IN ABUJA: Jazz Festival featuring Stephane Wrembel and his group on June 29; sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and FCT

Photos culled from www.stephanewrembel.com

Culled from Abuja Expats:

The U.S. Embassy is partnering with the FCT Administration, the Ministry of Culture, and the Open Mic program to bring a renowned jazz group to Abuja this week. Stephane Wrembel and his group will be performing around town at schools and other venues, but the biggest show will be Saturday, June 29th at the Art Exhibition Pavilion next to the International Conference Center and across from the Radio House. The afternoon starts with workshops and jam sessions between local musicians and the group, with a stage performance starting at 3pm in the hall. All are welcome to this free event!

A pre-festival performance by the group and local talent will take place this Friday evening, starting at 8pm at Spice Restaurant near Sahad and across from Bolton White Hotel. All are welcome! Contact Sadiqi for directions or more information at 08034500653. 

Jumia celebrates one year anniversary in Nigeria, now boasts more than half a million customers

JUMIA, Nigeria’s #1 online retailer celebrates one year anniversary. In June 2012, JUMIA started the largest ecommerce website in the country. Twelve months later, the company has served over half a million customers - changing the way people shop in Nigeria. This has made in less than 1 year, JUMIA the 4th most visited Nigerian website: www.jumia.com.ng.

Recently, JUMIA secured with its affiliated companies a further $35M in funding from MILLICOM. This funding comes in addition to recent investments from J.P. Morgan and Summit Partners. The funding, which represents the largest investment in a Nigerian eCommerce startup, allows Jumia to continue its rapid growth and serve even more customers across Nigeria. Concurrently, JUMIA announced it’s move to move to a new 90,000 sqft warehouse in Lagos which will house 500 employees and create the largest ecommerce campus in West Africa.

Co-founder Raphael Afaedor: “In the beginning we were three employees dreaming of being the largest ecommerce retailer in Nigeria. Now, we have more than 500 employees and offer Nigerian youth a unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced, world class start up. We focus every day on delivering a fantastic shopping experience for our customers, through the widest range of products in Nigeria and fast, secure and stress-free delivery. Our new warehouse allows us to even grow further..”

JUMIA’s anniversary will be celebrated with a first anniversary e-commerce conference, various fashion events, special discounts, new partnerships, new changes to its website and the education campaign “delivering smiles”.

Co-founder Tunde Kehinde: “After this tremendous one year run we want to say thank you to our employees, customers, partners and all Nigerians. Since our creation we have supported education programs to empower children and we want to use this anniversary to give back to society.”

For their 1st anniversary JUMIA carries out two activities themed “delivering smiles”.

1. In June, JUMIA will donate one book to a child in partner schools, for every book bought on JUMIA. In addition, JUMIA will visit schools with the ‘1 Child 1 Book’ foundation and the CSR co-sponsor DHL to give out books to less privileged pupils.

2. JUMIA will team up with ACE Africa Charity, www.aceafricacharity.org and sell its ACE wrist bands. All returns will go to the charity. JUMIA will also promote ACE to their half a million social media followers.

Additionally, JUMIA announced today its partnership with Mastercard to use MasterCard's Internet Gateway Service to make credit card payments safer and easier. The Company announced further exclusive partnerships with Dell, Intel and Nokia, among others offering special prices and exclusive products.

About JUMIA
JUMIA provides its customers with a one stop shopping experience that is convenient, safe and stress-free. JUMIA has become Nigeria #1 ecommerce platform, with every day, over 100,000 unique visitors and a daily subscriber base of over 400,000 people.

JUMIA secured with its partners Kaymu, Vamido and Hellofood $35M in funding from MILLICOM. Before this JP Morgan made a significant investment in the business, followed by Summit Partners with $26M.

More information: http://www.jumia.com.ng/jumia-in-press/

Press contacts
Afam Anyika
08172238631, 07031150441
afam.anyika@jumia.com.ng

IN LAGOS: Book presentation and party at Freedom Park on June 29

This Saturday, 29th June 2013, there will be a formal book presentation, reading and party for Symphony of Becoming, a collection of poems by Iquo Eke, at Kongi's Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos. Time is 3:00 pm.

Abuja Literary Society to hold Poetry Slam on July 5 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel

Photos taken during the  ALS POETRY SLAM on 6th July 2012.
at the Trasnscorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria
This year's competition will take place on July 5.

Ken Ike, Slam Master and one of the founders of the Abuja Literary Society, announces that the next ALS POETRY SLAM will take place at 6pm at the Transcorp Hilton on 5th of July 2013.  "If you're a performance poet or spoken word artist," Ken Ike says  "and you are not afraid of a microphone, an audience and some competition, then start getting ready."  Past winners of cash up to N100,000  include Lady Inspirologo and Dike Chukwumerije.

