November 4, 2021 wi remain indelible in the minds of many beauty enthusiasts. It was indeed Thursday to remember.

The ambience was gay. It exuded glamour and panache laced with glitz.The atmosphere spelt funfair.

As invited guests- mostly celebrits, beauty experts, distributors and brand journalists- thronged the venue, no one was left in doubt as to the grand nature of the event.

Venue was Reserve Resturant, Karimu Ikotun, Victoria Island, Lagos and the gathering was at the instance of commodity conglomerate, Bozac Continental Ltd which was unveiling Jackie Lureino Bent, popular as Jackie B, as the latest brand  Ambassador of Fair and White range of beauty product.

Before Jackie, delectable Esther Agunbiade and Toke Makinwa have represented the brand as Ambassadors. 

Esther was the Brand Ambassador for the Gold range while Makinwa represented the So White & So Carrot Ranges.

The Bozac group holds the sole franchise for Fair and White brand in Nigeria.

A unisex international beauty brand, the Fair and White variants, are made  in France for people of colour by Labo Derma France.

The new brand Ambassador who is Senator Grace Bent's daughter, was a housemate in the 2021 Big Brother Naija reality show.

It was indeed an "A" rated event because it again afforded the Bozac group the opportunity to celebrate natural African beauty.

On hand to ensure a successful outing were Bozac's senior managers led by the son of the president of the group who is also a Director in the company, Kene Chibueze.

Mr Chibueze held fort for his father and he gave a good account of himself in that regard.

In his brief remark, he stressed that Bozac group has always promoted and will continue to promote African beauty.

Chibueze assured consumers and distributors of Fair and White that the brand, having been around in the past 25 years, will continue to maintain quality and excellence as well as beauty needs of African women.

Its believe in African beauty, he disclosed, accounted for the reason Bozac opted for Jackie B, a ravishing African beauty, as the new face of a variant of the brand,  Fair and White Gold which was launched in 2014.

According to Chibueze, "other products have tried to look like Fair and White Gold but of course, if it is not Fair and White, it cannot be like Fair and White. Our brand is distinctive, it is on a class of its own"

The Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Fullpage Communications Ltd Ingram Osigwe who also doubles as Media Adviser to Bozac dazzled all with his superlative performance as compere for the event.

He on his part equally assured the public that scintilating advert strategies that will take the brand to its desired target audiences are in the offing.

Jackie B came with Mr Amadi Victor Obisike, owner of the Agency that handles her PR and her Personal Assistant, Chukwulobe Favour.

Looking queenly in her dress, Jackie B appended her signature to the endorsed deal amidst applause and clinging of glasses.

Bozac's team at the signing ceremony included the group's legal Adviser, Barrister Gabriel Airewele, Kene Chibueze 
Director, Oluwatoyin Ogunbowale
Human Resources Consultant, Sunday Adekoya , Sales Manager,
Prince  Emma Okon
Assistant  Sales Manager, Onyebuchi Oformata,

Sales representative,Ijeoma Ezenma, Sales representative, Modupe Adebimpe, Brand representative and Olaitan Adegun, Warehouse manager.

Evidently elated Jackie B revealed that a day after she left the BBNaija house, many companies made endorsement offers to her but she opted for Fair and White because she considered it a legacy brand, a brand that sticks to what it represents.

Being of Northern Nigerian extraction, the new brand ambassador pledged to take Fair and White to the nooks and crannies of the region and help open the frontier of northern market for it.

Her mother, Senator Grace Bent, she said, was happy with her decision to endorse the brand.
At the event were also Mercy Ikoro, 
Deputy Business Manager
The Sun Publishing Ltd, Onyekachi Evelyn 
CEO , Switkaybedding, Mogbogu Chinyere,
Complete Bridals  among other important dignitaries.

"Héliopolis" is a Masterpiece in Motion Picture

In 1970, Algeria became the first country in the Arab world to win an #Oscar in the Best Foreign Film category with the Algerian-French production “Z” directed by Costa Gavras.

