RIP NELSON MANDELA 1918-2013

Read more!

#OURNASS

On Thursday, September 26^th at 10 am, Enough is Enough Nigeria, United Action for Democracy, Say No Campaign, ReclaimNaija and other organisations will meet at the National Assembly to make 5 demands of our representatives. 

 The demands and the rationale are summarized below:

	DEMAND	RATIONALE
1.	Immediate comprehensive breakdown of their budgetary allocation of N150 billion for 2013.	They have been very vocal that the N150 billion is not only for salaries but the entire National Assembly structure. The Economist magazine says they are the 2nd highest paid parliamentarians in the world. There is no authoritative breakdown of what the N150 billion pays for. We want them to provide this breakdown.
2.	An account of the N1 trillion received since 2005 before the next recess in December.	N1 trillion is a lot of money. Have Nigerians gotten value for money? They have to tell us.
3.	Functional contact information - numbers, email addresses and physical addresses of their constituency offices. We demand the names of at least two contact people attached to the numbers and email addresses.	Our representatives must be reachable!
4.	ALL voting records on ALL constitutional amendments.	Nigerians have a right to know how their representatives honored their wishes for changes to the constitution.
5.	We demand that the attendance list for each plenary be made public.	Pictures show both chambers relatively empty on plenary days, yet members are quite opposed to suggestions that they work part time. How many people actually attend plenary and contribute to discussions? Are Nigerians getting value for money?

Protests and visible discontent are an integral part of any democracy.

We invite you to join us on that day. For those who are unable to come to Abuja but would like to organize a protest on the same day to their State Assemblies, please send an email to info@eienigeria.org and we’ll see how we can support.

Through our partners, Budgit, we have some infographics that help tell the story.

If you would like to support financially, you can also do that as well.

More information about the protest can be found here – www.eienigeria.org/ournass.

This post is shared with you on behalf of EIE Nigeria

Read more!

THE NEW NIGERIAN 'CHILD BRIDE/RAPE' LAW

I wish I had something to add but, this reaction from Stella Damasus shall suffice. For now.

A few quotes -

"Has Nigeria suddenly run out of mature girls who are fully developed and ripe enough for marriage that our shameless Senators would actually resort to cradle snatching?"

 "These [Senators] are all mad men who derive pleasure in having pleasure in having sexual relationships with children! And now they want to insult us more, by making it legal!"

Until these IDIOTS, both men and women, no longer have power, this and many other nonsensical, criminal acts will continue to happen. And Nigerians will continue to suffer at the hands of their leaders. Too many people lack decency and shame.

Thank you Ms. Damasus. I no fit shout.

Read more!

NIGERIAN CINEMA: INTERVIEWING NIGERIAN FILMMAKERS

I recently discovered the site - Shadow & Act (via theybf.com). It focuses on cinema from the African diaspora and I have enjoyed perusing many of the articles.

I stumbled upon a series of interviews by Afrinolly with individuals playing a large role in the Nigerian film industry. Don't just think Nollywood. Mr. Tunde Kelani, for instance, has been making films in Yoruba and has been around since before what we now consider to be the behemoth that is Nollywood.

He has some good words for Nigerian filmmakers.


Here is another interview, this time of Mildred Okwo. She talks briefly about the difference between post-production in Nigeria and abroad for Nollywood movies. She also discusses the disorganization in the industry, applying her legal background to empowering artists and the realities of Nigerian life and how that impacts the stories told. Great quote - "Oh, there's drama in Nigeria."



Can't help but be intrigued by Nollywood and African film - being in a movie remains on my bucket list.

For more of the interviews of Nigerian filmmakers, check out the Shadow & Act site, or visit Afrinolly's Youtube page.

Read more!

RIP CHINUA ACHEBE 1930-2012

On March 21st, 2013, the world lost one of its best storytellers. Chinua Achebe achieved what many authors - aspiring and veterans alike - will never manage. He created fictional pieces that entered the elite world of the literary cannons. Case in point is Things Fall Apart, a story about a man and indeed a people grappling with a changing world and its consequences for the world of old.

The news of Mr. Achebe's death hit me particularly hard as I have always been a fan of his writing and only introduced my three small to his works a month before he died. My eight year old daughter devoured Girls At War, a collection of short stories for young adults. She immediately demanded more. My seven year old son has slowly read Chike and The River. He read a few pages to me each night for a series of weeks, reveling in the tale of the main character, his experiences and the River Niger, which is the life blood of many Nigerian communities.

Much of what I know about Mr. Achebe I have learned from some of his peers, who shared fascinating stories of a young writer challenging long held ideas, exposing the Nigerian psyche and taking his readers and naysayers along for the ride. I have also learned a lot from the tales he created and shared with the world.

I always hoped I would meet him someday, somehow. But I am glad that like many others across the globe I have had access to his writings. I like to think that many of these writings also gave a peek into the inner thoughts of a brilliant mind.

My condolences to his family, his friends and all those who are filled with a bitter sense of personal loss by his absence.

He left a mark on the world that will never be erased. Something many could only dream to achieve.

Rest in peace.

Read more!

NIGERIA, GOODLUCK JONATHAN, FACEBOOK & COMEDY (VIDEOS)

I know I do not frequent these parts of the internet as I used to. Nonetheless, this video (and the ones that follow) demands a mention as they very deftly portray contemporary Nigerian life.

The creators of this content @nnamdiarea and @ourownarea manage to serve some bitter pills but with an abundance of comedy. As the main character sang in the 1964 Mary Poppins film "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" so also has the @ourownarea team successfully helped myself and probably others digest certain Nigerian realities. Although these videos are at least a year old, they deserve a good watching.

See for yourself -

Goodluck Jonathan Converses With Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg
 

A Nigerian exorcism
 

A Nigerian Carjacking (when fuel is more expensive than "rozay" [sic] at the clubs, what can one expect?)

Read more!

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

Nigeria!

The Super Eagles of Nigeria won the gold medal at the 2013 African Cup of Nations on Sunday, February 10th. It took the team 19 years to hoist the gold cup since the last time it held the trophy.

Congratulations to coach, Stephen Keshi, who made discipline a key aspect of his coaching tactic.

Congratulations are equally in order for the players, all of whom displayed exemplary skill on the field. They gave many of us Nigeria-lovers and observers something other than the negative to focus on over the last few weeks.

I grew up rooting for this team and I have now got my children and husband doing the same. With continued effort, I am sure there will be many more times for us to do that again.

Read more!