Glamour As Felabration Ends

Published on October 21, 2013 by pmnews   ·   No Comments

It was a mix of thrills and glamour last night and early this morning as the week-long celebration of the late Afrobeat Legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and the Jamaica idol, Bob Marley, finally ended with international acts from Jamaica, Benin Republic, United States of America and Nigeria thrilling fans to different genres of music at the New Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

The Positive Force dancers entertaining the audience.

The scion of the music legend, Femi Kuti, used the show tagged Felabration as an avenue to thank sponsors, fans and artistes that performed throughout the grand show.

“May I appreciate all the artistes who showed love, the different sponsors and most especially, the audience,” he said, adding that without the audience, Felabration 2013 would have been a failure.

Seun Anikulapo Kuti doing what he does best.

He further explained that the essence of the annual event was not limited to music or the celebration of his father, but to look at the ills in the society and redirect the course of history to achieve world peace and qualitative life for all citizens.

“Felabration is not about Fela, Femi or Seun. Felabration is about world peace, about ending  poverty, giving qualitative education to Nigerians, enhancing our health sector, having a leadership that is accountable to the electorate amongst other things that need to be corrected.

“Felabration is about emacipating ourselves from mental slavery,” he said.

KWAM 1 and his band entertaining the crowd.

Son of the Jamaican legend, Kymani Marley, thrilled the audience to some of the classic works of Bob Marley, declaring at the end that, “we are the revolutionaries of today, we are the freedom fighters of today, we cannot shy away from it.”

Some of the artistes that also performed were Weird MC, Dr. Sid, Burna Boy, Chidima, amongst others.

•Femi Kuti performing at Felabration which was rounded off this morning at the Afrika Shrine, Lagos. PHOTO: EFUNLA AYODELE

Sensational singer D’banj crowned the day’s event with a dramatic performance that kept the audience spellbound till 6.25a.m. today.

The event started with The Fela Debates on Monday, 4 October, 2013 at the NECA House Auditorium, Alausa, Lagos with the topic: ‘Movement of The People, The Fela and Bob Marley Perspectives.’

Dbanj entertaining his fans.

Guest speakers included wife of the late Bob Marley, Nana Rita Marley, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, Vivien Goldman and Professor John Col

Nigerian Footballer, Rabiu Ibrahim Collapsed On The Pitch, Rushed To Hospital

The Kilmarnock FC midfielder collapsed after a collision with Ross County's Ivan Sproule in the 35th minute, and was subsequently stretchered off the pitch and rushed to a nearby hospital.

Kilmarnock went on to record their first win of the season as Scottish international striker Kris Boyd and Jackson Irvine scored in either half to seal the win for the hosts.

After enduring torrid spells at Sporting Lisbon, PSV Eindhoven and Celtic, Ibrahim's career has taken an upward trajectory since joining the modest club, as has featured in all the clubs ten League games played so far this season.

Kilmarnock are placed second from bottom in the 12-team Scottish Premiership.

- See more at: http://topeorekoya.blogspot.com/2013/10/nigerian-footballer-rabiu-ibrahim.html#sthash.tvHXMDz6.dpuf

Fifa Security Deadline For Egypt Looms As Car Bomb Explodes, Protests In Cairo

With FIFA deadline for security guarantees from Egypt over Cairo's hosting of Ghana in the second-leg of their World Cup playoff just eight days away, a car bomb has exploded in the north African country targeting the military and police.

The first day of study at Al-Azhar University, scores of students staged protests to denounce what they call the “military coup” against the elected president as FIFA monitors the situation.

FIFA has given Egypt the deadline of 28 October to provide security guarantees before the second-leg of the match will be played in the country but the violence looks to be on the rise.

This comes in the wake of terrorists targeting Nigeria's World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia last week which could have been deadly.

Ghana had complained over the growing insecurity in Egypt and expressed fears that the match to be played on 19 November could be a subject of attack by terrorists.

Even though the Egyptian FA says it is capable of hosting the match, the security situations looks worrying as the security authorities are the subject of attack by the insurgents.

Their presence during the match itself could be a security threat as they could be attacked during the match which could deaths.

A car rigged with explosives detonated outside a military intelligence headquarters in Ismailia on Saturday, wounding at least six military personnel and highlighting the rise in militant attacks on security forces.

The assaults, though still apparently uncoordinated, are increasingly brazen and sophisticated, raising fears of an insurgency that could plunge Egypt into turmoil just 2 ½ years after its pro-democracy uprising.

