Priorities

Two years ago, I bought a phone I loved. It took lovely pictures and I did a great deal of work on it, but the disc space was small and it filled up quickly. Issues began when the charger got stolen. Due to my tight schedule, I kept moving the day I would transfer data through some other means forward, as I could not use the charging port, till the phone went off and never came back on. I lost data. Based on professional advice and my observation, I decided that the solution was to get a phone with sufficient space.

I used another phone I didn’t really like but got one I loved in December 2019. Pretty phone with all the space I needed - 32 GB ram and 16 GB memory card, perfect for me. All my platforms were up and I worked comfortably without my laptop, sure it would not fill up quickly. Guess what? It was stolen in the most horrible way and I was heartbroken, I cried like a baby. How could I get back works, proposals, photos from past events and the last road trip with my kids? I traveled a lot between December and March and went without my laptop because I knew my phone would suffice. I lost it all. I got my dream phone with ample space but my problem was not solved. I still lost it all. What a loss!

THE 2020 Redefiners Writing Challenge for Children: Lockdown Edition

The Redefiners Writing Challenge (RWC) is a creative opportunity aimed at encouraging young people to express themselves through writing. RWC will identify, harness and showcase the gift of writing in young Nigerians. This will boost their confidence, help them communicate better and appreciate other stories they read, while instilling in them the desire to do something worthwhile with their words. Children who write discover themselves early, they believe they have something to say; a good foundation for becoming powerful leaders for the future.

This year, it will be implemented in partnership with Chowilson, Pulchra Publishing and The Bookworm Cafe, giving preteens and teens an opportunity to share their views on the lockdown experience. The theme is ‘My Ideal Lockdown Experience’. It will provide them with an opportunity to express themselves while promoting their adherence to WHO’s precautionary measures.

Categories

Preteen Writers: Ages 9-12

Teen Writers: Ages 13-16

Prizes

• First, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes ( N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 respectively).
• The top 20 stories will be included in the 2020 Redefiners Writing Challenge Anthology (Lockdown Edition).
• Twenty finalists will participate in an online writing masterclass/interactive session

Eligibility Criteria

• Authors must be within the specified age groups (above) as at 30th June, 2020.
  Submission of birth certificates is mandatory for this reason.
• Entries must be submitted on or before the deadline – 30th June, 2020. Late
  submissions will not be accepted.
• Participants must be Nigerian citizens
• Only entries submitted in line with the guidelines below will be considered.

Submission Guidelines

● All entries have to be original works of fiction, not previously published, 500 words minimum and 900 words maximum. Authors should ensure their stories interpret the theme correctly.

● Only one entry will be accepted per child

● Entries should be in PDF format, typed and double-spaced with a cover page that has the story title and word count. Entries should be saved with the title, not the author’s name (authors’ names will be filled on registration forms which also have story titles for easy tracking).

● At least one of WHO’s COVID-19 precautionary measures should be used in the story

● To participate, fill in your details here, pay your entry fee of N1,000 here and send attached copies of your story (as requested) and birth certificate to submissions@omonefe.com or redefinersph@gmail.com. Birth certificates should be sent in JPEG or GIF.

Announcement of Winners and Closing Events

The long list, comprising of top 20 authors and their stories, will be published by 31st July. 

An interactive session which includes a writing masterclass, will be held for the top 20 finalists on the 1st of August, 2020.

The top three winners, per category, will be named at the closing ceremony on the 8th of August 2020.

All 20 finalists will get a copy of the anthology after it is published.

Nefe's Blog: International Women's Day Ode

Nefe's Blog: International Women's Day Ode: To every young girl who is unsure of what tomorrow holds, To every mother who feels overwhelmed with the challenges of today, To e...

International Women's Day Ode

To every young girl who is unsure of what tomorrow holds,

To every mother who feels overwhelmed with the challenges of today,

To every single mother who feels different from everyone else,

To every unwed sister who feels her change of status is long overdue,

To every grandma who looks back and hopes her kids make the best of life,

And every man who stands by women, empowering them to succeed;

It is your day, my day, our day.

