Entertainment
Winnie Mandela: Flawed Heroine?
South African activist, Winnie Madikizela Mandela has died at the age of 81 after battling a long illness. She was once married to former South Africa’s beloved President, Nelson Mandela of blessed memory but she never cowered in his shadow she was an activist in her own right.
When Gertrude and Columbus Madikizela had their fourth daughter in 1936, they gave her the name Nom Zamo if indeed parents have premonitions of their children’s lives, Winnie Mandela was aptly named “Nom Zamo’ in their native Xhosa Language while literally means “she who strives: for more than six decades, she spent her life striving for justice for herself, her family and her country until her death on Monday April 2nd 2018 at the age of 81.
Her famed marriage to the symbol of anti-apartheid was bound to make her a collaborator in the fight against racial segregation in that country, but her struggle actually began before the two met at a time when it was a rarity for black people to go to school. She attended the Jan H Hopmeyr School of social work and earned a degree in social work at the age of 20.
It was not until two years later that she met a handsome fourth-year-old man at a bus stop where she was trying to get home from her job as a social worker, Rolih Lahla Nelson Mandela a tall charming man and soon enough a romance ensued between them.
Winnie was weary that the man was married and had three children already. He convinced her that the marriage had become strained as a result of his involvement into politics. Eventually, Mandela’s first wife Evelyn Mase filed for divorce, citing adultery on the part of her husband that same year, 1958 Mandela and Winnie got married, their happiness was doomed to be short lived.
In five years, the couple had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziwa but due to his work in fighting against apartheid Mandela was frequently picked up and charged to court. However, in 1963, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of planning a violent over throw of the government.
The responsibility of continuing the struggle fell on the young wife’s shoulders and she carried on where Mandela stopped, she was arrested and detained several times often tortured, but her spirit was never broken she led the political party ANC like an Athena. In 1969 she was kept in solitary confinement for 18 months.
Even when she was banished to exile in 1977, her house was bombed twice by apartheid operatives, but her work was not without controversy. She was widely criticized for endorsing the killing of political opponents and quoted in 1986 as saying: “with our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country (Necklacing as in the burning of people with tyres around their necks).
She was also said to have a security force known as Mandela United Football Club whose role was to kill opponents and turncoats Most notoriously, she and her body guards were accused of slitting the throat of 14 years-old-Stompie Moeketsi who they suspected to be a police informer. She was given a six year jail term but offered the option of a fine.
Her criminal accusations also included several cases of intimidation and blackmail, little wonder publications described her as a “tarnished symbols. When Mandela was released from prison in 1990, she was on his arm and sang the “Bring him home song”. She was by default the frist lady of the new democratic South, Africa.
Like it was before Mandela’s conviction the love was short lived the couple separated in 1992 and finally divorced in 1994. Winnie’s affair with a young lawyer, Dali Mpofu proved too bitter a pill for the old man to swallow, still she was part of his cabinet as deputy minister of Arts, Culture Science and Technology until she was sacked in 1985 after allegations of corruption, she later included her maiden name in full appellation going by Winnie Madikizela Mandela.
In 2003, she was again found guilty of embezzlement and given a suspended sentence of three years, but she returned to politics as a member of parliament from 2009 until her death. Every hero has an achilles heel, perhaps Winnie Mandela’ hubris was her unflinching conviction in whatever she believed in, even when it seemed like the end did not actually justify the means.
She was unflinching and blessed or is it cursed with a scatting tongue. She once reportedly called Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu ( another revered figure in South Africa) a cretin, Mandela himself was not left out of her sharp criticism His Concilliatory approach to the new South Africa with something she did not agree with Mandela did not go to prison and he went in there as a burning young revolutionary”, she once said an interview. But look what came out, Mandela let us down, he agreed to a bad deal for the blacks.
Nevertheless, her devotion to Mandela continued until he died. Many observers believed that the two were sole mates and never actually stopped loving each other even if she went to court to prove that their divorce was a fraud and he completely left her out of his will. Graca Machel whom Mandela later married also had a courteous relationship with her and once said.
