Adepero Oduye’s Inspiring Interview on @indigotongues

With a dazzler of a smile and a warm personality that radiates on screen and in her pictures and the fact that she is so talented, Adepero Oduye is an actress to be reckoned with. I’d followed her work and journey since I saw her extremely impressive acting in the Pariah movie.

Adepero was featured on Indigo Tongues Women in Media Segment, Series 1 Episode 5. Produced by Iyalode Productions, Indigo Tongues is an exciting new interview series with trailblazers of Africa and the diaspora.

Adepero Oduye, who recently played the riveting role of Eliza, along side Chiwetel Ejifor, Brad Pitt and Lupita Nyong’o in the Oscar winning film 12 Years a Slave met up with Indigo Tongues for an exhilarating interview.

About Adepero Oduye — Adepero Oduye is a Nigerian American Actress. She is the one of seven children born to Nigerian parents. A graduate of Cornell University,  Adepero began appearing in short films such as Water and Fall, and in 2006 appeared in the independent drama Half Nelson. After several roles in off-Broadway production, in 2009, she debuted on Broadway in the musical Fela!. In 2011 she starred in the critically acclaimed independent film Pariah. She has received several awards, including a nomination for Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. Oduye cast in the upcoming Steel Magnolias remake with the same title as Annelle Dupuy-Desoto, a role that had been originated by Daryl Hannah.In 2013, Oduye appeared in Ava DuVernay‘s short film The Door part of Miu Miu‘s ad campaign known as The Women’s Tales.She also starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor in the film 12 Years a Slave, directed by Steve McQueen. Culled – Wiki

Adepero Oduye is one of the outstanding breakthrough actresses of the last decade. Her career includes an outstanding body of work in Film, Stage and TV. Her stellar debut lead role as Alike in Pariah, earned her several awards and nominations including The African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Breakthrough Performance and the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (nominated). Her role in 12 Years a Slave earned her a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. She made her Broadway debut in A Trip to Bountiful, a production that has won several theater awards including a Tony Award for Best Actress by Cicely Tyson. Adepero, the third of seven children is a graduate from Cornell University and lives in New York City. – Indigo Tongues

Mojisola Sonoiki of Iyalode Productions had this to say about the interview..

“I was thinking of who the subject for my next interview would be and one day on the platform of the A train at Jay Street in Brooklyn, I saw Adepero walk right by me (one of the beauties of NYC living….bumped into Dr Oz my first week in the city.) I had seen Pariah and I knew she would be a perfect guest on the series. Once again “the planets aligned” as they have since I started producing this series and it happened. A young Nigerian friend of mine was attending the Ake Festival in Abeokuta, Nigeria and told me that Adepero would be attending. I asked her to make a connection on my behalf and before I knew it, I was speaking to Adepero via email and coordinating an Indigo Tongues interview.

One can only but admire this young lady. Her tenacity, grace, contagious smile and the stream of good vibrations just seemed to radiate effortlessly from her. She is had a depth to her that was refreshing and heartfelt at the same time. Adepero has been involved in projects that many actors/actresses would only dream of and still remains pleasant, humble and respectful. We talked about many things, she shared stories about working in an industry that still grapples with Women and in particular women that look like her.

A very down to earth and pleasant conversationalist, we sat down to some Nigeria food – Jollof rice (Cy’s super recipe) and Dodo (her favorite) got down to the nitty gritty and had so many moments of belly laughs.”

Enjoy, share and leave a comment. To watch other Indigo Tongues interview series, click here to subscribe to the YouTube channel

Interview Date: February 9th 2014
Location: Brooklyn, New York

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger

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Know Your Roots – Brought To You By MeetOrbit.com (@meetorbit) & @AsiriMagazine

DISCOVER NIGERIA

SHOWCASING NIGERIA’S CULTURAL HISTORY

ASIRI Magazine and MeetOrbit.com present the “Know Your Roots” initiative, a collection of cultural and historical stories about Nigeria’s fascinating past.

ASIRI – a Nigeria Cultural/Historical Art Brand announced the launch of the “Know Your Roots” initiative today. The “Know Your Roots” initiative is a collection of stories narrated by Bassey Ikpi, acclaimed international poet and writer. The narrations by Bassey promote the rich historical culture and values of the Nigerian people. These stories will feature events, personalities, places, and myths about Nigeria’s rich history. MeetOrbit.com will provide a live video stream for this event. You can also follow the event on Twitter and Instagram with #KnowYourRoots.

Bassey Ikpi

“The Know Your Roots initiative aims to inform and educate people of the cultural history, values, and legendary tales of great men and women who went through extraordinary lengths from the continent of Africa (Nigeria),” says Damola Ogundele, the Founder of ASIRI.

