Marriage

One interesting stage in marriage is when the kids begin to arrive. The usual unending love and sultry texts and chats are gradually replaced by long lists of things to buy and bills to pay, that don't end with the usual, "I love you". Being aware of that stage makes all the difference.

You Are Magic

All eyes on me but mine bore holes in you

 

Sweetly swirling before my eyes

 

Like gamblers follow their rolling dice

 

Walking on air endless without a care

 

And like a moth's attraction to light

 

My day surrenders to your night

 

Don't notice how green their envy is

 

Bliss like no one can truly give

 

Makes my heart beat in heave

 

All my doubts have disappeared

 

Can only see your graceful allure

 

Bewitching with the charm of azure

 

Take you out of me and the magic is gone.

Emeka Amakeze

HOPE OF MY DREAM

I sometimes let go of myself and savour the joy of my daydreams. 

The joy of knowing that things can only get better is always sweet.

Even though the angry and sharp pangs of today’s hunger bite bitterly,

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

Empty pockets make one think that luxury pamper is a waste of money.

But if I can’t buy all the things I want, let me afford the ones I need at least.

Let me accept that garri and rice are both starch instead of change of diet.

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

I am definitely going to have the best woman in the world for a wife.

She is going to be so tender, very caring and absolutely loving.

That missing rib that is the bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

Though I lack spare shoes and the ones I have now are so worn out,

I have lived uncomfortably in the only clothes I have for many years.

Being at daggers drawn with my landlord over rent must surely stop!

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

I am not lazy, but wouldn’t mind working with ease of mind.

Who’s not tired of working their fingers to the bones for peanuts?

Getting a little more than I can ever get in wages won’t kill me.

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

I won’t be too greedy to ask for a skyscraper or something better.

But if such are the cherries of my toil, I won’t reject them either.

For a roof over my head keeps worries of wetness and shine away.

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

I dream of a better tomorrow; to wipe away the bitter tears of today.

God is really good must come to everybody’s mind when they see me.

It is this hope that has kept me believing in those lovely dreams.

I will never let go of the hope that my dreams will surely come true.

Emeka Amakeze

I Heard

I have been searching for another like you

But those words never cease to haunt me

One day you will wake up and not find me

You said those with tears in your eyes

They didn’t mean much to my uncaring soul

But with the grief of a child, I now remember

I have wished for nothing else but what we had

But I heard you are now happily married

I never knew there weren’t two of you out there

Reaching out for you in others is now a mirage

How can I forget your tears when you said to me

“I love you but you are hurting me”

Now I wish I could even say that to you

As long as I have you in my life

But sadly, I heard you’re now happily married

You gave me your all and I gave you nothing

I now know it hurts not to be in love with you

Just like others before her, she’s nothing like you

I heard you are now very happy but I cry

A river of my tears flood the pillow we shared

How much pain did I cause you? I miserably ask myself

Where was my selfish heart when tiny drops of hurt tears

Ran a river down your heart and your love sailed away

I heard he makes you very happy

  

Sitting at a corner staring at the pieces of my heart

Broken by those I thought were sexier than you

My pride is gone but heartache keeps me company

I am sad but I heard your laughter now rings out

Can’t believe I sacrificed all you had for me

On the alien altar of uncertain scarlet women

And now I am paying for my waywardness

I just woke up and realized that you’re gone

I heard you are now happy

Emeka Amakeze

Taking the heat: Kitchen Politics

There has been a lot of arguments over why a woman should invite her would be daughter in-law to the kitchen when she visits for the first time. Different people have their varying perspectives on the subject.

However, I cannot help but remember some of the things my late grandmother told me as a kid as regards the kind of politics played in kitchen, and I realized why a mother would invite a ‘stranger’ in her kitchen. Though her era is gone and the dynamics of culture transmission have taken their toll on that aspect of our life as a people, kitchen politics has not completely changed.

As a kid, my grandmother made me understand that intrinsically, women did not invite their brides to be to the kitchen to test them. It was basically a huge sign of acceptance. There was absolutely nothing to test because she and her entire family had known almost every detail about a bride to be before she set foot in her would be husband‘s home. This used to be a standard marriage procedure in Igbo culture which was achieved via the practice of iju ese where families ask questions or perform divinations to gain insight into the worldview and practices of the families their sons or daughters would get related by marriage.

She said that the politics of the kitchen was all about control.

Women rarely shared their kitchen with people they neither trusted nor liked and because their kitchen and its immediate surroundings was a no fly zone for men, it was one of the safest places for women to make or mar; the success or failure of a man or even an entire family can be decided in the kitchen. They did everything within their power to keep the men away from the kitchen.

Now, the acceptance of a daughter in-law to be in the form of bringing her to the kitchen transmutes to sessions of knowledge acquisition for the young girl which either improves on or reiterates what she has already learnt about the politics of the fireplace from her own mother. Such knowledge serves certain purposes such as.

1. Reminding the bride to be that the women who effectively managed their kitchen were warriors who safeguarded their families. There were zero margins for error because if by error or mistake, an enemy gains access to the kitchen and poisons the food, an entire family is wiped out. They keenly watched what their families ate and made sure they had healthy and uncontaminated food. They forbade their children from eating from families and people who did not have healthy habits.

2. Limiting the culinary knowledge of the man to the barest minimum and shaming him to shreds if he showed more than a passing interest in learning kitchen affairs even as a boy. They reported such a man who is interested in the kitchen to his fellow men that he was becoming effeminate and most definitely, they will join in shaming such a man as not fit to be among them. Failure to keep the man in check was tantamount to losing control.

