Dakar (Senegal) 25 August 2000
A Senegalese Islamic NGO, Jamra, recently organised a demonstration in protest against obscene images aired on national and foreign television programmes watched by local viewers.
The protestors marched from the city centre to the Culture and Communications Ministry where they submitted a petition to the authorities.
Among the protestors were religious leaders and youths wearing white headbands carrying Arabic inscriptions of "Allah Is Great" as they marched to the ministry.
This is not Jamra's first protest, pitching itself as a guardian of good moral standards and cultural values in the country.
Two months ago, the NGO took a nightclub owner to court for organising a 'biggest sex organ' contest, with girls under 18 competing.
The matter caused a stir in the country and drew attention to the village of Mboro, situated 80 km North of Dakar.
Jamra had the nightclub closed, with the nightclub owner receiving a prison sentence.
The winner of the contest apologised publicly.
Reacting to the march, a Senegalese television programmes director said Jamra should have contacted the Senegalese Radio-Television Authorities (RTS) to express its views to them.
He however, conceded that Jamra had the right to protest if some programmes on the airwaves have been offensive.
GRi /
Lagos (Nigeria) 24 August 2000
Renowned Nigerian musicologist and composer, Sam Akpabot, has died, the local media reported Thursday.
Akpabot, 68, reportedly passed away in his sleep Sunday in his hometown of Uyo, in Southeastern Akwa Ibom state.
He was until his death a lecturer at the Institute of Cultural Studies, University of Uyo.
Though a musicologist, Akpabot was equally well known for sports commentary and his controversial prediction of football matches, a pastime, which earned him the nickname "The Oracle".
His sports and music columns ran for several years in several Nigerian newspapers.
Akpabot, distinguished in his Afro haircut, attended the highbrow Baptist Academy and King's Colleges in Lagos before traveling out to study at the Royal College of Music in London.
He later studied at the University of Chicago and Michigan State University, in the US, where he obtained his Master and doctorate degrees in music, respectively.
Akpabot's published books include Foundation of African Music as well as Form, Function and Style in African Music, while he also recorded some works.
Akpabot is the latest in a string of well-known Nigerian figures to have passed away in recent times, coming days after last week's death of Playwright Ola Rotimi and Broadcaster Tokunbo Ajai.
GRi... /