Issue 60 - Nigerian Watch

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NIGERIAN
WATCH
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THE UK’S LEADING AFRICAN NEWSPAPER WITH THE LARGEST CIRCULATION
BEFFTA COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
Issue No 060
FORTNIGHTLY
To Inspire, Inform and Entertain
nigerianwatch.com
SOS ISSUED
Campaign launched to
save the UK’s only
African Families Service
Page 8
OUR GLORIOUS PAST,
PRESENT AND FUTURE
Blazing a trail for Black History Month – pages 16-19
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QUEEN FLO
Florence Nosegbe set
to be voice of south
London in City Hall
Page 3
JOBS ALERT
BUPA & VSI TECHNOLOGIES
ARE RECRUITING
– PAGE 6
2
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
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NEWSWATCH
NIGERIAN
WATCH
COMMENT
The job of BHM can’t
be said to be done
Y
ou will have noticed, I hope, that we have made
Black History Month front page news. That is
because it should be.
This was a great symbolic institution that gave
official recognition to the contribution black people
have made to Britain and the world.
It breathed confidence into the community and was
scheduled in October to breathe black history into the
classroom. This is no longer the case.
In 2012 the official ties were cut, when Mayor Boris
Johnson reduced funding for Black History Month to
£10,000, while giving £100,000 to USA Day.
Cash-strapped councils followed suit. The
justification is ‘the job is done’. The same justification
that has been made to Britain’s only African Families
Service, which has an enviable international
reputation (see page, 10).
“Anything with ‘black’ in the title,” has become a
common refrain among public servants, meaning that
is where the austerity cuts will be made. Is there a
trend developing here?
While the African Families Service promotes positive
community psychology, Black History Month gives it.
Both remain necessary.
For neither one of them
can it be thought ‘the job is
done’.
Maryanne Jemide, MD
Publisher
Tevin Jemide
Publisher/Managing Director
Maryanne Jemide
Managing Editor
Jon Hughes
Art Editor
Cathy Constable
Contributors Obah Iyamu; Harriet Ogbeide;
AJ James; Ayo Akinfe; Funmi Odegbami; Samuel Kasumu; Ngozi
Mbana; Ekanem Robertson, Jessica Onah, Laura Adenuga; Edel
Meremikwu
Chief Cartoonist
Harold Ogbeide
Office address
Nigerian Watch
Chartwell House
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HA8 8NP
Email
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marketing@nigerianwatch.com
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www.nigerianwatch.com
Tel: 020 8588 9640
Fax: 020 7160 5232
Nigerian Watch is a fortnightly newspaper owned by
Green World Media Ltd.
Views expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily
reflect the opinion of the publisher.
All rights reserved. No part of the newspaper may be reproduced in any form without
the written consent of the publisher.
ISSN 2051-4670
MAIN PICTURE: More than one hundred young people marched from the Aylesbury estate to
Canterbury Place where Mohammed was murdered, to pay their respects. INSET: Mohammed
16-year-old is London’s road
kill victim number 10 in 2015
On September 14 at around
10.30pm,
16-year-old
Mohammed
Dura-Ray
tragically became the 10th
teenager to die on the
streets of London this year.
Mohammed was stabbed
repeatedly when he was
confronted by a gang of
youths near a children’s
playground in Elephant and
Castle, south London.
Police said they were called
to a ‘large disturbance’ on
Monday shortly after 10pm
and found the boy with a chest
wound. Doctors carried out
emergency surgery but were
unable to save his life.
A subsequent postmortem
gave the cause of death as a
stab wound to the chest.
One eyewitness said, “I saw
the boy running and he was
clutching his chest and he fell
to the ground. There was a
group of about 20 youths
there. Then some of them ran
off.
“There were three men
who got in a car which sped
off and then two or three boys
went off on bikes. Some other
boys ran off as well.
“His friends were left. They
were desperate. They were
trying to save him. It was
horrible. I saw the paramedics
strip him off and I think they
were performing open heart
surgery before they took him
away.”
Seven men aged between
16 and 54 have been arrested
over the attack as detectives
investigate whether it was
sparked by gang tensions.
Detective Chief Inspector
Graeme
Gwyn
of
the
Homicide and Major Crime
Command
appealed
for
anyone who witnessed this
disturbance or has any
information that may assist
the investigation to contact
the
incident
room
at
Lewisham on 020 8721 4805.
To remain anonymous, call
Crimestoppers on 0800 555
111.
MAYOR’S ANTI-GANG STRATEGY COLLAPSES
Boris Johnson’s programme to tackle
gang violence in London has been
rejected by two out of the three councils
trialling it, with communities refusing to
accept it amid fears its punitive measures
risk worsening relations with police.
Based on a model successfully used in
the US, the three-pronged Operation
Shield combines community mobilisation
and opportunities for young people to
move away from crime with harsh
collective punishment for those who
remain in gangs.
But Haringey council, one of three
councils involved in piloting the scheme,
decided it could not go ahead with it after
community
partners
unanimously
rejected it.
A consultation in Haringey was told
that the operation’s tactics would erode
the community’s trust in authorities and
hand draconian powers to police that
could too easily be misused. Lambeth
council had previously dismissed the plan
after a similar backlash.
Ken Hinds, the chairman of Haringey’s
independent stop and search monitoring
group told the Guardian, “The main
objection was the enforcement side of
things from both the council and the
police. Another side of it was how do they
label gang members? A third side of it was
the collective punishment, about
targeting the families.”
He raised concerns about racial
profiling, saying, “They are only targeting
young black men, but we know that the
organised criminals [in Haringey] are
mainly from the Turkish and Albanian
communities. The young black men are
the tail and not the head.”
Lee Jasper, a race relations activist
based in Lambeth, said the scheme had
been backed with “peanuts” compared
with US versions, which allocated
millions of dollars in funding for
community initiatives and exit strategies
to divert youngsters away from crime.
“It’s not on the scale it needs to be at
all,” he said. “What they are doing is
providing a fig leaf to cover up this big
enforcement operation.”
The rejection of the plan is a serious
blow to the London mayor’s office for
policing and crime (Mopac). It had
earmarked £200,000 for a 12-month pilot
it hoped would reduce levels of youth
violence.
Based on a model called the gang
violence intervention, developed in the
US in the wake of the crack cocaine
epidemic, it was a key part of the mayor’s
policing strategy to fight crime while
cutting costs by targeting the most
prolific criminals.
In Lambeth, where the pilot was first
introduced this year, community groups
have also effectively forced the council to
ditch the scheme, with officials saying it
is already regarded as a failure.
As part of the strategy, the borough
was obliged to invite suspected gang
members to a “call-in” session. Few
turned up and the council judged that the
initiative had essentially failed.
“In the US, gang members are
required by law to attend call-ins. In the
UK the legal framework is very
different,” said Lib Peck, the Lambeth
council leader.
“The model of collective punishment
Boris proposed doesn’t apply in the same
way and so has needlessly angered
community members who are otherwise
willing to work with us to tackle this very
serious issue.”
Westminster, Operation Shield’s third
pilot borough, appears to be the only one
going ahead with the scheme as planned.
A spokesperson said the borough was
working closely with the police and
community groups, adding: “Shield is
part of that process.”
A Mopac spokesperson said, “The
Shield pilot is just one of many schemes
to help tackle gang crime based on the
mayor’s commitment to prevent gang
membership and help members leave
gangs, robustly enforce the law against
criminal behaviour and build support and
confidence in local communities.
“Working more closely with members
of local communities, who have already
made their support and commitment to
the aims of the project clear, Shield is
already supporting a number of
individuals out of gangs, away from crime
and into better lives.”
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NEWSWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
3
The Naija girl from Brixton’s Barrier Block set to be the voice of south London at the GLA
NOSEGBE SET FOR CITY HALL
Proud south Londoner and
Brixton Hill Councillor
Florence Nosegbe has been
selected as the Labour
party’s candidate for the
Lambeth and Southwark
constituency at the London
Assembly elections for May
2016 – which means she is a
shoo-in to become a
prominent campaigner in
City Hall.
Her main challenger for
the vacant seat was another
Nigerian woman, the equally
talented Southwark Mayor
Dora Dixon-Fyle, who lost
out by 320 votes. Ms Nosegbe
polled 1,580 votes in the
election that was contested
under a women only list.
The
Lambeth
and
Southwark GLA constituency
covers five parliamentary
constituencies. Ms Nosegbe
secured the backing of
Streatham, Dulwich & West
Norwood and Vauxhall while
Ms Dixon-Fyle won the
backing of Peckham and
Southwark
&
Old
Bermondsey.
As
Lambeth
and
Southwark is an ultra-safe
Labour seat Ms Nosegbe is
guaranteed to become a
member of the Greater
London Assembly next May.
bring the voice of south
London to the assembly, .
“I’m a life long Brixton
resident, and I grew up on
the Southwyck House Estate,
I’ve
lived
in
temporary accommodation, I
went to school locally, I’ve
worked
in
the
local
Sainsbury’s; those are all
things that make me and
define my politics.
“So I know what its like
Dora Dixon-Fyle
when
people cast aspersions
Sadiq Khan
on you or think that you’re
not going to achieve things
because of where you come
from.”
Ms Nosegbe has identified
housing, transport, and
police and community safety
as the critical issues on which
she will campaign in City Hall
(see box, right).
On being selected Ms
Nosegbe
tweeted,
“Honoured to be selected
Labour Candidate 4my home
At the last election in 2012 seat of Lambeth&Southwark.
Val Shawcross – whose Next stop 2get a Labour
decision to stand down has Mayor back in City Hall
created the vacancy – was #LabourWin2016”
Sadiq Khan has been
elected with a 52.8% share of
the vote. Her nearest rival selected by the Labour party
was the Conservative Michael to be its candidate for Mayor,
Mitchell, who polled 19.37% defeating Tessa Jowell, Diane
Abbot, David Lammy and
of the vote.
Ms Nosegbe pledged to Christian Wolmar.
Florence Nosegbe
Housing
Campaign to set higher targets for developers to
provide training and employment opportunities
Push developers to pay a London living wage, as
part of the planning process
Campaign for and support resident and tenant
housing managements and new homes with
mixed communities
Lobby the Mayor to tackle rogue landlords
Campaign on a new house building programme
and devolved powers to bring back empty
homes
Transport
Push for a clear timetable for the proposed
Bakerloo Line extension and a business case for
the 'Brunel Bridge'
Work with Lambeth and Southwark cycling
campaigns to raise awareness and push for a
review on lorry deliveries during rush hour
Campaign for the extension of the cycle hire
scheme across southern parts of Lambeth and
Southwark
Police and Community Safety
Campaign for resources to help support girls
and women at risk of gang related violence and
domestic abuse
Push for the Mayors Office for Police and Crime
to work with local organisations across Lambeth and Southwark to help offenders in addressing social problems including mental
health, drug abuse, unemployment and homelessness
Push for the Mayor to implement the recommendations from the stop and search report I
worked on with Tessa Jowell and Baroness
Doreen Lawrence
Umunna out, Abbot in as Labour regroups under Corbyn
Diane Abbot sits next to Labour’s new leader Jeremy Corbyn on the opposition front bench
A little over 24 hours after the
Labour
party
overwhelmingly
elected
Jeremy Corbyn MP to be its
new leader, Streatham MP
Chuka Umunna (above)
resigned from his role in the
shadow cabinet as shadow
business secretary, citing
differences with the new
leader over Europe.
It was reported that Umunna
spoke to Mr Corbyn on Sunday
afternoon (Sept 13) and later
issued a statement saying,
“There are a number of key
points of difference on policy
which I believe it would be
dishonest to deny exist. If
Jeremy’s clear victory yesterday
demonstrated anything, it was a
desire for politicians to be true to
what they believe – I want to
abide by this.
“Jeremy should be free to
appoint a shadow cabinet
committed to implementing the
policies
on
which
he
campaigned in the contest – I
clearly had some differences in
view on how we build a more
equal, democratic, free and fair
society.
