The Global Target Audience For Nollywood Movies and Series in Igbo and other African Content

The Global Target Audience For Nollywood Movies and Series in Igbo and other African Content in International Film Acquisition and Distribution

Using Culture and Strategy:

My market survey for a new Nigerian Igbo movie, "Infant at Heart" directed by Aguyi Ikeobi ND, a graduate of the London Film School and produced by Vera Kanu, a seasoned producer in Nollywood with famous Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh and one of the most beautiful Nollywood divas, Monalisa Chinda in the leading roles has an estimated target audience of more than 100, 000 Igbos who will like to watch Igbo movies and can afford to pay for the tickets at the cinemas in Nigeria. 

There are also thousands of Igbos in Ghana, Cameroon and Gabon who are fans of Nkem Owoh who will be excited to watch it.

The Cultural Web 

There are more than 45 million Igbos in Africa and the Diaspora.
Nollywood movies still command hundreds and thousands of fans in West Africa and Central Africa.
The first Nollywood videos were actually videos of the popular Igbo TV series, "Masquerade" on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in the 1980s recorded on VHS tapes and watched on TV in Cameroon and Gabon.

See also Nigerian Home Videos - Festival des 3 Continents
https://www.3continents.com/en/programme/2003/home-videos-nigerianes/

The significance of cultural web is important for marketing strategy in the distribution of products and services, especially movies and TV series. 
Audiences first and foremost prefer content they can identify with and then are anxious and curious about content of other cultures.

Majority of the over 11 million viewers of "The Black Book", the 2023 Nollywood crime thriller film by Editi Effiong on Netflix were South Koreans who were anxious and curious to know what is "The Black Book".

The largest market for African movies and series are the Afro-Latinos: comprising some 150 million in the Americas.
https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RL32713.html#:~:text=Afro%2DLatinos%20comprise%20some%20150,marginalized%20groups%20in%20the%20region.

Unknown to Canal Plus and other multinational entertainment providers, FRANCE 24 Español has already unlocked the market, but yet to provide the African movies and series they (Afro-Latinos) will be excited to see.

The Igbo were dispersed to colonies such as Jamaica, Cuba, Saint-Domingue, Barbados, Colonial America, Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, among others.
The Igbo language is still spoken in Cuba, along with the Efik language, but in a creolized version. In ceremonies of the Abakuá culture, you can see traces of the Igbo Culture.
These are populations waiting for  Igbo movies and series and other African content.

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,

Publisher/Editor,

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,

The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

The books have been printed in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America and distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

They are the highest priced book series by an African author and publisher. 

I Prefer Observational Documentary Style

 I Prefer Observational Documentary Style 

In documentary film production on people, places and other subjects, I prefer observational documentary style, because to me it is best to let the people involved to tell their stories; to show us their lives, societies and treasures without anyone giving a guided tour with a microphone or interviews along the way. The people are the best narrators of the narratives of their lives and living conditions and habitations in different perspectives.

Don't speak for them or tell us about them when they can speak for themselves and tell us about their lives. I want to hear: *we are.." and not *they are"; "I am" and not "he is" or "she is". 

A documentary film is not a news report. I mean reporting about a person, event or incident is not a documentary film. 

Michael Moore, the famous Academy Award winning American documentary filmmaker said it is best to produce a documentary film like a true life movie.

In the production of my first attempt in documentary filmmaking, "Lagos in Motion", there was no narrator. 

The camera was the storyteller; showing us the different places in Lagos, the largest megacity in Africa with the people in the city going about from place to place.

The "Reading in Motion" scenes show young Lagosians, Cynthia Agu and Celina Ideh reading novels by Bisi Daniels inside the car whilst on the road in Lagos city.

 In the cinematic scene of "reading in motion", there was no soundtrack. I simply showed the young Nigerian actress, Celina Ideh reading a book, the novel titled "Conspiracy of Lagos" by Bisi Daniels whilst sitting inside a car in motion on the road in the city. 