Winner of the ALS POETRY SLAM on 6th July 2012,
Dike Chukwumereji, 3rd from left, with his
prize of N100,000. 
CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO

To register to contest: send an email with the subject: Abuja Poetry Slam Registration to: abujaliterarysociety@gmail.com. Include your telephone number. Registration Fee is N1000.

RULES FOR SLAM POETS
1. Poems can be on any subject and in any style.
2. Each poem must be an original piece written and performed by the author.
3. No props.
4. No costumes.
5. Performances are timed and should not exceed 3 minutes; the last round may be 2 minutes.
6. No musical instruments (leave the drum set home) or pre-recorded music.
7. Each poem may only be used once during the competition.
8. Poets prepare 3 poems in case they move to the 2nd and final rounds.

2nd  Prize Winner of the ALS POETRY SLAM on
 6th July 2012, Lady Inspirologo, 2nd from left,
with her prize of N60,000.
CLICK TO ENLARGE

RULES FOR SLAM JUDGES

1. Judges are selected at random from the audience (no experience needed); they’re given score cards.
2. Five judges are used and each is asked to leave their personal bias at home.
3. Judges are asked to rate 50% on performance (presentation) AND 50% on content of the poem (was it well-written, did it make sense - doesn't matter if you agreed with the content).
4. Scores are from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest), using decimals to reduce the chance of ties - (“0 infinity” is not a number, honest)
5. At the same time, judges hold up one score (i.e: 5.6, 8.7, 9.8, 10.0) when asked by the Slam Master.
6. The Slam Master. then announces the poet's scores from each judge out loud. An average is arrived at by totaling the poet’s score and dividing by 5.
7. Where there’s a dispute at any time during the Slam, the Slam Master’s ruling is final. No appeals, except to the Slam Master, are allowed.

RULES FOR M.C. & TIME KEEPERS

1. M.C. ballots to decide order of presentation.
2. Time Keeper(s) deduct 0.1 point for every sec of exceeded time.
3. Time Keeper(s) announce, through the M.C., any exceeded time and the deduction after the judges have raised and announced their scores. The penalty is then deducted from the total score.
4. The bottom 1-3 are eliminated in each round.
5. The winner of the final round is announced last – first announce the 2nd Runner up, 1st Runner Up, then the Slam Champion.

3rd Prize Winner of the ALS POETRY SLAM on
6th July 2012 Uche Uwadinachi, 3rd from left, with his
prize of N40,000.
CLICK TO ENLARGE PIC

RULES FOR AUDIENCE

1. Slam is fun, bear that in mind.
2. Applaud or boo any judge whose score you do not agree with.
3. Show your appreciation of the performance poetry – you are permitted to roll on the ground, jump to high heavens, scream your head off or cry bitterly (perhaps after hearing a brilliant poem you have been trying to write yourself for 10 years!). As you rejoice or weep, remember ALS will NOT be responsible for any destruction of venue property.
4. Volunteer to judge.
5. Where there’s a dispute at any time during the Slam, the Slam Master’s ruling is final. No appeals, except to the Slam Master, are allowed. That’s why he is the Master of the Slam!

Ken Ike
Slam Master

IN ABUJA: Free writing workshop to be conducted by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Elnathan John, on June 27

Top Nigerian writers Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Elnathan John
Photos borrowed from Facebook

With support from the French Institute in Nigeria, two Caine Prize for African Writing short-listed writers will be facilitating a one-day free workshop for fiction and narrative/creative non-fiction on Thursday, June 27, 2013.

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim and Elnathan John will be discussing elements of prose, in both fiction and nonfiction. The workshop will include interactive sessions, and lessons drawn from the best writing available today. Interested participants are expected to send in a brief bio of not more than 100 words and a writing sample of not more than 300 words of prose, fiction or nonfiction, published or unpublished, not later than Monday, 24th June 2013, to proseworkshop@mtnnigeria.blackberry.com with the subject: WORKSHOP APPLICATION. The workshop is open to anyone above 18 who is resident in Abuja.

Twenty participants will be chosen to attend the workshop on Thursday, 27th June 2013. Only selected participants will be notified. Participants will receive an email of invitation with materials for the workshop which they will be expected to read BEFORE coming. 

Please do not apply if you will not be able to stay for the whole period of the workshop. The workshop will last from 9am until 3pm. The two facilitators will also read excerpts from their work.