“Given these differences, not
least
on
the
European
referendum, I would find it
difficult to abide by the
collective responsibility that
comes with serving in the
shadow cabinet.”
Mr Umunna, who fleetingly
was hot favourite to become the
party’s leader until he withdrew
from
the
race,
citing
unacceptable press intrusion,
has said he will instead be
working with veteran MP Keith
Vaz on an independent review
into the support for Labour
among ethnic minorities.
Meanwhile, Diane Abbott,
has become the shadow
international
development
minister post
The MP for Hackney North
and Stoke Newington took to
twitter to share her promotion,
writing, “Very happy to be
shadowing
International
Development. A life long
passion of mine & key to more
peaceful planet.”
Abbott, who failed to win the
party nomination for Mayor of
London, joins the shadow
cabinet for the second time in
her career to make up one of the
16 women.
4
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
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NEWSWATCH
NIGERIA’S EBOLA
HEROINE TO BE
IMMORTALISED
BY HOLLYWOOD
Hollywood actor Danny Glover has
revealed that he is to star in a
movie based on people who risked
and sacrificed their lives to stop
the spread of Ebola in Africa’s
most populous country.
HEROINE: Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh
Mr Glover said he is proud to take
part in the film, called “93 Days”,
because of the achievements made by
the real-life characters. Nigerian
actress Bimbo Akintola will portray
Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who
along with her team diagnosed the
first Ebola case in Nigeria.
Dr Adadevoh put the patient under
quarantine and stubbornly refused to
discharge the Liberian man, who was
sick with the infection, despite
enormous pressure.
Adadevoh eventually died along
with three other hospital staff that
had contracted the disease. Her
heroic actions ensured that the fastspreading
virus
was
quickly
contained. Mr Glover will portray the
director of the hospital where Dr
Adadevoh worked.
Ms Akintola said the movie is a
story of how Nigeria, “a country
where many institutions have
weakened due to endemic corruption
and ethnic strife”, triumphed over
the spread of Ebola, which ravaged
the
country’s
West
African
neighbours of Guinea, Sierra-Leone
and Liberia
“Nigerians acted as one. There was
Danny Glover
nothing about you being of a different
ethnicity or from a different political
party, it was about Nigerians just
standing up and doing this incredible
thing for Nigeria,” Ms Akintola said.
She said the movie will be about
courage in the face of death. “The
doctors at First Consult (hospital)
didn’t ask for an Ebola patient. They
weren’t expecting it. But they stood
up to the plate when it turned out the
patient had Ebola. No one ran away.
That is courage in the face of death.”
About 12,000 people fly out of
Nigeria daily to different corners of
the globe, Akintola said, adding that
an Ebola outbreak in Nigeria would
have had a devastating effect on the
world.
According to the World Health
Organization, news of the first Ebola
case in Nigeria on July 23 last year
rocked public health communities all
around the world, who feared an
unprecedented global pandemic .
“The last thing anyone in the
world wants to hear is the two words,
‘Ebola’ and ‘Lagos’ in the same
sentence,” said WHO, quoting Jeffrey
Hawkins, the United States Consul
General in Nigeria at the time.
“Nigeria is Africa’s most populous
The inclusion of the movie
Fifty at one of the world’s top
film
festivals
marks
a
remarkable return to the silver
screen for Brixton-based
Nigerian film maker Biyi
Bandele (pictured right).
Mr Bandele has only ever
made one other film, the
critically acclaimed adaptation
of
Chimamanda
Ngozi
Adichie’s Half A Yellow Sun,
which he both wrote and
directed.
While an acclaimed author
and playwright, it was
considered an astonishing
debut for a novice, who
openly admits he learnt all he
knows about film making
from watching everything and
anything screened at the Ritzy
over many years.
After filming Half A Yellow
country and its newest economic
powerhouse. For a disease outbreak,
it is also a powder keg. The number of
people living in Lagos – around 21
million – is almost as large as the
populations of Guinea, Liberia and
Sierra Leone combined,” WHO said
last year in a publication about the
outbreak. “Officials were worried
how they would manage to trace
people who had come into contact
with persons infected with Ebola in
order place them in isolation.”
Dr Adadevoh’s heroic actions
prevented such on outcome coming
to pass.
Nigerian and Jamaican
shortlisted for the
Booker prize for fiction
Gala premier for Bandele’s
Nollywood debut ‘Fifty’
A Nollywood blockbuster
about the lives of four Lagos
women has been given a
gala premiere slot at this
year’s London Film Festival,
which opens in the capital
on October 7 with the
theme “the year of the
strong woman”.
Bimbo Akintola
Sun he shot a series of Shuga,
West Africa’s popular sexual
health soap.
Mr Bandele’s Fifty is
described as a riveting
exploration of love and lust,
power and rivalry, and
seduction and infidelity, set
in Africa’s most populous
city, Lagos, starring Ireti
Doyle,
Nse
Ikpe-Etim,
Dakore Egbuson, Omoni
Oboli.
It is the first production
from
Ebonylife
Films,
founded by Africa's Queen of
Chat Mo Abudu, to tell
African stories and connect
with a global audience
through a shared identity.
Fifty will premiere on
Saturday, October 17, 2015, at
the Vue 7 Cinema, Leicester
Square, London.
Nigerian Chigozie Obioma is
among the six authors to have
been shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize for Fiction for
his debut novel The Fisherman.
Aged just 28 Mr Obioma is the
youngest author ever to make
the shortlist. The announcement
came just as he took up the post
of Assistant Professor of literature and creative writing at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln in
America.
His novel has drawn
global acclaim, with
the bibliophiles bible
the New York Times
declaring him “the heir
to Chinua Achebe”, and
a former winner
Eleanor Catton
declaring it
“mythic”.
The
Fisherman
tells the
story of
four
brothers
and the
consequences of
Chigozie Obioma
their encounter
with an Abulu, a vision-seeing
madman whose prophecy of violence will follow the boys through
their lives, and shake up their
family in both devastatingly
tragic and yet redemptive ways.
Already deemed a "classic tale of
boyhood," The Fishermen is both
a coming-of-age novel, and a
powerful portrait of familial and
brotherly bonds, and what happens when trust – the main
chord that binds a family – is
broken. Yet it also delivers a political punch, deconstructing
the aftermath of the Abiola
elections that impede Nigeria’s growth today.
Also in the running for the
prize is Marlon James, the
first Jamaican ever
to feature on the
shortlist, for his
The Brief History
of Seven
Killings, which
tells the story of
an attempt to
assassinate Bob
Marley against a
backdrop of political turmoil and violence.
6
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
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JOBSWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
JOBS
Calling all Nigerian Diaspora
HOT! !! HOT!!! HOT!!!
Sr. Pre-Sales Technical Storage Engineer
Location: Nigeria
Job purpose
Provides high-level technical expertise in support of pre- sales activities in the assigned market.
Assists in the analysis, design and
development of fully integrated
technology solutions.
Duties and responsibilities
• Uses knowledge of competitive
solutions to effectively address
and dispel customer objections to
EMC solutions, and train the account team.
• Develops relationships with the
account team, partners and customers in support of sales team
objectives and engages and leverages corporate resources, abilities,
budgets and personnel as appropriate. Strategizes and executes
technical sales calls .
• Assists the Sales Team to develop and implement specific account penetration strategies,
produce account specific product
and service and sales plans.
• Presents and markets the design
and value of proposed EMC solution and business case to customers, prospects and EMC
management. Possesses detailed
product/technology/industry
knowledge. Knowledge of job associated software and applications
Qualifications
• Experience in designing and selling advanced storage
solutions
• Cloud Computing experience is
beneficial
• Minimum 5-10 + years of experience of which 3-7+ years in Presales in storage in a SE/Sr.SE
capacity.
• Good understanding of server
virtualization technologies (such as
VMware vSphere)
• .EMC Proven Professional Certification desired.
• Good understanding of the
telecommunications industry
Packages
• Salary based on Experience
• Relocation Package
• Car Allowance
• Medicals
Contact
TINU
Email:
TINU@vsitechnologies.com
Phone:
+1-646-572-8646
Job Title: Venue / Centre / Event Manager
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We have a venue/banquet hall and are looking for a person to manage different kinds of
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arrangements and other related activities.You will be responsible for everything happening in the venue.
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But that’s just the beginning.
When you join us, you can also expect 28 days’ holiday (including bank
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to Work scheme. Plus a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.
To discover what a nursing career with Bupa can do for you, please call the
recruitment team on 0800 028 0275 or visit bupa.co.uk/careers
This position is open to an enthusiastic individual eager to make a big impression.You
should be a highly self-motivated person not only able to source and develop new business but recognise and develop cross selling opportunities, build new clients and feel
comfortable selling both on the phone and face to face.
Key Responsibilities:
● Ensuring that the place gets a good number of events/parties through promotions & contacts
● Meeting clients & telling them about the available services at the banquet hall
● Taking orders from clients and understanding their requirements
● Making arrangements for an event – from booking to entertainment
● Estimating the cost of an event and presenting it to the management &, the clients
● Marketing the services of the banquet hall & expanding the client base
● Making new additions to the services of the banquet hall
● Planning food festivals and other events to attract more and more customers
● Be present throughout events to address the needs of the guests
● Train the venue staff
Ideal Candidate would have:
● Excellent communication, selling and negotiation skills
● Excellent watching, event planning and organization abilities
● Creative bent of mind to plan successful events & attract more clients
● Excellent management skills and energy levels
● Ability to see and listen to details provided by the clients
● Multitasking ability and people management skills
● Excellent customer service skills
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● Ability to work under high pressure
If you are interested in this role please email your cv to info@greenvuevenue.co.uk
Nigerian Watch is
seeking AD SALES staff
Turn to page 23
for more info…
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ADVERTORIAL
Health crisis leaves one
in four black people
dying to hear from you
Over a third of people from Black, Asian and
minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the
UK admit they haven’t considered organ
donation or decided if they want to be an
organ donor, a survey by the UK agency
NHS Blood and Transplant has revealed.
And over a quarter of a million people who
do want to donate their organs when they die
say they haven’t talked to a loved one about that
decision.
Yet more people from BAME communities
also know someone who has received or is in
need of a transplant than their white
counterparts. This is not surprising as latest
statistics show that 28% of people on the
waiting list for an organ transplant are from a
BAME or mixed race background.
David Harewood registered Organ donor
Across the UK there are 10,000 people in
need of a transplant. Last year the number of
people donating organs fell for the first time in
11 years. The UK also has one of the lowest rates
in Europe for families consenting to organ
donation; in 2014/15 only 58% agreed to donate
their family members’ organs after they died
and only 80 of the 1,282 deceased organ donors
last year were from BAME communities.
Anthony Clarkson, NHS Blood and
Transplant’s Assistant Director for Organ
Donation and Nursing said, “Patients from
Black, Asian and some ethnic minority
communities are more likely to need an organ
transplant than the rest of the population as
they are more susceptible to illnesses such as
hypertension, diabetes and certain forms of
hepatitis, all of which may result in organ
failure and the need for a lifesaving transplant.
“To save more lives we need more donors
from all communities. To raise that number we
really need everyone to understand the
importance of not being complacent. We need
to get to the point where organ donation is high
on the list of important personal conversations
we routinely have with loved ones.”
The survey found that, as a nation, we are
happy to talk about many personal topics, yet
we are avoiding conversations that could mean
the difference between life and death for
someone in need of an organ transplant.
The survey found:
7 in 10 adults have told a loved one how they
would spend a lottery win
Almost two thirds have discussed their
preference for burial or cremation
Nearly half have confided the part of their
body they would most like to change
47% have shared destinations they dream of
travelling to before they die
Yet, even among those who want to be organ
donors, there is reluctance to talk about the
subject – with key reasons being discomfort
around talking about death and not wanting to
upset family members.
Reluctance to talk about organ donation
means many healthy organs that could be
donated are not used.
Orin Lewis OBE, Co-founder and CEO of the
ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) said:
“As a nation we’re happy sharing dreams and
aspirations with one another, yet too many of
us are still not making the time or are not
comfortable talking about organ donation.