“Héliopolis", Algeria's entry for the Best International Feature Film category of the 94th Annual Academy Awards is a very powerful historical drama about
the Algerian revolution, directed by Djaafar Gacem.

Synopsis:

In Guelma, Victory in Europe Day is a life-altering event for one Algerian family: French troops are about to commit a massacre against Algerian civilians.

In Guelma, which was once called Heliopolis in ancient times, the daily life of an Algerian family takes its usual course. But on May 8, 1945, the day the end of World War II was announced, demonstrations by the Algerian people against the French colonial power and for the country’s independence took place, which were bloodily suppressed by the French army and French settler militias. The event went down in history as the Sétif and Guelma massacre. 

"Héliopolis" is a masterpiece in motion picture and will end up a classic in the history of filmmaking in Algeria and the rest of the Arab world.

French is the best language of motion picture. 

I predict "Héliopolis" making it to the final nominees for the Best International Feature Film, Best Picture and the Best Original Screenplay.. But I don't know if it can win the second Oscar for Algeria, because of the outstanding films by the other countries competing for the Best International Feature Film award.

###

Heliopolis is also the title of an Egyptian film produced in 2009 directed by Ahmad Abdalla.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series
@247 NIGERIA @247nigrria on Twitter

Over 1, 426 Nigerian Movies Produced in 2021 and None Selected for the 94th Annual Academy Awards

Over 1, 426 Nigerian Movies Produced in 2021 and None Selected for the 94th Annual Academy Awards

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) for the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) said entries submitted by Nigerian filmmakers did not meet the eligibility rules.

 "After a series of deliberations by the Committee members, we regret to announce that there won’t be submission of film to represent the country for the 94th Academy Awards. This is due to the fact that the films received so far for screening failed the eligibility rule test set by the Academy,” said the NOSC.

Once again, Nigerian filmmakers have disappointed Nigeria. From disqualification for failing to meet the eligibility criteria in 2019 to failing to make the short list for the nominations in 2020; Nigerian filmmakers continue lagging behind other African countries in competition for the most coveted awards for the best films in the world with Somalia and six other African countries on the final list of the official submissions for the Best International Feature Film of the 94th annual Academy Awards.

The following is the official final list.

ALBANIA – Two Lions Heading to Venice / Dy Luanë drejt Venecias (Jonid Jorgji)

ALGERIA – Héliopolis / (هليوبوليس) / (Haliyūbūlīs) (Djafar Gacem)

ARGENTINA – The Intruder / El Prófugo (Natalia Meta)

ARMENIA – Should the Wind Drop / Երբ որ քամին հանդարտվի / Si le vent tombe (Nora Martirosyan)

AUSTRALIA – When Pomegranates Howl (Granaz Moussavi)

AUSTRIA – Great Freedom / Große Freiheit (Sebastian Meise)

BANGLADESH – Rehana / রেহানা মরিয়ম নূর / Rehana Maryam Noor (Abdullah Mohammad Saad)

BELGIUM – Playground / Un monde (Laura Wandel)

BOLIVIA – The Great Movement / El Gran Movimiento (Kiro Russo)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – The White Fortress / Tabija (Igor Drljaca)

BRAZIL – Private Desert / Deserto Particular (Aly Muritiba)

BULGARIA – Fear / Страх (Milko Lazarov)

CAMBODIA – White Building / ប៊ូឌីញ ស (Ivaylo Hristov)

CANADA – Drunken Birds / Les oiseaux ivres (Ivan Grbovic)

CHILE – White on White / Blanco en blanco (Theo Court)

COLOMBIA – Memoria (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)

COSTA RICA – Clara Sola (Nathalie Álvarez Mesén)

CROATIA – Tereza37 (Danilo Šerbedžija)

CZECH REPUBLIC – Zátopek (David Ondříček)

DENMARK – Flee / Flugt (Jonas Poher Rasmussen)

ECUADOR – Sumergible (Alfredo León León)

EGYPT – Souad / سعاد (Ayten Amin)

ESTONIA – On the Water / Vee peal (Peeter Simm)

FINLAND – Compartment No. 6 / Hytti nro 6 (Juho Kuosmanen)

