Saturday 3 December 2011
Tuesday 26 July 2011
Before Ogbuide of Oguta Lake
I travelled to Oguta, in Imo State, recently with a 6-member crew, to hunt for locations for my debut film, The Distant Light, a story that has been described by German anthropologist, Sabine Jell-Bahlsen, as an ‘Avatar-in-Nigeria thriller.’ Sabine is an authority on Oguta/Oru-Igbo cultures and traditions and has written one of the most extensive and deeply researched works on the cosmology of the Igbo gods and goddesses. She spent close to 26 years there, living with the people and learning everything about them. That came to culminate into the groundbreaking work of anthropology, “The Water Goddess in Igbo Cosmology: Ogbuide of Oguta Lake,” published by Africa World Press, Inc.
Our paths crossed last year at a women’s conference, where she was speaking on Igbo traditions and I was giving a speech on why people need to study other people’s cultures. I found her quite intriguing (for she could speak Oguta Igbo, always sports Nigerian fabrics and holds a Chieftaincy title in Oguta) and when I finally bought her book, which she autographed, I saw names of my maternal family members in there, where she had acknowledged the help they had offered to her during her stay in Oguta.
At the beginning of this year, after getting nominated in the Creative Artist of the Year of the Future Awards, and Adekunle Samuel Owolabi beat me in that category, we agreed to work together, at least, to ‘cool me down,’ for bruising my ego. I agreed to produce a script and he will produce a camera. And we will do a film together.
I went into solitude at Bonny Island, and believe me; I finished the first draft within three days. I worked with a self-imposed deadline. On the fourth day, I left Bonny Island, with a broken heart, a broken pair of glasses and a completed script, that kept me happy.
This was just after the 2010 AMAA Awards, which I had attended in Bayelsa. For a lot, the AMAA was motivational and inspirational. For some, it was an avenue where anyone could face intimidation. Of course, watching Kunle Afolayan walk up to that stage, smiling and raising his plaques to thank the world, I felt I could come close. I just didn’t sleep well that night, as I kept thinking of how many heads he has! “The Figurine”, from every angle, came close to a perfect work of art.
Onyeka Onwenu has accepted a role in it, as well as AMAA-winning OC Ukeje. A friend recently said that critics are like eunuchs in a harem: they know how it’s done, they have seen how it’s done, but they can’t do it. I agree. I’ve always being very passionate about the cinema and decided to enroll into a film school abroad, where I was trained as a scriptwriter and got to understand that it is easier said than done. So, as a harsh critic of Nollywood, I take back whatever harsh criticism I made in the past about its directors and actors. However we want to summarise it, making a film is never a child’s play. It is a battlefield. People die. People live.
For choosing Oguta as our location to shoot, we have been asked by the Chief Priestess, Akuzzor Anozia, after making incantations and consulting Ogbuide Lake Goddess, that we will perform rituals. Oh, yes, we have a long list of things to buy after which we will proceed to the Shrine of Ogbuide to appease her. The Consort of the Priestess will guide us throughout the whole period we will spend in Oguta.
For last time I updated my Facebook about Oguta, a friend commented: “I lost a close friend of mine to the Lake recently. He got drowned and the native couldn’t let his people take his corpse.” It was no surprise as my mother used to tell me similar things. When I asked the Chief Priestess, she said that if the dead person’s family had performed rituals, they would have gone with the corpse. I went back to the friend who had commented and she said, “Yes, they were asked to perform ritual. But it was expensive.”
“The Distant Light” is my take on arrogance and belief. Is belief necessary for a people? Does arrogance pay? It is my own way of contributing to Nigerian cinema, with a cast and crew from different parts of the world. It is my way of saying that we the young people are quick at condemning the works of the older generation and still cannot do anything to make changes. This is my way of saying, “Thank you to Tunde Kelani and Kunle Afolayan” for refining Nigerian cinema, for inspiring a new generation.
Onyeka Nwelue is author of The Abyssinian Boy (DADA Books, 2009). “The Distant Light” will be produced by DADA Films, Lagos and KStunts Media, Johannesburg.
