Red carpet photos from Soul Diaspora's premiere in Lagos

Award winning film Soul Diaspora had its Nigerian premiere at the Ozone Cinemas, Yaba on Saturday January 28. Odera Ozoka's story about the troubled life of a Nigerian immigrant in Los Angeles days before the 9/11 attacks won the 2009 African Movie Academy Awards for best film from a director in the Diaspora. Lead actor Saidu Abu also got a nomination for his gritty performance in the best actor category. On Saturday, the Lagos audience got a look at the film sthat has garnered so much praise at many festivals worldwide. Personally, I wasn't disappointed. Can't speak for others who came in expecting a regular Nollywood melodrama. Director Odera had warned me ahead of time that this was not "a date movie" when I asked if I could come with a friend. It's a noirish story of loneliness in a foreign land, stereotypes, hate, culture shock and the anger and suspicion that followed the attacks on America in September 2001. No plot spoilers here because the movie will open to audiences later this year and I would like for everyone to get shocked by the tragedy of the movie. Here are a few photos from the red carpet event.

Nollywood actress Steph-Nora Okereke

Nollywood actor Emeka Ike

Director Odera Ozoka with his Mother

The film's star Sadiq Abu

"Chuks" and "Ene" of Tinsel

Journalist Lolade Adewuyi, film producer Clotilde Delavennat and actor Sadiq Abu

The Women of #OccupyNigeria

Waka music singer Salawa Abeni joined voices with the people at the Gani Fawehinmi Park on Tuesday. Beside her is Joe-Okei Odumakin, a fiery civil society leader who in her own right has become a rallying point for the masses.

 The OccupyNigeria protests have continued into the second day and my attention has been drawn to the role of women in the demonstrations. They have played big roles as much as men in the struggle against tyranny against the Nigerian people by their government. Here are a few of the women I captured during these protests.

Journalist Lolade Sowoolu tweets on her mobile phone during protests at the Gani Fawehinmi Park

Star actress Bimbo Akintola showed up at the OccupyNigeria protests in Ojota to denounce the government

Activist Chioma Ogwuegbu displays her Nigeria colours at the OccupyNigeria protests in Ojota

This young lady joined the protests against fuel subsidy removal at Ojodu.

With a smile, this young lady asks the government to rescind its decision.

#OccupyNigeria: The birth of a neighbourhood protest

Dayo Fadugba leads a handful of young men at the start of the protest in Ojodu

 I was privileged to be part of the beginning of a protest in my neigbourhood as the #OccupyNigeria protests against the removal of government subsidy on petroleum commenced today. Dayo Fadugba, former publicity officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University students union, called a group of young men together on Sunday night to sensitise them about the issues on ground. I got wind of it and attended. The stage was set for protests on Monday morning and I was duly woken up by Fadugba's phone call at 7:16am informing me that they were about to commence.

Without as much as a shower, I jumped out onto the streets, camera in hand, to meet about seven young men, Fadugba inclusive, as they sang around the Ishaga Ojodu-Abiodun area denouncing the government position. We moved from house to house, street to street urging parents to release their young people to join in the protests that affects one and all.

Fadugba said: "You provide water for yourselves, you subsidise your own electricity, you send your children to private schools, they graduate but cannot get jobs and the government wants you to keep quiet, what has the government done for you? If you fight you may win but if you don’t fight you have definitely lost".

From a handful of people, the crowd grew into almost a thousand signifying the anger of many Nigerians at their government's anti-human policies. We moved towards the Ojodu-Abiodun Police Post where Emeka Nwonyi, the divisional police officer, asked the young men and women to protest peacefully even as he acknowledged the fact that policemen also feel the pinch of the policy.

The procession then moved to the Berger Roundabout where it occupied before moving on towards Omole and onwards to Ojota where the larger #OccupyNigeria party was being held.

From seven people to more than a thousand, there is power in the peoples' anger.

A banner says: We no fit shout

Writing the signs

Protesting for his future

Bring an end to corruption

No to fuel subsidy removal

Fadugba addresses Emeka Nwonyi, divisional police officer of the Ojodu-Abiodun Police post

Young people are angry at their government

Emeka Nwonyi, DPO Ojodu-Abiodun Police post addresses the protesting crowd 

Nothing that goes up ever comes down in Nigeria

From a small beginning, the crowd grows into a mammoth and moves to Berger Roundabout

Clapping against government tyranny

Fuel price hike portends hell for many Nigerians

The Angel of Dustbin Estate

Tolulope Sangosanya with children of Dustbin Estate at her resource centre

Tolulope Sangosanya founded the Love On The Streets (LOTS) Charity Foundation to cater for the less privileged children living around Pako in Ajegunle, Lagos. The neighbourhood is better known by its other name, Dustbin Estate.