The men would toil from dawn to dusk at their farms to provide the much needed food but the most loved hands were the ones that cooked the food in the kitchen and served. Children knew who fed them whenever they were hungry and nobody needed to ask where their loyalty anchored. Children can forgive you for taunting their father but only God can forgive you when you taunt their mothers? Imagine the pride of the man who is served food that was a little bigger and had more pieces of meat than the ones served the rest of his fellow men. The power that came from the man appreciating that food and the gesture against the background of his interaction with his fellow men would be evident when she needed a favour.

My grandmother made me understand that the kitchen department was the only place the men dared not ask questions about how the money they provided for food was spent. The tough or brave ones who dared to ask for accounts got robust explanations and often ended up coughing out more money to pay off debts the wives owed imaginary ogiri and ukpaka sellers at the market. A woman could even save as much as she wanted.

For her, the sweat and heat of the fireplace was a little sacrifice they had to make, which was inconsequential compared to the power and control that came from managing the kitchen effectively.

That was an era. It is now a new era. Times and tides have changed.

Emeka Amakeze

My Village Shrine

My Village Shrine

I placed my feet one after the other in movement

Swirling red African dust settled on my feet

As I ate the distance between me and my destination

The laterite road surrendered to a leafy pathway

Noise of occasional passing cars and human chatter

Lost to the quietude of this enigma of a forest

Pulled forward by an invisible force of curiosity

I moved further into the forest towards the stream

From where they say my village shrine reigned

Even before the days of the father of my fathers'' father

And the deeper I went into the belly of the forest

The more fearsome the trees grew to be.

The shrubs became phantoms by tricks of my mind

And the eerie silence became loudly menacing

Running waters drummed to startle as I got near to it

And then, remembering the wisdom of the elders

I liberated my voice to hoarse shouts of the mortals

That the water spirits would go in and grant me safe passage

Between the water that gives life and the land of the African gods

The journey ends for the mortal female except the few favoured by the gods

And even those initiated into the revered cult of priesthood.

Just as the secret of the owl shall never be made known to daylight

So is the shadowy ancient trail to the seat of my village shrine.

My fathers'' father told me that I was initiated ahead of my mates

And so, I should not be afraid of a handshake with the gods

I shook off the cobwebs of trepidation hanging all over me

Looked around and in a leap of faith and courage

Sailed across the stream and walked into the thick undergrowth

Unnervingly evident that I was all by my curious self

It was a journey across the fabled playground of the gods

I knew about them – revered messengers of the gods

Right onto my path they sent chills down my spine

I had come too far to tolerate thoughts of going back.

The apes considered me with fearsome judging eyes

Found me worthy of an encounter with the abode of the gods

Left me to my fate and continued on their tour of duty

Cries of unusual birds I did not see bade me welcome

I ventured yet nearer my destination.

Excitedly, I sallied forth into the last of the shrubs

Before the sacred grotto but as nothing prepared me

For the extraordinary spectacle that beheld me,

I was bewitched and enthralled.

I cautiously moved my unwilling legs

Towards the subject of my visit

I sat down on a carved ancient wooden stool

Right in front of the cave and picked a piece of white clay...

Clay of the gods

I crushed a little and applied on my eyes

With a gradual comprehension that

I was really in the presence of a force

Beyond my mortal understanding,

My eyes grew accustomed to the darkness enveloping me

And I beheld it - my village shrine

Emeka Amakeze

She Died

She leaned on my shoulders and never woke up again

Her hot tears scalded me as they streamed down my back

Lifelessly she hung by me and nobody else felt her pulse

Couldn’t see her lips move but felt she had a bit to say

They argued and agreed she was as dead as a door nail

 

I am here now and you can talk to me I whispered to her

Her pains, fears and heartbreak took shapes before me

Fought back my tears as my heart melted to her ordeals

Urged her to agree with them that she was totally dead

Lost to the world of everything else but the two of us

Tiny warmth, strength of a woman within her heart

Fanned into unquenchable embers of affectionate flames

By the words I sang into her ears and rubbed into her skin

 

I told her she didn’t need to worry her pretty head off

She raised her head, looked me in the eyes and smiled at me

I smiled, she smiled, we smiled and our hearts glowed

And her feelings and soul died to all that hurt her in the past

Held her tenderly yet with arms so firm like no other

My strength and aura were the assurances she needed

Kissed her and promised her that everything is alright

She never woke up to the fears that brought her to me

Emeka Amakeze

Winning Edge

She wants a beautiful wedding. He wants to cash out. But somebody must pay the huge price.

Winning Edge is an exciting family drama that will keep you entertaining with lots of intrigues and suspense.

Written, produced and directed by Emeka Amakeze

Starring actors like

Emma Ayalogu

Tina Mba

Emeka Amakeze

Yvonne Jegede

Justice Slik

Jerry Williams

Ernestina Chikere

Ijeoma Nnanna

I Have Something To Say

You are the fairest of them all and they never cease to be awed as they laud and applaud the handiwork of God and none ever jawed you my love. Your beauty is not flawed because you are not a fraud. I will fight and claw to make your path broad

Because I am your knight that always comes to your fight. You make me recite how much skin-tight my love fits to your heart. I will hold you through the night till our spirits are truly light with the delight we know how well to excite.

You have been a dearest friend and you alone I will always send. I will bend even to break just to make amend to blend in your life my love. They cannot comprehend how much I depend on your trend because you do not pretend.

