Inside Track Abuja

Theatre comes to Abuja

2012-01-19T17:50:00.000-08:00

Rosewood Multimedia Theatre presents a Valentine performance of Tyrone E. Terrence's PRIVATE LIES, a theatrical piece which explores relationships, forgiveness and the meaning of commitment.

First performed at the prestigious 'Muson Centre,' Lagos in 2004, the critically acclaimed PRIVATE LIES was recently performed to rave reviews, in ATLANTA, USA.

PRIVATE LIES
WHERE: 'The Atrium,'Ceddi Plaza
WHEN: Tuesday 14th February, 2012
WHAT TIME: 7.30 - 9.30pm
TICKETS: Single - N3000/ Couple - N5000 (available at the venue)

Information: s.baxter@mtnnigeria.blackberry.com

"...If you're prepared to stay with a man who treats you like toilet tissue, then get ready to be used and flushed..." (PRIVATE LIES)

Flamenco Dance at the 6th Spanish Cultural Week

2012-01-10T01:27:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite events in Abuja is the annual Spanish Cultural Week, which takes place every October. I was not able to upload these photos immediately after the event last year, but I would like it to be my first post this year. Previous editions of the cultural week can also be found on this blog thru the following links:

4th Spanish Cultural Week

5th Spanish Cultural Week

BelCanto Ensemble concert - organized by the Embassy of Italy in Nigeria

2011-12-29T01:55:00.000-08:00

A concert by an Italian group called the BelCanto Ensemble took place on the 17th of October 2011 here in Abuja. Held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the concert was in commemoration of the Italian Language Week.

The members of the BelCanto Ensemble who came all the way from Italy for the concert were Rosaria Buscemi (soprano), Alessandro Vuono (piano), Antonio Arcuri (clarinet), Massimo Celliberto (horn), and Francesco Clemente (violin). They performed classical and contemporary music by renowned composers.

Loy Krathong Festival 2011, at the Sawadee Oriental Cuisine in Abuja

2011-12-26T00:30:00.000-08:00

The annual Loy Krathong Festival (please google that for more info) was observed in Abuja with a dinner and some dancing, organized by the Embassy of Thailand and the Thai Citizens Association on the 12th of November 2011 at the Sawadee Oriental Cuisine. Photos by Araceli

Nigerwives - Abuja Branch: End of Year Party

2011-12-22T16:18:00.000-08:00

Members of Nigerwives Nigeria, Abuja Branch, with their families and friends, held their annual End of Year Party on the 10th of December 2011, here in Abuja. Nigerwives (NW) is an association of foreign women married to Nigerian citizens. All women who are married to Nigerians and residing in Nigeria are welcome to be a part of this organization, which, in addition to Abuja, has branches in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Benin, to name a few. The Abuja Branch, of which I am a member, meets every last Sunday of the month. These photos were "borrowed" from my friend Izabella's FB wall.

Christmas cakes to order in Abuja

2011-12-21T00:06:00.000-08:00

Haven't ordered your christmas cake yet? Confused on what to order? Let Essences make it easy. They are offering:

1. Buche de noel @ 9k
2. Giant xmas cupcake in 5 flavours (chocolate,vanilla,banana,strawberry,coconut) @ 7k.
3. Christmas theme cupcakes with fondant 5k per dozen (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, banana)

The regular menu is still on through out the holidays.

Cupcake Prices per dozen: Vanilla N3000; Chocolate N3600; Strawberry N3600; Red velvet N4800; Carrot N3600; Nutella 4800; BlackforestN 4800; Banana N3000; Coconut N3600; Very Berry N4800

All cupcake flavours also available in regular cakes. For further enquiries or orders, call Xiyan @ 0703 604 6666.

9 House-hunting tips in Abuja

2011-12-19T03:54:00.000-08:00

One of the most challenging tasks newcomers face when relocating to Abuja is finding the right accommodation. This is partly due to the fact that demand for housing clearly outweighs the supply. With patience, however, and with the right budget, one will eventually find a place suitable for residence. To guide those who are trying to find accommodation in Abuja for the first time, a book Around and About Abuja has compiled a list of house-hunting tips you might find useful:

Be sure that crime prevention measures (grills/iron rods, security doors, locks, walls, gates) do not prevent an easy and quick escape for your family in case of fire.
If noise is an issue, avoid houses near heavy traffic flows, but for security reasons, do not select a house that is too isolated.
Keep in mind that Abuja is situated between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer, so all parts of the house will receive strong sunshine at some point during the day. Therefore. Facilities for cooling (fans, air conditioners) are important. Fans are good even if there’s air conditioning as power can often be too low to run the air conditioning.
Make sure the doors and windows close without a gap, otherwise rain will enter during the rainy season and dust during the dry season.
Check the wood and the lawn for termite infestation. Certain parts of Abuja have terrible termite problems. Take a close look at the doors and closets.
Test the water in each room to make sure that hot water heaters are working and the water is indeed flowing. Some houses are not hooked up to the city water source and have their water delivered. Be sure to ask the landlord and the neighbors about the reliability of the source. Even houses that have supposedly have reliable city water should have an underground, ground-level, tower or rooftop water storage tank to ensure water storage and constant water flow.
If an apartment is preferred, ask the neighbors about the condition of the apartment and the reliability of the landlord. Also make sure that there is enough rooms for any domestic workers.
Make sure the previous tenant of the house did not leave any unpaid bills as you may be held responsible for phone, electricity, water, etc. Ask for the payment receipts in order to prove past payment. It is also a good idea to save the old payments slips to prove payment and to pass them on to the next tenant.
Ask about the presence and the functioning of a generator. Make sure it is clear who is responsible for the purchase, maintenance and functioning of the generator and fuel. (Source: Around and About Abuja by Francine Rodd, Jewel Kidd, Willie Cohen, and Taniko Noda)

OTHER HOUSE HUNTING TIPS FROM

INSIDE TRACK ABUJA – Dealing with landlords and agents
Never pay cash. To keep a record of all payments made, it is best to pay with a bank draft or a cheque. If the landlord/agent insists on getting paid with cash, do so in the presence of a witness.

Deal only with known agents. Receipts and letterheads are not proof of genuine business. Find time to verify addresses as there are those that don’t actually exist.

Check the agreement before making payment. Ask for a copy of the agreement either from the landlord or the agent. This will give you an idea on your responsibilities as well as the landlord’s. If you intend to make repairs or renovations, be sure there is a provision for it in the agreement.

Hold on to your money until all is clear and understood. Some landlords and agents often make verbal promises about doing repairs or renovations, but forget such promises after they have received your payment. If possible, let everything be on paper.

An afternoon of traditional Indonesian cakes at the Indonesian Ambassador's residence in Abuja

2011-12-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

The wife of theambassador of Indonesia, Mrs. Dian Sudirman, and members of the Dharma WanitaPersatuan (Indonesian Women’s Organization), invited INSIDE TRACK ABUJA andother guests to the ambassador’s residence on the 13^th of December2011 for a taste of delicious Indonesian traditional cakes. The most enjoyable eventwas held in conjuction with the commemoration of Mother’s Day which iscelebrated in Indonesia on the 22^nd of December every year. Thesephotos were taken at the event.

Birthday of the King of Thailand 2011

2011-12-14T00:30:00.000-08:00

Every year Thailand celebrates the birthday of their King, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej. Homes and businesses all throughout the country are decorated with his portraits as well as with royal and national flags. Religious ceremonies are held as the people pray for the King’s wellbeing.

To commemorate this occasion in Abuja, the Embassy of Thailand and the Thai Citizens Association held a dinner for friends and well wishers on 5th December 2011 at the Ambassador's Residence. These photos were taken at the event by INSIDE TRACK ABUJA.

Birthday of the King of Thailand 2010

Reception held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Abuja Nigerwives White Cane Day

Accommodation in Abuja

2011-12-11T18:01:00.000-08:00

Abuja International Women's Club: Cookie Exchange and Christmas Bazaar 2011

2011-12-10T21:14:00.001-08:00

The Abuja International Women’s Club (AIWC) is organizing a COOKIE EXCHANGE AND CHRISTMAS BAZAAR on Thursday, 15th December 2011 at 10am, in Asokoro. For directions on the exact address and if you would like to sell something at the bazaar or know somebody who has nice thing to sell, please contact Petra at petra.leukert@yahoo.de or call 07064324048.

Abuja International Women’s Club is a non-political, non-religious, non- profit making organisation established for women from the international and local community residing in and around Abuja. The main purpose of the club is to promote friendship and understanding amongst women of diverse nationalities by organising social, recreational and humanitarian activities. For further information email abujaiwc@yahoo.com.

How to Become a Member

Ladies from all nations, including Nigeria, who are living in Abuja can be a member of Abuja International Women’s Club. For information, send an e-mail to abujaiwc@yahoo.com. You can become a member by joining one of their social events where you put down your name, address, phone-number and e-mail-address and pay the membership fee which is Naira 5,000 for one year. (When you join from January 1 you pay Naira 3,000 for the rest of the year.)

Members of the Executive Committee, Abuja International Women's Club,
during their monthly lunch on September 27, 2011; at The Clubhouse, Tak Life Camp, Gwarimpa.
Photo by Araceli

Abuja International Women's Club at their monthly lunch, held on September 27, 2011
at The Clubhouse, Tak Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Photo by Araceli

Operabuja 2011 - the story and the photos

2011-11-28T13:45:00.001-08:00

Cecilia Toledo De Schmillen,
Founder and Artistic Director, AMEMUSO

The Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (AMEMUSO) held the 5th edition of the annual music festival, Operabuja, on Sunday, 27th November 2011 at 7.30pm, at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja.

What made this year's edition different from the previous editions was that the AMEMUSO Choir interpreted the 9 songs vying to win the UNITY SONG CONTEST (with a cash prize of N500,000.00) organised by AMEMUSO.