Biography
Onyeka Nwelue is the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of BLUES & HILLS Consultancy.He studied Sociology & Anthropology briefly at the University of Nigeria, before dropping out to focus on his writing and filmmaking. He has since then studied Scriptwriting.
He has been invited and participated at the 2nd International Writers' Festival - India, Jaipur Literature Festival-India, Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival- Hong Kong, DSC South Asian Literary Festival - UK and Lagos Book and Art Festival - Nigeria. He has received a grant from the Institute for Research on African Women, Children and Culture (IRAWCC), Arizona, USA. His first novel, The Abyssinian Boy (DADA Books, 2009) won TM ALUKO Prize for First Book and came second at the IBRAHIM TAHIR Prize for Fiction and has been republished in India by Serene Woods. Danish filmmaker and visual artist, Lasse Lau has bought the rights to film The Abyssinian Boy.
Nwelue has been nominated twice in the Creative Artist of the Year category of the Future Awards. He has been published in the Guardian, Times of India, NEXT, Punch, Daily Times, The Sun, Vanguard, ThisDay, Ecletica Magazine, Kafla InterContinental, Wild Goose Poetry Review, Maple Tree Literary Supplement, Insurance & Money Weekly and several other publications. He served as the Director for the first edition of Bayelsa Book & Craft Fair 2011, is currently a Writer-in-Residence at Centre for Research in Art of Film & TV (CRAFT), Delhi, where he teaches Film Adaptation and is a member of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), organisers of the yearly Lagos Book & Art Festival. His second novel, The Orchard of Memories is forthcoming.
He is the editor of FilmAfrique, the exciting new film magazine, published by Africa Film Academy, curators of the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Posted by Ezedike Oliver Uche (c)2011
Tuesday 19 July 2011
Sunday 1 May 2011
BAD GUY OSAMA IS DEAD FOR REAL!!!
Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama says
Osama bin Laden, the longtime leader of al Qaeda, was killed by U.S. forces in a mansion outside of Islamabad, Pakistan.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Obama confirms that U.S. officials have taken custody of bin Laden's body
- Source: State Department to issue "worldwide caution" for Americans
- Hundreds of people cheer outside the White House
- Official: Bin Laden was killed along with other family members outside Islamabad
The mastermind of the worst terrorist attack on American soil is dead, U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday night, almost 10 years after the attacks that killed almost 3,000 people.
Osama bin Laden -- the longtime leader of al Qaeda -- was killed by U.S. forces in a mansion outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad along with other family members, a senior U.S. official told CNN.
In an address to the nation late Sunday night, Obama called bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda."
"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan," Obama said. "A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body."
U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world were placed on high alert following the announcement of bin Laden's death, a senior U.S. official said, and the U.S. State Department should be sending out a new "worldwide caution" for Americans shortly. Some fear al Qaeda supporters may try to retaliate against U.S. citizens or U.S. institutions.
Hundreds of people arrived at the White House late Sunday night and chanted, "USA! USA!" They then chanted, "Hey, hey, goodbye!" in reference to the demise of bin Laden and then spontaneously sang the national anthem.
"This welcome news is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the ranking Republican on the Homeland Security Committee, in a statement issued Sunday night.
The news brought some relief to the grieving family members of those killed on 9/11.
"This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or bring back our loved ones," Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said in a statement. "It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread his evil."
In his speech, Obama reiterated that the United States is not at war with Islam.
"I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam. Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, released a statement Monday morning welcoming the death of bin Laden.
"As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and Al Qaeda caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide," the statement said. "We also reiterate President Obama's clear statement tonight that the United States is not at war with Islam."
Saturday 30 April 2011
Friday 29 April 2011
Maybach Music Group - " Play Your Part " - Rick Ross , Wale & Meek Mill ft. DA (Official Video)
Maybach Music Group - " Play Your Part " - Rick Ross , Wale & Meek Mill ft. DA (Official Video)
Sound Sultan ft. Banky W - Very Good Bad Guy
here is Soundsultan exclusive video.ft banky w the one and only Mr capable.
