The Ambrose Ehirim-Claret Onukogu Q & A Interview

Claret Onukogu is Ph.D candidate at Walden University and aspires to be a film-maker and interest in working for the United Nations. In this interview, she talks about her growing up, going to school in Nigeria, Nollywood and her problems with the Miss Nigeria In America Beauty Pageant since her crown.

Excerpts:

Tell me about yourself.

I am the first child from a family of 8 and a native of Imo State, Nigeria who resides in the United States. I am an MBA/ Healthcare Administration degree holder from South University in Savannah, Georgia, and a PhD candidate from Walden University. I am also one of the new faces and rising stars in Nollywood with work ranging in cinema, soap-opera, home-videos, and co-host of a television show (music and vibes). Some of my awards include Who’s Who among American High School students, Who’s Who among American College students, Certificates of Academic Excellence, Outstanding French Student, National Dean’s List (sophomore), Minority Academic Awards, Academic Scholarships, Miss Nigeria in America (2009-2010), and Outstanding Nigerian (World Ebony Network). I am intelligent, spiritual, brilliant, articulate, hard-working, compassionate, and admirable.

What inspired you to be doing the stuff that you now do in the Nollywood entertainment industry?

I have always aspired to be an actress particularly in Nollywood at a young age, but I wanted to complete my graduate level education before I actively pursue a career in acting. As a child, I watched many Nollywood movies and I enjoyed them. I admired the culture, language, and stories and it kept me connected to home. Acting has always been a part of me even as a child and before I decided to become a professional in the field, I did it as a hobby and I loved it, besides, the industry has evolved and is taking a new and different dimension.

How would you compare Nollywood to Hollywood?

Although Nollywood is growing at an incredibly fast pace, it has not quite reached the level of Hollywood. I am optimistic that in the next few years, it will be close to Hollywood in terms of the technology, special effects and in other areas where it lags behind.

Is Nollywood getting better?

The industry is changing. Nollywood is now in cinemas and I happen to be one of the faces appearing on the big screen. Many producers are taking the risk to redefine and create new faces of Nollywood. There are young and talented actors and actresses on the rise. Some of the actors and actresses who have been in the industry for a while have ventured into filmmaking and most of them attended renowned schools to study the art and perfect their skills. I was very impressed at the work ethics and professionalism, talent, enthusiasm and educational backgrounds of some of the rising producers and directors that I was fortunate to work with; they were simply amazing and continue to search for ways to introduce new materials and reinvent the ones that are already in existence. I am definitely impressed at the frequency of growth of the industry.

You went to school both in Nigeria and the U.S. From your experience, how do you compare both educational systems?

I schooled in Nigeria for a few years during my childhood and the educational system then might have changed because it has been a very long time. I liked the experience of being educated back home because it goes beyond the regular academic environment. I learnt culture, language, values and morals as an African woman. I also like the experience of being educated in the United States because it broadened my horizon and exposed me to individuals and cultures from different parts of the world. The educational systems from both parts of the world made me who I am today and I cherish the experiences that I garnered from them. I am very grateful to God and my parents for giving me such an opportunity.

Let's talk about the Miss Nigeria in America Beauty Pageant. You were crowned queen in 2009, right??

Yes, I emerged as the winner for the Miss Nigeria in America 2009 pageant.

I read where you still claim to be Miss Nigeria in America after three years you have been crowned. In what supposedly should have been held annually, how come you still hold the crown?

I still have the crown because MNIA Inc. and its organizers have not been able to stage another pageant since September 5, 2009. My reign ended officially on September 5, 2010, but I have not been able to handover to anyone since no pageant has been held by the organization since 2009 and the public expects to see me crown a new queen who competed in the pageant system and earned the title.

who is Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja?

Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja was the first runner-up for the Miss Nigeria in America 2009 beauty pageant and long-term friend of the organizers at MNIA Inc. She now supposedly claim to be Miss Nigeria in America 2010-2011 with a false public message from her, MNIA Inc and its organizers that I relinquished my title and handed over to her while in actuality I have already served and completed my reign exactly a year after I was crowned from September 5, 2009 to September 5, 2010. Adelaja is currently facing legal actions for impersonation and defamation of character. She is a queen that MNIA Inc and its organizers falsely created for the continuity of the organization because they have not been able to afford any pageants. By doing so, Angel Adelaja has been posing with a purchased and unmerited crown and sash as the current queen with false justification to the public for the questionable act claiming that I (Claret Onukogu), the former queen waiting to hand over to a successor who competed and merited a crown at a pageant, relinquished my title for her due to a pursuit of an acting career in Nollywood which is FALSE because she bears a different title (MNIA 2010-2011) with her crown and sash which has absolutely nothing to do with me and my reign as MNIA 2009-2010. Most individuals are baffled by this unscrupulous act by MNIA Inc and its organizers because if a crown, sash and title can be given to an individual without a competition for the year that she claims to be queen, then the purpose of pageantry is defeated.

Why is she claiming to be the current Miss Nigeria in America? Since there hasn't been any contest from when you were crowned three years ago, how was she declared winner of the beauty pageant contest?

Mr. Ehirim that is exactly the lingering question that confuses me and everyone else; since my reign ended exactly a year after I was crowned, I moved on with my acting career and other activities. The answer should be given by Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja in court as to why she has been posing with a sash, crown and title that is unmerited. She should be able to answer the question effectively and defend her title without mentioning my name because I never handed my crown and sash to her, MNIA Inc or its organizers, since my reign and responsibilities as Miss Nigeria in America 2009-2010 ended a year after I was crowned like other queens in the MNIA Inc. pageant system.

From what I read, what happened to the show since you were last crowned?

No show has been held by MNIA Inc. and its organizers since the last pageant in 2009. I have not spoken to them after the conclusion of my reign. I traveled out of the country a few weeks before the end of my reign to engage in some charity work in Nigeria, which was highly publicized and recognized, and to begin my acting career a few months after my reign ended. I was astonished when people began to contact me with questions concerning my supposedly forged resignation and relinquishing of title as Miss Nigeria in America 2009-2010 according to MNIA Inc and its organizers. The first time that I received a call pertaining to this issue, I had my crown and sash in front of me. Even though the credibility of the organization and the integrity of its organizer became questionable to me while working with them, I could not believe that they would think about committing a dubious act and using my name for its justification. Apparently, six months and a few days after my reign ended, they lied on Facebook and on their website that I relinquished my title and resigned as Miss Nigeria in America 2009-2010 which is an expensive lie and defamation of character. Since I was out of the country, I could not take any actions towards the issue until I returned to the United States. For the past few months, I have been asked by several individuals and the media about the false and slanderous news until I decided to take legal actions towards the organization and Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja and to grant interviews to the media in order to clear my name and answer the questions that have been directed to me by many individuals. I do not sanction the use of my name in any crooked and questionable act and no one including the MNIA Inc and its organizers has the right or permission to dent the reputation that I have built for myself. I could not believe that MNIA Inc and its organizers had the audacity to fabricate an expensive lie with my name in public for their own interest. From the beginning of my reign (September 5th, 2009) to its end (September 5th, 2010) MNIA Inc specified verbally and in writing that my reign comes to a halt a year after I was crowned and it did; despite the fact that there were no contracts, agreement or conversation stating otherwise and none binding me to the organization stating that my reign will extend more than a year, the organizers of the pageant who reiterated to me during my reign on numerous occasions that they could not have another pageant due to financial and other organizational commitments, thought that it would be a brilliant idea to lie to the public that I relinquished my title in order to justify them crowning a runner-up from 2009 as Miss Nigeria in America 2010-2011 on February 2011 without a pageant which is an insult to those of us who worked hard and earned our crowns. To say that I am highly disappointed in MNIA Inc. and its organizers is an understatement. Please examine a few of the messages that I received from the organizers of the pageant during my reign and its pattern of change over the years. I have also included a response from Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja to someone making inquires about her being the current queen.

Email from Chichi Dike-Emeson “CEO, Executive Director, and Founder of MNIA Inc.)” On May 3, 2010 speaking concerning the end of my reign and management by regal affairs: “The meeting will discuss your management with Regal Affairs and my expectations from you and Regal Affairs. So please come with your ideas and we will draft a game plan for your reign from now till October.”