How long has it really been since my soul desires to be seen by you? I will trek even to Berlin to feel you addict me like caffeine because I have truly missed you and your African cuisine. I am keen not to allow anybody come in between us my love

I am so proud you are well-endowed and because you give me the happiness of a crowd, you make me scream aloud when you exude that appeal that puts me in the mood and I make you reach for the cloud. Your love feels like food to my soul

You are aware I value you more than air because you have shown me how much you care by making me an heir and I feel like a billionaire in this love affair. I swear nobody out there will dare to compare with you my rare luminaire

Never met any that is half the woman you are and as I quaff of your love and because you are not a diamond in the rough, you make me feel like a chief among my peers. You make me laugh even when times are tough and make me call bluff of those who think I should have had enough

Assuaging my fear with each passing year, you have made me appear drunk without a drop of beer and fearless like a brigadier. I will commandeer whatever you find so dear and make all your worries disappear and veer you away from every wear and tear.

I am not in contest for your love because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are my crest of affection and my chest cannot contain all your zest even if compressed. I am blessed you are mine and I will stay away from all that you detest

I will always have something to say about the way you make me sway and Cupid will first betray love before I delay to tell you how much I love you from day to day. I will whisk you to fantasy land straight away and never allow you to stray

I still have something more to say my love. 

An Emeka Amakeze's poetic thought 

Line Of Sight

Despite all our efforts, they still want us to disunite

Our blood is their delight as my country  they blight

Bringing fight unwanted to force us to take to flight

Unusual fright is in the land but there is none to indict

No light to brighten our paths for none there is the knight

The peace promised is but a sleight of hand in our sight

For our plight is to vote that our wealth be their right

Deafening disquiet of a once powerful home-land in delight

The height of their insensitivity pushes us to self-ignite

Our collective might as a people no more gives us respite

Not with morale as tight as wood eaten inside by termite

I recite our anthem and I realise that nothing is now alright

Our name is bigger than Elephant but we're cowered like ant

Is this the rite of passage for this giant of Africa spite?

Smite this evil in our land that we shall once again be great

But how could this ever be if you and I don’t make it right

Poverty Is Not A State Of Mind.

I think that telling a poor person who has worked hard all their life that poverty is a state of mind is like a man telling a mother that the pain of childbirth is a state of mind.

You obviously need money to make money.

State of mind does not give economic capital.

Enabling environment, progressive government policies, circumstances of birth can give the economic capital that gets people out of poverty.

Most poor people lack the above and it hurts.

It is foolishness for poor people to burden themselves and die with the pain of believing that poverty is a state of mind.

It is nothing but a blame the victim strategy of the rich to make themselves feel they worked hard enough to escape poverty while the poor are lazy.

Too many circumstances beyond a person's control could make them poor and force them to remain poor.

If poverty is a state of mind, why do government always campaign with pulling people out of poverty but never talks about the welfare of their minds?

People have gone through poorly funded schools by dint of hard work & good grades but ended up jobless... Lots of such cases in Nigeria.

No social contact or economic capital to lift them out of poverty.

It's an insult to tell them that their poverty is a state of their minds.

There is hunger, homelessness, joblessness & insecurity...

Poor healthcare & education...

Judiciary ceased to be the last hope of the common man...

Forget getting out of poverty.

The fault lies squarely on the government; not on the notion that poverty is a state of mind.

It's takes capital to study courses that comparatively ensure good salary in the labour market.

It takes capital to bribe to get good paying jobs.

The poor people who can't afford the capital cannot change the odds with any state of mind.

They need scholarships.

Social contact matters. Know powerful & prominent people? Contracts & money usually follow.

Who points a poor person to banks to get loans or contract awarding institutions?

Can state of mind give you recommendations letters?

Weaponised hunger is used to keep the poor poor.

If you work through the odds & by stroke of luck, you become rich, we will thank God for your life.

But before you tell the poor ones that poverty is a state of mind, remember that there are people who are smarter & more hardworking than you who didn't make it out of poverty.

If you have never known poverty all your life, what do you know about the state of mind of the poor people that makes you think they enjoy watching their families go hungry, their children out of school, loved ones dying in their arms because they can't afford medical bills?

Poverty is not a state of mind.

It's a circle you can break out of if you work hard, stay focused and the grace of God showers on you.

And yes! Some people did next to nothing to break out of poverty.

Some never gave a thought to being rich but they left poverty behind.

My name is Emeka Amakeze.

Life of a filmmaker

Emeka Amakeze

It's always a pleasure working with the beautiful Ebele Okaro a fantastic actor and a good mother to all.

We made magic on this set and you all will love it.

#actor #actorslife #pictureoftheday #love #fashion #filmmaker #lights #camera #action #filming #Photography #tagsforlikes #fun #instafollow #followme #instagood

Your Happiness My Sadness

I’ve been searching for another like you

But those words never cease to haunt me

One day you will wake up and not find me

You said those with tears in your eyes

They didn’t mean much to my uncaring soul

But with the grief of a child, I now remember

I’ve wished for nothing else but what we had

But I heard you are now happily married

I never knew there weren’t two of you out there

Reaching out for you in others is a mirage

I remember you say tearfully

“I love you but you are hurting me”

How I wish I could even say that to you

As long as I have you in my life

But sadly, I heard you’re now happily married

You gave me your all and I gave you nothing

I know now it hurts not to be in love with you

Just like others before her, she’s nothing like you

I heard you are now happy

Squeezing out a river of your tears from the pillow we shared

How much pain did I cause you? I miserably ask myself

Where was my selfish heart when tiny drops of hurt tears

Ran a river down your heart and your love sailed away

I heard he makes you very happy

Sitting at a corner staring at the pieces of my heart

Broken by those I thought were sexier than you

My pride is gone but heartache keeps me company

I am sad but I heard your laughter now rings out

Can’t believe I sacrificed all you had for me

On the alien altar of uncertain scarlet women

And now I am paying for my waywardness

I just woke up and realized that you’re gone

 Emeka Amakeze

Dead End?

What a satire!  I read this and thought to share.

“How was your Christmas Day?”
“Comme ci, comme ca.”
“What’s that?”
“I am speaking French. You mean you don’t even understand elementary French?”
“No, I don’t. Speak English. How was Christmas?”
“Low-key. Like this, like that”.
“For me, it was a dead-end Christmas.”
“God forbid. May we never have a dead-end Christmas. I reject it in Jesus name.”
“If you like, summon the Holy Ghost. We have never had a Christmas like this one. On Christmas eve in Lagos, come and see people just going about, many of them aimlessly. The kind of shopping that heralds Christmas was absent. For the first time, I could see the real colour of sadness, frustration and regret on the people’s faces.”
“It depends on what part of Lagos you are talking about. If you had been in Lekki or Victoria Island, you would have seen a different colour.”
“I know. There are two countries in one: the real Nigeria and the other Nigeria, where people live in a bubble. But the bubble is beginning to burst everywhere. With the Naira now N500 to the dollar, and businesses failing everyday, the pain is spreading. It was an unusual Christmas.”
“Everywhere jus’ dry. I know some people who used to hold Christmas parties every December 25. They just decided to postpone it till next year. But did you at least manage to eat rice and chicken?”
“Anybody that eats rice these days is very lucky indeed, with a bag of rice now N20, 000. And you can’t even be sure it is real rice. I learnt the market was flooded with plastic rice.”
“Plastic rice? What does that taste like?”
“I guess like plastic. ”
“Never heard of that. Plastic rice?”
“To be on the safe side, these days, I only eat Ofada rice. Local rice.”
“All kinds of things happen during recession. Plastic rice. Empty pockets.”
“I know something about empty pockets, my brother. Imagine what I went through trying to get money from the ATM, two days to Christmas. I went to about five banks, you’d think people were queuing for fuel, with everyone looking anxious.”
“I know.”
“One queue covered an entire street. When I eventually found an ATM and it was my turn, the machine just started blinking. I didn’t know when I started shouting Blood of Jesus, Blood of Jesus.”
“You should have planned ahead. I don’t know why people have to wait till the last minute before withdrawing money. Nigerians should learn to plan ahead.”
“I did. The ATMs misbehave a lot these days and they are always crowded.”
“There is no money in circulation. I hear the Central Bank is broke. The banks are just managing.”
“You have started, hen? How can the Central Bank of Nigeria be broke? For the past three weeks now, the spot price of crude oil has been over $50 per barrel. That’s some good revenue.”
“May be it is the banks that are broke then. I just hope nobody has taken depositors’ funds to go and invest in the MMM.”
“What nonsense!”
“MMM was giving people better returns on their investments. Even bankers invested in the scheme. And now that the scheme has been frozen till January ending, there is panic everywhere. You would be surprised the kind of revelations that would come up if the profile of investors in the scheme is investigated.”
“Nigerians are always looking for quick profit, but I don’t believe that a bank will invest in MMM.”
“Dey there. Look at the way special prayers, night vigils and deliverance sessions are being held over this MMM thing. Some churches are holding get-your-MMM-money-back prayer sessions, and when you attend those sessions, come and see crowd! If that Ponzi scheme should crash eh, a lot of people will commit suicide.”
“One man sold his only car and invested the money in MMM.”
“I know. Some people sold their houses too.”
“The MMM scheme is a comment on the Nigerian banking system. Obviously, Nigerians don’t trust the banks and their miserable deposit interest rates.”
“Tell me, did you invest in the MMM?”
“No. But I almost did. I know some people who made huge profits from it. I was still contemplating putting some money down to test the waters when the alarm blew.”
“You are lucky, then.”
“I guess every investment is a risk.”
“I tried to make fun of some of my friends who invested in the MMM the other day. January 2017 has suddenly become the most important month in their lives. The way they reacted, hen. I was accused of being insensitive and sadistic. I quickly shut up”.
“So, what are your plans for the new year?”
“I have no plans yet. But I have been following what the prophets are predicting.”
“You believe those predictions? I just read them for fun. But this December, I have only read the predictions by Prophet Ayo Fayose.”
“Prophet Ayo Fayose. Never heard of him. Which Christian Ministry does he lead?”
“The Ayo Fayose Evangelical Church of Yahweh, Iyana Jogunomi, Ori oke Ekiti-Kete.”
“You are joking!”
“Yes, I am. But you mean you don’t know that the Governor of Ekiti State is a prophet?. Every year, he also makes predictions about the coming year. He has released his 2017 predictions.”
“Seriously, is he also among the Prophets?”
“Uhn hun. In his latest predictions, he talks about how the Holy Spirit directed him.”
“I hear, though, that he has been anointed by Daddy G.O. Pastor Adeboye.”
“Anointment comes from God. What happened is that Pastor Adeboye commended Fayose publicly for leading his people courageously and defending their interests.”
“The APC won’t like that.”
“Daddy G.O is not a politician.”
“But have you not heard that the Ekiti Chapter of the APC issued a statement to say that Fayose bribed Pastor Adeboye?”
“May the Holy Ghost slap the mouth of anybody who utters that blasphemy. The Bible says touch not my anointed. The Bible also says He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world. The word of God is greater than politics.”
“The way you are carrying on, the APC in Ekiti will issue another statement to say you have also been bribed by Fayose. Anyway don’t worry, they have denied the statement. But the PDP in Ekiti has also issued a statement saying the denial is an after-thought. Too much politics in that their Ekiti.”
“Forget about them. But what did the Governor predict, if I may ask? You mean, he has so much free time on his hands; he is busy making predictions. In any case, many of these predictions are somehow. Anybody can predict Nigeria’s future at anytime. It is always something like: I foresee a crisis in the Niger Delta. I foresee a change of cabinet. I foresee deaths in Nollywood. I foresee changes at the Central Bank. I foresee the emergence of a new political party…I foresee Donald Trump creating tension in the world. Three prominent traditional rulers should pray against sickness and bereavement…Common sense.”
“Oh, oh.”
“But how come no prophet predicted that Nigerian soldiers will capture Sambisa forest and drive out the Boko Haram or that a day after, there will be suicide bombing at a cattle market in Maiduguri? ”
“Suicide bombing at a cattle market? What is the target?”
“No prophet foresaw the killings in Southern Kaduna and the waste of human lives or that a white man will be arrested inside Sambisa forest. You don’t have to be a prophet to know tomorrow.”
“Whatever.”
“We should thank God for everything and for the joy of surviving Christmas in a season of recession. We should also thank God we are not in Saudi Arabia, but in our country, Nigeria.”
“What has Saudi Arabia got to do with Christmas? I don’t get it.”
“It is a crime to celebrate Christmas in Saudi Arabia. This year, seven Africans – 4 Nigerians, 2 Ghanaians, and one Kenyan were arrested in Saudi Arabia for playing Christmas Carols, they could be sent to jail for 10 years.”
“What? For playing Christmas songs?”
“I understand there is even an Islamic cleric in India, Zakir Abdul Karim Naik who told Muslim brothers and sisters not to wish Christians Merry Christmas, because it is a “big sin, worst evil, worse than fornication or murder.” What is the world turning into: A world of hate, bigotry and intolerance. Tell me it is not true. ”
“It is true.”
“Sad.”
“Sorry about the fire accident at Nigerian Breweries in Lagos. I know you drink beer.”
“If you want to talk about something else, do so.”
“I am just concerned that there are too many fire accidents taking place these days. When petrol tankers are not exploding on the highways, markets are being gutted by fire, companies and houses are going up in flames. The Lagos State Fire Service reported for example that 45 markets in Lagos had fire accidents between January and September 2016 alone.”
“The Fire Service should not moan. They need to do a lot more to educate the people about safety precautions and ensure that buildings respect the Fire Code. They also need to be better organized to deal with emergencies.”
“The Fire Service in Nigeria is poorly funded.”
“Harmattan. Dry season. The possibility of more fire accidents is high. The public should be sensitized all the same.” 
“Most of the fire accidents are due to electrical faults, either faulty connections or power surge. We need a national safety programme to prevent fire outbreaks. Every market and major company should have a fire station. There should be fire hydrants across every major city.”
“I’d just say that prevention is better than cure.”
“Who is your Man of the Year, 2016?”
“Man of the Year. Who is yours?”
“Yours first.”
“Let me see. I’ll choose the Nigerian Soldier. The Nigerian soldier is practically holding Nigeria together. He is underpaid, over-used, overstretched, denied access to equipment, and money and often subjected to the harshest possible conditions. Our soldiers are involved in one operation or the other across the country, protecting the country and even doing police work. Operation Crocodile Tears, Operation Harmony, Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Delta Safe, Operation Gama Aiki, Operation MESA, Operation Awatse, Operation Sharan Daji, Operation Maximum Security. From one region to the other, the Nigerian soldier is busy keeping Nigeria safe from kidnappers, terrorists, secessionists, oil bunkerers, cattle rustlers and extremists.”
“Our soldiers have even been sent abroad to learn cattle rearing because their next assignment includes the management of cattle ranches. I agree with you. I salute their courage.”
“And who is your own man of the year?”
“I’ll choose the average Nigerian for the resilience, the capacity and the courage to suffer and smile at the same time”.

