Category: Entertainment

Famous Nollywood actor and comedian, John Okafor, aka Mr Ibu, has died at the age of 62.

The renowned actor who has graced the movie screens for more than two decades died at the Evercare Hospital, in Lagos on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

Mr. Ibu has over the past months been admitted to the hospital, where he was undergoing surgery for the clotting of blood in his leg, stemming from diseased blood vessels.

This, together with other illnesses, led to the amputation of the affected leg in November last year and was reported to be making progress over the past few weeks.

News of his death has sent shock waves on social media, with fans expressing their condolences to the Okafor family following their great loss.

Mr. Ibu’s journey in the film industry made him a movie legend not only in Nigeria but across Africa, considering his distinctive style and infectious humour.

He appeared in hundreds of movies both in Ghana and Nigeria, including the household hit Mr Ibu in London, Police Recruit, and Issakaba.

Sour
ce: Ghana News Agency

WINDHOEK, 13 FEB (NAMPA) – The late President Hage Geingob was not only renowned for his leadership but also his impeccable sense of style.

His attire, carefully chosen for every occasion, whether domestic or international, left a lasting impression on many, including local fashion designers who admired his fashion sense.

Namibian fashion designer, Melisa Poulton shared her insights on Geingob’s iconic style and the impact it had on the fashion scene in the country, saying: ‘He was a true style icon. His choice of clothing always exuded confidence and sophistication. His preference for tailored suits, often accessorised with vibrant Namibian fabrics such as Oshiwambo-inspired patterns or the bold colours of the Damara/Nama people, became a signature of his style.’

She added that Geingob’s attention to detail, from perfectly coordinated ties to polished shoes, set a high standard for sartorial elegance, saying that he understood the power of clothing as a form of self-expression and representation.

She sai
d that his attire conveyed a sense of pride in Namibian culture while embracing global fashion influences and was a testament to his ability to bridge traditional and contemporary aesthetics.

Poulton stated that if she had been accorded the opportunity to design or style the late president, she would have jumped at the chance since that is what she has strived for her entire career.

Whether attending official State functions or representing Namibia on the international stage, President Geingob’s wardrobe choice was always meticulously curated, reflecting his status and the value of the nation.

‘As Namibia mourns the loss of President Hage Geingob, his legacy lives on not only in his contributions to the country but also in the enduring influence of his distinguished style. Fashion designers and enthusiasts alike will continue to draw inspiration from his timeless elegance and commitment to representing Namibia with grace and dignity on the global stage,’ Poulton noted.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: The annual Tsumeb Copper Festival will take place from 01 to 04 November this year, under the theme ‘Empowering entrepreneurship for a sustainable Namibia.’

Chairperson of the Tsumeb Copper Festival, Julius Gaeseb, on Monday said the festival is aimed at uniting the business community, fostering networking and collaboration.

He said this year’s festival will feature local and international exhibitors who will showcase their products and services.

“The Tsumeb Copper Festival, since its inception in 2003, has grown to become a premier marketing event on our social and economic calendar,” he said.

Gaeseb stated that the festival boasts a diverse array of activities, including SME training, a youth summit, farmers’ day, business conference, and a sporting bonanza set to kick off the festivities the previous weekend.

These initiatives underline the festival’s commitment to community engagement, economic empowerment, and sustainability in Namibia, he said.

Gaeseb also noted that they raised N.dollars 620 000 during the first-ever breakfast meeting and official launch of the Tsumeb Copper Festival held on Friday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The celebration of Hora Finfinne, part of the Irreechaa festival, is underway today in Addis Ababa colorfully.

Irreechaa is a traditional Oromo thanksgiving celebrated every year at the bank of a river to mark the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the harvesting season.

Dressed in unique traditional outfits, people from various parts of the country gathered on Saturday morning in Hora Finfinnee, Addis Ababa to celebrate the occasion.

This year’s Irreechaa festival is being celebrated under the motto “Irreechaa: Symbol of Unity and Brotherhood.” in the presence of various segments of the society including Aba Gadas and Hadha Sinqes.

The celebration is a special stage in which the people display its cultural and spiritual values including beauty, aesthetics, and unity to the world where cultural singing and dancing are common.

Irreechaa is based on the traditional thanksgiving event to the Waka or Wakayo who is believed to create the heavens and the earth.

The Oromos thank the Waka (GOD) for good harvest, promotion of family human and soil fertility and livestock health and primarily for peace in their communities.

Irreechaa is celebrated in different localities across Oromia and worldwide where Oromos are living.

In particular, the Irreechaa festivity which is taking place at Hora Finfinne in Addis Ababa and Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu town, is a unique thanksgiving festival which brings together many people from all corners of Oromia and the country.

The celebration of Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu town of Oromia region will be held colorfully tomorrow.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in his best wishes message for the celebration noted that Irreechaa is a festival of justice, equality, love and unity that demonstrates fraternity and solidarity among the people urging all to work hard to do away with obstacles and make tomorrow brighter.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Preparations for the 2016 Irrecha Festival that will be celebrated in Hora Finfinne (Addis Ababa) and Hora Harsade (Bishoftu) have been finalized, according to Oromia Communication Bureau.