According to the founder of AMEMUSO, Mrs. Cecilia Toledo De Schmillen, wife of the former ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, “this year’s event is aimed at celebrating Abuja as a centre of unity in Nigeria and internationally. As such, the theme of this year’s festival is ‘Unity Song Contest.’”

Mrs. De Schmillen said she has travelled “all the way from Peru to Nigeria to keep this great Nigerian dream alive” and that the attendance at the event of her friends and supporters will certainly encourage her “to continue to work for the realization of the dream.”

The show featured Omo Bello (Nigerian soprano); Walter Michael Vollhardt (conductor); Sodi Breidi (Nigerian pianist); Lucia Luque (Argentinian violinist); Lucas Brunnert (German violinist); Marcelo Montes (Argentinian cellist); Ohimah Igbuan (Nigerian pianist) and Abednego Okafor (Nigerian pianist.)

Also present were Onyeka Onwe Onwenu, who was one of the judges, Prof. Viola Onwuliri (Hon. Ministor of State, Foreign Affairs) who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, and Hon. Bala Mohammed (Minister of the FCT).

These photos were taken at the event.

Cecilia Toledo De Schmillen, Founder and Artistic Director of AMEMUSO

The AMEMUSO Choir

Onyeka Onwenu

Omo Bello

Hon. Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed

Cecilia Toledo greets the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria

Onyeka Onwenu greets the Hon. Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Prof Viola Onwuliri

N500,000,00 cheque for the winner of the song competition

The orchestra

Some of the audience

Posted by Araceli Aipoh

Sweet tooth in Abuja

2011-11-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not a great fan of cakes (not these days anyway), but I got tired of staying indoors during the last Muslim holidays, so I decided to venture out, towards Wuse, near the Sheraton Hotel, and ended up at the Cherry Plus Bakery, one of the more popular outfits that sell cakes and pastries here in Abuja.

I had a slice of their chocolate cakes, but what I really wanted to do was to take some photos, so I asked the manager if I could, and here are some of the photos I came up with....

Assorted cakes at the Cherry Plus Bakery,
Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja

Assorted cakes and pastries at the Cherry Plus Bakery,
Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja

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Posted by Araceli

Thai Citizens Association Bids Farewell to the Ambassador of Thailand

2011-11-16T20:09:00.001-08:00

Members of the Thai Citizens Association in Abuja (under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Amy Uzoewulu) organised a Farewell Lunch in honour of their Ambassador, H.E. Manop Mekprayoonthong, and wife, on the 24th of September 2011 at the residence of the ambassador.

Ambassador Mekprayoonthong's tenure in Nigeria is over and he and his wife have gone back to Thailand.

Posted by Araceli Aipoh

Nigerwives Celebrate White Cane Day with a Bazaar and Food Fair

2011-11-13T20:43:00.000-08:00

The annual WHITE CANE DAY & INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR organised by NIGERWIVES NIGERIA (NW) Abuja Branch,was held on the 15th of October 2011 from 10am to 4pm at the FCT School for the Blind, No. 15 Audu Ogbeh Street, Jabi, Abuja.

Nigerwives Nigeria is a registered association of foreign women married to Nigerian citizens, and it has branches in many parts of the country.

Nigerwives Nigeria Abuja Branch has been involved in various charity activities, adopting the FCT School for the Blind as its pet project when the school was still located at the College of Education in Zuba. Nigerwives organize reading sessions and math lessons, and generally look after the welfare of the children. A milestone in this collaboration was the formal opening of a computer center at the School for the Blind on July 15, 2011. The children can henceforth learn how to use the computer, thanks to a special 'talking' software.

Most of the proceeds from the WHITE CANE DAY BAZAAR & INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR will go a long way in satisfying some of the needs of the students at the School for the Blind in terms of Braille books, basic medical care, basic equipment,

Photos by Araceli Aipoh

ASOHOM International Charity Bazaar held in Abuja; 40 High Commission and Embassies participate

2011-11-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

Among the many bazaars and food fairs taking place in Abuja annually, the ASOHOM INTERNATIONAL CHARITY BAZAAR, now on its 8th year, is one of the most interesting and well-attended, with many missions (represented by High Commissions and Embassies) participating to sell food and other products from their respective diverse countries. ASOHOM, or Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission, is a non-political and non-profit organization in existence since 1993, and now has more than forty members from countries all around the world.

ASOHOM serves as a network for its members, giving them a chance to socialise while working together to support children and women in need in Nigeria. Over the years, the association has funded many projects in and around the FCT such as the construction of boreholes, donation of books to schools, donations to assist fistula surgery for women, purchase of Braille machines and other equipment to assist blind students, and renovation of an orphanage.

This year, ASOHOM is funding projects that focus on maternal and child health, and empowerment of women. Recipients of funding this year include Hope4GirlsAfrica, the Medical Missionaries of Mary, FCT School for the Blind, the Margaret Market Sanitation and Health Foundation and Development Association for Renewable Energies (DARE).

The International Charity Bazaar serves as the major fundraising event for ASOHOM and is the means by which funds are raised for its charity projects. Last year the Bazaar generated over 2.6 million naira and over 40 countries had stalls. It is a fun day filled with great food, live music and other entertainment. This year the Bazaar took place on 8th October 2011 at the Sheraton Abuja Hotel, from 10am to 4pm. Many generous donors donated prizes for the raffle this year, including Ethiopian Airlines, AirFrance/KLM, British Airways, Egypt Air and Dana Airlines.

The Executive Committee of the ASOHOM is currently under the chairmanship of Ms Libby McCutchan, wife of the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria. Other members of the Committee are: Hanneke (from Holland), Dian (from Indonesia), and Mos (from Botswana).

Below are photos taken during the ASOHOM INTERNATIONAL CHARITY BAZAAR.

More photos of the ASOHOM INTERNATIONAL CHARITY BAZAAR below.

Posted by Araceli Aipoh

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...more photos - ASOHOM International Charitiy Bazaar 2011

2011-11-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

Posted by Araceli Aipoh

Thai restaurant opens in Abuja

2011-11-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Sawadee Oriental Cuisine which serves Thai foods and located at No 42/45 Kumasi Crescent in Wuse 2 has just opened for business here in Abuja.

I was invited to the Grand Opening on 13th October 2011 and had a chat with Dr. Ratanaporn Dhamakosol (co-owner) and Mrs. Supporn Jong (manager) who gave assurances that they are fully prepared to satisfy their customers with authentic Thai dishes prepared by cooks from Thailand, and using only the finest ingredients.

Sawade is owned by Dr. Dhamakosol from Thailand and her Nigerian partners, Mr. Feyi Agagu, and Mr. Oluwadare Bello, Chairman of Citec Group.

Sawadee Oriental Cuisine is definitely worth a try for those who are looking for something new to satisfy their palate as well as those who are familiar with Thai cooking.

I took these photos during the Grand Opening.

Posted by Araceli Aipoh

Crossed Perspectives - A Visual Arts Competition, at the 6th Spanish Cultural Week

2011-10-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

As part of the 6th Spanish Cultural week, a competition on visual arts, tagged Crossed Perspectives - Nigerian Young Artists Interpreting Spanish Contemporary Masterpieces, was held at the Hilton Hotel on October 11, 2011.

According to the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, H.E. Alvaro Castillo Aguillar, the great Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso, saw an exhibition on African art in the Tracadero Museum of Ethnology (now the Musee de l'Homme) in Paris, and the colours and forms of the African masks and sculptures inspired him (Picasso) for the rest of his career.

"Bearing this anecdote in mind," Ambassador Aguillar said, "we wanted to give our participants the opportunity to get to know Spanish masterpieces, which could serve as a source of inspiration for the works they would present in the contest."

In other words, the participants in the competition were shown photos of works by Spanish artists and were asked to interpret these works. The winner, Henry Osaretin, interpreted a work by Joaquin Sorolla, with a painting that Osaretin calls A Wall of Defence, showing a man helping a woman in tying a wrapper around her body (see photo No. 2 below).

Here are some photos taken during the awarding ceremony.

H.E. Ambassador Aguillar and Mr. Ignacio Garrido of the Spanish Embassy with
Mr. Abdullahi S. Muku (with cap), Director General of the National Gallery of Art, and another guest.

First Prize Winner, Henry Osaretin, who won an all-expensed paid trip to Spain.

Second Prize

Third Prize

Spanish Embassy staff and guests. Top left t is theAmbassador of Spain chatting with
the Ambassador of Venezuela

Guests and staff of the Spanish Embassy

Published by Araceli Aipoh

The Expansion of the City - An Exhibition

2011-10-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Embassies of France, Italy, Portugal and Spain in Abuja in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration held an exhibition entitled THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY on October 4-16, 2011, at the FCT Archives House in Garki.

“The Expansion of the City,” according to the brochure distributed during the exhibition “reflects the challenge of 13 cities of the South of Europe facing the phenomena of fast growing urban population. The exposition is the result of a series of seminars on urban development with the occasion of the Universal Forum of the Cultures in Barcelona in 2004 and has been hosted ever since in Milan, Bologna, Madrid and Nouakchott.

"The lessons learned from the experience of these 13 cities could give food for thought for the challenges faced by Nigeria, with an increasing urban population, and Abuja, a city created from scratch and in continuous and fast pace urban development.

"The Expansion of the City presents an inventory of the territorial transformations that took place in thirteen representative European urban regions. The repertory/collection gives us an overview of the changes and it offers the most significant aspects of current projects. Furthermore, it includes theoretical reflections of prominent authors, as well as a selection of projects and territorial proposals from the thirteen regions that the exhibition deals with.

"The exhibition is the result of an investigation carried out by the Urban Development Chair of the Faculty of Architecture from Valles in the Technical College of Catalonia, Spain. Thirteen work teams with French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish investigators collaborated in the project that includes the following European urban regions: Barcelona, Bologna, Donostia-Bayona, Genoa, Lisbon, Madrid, Marseilles, Milan, Montpellier, Porto, Valencia and Venice.