On July 22nd 2010, the executive director of the MNIA pageant sent me an email also addressing the Regal Affairs manager of the organization stating verbatim in her exact words “September 5, 2010 is the end of your reign and I will ensure that MNIA submits to you all the is due to you. I need a close-out report from you and that should include a reflection of your reign as Miss Nigeria in America 2009. As you know we will not be having any pageant this year but the next Miss Nigeria in America will be on September 3, 2011 in Washington DC. Queen, I also need a close-out report from Regal Affairs also for management of the Miss Nigeria in America 2009.”

Close out report from the executive director on July 29, 2010:

“Dear Claret,

As we come to the end of your reign, MNIA, Inc. wants to thank you for all the work you have done in the past 12 months. As you may be aware, we will not be having the Miss Nigeria in America Pageant in 2010. Financial and other organizational commitments have forced us to move this event in 2011. Due to your hectic schedule and your ongoing work with the entertainment industry, your reign will end on September 5, 2010. MNIA has decided that in order to continue the work of MNIA, Inc, and our charitable/ non-profit mission, the 1st runner-up Miss Angel Adelaja will become Miss Nigeria in America 2010. Please note that the organization will have your EEE bonds to you before your reign is over. Please let us know if there is any thing that you may need. We wish you the best in your endeavors.”

“Los Angeles, CA – February 18, 2011 - MNIA, Inc. has announced today that the first runner-up in the 2009 MNIA Pageant - Angel Adelaja will assume the role and responsibilities as the Miss Nigeria in America 2010. In a statement issued by the President of the Organization, Angel will fulfill all remaining responsibilities of the former Queen, Claret Onukogu. Speaking on this change, ChiChi Dike Emeson, Executive Director said “We gracefully accept the resignation of the Miss Nigeria in America 2009 as of September 5, 2010.”

Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja: July 26, 2012 (Response from Angel to an individual making inquiries as to how Angel became Miss Nigeria in America 2010-2011):

“Anyway I was 1st runner up in the 2009 pageant, but the winner was asked to resign for reasons I am not at liberty to say, and as it is stated in the regulations, the 1st runner up assumes the title in situations such as these. Unfortunately there hasn't been a pageant since 2009, but there will be one this September in Washington DC and I will be handing over the crown to the winner.”

Information on the company website and a word document about Angel on google states:

“Dr. Angel Adelaja is the reigning Miss Nigeria in America (2010 -2011). Angel was the first runner up in the 2009 Miss Nigeria in America Pageant and assumed the role and responsibilities of the former queen Claret Onukogu who relinquished her title to pursue an acting career.”

Mr. Ehirim, please, you be the judge does this sound like I resigned or more like falsification of information and defamation of character? My observations and experience with MNIA Inc and the organizers of the pageant during my reign caused me to dissociate myself from them for almost two years now. It is frustrating and annoying for me to go back to issues concerning them again. It is obvious that MNIA Inc and its organizers are not straight forward and trust worthy. Besides inconsistency and questionable acts, they still owe money in the form of savings bonds and other rewards to me, many runner-ups, winners, and some other former contestants who merited items such as plaques. They lied and did not meet up to their obligations during my reign. Apparently, I am not the only one who is displeased with the unscrupulous behaviors of MNIA Inc and its organizers. From last year till recently, some of the winners who were owed for years before I came on board have approached me concerning the issue of payment or financial assistance that we never received from MNIA Inc as promised and we were planning to find a lawyer collectively to write a letter to the organization. I later decided to sue them because I felt like it will be the most appropriate thing to do at this point since it has become a trend by the organization to owe individuals especially the young ladies who competed in the pageant system. It is disheartening to know that an organization that supposedly prides itself of bringing Nigeria to positive light and empowering women is fraudulent, crooked, manipulative and prone to falsification. This was a message from the executive director on May 19, 2010 concerning my personal information for the supposed savings bond or money which I never received “Hi Claret, I cannot process your bonds without a SSN number so if you want to call me and give it to me so I can process in the bank, then you can call.” I am not the only person who completed the bond forms and never received the money and other rewards that was due to me. Legal actions have also been taken towards MNIA Inc and its organizers concerning the possession and possible use of my personal information. The United States federal government has been made aware of this problem and is actively working towards the issue. The last thing that Nigeria needs is another scam, fraud or dubious act attached to its name, not even in the form of pageantry. Please take note of the report from Better Business Bureau concerning the Miss Nigeria in America pageant:

This Business is not BBB accredited Miss Nigeria in America Pageant/ Danick, INC Phone: (202) 460-2919 1717 K Street, NW Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20036 http://missnigeriainamerica.org! Miss Nigeria in America Pageant/ Danick, INC is Believed to Be Out of Business ! Additional Information BBB file opened: February 22, 2005 Contact Information Principal: ChiChi Dike, Company Contact Business Category BEAUTY PAGEANTS # of businesses with 1-4 complaints in the past 36 months. Miss Nigeria in America Pageant/ Danick, INC is in this range.

I do understand that the organizers at MNIA Inc. are entitled to do as they please with their organization but they are not permitted to use my name in any questionable act to rectify their mistakes or set-backs. Common sense will tell anyone that a supposedly yearly pageant will have winners whose reign ends yearly. If Miss Nigeria in America 2009 was crowned on September 5, 2009 then September 5, 2010 will mark the end of her tenure. I cannot possibly resign on the day that my reign ends. The fact that MNIA Inc. and its organizers can falsify senseless lies makes one wonder about the integrity and the sanity of any individual who will do such. I did not have any form of communication with Chi-Chi Dike-Emeson, her husband Kenneth Emeson and friend Queen Gideon Uchekwe, who are the main organizers and producers of the MNIA pageant, on September 5, 2010 to discuss or hand over any form of resignation. No one forced me to resign. My reign ended when it was supposed to like other queens who served for one year and Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja should defend her crown and title as MNIA 2010-2011 (however it was obtained) without any claims that I relinquished my title for her because if I did, she will have my crown, sash and title as MNIA 2009-2010. I earned my title, crown and sash and never gave them to anyone. She is assuming her own responsibilities as MNIA 2010-2011 and not mine. If the completion of my reign that ended in one year translates to a false imaginary resignation to MNIA Inc. and its organizers, then it means that they are referring to every queen who won and completed their one year tenure with the organization. I went beyond the call of duty to conclude my roles and responsibilities as a queen. MNIA Inc, its organizers and Oluwayimika Angel Adelaja should please formulate another lie to tell the public as usual. The ones they falsified have turned sour. Individuals in the public are not fools, they know how credible organizations conduct pageants. It is imperative that Africans, particularly Nigerians, should join hands in cleansing our image by eradicating fraudulent, dubious and falsifying entities that bear our names and put a halt to the activities of the individuals behind those acts that drag our names to the mud especially in the international community.

Besides what's been going on, what are your interests?

I will like to venture into the production aspect of entertainment particularly film-making. I am also very interested in working with the United Nations.

What projects are you working on now?

I have been working on my PhD in Epidemiology; I have also been taking some classes for film production and screenplay writing. Humanitarian work is still a priority in my life regardless of how busy my schedule might be; I create time to do charity work. I am currently shooting a program in the U.S. that will be shown on Nigerian television networks. I have been privileged to own and operate a webstore with variety of goods at affordable prizes (http://claretijeoma.fscstore.com).

