PRESS RELEASE

FAJ @ 60 Celebration

Veteran journalist, teacher, and author Femi Akintunde-Johnson will be 60 years old on Saturday, October 30, 2021. Parts of activities marking the Diamond birthday celebration are a colloquium and a book launch.

The colloquium, conceptualized as a storytelling format, is themed, “Did Anything Good Come Out of The ‘60s? – Lessons and memories of Nigeria’s formative decade”

In addition to this is the launching of FOUR books written by FAJ, the moniker many fondly call the birthday host. These books are:

• An anthology of poems: the first of such literary work FAJ will write; it is composed of 108 pages and covers the first 40 years of his life, otherwise named the “Gestation Period".

• A 110-page compilation of six stories and a play, themed differently and cutting across different epochs.

• Two memoirs, one of which is a 170-page book capturing the circumstances that led to FAJ’s detention at Kirikiri Maximum Prison. It also captures in graphic illustrations his struggles, resilience, and elastic spirit.

• The other memoir is a recount of the vicissitudes faced during his odyssey during the defunct, but iconic, FAME magazine years. This encompasses the birthing, challenges, and the loss of the FAME project between 1991 and 1997 – with the story sewn in lucid prose and digestible form to give a compelling, hard-to-put down expository read. The 300-plus-page book details several events, actions, and reactions.

● All books are to be available in digital and paperback versions.

ABOUT FEMI-AKINTUNDE JOHNSON

Femi Akintunde-Johnson started as an entertainment journalist with The PUNCH newspapers and, later, Climax magazine between 1988 and 1991. He would rise to become Editor of Climax. He held the same position, and as Editor-in-Chief, in four magazines he co-founded. They are FAME, National Encomium, New Treasure, and Treasure People & Life. Moreover, FAJ masterminded the establishment of four of Nigeria’s most celebrated awards: FAME Music Awards (FMA), The Movie Awards (THEMA), The Reel Awards, and Awards For Musical Excellence in Nigeria, (AMEN).

Warm Regards,

Folarin Ademosu Jr.
(folaademosu@gmail.com)

0802-072-5343 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

Yes!
The long wait is finally over, it is with great excitement to invite you all, to the first edition of the *#therhythmcircle*, A circle where Art is redefine in a more connective way for drummers, dancers, page poets, musicians, sound artists, and African music, and Art lovers coming together in a sacred place as a community without judgment and misgiving using African rhythms as the tools of healing and connectivity in the society. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

OTITI OKPILI AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DETERRENCE
Among the Azu clan of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, is an ancient practice against spouse abuse wired into the cultural DNA of the people that is still thriving.
Otiti Okpili translates into transport fare for vibrant, muscle rippling, exuberant, youthful enforcers and their sister's protectors to travel to their in-law's house, beat him up thoroughly, teach him some jungle sense on how not to be a husband to their cherished jewel once a case of domestic abuse is established against the man. Otiti Okpili also covers fare to bring back their daughter and sister home to her clan.
Paid as part of every Azu daughter's bride price, it is a compulsory portion of the traditional marriage protocol that the groom and his family must fulfill before the bride can go home with them. There is no fixed amount to be paid; the important thing is that both parties subscribe to the code of domestic violence deterrence that otiti okpili represents. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

Dogo Du Togo just released a great new song and video, “Soké Wo.” Learn more about Dogo and check out the video right here! afropop.org/articles/dig-dogo-du-togos-new-song-and-video-soké-wo ... See MoreSee Less

Photo