“It is unfortunate that in our lives we don’t interact very easily, but I want to state very clearly that Winnie is my hero, Winnie is someone I respect highly since her passing on Monday several nes outlets have described her as a flawed hero mugger and controversial, but she would not have minded her life she repeatedly said was dedicated to the struggle against shite rule, in her words: “I was married to the ANC, it was the best marriage I ever had, I am not sorry, I would never be sorry, I would do everything I did again if I had to everything”, Winnie is survived by two daughters, eight grandchildren and a nation in mourning source, net news ltd.
Entertainment
World Music Day: Alliance Française Port Harcourt Showcases Talents

The Garden City of Rivers State Port Harcourt at the weekend joined other parts of the world to celebrate the World Music Day, 2025, as Alliance Française showcases talents.
The event which is internationally known as Fête de la musique was held at cultural hall of the Alliance Française was a remarkable concert with memorable experience.
The event brought together music lovers, students, Artistes and members of the community For an exciting evening live performances and cultural exchange.
The Tide Entertainment reports that the world Music Day, which was created 1982 in France by the then Minister of culture, Jack Lang, ‘ Fête de la Musique’ is now celebrated in more than 100 countries every 21st June, marking the first day of summer with free concerts and musical showcases in public spaces.
In Port Harcourt, the Alliance Française honoured the tradition by spotlighting four(4) emerging artistes offering a platform to young talents shaping the city’s contemporary scene.
The audience enjoyed an unforgettable moments as they were entertained by the powerful performances from Preach A, who is known for blending fitness culture with spoken words and rhythm.
Also, artiste Emmayany delivering a vibrant fusion of afrobeat and afro pop. A singer, song writer and a performing artiste with a distinct sound.
Others were Amarachy Uko, a sensational singer with passion for soul , R&B, pop music and afrobeat.
While DJ Prospel closed the night with an energetic DJ set that got the entire hall dancing.
Earlier, the Director, Alliance Française, Port Harcourt Mrs Marina Lacal high lighted the mission of the Alliance Française saying that the event was more than a concert.
According to her, the event was put together by the Alliance Française to promote cultural diversity and foster artistic expression by connecting a long standing French tradition with creativity of the local music scene, adding that the event offerers an avenue for dialogue between culture and generations.
She stated that the event is used to promote professional and bring amateur artistes to limelight via the platform of the Alliance Française which is aimed at promoting the French Language through cultural heritage.
She explained that the celebration is also a broader series of Fête de la musique activities organized by the 10 Alliance Française across Nigeria in sync with concerts held in France and around the world simultaneously.
She further noted that the occasion reaffirms the role of Alliance Française as a cultural bridge, one where French heritage meets the pulses of Nigerian youth.
It would be recalled that no fewer than 19 artistes applied to perform at the event in Port Harcourt, but only four got approval for appearance.
Entertainment
PMAN Set To Implement Performance Levy ‘Tomorrow

The Governor of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Rivers State chapter, Comrade Moses Mabadeje popularly known as Mozy B said that the body has announced plans to implement performance Levy on artistes in the state with effect from 21st June.
This was carried in a statement released to The Tide Entertainment, yesterday by the Deputy Governor of the association, Comrade Abiye Howells.
According to the Governor, the announcement was made by PMAN, the only governing body that regulates the music profession in Nigeria, as authorized by the Government of Nigeria, in line with the Trade Union Act.
He stated that those affected by the Levy include (Non members)bands, groups, Hotels, Bars, lounges, Event Centres, show organizers, promoters and other stakeholders hosting events which feature live music performances within the State.
However, the Levy does not apply to members of the Performing Musicians Employer’s Association of Nigeria. (PMAN).
Comrade Moses Mabadeje, explained that this drive is aimed at financing the association and supporting the welfare and interest of musicians as outlined in Article 8 of the PMAN constitution as amended (2023). Consequently, a PMAN task force has been set up to enforce and swing into action to effect this move.