It is like a scene in a movie. 

- Ekenyerengozi Michael China

See "A Guide to the 6 Types of Documentaries"

Documentaries are a form of non-fiction film that attempts to document reality and capture the world as it is. They can vary drastically in the subject matter that is being portrayed as well as in the style that this subject matter is depicted. The different documentary styles were first laid out by Bill Nichols, a film critic, in 1991. Nichols characterized the types of documentaries as follows: 

1 Expository 

2 Participatory 

3 Observational

4 Performative 

5 Reflexive 

6 Poetic

 https://www.impactcreative.com/different-types-of-documentaries/#:~:text=A%20Guide%20to,Poetic

A New Book: Like Their Fathers, Like Their Mothers

COMING OUT SOON

One of the new books I have written so far.

LIKE THEIR FATHERS,LIKE THEIR MOTHERS

Definitely a must read on the Nigerian society.

This is following my previous books; "Diary of the Memory Keeper" and "In the House of Dogs" also on lives in Nigeria, excluding my other books, "Children of Heaven", "Scarlet Tears of London",  "Unveil Me My Love", "The Prophet Lied", "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari" "The Language of True Love" and "Naked Beauty":((a romantic screenplay co-authored with Dr. Chika Christian Onu)

90 percent of my books are distributed by Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other booksellers.

#books

#author

#diary 

#memoir 

#novel 

#literature 

#nigeria 

#society

#buhari

#society

#parents

#sons

#daughters

#love

#beauty

#friends

#friendship

#relationship

#marriage 

#london

#heaven

#children

#amazon

#barnesandnoble

Federal Government of Nigeria and DiFZIN Inaugurate Committee for the Establishment of Digital Free Zone for Technology and Global Service Businesses

 

PRESS RELEASE

Federal Government of Nigeria & Digital Free Zones in Nigeria (DiFZIN) inaugurate committee for the Establishment of Digital Free Zone for Technology and Global Service Businesses

Digital Free Zones foster innovation and economic expansion by leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies such as AI and Edge Computing, and a supportive regulatory environment

