VERSES AND FLOWS

Welcome to Verses and Flows today, I am your host, Adedayo Adeyemi Agarau.

Today, I present to you Joshua the son of Idowu. Originated from Ekiti state but was brought up in Ibadan. He is a poet with the passion of making the society a peaceful place to live. Joshua  love friend making,drawing and laughing.

PEACE BE STILL

Lying tales as manifestoes
You preach!
Turning humanity into rubbles

Why is peace decaying?

Why are our fingerprint for decorations
assigning you to kill our passion
To kill our visions And procreation
To enslaved our emotions, our emancipation

Please let peace find home in our homes
In patriotic hearts eager to serve
Let our votes cloth us
In coats of rainbow colors

Let this election not pass
The valleys of violence
We are not sacrificial animals
Yes, our bloods is feast for any vampires

When the decision winds blow
Let it be still..
Peace must be still.

©Joshua Esoterik Idowu

The Scene was set for a great morning in Reading, Berkshire.

The bright sun, kissed the new dawn of the day and I felt a new energy unfolding by the hour.

We were on  our way to see MP Alok Sharma, who was elected as MP for Reading West in 2010. I had also brought along with me the General UK Manager for ZIMLINK – Mr Simba Chioto.

ZIMLINK is a non-profit organisation that promotes the free exchange of information and knowledge with local people through film, media and photography. They are also one of my Media partners.

As we approached Tilehurst, just within the outskirts of Central Reading, my mind  raced back to the days I produced and presented an International Radio Talk Show in Central Reading called AFRICA4U- A RADIO SHOW FOR AFRICANS AROUND THE WORLD with listeners in 11 countries.

My mind also raced back to the very first time I ever met MP Alok Sharma at Women Empowerment event held by at The House of Parliement, hosted by another Community Ambassador and friend from Kenya called Cecily Mugo.

I found it intriguingly fascinating that in less than five years, MP Alok Sharma had become the man of the people and was heavily involved in The Community development and progress of local residents, Migrants and people willing to make a difference to life.

Overnight he  won the hearts of so many locals and Leaders in the African community .  It felt great to have a leader who truly cared, A leader with foresight, vision, purpose and drive.

The first time I ever heard him speak was also a moment I will never forget, he was addressing a group of African Entrepreneurs and he reminded them, that part of his role as MP for Reading  West was to support and nurture community ideas and initiatives, he also went on to say that if anyone had any ideas to discuss with him, they should not think twice about approaching it.

After that speech, I walked up to him in Parliament as he was about to leave the room, our initial conversation was the start of great partnership .

MP Alok Sharma was the first MP I ever got to interview on The International  Radio Talk  Show I produced, My Sister and Husband were visiting from  The States at the time and also met him at our Studio in Reading,

I will never forget her first words when she met him “He is such a gentleman, He speaks with passion, You can tell that he really cares about local people”

In 2013 , for the very first time, I organised The Black History Month Celebrations at The UK House of Parliament. A platform was created for 10 African Achievers, Entrepreneurs to speak on the day and four performing artists.

Among the Special Guests on the day was MP Helen Grant- The Minister for Justice and Women Equalities

In 2014, I was also given the go ahead to organise The Black History Month Celebrations at The UK House of Parliament again,   A platform was created for 8 African Achievers, Entrepreneurs to speak on the day and two  performing artists.

The Special guest on the day was Mr Kola Karim-  CEO of Shoreline Oil Nigeria- who flew in from Nigeria specifically for the event.

Both Black History Month Celebrations I organised  at The UK House of Parliament were sponsored by MP Alok Sharma.

In my years in Reading, I met community leaders from Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone and even eastern European countries, they always had something great to say about Alok Sharma

There were also very many sides to this great man who graduated from the University of Salford in 1998 in  Applied Science and electronics.

Besides being a Community ambassador with a natural interest in the welfare of people, he was also a fully qualified Chattered accountant and, a strong advocate for Education, Jobs,  Free schools , Road safety, Rail regulations , Charities and Community Development.

He was  also  a Role Model we could also learn from and acquire great skillsets of leadership , and so to meet him again in Reading was the rebirth of a refreshing experience.

On Friday the 10^th of April , I interviewed Alok Sharma in his Reading Office for the 2^nd time.