He further said that event organizers, promoters and owners of event centers are expected to comply with this regulation as the Governor has urged stakeholders to collaborate with the association to ensure the successful implementation of the levy and the peaceful co-existence between PMAN and Stockholders.
Nancy Briggs
Entertainment
“French Up Your Career” PH, 2025 :Consul General Of France Harps On Proficiency In French

The Consul, General of France in Nigeria, Laurent Favier has encouraged French Learners to improve their skills on the language, as there are lots of opportunities up for grabs on the job market with fluency in French Language, saying that there are many other career paths which are often less well known to learners of French.
Participants at the “French Up Your Career” event held in Port Harcourt.
Favier who disclosed this during the just concluded third edition of the seminar tagged “French Up Your Career” organized by Alliance
Française, Port Harcourt explained that learning French doesn’t mean adding a language to your resume. It rather provides learners with new opportunities. Irrespective of their area of interest, be it diplomatic and International relations, international development, translation and Interpretation or journalism.
According to the Consul General, it was important to create awareness for young Nigerians in Port Harcourt who desire to have better understanding of how been fluent in French can create diverse career opportunities for users of the languages in Nigeria and the world at large, emphasizing that proficiency in French could possibly make learner a bridge between Nigeria and fast-developing regions.
“You previously heard this morning about how you can improve your French skills. This afternoon you will discover how being fluent in French can provide a significant edge on the job market and lead to professional careers that you may not have even considered before,”
“This event comes at the right time, as it launches the celebration of the richness and diversity of French-speaking cultures, which will mobilize us for more than a month throughout Nigeria and alongside other French-speaking countries,” Favier added.
He further highlighted that French is spoken by over 300 million people across the world, saying that, it’s one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union.
“There are many neighbouring African countries to Nigeria ,who have French as one of their primary languages of communication including Cameroon, Chad, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So, what does this mean for you as students here in Nigeria?” He asked
“These sectors in which the French Embassy is often mobilized are the business and marketing field for example, as French is often the preferred language in many multinational companies, particularly those in the energy, oil and telecommunications sectors. I’m thinking as well in technology and IT,” he said
He noted that French-speaking countries in Africa are investing heavily in tech, innovation, and infrastructure, revealing that companies in Tech are looking for bilingual professionals to assist with software localization, customer support, and managing projects in French-speaking regions.
“The French embassy is not only mobilized to help learners discover promising sectors. We are also providing our support and expertise in
training teachers and optimizing university programs,” he summed up
Also, the linguistics cooperation attaché, French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange, who also gave a lecture at the seminar, in an interview with Newsmen said that the main purpose of the seminar was to be more informative and supportive to those who want to make a skill out of French Language,saying that as the linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy it is her duty to promote French language through culture.
She cited traditional stereotypes as a major challenge affecting the growth and development of French in Nigeria, as school, teachers at the primary and secondary level in most cases teach French using the traditional way, where students learn French, but could not put words and grammar together as a skill for communicate.
“French is important. I don’t see French as colonization, l see French as a key to embrace globalization, l hope that learners will be inspired and ready to embrace the global village,” Losange said.
She however said that the French Embassy is working to ensure that equipments to facilitate the learning of French is put in place to enable learners improve their skills fast, which in two to three years learners should be able to communicate with French, advising learners to be intentional with learning the language, through social media and other workable devices to advance their skills for certification and better opportunities.
Highlight of the event which had about 250 participants in attendance was the eloquence award ceremony where students were awarded for their eloquence in French language by the Director, Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs.Marina Lacal alongside the Linguistics cooperation attaché of the French Embassy in Nigeria, Magaly Losange.
After two edition of the seminar it was the turn of the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt to host the Third edition.
It would be recalled that the first edition of ” “French Up Your Career” event was organized at the Alliance Française Lagos on October 23, the second one at UNILAG on November 24, 2024 respectfully.
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