Entertainment
Jonathan Tasks Filmmakers On Promotion Of African Culture
President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan has tasked African film makers to use the platform of their works and talents to promote the cultural heritage and traditions of black people.
The President made the call while declaring open this year’s edition of the prestigious African International Film Festival (AFFRIF) holding in Tinapa Calabar, Cross River State.
Speaking through the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, Jonathan commended the film makers for not only using their craft to reposition the place of the black people in the comity of nations, but also for ensuring that the rest of the world see Africa truly in the light that is appropriate for the continent.
The President said that “it is my expectation that we will be celebrating till the end of this week some wonderful films and talented personalities. It is my hope that we continue to use the platform of your movies to promote the culture and tradition of Africa. It is also my belief that as we continue to venture into redefining its place in the global movie industry we will continue to give credence to those positive attributes of Africa, those important value systems that have overtime, been promoted and projected.
According to the president, often times people have criticised us that for some of our films we spend a lot of time exploring themes of tragedies and such story limes that do not extremely celebrate our cultural values. But, I thereby state that at the end of each and every such stories, there is always a bottom line of good triumphing over evil and that is the value system and true story of Africa.
He believed that it is in the realisation of that, the western world has today moved away from the era of “Dracula’ that we used to know to the spiderman of today “a force of justice and positivity over that of evil.
The festival which opened with the screening of a controversial documentary film on the recent political struggle in Egypt titled “The Square” ended on Wednesday November 19th. In attendance were movie stars stakeholders including the first lady of Cross River State, Obioma Liyel Imoke, Veteran film maker, Tunde Kelanic Mahmud Ali-Balogun Charles Novia, Rita Dominic, Linda Ejiofor and Bond Emeruwa Gideon Okeke, Beverly Naya among others.
Patience Ozokwor (MAMA GEE)
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.