"The FORUM Barcelona 2004 hosted The Expansion of the City for the first time . After this event, the exhibition has been shown in Bologna, Milan, Madrid, and Nouakchott."

(Culled from THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY brochure)

Photos by Araceli Aipoh

Stage Play - 6th Spanish Cultural Week

2011-10-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

The Embassy of Spain in Abuja (Nigeria), the Jos Repertory Theatre, and their collaborators and sponsors did not disappoint us last night (October 10, 2011) as they delivered one of the activities lined up for the 6th Spanish Cultural Week - a drama entitled Sublime Decision! by the Spanish playwright Miguel Mihura and acted by the Jos Repertory Theatre; held at the Yar' Adua Centre.

Sublime Decision! is a play in three acts that deals with the emancipation of women at the end of the XIXth century. It depicts a segment in the life of Florita and her family as they search for suitable suitors (for Florita and her sister) - a seemingly innocent endeavour but is actually fraught with tension, frustration, and all manners of pretensions. Unable to get a suitable suitor, Florita decides to get a job and the office where she is hired is turned upside down!

The superb acting, combined with witty and hilarious dialogues, kept the audience entertained for close to an hour.

The following photos were taken at the event.

Introducing the cast

The maid faints after several hours in the cold - a scene from the play Sublime Decision!

Florita's first day at work - a scene from the play Sublime Decision!

The audience

A round of applause for the superb performance

More applause

The Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Alvaro Castillo Aguilar

A short remarks by the artistic director of the Jos Repertory Theatre

Mara (right) and colleague, of the Spanish Embassy

Ambassador Aguilar with some of the cast

The cast with the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja and Ambassador Aguilar

Some members of the cast

A young fan requests for autograph

Angelo Fanutti, middle, of the Italian Embassy with other guests

10 Words and Terms That Ruin a Resume - Monster.com

2011-10-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

10 Words and Terms That Ruin a Resume - Monster.com

Computer Centre Officially Opened at the School for the Blind, Jabi

2011-09-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

A centre with computers installed with special software for blind users was officially opened on July 15, 2011, at the School for the Blind, in Jabi. Working to make this project happen are members of the Abuja branch of NIGERWIVES NIGERIA, LIKEMINDS PROJECT, and PUSONG PINOY ASSOCIA-TION. The centre was opened by Mrs. Fely Ramos, Consular and Cultural Officer, Embassy of the Philippines, who represented the Philippine Ambassador. NIGERWIVES NIGERIA is an association of foreign women married to Nigerian citizens. They are into various activities that aim for the smooth integration of their members into the Nigerian society. Also involved in charity works, Nigerwives produce Braille textbooks for blind students across the coun try. LIKEMINDS PROJECT is an Abuja-based non-governmental organization. PUSONG PINOY (which means Heart of a Filipino) is a duly registered association of Filipinos in Abuja. It made a cash donation to purchase some of the computers for the centre during the tenure of its past president, Grace Abrazado.

Venezuelan artists perform in Abuja

2011-07-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela invited the general public of a unique performance by the internationally awarded music group called TAMBOR URBANO at the Yar Adua Centre here in Abuja on July 7, 2011. Along with the musical group were dancers from the EL ORTICEÑO ARTS AND CULTURE. The Ambassador of Venezuela, together with other ambassadors, were among those who witnessed the performance. Cocktails for the guests after the show.

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS

AMEMUSO
The Show Must Go On, a musical event in honour of the founder of AMEMUSO, Madam Cecilia Toledo de Schmillen, and their partners, was held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on 5 June 2011. Madam Cecilia Schmillen (also known as Cecilia Toledo) wife of the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria..... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND VIEW PHOTOS

AN AFTERNOON OF MUSIC
Taking place at the residence of the High Commissioner of Australia on 22nd May 2011, An Afternoon of Music featured the Abuja International Chorus, which, as the name suggests, is composed of musically inclined expatriates of different nationalities who get together once a week to sing and have fun....
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND VIEW PHOTOS

CONCERT TO PROMOTE CLASSICAL MUSIC IN NIGERIA
The Philharmonics Company in cooperation wit the Embassy of Norway in Nigeria organised a concert and a tour as part of an effort to promote classical music in the country, on 4th March 2011, at the Lagos Room of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel....
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND VIEW PHOTOS

AN EVENING OF SONGS
Those who love to sing can sing and have a concert anywhere. This particular concert was held at the spiralled staircase of the Italian Ambassador’s Residence on 26th November 2010, featuring the Metropolitan Chorale Abuja....
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND VIEW PHOTOS

AFRICAN CINDERELLA (DRAMA)
The Embassy of Sweden in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria, The Swedish Institute, Atlas Copco, Setraco, SAGETO Nigeria, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel invited the public to the premier of the play Cinderama, The African Cinderella on 18th June 2011 at the Congress Hall....
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND VIEW PHOTOS

...

Venezuelan artists perform in Abuja

2011-07-15T23:15:00.000-07:00

Cinderama - African Cinderella

2011-06-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

The Embassy of Sweden in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria, The Swedish Institute, Atlas Copco, Setraco, SAGETO Nigeria, and the Transcorp Hilton Hotel invited the public to the premier of the play Cinderama, The African Cinderella on 18th June 2011 at the Congress Hall of the Transcop Hilton Hotel. The play was performed by the Ghana National Theatre whose superb acting, colourful costumes, beautifully choreographed dance steps, and hilarious scenes held the audience, mostly members of the diplomatic corps, spellbound for close to two hours.

The aim of this project is to explore the use of theatre to promote the rights of children and women in line with the provisions of the CRC (Conventions on the Rights of the Child) and CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

State level performances of the play have been scheduled to take place in the next two weeks.

AMEMUSO's show must go on

2011-06-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

The Show Must Go On, a musical event in honour of the founder of AMEMUSO, Madam Cecilia Toledo de Schmillen, and their partners, was held at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on 5 June 2011. Madam Cecilia Schmillen (also known as Cecilia Toledo) wife of the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, is leaving Nigeria finally. The Show Must Go On concert was held as AMEMUSO’s way of thanking all friends for the support. She says the dream of AMEMUSO is to “bequeath a lasting legacy in the performing arts for Nigerians” – and that like Oliver Twist, they are going to be asking for more as they move on to the next phase of the Abuja Performing Arts Centre (APAC) development project.

Madam de Schmillen said she will be visiting Nigeria “at least three times a year” to continue what she has started here in Abuja. If and when her vision will materialise, it will definitely change the artistic landscape not only of the FCT but also the whole of Nigeria. Partners of AMEMUSO include the following: Transcorp Hilton, Unity Bank, German Embassy, French Embassy, Parmigiani, Cool FM, Total, U.L.O Consultants, Brunel, Next, Julius Berger Nigeria, The Guardian, Luxury Concepts, and Dantata & Sawoe.

Ambassador Basketball League

2011-05-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Just one more game and the Ambassador Basketball League, in honour of the Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Nestor Padalhin, will round up and the champions declared.

While the Ambassador Basketball League is the brain child of sports-loving members of the Filipino community in Abuja, the prime organisers of this sports competition are Wifredo Brual and Gilbert Bernados, assisted by Efren Pasculado, Antonio Santos, Bernard Mercado, and of course, by the players themselves including Geranfel Abrillo, John Hernandez, Lorenz Mercado, Noel Agcaoili, James Valenzuela, JR Ramos, JR Bugayong, Dandriv Perez, and Engelbert Llames, among others.

They got together for the opening ceremony of on 3rd April 2011, at the Lakeview Estate, Jabi , Abuja.

Ambassador Padalhin, who was not in the country during the opening ceremony due to his being on holiday in the Philippines, was represented by the Consul General of the Philippine Embassy, Mr. Alex Lamadrid. These photos were taken during the opening ceremony.

Martial artists support Munich's bid to host 2018 Olympics and Paralympics

2011-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

To support the city of Munich in its bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the International Karate-Do Association Abuja, together with Nigerian karate instructors, led by Dave Jegede (6th Dan), and students of various levels, had a training and demonstration on 14th May 2011 at the Abuja Horse and Country Club. The International Karate-Do Association is headed by Oliver Chen, a 5th Dan black belter from Germany.

Three cities have applied to host the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics; they are ANNECY (France), MUNICH (Germany), and PYEONGCHANG (South Korea). The winner will be announced by the International Olympic Committee on 6th of July 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

These photos were taken at the event.

An afternoon of music with the Abuja International Chorus

2011-05-24T13:04:00.000-07:00

Taking place at the residence of the High Commissioner of Australia on 22nd May 2011, An Afternoon of Music featured the Abuja International Chorus, which, as the name suggests, is composed of musically inclined expatriates of different nationalities who get together once a week to sing and have fun. Those who attended this event also had the rare privilege of listening to a performance of Movement from Triosonate in G Major and Adagio from Trio Op.11, No. 4 for Flute and Violin by none other than the Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Ian McConville, who plays the violin, and his wife, Madam Libby McCutchan, who plays the piano, along with Christine Binda (flute) and Karine Roobrouck (cello).

Performers at this event included Tracey Niesmann (conductor), Toni Rackl and Libby McCutchan (accompanists), and Agatha Ibeazor and Ron Landsdell (soloists).

Mouth-watering cakes and pastries for everyone after the concert.

ABRB concert in Abuja 2011

2011-05-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Six expatriates who are into music have come together to form a live band here in Abuja, calling themselves ABRB (Abuja Revival Band). They held a couple of concerts recently - the first at the Abuja Horse and Country Club on 26th March 2011, and the other at the Dantata and Saowe Clubhouse on 14th May 2011.

These photos were taken at the two concerts.

The Beauty and the Beast - Musical

2011-05-15T13:34:00.000-07:00

The American International School of Abuja Fine Art Department presented THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Jr, a Disney Musical Production, on 12th-14th May 2011 at the A.I.S.A. Multi Purpose Hall, Durumi District Zone B02, Abuja.