Elnathan John, a satirist and lawyer, is a full-time writer who writes for Metropole Magazine and Sunday Trust newspaper. His fiction has been published in Per Contra, ZAM Magazine, Sentinel Nigeria and Otis Nebula. His non-fiction has been published in Evergreen review and several Nigerian publications online and in print. Two of his stories appear in the 2013 Caine Prize for African writing anthology. He was shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize. Currently he has completed a collection of short stories and will have a book of non-fiction satire out, early 2014. He has taught writing as a guest lecturer at the American University, Yola and the Kaduna State University, Kaduna. 

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim is an award-winning writer and journalist. The author of the collection of short stories The Whispering Trees published by Parressia publishers in 2012, Ibrahim is a Gabriel Garcia Marquez Fellow and won the BBC African Performance Prize in 2007. He is the arts editor of Sunday Trust newspaper. Two of his stories appear in the 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing anthology, one of which got him shortlisted for the Caine Prize this year. He has finished work on a new novel which will be out, early 2014.

Adjara Tapsoba - necklace designer, artist, entrepreneur

Adjara Tapsoba is an artist and jeweller from Burkina Faso who has made Abuja her home. Her venture into necklace designing started at the age of 24 when she decided to collect leftover materials from a sculptor’s studio and turn them into earrings, which she sold locally. As time went on she also started making necklaces to go with the earrings. She did this, she said, in her “quest for survival” after having gone through a lot.

Orphaned at the age of 12

Born the 14th child into a polygamous family in 1976, Adjara’s mother died when she was 4 years old while her father died when she was 12, leaving her to care for herself, working as a housemaid, cleaner, sales girl, etc. At the age of 17 and never having had the opportunity to step into a classroom, she was forced into marriage to a much older man by her uncle. The marriage produced two children but ended in a divorce – and this was when she started her craft of making earrings and necklaces. “In time,” she says, “the demand for those small necklaces grew.”

New designs using new materials

A necklace by Adjara Tapsoba

But the availability of scraps from the sculptor’s workshop to satisfy her growing clientele dropped, so she decided to add other materials such as African beads. The combination of cow bones, ivory, and ebony to satisfy her customers created new designs for her necklaces. As the years went by, she also introduced other materials such as leather, brass, silver, corals, precious stones and a mixture of other beads to make her necklace designs unique and stand out. She sticks mostly to natural things, such as horns, coconut shells, to ensure that her pieces are friendly to the skin.

Full-time artist and jewellery designer

Today, Adjara is happily married to Job Anu and they have two children. She is a full-time jewellery designer. “I don’t have a shop yet,” she says, “but friends help me by hosting me and inviting friends and family over.”

Adjara Tapsoba can be contacted at:

081 6476 9995

Tapsjuwel@hotmail.com

Below are some samples of Adjara's works. Photos courtesy of Adjara...

Give your child’s summer a French accent

School is almost over and you are looking for something to occupy your children with?

This summer, from July 1st to July 31st (batch 1) and from August 1st to August 31st (batch 2), the French Institute of Nigeria opens its ‘Summer Day Camp’ for children from 6 to 14 years old, mixing French classes and various activities like sport, fine arts, etc.

This summer’s class will take place twice a week:

- Monday and Wednesday 9am to 1pm

- Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 1pm

The day camp will mix French classes and creative and fun activities. The first two hours will be dedicated to teaching French (basic vocabulary and emphasis on oral, 18 hours in total for the month). Activities in French (games, painting, drawing, singing, sport, etc) will take place the remaining two hours.

If you are interested in registering your child, please contact the French Institute for the registration form. The fees for the month are 17,600 naira only.

Furthermore a class for teenagers (14 to 17 years old) will also take place 3 hours per week (2 hours of class + 1 hour on our computer at our e-learning center) on Tuesday and Thursday from 2pm to 5pm.

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact the French Institute at 0805 9748 456, contact@institutfr-nigeria.org or visit them at 52 libreville street off Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse 2, behind Mr Biggs. 

In Abuja... National Day of Italy reception on May 31, 2013

In Abuja... National Day of Norway reception on May 16, 2013

Summer Camp 2013 for children ages 4 to 14; Theme - Outer space

Looking for something to keep your children active for the summer? 

Welcome to Camp Rock, a place where kids rock! Camp Rock will give your child a great and memorable summer experience. The 2013 Camp Rock theme, “Outer Space,” will stimulate the minds of your children as they have fun learning creative ways to interpret the different aspects of outer space. Camp Rock promises to be a fun, formative, exciting, challenging and rewarding experience for your child.