LKT – Follow Follow ft P-Square
You can now watch the video for L.K.T’s previously-posted single “Follow Follow” featuring P-Square. We already know the song is a certified crowd-pleaser. Good to see the lads playing around towards the end of the video.
For those who don’t know, L.K.T is now signed to Edlyne Records. Expect more LKT features as well as a debut album in the coming weeks/months.
VIDEO: Jah-Bless – JOOR (Remix) ft Ice Prince, eLDee, Ruggedman, Durella, Reminisce
Jah-Blesss you try for this track and video. This JOOR remix took off the minute it got posted and now the video is out and should take the song even further. Cameo appearances by several of your favorite celebrities. You can watch and listen to this video
POSTED BY WIZZIE
Darey - Ba Ni Kidi Official Video
When you talk about RnB in 9ja, the first name that comes to ur mind is this young gifted man who has never stopped to surprise us with high standard videos.. first it was The way you are at the beginning of the year now its bani kidi. To be frank guys bani kidi is actually set as my caller tunes cos of the luv i have for this guy.. well done boy.. u too much joh.. Darey can be found on facebook with Da-rey a.k.a Dare Art Alade and followed on twitter @darey
POSTED BY WIZZIE
FLYGERIA - Mark Henry ft. G FrSH, Tinie Tempah, Dotstar and Bigz [OFFICIAL VIDEO HD]
hey guys who says 9ja we no dey represent anywhere we dey.just take alook at this brand new video featuring 9ja big boys in London including Dotstar,tinnie tempah e.t.c.the moment i saw this video i had to just publish it on my blogg..One luv FLYNIGERIA OR FLYGIRIA
POSTED BY WIZZIE
Dotstar - Xpensive (OFFICIAL VIDEO HD)
I love this guy with a passion now just take a look at this his brand new video and tell what you think. From his stickup to killing me now expensive.. Dotstar aka lagos boi as he calls himself you're really repping 9ja.. u too much joh!
ADDED BY WIZZIE
Saturday 2 April 2011
OFFICIAL VIDEO: Omawumi – If You Ask Me
This is the video to the new 2011 Omawunmi single. Omawumi has kept up the good form this year by releasing impressive videos and ear blistering singles like this right here. The Cobhams produced song make sense die..
http://www.notjustok.com/2011/03/28/official-video-omawumi-if-you-ask-me/
OFFICIAL VIDEO: Flavour N’Abania – Ashawo (Remix)
As mentioned a few days ago on the “unofficial video“, here’s the actual video of Flavour’s “Ashawo Remix. This song stays evergreen! Flavour happens to be the biggest act now in eastern Nigeria .He is rated as one of the most successful act to ever come out from the coal city with MI's number one having him on it and many other collabos to his name. what can one one say but keep it up boy!!
http://www.notjustok.com/2011/04/01/official-video-flavour-nabania-ashawo-remix/
Friday 1 April 2011
D-banj To Appear On BET [Welcome To America]
It’s like Dbanj is not smiling with anyone at all o. Say what you will, but Dbanj is definitely on a global mission, and you have to respect his hustle. International collabos are under his belt already, listed on the billboard stars to watch don enter, and now he’s taking his movement to mainstream America and the rest of the world that gets subscribes to BET. Dbanj will be interviewed on BET Present (Welcome To America) by April Woodard on Saturday April 2nd, 2011. The show kicks off at 2:30pm EST, 7:30p GMT. Definitely a must-watch, so be by your TV set.
Thursday 31 March 2011
Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of Willow Smith's '21st Century Girl' Video
In an AOL Music video premiere, Willow Smith takes us behind the scenes for the making of her sophomore video release, '21st Century Girl'
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, the super-confident starlet shows us how she put together her high-energy girl-power anthem. The clip was directed by Rich Lee -- who has worked with superstars like the Black Eyed Peas and Eminem -- and features the creative input from mom Jada Pinkett-Smith. 10-year-old Willow and her fellow 21st-century divas create a cosmopolitan playground -- shot in downtown Los Angeles -- in the middle of a barren desert wasteland in this video about young ambitious girls thriving and the feminine powers of creation.
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