Having experienced a life of challenges herself, Tolu has found her calling in taking care of the needs of educational needs of the children in the area. Growing up Tolu could not read. After overcoming her disability, her family got a prophecy that she was going to die before her 25th birthday.

"I used to tell myself that I am special but couldn't read and write,"  Tolu told me. "How can I get to this stage when I thought all was well and then they say that I shall die?"

And so came the desire to leave a legacy behind. It was the reason behind LOTS Charity. Not only did she not die, her charity has survived and is giving succour to more than a hundred kids at the rented apartment where she operates a resource and literacy centre in the Ajegunle neighbourhood. "I can relate and empathize with them because I had a late start in life. All they need is love."

In 2010, Tolu was awarded the prize for the best use of advocacy at The Future Awards. She continues to give her time and attention to the children of Dustbin Estate where she is assisted by Priye and Emmanuel Bayoko, two siblings who grew up in the neighbourhood.

"I'm doing it for the future of the kids," said Emmanuel. "I believe in Nigeria's future."

(Please see link to help Tolulope Sangosanya's work with the children of Dustbin Estate)

The slum where the kids and their families live

Tolu with her assistants Priye and Emmanuel Bayoko

Ikeja City Mall Opens

The Ikeja City Mall was commissioned today by Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola. A long line of customers queued up outside to receive freebies from the major retailers that include Shoprite, Twice As Nice, Silverbird Cinemas, Mr Price, NIKE, etc. 


Mr Fashola said the mall "restores Ikeja back to its rightful place as the retail hub of Lagos. This development provides an inspiring vision of what can be achieved through collaboration between the development partners, regulators, government officials and tenants. Ikeja City Mall brings world-class retail and leisure facilities to Lagos. I am excited to see my fellow citizens in the mall today, relaxing and having fun.”

 Well, I can tell you, this will become a veritable playground for Mainlanders during this Christmas. 

Shopping time

Governor Fashola

*Photos courtesy of Adewale Adelola

Falomo Roundabout

The Falomo Roundabout seen from the sixth floor of Union Marble House. In the distance across the water is Victoria Island.

Professor Akin Oyebode's Inaugural Lecture

Professor Akin Oyebode 

Law teacher, public analyst, and author Akin Oyebode delivered his inaugural lecture at the University of Lagos on Wednesday, 20 years after he became a professor. Better late than never, it is a debt every erudite scholar owes the university system. In "Of Norms, Values and Attitudes: The Cogency of International Law", Oyebode challenges the Nigerian political elite to "jettison its obsurantism and anti-intellectual attitude" concerning "policy formulation and implementation on international matters by encouraging informed input from academics and experts."

Unilag top dons

Ojodu sunset

This photo is from about a year ago and I only found it in my archives. It just feels like one could pluck the sun from its perch as it slowly set over Ojodu.

The Obafemi Awolowo Memorials

The Obafemi Awolowo Mueum

On a visit to Ikenne, Ogun State last weekend, I stopped by at the Obafemi Awolowo country home where I made these photos of the memorials of the late politician and sage. We weren't allowed to enter the museum because it is required that we should have written ahead of time to request permission to enter. So one could only take photos of the exteriors and not see the mementoes of the great leader of the Yoruba people.

Obafemi Awolowo's resting place

The car that Obafemi Awolowo rode for his presidential campaigns in 1979 and 1983

Open roof, open happiness

Hatch-back car driving along the Ikorodu Expressway at Ojota. 

Emufest 2011

Dancing time

 This year's event began in Lagos with a show on Sunday evening at the Blue Roof of the Eko FM.

Afrolife Beats dancers

Omileyan

Backstage: Orlando Julius, Latoya Aduke, Yinka Davies, Lagbaja, Pa Chris Ajilo, Omileyan and other performers

85 year-old Pa Chris Ajilo still plays the saxophone and dances with vigour

Edaoto

Ruth Michael

Beautiful Nubia

Crown Troupe of Africa

Chinese in Africa

 More and more Chinese companies now send workers to Africa. I recently encountered these men doing construction on a site in Kogi state. They are building a third conveyor line for Dangote Cement's Obajana plant, touted as the biggest factory in Africa. They were very eager to pose for photos and I hope that they are able to take home with them interesting experiences from my country.