Sunday 12 August 2018
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Entertainment AMVCA style spotlight: Rita Dominic ...as voting continues for 2018 winners the look with a gorgeous pearl necklace, matching earrings and an envelope clutch. In 2014, Rita Dominic went home with the AMVCA New Era Award during the second edition of the AMVCAs, but what we will remember the most is the brilliant red gown by Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi she donned to take home her win. In 2015, Rita Dominic’s outfit to the 2015 AMVCAs is possibly one of our favourites. Everything from the simple style of the dress, the small belt, to her hair which was swooped to the side, Rita gave us life for days and we are still here for it. In 2016, we were all green with envy when Rita stepped on to the red carpet for that year’s AMVCAs. The peplum dress with the embellished detailing by designer Elvira Jude was a vibe on its own. She finished up the look with black clutch and silver heeled-sandals. Let’s throw it back to 2017 when Rita turned heads at AMVCAs and bagged the award for Best Actress in a drama. The complex structure of the gown
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IFEOMA OKEKE
he sixth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) is just around the corner and that means one of the year’s biggest red-carpet moments is upon us! Since the awards started back in 2013, celebrities have created a tradition of making memorable fashion statements at the event giving fans a lot to look forward to yearly. While many celebrities always stun in their outfits, Rita Dominic stands out as one who has hit the mark every single time. In anticipation of her glamorous look at this year’s award night, here are all the times she snatched our edges and slayed back-to-back on the red carpet. For the maiden edition of the AMVCAs in 2013, Rita showed out in a fabulous silk, one shoulder flare-sleeved number by House Of Moofa. She complimented it by accessorizing with a turban. Not one to leave any stone unturned, Rita completed
Winners emerge in “33” Export ‘Pen Down for Friendship’ competition
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keogu Chinemerem Chibuikem, a blogger, has emerged the star prize winner in the Pen Down for Friendship competition instituted by “33” Export Lager Beer to reward Nigerian journalists and bloggers as part of activities marking the 2018 World Friendship Day. He was announced the winner of the star prize of N500,000 worth of training grant, a laptop and other prizes including trays of “33” Export Lager Beer in the award presentation ceremony held recently at the Eagles Club, Surulere, Lagos to celebrate the 2018 World Friendship Day. Other winners in the competition, which was open July 11-27, 2018, are Adeoye Emmanuel Aanu and Ben Chuks, who emerged first and second runners-up, respectively. They got
N300,000 and N200,000 worth of training grant, respectively, alongside a laptop and three trays of “33” Export Lager Beer each. Other seven top contenders also won consolation prizes of a laptop and three trays of “33” Export Lager Beer each. They are Sifa Asani Gowon, Gift Wogu, Idowu Addison and Adaora Nzotta. Others are Anuforoh Prosper Obum, Hannah Onoguwe, and Chukwudi Obila. Over 160 entries were received and judged by a jury of three acclaimed writers, Toni Kan, Pelu Awofeso and Olabisi DejiFolutile. The jury shortlisted the best 10 entries, from which the winners were later chosen. “33” Export Lager is a premium quality beer brand produced by the master brewers, Nigerian Breweries Plc.
L-R: Bisi Deji-Folutile, jury member, Pen Down for Friendship competition; Pelu Awofeso, jury member; Emmanuel Agu, portfolio manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, NBPlc; Ikeogu Chinemerem Chibuikem, star prize winner; Uzodinma Onuoha, raw material development manager, NBPlc, and Toni Kan, jury head, at the “33” Export ‘City of Friends’ concert in Lagos.
complemented Rita’s simple hairstyle reminding us why she is our favourite fashionista. We are sure Rita won’t disappoint this year. Follow her style when the AMVCAs return on Saturday, September 1. Follow the conversations on all social media platforms using the hashtag #AMVCA2018. The 2018 AMVCAs is brought to viewers across the continent by Africa Magic in association with MultiChoice Africa and the sponsors, Airtel and Konga. With less than a month to the event, voting is ongoing for your favourite actors and actresses in a movie or TV series. The seven categories open to public voting at this year’s edition include Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series), Best Actor in a Drama (Movie/TV Series), Best Supporting Actor in a Drama (Movie/Series), Best Actress in a Comedy (Movie/TV Series), Best Actress in a Drama (Movie/ TV Series), Best Supporting Actress in a Drama (Movie/Series) and Best Short Film or Online Video. Voting closes August 24, 2018.
As Osun Osogbo Festival kicks off ...6 unique facts to note
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or indigenes of Osogbo, August is a month of celebration, cultural rebirth and ancestral reunion. For culture-loving corporates like MTN, Osogbo in the heart of Osun State is the place to be for the next two weeks. Every August, thousands of Osun devotees, domestic and foreign tourists gather at the 2005 UNESCO World Heritage Site, Osogbo Grove, to celebrate the famous festival. While others have this date on their calendar, sure enough some people are just getting acquainted with this famous event. For those in the latter category, here are six things to note about the over 700-year-old celebration that attracts a mammoth crowd each year: The festival is based on the historic tale of the river goddess, Osun. It is said that when a group of wayfarers led by Olutimehin, a great huntsman, settled at the bank of the river to get away from the dearth in their village, they came across the water goddess, Osun. She guaranteed them her protection and promised to bless their women with fertility if they would offer a sacrifice to her annually. This yearly sacrifice, amongst other ceremonies, is now being celebrated as the famous Osun Osogbo Festival. The goddess has been portrayed by the popular American superstar, Beyonce. The festival is popularly known for its four major rituals, namely, Iwopopo, Ina Olujumerindinlogun, Iboriade l and the Arugba rituals. They are done to cleanse the city
from evil and are blessed by the Ataoja of Osogbo, the Arugba, the Yeye Osun, and a committee of priestesses. Among the four, the Arugba ritual is regarded as special, and it usually attracts thousands of spectators. It involves a chosen virgin carrying on her head a calabash containing items of sacrifice that would be used to appease and also worship the goddess. The virgin will lead people to the river as they hurl their problems on her with prayers for better things ahead. The festival is of international repute. Its location, the Osogbo Grove, was in 2005 added to the prestigious list of “UNESCO World Heritage Site”. It attracts thousands of foreigners each year as it has become a global event with people attending from Cuba, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Spain, Canada, and the United States. A number of people attribute the success of the festival to Susanne Wenger, an Austrian-born artist. She and her husband moved to Nigeria in the early 1950s to work at the
University of Ibadan before moving to Osun State. Susanne was intrigued by the Yoruba culture as she dedicated her life to it, especially the traditional religion. She later became a priestess and was titled Iwinfunmi Adunni Olorisha, which means, ‘The loved one who serves the deity’. She soon became the guardian of Osogbo Grove, helping to revive a number of hidden shrines, the forest around the grove and the festival. She died in 2009. MTN Nigeria’s decade-long support To positively impact on the country’s socio-cultural landscape, MTN has supported the Osun Osogbo Festival, among other festivals, for over 10 years. The ICT company has facilitated the renaissance of arts and culture in Nigeria and through its Kulturefest initiative, put various cultural festivals in the country on the international map, galvanising their potentials to generate revenue for the communities and engendering community bonding.