Mr Simba Chioto – The UK General of Zimlink also offered support on the day and filmed the interview.

Alok went into detail to and spoke about some of the campaigns he intended to implement if he was re-elected.  He also spoke about his tenure in the last 5 years, which is undoubtfully a testimony of success especially for the local residents of Reading who will be more than eager to vote Alok Sharma for a second term

I presented Alok Sharma with A Special Outstanding Achievement award on behalf of my brand for the interest and support he had offered African Communities in Reading in the last 5 years.

Things can only get better when Leaders make real difference

Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez

Kenneth Chibuogwu Gbandi was born after the Nigerian civil war to the family of Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemka and Ezinne Victoria Gbandi of Akwukwu Igbo, Delta State.

He had is early primary school in Akwukwu Igbo and Ughelli, respectively. He graduated in 1992 from the University of Calabar, with a BSc. in Geography and Regional Planning. After his NYSC in Edo State, He was honoured with a state award in 1993 by the then Governor of Edo State on the recommendation of the Otaru of Auchi and council for outstanding community Service to his people. Subsequently, he was given automatic employment as a Geography teacher at Boys Model Secondary School, Benin City.

Three months later, He left for Europe and has been in Germany since 1994. In 1999, he was admitted at the University of Hamburg to further his studies in Geography and Regional Planning after semesters seven in the University, attending the language school and taking some courses, he graduated with a Vor-Diploma.

In 2010 he re-enrolled at the University of Hamburg to study Peace and Security and graduated in 2011 with a master’s degree.

During his master’s program, he had a brief romance with the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA, a member of the prestigious Leibniz-Institute for Global and Regional Studies). Between his in and out of the University, Hon Gbandi established his first business, Kenconsult e.K., a business initiative that facilitates businesses for Nigerians doing business in Germany, and due to strong negative perceptions about Nigerians and Africans that he encountered doing business in Germany, He decided to establish the African Heritage Magazine, one of the first Black magazines in Germany and double as the first editor-in-chief. Gbandi´s Press Club activities at the University of Calabar were handy to guide him in the new world of the media.

He subsequently followed this with the establishment of the African Heritage TV segment “Africa Outlook” and African Heritage Radio Format. As part of the Image promotion, He also founded the Miss Africa, Germany (African Queen) and Miss Nigeria, Germany and according to him, had the wonderful privilege to invite most Nigerian stars like Mama G, Genevieve Nnaji, Pat Attah, Lillian Bach, Mr. Dauda as well as many Nigerian musicians to Germany, including Pasuma, Late MC Loph, Pastor Goody Goody and so many other artistes. Today Hon. Gbandi is not only the editor in Chief of African Heritage Magazine and executive producer in Heritage Radio and TV format; he is also the CEO of HiBC GmbH Germany and the Director of African-Germany information Centre Hamburg. From 2007 to 2014 Hon. Kenneth Gbandi was the Project Manager, Nigerian Professionals and Entrepreneurs in Germany.

In 2011 He was elected one of the two representatives of the African Community in the Hamburg Senate Integration Advisory Council. In 2013 he was elected the President of Nigerians In Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Germany. In 2014, he took over the Co-ordinator of the African Union African Diaspora Germany Six Region (Media Commission). Hon Gbandi is a member and co-founder of many African Initiatives in Germany, including Nigerian Football Club Hamburg (Co-inititiator), Speaker, Antidiscrimination, Hamburg Senate Integration Advisory Council, member Hamburg Foundation for migrants, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, German Union of Journalists, Inter-Cultural Media Hamburg e.t.c.

His style of Business and leadership model has won both him and the organization he represents many awards. They includes; Best African Media in Germany in 2005/2006; Fink TV Special Award for African Heritage TV format “Afrika Outlook,” 2013; Best Print Media promoting the African Diaspora Cultural Heritage and Tourism “Oscars of Black Culture & Heritage Tourism Award” 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia USA; African Diaspora African Union Sixth Region Germany Diaspora Achiever 2014 for NIDO Germany; Africa 4 U Outstanding Achievement Award for Africans in Germany 2014 and Africa 4 U Outstanding Achievement Award for Africans in Europe 2015.