FRANCE – Titane (Julia Ducournau)

GEORGIA – Brighton 4th / მეოთხე ბრაიტონი (Levan Koguashvili)

GERMANY – I’m Your Man / Ich bin dein Mensch (Maria Schrader)

GREECE – Digger (Georgis Grigorakis)

HONG KONG – Zero to Hero / 媽媽的神奇小子 (Jimmy Wan)

HUNGARY – Post Mortem (Péter Bergendy)

ICELAND – Lamb / Dýrið (Valdimar Jóhannsson)

INDIA – Pebbles / கூழாங்கல் / Koozhangal (P.S. Vinothraj)

INDONESIA – Yuni (Kamila Andini)

IRAN – A Hero / قهرمان (Asghar Farhadi)

IRELAND – Foscadh (Seán Breathnach)

ISRAEL – Let It Be Morning / ויהי בוקר, ليكن صباحا (Eran Kolirin)

ITALY – The Hand of God / È stata la mano di Dio (Paolo Sorrentino)

JAPAN – Drive My Car /ドライブ・マイ・カー / Doraibu mai kā (Ryusuke Hamaguchi)

KENYA – Mission to Rescue (Gilbert Lukalia)

KOSOVO – Hive / Zgjoi (Blerta Basholli)

KYRGYZSTAN – Shambala / Шамбала (Artykpai Suyundukov)

LATVIA – The Pit / Bedre (Dace Pūce)

LEBANON – Costa Brava, Lebanon / كوستابرافا (Mounia Akl)

LITHUANIA – The Jump / Šuolis (Giedrė Žickytė)

LUXEMBOURG – Io sto bene (Donato Rotunno)

MALAWI – Fatsani: A Tale of Survival (Gift Sukez Sukali)

MALAYSIA – Hail, Driver! / Prebet Sapu (Muzzamer Rahman)

MALTA – Luzzu (Alex Camilleri)

MEXICO – Prayers for the Stolen / Noche de fuego (Tatiana Huezo)

MONTENEGRO – After the Winter / Poslije zime (Ivan Bakrač)

MOROCCO – Casablanca Beats / علّي صوتك (Nabil Ayouch)

NETHERLANDS – Do Not Hesitate (Shariff Korver)

NORTH MACEDONIA – Sisterhood / Сестри (Sestri) (Dina Duma)

NORWAY – The Worst Person in the World / Verdens verste menneske (Joachim Trier)

PALESTINE – The Stranger / الغريب / Al Garib (Ameer Fakher Eldin)

PANAMA – Plaza Catedral (Abner Benaim)

PERU – Powerful Chief / Manco Cápac (Henry Vallejo)

POLAND – Leave No Traces / Żeby nie było śladów (Jan P. Matuszyński)

PORTUGAL – The Metamorphisis of Birds / A Metamorfose dos Pássaros (Catarina Vasconcelos)

ROMANIA – Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn / Babardeală cu bucluc sau porno balamuc (Radu Jude)

RUSSIA – Unclenching the Fists / Разжимая кулаки / Razzhimaya kulaki (Kira Kovalenko)

SERBIA – Oasis / Оаза (Ivan Ikić)

SINGAPORE – Precious Is The Night / 今宵多珍重 (Wayne Peng)

SLOVAKIA – 107 Mothers / Cenzorka (Péter Kerekes)

SLOVENIA – Sanremo (Miroslav Mandić)

SOMALIA – The Gravedigger’s Wife (Khadar Ayderus Ahmed)

SOUTH KOREA – Escape from Mogadishu / 모가디슈 / Mogadisyu (Ryoo Seung-wan)

SPAIN – The Good Boss / El buen patrón (Fernando León de Aranoa)

SWEDEN – Tigers / Tigrar (Ronnie Sandahl)

SWITZERLAND – Olga (Elie Grappe)

TAIWAN – The Falls / 瀑布 (Chung Mong-hong)

THAILAND – The Medium / ร่างทรง / Rang Song (Banjong Pisanthanakun)

