The latest European nation to return cultural artefacts to their African origin is Germany, which, according to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, has sent 20 Benin bronzes from its museums to Nigeria. The handovers are the clearest sign yet that progress is being made toward the return of artefacts looted from Africa by Europeans during Read More…
Culture & Arts
Isọkẹn’s riveting nuggets for entrepreneurial boldness
By Emeka Nkwocha Imagine a girl of the tender age of nine with a pan balanced on her head loaded with an assortment of confectioneries—biscuits, sweets, and meat rolls (gala)—traversing the dusty streets of Benin City in the hot, sweltering afternoon sun. She calls out, “Buy biscuit. Buy Gala. Buy sweet.” Men seated outside their Read More…
FESTAC ’77 sanctuary for unification of Black people – Lai Mohammed
The Festival for Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77), according to Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information and Culture, served as a haven for the racial harmony of Black people around the world. At a celebration for the 45th anniversary of FESTAC that included a cultural showcase, dinner, and award ceremony, Mohammed noted that the festival Read More…
Lagos Museum receives $40,000 grant to preserve Igbo-Ukwu bronzes.
The Igbo-Ukwu bronzes will be restored and preserved in the National Museum in Lagos thanks to a grant from the Bank of America Arts Conservation Project 2022 worth US$40,000. This information was released in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr. Abba Tijani, Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM). According Read More…
Why D’Banj is being held – ICPC
Oladipo-Daniel Oyebanjo, better known by his stage name as D’Banj, has been detained as part of an ongoing investigation into the misappropriation of money for the N-Power programme, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). This assertion was made in a statement issued by the Commission’s spokeswoman, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, Read More…
Favoured by benevolent gods…
For some inexplicable reason, the first thought that came to my mind when I saw the title of Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi’s memoirs, “The Road Never Forgets”, was a quick throwback to Wole Soyinka’s world-acclaimed play,“The Road”. The word, road, has had a loaded meaning for me on various metaphorical levels since I acted in a Read More…
Calabar Carnival to play host to 10 countries – Commissioner
Ten or more nations are anticipated to take part in the 2022 Annual Calabar Carnival, according to Mr. Eric Anderson, Cross River’s commissioner for culture and tourism development. In an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, Anderson made this known. The carnival is scheduled to be held from December 1 to December 31, 2022, Read More…
I don’t like to be categorised – Patti Boulaye
Her stage name is said to have been inspired by the actress Evelyn “Boo” Laye. Patti Boulaye (nee Ebigwei, now Komlosy) was born dramatically in May 1954 after her mother went into labour in a taxi that was passing through two towns in Mid-Western Nigeria. She was raised in a strict Catholic household with nine Read More…
Sammie Okposo dies at 51
Sammie Okposo, a popular gospel artist, has sadly died. He was 51 years old. A source close to the musician revealed this. Okposo, he added, collapsed and died on Friday morning. On Thursday, the singer uploaded a throwback photo of Sammie Okposo Praise Party on his verified Instagram profile, which was followed by a 15-hour Read More…
Preserving the Nigerian Popular Music Heritage – The Evergreen Experience
Music preservation is an act of preserving and maintaining art found throughout the ages be it sculpture, paintings, books, etc. Most people who are preservationists usually first start as collectors. A good example is a renowned music collector in Nigeria, Mr Femi Esho, Chairman of Evergreen Musical Company who owns the largest collection of music Read More…