The following photos of the musical were taken on Friday, May 13, 2011.

Movie Schedule - 2011 European Film Festival in Abuja

2011-05-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Scroll down to read the synopsis of each movie.

May 5, Thursday 8:00pm – The Third (Poland)

May 6, Friday 6:00pm – A Breath of Heaven ( Austria)
8:00pm – Une Chaine pour deux (Belgium)

May 7, Saturday
6:00pm – Pearls and Rascals (Finland)
8:00pm – The Miracle According to Salome (Portugal)

May 8, Sunday
6:00pm – Go for Sugar (Germany)
8:00pm – Eden (Ireland)

May 9, Monday
8:00pm – Viva L’Italia! (Italy)

May 10, Tuesday
6:00pm – Bride Flight (Netherlands)
8:00pm – By the Pricking of My Thumb (France)

May 11, Wednesday
6:00pm – Filantropica (Romania)
8:00pm – Alatriste (Spain)

May 12, Thursday
6:00pm – One Eye Red (Sweden)
8:00pm – Will You Marry Us (Switzerland)

May 13, Friday
6:00pm – Change of Address (France)
8:00pm – The First Beautiful Thing (Italy)

May 14, Saturday
6:00pm – The Final Days (Germany)
8:00pm – Sonny Boy (Netherlands)

May 15, Sunday
6:00pm – Solitude@Net (Poland)
8:00pm – Celda 211 (Spain)

Synopsis

AUSTRIA
A Breath of Heaven
Erna von Gaderthurn, a 41-year old attractive woman, decides to begin a new life after her father passes away. She turns her back on the restrictive influence of her domineering mother, whose pride in her noble rank she finds insufferable, and leaves her parents’ castle in South Tyrol to take on the position of a school teacher in Blons, a hamlet in the Alps of Vorarlberg.

BELGIUM
Une chaine pour deux
Victor Granville, owner of a bikes factory which bears his name, learns that he is seriously ill and hands over his SME to the New Deal Group, a large company mainly active in communication and media. Corinne, a junior official of New Deal, has been appointed at the head of Granville in order to restructure the company and close down one of the two production lines. To choose fairly the team that will keep its job, she sets a competition between the lines: the one that will produce more bikes shall be maintained and the other one shall be sacked. The two heads of the lines swear to avoid cheap shots in order to preserve their friendship, but is it possible? (Comedy)

FINLAND
Pearls and Rascals
When their bootlegging father ends up in jail, four twenty-something brothers need money to pay his debts to local crooks. Next, their 9-year old half-sister is dumped on their doorstep by her dysfunctional mother. A karaoke set helps reveal that the little girl is quite a singer, just as a talent contest for children is coming up on national television offering more than enough money to the winner. If only the kid weren’t so helplessly shy... (Comedy)

FRANCE
By the Pricking of My Thumbs
Prudence and Belisaire are what can be called eccentric couple. Discreetly snobs and openly selfish, they cross existence by avoiding boredom and routine. Belisaire is both a colonel in the military secret service and a past master at...ironing! And Prudence, not very inclined to be the model mother, prefers playing the amateur detective. Unsurprisingly, when several pensioners in an old people’s home start dying mysteriously, Prudence is only too happy to leave daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren behind in her beautiful home to follow the trail of adventure. (Comedy and Suspense)

FRANCE
Change of Address
David is a shy, awkward musician, who has just moved to Paris. He’s looking for an orchestra to work with, and a place to live. After meeting ditzy blonde Anne in the street, he’s soon sharing her flat – and, occasionally, her bed, despite her professed attraction to another guy. But then he begins giving music lessons to Julia, the beautiful, taciturn daughter of a rich woman, and before long he’s smitten. (Comedy)

GERMANY
Go for Sugar
To the funeral of his mother, the broke gambler Jaeckie Zucker is visited by his orthodox brother Samuel Zuckermann and his family. Between the funeral services Jaeckie secretly contests in a billiard competition to pay his dues with the price money. (Feature Film)

GERMANY
The Final Days
February 1943: In the course of putting down stacks of leaflets against the NS-Dictatorship, young Sophie Scholl together with her brother Hans get arrested at Munich University. Following daylong interrogations the People’s Court of Justice sentences them to death through execution. (Feature Film)

IRELAND
Eden
Eden is the screen adaptation of Eugene O’Brien’s internationally acclaimed play. In a modern middleclass town in Ireland, Billy and Brenda Farrell reflect on their lives together on the eve of their tenth wedding anniversary. Brenda is determined to ignite the passion between them, while Billy becomes increasing obsessed with an attractive younger woman. (Drama)

ITALY
The First Beautiful Thing
Gorgeous Anna Nigiotti was named Miss Mamma of Livorno’s most famous bath house in 1971, and her son Bruno never got over the embarrassment. Burning all the bridges to his past, Bruno leaves home to make a living far away. But now that Bruno’s mother is terminally ill, his sister Valeria convinces him he needs to come home to Livorno where the sight of his mother asleep in her hospice bed triggers bittersweet memories. (Comedy)

ITALY
Viva L’Itlalia!
The film takes place in 1860 at the climax of the Italian period called Risorgimento (resurgence). It follows famed revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi as he liberates southern Italy from the Bourbon monarchy. With his Neorealistic skills, the director, Roberto Rossellini, excellently captures the action on the streets of Garibaldi’s army fighting the Bourbons to fulfil the first unification of Italy which will be later proclaimed on 17 March 1861. (Comedy)

NETHERLANDS
Bride Flight
Based on a true story, Bride Flight is the story of the last great air race in 1953, which carried 26 young Dutch brides-to-be on their way to join their fiancés already settled in New Zealand. Bride Flight tells the story of three young brides Ada, Marjorie and Esther and untied, ambitious Frank. Full of hope and expectation they begin their new life. (Drama)

NETHERLANDS
Sonny Boy
Sonny Boy tells the story of Waldemar, a 19-year old student from Suriname, and Rika, a 40-year old married Dutch woman with four children. They meet in the 1920s and fall in love. Not long after this, Rika gets pregnant and this causes a scandal with far reaching consequences. (Drama)

POLAND
The Third
Powel and Ewa spend their dreamed and long-planned vacation on a boat. Ewa, an attractive, intelligent and charming woman is bored with her life filled only with work. Vacation on the boat is supposed to warm the relationship between Ewa and Pawel. Unfortunately Pawel has to go back to work while Ewa meets a passionate older man. (Drama)

POLAND
Solitude@Net
Ewa lives in Poland, Jakub in Germany. Her world is a TV newsroom, his a science lab and lecture hall. They have met once before on passing trains in Berlin ZOO Station, but neither of them remembers this encounter. They accidentally meet again and from this moment on they start meeting on the net and become closer and closer with each other. Eventually they decide to meet in person. He makes a journey from New Orleans, she takes off from Warsaw. This time their tracks cross in Paris...but fate likes to play a hand too. (Romance)

PORTUGAL
The Miracle According to Salome
In 1917, Portugal is in a time of intense political and social turmoil. High-class Lisbon prostitute Salome makes her way to high-society after marrying Sertorio, a wealthy banker. But when she meets Gabriel, an idealistic journalist, she falls in love with him and leaves her husband. Her past will tragically fall upon her and her lover, as she becomes involuntarily involved in the events surrounding the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fatima. (Hisotorical)

ROMANIA
Philantropique
Ovidiu, a high-school teacher looking for an extra buck, finds an unexpected way to make money. (Comedy)

SPAIN
Alatriste
Diego Alatriste is not a victorious soul, but he is a man of honour and courage. As a captain in the Spanish Army in the 17th century, he emerges as a hero in his country’s imperial wars. In his personal life, he is passionately in love with the beautiful Maria de Castro, a famous stage actress. To keep a promise he made to his dying father, Alatriste watches over the young Inigo de Balboa and steers him clear off a military career that he himself has chosen. (Action)

SPAIN
Celda 211
Juan Oliver wants to make a good impression at his new job as a prison officer and reports to work a day early, leaving his pregnant wife Elena at home. His destiny is forever changed by this fateful decision, as during his tour of the prison, an accident occurs that knocks him unconscious. (Action / Drama)

SWEDEN
One Eye Red
Halim has seen through the integration plan – a secret conspiracy that tries to turn all immigrants into Swedes. Unfortunately he has seen through his father, who has fallen victim to the integration plan. But Halim has his own plan; he is going to be Sweden’s mightiest sultan of the mind and save his father from forgetting his Arabic roots. (Comedy)

SWITZERLAND
Will You Marry Us
Rahel Hubli is employed as a civil registrar. She hasn’t believed in the so-called “love of her life” in ages. But when a childhood friend, Ben, suddenly turns up, Rahel recalls again what it felt like to be in love. And that leads to even more problems, because Rahel is already married. And Ben would like to get married: by Rahel. (Romantic Comedy)

.

Cocktails - Opening of European Film Festival

2011-05-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

Message from His Excellency Ambassador David MacRae

Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and Ecowas

Dear Cinema lovers,

The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, the Embassies of the European Union Member States and the Embassy of Switzerland have the pleasure to present the 2011 edition of the European Film Festival in Abuja. The 2011 Film Festival is part of our activities to mark Europe Day.

This is the fourth Film Festival that we organise in a row. We are encouraged by the success of the previous editions and we are convinced that this year’s will be even more entertaining. We are pleased to bring a superb line-up of European films to the Nigerian audience.

Cinema is an important expression of culture both in Nigeria and Europe. We look forward to sharing with the Nigerian public the variety, richness and potential of European cinematic art. We hope you will enjoy these movies and that you will appreciate the diversity of the European film industry.

We are convinced that this festival is an excellent platform to share values and build bridge and mutual understanding.