TUNISIA – Golden Butterfly / فرططو الذهب / Papillon d’Or (Abdelhamid Bouchnak)

TURKEY – Commitment Hasan / Bağlılık Hasan (Semih Kaplanoğlu)

UKRAINE – Bad Roads / Погані дороги / Plokhiye dorogi (Nataliia Vorozhbyt)

URUGUAY – The Broken Glass Theory / La teoría de los vidrios rotos (Diego Fernández)

VENEZUELA – The Inner Glow / Un destello interior (Andrés Eduardo Rodríguez, Luis Alejandro Rodríguez)

The most likely Nigerian film that would have been eligible is the historical epic, "Amina" by Izu Ojukwu, but it is in English and not in the Hausa language of the original story.

The fact that the great opportunity to produce "Queen Amina" in the Hausa language was missed by the producers is a big disappointment, because the film directed by Izu Ojukwu would have fulfilled the criteria for the eligibility and most likely make the short list of the nominations for the Best International Feature Film category. But the producers were more interested in fulfilling the eligibility for Netflix than the eligibility for the Academy Awards.

Having a movie on Netflix is now the most coveted thing for majority of Nigerian filmmakers and not the qualifications for the Academy Awards, Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival.

They celebrate making it to Netflix like winning a million dollar lottery.

But Netflix pays more for the movies of South African, American, European, Asian and Arabian filmmakers than Nigerian filmmakers, because they know that there is a surplus of Nigerian movies selling cheap with their lower budgets and lower standards of filmmaking.

The producers of "Amina" were grinning excitedly like children who have been given Christmas presents in November before the Christmas day comes up in December while their fellow African filmmakers were competing and winning highly esteemed awards at the 27th biennial FESPACO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and fulfilling the eligibility criteria for the Best International Feature Film category of the 94th annual Academy Awards.

I congratulated the producers of "Amina", to commend their efforts, but majority of the critics said the film on the legendary Warrior,  Queen Amina of Zazzau in northern Nigeria should have been in Hausa language and subtitled in English. Yes. And that means the real historical film on Queen Amina has not been done.

I prefer that the film should feature the best actors in Kannywood, the Hausa language sector of the Nigerian film industry. And it should be a national film project of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) which is part of the statutory functions and should be in the priorities of the Steering Committee for the Reform and Commercialisation of the Corporation.

The 94th annual Academy Awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), will honor the best films released since March 1, 2021, and is scheduled to take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California on March 27, 2022.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

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

https://angel.co/u/michael-chima-ekenyerengozi 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelchimaeyerengozi

The Leadership of Muslims Must Ban Paedophilic Marriage in Islam

 According to a study in 2020, Islam has 1.9 billion adherents, making up about 24.7% of the world population. Most Muslims are either of two denominations: Sunni (87–90%, roughly 1.7 billion people) or Shia (10–13%, roughly 180–230 million people).

The leadership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) must ban the rampant sexual abuse of underaged girls by old men suffering from paedophilia (a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent girls) in Islamic communities worldwide.

Paedophilic marriage is the major cause of the millions of underprivileged girls out of school in northern Nigeria.
Any sexual intercourse with a Girl-Child is #RAPE.

Elizabeth Vargas reveals the heart-wrenching stories of child marriage victims, who against all odds, escaped the most dire of circumstances. These brave survivors tackle this taboo issue in their personal lives and help to shine a light on the national epidemic with the hope that no child will ever have to be a victim again.

 

This powerful investigation into Shia clerics in some of Iraq's holiest shrines uncovers a network of exploitation of young women and girls, trapped into prostitution and pimped out by a religious elite. Unprecedented undercover filming and victim testimony reveal how they procure young women for male clients, and are prepared to conduct 'pleasure marriages' with children.

Gyakie of Ghana is A Better Singer Than Tems of Nigeria

 #Gyakie #Ghana

#Tems #Nigeria

#Singers #heart #throat #sensous

#songs #vocals #music

#falsetto #acappella #voice #unpluggef

Jackline Acheampong who is professionally known as Gyakie of Ghana is a better singer than Nigeria's Temilade Openiyi, popularly known by her stage name Tems.

