Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Biafran Child


BIAFRAN CHILD

I am one of fortunate Igbo children who survived the Biafran war of 1967-1970. But my mother of blessed memory who was a grass widow during the bloodiest civil war in Africa lost three of her six children. But I don't know if they died of the epidemic of Kwashiorkor that killed hundreds of thousands of Biafran children.
My mother said I did what no other child could dare to do. For a 5 year old boy to leave the IDPs camp and return to our village of Umuekwuele Aforugiri in the Uhuhu, Umuahia North Local Government (now in Abia state) when it was already captured by the Nigerian Armed Forces after one of the bloodiest battles with some of the. goriest scenes of human slaughter. I saw the charred remains of many corpses, and the most unforgettable was the burning corpse of one of my loving uncles. Then I saw a tall Nigerian soldier urinating in our garden.
My nightmares of the Biafran war will never stop. I have chronicled the memories in the revised edition of my original stories, "Bye, Bye Zimbabwe" which my Nigerian Editor, Ify Anyawu finished editing last year. I want to change the title of the book to "BIAFRAN CHILD" and dedicate it to the evergreen memory of my beloved mother, Mrs. Gladys Eke.


The only thing I did not like about Biafra was the fact that my mother said the corrupt senior military officers and government officials misappropriated revenues and relief supplies and starved the poor masses. Even if the Republic of Biafra survived, there would have been a coup d'etat or civil war in Biafra to topple Major General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, whom I prefer to call the "Lion of Biafra".
I don't like the leopards in the coat of arms of Biafra and the meaning is not heroic enough for me.
http://www.thebiafraherald.co/2016/10/biafra-significance-of-features-of.html?m=1.
The leopard cannot even fight the tiger or lion, the king of the jungle.
Moreover, it was stupid to call the Biafran currency " Biafran Pound " with the sane sign of the British Pound £. Why should you use the name and sign of the British Pound after you have declared that you are an independent republic? And honouring the British Empire that was supporting your enemy, Nigeria. Honouring your former colonial master on your currency was stupid and showed that the government of Biafra was confused.

Yes. I did what no other child ever did in the history of wars in the world. No child would dare to crawl and walk out of a refugee camp and return to his or her ravaged village with fear.

~ By Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima.
Read NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series FREE on Amazon Or buy the Kindle version for only US$5. Order paperback and hardcover versions on Lulu.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Are We Living In The Matrix?



Are We Living In The Matrix?
Documentary, "What Is Reality," Reveals a Surprising Scientific Answer from one of the World's Largest Scientific Groups Working On a Theory of Everything

   
LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles based Quantum Gravity Research (www.QuantumGravityResearch.org) is one of the largest physics research groups in the world working on unification physics - or the search for the "theory of everything." As part of their public education program, Mad Machine Films (www.MadMachineFilms.com) and director David Jakubovic have produced What Is Reality, a high production value and surprisingly entertaining explanation of their advanced theoretical physics ideas. But there's a catch…

It turns out that the growingly popular view of physicists that reality is made of information may require the existence of some strange form of universal consciousness to actualize this information into physically "real" existence. As fantastical as this seems, the idea is based on rigorous logic, as the film explains.

The film has been open-sourced to the public for free viewing athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ztlIAYTCU&t

Click here to continue reading.

Kannywood Came Before Nollywood


Did you know that the name Kannywood was coined in 1999 by Sunusi Shehu of Tauraruwa Magazine before Norimitsu Onishi of The New York Times coined name of "Nollywood" in 2002?

The first Kannywood hit movie,  "Turmin Danya " ("The Draw"),  was made in1990, while the first Nollywood hit movie, "Living in Bondage" was made in 1992.

Kannywood is not a sub-industry of Nollywood, because the Kano  based Hausa language film industry was already flourishing as an independent film industry before the emergence of the Lagos based Nollywood. Kannywood produces more movies than Nollywood with more screens and more movie-goers from the Hausa tribe, the largest ethnic group in Nigeria with the largest population in sub Saharan Africa.

