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Africa’s largest film festival opens in Burkina Faso amid security fears

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Despite fears of insecurity amid jihadists attacks, Africa’s largest film festival tagged FESPACO, opened successfully in Burkina Faso and is gradually gathering momentum, according to the organisers of the event.

The weeklong FESPACO which is holding in Ougadougou, the capital of the violence-prone West African country, is aimed at offering hope and a symbol of endurance after years of political strife and Islamic extremist attacks, which killed thousands of people and displaced nearly two million.

“We only have FESPACO left to prevent us from thinking about what’s going on,” a Burkinabe actress, Maimouna Ndiaye, who has four submissions in this year’s competition, said at the opening ceremony.

“This is the event that must not be canceled no matter the situation,” Ndiaye said.

More than 15,000 people, including celebrities from Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast are expected in Ouagadougou for FESPACO, which is Africa’s biggest film festival launched in 1969.

In this year’s edition, over 1,300 films were submitted for consideration and 100 have been selected to compete from 35 African countries and the diaspora, including movies from Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Among the nominations is top Burkinabe director and producer, Apolline Traore, whose film “Sira”, which is considered a front-runner in this year’s competition, portrays the sufferings of Burkinabes in the long years of strife occasioned by insurgents linked to the Islamic State and the Al-Qaeda groups.

“The world has painted Burkina Faso as a red country. It’s dangerous to come to my country, as they say. We’re probably a little crumbled but we’re not down,” Traore said.

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Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

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The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction located in the Namibian desert.

Reports in the country’s media say locals were shocked to sight the tourists posing naked on the Dune during a safari and have demanded for action against them from authorities.

According to local media, actions that could be taken against the tourists include being blacklisted from entering any of Namibia’s parks.

A spokesperson from the country’s Tourism Ministry told local media that photos and a video from of the naked tourists have been widely shared, sparking sharp reactions.

Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations, Kenneth Nependa, who condemned the act, told journalists that the behaviour risked attracting tourists “who think anything goes in Namibia.”

“It is very sickening and it really creates a bad image for Namibia,” Nependa said, adding that the Big Daddy Dune was not just a relaxing place for tourists but for families too.

Though it is not clear who took the photos and the video of the three male tourists who were seen stark naked in the sandy dune, next to their clothes, authorities say a stern action will be taken against them.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Romeo Muyunda, described the behaviour as “extremely shocking,” saying it was public indecency punishable by Namibian law.

“We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things,” Muyunda said.

He appealed to Namibians to report violations of park regulations immediately for swift action.

The Big Daddy dune is one of the three largest dunes in Namibia’s enormous Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest in the world and are popular with tourists who hike to the top to have a stunning view across the crests.

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Nollywood thrown into mourning as another veteran actor Zulu Adigwe passes on

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The Nigerian movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, has once again been thrown into mourning with the death of veteran actor, Zulu Adigwe, who passed away on Tuesday night.

Adigwe’s death has brought the number Nigerian actors who have died in 2024 to seven, which has made Nigerians and movie practitioners wonder why the sudden rash of deaths in the industry.

Fondly called Pa Zulu, Adigwe earned fame for his paternal roles in Nollywood movies and came into limelight in the 1980s sitcom, “Basi and Company” where he acted the role of “Mr. B.”

Adigwe also featured in the 2019 blockbuster ‘Living in Bondage’ and ‘Breaking Free’ among hundreds of movies where he became know for often portraying wicked uncles as well as native doctors.

In just four months gone in 2024, the Nigerian movie industry has been hit with spate of deaths of prominent and budding actors.

The first death of the year was recorded on January 4 when veteran Yoruba actor, Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina, died at the age of 73, of cancer related complications.

A month later, veteran actress, Ethel Ekpe, also passed on February 7 after a long battle with cancer.

On March 1, budding Yoruba Nollywood actor, Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, popularly known as Sisi Quadri also died at the age of 44.

The following day, the industry was again hit with the news of the passing of comic actor, John Okafor, who was better known as Mr Ibu, who died at the age of 62.

Three weeks after the demise of Mr. Ibu, another veteran actor, Amaechi Muonagor was also snatched by the cold hands of death on March 24, after battling kidney disease for a long time.

On April 7, another young Nollywood actress, Adejumoke Oreoluwa Aderounmu, popularly known for her role as ‘Esther’ in popular TV series, Jenifa’s Diary, died also passed on.

On Wednesday, April 10th, three days after the death of Adejumoke, the movie industry was once again, thrown into mourning with the untimely passing of Junior Pope Odonwodo who was popularly known as Junior Pope, who drowned while filming a scene on the River Niger in Delta State.

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