Her name is Ethel Elaka Gondiwe, She is The CEO of Effycom Productions, a Great community ambasador, performing artists and a lady with a lot of selfless drive, passion and energy.

On Friday the 12th of June, ELAKA will be receiving an Africa4u Award at the AFRICA4U ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR AFRICANS IN THE UK, which shall be taking  place on Friday the 12th of June at 6pm at The Stables Hall, the White Lion, 234 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB

Find out more about her below

The artist known as Elaka™ is an award winning British singer/songwriter.This young pioneer leaves no stone unturned when it comes to the endless talent she possesses. Amongst her many talents her main love is music, it has always been Elaka’s dream to be able to write and perform her music. She says: “I feel like I come alive when I am either in the studio or holding that mic in front of an audience, it’s an exhilarating experience” With the fortunate heritage of being Zambian and the privilege of living in the UK, she gets the opportunity to experiment with her identity as a Zambian mixed with an English culture through her music.

Elaka does not like to be compared to other artists as she feels that each artist is unique in their creativity she says: “that’s what helps us maintain our individuality, I have a different vocal style, my range is vast it bridges 4 octaves but in most cases I like to keep it simple but interesting, I try not to limit myself or get pigeon holed, that just wouldn’t be me”. Her voice allows her the ability to experiment with various genres of music, and like her voice her sound is not genre specific either. She writes songs about her emotions and her life’s journey, observations from others and her own personal experiences, and lets the sound take her wherever that emotion goes.

A lot of people are probably wondering who Elaka is, and where she came from. Elaka has been around in the industry for a while, and has kept it reasonably low key in regards to her music, in order to horn her skills. She used this time to nurture her talent and to learn more about the industry. This time also allowed her the opportunity to build up on her many talents mentioned above. She is now a proud owner of a 2 time award winning branding, marketing,and record label Effycom Productions www.effycomproductions.co.uk, a 2010 two time BEFFTA nominated Beauty Pageant Queen Of Zambia UK www.queenofzambiauk.co.ukwhich aids in promoting Zambians around the world and also help various charities in particular the ones in Zambia, a clothing line Elrhy Clothing and in 2009 was a cast member of the UK independent movie Find Her Keep Her and the list goes on.

Before 2011 Elaka had the privilege of performing on the same stage as some of UK and Zambia’s top artists such as Sway, Devlin, Fumin, Chipmunk, Bashy, Omar, Shola Ama, Ghetts, Tinchy Stryder just to name a few; and from Zambia Mozegeta, K’Million, Petersen, Danny, Angela Nyirenda, MC Wabwino, the Late Lilly T and many more. She has also had the privilege of performing with the likes of Legendary Tony Hadley (of Spandle Ballet), Brenda Edwards (of Xfactor and Chicago fame), Duncan James from Blue, Omar, Shola Ama, Ghetts and Bashy. With her promo single titled “I Can’t Let You Go” which was released in March 2011 is looking very promising for Elaka. Her producer Gary Hutchins who is a music industry veteran, has worked with even bigger legends such as Bob Marley, Liza Minnelli, Shirley Bassey, Frank Sinatra just to name a few; he has accolades of awards in sell out gigs and platinum and gold plaques. It is safe to say that our Zambian born princess of alternative music is in safe hands. Having been hard at work with redefined fresh material for 2011/12, the release of her promo single I Can’t Let You Go, which is available for digital download, with a follow up to release her debut single titled ‘My Africa’ scheduled for release mid 2012. Her promo single has already received great feedback from the UK and the rest of Europe, paving a great path for her soon to be released debut single. With a number of collaborations already in the pipeline with African and UK

REINSTATING VALUABLE NORMS

Every society should rise to kick against the girl child marriage; the parents that consent to such liaison be charged and given a qualified sentence for promoting child molestation. A man took a girl of 12years as wife, It is pathetic she would be a mother soon and erstwhile a10 years old is already a mother.

Do girls really entice boys to get them victimized? What is wrong with a female walking on

the street at 9: PM at her will and does so because of certain circumstances such as employment or domestic errand. There is no worst onslaught on a female than forceful penetration; it is utterly inhuman for Malini Mohana to harbour worldview that rape is somehow the woman’s fault.