- Ambassador David MacRae

Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and Ecowas

(Culled from the 2011 European Film Festival brochure)

Embassy of Spain: Storytelling Performance and World Book & Copyright Day

2011-04-16T16:33:00.002-07:00

The storytelling event to mark the World Book and Copyright Day, organised by the Embassy of Spain, was fun and totally different from the usual story telling. It was a story telling performance--- a PLAY. It is the story of Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. The play director, Mrs. Laura Elorriaga, acted herself as Robin Hood. Her horsemen were Newman Gonpil and Ignacio Garrido (Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Spain). The children acted as trees, flowers in the forest as well as the stone wall and windows of the palace.

When they stormed the palace of the king, acted by a Japanese gentleman who was just picked out from the audience, Robin Hood and her horsemen used bow and arrows (they mimicked the shooting of an arrow) while throwing ropes to climb the palace. Once inside the palace, the king surrendered, ending the play.

The children just loved it! They were instant performers as they were just picked out from the audience by the play director, to act in a part, while the play was in progress.

The introduction was made by Ignacio Garrido, Deputy Head Mission, Spanish Embassy. The guest speaker was Rosemary Nwangwu of Unesco. She is the National Programming Office (Education).

Also present at the event were Eva Barta (Cultural Officer, Embassy of Spain), Monica Dominguez (also of the Embassy of Spain), Bibi Bakare (of Cassava Republic) and Gillian Parker (of the NGO Reading and Writing)

The storyteller Laura Elorriaga, is the Director of CLAP (Combining Learning, Acting and Playing ). According to her, she is in Abuja only for a week, just to do the play for the Spanish Embassy.

The venue of the play was at Casalinda, located at No. 8, Colorado Close, Maitama.

Everybody had fun! Thanks a lot, Embassy of Spain. We look forward to next year’s celebration of WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY!

Laura Elorriaga, middle, with her co-performers

Laura Elorriaga, director of CLAP, performs in Abuja

Scenes from the storytelling perfomance

Scene from the storytelling performance of Robinhood

Scenes from the storytelling performance

Scene from the storytelling performance

Eva Barta and Laura Elorriaga

Members of the audience.
Top right - Monica Dominguez with another guest.
Bottom: left - Bibi Bakare of Cassava Republic; middle - Gillian Parker of RAW

Celebrating womanhood in Abuja

2011-04-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Women of different nationalities celebrated the INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY on Friday, 11th March 2011, at the Dunes Continental Restaurant on Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja.

The event was organised by Maryse Coutu (as part of her farewell to her Nigerian experience) and her friends Johanne, Patience and Milad, in partnership with the Abuja International Women's Club.

The night started off with talks by three speakers followed by dinner and dancing till midnight! The guest speakers were:

a) Gillian Parker who talked about a new reading and writing NGO aiming to support literacy development and creative writing programmes in Nigeria. She talked about RAW's aims, future projects and how they plan to achieve their goals, explaining how you can get involved in RAW's programmes.

b) Doctor Ilana Lapidos-Salaiz, US Department of Defense HIV Program (Nigeria) Manager of PEPFAR (Presidents Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief). She talked about how she balances caring for her family, nurturing her career and trailing her spouse through 5 countries over the past ten years.

c) The third speaker was Hauwa Shekarau, National Vice President of Nigerian Women Lawyers, who drew on her personal experience to highlight some of the social difficulties for women in accessing high levels of education.

The emcee was Patience Bentu, Public Relations and Communication Specialist. Photos by Araceli Aipoh and Thalie Jibrin.

Celebrating womanhood in Abuja - more pics

2011-03-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Monica and Newman's Nigerian wedding

2011-03-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

Newman (from Plateau State, Nigeria ) and Monica (from Pontevedra, Spain) invited friens and well-wishers to their wedding on 12 February 2011 which was held at the Cyrprian Ekwensi Centre, Garki, Abuja. The colours of the day were purple, red and blue. These photos were taken at the event.

Embassy of the Philippines celebrates EDSA DAY

2011-03-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

In commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the Embassy of the Philippines in Abuja, led by H.E. Nestor Padalhin, Ambassador of the Philippines to Nigeria, held a series of activities on Friday, the 25th of February 2011. The day started off with a Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature, followed by a flag-raising ceremony at the Philippine Embassy, a commemorative programme, and a Filipino breakfast. In attendance at the programme were members of the ASEAN diplomatic corps, expatriate and Nigerian friends of the embassy, as well as members of Pusong Pinoy (an association of the Filipino community in Abuja).

The following photos were taken at the event.

Concert to promote classical music in Nigeria

2011-03-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

The Philharmonics Company in cooperation wit the Embassy of Norway in Nigeria organised a concert and a tour as part of an effort to promote classical music in the country, on 4th March 2011, at the Lagos Room of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

In town to spearhead the concert and tour, which have become an annual event, was world renowned Norwegian pianist, Geir Henning Braaten whose career as a classical music pianist has spanned decades, taking him to different countries to perform with the best conductors and musicians in the world.

The Philharmonics Company is a registered enterprise with the aim of promoting classical music in Nigeria as well as discovering young artists and encouraging the study of music by organising workshops and training. Some members of this group are Andrew Egbuchiem, Kingsley Idegun, Abiagam Austine, Nwanko Chioma, and Callistus Egbuchiem.

The concert followed by a buffet dinner was attended by many members of the diplomatic corps.

40 years of diplomatic relations

2011-02-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the 40th year anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China, a show was held in Abuja on February 10 and 11, 2011, featuring the Shanghai Art Troupe who performed various dances, acrobats, and musical numbers using Chinese instruments that truly entertained the audience. The Congress Hall of the Hilton Hotel was filled to capacity on both nights.
Most impressive were the three young acrobats who wowed the crowd. I personally enjoyed watching the Lotus Dance that, according to the programme, “conveys the yearning of a beautiful and unsophisticated young girl with a bright future.”

The current Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria, His Excellency Deng Boqing, and his wife were among those who watched the performance.

The following photos were taken at the event by Araceli Aipoh.

Spanish ambassador bids Nigeria goodbye

2011-02-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

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CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

After five years as Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, His Excellency Angel Losada and his wife, Madam Claire Losada, are leaving the country finally this month. A farewell reception was held at the official residence of the ambassador in Maitama a couple of weeks ago. In a speech during the occasion, Ambassador Losada said he and his wife have truly enjoyed their stay in the country. He said they have made a lot of friends here and were grateful for the cooperation of everyone, particularly their colleagues in the diplomatic community.

Present at the farewell reception were officials from the Nigerian government as well as members of the diplomatic community. The embassy staff and the Spanish community in Abuja took this opportunity to present farewell gifts to the ambassador and his wife.

It shall be noted that for the last five years (beginning in 2006), the Spanish Embassy has been organising the Spanish Cultural Week, which has become a major cultural event in Abuja, and which, according to Ambassador Losada during the 5th edition of the event last October, “provides an opportunity to strengthen the relations between Spain and Nigeria through the cultural diversity of our people.” He said: “We will continue to build bridges between the rich Spanish and Nigerian cultures and by doing so we hope to extend the artistic ties between our two countries.”

These photos were taken at the farewell reception held on January 28, 2011.

Japanese Reception at the Hilton Hotel

2011-02-05T22:34:00.000-08:00

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The birthday of the emperor of Japan is celebrated by the Japanese every December. Referred to simply as The Emperor’s Birthday, this is a national holiday that gives an opportunity for many Japanese to have a glimpse of their emperor as he and other members of the royal family appear at the balcony of the Imperial Palace (usually closed to the public throughout the year) to acknowledge the people’s greetings. In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to "His Imperial Majesty." Born in 1933, Emperor Akihito is the current emperor of Japan.
In Abuja, the celebration took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and was hosted by the Japanese ambassador and his wife, H.E and Mrs. Toshitsugu Uesawa. In an interview with him recently, Ambassador Uesawa says one of the things he has enjoyed most as a diplomat, aside from having the opportunity to serve his government, is that he has made a lot of friends. Ambassador Uesawa began his career as at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1977 and was appointed ambassador to Nigeria in 2007. He is also his country’s permanent representative to the ECOWAS.

Editor's Note...Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

Finally I have a couple of weeks all to myself. I just love my employers for making it possible, closing down the offices every Christmas season so that no one will work! I think this policy is just great. Some people just know how to do things the right way, don't they?

Personally, I've not had a break for a long time now and I think this holiday is just on time to unwind a bit. I've been indoors all day. I heard that there's going to be a party at the Philippine Embassy tonight, but I am not going. Another one tomorrow too but I also intend to stay indoors.

As I write, I am looking at four bottles of wine in front of me (photo above) and I'm tempted to open one of them. But I can't. Although I take a sip during occasions, I'm not the kind that will drink a bottle of alcohol until the bottom is up and my head is down, which is what I will have to do if I open a bottle now since there's no one here to drink with me!

In Nigeria (as in some parts of the world) it is a custom to give a bottle of wine as a gift, especially during Christmas and New Year. So far I have received four bottles: two from Joy, my friend from Zenith Bank, one from Marilu Glanznig, and the one on the right, with the name card attached to it, is from the Embassy of Italy.

Job vacancy

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Italy's BelCanto Ensemble Concert in Abuja

2010-12-19T06:44:00.000-08:00

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Rosaria Buscemi from Italy gets ready to sing at
the Transcorp Hilton Hotel; December 6, 2010.
Photos by Araceli Aipoh

A concert featuring the BelCanto Ensemble, composed of five classical music performers from Italy, was organized by the Embassy of Italy on December 6, 2010, at the Lagos Room of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The members of the BelCanto Ensemble are: 1) Rosaria Buscemi, a soprano who graduated with honours at the Consenza Music Conservatory in Italy and has won several national and international competitions; 2) Alessandro Vuono, a pianist who is both a performer and a teacher, and who’s been successful in several national and international piano competitions; 3) Antoni Arcuri, who plays the clarinet and has degrees in Clarinet and Orchestration at Cosenza Music Conservatory in Italy and teaches clarinet; 4) Massimo Celiberto, who plays the horn, has performed over five hundred recitals in Europe and America and has worked with international artists including Andrea Bocelli; and 5) Francesco Clemente, a violinist who is a member of Quinteto Porteno (a formation devoted to tangos) and co-founder of a group with which he performs classical and contemporary repertoire.