Half Of A Yellow Sun Begins Shooting In Nigeria

The UK Film Council and the British Film Institute responsible for the financing and sponsorship of the filming of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Orange Prize-winning novel "Half Of A Yellow Sun," has begun shooting in Calabar, Nigeria. The book, which was originally published in 2006 by Knopf/Anchor, tells the story of two sisters, Olanna and Kainene, during the Nigeria-Biafran war which claimed the lives of about 3 million people, and lasted about 3 years (1967—1970). The novel, upon its release, received critical acclaim and went on to win literary awards, among them the 2007 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. Casts in the film includes: Chiwetal Ejiofor, Joseph Maule, Thandie Newton, John Boyega, Genevieve Nnaji, Zack Orji, Onyeka Onwenu, Noni Rose, among others. The movie's soundtrack will be produced by Cobhams Asuquo and Keziah Jones. The feature film will be produced by Andrea Calderwood and Gail Egan; and directed by Biyi Bandele

OKOTO THE MESSENGER @ The 20TH ANNIVERSARY, PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL

OKOTO THE MESSENGER @ THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY, THE PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL, BALDWIN HILLS CRENSHAW PLAZA, 3650 WEST MARTIN LUTER KING BLVD., LOS ANGELES, CA 90008. SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2012 @ 7:50PM, SCREEN #8 & FRIDAY FBRUARY 18, 2012 @ 1:00PM, Screen #15

"Okoto the Messenger tells the story of Okoto Igwe (Pascal Atuma) and his girlfriend Angelina(JJ Bunny),both whom were born and raised ...in Africa, but live in America and are entrenched within the principle “To not forget their roots” thereby operating within the African community in America. Boyfriend and girlfriend, they are a proverbial match made in heaven. They both love to have fun, that is at the expense of “telling it as it is” to their fellow Africans."

Q & A Interview With Model Eeefy Ike

Eeefy is a successful model and actress who is today broadening her endeavors with a new book, a clothing line and a charitable foundation to aid burn victims around the world. Herself afflicted by terrible burns as a child, Eeefy has made creating more burn centers around the world, the primary goal in her life, even beyond her career in entertainment and fashion. Her New World Hope Foundation is today becoming a major force in bringing awareness to the need of medical facilities for burn victims in impoverished communities.

Eeefy was born in Nigeria. She’s the 13th of 17 children, six stepsiblings from father’s first marriage and three from mother’s first marriage. Her father is a retired mechanical engineer and politician, chief sir Wilfred Ike and mother, a retired fashion designer, Gladys Ike.

When she was just 3 years old, she sustained third-degree burns all over her stomach up to her chest area and legs in a violent attack. But due to the absence of burn centers in Nigeria and lack of funds to fly abroad for treatment, Eeefy was forced to live as an outcast with terrible pain and ugly scars.

Her zeal for life and eagerness to survive compelled her to eventually agree to get married at a tender age to a kind Italian engineer working on a contract in Nigeria. As soon as his contract ended, he acquired a visa for Eeefy and took her with him to Europe. That opportunity gave Eeefy a second chance for life and safety.

Although the marriage did not work out, Eeefy still sought to heal herself emotionally and physically, thus she came to the U.S. where she began medical treatments in early 2001. Soon she was encouraged to enter in the entertainment industry and quickly became a much sought-after model and actress.

Eeefy’s work included scores of television commercials for major brands such as Gillette shaving cream for men which aired in the U.S., United Kingdom, Europe and Africa for over two years. Other National television commercials included Burger King, Keglevich Vodka, Sauza Diablo Tequila, Comcast High Definition, Diesel Jeans and many others, including a Nokia International product launch. Most recently, her hands were also used for the Aroma product national infomercial.

Her work includes guest starring in the John Stamos 20th Century Fox television series, “Jake in Progress,” as well as a number of independent films.

Eeefy’s exquisite beauty has graced the pages of Beverly Hills Celebrity Society Magazine, Gazette Magazine-Montreal Canada, Getty Images, Wire Image and Flickr. Her memorable laughter was a ringtone for the “You Shake I Laugh” iPhone application produced by Roman Reyhani.

Eeefy’s strong presence, fusion accent and signature walk have also earned her several hosting and personal appearance engagements that range from hosting elite parties, exclusive private business events to sports events such as the Grand Prix, as well as appearances in several music videos. She has an excellent background as a consultant and spokes model for a variety of media projects including “Attitude and Catwalk,” “Lady Maxxa-The Golden host in Many Moons,” “Metropolis by Janelle Monae music video/short film with Anonymous Content/Treasure Entertainment.” She was a spokesperson and image consultant for “Catwalk Hollywood” project for Nigeria. She has appeared as a guest speaker in a “live” online talk show at outonline.com “The Real Zephyr” by Sidney Alvarez. Eeefy has also been a spokes model for world-famous jeweler, Ricardo Basta of Beverly Hills.

With an eagerness to motivate people and share her experiences in life, Eeefy has authored a motivational book which is in the process of being published and is finishing two other motivational books. She also wrote and produced a pilot of a TV show series and film named “Queen of the Jungle in Beverly Hills,” the story of an exotic African girl and her quest for fame and fortune in the Western world. Eeefy is also collaborating with a famous artist in Beverly Hills to design her own clothing and accessory line. In the near future she also plans to introduce “Eeefy’s doll” for little girls.

Excerpts:

Before we proceed, how about some history regarding yourself?

I was born in Port Harcourt. Grew up partly in Nigeria and partly in Europe and now I live in America but travel the world extensively.

How did a little girl growing up in Port Harcourt, had such a big dream, and got into entertainment and things like that. Where was the motivation from?

It was never a part of my aspiration to pursue a career in the entertainment industry; however, I heeded advice from friends to explore the industry because I realized it could be a vehicle I needed to achieve my ultimate goal, which is to build burn centers in countries that are lacking burn centers.

Your first book, “Peering Through The Depths Of Life” seems to be quite fascinating. Can you tell me about it and the idea behind it all?

“Peering Through the Depths of Life” is an inspirational book that covers relationship problems and life’s challenges. I choose to peer into various issues because they are everyday, common struggles that hinder and depress people and need to be addressed. The book is an easy read as the topics are brief and straight to the point, and the reader does not have to start from the beginning of the book, as every page tackles a new issue. The book is additionally perfect for references and it is also integrated with beautiful images of me that reflect my spirit, passion and style.

Why did you write “Peering Through The Depths Of Life” and what message are you sending to your readers?

I wrote Peering Through The Depths Of Life” out of the eagerness to help those that are struggling; by sharing my experiences that have allowed me to understand the causes and effects of pain in different aspects – those that are not normally recognized or dissected due to an individual’s confused state of mind during times of crisis. I’m hoping that my insight can help them to deal with their own problems effectively, so they can live a more meaningful life. What is the meaning of life when one’s soul is stifled?

I have learned that problems are inevitable parts of life and our experiences are the integral element of our mental growth and we must all confront those problems, no matter how difficult they may seem, by peering through the depths of their causes and objectively seeing ourselves and our actions as they really are in, order to find true solutions and ultimate peace.

What’s the most crucial thing a first-time writer should know?

As a writer, your vision must be clear.

I’d imagine with all the shows that you do – TV, radio, movies and other related events in Hollywood, it’s obvious you love what you do. Could you have done something differently assuming Hollywood was not a success story?

I’m also pursuing other interests that are unrelated to the entertainment industry. I’m collaborating with other people for skin care products and clothing line. I’m also making “Eeefy doll” for little girls.

In my case, I have heard too many bizarre stories about myself. What are the bizarre stories you heard about yourself and how did you take it?


Africans have labeled me mammy water (goddess of the sea) – they even go as far as writing things like “mammy water has left the sea where she’s supposed to be” under my photos on Facebook. Some even doubt I’m a real woman because my features are perfect. They have said that my accent is abnormal for whatever reason and that I dress too sexy to be a motivational speaker and ought to emulate Oprah’s style of dressing, since I’m like her – I assume the latter means my wisdom is compared to hers. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion; however, I’m immune to other people’s negative perception of my personality. No one governs my soul with his or her ignorance. It’s unfortunate that a person would invest so much time and energy in criticizing other people while he/she has flaws… It would be more beneficial for that person to channel that time and energy in looking into their life and improving on where there’s a lack.

