ARTHOUSE

14/10/11

In-Short 2011... loud in Lagos with films

THE International Short Film Festival, Lagos, which opened yesterday would run through the weekend at all the venues: Silverbird Galleria (Victoria Island), Nigerian Film Corporation (Ikoyi) and Goethe-Institut Nigeria (Lagos Island). The festival has been featuring latest Nigerian, German short films. Tomorrow, at Goethe –Institut, by 10pm, there will be a Shortfilm Forum to engage an artiste on the situation of short films in Nigeria.

Rites of passage for Sam Loco begins in Ibadan

THE Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan, will today hold a lecture to kick off Sam Loco’s funeral programme. The lecture is to be delivered by the Managing Director, Angels Communications, Lagos, Evru Longley.

Other events for his home call include prayers, visit to Orphanage and symposium by Prof. Ayo Akinwale on October 17 in Benin. October 18 in Bayelsa: Road walk; premiere of his first film on October 19 in Benin; novelty match, red carpet, live concert on October 20 in Benin; service of song, candle light on October 21 in Benin; lying in state, funeral service, internment and cultural night on October 22 in Benin.

Plays by Oguntokun, Ofeimun on stage today at National Theatre

WOLE Oguntokun’s The Waiting Room and Odia Ofeimun’s Nigeria, the Beautiful will be staged today as part of the on-going Festival of Nigerian Plays (FESTINA) at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. Theatre enthusiasts are assured of quality performance, total theatre presentation and theatrical celebration.

Gospel Explosion with HolyFace, others

BP Sound Studio in conjunction with Xplicit Entertainment has concluded plans for the second phase of Gospel Explosion with HolyFace and ST. K. K. billed to hold today at Christ Embassy, Eric Moore, Surulere, Lagos from 8pm till dawn. Also featuring are upcoming musicians, comedians, and dancers including Tobi Sax, D. Psalmist of David, MC Pato, Holy Benji, Awesome, T.U.C, Apex among others. Victor Edogun, Emeka Ike and Enebeli Elebuwa are expected to make guest appearance.

Top Nollywood acts for Australian award

Celebrated publicist, artiste manager and Public Relations specialist, Egor Efiok, has been picked as Best Artiste Management, PR and Entertainment Company by organisers of the yearly Afro-Australian Music and Movie Awards. Efiok will be honoured alongside Nollywood stars such as Desmond Elliot, Pascal Atuma, the newly wedded Mercy Johnson and Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo. The award ceremony holds tomorrow in Sidney, Australia. Popular Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda, and former president, Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ejike Asiegbu received similar awards in Australia last year.

International poetry feast in Durban

A select group of 20 participants from 12 different countries make up the exciting line-up of the 15th Poetry Africa, an international poetry festival. Hosted by the Centre for Creative Arts (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and made possible through core funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and other valued partners, Poetry Africa runs in Durban from October 17 to 21 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, with the festival finale at BAT Centre on October 22.

NAFEST 2011 at Canaan City

The National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) 2011 is billed to run from October 22 to 29, in Calabar. With Nigerian Traditional Music: A Vehicle for Economic Transformation and Unity as theme, the festival will create opportunity for participants to reflect on the neglect of once rich and cherished traditional music culture.

With emphasis on documentation and stage presentation of Nigerian traditional music peculiar to each state of the federation, other highlights of the festival include food fair, wrestling, traditional furnished apartment, drama, cultural market, the festival colloquium, and essay-writing competition for children.

LIFF in Aba on October 25

THE CEO of Leap International Film Festival (LIFF), Madu C Chikwendu, has confirmed that the festival would formally present its 2011 programme on October 25 at Aba, Abia State. The unveiling ceremony, Chikwendu remarked, is a natural prelude to the ‘Unspooling’ of the festival from December 7 to 10 at the Cinema Hall of Binez Hotels, Aba. A ‘Street Storm’ around Aba would follow this.

Poet Akeem Lasisi out with Wonderland

Presentation of Wonderlan, Akeem Lasisi's latest album of musical poetry will be held on October 29 at 1960 Hotel, 7, Obokun Street, (behind Jabita Hotel), Ikeja, Lagos by 12pm. It is a medley of poetry, music, drama, fun and, in some parts, satirical narratives of contradictions that have stunted Nigeria’s growth and development. Singer, dramatist, writer and critic, Ropo Ewenla, emerging afro singer, Edaoto and other performing poets are also billed to thrill at the event.

SMOOTH FM in Divas Live

SMOOTH FM has concluded arrangements to stage Divas Live. Billed to hold at the Expo Hall, Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on November 5, Divas Live will feature three international female artistes, who are currently making waves on billboard charts, radio stations and concerts. Though the names of the artistes have not been unveiled, organisers have informed, “it would be a night to remember as the Smooth Divas would leave their mark in Lagos in another unparalleled display of musical prowess.”

Best Kiss scenes and BON medal

Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) is to honour the movie with the ‘Best Kiss’ scene. The awards are slated for November 11. Strong contenders such as Uche Jombo and Kalu Ikeagwu have emerged for their kiss in Damage; Odunade Adekola and Toks Oke in Booku; Tonto Dike and Muna in Dirty Secrets and Majid Michael and Genevieve Nnaji in Bursting Out.

28 categories stand out from the 190 movies submitted for this year’s event, while Ini Edo and Tee A would thrill guests as host and co-host.

Upbeat swing for LABAF 2011

With The Book and The Voice Of The People as theme, this year’s Lagos Book & Art Festival begins on November 18 and ends on November 20, at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos.

Pre-Festival events begin on Monday, November 14 with the National Reading Week, while the festival events begin on Thursday, November 17, from10am to 5pm at the Goethe Institute, City Hall, Lagos.

There will be a Publishers Forum with the Theme: Bridging the Digital Divide. It is a business forum for publishers designed to add value to their business through critical feedback on processes, input on the most challenging areas they have to deal with and useful networking. This year’s forum will run a set of seminars on harnessing digital applications available today for publishing.

Complied by Michael Orie