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Mr. Akinsola Adejuwon takes charge at National Troupe of Nigeria…. + Exclusive Facts on How Edem Duke was Rubbished!

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The newly appointed Artistic Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe of Nigeria Mr. Akinsola Mendra Adejuwon have formally resumed office as head of the National Troupe, a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation. Mr. Akinsolu Adejuwon from Ekiti state takes over from Mr. Martin Adaji. He becomes the fourth Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe of Nigeria since the Troupe’s formal establishment in 1991. Foremost theatre director Mr. Bayo Oduneye and the Dean of the College of Humanities of Redeemers University Professor Ahmed Yerima have at various times led the Troupe as Artistic Director

Former Artistic Director Mr. Martin Adaji handing over to the new Artistic Director Mr. Akinsola Adejuwon1

 

A theory cum practically oriented Artist; Mr. Adejuwon was until his appointment as Artistic Director on Thursday September 11, 2014 a Museum Curator of the Institute of Cultural Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Osun State. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Industrial Design of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a Master of Arts Degree in African Arts Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Currently the Chairman of the Osun State Chapter of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and member of the Nigerian Field Society, the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Troupe has designed, organized and attended several conferences, seminars and workshops and has curated, coordinated and executed a number of local and internationally acclaimed exhibitions.
A widely travelled artist whose current research activities include a study on Festivals of Yoruba land, Mr. Adejuwon has since been meeting with management, staff and stakeholders of the National Troupe. His immediate plans, as Artistic Director is to reposition the National Troupe and to make the Troupe a truly national and international performing arts company.
At a brief handing ceremony held at the National Theatre on Thursday, the former Artistic Director Mr. Martin Adaji congratulated Mr. Adejuwon on his appointment and thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for giving him the opportunity.

members of management of the national troupe with the former and new artistic director3

Fresh facts have emerged on how the new artistic director of the national troupe mr akin adejuwon was appointed. Contrary to widely held view that Mr Akin was appointed by Culture Minister Edem Duke to reward his close associate Dr Franklin who was then believed to be father of the appointee, a competent source in the presidency hinted Society Reporters NG that Chief Edem Duke has nothing to do with the appointment but rather a close relation of the appointee who works closely with the President was the one who got ‘an open approval from president jonathan’ for mr Akin to be appointed. According to the source, the Secretary to Government was directed to appoint Mr Akin, a graphic artist and junior staff at the Obafemi Awolowo University and to communicate the appointment to Chief Duke who at that time was out of the country on official assignment. ‘But rather than go through Mr akin’s CV to know his area of competence, and also ask them at the Ministry of culture if vacancy exist anywhere, the SGF who is not usually thorough in decisions that he takes, appointed a fine artist with no managerial experience to head a theatre arts troupe. It shows you the kind of man the SGF is. Check round, what we have are round pegs in square hole all round’ the source said.

However despite being absolved of blame for the appointment, the minister chief duke is still under fire from both the President and members of the theatre arts community. The President is angry that he was misled to granting an approval without a proper briefing on the competence of the appointee and whether indeed the tenure of the officer he was replacing was due. The tenure of the former artistic director mr martin adaji from Kogi state was still running when he was questionably sacked. He was even due for reappointment in March 2015. On the other hand, members of the theatre community consider it a slap for the President to appoint a fine artist into a position meant for a dance, drama or music specialist. They said they are crossed with not just the President but the Minister who should have educated whoever appointed Mr. Akin on the diference between being an ‘artist’ and a ‘artiste’. According to one elder theatre artiste ‘it shows you the level of appreciation of the arts by those at the top. They know nothing an about it and wont appoint people who know. How can you appoint a painter as CEO of a dance, drama and music outfit. Couldnt you have sent him to national gallery where his competence would be put to test? That was how this same Anyim appointed a building engineer as CEO for the Nigerian Film Corporation and appointed a woman who should have retired having attained the mandatory years in service and age as DG of National film and video censors board. Tommorow Jonathan will come and sit down and say he is jotting down our problems that he will solve. Anyway, we are meeting in the next of couple of days. But we shall resist this one at the national troupe and then revisit that of NFC and NFVCB’

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THEO UKPAA MENTORS BUDDING FILMMAKERS AT THE ACCELERATE FILMMAKER PROJECT ON HOW TO MAKE AWARD WINNING FILMS

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The Accelerate Filmmaker Project is an initiative of Accelerate TV, powered by Access Bank, created to train, empower and give a platform to young enthusiastic filmmakers between the ages of 18 -29 to actualize their filmmaking dreams.