Eeefy believes that if you invest time and energy speaking ill of someone else, that means that person is very significant to you and powerful enough to consume your time, energy and thoughts! Eeefy is not fazed by malicious criticisms because those that are swift to cast aspersions on others are weak spirits that aren’t worthy of acknowledgment and their intentions are usually to elevate their stifled soul, which may likely only be for a minute because when the laughs are over, they would revert back to their miserable state again. I DO NOT acknowledge such evil critics because they are of no consequence. I need time to apply my makeup, leggings and bustier and no time for the nonsensical. (Laughs!)
It’s ignorant of Africans or anyone to attribute beauty to a mermaid. As long as your beauty is uncommon, the spirit of a mermaid or an ogbanje spirit or any other spirit that they choose possesses you and you must have supernatural powers that they believe may be used for evil. It seems as if Africans expect everyone to look like the girl next door or to have a over-sized head, large lips and huge bum or big nose and walk like a duck. A woman is not allowed to possess extreme beauty and move with grace; else she’s labeled a supernatural being or even a witch, if they so please and perhaps a prostitute if the critics are extra intoxicated. Very distressing also is the fact that the majority of Africans do not like to see their fellow Africans happy or successful, so the wickedness and jealousy rooted in them is often provoked at the site of another African that seems to be happy and succeeding, whether that person is beautiful or not though it is worse if beauty is added to the package. Very sad indeed!
In addition to one having his or her own identity, there’s something called ‘image’ in the entertainment industry that is an integral component of an artist’s career, which must be adopted if one wants to have a long lived career. An artist does not have to fit into your box or conform to a conventional method of speaking or dressing, however people learn to respect the artist’s image just like they would expect their ways or personality to be respected by others. Everyone is unique in their own way, thus everybody cannot sound, look or think the same. No one is in this world to live up to anyone’s expectations. It’s only by chance that one person’s spirit resonates with another. Besides, what would stimulate our mind if we were all the same breed? Why do you gravitate to artists unless the simple fact that their personalities/careers intrigues or provokes your thoughts? Were they like you, you would not raise an eyelid or have gossip to peddle. Unfortunately many Africans are mostly inclined to the ignorance of not appreciating an artist’s image, and that’s simply because of their primitive mentality that I pray changes with time, so that they can support their children so they can thrive and not discourage their growth and deter their success with remorseless ignorance.

The Westerners are more appreciative of uniqueness because they understand image. Not that there aren’t Africans who appreciate me because I have very loving African fans as well. But my bizarre and even evil experiences have been with Africans… right from the tender age of 3. I was afflicted by the ignorance of African tradition, which is a common practice in Africa. They would kill you if you were singled out as an abnormal breed. Africans know what they do to children believed to be witches. The so called saints who kill or harm these children believe they are doing the right thing but they refuse to realize that destroying another person’s life is another form of witchcraft.

My accent is fusion and has been derived from extensive travel, living in different countries and speaking a few languages. It would be almost impossible to remain the same after all my experiences. Africans want you to be like them because you’re an African and if you’re not like them, then something is wrong with you. Ludicrous!!! I love who I am and would not change for this world that consists of people of various backgrounds, culture and mentality because pleasing everyone would be impossible. God has created me unique for my purpose in life and I WOULD NOT apologize for it. I relish my image, in spite of whatever flaws I may have.
I’m very honored to be compared to Oprah, who has been a big inspiration to my life. Having said that, I would not emulate Oprah’s style of dressing and personal presentation because I’m a different breed that possesses a different type of body. My style of dressing is in harmony with my personality and my physique and my lifestyle and career. It would be ignorant of me to adopt a style that does not suit me just to please others. I’m not one of those people that trudge through life swaying to the drumbeat of others and drowning in misery. I dance to my own music, so I can understand the rhythm that’s pleasing to my soul.

Furthermore, I’m born into a new era; a progressive world with evolution in technology that influences our viewpoints, interactions in business transactions, in the work environment, and even in social areas with others from different background and mentality. Personal presentation dictates other people’s instant assessment of one’s personality, thus diminishing or elevating one’s credibility. As a motivational speaker with eagerness to inspire the youths that are going astray or are broken, I have to also be welcoming and relative to them, at least in appearance. These types of youths can be found in many different types of areas – they are usually ensnared into environments that should be forbidden for their built-in dangers. For instance, I can walk into a whorehouse, a drug haven or a drinking bar, etc. and fit right in, even though I do not indulge in such destructive lifestyles. I would fit right in because my personal style and appearance would appeal to them, which is the kind of reception that would ease my mission to go and motivate them to unshackle themselves from such bondage and destruction. I walk in as a friend and make a positive impact in their lives. Do you think looking like Oprah would gain me the same reception?

Have you ever imagined that God created you the way you are for a reason? It’s important for you to know that everyone has a purpose in life and when you find your purpose, you ought to walk the walk, talk the talk and present yourself in the light that would lead you to fulfilling that purpose, Anything else would only steer you in a different direction or deter you from achieving your goal. When you pretend to please others, you’ll be hurting yourself in ways that are oblivious to you. Lack of self-awareness also hurts no one but you. Living in illusion is akin to living in exile from yourself.

What’s your impression of how Nollywood fits into the world stage of the entertainment industry?

Nollywood is very dramatic in African appreciation but not yet at the stage to resonate with the Western world, so Nollywood still has a lot of work to do to even assume any position on the world stage of the entertainment industry.

Yes Nollywood is growing; nonetheless, growth is extremely slow due to the following obvious reasons;

1. Lack of support from the Nigerian government is definitely a major hindrance for Nollywood. They need funds and a well-structured system to nurture the industry.

2. Their production quality is very poor, perhaps good enough for the African audience who would have to consider the economic situation of the country before casting criticisms at production quality. However, if Nollywood wants to appeal to a global market, then Nollywood needs to enhance its production quality. There are a few aspects I believe they can improve on to enhance the movie and elevate their standard, such as:

a). Actors should wear the right wardrobe that suits the role they play and that is integral to the scenes. This aspect of a production is an important instrument in telling the story

b). Makeup and hair should be in harmony with the characters as well.

c). Editors should re-evaluate their methods of editing. For example, their scores always overwhelms the conversations between actors in the film and viewers have to try hard to filter through the loud music to understand what is being said.

d). Your audience does not need to know every irrelevance during filming, hence the need to cut out the extra mile in editing. The audience is traveling a journey with you in the subconscious mind while you’re narrating the story so go straight to the point to avoid losing them along the way before you arrive at your destination.

e). The yelling is unnecessary. Film differs from theater, thus the range of tones and body language needs to be controlled. For film, an actor needs to be subtle in delivery, as the camera tends to magnify every little movement. Theater is an open space, hence the requirement to be extra dramatic and even lurid in delivery, in order to fill up the room.

3. Piracy is drowning the industry. How can the industry possibly grow when she’s persistently robbed? Nigerian government desperately needs to take control of that piracy.

4. Nollywood lacks originality. Perhaps they should tell traditional stories if that’s what it takes to refrain from reenacting Hollywood stories and in such mediocre forms like they do. They ought to stop using names of Hollywood celebrities to identify their characters. Naturally, as Africans, we are very dramatic -- our lifestyles and mannerisms are enough to fill up the screen and intrigue the audience, thus we do not need to redo Hollywood stories. There are many aspects of our tradition that are equally worthy of projecting unto the screen just like Hollywood stories.

Let’s talk about Nollywood acclaimed to be the third movie industry on the face of this planet, after Bollywood and Hollywood. How could with only home videos and no theatres? What’s your take on that?

Nollywood is the third movie industry in the world even with the lack of theaters and quality production simply because they dish out thousands of films every year unlike the other industries that are more inclined to quality instead of quantity.

What was the highlight of the radio interview on “What’s Cooking Today”?

The highlight was the good questions they asked about my inspirational book “Peering Through the Depths of Life” that is set to be released on the 21 July, 2011 on Amazon.com.

Let’s talk about “Ask Ify.” If you were to stop doing it suddenly, what do you think the fans’ reaction would be?

I stopped the experimental videos already because I got what I wanted from them and you’ll understand in a short time. Though my fans are still sending in questions and expressing disappointment for my sudden retreat. I have kept “Ask Eeefy” alive through my blog posts on Facebook because my soul delights in inspiring others.

What projects are you working on now?

I’m working on 3 inspirational books that will be released 6 months apart. My foundation “Eeefy’s New World Hope Foundation --- preventing further injury and death from superstition” will be launched this Fall! I’m also working on a comedy film, ‘The Queen Of The Jungle In Beverly Hills’, and my line of apparel and skin care products. I do wear some of my designs “Eeefy by Giorgio Tuscani”. My designer is a famed artist in Beverly Hills, known for immortalizing celebrities on canvas. He actually immortalized 2 gorgeous angel images of me and donated them to my foundation. They will be unveiled during the launching of the foundation.