Prior to this concert, two other cultural events were hosted by the Italian Embassy in a span of 12 days. These photos were taken at the BelCanto concert.

Christmas at the Dunes

2010-12-12T14:47:00.000-08:00

The Dunes, one of Abuja's landmarks and which houses a restaurant and a supermarket, takes a new look. Photo courtesy of Milad Zeitoun, a member of Abuja Expats.

Julius Berger Christmas Bazaar

2010-12-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

Once a year Julius Berger Nigeria PLC invites the general public to their Life Camp in Abuja for their Christmas Bazaar. This year, the event took place on November 27, 2010, starting from 7:00pm. Different types of food were sold as well as arts and crafts. Later in the night was a raffle draw.

The following photos were taken at the event. You may click on the photos to enlarge.

An evening of songs at the Italian Ambassador's residence

2010-11-28T07:49:00.000-08:00

Those who love to sing can sing and have a concert anywhere. This particular concert was held at the spiralled staircase of the Italian Ambassador’s Residence on 26th November 2010, featuring the Metropolitan Chorale Abuja. His Excellency Ambassador Roberto Colamine personally welcomed the guests. Those performed during the night included Godswill Okafor (Conductor and Artistic Director, MCA), Prisca Enyi and Agatha Ibeazor (Soprano soloists) and Michael Obinyan, Precious Omuku, Frank Okoye and Valentine Aghesimba (tenors).

AMEMUSO Plays the Sound of Unity in Abuja

2010-11-27T23:14:00.000-08:00

Believing that a “flourishing artistic community, supported by the general public, is a clear sign of a healthy city,” members of the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (AMEMUSO) have embarked on a mission to sing, dance, and act their way towards the realization of their dream of building a performing arts centre in Abuja. In line with this, the musical body and Mrs. Maria Cecilia Toledo de Schmillen, artistic director of AMEMUSO and wife of the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, gave one of their performances on Monday, the 15th of November 2010, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with the staging of the opera Sound of Unity, an adaptation of the film Sound of Music. Supporting AMEMUSO were a selection of international classical music performers such as Walter-Micheal Vollhardt from Germany Omo Bello from Nigeria, flutist Julian Manthey, violinist Maria Azova, and violoncellist Robert Steep, all from Germany, and Nigerian music sensation Dare Art Alade who played the role of Captain. (Click and re-click on the image on the left to get a better view of the photos or CLICK HERE FOR LARGE FORMAT VERSION.)

The opera was supported by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Chrome, Lufthansa, Hilton, Central Bank of Nigeria, Total, Momo, Dantata and Sawoe, Expo Solutions, PML, Parmigiani, Yaliam Press Limited, Xplus, and the Embassies of Germany, France, and Austria.

Scroll down to view more photos of the Operabuja 2010.

Comments? Send email to insidetrackabuja@yahoo.com

Abuja

Opera in Abuja

2010-11-27T22:01:00.000-08:00

The following photos were taken during the Opera in Abuja on November 15, 2010.

Inside Track Print Edition - December 2010

2010-11-25T19:13:00.000-08:00

The print edition of INSIDE TRACK ABUJA MAGAZINE is out. On our cover is His Excellency Toshitsugu Uesawa, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, who kindly granted our request for an interview in his office at the Embassy of Japan in Maitama.

Paint the town red is our theme for this edition and it contains a pictorial report on the events that took place in Abuja for the past one year, when many people in Abuja practically painted the town red with one function after the other. Art and culture events, receptions, bazaars, and a beauty competition are just some of the most interesting ones.

COMMENTS?
Send email to insidetrackabuja@yahoo.com

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Loy Krathong Festival in Abuja

2010-11-21T06:22:00.000-08:00

The Thai Community in Abuja and several invited guests from the international community celebrated Loy Krathong (also spelled kratong) in Abuja on Saturday, the 20th of November 2010, at the poolside of the American International School of Abuja. Present were the Ambassador of Thailand and his wife who led the ceremony. Our internet research says: "Loy Krathong is as old as Thai heritage and represents a close bond between Thai culture and water. The festival takes place on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month when the water level is high and the climate is cooler. Participants ask water spirits to sail away their troubles in their krathongs, which are containers traditionally made from banana leaves and carrying offerings of incense, lotus flowers and small money."

The following photos were taken by Inside Track Magazine:

Loy Krathong Festival (of Thai origin) was held at the poolside of the American Internationl School of

Abuja on November 20, 2010. Photo by Araceli Aipoh

Latin America and the Caribbean Film Festival in Abuja

2010-11-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

GRULAC (Group of Latin America and the Caribbean, composed of the Embassies of Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela, and the High Commission of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago) is holding a Film Festival from November 22 to 28, 2010 at the Silverbird Entertainment Centre. Following is the complete timetable:

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010
Argentina
19:00 - Nine Queens: Two small-town grafters team up to pull off a big-time score involving a set of counterfeit stamps know as the Nine Queens.

Trinidad and Tobago
21:00 - Joebell and America: Joebell, a young man from the countryside, fancies himself a Yankee (Dixieland style) and believes it is his destiny to live in America.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010
Brazil
18:00 - The Psychoanalyst’s Couch: Married and a mother of two, 40-year old Mercedes decides to consult a psychoanalyst. Lying on the couch, she puts her marriage, professional success and power of seduction into question.

Jamaica
20:00 - The Harder They Come: Ivanoe Martin comes to the city to make it big singing Reggae. However he finds life in the city to be a bit harder than he thought, and is taken advantaged of by both the record producer and marijuana boss he later starts dealing with.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2010
Cuba
18:00 - El Benny: Just back from Mexico where he consolidated his career in the late forties, Benny More is the artist who, through music and dance, makes the crowd delirious.

Venezuela
20:00 - Nicolas Petrov reads the sentence issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, through which it ordains the Venezuelan State to compensate the family and victims of a tragic event.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2010
Mexico
18:00 - Cilantro y Perejil: After 10 years of marriage, a couple decides to separate to look for other romances but soon afterwards he finds out that without her, he cannot even distinguish coriander from parsley.

Argentina
20:00 - The Secret in their Eyes: A retired attorney writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his valuable past unsolved homicide cases.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2010
Trinidad and Tobago
18:00 - The Ghost of Hing King Estate: On the Hing King Estate in Las Cuevas, Trinidad, six people die over a five-month period, under very mysterious circumstances.

Brazil
20:00 - Two Sons of Francisco
Francisco is a humble farmer in the interior of Brazil. He has seemingly impossible dream: to turn two of his nine sons into a famous country music duet.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2010
Jamaica
18:00- Countryman: A young woman crash-lands her plane in Jamaica. A local called Countryman rescues her and leads her away from the authorities, who have fabricated a story about the plane, involving drugs and arms smuggling by the CIA.

Cuba
20:00 - Pages from Mauritius Diary: Havana, September 1, 2000, the Sydney Olympics are taking place and is the sixtieth birthday of Mauritius, a man who stands alone and devastated by the unexpected loss of his wife.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2010
Venezuela
18:00 - Performing and Fighting. Tells the fascinating story of six Venezuelan children and their love for music.

Mexico
20:00 – 7 Dias: We all dream of something but what do we do about it? Claudio gets into trouble with the mafia and has seven days to solve the problem.

Films are shown in original language with English subtitles and entrance is free.

Also, Transcorp Hilton Hotel is holding a Mexican Food Festival with buffet and live music every evening from November 19th-23rd, 2010 at the Fulani Pool Bar.

...

Philippine Bazaar 2010

2010-11-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

The PHILIPPINE BAZAAR 2010 was successfully held on Sunday, the 14th of November, at 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Philippine Embassy Chancery, No. 2 Kainji Crescent, Maitama.

The Star Prize in the Raffle Draw was a return ticket with Qatar Airways (90 destinations worlwide), plus lots of other major prizes from various donors, including AFP Furniture Production (Julius Berger Nigeria PLC).

The major beneficiary of the Philippine Bazaar is the School for the Blind in Jabi, Abuja.

This event was organized by the Pusong Pinoy Association (an association of Filipinos in the FCT) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Philippines in Abuja.

Photos by Ramon Ruste.

Philippine Bazaar 2010, held at the Embassy of the Philippines in Abuja
on Sunday, November 14, 2010. Click to enlarge.
Photos by Ramon Ruste

COMMENTS?
Send email to insidetrackabuja@yahoo.com

Jazz Concert at the Hilton

2010-11-15T22:31:00.000-08:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE

The Embassy of Switzerland organized a jazz concert featuring Squeezeband from Switzerland and Tee Mac's Gold Convention at the patio of the Bukka Restaurant, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, on Friday night, the 12th of November 2010. Cocktails were served at the swimming pool after the two-hour concert.

Halloween at the Embassy of the Philippines

2010-11-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

The Embassy of the Philippines and the Filipino Community in Abuja (also known as Pusong Pinoy) held a Halloween Party on Sunday, 31st of October 201, at the Philippine Embassy. Photos by INSIDE TRACK MAGAZINE.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

White Cane Day 2010

2010-11-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

White Cane Day 2010

The Abuja Branch of Nigerwives Nigeria celebrated WHITE CANE DAY on Saturday, the 6th of November, at the School for the Blind in Jabi. Activities included a food fair, yard sale, and bingo games.

A white cane is used by many people who are blind or visually impaired, both as a mobility tool and as a courtesy to others. For some years now, the Abuja Branch of Nigerwives Nigeria, a 30-year old association of foreign women married to Nigerians and residing in the country, has been celebrating WHITE CANE DAY here in Abuja.

