Entertainment
Jonathan Tasks Filmmakers On Promotion Of African Culture
President Goodluck
Ebele Jonathan has tasked African film makers to use the platform of their works and talents to promote the cultural heritage and traditions of black people.
The President made the call while declaring open this year’s edition of the prestigious African International Film Festival (AFFRIF) holding in Tinapa Calabar, Cross River State.
Speaking through the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, Jonathan commended the film makers for not only using their craft to reposition the place of the black people in the comity of nations, but also for ensuring that the rest of the world see Africa truly in the light that is appropriate for the continent.
The President said that “it is my expectation that we will be celebrating till the end of this week some wonderful films and talented personalities. It is my hope that we continue to use the platform of your movies to promote the culture and tradition of Africa. It is also my belief that as we continue to venture into redefining its place in the global movie industry we will continue to give credence to those positive attributes of Africa, those important value systems that have overtime, been promoted and projected.
According to the president, often times people have criticised us that for some of our films we spend a lot of time exploring themes of tragedies and such story limes that do not extremely celebrate our cultural values. But, I thereby state that at the end of each and every such stories, there is always a bottom line of good triumphing over evil and that is the value system and true story of Africa.
He believed that it is in the realisation of that, the western world has today moved away from the era of “Dracula’ that we used to know to the spiderman of today “a force of justice and positivity over that of evil.
The festival which opened with the screening of a controversial documentary film on the recent political struggle in Egypt titled “The Square” ended on Wednesday November 19th. In attendance were movie stars stakeholders including the first lady of Cross River State, Obioma Liyel Imoke, Veteran film maker, Tunde Kelanic Mahmud Ali-Balogun Charles Novia, Rita Dominic, Linda Ejiofor and Bond Emeruwa Gideon Okeke, Beverly Naya among others.
Patience Ozokwor (MAMA GEE)
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has joined MLS side San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner.
SDFC announced today that Tems joined the ownership group through her company, The Leading Vibe.
In the process, Tems became the first African woman to be involved in MLS ownership.
“We are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a club partner,” SDFC chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour said in a statement.
“Tems is a globally significant artist who will help us reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which, of course, has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organisation.”
Reacting to her addition as the latest partner in SDFC’s ownership group, the singer said: “I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community.
“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
Fashion and beauty entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani, has claimed she is enduring back pain and that her spine is degenerating.
Lawani revealed this in a video posted on social media last Tuesday.
In the clip, she opened up about her experience with epidural anesthesia, an injection administered to pregnant women in the spine to reduce pain during childbirth.
The mother of three claimed that since receiving the injection, she has not felt like herself.
She accused doctors of not fully informing women about the long-term side effects of epidurals.
According to Lawani, she received the anesthetic injection during the birth of her last two children.
She said, “When you hear ‘epidural,’ run. Doctors tell you about the side effects but do not tell you about the long-term effects on your body. I have about three friends having the same issues that I am having.
“Like, I am just 42, how did I end up with spine issues? I have a degenerating spine. I have implants in my spine. I go paralyzed. I can’t stand for a long time. I can’t even breathe properly sometimes because it affected so many things in my body when I had the surgery.
“They will not tell you because you just want the pain to go away. I have had two epidurals. I had my first as natural birth. The last two were epidural. The last one I had epidural because I had to undergo a surgery and I had no choice.
“See, the pain does not stop. My back is killing me and my spine is degenerating.”