Whatever it is today must be traced to its roots, in order to correct misconceptions or revive valuable ideologies that are realistic to attain. Africa was always sunk in depth with cultures vast in various rich norms and values. Africans were conservative yes they were, and in some parts of the continent it is being discovered the inhabitants of a territory are clad in nothing, but it does not take one thing from them, they were noble with their societal dispositions. Therefore that primitivism was a priceless trait ornamented with refined It was amazing how in far centuries a female as a maiden would tie a wrapper that stands on her thighs and conceal her breast with scanty clothe, one can hardly tell if they had pant underneath but yet, the male had so much regard for their chastity, looking at them they do not see a lose woman but a wife material. Whether driven by lust or love, in courtship they to a good percept, abstain from sex however long it takes the suitor to complete the traditional rites which bind them as husband and wife to do according as they please in conformity with what is expected in the boundary of culture and away from abominable act.

Prestige was a birthed cultivation, being poor or rich did not permit anyone to do otherwise in most African communities, going against the laws of the tradition attracted dire tribulations. But today, civilization that ought to be an elevation from the past breeds seen and unseen barbarity.

With the fact that most ladies wear decent clothes, modesty top of their priority, they get laid without invitation, raped and stigmatized for life or pushed to commit suicide in order to avert shame when it involves a third party; individuals or the African societies would be tending to a loose end if viable cultures are not revamped. In the past men could marry girls with age difference of 20/30, which make the girls no less thanbabies in their early teens, to that effect such is express molestation, taken, this is a foremost cultural view that must be discredited, I guess it is what gives leverage to men whose archaic mentality deem it fit to sexually abuse teenagers with the excuse that if not for changing times they would have been properly married.

Since society shuns that act in 21st century, the salacious Don Juan takes it upon his sinister knowledge base of wane culture to have sex with girls from the age of 10 exalting it traditionally and forget he would seek the permission of the parents and conclude formal rites before he dares to loosen her wrapper if he was to go by norm.

Regulation that help females not to be raped, and the law that punishes the rapist should be ultra-implemented to curb such nuisance in the society. Measures on how to avoid sexual abuses should be televised on local and international media outfits as an everyday show, this is Africa where parents are still shy to educate their daughters on sex course, and school them on how to note positive and negative advances of men. Females both teens, youths, and adult should be sensitized on what precaution to be taken when caught up in the wrong place at the right time, not to be on the wrong setting at the right time and how to modestly associate with the opposite sex with speech and body language, the mouth can speak the words and the body loudens the volume.

The fault of being raped should never be attributed to the female. Roaming on a man’s land without permission is trespassing and punishable by the law, likewise the exploration of a woman’s private part. A man that forcefully makes love with his wife can be jailed if a suit is filed by the lady, so nobody who is guilty of rape should be left to mingle with right thinking people of a society without haven undergone imprisonment, psychological and sociological sessions.

Men should go back to being men, a culture where males were not overridden by open lust and engage in disgraceful actions, and boys be taught how to be real men, real men have respect for the female gender.

It should be made a global law that a female is legible to marry from the official age of 18;

underage marriage is a permissible bye law of some parts of the world, mostly in Asia and Africa which therefore should be clamped down so that females around the globe can boost of equal treatment, whatever that is condemned by positive majority should endeavour to disqualify the minority’s negative. Child marriage should ultimately be modelled as an illegal act, any parent and man that disobeys the law should be served appropriate justice.

Girls who marry before 18 are likely to experience domestic violence. A study conducted by International Centre for Research on Women, ICRW in two states in India found that girls, who were married before 18 were twice likely to report being beaten, slapped or threatened by their husbands than girls who married later.

Child bride often show signs symptomatic of sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress such as feelings of hopelessness and severe depression, and their pregnancy can lead to untimely death. The child marriage is raping the world of females, say no to sexual abuse, and say no to consented brutality. Save the child, and let the world build healthy successful women, spare them the trauma and bestow on them access to Trojan point.

His name is Isreal Onoriode, He is a former Nollywood actor, a Comedian, A Performing artist, a Videographer, a Radio presenter and the CEO of a creative initative.