Q & A Interview With Filmmaker And Actor Odera Ozoka

At last year's Pan African Film and Arts Festival at the Culver Plaza Complex, filmmakers Rahman Oladigbolu, Odera Ozoka, Pascal Atuma, Hollywood publicist Ngozi Mba, myself and several other filmmakers joined us at the after party events and we've been talking ever since...Great guy!

Excerpt:

Before we proceed in this interview, how about some history regarding yourself?

A little about me, I am a writer, director, and producer. I was born in Benin City, Nigeria, to parents from Nnewi in Anambra state. I grew up loving movies and tv of all shapes and forms, from Nigerians tales by moonlight, the horror movie "Nneka" the pretty serpent; to American and Indian films like "Snake Girl," "Abba," "Akubba," "Anthony," etc. I moved to the United States when I was sixteen, studied computer networking, then attended the New York Film Academy for acting and directing. I graduated, produced couple of shorts, a music video, and directed my feature film "Soul Diaspora." I went on to produce the movie "IJE" with Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade. I produced a play called 'Far From An Angeles Gaze' and TV pilot 'Maison Blanche' with my company 'Sacred Drum Company' founded by a group of smart pan African artist dedicated, telling human stories that entertain, educate and enlighten the audience. So, yeah, that's me in a nutshell. Whew, I feel I just gave my whole life story. lol!!


How is filmmaking and acting; and what inspired you into all these stuff?

I've always loved telling stories, growing up around family members. I remember sitting around night fires as stories were being told. I always cherished those moments, and i guess those memories never really left. So when filmmaking found me, it found me with a wealth of information to draw from and I'm lucky in that sense. All in all, I love the process of making films. I love the collaborative process, the problem solving, the managing...all of it; they drive me.


About a year ago, we were all at the opening of the festival and your movie "Soul Diaspora" played at the Culver Plaza Complex as part of the festivities commemorating the 17th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival. How did the movie "Soul Diaspora" do?

"Soul Diaspora"-- the feature I shot in ten days on a "nothing budget" on the streets of Los Angeles did really well during its festivals run. It was nominated for three African Movie Academy Awards(AMAA) and won the 'Best Film' by a filmmaker in Diaspora at the AMAA. It also took the 'Audience Favorite Award' at the Pan African Film Festival(PAFF)--we were all thrilled those of us who worked on the film because it was all blood, sweat and tears; shooting 17, 18 long hours per day- so it was very humbling and fulfilling being rewarded- something we all cherished and can't wait to duplicate. The Gods were smiling upon us for sure and we were grateful for that.

This year, your movie did not play at the festival. Are you working on bigger projects or something?

Yeah, this year PAFF I didn't have any films there because for the whole of the year I've been working on a theatrical release of "Soul Diaspora" in specific cities here in the United States, and we are closed to finalizing those deals.We would after then head to Nigeria to premiere it there so the audience can get to enjoy it too. So yeah, busy busy busy, but tons of fun, I am excited.


What kind of stories will we be seeing in your new projects?

As of the moment, I'm currently in pre-production on my new film simply titled "Biafra"- based on the civil war that swept Nigeria during the late 60's. I shoot that at the end of the year and I'm really looking forward to it. I am also working on a story on the Niger Delta and if the earth is aligned, I'll shoot that sometime late next year. I am still working on that script and that too is coming along very well. So all in all, my next two directing gigs a very politically, charged, dramatic thrillers.

How do you come up with ideas for projects like that?

Man, have you seen the news lately? I don't have to look too far (Laughs) to find material. I mean what happened in Egypt alone was more than enough to inspire me. Then I see what's happening in ivory coast and I say man I have to keep writing; in other words, I just look around man to get inspired with ideas. I get them from TV. I get them from paper, and I get them from a simple conversation like this one we are having.

Do you think you made the right decision by becoming a filmmaker in a much challenging environment?

Definitely. You see, I believe we all are here on this planet to serve out a purpose, no matter how big or small. Filmmaking is my purpose and I love doing what I do. I love writing, I love collaborations, I love that whole process you know? so yeah. But like you rightfully said, it's also a very challenging business. You have to love this job a hundred and ten percent to thrive. Its not easy....but when you love it, what can you do?

Where do you see Nollywood 10—years from now?

Nollywood is the new Hollywood. Plain and Simple. I mean I don't care what people say about how cheap and badly made Nollywood films are; the truth of the matter is the pioneers started a business without any support, and or love from their government but instead flourished on the basis of telling their own stories, survival and just good savvy: hard core determination. Its because of people and families like the Ejiros, Amatas, that people like myself can proudly call themselves filmmakers today. Without those brave guys and many others from the late eighties through the early and mid nineties, there would be no Nollywood. Thanks to them you have new filmmakers with opportunities to tell stories their way. Some travel out to learn the craft with the intentions to make film better... and its only getting better. I believe in the next ten years(probably before) the West will be coming to us for material--we will be in demand. I mean it has already started.


In your opinion, how would you evaluate small film projects and festivals where they are shown, and the impact they have created in the industry?

Small films that are good are really important. Thank God for festivals that take a chance on films like mine or any other films out there with a particular message. They give us filmmakers a voice, a place to speak and that's a beautiful thing. I equally love the AMAA, they have tapped into something special too, where they can celebrate African films made by Africans, you know? So i think its great when festivals support smaller films, especially ones that might not get to see the light of day in a proper theater because of some kind of provocation or taboo in the core of the films made. Also, festivals is a solid place to look out for up and coming Kar wai's, Chan wook's, Kelani's, Ousmane's, Haneke's, etc

In your Generation whose work do you find interesting?

I love Wanuri Kahiu's work. I think she's talented...there are others but they don't come to mind at this time, but there are definitely some great talents out there.

Hoha! (Pointblank): Show People

"It feels really good to get the OBE but I dropped it on the floor. So that was a bit embarrassing. I'm just glad I didn't trip over."..."I feel really, really privileged to be here, especially as there are so many people who have done amazing things here. My Winnie Mandela part was my favourite ever I think. A character like her is such an iconic character and she has all the ingredients; you get the chance to play the whole gamut of emotions."

-------Actress and Academy Award nominee, Sophie Okonedo on dropping the OBE Medal on the feet of Prince Charles of Wales during the award ceremony.


"The Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission investigated that joint venture extensively and found no suggestion of any impropriety by Dick Cheney in his role of CEO of Halliburton."... "U.S. regulators collected $1.28 billion in penalties and criminal fines in the Bonny Island case after settling charges of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a 1977 law that bans the bribery of foreign officials to obtain business."

-------The Wall Street Journal reports on "Nigeria drops bribery charges against Cheney, Haliburton.
Cheney's cartoon by Cox & Forkum


“I have travelled far and wide, but I'm proud to tell you that no country can match our rich culture in Nigeria. The natural resources like good locations are already there for us, so it is left to maximise the privilege,”...“I can't shoot a low budget film because it will underrate my status. I learnt that some people shoot for as low as N300,000 or there about in Nigeria, but I can tell you that such film cannot go anywhere internationally. The international market is my target, so I have to put things in the right perspectives to achieve that conveniently. All I want now is good indigenous script.”...

-------Nollywood filmmaker Ademola Olanibi on why he 'can't shoot a low budget film.'

It's Showbiz All Around

Femi Kuti plays Hollywood Bowl and Central Park, NY, in his summer engagements while on top Herbie Hancock, Pascal Atuma and Sam Onwuka; Ernie Watts, Atuma on presentation of NEA for Best Album and bottom is Gregory Isaacs, Roy Hargrove who plays alongside Hancock for the Hollywood Bowl events and Queen Latifah who hosts BET's My Black is Beautiful Post Show June 28.



I have been working out lately on the Westside and boy, how does it feel to dabble into affluent old folks trying to stay in shape to keep up with their long life and prosperity mission. Sounds good and we all are trying to push it further, now that "life," they say "begins at 60;" and with the summer jams all around town, nobody wants to be confined to a position of not being able to hang on to all that summer blasts which smells all around the place, especially the Hollywood way.

