ABUJA, Nigeria: In September of 2007, Mr. Victor Amadi, an Abuja-based media consultant released a press briefing about plans to make a movie based on the book From the Belly of the Gods (see kwenu.com). Authored by Dr. Ugorji Okechukwu Ugorji and published by the Princeton, New Jersey-based Sungai Books in 1993, the story is a work of mythology that presents an African myth of creation, with the modern Santa Clause (or Father Christmas) legend as a character and hook. Thescreenplay for the film has just been completed by Ugorji and Tai Emeka Obasi, with a contemporary US immigrant plot added to the original story
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TALL DRUMS News:
A NIGERIAN AMERICAN TELEVISION JOURNAL

The Sungai Corporation is pleased to announce that the global financial services corporation, Western Union , has come on board to co-sponsor the 2006 Quintessence Ball: A Celebration of African People in World History. The event this year is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, 2006, starting at 8 p.m., at the East Brunswick Hilton Hotel, in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

With its African marketing unit located in New Jersey, Western Union says the Quintessence Ball has had the kind of track record that impresses them and that has attracted them (Western Union) as sponsors this year. The co-sponsorship, in an amount of money that both parties have agreed not to disclose, means that Western Union will have a photo-taking booth at the event, as well as senior corporate officials of the company in attendance.

Western Union says it will do one better: During the event the company will present a plaque from Western Union to the Sungai Corporation for over ten years of community services to the African community and to Black literati.

The Sungai Corporation is obviously pleased to have Western Union as a partner at Quintessence Ball 2006, and we are delighted that they have chosen to honor the company and its efforts. This underscores Sungai's commitment to building networks of corporate citizens of the world to help tell the stories of African peoples, in this case one honoree at a time.

The Quintessence Ball:
A celebration of African People in World History, which brings together African people from Africa, North America, and the Caribbean, will take place on Saturday, April 22, 2006, at the East Brunswick Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick, New Jersey, starting at 7 p.m. The highlight of the annual event is the presentation of the Quintessence Award, the preeminent Pan-African Leadership Award in North America.

The Quintessence Award is given each year to at least one continental African leader and at least one African American leader, "for distinguished accomplishments in the person's field of endeavor, and for outstanding contributions to the history and heritage of African people." Recipients of the award in the past have included Professor Ngugi wa-Thiongo, Professor Chinua Achebe, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Mr. Gill Noble, U.S. Congressman Donald Payne, Professor Molefi Kete Asante, Lona Hooks, Esg, former Secretary of State of New Jersey, and Professor Dora Akunyili, to mention a few. In each case, the recipients were present in person to receive the award, which is our only requirement of the honorees. The award is usually accompanied by a signed proclamation from the Governor of the State of New Jersey, and a joint resolution in the honoree's name from both the New Jersey State General Assembly and the New Jersey State Senate.

The award consists of a crystal elephant mounted on a mahogany base, made by the Lenox Company. The elephant represents the majesty of African people, even in times of adversity, while the mahogany base symbolizes the status of African people as progenitors of the human race.

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for what promises again to be a trans-Atlantic gathering of Africa 's sons and daughters. The program this year will be televised by Africa Independent Television (AIT) and would be packaged as a 30-minute program on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). A special rate has been obtained at the East Brunswick Hilton for $99 per night. Call Hilton and ask for the East Brunswick Property. Ask for Quintessence Ball.