Israel is passionate about music, culture,life, people and making the world a better place.

On Friday the 12th of June, Mr Onoriode will be receiving an Africa4u Award at the AFRICA4U ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR AFRICANS IN THE UK, which shall be taking  place on Friday the 12th of June at 6pm at The Stables Hall, the White Lion, 234 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB

Read more about Isreal below

Israel Godson Onoriode also knows as Dj real O’rael is originally an actor, songwriter and a radio presenter. He also does event video and photography. Isreal is  The eighth of nine children from the family of Gabriel Onoriode Uge, his love for music entertainment and media was first noticed when he was 2 years old as he would dance and sing for anyone, he eventually started making money performing at the tender age of nine. He knew and would talk about all programs especially films on TV.

Israels  passion for creativity took him to becoming a member of Stars theatre one of the most popular dance theatres in Benin City, Nigeria around late 80s and early 90s. He also featured in a couple of episodes of the comedy variety show on Edo state broadcasting corporation EBS While an undergraduate at the University of Portharcourt, he was always chosen as one of the delegate to represent the University at the annual National University Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF). He was also one of the actors on the Rivers state entry of the then Nigerian International Bank (NIB) Annual Production It was not until he relocated to the UK that he started giving more attention his music.

He released his first highlife CD in 2007 and  again his hunger to express his passion in images led him to start Realmultimedia originally called Realife images – a video and photography event coverage business that same year.

Realmultimedia have shot about 33 events since then. They are looking forward to doing feature films from next year. Israel Onoriode DJ real, the soul man as he is fondly know on radio is the host of Real Vibez and The African Show (from 6- 8pm every Tuesday) where they examine the music, lifestyle, culture and traditions of a particular African country every month on Blast1386 the UK, Reading based radio station. Israel Onoriode is the founder of Realpraisefestival (www.realpraisefestival.co.uk) a Christian whole day praise festival and LIVING IT an annual music and general entertainment initiative where they showcase and encourage acts especially youth groups to live their acts. Some of his works on stage • Samuel Beckett’s one man play Act Without Word, Directed by Yibo Koko (Man) 1991 • Miesoinuma H S Minima’s Odum Egege – Directed by Comish Ekiye for Nigerian International Bank (NIB) Annual Production (Ikechi) 1997 • Don Pedro Obaseki’s OBASEKI, directed by Pedro Obaseki (Igbinovia) 2001, 2002 & 2003 • Don Pedro Obaseki’s AZAGIDI, directed by Pedro Obaseki (Fool) 2003 • Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Preach directed by Chris Moran for progress theatre. Reading. UK (The Magician) 2005 Films: • Aziba (1999) directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen (Ebah) • Tara (2000) director by Don Pedro Obaseki (Anslem) • Brave Soldier (2000) directed by Don Pedro Obaseki (Policeman) • The Reverend (2001) directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen (Police Officer) • Afro (2002) directed by Charles Novia (Native Doctor) • Sinners in the House (2003) directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen (Medical Doctor) • Blood Diamond (2012) By The Film and Video Makers club Reading, UK (Diamond Dealer) • Escape (2014) The Film and Video Makers club Reading entry at the Reading Fringes Film Festival. TV Soap • ZENITH (2004) Soap Opera on African Independent Television (AIT) (John)

DEAR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FANS,

I RECENTLY ORGANISED THE AFRICA4U ONLINE AWARDS FOR AFRICANS IN EUROPE 2015- SUPPORTED BY TONY TOKUNBO FERNANDEZ

IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AWARD CERTIFICATES WERE SENT OUT TO WINNERS ACROSS EUROPE- GERMANY, HOLLAND, ITALY, SPAIN, BELGIUM AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
I HAVE TRAVELLED TO AT LEAST 16 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES – SO I AM AWARE OF THE GREAT WORK SOME OF OUR AFRICAN ACHIEVERS/UNSUNG HEROES ARE DOING IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES IN THE DIASPORA.

His name is Deoba Authentic – He is a Performing artist,  Radio Presenter, Deejay and Community Ambassador.

Deoba takes pride in building a brand that is reputable, consistent and refreshing. he is passionate about music, culture,social issues and trying to make the world a better place.