There is no business like showbiz and living around Hollywood, it is a 24/7 thing and nothing one can do about it but just hang on and make the best out of it. It's too much stuff going on in Los Angeles -- the summer concerts, the 4th Annual Los Angeles We The People Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival at the complex of UCLA Westwood Village kicking off on June 18, the Jewish Festival and Israelwood, and the crazy-dubby all night pub-crawling. Yes, Israelwood, you heard me. And there is Kenyawood, Ugandawood and all that wood. It's a whole bunch of woods line-ups and I might be just chilling limiting myself to not that many concerts and other outdoor events.

But the dates on the central courtyard of Hollywood & Highland Center, the home of the Academy Awards -- I would not miss the ones I had highlighted. It's a free live jazz sessions produced by Long Beach State's KJAZZ 88.1 FM. The line-ups are incredible -- Barbara Morrison, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Gonzalo Bergara, Carl Saunders Sextet, Bobby Matos Latin Jazz Ensemble, Ernie Watts Quartet, Karl Benson Trio, Theo Saunders Sextet, Francisco Aquabella Latin Jazz Band and John Daverga Big Band which runs through August 25.

And the Hollywood Bowl jams, I have already picked. Yes, on 6/21, I will be seeing Femi Kuti & The Positive Force alongside Santigold and Raphael Saadiq. Then follows Grace Jones, Herbie Hancock, Toots & The Maytals, Michael Rose, Gregory Isaacs, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, Pearbo Bryson, George Duke, Dizzie Gillepsie All Star Big Band, James Moody, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, Natalie Cole with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Beasty Boys to close-up the summer jams on 9/24. You see, I'm old-school and hanging out with me is just fun.

For the LA Film Fest, my schedule is limited, also. I will for sure be seeing "Facing Ali," a documentary portrait of 10 men who stormed the boxing ring to face the greatest, "Black Dynamite," a remake of 70s blaxploitation comedies and maybe "Sacred Places" about tracing a lineage from the West African traditional djembe drum in Ouagadougou.

Well, filmmaker and actor Pascal Atuma had called during the week telling me it was all jamming and brothers made some noise inside Cramton Auditorium of Howard University in Washington, DC, last week when the Nigerian Entertainment Awards had its gala night with presentation of awards. Atuma presented an award for the best album of the year which went to D'Banj. Seriously, I'm not familiar with Naija hip-hoppers as every name he mentioned sounded Greek to my ears. That's right, I'm old-school.

Elsewhere, the queen of hip-hop, Queen Latifah who said she was sexually abused as a child will be hosting the BET Awards 2009 My Black is Beautiful Post Show in Los Angeles on June 28. According to BET press release, "My Black is Beautiful celebrates the diverse collective beauty of African American women and encourages black women to define and promote their own beauty standard. The campaign brings to life an authentic reflection of African-American women's beauty by embracing Quen Latifah as the host of the My Black is Beautiful Post Show. The special will capture and recap the atmosphere, style and sexy of the night's festivities."

Whew! It's going to jam and for sure no business like showbiz.

Pascal Atuma and Nollywood film producer Sam Onwuka images courtesy of Trendy Africa

Main Street: In Da Hood

On Easter Monday, as we usually called it back home, I was invited by a good friend over dinner and some drinks, and some talks. While we ate and drank, we talked about a whole lot of stuff including the new arrivals on the book shelves -- Caught Between Hitler & Stalin; From Eve to Dawn: A History of Women; A Constitution of Many Minds: Why the Founding Document Doesn't Mean What It Mean Before; Founders: The People Who Brought You A nation; ICRC Report on the Treatment of Fourteen "High Value Detainees" in CIA Custody; The political Worlds Of Slavery And Freedom; Nazi Germany and the Jews; The Black Death; Engaging The Muslim World; Hitler's Pope; Captives and Countrymen: Barbary Slavery and the American Public; The Irony of American History; Adolf Eichman and many other books that just arrived on the shelves, particularly about the Holocaust. He is disgusted with Nd'Igbo and why nobody is writing with regards to the pogrom.

On Nollywood, we talked about how the New York Film Academy's Film and Acting Conservatory now has locations all around the world except for 'Nigeria.' The New York and Acting Conservatory has locations in United Arab Emirates, Italy, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Spain, Dubai, England, France, Belgium, Germany, and so on. My buddy stressed on how a location in Abuja or Lagos could help produce better movies to meet up with the standards of the Academy Awards after going through the institute's workshop in filmmaking, acting, producing, screenwriting, documentary, cinematography, editing, cinema studies, music video, musical theater, photography and other movie producing essentials.

After some long discourse, I let him do all the talking and too many issues popped up since I was the one listening while he did the talking.

First, in his monologue, he started with what our women have done ever since they set their foot on the shores of this land reminding me of the current debate going on at BNW Messageboard which is actually getting nasty. On these women who have destroyed our cultural heritage, he blamed Oprah Winfrey and said that the 50ish feminist needs to get a real husband to feel how it's like, and that there are certain values money can't buy. He wondered "how can you spend your lifetime savings, paying your dues in this great country called America and ending up being screwed-up by a woman you brought here." He cited Texas as the mother of all craziness and failed marriages regarding 'our women' who'd lost every sense of purpose, ala, destroying our family values in its entirety. He was so pissed he blamed the 'boys' for starting something they could not finish.

On the talk show hosts, media elites and still blaming Oprah, he really doesn't give a "fuck" about Sean Hannity, the drug addled Rush Limbaugh, Larry Elder, George Stephanopolous, Dianne Sawyer, Charles Gibson, and that there's nothing there but commerce. "Without commerce," he would continue, "all of them ain't worth shit." He is critical of all the talk show hosts and commentators, including Oprah whom he dislikes with a passion.

On the global economy, he blamed a retarded George W. Bush and a "fucked-up" Dick Cheney for screwing-up everybody by fighting a useless war in Iraq and squandering all the surplus bad boy Bill Clinton left in the nation's coffers. He insisted Bush and Cheney should be tried for mass murder.

On President Barack Obama, he said Obama should be very careful, even though he's going on the right direction, that the stinking conservatives are doing everything within their reach to see that the president who is yet to mark a hundred days in office and a whole lot accomplished doesn't succeed. He listed Obama haters -- Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Denver's Bob Newman, Bill Cunningham, Chris Baker, Michelle Malkin, and the rest bigots -- as, cough, cough, the airheads who have nothing else to say about the president but trash talking.

On the main subject matter, what we have earlier discussed before my stopping by in da hood to see what was cooking and what the gist was all about, and exactly stuff like that. The gist was Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie's new book, The Thing Around Your Neck, a collection of short stories about what historians describe as the "push factor," the economic and social conditions that compelled us to leave our native land for a better life abroad.

Regarding Adichie and her new book, he paused and scratched his head. He did not scratch his head because of Adichie's book. He was worried Adichie, now 32, and no marriage, might end up sooner or later becoming a hardcore feminist, that at a certain age and a woman not married based on our culture, that she will be scary and that alone turns men off. According to him, early marriage for a woman is evidence of good upbringing and an indication of keeping ones cultural heritage viable and intact. That Adichie can tell all the finest stories out there; and without marriage she has no place in Igbo land, that Igbo tradition from long time ago must be preserved like any other people on Earth, citing the unique culture of the Japanese, the Chinese, the Jews and the Indians.

He said Adichie is now bent on writing books being praised on the literary circle but forgot to realize the dual feminine role of women in our society. He concluded a woman's role is that of mother and nurse, that the moment a woman crosses that line, the sign of failure becomes obvious unless the man in question is crippled.

Boy, I was wondering if this guy was Okay. He brought up the Minnesota incident of Mike Iheme who had murdered his wife in the most brutal way and blamed society for pushing the man against the wall. He talked about other killings and men who have strangled their wives in the Igbo community.

I had to cut in and change the subject before he drags me along with him on domestic violence cases I have never been part of. I decided to review Adichie's new book and he began to listen.

I read Adichie's two previous books, Purple Hibiscus (2003) and Half of a Yellow Sun (2007); and both were good books of narrative politics, life events and storytelling. Adichie's The Thing Around Your Neck is told with familiar names and characters. "Cell One," which is the first story was told in the format of Nollywood casts -- gangs and cults in university campus engaging in all kinds of criminal activities "copycating" American hip-hop and pop culture.

Then follows the northern religious riots against the Christian South and a brief encounter between two females during the fracas; one a medical student of Igbo origin, and the other a trader of Hausa extraction in a mutual order with regards to mankind to resist and overcome the predicaments of tribalism which has led to many deaths. Seriously, an engaging episode where the Hausa market woman relatively indulges the Igbo medical student for a way out of the chaos urging the medical student to do something, begging, "my nipple is burning like pepper." She had shown her nipples to the Igbo medical student in that plea, the plea to stop the violence.

In the case of sojourn to the United States, Adichie enumerated in detail the consequences of culture shock and asks if it's even worth it to embark on such a journey -- especially in a situation the "overclass" Nigerians send their wives abroad to have babies but adjusting to Yakee way of life never becomes easy.

There's also the case of arranged marriages with a Yankee. And it falls out. And sexual favors were denied. And there was anger. And there was the threat to leave on the ground that sex was not part of the deal -- the arranged marriage. And, also, there was the case of Chinaza Udenwa, (The Arrangers of Marriage) who had to change her name to Agatha Bell on the recommendation of her true husband.

Quite some thrilling stories as one reads on. Ending up with no place like home, Adichie concludes by recounting the tale of a boy sent to a missionary school by his mother which eventually turned sour. The woman's granddaughter does the opposite sideling expectations of family and cultural heritage. By the time it was all over she has earned a degree, returned back home and changed her Christian name, Grace, to Ahamefule, and found out the idea of leaving one's country in search for a better life did not add up and was not worth it. There is no place like home. And home has always been the best.

After my narratives on Adichie, he cut in and was becoming erratic. He had a frowned face eager to let off all the stuff in his chest. I knew what was about to happen. I gave him his time. He calmed down, murmured and scratched his head. I found out he was ready to release what had been bothering him. He said, clearing his throat, "are you finished?" I shook my head as a gesture of being done. He began his part of the observations as I questioned.

On Nd'Igbo he said they are -- cough, cough -- finished; that it is too late to start thinking otherwise, that it is up to the newer generation, the ones that do not speak Igbo and have no clue about Igbo culture to take over the mantle of leadership and do whatever they want to do with it; and that it might work since they have no one to favor or anyone to influence them for they have nothing to lose.

On the situations in Nigeria, he said "forget it." He paused and took a deep breath on the ground whenever the country is mentioned he feels like throwing up. He loathes the country for many reasons. A country that is 48-years-old with enormous hunman capital and abundant natural resources yet has nothing to show for its existence since its birth. A country corruption is institutionalized and nothing works except by way of illegal activities.

He spoke with anger regarding Nigeria. That the schools left by the missionaries are vanishing from normal operation. That the industries and infrastructures set up by the "founding fathers" have not been maintained to standard and in some cases left abandoned. That the hospitals are messy with no equipments, questioning the medical errand boys who take credit for doing a wonderful job from their medical missions to save the sick. He said the next fifteen years Nigeria will cease to exist from a whole lot of complications, citing the wrong choice of electing a sick man who coughs persistently and smokes like a chimney, having no time to take responsibility in the affairs of state. I mean, this guy kept talking and talking with bitterness to a point blaming the opportunists who had helped adding insult to injury.


And who are the opportunists when I asked. He paused again and took a deep breath with anger all over his face. The opportunists, according to him, are the errand boys who are here in Diaspora, who use their access as conduits for money laundering and looting of public funds by the "elected" officials, who supposedly should be held accountable for raping the treasury of a people. And that it originated from the fabricated red cap chiefs na eri awoof and that these corrupt "chiefs" have deliberately destroyed all that our forebears left behind.

Boy, this guy never stopped talking. He talked about how bad leadership had made the Naira worth nothing and uncompetitive in the global market economy. He talked about the growing cases of pollution while the civilized world is talking progressively about the green movement. That 'Nigeria' cannot claim to be a democracy when bribery and corruption is still widespread, when government officials and politicians who engage in criminal activities are not prosecuted to the limit of the law, when revenue allocation is not proportionally distributed, and when the power holders are not living up to the creed of a concocted constitution as a result of a failed judiciary.

On the educational system, he said it was a "total failure." That what need is the education when college graduates can't find work or have government assisted programs whereby individuals who feel like running their own businesses can do so under supervisory programs by government regulatory agencies. That, until there is a political revolution or somehow, a radical step, that 'Nigeria' will never be better; and that, to do so (effecting change) "will take men with liver."

He went on to say that a country that tends to forget its past has no history, citing the pogrom in which over two million souls perished, and that up until now, no form of apology has come forth.

Again, citing another era of humankind, he used the Jews as an analogy citing how powerful the Jews has become from the lessons of the Holocaust. That books are published every second about the concentration camps, about Adolf Hitler and his atrocities, about cities in Europe where the deaths were carried out, about Treblinka, about Auschwitz, about Adolf Eichman, about Polish confrontations with Soviet power during the Holocaust, about Nazi rule meaning death to all Jews, and about Anne Frank.

He was bitter and wished Igbo could do something. Nothing was funny, at all. He asked how an infallible and confused bunch of Igbo Diaspora have no legal team to defend its own who's been unjustly incarcerated. And we have "high profle lawyers." And we have "millionaires around the block." And we have "visionaries." And with all that, what do they have to show for it?

It is a tragedy and the saga continues!

Da Week and Da Wrap Up

It's amazing how time flies. March is almost over and another week gone by with President Barack Obama's Stimulus Package not yet showing as pundits, talkshow hosts, especially on the far right are not being considerate from the way they keep attacking Obama on what they are now calling a failure. Failure in just two months? I don't get it and give me a break. I 'dunno' how that could be possible for a mess caused in eight years of a retarded George Bush 2 administration to be cleaned up in a blink of an eye. It is just not possible, even though Obama seems to be making mistakes notably his choice of appointments and the outrageous AIG debacle.

Meanwhile, while at it, Obama is enjoying the ride making the presidency look easy, and for sure, living up to his creed in changing the way business is conducted in Washington. His visit to Southern California and appearance at "The Tonight Show," without a doubt, catapulted Jay Leno's show to the top in ratings while the president keep leaving his mark -- the first sitting president to appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show."

Enough of "da" politics. I read Dambisa Moyo's interesting article "Why Foreign Aid Is Hurting Africa" in the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal. I agree with Moyo in that superb write-up, and I hope the financial institutions in question and charity organizations will start rethinking their starategies because the alleged aid is doing more harm than good. For instance, aids to many of these poor countries in Africa were embezzled by its leaders. Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Mobutu Sese Seko (Zaire, now Democratic Republic of Congo), Bakill Muluzi (Malawi), and Frederick Chiluba, Zambia's former president, have all, one way or the other, embezzled funds meant to aid the poor by way of infrastructures, healthcare and education. In that piece, Moyo writes;

Yet evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that aid to Africa has made the poor poorer, and the growth slower. The insidious aid culture has left African countries more debt-laden, more inflation-prone, more vulnerable to the vagaries of the currency markets and more unattractive to higher-quality investment. It's increased the risk of civil conflict and unrest (the fact that over 60% of sub-Saharan Africa's population is under the age of 24 with few economic prospects is a cause for worry). Aid is an unmitigated political, economic and humanitarian disaster.

The movies this weekend got me tripping. I was only able to watch two of the new arrivals at theaters, and as it happens sometimes, and not being ready, I dozed off in both movies which reminded me of "Boiler Maker" I was suppose to be reviewing a couple of months ago. The first I watched was "Duplicity" starring the 41-year-old wrinkle-free Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law and Natalie Portman. All about love and lack of trust got me snoring in-between the show. I'm not sure if I want to see it again. Then I saw "Sunshine Cleaning" starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin. It was not much to talk about. And I dozed off, and that's basically about it. I am not going to see it again.

What's up with Twitter, man!? Looks like every now and then when I pop up my mailbox someone I have not known from Adam seems to be following me. A way to connect and share brief moments which appears to be cool depending on what way one looks at it. It is an entire world in one box and the stuff has just exploded. And the folks out there in da box are having a ball and talking about it everywhere they go.

I shared a brief moment on the phone with actress/filmmaker, Esosa Edosomwan and some fascinating project will be popping up very soon and knowing who Esosa is from her years of determination and hardwork, it's going to be explosive and da magazine is going to be straight.

But, anyway, the week wasn't that bad save for Fox Channel Obama bashers who have nothing else to do but keep saying Obama this and Obama that. They should leave the guy alone to do his job. What's their beef?

My heart goes to the families of four Oakland, California Police officers who were gunned down in a shootout yesterday by troubled parolee Lovelle Mixon. More on Oakland shooting.

That's "Da Week and Da Wrap Up."

PAFF Final Beat

It had taken exactly eleven days from the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Mall on the Crenshaw thoroughfare of the “Black Township” to the nine hundred block of Washington Boulevard in Culver City which stretches to the Washington Corridor in Los Angeles in an event that has gone through mixed reviews on the side of the vendors who seems to be the ones complaining and talking about the 17th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF), which ended in Los Angeles, last night, and how the show came out bad vendors are now threatening lawsuits for being ripped off by the organizers of the festival.

I’m not sure if the recession should be blamed for the buy-sell apathy in which an estimated 10,000 people are losing their jobs daily; a record breaking account since the Great Depression. Nobody, however, is sure of the outcome since experts are predicting until the end of 2010 before things could probably be shaping up economically in what should be expected to be another cycle of economic prosperity, that is, if Wall Street is put in place.

But despite all that, a whole lot is still happening in the City of Angels, and people are still hanging out even though what use to be a livelier event on a sad note of bad economy, the 17th Annual PAFF was very obvious of economic collapse. “This is terrible,” one of the vendors who displayed his African accessories, a variety of beads, necklaces, earrings, shea butter cream and some artifacts complained of a slow, hopeless market. “How am I going to survive this environment with a $40 a day sale and all the bills that are climbing at an alarming rate.”

If recession is one thing to blame, one should be asking about all the line up of events tailored to run through May in Los Angeles alone. While PAFF and a series of its activities were going on in a two location event, some cultural stuff was also taking place all over town. The Vintage Hollywood Private Club on the Washington Corridor has taken its activities to another level. Throughout the month of February, classic black films – “Stormy Weather,” “Carmen Jones,” and “Cabin in the Sky” will be screened and admission is free. So there’s a lot of vibes going on in ones Hollywood. A full bar and lots of Los Angeles goodies at this newly rejuvenated joint is a hangout you don’t want to miss.

I think it’s quite fun when one walks around the marketplace, the 17th Annual PAFF, in a different mood this year because both patrons and merchants in what use to be a merry-crowd in the eleven days festival vanished this time around and it’s not funny. A security guard at the front entrance of the mall: “Ain’t nothing wrong with the fuckin’ economy. It’s all a set up; you know what I’m saying? And you blame George Bush. I don’t have anything with what’s going on with the fuckin’ economy and if they feel like cutting my hours I sho’ fuckin’ will quit and take unemployment…And I sho fuckin’ will sue their ass, that’s right”

The guard is not happy for being sentry, standing post on a little-bit above minimum wage and mad as hell because his relief is behind schedule and he wants to “get the fuck outta here,” cuz, it’s “ass-kicking time.”

On the other side of the mall behind Wall Mart, there is a makeshift massage parlor run by some Asians and as it happened their business boomed and patrons were trooping to relieve a nerve-wracking recession-proof tension.

It wasn’t only the cultural thing that got attention during the festival. People, not related to the festival came from all over. I ran into Carolyn J. Garner who happens to be doing some worthy stuff and we did hang out talking about a bunch of things that could lift the spirit of the African “if all hands are on deck.” She did the math – uncountable trips to Ethiopia providing medical services to the underprivileged and proud of it on many grounds – being blessed and having the opportunity to lend a helping hand in an area of the world where the government has turned the other way. Carolyn had held me for more than an hour talking about the unfortunate events of slavery and the mess it created for centuries to come.

Interestingly, though after all the tough talks about sharecroppers, slavery and all that, we shifted to the screenings at the film festival and began discussing the ones that made the headlines. Before we began, I had mentioned Sophie Okonedo and her role in “Skin:”

And her parents were white South Africans. And born of white parents in apartheid South Africa, she looked black. And she was tormented and unaccepted in a white society. And she was black. And she falls in love with a black man. And she alienates her parents. And she relocates elsewhere to a township. All of this happened because she was born black because of her genetic abnormality. And her name is Sandra Haing. And she paid a surprise visit at the screening of “Skin” on February 11 at the Culver Plaza Theaters. And there was a photo session. And PAFF founder Ayuko Babu was all smiles in that photo-op.

Another film of interest was, as part of the routine Brazilian Carnival and the PAFF, the presentation of the 50th anniversary of “Black Orpheus” which won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1960.”Black Orpheus” had been widely advertised and sponsored by the Ngolo Arts Preservation Society and Amoeba Music.

A lot of fascinating films were shown during the course of the festival. There was “Scared Justice,” a film about the Orangeburg massacre where black students protested the Orangeburg bowling alley’s refusal to admit African Americans when South Carolina State Troopers and other law enforcement agents fired on them. Three were killed and twenty-seven injured.

And there’s Charles Burnett’s “Relative Strangers” starring Eriq LaSalle, Cicely Tyson, and Michael Beach about a “successful man who, fearing failure, separates himself from his family until he receives word of his father’s death.”

And there’s “Making the Rhino,” about environment, tourism and conservatism from the Maasai people of Kenya and Namibia’s Himba people point of view.

And, finally, not to forget the South African drama "Jerusalema" directed by Ralph Zinman, typical of Nollywood films about Lucky Kunene (Rapulana Seiphemo) who transformed himself to being a real estate crime boss after years of street carjacking to make a living. The film opened the festival on a red carpet at the Director's Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

It Sure Rains In Southern California

Who made that song "It Never Rains In Southern California"? Well, you go figure that one out because I'm not in the mood to trace it all the way back when Tony, Toni Tone, the Oakland-based group had it going on in the nineties cracking us up that no rain in Southern Cali. They sure brought the rain and ever since it's rain, rain, rain. Now we are all like, rain, rain go away.

It's been pouring here like crazy and the City of Angels is all wet. Since Monday, December 15, the rain would not just go away and driving is not pleasant under the rain. It has slowed me down and I'm not doing much to catch up with my schedules. But don't get me wrong though; I love the rain and it seems to be the best weather at this time of year when the spirit of Christmas is all over and the feel of winter gives us hope that life is just good never minding all that's been going on with the Global economy as a turmoil Christmas approaches.

Oh, Christmas is just eight days away and I'm writing as if I'm done with my Christmas or Holidays shopping, whatever that means. The markdowns have seen its lowest in years and it's quite interesting shoppers are not even excited for the woes a bad economy brought to their families coupled with the shenanigans at Wall Street. Wall Street shenanigans have made the third world countries, especially Naija, look like saints.

Anyways, the rain in Los Angeles will probably soften our hearts and we'll probably kind of take different meassures on how we do stuff and how things could come up better. And that is strategy. The point of making life meaningful by loving, sharing and caring.

Not much has been going on these days except this week's predicted rain and my tailing of filmmaker Pascal Atuma whose agents are on the trail for a lead male role in his upcoming movie "No More Bloodshed" about to start shooting here in Los Angeles beginning March 2009. I also spoke briefly with the style guy, Ike Ude who should be hitting my neck of the hood soon. There are series of stuffs coming up, too. Interviews and interesting episodes of my line -- I am not going to say what it would be looking like; just keep watching out -- and not anything close to the hood rats who did change the way things are done. Is it called popular culture? I like "them" hippie era and all that stuff that changed our world.

However, the rain is here and we should do the best out of it as the spirit of Christmas comes along with it the spirit of good feelings in a troubled world and economic mess.