Saturday's powerful bomb exploded outside the local military intelligence headquarters and next to a busy square near Ismailia's downtown, sending black clouds of smoke into the air and burning several other cars nearby.

 
No group has claimed responsibility, but al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants in the largely lawless Sinai region have stepped up attacks on soldiers and police since the army toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in July. The militants have on occasion extended their campaign into major cities.

Egypt's turmoil has intensified since the army deposed Mursi and installed a new government, saying it was responding to mass protests against the freely elected president's rule.

Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood, once again outlawed in Egypt as it was under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, called the Islamist leader's overthrow a military coup.

Security forces cracked down on the group on August 14, crushing two protest camps in Cairo and killing hundreds of people. Many Brotherhood members have been arrested. Mursi and other Brotherhood leaders face charges of inciting violence.

The Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest and biggest Islamist group, rejects the charges and denies any links with militant activity.

Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the man who toppled Mursi, was quoted by state media on Saturday as saying army and police forces were working together to “confront terrorism and all those who try to create problems and incite strife between the children of this nation”.

Why I am into humanitarian work – Tosin Allen

 

Tosin Allen is an entertainment promoter, events manager and movie producer. After moving to Abuja from Lagos, she focused more on humanitarian works. She set up the Audrey Allen foundation and today, even the presidency has taken note and endorsed her work. In a chat with Lukmon Akintola, she talks about her passion for orphans, physically challenged and vulnerable children in the society.

The independence day just passed, what were the things your foundation do?

 We visited some orphanages in and around Abuja and we gave our love to the children there. We tried to make them happy and enjoy the independence day like all of us. God has been really kind, we got a lot of new clothes from shop owners around Abuja and we distributed to kids in various homes

What is new with your foundation?

We are planning a fund raiser mid next year

What are you raising funds for?

 We just got a landed property somewhere outside Abuja and we are hoping to develop a children's hospital, school and a home for displaced children That is a big project, who and who are you reaching out to for the fund raising Everyone. Corporate organizations, government parastatals, financial institutions, private business owners the press and anyone who believe in what we do.

(more after he cut)

How are you going to find displaced children?

They are all over, it is very alarming.It also helps that we are partnering with the press who refer these victims to us. We also get calls from all over

What is your whole foundation about?

I’m most delighted to introduce to you the Audrey Allen Foundation for Children. The Audrey Allen Foundation, AAF, is an NGO with affiliation with about 25 partner NGOs that are only into child-related issues such as polio, HIV and AIDS, child prostitution, child abuse; both sexual and domestic, child trafficking, autism, Down Syndrome, leukemia,heart diseases, and a host of others. As a mother of NGOs, Audrey Allen Foundation (AAF) is saddled with the burden of sourcing for funds for our partner NGOs for the actualisation of projects as the foundation has identified paucity of funds and other resources as a limiting factor towards the effective implementation of projects.

What strategy do you make use of to have a difference?

The core mandate of the Audrey Allen Foundation is using entertainment – movies, music, comedy shows, print media publications and other special events – to raise funds and other resources for our affiliated NGOs who are gravely faced with serious scarcity of funds in the execution of their projects.

You seem to work more with abused children, why do you take their case so seriously?

This is a very personal one but I'm willing to share it so I can be an inspiration or a sort of motivation to others who have been victims as children. I was sexually abused at a very tender age so it really resonates to me when I work on such cases. It's a very sensitive also of people would rather not talk about but I think it's time someone spoke up In d past, we have funded debates in secondary schools, promoting the girl child education, condemning any form of abuse. I am in fact working on a movie project. I have been working on it for months. It addresses the major issues that affect the modern day child. It exposes a lot of things parents don't see or over look.

How has the government been supporting the foundation?

We have gotten an endorsement from the presidency through the office of the special adviser to the president on youth and student matters. Our goal is to tour all 36 states of Nigeria visiting secondary schools for screening which will be followed by seminars. The end material will be translated into the three major languages for easy understanding and access Who are the trustees of the foundation? Our trustees include Mr. Samson Siasia, Adeola Agoro, Brian Okwara (Mr.Nigeria 2007) and Femi Brainard Actor/Writer. We also have a lot of supporters.

What are some of the challenges you are grappling with managing the foundation?

 The major challenge is funding because we realised that people have lost faith in charitable organisations due to fraudulent activities.

