October!

Watch this space for more events this October. Last week we put our arty and cultural caps on as we attended the following events:

1) Nneka on The Green - courtesy www.quirktheworld.com



2) Against All Odds - Exhibition (drawings by Ibe Ananaba) @ The Goethe Institute



3) Terra Kulture Craft Fair

Art Competition - Entry Closes October
23rd!!!!!

What's On: Nnenna Okore and so on.....

Arts, Culture and Entertainment

Nnenna Okore Exhibition at Goethe Institut

Nnenna Okore, the talented and internationally acclaimed sculptor and installation artist, returns to Nigeria to hold her first major art exhibition beginning June 20th, 4pm, at the Goethe Institut in Lagos.

Nnenna often uses materials found in urban environments. Her artworks reflect the way that natural and man-made materials evolve, decay and transform, while other pieces can take on the character and flowing shape of traditional woven cloths or elements of nature. She has received several awards and residencies worldwide, and has been exhibited in several prestigious galleries and museums including the Museum of Art and Design, New York and the October Gallery, London.

The German Cultural center, the Goethe Institut are her hosts for this show presented by Kachifo Limited, publishers of Farafina Books. The show runs at the Goethe Institut from June 20th until July 10th. Learn more about this artist by logging on to www.nnennaokore.com, or by contacting the organisers at info@kachifo.com.. Venue is the Goethe Institut

Designer Launch Showcase at Temple Muse

Temple Muse is a Luxury Lifestyle Store in Lagos, Nigeria. It prides itself on being ahead of trends and having a multitude of luxury brands.

Tomorrow, it will be hosting a designer showcase with new lines from designers such as Zebra and Jewel by Lisa. Venue - Temple Muse, 8 Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Opp. Toyota Showroom, Victoria Island

Kel's Album Launch

Female rap artist, Kel will be launching her album tonight here in Lagos. Look out for more info on Kel's Album

Theatre @ Terra this Sunday

.....Showing Death and The King's Horseman (Venue - Terra Kulture)

RISE - World International Youth Day 2009

Visit Risenetworks.org

Rise is a network which aims to revitalize values by inculcating positive behaviour in the representatives of the future and also to create a springboard for young, unsung, uncelebrated heroes to explore their talents and express their creative voices. There will be a National Event starting with Lagos on Saturday 20th June 2009 to celebrate the World International Youth Day.

Naija To The Core is now 'Nigeria: What's On?!'

What's on in June!

Entertainment

The Koko Lounge Launch

The new Koko Lounge, commonly known as KL started up by D'banj, Cecil Hammond and Baba Ikazoboh at the Silbervird Cinemas and Mall, Yaba launches tonight. The new lounge is something to check out but I presume it's targeted at the kokolettes!


Koko Mansion

Koko Mansion is a reality TV show Exclusively aired on HiTV from the 1st of June. It comprises of12 girls who will reside in a state-of –the-art mansion in Lagos City, while living lavishly as any Kokolette should.

During these weeks, the young women will be groomed and tested in various Diva tasks and activities in order to determine the one with the greatest Koko Virtues. Don’t get it twisted! A Kokolette is a “Fully endowed woman with intellectual property” likened to the “Betty Irabors” and “Nike Oshinowos” of today. ~ hmmmmmm ~

The show will exclusively portray the true lifestyle of the principal character – D’Banj as a celebrity with a lot of razzmatazz. The Kokolette who emerges as the winner will win:

• A Chris Aire Diamond ring

• A brand new convertible car
• N5million

Most importantly, the winner will be D’Banjs Kokolette for one full year and will be his companion at public events both within and outside Nigeria.

Visit the Koko mansion website @ http://www.kokomansion.tv


The GLO Lafftafest

The GLO Lafftafest is an entertainment and relaxation platform for Glo customers to ease off the stress of work and city life. It is a form of rewarding Glo's loyal customers and features acts such as Baketmouth, I Go Die, Klint Da Drunk, P Square, Durella, etc. It is a monthly event showcasing comedy, music and drama for Glo customers. This month's Lafftafest will be happening on Sunday the 7th of June at the Event Place, Planet 1, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos.

Entry criteria

Use a minimum of N2500 airtime in the last 30 days to qualify for a raffle draw.

Winners in the draw will receive an sms from Glo informing them once they have used the minimum airtime to qualify.

The winners will be asked to send ''GLO LAFFTA FEST'' followed by the customers phone make and model (e.g. Nokia E71) as a text message to 35001

Each text message costs N100

Customers are sent text messages once they have exceeded N2500 airtime usage and asked to respond to the text if they wish to enter for the raffle draw. Once the winners are selected, another text* is sent to the winners with the venue of the show, the entry code and the time the show would commence. *winners are advised not to delete the text message sent to their phones, containing their entry code.

The experience is always thrilling! Read about last month's Glo Laffta Fest here

Arts & Culture

Theatre @ Terra

Presents:

The 3rd Annual Season of Wole Soyinka

Every Sunday in June!

Featuring-

The Lion and The Jewel- June 7 & June 14

Death and The King's Horsemen- June 21 & June 28

Produced by Wole Oguntokun, every Sunday in June at Terra Kulture, Tiamiyu Savage St, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Time- 3pm & 6pm

Tickets- N2000

ISOKAN - Togetherness

An exhibition of paintings, & sculptures.

By Iponri Studios

GRAND OPENING: 6^th of June, 2009 at 4pm prompt

Exhibition continues until Thursday 11^th of June 2009

VENUE: TERRA KULTURE

PLOT 1376 TIAMIYU SAVAGE STREET , OFF AHMADU BELLO WAY

VICTORIA ISLAND , LAGOS

Specialist

'Girl Talk'

Let's Talk again
On: 6th June
At: 10b Ikoya Avenue off Queens Drive off Macpherson, Ikoyi
At: 2pm

The girls are going to have a great time! Come prepared!

What's On This Week?

Sefi Atta Book Reading



Sefi Atta, renowned Nigerian author of Everything Good Will Come, will be in town to promote her two latest releases, Lawless & Other Stories and Swallow. There will also be readings by Toni Kan Onwordi, author of Night of the Creaking Bed and Karen King-Aribisala, author of Our Wife and Other Stories. It promises to be a fulfilling evening for everyone...

Date:	Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Time:	5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:	British Council, Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi

Le Petit Marche




A piece of Portobello in Lagos...

For those who enjoy a stroll down the busy Portobello road, the energy and noise from customers haggling in the market stalls and the aroma of hot dogs and corn-on-a cob and shopping for less...you would love Le petit Marche. This is a new age market with goods varying from vintage clothing and Bric à Brac, to Art, retail clothing and greeting cards. The market will be open every last Saturday of the month starting on the 28th of February 2009 at The Jazz Sessions, from 9am till 6pm

The Line includes goods from:

• O by Obsidian
• CaxtonAlile Cards
• Buki De La Zaria bags and leather goods
• Rukky Frocks
• Trak apparel by Bisola Kamson
• Vintage clothing and accessories by The Lagos Look
• Art by Ivie’s
• Retail clothing, cocktails dresses, accessories etc.

	Email: wonuolaodunsi@gmail.com
	Location: Jazz Essions, Ozumba Mbadiwe Str. V/I Date: Saturday 28th February, 2009 Time: 9am - 6pm

Boutik Yurok!

One day boutique, women's and men's fashion, featuring hip and trendy collections from some of Africa's hottest young designers; Lanre DaSilva Ajayi (LDA), Jewel by Lisa (JBL), Okunoren Twins Bespoke, Oheneba (Accra) and others.
Casual wear- shirts, jackets, hot summer dresses, cool tops & fun tees, the latest jeans and unique accessories.

Date: Sunday, 1st March 2009
Time: 12pm - 6pm
Location: Terra Kulture



Friday Nite Laff

Date:	Friday, February 27, 2009
Time:	6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:	Magnolia Hall, City Mall Onikan Lagos

Media forum on Youth, leadership, patriotism and National Development

This media forum will address the call made by former UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Anan at an awards ceremony in Nigeria, that young people need to be given opportunities to take leadership positions. It will also address sundry issues relating to the barriers to youth leadership.

Venue: Abuja, Nigeria

Date:	Thursday, February 26, 2009
Time:	10:00am - 2:00pm

Can A Book Change A Life?

Is there a book inside you? Can a book change a life is in conjuction with the Federal Ministry of Education




Date: Friday 27 Feb - Saturday 28 Feb
Location: Terra Kulture



Poetry Potter

Date:	Saturday, February 28, 2009
Time:	2:00am - 7:00am
Location:	ROTUNDA HALL, NATIONAL LIBRARY, YABA

Eden



Eden classes are a refresher course and soft introduction into uncovering the secrets of looking and feeling beautiful. The classes are short no more than 3 hours and will focus on key aspects of looking and feeling beautiful.

The first class will take place on the February 28th and will commence with the Make up Refresher course. The cost of attending the classes is N5, 000

The instructors are professionals as well as individuals who have been identified as possessing an unusual knack regarding their subject matter. So please indicate interest by sending an email to edenclasses@gmail.com.

Date:	Saturday, February 28, 2009
Time:	10:00am - 1:00pm
Location:	Victoria Island

Phone:	08022220065
Email:	edenclasses@gmail.com

December: What's Up?

Next Top Model™ Comes To West Africa

First there was America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks’ brainchild, a reality show in which a number of women compete for the title - America's Next Top Model. Soon after, a myriad of other versions followed including Afghanistan's Next Top Model, China's Next Top Model, Britain's Next Top Model, Australia's Next Top Model and Scandinavia's Next Top Model.

The first African Franchise was in Ghana - GNTM and Nigeria followed shortly with spin-off, Nigeria's Next Top Model which aired on HiTV with Olabimitan Adeyinka.

Cycle after cycle, with the Next Top Model brand getting stronger and stronger and more patents being bought, Tope Esan, professional and president of the Nigerian Entertainment Awards (NEA) - http://www.nigeriaentawards.com/ was busy lobbying for the third African Franchise of NTM - West Africa's Next Top Model. He has purchased the rights and hosting the show will be Supermodel and Entrepreneur, Oluchi Onewagba-Orlandi.

Tope Esan, NEA

The show will start airing in January 2009 and will follow the same format as the original American’s Next Top Model. The format will be produced every season by region on the African continent with the initial start up being in West Africa.

Scouting for contestsants will soon commence in the following countries - Cote D'ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Liberia & Nigeria. Like many other revolutions, the era of African Supermodels has evolved. Stay tuned….

Theatre @ Terra

Theatre @ Terra, which is playwright Wole Oguntokun's pet-project, is growing and gaining popularity ever-increasingly. It is an unprecedented project in collaboration with cultural centre, Terra Kulture. Top-rate stage productions are produced weekly, showing twice daily on Sundays every month. The project is playing a major part in the renaissance of Arts & Culture in Nigeria and shows one production per month.

Last month, the famous production - "The lion and the Jewel" by renowned writer, Wole Soyinka was showing.

For more information, visit www.nigerian-theatre.com
Photos: Courtesy Wole Oguntokun


The Experience
Celebrating God and His faithfulness.......live music like never before.

Friday, December 5th at TBS, Onikan Lagos 7pm till 6am!!! Be There!
Visit www.theexperiencelagos.com

Freedom Card, Nigeria

Freedom Gift Card is a customizable preloaded gift plastic card that can be redeemed at any retail outlet where Interswitch debit cards are accepted. It acts as the ideal gift because it gives the recipient the freedom to choose the ideal gift at various discount outlets in Lagos.

Visit www.freedomcardng.com

Tis The Season To Be Sorry!

I started writing this on the 1st of January but could not complete it that day couldn't find the time to sit for an hour to blog so saved it. Bloggers and their excuses - anyway I'm back! I'm sure you all agree I deserved that holiday. Exactly a month - wow!

Happy New Year to all - may this be your year of good things/your calling and purposefulness and unmerited favour. May you all find what you are looking for as long as it in line with God's will - AMEN.

As usual, the festive season is always packed with loads of events in Naija. I mentioned a few before I went on my blogger sabbatical. Nigeria saw the likes of Lil Kim, Kanye, Akon (for the millionth time) and many more. There were several other events I did not have time to mention and I will talk about them briefly - as per usual. Once again - a happy new year to all and hope you enjoyed your holidays.

Round-up of Events:

i) Starville concert (15th Dec)

The Starville concert @ the ThisDay Center rocked! It featured Lil Kim, Amerie, D'Banj, Naeto C, Weird MC, Banky Wellington, Brick and Lace (with their single "Love is Wicked" - Naija hit) and a few others. Some pics below (click to enlarge):

LIL' WAYNE UNFORTUNATELY COULDN'T MAKE IT :(

ii) Star Mega Jam (14th Dec)



The star mega jam apparently went down well on the 14th of December. Didn't hear much about that other than that they made T-Pain and Kanye say Shine Shine Bobo! That would have been a laugh and a half.

iii) Rhythm Unplugged (21st Dec)

This was held at Federal Palace and apparently did not start early - So, What's New?

Apparently Basketmouth's jokes were so dry and out-dated that he got Boo'd. OUCH! A Champ is humbled. More info about this at Chakam's Corner



I hope his event at Fantasyland (The Good, The Bad, The Ugly) on Christmas day turned out to be a lot better than what he went through at Rhythm Unplugged. Generally, I think the show turned out okay - from what I heard.

iv) Akon in Lagos

Akon returned to Naija (for the millionth time) for yet another concert performing alongside the likes of Tuface, Olu Maintain and D'banj. That guy needs to go and perform in Senegal jare - we've had too much of him here (hehe). No review on that but if anyone went for it, give us a shout.


v) Sasha - Album Release



The first lady has finally released her album and even had an album release party on Thursday the 20th of December at Bacchus (which I heard was packed). She has a hit single on the album "Adara"

If you are nice and leave a comment, I will feature two singles for grabs in my next post - (Love is wicked and Adara). So I want to see how many comments I will get on this post (hehehe)

I'll update you more later. For now, those in Lagos can now enjoy live stage drama every Sunday at Terra Kulture (see Laspapi's blog). I think that is fantastic! See below:

Have a good week! xxx