We are not sure that Mr. President has been properly informed of the reasons why the cradle of Nigerians artistic creativity needs to be sold to the Arab Emirate to be converted to a replica of the Dubai Mall and to build a Five Star Hotel in the name of Hospitality and nation building for Tourism.

Former Vanguard’s Art Editor, Helon Habila was among nine writers announced as winners of the $150,000 prize money in the third round of The Windham Campbell Prizes. This was announced last Tuesday by the organisers.

Oba Gbenga Sonuga is the Fadesewa of Simawa, in Makun Sagamu, Ogun State. Despite being the custodian of the culture of the community, his love and obsession for art and culture is very strong that he is always seen in many art events in the country. Before being crowned Oba, Fadesewa of Simawa, in Makun Sagamu, Oba Gbenga Sonuga, sometimes fondly called ‘OBA ART & CULTURE’ or BABA CULTURE was the Director for the Lagos State Council for Art and Culture.

The United States Consulate, Lagos, held its annual programme to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, penultimate week. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an American federal holiday that celebrates the official Birthday of the renowned African American human rights activist, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King has remained a symbol of non-violent activism, a strategy through which his civil rights movement successfully protested racial discrimination in the federal and state laws of the United States of America.

It is going to be a real showcase for South Africa’s and the continent’s fast growing and vibrant contemporary art economy as the 2nd edition of the Cape Town Art Fair kicks off in South Africa. And in line with its mission of ensuring sustainable presence for African art within a global context, one of the leading art gallery in Nigeria, Omenka gallery will from February 26 to March 1, participate in the Art Fair scheduled to hold at the Avenue, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town.

Much as year 2015 is expected to witness great stage performances, theatre lovers are billed to witness what can be described as the mother of all drama as an international theatrical ensemble Hamlet Globe to Globe from United Kingdom hits the city of Lagos with William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’. The Hamlet Globe to Globe tour which opened at Shakespeare’s Globe, London, on 23 April 2014, is scheduled to tour every single country on earth for over 2 years, now berths Nigerian soil on 4th and 5th March 2015 at the Muson Centre, Onikan and St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Africa’s Triple Heritage thesis first proposed by Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah but given its strongest advocacy by late Prof. Ali Mazrui resonates with a forcefulness that speaks to Africa’s and Nigeria’s postcolonial development quandary. According to the thesis, Africa’s future lies within the framework by which she is able to traverse the dynamics of her Euro-Christian, Islamic and traditional heritage.

With an unwavering commitment towards the promotion of diverse rich cultural heritage of the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, on-air personality, media trainer, and accomplished civil servant, Mrs Funke Durodola presented to the public, her book, Memories of Grandma. The book presentation which took place last week at the Freedom Park, Lagos, attracted a mixed audience which includes, journalists, politicians, academics as well as the religious.

But then, we know that Nigeria is far from being the country of the dreams of our founding fathers, nor that of we the contemporary generation. That accounts for why the book is called ‘The Pains of a Country.’ Yes, Nigeria is in pains, indeed paroxysms, and in the throes of despondency and disillusionment. But is it all hopeless, “a thoroughfare of woes,” as Godfrey Chaucer would call it? The relief Odivwri brings is that he not only identifies problems, he also recommends antidotes, charts the path forward.

The journey of life and rise to stardom is always determined by many factors, while some made it to the top because they were born with the silver spoon, others were not so lucky, but were able to make it by a stint of hard work and dedication. Which class does Engineer Guy Eboe Otobo belong, how did he handle his challenges of birth and upbringing to become a top class civil servant? These and other issues were what the Government College Ughelli old boy penciled down in his autobiography entitled “Engineer Guy Eboe Otobo , A Life On The Roads”