Deoba will be celebrating his birthday this Friday the 24th of April at the Imperium Night Club in Slough,  FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT, with exclusive performance by  The Birthday Boy, Music will be by DJ Cliverson, DJ killa, DJZie and DJ Sox

Deoba Authentic will also be receiving An AFRICA4U OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from Me (Tony Tokunbo Eteka Fernandez) on Friday the 12th of June at The White Lion in Streatham as part of The AFRICA4U ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR AFRICANS IN THE UK

Deoba Authentic (Artiste/DJ/Radio Personality) With years of experience as a Club Deejay, Radio DJ and Presenter with a vast music library collection to his credit. He is also an events organiser, promoter and music/film critic; Deoba Authentic has been spinning on ones and twos predominantly on the modern and afropop scene in Europe for over 10 years. He was awards Best Radio Personality of the year for Nigerian Uk Based Achievers Award 2013 and also received a GAB Awards for excellence in entertainments in 2013. Deoba Authentic the Radio Personality/DJ, Deoba Authentic has thorough experience in broadcasting with over 8 years at VOAR 94fm, Where he was involved as the event manager, sponsorship negotiator, outside broadcasts co-ordinator, radio show producer, studio engineer and presenter. With Deoba Authentic on radio, you will get A light-hearted Musical and talk Radio show with lot of humour, and friendly vibes, A show that presents Music and interest from all over the world but Africa/UK being the main core points of contact. Some of the Music covered on the show are High Life, Rumba, Afro beat, Reggae, Soca, UK Urban, RnB, Hip Hop and Soul. He also DJs at many Private, Public function such as Club events, weddings, Business conferences, Charity/Gala events. Deoba Authentic the Artiste, His new vocal rendition is a fusion influences and can be describe as soulful African. It is Nigerian afropop with deep creative articulation and warm vibrant tones. Deoba Athentic is able to brings the tropical fusion of Nigerian music together with British funk, house, garage and jungles it into the Afropop beats with ease. In listening to his music, you start off hearing a sonorous soul vibe that spills into funk, rhythm and blues with jazzy backtones also with all that hiphop/reggae undertones and all of the aspects of music that make you want to move, groove, shake and sing along. Deoba Authentic the artiste is simply so,…..authentically Afropop with a touch of nothing but the best. Deoba Authentic feels music a powerful tool enjoyment and more importantly, music is a very strong medium that can carry information and also preserve it for year to come and other will be able to learn from it now in the future.

Deoba Authentic feels music a powerful tool enjoyment and more importantly, music is a very strong medium that can carry information and also preserve it for year to come and other will be able to learn from it now AND in the future.

Catch Deoba Authentic on Colourful Radio on www.colourfulradio.com 7pm – 10pm Every Tuesdays. Call Me live on 0800 999 80 Listen to Deoba Authentic’s past show on Colourful Radio at www.colourfulradio.com/Presenter/Deoba now.

VERSES AND FLOWS

Welcome to Verses and Flows today, I am your host, Adedayo Adeyemi Agarau. – Winner of the Tony Tokunbo Fernandez International Poetry Competition for poets and Writers around the world

Today,I present to you Oluwatosin Faith kolawole hails from Ise-Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria. A medical student in the American International University West Africa, Gambia. She has passion for writing and as a result of her love for creative writing, she has participated in several online and offline poetry competitions

OUR TALES ARE HUMAN by Oluwatosin Faith kolawole

‘Speak the truth and spare the lies’

‘Speak the lies and spare the truth’

Whichever way, the truth can no longer be sieved from our lies

Nor the lies from our truths We are drenched in deceit!

The footprints that once led us faded away long ago Leaving us to unending calamities

That sets disputes between and within races

Giving rise to sore hatreds and killings without pity

Etch my name on the plastered wall of our hypocrisy

And let it rot there Our act sucks!

And our laws are swimming in the pool of confusion

Have we forgotten we were all raised from dusts?

Or we’ve been blindfolded by the indecipherability

Of what we call truths and lies?