LAGOS, Nigeria, August 9, 2024/ -- In a bid to drive the ease of doing business for global digital, finance, knowledge- and services-oriented enterprises in Nigeria, the Federal Government of Nigeria established a steering committee chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to drive the promotion and establishment of a digital free zone in Nigeria to accommodate the peculiar needs of innovative digital trade and service businesses. This steering committee is chaired by His Excellency Mr President, supported by the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy (“HMF/CME”) as Vice Chairman. Other members are the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; the Honourable Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy; and Interior; the heads of relevant Government Agencies and Committees; and the Initiative for the Promotion of Digital Free Zones in Nigeria (DiFZIN) as the private-sector stakeholders' representative and technical advisers. DiFZIN is a non-profit advocacy and policy research organisation supported by a consortium of private sector development-focused and advisory institutions including Africa Finance Corporation, PwC Nigeria, Charter Cities Institute, Future Africa, and Itana. The mission of the organisation is to see Nigeria’s free zones ecosystem fulfil its full potential as Africa’s major hub for global technology and service businesses. This Committee will work collaboratively with relevant agencies of government and private stakeholders to review and align Nigeria’s free zone policies, technology and processes with global standards, then develop and publish policy and operational frameworks to enable qualified global and local technology and service businesses to establish Pan-African or global operations from Nigeria. Businesses that take advantage of the zone will benefit from competitive business incentives provided by modernized free zones regulations, including tax, immigration and banking incentives, simplified government compliance processes, clear and predictable business regulation and an enabling business environment. As part of the Federal Government’s strategic growth objectives, it aims to boost foreign direct investment, create employment opportunities, and facilitate the capital flow into Nigeria’s economy, through an innovative and future-oriented approach to the free zones ecosystem. The HMF/CME stated that “the pivotal role of free zones to catalysing and sustaining economic growth in an emerging market such as Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. Its implementation in this digital age must not only encompass manufacturing undertakings but also integrate the central role of technology-focused businesses in attracting investments and making available to the global markets, our domestic talents under a liberal regulatory framework. These and more are what the Government aims to deliver through the digital free zones.” Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, MD/CEO of NEPZA (Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority), emphasized the Authority’s commitment to digital transformation. He highlighted the e-NEPZA platform, which will streamline government services and comply with the Federal Government’s ease of doing business policy. Dr Ogunyemi also noted the importance of data privacy, with data stored locally in local servers as well as the ability of small businesses to access global markets, addressing the need for digital infrastructure like fibre optics. “We look forward to partnering with DiFZIN to advance our digital processes,” he stated. NEPZA’s support for Digital Free Zones signals a move towards a digitally driven economy, unlocking new opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises as well as large corporations in Nigeria. Mr. Luqman Edu (Executive Director of DiFZIN and CEO of Itana) and the DiFZIN consortium, aim to support the Federal Government in positioning Nigeria as a hub for regional expansion across Africa. These efforts are designed to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s GDP, government revenue, capital importation, and foreign exchange availability, while simultaneously generating employment opportunities for the burgeoning Nigerian youth population. “DiFZIN is committed to driving the agenda for reforms to the regulatory frameworks for taxation, banking, immigration, and ease of doing business, among others, within the free zones ecosystem,” said Mr Edu. “Our goal is to create a conducive environment for global technology and services-based businesses to thrive, facilitating remote operations and banking from Nigeria for Africa, thereby positioning Nigeria as a hub for Africa, akin to what Delaware is for the US, and Dubai is for Asia.” Speaking on the partnership with DiFZIN, Banji Fehintola, Head of Financial Services at AFC said “AFC’s advisory team is uniquely skilled in providing tailored financial and technical advice to public and private sector players across Africa. We look forward to collaborating with DiFZIN and all other partners to modernize Nigeria’s free trade zones, attract much-needed investment, create local jobs, and boost trade and commerce in Nigeria and Africa.” Digital Free Zones foster innovation and economic expansion by leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies such as AI and Edge Computing, and a supportive regulatory environment. These ecosystems serve as incubators for innovation, providing a platform for businesses to drive growth and competitiveness. The supportive regulatory framework also ensures a conducive environment for experimentation, collaboration, and the seamless integration of emerging technologies into everyday business operations. For more information about DiFZIN and its initiatives, please visit www.DiFZIN.org or contact hello@difzin.org. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).   Media Enquiries: Yewande Thorpe Communications Africa Finance Corporation Mobile : +234 1 279 9654 Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org About AFC: AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth. Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception. www.AfricaFC.org SOURCE Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)

Creative Africa Nexus Weekend 2024: Uniting Global Africa's Creative and Cultural Industries in Algiers

CANEX WKND 2023 (L-R): Tade Ipadeola (Poet and Writer, Event Anchor), Anwuli Ojogwu (Managing Director, Narrative Landscape Press), Dr Eghosa Imasuen (Co-Founder, Narrative Landscape Press), Professor Benedict Oramah (Afreximbank President), Mrs Kanayo Awani (Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade & Export Development at Afreximbank), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Novelist and Creative Director of the James and Grace Adichie Foundation), Mrs Chinelo Oramah, and Mr Stephen Kauma, (Group Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank)

(Source: Afreximbank)

PRESS RELEASE

Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024: Uniting Global Africa's Creative and Cultural Industries in Algiers

his groundbreaking event is scheduled to take place from October 16-19, 2024, at SAFEX in Algiers, Algeria

