Friday, November 5, 2021
Sound and Screenwriting in Nollywood and Kannywood
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
"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.
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.
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Heliopolis is also the title of an Egyptian film produced in 2009 directed by Ahmad Abdalla.
@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
Sunday, October 31, 2021
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.
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.
Saturday, October 30, 2021
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.
http://www.euronet.nl/users/ernstoud/era.html.
The following is enough treatment for the screenplay. And I will like to produce it.
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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
Friday, October 29, 2021
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
"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
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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).