Celebrate!

Copyright (C) 2019 Omonefe O. Eruotor

#internationalwomen'sday #balanceforbetter

#redefiners

'OVER' TO 'BETTER'

As a football match comes to an end, the players and officials gradually walk out of the pitch which was once abuzz, spectators and fan clubs also gravitate toward the exit because it is all over. The adrenaline rush resolves on its own as the time to bamboozle the crowd is gone. It is at this time that players go over their performances individually or with their teams, then the reality of how well or how terribly they dribbled, played or caught balls comes to light. At this point, nothing can be changed, only learning points can be picked out of the victory or the loss.

MASKS

Today, the word ‘mask’ just popped in my head and I decided to look it over in my mind’s eye. Wikipedia tells us that “a mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment.”

In all the words used above, ‘disguise’ and ‘performance’ got my attention. I am not talking about using a mask for stage performances or to help someone avoid an assailant. I mean the disguise and performance that have to do with locking up who you really are so the world sees someone you feel they want to see, the perfect man that receives accolades even when he cringes inside with imperfection and pain.

LESSONS FROM 'BLACK PANTHER'

It has been awesome watching the tangible impact of the fictitious land of Wakanda on the lives of people worldwide. I have  seen African- Americans and people of other races dress in trendy African outfits, heard a lot of discussion centered around this movie and it's projection of Africa. I hope that these possibilities that have come to the fore will be taken in as a call to action, rather than buried after the Black Panther euphoria by us. A lot has been on my mind and the following are are a few thoughts that I came up with after seeing the movie. I hope they will open your eyes as wide as they did mine.

Ike Nnaebue - "I'm an Incurable Optimist..."

In the ‘New Nollywood’, a modern variant of the Nigerian movie industry, I am amazed at how often social media is flooded with fresh movie alerts. We have been ushered into a divergent dispensation of the cinemas which our parents enjoyed in Nigeria, based on the consistent display of contemporary work. In the midst of all the innovation, there are some movie makers who stand out with the quality and spread of their work, one of such is Ike Nnaebue; a screenwriter, singer/songwriter, producer and director. He is also the CEO of Treasure Wells Academy as well as Passion8 Communications and has produced, directed or written pieces which have received accolades in Nigeria and the diaspora.  His most recent accomplishments with ‘Loving Daniella’ which received three nominations at the Las Vegas

Film Festival and produced the winner of the Best Actress category as well as ‘Dr. Mekam’ which won the Best Screenplay and produced the Best Actor in the Nollywood Travel Film Festival early this year, have heightened our expectations as we await more from this all-rounder and his team before the year wanes. Join me as we take a short trip into the world of Ike Nnaebue with this interview.

CHAT WITH CHRIS ODEH

Chris Odeh is a producer, project manager and marketer. He is the Founder and senior producer for Sozo Films, as well as Talent Manager for Ramsey Films. He co-owns Ibuzor Studios and Project Arewa -indigenous content production companies - which he runs with some partners, and has produced content for both local and international platforms like Homevida, MNET, Africa Magic, ESSPIN and a host of others. Some of the movies he has produced or co-produced are Make a Move, Learning Curves, Oloibiri Retold, ‘Chasing Hanifa’. He also has television shows and documentaries like The Dr. Ketch Show, ACGSF, and, Chapters in his portfolio. His script titled Enitan won the award for the Best Child Friendly Short Film in the 2011 Homevida awards, and he has worked with notable actors in the industry, both local and international. He has a chat with Omonefe Eruotor about his career:

Calabar and Film

Calabar is a city where entertainment thrives. The yearly carnival which is viewed nationwide and beyond is like a homecoming event with residents and visitors on the streets in December, basking in the euphoria. The city gained some momentum in film when Ebonylife TV occupied the ultra- modern Tinapa Studios, shooting world class drama series and reality shows; while hosting the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in 2013 and 2014, that had guests from over ten African countries as well as the United States and the United Kingdom; and also,  by holding the Cross River Movie Awards, which brings celebrities from across the country.