Hon Gbandi´s interests are in Global affairs are in the areas of conflict mitigation, integration and the rights of demographic minorities. He is a keen promoter of dialogue based solutions in stress afflicted communities believing that a strong and fair public media and promoting diversity can mediate disproportionate communal relationships.

Words are not Enough …
Words will never be Enough
And the Soil has been stained- Even before I was born ..
Its skin polluted into new layers of rotten fragments
And for many years … Pools of tears untold
Stories which never made the HEADLINES,
Bodies that grew into Shadows
Vanishing into the dirge of a Bleak Sadness

Words are not Enough
Words will never be Enough ..
Dark Riddles embrace the mystery of the same old anguish

The laughing voices remain faceless
Raping our land
Raping our spirit
Raping our home
Raping the content and the fruits of our energy
Raping our WOMEN …

And then – SILENCE
And over the years, more SILENCE
The world keeps QUIET
The same old story in different LANDS
and many more stories which never make The HEADLINES

Words are not Enough
Words will never be Enough
And when you put the puzzle pieces together
A new HELL lets loose

Slowly our homes begin to burn
But even the most educated minds cannot see the FIRE
Sometimes it takes COURAGE
Sometimes it takes TRUE LOVE
Sometimes it takes UNITY
Sometimes it takes the start of a NEW SONG and an Old Revolution
For what is a NATION without WOMEN

Silence
Then more Silence
Then more common phrases

“God Dey”
“E go better”
“It is well”

But these are just Words
JUST WORDS

POEM BY Tony Tokunbo Fernandez

PICTURE DESIGN BY Dark Zac

Personal Life

Collins Nweke was born in Nigeria on 14 July 1965. He migrated to Belgium in 1993 and currently has dual Nigerian-Belgian citizenship.

Nweke has a good command of English, Dutch and some German. He lives with his wife, Tonia and two sons, Tonna Jessy (Teejay) Nweke (born 11 March 1994) and Chidi Rae Nweke (born 15 October 1996) in Ostend, Belgium. He is a frequent traveller to Nigeria, his country of origin, where virtually all members of the large Nweke family clan reside. His father, Obi (Eze) Adigwe Nweke, is a traditional ruler and member of Ndi Nze Traditional Ruling Council of his Igbuzo hometown. His mother, Loveth Nweke, died on 5 September 2014. In his speech accepting the Leadership Service Award in Berlin on 7 September 2014, Nweke dedicated the Award to his mother

Education

He trained in Mass Communications, International Business Management (BCom) and Management Social Economy (MSE) partly in Nigeria but mainly in Europe. He also holds a Belgian ‘Graduaat’ in Corporate Policy and a Doctor of Governance (Honoris Causa) awarded in 2014.^[2]

Employment and Professional activities

Before migrating, Nweke taught English Literature at Omu Boys’ Secondary School, Ibusa. He then worked for five years at the United Bank for Africa plc.

In Belgium, he worked in a team providing the European Commission Justice & Home Affairs Directorate with comparative research and analyses of ethnic minority participation in European business and politics. He later led a team of students on internship from the University College of West-Flanders in the development of a resource center with employment services tailored towards the labour market needs of ethnic minority groups in 2004, culminating in a highly successful national conference of private–public partners. From 2001 to 2004 he was employed by the Ostend civil service department of Social Welfare^[3] where he established a digital Legal Research Centre for social and policy matters. He was co-Founder and first Chairman of the Jakoeboe Refugee Welfare Association in Ostend.

Nigerians in Diaspora in Europe

Nweke served as Chief Executive of the Board of Trustees of Nigerians in Diaspora in Europe (NIDO Europe) from 2004 – 2006 and as General Secretary from 2007 – 2009, and was elected Chairman in 2011. Collaborating with Global Diaspora in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa, Nweke was responsible for a structure with chapters in 18 European countries representing a Nigerian emigrant community (the “Diaspora”) of around 6 million, its objective to support the national development of Nigeria. Nweke played a leading role^[4] in researching and managing the Nigerian Diaspora input in the 2005 National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) in Nigeria. He carried out research on the concept of “Out-of-Country Voting” and submitted a briefing to the Nigerian Senate on the subject, culminating in a vote in favor of writing the concept into law.