By Reuben Abati

I Have Something To Say

You’re the fairest of them all and they never cease to be awed as they laud and applaud the handiwork of God and none ever jawed you my love. Your beauty is not flawed because you’re not a fraud. I will fight and claw to make your path broad.

Because I’m your knight that always comes to your fight. You make me recite how much skin-tight my love fits to your heart. I will hold you through the night till our spirits are truly light with the delight we know how well to excite.

A dearest friend you've been and you alone I will always send. I will bend even to break just to make amend to blend in your life my love. They can’t comprehend how much I depend on your trend because you don’t pretend.

How long has it really been since my soul desires to be seen by you. I will trek even to Berlin to feel you addict me like caffeine because I’ve truly missed you and your Africa cuisine. I’m keen not to allow anybody come in between us.

I’m so proud you’re well-endowed and you give me the happiness of a crowd, you make me scream aloud when you exude that appeal that puts me in the mood and I make you reach for the cloud. Your love feels like food to my soul.

You’re aware I value you more than air because you’ve shown me how much you care by making me an heir and I feel like a billionaire in this love affair. I swear nobody out there will dare to compare with you my rare luminaire.

Never met any that’s half the woman you are and as I quaff of your love and because you’re not a diamond in the rough, you make me feel like a chief among my peers. You make me laugh even when times are tough and make me call bluff of those who think I should‘ve had enough.

