Entertainment
Rivers Community Ushers In 2019 With Wrestling Festival
History was made in Emohua Community in Rivers State on Saturday, December 28, 2018 as the people of ‘Rumu-olo’ rolled out their ancient wrestling drums to celebrate the peaceful end of 2018 and to usher in the new year, 2019 as well as to mark the maiden edition of the rebranded system of traditional wrestling in the community amidst pomp and funfare.
In his address at the well- attended historic event, held at the Rumuche play ground the Paramount Ruler of Emohua clan, Eze Vincent C. B. Okor (Mgbo Xii) said “wrestling contests in Emohua Community is an age-long tradition that showcases the rich culture and tradition of the people which serves as a panacea for unity, peaceful co-existence and entertainment.
The Justice of the Peace noted that the old traditional system of wrestling had been rebranded and modernised to make it more attractive to the youths and to encourage their participation. He also disclosed that the wrestling calendar had changed from the rainy season to December when the people enjoy dry weather. He said: Wrestling in ‘Rumu-olo’ is now a celebration, an annual event to give the people an opportunity to come together every year to celebrate God’s awesome mercy and to enjoy the fruits of their labour with families, friends and well wishers during the yuletide.
The Royal Majesty and Peace Ambassador expressed delight with the massive turnout of able bodied youths of the community and its neighbouring villages and described it as a positive development and her binger of a new dawn of peace, unity and development in the area.
He also congratulated the organizers of the event for their foresight, stressing that their efforts would help to galvanize the youths and help to keep alive the age long wrestling culture of the people of Emohua, as he urged other illustrious sons of the community to emulate the laudable achievement.
Also speaking, the chairman, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Chief (Dr) Esezi Obilor-Rukaric stated that the purpose of the rebranded wrestling fiesta was to promote peace, unity and even development in the community and to encourage the youths to embrace and promote the age long culture which had been relegated to the background due to the influence of western culture.
Earlier in his welcome address, the spokesman and chairman, Security Committee, Emohua Council of Chiefs, Chief (Barr) Gabriel M. Enyi said: “the real origin of traditional wrestling is lost in myths and legends the prehistoric Emohua man was famed to have wrestled with the animal Chimpanzee and from that esoteric encounter, what came to be known today as traditional wrestling evolved.
He reiterated that wrestling as a combat sports involves grappling techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and take downs, essentially a practice and an acknowledgement of strength and one victorious was admired by all, he took home great prizes, he was the authentic hero of the people. In the days of yore when men were men and women were won by those who deserved them, the champion wrestler was a civilized law unto himself in the community.
“He enjoyed enormous freedom and privileges not available to ordinary members of the community. In most instances the community built houses and married for him expecting that the marriage will bring forth other champions.
“Today traditional wrestling has been repackaged and remodeled by the “Elekwuoro” in collaboration with His Royal Majesty and it still occupies a pride of place in Emohua Community compared to other sports and cultural activities. Traditional Wrestling is to Emohua what football is to Brazil,” he stated,” he stated.
A member of the organizing committee, Deacon (Engr) Nnamdi Chukwu noted that one of the aims of the wrestling contest was to train and prepare the youths for wrestling contests within and outside Emohua Community and to encourage them to be actively involved in reviving the wrestling culture which helped to unite the ancestors.
He urged the youths to channel their strength towards meaningful ventures instead of engaging in diabolic misadventures that lead to crime, imprisonment and untimely death.
Highlights of the event included cash awards, presentation of certificates, scholarship awards and other incentives as well as the chieftaincy installation of traditional wrestling instrumentalist, Chief Gabriel Onyukwu popularly known as ‘Bob Go Slow’ as a traditional Chief in Mgbo royal House of Emohua, cultural dances by ‘Elekwuoro Rumuolo” led by Elder Chinotu Olomi and is Ukwu Nganga age grade, hosts of the wrestling festival and other since attractions.
Jacob Obinna
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.
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.