News Desk Friday, September 14, 2007

Kalu, AG Stalls Court's Hearing

ABUJA — A MOTION filed by the immediate-past Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu to terminate his ongoing trial at a Federal High Court, Abuja was yesterday stalled after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) asked for a month-long adjournment to enable him decide whether to continue with his (Kalu) trial or stop it. MORE>>

Attorney General is Absolutely Right - Afe Babalola

Lawyer to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said, in an exclusive interview with DAILY SUN, that the AGF, had every right under the constitution to step into any criminal case he may deem fit at any material time. MORE>>

Police Kill 16 Robbery Suspects, Arrest 780 in Lagos

While briefing reporters at the State Command Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar said out of the 780 suspects, 668 had been charged to court. Abubakar said his men recovered 16 arms, 43 ammunition of various caliber, 22 stolen vehicles and 255 motorcycles from armed robbers. MORE>>

N628m Contracts: Director Faults Speaker, Others

The Director of Works and Estate Management in the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Mahdi, on Thursday said that the controversial contracts for the renovation of the residences of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh and her deputy, Alhaji Babangida Nguroje, did not follow due process. MORE>>

PDP Gives Ali, Others Quit Notices

The PDP, which held its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, said its decision to sack the executive officers ahead of the congresses and the National Convention was in tandem with section 13 (12) of its constitution. MORE>>

Nigeria Moves to Halt US Military

Defence sources, however, told THISDAY last night in Abuja that the Federal Government was already discussing with heads of government of the African Union and leaders of the sub-regional body, the Economic Community of West African State, on how to block any move by US to establish a base in the gulf. MORE>>

Ohakim Woos Foreign Investors

Another group in Texas was a consortium of about 12 investors providing different capabilities led by Ray Warren of Deep Southgate Chemical Blending and Manufacturing. Some others in the group include Oil Fields Services Industries, Trinity Industries and Petro Africa. MORE>>

The Ramblers Dance Band 'Hit Sound, Vol 1'

I still remember as a child walking through Kanda Estate to the Ruga playgrounds to watch our local football heroes, The Seekers Football Club play games that attracted surrounding towns showcasing talents never seen before. And I still remember, while my childhood buddies and I walked through the affluent Kanda Estate, the airwaves were all over blasting 'Knock On Wood' and we began to recite that club number released by Ramblers Dance Band. 'Knock On Wood' and probably 'Alome' were the tracks implanted in my brain until now that I started researching and digging out archives of African musical heritage.

Quite interesting and good to know, Ramblers Dance Band came a long way during Ghana's colonial and post-independence era. Tenor Saxophonist Jerry Hansen who had played with several top-notch big bands including E.T. Mensah & His Tempos Band following the highlife boom, Hansen, in 1961, broke up with Ga native King Bruce who led the Black Beats Highlife Band, then a classical, swing and jazzy-fusion blend of big bands. Hansen left the Black Beats with nine other musicians to form a 15-piece band, the Ramblers Dance Band, playing gigs, night clubs and major events all around the shores of Ghana. The Ramblers would be idolized and 'Knock On Wood' would be a national anthem as it echoed all the time at Harlem Cafe in Nima 441, Accra.

Paying attention to the music now, I can feel the originality of highlife music begun by this sensational group led by Hansen. I can also feel a drawing of rock guitar, jazzy tunes and the swing and Latin-American salsa flavors come to life. Though in the 60s, there were great big band influences like C.K. Mann Big Band, Azaga & the Archiboys, African Brothers Band and many other big band jam sessions in Accra, saxophonist Hansen took Ramblers to another level recording 'Knock On Wood,' a "soul-funktified" grooved dance track. The entire CD sounds very persuavive from the rhythmical sense, the chorus very commanding and the remastering absolutely perfect.

Track List:

1. Ekombi

2. Agyanke

3. Ama Bonsu

4.Nyame Ke Nhyehee

5. Nyame Mbere

6. Alome

7. Knock On Wood

8. Onua Pa Due

9. Ima Abasi

10.Betta Ni

11.Gyae Su Na Nkomo Dzi

12.Meda Gbefa

13Meni Nda Obiara So

Original Release Date: September 1995

Label: Flame Tree

News Desk Thursday, September 13, 2007

ICPC Boss Blasts AG Over Kalu

ABUJA— CHAIRMAN of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, yesterday blasted the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), for the procedure he adopted to take over the prosecution of the immediate past governor of Abia state, Chief Orji Kalu, from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). MORE>>

Yar'Adua Revokes Sale of House to Andy Uba

The house located along Ibrahim Taiwo road in the precincts of the presidential Villa was sold to former president Obasanjo’s influential aide as part of the monetization policy of the president Obasanjo regime. Credible sources at the Villa said the revocation was based on the fact that eight of such houses sold tosome of the former president’s aides did not follow due process. They were all revoked. MORE>>

Ibadan Jailbreak: Why We Struck - Inmates...

IT was revelations galore on Wednesday as some of the injured inmates in the jail-break at the Agodi Prison, Ibadan, related how they were being treated by the authorities of the prison command. MORE>>

No Apology to AGF, says EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday said it had not apologised to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mike Aondoakaa, or any other Nigerian over the ongoing trial of a former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu. MORE>>

Lawyers in Diaspora Hail Attorney General

Nigerian lawyers in diaspora have hailed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), for his insistence on the rule of law in the administration of the criminal justice system. MORE>>

E. T. Mensah & His Tempos Band

Known as the "King of Highlife" in the 50s and 60s, the swing, bebop and big band leader E. T. Mensah was extraordinarily talented and his music being remastered today tells of a masterpiece. Ethno Music is really doing a marvelous job providing its listeners with vintage African sound.

Mensah, one of the first to introduce salsa flavored rhythms to Africa in the 50s entertained his audience during the colonial era gaining international recognition when he joined the original Tempos Band, taking over as the band leader. His amazing career can be read at Retro Afric in great detail. Brilliant stuff and great compositions in that era.

Vintage African Music

Click here to get your own player.



Listening to some of these tunes takes one aback to those pretty-good-old days of nkwu elu, palwine and storytelling to keep body and soul together. Enjoy!

Hank Crawford's 'Tico Rico'

Wow! I just dug this excellent LP from my stack of obsolete albums never remastered or bootlegged anywhere. Good thing though, technology has made it easier one can turn LP's, 45s, and 78s into CDs and I will be doing just that. I have searched every archive to see if 'Tico Rico' has been remastered and digitally "waxed" but found out the original recordings and studio may have lost the master tape. Not even Amoeba Records or Sterns Records can brag about having the rights to dig 'Tico Rico' out. Rare though, but possible, depending on the term of contract. If organist Johnny Hammond's "Breakout" LP could be digitally remastered during the same Kudu years, why not the legendary Cajun man, Hank Crawford? But anyway, I just thought whoever must have hidden this masterpiece should pop up and turn it into CD. I'm missing listening to tracks like 'Tico Rico,' 'I've Just Seen a Face,' 'Teach Me Tonight,' 'Funky Rooster,' and 'Lady Soul.'

Absolutely one of the best jazz recordings by Creed Taylor and the Kudu years.

News Desk Wednesday, September 12, 2007

13 Killed in Ibadan Jailbreak

IBADAN — NO fewer than 13 inmates of the Agodi Prisons, Ibadan laid dead, yesterday, after the police opened fire on rioting prisoners as they made to break jail. Fourteen other inmates and eight prison officials were seriously injured in the violence. MORE>>

EFCC Insists on Kalu's Trial

ABUJA — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is pressing ahead with its prosecution of the immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, for alleged corruption regardless of the objection by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister, Chief Mike Aondoakaa (SAN). MORE>>

Nigeria to Adopt 'Citizenship Diplomacy'

Nigeria has announced a “retaliatory” foreign policy, warning that any country that presents Nigeria as corrupt without showcasing the intellect of Nigerians would be declared a “hostile nation”. The new foreign policy tagged “Citizenship Diplo-macy” was unfolded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, yesterday. MORE>>

FG Stakes N2.4bn on Nigerian-American Hospital

The Federal Government has staked about N2.4bn as its equity participation in the proposed five-star Nigerian-American Hospital in Abuja. The private stakeholders in the hospital said they had just secured $11m equipment financing loan from a Netherland bank for the commencement of the first phase of the construction of the hospital. MORE>>

EFCC Apologises to Attorney-General Over Kalu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has finally conceded superiority to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), as it reportedly tendered an apology on their face-off over the trial of former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, for corruption. MORE>>

News Desk Monday, September 10, 2007

Militants Abduct 11 PDP Leaders

Some militants suspected to be members of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta have kidnapped 11 chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State. The incident, which occurred in Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area on Saturday night, came barely a month after MEND demanded N500m from the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, for the demobilisation of its members in the state. MORE>>>

FG Orders Tight Security Around Oil Installations

The Federal Government, on Sunday ordered tight security around the strategic oil installations and other nation’s business interests in the Niger Delta region. It was leant that the government also directed a fresh security web around foreign nationals and assets of the majors in the region. MORE>>>

Imo Acquires 1,500 Cabs, Bans Okada

Imo State Government is to ban commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as "okada" from plying the streets of Owerri, the state capital, in the next few days. MORE>>>

Release Uwazuruike Now, Group Demands

Political stal warts in Anambra State, under the aegis: “Andy Uba Campaign Organization”, have called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to effect the release of the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazurike and other members of the group currently languishing in various prison custodies on or before the September 27 Igbo Day Celebrations. MORE>>>

Yar'Adua Offers Nigeria No Hope - AC

Action Congress (AC) on Sunday described the state of the nation in the last 100 days of the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as precarious, saying that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government does not offer the citizenry hope. MORE>>>

Obinne Emmanuel Onyeador's African Treasures

Shoppers and tourists are taking a walk and learning by asking questions regarding artifacts originating from the African continent. Just because the economy is bad doesn't mean people do not have cash to spend, especially when it comes to collectibles rarely found anywhere on Planet earth. "It's been slow this year," Obinne would say, "compared to the previous years when business really boomed." Of course, the economy has been bad, but shoppers are still buying items that they like. The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire was not an exception. Everywhere you take a look, there is a bargain for one item or the other and Onyeador's African Treasures attracted tourists alike for his original fine art collection, prints, African masks, trade beads, old tribal arts and crafts, fabrics and designers clothes displayed on wholesale and retail.

Onyeador studied criminology at the University of Oregon in Portland and decided his passion was more important to academia. Earning his masters degree in the same discipline and working briefly at the Nigerian Consulate, it was adios. His new career which is trading in African Arts has taken him places and has led him to the idea of maintaining a cultural heritage. He is now more preoccupied working with the African-American community in the Leimert Park area and has extended his gesture all around California marketing his fine prints and artifacts.

It was brisk business all through the cultural faire which started on August 18, 2007 and ran on every weekend until Labor day. Onyeador, who has been trading and collecting artifacts the past fifteen years said business wasn't that bad even though a booth at the event cost a whopping $2,000. On a busy and good market day, one of his prints sold for $800 and $1,500 while the masks and fabrics sold as high as $1,800 and $1,200.

Onyeador's African Treasures Gallery is located on the thoroughfare of "Black Township" at Leimert Park, in Los Angeles, California.

News Desk Saturday, September 8, 2007

Union Berates S. African Official For Remarks Against Nigeria

Leaders of two Nigerian unions in South Africa on Friday demanded for an apology from a South African parliamentarian who allegedly made uncomplimentary remarks on Nigeria. MORE>>

Reps Shop For Etteh's Successor

Even before the nine-man panel set to investigate the circumstances surrounding the controversial N628 million contracts for the renovation of the official residence of Speaker Patricia Etteh and her deputy’s, Mr. Babangida Nguroje, as well as the purchase of additional vehicles, Saturday Champion can authoritatively reveal that the House has already started shopping for her replacement. MORE>>

ERA Alerts On Indiscriminate Siting Of Gas Pipelines In Lagos

Lagos may soon witness unprecedented loss of lives and property that will dwarf fatalities associated with pipeline explosions across the country if environmental and safety concerns are left unaddressed in the on-going pipeline projects in the city, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has warned. MORE>>

Armed Forces Allay Fears On Terrorism Attacks

The Nigerian armed forces yesterday pledged to forestall any possible terrorist attacks in any part of the country, assuring that they are battle ready to ward off any attack. This assurance came from the Director of Defence Information, Col M. D. Yusuf, following Thursday's alarm raised by the American Consulate in Lagos over a threat on western and United States' interests in Nigeria. MORE>>

The 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire (8)

It got to be money or else you ain't getting any deal. Yes, ATM machines were placed at all nook and crannies at the 22nd Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire which ended on Labor Day. Running out of cash? No problem. Just insert your debit card or credit card and you will be ready to roll again.