Read more about the white cane at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_cane.

Flamenco Dance in Abuja

2010-10-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

SPANISH CULTURAL WEEK 2010 - the highlights

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2010 (6:30PM)
Awards ceremony of the visual arts competition: “Celebrating 50-5: Independence and Rapprochement Spain-Nigeria”, in Kaduna Mezzanine (1st floor), Transcorp-Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Featured were the works done by Nigerian artists. The winner of the competition, STANLEY DUDU, will travel to Spain to attend the ARCO art fair in Madrid.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2010 (6:30PM)
Performance of the theatre play Life is a Dream, adapted by Jos Repertory Theatre, at Lagos Room, Transcorp-Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 (7:00PM)
Flamenco dance performance, followed by a cocktail, at the Congress Hall, Transcorp-Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Four artists came from Spain to Abuja to perform this kind of dance which is typical from the South of Spain. Emotion and passion were truly expressed with the tapping of the shoes, the clapping of the hands, the voice and the guitar.

PHOTO GALLERY - EMBASSY OF SPAIN
Day 1 (4th Spanish Cultural Week)
Day 3 (4th Spanish Cultural Week)
Painting Exhibition (4th Spanish Cultural Week)
Flamenco Dance (4th Spanish Cultural Week)

COMMENTS? Send email to insidetrackabuja@yahoo.com

5th Spanish Cultural Week - Day 3

2010-10-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

THE PLAY: La Vida Es Sueno (Life is a Dream) was written in 1635, during the Spanish Golden Century.. The central argument is the dichotomy between free will and fate.

THE AUTHOR: Calderon de la Barca was one of the most excellent Spanish playwrights during the Spanish Golden Century. Educated at the Jesuit College in Madrid, he studied Law and was recognized as the foremost dramatist of the age.

THE JOS REPERTORY THEATRE was founded in November 1997 but commenced program implementation in 2000 as an independent theatre organization based in the ancient tin mining city of Jos, Plateau State. It has taken part in theatre-related activities in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Kenya, Italy, the USA, and the United Kingdom.

COMMENTS? Send email to insidetrackabuja@yahoo.com
..

Visual Arts Competition - 5th Spanish Cultural Week

2010-10-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

At the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on October 18, 2010, the winners at the Visual Arts Competition received their prizes from the Embassy of Spain as part of the activities marking the 5th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week. Top prize went to STANLEY DUDU whose painting celebrates Nigeria's 50th Independence Anniversary and the 5th year of the Spanish Cultural Week; "it's about conflict resolution in governance and other aspects of life."

CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

Abuja Play Readers

2010-10-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

The PLAYREADING GROUP is for
theater lovers who get together monthly (or so) to read and enjoy plays together.
View more photos of the group on FACEBOOK.

Reading lines from popular plays, members of the Abuja Playgroup meet at least once a month at a designated venue. On each meeting, there are members who read a role in a play that has been selected ahead of time, while others sit bak, relax, and listen. There are no lines to learn, no costumes, no special effects or on-stage kisses. Also, no acting experience is required. Admission is free but participants are usually requested to come along with food and drinks to share.

Below is a FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT of their activities by NEWMAN GONPIL, one of the group's coordinators:

"Whoooaaa, Last night was a big hit in any language! What a session we had. First, it was the crazy Director that would stop at nothing to make you wear her costumes, and it was fun all through. And just check out the ‘word play slam’ by El-jo titled ZEBRA. (It was interesting to know what part of that Animal we belonged, figuratively speaking, Keep it up Bro.)

"Who was the new singing bird in our hood? Nemi right? Well done. Lindsay, you gotta buckle up…..it’s a serious competition.

"We had quite a couple of first timers, well come to our family, we hope to see you again. A big shout out to Debby and El-jo for arranging the venue. We liked it.

"Believe me, our growing number is becoming a big concern for me. We took every available space at Mikes the last time and it was a child’s play compared to last night. We need to start thinking fast.

"RETURNEES
We had Funke and Boma who took a French leave for some time, but we are glad they are BECK!

"GLOBE TROTTERS
In the past few months, I am not where Ibiso belongs. She is always abroad! And Mike? He is always in some meeting in Washington DC. What about the craziest of them all, JOJO….( This girl leaves me speechless) she has probably toured the whole of Naija. What is important is, you all come with AGEGE BREAD! It’s an important tradition.

"FACEBOOK GROUP
Mike created a group page tagged ABUJA PLAYGROUP. Sign up and you’ll be added. It’s easier to maintain and it should be the beginning of phasing out the yahoo group mailing list. We’ll maintain both at the moment.

"I’ll keep us posted. Enjoy a great week end." - Newman

...

Indonesian Independence Day Reception 2010

2010-10-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

The Indonesian Community in Abuja, led by the Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Henri Samosir, and his wife, marked the 65th Anniversary of their country's independence on August 19, 2010 at the Ambassador's Residence in Maitama, Abuja. The following photos were taken by Araceli Aipoh of Inside Track Magazine...CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE.

Welcome to Shelbyville

2010-10-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
From top to bottom: Kim A. Snyder; Victoria
Sloan; Kim A. Snyder and Bart Weiss,
Ambassador Robin Sanders; and
members of the audience

Ms Victoria Sloan, Public Officer of the Embassy of the United States of America, invited film lovers and members of the media to a RECEPTION in honor of American film experts Kim Snyder and Bart Weiss, who were in Nigeria for the American Documentary Showcase, on the 4th of August 2010, at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture. The reception was followed by a sneak preview of Welcome to Shelbyville, a new documentary by Kim Snyder.

Dr. Robin Renee Sanders, US Ambassador to Nigeria, graced the occassion.

ABOUT THE FILM
Welcome to Shelbyville "tells the story of a small rural American town as residents old and new struggle to come to terms with the region's growing diversity and one another. The film follows Somali and Latino newcomers who are making their homes in Shylbyville, a reporter who is documenting the new arrivals, a handful of citizens who are supporting immigrant integration, and both black and white long-term residents who have deep and complex racial roots in the region. The film captures the intimacy of lives intertwined against the backdrop of a crumbling economy and the hopeful campaign of Barack Obama. It demonstrates that America is an ever-changing place, contstantly evolving as new generations of immigrants arrive." (Culled from AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE, a publication by the Embassy of the United States of America.)

ABOUT KIM A. SNYDER
Kim A. Snyder is an award-winning documentary film maker. She most recently co-founded the BeCause Foundation to produce a series of documentaries designed to raise awareness about global issues and inspire philanthropy through the power of film.

Snyder directed and produced the award-winning I Remember Me, which won numerous festival awards, including Best Documentary at the Denver International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Sarasota Film Festival, and an Honorable Mention at the Hamptons International Film Festival. I Remember Me was distributed theatrically in the United States by Zeitgeist Films and has been distributed on DVD in more than 22 countries. She has also directed and produced numerous short documentaries for cable network Plum TV. (Culled from AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY, a publication by the Embassy of the United States.)

Odia Ofeimun's A Feast of Return

2010-07-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

Odia Ofeimun's A FEAST OF RETURN, a dance drama, was performed on the 30th of July 2010 at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, Area 10, Garki Abuja.
.

According to the organizers: "The dance drama deploys an array of Nigerian dances, and very accessible poetry, to project the themes of pre-colonial self-assertion, colonial disquiet, and Africa’s struggle for independence, unity and democracy. Taking off from the time of Chaka Zulu to the Round Table that ended the era of Apartheid, A FEAST OF RETURN offers the fit and proper opener for grand, educative entertainment as many African countries, including Nigeria, celebrate 50 years of independence, and as Nigeria commemorates 40 years of the end of the civil war.
.

"The dance drama, which featured in the recent Lagos Black Heritage Festival, and has played to grand audiences at the National Theatre, and across several state capitals, is coming back to Abuja, to prove it conclusively that the Nigerian stage, properly empowered, is as vibrant and purposive as the admired ones from other lands. This can be stated with confidence because the text of this dance drama was originally commissioned and adapted, in the early nineties, for the London stage by ADZIDO, the Pan African Dance Ensemble, under the aegis of the Arts Council of Great Britain. Lack of sponsorship prevented its enactment in Nigeria until recent events.

"Basically, A FEAST OF RETURN, is the most engaging One Hour and ten minutes of entertainment in Nigeria at the present time. It is fresh, sophisticated, yet homely. It is performed by 30 people, including actors, dancers and two musical groups in session. Essentially, the performance is an optimistic quest for the positive development and enlargement of Nigeria’s theatre-going audience. It comes also as a reminder that cities and countries acquire greatness, not due to mere glass and concrete, but for being sites of great culture."

The following photos were taken by INSIDE TRACK MAGAZINE.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

One of the dance numbers in Odia Ofeimun's A FEAST OF RETURN
as perforned at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture,
Abuja, Nigeria, on the 30th of July.
Photo by Araceli Aipoh

One of the dance numbers in Odia Ofeimun's A FEAST OF RETURN
as perforned at the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture,
Abuja, Nigeria on the 30th of July.
Photo by Araceli Aipoh

Get Tested!

2010-07-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

Voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counseling are
conducted by theSilver Lining for the Needy Initiative
and Gede Foundation in Kubwa.
Photo by SLNI.

The Get Tested! words are clearly printed on their T-shirts as they conduct the business of providing free HIV testing and counseling to members of the public who voluntarily avail of this opportunity.

Wearing these T-shirts and making use of rapid test kits provided by the Ministry of Health- HIV/AID Division are the staff of SILVER LINING FOR THE NEEDY INITIATIVE (SLNI) and GEDE FOUNDATION, who were at the NYSC Camp in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday, the 15th of July 2010, to give free testing and counselling to more than 300 people - and the results were immediately made available to them, so that those who required more information were referred to the Gede Foundation's facilities within Abuja.

