Basketmouth @ O2

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Thing Around Your Neck

FARAFINA BOOKS & SILVERBIRD LIFESTYLE STORE PRESENT “THE THING AROUND YOUR NECK”

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will be in Nigeria in July to promote her new book,The Thing Around Your Neck. Published locally by Farafina Books, The Thing Around Your Neck is a collection of short stories exploring the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States. Searing and profound, suffused with beauty, sorrow, and longing, these stories map, with Adichie’s signature wisdom, the collision of cultures and the deeply human struggle to reconcile them.Award-winning author ofPurple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been described as “the 21st century daughter of Chinua Achebe.” Her much-anticipated public presentation ofThe Thing Around Your Neck will hold on

SATURDAY JULY 11TH AT 3PM, at:
THE SILVERBIRD LIFESTYLE STORE,
SILVERBIRD GALLERIA,
AHMADU BELLO WAY,
VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS

About The Thing Around Your Neck

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie burst onto the literary scene with her remarkable debut novel,Purple Hibiscus, which critics hailed as “one of the best novels to come out of Africa in years” (BaltimoreSun), with “prose as lush as the Nigerian landscape that it powerfully evokes” (The Boston Globe);The Washington Post called her “the twenty-first-century daughter of Chinua Achebe.” Her award-winningHalf of a Yellow Sun became an instant classic upon its publication three years later, once again putting her tremendous gifts—graceful storytelling, knowing compassion, and fierce insight into her characters’ hearts—on display. Now, in her most intimate and seamlessly crafted work to date, Adichie turns her penetrating eye on not only Nigeria but America, in twelve dazzling stories that explore the ties that bind men and women, parents and children, Africa and the United States.In “A Private Experience,” a medical student hides from a violent riot with a poor Muslim woman whose dignity and faith force her to confront the realities and fears she’s been pushing away. In “Tomorrow is Too Far,” a woman unlocks the devastating secret that surrounds her brother’s death. The young mother at the center of “Imitation” finds her comfortable life in Philadelphia threatened when she learns that her husband has moved his mistress into their Lagos home. And the title story depicts the choking loneliness of a Nigerian girl who moves to an America that turns out to be nothing like the country she expected; though falling in love brings her desires nearly within reach, a death in her homeland forces her to reexamine them.Searing and profound, suffused with beauty, sorrow, and longing, these stories map, with Adichie’s signature emotional wisdom, the collision of two cultures and the deeply human struggle to reconcile them.The Thing Around Your Neck is a resounding confirmation of the prodigious literary powers of one of our most essential writers.

About the Author

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie grew up in Nigeria. Her work has been translated into thirty languages and has appeared in various publications, includingThe O. Henry Prize Stories, 2003; The New Yorker; Granta; the Financial Times;and Zoetrope. Her most recent novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, won the Orange Broadband Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; it was aNew York Times Notable Book and a People and Black Issues Book ReviewBest Book of the Year. Her first novel, Purple Hibiscus, won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. A recipient of a 2008 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, she divides her time between the United States and Nigeria.

What's On: Michael Jackson Memorial

Remembering the King of Pop - Tuesday 07/07/09

A sad day for the world yesterday as over 1billion people viewed the Michael Jackson Memorial Ceremony.

It was disheartening to see a legend celebrated so much in death as opposed to when he was alive but at the same time, it was pleasant and endearing to know he was appreciated and remembered.

Friends, family, and fans gathered yesterday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to pay tribute our King of Pop.

Visit Funeral Website and coverage of the service.


See some of the memorial in pictures below:

Overview: Koko Mansion

It started airing on Sunday the 28th of June on HiTV (channel 31) and Sky (in the UK - channel 204). More info about the Mansion on Linda Ikeji's blog

It also shows on Silverbird TV (DSTV channel 131) in Nigeria. I have not got the schedule for this yet but check out the interactive Koko Mansion Website by clicking on the picture below:

There is an interesting mix of ladies in the house.

No controversies yet though! Hmm let's wait and see.

You can watch Koko Mansion online FREE (weekends only) on - this HiTV page

How to Tie a Gele on Youtube

For the ladies who struggle with tying your head-ties for your Owambes aka parties, here is a useful video on Gele Tying.

What Else is On?

R.I.P Michael Jackson - a true legend. What is happening to the music industry? :(

Like a friend said --

• Who else could have sold over 700m copies (total album/singles sales)?
• Who else could have their album spend over 80 weeks in theUS Top 10?
• Who else could sell 500,000 concert seats in just 4 hrs?
• Who else could have an album sell 5million copies & be said to have flopped?