We now live on scripts written by unspecified beings, Submitting our loyalty

Either black or white A tanned skin or not A Philippine or a Nigerian From the Africa continent or Asia;

Privileged or not, We remain in one planet, Earth. And classed as ‘Homo sapiens’!

Let xenophobia be buried in fear’s grave

And we’d engrave on her obituary, the words:

‘We are Homo sapiens; we are one’ ©TeeFaith

Your eyes
rain of
watery pains,

anchored
in solitude
and counting
ungainful gains,

you are crying
for mother earth
to open its womb,
engulf your sorrows,
then it will slowly wane,

the roof
of your eyes
leaks
now your pupils
unable to dodge
the rain,

chew some stones,
sip alkaline,
may you
be fine

why the
natures atmosphere
use your tears
for wine,

your joy
now locked
in a vale of
unknown,

i can
see a lark
singing
in the edge
of a mahogany
of your own

when was the
last day
you remembered
the dictionary
contains a word
called fun,

why is
there fogs
around you
that burns?

How many
movies turn
out real?
Or is there
any woman
whose dreams
come to past?

If there is
are you,
must you,
will you be the last?

Let me wake
mother earth
with my incantations
and ask her why,

why this angelic
creature
always bid for
night to come
so she would die?

Anon,
God gives
and forgives

and the imperfect
men gets
and forgets

I’d Run

i.
When I got here,
air became fresher.

They’d call me to gather with them
Beneath the bones of dried trees
Under whose arm, the moon stare
at the ending moments of our daily toils.
They’d sing in foreign languages
I will dance in native steps
Trying to decipher the depth of their lines

They would call me to witness again
The savour of  their hale culture,
The carnival of topless virgins
Dancing in the river of puberty.
They’d laugh if I refuse to nail her back
On the dusty flesh of the naked soil
In the game of choice, they’d cheer if I shred
a strand of sweat.
I still would wonder who they were
But home will i call this, home.

ii.
I’d sit absentminded on the edge of thoughtless days
Playing indolent rhythms about writing home
Till i find comfort in their smiles–
The one that carved coated anguish on their faces.
I’d run back into their arms, longing
For the warmth from their horizon forgetting home
In this desert of cold waters.

iii.
But I’d remember home tonight
When the statesmen who promised me shelter
Chases my skull with diamond-tipped spears.
I’d run with fleeting feet to the walls built with fear
I’d run from the residual chaos, a sickness that falls
On the muscled ligaments of the home I found
Miles away from my native districts.
I’d remember I knew this place was strange
From the night my feet trod these streets.

I’d run from Xenophobia, tonight.

©tohquality

Our Role Model  for this week is Mr Abbey Akinoshun –  prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party (Greenwich and Woolwich)

Mr Abbey Akinoshun was also a  Nigeria Centenary Awards UK Winner as  one of 100 most outstanding Nigerians to have lived in the UK.

He is a great community ambassador and role model setting the pace for the future

MR ABBEY AKINOSHUN

My name is Abbey (Abideen) Akinoshun, and I have lived in the Royal Borough of Greenwich for over 15 years with my family.

As a result, I have a good insight into the problems confronting our community. My children attend a local school, where I used to serve as a school governor.

I have been consulting in Employment Law and Regulatory Services in Woolwich for the past five years. Up till three years ago, I worked as a Clinical Service Manager with one of the NHS Foundation Trusts in London.

In 2006 I was elected by the majority of the registered nurses in England to represent them, in the Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC], where I used my position and knowledge to influence major changes in the nursing profession and to improve quality of care to the wider public. Having spent over fourteen years in the NHS, I am fully aware of the stresses that the NHS is suffering from!

I also have a wealth of experience in politics, human rights, advocacy, race-relations, and community relations.

In short, I am a resident with a lot of experience, common sense and a passion to serve my local community.

Having been a Labour Party member for over 10 years, I left the party about 5 years ago because, sadly, I no longer saw it as a party to build a fairer society. I then joined the Green Party just over a year ago, because I saw a fast-growing political party which has a fully developed range of policies addressing social, economic and political issues in our society.

I am standing as your prospective candidate for the Green Party because I would like to have the opportunity to give a political voice to the thousands of ordinary citizens like me, living in the Borough of Greenwich.