As Chairman, Nweke focused on Trade & Investment and the engendering of sustainable strategic management processes.^[5] He led a Trade Mission involving 45 Diaspora and 13 investment projects to the State of Osun, Nigeria in August 2012. However, Nweke’s efforts to reform the Memorandum and Articles of Association of NIDO Europe at a Summit in Zurich, Switzerland, were thwarted. At the conclusion of his two-year term of office in November 2013, he disbanded the seven-man Board of Trustees ^[6] and declined to remain in office.

Political career[edit]

City Advisory board for Ethnic Minorities[edit]

Collins Nweke fought for the creation of the Ostend City Municipal Advisory Board for Ethnic Minorities in the late 1990s. He went on to be elected the founding Chairman of the Advisory Board but resigned after about a year, frustrated at the lack of opportunity provided by the municipal authority and the civil service for him to carry out his functions. He heightened his agitation as floor member, maintaining that the Council was not yet ready for a Chairman of ethnic minority background. He called for more transparency, good governance and efficiency in the running of the Advisory Board.^{[citation needed]}

City Councillor[edit]

He was elected as Councillor in Ostend City Council in 2006, becoming the first person born outside Belgium to be elected to political office in the province of West Flanders.^[15][16] Xpats.com,^[17][18] Invited by Wouter De Vriendt Collins Nweke was not a member of any political party at the time, but he was appointed the party reference person for Social Policy in the legislative period 2006 – 2012, serving also as Councillor for Social Welfare at the Council’s Public Center for Social Welfare.^[3]

He was re-elected in 2012. His portfolio includes the Economy,^[19] Social Policy,^[20] International Development and Equality Policy.^[21]

Following his election as Councillor, he had to resign his membership of the Ostend City Municipal Advisory Board for Ethnic Minorities but continued his activism as opposition politician with ethnic minority affairs under his portfolio.^[22]

In the Dutch language book De Keizer van Oostende,^[23] Nweke was credited with bringing about a spirited opposition and debate in the Council for Social Affairs which did not exist before his time. Due to being a lone opposition voice, the book argued, the issues he raised seemed to be largely ignored.

DonZubi Entertainment Limited Lagos Nigeria / Netherlands is Owned and Managed by Two Brothers Originally from Delta States Nigeria known as the Big Heart of The Nation. The Record Label DonZubi Entertainment was established in 2008 not by the power of man but by the power of GOD almighty. Presently DonZubi Entertainment has signed a young talented artiste named NG Onyeukwu Master AKA.

Dele Sosimi was rhythm keyboard player for Nigerian Afrobeat creator Fela Kuti and his band EGYPT 80 between 1979-1986. He left to form The Positive Force with Fela’s son Femi Kuti.

Now based in London and playing with his own Afrobeat Orchestra, expect nothing but the funkiest rhythm guitars, fiery percussion, call and response vocals and blazing horns, faithful to the original blueprint, but also clearly bears Dele’s own DNA.

He has performed worldwide, including at London’s Jazz café and South Bank, Joe Zawinuls Birdland in Vienna, Montreux Jazz Festival, Womad, the Mostly Jazz Festival and leading a large contingent of Jazz Musicians in celebrating the musical legacy of Fela Kuti at the 2011 edition of the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.

His bi-monthly sessions Afrobeat Vibration have also grown to be London’s top underground event with Fela Classics, original tracks from his CDs IDENTITY & TURBULENT TIMES and fresh Single T.M.I plus compositions from his forthcoming album as the repertoire.

Dele Sosimi, the UK’s multiple award-winning Afrobeat Ambassador has been consistently flying the Afrobeat flag in the UK since 1995, leading to roles as Musical Director and Afrobeat Music Consultant for the US award winning acclaimed musical FELA! at the National Theatre, South Bank in London (2010-2011).

His “Afrobeat Vibration”, now in its fifth year, is London’s top underground event. Dele’s Afrobeat pedigree is impeccable. He was keys player and a musical director in Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 and subsequently with Fela’s son Co founding & leading Femi Kuti’s Positive Force.

Dele’s pulsating live shows demonstrate his vision of Afrobeat – one that is faithful to the original blueprint, but also clearly bears Dele’s own DNA, expanding the horizons of the genre. He is one of the most active musicians on the Afrobeat scene, with his involvement with other artists and his work on his own critically acclaimed compositions spawning several remixes.