 ~ By Michael Chima Ekenyerengozi | IndieWire http://www.indiewire.com/author/michael-chima-ekenyerengozi.

#Kannywood, #Nollywood, #cinema, #Hausa, #Kano, #boxoffice, #Amazon, #Lulu, #Newyork, #newyorktimes, #Lagos

Read NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series FREE on Amazon Or buy the Kindle version for only US$5. Order paperback and hardcover versions on Lulu.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

The Cultural Characteristics and New Methods of Music and Movie Piracy in Nigeria


The Cultural Characteristics and New Methods of Music and Movie Piracy in Nigeria

Piracy of creative works is as old as the history of plagiarism before the invention of printing and broadcasting. And it has been evolving into the different developments in mass communication from the printer to Napster. The most common method of piracy of music and movies is by downloading which is the most common form of digital piracy in the entertainment industry.
The 2013 documentary film "Downloaded" by Alex Winter showed how widespread addiction to downloading songs, movies and other forms of IP is doing collateral damage to the entertainment industry.

In 2011 it was reported that movie piracy cost the Australian economy more than $1.3 billion in revenue in just 12 months..
"The Motion Picture Association of America looked into this belief and discovered that piracy costs around $20.5 billion annually in the United States alone (Plumer, 2). In fact, a study back in 2005 estimated that a 10% decrease in worldwide piracy, including both film and music, over the course of four years would add 1.5 million jobs, $64 billion in taxes and $400 billion in economic growth (Kai-Lung)"
https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/moviepilot.com/posts/2889420/amp.
Studies on  movie piracy in Nollywood have shown the complicity of the first marketers of Nollywood movies.
Many of the movie marketers originally got into the business by pirating Hollywood movies, a practice that continues to flourish. “Piracy is not a problem with the system,” said Jade Miller, an academic at Tulane University who has researched Nollywood’s economics. “It is the system, essentially.” Miller’s academic interest is in media policy and the development of creative industries.
https://steppesinsync.wordpress.com/2012/03/08/copyright-wars-ii-what-pirates-of-hollywood-read-american-film-making-pioneers-share-with-nollywood-marketers/.

The most piratical countries are places like China, Nigeria and Russia, where virtually all media that is not downloaded illegally is sold in the form of knock-off CDs and DVDs.
https://steppesinsync.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/copyright-wars-i-consequences-of-illegal-downloading-for-local-media-industries-international-media-investment-and-global-cultural-trade.
 Many pirated music videos and movies are still openly hawked on the streets in Nigeria.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Shell Paid Nigerian Government US$42Billion from 2008-2012


Did you know that 'Shell Paid N6.7 Trillion To Federal Government of Nigeria In Four Years?
The Federal Government collected $42billion (or 6.7 trillion) revenue from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) between 2008 and 2012.


Rejoice! He Has Risen! He Has Given Us Victory!


The Rhema: The Mystery of The Passion, The Resurrection and Power of Salvation in Christianity
Click to read and you shall become a triumphant believer.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Obafemi Awolowo University's Team Nevada Among Finalists for Airbus' ’Fly Your Ideas 2017’ Student Competition


Obafemi Awolowo University's
Team Nevada idea has been selected among five finalists for Airbus' ’Fly Your Ideas 2017’ Student Competition.
See full report in the following press release.

Airbus Names Finalists for "Fly Your Ideas 2017" Student Competition
- New technologies and business models to shape the future of aviation

- Five teams compete for the crown of most innovative and a €30,000 prize


 TOULOUSE, France, April 12, 2017  /PRNewswire/ -- Airbus has shortlisted the five finalist student teams competing in the fifth edition of the Fly Your Ideas challenge. The radical concepts selected cover a wide range of innovations going from an alternative to satellite imagery, to improved aircraft taxiing, clever ways of boarding, new areas for luggage storage or offering a new business model using existing Airbus aircraft.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

We Need More Malalas and Zuriels for A Better and Safer World



The intellectual capacity of someone can be seen by the conversations online and offline.

