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Volume 1, Issue 1 |
October 1999 |
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The British Council organized the first ever BRITISH FILM WEEK IN ABUJA. It was an opportunity for cinema lovers to enjoy the beauty of the big screen, something which is gradually dying out in our society. The film week began on Monday the 25" of October with a premiere of the film "Sliding Doors" staring Gwyneth Paltrow. Attendance was by invitation only, and a small but qualitative I audience including the Honourable Minister for Culture and Tourism, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Chief Ferdinard Agu, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Abuja Literary Society, Chief) Ignatius Kogbara, a National Commissioner with INEC and Mr. Clive Bruton and Mr. David RobertsoftheBritish Council. The week continued with various films being shown including Speak like a Child, and The Full Monty. The week ends on Saturday the 30'h with the Aardman Collection Of Short Films shown at 4pm. Venue for all the events: African Peace Mission Hall of the National Centre for Women In development. The Abuja Literary Society was pleased to assist the Council in promoting cinema culture in Abuja.The Society served as an outlet for tickets and also assisted in publicity and facilitation for the event. It is hoped that the British film week will be an j annualevent. BOOK REVIEW
THIS ANIMAL CALLED MAN By Olusegun Obasanjo. ALF PUBLICATION (Revised Edition), l999, 355pp President Olusegun Obasanjo has never hidden his love for the printed word. He cherishes knowledge and the intellect. Whenever he feels strongly about a subject he puts it into writing. Love him or loathe him, you cannot ignore the man's embrace of the book and the Book! The last sentence demands an explanation; Obasanjo grapples with books for intellectual nourishment and delves into the Book (Bible) for spiritual upliftment. Obasanjo's previous imprisonment has become a blessing in disguise. Notjust that he survived to become President but it afforded him the solitude to write this book on his philosophy of life.. According to Obasanjo in the Introduction,'This book, this Animal Called Man, attempts to examine Man's existence on earth and the purpose and ways to achieving that purpose in this world and in the next world to come. Obasanjo lives up to form by starting the book with this bold declaration: "The axis and the fulcrum of this book is God, the true and living God and its anchor is Christ. I have no apologies for that. But Man is its focus." For Obasanjo, therefore, man can best be understood through the appreciation of God. The arrival of Man on earth engages Obasanjo's attention. Creation or Evolution? That is the question. The author examines the creation myth of the Yoruba. He talks of the three supreme gods of Hinduism and points out that the ancient Chinese believed in God. Obasanjo gives Charles Darwin's evolution theory considerable attention and questions the conclusions of Origin of the Species as published in 1859. He quotes many authors in his bid to put a hole in Darwin's Theory, Notably Britain's science magazine, New Scientist, which says: "An increasing number of scientists most particularly a growing number of evolutionists argue that Darwin's evolutionary theory is no theory at all. Many of these critics have the highest intellectual credentials". Obasanjo dismisses Darwin's theory as a racist theorist who gave impetus to Adolf Hitler in his murderous Aryan supremacist drive. Obasanjo quotes copiously from the Bible to justify the existence of God and the primacy of creation. According to him, "the universe is unfathomably great immensity, seemingly great in confusion, held together and controlled by God of infinite power, intellect and majesty". He asserts that the purpose of Man on earth is" to live to the glory of God". Unfortunately Man has turned out to be a disappointment to his Maker. Obasanjo's conclusions are never ambiguous. Example: "Christianity is the vehicle by which we ride to heaven through Jesus Christ .There is no other way and there is no other name." He argues that it is through faith that Man conquers "his lower animalistic nature and instinct ". For him, good conduct is not enough; the grace of God is essential. From an article By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, In Thisday Newspapers, October 10, 1999 |
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