“Telling your loved ones you want to be an
organ donor means your family will be in no
doubt about your decision meaning your
wishes will be fulfilled should you die in
circumstances where organ donation is
possible.
“We’d like everyone from all communities to
give a few minutes of their time to think about
organ donation and talk about whether they
want to be an organ donor with their relatives
or a close friend.”
Of those who have had a conversation about
organ donation with a loved one an
overwhelming 93% said it was an easy
conversation to have – although nearly a
quarter (23%) admitted that chat took place
over five years ago.
To advertise call
0208 588 9640
or email
sales@nigerianwatch.com
AFRICA INVEST: YOUR GATEWAY TO OWNING
PROPERTY IN AFRICA – BY POPULAR DEMAND
This year The Property Investor & Homebuyer Show
(October 9 & 10 at the London ExCeL) will feature the
first ever ‘Africa Invest’ zone. Nigerian Watch’s AJ
James spoke to show Director Mike Doyle about this
innovation.
Tell us about Africa Invest 2015
Essentially it is the inclusion of a selection of leading
West African property companies – mainly from Nigeria & Ghana – presenting a selection of property developments in
those countries within the International section of the show. In
addition there will be a number
of seminar presentations plus a
panel debate on Saturday
lunchtime. These sessions –
which are exclusive to this event
- give visitors the opportunity to
quiz senior company representatives face-to-face.
Why did you decide to add this feature to the show?
We are always looking to keep the show fresh by introducing content that visitors will respond to. Including zones from the African continent is nothing new in
itself as in previous years we have included dedicated
zones for Egypt and Morocco that have been well received by visitors.
However, the difference here is that the show is already visited by many ex-patriate and second generation West Africans – they are interested in buying UK
property too! – and we have been asked by many visitors when the show would feature West African property, so we are pleased to be able to respond to
customer demand. We expect it to be one of the
show’s most popular initiatives of recent years.
What has been the response from African property
companies?
Very positive. The big appeal is to those companies
who are serious about looking to do business with international buyers – and we are particularly pleased to
have the support of companies with the profile and
reputation of Eko Atlantic (Nigeria), Clifton Homes
(Ghana) and First National Bank, who will all have
stands at the show. Better still these companies are
sending their senior management teams to the event
– creating a unique opportunity for UK-based buyers
to address their questions to some of the most influential people in the West African property sector.
As the UK’s longest-running
property event we take a longterm view of these features and
whether they can develop over
time, so looking to next year it is
also pleasing for us to learn that a
number of other companies who
were not able to take part this
time are sending representatives
to the show with a view to taking
part in one of our 2016 exhibitions.
Also I must mention the contribution of two
Anglo-African partner companies - Joseph Farodoye
and his team at Africa Property Invest (API) and Bola
Aderemi Bayewumi and his team at FdiAfrica - who
have helped us bring this feature together and are
committed to raising the profile of West African property in the UK.
What does it cost to visit the event?
Nothing at all. Entry to both the exhibition and seminars is free. All that visitors need to do is register before entering the hall. We advise visitors to register
online at the show website in advance of their visit for
two reasons; first, it saves time queuing on the day
and secondly, to book seminar seats online, visitors
need to be registered to attend.
The Property Investor & Homebuyer Show takes place
at ExCeL London 9 & 10 October 2015.
Doors open at 10.00 am both days.
To register for free entry and book seminars visit
www.propertyinvestor.co.uk
EX
EXCEL
CEL L
LONDON
ONDON
9–
9–10
10 OCT
OCTOBER
OBER 20
2015
15
Don’t miss se
several
veral ‘‘free
free to
to en
enter’
ter’
African Pr
Property
operty seminars on FFriday
riday
and SSaturday
aturday – plus a special panel
debate
deba
te on Saturday
Saturday lunchtime.
lunchtime.
REGISTER
REGISTER ONLINE
Exhibitors
Exhibit
ors include
tlantic (Nigeria)
Eko AAtlantic
Eko
Adr
Adron
on Homes (Nigeria)
Clift
Clifton
on Homes ((Ghana)
Ghana)
Firs
ank of Nigeria (UK offic
e)
Firstt BBank
office)
FOR
FOR FREE ENTR
ENTRY
RY & FREE SEMINARS
www.propertyinvestor.co.uk
www.propertyinvestor.co.uk
(ENTER PROMO
PROMO CCODE:
ODE: NW2809)
FREE
SHOW
ENTRY
8
NEWSWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
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RIVERS STATE ABANDONS ITS FUTURE
LEADERS IN UK
Shell hails
summit as a
game-changer
Aside from causing great
embarrassment among Nigerians in
the diaspora – noted for their
commitment
to
academic
achievement – the impact of the
state’s actions is being felt across
Nigeria, as Universities in the UK
have been alerted to the situation
and advised to seek often
prohibitive
up-front
annual
payment for accommodation on top
of tuition fees.
In an 11th-hour bid to save their
futures five Rivers State students
studying at the University of
Huddersfield came down to
London on Tuesday September 15
to protest outside the High
Commission. They were there to
represent up to 100 students across
the UK, studying at universities
from Leeds to Sussex; there are
another 100 facing the same plight
in America.
The five had been prevented
from entering their final year over
unpaid tuition fees; three studying
energy
engineering,
Victor
Ofurum, Joseph Ifamama and
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Ltd (SNEPCo) has declared its latest
business summit in Aberdeen “a game-changer”
as it bids to repatriate skills and experience to the
oil and gas industry back home.
The forum, christened The Global Nigerian is the
third in Europe’s oil and gas hub Aberdeen, attracted over 270 industry chiefs and had the
theme Networking and Collaboration as a tool for
national Development and Growth.
Addressing the meeting SNEPCo Managing Director Tony Attah said, “When, in 2013, we set out
with the initiative for local companies to collaborate with Nigerian experts in Aberdeen on opportunities and challenges in the Nigeria oil and gas
industry, we knew this would be a game changer.
Today, we can say that the game changer is beginning to take shape as Nigerians have started to return home to set up businesses.”
Minister for Trade and Investment at the Nigerian High Commission, Mr Hassan Hassan agreed,
saying, “This is the right time for our experts to return home to make a contribution and be part of
the success story.”
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr.
Denzil Kentebe commended Shell and confirmed
the board’s continuing support for both initiatives.
In a presentation on procedures for potential
contractors in Nigeria, the Deputy Manager at the
Nigerian National Petroleum Investment and Management Services Mrs Martina Atuchi said, “We are
inviting you to be part of the leading African economy with a lot of untapped hydrocarbon resources.”
Up to 100 Nigerian students in the
UK have been unable to enter
their final year of study and face
deportation thanks to unpaid fees
by their sponsor, the Rivers State
government.
Kevin Nwoke; a pharmaceutical
chemist
student
Kpogbara
Bariyiga; and computer science
engineer Darrick George.
The young men had come to the
University of Huddersfield on
grants from the Rivers State
Sustainable Development Agency
(RSSDA).
However,
without
warning the state stopped paying
their tuition fees two years ago and
their living allowance just short of
one year ago.
Despite being made homeless
and having to sofa-surf among
friends while working countless
jobs to keep alive they continued to
excel in their studies.
“We met our mandate and made
our grades,” said Mr Nwoke. “We
really hope the new government in
Rivers State can and will urgently
save the day for us.”
But finally, after showing much
patience and great endeavour to
resolve
the
situation
their
University felt compelled to act.
Andrew Mandebura, director of
International Development at the
University of Huddersfield, told
Nigerian Watch, “It is very
disappointing that the Rivers State
Sustainable Development Agency
have let their students down.
“We have been dealing with this
Rivers State students publicise their plight outside the Nigeria High Commission in London
issue for several months since
Christmas. Colleagues from the
university have even visited the
RSSDA office in Nigeria to try and
resolve the situation and we have
also contacted them on several
occasions in the last month and
received sporadic replies but no
sign of payments.
“The most worrying aspect in
this situation is that the students
have not been receiving living
expenses which were due to be
paid by the sponsor, and some
have
been
evicted
from
accommodation after months of
our Student Union lobbying on
their behalf.
“Both myself and staff from the
International Office have been
meeting with the students
periodically for the last six weeks to
keep them advised of the situation.
“It would be irresponsible of us
to keep these students in the UK if
they have no means of supporting
themselves.
“All things weighed up the best
course of action is to allow them to
complete this year, suspend their
studies and pick up where they left
off once their financial issues have
been resolved.”
The Nigeria High Commission’s
Consular, Welfare and Education
department has also raised the
students’ plight with the RSSDA to
no avail.
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KASUMUWATCH
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
9
The
Samuel KASUMU Column
CAN CHUKA BOUNCE
BACK AFTER HIS
CALAMITOUS YEAR?
The politicians’ dilemma
The race to be the next
Mayor of London has been
the best political talent
contest for a generation.
Both
Labour
and
Conservatives have fielded
some very strong candidates
with respectable track records
and a clear view on how they
believe they could improve
outcomes for Londoners.
Labour have of course
selected Sadiq Khan, a centre
left candidate who benefited
from Corbyn supporters that
couldn’t bring themselves to
vote for the Blairite favourite
Tessa Jowell.
Khan made a point of
emphasising the fact that he
indeed supported the new
Labour leader’s bid for the top
job, and in backing a winning
horse he has now made
himself one of only two people
that will
walk
through
the doors
of City Hall
as the boss
next May.
This
really got
me
thinking about how one
should play their hand in
politics. Should you back the
best player, and if the best
isn’t necessarily the one likely
to win, should you switch
allegiance or stick with the
conviction of your opinions?
Many people in May 2015
probably had the same
conundrum when they were
faced with
the
prospect of
a vote for
Labour
equalling a
vote
for
the SNP, or
in Scotland
a vote for
the SNP equalling a ‘vote for
the Tories’.
Fortunately,
or
unfortunately, politics at the
very heart of it is a numbers
game. The person with the
most votes, the most fans in
“Should you switch
allegiance to one
likely to win or
stick with your
convictions?”
In one glaring aspect the Tory
party must be seen to change
The largest annual debate tour
in the UK gets going once
again this October. It’s a tour
that I founded with a friend of
mine in 2009 and has grown
to become one of the key
moments on the university
calendar.
We visit England, Scotland,
and Wales, engaging
thousands of people in one
debate over a six week period.
For us this tour represents a
key part of Black History, and
I am convinced that in years
to come people who go on to
achieve phenomenal things
will remember when they sat
in one of our debates and
were inspired to do more in
their community.
My passion for equality is
what guides my engagement
in public life, and the more I
have read about Britain’s
migration story, the more I
am inspired to hopefully one
day make my own significant
contribution for the greater
good.
Unfortunately here in our
country we are yet to have
prominent black
conservatives that people like
myself can look to as
inspiration.
We have however seen the
likes of Condoleeza Rice and
Colin Powell in particular
blaze a trail in the United
States, and have taken great
hope from their stories. The
African Caribbean experience
within the UK has many
parallels but of course is not
identical to that of the United
States.
We too had our own
Conservative champion for
the abolition of slavery,
William Wilberforce. From
the time the Empire
Windrush reached the docks
of Tilbury in 1948 there has
been a friction with the
Conservative movement and
black Britons. But Britain’s
political and economic
landscape has changed.
This is a theme that we
hope to explore as we begin
what will hopefully be a Great
Debate.
the media, and/or the most
money tends to be the person
that takes home the prize.
I believe that when it is all
said and done we must think
about two outcomes. What is
the best outcome we could
have and what is the most
bearable outcome, and of the
two, which is the one most
likely to happen based on the
mood of the people.
Fortunately in May 2015
both the best outcome and the
most bearable outcome was a
Conservative government,
which is why the people gave
our party a majority for the
first time in 18 years. But it
didn’t look like this was what
would happen at the time.
Ultimately politicians, and
those who commentate, will
forever be at a point where
they are trying to predict
where public opinion will be
at one point in time.
Chuka Umunna, the former Labour leadership hopeful, has had one
calamitous year politically by any stretch of the imagination. He very
quickly after the General Election in May began to deliver an autopsy
report that pretty much threw his former leader Ed Miliband under the
bus. Ed gave Chuka, a relatively inexperienced parliamentarian, a fasttrack ticket that most could only dream of, and the thanks he received
can only be described as slightly softer version of Peter’s denial of
Jesus.
To make things worse Chuka announced his leadership campaign
and all of a sudden found a girlfriend, disappointing single Nigerian
women throughout the diaspora. Before people could digest the idea of
having Britain’s own version of Obama… he was gone.
To make things worse
Chuka then backed the least
likely winner of the Labour
leadership contest, Liz Kendal.
Liz, in my opinion could bat for
UKIP with ease. She is even too
right wing for me… a paid up
Conservative. This further isolated Chuka from the black
community, but was not the
last of his many sins.
To make things worse he
then decided to publicly back
the Blairite candidate for the
Mayoral elections, Tessa Jowell. In doing so, he not only side stepped all of the BME candidates that
were on show, but he also further decided to voice an opinion no one
requested.
I think the term here is that one should ‘pick their battles’. Now of
course you should not back a candidate simply because of the colour of
their skin: I am backing Zac Goldsmith’s bid to be the Conservative’s
Mayoral candidate over Syed Kamall, a very strong candidate that I
would be delighted to also see continue to represent Londoners. But in
making a choice to be so explicit in backing a candidate in the Labour
leadership race, where he certainly didn’t need to, Chuka made yet another demonstration of his political naivety.
But people should remember that Mr Umunna has only been a
member of parliament for five years, and before that wasn’t exactly the
most experienced political animal. He has had to learn very quickly as
he was elevated to a position beyond his years. I believe he is still one of
the most talented parliamentarians and will learn from this year. I honestly hope come 2020 a more experienced Umunna emerges, as he is
certainly a unique person. I would urge those who he has offended to
forgive him and give him another chance.
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
SAVE OUR FAMILY SERVICE
A rearguard action has been launched
by church and community leaders and
academics to save the UK’s only
African Families Service (AFS) from
being axed.
The threat of closure comes at a time
when the unit’s services have never been
more in demand, both locally and
internationally for its pioneering work on
the psychology of the African child in
relation to street violence and its specialist
knowledge on how to deal with refugees.
Yet it has been pared to the bone by
cash-strapped Tower Hamlets council in
east London, who axed the unit’s
dedicated community worker in May.
The deletion of the post came a matter
of weeks after the council sang the unit’s
praises for the staging of a conference on
Safeguarding Black African Children and
their Families, which attracted delegates
from across Europe and the Metropolitan
Police among others.
After the event the Town Hall
proclaimed, “Europe looks to Tower
Hamlets for African Family Expertise.”
Below the headline the article
continued, “The service has specialist
knowledge in the culture and beliefs of the
black African community and provides
social work expertise for families from this
community and runs a local forum to
discuss any issues that arise.
“It also provides social work guidance
and general training for other local
authorities and organisations around
working with African families.”
But it seems to have become a victim of
its own success, with a Town Hall report
recommending it be disbanded, while
warning of the grave risks of doing so.
The report states, “This saving proposal
may reduce the council’s capacity to carry
Amma Ananeagyei (seated) with AFS champions (l-r) Elfrith
Reynolds, Andree Klapov, Renee Redhead and Pauline Martin
out targeted development of safeguarding
work within the Muslim and African
community in Tower Hamlets. This
includes a wide ranging profile of work
such as work raising awareness of
safeguarding issues in the community
with pastors and imams, parents and
families, direct case work alongside other
professionals and services, and work to
enhance professional knowledge and
skills in working with Muslim and African
Families.”
It continues, “The team was
established to engage a hard to reach
section of the community but as this work
has now taken place and better
relationships with these communities
have been developed it is now an
appropriate time to mainstream the work
of the team within statutory social care
teams. The positive outreach undertaken
by the team will continue to be
undertaken by the mainstream social care
teams.”
However, many doubt this will
happen, including frontline childcare
workers, who spoke to Nigerian Watch,
and church and community leaders.
Pastor Segun George – head of one of 85
subterranean African churches in Tower
Hamlets – has launched a pre-emptive
petition calling for the service to be saved
from closure and for the community
worker post to be reinstated.
In lobbying the council he has also
pointed out that such a world renowned
service could generate revenue if
supported. To sign the petition and help
save this critical service email
segungeorge@aol.com
Police force shortlisted for diversity award
– after recruiting one black police officer
West Midlands Police is up against nine
others in the diverse companies category
of the National Diversity Wards despite
criticism that the force needed to “do
more” to boost officer numbers from
different ethnic backgrounds.
Earlier this year, its own police and
crime commissioner David Jamieson
spoke on the issue when commenting on
the contents of a force HR report into the
make-up of a tranche of 162 new officers.
“West Midlands Police quite rightly
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NEWSWATCH
only recruits the very best people, but
clearly need to do more to engage with
communities to ensure that more BME
(Black and Minority Ethnic) people apply
to be police officers...”
However, only one of the new officers
hired in the recent recruitment drive was
black, prompting criticism at the force
being shortlisted for a diversity award.
The force’s sole black recruit amounted
to less than one per cent of the total hired,
despite 6.7 per cent across the region
identifying as black. Of the rest of the new
intake, 139 were white, seven were mixed
race, and 13 were Asian.
In response to being shortlisted for the
diversity award, a West Midlands Police
spokeswoman said, “Our latest intake of
new officers due to start in November is 30
per cent BME, who are reflective of the
best candidates who have applied. Being
shortlisted for the ‘National Diversity
Awards’ reflects the progress we are
making.”
Television Academy
10
Viola Davis “crosses the
line” to win Emmy award
Actress Viola Davis (above) received a standing ovation for her acceptance speech at the Emmy Awards in America on September 20, where
she became the first black woman to win the Outstanding Actress in a
Drama award.
Ms Davis brought the audience to its feet when she said, “‘In my
mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers
and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over
that line. But I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over
that line.’ That was [African-American abolitionist] Harriet Tubman
speaking in the 1800s.
“And let me tell you something: the only thing that separates
women of colour from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an
Emmy for roles that are simply not there.
“So, here’s to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben
Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes. People who have
redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading
woman, to be black. And to the Taraji P Hensons and Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goodes, to
Gabrielle Union. Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you for the
Television Academy. Thank you.”
Ms Davis won the award for her portrayal of Annalise Keating - a
brilliant but conflicted criminal defence professor who, with five of her
students, becomes entwined in a murder plot - in How to Get Away
With Murder. Her win came after two other black women took home
Emmy awards - Regina King for American Crime and Uzo Aduba for Orange Is the New Black.
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NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
YOURWATCH
11
Letters to the Editor
Let us know what you think. Put pen to paper and send your letters to: The Editor, Nigerian Watch,
Chartwell House, 292 Hale Lane, Edgware, Middlesex HA8 8NP, or email us at: editor@nigerianwatch.com
Letters to be included in the next issue must be received by no later than October 5, 2015. Anonymous letters will not be published. Please include your full name, postal address and contact telephone number. Names and addresses can be withheld, if preferred.
Letters may be edited for publication.
The consequences
of knife crime
First, let me commend your
newspaper
for
its
comprehensive reporting of
the community summit on
knife crime held at the
Damilola Taylor Centre in
Peckham.
However, I would like to
draw your readers attention to
a short video shown at the
event which was not included
in the report.
This was made by Zina Alfa,
a volunteer with Youth Against
Crime not Crime Against You
(Yac N Cay), for her MSc in
journalism, for which she
received a distinction.
It reveals the terrible and
traumatic effects on family and
friends of losing a loved one to
violence on the streets and
how the impact can last for
many years.
It is a powerful and moving
testimony that deserves a
wider audience.
It can be seen at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=
XnwYbbt2RPM
Dr Toyin Idowu Onibokun,
founder & director of Yac N Cay
A timeline that connects JFK, PMB, Modi and Corbyn
There are interesting developments connecting
Nigeria, America, India and the United Kingdom
that I thought might be of interest to your
readers.
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari,
because of his country’s
population, has been
described as the torch
bearer of 1.2 billion
blacks worldwide.
Nigeria is the world’s
most populous black
nation. Buhari was
sworn in on May 29,
2015, the anniversary of
the birth of former
American President John
F Kennedy (JFK).
Buhari, who holds a
Masters Degree, was
born on the 17th of
December 1942, and has
been
described
as
austere,
stern
and
ascetic.
Similarly,
India’s
Prime
Minister,
All deserving of awards for artistic merit
I write to thank your newspaper for its
comprehensive listings pages, which displays the great variety and depth of cultural and artistic activities being
undertaken by Africans in the UK.
It was because of your listings that I
saw both Ade Solanke’s Pandora’s Box
and Gbolahan Obisesan’s How Nigeria
Became: A Story And A Spear That Didn’t
Work, which I note from your last edition
are nominated for awards.
Both are deserving.
Please keep up the good work in
spreading the word about our artists,
writers and film makers.
They are telling our stories and deserve our support.
Ayomide Okafor, E3
Note: Both plays mentioned above have
been nominated for the prestigious Alfred
Fagon Audience Award. Voting is still
open via www.alfredfagonaward.co.uk
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Narendra Modi, leader of 1.2 billion Indians, was
sworn in on May 26, 2014, the anniversary of the
birth of Jeremy Corbyn, aspiring British Prime
Minister.
Interestingly Mary Riddell wrote in the Daily
Telegraph of June 17 that “Labour needs a JFK to
prevent it sliding into a bloody civil war.”
Jeremy Corbyn was declared Labour Leader
on September 12, 2015, the wedding anniversary
of JFK.
Modi, who also holds a Masters Degree, was
born on the 17th of September, 1950, and has
also been described as stern, austere and ascetic.
Modi has also been referred to as India’s JFK
because of his inspirational oratory and
dynamism, in sharp contrast to his immediate
predecessor Dr. Singh (and other prominent
Indian leaders).
Buhari and Modi have both taken up
Campaigns symbolised by the “broom” and
they have both vowed to fight corruption.
According to Buhari, “If you do not kill
corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria,”
whereas Modi said, “Corruption is the termite
eating India.”
Augustine Togonu-Bickersteth, London E17, via
email
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12
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
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EMBASSYWATCH
News from the
NIGERIA HIGH COMMISSION London
“We should not discriminate against the disabled,”
says ambassador as diaspora celebrates their talents
Above; A cross section of guests
Above; Ayan De First, Star Initiative director Grace Alexander & Nasa Anthony
Below: Sunday Popoola, Ambassador Bamgbose and Kate Anolue
Below; Canuk chairman Babatunde Loye
Below; Children had fun too, including
getting their faces painted
Acting High Commissioner Ambassador Olakunle Bamgbose
COMMITTED TO BETTER EDUCATION
L-R: Dr Gwam (Minister/Head Political Section), Prof. Asha Kanwar, Mr Bamgbose, and Mr E.I.Nweke (First Secretary)
Mr Olukunle A Bamgbose, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner
to the UK, received Professor
Asha Kanwar, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth of Learning (COL) at
the High Commission on September 14.
Mr Bamgbose and Professor
Kanwar discussed Nigeria’s role
and partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning, and
agreed to improve their collabo-
ration for the advancement of
education in member states of
the Commonwealth, particularly
Nigeria.
The Commonwealth of
Learning is a specialised Agency
of the Commonwealth, established 27 years ago by the Commonwealth Heads of
Government, with its head office
in Vancouver, Canada. It is
funded through special support
in terms of contributions from
Canada, United Kingdom, India,
Nigeria, Australia, New Zealand
and South Africa.
The Commonwealth of Learning has a Regional Centre for
Africa in Nigeria, and has contributed towards the advancement of education in Nigeria
through its various educational
programmes – including technical vocation, teachers’ training,
scholarship awards, and advocacy for girl-child education.
Nigerians in the UK staged the first ever
diaspora disability day on Saturday,
September 19, during which they called on
Nigeria’s Federal Government to step up
action regarding caring for the needs of
people living with disability.
In the lively, prejudice-busting event, which
took place at the Enfield Civic Centre, hundreds
of Nigerians gathered to celebrate the disabled
and suggest ways of improving their lfeexperience within society.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner
Ambassador Olakunle Bamgbose welcomed the
groundbreaking day, that was a fulfillment of
an election pledge made by the Chairman of the
Central Association of Nigerians in the UK
Babatunde Loye.
“I say a big thankyou to Canuk for organising
this event today, to bring out our brothers and
sisters who are challenged so they feel part of
us,” Mr Bamgbose said. “Oftentimes they are
overlooked. Giving them a day is a wise
decision. It shows we do not need to hide our
people who are challenged and shows we can
identify with them. We should have this
inclusive process.”
He continued to say that Nigeria needs to
learn a lot from the UK with regards to the way
the disabled are treated and welcomed.
Ambassador Bamgbose said, “We have a lot
to do to catch up with the rest of the world with
regards to our attitude towards disability. In
Nigeria, we are still of the opinion that anyone
who is disabled is incapable of living a fulfilling
life and must be consigned to begging for a
living.
“However, we know that in the UK and
other European countries, people with
disabilities are gainfully employed and
economically vibrant. Many of us who are able
bodied fail to realise that just one accident could
turn you into a disabled person, so it should not
consign you to a life of begging and poverty.”
Canuk chairman Mr Loye emphasised the
point, saying, “We aim to empower the
disabled, nurture their self-confidence and that
of their carers, give them moral support and
help them break down barriers.
He continued, “We shall raise funds to raise
awareness of and lobby for international
standards to be adopted in Nigeria.”
He added that following the success of the
inaugural event, the disability day will now
become an annual event in the hope that it will
help change attitudes.
Among the dignitaries who turned up were
veteran Nigerian Television Authority
broadcaster Julie Coker, the current Mayor of
Hackney Sade Etti and former mayors Kate
Anolue, Susan Fajana-Thomas and Anna
Mbachu, of Enfield, Hackney and Waltham
Forest respectively.
High Commission ministers Taju Adeniyi and
Mohammed Hassan also attended.
Music was provided by visually impaired DJ
Jide Busari and singer Victoria Oruwari, while
cultural ambassador Ayan De First led both the
able and less able in a riot of traditional dancing.
In his closing remarks, Mr Loye thanked
everyone for coming and paid special tribute to
the volunteers and organising committee
members for putting the event together; the
Ovo Foundation, Pamela Douglas Foundation
Worldwide, Mobility Help for Disabled People,
Star Initiative and the Overseas Fellowship of
Nigerian Christians.
Organising committee chairman Dr Ife
Akintunde also praised the many Nigerians
with disabilities who turned up to make the
event a huge success.
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14
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
NEWSWATCH
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@NigerianWatch
ANGLICAN CHURCH SET TO SPLIT
OVER GAY RIGHTS IN AFRICA
Gay rights in Africa have received a fatal
setback with the Archbishop of Canterbury
proposing to effectively dissolve the
fractious and bitterly divided worldwide
Anglican community (known as the
Anglican Communion) and replace it with a
much looser grouping.
Justin Welby has summoned all the 38
leaders of the national churches of the
Anglican Communion to a meeting in
Canterbury next January, where he will
propose that the communion be reorganised as
a group of churches that are all linked to
Canterbury but no longer necessarily to each
other.
He believes that the Communion – the third
largest Christian body in the world with 80
million members, after the Roman Catholic
and the Orthodox churches - has become
impossible to hold together due to arguments
over power and sexuality and has, for the past
20 years, been completely dysfunctional.
The Guardian newspaper reported a
Lambeth Palace source had said the archbishop
felt he could not leave his eventual successor in
the same position of “spending vast amounts of
time trying to keep people in the boat and
never actually rowing it anywhere”.
Archbishop Welby believes that his proposal
will allow him to maintain relations with the
liberal churches of north America, which
recognise and encourage gay marriage, and the
African churches, led by Kenya, Uganda and
Nigeria, who are agitating for the
recriminalisation of all homosexual activity in
their countries. Both will be able to call
themselves “Anglican” but there will no longer
be any pretence that this involves a common
discipline or doctrine.
Asked whether this represented, if not a
divorce, a legal separation, the Lambeth source
said, “It’s more like sleeping in separate
bedrooms.”
Instead, they may be able to cooperate on
matters such as climate change and interreligious violence, which are desperately
important to many of the poorer churches. As
well as the obvious religious tensions in the
Middle East, 200 churches in south India were
burned to the ground by Hindu extremists last
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year. These issues seem more urgent to the
archbishop than the interminable wrangling
about sexuality.
Welby’s decision represents a complete
abandonment of the strategy pursued by his
immediate predecessors, Rowan Williams and
George Carey, both of whom were committed
to getting the liberals and conservatives to
work together globally.
The archbishop is determined to rescue
what he can from the schism over sexuality.
He spent much of his life before becoming a
bishop working on missions of reconciliation
in countries including Nigeria, and values very
highly the unofficial low-level contacts
between churches in different countries. But
the feuding over sexuality,
which started in the US in
the mid-90s, has become
completely unmanageable.
All the Anglican bishops
around the world are meant
to meet up every 10 years in
Canterbury at the Lambeth
conference. Nearly 250 out
of 800 stayed away from the
last meeting, in 2008, in
protest
against
the
supposed liberalism of
Williams. Welby has already
announced the indefinite postponement of the
next conference.
Welby’s decision is a gamble with high
stakes. If the African conservatives, grouped in
an organisation called Gafcon, decide to
withdraw altogether, they will put pressure on
English conservative evangelical churches to
withdraw formally from the Church of
England and align themselves with Gafcon.
Some smaller groupings have already done
this. But the archbishop is betting that the
conservatives, some of whom are personal
friends with tight links to the church network
where he was nourished, will draw back from
churches such as Uganda’s, which support
laws that would reintroduce the death penalty
for gay sex.
A large, formal schism has already taken
place in the US. The Anglican churches of
Nigeria, Rwanda, and Kenya have all
established what they call missionary
congregations in America to take worshippers
away from the liberal churches. American
conservatives have been given jobs in the new
organisations and have in some cases written
the speeches and manifestos for the African
conservative groups.
In
his
most
controversial
proposal, Welby will
ask the American
conservative
grouping
Acna,
which
has
been
locked
in
bitter
lawsuits over church
property with the
mainstream liberal
American Anglican
church
grouping,
TEC, to attend the meeting in January, but not
as a full member.
If the meeting goes well – and Lambeth
sources put the possibility of catastrophic
failure at about 25% – Welby appears
determined to foster practical cooperation
among the churches that are still speaking to
him, if not to each other. He hopes to hold a
meeting of the new body in 2020. One member
of his staff said, “If so few people want to come
that we could hold it in a telephone
box, fine, we’ll hold it in a telephone
box.”
The Rev Andrew Symes, of
Anglican Mainstream, the largest
conservative grouping organisation
in the Church of England, said:
“There is a difference between an
institutional
unity
and
a
confessional unity. It is not just the
sexuality
thing.
There
are
underlying differences about our
understanding of the bible and of
God.
“Archbishop Welby is trying to
square the circle. He can’t bring the
thing together. This will strengthen
the resolve of Gafcon to keep on the
journey that they’re on.”
The Rev Sally Hitchiner, one of
the most prominent gay members of
clergy in the church, said: “The
churches now have the opportunity
to relate like grownup siblings. This
is a positive move for all sorts of
reasons. We can’t hold together
from a place like England – where an
archbishop of Canterbury could be
in a gay marriage, possibly in my
lifetime – to somewhere like
Uganda, where they want to
imprison people for gay sex.”
The bishop of Buckingham, Alan
Wilson, said: “He can’t be planning
to break the thing up because there’s
nothing there to break up. It is all
independent churches.”
“We can’t hold together
from a place like
England – where an
archbishop of
Canterbury could be in
a gay marriage, possibly
in my lifetime”
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NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
NEWSWATCH
15
From l-r: Joshua Adejokun & Richard Taylor; pupils from Kingsford Community School; Sheldon
Thomas, Dr Toyin Idowu Onibokou and police cadets; and with London’s Deputy Mayor Stephen
Greenhalgh and Southwark Mayor Dora Dixon-Fyle
The GLA day to celebrate the good guys
The grand debating chamber
at City Hall was transformed
on Friday September 18
when dour political debate
was set aside for a vibrant
celebration of young people
and the charity Youth
Against Crime Not Crime
Against You (Yac N Cay).
This was a day for the good
guys – the young people who
come
from
seemingly
benighted postcodes but
remain steadfast in their
determination to succeed.
It was staged as the antidote
to the dominant media image
of young people, particularly
young black people, as a
criminally
mindless
murderous mob.
Sad to say, other than yours
truly, the media were
noticeable only by their
absence, confirming the longheld complaint of community
leaders that while it is happy to
make hay over the faults and
failings of African heritage
youth it has no interest in
celebrating their triumphs.
As a consequence the
nation is left with a distorted
view, which further fuels a
distrust, which hampers the
life chances of the majority.
That is not to deny there is a
problem with particularly
knife crime – but it is only a
small part of the story of the
African diaspora. A clear
signifier is that more than half
of all diasporan children
succeed in school, of which the
vast majority seek to go on to
higher education, despite their
being evident hurdles, and
great success.
This is the story that is
seldom told but was spoken
loud and proud at City Hall, to
mark the fifth anniversary of
the founding of Yac N Cay by
Dr Toyin Idowu Onibokou.
From the outset the charity
has sought to accentuate the
positive to expose to the harsh
light of day what a dead-end
choice - literally and tragically
for far too many - joining a
gang is.
As the day’s chief host,
London’s
deputy
mayor
responsible for policing and
crime Stephen Greenhalgh,
said, “We wanted to support
Yac N Cay because it is a
positive movement for change,
inspiring
a
community
response to the problem of
knife crime.”
And that was the theme for
the day, presented as a mix of
inspirational
talks
and
showcase for young people’s
talents, organised by Kingsford
Community
School
in
Newham, where Yac N Cay
“You have no
excuses. You
have every
opportunity to
succeed”
runs a hugely successful
outreach and mentoring
program.
They excelled. Their were
musical interludes from singer
song-writer
Julius,
a
wonderful rendition of The
Very Thought of You from
Chelsea, and a talk and
disciplined display of marching
from volunteer police cadets –
many who confessed to being
rescued from the clutches of a
life of crime by joining the
force, including one who had
gone on to become a coach at
Chelsea FC.
There was also a poignant
stylised drama from the
school’s
theatre
group,
depicting a momentary flare
up of violence and the
desperately
confusing
consequences, where they find
themselves locked in a cell
silently
asking,
what
happened? What did I do?
Police officers from both
Trident
and
the
local
Southwark
force
spoke,
reaching out to the youth.
To a man they appealed for
meaningful engagement to
prevent the senseless “one
down, one out” scenario just
depicted in the drama.
One, Anthony Josephs, was
a new recruit to the Southwark
Police.
Revealing
he’d
previously been stopped and
searched, pulled over and
asked to get out of a car and
prove it was his, the usual
tiresome harassment black
people complain of, he said his
family had been shocked when
he said he was joining the Met.
“But to change things you
have to engage,” he said. “You
have to become a part of it.”
This
message
was
hammered home by Sheldon
Thomas of Gangsline. “You
have no excuses,” he told the
young people. “You have every
opportunity.”
He detailed his life as a gang
leader in Brixton in the 70s,
when racism came in the form
of both gangs of National Front
hooligans randomly attacking
black people for being black,
and the police joining in for
good measure.
“We started gangs with a
reason, for self-defence. You
have no reason. You have every
opportunity to succeed,” he
told them.
And that point was made
apparent by a host of
inspirational speakers who
had. None more so than Joshua
Adejokun,
who
was
introduced by Richard Taylor
OBE as having the ambition to
be the UK’s first black prime
minister. And you wouldn’t
bet against that fact.
Joshua’s life is a triumph.
He hails from Custom House, a
crossroads place politically and
geographically in south-east
London – and socially for
youths.