ASIRI Nigeria Cultural/Historical Art Brand brand comprises of an Online Magazine, Exhibitions, and Documentary/Short Films aimed at informing and educating people about the culture, heritage, myths, and the way of life of the great Nigerian people. Visit the website at http://www.asirimagazine.com for more information. Follow Asiri on Twitter at @AsiriMagazine, on Facebook and also on Instagram.

“People from all over the world can be part of this experience in real time using MeetOrbit.com’s unique video streaming platform,” says Adekunle Ayodele, Founder of MeetOrbit.com.

DataBox Technologies, LLC, creators of MeetOrbit.com, is a private information technology firm specializing in digital platforms and information technology services. The company strives to reinvent information technology solutions that help people and businesses leverage their collective greatness, and further their contributions to the progress of human lives. Learn more at DataBoxTech.com. Follow DataBox on Twitter at @databoxtech.

The series starts with Queen Mother Idia, the Hidden Oba of Benin Kingdom. MeetOrbit.com will host the live video stream on June 21st, at 4.00 PM Eastern Time. To be part of this event, please visit www.meetorbit.com/live.

 

 

For more information on MeetOrbit, go to MeetOrbit.com or follow MeetOrbit on Facebook (Facebook.com/MeetOrbit) and Twitter (@MeetOrbit).

Contact:
Damola Ogundele
+234 (0) 8060430622
info@asirimagazine.com

Contact:
Fatima Maibe
+1 770 978 1602
info@databoxtech.com

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger

Three Short Films For The Weekend

 Three Short Films For The Weekend

FrostBite by NdaniTV

Ndani Shorts is a new NdaniTV short film series that will showcase the reality of life in contemporary Africa.

The premiere edition titled Frostbite is a heartwarming story of a passionate love and its journey through the actuality of the real world. 

UDUDEAGU – Short Film by @azemezi

Photo by Alakija

Akwaeke Emezi is an Igbo and Tamil writer and high spirited filmmaker. She was born in Umuahia and raised in Aba, Nigeria. Her work is often set in a landscape of disquietude, deep and surreal, it pushes past comfortable morality to honestly explore the margins of humanity. More about her at http://www.azemezi.com/

UDUDEAGU  is a  short, poignant, personal narrative carrying deeply dark but beautiful visuals. Udueagu is an experimental short film featuring Adegoke Ogukoya (aka Ade Bantu) and  narrated by Akwaeke herself in Igbo poetic phrases. It was shot in Lagos, Nigeria, 2014. The film has already been shown at the Chicago Home Theater Festival and is slowly but surely grabbing attention.

  Go Super Eagles Go By Intense Films

 Artist, Designer, Musician and film maker Obinna Okerekeocha is into documentaries and telling African stories via Motion picture through his media outfit ‘Intense Films’.

In the spirit of the World Cup Season, here is his 1 min short  on the Super Eagles, you can watch the rest of his film work here 

In ’94, it was a dream in the land of dreams. In ’98, it was a French Summer. Two years after the new millennium, it was a blaze in the land of the samurai. In Brazil, we will soar because we are Strong. We are united. We are the Super Eagles of Nigeria! Go Super Eagles Go!

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

Tosinger

#BringBackOurGirls Day 57- Two Videos, One Cause

#BringBackOurGirls Day 57

Out of Sight is not Out of Mind

Here’s presenting two recent works of media that seek to  bring attention to the facts and the reality of the abduction of the Chibok girls of Nigeria by Boko Haram. The first is a docu-short put together by David Adeogun of GlassVisuals for the Merry Hearts Foundation;  a 7 minute piece about “Girls, Education, Nigerian reform, and the urgency and necessity of bringing these girls back”. The second is a music video by Ayoola in collaboration with other Nigerian artistes.

Empowering Youths in Africa

 Founded by Bunmi Babajide,  Merry Hearts Foundation  is a non-profit organization committed and dedicated to encouraging and helping youths and children to reach their full potential through education.The Merry Hearts Scholarship Fund is an initiative of The Merry Hearts Foundation (MHF) Inc.

The Merry Hearts Scholarship Fund’s main objective is to provide financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to students in need, while promoting an environment of encouragement to let the students know and understand that they are of value not only to their family and school, but to their nation and the global arena.On a daily basis, due to lack of education, too many of our talented youths are being denied a chance to  achieve  their dreams.

#BringBackOurGirls Video by the Merry Hearts Foundation.

