SAMSUNG COLLABORATES WITH RELE GALLERY

Samsung Electronics West Africa and contemporary art space, Rele Gallery have collaborated to present an unprecedented culinary art and photography exhibition as well as online competition, with the theme ‘What’s Cooking?’

The exhibition featured the works of two prominent photographers, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ade Asiko Okelarin, who drew inspiration from Nigerian cuisine created by three leading chefs, Tiyan Alile, Ozoz Sokoh (Kitchen Butterfly) and Dunni Obata (Dooney’s Kitchen). The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Smartphone was used to capture the photographs showcased at the exhibition.

The exhibition was preceded by an online culinary art contest which attracted over 300 entries from across the country and produced three winners who were announced at a private viewing event to mark the beginning of the four-week exhibition at the gallery in Lagos.

The Food Art competition engaged talented Nigerians from all over the country trying their hands at culinary artistry by creating an original work of art using real food in line with the exhibition theme. Entries were uploaded by participants on www.techmeetsart.ng, who also stated what inspired their food art. All entries were judged by a reputable panel of chefs and photographers based on published guidelines.

Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Paul Lee, speaking at the event which took place at Rele Gallery, Onikan, Lagos, said “Technology and art have had an unfamiliar relationship over the years with many people wondering what the nature of this relationship is. Art and technology derive strength and inspiration from one another. Hosting a competition among chefs is logical as cooking is also a form of art. With this novelty, Samsung is rebooting the relationship between art and technology by being a part of exhibitions and initiatives that will foster new collaborations across both disciplines and industries.”
The special culinary delights were brought into focus with the use of Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Smartphone by renowned photographers such as Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Ade Okelarin (Asiko) to capture Nigerian art food created by all three distinguished chefs, Revmatas explained.

“Rele Gallery is committed to changing the way we consume; navigate the world around us, through art. As we’ve come to discover food is much more than something we eat, through this project we highlight that there is an art to cooking and presenting it. For the first time ever, Nigerian cuisine gets to be documented as an art piece, to inspire experimentation and exploration of the possibilities. Technology has once again proved to be an important, reliable partner in establishing this narrative,” stated Adenrele Sonariwo, Founder & Curator, Rele Gallery.

GBENGA ADEYINKA HITS OSHOGBO WITH LAUGHTER
The people of Oshogbo in Osun state are in for fun and entertainment as frontline comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka has concluded arrangements to make today a memorable one for them.

Through the stable of his long standing and popular comedy show, Laffmatazz, the English graduate, Adeyinka alongside entertainers in music and comedy as well as acting arm of the entertainment industry are billed to storm Aurora event centre in Osun state capital, Oshogbo where the gospel of fun will be let loose.

Comedians billed to perform alongside the host at the event tagged Sharing Happiness Edition are Lepacious Bose, Funnybone, MC Abbey and Omobaba to mention a few. Top musical acts that include Reminisce, 9ce, Seriki and Quepeller are among other wave making musicians that will make the day a memorable one. Also, funny actor, Sanyeri in conjunction with actress Dayo Amusa are billed for special appearance while DJ Lseven and DJ Instinct will spice things up from behind the wheel of steel.

THE FIRST LADY WINS AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Nollywood’s acknowledged First Lady, Omoni Oboli is on a winning streak. Omoni has done nothing since the past six months but wow audiences. Her Wives on Strike made N51 million in 17 days of its cinematic debut, with views by over 50,000 people across cinema houses in different states of the federation.
And just when we were wondering if the movie has had all its glory, we were in for the greatest surprise when weeks after it ran into more than N60 million. More than a month after its release into Nigerian cinemas, ‘Wives on Strike’ tickets were still selling out in cinemas.

Reports emerged from top cinemas in Nigeria, which include Filmhouse Cinemas, Surulere, Silverbird Cinema, Ikeja City Mall, Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lekki, and Silverbird Cinema, Abuja, that Wives on Strike kept selling; even with the presence of Hollywood releases like ‘The Barber’s Shop’, ‘The Huntsman’ and ‘Jungle Book’.
As if that was not enough, Omoni Oboli got another honour in Paris, where her movie, ‘The First Lady’, won the Audience Choice Award at the just concluded Nollywood Week in Paris.

CELEBRATING YEMI BLAQ
Gulder, the premium lager beer has celebrated its ambassador, Mr. Yemi Olatunji, better known as Yemi Blaq, who turned a year older recently.
The birthday ceremony took place last week with his colleagues, friends and officials of Nigerian Breweries during the Nollywood Beer Academy, sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc, in Ibadan, Oyo State. Edem Vindah, Corporate Media/Brand PR Manager, NB Plc, explained that the brand is proud of Yemi Blaq because he represents Gulder’s ideals of the “real man who is responsible, hardworking, demonstrates leadership and respect for others.”

Gulder, Vindah added, stands for the ultimate sign of achievement, masculinity, respect, self-assurance and success and also a premium quality beer for young success conscious men and women
Blaq, who became a Gulder brand ambassador last year, came into the movie industry in 2005. He has featured in over 250 films and he is seen as a hard working movie producer and one of the most famous in Nollywood.

Blaq was born and raised in a family of four siblings in Ondo state, Nigeria and grew up knowing he was going to go into the arts. From his primary school days, he got a lot of encouragement and support. After he played the role of the incorruptible judge in Olu Olagoke’s ‘The Incorruptible Judge’, his teacher came home and said to his mum, “oh this one is going to become an actor”. Since then he has nurtured it up.