Kubwa is one of the 12 communities that SLNI has earmarked for monthly voluntary testing and counseling for the year 2010.

Early this year, SLNI entered into a collaboration agreement with Gede Foundation to conduct monthly VCT in the FCT. SLNI is a nonprofit nongovernmental organization registered in Nigeria for the promotion of health education, research and charitable pursuits. This is achieved through their broad spectrum of projects that include treatment/care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and care and support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).

Gede Foundation has a mobile laboratory van which serves as SLNI on-site laboratory where the staffs perform rapid diagnostic tests.

The next VCT will be on the July 29, 2010 at Lubge Community.

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, or to be part of future VCTs contact: Emmanuel Okafor: eokafor@gedefoundation.org; 08033517099 or SLNI: info@slni.org 08034213135, 07027855625.

The following photos were taken at the HIV testing and counselling in Kubwa by SLNI:

More than 300 people participated in the voluntary HIV testing
and counseling conducted by SLNI on July 15 in Kubwa.
Photo by SLNI.

Staff of Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative, at the
HIV testing and counseling in Kubwa on July 15, 2010.
Photo courtesy of SLNI.

French National Day 2010

2010-07-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

CLICK TO ENLARGE:
From top bottom: Mr and Mrs. Samosir of the Embassy of Indonesia;
Mr. and Mrs. Martin of the Embassy of Spain; Wife of the High Commissioner
of Pakistan; Mrs. Ronquillo of the Embassy of Italy; Marjolaine and Angie
of Nigerwives; Staff of the Embassy of France and guests; Staff of Zenith Bank;
Madam Garangan of the Embassy of the Philippines (left) with the
Ambassador of Romania; Mr. and Mrs. Garanganof the Embassy
of the Philippines; and the wife of the Deputy Head of Mission
of France (left) with guests.

A most enjoyable night took place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, the 14th of July 2010, when the French celebrated their National Day with a reception, where hundreds of guests that included the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, were invited.

In his speech, the Ambassador of France, H.E. JEAN-MICHEL DUMOND, said: "Today we commemorate the 1790 “Fête de la Fédération” held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison when delegates from all the regions of France proclaimed their allegiance to the national community. As President Sarkozy told the French Ambassadors in August 2009, 2010 will be an important year for the relation between Africa and France. Read more of the speech here...

The following photos were taken by INSIDE TRACK at the reception that featured French cuisine...ham and cheese, and lots of champagne!

French National Day, July 14, 2010;
Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel

The Ambassador of France, together with the
Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy and his wife,
welcome guests at the reception celebrating the French National Day.

The Ambassador of France gives a short remarks

The Ambassador of France chats with the
Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Members of the Abuja Metropolitan Musical Society
sing the National Anthems of Nigeria and France

Abuja Metropolitan Musical Society

The champagne section - French National Day,
Hilton Hotel

Spanish Songs Concert

2010-06-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

A Spanish Songs Concert was held at the residence of the
Ambassador of Spain on Tuesday night, June 15, 2010.
Photos by Araceli Aipoh

A very private CONCERT of Spanish songs followed by a BUFFET DINNER took place at the residence of the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. ANGEL LOSADA and MRS. LOSADA, on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, to mark the Closing of the Spanish Presidency of the EU. Spanish guitarist TERESA FOLGUEIRA and vocalist MARINA BOLLAIN flew into Abuja the previous day to make the performance. Their repertoire included songs composed by Manuel de Falla and Federico Garcia Lorca. According to EVA BARTA MARTIN, Cultural Officer of the Embassy, the duo were leaving the next day to give performances in other countries.

PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL
According to Wikipedia: "Presidency of the Council of the European Union is the responsibility for the functioning of the Council of the European Union that rotates between the member states of the European Union (EU) every six months. The presidency is not a single president but rather the task is undertaken by a national government. Three successive presidencies, known as presidency trios, cooperate to provide additional continuity by sharing common political programmes. The current trio consists of Spain, Belgium and Hungary." Read more at http://www.wikipedia.com/

The following photos were taken by INSIDE TRACK MAGAZINE:

Teresa Folgueira (guitar) and Marina Bollain

Ambassador Losada with the press

Members of the Diplomatic Corps

A cross-section of the guests

Members of the diplomatic community applaud
after a great performance

Ambassador Losada with Teresa and Marina

Ambassador of Japan and his wife with other Ambassadors

The wives of the Ambassadors of Germany and Cuba

Eva, Teresa, Marina and Ambassador Losada

Ladies from the diplomatic community

Mrs. Losada, left, with a friend

CLICK TO ENLARGE...MORE PHOTOS

by Araceli Aipoh

Inside Track...Philippine Independence Day 2010

2010-06-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

Members of FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN ABUJA celebrated the
112th Anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine indepence
on June 12, 2010, at the Embassy premises in Maitama
Abuja. The low-key celebration started off with
a Mass, followed by a flag-raising, and a
light breakfast.
Photos by Araceli Aipoh

The Filipino Community in Abuja, led by the Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of the Philippines, Mr. Alex Lamadrid, held a low-key ceremony to commemorate the 112th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at the embassy premises on Saturday morning, June 12, 2010.

The day started off with a Mass at the Apostolic Nunciature, followed by a flag-raising ceremony, and a simple breakfast. The Ambassadors of Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand, as well as the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of France, graced the occasion.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja attend
the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate
the 112th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

The Ambassadors of Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia (left)
with the First Secretary of the Embassy of the
Philippines (right).

Guests

Filipinos recite the pledge of allegiance

The Charge d' Affaires of the Embassy of the
Philippines, Mr. Alex Lamadrid (middle with
dark glasses), with members of the Filipino
community and guests from the diplomatic community.

Mr. Alex Lamadrid of the Embassy of the Philippines, with
members of the diplomatic community, at the
112th Anniversary of the Philippine Independece Day,
Maitama, Abuja

Inside Track...ASEAN Food Fair on June 5

2010-06-13T00:48:00.000-07:00

A TASTE OF THAI CUISINE.
These spring rolls were on sale at the
ASEAN FOOD FAIR, held on June 5 at the residence of the
Malaysian Ambassador in Abuja. The flower decorations are made
of fruits and vegetables. Photo by Araceli Aipoh

The ASEAN LADIES ASSOCIATION (ABUJA) held a food fair on Saturday, the 5th of June 2010, from 11.00AM to 4:00PM; at No. 14, Aso Drive, Maitama, Abuja.

The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in Nigeria is represented by Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Those who went to the fair had e a taste of a variety of authentic Asian cuisine prepared by the members of the ASEAN LADIES ASSOCIATION.

Click on the image on the left to enlarge. Photos by Inside Track Magazine.

Inside Track....Uwem Akpan reads in Abuja

2010-06-11T22:33:00.000-07:00

STANDING ROOM ONLY for Catholic priest, Father Uwen Akpan,
who writes fiction.
Click on image to enlarge. Photo by Araceli Aipoh

Father Uwem Akpan, author of the short story collection,
Say You're One of Them, reads at the Hilton,
Photo by Araceli Aipoh

The Niger Room of the Hilton Hotel was filled to capacity on Friday night, June 2010, when Uwem Akpan, a Catholic priest who writes fiction, read from his book Say You're One of Them. Organized by the Abuja Literay Society and moderated by Eugenia Abu, the reading is one of the most well-attended literay arts event in Abuja to date. Father Akpan's book was selected for recommended reading by Oprah Winfrey in 2009. His works have also appeared in The New Yorker. (Scroll down for more photos...)

ABOUT UWEM AKPAN
(Source: Wikipedia)

Uwem Akpan, born May 19, 1971, is a Nigerian Jesuit priest and writer. He is the author of Say You’re One of Them (2008), a collection of five stories (each set in a different African country) published by Little, Brown & Company. It was picked by the Oprah Winfrey Book Club on September 17, 2009.

He was born in the southern Nigerian village of Ikot Akpan Eda; his parents were teachers. He and his three brothers grew up speaking both English and Annang. He joined the Jesuit order at the age of 19, in 1990 and became a priest on July 19, 2003; he later earned an M.F.A. degree in creative writing at the University of Michigan. He has also studied theology at Creighton University.

Entertainment Weekly put the book on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Against all odds, the Nigerian priest's searing African stories from 2008 imparted both joy and hope."

In 2009 Oprah Winfrey recommended a short story collection of U.S.-educated Nigerian Jesuit Fr. Uwem Akpan as her 63rd influential book club selection. Akpan said he was humbled to learn his debut collection of short stories had caught Winfrey's eye. Winfrey said that Akpan's 2008 collection, Say You're One of Them (published by Little, Brown, 2008), "left [her] stunned and profoundly moved." The five short stories give voice to an African child growing up in the face of incredible adversity. Asked if there was a conflict between being a priest and being a writer, he said he liked being both: "Both give me energy. Gaudium et Spes, a key Vatican II document, makes it very clear that the joys and anguish of the world are the joys and anguish of the Church. The Jesuits have a rich tradition of writing and involvement in social issues.

EXCERPT from a short story by Uwem Akpan
(Source: http://www.newyorker.com/)

I'm nine years and seven months old. I’m at home playing peekaboo in my room with my little brother, Jean. It’s Saturday evening and the sun has fallen behind the hills. There’s silence outside our bungalow, but from time to time the evening wind carries a shout to us. Our parents have kept us indoors since yesterday.

Maman comes into the room and turns off the light before we see her. Jean cries in the darkness, but once she starts kissing him he begins to giggle. He reaches up to be held, but she’s in a hurry.

“Don’t turn on any lights tonight,” she whispers to me.

I nod. “Yego, Maman.”

“Come with your brother.” I carry Jean and follow her. “And don’t open the door for anybody. Your papa is not home, I’m not home, nobody is home. Do you hear me, Monique, huh?”

“Yego, Maman.”

(Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/06/12/060612fi_fiction#ixzz0qaDQc2WP

MORE PHOTOS BY INSIDE TRACK MAGAZINE