The ZAFAA Global Awards 2013 Nominees

Here are the nominees for the African Film Festival and Academy Awards (ZAFAA Global Awards) 2013 . The list was announced on August 29, 2013 at a press conference, which took place at the Barking Enterprise Center in London. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 16, 2013 in London, at the KIA Oval.

Check out the nominess.
1. Best Director

Pascal Amanfo (House of Gold, Ghana)
Frank Rajah Arase (The Prince, Ghana)
Ikechukwu Onyeka (Brothers Keeeper, Nigeria)
Tope Oshin Ogun (Journey To Self, Nigeria)
Pascal Amanfo (Letters to My Mother,  Ghana)
Obi Emelonye (Last Fight to Abuja, London)
2. Best Actor

Majid Michel (Brother’s Keeper, Nigeria)
Solomon Akiyesi (Blood of Shiloh, Nigeria)
Mike Ezuruonye (The Cartel, Nigeria)
John Dumelo (Letter to my Mother, Ghana)
Majid Michel (The Prince, Ghana)
3. Best Actress

Yvonne Nelson (The Prince, Ghana)
Omoni Oboli (Brothers Keeper, Nigeria)
Yvonne Nelson (House of Gold, Ghana)
Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Last Flight to Abuja, London)
4. Best Lead Actor Indigenous

Femi Brainard (Mo Sorire, Nigeria)
Alex Adu Kofi (Okomfo Anokye, Ghana)
Rykardo Agbor (Ifa Iwa, Nigeria)
Wale Adebayo (Mahuru, Nigeria)
5. Best Lead Actress Inigenous

Tayo Odueke (Mo Sorire, Nigeria)
Moji Olaiya (Mahuru, Nigeria)
Fathia Balogun (Mahuru, Nigeria)
Ngozi Nwosu (Mo Sorire, Nigeria)
Ronke Ojo (Ifa Iwa, Nigeria)
6. Best Supporting Actor

Luclay Misoya (The Cartel, Nigeria)
Francis Odega (House of Gold, Ghana)
Adjetey Annang (Letters to my Mother, Ghana)
7. Best Supporting Actress

Tana Adelana (Single and Married, Ghana)
Omawumi Megbele (House of Gold, Ghana)
Beverly Naya (Brother’s Keeper, Nigeria)
Martha Ankomah (The Cartel, Nigeria)
8. Best Newcomer

Itz Tifanny (Single and Married, Ghana)
Henry Ado Asiedu (House of Gold, Ghana)
Mercy Chinwo (House of Gold, Ghana)
Kathrine Obiang (Journey to Self, Nigeria)
Marie Gomez (Shameful Deceit, London)
Desmond Finney (Ibu in Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone)
9. Best Child Performance

Lisa Asor Awuku (House of Gold, Ghana)
Tobi Oboli (Brother’s Keeper, Nigeria)
Victor Okenwa (God of Shiloh, Nigeria)
Victor Okenwa Jr. (Musical Whispers, Nigeria)
10. Best Picture

House of Gold (Ghana)
Brother’s Keeper (Nigeria)
Last Flight To Abuja (London)
The Cartel (Nigeria)
Letters to My Mother (Ghana)
11. Best Indigenous Movie

Mo Sorire (Nigeria)
Ifa Iwa (Nigeria)
Mahuru (Nigeria)
Okomfo Anokye (Ghana)
Mdundiko (Tanzania)
12. Best Short Film

Hope (Nigeria)
I See U (Cameroon)
Beleh (Cameroon)
13. Best Use of Costume

Single and Married (Ghana)
The Prince (Ghana)
House of Gold (Ghana)
14. Best Screenplay

Letters to My Mother (Ghana)
House of Gold (Ghana)
Single and Married (Ghana)
Brother’s Keeper (Nigeria)
15. Best Special Effect

Last Flight to Abuja (London)
The Twin Sword (Nigeria)
Spirit of a Hero (Nigeria)
16. Best Cinematography