CAMP HIGHLIGHTS:

• Botball (ages 10-14): Educational robotics program to stimulate and engage campers in exploring their potential in engineering, science and math
• Hands on solar and electronic Lego program ( ages 4-9)
• Projects, demonstrations, and presentations by visiting space engineers from the Obasanjo Space Center.
• Excursion trip to the Obasanjo Space Center
• Make and eat space food
• Space fashion show • Dance and choreography • Space arts & crafts • Design a Camp Rock T-shirt! • Launch a rocket ship in the animation class!
• Soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, swimming.
• BBQ cookouts, nutritious food, picnic and much more

CONTACT INFO: ELLEN: 08172889157 BB PIN #: 28B2C38E ANNETTE: 08130336933

JUNE 10 – JULY 5
TIME: MONDAY – THURSDAY 9am to 3pm FRIDAY - 9am to 1pm
REGISTRATION FEES PER FAMILY: N5, 000 SUMMER CAMP FEES: N18, 000 per week
REGISTRATION BEGINS: MAY 24, 2013 10% DISCOUNT FOR 3 OR MORE CHILDREN!
VENUE: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL, NO. 19 AGADEZ CRESCENT, WUSE II, ABUJA

AGES: 4-14 NURSE AND SECURITY ON SITE!

Yankee Candles - now available in Abuja

A company based in  Abuja has recently started delivering Yankee Candles to residents, schools and embassies within the FCT. 

To order, customers simply request an order form at: Yankee.Candles@yahoo.com. Once the order has been placed, they send you a confirmation email detailing the date and time of delivery. For company, embassies, and school orders, they are on-site once every month for 2 hours for immediate purchases.

Competitive price

According to the distributor: "The best part about this service is that all stock are current and prices are comparable to what is being offered in the actual stores and online. We also encourage all our customers to compare our prices to the current market price."

For more details, please contact:

Alicia B Uzor 

JushUman Beauty and Scents Spa

1093 Joseph Gomwalk Street, Gudu District Abuja

Mobile: +234 (0) 805 520 9307 / 0803 800 0119

email: JushUman@ymail.com

The African Streetwriter unveils Kola Kids Award in Abuja; now accepts nominations

Left: Logo of the Kola Kids Award
Top right: Simeon Ebechidi, CEO and co-founder of the African Streetwriter
Bottom right: Unveiling of 'Kola Kids Award' by Hon. Chijoke Edeoga
PHOTOS by The African Streetwriter

The African Streetwriter, an association that celebrates contemporary African writings founded in Abuja last year, unveiled  a project called the KOLA KIDS AWARD at the Sokoto Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on 27th May 2013.

The African Streetwriter is now accepting nominations for the following awards:

Creativity Award

The creativity award comprise of all aspects, arts, literature, music and cultural exchanges. The awards will honour and promote the child that produces a uniquely entertaining and inspiring project. Forms of art are not restricted to visual arts, performing arts, literature, multimedia, photography, etc.

Top Left:
Sir Victor Anoliefo, founder of Abuja Literary Society.
 Bottom Left: Jide Atta, adviser to TASW
Top and bottom right:
A cross-section of theguests.

Innovation Award

The Innovation awards aims at boosting science, technology and productivity amongst children. Students are often times saturated with theoretical knowledge and not given the opportunity to use their accrued skills to make a visible impact on the world. This section aims to receive as many innovative projects as possible from finished to well documented concepts, drawn up by the kids to solve a problem in the society.

Honorary Awards/Kids Choice Award

This Award is for the adult individual, company initiative that has done the most to promote young people’s personal development and help them achieve their potentials through education and participation in positive activities, especially among disadvantaged or excluded groups. The award includes: Kid’s Man of the Year, Kids Woman of the Year, Kid’s Company of the Year, and  Global Initiative Supporting Children’s Development.

Nominations starts from 27th May and ends on 31st August 2013.

What would the winners get?

For the Creativity and Innovation awards, the winners with the winning ideas/projects would be invited in an all-expenses  paid trip to receive their awards on the day of the KOLA Kids Award ceremony, which is scheduled to hold in November 2013. Winners would be offered the chance to address the crowd about their motivations, inspirations and hope for their work. They would be encouraged to take hold of the opportunity KOLA Kids Award would offer them in terms of exposure to potential sponsors, media hype, personal gratification and possibility of winning the grand prize of the day; an educational grant. They would also become Ambassadors to one of K OLA Awards sponsors and partners and thus be provided with training and tours that will help boost their ideas. All awardees will receive a trophy and a certificate.

For more details:

THE AFRICAN STREETWRITER (FACEBOOK)

WWW.THEAFRICANSTREETWRITER.COM