NAIJAFEED

Monday, April 25, 2011

Fela On Broadway Premieres in Lagos

The hit Broadway musical about the life and music of Nigerian legendary performer and political activist, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, which has witnessed sold out shows and won awards and international accolades, premieres tonight in Lagos, making it the first Broadway show to be performed in sub-Saharan Africa

The screening was held exclusively for journalists last night to a resounding ovation at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Fela, the Landmark Broadway musical, which won three Awards (Broadway' highest honour), including Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), arrived with its crew and cast a fortnight ago in readiness for the debut performance which began yesterday through April 21 at the prestigious Eko Hotel's New Expo Centre Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

MTV Base is to put its musical muscle and dedicated fan base behind Fela, the award-winning tale of courage, passion and love that pays tribute to inspirational Nigerian music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

The triumphant story, featuring Fela Kuti's captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Bill T. Jones, comes to Lagos' New Expo Centre from April 20-25, 2011.

Fela had been a huge Broadway and West End hit. Produced by Jay Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Fela tells the true story of the star whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation. Inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, Fela devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, MTV Networks Africa: "Fela was a true legend of African music who was also recognised in the Legend category at the 2008 MTV Africa Music Awards. MTV Base is very proud to be associated with the home-coming of Fela "

MTV Base will be promoting Fela extensively on its broadcast and social media platforms, encouraging fans to go and witness the musical spectacle, which features the original Broadway cast, including Sahr Ngaujah as Fela and Lillias White as his mother, Funmilayo.

Vanguard

Video - FELA! on Broadway

Hollywood making Fela movie

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Video - President Goodluck Jonathan says riots reminds him of civil war

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday warned perpetrators of postelection violence that "enough is enough," saying the unrest brings back memories of events leading up to a 1960s civil war in the nation.

CNN

Video - Goodluck Jonathan - One year to change Nigeria

Video - Goodluck for Jonathan

UK Govt Deports 52 Nigerians

Fifty-two Nigerians will be deported, today, by the UK government, a Nigerian official at the High Commission in London has said.

Mr Mohammed Isa, the Head of the Immigration Section in the Nigerian High Commission in the UK, speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said that the would-be deportees would arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in a chartered flight.

He said that they included those who had either completed their prison terms, failed-asylum seekers or those who overstayed their authorised permit.

Mohammed further also said that those to be deported would be accompanied by British law enforcement agents and two Nigerian officials.

"This is the first time a chartered flight conveying Nigerian deportees would be accompanied by Nigerian officials," Isa said.

He added: "Though, it is also in line with the global best practices, it is our responsibility to ensure that the deportees are treated in the most humane and dignified manner."

He pointed out that the mission had never recorded any 'ugly incidents' on the UK route since the exercise began following the conclusion in 2005, of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) on migration returns between the two countries.

Vanguard

U.S. Congratulates Nigerians on Conduct of Presidential Election

The Obama administration says the conduct of Nigeria’s April 16 presidential election was historic and shows a significant improvement over the country’s flawed 2007 presidential contest.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner congratulated the declared winner, President Goodluck Jonathan, and said the United States sees the vote as “a positive new beginning for Nigeria.”

Speaking in Washington April 19, Toner said Nigerians had been given a real opportunity to select their senior leadership, and the election “sets Nigeria on a course toward solidifying and improving its democracy through strong governance and transparent institutions.”

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, headed by Attahiru Jega, announced April 18 that Jonathan received 22.5 million votes, or approximately 57 percent of the total, which was high enough to avoid a runoff election with his nearest rival, General Muhammadu Buhari, who received 12.2 million votes.

According to press reports, news of Jonathan’s victory prompted riots in the north of the country, with charges of ballot rigging. The riots have reportedly displaced around 16,000 people and destroyed several churches.

Toner condemned the violence and called upon “all candidates, political parties and supporters to respect the results of the election” and to “channel any grievances or challenges peacefully” for redress by legal and administrative personnel in the country.

Observer teams from the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reported that the presidential vote had met their criteria to be considered fair and transparent.

ECOWAS observer mission head and former Liberian President Amos Sawyer told reporters April 17 that his 300-member team “found no major incidents or irregularities” and described the vote as “a historic step for the strengthening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.”

Former Ghanaian President John Kufuor headed the AU observer team. He said the election had been fair and credible, and that any questions of fraud would be misplaced, according to press reports.

Speaking on April 17, Kufuor said Nigerians all over the country had “shown determination to exercise [their] franchise and give themselves the leader they want, and it’s refreshing.”

“Nigeria hasn’t been served too well for decades electorally, but to our pleasant surprise we found the people of Nigeria generally are the security against this,” Kufuor said.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson praised the conduct of Nigeria’s National Assembly elections, which were held April 9, and wrote in an April 15 commentary that he and other U.S. officials “were heartened by what we saw” when observing the vote for the legislature.

“In sharp contrast to its elections of 2007, Nigeria was demonstrating that it can hold credible elections that allow the Nigerian people a meaningful opportunity to elect their leaders,” he wrote.

Carson said all Africans “deserve smooth, peaceful, transparent and credible elections” and that Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly contests, as well as the April 26 vote for the country’s state governorships and state assemblies, “provide an historic opportunity for Nigeria to become a model for the rest of Africa and the world, especially for those citizens demanding democracy in their countries.”

U.S. Department of State

Barack to Obama - You can't afford to fail

Video - Goodluck Jonathan - One year to change Nigeria

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Super Eagles Player Olubayo Adefemi Dies in Car Accident

Super Eagles defender Olubayo Adefemi has died from a car accident in Greece.

According to a BBC report, quoting Greek police on Monday, said the Nigeria international defender died in a car accident.

The 25-year-old, who played for Skoda Xanthi, lost control of his car on the Egnatia motorway before the crash.

Adefemi was driving from Xanthi to Salonika in the Kavala region of northern Greece.

The player was said to be on his way to finalise details of his wedding when the accident happened.

The former Bendel Insurance and Hapoel Tel Aviv of Isreal player was a member of the Samson Siasia led Under 20-squad that played at the final with the Lionel Messi-led Argentina team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

He was also part of Nigeria's football team to the 2008 Olympic Games and he made his senior national team debut against Ireland on May 29, 2009.

Vanguard

Footballer Endurance Idahor dies of heart attack during match

Bayelsa United captain shot dead