Letters to my Mother (Ghana)
Single and Married (Ghana)
House of Gold (Ghana)
Last Flight to Abuja (London)
17. Best Sound

Brother’s Keeper (Nigeria)
Last Flight to Abuja (London)
House of Gold (Ghana)
18. Best Editing

Brother’s Keeper (Nigeria)
Last Flight to Abuja (London)
Single and Married (Ghana)
19. Best African TV in UK

BEN TV (SKY 182)
OH TV (SKY 199)
VOX AFRICAN TV (SKY 218)
NOLLYWOOD MOVIES (SKY 329)
AFRICAN CHANNEL (SKY 209)
ABN TV (SKY 290)
Non-Competitive Honours in Recognition of their Contribution to the African Film Industry in London
Theodora Ibekwe
Collins Archie-Pearce

Lifetime Achievement Award
Ernest Abby Quaye (Ghana)

Posthumous Awards
Justus Esiri (Nigeria)

(MUST READ)Why ASSU Strke might end Next week!!

Hope of an early resolution of the strike embarked on by the public
universities’ lecturers rises as the Vice-President Namadi Sambo met
with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in
Abuja on Thursday.
The meeting held behind closed doors had in attendance the
supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike and the Executive
Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie.
The union was led by its National President, Dr. Nasir Faggae, and
two former Presidents of ASUU; Dr. Dipo Fasina and Dr. Abdullahi
Sule-Kano.
Others at the meeting were the Vice-Chancellors of Bayero University
Kano, Prof. Abdulrasheed Abubakar; Prof. Isaac Adewole of the
University of Ibadan; and Prof. Muhammed Hamisu of the Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
It was however uncertain if yesterday’s discussion was fruitful as the
two parties did not disclose the outcome of the meeting which lasted
for two hours to journalists.
Fagge, however, told State House Correspondents that the union
would make its position known after the National Executive Council
meeting.
Wike assured Nigerians that students would soon return to school as
government was ready to make sure all the contending issues were
resolved as soon as possible.
But a source at the meeting, who pleaded anonymity, however, told
one of our correspondents that going by the new offers made by the
Federal Government, the strike might be called off within the next two
weeks.
This, the source said, was because the Federal Government had
agreed to inject fund to revitalize the university system.
“The meeting went well, the vice-president made some new offers that
were different from what was on ground before. For instance, the
Federal Government had agreed to start the injection of revitalisation
fund into the university system starting with N100bn this year and
N150bn in 2014 and this will continue until the university system is
solid enough to stand.
The source, however, said that the ASUU team promised the vice-
president that the union would make it decision on the strike known
after its NEC meeting unconfirmed source said had been scheduled for
Saturday.
Source Punchng

SHOCKER!! Snake swallowed a woman alive!!! (SEE PHOTOS)

Do you think this can be true?
Am not so sure about this..but i need your opinions!!
Can it be true?

SHOCKER!! A Woman, 20, tortured and lynched by her family and her boyfriend beheaded in horrific honour killing!!