You wonder why millions of young women are posting and sharing useless selfies on social media networks when Malala Yousafzai who is just 19, is the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate for her human rights advocacy for education and freedom of speech and 15 year old girl, Zuriel Elise Oduwole is already a global  education advocate and film maker best known for her works on the advocacy for the education of girls in Africa.


I would be impressed to see beautiful photos and videos of young women doing wonderful things for the advancement of human civilization. But not impressed by the useless selfies of little or no value to beneficial intelligent conversations on our daily contributions to human development and modern civilization.

I would be impressed to see beautiful photos and videos of more Malalas and Zuriels.


~ Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima,
https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Free Films for Maternal Health Care in English, French, Hausa, Yoruba, Swahili and Somali



Yadda ake kula da Jaririn da aka Haifa: Awar farko Bayan Haihuwar Jariri


This film in Hausa language shows the key steps to follow immediately after a baby is born, including drying the baby, breastfeeding and the correct way to cut the cord to prevent infections.
It also explains what to look out for during the first few days.

This film is for use in community health education.

Click the link below now to watch or download the films in full in English, Yoruba, Hausa, French, Swahili and Somali languages. http://www.medicalaidfilms.org/films-new-languages-health-worker-training-nigeria/?gclid=CK2Vqa-VkdMCFSK-7QodHMYBJw.

  • How to provide antenatal care English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • How to perform manual removal of the placenta English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • How to use a partograph to assess women in labour English – Yoruba – Hausa
  • Understanding respectful maternity care English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • How to care for A newborn: The first hours after a baby is born English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • How to manage bleeding after birth English – Yoruba – Hausa Obstructed labour: An introduction for midwives English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • Understanding screening, treatment and prevention of cervical cancer English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • How to resuscitate a newborn baby English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • How to prevent and manage bleeding after birth (postpartum haemorrhage) English – Yoruba – Hausa 
  • Understanding warning signs in pregnancy English – Yoruba – Hausa 

  •  Source Medical Aid Fims.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Roger Federer Joins Bill Gates, John Isner in Seattle for the Match for Africa 4 to Benefit Children's Education in Africa

(PRNewsFoto/Match for Africa.)

Roger Federer joins Bill Gates, John Isner in Seattle for the Match for Africa 4 to benefit children's education in Africa
Tickets on sale April 6 for Seattle's first chance to see Federer's legendary game in person
   
SEATTLE, April 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh off his record-setting 18th Grand Slam win at the Australian Open in January and a sweep of the recent U.S. hard court events in Indian Wells and Miami, legendary tennis champion Roger Federer will play his first-ever match in Seattle on Saturday, April 29. Federer will take on American tennis star John Isner at KeyArena in an exhibition match to support children's education in Africa. Celebrity guests including Bill Gates will also take to the court to test their game against the two tennis champions. Tickets for Match for Africa 4 – Seattle are available Thursday, April 6, at 9 a.m. PDT with net proceeds benefiting the Roger Federer Charitable Fund/Roger Federer Foundation.

"I believe in the power of people. We know that a good education is a decisive factor to empower children by allowing them to take their future into their own hands," said Federer. "With my foundation, we want to provide one million children with the opportunity for a quality education by the end of 2018. The Match for Africa 4 in Seattle will help us reach our ambitious goals. I am very grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Bill Gates, who in my opinion is the world's leading philanthropist."

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Roger Federer Foundation by Jens Honore.
Roger Federer Foundation by Jens Honore.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
(PRNewsFoto/Match for Africa.

As a warm-up, the 18-time Grand Slam champion will team with the Microsoft co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a friendly, one-set doubles match against Isner and a surprise celebrity partner. Federer and Isner will then go head-to-head in a best-of-three-sets match that offers the region's first up-close look at Federer's legendary game. The match comes amid Federer's unprecedented resurgence and rise back up the rankings.