Assuaging my fear with each passing year, you’ve made me appear drunk without a drop of beer and fearless like a brigadier. I will commandeer whatever you find so dear and make all your worries disappear and veer you away from every wear and tear.

I’m not in contest for your love because you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. You’re my crest of affection and my chest can’t contain all your zest even if compressed. I’m blessed you’re mine and will stay away from all that you detest.

I will always have something to say about the way you make me sway and Cupid will first betray love before I delay to tell you how much I love you from day to day. I will whisk you to fantasy land straight away and never allow you to stray.

I still have something more to say my love

an Emeka Amakeze poetic expression.

The Nigerian Film Commission Bill

The Bill that has currently passed second reading at the National Assembly.

NIGERIAN FILM CORPORATION KEY CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES RECORDED FROM 2013 TO DATE

Upon assumption of duty of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Dr. Danjuma Wurim Dadu in 2013, Dr. Dadu and his management team in pursuance of  the Corporation’s mandate to grow and develop a viable film industry, the Corporation has developed a more wholistic and integrative approach in realizing its mandate despite daunting challenges.

CHALLENGES

Notwithstanding the challenges bedeviling the smooth operations of the Corporation, Management under the leadership of Dr. Dadu in its efforts has initiated and taken proactive steps with a view to mitigate the following identifiable issues.  These are:

1. NIGERIAN FILM CORPORATION STATUTE

The major fundamental problem has been the use of the obsolete Decree No 61 of 1979 establishing the Corporation which is lacking in scope, specificity and in details which are necessary for effective policy coordination and implementation for the Nigerian film industry.

ACHIEVEMENTS/ EFFORTS

In addressing this, the Nigerian Film Corporation has initiated the process of repealing the existing Nigerian Film Corporation Act with the new Nigerian Film Commission Bill. The Film Commission Bill currently has passed second reading at the National Assembly.

When the bill is passed into law, the Commission will function more efficiently and effectively as is the case in most thriving and developed film industries. It will also place the Commission to superintend over the film industry and provide the much needed infrastructure and facilities as well as become a film regulatory agency.

Furthermore, The Nigerian Film Commission will amongst other things

       I.            Provide and create a framework for a viable, sustainable growth and orderly development of the film and video industry in Nigeria that is globally competitive;

    II.            Project and protect the rich cultural heritage and the values of the people of Nigeria by encouraging the production of high quality Nigerian films and videos for both domestic consumption and for export;

 III.            Ensure the professionalization of the film industry; by regulating the activities of guilds and association in the film industry for the orderly development of the industry;

 IV.            Encourage the standardization of film and video production, distribution and exhibition facilities;

With this Bill in place we will be able to:

1.                  Establish a Production Services that will produce films and also be the sole mandatory producer of the Federal Government films and documentaries;

2.                  Establish a dedicated channel on terrestrial television and pay television for showing of Nigerian films;

3.                  Establish a rental service for the leasing of film equipment to practitioners in the film industry;

4.                  Establish Arbitration and Mediation services to initiate and undertake Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms for disputes arising in the film industry;

5.                  Prosecute actions pursuant to the provisions of this Act subject to the Attorney General of the Federation;

6.                  Establish a body responsible for regulating the professional practice and ethics in the film and video industry which shall be known as Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON).

In the area of funding the new Commission will

(1)   Establish a Fund for the development of the film and video industry in form of grants and rebate which shall be known as the National Film Development Fund (NFDF).

The Fund shall be the repository of all government grants, funds and financial incentives to the film and video industry.

2. INADEQUATE FUNDING: one of the major challenges which the Corporation has continued to grapple with is inadequate funding.  The dwindling allocation by government to the Corporation has been responsible for stifling the execution of some of the Corporation programmes, activities and projects. This lack of adequate funding from the Federal Government has hindered the NFC the material and necessary muscle to invest in equipment and capital goods and develop infrastructure and facilities that will enable it facilitate the growth of a vibrant film industry in Nigeria.

ACHIEVEMENTS/EFFORTS

Film Financing and funding remains an all important factor in film development in Nigeria.  Notably, the present administration is making concerted efforts in providing intervention funds to stimulate the further growth and development of the film industry as an alternative source of revenue generation to the country.

Based on the above, the Corporation is optimistic that when the Nigerian Film Commission Bill is passed into law which has the National Film Development Fund (NFDF) and the National Film Village Development (NFVD) embedded in it, the Corporation will greatly be repositioned to meet the challenges of the emerging Nigerian film industry.

Despite the financial crunch, the management of the Corporation has embarked on a project drive by reaching out to critical stakeholders for the development of infrastructural facilities for the film industry through the establishment of film villages in Nigeria.

A Film Village is “one stop shops” film destination of the highest international standards with all offering facilities that filmmakers and emerging talents all over the world will come to and carry out their filming activities with ease as well as make Nigeria a film production destination.

These film villages will serve the following purposes:

1.      training hub for film production and post production activities;

2.      equipped with modern facilities of Advanced High Definition equipment for training and film production;

3.      train Nigerians in trades such as sewing, shoe & bag making, hair dressing, computer knowledge skills;

4.      train film related organisations in film production and the use of film equipments;

5.      film industry experience for students undergoing graduate and post graduate training in film, media arts related studies;

6.      provide private and public organisations in film skills trade center and manpower development;

7.      training in- house and external organisations in capacity building;

The concept, design and construction of the film villages will exert enormous positive impact not only on the Nigerian film industry but also on the nation’s economy.

KANO FILM VILLAGE

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) through its strategic partnerships, consultation/ collaboration has attracted the development of the Ultra Modern Cinematography/Film Entrepreneurial Center in Kano which has been appropriated in 2016 Federation Budget.