"Micheal, last nite felt like 9/11 Why? Because the whole world collectively mourned again. WE LOVE YOU" --

I guess Michael' Jackson's time had come to achieve his purpose and live for 50 years. Read more about the death of Michael Jackson here and his bio here R.I.P

MADE presents Charity Event - Celebrities on the Runway (26th June)

A night of celebrities, fashion and music courtesy Made Magazine.

A host of Nollywoood celebrities will be modelling styles from popular designers. They include Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke, musical artists D'Banj, Banky W, MI, Shank, Tosin Martins, GT and many more.

Outfits modelled will be from Nigerian designers Dakova, Jewel By Lisa, MAI, Exclamations, Zebra , House of Divasand Phunk Afrique.

Regular Tickets are available at Chicken Republic outlets (VI, Ikoyi, Lekki) from Sunday 21st June 2009

VIP table seats N30,000 - For VIP table seats please Call 08033029708
Front row seats N15,000
Regular seats N5,000

The aim of this event is to identify with the less privileged and proceeds will go to Bethseda Homes

D'Banj's Unusual 29th Birthday Celebration.

The Koko Master took a philanthropic turn on his birthday which was on the 9th of June, visiting a children's hopsice and donating food items, toys and a lump sum of money. He also gave out scholarship grants to three top students at Dowen College. D'Banj, whose original name isDapo Oyebanjo also stunned the students at Dowen College with a five star performance! His birthday ended at Koko Lounge, top hot spot in Lagos. Happy Birthday D'banj.

Watch out for the first Koko Mansion showing on June 28th at 3pm! Exclusive to HiTV

Goldman Sachs Women's Enterprise & Leadership (WEL) Program

Zain Africa Challenge

The Zain Africa Challenge is a fast-paced question and answer programme featuring outstanding students from across continental Africa. For Season 3, thirty-two universities from eight countries will compete for the prestigious Zain Trophy and prizes for their universities and themselves.

Zain grants to the universities and participants from the National Qualifying Tournaments through the International Championship total nearly $1,000,000 USD. Grants include cash sums, educational materials and travel.

Broadcasting Schedule for the Zain Africa Challenge for Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

In Nigeria, during the program, watch out for the viewer questions and send your answer to 33996 for NTA and 33971 for AIT to stand a chance to win Zain USB Data Cards with N1000 worth of internet usage, ipods and N3,000 free airtime.

The more entries you submit the more your chances of winning! Visit http://www.zainafricachallenge.com/




Nigeria's Next Super Model

The First Screening for the 3rd Edition of NNSM with 30 hot models picked for the first round. There will be a further eviction exercise in August where all 30 girls would be camped and engaged in different types of activities. They will be further shortlisted to 16 girls who will then go into the grand finale in October at Tinapa in Calabar.

More info at http://nigeriasnextsupermodel.com/about.html


Kel's Long Awaited Debut

Up and Coming Female Rapper Kel has completed her long overdue album and as I mentioned last week she launched it on Friday June 19th, 2009.

The album features contributions from Shank, Dare, M.I., Jesse Jags, Ill Bliss and several others. It hit stores on the 22nd of June and contains 19 tracks. According to Kel, it is a reflection of passion and sacrifice.

Check out a video of one of her songs here
http://www.notjustok.com/2009/06/21/video-kel-ft-alaye-may-d-too-fine/

Charles Novia's Unusual Reality Show

Famous Nollywood Writer and Producer, Charles Novia returns to the centre stage with a new reality show that will have 25 winners. It is tagged, Charles Novia Screen Test and is aimed at discovering star actors and actresses and giving them fantastic opportunities. Charles is the man behind The Bridesmaid, Caught In The Middle, Real Love, When Love Dies and many others.

Forms for the reality show are on sale at all Zenith Bank brances across the country for N5000. The stamped teller must be presented on the day of audition at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. The audtion process will last three days.

Le Petit Marche - click here for more details and check out the June Sale info on Facebook!

Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa - Lagos Finals 09

A competition where street dance groups are selected and shortlisted to the finals (in a few words than one) across the country. The Finals will be held at

Venue: The Aquatic Hotel, Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos

Date: Sunday, June 28th 2009

Time: 4pm

Visit: www.mgstreetdanceafrica.com/

Other Events Coming Up.........

• ReBirth Collection Launch 2009

• D'banjs "KokoConcert"

• BasketMouth LIVE!! O2 ARENA LONDON FRI 10 JULY!! HILARIOUS!! WILD & RAW!!!

• Le Petit Marche- ABUJA

• NNENNA OKORE - “OF EARTH... BARKS AND TOPOGRAPHY”

• Banky W

• Le Petit Marche in Abuja

• Careers in Africa

• Hunch

• Celeb News - Johnny Depp and R. Kelly

Hmmmmmmmmm Watch This Space........

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.