He could easily have gone
down the roads, the dark
streets of fatal wrong looks,
disrespectful comments and
petty debts.
But he didn’t. Instead he
busied himself with any
activity that became available,
whether it held an interest or
not. He loved football, but also
joined youth clubs, church
groups, drama groups, music
groups, tidying up the Thames
groups.
“You just need to keep an
open
mind
and
try
everything,” he said. “You
always learn something, meet
new people, create new
opportunities for yourself.”
His experiences culminated
when he became the young
mayor of Newham, chairing
the youth committee and
responsible for a budged of
close
to
half-a-million
pounds. He also won a
scholarship to attend the
£30,000 a year public school
Harrow. He is now studying
maths and statistics at
Warwick University.
His message at City Hall was
simple. “If I can do it, you can
too. We can be the change
generation. Let’s do it.”
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16
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
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NEWSWATCH
BLACK History Month
You can tell a great
deal about a country
and a people by
what they deem
important enough to
remember, to create
moments for
As BHM 2015 approaches, Joyce
Sarpong (right), founder and
director
of
Africa
Oracle
(www.africaoracle.com), reminds
us how Black History Month came
about and why it is important.
Why History?
History is the huge succession of
events that created us. Think of it, if
you like, in the same way as you do a
family tree, tracing back to your two
parents, four grandparents, and so
on. I would suggest that you can’t
begin to know about yourself, to
understand the present, the way we
live and why, until you understand
something of your roots in the past.
So, firstly, the past gives the
present its value. Secondly, those who
do not study history are condemned
to repeat its mistakes.
Then there’s the sheer delight of
the incredible richness of the world’s
cultures. We can discover not just a
lifetime, but centuries of the
astonishing creations of the human
mind. History, for me, opens wide the
doors of perception and that’s why
history is so important and why Black
History Month matters.
Origins of Black History Month
Black History Month started out as an
annual celebration of achievements
by black Americans and a time for
recognising the central role of African
Americans in US history. The event
grew out of “Negro History Week,”
the brainchild of noted historian
Carter G Woodson and other
prominent African Americans.
He chose February because the
birthdays of the two influential
figures - US President Abraham
Lincoln and Frederick Douglas -, who
he believed to have impacted on the
conditions of the “Negro”, fell in
February. Since 1976, every US
president has officially designated
February as Black History Month.
which is an adinkra symbol from
Ghana, West Africa. Sankofa is
depicted as a bird and as a heart and
translates as ‘Go back to fetch it’, or,
in other words, learn from the past to
gain the benefit of hindsight.
Black History Month aims to
Leadership
● Promote knowledge of the Black
History, Culture and Heritage
● Disseminate information on
positive Black contributions to society
● Heighten the confidence and
awareness of Black people to their
cultural heritage
Black History Month in the UK
In the UK, Black History Month runs
for one month each year. The reason
for having it at all is because there has
long been concern about the
experience of black children in the
UK, and this was a key factor in
establishing Black History Month.
Being in October, at the start of a
new academic year, the idea is that
learning about Black History during
that time can instill pride and identity
into young black learners.
October is also a period of
tolerance and reconciliation in
African culture. Black history is
therefore a reconnection with the
African source, hence the Black
History Month symbol of Sankofa,
Ghanaian Akyaaba Addai Sebbo is
widely regarded as the person who set
up Black History Month in the UK.
Addai worked with Ken Livingstone
at the Greater London Council (GLC)
as co-ordinator of Special Projects.
The first event was held on October 1,
1987, when the GLC hosted Dr
Maulana Karenga from the US to
mark the contributions of Black
people throughout history. Addai
then drew up a plan to recognise the
contributions
of
African, Asian and
Caribbean people
to
the
economic,
cultural and
political life in
London and the
UK.
Since 1987, as
part of African
Jubilee Year, other
boroughs
began
to
formally institute this as Black
History Month in the UK
Black History Month’s purpose is
nicely encapsulated in these words
spoken by the former London Mayor
Ken Livingstone: “In order to enrich
the cultural diversity of the Greater
London area, it is imperative that
Londoners know more about African
influences
on
medieval
and
renaissance European music so that
accepted ideas about European music
is changed. Despite the significant
role that Africa and its Diaspora have
played in the world civilization since
the beginning of time, Africa’s
contribution has been omitted or
distorted in most history books.”
2015
Black History Month has grown in
Britain and over 6,000 annual events
take place throughout towns and
cities in the UK. The
annual
event
inspired schools and
communities
nationwide to
organise local
celebrations, establish
history clubs, host
performances
and
lectures. See ‘Fortnight’
opposite for listings of Black
History events taking place across
the UK and in London over the
next two weeks.
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NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
NEWSWATCH
Fortnight
THE BEST JOLLOF
RICE COMPETITION
at Brixton Libary See page 19
Robert Day
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
peacefully challenged the
racism of the Deep South.
What does it mean for people
to come together and rise up?
25 Sept - 19 Nov. Nationwide
Tour - Various venues, see
website for details;
www.theatre-centre.co.uk
The Holy & Horny Farewell
Tour 2015
Set at the height of the British
slave trade, Sancho is a new
play written by and starring
Paterson Joseph (above). Born
on a slave ship in 1729 but
eventually becoming the first
black man to vote in a
parliamentary election, this is
a gripping insight into the
remarkable true story of the
life of Charles Ignatius
Sancho.
22 – 25 Sept, 7:45pm
Birmingham Repertory
Theatre, Centenary Square,
Broad Street, Birmingham, B1
2EP
www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
Rise Up
The inspirational and moving
stories of the Freedom Riders
– principled American
citizens in the 1960s who
Holy & Horny is touring the
UK for one LAST time before
touring internationally.
It is a celebratory,
inspirational and superbly
acted one-woman show that
celebrates spirituality and
sensuality. This thought
provoking play is a
compelling story of love,
longing and the ultimate
betrayal. Actress and author
Tonya Joy Bolton
explores one
woman’s
struggle to
remain holy
despite being as
horny as hell!
2 Oct - 14 Nov.
Theatres across the UK.
Ticket prices vary. See
website for further details.
www.holyandhorny.com
The Danford Collection, University of Birmingham
WHAT TO SEE AND DO OVER THE NEXT
Nationwide
THEATRE
Sancho – An Act Of
Remembrance
17
14 DAYS...
THE DANFORD
COLLECTION
Open to the public during BHM, one of
the finest collections of West African
Art and Artefacts in Europe, ranging
from historical utensils to
contemporary fine art.
2/9/16/23/30 Oct 9am - 4pm. FREE.
Danford Room, 2nd Floor Arts Building,
Birmingham University, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, B15 2TT
www.birmingham.ac.uk
Africa’s Cowfoot!!!
Narrated, sung, performed
and drummed by Usifu
Jalloh , the Cowfoot
Prince himself
(left). Full throttle,
high energy
storytelling by an
electrifying and
inspirational storyteller,
educator and motivator.
10 Oct, 7:30pm. Adults £2,
children FREE.
Unitarian Church Hall,
Emmanuel Street, Cambridge,
CB1 1JW
www.cambridge.gov.uk
EXHIBITIONS/TALKS
RACE 50
Using Malcolm X’s 1965 visit
to Smethwick and the
introduction of the Race
Relations Act as themes,
18
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
photographers have produced
portraits of members of the
public (young and old),
community leaders, activists,
political and religious figures
and business leaders.
2 Oct, 6pm. FREE - Book ahead.
The Drum, 144 Potters Lane,
Aston, Birmingham, B6 4UU
www.the-drum.org.uk
Airbrushed out – the untold
stories of Oxford
university’s black scholars
Pamela Roberts illustrates the
long and illustrious history of
black scholars at the
University of Oxford,
including; Christian Frederick
Cole the first African to
practise law in an English
court.
7 Oct, 12:30pm. FREE - Booking
essential.
Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic
Staff Network, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX
Contact Dr Zainab Hussain on:
bmestaff@liv.ac.uk
BLACK HISTORY MONTH ART EXHIBITION
Emmanuel Ekong Ekefrey is from Akwa Ibom State, the
heartland of the Ibibio people. who have their own music,
dance and language, which is reflected in Ekefrey's paintings
as well as the gigantic Lagos metropolis, where he now lives.
1-31 Oct, 9am - 9pm. FREE
Bernie Grant arts centre, Town Hall Approach Road,
Tottenham, N15
www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk
and family workshops in the
iconic setting of Trafalgar
Square in Central London.
10 Oct, 10am - 8pm. FREE
Trafalgar Square, WC2N
www.london.gov.uk/
MUSIC
Andy Abraham
2 Oct, 7:30pm. FREE.
Brixton Library, Brixton Oval,
SW2
www.lambeth.gov.uk
Celebrating Black History
Month
St Edmund’s Church,
Chingford, host a day of
events opened by Jennette
Arnold, OBE, with stalls and
exhibitions all day from 12
noon, including free food. The
music and performing arts,
begin at 2 pm. With plenty of
opportunity for audience
participation.
10 Oct, 12pm - 8pm. FREE.
St Edmund's Halls (Ryan Hall),
216 Chingford Mount Road, E4
www.chelmsford.anglican.org
Africa on the Square
Africa on the Square is a
festival of African culture and
heritage, featuring live music,
dance, fashion,
entertainment, market, food
One of the most exciting stars
on the contemporary soul
scene. Andy ‘the bin man’
won our hearts when he
finished runner-up on the XFactor in 2005.
3 Oct, 7:45pm. Tickets £22.50
Millfield Theatre, Silver Street,
Edmonton, N18
www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk
Jumoké Fashola
Born in London, transplanted
to Nigeria, Jumoké’s music
meshes her African roots with
contemporary songs,
connecting the ancestral to
the modern.
7 Oct, 7:45pm. Tickets £14.50.
The Dugdale Centre, Thomas
Hardy House, 39 London
Road, Enfield Town, EN2
www.enfield.gov.uk
EXHIBITIONS/TALKS
The hidden history
of Africa before the
slave trade
A presentation with lecture
and discussion on Africa’s
glorious past including the
Yoruba Kingdoms.
1 Oct, 7pm. FREE
St Ann’s Library, Cissbury
Road, Tottenham, N15
www.haringey.
gov.uk
BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMEDY FESTIVAL
Comedy double header
featuring a collaboration of
the urban comedy scenes
legends and the new
school favourite comics
that have emerged from
the UK over the past 25
years, including; Slim Gray,
Curtis Walker, Rudi
Lickwood, Donna Spence,
Hidden Heroes - Soldiers
from the Empire
Eastside Community Heritage
and Middlesex University
reveal an alternative narrative
of the First World War
through the tracing of the
descendants of the Middlesex
Regiment’s brave Black and
Asian soldiers who fought.
7 Oct, 1pm-5pm. FREE
Bruce Castle Museum,
Lordship Lane, Tottenham, N17
www.haringey.gov.uk
London
FESTIVALS
Africa Utopia Take Over
Southbank Centre’s Africa
Utopia festival takes over
Brixton Library for one night
only. Artists from the festival
will form an exciting line up
of spoken word and live
music, with a special
commission performed by
local young poets, all hosted
by the fantastic Joshua
Idehen.
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@NigerianWatch
LEISUREWATCH
Glenda Jaxson
Comedienne, Geoff
Schumann, Quincy
Comedian, Mr Cee, Special
P and Annette Fagon.
3 - 4 Oct.
Tickets from £22.
Camden Centre, Town Hall,
Judd Street,WC1H
www.lolshow.co.uk
OTHER
A piece of cloth
Fashion designer and textile
artist, Sylvia Emodi explores
the heritage, diversity and
influence of African textiles,
unlocking the meanings,
identity and symbolism
contained in many of the
surface designs and weaving
patterns.
With a hands on
workshop using hand sewing
and decoupage to make
either an African fabric
covered mask, bookmark,
corsage or photo frame!
3 Oct, 2:30pm. FREE
Tooting Library, 75 Mitcham
Road, SW17
www.wandsworth.gov.uk
JUMOKÉ FASHOLA at the Dugdale
Centre, see left
DARK AND LOVELY
THEATRE
A Wolf In Snakeskin Shoes
Shame and Scandal
This fresh take on Molière’s
Tartuffe, set in a world of
fast-food tycoons and
megachurches is a wicked
new comedy that rocks the
foundations of trust, faith and
redemption.
8 Oct - 14 Nov, 7:30pm,
matinees - Sat 3pm, Wed 2pm.
Tickets from £14.
The Tricycle Theatre, 269
Kilburn High Road, NW6
http://www.tricycle.co.uk
She Called Me Mother
theatre, film and community
programmes to educate,
inspire and deliver social
change.
5 Oct, reception 6:30pm, film
7:30pm. FREE.
Reels Cinema, 21-24 Milbank,
SW1P
www.safekenya.org
A new production of
acclaimed novelist Alex
Wheatle’s debut play Shame
and Scandal, a dark comedy
set in 1960s Jamaica where an
affluent Jamaican family is
consumed with keeping their
financial legacy intact.
9 - 10 Oct, 8pm, Sat matinee
3pm. £15 in advance.
Albany Theatre, Douglas Way,
SE5
www.thealbany.org.uk
FILM
Watatu
Cathy Tyson invites the
audience into the life of
Evangeline Gardner – a
homeless, 70 year old
African-Caribbean woman,
who finds herself living on the
streets. The play brings
together Evangeline and her
estranged daughter Shirley
and is written in poetic
Trinidadian vernacular rarely
heard on our stages.
An interactive
performance written
and performed by Selina
Thompson, using
memories, music, rum
and a ‘tumbleweave’
installation to explore
the connotations,
history and politics of
afro hair and what it
means to be black,
British and female in the
UK today.
7 - 17 Oct (Wed – Sat
only), 7.30pm, Sat
matinee 2pm.Tickets
£12.
Ovalhouse Theatre, 5254 Kennington Oval, SE11
www.ovalhouse.com
Shot entirely on location in
Mombasa and devised by
SAFE and the residents of
Mombasa, the film examines
the relationships between
different communities and
cultures in modern day
Mombasa, the anger and
radicalisation of young
people, and the solutions that
can be found to unite them.
SAFE is a Kenyan NGO and
UK Charity that uses street
COMEDY
Funny Money!
Henry Perkins accidently
picks up the wrong briefcase
– and finds it stuffed with
money! He decides to keep it,
and rushes home to tell his
bewildered wife. But just as
they are leaving to start a new
life in Barbados, a detective
arrives...
Henry’s desperate
attempts to extricate himself
from this situation inevitably
leads to misunderstandings,
mistaken identities and
increasingly hysterical
happenings!
22 - 26 Sept, 7:30pm. £16.
The Dugdale Centre, Thomas
Hardy House, 39 London Road,
Enfield Town, EN2
www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk
The Finest Stars of Comedy
Come Mek Me Larf promises a
plethora of laughter, featuring
the finest starts in both the
new and old school stand up
8 - 11 Oct, 7:45pm, matinee Sun
2pm, Thurs 3pm. From £8.
Stratford Circus Arts Centre,
Theatre Square, Stratford, E15
stratford-circus.com
Cross-Cultural Stories of
Love and Algorithms
Has access to hard data
actually helped us to know
more than before? Michael
Salu & Rut Blees Luxemburg,
Natasha Caruana and
Catherine Anyango take the
stage for fifteen minutes each
to tell stories of love at first
sight, dystopia and Big Data
using words, photography
and illustration.
9 Oct, 8pm. Tickets £10
Southbank Centre, Belvedere
Road, SE1
www.southbankcentre.co.uk
PIONEERS A HISTORY OF
DANCE (PHD) FESTIVAL
Taking place at Black Cultural Archives, The Ritzy and Studio B, PHD
offers dancers, artists, academics and enthusiasts a weekend of
exclusive street dance workshops, film screenings, panel
discussions, live performances, a freestyle dance contest and an
art exhibition. With the premiere screening of British hip-hop
documentary The Twilight Firm and an artist line up including;
Michel ‘Meech’ Onomo, Paradigmz, Omari ‘Motion’ Carter,
Rodney P, DJ Devastate, and FERO.
25 - 27 Sept. FREE. see website for details;
www.pioneershistorydance.com
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comedy, right in the heart
beat of Brent.
25 Sept, 7:30pm - 12am.
Advance tickets £16.
The Library at Willesden
Green, 95 High Road, Willesden
NW10
www.brent.gov.uk
35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1
www.richmix.org.uk
PAT THOMAS
performs with
the Kwashibu
Area Band at Rich
Mix, see below.
YolanDa Brown
Saxophonist YolanDa Brown
(below) with special guests
Mica Paris, Julian Marley,
Natalie Stewart and Omar
Lye-Fook and her 10 piece
band, brings some sunshine
to the Hackney Empire with a
special concert titled "Reggae
Love Songs".
AH AH! EHHNN HEHHNN!!
Tickets £12.50
The Dugdale Centre, Thomas
Hardy House, 39 London Road,
Enfield Town, EN2
www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk
Eddie Kadi brings his quick
witted, unpredictable, brand
of clean energetic comedy
back to the stage in his one
man show.
26 - 27 Sept, 8pm. Tickets from
£12.50.
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare
Street, E8
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Judith Jacob’s Yabba Yabba
Join Judith as she talks to
Brinsley Forde of Aswad,
radio presenter Angie
Greaves, with song,
revelations and a comedy act
from an up-an-coming
comedian!
27 Sept, 7:30pm. Advance
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
LEISUREWATCH
MUSIC
Namvula
Inspired by life - by its beauty
and ugliness, its tenderness
and cruelty, and the power of
the stories that it holds, both
simple and complex.
Evocative, lyrical and with
a refreshing honesty,
Namvula draws heavily on her
Zambian heritage as well as
referencing her Scottish
roots and life in the
diaspora.
1 Oct, 8pm. Tickets £10 in
advance.
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green
Road, E1
www.richmix.org.uk
Pat Thomas and the
Kwashibu Area Band
Get your dancing shoes on!
This is an unmissable
opportunity to be dancing
with the Golden Voice of
Africa and his band Kwashibu
Area; led by multi
instrumentalist Kwame
Yeboah and
Saxophonist
Ben
Abrbanel
- Wolff.
2 Oct,
7pm.
Tickets
£22.50.
Rich Mix,
3 Oct, 8pm. Tickets from £20.
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare
Street, E8
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Nozinja
The king of Shangaan Nozinja
showcases his unique and
invigorating Afro-futurist
sound and some turbocharged dance moves.
9 Oct, 10pm. Tickets
£15.95.
Stour Space, 7
Roach Road E3
http://nozinjalodge.com/
The Official Nigerian
Independence party 2015
100% Afrobeats and Nigerian
Music, with a live band
performance by Solek Crew.
Nigerian cuisine will be
served.
9 Oct, 10pm-5am. Advance
tickets from £7.
October babies FREE. African
attire welcomed but not
essential
Konnect, Terminus Place,
Victoria, SW1
www.shoobs.com
EXHIBITIONS/TALKS
Freedom’s Debt
The Politics of the Atlantic
Slave Trade (1672 – 1752)
Lecture by Dr William
Pettigrew, examining the
role that Britishness and
freedom played in
developing the largest
forced-intercontinental
migration in human history.
6 Oct, 7pm. From £3.
Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion
Square, WC1R
www.conwayhall.org.uk
Doing Nothing is Not an
Option
A mixed-media installation
exploring the relationship
between people in
Peckham and the memory of
the Nigerian writer and
activist Ken Saro-Wiwa
inside Sokari Douglas Camp’s
Battle Bus.
Until 22 Nov. FREE.
19
Peckham Platform, SE13
www.peckham
platform.com
OTHER
The Best Jollof Rice
Competition 2015
Jollof rice is a much-loved
staple dish in many West
African and Caribbean homes.
Every West African and
Caribbean cook thinks that
their community’s version of
Jollof rice is the best and the
most authentic rice recipe.
Here is the acid test, the UK’s
first ever Jollof rice
competition with a prize of
£1,000 for the victor.
Attend the finals and
hopefully get a taster or two
to join in the debate!
27 Sept, 3pm. FREE
Brixton Library, Brixton Oval,
SW2
www.theafrikanfamilyworks.
net
Mr & Miss Nigeria UK 2015
Finals Live
Witness the top 12 contestants
take to the stage and battle it
out to be crowned Mr & Miss
Nigeria UK 2015, the first joint
male and female beauty
pagenant. With Performances
by Vicky Sola, HomeBros and
LDNC.
4 Oct, 6pm - 11:30pm. Early
bird tickets from £15.
29 The Venue, Great Portland
Street, W1W
www.officialmmnuk.com
20
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
FashionWATCH
BEHIND
BY OBAH IYAMU
THE SCENES
with Lace Mamen
NICOLE THEA of The Unique Silver Dancers
been to Naija before! Nicole
tells us how she was dancing to
Hip Hop, locking and popping
before Afrobeats came with
new and exciting opportunities.
She is now paid and a member of the most successful UK
dance group (Unique Silver
Dancers) but she also does her
own thing as a dance coach and
choreographer.
See the full interview on
www.btsbehindthescenes.com
Enjoy the interview while I
check how much Money my
dance is worth with Nicole.
With Afrobeats music, dancing
is BIG business. Modern
Afrobeats music videos demand
bumper-to-bumper regardless
of the language you are singing
in. Behold, the musicians have
delivered, thanks to the sexy
dancers. As an around the way
dude myself I can confirm that
dancing is now businessly separated. You can get a regular
dancefloor dance, video dance,
street dance, choreographed
Follow us on Twitter
@NigerianWatch
STYLEWATCH
dance... based on your requirement.
Afrobeats music has broken
colours, cultural backgrounds
and dance boundaries and, hell
yeah, can I also add it is now a
major bill payer. I break it down
with Nicole Thea, who has had a
westernised upbringing but has
ended up travelling all around
the world dancing with the
biggest Afrobeats stars out
there. Hey she ain’t even
“Our Authenticity as
Nigerian people in the
UK has been helped by
Afrobeats”
It’s so cool to be African now in the UK because of
Afrobeats. Deoba Authentic tells us about living
life in London in the 90s where Africans were trying to fit into the mainstream club and music
scene.
In the 90s there were no musical platforms, no
opportunities, and people changed their African
names just to fit in. There was no confidence for
people to be themselves, either as musician or
fan. There was personal and professional mis-representation. If you had an African accent you were
never accepted in the mainstream.
However, now is a different story and with
Deoba as a musician, DJ and a radio presenter
today, he is happy just to provide a platform for
more cultural ambassadors of our roots.
www.btsbehindthescenes.com/deoba
Behind The Scenes
Video of the Week
This is how it works: we pick from 5 UK
Afrobeats videos weekly and do a countdown.
We only show the full video of the week while
we show snippets of the rest.
Our criteria is heat.
BTS VIDEO OF THE WEEK IS: Dizzy VC- Scammer
See the countdown below.
5. Mazi Chukz- Hustle
4. Mister Silver- B.A.D (Best achieving Don)
3. C-Boy feat Romel - Come closer
2. Ezi Emela - Confarm it
1. Dizzy VC - Scammer
Send your music videos to info@btsbehindthescenes.com to be considered for our
video of the week.
Friday night, I’m out as usual. Caught up with
Lanre Davies (CEO Factory 78) and Adesope Olajide (Bang Radio) at La lounge.
3 A.M, we’re wasted, F78 crew were about to
leave when we got talking about music money.
Lanre advised that all Afrobeats artists need to
get their music licensed. Exclusive licencing is not
good, he said, get a licence that will
allow you get paid from
everything, including Mixtapes. F78 are on Afrobeats
bangers vol 4. Send your music
in and get paid. Chi-ching!