The 2023 edition of the AFP training week incorporates a host of well-known industry professionals and heavyweights who work both in front and behind the scenes, including Judith Audu, Joke Silva, Theo Ukpaa, Kenneth Gyang, Chris Odeh, Xavier Oghorodje, Tolu Ajayi, Tunji Afolanya, Steve Sodiya, Dianne Russet, and more to ensure the trainees get a well-rounded understanding of the filmmaking ecosystem.

Ukpaa had an incisive two hours session at the Accelerate TV conference classes in Victoria Island, his teachings to the young filmmakers was focused on how you can apply creative and intelligence means to making an excellent film designed to sweep awards in film festivals all over the world.

“I haven’t met a filmmaker yet who doesn’t want to make a festival worthy film. But the process of finding and selecting an appropriate film festival is time-consuming and expensive. Getting your film accepted by an international film festival can be fun – and can really help with the distribution of your film. Acceptance to the right kind of festival can stamp ‘quality independent film’ all over your film and your independent film career” Theo Emphasized.

The AFRIFF COO also went on to narrate that a film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upon the festival’s focus, can include international and domestic releases.

The first Film Festival was in Venice in 1938. Today there are over 500 major international film festivals, and thousands of local, niche, and intermittent ones.

Commenting on the return of the Accelerate Film Maker Project, Head of Accelerate, Colette Otusheso commented: “We are excited to be bringing back the instalment of our award-winning capacity building and mentoring project, The Accelerate Filmmaker Project in partnership with Access Bank and AFRIFF. This year we will be training and empowering more young people and throwing in some big surprises along the way. The AFP is all about training and empowering young people while giving them the skills, tools, access and a stepping stone to realise their dreams and bring their stories to life.”

Ukpaa has just returned from the Cannes International film festival in far away France, in time for the Accelerate classes. When asked about plans for AFRIFF this year, he mentioned that Africa is yet to experience the greatest film gathering yet at this year’s festival. “So many interesting programs lined up and so many new international partners are coming on board but we are not ready to let the cat out of the bag yet; announcements will be made soon” … Theo says.

The Africa International Film Festival – AFRIFF is Africa’s most vibrant film festival experience. AFRIFF consistently delivers an energetic and exciting hub of reel people making reel connections and has gradually built a reputation for delivering real value. The festival this year will hold from 5-11 November 2023. Ukpaa closed announcing that some of the best students from the Accelerate Filmmaker project AFP will have their films screen at AFRIFF this year. A great achievement for the budding students and the project.

Theo Ukpaa has been consistent with mentoring young entrepreneurs from all walks of life with the purpose of raising the next generation of young leaders who will shape a better African continent.

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NOLLYWOOD HAS CAPACITY TO SURPASS HOLLYWOOD AND BOLLYWOOD FINANCIALLY WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT” SAYS THEO UKPAA AT A RECENT LECTURE.