Gyakie sings from her heart, whereas Tems sings from her throat.

Her sensous falsetto is all that she has to offer and unplugged, Gyakie will make Tems an ordinary singer without powerful vocals.

Let Gyakie and Tems sing a cappella and you will hear the difference.

PS:

If you have not studied music or you don't have a good ear for music, you may not know the difference between the two singers.

A Film Adaptation of "Ameno" is Overdue

I have viewed this epic music video of "Ameno" of ERA by Eric Levi and I thought it was the trailer of the movie. The song produced in 1996 by the Baby Boomers generation is currently having worldwide resurgence by both millennials and Gen Z on TikTok.

The film adaptation is long over due and I found the historical background of the theme of the song on 
http://www.euronet.nl/users/ernstoud/era.html.

The following is enough treatment for the screenplay. And I will like to produce it.

###

WhatWhat Can I Say?

In August 1998 I visited a late 19th century fortress 'Fort Vuren' which was once part of the defense system New Dutch Waterlinie, meant to defend the Northern part of Holland, in particular the city Gorinchem. This fortress was never used in battle and is now sometimes used to house art exhibitions. During such an exhibition they played music that overwhelmed me. The cold and very damp fortress (with feet-thick concrete walls below ground level) with its church-like acoustics together with the music melted into an almost eerie experience.

I thought I heard an album by Enigma. But it turned out to be an album called 'ERA' by the French composer and guitarist Eric Levi.

The music is a weird mix of Gregorian chant (performed by the English Chamber Choir), rock and disco. Musicians are Lee Sklar, Chester Thompson, Philippe Manca, Neal Wilkinson, Patrice Tison and Eric Levi.

I only recognize Chester Thompson who always played drums with Phil Collins when Genesis was on tour.

Parts of the album remind me of the Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, other parts seem inspired by early works of Mike Oldfield.

On first sight it is hard to tell what this concept album is about. The CD sleeve contains little information apart from a two couplet verse:

When the children of Montsegur came down from the pog

The sun had not yet returned day to the world

On their pale faces could be seen their grief and sadness

Without faith they went

Time had passed, the children have grown with great hope

And sometimes, when they look up to the mountains

They can hear those strong and beautiful voices

Beating on the sound of a rhythm, the Cathar rhythm.

Based on this verse and the enormous encyclopedia the Internet has turned into, it is fairly easy to do research.

At the start of the 13th century Catholicism reigned supreme but a number of Christian diversions where popular. The acts of Pope Innocentius III made large amounts of people hostile towards Catholicism because it seemed that Church did present Rome instead of faith. A fertile environment for heresies, one of these was Catharism, of which the largest group formed in the South of France, in the Languedoc area near Toulouse.

Catharism preached that the body is evil but that one's soul is devine and therefor must be set free. During the 13th century the Inquisition and Crusades controlled from Rome eradicated the Cathars. Montsegur (Mont Segur = Safe Mountain) was one of the last Cathar bastions to fall when (after a siege of 10 months) the Cathars on Montsegur were given 14 days to surrender. They had the option to deny their faith or be killed. Almost all choose to keep faith so 205 men and women were burned at the stake on March 15th 1244.

There is a lot of mystery about the Cathars and Montsegur. On July 21st the sunrays enter and leave the ruins through four openings. Did the Cathars have some solarian rites?

Also it is believed that just before the surrender of the Cathars at Montsegur, a party was secretly sent down to rescue the Cathar's treasure and hide it in secrecy, never to be found again ...

Source

http://www.euronet.nl/users/ernstoud/era.html

FESPACO 2021: The List of the Winners

 27th edition of the biennial Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), the largest African film festival in the world took place from 16 to 23 October 2021 in Burkina Faso

Photo:A host holds the Étalon de Yennenga (Golden Stallion of Yennega) won by Somali director Ahmed Khadar for his film, "The Gravedigger’s Wife" during the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) closing ceremony at Sports Palace in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Anne Mimault.

