• Terra Kulture Showcases Prison Chronicles • Shout Jam Tour Berths In UI, UNILAG, Others • Ilum Otarok Dazzles Plateau

As the first quarter of the year rolls by, there is evidently a boost in the number of entertainment and events around the country. The beauty of it all is that of late, such activities have ceased to be restricted to parties. Fashion, culture, carnivals and festivals and other activities have taken the floor on the entertainment scene. This weekend is no different with the nature of events on ground.

Part of the weekend events is a theatre presentation at the foremost cultural centre, Terra Kulture. Titled Prison Chronicles, the drama stars names in the theatre world like Carol Adoghe-King, Kenneth Uphopho, Gbenga Adekanmbi, Sola Roberts Iwaotan, Precious Anyanwu and Mike Okorie.

The drama chronicles the account of four men in a maximum security prison and a warder. Depending on the perspective one takes it, it could be the story of an individual’s life or that of a country. Prison Chronicles, which is up for viewing every Sunday in April at 3p.m. and 6p.m., written and directed by Wole Oguntokun.

Before the Sunday event, Terra Kulture will tomorrow, Saturday April 24, hold an independence auction. This is in line with its role of promoting art in Nigeria as a foremost cultural centre. Preceding the auction is an exhibition of the artworks, artifacts and antiquities which kicked off on Tuesday, April 20.

Managing Director and founder of the cultural centre, Bolanle Austen-Peters, explains that auctions have always been a part of the centre’s activities, but this edition is different because it has a golden jubilee bend to it. The independence auction, according to the management of Terra Kulture, also stems from the fact that art has grown in Nigeria and with such growth comes the need to make it more visible in the minds of art lovers. The auction, which comes up tomorrow, is the cultural centre’s way of celebrating Nigeria’s 50 years of independence. What the management has done, as explained by Austen-Peters, is that unlike other auctions that take place in Nigeria, the collection being exhibited can be described as a cocktail of artworks. Terra Kulture is a Nigerian Cultural Centre set up to promote the richness and diversity of Nigerian languages, arts and culture.

Also tomorrow, in far away Plateau State, members of the Tarok tribe from far and near will come together to celebrate their heritage with Ilum Otarok 2010. Ilum Otarok is an annual event that depicts the culture and tradition of the Tarok man of Plateau State. It has also been a uniting force of the Tarok people to come together as one family to discuss the future of her existence as a nation.

To open the festivities, today, April 23, there would be a Gala Nite that would feature a Miss Tarok beauty pageant as the climax of that event. At this event, top rated artists like Faze, Bracket, Dr. Prat, Zidon, El Dee as well as Benjamin Nims, an international model based in South Africa, would be performing to add colour to the event.

Also, some of Nigeria’s leading entertainment acts will be bestowed with the Tarok Ambassadorial Award. On the list of those to be honoured during the celebrations are Kate Henshaw Nuttal, Mike Ezeruonye, Uche Jumbo and Faze. The artistes would arrive the airport in Tarok regalia and would pay courtesy calls on the Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Buba, also the president of the joint traditional council, Plateau State.

Tomorrow, April 24 is the highpoint of the Ilum Otarok. The rich cultural heritage of the Tarok people would be displayed at its fullness. During this occasion, there will be a N100million fundraising to build a befitting National Secretariat for the Ngwang Ishi Otarok.

The cultural day celebration is an event that brings together the cultural exhibitions of the people of the Tarok nation. They come together to discuss their interest as a nation especially the things that affect them as a state and a nation. The cultural day is not only about celebrations as the organisers have decided to use it to address the issue of religious conflict.

Back to Sunday, April 25, Events Warehouse, Ilupeju, will be venue of the Green Ball Icon Awards. Organised by Brand It Nigeria Organization, The Green Ball will feature icon awards for outstanding female personalities, a fundraiser as well as a celebrity fashion showcase. Categories for the award include Excellence in Advocacy, Excellence in Governance, On Air Personality, Excellence in Journalism, Excellence in Business, Comedy, Music, Movies, Beauty, Fashion, Community Development For Rural Transformation, Excellence in Environment, Radio Personality and Youth Excellence.

The organisers have already released the nominees’ list for the various categories and they include the who-is-who in their respective fields and industries. Nominees for the comedy category include Helen Paul, Princess, Lepacious Bose as well as Mandy, while the music category has Kefee, Omawunmi, Nneka Lara George, Kel and Essence.

The Movie catergory parades names like Mercy Johnson, Nkiru Sylvanus, Funke Akindele, Tonto Dike, Mosun Filani and Mercy Akhigbe. The Radio Personality has Elizabeth Amani (Tru Spot (us)), Matse Uwatse (Wazobia FM), Helen Paul (Radio Continental), Tosin Bucknor (Top Radio), Anita (Rhythm FM), Tolu Toolz (Beat FM), Ikekwem Valerie (Cool FM), Bucki Babalola (UNILAG FM) and Titi Adelagun (Inspiration FM) made the list.

For those who missed it last year, Shout Jam Tour 2010 is set to roll again. The much-anticipated Musical Concert expected to tour selected Nigerian universities kicked off on Tuesday April 20 at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.

Shout Jam Tour is created to promote gospel music and musicians especially upcoming artistes, provide quality entertainment for the students of tertiary institutions across the nation, advocate against cultism, moral decadence and other social vices, and provide experiential engagement opportunities for youth brands.

The platform was launched in 2009 as Shout Jam Tour with RoofTop MCs and featured shows in the University of Ibadan, the Redeemers’ University and Yaba College of Technology with RoofTop MCs and Nikki Laoye, Laff’up, Shake Dem Up and Segun Dangote. Consequent upon the success of the 2009 edition, Davidhosue Multimedia Limited, the promoter of the tour, has unveiled plans for the 2010 edition.

Shout Jam Tour 2010 would feature musical performances by a repertoire of artistes including Kefee of the Branama fame, DJ Gosporella, Tomiwa (Second Runner Up MTN Project Fame 2009), Simisola, Freeborn, Doyin Okiki, drama skits by Alfa Sule and dance repertoire by Shake Dem Up with a pre-concert trade show that features all the brands sponsoring the tour. The event would also incorporate performances by local artistes on each campus that the tour train would stop.

Selected venues for the tour include the prestigious University of Ibadan, Redeemer University, University of Lagos as well as Igbinedion University.

From UI, the tour will move to Redeemers’ University, Mowe, Ogun State, on Thursday April 29 at 7p.m. The Redeemer’s University tour is free for participants. A week later, on Thursday May 6, the tour will move to the College Hall, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, where for a fee of N1000, guests can attend. The Igbinedion University’s tour is expected to begin at 5p.m. From there, the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, will on Thursday June 3, at 6:30p.m play host to the Shout Jam Tour. Tickets for the UNILAG show re-sold at N500. Organisers of the event have promised freebies for first 200 people at each venue.