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Media Executive and AFRIFF COO, Theo Ukpaa delivered a very insightful lecture during his master-class at the Oslo Urban film conference in Norway. He gave a detailed breakdown on the growth of the Nigeria film industry popularly known as Nollywood. Nollywood ranks second in the world after Hollywood with a financial value of over $6.4 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing movie industries in the world and one of the biggest employers of labour in the country. Ukpaa felt a need to enlighten the global film front about the Nigeria film industry while emphasizing that with Federal Government support, Nollywood has potentials financially to surpass Hollywood and Bollywood out together.
“To put the financial impact of Nollywood on the socioeconomic landscape in proper perspective, we must consider the known fact that the Nigerian movie industry is currently ranked the second largest film industry globally with the financial value of the film industry put at over $6.4 billion as of 2021” Ukpaa narrates.
The Oslo Urban film conference Norway in is organised by independent filmmakers and attracted speakers and facilitators from all over Europe, USA and Asia. At the event which also saw players and stakeholders in the industry from all over the world being rewarded with awards of various categories, the AFRIFF COO said the impacts of Nollywood in the Nigerian economy, if well sustained would open doors of prosperity to the country and beyond.
Ukpaa said “since the breakthrough by pioneers of the industry in the 60s and early 90s, “Nollywood has become a thriving space that not only provides an avenue for entertainment but also generates significant revenue for Nigeria’s economy”
“Furthermore, the job-creating potential inherent in the industry cannot be overstated as the industry currently employs over ten million people, making it one of Nigeria’s largest employers. Its capacity to employ a large number of people has been applauded by the World Bank, who acknowledged the job creation potentials of Nollywood,” he added.
There is no surprise regarding the high registration and turn out Ukpaa’s Masterclass following the success of his Masterclasses all around the globe, incorporating his many film lectures at various international universities. Mr. Ukpaa has spread his teaching to institutions in Europe, America and African continent. The Global film development Masterclass integrated Filmmakers technical and conceptual understanding of filmmaking with the practical dimensions of managing career in the Global film industry. Young filmmakers were enlightened about the great influx of streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime video and the current industry business models and development plans to advance their careers in filmmaking on a global stage.
According to Theo “Often times people focus merely on the show and glamor as well as the razzmatazz that comes with filmmaking, and end up dying broke. A strong national economy depends on a strong creative economy—and it all starts with a story. The film and television industry supports 2.4 million jobs, pays out $186 billion in total wages, and comprises over 122,000 businesses. As a Filmmaker, one of the best moments is directing real stories of real individuals, getting them to the big screens and smiling to the Bank”. He believes that passion can burn out when expenditure and hard work does not produce financial returns. These are part of the important basics he taught at his Masterclass at the coal city film Festival.
Young filmmakers were also thought how to pitch their film project, how best to approach investors, how to access international grants, how to approach film distribution the perfect way and how to stay relevant in the film industry while maximizing profit.
Theo Ukpaa is an African filmmaker, playwright, and entrepreneur. He was listed as top 10 most promising new directors by Africa Kulture Magazine in 2020.
Ukpaa is a certified project management professional offering a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the prestigious Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California plus a Diploma in Contract Law from the esteemed Harvard University. A Native Nigerian with a passion to empower young art and culture creatives through teaching and Masterclasses at various free empowerment across Africa.
He also touched on the importance of a production treaty between Nigeria and the neighboring African countries to ease free flow of cultural exchange and breaking language barrier while leaching on great treaty benefits. The importance of Government tax incentives was also emphasized.
It was imperative to note that the Nigeria film industry contributes largely to the nations GDP and deserves a lot of support from the government as it relates to growth and sustainability in the creative sector of the country.
Theo has multiple speaking engagement lined up all year at various institutions including the Willshire Film festival in London, Sabia film festival in Monaco, the Francoise film festival in Paris, France and the United States of America

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AFRIMA Demands Justice For Slain AKA; Urges Governments In Africa To Protect Music Stars

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The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), has implored governments of African countries to arrest the growing cases of violent deaths against music stars on the continent just as it urged the South African authorities to expedite the process of prosecution of the killers of rapper Kiernan Forbes popularly known as AKA.

AFRIMA recalls that the 35-year-old AKA was killed in a cold-blooded shooting on February 10, 2023, at a nightclub in Durban, South Africa and the awards body is demanding that everyone linked to his gruesome murder be expeditiously brought to justice.

