Cinderama - African Cinderella

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

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.