Access Multimedia Content

ALGIERS, Algeria, August 7, 2024/ -- African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, proudly announces the return of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2024. This groundbreaking event is scheduled to take place from October 16-19, 2024, at SAFEX in Algiers, Algeria.  CANEX WKND 2024 seeks to build on the success of previous events, most recently CANEX at IATF2023 that was held in Cairo. Last year’s edition brought together delegates from across the continent representing a wide range of creative sectors. The event featured over 21 live performances, 115 industry-leading speakers and experts, 13 masterclass sessions, and an awe-inspiring fashion show. Attendees also enjoyed a high-energy music concert, exciting gastronomical showcases and a vibrant marketplace and exhibition center.  CANEX WKND will further develop conversations and provide even more business to business/government opportunities through a 4-day gathering that will be held under the theme: One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World.  Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President Intra Africa Trade and Export Development stated, "CANEX WKND 2024 represents a pivotal moment for creative and cultural industries in Global Africa to showcase their talent and thrive. By bringing together diverse talents from across the continent and diaspora, we're not just showcasing creativity; we're not just showcasing creativity; we’re building a robust ecosystem that will propel African culture onto the global stage."  Highlights of CANEX WKND 2024 include:  CANEX Music Factory: Hundreds of songwriters and beatmakers will converge at the live recording studios within the heart of the CANEX Exhibition. This year's event will include the launch of an album featuring songs recorded during last year's Music Factory.   CANEX Music Concert: Will take the audience on a rhythmic journey across the continent, featuring some of Africa's most dynamic and groundbreaking artists such as the unstoppable Scorpion Kings, Qing Madi and the soulful Sofia Nzau, just to name a few.  CANEX Fashion Show: This year, we are bringing together 10 of the most innovative and bold designers from across Africa and the Diaspora, all set to unveil their exciting collections at the magnificent Algiers Botanical Gardens.   EXHIBITION: A dynamic business-to-business exhibition area designed for creative brands and organizations, offering exceptional opportunities to sell to international buyers.  GASTRONOMY Showcase: This showcase will be turning up the heat with a special appearance by some of the most celebrated chefs from Africa and the Diaspora. Culinary maestros will bring their stories, expertise, and mouthwatering recipes to life weaving the rich tapestry of African culture into every dish they create. From the vibrant streets of Lagos to the soulful kitchens of the Caribbean and the soothing landscapes of Cape Town, each chef will showcase the diverse flavours that define African cuisine across the globe.  ART EXHIBITION: A stunning visual art installation featuring the works of iconic artists along with emerging talents at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Algiers.   CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa: Celebrating literary excellence   from the continent  CANEX Shorts Awards Ceremony: Recognizing outstanding achievements of young filmmakers in short-form content creation.  Attendance and Registration  While attendance is free throughout the 4 days, pre-registration is essential. For more information or to register for CANEX WKND 2024, visit www.CANEX.Africa and be part of shaping the future of Africa's creative industries.  Join us in Algiers as we celebrate the power of African creativity and its impact on the global stage.  Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.   Media Contact:  Vincent Musumba  Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)  Email: press@afreximbank.com  Follow us on: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2023, Afreximbank's total assets and guarantees stood at over US$37.3 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$6.1 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.  For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com SOURCE Afreximbank

Calling All Lucky Dube Fans to Share Their Story

PRESS RELEASE 

Calling All Lucky Dube Fans to Share Their Story

Lucky Dube Legacy Company Encourages Fans to Share Their Stories to Feature in Commemorative Anthology of Artist’s Career

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 5, 2024/ -- With more than 22 albums and 20 awards internationally, South Africa’s Lucky Dube is still one of the most streamed and celebrated artists across the continent. He continues to grow an international following, with his message and evergreen lyrics resonating across generations, race, religion and language.

To celebrate his life and the impact of his music across the world, the Lucky Dube Legacy Company is encouraging fans to share the moment Lucky’s music mattered!

“We know that Lucky’s music has had a deep and lasting personal impact on many of you. We also know that his music inspired hope, political and social activism in many places around the world – often the common unifier amongst those who heard and loved his music.

This year, Lucky would have turned 60, and we want to hear about the times made significant with his music. Maybe it was after listening to or seeing Lucky play live or even encountering him in person. Or maybe you shared a moment with a fellow fan by chance. It could be something that you experienced yourself or perhaps it is a story that you’ve heard from others.

Whatever it is, no matter if it is big or small, we want to hear about it.”

Your story could be selected to feature in a commemorative anthology of Lucky’s life in music that will be made available world-wide.

It may also be featured in Lucky’s social media posts, as well as future projects!

To participate, you can send a DM to Lucky’s social platforms listed below or send an email to stories@luckydubelegacy.com

The Legacy company knows the importance of Lucky’s fans are to the ongoing success of his music. He loved his fans and repeatedly attributed his success to you the people who enabled him to continue sharing his message of equality, peace and love.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Lucky Dube Legacy Company.
 
Official Social Media:
Instagram: @lucky_dube_official – https://apo-opa.co/3WPYrZf
Facebook: @Lucky Dube Legacy – https://apo-opa.co/4d6COJR
YouTube: @officialluckydube – https://apo-opa.co/4dcXz6O
Listen to Lucky Dube on your favourite platform here: https://apo-opa.co/4dplEHH

About The Lucky Dube Legacy Company: 

The Lucky Dube Legacy Company was founded by his Estate after the artists death to preserve his legacy and music, as well as continue to share Lucky’s message with the world. If you worked with Lucky at any time in his career, or have anything you’d like to share, please contact us – we would love to hear from you. 

 
SOURCE
The Lucky Dube Legacy

Don't View Nollywood with the Rose-Tinted Glasses of Hollywood

 

Don't View Nollywood with the Rose-Tinted Glasses of Hollywood

I have previewed a new Nigerian drama on the psychological consequences of rape in the life of a teenage girl sexually violated by a Roman Catholic priest at a convent in south- eastern Nigeria.
If you replace the leading roles with the famous Hollywood icons, Nicole Kidman and John Travolta and have the location in America, the crime thriller will be nominated in the next Oscars for Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress in a leading role, because of the accomplishments of the cast and crew in the production of the movie. But many Nigerian and other African movies have been viewed with the rose-tinted glasses of the American film industry, popularly called, Hollywood and in most cases, viewed by White Americans who did not understand the nuances of the peculiarities of Black Africans in dialogues and mannerisms.

Are there racial biases in international film acquisition and distribution with the superiority complex of white curators who esteem white filmmakers highly in comparison to black African filmmakers without comprehensive analysis of the content and context of subject and without the broad-minded considerations for diversity and inclusion in the existential dramas of life on earth?
"Our films are good enough for you, but your movies are not good enough for us. "
Is Hollywood the global standard for the best storytelling on motion picture?
The Economist published a selection called, "The Best Films So Far in 2024" without any consideration for the best movies so far in Bollywood and Nollywood on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Showmax and other streaming platforms, cable TV networks and cinemas.

I have seen many crappy Hollywood movies repeatedly shown on M-NET Movies Channels without any consideration for the viewers who paid for the subscriptions.

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have paid over 200 percent more for the acquisitions of American and Korean films than what they paid for African films.
Showmax of the MultiChoice Group pays more for South African productions than Nigerian productions.
Are these differences in the valuations based on the quality of the movies or racial bias against black African filmmakers by Western standards? But the French are an exception to the stereotypical views of Africa by Hollywood, because the French have a better understanding of African Cinema than Hollywood and the British which can be seen in their broad-minded Official Selections of the annual Cannes Film Festival where several African filmmakers have won coveted awards, including the most coveted, the Palme d'Or.

Can a white curator of films understand the interpretations of the soundtracks of the Talking Drum in different scenarios of the scenes in the Yoruba political drama of "Saworoide", produced and directed by Tunde Kelani in 1999? 

Can the curator understand the soundtracks of the great Ikoro drum of Igbo people in a film adaptation of Chinua Achebe's all time classic novel, "Things Fall Apart"?

What of the different lighting techniques in Nollywood and Hollywood?

