IT was singing, dancing and rejoicing at the Palace ground of the Oba of Benin, Omo Oba Erediauwa on Tuesday when the people of Utese community in Uhen Ward, Ovia North- East local government area of Edo state went to the Palace of the revered Monarch to present before him their newly crowned Enogie (Duke) in consonance with the culture, mores and tradition of the Benin people.

Abimbola Dare’s debut Christian novel, The Small Print has enjoyed a privileged spot in the top best selling e-books on amazon.co.uk in the romantic Christian fiction category for over three months in a row. The novel continues to fly off the shelves in bookstores across Nigeria.

Ekanpou Enewaridideke, president, Ijaw People Congress is a writer and an activist. Educated at Delta State University, Abraka, where he obtained a degree in English, the Ijaw born writer- activist has written across literary genres and won important literary prizes.

A Nigerian choir, the Lagos City Chorale directed by the Maestro, Sir Emeka Nwokedi bagged three Silver medals at the just concluded 7th World Choir Games held in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA from 4th – 14th July, 2012.

According to Ekpo Eyo, “It is indeed unfortunate that so much Nok material has been looted over time to supply the international market. Properly excavated, such pieces might have shed valuable light on the Nok culture.

ONE of the problems militating the development of African states is the inability of the leaders to learn from history, no thanks to the declining fortune of history as a study subject in many secondary schools in some countries and especially, Nigeria.

When Spanish born Jess Castellote came to Nigeria in 1994, he did not have in mind that his services to a non governmental organisation committed to the construction of private residences at the University of Ibadan would change course with time to the fields of education, art and culture.

In the face of daunting problems of graduate unemployment ravaging the country now, a new book that seemingly has solutions to youths unemployment was last week presented to the public. The book, …to my Siblings, who want to succeed, a framework for a highly successful and principled life after basic education is written by Dayo Akinola, an engineer.

Facial scarification, known as Igbu-ichi in parts of Igboland,is making a return from ancestry into the designs of Tony George Chidi Akudinobi. A visual thinker and quintessential poet of furniture-cum-interior design in the African mode, Akudinobi is the acclaimed Convener of the African Design Roundtable who holds pride of place for representing Nigeria at the 29th India International Trade Fair (Pragati Maidan) New Delhi.

The Agip Hall of the Muson centre shook to its foundation recently with the spectacular performance of IPI NTOMBI, South Africa’s popular dance drama by students of Greenwood House, Ikoyi. Though stated for 5.30pm, parents, arts and culture enthusiasts filled the hall before the scheduled time.