Two events, one day

Two major events took place in Abuja yesterday, the 24th of October 2009. One was the Opening of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup and the other was the Charity Bazaar organized by the Association of Spouses of Heads of Mission (ASOHOM) which took place at the Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers.

One of the first two games in the football competition held at the National Stadium was between Nigeria and Germany, which took place also yesterday at 7:00pm after a heavy downpour. Members of the Editorial Team of Inside Track watched the game (score Nigeria-3, Germany-3) along with employees of the German construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria.

More pics of both events will be posted shortly...

European Film Festival in Abuja

A week-long film festival by the European Union and Switzerland is currently going on at the Silverbird Entertainment Centre (on the same road with the Musa Yar’Adua Centre) here in Abuja. Showing a total of 15 movies (two per day except on the first day), the film festival is an annual event that many Abuja residents look forward to. This year, the movies are from Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. This photo was taken at the opening night on Saturday, October 17, 2009.

Admission is free. Below are the remaining movies to be shown:

OCTOBER 20 – Tuesday
5:30pm – Kebab Connection (Germany)
8:00pm – 32A (Ireland)

OCTOBER 21 - Wednesday
5:30pm – One Day in Europe (Germany)
8:00pm – Kings (Ireland)

OCTOBER 22 – Thursday
5:30pm – Duska (Netherlands)
8:00pm – Atras das Nuvens (Portugal)

OCTOBER 23 - Friday
5:30pm – Soldiers of Salamina (Spain)
8:00pm – Black Book “Zwartboek” (Netherlands)

OCTOBER 24 - Saturday
6:00pm – Vitus (Switzerland)
8:30pm – Crossed Tracks (France)

Grand Finale: 4th Spanish Cultural Week

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The grand finale of the week-long Spanish Cultural Week (4th Edition) took place at the Musa Yar'dua Centre on Friday, October 16, 2009. Flamenco dance artists Dario Alanis, Leticia Calatayud, Maite Maya and Javier Sainz came all the way from Spain for this event. In his message regarding the cultural week, the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Angel Losada Fernandez, said this "has been enthusiastically organized so that together we can enjoy the folklore and culture of Spain." In addition, he said he hoped "you enjoy these days of music, color and dance which, from a Nigerian perspective, will bring a little Spanish Culture to you all."


It was indeed a fullfilling week and we look forward to the 5th Edition next year.

FLAMENCO DANCE NIGHT

ORGANIZED BY THE EMBASSY OF SPAIN

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Diwali Festival 2009

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The Indian custom of celebrating Diwali (Festival of Lights) took place at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers on October 11, 2009.

Organized by the Indian Cultural Association (Abuja), the 7,500 naira per plate was a sold out partly due to the presence of performers from Bollywood.

Inside Track was there.


lIFE IN aBUJA

Day Four: 4th Spanish Cultural Week

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One of the activities of the 4th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week was a Visual Arts Competition with the theme Nigeria vs Spain: Football Passion. The winner will travel to Spain as part of the prize. The awarding ceremony took place at the Mezzanine Floor of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on October 13, 2009.

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lIFE IN aBUJA

Hope of Eden Farm, Kuje

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Members of the Editorial Team of Inside Track took a day off away from the city of Abuja and joined some members of the NIGERIAN FIELD SOCIETY as well as the expat community on Sunday, 11th of October 2009, for a 45-minute drive to HOPE OF EDEN FARM located in Kuje.

Originally conceived as a farm, Hope of Eden provides camping and picnic grounds for those who would like to experience a taste of outdoor living. It provides overnight accomodation at N1,000 per night per person while meals are N500 per meal.

Life in Abuja

Day Three: 4th Spanish Cultural Week

Day Three of the 4th Spanish Cultural Week took place today (October 12) at the Musa Yar'Adua Centre, featuring a play entitled FUENTEOVEJUNA, written by Lope de Vega in 1476 and based on actual events that took place in the Spanish town of Fuenteovejuna.

Adapted for Nigerian stage by the Jos Repertory Theatre, FUENTEOVEJUNA (The Fountain of the Sheep) depicts the wicked ways of Commander Fernan Gomez, who ruled the people with tyranny and who dies at the hands of those he has oppressed.

Photo shows scenes from the play (top) and the Ambassador of Spain, H.E. Angel Lozada and Madam Lozada (bottom left) with other members of the audience (right.) Those who missed the play will have a chance to watch it on October 17 at the Merit House in Maitama.

Day One:4th Spanish Cultural Week

The first in a series of activities lined up by the Embassy of Spain for the 4th Edition of the Spanish Cultural Week in Abuja took place on Friday, October 9, at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, featuring a classic guitar concert by ARMANDO JULIAN ORBON FAES (photo on the left). A grandchild and nephew of musicians, Armando Orbon was born in Gijon (Spain) and started studying music at the age of 9. He continued his musical studies in Madrid with the Maestro Regino Sainz de la Maza. He has performed in various concerts with chamber and symphonic orchestras, as well as taking part in important festivals. The classic guitar concert, tagged UNA GUITARRA:DOS MUNDOS (One Guitar: Two Worlds) began at 7 pm and ended about an hour and a half later.

Spanish Cultural Week Photos: Day One

Photo Gallery: Day One of the 4th Spanish Cultural Week...
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