The Oromo people celebrate Irrecha to thank Waaqa (God) for the blessings and mercies they have received in the past year.

The festival is celebrated in different localities across Oromia Region. But at the national level, it is an event that brings millions of Oromos and non-Oromos from all over the country and abroad.

In his statement in connection with the 2016 Irrecha Festival, Oromia Communication Bureau Head Hailu Adugna said the festival will be celebrated in both places under the motto “Irrecha: Symbol of Unity and Brotherhood.”

According to him, Irrecha is a festival of peace and reconciliation where the Oromo people pay gratitude to the creator.

It is also a symbol of unity, he stressed.

The head noted that the celebration of Irrecha festival is becoming more attractive as it is becoming a business and tourism attraction.

Hailu further urged participants to celebrate the event by protecting the value and culture of the festival and in a manner that strengthens unity among the people in the country.

Since the Gadaa System has been registered as one of the intangible world cultural heritages by UNESCO, the festival is embraced by the international community at large, encouraging the tourism industry of Ethiopia.

The festival introduces a vibrant array of colors that makes it one of the most beautiful street festivals among Oromos and other nations and nationalities of the country.

The fine attire of the participants is one of the many unique aspects of the festival, and people of all ages and cultural backgrounds come to the occasion dressed in show-stopping finery.

The bureau head stated that Irrecha is a festival of thanksgiving, forgiveness and optimism.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Exhibitors participating in the Amalgamated Rotational Annual Festival (ARAF) taking place in Omaruru have welcomed the platform availed to them to enable them to showcase their products.

ARAF is a collaborative initiative by the Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos Local Authority Councils (OKULAC), and will be rotationally hosted in the three different towns annually.

Mayor of the host town Vincent Kahua during the opening of the four-day festival expressed that the event is set to revive the economy and attract investment opportunities within the three towns, equalising small and medium enterprise growth and expansion for the betterment of the three towns’ livelihood.

Among the exhibitors is Gabriel Kambinda, a local farmer specialising in the production of vegetables.

Kambinda said the festival is a good platform for him to showcase his produce and promote his family business on the outskirts of Omaruru town.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to be allowed to also be part of it, although customers are not really many yet, it is understandable because it is still the first days of the festival, I believe more customers will come as time goes,” he stated.

Kambinda expressed that although the farm is faced with water shortage which sometimes affects production, his family have dug a man-made well to enable them to extract underground water to be able to water their crops.

“We have applied to the municipality for a prepaid card, which is what the municipality currently uses to supply water to the town’s residents, and we are hoping for a positive response soon because we want to grow our farm,” he said.

Another exhibitor Lawrence Nyambe, who travelled from Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region said he saw the festival as an opportunity to market his upcoming catering business, Taste Buds, to the masses.

Nyambe commended the initiative, adding that platforms such as these should be provided often as they enable those who are unemployed to earn a little income.

“The unemployment rate is so high and often we sit and wait for something to be handed to us and nothing ever happens, so we are taking initiatives into our own hands. This business also enables me to be financially independent,” Nyambe expressed.

The local exhibitors also expressed the need for more platforms like these and permanent markets in the future to enable them to sell their products.

ARAF has attracted over 100 exhibitors including cooperates and SMEs, and ends on Saturday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Dr. Alpo Mbambo Senior Secondary School from the Kavango East Region won the Anti-Corruption Song Competition (ACC) during a grand finale held in Swakopmund on Friday evening.

Monica Geingos and Angra Pequena Secondary Schools from Otjozondjupa and //Kharas regions secured second and third place respectively, followed by Mweshipandeka High School from Oshana Region in fourth place.

The competition, aimed at harnessing the power of art and raising awareness about corruption, its detrimental effects on society, and the need for collective action to combat it, was launched in July. A total of 55 schools from 13 regions submitted their entry forms, with the exception of Kunene Region.

Out of these, only 33 schools participated in the first elimination round, where 13 schools were selected for the inter-regional competition, from which the top four were chosen for the grand finale.

Speaking at the event, ACC Acting Director-General Advocate Erna van der Merwe, said the competition is one of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s initiatives to respond to the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (NACSAP) 2021-2025.

“From 03 August 2023, the ACC collaborated with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Art and Culture; Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, and the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation to promote a culture of integrity through the song competition by secondary school choirs in all 14 regions across the country,” she noted.

Erongo Governor, Neville Andre Itope, expressed that addressing corruption is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement agencies but should be a collective responsibility.

“Corruption has afflicted our country for far too long, hindering progress, eroding trust, and hampering the overall development of our nation. Issues such as bribery, fraud, use of office for gratification, and the misuse of public funds threaten to erode the trust between the government and its people,” he expressed.

The winners received a cash prize of N.dollars 25,000, followed by N.dollars 12,000 and N.dollars 7,500 for second and third places, and N.dollars 5,500 for the fourth-place winners. All prizes are accompanied by a trophy.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency