Entertainment
The Enugu concert rape syndrome
By Winifred Asogwa (Enugu)
Social media have been aflame the past few days with rants about the flavour live concert at Okpara square Enugu, where not less than twenty (20) female fans were ‘allegedly’ raped.
Rape is a serious crime against humanity. It touches the very sensibility of the raped while the rapist reflects the decadence in the minds of some people. It beats one’s imagination how a man would jump on a lady without her consent. No gesture supports such devilish tendencies.
The bedrock of the conversation lies in the fact that; this is not the first time female fans are been sexually harassed at a concert, it’s gradually turning into a norm. Tufiakwa! (God forbid)
Reports of rape at both PhynoFest 2016 and 2017 were recorded; we have now witnessed a similar repetition at flavour’s live concert. The almost sad side of this story is that these concerts were ‘free’; the fans were required to pay zero naira to attend. The artists see these free concerts as a ‘give back initiative’ to their fans and the city of their birth.
But when ‘giving back’ opens the door for women to be sexually harassed, it begs the question ‘is it giving or taking’?
It’s easy to blame the organizer of the concert, after all people showed up to watch him perform but throwing sticks and stones won’t help, who really is to blame?
I’ll take this from a three pronged approach. The media, security/crowd management and the artist.
When it comes to the media industry in Nigeria, Lagos state can be termed the ‘big brother’, where everything happens. It’s usually said that if you want to blow in entertainment, find yourself in Lagos.
As much as Lagos is the ‘big brother’ there are also smaller/younger brothers who are aspiring to do what Lagos does. Cities like Abuja, Port-harcourt, Calabar, Enugu etc are aspiring to nurture the fragile entertainment industry in their respective cities. When these smaller brothers hold concerts and shows and it’s not 100% perfect, are they not supposed to be encouraged rather than getting bashed?
The trace TV guy that made that very sensitive tweet about the concert turning into a rescue mission for women was slightly ‘off-tune’. He even went ahead to say he’s never visiting Enugu again, like your visit added to our GDP.
With no intent to defend the evil rape perpetrators, is he trying to say there have NEVER been a rape incident at all the concerts held in Lagos state?
After all, the official rape statistics 2015 as reported by Punch Newspapers show that Lagos was on top of the rape record in 2015 with 513 cases, followed by Delta, 205; Kano 189; Katsina 120; Ogun 76; Ondo 68 and Edo, 55.
Others are FCT 44; Ebonyi 41; Cross River 40; Bauchi 38; Oyo 35; Kaduna 33; Anambra 33; Bayelsa 31; Niger 29; Enugu 28; Plateau 25; Yobe and Zamfara, 21; Borno 20; Jigawa 18; Imo 17, Kogi 15 and Gombe 12.”
This brings us to the role of our media. One ‘Lagos person’ came and said something about the South East and we’re not able to overturn that. Can a south east influencer go to Lagos, make a tweet and it sparks conversation? Where are the south east bloggers, influencers, media majesties, on air personalities?
The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of moral crisis preserve their neutrality.
I heard some very funny arguments that the reason showbiz doesn’t grow in Enugu is because we feed on the cycle that the show must be free, a mentality that roadblock birthed.
Also that artists want big crowds for the sake of numbers. There is nothing wrong with wanting big crowds but a lot goes into crowd management/control/security. Enugu is not the only state to hold concerts, why don’t we hear rape cases in other places? It’s obvious more attention is paid to stage and artiste management than crowd management/security.
The artist in question is yet to release a statement. I’m sure he’s heard people are making allegations that his female fans were raped at his concert but he’s decided to keep mute. Has he no media team? To control what’s going on, to protect his brand? Or he just doesn’t care; he’s waiting for it to blow over like everything in Nigeria does.
Rape is a very serious issue, the victims have to deal with psychological trauma for the rest of their lives, at least show that you care.
If we must harness the entertainment, tourism and hospitality potentials of the Enugu State necessary steps must be taken to ensure such case as rape isn’t repeated in the future.
For now, let the he security agencies do the needful by apprehending and prosecuting the rapists; hence we become laughing stock among other States in Nigeria.
Spotify today announced the launch of its ‘Detty December’ hub with playlists for December, a celebration of the vibrant festive season in West Africa and South Africa. The hub is a one-stop shop for all things Detty December, with curated playlists featuring the biggest hits and emerging sounds of the season. Users can find everything from Afrobeats and Amapiano anthems to chilled-out vibes for those much-needed recovery days.
“Detty December is a special time for our users in West Africa and ke Dezemba symbolises South Africa’s spirit of celebration,” said Phiona Okumu, Head of Music at Spotify Sub-Saharan Africa. “We’re excited to be part of their celebrations with this dedicated hub and playlists, bringing them the best music to soundtrack their festive moments.”
This unapologetic season of street jams, back-to-back concerts, and endless summer fun has developed its own culture that draws diaspora and local fans alike. The curated sounds of Spotify’s Detty December hub will pay homage to the Lagos rooftop lounges, Accra’s beachside festivals, and South Africa’s township tunes that keep people grooving.
In addition to the hub, Spotify has also launched a new playlist called ‘Songs of Detty December’. This playlist is a curated list from Spotify Africa’s editors on the songs predicted to dominate this year’s Detty December. From DJ Skelm’s Afro Tech sounds to Flytime Fest’s tour of songs that tell Africa’s aspirational stories, the hub will be the home of takeover playlists that display Africa’s diverse talent. Barrier-breaking Amapiano talent Kamo_ww has taken over a South African Summer playlist too.
Spotify is also supporting Jerk x Jollof, a popular event making its way to Africa for the first time, through its Frequency program. Held at The Ostrich event space, the Jerk x Jollof Cape Town takeover will feature DJs and artists such as TxC, DBN Gogo, Spinall, Sarz and Odeal, merging the spirit of Detty December and ke Dezemba experiences and bringing South and West African cultures and artists together.
“We’re committed to supporting African music and culture,” said Okumu. “We believe that music is a powerful way to bring people together, and we’re excited to be part of the Detty December celebrations.”
You can keep the good vibes going as you make your way to the hotel, beach or next Detty December party with Spotify’s curated and immersive sound selection. Discover something new or run the year’s best party anthems back on your app today.
The ‘Detty December’ hub is available now on Spotify.
Forty years after the release of the original JESUS film, Jesus Film Project is releasing an updated edition of founder Paul Eshleman’s book, I Just Saw Jesus.
The new edition features a heartfelt foreword written by Eshleman’s daughter, Jenn Huff, as well as refreshed cover art. The book was officially released in October 2024.
Originally published in 1985, I Just Saw Jesus chronicles Eshleman’s journey to create the JESUS film, the most translated and viewed film in history. Translated into more than 2,100 languages and counting, the film has been a significant resource in spreading the gospel to millions across the globe.
The release of this updated edition comes at a critical juncture as Jesus Film Project reimagines the 1979 film for today’s generation.
In her foreword to the new edition of I Just Saw Jesus, Huff reflects on her father’s vision and passion for the project. She writes, ”The JESUS film, meticulously crafted to depict the life of Jesus with unprecedented accuracy, stood as a beacon of attention to detail. Behind the scenes, my father’s equally meticulous storytelling mirrored the attention that was paid to every aspect of the film’s creation.” She added, “I Just Saw Jesus is not just a book; it is a testament to the miraculous change Jesus makes in people’s lives.”
Paul Eshleman’s work on the JESUS film was inspired by the mission to share the gospel message in every corner of the world.I Just Saw Jesus tells the stories of the faithful volunteer film teams, missionaries and pastors who ventured into remote tribes to show the JESUS film. They carried generators and projectors across jungles, stood before influential leaders, and overcame threats, curses and deadly diseases – all to share the story of Jesus in the heart language of those who might not otherwise hear the gospel.
This new edition of I Just Saw Jesus is a tribute to Paul Eshleman’s legacy. It marks a new chapter in the ongoing mission to innovate and reach people with today’s tools, ensuring that the gospel remains accessible to new generations.
Purchase I Just Saw Jesus on Amazon or the Cru store, and join the ongoing conversation about how media can inspire the next generation.
Gather25, a trailblazing global gathering of Christians founded by Jennie Allen, has unveiled the first of its contributors for the upcoming event in 2025.
Featuring a multi-denominational, international line up of Christian teachers, storytellers and prayer guides from six continents, Gather25 aims to showcase powerful stories of how God is transforming communities and hearts around the world.
The event, with a schedule that will circumnavigate the globe over 25 hours, celebrates a line-up of individuals who bring a unique perspective of how God is moving in their context.
Together, they are partnering with Gather25’s mission to mobilize Christians everywhere to reach the 5.5 billion people on earth who have yet to encounter Jesus.
Through live-streaming technology and AI, Gather25 will connect with Christians in homes, in churches, in stadiums, or on their phones, across six continents, with each continent hosting a portion of the 25 hours.
The teachers, storytellers, and prayer guides include:
● Jennie Allen – Founder & Visionary of Gather25, Bible teacher, author, the visionary behind IF:Gathering.
● Pastor Charles Mugisha – Founder and President of Africa New Life Ministries.
● Matt Maher – Gospel artist and songwriter, known for favorites like “Lord, I Need You.”
● Mark Varughese – Founder and Senior Leader of Kingdomcity.
● Matt Redman – Double GRAMMY®-Award winning worship leader and songwriter.
● Priscilla Shirer – A New York Times Best-Selling author and actress featuring in movies like War Room.
● Sinach – Gospel artist and songwriter, known for favorites like “Way Maker.”
● Tasha Cobbs Leonard – GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter.
● Rorisang Thandekiso – A multi-talented media personality and musician, and the founder of “Jesus This Jesus That.”
● Rick Warren – Author of The Purpose Driven Life, his books have been translated into 200 languages.
Gather25 is a global collaboration of Christians who are instrumental in connecting the global church from the ground up. Pastor Charles Mugisha said, “Gather25 gives, for the first time in history, Africa a voice to share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ more than ever before.”
“I have a feeling in my heart that (Gather25) is a God thing. The Bible commissions us to go and take the Gospel to all nations and for the first time, I see that we can actually take the Gospel to all the nations in 25 hours. That’s exciting for me!”
The event will kick off in the United States at 01:00 UTC on Saturday, 1st March 2025, and will journey around the globe, concluding in Peru at 02:00 UTC on Sunday, 2nd March 2025. This continuous broadcast is designed to empower Christians worldwide through inspiring stories and testimonies of God’s work across nations. Each session will be hosted from a different country, featuring teaching, worship, stories and prayers from various locations within each session. The event will also unveil never-before-heard accounts from the underground church.
Join us for this global event to connect with believers from every corner of the world. Find out about Gather25, and sign up for more resources at: gather25.com
NUJ at 70: Private Broadcast Members Congratulate Union
MTN Go MAD Campaign Inspires Aba’s Entrepreneurial Spirit
We’re Confident in the Super Eagles – Karl Toriola
LASG Acquires New Outboard Engines For Optimum Boat Performance
Elon Musk builds Hotel in Mars, Sets to launch soon at $5million per night – Photos