As the seasons change, it’s closet
reconstruction time once again. But to
ace the biggest trends of the year try
walking into your wardrobe – as the
classics are being born again
BOMBER JACKETS The vintage shape of
these jackets gives your outfit a
touch of retro chic-ness, which
is usually seen on those fashion-savvy girls, and the best
solution for this not-quite there weather is the military inspired jacket. With
mouth-watering embellishments and some featuring collegiate stripes, I am
spoilt for choice. An ever
present closet staple, why
not refurbish your old
bomber with studs for that
hardcore look or metallic
appliqué for a more sophisticated vibe. Feminise with
pretty dresses for a definite
winning look.
BOHO DRESSES
With the trend for all
things 70s, folk
dresses remain a top
draw. This traditional
style is still going
strong for autumn and will
continue right into next spring
so don't kick yours to the curb
just yet. Opting for vintage
prints with modern silhouettes, demure hemlines and
necklines, guarantee that
these dresses lend themselves
to the streets as well as the
elite soirée. Style now with a
kimono style jacket and block
heeled sandals and team with
ankle boots in the much colder
months. I’m wearing my hair
tousled for this one and my
search for the perfect dress
with bellowing sleeves continues.
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NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
EDUCATIONWATCH
21
Reforms aim to raise BAME student numbers
MORE NEEDS to be done to improve the
university experience for black and minority
ethnic (BAME) students, the minister for
Universities and Science has said.
Delivering a speech at the Universities UK
Conference at the University of Surrey, Jo
Johnson – the younger brother of London
mayor Boris Johnson – outlined Government
plans to give students better value for money
from their degrees.
Johnson
also
spoke
critically on
the
present
university
culture
and
accused
academics of
prioritising
research over
teaching.
In order to
improve the
representation
of
disadvantaged
groups, Mr Johnson announced a new
agreement with UCAS, the central organisation
through which applications are processed for
entry to higher education, to publish data on
the outcomes of the admissions process.
Mr Johnson said, “We must do more to raise
outcomes for those from black and minority
ethnic communities. Making university
admissions data available will help the whole
sector target its efforts much more effectively.”
UCAS data shows the proportion of young
people from disadvantaged backgrounds
placed in higher education rose by four per cent
this year (see below).
The proposed measures would be
significant in charting the progress of the
Government’s commitment to increase the
number of BME students heading to university
by a further 20 per cent by 2020.
Calling for greater transparency in regards
to tuition fees, the minister added, “It is not
at all clear to some students what their up-to
£9,000 a year tuition fees actually pay for, and
this has led to calls, which I support, for
greater transparency from providers about
what they spend fee income on."
Leeds University graduate Shani Page-Muir
shared the experience of fellow black students
and friends who still had to work part-time
job to make ends meet.
She said, “Student loans really don’t cover
all the costs of maintenance and rent, so a lot
of friends – particularly in their final year –
had to make the difficult decision of whether
they would continue working at the detriment
of their studies or they would have to give it
up.”
Mr Johnson’s proposals for higher
REPORT FINDS BRITISH
UNIVERSITIES LESS LIKELY
TO TAKE ETHNIC
MINORITY STUDENTS
Students with an ethnic minority background are given fewer places to study
at university compared with their white
counterparts, new analysis has shown.
Figures published by UCAS, the nationwide university admissions service,
show that black, Asian and other ethnic
minority students are marginally less
successful at gaining a place at university, even when exam results have
been factored into the data.
Analysis showed that while the gap
between white students and ethnic
minorities securing places at university
is narrowing, it has not been completely eradicated.
The decision to release the figures
(which compiled application rates from
ethnic groups and offers of university
places to them between 2010 and
2014), came as Universities Minister Jo
Johnson called for more transparency
on the subject.
“This latest publication shows welcome progress and supports our commitment to increase the number of
education reform will make its first
appearance this autumn on green paper for
consultation and debate.
It will include the introduction of a
Teaching Excellence Framework as a means of
incentivising and rewarding good quality
teaching and market reform to improve
competition and give students more choice.
First elected to parliament in 2010 to
represent Orpington, Mr Johnson, an Oxford
graduate and Old Etonian, was appointed
universities minister this year after serving as
David Cameron’s policy chief since 2013.
black and minority ethnic students by
20 percent in the next five years,”
Johnson said upon the publication of
the data.
“Providing more data like this will
help the whole higher education sector
to really focus its effort to widen participation and raise young people’s aspirations.”
Further analysis by the Guardian
newspaper revealed the discrepancy
between offers widened as the universities became less selective.
This means that a top ranking university is more likely to accept a student from an ethnic minority than a
lower ranking one.
“This analysis is encouraging in that
it does not reflect any systemic bias
against ethnic minorities in higher education admissions,” UCAS chief executive Mary Curnock Cook said.
Using the difference between predicted A-level grades and offers gained
from universities, the newspaper analyzed the levels of students who were
being turned away even with adequate
predicted grades.
In humanities subjects such as literature and modern languages, as well
as medical sciences, there was a onetwo percent gap between grade forecasts and the actual offers made by
universities.
More than 360 ethnic minority students did not gain places to study
medical sciences at Russell Group universities, despite having the requisite
grades, the paper reported.
“We are anxious to rule out the sort
of large, systemic differences in applications and offers that have been discussed in the past,” said Mark Corver,
UCAS director of analysis and research.
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NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
SPORTSWATCH
Mathematical
challenges NFF over
FIFA presidency
ARE YOU WATCHING, MR OLISEH?
From page 24 of the weekend. It took Victor
Moses only six minutes to end City’s 572-minute
league run without conceding a goal.
Moses’s effort set West Ham up for a
remarkable 2-1 victory, and demonstrated both
a return to the self confidence of old and his
capacity to make bold and courageous decisions.
Moses has shown that he can both think quickly
and make the most of the slightest glimmer of
opportunity.
Many questions have been levelled at the
striker over the last few seasons. The forward
flopped at Liverpool, fell out of favour with
Nigeria, and saw injury undermine his progress
at Stoke City. But he is excelling in east London
and his manager, Slaven Bilic, remarked that
Upton Park might be where he rebuilds his
reputation.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager
Manuel Pellegrini expressed delight at
Iheanacho's
performance,
saying
the
youngster's development persuaded him he did
not need to bring in a replacement after Edin
Dzeko left for Roma in the summer. Mr
Pellegrini has high hopes for the Nigeria Under20 international and admits the player could
play a big part in the club's season.
Mr Pellegrini added, "He's a very important
player for us. He's just 18 and started working
with our squad last season but he was unlucky
and had a big injury in the last three months of
the season.
Iheanacho said, "I am happy to score a goal
like that as Palace is a great team but we are also
a strong team and I am hoping to do great for the
team. It is not easy because there are great
players here but I have to work hard and I will
get there.
Voted the player of the tournament at the U17
World Cup in 2013, Iheanacho, who wears the
number 72 shirt for City, has been capped by
Nigeria at under-17 and under-20 level.
Finally Ighalo’s stunning start to the season
must have put him into contention for the
misfiring Super Eagles, who have struggled to
score in their African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Typically humble, however, Ighalo said his
outstanding start to the season was a result of
teamwork.
Ighalo said, “The team has been doing well,
even in the last two games we played at home,
so it’s a big relief and it’s a big team effort.
“It’s always a pleasure scoring and getting
three points in front of the home fans, so it’s a
great feeling and I’m really happy about the way
they are singing my name. Like I said after I
signed my contract, they’ve been pushing us
and keeping us going and they’re one of the
reasons why I made the decision to be here."
All three players have laid to claims to being
included in Super Eagles' coach Sunday Oliseh's
next squad when he announces it next month.
We can only hope Mr Oliseh has been
watching.
BUHARI PLEDGES TO INVEST IN SPORT AS
NIGERIA HAILS VICTORIOUS ATHLETES
23
FORMER Super Eagles captain and Fifa presidential candidate Chief Segun Odegbami has protested the criteria
set by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) which candidates have to meet before getting nominated for the
Fifa presidency.
Both former Abia State governor Dr Orji Kalu and
Chief Odegbami have signified their intention to run for
the office but Fifa states federations can only present
one candidate, so one of the two Nigerians has to either
stand down for the other or the NFF has to organise a
primary election. To resolve the matter, the NFF has set
a series of stiff criteria for the candidates to meet, in the
hope that the matter will resolve itself.
NFF officials have decided that any prospective candidate must obtain endorsements from their state football associations, the National Sports Commission (NSC)
and the Confederation of African Football (Caf). However, in a letter addressed to the NFF president Amaju
Pinnick, and copied to President Muhammadu Buhari,
the Fifa general secretary and Caf President, Issa Hayatou, Chief Odegbami described the endorsements from
the NSC and Caf as unnecessary.
Chief Odegbami wrote, “I refer to my letter of August
26, 2015, addressed to you, in which I humbly requested nomination by the NFF to enable me to contest
the vacant position of President of Fifa in the election
coming up on February 26, 2016. Whilst awaiting a formal response from you, it was with utter disbelief and
shock to read of the conditions on a television programme that the NFF has set for Nigerian candidates.
“I find the last two of these requests very bizarre
and a product of a lack of familiarity with the guidelines
for the Fifa presidential elections.”
Victor Moses
(above) and
Ighalo (right)
MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVE
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Nigeria’s sportsmen and women
have been congratulated by President Buhari on their triumphant
returns after excelling in both the
All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville and African Basketball championships in Tunis.
And he has pledged that his
administration will make sports a
priority going forward so the
country can build on these recent
successes and harness the natural
talents of its young people.
The country’s athletes topped
the athletics medal table in the
15th All African Games, with an
impressive haul of 38 medals –
boasting almost twice as many
golds as nearest rivals South
Africa – thanks mainly to a strong
performance by the women’s
team.
Nigeria won a total of 14 gold,
14 silver and 10 bronze medals
compared to South Africa’s seven
gold, four silver and 10 bronze
medals and Kenya, third in the
table, with six gold, five silver and
eight bronze medals.
The D’Tigers who won silver at
the All Africa Games went on to
win Gold at the Tunis African Basketball championship for the first
time in 50 years, automatically
qualifying for the Rio Olympic
Games in 2016.
Buhari noted that the performance of Team Nigeria at the
Congo games had yet again
brought the massive potential of
Nigerian sportsmen and women to
excel in their chosen areas against
all odds.
He implored the country’s ath-
letes to do all they could to ensure
that “Nigeria regains its number
one position in Africa and the
world at large’’.
The president, whose delegation had attended the closing ceremony and conveyed his
congratulations to the Team Nigeria and its officials, promised the
team a fitting ceremony when
they all regrouped in Nigeria.
He also assured Nigeria’s
sportsmen and women that his
administration would accord priority to sports, in addition to
boosting the morale of the players
and enhancing training for future
challenges.
He reminded the athletes not
to rest on their oars “because the
challenges grow bigger and more
complex each day’’.
Our Edgware offices provide a fun environment to work in and we pride ourselves on being a
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Sourcing and closing advertising deals with corporates and blue chip companies
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PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY
24
NIGERIAN WATCH
25 Sept - 8 Oct 2015
Follow us on Twitter
@NigerianWatch
INSIDE
Nigeria’s athletes come out
on top in Africa Games
SportsWATCH
HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING THE
PREMIER EAGLES, MR OLISEH?
SUPER Eagles strikers Kelechi Iheanacho,Odion
Ighalo and Victor Moses have been setting the
English Premiership alight over the last two
weekends, igniting hopes that the Nigeria
national team can return to winning ways. Each
of the players have hit the ground running in the
Prem, scoring for their respective club sides
Manchester City, Watford and West Ham.
City’s Iheanacho (left), who came on as an 89th
minute substitute, scored a classic goal poacher’s goal
in the 90th minute to secure all three points away to
Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday September
(Sept 12).
Meanwhile Odion Ighalo, who signed a new fiveyear deal with Watford last week has been scoring
freely; hitting the net twice last weekend (Sept 19) to
secure Watford’s first home victory in the
Premiership, having the previous weekend scored the
only goal away at Swansea to secure the newly
promoted club’s first ever victory in the league.
And Victor Moses scored a magnificent first-half
goal against the current league leaders Manchester
City, drilling a low 20-yard shot past Joe Hart, to set
up West Ham for the surprise victory Turn to page 23
1
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