It’s like you have left entertainment for good?

No, I am the MD/CEO, called Allen Touch Events. We organise events, and I told you earlier, I shooting a movie soon, so entertainment is still part of me. I’m a workaholic and I’m very passionate about anything I do. So I put in everything I have got into it and I cope very well.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

 Tosin Allen is a determined woman who would strive to achieve her goals against all odds. My mum and Oprah Winfrey are my role models.

Who are the influences in your life?

 I grew up watching Oprah on the television, inspiring and helping people through her selfless contribution to the society as well as the talk show. I lost my dad when I was barely three years old, and since then my mum has been my rock; she sent me to the best schools even though it was almost beyond her means. She was determined and her desire was to ensure that I got the best of everything in life.

When is Tosin Allen getting married?

 I’m not getting married anytime soon. I was 30 this August but thet does not phase me. I am more concerned with my work for now.

Where will you like to be in the next five or 10 years?

I would love to continue to touch lives to bring about the necessary changes. This would include providing for over 80 children-related Non Governmental Organisations in and outside Nigeria. I would also love to own a children’s hospital and be able to affect over 10millon lives directly or indirectly through our movies, music, social media platforms and child development programmes. In addition, I would love to achieve a number of personal goals in life which include being married with children.

1. Feds Allegedly Asking About Diddy’s Alleged preference for Sex with Underage Boys.
Someone tell me this is not true i.e. the Feds are not believing this crap. Where do they get these stories from? Can a brother just get a break? This is just ridiculous and hard to believe for a man who declares himself to be a proud father and appears to have a very healthy relationships with his sons. Yikes!

2. Timbaland’s Wife Files for Divorce.

3. Maino Arrested in NYC.

Four Unknown Women Surface in MIC Tunji Okusanya's Family House Claiming To Be His Wives With Kids

As the family of late Mr. Tunji Okusanya Snr, Managing Director, MIC Funeral Services, battles to get over the tragedy that befell  them after the ill-fated Associated Airlines plane crash that killed him and four of his workers, some unknown women have surfaced in the family claiming to have children for the deceased Okusanya Snr.

 

According to Leadership, members of the family that sought anonymity said following the demise of the philanthropic director of the foremost undertaking company in the country, Magbamowo Industrial Company (M.I.C.), four other women apart from his legitimate wives have showed up as his wives.

 

 

READ MORE AFTER THE CUT

 

 

 

The women and the children they claim to be Okunsanya's, were never introduced to other members of the family by the late Okusanya.

 

The family member said:

“I am surprised because he did not tell or show the wives and children to his friends and family members as it has turned out to be. But such an incidence cannot be ruled out considering the status of the MIC boss. 

He lived a larger than life lifestyle. Women chase such people who are successful, even if they do not chase the women. It is not a crime to have many children and we do not count children in Africa..

LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that with the present development, the total number of children fathered by Okusanya outside his matrimonial home and the ones that are known to the family member stands at nine children, including a two-month-old baby.

 

This revelation took many of his family members by surprise as none of them has admitted being aware of the existence of other women and children.

 

DNA tests have been recommended. 

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US Navy Rescues 128 African Migrants From Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Others From Drowning In The Mediterranean

A US warship has rescued 128 African migrants from an inflatable raft that was threatening to capsize in rough seas in the Mediterranean.

The USS San Antonio, which is equipped with an amphibious transport dock that can help in rescue operations, was scrambled on Wednesday after a Maltese military aircraft spotted the dinghy.

“We successfully transferred 128 men between the ages of 20 and 30 from an inflatable raft on the San Antonio,” a US Navy official in Italy told AFP.

“The raft was being rocked by winds and seas and we had expected that overnight the seas would increase. If they were to be left out to sea they would probably be in the water right now,” he said.

“We provided food, water, medical attention and temporary shelter.”

The Maltese military said the migrants were mostly Gambian even though they had earlier said they were from Somalia. They were later transferred onto two patrol boats and taken to Malta.

The others were from Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Malta said they were rescued around 75 nautical miles southwest of the Mediterranean island state.

More than 400 asylum seekers have drowned this month in two tragedies in the Mediterranean.

The Italian coast guard meanwhile released video footage of the arrival in Sicily on Wednesday of a Liberian-flagged cargo ship that rescued 93 African migrants — the latest in over 32,000 who have arrived on Italy and Malta so far this year.