Headline
Five Things To Know About Gabon
Published
9 months agoon
By
EditorFive key facts about Gabon, where military officers on Wednesday announced that they had taken power following elections that, according to official results, were won by President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
The Bongos
The small central African state has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 out of its 63 years since independence from France in 1960.
Bongo, 64, who was seeking a third term in Saturday’s election, took over when his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in power.
Bongo senior, who took office in 1967, had the reputation of a kleptocrat — one of the richest men in the world, with a fortune derived from Gabon’s oil wealth.
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His son grew up the carefree scion of a wealthy ruling family and was once known by his initials of ABO, Ali B — or, less flattering, “Monsieur Fils” (Mr Son).
In October 2018, Bongo suffered a stroke that sidelined him for 10 months. The episode stoked claims he was unfit to rule and fuelled a minor attempted coup.
Oil powerhouse
Gabon is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of per-capita GDP, thanks largely to oil revenues and the small population of 2.3 million.
In the 1970s, the country discovered abundant oil reserves offshore, allowing it to build a strong middle class and earn the moniker “central Africa’s little emirate”.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gun Battle In Gabon As Soldiers Seize Power
Oil accounts for 60 percent of the country’s revenues.
But a third of the population still lives below the poverty line of $5.50 per day, according to the World Bank.
Africa’s ‘Eden’
Forests cover 88 percent of the surface of Gabon, providing a haven for gorillas, buffalo, panthers, elephants, chimpanzees and other species.
The country, which markets itself as the “last Eden”, has become a major advocate for conservation in a region where wildlife is being battered by wars, habitat destruction and the bushmeat trade.
In 2002, it set up a network of 13 national parks covering 11 percent of its territory.
One of the big success stories is conservation of critically endangered African forest elephants. Their global numbers have fallen 86 percent in 30 years but in Gabon they have doubled in a decade.
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Healer or hallucinogenic?
A powerful psychoactive root found in Gabonese forests is used to make a drug that has been touted as a potential healer of heroin and cocaine addiction.
The hallucinogenic iboga root has long been used in an ancestral ritual known as “bwiti”, which combines worship of forest spirits with elements of Christianity.
High doses can have effects similar to LSD, mescaline or amphetamines, and cause anxiety, extreme apprehension and hallucinations.
But the pill form of the drug, ibogaine, has also been hailed for helping some drug addicts kick their habit.
Treatment centres using the drug have sprung up in countries including Costa Rica, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
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Star striker
Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a former Chelsea forward, was one of the best strikers in the world in his heyday.
From Germany’s powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, where he stood out, he moved to Arsenal in 2018 and became joint top-scorer in the Premier League a year later.
For disciplinary issues Aubameyang was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy and his contract ripped up, after which he moved to Barcelona, then Chelsea before joining Olympique de Marseille.
Headline
Nine-year-old Stabs Pupil,10, To Death On While Returning From School In South Africa
Published
15 hours agoon
May 11, 2024By
EditorA nine-year-old boy stabbed a 10-year-old boy to death after they got into a fight while on their way home from school in Brandfort, Free State, South Africa.
South African Police Service (SAPS) Free State spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, who confirmed the incident on Friday, May 10, 2024, said the nine-year-old boy went to his house to retrieve a knife, returned and stabbed the deceased to death.
“It is alleged that two schoolboys, from different schools, were on their way to their respective homes on 08 May 2024 at about 16:00 when a fight reportedly broke out between them,” he said.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the nine-year-old boy went to get a knife from his home nearby and returned, stabbing the 10-year-old boy.
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“Police were informed about the incident and upon arrival, found a 10-year-old boy still in school uniform lying inside the ambulance with a stab wound on the left side of his chest.
“The paramedics pointed out a silver stainless steel knife with a black handle on the ground.
“The boy was certified dead at the scene in one of the streets of Nomzamo Park, Majwemasweu, Brandfort. The mother identified the deceased as her son.
“Both are Grade 4 learners in different primary schools in Brandfort. An inquest has been registered and the nine-year-old child was handed over to his parents to be referred to social workers.” he added.
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Also confirming the incident, the Free State Education MEC, Makalo Mohale, identified the deceased as Kamogelo Leepile, a learner at WSM Malotle Primary School in Brandfort.
This incident happened in full view of other learners who were on their way home.
Mohale said that Kamogelo Leepile was stabbed three times by the grade 4 learner from Monamodi Primary School.
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The Free State Education Spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the suspect who according to his mother, has complained of consistent bullying by the deceased and his brother was taken to the police station on Thursday morning 9 May.
MEC Mohale has called on schools to be safe spaces for both learners and teachers.
Mohale said the incident can only be described as “ abhorrent and travesty “.’
“We strongly condemn any acts of learner misconduct including bullying and relentlessly appeal to parents in assisting to enforce discipline in and outside the school environment.”
Psycho-social services have been sent to both schools to provide counselling.
Headline
Less Than 48hr Of Opening GoFundMe Campaign, Dancer Korra Obidi Gets Almost $50k In Donations
Published
16 hours agoon
May 11, 2024By
EditorKorra Obidi has raised almost $50,000 after opening a GoFundMe account to raise legal fees as she prepares to battle ex-husband Justin Dean in another court case.
This week, Justin Dean obtained image rights protection from Meta to stop Korra from featuring their children on Facebook.
All videos Korra shared on the platform with her kids in them were taken down from Facebook and her page was demonetised.
She did a video begging for financial aid to fight the decision in court.
READ ALSO: How Nigerian-born Obidi Was Stabbed Bathed With Acid In UK – Sister, Umeh [VIDEO]
Justin also did a video, admitting he got in touch with Facebook. He added that he will never let his kids back on Facebook (read here).
Well, Korra’s attempt at raising morning for legal fees has been successful so far.
In less than 48 hours after creating a GoFundMe account, Korra, whose aim is to raise $100,000, already has $49,346 and counting.
Korra Obidi gets almost $50k in donations less than 48 hours after opening gofundme to source for legal fees in case against ex-husband.
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The amount keeps increasing each time the GoFundMe page is refreshed.
So far, over 1.1k people have made donations. The highest donor gave $1,000.
Korra Obidi gets almost $50k in donations less than 48 hours after opening gofundme to source for legal fees in case against ex-husband
Korra and her sister, Nancy Umeh, have thanked those donating for giving Korra a fighting chance.
Multichoice Nigeria has announced the list of nominations for the 10th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, which is scheduled to be held on May 11, 2024.
The event will take place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos State.
The AMVCA is an annual award presented by MultiChoice recognising outstanding achievements in television and film.
Below is the list of AMVCA 2024 nominees:
Best Digital Content
National Treasure – Adebola Adeyela (Lizzy Jay)
Medical Negligence and Copyright Infringement – Isaac Ayomide Olayiwola (Layi Wasabi)
Hello Neighbour – Elozonam Ogbolu, Lina idoko and Jemima Osunde
The Boyfriend – Maryam Apaokagi-Greene
Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa)
Mami Wata (CJ Fiery Obasi)
Jagun Jagun (Femi Adebayo)
Ijogbon (Kunle Afolayan)
Orisa (Odunlade Adekola)
Nana Akoto (Kwabena Gyansah)
Best Indigenous Language (East Africa)
Where The River Divides
Ormoilaa Ogol (The Strong One)
Wandongwa
Nakupenda
Itifaki
Best Indigenous Language (South Africa)
Service To Heart
Uncle Limbani
Motshameko O Kotsi
Best Multichoice Talent Factory Movie
Grown
Her Dark Past
Somewhere in Kole
Full Time Husband
The 11th Commandment
Mfumukazi
Best Scripted M-Net Original
Slum King
Half Open Window
Itura
The Passenger
Magic Room
Best Unscripted M-Net Original
What Will People Say
The Irabors’ Forever After
Nwuyee Bekee (Foreign Wives)
Date My Family Zambia
Royal Qlique (Season 2)
Best Indigenous M-Net Original
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The Passenger
Nana Akoto
Apo
Irora Iya
Love Transfusion (Kiapo Cha Damu)
Best Short Film
T’egbon T’aburo
Broken Mask
Eighteenth Year
Man and Masquerades
A Place Called Forward
Best Supporting Actor
Alexx Ekubo (Afamefuna)
Demola Adedoyin (Breath of Life)
Ibrahim Yekini (Jagun Jagun: The Warrior)
Gregory Ojefua (This is Life)
Timini Egbuson (A Tribe Called Judah)
Levi Chikere (Blood Vessel)
Ropo Ewenla (Over the Bridge)
Best Supporting Actress
Joke Silva (Over the Bridge)
Fathia Williams (Jagun Jagun – The Warrior)
Bimbo Akintola (The Black Book)
Genoveva Umeh (Breath of Life)
Eliane Umuhire (Omen)
Tana Adelana (Ijogbon – Chaos)
Ejiro Onojaife (The Origin: Madam Koi Koi)
Best Lead Actor
Wale Ojo (Breath of Life)
Stan Nze (Afamefuna)
Marc Zinga (Omen)
Gideon Okeke (Egun)
David Ezekiel (Blood Vessel)
Richard Mofe Damijo (The Black Book)
Adedimeji Lateef (Jagun Jagun – The Warrior)
Gabriel Afolayan (This is Lagos)
Best Lead Actress
Segilola Ogidan (Over The Bridge)
Lucie Debay (Omen)
Omowunmi Dada (Asiri Ade)
Ireti Doyle (The Origin: Madam Koi Koi)
Adaobi Dibor (Blood Vessel)
Evelyne Ily (Mami Wata)
Kehinde Bankole (Adire)
Funke Akindele (A Tribe Called Judah)
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Best Cinematography
Mami Wata
Blood Vessel
Over The Bridge
Breath of Life
Jagun Jagun (The Warrior)
Ijogbon (Chaos)
Omen
Best Editing
Chuka Ejorh And Onyekachi Banjo
Holmes Awa
Alex Kamau And Victor Obok
Dayo Nathaniel
Antonio Ribeiro
Nathan Delannoy
Best Sound Design
Ava Momoh (Over the Bridge)
Daniel Pellerin and Amin Bhatia (Kipkemboi)
Grey Jones Ossai x2 (Breathe of Life and Blood Vessel)
Samy Bardet (Mami Wata)
Best Art Direction
Blood Vessel (Victor Akpan)
Over The Bridge (Abisola Omolade)
Breath of Life (Okechukwu Frost Nwankwo, Kelechi Odu)
The Black Book (Pat Nebo and Chima Temple)
Jagun Jagun: The Warrior (Tunji Afolayan)
Mami Wata (C.J Fiery Obasi)
Omen (Eve Martin)
Best Costume Design
Over The Bridge – Demola Adeyemi
Fumilayo Ransome – Kuti (Bolanle Austen- Peters, Ituen Basi, Folake Coker, Clement Effanga)
Jagun Jagun (Lola Awe)
Mami Wata (Bunmi Demilola Fashina)
Breathe of Life (Daniel Obasi)
Best Makeup
Over The Bridge (Francesca Otaigbe)
Mami Wata (Campbell Precious Arebamen)
Mojisola (Hadizat Gambo)
Jagun Jagun (Hakeem Onilogbo)
A Tribe Called Judah (Feyisayo Oyebisi)
Best Writing TV series
Skinny Girls in Transit (s7)
Bunmi Ajakaiye
Ifeanyi Barbara Chidi
Abdul Tijani- Ahmed
Wura (s2)
Jeffery David Musa
Olumide Kuti
Esther Oyiza Kokori
READ ALSO: FULL LIST: AMVCA 2024 Nominations
Visa On Arrival
Bovi Ugboma
MTV Shuga Naija
The MTV
Staying Alive Foundation
Volume
Mona Ombogo
Masquerades of Aniedo
Timendo Aghahowa
Motunde Akiode
Slum King
Donald Tombia
Ifeanyi Barbara Chidi
Fatimah Binta Gimsay
Xavier Ighordje
Best Writing Movie
Breathe Of Life – BB Sasore
Over The Bridge – Tosin Otudeko
Fumilayo Ransome Kuti – Tunde Babalola
Jagun Jagun – Adebayo Tijani
Afamefuna – Anyanwu Sandra Adaora
ATCJ – Funke Ayotunde Akindele, Collins Okoh & Akinlabi Ishola
Mami Wata – CJ Obasi
Best Documentary
Ormoilaa Ogol (The Strong One)
Lobola – A Bride’s True Price?
Empalikino (Forgiveness)
The Water Manifesto: Osun (Water For Gold)
Sowing Hope
Best Series (Scripted)
Volume
Wura (s2)
Slum King
Itura
Chronicles
Best Series (Unscripted)
Lol Naija (s1)
Nightlife in Lasgidi
The Real Housewives of Lagos
Gh Queens (s2)
Mutale Mwanza Unscripted (s1)
Best Director
Moses Inwang (Blood Vessel)
Adebayo Tijani & Tope Adebayo (Jagun Jagun)
BB Sasore (Breath of Life)
Johnscott Enah (Half Heaven)
C. J. Fiery Obasi ( Mami Wata)
Kayode Kasum (Afamefuna)
Tolu Ajayi (Over The Bridge)
Best Movie
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
Breath of Life
Over The Bridge
Blood Vessel
A Tribe Called Judah
The Black Book
Mami Wata
Man Trailed, Shot Dead In Abuja
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