"The Gravedigger’s Wife" premiered in #Cannes Critics’ Week in July and has  been selected as Somalia’s  first-ever Oscar submission for the 2022 Academy Awards.

The filmmaking was delayed as Khadar Ahmed wrote the story 10 years ago, but wanted to direct it himself and so took time to learn how to direct movies.

Newton Aduaka is the only Nigerian filmmaker who has won the grand prize, the Golden Stallion of Yennenga for his 2007 film,"Ezra’" on the civil war in Sierra Leone.

The US$36,000 Golden Stallion of Yennenga prize is named after the legendary warrior Princess Yennenga, who is called the mother of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso.

The first Nigerian to win a prize at FESPACO, is Clarion Chukwurah, the  Best Actress prize in 1985 for her role in Dr. Ola Balogun’s film, "Owo L’agba" (Money Power). 

The List of the Winners

– Golden Stallion of Yennenga: “The gravedigger’s wife” by Ahmed Khadar (Somalia)

– Silver Stallion: “Freda” from Gessica Geneus (Haiti)

– Bronze Stallion: “A story of love and desire” by Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia)

– Best Actor Award: Alassane Sy for “Baamum Nafi” (Senegal)

– Best Actress Award: Zainab Jah for “Farewell Amor” by Ekwa Msangi (Tanzania)

– Best decor: “La Nuit des Rois” (Night Of The Kings) by Philippe Lacote (Ivory Coast)

– Best Editing: “Souad” by Amin Ayten (Egypt)

– Prize for the screenplay: “Nameless” Mutiganda Wa Nkunda (Rwanda)

– Image prize: “This is not a burial, it is a resurrection” by Jeremiah Lemohang Mosese (Lesotho)

– Sound Award: “Freda” by Gessica Geneus (Haiti)

– Best Music: “The Gravedigger’s Wife” by Ahmed Khadar (Somalia)

– Gold standard documentary feature film: “Garderie Nocturne” by Moumouni Sanou (Burkina Faso)

– Silver standard documentary feature film: “Marcher sur l’eau” by Aissa Maiga (Senegal-Mali)

– Bronze standard documentary feature film: “Makongo” by Elvis Sabin Ngaibino (Central African Republic)

– Poulain d’or short film: “Serbi” (Les Tissus blancs) by Moly Kane (Senegal)

– Silver foal fiction short film: “Amani” by Alliah Fafin (Rwanda)

– Short film fiction bronze foal: “Zalissa” by Carine Bado (Burkina Faso)

– Poulain d’Or documentary short film: “Ethereality” by Kantarama Gahigiri (Rwanda)

– Silver foal short film: “I bit my tongue” by Nina Khada (Algeria)

– Bronze foal short film: “Nuit Debout” by Nelson Makengo (DRCongo)

SPECIAL MENTIONS

– Special mention to “Tabaski” by Laurence Attali (Senegal)

– Special mention from the jury: “La traversée” by Irène Tassembedo (Burkina Faso)

OUTLOOK SECTION

– Paul Robson Prize: “Traverser” by Joël Akafou (Ivory Coast)

– Oumarou Ganda Prize: “Tug of War” Amil Shivji (Tanzania)

BURKINA FASO SECTION

– Best Burkinabè film: “In the footsteps of a migrant” by Delphine Yerbanga

– Best Burkinabè hope: “After your revolt, your vote” by Kiswendsida Parfait Kaboré

.

AFRIFF Announces Seasoned Entertainment Executive as Creative Director for its 10th Anniversary Edition

AFRIFF Announces Seasoned Entertainment Executive as Creative Director for its 10th Anniversary Edition

 

AFRIFF Announces Seasoned Entertainment Executive as Creative Director for its 10th Anniversary Edition

Lagos, Nigeria –    29/10/2021

Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) today announced seasoned global entertainment executive, Jenny Alonzo, as Creative Director for its 10th anniversary edition

The move comes as AFRIFF continues to solidify itself as Africa’s most innovative film festival, celebrating African content, film making and a unique platform for the many stories Africa has to share with the world. AFRIFF is focused on building the necessary bridge with the rest of the world.

Jenny Alonzo is a recognized leader in content, marketing, and the multicultural markets across all platforms—film, television, digital— and is an advisor to C-Level executives on the ‘super consumers,’ a segment often referred to as multicultural. She has worked on some of the strongest brands in international media, including NBC, The Wall Street Journal, and NUVOtv/FUSE, where she spearheaded the go-to-market strategy for the network’s partnership with global icon Jennifer Lopez.  Most notably, Alonzo was a member of the executive team that launched Lifetime Television and its ground-breaking market positioning of Television for Women.

Alonzo has been an advocate for diverse storytelling and representation throughout her career. She was a two-term member of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) inaugural Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age, served on Nielsen’s Advisory Council, Volvo/Jaguar/LandRover’s Advisory Council, is currently on the Board of Governors for St. John’s University, and is Chair of the Board for circlearound.com. 

Jenny Alonzo has been featured as a Broadcasting & Cable Fifth Estater, in The New York Times, Diversity Inc., Black Enterprise, and El Diario/LaPrensa. She has moderated and participated on highly visible panels at major conferences, including NCTA, CTAM, PROMAX, Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit, Congressional Caucuses, corporate events, and film festivals.

“I’m both humbled and excited to be working with Chioma Ude on AFRIFF. This festival is a hidden gem. AFRIFF has been a champion for African filmmakers and Chioma’s mission to amplify and elevate the stories about Africa, Africans, and its Diaspora is right in line with what my brand represents—telling and amplifying stories about women and diverse markets that continue to lead global growth. I am proud to be working with someone who demonstrates a commitment to paying-it-forward and to opening doors for those with limited access, which is still a huge problem in filmmaking and entertainment. 

Alonzo, continued, “Africa is truly the richest continent in the world and yet the stories we see paint a different picture. AFRIFF is doing everything it can to change that by providing a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and for buyers to experience authentically rich stories they can bring to the world. Chioma is on a mission to ensure AFRIFF becomes the “must attend” film festival of Africa. I’m honoured to join her on this mission,” stated Alonzo. 

AFRIFF takes pride in celebrating some of the best films in Africa in the Feature, Documentary and Short category through careful selection by its Creative Director and International Jury. This year, about 4,000 films have been submitted in all the categories and the selection process for films that will screen at the festival is currently on going. REGISTER FOR AFRIFF.

ABOUT AFRIFF

The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) conceived by Ms Chioma Ude is a world class showcase that presents a complete immersion into the world of film making with participation from local and international, actors, directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, sound engineers, musicians, editors, light engineers, students, equipment manufacturers and businesspeople. 

The objectives are to develop the film industry to a level where the products compete favourably with their contemporaries all over world; provide a growth opportunity for these film industry professionals to eventually export their products to the world; facilitate access to investors, equipment, technical and skill acquisition through several capacity development workshops; complement government’s efforts at revamping small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

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Igbos Are Not Ready To Become A Sovereign Nation

Igbos Are Not Ready To Become A Sovereign Nation

The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo does not even know the true origins of the Igbos. And the most intellectually ignorant are the leaders of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who claimed that the Igbos are also Jews, the descendants of Abraham, when the archeological proof of Igbo Ukwu shows that Igbos have the oldest monarchy in Africa of the same period of the Indus Valley civilization before the birth of Abraham. If you don't know your history, then you cannot build the foundation for a nation. 

I have already addressed the origins of the Igbos in several writings, including the following:

The Binary Systems of AFA, IFA and EPHA Divinations and Computer Science

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-binary-systems-of-afa-ifa-and-epha.html

Nigerians Report Online: Facts You Don't Know About the True Origins of the Igbos in Nigeria

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2021/08/facts-you-dont-know-about-true-origins.html

Nigerians Report Online: Exposing the Historical Lies of Biafra on Abraham, Israel and the Igbos

https://nigeriansreportng.blogspot.com/2021/08/exposing-historical-lies-of-biafra-on.html

The leaders of IPOB are political opportunists who are terrorising fellow Igbos to sit at home and not to vote in the elections they have registered for. 

