In furtherance of the objectives of its enabling decree, the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO has commenced its indigenous language programmes aimed at helping Nigerian children to communicate in their mother tongue and adults with spouses from different ethnic backgrounds, the language of their spouses.

In line with the re- branding project of the federal government, and as part of their contribution towards the revival of the fading Yoruba culture, a socio -cultural organisation known as Egbe Omo Odua in Ireland in collaboration with Active Agent, a non governmental organisation last week announced plans to hold a week long cultural extravaganza tagged, Oodua Heritage Week in far away Dublin.

THE early Benin art was referred to as “Court Art” hence ”Court Art of Benin” This is because the Oba or King of Benin had a monopoly of the art works, though technically speaking, they are all brass.

The monthly Guest Writer Session organized by the Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF) took place at the popular Pen and Pages Bookstore, Abuja, on July 30, 2011. In this report, TUNJI AJIBADE highlights the intrigues that weave through Cecilia Kato’s journey around her poetic canvass.

For once, here is a product from Nigeria that has no negative connotations and we are arguing about who said what and who went where.

His eloquence and poise speak of one who understands the intricate terrain of his tasks. His understanding of the issues regarding the culture and tourism sector was heart warming to the critical culture journalists, who engaged him after his tour round of the facilities of the National Theatre, Centre for Black, African Art and Civilisation, CBAAC and National Troupe of Nigeria, NTN.

EVERY arrangement to have another successful Garden City Literary Festival are now put in place according to the organisers of the programme.

According to Chinua Achebe, foremost Novelist and Africa’s Eagle on the Iroko, a people who do not know where the rain began to beat them, would not know where to stop and dry their bodies.

Two issues cropped up last week during the successful hosting of the first Artexpo award put together by the Art Gallery Owners Association of Nigeria (AGAN).

Nigerian parents and guardians have been enjoined to instill the local culture in their wards upbringing as that is the only tool that will help them reconcile with their native land.

One Day I Will Write About This Place, a debut memoir by award-winning Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, has been selected by the O, The Oprah Magazine for its 2011 summer reading list.

When you talk of Benin, you think of bronze works. Bronze casting in Benin dates to 1400 AD when it was introduced by Oba Oguola.According to oral tradition, the Benin people migrated from Eqypt and settled both in Sudan and Ile – Ife and later to the present location, Benin City.

In honour of late poet and playwright, Professor Esiaba Irobi, Loneranger Comprehensive Theater Services, Owerri, Imo State, to immortalise the writer with the publication of two anthologies namely; Rhythms Through Cancer-an anthology of poems on cancer and cancer related issues, and Exiles of conscience – a collection of stories and plays. The two anthologies are meant to celebrate the memories of Ezenwa Ohaeto and Esiaba Irobi respectively.

Although this enthralling book is classified as “Teen Fiction”, Nwokeji explores the age-old problems of poverty and dreams now compounded by child labour and the new wave in crime, kidnapping, through Ike and his brother, Emeka. The book opens with the exposition of the fundamental truth that, as in most other things, there are various levels of poverty:

Bob Nosa Uwagboe penultimate week, at the African Artists Foundation(AAF), Ikoyi, threw the curtains open for an engaging solo exhibition titled ,Homme Libre. The artist, whose creative experiment in the past 7 years has resulted in thought provoking themes , also gave his audience an insight into moments of sparks of anger, pain, passion and vision that define the tenor of his art.