 

David Adeogun of Glass Visuals, a London based filmmaker whose work I have become familiar with over time compiled, produced, and edited the piece. He says:

“This issue is very serious… Every second, every sign, every yell, every action, is needed. Everyone working together is actually a sign of unity and focus. We want this piece to be global. We want it to go beyond us. We want this video to be played on a speaker in front of GoodLuck Jonathan’s mansion. We want it to roar on the computers & screens of every wifi handler in Lagos, Abuja, Victoria Island, the village- Every place, e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.! We want Boko Haram and every organization that has limited Africa to be fed up and gutted by the cries of the people world wide. United we can send even more chills down the spines of every man and woman until something is done”

Ayoola, a Nigerian Artist who won MTN Project Fame West Africa (Season 5) also recently released a song collaboration (with other notable Nigerian Artistes) for the #BBOG cause

AYOOLA FT. SOUND SULTAN, VECTOR, MOEAZY, ZAINA, G_FRESH – FREEDOM (#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS)

 

Keeping hope alive…

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

Tosinger

USA v Nigeria – International Friendly : Soccer Match To Watch Tomorrow

 USA vs. Nigeria
Saturday, June 7, 2014, 6 pm ET
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
Watch on ESPN2, Watch ESPN, UniMas

Google for links to watch online

Nigeria is 45th in the latest FIFA rankings and the only tournament-bound team the US will face before departing (they’ll play a closed-door scrimmage against Belgium in São Paulo).Nigeria will also be putting the final touches on things as this friendly is also their final warm-up before Brazil, so that should add to the match’s urgency. Forward Shola Ameobi said he expects the match against the Americans to be “volatile” as both sides search for their best form with the World Cup just more than a week away.Culled mlssoccer

Super Eagles of Nigeria

The United States‘ pre-World Cup friendly against Nigeria has been finalized, according to the BBC. The Americans will play the Super Eagles on June 7 at Everbank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, their final friendly before leaving for Brazil.

 

The U.S. intends to play three friendlies on home soil in late May and early June to prepare for the tournament. Nigeria will be the first African opponent that the U.S. has played since November 17, 2010, when they took on South Africa in Cape Town. In a World Cup year, it will be the last friendly before the U.S. leaves for Brazil. Culled from starsandstripesFC.

 

See here for full schedule ….

Wishing both teams good luck! 😀

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger

 

Sharpen Your Creative Skills : Photography

I thought I should share this great info with fellow creatives or anyone reading this who knows someone who will benefit from this , so do not hesitate to share.

CreativeLive is a site that offers free art and design classes. CreativeLive was founded in 2010 by Chase Jarvis and Craig Swanson, who partnered to create an online space where they could connect the world’s top creatives LIVE with a global audience of aspiring creative professionals.

CreativeLive empowers you to unleash your potential by bringing the world’s greatest experts directly to you, live. Featuring workshops in photography, video, design, business, audio, music, and software training; CreativeLive unlocks previously closed doors by making dynamic education accessible to everyone.

Anyone can watch live online workshops — for free — and interact with instructors in real time. The future of education is interactive, free, and live now.

The photography class will be broadcast live and for free on June 5 9:00am – 12:00pm  Los Angeles Time zone. You have to RSVP here . If you miss the free class or want to watch at your own time, you’d have to pay.. check the site for more info

About the Photography class

Learn how to take the kind of photograph you’ll want to print and pass on to the next generation. In this three-hour course, you’ll learn the principles of good photography and get the skills necessary to create it.

Advanced cameras are available at modest price points, but learning how to use them takes an investment. In Photography Starter Kit you will learn the the most essential functions of your camera and get ready to confidently put them to work. You’ll get the swing of basic photographic terminology and totally feel prepared to move on to more advanced classes.

You will also gain a solid understanding of must-know lighting and composition techniques. John Greengo will guide you through the process of positioning yourself and your subject so you capture the best photo possible with the camera you have – no additional gear needed.

If you want to take more memorable and inspiring photographs of your travels, your friends and family, or the great outdoors this class is for you. You’ll learn how to make average pictures amazing photographs and gain the ground necessary to continue your photography education.

Instructor

John Greengo is an award-winning photographer specializing in outdoor and travel photography. Shooting for over 3 decades, John has developed an unrivaled understanding of the industry, tools, techniques and art of photography. When he’s not traveling for a new shoot, John teaches photography to students from all over the world. John’s unique blend of illustrations, animations and photographs make learning photography easy and fun.

Another class on Photography:

“Story on a plate” on Food Photography & Styling with Todd Porter and Diane Cu. This is for the foodie creatives out there 🙂

Being naturally gifted is one thing. Honing the talent is another. Knowledge is power. Enjoy and thank me later..:)

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing..

xoxo

Tosinger