The benefits of the centers include the following:

1.      Improvement in the quality of film production in Nigeria;

2.      Increase and improve capacity and skills of film makers in film production and training;

3.      increase and improve professional competences of emerging filmmakers;

4.      Increase the learning capacity and professional competences of filmmakers in the art and film businesses;

5.      Encourage and promote film production, marketing/ distribution for filmmakers and other film businesses that would open shop in and around the center;

6.      Provision of the much needed but lacking infrastructure for the industry;

7.      Nigeria filmmakers will not have to look outside for expert services or facilities;

8.      Filmmakers from other countries especially within Africa sub- region will make Nigeria a production and post production destination;

9.      Provision of more theatres and screens for film exhibition in Nigeria with its attendant box office returns;

10.  This centres will attract film practitioners from Europe and America to open shop in Nigeria leading to increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and our film makers can learn from their expertise;

11.  It will create employment not just for film practitioners but others in supporting industries;

12.  Qualitative training will be provided for teeming Nigerian youth while practitioners can hone their skills and be exposed to modern facilities;

13.  It will increase revenue to government through taxes and levies;

14.  Creating linkages between Nigeria and other film industries;

15.  Production and export will generate more FDI and can be an alternative to oil;

16.  Provide more content stream for Television and Cinema as Nigeria transits from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting.

Importantly, the design of the facilities for the film village include Production Studios, Sound Stages, Screening Theater, Post Production and Sound Studios, Editing suites, training facilities, including Hostels, Hotel and accommodation for filmmakers, recreational facilities, eateries and state of the art equipment fabrication and prop production bays, banks, satellite markets, fuel station and side shops sited within the film village.

3. FUNDING OF NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (NIFF

The overall objective of the Nigerian International Film Festival is to explore the economic and audiovisual potentials of Africa’s largest motion picture industry; give impetus to its steady growth pattern and increasing profile as well as align it to the vast and expansive opportunities available in the global audiovisual market.  It is also a platform for Nigerian film practitioners to network with their counterparts from other parts of the world; for co-production opportunities.  The festival will further reward cinematic excellence; promote audio-visual services, cultural products and the huge export potentials of Nigerian films as well as heralding Nigeria’s tourism potentials as a film destination hub.

Funding of the NIFF has  numerous benefits awaits both indigenous and foreign film practitioners and participants to take advantage of the huge marketing deals, negotiations of co-production agreements, selling of film rights, negotiations with film financiers and producers, marketers, distributors, exhibitors and emerging talents and free legal services to numerous clientele as well as film screenings among others.

4. PARTICIPATION AT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALS

Before my assumption in office in 2013, the NFC has been participating and sponsoring industry practitioners to international film festivals such as Cannes film festival, Berlinale international film festival, Sithengi, American film market and Toronto international film festival just to mention a few. The last time NFC officials participated and sponsored industry practitioners to an international film festival was Cannes in 2013.

NFC is fully aware of the importance of participation in international film festivals including the economic advantage and benefits to Nigerian, film sector in particular. The NFC is not in any way shying away from its mandate and responsibilities. Be it as it may, the inability of the Corporation not to participate or sponsor any practitioners to international film festivals after 2013 outing was due to poor funding. From about the beginning of 2013, revenue accruing to the Federal Government had been on the decline. This affected the adequate funding of government activities, its parastatals and agencies, NFC inclusive. The Corporation has been receiving meagre resources from government which is not even enough to meet up with its immediate financial obligations not to talk of participating and sponsoring practitioners to international film festivals.

 5. CHANGE OF STATUES AND NAME OF THE NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE (NFI)

The National Film Institute (NFI) being a monotechnic is the training institution for the training of film practitioners, students, emerging talents as well as stakeholders. The Institute has been unable to access regular, special and high impact intervention funds from agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its physical infrastructural development, teaching/ learning development, and research and book development publications.

Consequently, the change of name of the NFI to National Institute of Film and Media Arts Studies (NAFIMAS) has become imperative if the Institute is to receive intervention funds meant for the upgrading of infrastructural facilities. 

(a) Registration of National Institute of Film and Media Arts Studies with National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) among others.

(b) Registration of National Institute of Film and Media Arts Studies  with Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for Regular Intervention.

It will enable the Institute to access regular, special and high impact funds from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the development of physical infrastructure, teaching and learning environment as well as for academic and research purposes among others.

a.       The Institute will then have the capacity to commence postgraduate programmes in Film Technology, Media Studies and TV Production/ Journalism respectively.

b.      The Institute will be reposition into a world class film and media training institution for the overall benefit of film practitioners, stakeholders and the training of youths in film and media arts for self- employment and job creation.

6. EQUIPPING OF DUBBING, SOUND AND EDITING SUITE FACILITIES

The Corporation secured support from TETFUND and has put in place state-of-the-art editing suite which is one of the best digital studios in Nigeria.  The features of this equipment are 3.754 processor, 32GB Memory RAM, 2-Finepro D300 graphics, processor with 2GB of GDDR5 memory each, 1terabyte flash storage and six thunderbolt 2 ports high speed 1/0 devices.

The editing suite has the capacity of capturing:

1.      4-5K video footages,

2.      Newest version of Apple Mac Pro and it is the third purchase equipment in the country.

3.      Softwares including Final Cut Pro X,

4.      Avid Media Composer, and

5.      Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) 2015

7. FUNDING OF SHOOT! TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME

This indeed is one of the most unique introductions by the Nigerian Film Corporation in the area of capacity building. SHOOT! is an annual training and capacity building programme for film practitioners, media and information officers in both public and private sector, students and stakeholders among others. The objective is to impact professional expertise, exchange ideas, engage in lively discussions, learn practical experience in content creation as well as provide knowledge on managing film businesses effectively.

