Entertainment

Eight candidates for the next UK city of culture announced

Armagh City, Bradford, County Durham and Stirling are among the eight places in the UK longlisted to become the next city of culture, after a record of 20 bids.

Cornwall, Derby, Southampton, and Wrexham County Borough are also in the running to host the year of cultural festivities in 2025, the culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, announced on Friday.

For the first time, those that are longlisted will be awarded grants of £40,000 to support the next stage of their applications. Entrants need to prove they can put culture “at the heart of their plans to recover from the impact of the pandemic”.

They will now work with a panel of experts and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to finalise their bids before the shortlist is announced.

“Winning the UK city of culture competition has a hugely positive impact on an area, driving investment, creating jobs, and highlighting that culture is for everyone, regardless of their background,” Dorries said. “This year’s focus is on levelling up access to culture across the country and making sure there is a legacy that continues for generations to come.”

The successful area will take on the baton from Coventry, which is the 2021 UK city of culture, with Hull and Derry having previously enjoyed the status in 2017 and 2013 respectively.

The competition, organised by DCMS in collaboration with the Offices for Scotland and Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive, uses culture as a tool for social and economic recovery.

Sir Phil Redmond, chair of the city of culture expert advisory panel, said the longlist demonstrated “the range and depth of cultural ambition across the whole of the UK”.

“Each is different. Each has its own story to tell. All share a common aim: to demonstrate how culture can act as the creative catalyst for change,” he added.

DCMS previously said Coventry had received more than £15.5m from the government to directly support its year of programmes. The city has also attracted another £100m in capital investment to support cultural projects such as the Herbert art gallery and museum, Coventry Cathedral and Belgrade theatre, among others.

Hull, during its 12-month tenure, had more than 5.3 million visits to more than 2,800 events, cultural activities, installations and exhibitions, and 75% of those who visited in 2017 said it had changed their perception of the city for the better.

Nine out of 10 people in Hull thought that city of culture status had had a positive impact and 90% of residents took part in at least one cultural activity, according to DCMS data.

The new winner will be announced in spring 2022.

Entertainment

Comedian AY Makun confirms EFCC invitation

One Nigeria’s top comedians, Ayo ‘AY’ Makun, has confirmed he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, earlier this week for the public spraying of local and foreign currencies.

AY took to Instagram to share the videos of the incident that led to his invitation.

He then urged Nigerians to respect the Naira and also foreign currencies by giving money responsibly at events.

“I am grateful to God for His mercy and guidance. On Monday, I was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding an incident involving the public spraying of both local and foreign currencies — an act that has been classified as an offense related to the abuse of the Naira,” AY wrote.

“I want to sincerely thank the EFCC and all authorities involved for their understanding and for granting me pardon based on confirmation that the money being sprayed is not linked to the proceeds of crime or any form of illicit funds.

He added: “To my friends, family, and the general public: We all know that spraying money at public events is a practice common in Nigerian celebrations, especially during weddings, funerals, and parties. It is generally considered a cultural tradition rather than a criminal act. But let me attach some slides to this post on the DOS AND DON’T.

“It is important to understand that mutilating or abusing the Naira — whether by spraying, tearing, defacing, or mishandling—is not just a cultural practice but also a violation of Nigerian law. Such acts undermine the integrity of our national currency and can have serious legal consequences.”

Entertainment

‘VeryDarkMan will soon be charged to court’ – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday confirmed that social critic, Martins Ortse aka VeryDarkMan, will soon be charged to court.

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale said VDM as he is popularly called was arrested due to multiple petitions against him.

Speaking to BBC News Pidgin, Oyewale said VeryDarkMan was taken into custody following complaints from several petitioners on the allegation of cyberstalking.

He said, “We arrested him to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners.

“We will release him when he meets the bail conditions and we will take the case to court as soon as possible. We are law-abiding.”

When asked if the case was connected to Guaranty Trust Bank, Oyewale noted that the petitions were from different individuals and the agency owed them a duty of protection.

VDM was arrested on Friday, by the EFCC over an undisclosed offense.

Before his arrest, the social critic had announced his visit to one of the GTBank branches in Abuja, to complain about an alleged deduction from his mother’s account.

Following his arrest, the activist was said to have been manhandled by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

Entertainment

EFCC arrests Content Creator for Naira Abuse in Kaduna

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested a social media content creator, Muhammed Kabir Sa’ad for allegedly abusing Naira notes.

Sa’ad made a video of himself on his Tik Tok and Instagram account @youngcee0066 where he was seen throwing Naira notes on the floor and deliberately stepping on them and daring EFCC officers in Hausa Language to arrest in him if they can.

He was subsequently picked up in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna State, through surveillance and conveyed to the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Commission for interrogation.

He would be charged to court upon the conclusion of his interrogation.