Do you know that the sunlight is brighter in Africa than in America?

The sunlight is the same everywhere on earth?

The colour of the moonlight is more romantic on Bonny Island in the Niger Delta than on Long Island in southeastern New York State.

There are different hues and shades of the colours of the rainbow and the narratives of the movies should be viewed in the different perspectives of the origins of the filmmakers to see the big picture of the different stories of life on motion picture.

"The Black Book", the 2023 Nigerian crime thriller of Editi Effiong, starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sam Dede, Shaffy Bello, Femi Branch, Alex Usifo, Ade Laoye and Ireti Doyle, released to Netflix on September 22 was the number one on the global rankings and "Òlòtūré", the 2019 Nigerian crime drama on human trafficking by Kenneth Gyang starring Sharon Ooja, Beverly Osu, Ada Ameh and Blossom Chukwujekwu was on the top rankings in several countries and were better than several American and Korean films in accomplishments in filmmaking, but Netflix paid less for the acquisition.

I have always insisted that a great movie is a great movie no matter the location or race of the filmmaker. The quality of the content should determine the price for the acquisition and not the location or race of the producer.

---- By -By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
Publisher/Editor,.
NOLLYWOOD MIRROR® Series,
The first book series on Nollywood and the Nigerian film industry.

End Bad Government Protests in Nigeria

The new month of August started with widespread #EndBadGovernance protests in different states in Nigeria.  Banks and other companies were shut and public transport services were suspended in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and in Lagos, the commercial capital of the most populous country in Africa. Riots were reported in several locations in spite of the presence of both police and military patrols on the major roads and streets to prevent lawlessness and violence.

The majority of people are lamenting the economic challenges of survival caused by the administrative failures of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since his oath of office on May 29, 2023. 

Onyeka Onwenu Cries for Love, Peace and Unity in Last Video Message

The shocking news that famous singer, Onyeka Onwenu has suddenly passed away shook Nigeria on 30th of July 2024.

It was reported that Onwenu collapsed after her performance at the birthday party of a friend in Lagos in the presence of several special guests, including Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria. 

She was rushed to the Reddington Hospital where all efforts to revive her failed.

Onyeka Onwenu's last message in  a passionate video cried to all politicians and their followers to end political violence and work together in love, peace and unity for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Her last song before she collapsed was her popular, "One Love Keep Together".

She was a celebrated singer and songwriter; actress; human rights and social activist; journalist; politician and former X Factor series judge.

See details of her biography on 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyeka_Onwenu

 

Nigeria - Olympics Opening Ceremony 'Last Supper' Scene: Message from Most Rev Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo

 

PRESS RELEASE

Olympics opening ceremony 'Last Supper' scene: Message from Most Rev Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo

Christians should exercise their right of outrage and boycott

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OYO, Nigeria, July 30, 2024/ -- The religious depictions of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” painting with contemporary ideological figures that are clearly offensive to Christianity at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2024 in France is to say the least shocking and disrespectful. Sadly, it is a perpetration of deliberate ongoing attempts in Europe and America to repurpose and cheapen Christian themes without regard for peace loving Christians who practice and profess their religion in peace. That this decadent caricature of one of the most cherished events of Christianity is publicized in France, a country with a rich and old Christian heritage, and at the Olympic games detracts from the status of the Olympics and belies all claims to enduring civility and respect for freedom of religion in the West. Christians should exercise their right of outrage and boycott to the extent that the damage already caused can be mitigated and redressed and future occurrences prevented. Governing bodies and organizations should take full responsibility for accommodating such insulting, tasteless art and expressions that can potentially cause further hurt and division in our already hurting and fractured world. Huge thanks to all who correctly expressed outrage on the subject well ahead of this. Regardless of what we go through as African we must never disrespect or thrash religious symbols and sentiments which touch people at their deepest levels of their being. To do this is to throw our humanizing and spiritual values and ideals to the dogs. +Bishop Badejo Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria.  SOURCE Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Nigeria