President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, in a statement, said governments of African nations must make deliberate efforts to prevent violent attacks against music talents, averring that the disturbing trend could potentially erode the gains recorded in the creative industry over the years if not checked.

Dada said the murder of AKA is a wake-up call to governments across the continent to scale up their security architecture to encourage the protection of talented individuals. He suggested that efforts should be sustained to checkmate the proliferation of small arms especially.

AFRIMA said the senseless killing of AKA utterly hurts African creative space, insisting that South African authorities must arrest and prosecute everyone involved in the dastardly act.

“We strongly demand from the government of South Africa to arrest and prosecute all the persons involved in the killing of AKA to serve as a deterrent to criminally-minded individuals who cut short the lives of talents at their prime. The crime deterrent is for criminals to know that there is a big chance for them to be arrested, prosecuted and convicted; we strongly call for justice to be sufficiently served in this case.

“However, this is also a call to the governments of various countries across the continent of Africa to react to this gruesome killing by addressing the challenge of the proliferation of small arms. The trend of arms proliferation in Africa has had an impact on the continent’s internal security, which has led to violence and the deaths and injury of thousands of innocent citizens including our music stars and we encourage steps that will lead to the protection of the lives of our talented stars.

“Our ideals include using the platform of AFRIMA to promote the strength of Africa and tell a positive story of the continent and we believe we can tackle poverty, inequality, unemployment, climate change and other challenges bedeviling our dear continent through music but the lives of creative talents should be protected to fully realise these lofty dreams,” he said.

Similarly, speaking on AKA’s killing, AFRIMA’s Country Director, South Africa, Lekunutu Seboko, said the government of the country must back up its promises and assurances with concrete action by solving the murder case in good time. He believes bringing the perpetrators of the heinous crime to book will deepen the trust and belief in a better future for not only the music stars in the country but all South Africans, where they can feel safe and secure in their homes and communities.

“AKA’s sudden death is a deeply disturbing tragedy and development in South African music; the ghastly manner of his death has had international reverberations and our government must endeavour to bring his assailants to book to prove to the world that we indeed operate a system that uplifts justice and sanity.

“Undoubtedly, the African music landscape is diminished by his untimely death; but it is now the responsibility of South African authorities to ensure that justice prevails. We understand that some arrests have been made, but the process of bringing everyone connected to his death to book must be swift because justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

AFRIMA also reacted to the sudden death of another South African rapper Costa Titch who died in March while performing on stage.

Dada said the invaluable contributions of Costa Stitch, whose real name was Constantinos Tsobanoglou, and AKA to Africa’s creative and music ecosystem would be sorely missed.

He added that African music was yet to come to terms with the sudden demise of the two great artists, describing them as true musical giants whose incredible songs and voices touched countless lives.

He added that AKA set the bar high for South African hip-hop just as Costa Titch took it up a notch and the two superstars collectively and collaboratively projected African music and culture on the world stage with many songs they did together.

He added that the two music icons were prominent figures in the AFRIMA community, recalling that AKA was a winner while Costa Titch won multiple nominations.

Dada said: “The deaths of AKA and Costa Titch will continue to cause significant reverberations across the African music fraternity because their contributions to the art were simply magical. Their music, messages, and successes gave hope to young Africans mired in poverty, violence, and uncertainty. Their works did not only elevate the hip-hop genre to the mainstream of South African music but impacted the global music audience in a manner that deepened the acceptance of African music and culture on a large scale.

“Their losses are personal to us in AFRIMA because they have been part of our journey. We recall that AKA won the Best African Collaboration award in the 2015 edition of AFRIMA for his effort on ‘All Eyes on Me’ which features Burna Boy, Da LES and others, while Costa Titch got a historic six nominations in the recently held 2022 edition. The greatness of their crafts is still being acknowledged even in their graves.

“We are still sombre and sad about their sudden departures. They inspired the whole of our continent; full of faith, courage, and strength, they have left a huge void in the music industry and their invaluable contributions to the African music ecosystem would be missed forever.”

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