News Report: Nigeria Government Dismisses 'killer' Phone Number

Credit: Associated Press

Nigeria's government is assuring people in Africa's most populous nation: a phone call can't kill you.

A text message has spread across the oil-rich country in recent days, warning that people will die if they answer mobile phone calls from 09141. The widespread fear forced the Nigerian Communications Commission to issue a statement Wednesday saying it is "unimaginable that somebody will die while receiving a call."

Commission spokesman Reuben Muoka says: "It is only very gullible people that will believe such a rumor."

Text message panics in Nigeria have included rumors of bombings and rumors that acid rain from seasonal dust storms can burn people alive. The campaigns are aided by poor education and lack of faith in the government.

A call to the number Thursday resulted in no fatalities.

News Release: The Garden City Choral Festival, 2011

Late Ikoli Harcourt Whyte

The Garden City Choral Festival (GCCF), under the auspices of the University of Port Harcourt, celebrates the arts by recognizing and documenting the works of profound indigenous choral music composers and performers in the Niger Delta and beyond.

The theme of the first edition, Restoring Hope through Choral Music: The Odyssey of Ikoli Harcourt Whyte, encapsulates the legacy of Harcourt Whyte, a composer of peculiar circumstance, who, in spite of his dreaded situation, demonstrated ability in disability. Over 50 choral groups are expected to participate in the festival.

Requirements for Performance:

1. Registration procedures:

Each choral group is required to register with five thousand naira (N5,000) only. Early registration is encouraged to avoid disappointment. Application forms are available on-line, www.uniport.edu.ng/gccf . Payment of N5,000 should be made to Uniport Garden City Choral Festival, account #4110015252, Fidelity Bank.

2. Date for the festival, time and venue:

September 21, 2011, 10: am; Venue: Convocation Arena, University of Port Harcourt

September 22, 2011, 10:am; Venue: Civic Center, Port Harcourt

September 23, 2011, 10:am; Venue: Presidential, Hotel Port Harcourt,

September 23, 2011, 6 pm; Grand finale; Venue: Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.

3. Each group presents 3 choral pieces:

a. One of the pieces must be own choice, indigenous to the choir’s locale (accompanied or a cappella; if accompanied, instrumentation is optional)

b. One piece must express the theme of the festival- Restoring Hope through Choral Music

c. The language for the text of the pieces is optional, but translation in English is required.

d. The third piece is ATUL’EGWU (1942) by Sir Ikoli Harcourt Whyte

e. Ten best choral groups will perform during the grand finale

4. Format for entries:

a. Music scores should be submitted in staff or solfa notation, or both.

b. Instrumentation should be scored, if accompanied

c. Scores may be in hard copies; soft copies (PDF) may be submitted through email: gccfuniport@gmail.com or gccf@uniport.edu.ng

d. Scores must get to the organizers by the eve of the festival.

Prizes:

Prizes range from One Million Naira for the overall best choral group, Five Hundred and Three Hundred Thousand Naira for the first and second runners up respectively, to Fifty Thousand Naira for each of the seven closely followed runners up.

More information:

For more information and registration, please call 0703-396-8140, email: gccf@uniport.edu.ng or gccfuniport@gmail.com or contact the Department of Music, University of Port Harcourt. You can view the website at www.uniport.edu.ng/gccf

Signed:

Prof. Onyee N. Nwankpa,

Chairman,

Garden City Choral Festival Committee