The training is designed to expose film practitioners; media and information officers in public and private sector, students, academia and stakeholders to the latest film production and post-production techniques as well as acquaint them with recent technologies in production and post-production equipment available globally.  The Corporation is targeting 300 participants to attend and participate at this training programme.

Funding of SHOOT! Training and Capacity Building Programme will enable film practitioners to apply the knowledge acquired in the production of qualitative films that are of international standard and thereby further making the country a noted film nation.

8. UNCOMPLETED STUDENTS HOSTEL (MALE AND FEMALE) SINCE 2009

The completion of the students’ hostel of the National Film Institute (NFI) has become necessary in view of the challenges faced by students in securing accommodation. The hostels when completed which will enhance students comfort for learning. When the hostels are completed it is expected that students of the National Film Institute (NFI) will now have access to standard hostel accommodation with utmost safety. Currently, work is ongoing at the site the contractor promise to handover the project to the Corporation in few months to come.

9. INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The Corporation pursuit with vigor and secure the support of intervention from TETFUND from overflow from University Jos in two basic areas:

a)      Critical Film Equipment, Critical Film Equipment, which among others include 100 IMAC Computers, 4 Editing suites, 3D Studio Composition Animation software Mini Sound and Production Stage, measuring 15.60 x 10 x6.3 meters. Some of the critical equipments are ARRI L7-C, Dido Light Fellon Technopro; Spectro LED-9 Lights, including Chroma  Key Green Screen, Lens- ISCO Precision Optics; a Multi Media Panasonic Projector – PT – DW5 and DVD 12 Loader Duplicators.

A.    The various architectural, engineering drawings and Bill of Quantities (BOQ) for the Lecture Rooms and Offices has been produced. The specifications and the BOQ for the critical equipment have also been produced by the University of Jos. Prequalification advertorials by the University of Jos were placed in the Blue Print newspaper of April 14, 2015 as part of the procurement processes. It is the hope of the NFC that the flag off of the supply of the critical film equipment and the construction of the lecture rooms and offices will commence in due course.

10. PRODUCTION OF SHORT ADVOCACY FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES 

Funding has remained a constant factor in the inability of the Corporation to produce short advocacy films such as antigay, anticorruption, nationalism and patriotism, ethical values as well as documentaries of government programmes are well publicized.

The Corporation galvanized its efforts and secured the following collaborations in the production of short advocacy films.  They institutions include:

1. UNICEF

2. Women for Africa Foundation

3. UNICEF collaboration in promoting Women’s engagement in peace and national security in Northern Nigeria etc.

4. NFI and French Embassy Collaboration

The French Embassy is partnering with the National Film Institute on training and capacity building. A Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared in this regard. Similar contacts have been made with the Chinese, Spanish and German Embassies in Nigeria as well as the British Council.

5. NFI/ British Council Collaboration

The Corporation held a consultation with the British Council in order to organize:

a.         A Screenwriting workshop in the UK for students and lecturers of NFI

b.         Organized UK Education Exhibition in Abuja and Lagos in the first week of July 2016.

c.         Screening of footage on Nigeria from the British Archive at NFI

d.         Training of one archive staff

6.  Screenwriting Programme

The British Council in collaboration with UK National Film and TV School (NFTS), the National Film Institute (NFI), the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), and the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) has designed a screenwriting programme to connect script writers and tutors. The project is aimed at bringing together; inspiring and motivating contemporary screenwriters to explore develop and create screenplays through a range of high quality workshops, mentoring and development programme delivered by top industry professionals.

7. British Council Script Junction Project

The Corporation was represented at the International Film Script workshop organized by the British Council. The project is designed to connect UK and Nigerian scriptwriters in a bid to explore film trends, cinematic identities amongst participants from Nigerian and UK.

The second leg of the workshop was held in Lagos under the platform of African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) from the 8^th -14^th November, 2015. The initiative is against the backdrop of film as a potent tool for cultural diplomacy amongst both countries and the need for a concerted effort to explore the trends and cultural peculiarities which will greatly influence script contents and patterns.

11. MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THE NATIONAL FILM INSTITUTE (NFI)

As part of its welfare enhancement programme for the students and staff of the Institute, the Management established a Sick Bay to cater for emergency and minor cases especially during film production activities.  The Sick Bay is being equipped and functional.  In the meantime, management has approved a revolving drug fund for the facility. In addition, the Management is working towards registering the Clinic with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

12. UNCOMPLETED STUDENTS CAFETARIA BUILDING -2009

This facility which construction work has reached advanced stage needs to be completed so that students of the National Film Institute (NFI) are provided catering services. The completion of this standard cafeteria will align the Institute to other film institute’s globally and will cater for the catering needs of the students and stakeholders alike.

CONCLUSION

Despite the numerous challenges and constraints arising from the obsolete act, paucity of funds faced by the Corporation, it is worthwhile to emphasize that it was able to attract infrastructural facilities and film equipment such as Computers, the state-of-the-art Editing suite, and other development to both the film industry, NFI/NFC permanent site, which will enhance teaching and learning thereby fostering the employment generation drive of the present administration.

With the right regulatory framework consequent upon the passage of the Corporation’s NFC Bill, hopefully this year, it is the believe that the Corporation would be in better stead to catalyze the much needed development of the film sector with far reaching development for the turnaround.