A young Indian woman was beaten to death by members of her own
family and her boyfriend beheaded in an horrific honour killing after
they were lured back to their village thinking were going to be allowed
to marry.
Nidhi Barak, 20, a fine arts student, and Dharmender Barak, 23, who
was studying at technical college, were killed last night as locals in
Gharnavati village in the Indian state of Haryana watched on.
The pair had eloped to nearby Delhi on Tuesday because their
families did not approve of their relationship.
But they had been lured back with promises that they would not be
harmed and would finally be allowed to marry.
Miss Barak's parents and uncle have been arrested and police are
now trying to trace her brother and other family members who
disappeared missing since the crime.
According to police the couple were tortured for several hours at Miss
Barak's home before she was beaten to death in full public view.
Dharmender Barak was beaten and his arms and legs broken, before
he was beheaded. His body was allegedly dumped near his family's
home at a public square in the village.
Police, who had been alerted by a villager, reportedly caught Miss
Barak's family cremating her body on a pyre.
Her half-burnt body and that of Dharmender Barak have been sent for
a post-mortem.
Local police chief Anil Kumar said: 'While murdering the boy they also
beheaded him.
'We have arrested her father, mother and uncle and we are looking for
her brother, a friend and driver of the car in which the couple were
brought back to her home in Gharnavati village.
'Both belonged to the same village and the same caste. It is an
honour killing but the murder was not approved by society.'
India has for centuries seen killings that often target young couples
who have relationships of which their families, clans or communities,
particularly in traditional rural areas, disapprove.
Reasons for disapproval are numerous, but they sometimes include
having relationships outside of their caste or religion.
The killings are carried out by relatives to protect the family's
reputation and pride.
Police in Haryana have been conducting a campaign against honour
killings in the state, where the sex-gender ratio is skewed in favour of
men because of an outlawed but still existing tradition of female
infanticide.
'We hold seminars and our women officers visit villages but the
ultimate weapon against the scourge of honour killings is (more)
education,' Kumar said.
India's Supreme Court said in 2010 that the death penalty should be
given to those found guilty of honour killings, calling the crime a
barbaric 'slur' on the nation.
There are no official figures on honour killings in India, but the All
India Democratic Women's Association says its research shows about
1,000 such cases nationwide a year.

Photos : Nollywood Actress Chacha Ekeh & Husband Welcome Baby Girl

Nollywood screen goddess just welcomed her new baby girl, she
got married recently to ace film maker and Director Austin
Faani .Congratz

Members of the Nigerian house of Reps to Receive $25,000 Each To Stop Baraje!!

Despite several denials, facts have emerged that some members of the
House of Representatives were allegedly bribed with $25,000 (about
N4.2m) to cause chaos in the House, move against the leadership
and frustrate the activities of the new PDP lawmakers.
LEADERSHIP gathered last night that, since Tuesday, some of the
alleged PDP members have been going to a hotel situated around the
Central Business District to collect their own share of the largesse.
The deal, which a dependable source who spoke with LEADERSHIP
said is bankrolled by the presidency, however extends to any other
lawmaker who does not belong to the Baraje faction of PDP.
The source, who is also a member of the House but sought
anonymity, said: “The plan is aimed at swelling their ranks. Since
Tuesday, they have been going to that hotel to collect $25,000 each.
When they collect, they sign an understanding which states that they
will be loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan, Bamanga Tukur and
Speaker Tambuwal. But they know the part of speaker was just added
to make them feel more comfortable and look like they are not
against him.”
Going further, he explained that what transpired when Baraje led the
National Working Committee and G-7 governors was to “show that
they can deliver”.
The points-man for the assignment, he disclosed, is a ranking
lawmaker from Imo State who heads an international parliamentary
body.
Others included in the deal other than loyalists of the Tukur faction
are five members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), seven
members of the Labour Party, and four members of the Accord Party
(AP).
Expressing disappointment that the lawmaker would allow himself to
be used to cause division in the House, the source added: “This is
somebody we all supported to be appointed as speaker of that
prestigious international parliament. Since Monday, they have been
going there to collect the money and, till today, those who haven’t
gotten are still going there. The deal is open to anyone who is
interested, as long as you are not a member of the Baraje faction of
PDP. They want to swell their ranks by getting more members to be
on their side.”
The source also said that on Tuesday when that fight broke out
between the two factions in the House, Tukur loyalists were in the
midst of a meeting where they were discussing how to destabilise the
House when they were called to come and disrupt the courtesy visit.
Despite all these, LEADERSHIP gathered, during a closed-door session
that held in the chambers on Wednesday, Speaker Tambuwal appealed
for calm among his colleagues, advising them to put national interest
ahead of partisan troubles.
No plans to impeach Tambuwal - Reps
The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Zakari
Mohammed, yesterday declared that members of the House had no
plans to impeach the speaker of the House, Hon Aminu Waziri
Tambuwal.
Zakari said this while briefing newsmen on Thursday at the National
Assembly.
Arguing that the power to remove or install any speaker lies on all the
members of the House, not just few party members, he added that
“Tambuwal is a speaker in whom we are all pleased”.
Responding to whether there was any truth in the allegations that
money was distributed to lawmakers to impeach Tambuwal, Zakari
said the leadership of the House was not involved in sharing any
money, neither has any member of the leadership nor himself received
any money.
Meanwhile, the House yesterday adjourned plenary till Tuesday,
October 3, for a one-week oversight on the implementation of the
2013 budget by ministries, department and agencies. The
adjournment does not extend to committee sittings.
Source Leadership

"Obasanjo’s ‘insult’ made me a superstar" –Eedris Abdulkareem Reveals

Controversies and scandals aside, Afro Hip Hop artiste, Eedris
Abdulkareem, is happy that he chose the path of music
Anytime his name is mentioned in a gathering, many incidents readily
come to mind. For some people it is his scuffle with American rapper,
50 Cents, during his visit to Nigeria, in 2004. Others may choose to
remember his numerous swipes at colleagues in his songs.
However, beyond the many controversies that have dogged his career
over the years, Eedris Abdulkareem, was once a professional table
tennis player and journalist.
At age 15, I represented Kano State as a table tennis player. I was
also part of the Nigerian Table Tennis contingent to the All Africa
Games in 1985, which took place in Kenya, with the likes of Funke
Oshinaike, Atunda Musa and the late Yomi Bankole.”
The Bayero University, Mass Communication graduate says, “God told
me emphatically that my calling was music because he wants me to
use it to speak for the voiceless.
He said, ‘Eedris, leave Kano, you are going to go to Lagos to do
music, you would go through a lot but you will make it nonetheless.
As soon as you have the opportunity to speak on the microphone, use
it to talk about the ills in the society like sexual harassment, politics,
embezzlement and illiteracy. Also, I was interested in music because
my mother raised 10 children and lost seven of them. It made me a
very conscious boy at a tender age because of that.”
“I would have made more money from music if I sing praises. But if
you are a public officer who is accountable, I will definitely praise you.
With music, I have met all my needs and gained international
recognition. I have the authority to walk up to any governor’s door
and get instant recognition. They will say, “Ah, Eedris Abdulkareem,
Obasanjo’s friend, Jaga jaga”. It has opened many doors for me and I
don’t have to sell my soul to the devil or become a member of
illuminati to be successful,” he says amid laughter.
When asked to comment on the high point of his career, his face
lights up in a smile
“The best to ever happen to me was former President Olusegun
Obasanjo talking back at me, calling me a mere street boy whose
father is not known. The president took me to the next level, I became
a super star, and now people know me, because Obasanjo put me in
his level.”
As if these achievements are not enough, the rapper, who has been
running an independent label, La Kreem Records, since 2004, is happy
because he has succeeded in keeping the home front intact in spite of
controversies.
“I love my family and wife so much that I don’t joke with them. I have
been married for 13 years, though they thought it would last three
months. I proved to them that it is possible to be a family man and
artiste at the same time. I am an inspiration to other married
celebrities,” he boasts.
Things can only get better, as far as Eedris is concerned. With a sixth
album due in November, the Osun State native, who says he has a few
friends in the industry, tries to clear a few issues off his chest.
“I don’t need endorsements, but I am cool with the shows that Mike
Adenuga has been giving me. Shows are enough for me. I will endorse
my own product which I am putting together. I need more shows
because they pay my bills. If I tell you I want endorsements you may
think that most of the things I sing about are for endorsement. I don’t
want it, but I do it for other Nigerian artistes so they can live big. But
if you must endorse, choose people that will add value to your life.
Endorsement is the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria. My
only grouse is that abroad, endorsed artistes add value to other
people’s lives. Here in Nigeria, it is the opposite,” he says.
Punchng