You are attacking the fundamental human rights of the people and using dictatorship and terrorism to force them to reject democracy in the federation they have chosen to be part of as bona fide citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but you have collected millions of naira, the official currency issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

It is Political Idiocy and Political Hypocrisy to claim you are Biafran and you support IPOB, but you are still desperately applying for or having the Nigerian passport and NIN to apply for government jobs, loans, projects and sponsorships. 

The ignorance of political education and history has made many of the Igbos to believe the shallow political propaganda of the IPOB.

Any action to force people to accept a political cause is TERRORISM.

You cannot build a nation by terrorising Igbos to join IPOB.

You cannot build a nation without love, peace and unity.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima 

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

https://mobile.twitter.com/247nigeria

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

The Introduction To "Barack Obama, The American Dream and the American Nightmare"

The following is the introduction of my yet to be published book,
"Barack Obama, The American Dream and the American Nightmare"

For all my fellow bloggers in the blogosphere
From those croaking like frogs on the logs
To those barking and howling like dogs on their blogs
Who are not afraid to break the news
Like backbenchers screaming from the pews.

Introduction

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." ~ François Marie Arouet de Voltaire

"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Once you hear the details of victory, it is hard to distinguish it from a defeat." ~Jean-Paul Sartre
–posted 02/10/2008 at 10:46:07 

Barack Obama has caused me to write a book I would not have written. His political audacity provoked me to write it. Barack Obama is like seeing the American Dream unfolding like the petals of a rose before our very eyes. I am not a true artist if I cannot depict what I see. Even a mirage forms an image we cannot deny. I will separate the fantasy from the reality of this American Dream.

Yet Barack Obama would not have become so dramatic without the ironic passion of his fanatics. Barack Obama may end up as a cosmic irony in the political history of America. May God save Barack Obama from the fates of these interesting times. 

–posted 02/10/2008 at 10:23:56 

I have seen the parade of ignorance
In the masquerade of arrogance.

I prefer to call this book political graffiti on the current affairs in American politics, some aspects of global politics, and other do-or-die affairs. Please read at your own risk. Most of the political notes are (1) comments I posted in my replies to various news reports and articles on the Huffington Post and (2) informed commentaries on my political blogs. The comments are regarding the principal presidential candidates of the Democratic Party in the course of their political campaigns for the presidential caucuses and primaries before the presidential election in 2008. The headings of the comments and commentaries are the titles of the specific news reports and articles on the Huffington Post and other sources; therefore, you can use the titles to trace the sources online. Reading the original reports, articles, and blogs will give you more details and make it clear why I made the comments or wrote the informed commentaries. 

It is also an important documentary on how Barack Obama emerged as the first black President of America in the most turbulent period since World War Two and will be of immense benefit to everyone who is interested in the intellectual and political consciousness of Obama in the study of his life and the history of American politics in the 21st century.

The notes and commentaries are testimonies of my cosmopolitan political inclinations. I enjoyed the excitement of participating in the discussions on the dialectics, ethics, and polemics of American democracy and the glaring contrasts with the contortions and distortions of democracy in Nigerian politics and of course on the madness of terrorism.

Mentally Disabled Women Used in Bombings

All suicide bombers are mentally retarded morons. We should ban any religion promoting terrorism. Lest we forget, rape is also terrorism. Honor killing is equally terrorism.

All terrorists should be arrested and deported to the moon where they actually belong since they are worshippers of the moon. No wonder madness is associated with the moon’s cycle.

We, the civilized ones, cannot be safe in a world where terrorists are on the rampage. We must get rid of them before they get rid of us. No need for Guantanamo Bay—just deport them to the moon. 

–posted 02/01/2008 at 14:24:47 

Mrs. Stassinopoulos Huffington is my humorous address for the irresistibly bold and beautiful Arianna Huffington, the celebrated publisher of the Huffington Post and author of many books. This book is meant for entertainment and enlightenment, so enjoy.

~ Ekeyerengozi Michael Chima
Orikinla Osinachi
January 14, 2008
Bonny Island, Nigeria