At last, the much talked about unique exhibition by the artistic and harmonious family of painters, Emmanuel and Angela Isiuwe kicked off at the Didi Museum, located in Victoria Island, Lagos. The exhibition which is coming after ten years of the couple’s last exhibition tagged Our World Human and Equestrian Life.

Etisalat Nigeria has assembled a strong panel of judges for the maiden edition of its pan-African prize for literature tagged “Etisalat Prize for Literature.” The panel of four is chaired by Pumla Gqola, an associate professor in the department of African Literature at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Gqola is one of South Africa’s most influential public intellectuals and feminists. She is the author of What is Slavery to Me? Postcolonial/Slave Memory in Post-Apartheid South Africa and A Renegade Called Simphiwe.

According to Elizabeth Taylor, the literary editor of the Chicago Tribune, the prize is awarded yearly in two categories, fiction and non-fiction, to books that are concerned with American issues, causes and concerns. “We loved Americanah . It’s a powerful, resonant novel and we would be delighted to celebrate it and try to share it with a wider audience,” Taylor wrote.

The list of nominees for the 2013 Future of Africa Awards was released last week during a backyard cocktail organized by United States Consulate in collaboration with the Central Working Committee of the Future of Africa Awards.

In this end time, when many ministers of God and others alike have left the kingdom message for prosperity messages and turned their churches into business centres, a situation that has forced many to shy away from christian ideals . A situation that has caused many to find it difficult to stand with their faith, Nike Adekunle, whom I can describe as an ‘evangelist’ has taken it upon herself to redeem many lost souls through her new book titled, Behind The Scene.

DR. Patience Akpan-Obong is an associate professor of science, technology and society in the School of Letters and Sciences at Arizona State University Polytechnic. She holds a Ph.D in Political Science from University of Alberta and a Master’s degree in Journalism. She is also the author of Information and Communication Technologies in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges for Development (New York: Peter D. Lang, 2009), as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters on the implications of information and communication technologies for socio-economic and political development in resource-poor countries. Recently, the columnist came out with a new book entitled Letters to Nigeria: Journal of an African Woman in America. In this interview with Vanguard Art, Akpan-Obong reacts to some issues about the book. Excerpts

THE Senate Committee on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation has called on the Federal Government to establish electronic museums across the country to enable the world to view the nation’s cultural heritage from their homes.

EVER since the maiden edition was hosted in 2008, the Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture series have become a medium used to examine some topical issues ranging from media and democracy in the society. And as part of the 79th birthday of the Noble laureate which was marked on 13th July, the centre held its 5th edition of the lecture at NIIA, Lagos.

It was an evening of artistic display of works as lovers of art from Nigeria and overseas gathered at Pattaya Oriental Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos to give their support to some established and upcoming artists in the federation during a cocktail reception for a week long 2013 art exhibition.

Pianist Babatunde Sosan made an indelible impression at his piano recital “Romantic Classics” held last week at the Muson Centre. In an attempt to relive the memories of his mentor and instructor Raymond Banning who passed away last year, Sosan displayed an impeccable artistry with the white and black keys of the piano.

FROM October 18 to November 7 2013, art enthusiasts especially lovers of photography will be thrilled in a spectacular way as activities for the 2013 Lagos Photo Festival, the first international art festival of photography in Nigeria kicks off. This was disclosed by the organisers AAF and major sponsors, Etisalat and Eko Hotels and Suites while announcing the start of this year’s activities in Lagos last week . The activities include, the official Launch of LagosPhoto Festival 2013, the 2013 edition of Etisalat Photography Competition and the official launch of the LagosPhoto Mobile App.

FOR the past few weeks,Vanguard’s Deputy Woman Editor, Yetunde Fashina Arebi’s book which is perhaps, the latest offering to the world of literature, titled, “Youth, Sex and Well Being” has been talk of the town. Arebi’s book has gained much publicity at a very short period due to its content which without reservations, lays bare the intricacies of sexual relationships amongst the youths with the aim of availing them of vital information that would enable them protect their future.

The 2013 prestigious Caine Prize for African writing has been awarded Tope Folarin; a US-based Nigerian writer.

Chimalum Nwankwo, fiery literary critic and award-winning poet, is Writer-in-Residence and Professor of English and World Literatures at Nigerian-Turkish Nile University, Abuja. He was Chair, Department of English and Speech, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, USA. Andi Bula, an Abuja-based writer and poet, spoke with him about Chinua Achebe, the controversies…

Despite the importance of books, the number of graduates produced by the various universities and the volume of books produced in the country every year, statistics available has revealed that Nigeria, the most populous country in black Africa is not a book friendly country.